Chapter 119: The Chen Family's Third Son

"Zhang Zhuo? Chen Liqin? The Liu family wants to make a move against these two? These two are court-appointed officials!"

In the dim prison cell, the flame of the oil lamp on the wall suddenly flickered.

Shopkeeper Yuan lay flat on the table, letting the secret agent bandage his wound. The secret agent's movements also slowly stopped.

Jin Zhu, who had been leaning over Shopkeeper Yuan's ear, subconsciously stood up, her eyes wide as she looked at Chen Ji: "They want to kill Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin? Should I send some secret agents to protect them? After all, Master Chen is..."

Chen Ji's right hand suddenly pressed down on Shopkeeper Yuan's wound. In an instant, Shopkeeper Yuan's mournful scream echoed through the inner prison, drowning out all other sounds.

After a moment, Chen Ji slowly asked, "What did the Liu family say?"

Shopkeeper Yuan panted, "Liu Xianming confidently said that after tomorrow, in Yuzhou, there will only be the Liu family, and no one else will dare to interfere."

Chen Ji asked again, "Did he tell you the specific plan?"

Shopkeeper Yuan's face was pale. "Why should I tell you?"

"I think you're talking nonsense," Chen Ji said expressionlessly as he pressed down on Shopkeeper Yuan's thigh wound. The spot that had already stopped bleeding burst open again, and Shopkeeper Yuan screamed violently.

Just as he was about to continue tearing open the wound to find the main artery, Jin Zhu pulled Chen Ji's arm and led him out of the prison cell, lowering her voice: "I know you're anxious to save your father, but you haven't learned interrogation methods. Your hands are too heavy. You absolutely must not kill such an important prisoner."

Chen Ji was silent.

He didn't care about Chen Liqin's life or death at all. He just wanted to use this opportunity to 'mistakenly' kill Shopkeeper Yuan to avoid involving Yun Fei and himself. But now Jin Zhu had stopped him in time, and the opportunity was lost.

Chen Ji had to sigh, "My lord, I was too hasty."

Jin Zhu chuckled. "Earlier, I heard you wanted to break ties with the Chen family and I was still puzzled. How can someone truly sever blood relations? I thought you were just saying angry words at the time, angry that your father sent you to Taiping Medical Hall as an apprentice."

Chen Ji hummed in agreement.

Jin Zhu patted Chen Ji's shoulder. "Don't worry. I guarantee that Master Chen will be fine. Just now, I thought about it carefully. The Liu family does have the ability to kill Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin in Yuzhou, but they will absolutely not antagonize the court now. So what the Liu family wants to do is just drive the two away. They won't harm their lives."

"How will the Liu family do it?"

"Frame them."

Chen Ji looked at Jin Zhu. "My lord means that the Liu family wants to frame Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin, forcing them to be transferred to other positions... Does my lord know the itinerary of these two masters tonight?"

Jin Zhu immediately replied, "Today, the two of them will host a banquet for all the new scholars, a Luming Banquet."

There are two banquets after the imperial examination: the first is the Luming Banquet after the autumn provincial exam, for the new scholars; the second is the Qionglin Banquet after the palace exam, for the successful candidates. This has been a rule of the Ning Dynasty for hundreds of years.

Chen Ji asked, "Where will the Luming Banquet be held?"

"Yingxian Building," Jin Zhu said, greeting Xifeng as she strode out. "We'll go to Yingxian Building now. Tonight, we not only have to protect Master Chen, but also seize the Liu family's handle! They dare to frame court-appointed officials. Not only can our Secret Agent Division not tolerate the Liu family, but even the court, the Xu family, and the Chen family cannot tolerate them!"

Chen Ji glanced at Jin Zhu's back and then silently looked at Shopkeeper Yuan.

Jin Zhu stopped and turned back, her gaze passing through the dark, long tunnel behind her: "Go, why are you standing there?"

"Coming."

Yingxian Building's original name was Fuguibang.

But on the day of its grand opening, an immortal crane came from the west and landed on the orange glazed tiles of the roof.

