Chapter 108: Getting Angrier

The second young lady of the Zhang family came and went like a whirlwind.

The swift horse named 'Zao Zao' snorted white mist like arrows from its nostrils, carrying that fiery red figure away like a flight.

She Dengke listened to the distant sound of horse hooves and looked around at everyone in astonishment, asking, "How can she be so overbearing?"

The medical hall was quiet, and no one answered his question.

After a moment of silence, Liu Qu Xing sighed with emotion, "In all of Luo City, except for the Liu family and Jing Wang Fu, there are indeed no masters more overbearing than the Zhang family."

She Dengke murmured, "But the county princess isn't like her. I think the county princess is very good, never bullies people with power, and doesn't put on airs. Is the plaque of Wang Fu fiercer than the Xu family behind her mother?"

The young master leaned on the counter with one arm and suddenly smiled meaningfully, "The plaques of the feudal kings of our Ning Dynasty are not necessarily higher than the Xu family's. In this small area of Luo City, Wang Fu also has to discuss everything with the Liu family. The Northern three families Qi, Chen, Hu, and the Southern three families Liu, Xu, Yang, although they don't get along, they always stand together in the face of imperial power."

He continued, "Earlier, my father wanted to figure out the cement formula, and as soon as Chen Ji said he wanted to take the formula back to the Chen family, my father immediately relented. Why? Isn't it because if this cement formula falls into the hands of the Chen family, even Jing Wang Fu can't get it back?"

She Dengke's eyes widened, "No matter how fierce the families are, can they snatch things from the court?"

The young master smiled, "In their eyes, they are the court..."

"Stop," Old Man Yao looked sideways at the young master, "Are these words I, an old man, should hear? Are you planning to send me on my way because you dislike that I'm ninety-two years old?"

The young master awkwardly said, "Not talking about it anymore."

At this time, Bai Li walked to the opposite side of the red wood counter and stared intensely at Chen Ji across from her, "Aren't you angry? She said all that about you, how can you act like nothing happened?"

Chen Ji didn't answer, but picked up the chessboard and chess basket and turned to go to the backyard.

He had only taken two steps when he saw Bai Li tiptoeing, reaching across the counter to pull Chen Ji's arm, pulling him back, "I'm talking to you, don't leave!"

Chen Ji stood still helplessly and smiled, "Is the county princess talking about her looking down on me?"

Bai Li said seriously, "She doesn't understand you at all. By what right does she say you're not as good as Chen Wen Zong? Anyway, it's just not right for her to say that about you."

Chen Ji countered, "Does the county princess hope I prove myself to her?"

Bai Li thought for a moment, "At least let her know that you're not worse than Chen Wen Zong."

Chen Ji smiled and said, "Then what?"

"Um?"

Chen Ji said, "Then she'll discover that this marriage isn't actually that bad, and then happily accept the marriage. At that time, Master Zhang will learn about the list and catch me to complete the marriage. After we get married, we can't even think about going out for a drink together; I'll have to learn needlework at home."

Bai Li was startled, "Ah? That... that's still not good."

At this time, Liu Qu Xing asked, "Just now, the second young lady of the Zhang family didn't recognize the county princess and the young master. Haven't you met?"

The young master explained, "As I recall, Master Zhang came to Luo City to take office in the 27th year of Jia Ning. At that time, he didn't bring his family. It seems he only brought his family over before the Shang Yuan Festival last year. At that time, Bai Li and I had already gone to Dong Lin Academy. Have you heard about this second young lady of the Zhang family? What kind of person is she?"

Liu Qu Xing muttered, "I've only seen her twice, each time galloping through the city like a whirlwind, causing people on the road to scatter. Her horsemanship seems good, and I haven't heard of her hitting anyone while riding."

Liang Mao Er said from the side, "I heard about her when my brother and I went for drinks. According to what they say, the young master of the Liu family's main house likes her, and the Liu family sent a matchmaker to propose marriage, but Master Zhang politely refused. Not only the Liu family, but quite a few scholars admire her."

Bai Li muttered, "I don't know where these people's eyes are. Why do they admire her?"

The young master smiled happily, "The second young lady of the Zhang family is born handsome and is Master Zhang's most doted-on daughter. Naturally, people flock to her. If a poor scholar marries her, they will walk thirty years less on a detour."

Bai Li suddenly looked at Chen Ji, "Chen Ji, do you also think she's born handsome?"

Chen Ji "ah"-ed and said, "I didn't look carefully."

Bai Li leaned on the counter feeling a bit stifled.

The young master asked curiously, "Are you still angry?"

Bai Li said angrily, "When Zhang Xia was here just now, only she was angry at me, but I wasn't angry at her yet. Now I've thought of how to retort to her, but she's already gone!"

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got!

Bai Li turned to leave.

The young master hurriedly pulled her back, "Where are you going?"

Bai Li said indignantly, "I want to go find her and talk to her again!"

The young master didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Don't cause trouble, she's already gone far away."

He looked at Chen Ji and smiled, "If we talk about family background, the second young lady of the Zhang family is not a bad choice. Maybe she just listened to street rumors and rushed here to set rules because she didn't understand you. But the distant road reveals a horse's strength, and time reveals a person's heart. She will recognize you again someday... won't you reconsider?"

Chen Ji smiled and said, "What is not understood now doesn't need to be understood later."

It was the quiet of deep night.

Chen Ji detached himself from the Green Mountain dream realm and slowly opened his eyes.

He silently counted the snoring sounds, determined that everyone beside him was already asleep, and only then got up lightly.

However, as Chen Ji just pulled open the door, he saw Old Man Yao standing under the apricot tree with his hands behind his back, gazing at the red cloth strips one by one on the tree branches.

