Chapter 129: Study Tour

In the night of Luocheng, the watchman's distant, aged voice carried through the air: "The sky is cold, the ground is frozen, be careful of slippery roads."

The Yin hour is exactly the time to get up.

If they were in the capital city, the important ministers would already be gathered inside the Wen Yuan Pavilion near the East Hua Gate, exhaling white mist as they waited outside the door for instructions from the cabinet elders.

Chen Ji lifted the carriage curtain, looking at the hazy light and thin fog outside the carriage window. In his heart, he thought he had to hurry back to Anxi Street, otherwise he would be late for school again today.

He gently lowered the carriage curtain. Inside the shaking carriage, Golden Pig was slowly recounting: "That year, the assassination case of the Minister of Revenue was sensational for a time. His Majesty gave Dali Temple seven days to apprehend the true culprit. If they couldn't solve it, all Dali Temple officials above the fifth rank would be demoted by three levels, and officials below the fifth rank would be dismissed and never employed again."

"At that time, the capital city was like it was soaked in an ice river. Everyone walking on the street didn't even dare to breathe, afraid that if they opened their mouths, cold air would pour into their bodies. It was a pity, they still couldn't solve the case until the news of Lu Jin's promotion and title in the Jing Dynasty came back. Only then did everyone know exactly what happened. It was truly a difficult winter to endure."

Saying that, he looked towards Yuan Shopkeeper, his eyes deep: "That year, so many Dali Temple Vice Ministers, Si Zhi, and Patrol City Censors, all couldn't find a clue. Now, after many years, what we want to investigate is as difficult as ascending to heaven."

Yuan Shopkeeper said: "Golden Pig adult, if I am lucky enough to become a Sea Dongqing in the Secret Agent Division, I will certainly investigate the identity of Lu Jin's sister. I believe she certainly hasn't returned to the Jing Dynasty, otherwise with Lu Jin's status, she fundamentally wouldn't need to hide."

Golden Pig laughed happily: "Then why do you think she hasn't returned to the Jing Dynasty? Perhaps she's dead!"

Yuan Shopkeeper said: "If she were dead, with Lu Jin's means, he could naturally find her corpse. If she's not dead, then there are only two things that can keep a woman: one is emotion, and one is a child."

Golden Pig clapped with interest: "Reasonable, but that being said, you still don't have any clues or leads?"

Yuan Shopkeeper nodded: "Yes."

Chen Ji slightly relaxed his breath. He opened his mouth and said: "Adult, if this matter is not important..."

Before he could finish speaking, Golden Pig changed the subject and asked Yuan Shopkeeper: "Let's not mention Lu Jin's sister for now, let's talk about tonight. I feel that Yuan Shopkeeper still has reservations, right?"

Yuan Shopkeeper's expression froze: "What does adult mean? I've already said everything that should be said."

Golden Pig smiled with narrowed eyes: "It's true that you sold out your colleagues in Luocheng, but the highest official position you confessed to was only a small county clerk. In the accounts of Luocheng Bailu Pavilion, there are still eighteen thousand taels of silver whose whereabouts are unknown. May I ask, where did this silver go?"

Yuan Shopkeeper sighed: "Golden Pig adult is formidable. You cleared up the Bailu Pavilion accounts so quickly."

Golden Pig waved his hand: "It's not that I'm formidable, but our Si Li Jian has the most formidable accountant in the entire Ning Dynasty."

Yuan Shopkeeper thought for a moment: "Adult, change the route, go to Tongji Street."

Golden Pig patted the carriage wall: "West Wind, go to Tongji Street."

Then he heard Yuan Shopkeeper say: "Adult, the internal accounts of the Military Affairs Division are the trump card I left for myself after joining the Secret Agent Division. Inside are all the evidence and accounts of bribes given by Bailu Pavilion, Red Sleeve Zhao, and Mingquan Garden to officials in various places in Yu State, and even many high officials in Luocheng. Now I hand them all over to adult. I still hope that adult can be promoted further in the future."

Golden Pig laughed: "Easy to say, easy to say. Right, Chen Ji, what were you just going to say?"

Chen Ji, who was originally planning to take his leave, sat steadily back inside the carriage. He shook his head: "Nothing..."

High officials in Luocheng? The people who count as high officials in Luocheng are no more than a handful: Zhang Zhuo, Chen Liqin, Liu Xianxian.

This is not the time to leave.

The carriage quietly drove into Tongji Street, where rich merchants gathered. Even at this pre-dawn hour, duck laughter and seductive songs still faintly emanated from the homes of some merchants.

Golden Pig sneered: "We fight to the death, precisely to protect this group of things."

The carriage arrived in front of an elegant residence.

Yuan Shopkeeper said: "This is the place. The accounts are hidden inside."

Golden Pig silently looked at him for a moment, then simply reached out and pushed, breaking the inner door bolt.