Therefore, the owner temporarily hired craftsmen to make a stone crane and placed it in front of the door, and changed the name to Yingxian Building.

At this time.

In front of Yingxian Building, carriages and horses were gathered, and people were constantly bowing and saluting.

Chen Liqin and Zhang Zhuo wore large red official robes, standing out among the crowd of blue-robed officials.

While the candidates were entering the building to take their seats, Zhang Zhuo leaned close to Chen Liqin's ear and said, "Chen Ji has agreed to go to Zhixing Academy to study, but your little scheme has been exposed by Bai Li Junzhu. I say, the simplest way is to cane your housekeeper to death to vent his anger. Why bother with these twists and turns? That housekeeper isn't a good person anyway!"

Chen Liqin glanced at Zhang Zhuo. "My housekeeper has worked diligently for over ten years, with no merit but hard work. Master Zhang, you talk about killing all the time. It's against civility."

Zhang Zhuo said impatiently, "Do you really think that if the three brothers study in the same school, they can rekindle their brotherly affection and think well of you? You'd better go to the City God Temple or Laojun Mountain to burn incense and ask the Dao Lord to show some spirit!"

Chen Liqin's face was dark. "As long as he can learn some real knowledge, I, as his father, have done my part for him. As for whether he thinks well of me, that's his business."

Zhang Zhuo was angered into laughter.

He flung his sleeves, turned, and walked into the building. "You just remember our agreement!"

Outside the back door of Yingxian Building, Jin Zhu, wearing a hat, gently knocked on the door.

Xifeng opened the wooden door from inside and welcomed Jin Zhu and Chen Ji in. "My lord, a dragnet has been set up around here. If the Liu family comes to cause trouble, they will definitely not be able to return."

Jin Zhu sneered once and walked into Yingxian Building. "You're quite good at bragging. If you were so capable, why would you need me!"

Xifeng softly muttered, "Yesterday you still called me Si Lord..."

Jin Zhu suddenly turned back. "What are you muttering about? It's definitely nothing good!"

Xifeng hurriedly smiled, "Nothing, my lord, you are wise and divine!"

Jin Zhu coldly smiled, led Chen Ji into Yingxian Building, and hid behind a pillar to silently observe.

In the great hall, more than thirty candidates sat around round tables, drinking together, the atmosphere warm. At the main table, the five top scholars of the autumn provincial exam sat beside Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin, their positions even higher than other officials.

At the banquet, an official raised his cup and stood up, smiling at Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin: "I haven't congratulated the two masters yet."

Zhang Zhuo was stunned: "Master Xing, what joy are you talking about? My son didn't participate in the imperial examination."

The blue-robed official smiled and said, "The day before yesterday, Miss Zhang Er personally said at the polo match that you want to betroth her to Young Master Chen of Chenfu. This can't be false. Now you two are officials in the same residence, and the two families are happily married. It's double joy."

As soon as this was said, Yingxian Building fell silent. The candidates silently looked at the main table, their gazes sweeping over Chen Wen Zong and Chen Wen Xiao with envy.

Master Xing's gaze also swung between Chen Wen Zong and Chen Wen Xiao, and he asked curiously: "Two masters, I don't know which young master Miss Zhang Er is betrothed to?"

Before Chen Liqin could speak, Chen Wen Xiao at the side smiled and said, "Not us two brothers. Master Zhang is fond of my family's third brother."

Jin Zhu, behind the pillar, slowly looked at Chen Ji. Isn't this the Chen family's third?

Chen Ji didn't pay attention to her gaze, only lowered his head to listen.

At the banquet, someone whispered: "The Chen family's third? Is that the gambler who was sent to the medical hall?"

"Shh, don't let Master Chen hear!"

"Strange, why didn't Master Zhang betroth his daughter to Chen Wen Zong? Even Chen Wen Xiao would do."

Jin Zhu silently sized up Chen Ji.

She saw Chen Ji just quietly standing behind the pillar, as if the matter being discussed at the banquet had nothing to do with him.