"Master? Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Old Man Yao said indifferently, "Why must the living sleep for a long time, when they must sleep for a long time after death? I don't know why, but recently I always feel that the scenery of this world is not enough to see."

Chen Ji was startled, "Your body is still strong."

Old Man Yao laughed coldly, "I'm saying, I want to see this world more before you implicate me and cause my death."

Chen Ji: "..."

Old Man Yao turned back to look at him, "Playing as the head of the Jing Dynasty military intelligence department in front of the Liu family is like walking on a knife's edge; the slightest mistake can lead to eternal ruin."

"You all know?"

Old Man Yao asked, "What are your plans?"

Chen Ji was startled.

The old man and the young man stood facing each other under the apricot tree.

Chen Ji recalled the time he first came to this world, following his master along the green stone road. He urgently wanted to say something, but the old man avoided danger like the plague, not wanting to hear anything.

And now, the old man was taking the initiative to ask.

Chen Ji smiled and said, "It's better not to tell you."

Old Man Yao was also startled, then slightly angrily said, "If you don't want to say it, then don't say it. Don't make it seem like I care about you so much. I'm just worried about being implicated by you!"

Chen Ji thought for a moment and finally said, "It's still better not to tell you."

Old Man Yao snorted coldly, "If you don't say it, then don't say it. You're on your own."

Chen Ji changed the subject, "Master, where's Uncle Crow? I haven't seen him in a long time."

"He went out to avoid the wind."

Chen Ji asked again, "What about Wu Yun? I didn't see him today either."

"He also went out to avoid the wind."

Chen Ji: "?"

Are these the outlaws of a courtyard?

Chen Ji asked in confusion, "What did Wu Yun do that he actually needs to go out to avoid the wind?"

Old Man Yao turned around and slowly walked back to the main room, "If you want to find him, walk about one li east along An Xi Street, then turn into the small alley beside Chai Ji grain and oil shop. He should be there tonight. As for why he wants to avoid the wind, you'll understand when you see him."

Chen Ji went outside. Under the moonlight, he walked east along An Xi Street.

He had only walked halfway when he suddenly heard extremely faint footsteps behind him.

Chen Ji suddenly turned around. He only saw the long green stone road behind him like a transparent tunnel, visible to the end, but there was no one there!

In the misty long street and the moonlight, only the skinny Chen Ji stood still and looked back.

Empty.

Instantly, the hairs on the back of Chen Ji's neck stood up.

He recalled the story of the mountain flower ghost money, and thought of the Liu family's carriage that no one drove, whose reins were not blown by the wind, but moved on its own...

On this green stone road, there seemed to be an invisible shadow sticking to his back, like a bone-maggot, wrapped in endless black resentment, cold and piercing.

Was he being stared at by that beggar gang elder named 'Zhang Guo Er'? How did the other side find Tai Ping Medical Hall?

No, it shouldn't be the mountain flower ghost money. The things driven by mountain flower ghost money shouldn't have footsteps.

Chen Ji turned around, lowered his head, and walked quickly. After only a few steps, the faint sound of footsteps behind him rang out again.

This time he didn't turn back, but gradually quickened his pace until he ran.

The next moment, Chen Ji suddenly turned into a dark small alley.

Just as his body was about to enter the shadow, he suddenly drew a short knife from his bosom, unsheathed it, turned around, and chopped down.

The short knife chopped from the shadow into the moonlight. It seemed as if the short knife had been hidden in the shadow and then suddenly appeared.

He heard someone "ah" and subconsciously swung a long knife to block, but the short knife that chopped out from the shadow hit the waist of the long knife without deviation, making a *dang* sound, and the long knife broke!

After the short knife chopped the long knife in half, it continued upward, but Chen Ji felt something was wrong when he heard that "ah," and the tip of the knife barely stopped at the uninvited guest's lower jaw.

Not much more, not much less; if it had stabbed in one more *fen*, blood would have been seen.

Chen Ji stood in the shadow and looked up and down the uninvited guest, startled.

County princess?!

Under the moonlight outside the small alley, only Bai Li was seen holding a broken knife, with a shocked expression on her fair face.

Behind her were the young master, Liang Mao Er, and Liang Gou Er!

It must have been just now, Liang Mao Er and Liang Gou Er had helped the young master, and Bai Li had hidden her tracks, which was why he hadn't discovered her.

At this moment, the young master and Liang Mao Er stared blankly at Chen Ji.

Only Liang Gou Er's pupils contracted slightly, and his face became solemn.

He, who had originally been carrying a long knife on his shoulder in a carefree manner, suddenly stood up straight.

The young master and Liang Mao Er were blank because they were shocked by Chen Ji's fierce knife just now, but they were only surprised. Chen Ji at this time was completely different from the Chen Ji they usually knew.

Only Liang Gou Er knew that the knife just now was flawless.

This kind of exquisite, accurate, and domineering knife skill was something even a genius like Liang Gou Er couldn't achieve at Chen Ji's age.

This might not be the knife skill that a medical hall apprentice should know!

Chen Ji glanced at Liang Gou Er, slowly put the short knife back into its sheath, and slowly walked out of the shadow of the small alley.

He looked at the knives in the hands of the young master and Bai Li and said helplessly, "Young master, county princess, Brother Mao Er, Brother Gou Er, what are you all following me for?"

Bai Li was still in shock, "You've been going out at night these two days and only coming back during the day. Everyone feels that you've definitely encountered some difficulty but are unwilling to say it, so we pooled money and asked Brother Liang Gou Er to take action and follow you to see. Chen Ji, if you really have any difficulties, please don't hold back. We'll help you solve them together!"