The next moment, Chen Liqin spoke: "This matter is a misunderstanding. Master Zhang Zhuo previously just mentioned it a couple of times as a joke. Neither of us took it seriously. My son is naughty and not worthy of Miss Zhang Er."

Master Xing's hand holding the wine cup stiffened, and he said awkwardly: "Then why did Miss Zhang Er..."

Zhang Zhuo smiled and explained: "That was just her overhearing my conversation with Master Chen and mistakenly thinking that we had settled the matter. A little girl, hearing wind is rain, ran out and said everywhere, causing a misunderstanding. I hope everyone doesn't spread rumors."

Master Xing sheepishly sat back: "Oh, so that's how it is, so that's how it is."

However, Zhang Zhuo changed the topic, saying with interest: "But I think you all have misunderstood that kid Chen Ji. As the saying goes, hearing is false, seeing is believing. I have met him a few times, and privately I think he is not as despicable as you say. Not only me, but even Jing Wang now praises him highly. Presumably there was some misunderstanding before."

Chen Liqin looked at Zhang Zhuo in surprise.

Behind the pillar, Jin Zhu lowered her voice and said happily: "Your father and your elder brother didn't speak up for you, but this Master Zhang and I have similar heroic views! Don't pay attention to them. Cultivate well, make meritorious deeds, and when you rise to the twelve zodiacs, exterminating their families will be as easy as turning your hand!"

Chen Ji looked at Jin Zhu with a complex expression, for a moment not knowing how to respond...

The moon was at its zenith.

In Yingxian Building, the candles and lamps had been changed once again. The new scholars competed to recite poems and compose couplets, showing their elegance in front of Zhang Zhuo.

However, everything was safe and sound. The storm that Chen Ji and Jin Zhu were waiting for did not come.

As the Luming Banquet was about to disperse, if the Liu family didn't make a move, there would be no chance.

Jin Zhu stood behind the pillar until her legs were numb, and she was puzzled: "Damn it, don't tell me the wind leaked again?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "No, Xifeng specifically watched the secret agents and didn't let them leave. No one could tip them off."

Jin Zhu leaned against the pillar and rubbed her temples: "Could it be that that Jing Chao thief is deceiving us?"

Chen Ji closed his eyes and pondered.

No.

Shopkeeper Yuan wasn't deceiving them. At this time, the other side was about to take the life of a Secret Agent Division member. How could he deceive them on such a small matter?

But what exactly did the Liu family want to do?

What could the Liu family do to make Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin leave Yu Province?

Jin Zhu said: "They're about to disperse. Let's withdraw too."

"No."

"Hm?"

In the darkness behind the pillar, Chen Ji suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Jin Zhu: "The place where the Liu family will make their move is not here!"

Jin Zhu was surprised: "Hm?"

Chen Ji asked: "My lord, do you have the king's order flag?"

Jin Zhu shook her head: "How could I carry something like that with me? If it's lost, it's off with my head. Wait, why are you asking this..."

Chen Ji took a deep breath.

He saw him take out a gray cloth from his sleeve to cover his face, pull down the brim of his hat, and quickly come to Zhang Zhuo's side: "Master Zhang, I from the Secret Agent Division have matters that require assistance. Please come with us."

Zhang Zhuo narrowed his eyes slightly: "Secret Agent Division? I am a fifth-rank prefect of the current dynasty. You say let me assist, and I just assist?"

Chen Ji was silent for a moment, then solemnly said to Zhang Zhuo: "Master Zhang, rest assured, we are not taking you to the inner prison to arrest you. We have matters that require assistance. If we miss this opportunity, I'm afraid tens of thousands of refugees outside the city will die, and you will lose your bright future."

Zhang Zhuo listened to Chen Ji's voice and suddenly showed a suspicious expression.

He stared at Chen Ji's eyes, and Chen Ji did not evade.

Finally, Zhang Zhuo calmly stood up, smoothed the wrinkles of his big red official robe with both hands, and said indifferently: "I will come with you."

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