However, he did not walk in through the main door, but went to the side, lightly jumped up, and squatted steadily on the wall eaves to observe inside.

There was no ambush, no trap. The residence was empty.

Yuan Shopkeeper laughed: "Golden Pig adult, since I have already decided to abandon the dark and turn to the light, I will not do useless things."

Golden Pig said with a forced smile: "A ten-thousand-year-old ship sails carefully. I don't doubt you, it's just habit."

"Understood!"

Golden Pig motioned for Yuan Shopkeeper to enter the courtyard. The courtyard wasn't very big, but it had everything: artificial hills and fish ponds. In the fish pond, there were still more than ten brocade carp swimming.

Yuan Shopkeeper limped over and found an iron pickaxe, fiercely smashing it towards an artificial hill.

With a clang, the artificial hill shattered, revealing a hidden box inside. The box was half a person high. West Wind opened it and saw that it was filled with account books.

Yuan Shopkeeper said from the side: "Luocheng Prefect Zhang Zhuo, four thousand taels of silver. Luocheng Assistant Magistrate Liu Xianxian, two thousand taels of silver. Luocheng Associate Magistrate Cheng Lixian, two thousand taels of silver. In addition, there are also the Prefect of Kaifeng and the Magistrate of Zheng County."

Golden Pig subconsciously glanced at Chen Ji, then looked at Yuan Shopkeeper and frowned: "Luocheng Associate Magistrate Chen Liqin is upright and incorruptible. How could he accept bribes from you? You're not falsely accusing him, are you?"

Yuan Shopkeeper laughed heartily: "Adult is joking. Crows are all black in this world. Look at the Ning Dynasty and the Jing Dynasty, where are there officials who haven't accepted bribes? But this Adult Chen always doesn't show his face and lets his family's young servants receive everything. On this account book, when, where, and who gave the bribe are all clearly marked. There are also marks on the box."

Golden Pig gave West Wind a look. West Wind immediately lit a basin of fire in the courtyard.

Just when Yuan Shopkeeper didn't understand why, Golden Pig tore off the page belonging to Chen Liqin, casually threw it towards the fire basin, and calmly said: "Chen Liqin is upright and clean. He never accepted bribes from you. Understood?"

Yuan Shopkeeper was startled, then laughed: "Understood, understood."

But before that yellowed paper page could fall into the fire basin, a skinny hand steadily caught it, folded it, and tucked it into his bosom.

Chen Ji looked towards Golden Pig: "Adult, I'll keep this page."

Golden Pig thought for a moment, then smiled: "Okay, you are indeed more ruthless than I thought. Others are fathers holding sons, but you, as a son, instead want to hold your father."

Chen Ji looked at the account book in Golden Pig's hand again: "Adult, that page of Zhang Zhuo."

Golden Pig laughed loudly: "Earlier, when I heard about you and Zhang Second Miss at Yingxian Tower, I really thought it was a rumor. But later, I sent spies to inquire and then discovered that Adult Zhang Zhuo was just using a delaying tactic, right? With this kind of relationship, of course I want to do you a favor. Help cover it up a bit."

Saying that, he actually tore off the page belonging to Zhang Zhuo.

Chen Ji didn't defend himself. Just as he was about to reach for it, Golden Pig suddenly withdrew his hand and solemnly instructed: "Now we're all brothers. I can naturally cover up some things for you, but I only have one requirement."

"Adult, please say."

"Cultivate well."

Golden Pig said seriously: "Only when you become an official early can you do more things for me early."

Chen Ji cupped his hands: "Adult, rest assured, I will definitely cultivate diligently when I go back."

Golden Pig coughed: "First rest well, then cultivate well."

Chen Ji nodded: "Understood."

Golden Pig patted that page of paper into Chen Ji's hand. Chen Ji then calmly threw the paper page towards the fire basin.

The firelight on his cheek reflected a touch of warmth.

He thought of Zhang Zhuo saying in the city gate cave, 'I have great ambition, may you assist me.'

This also counts as assisting him.

At this time, the watchman's gong sounded from outside the courtyard: "The morning chicken reports the dawn, sleep early, rise early."

It was Mao hour, sunrise.

In the distant horizon, just a touch of white appeared, and the layered clouds all scattered.

Chen Ji asked: "Adult, do you still need me today?"

Golden Pig smiled with narrowed eyes: "No, no. Go back and get a good sleep. When you wake up, then think about how to step into the threshold of cultivation. If there are no major matters these few days, I won't come looking for you."

"Your subordinate takes his leave."

Chen Ji walked towards the outside. When he was out of the courtyard, he suddenly started running wildly.

An ox cart was stopped in front of the Zhixing Academy on Anxi Street. A car driver wearing a straw hat was lowering his head and feeding a handful of grass to the old yellow ox.

Some luggage was placed on the long board cart, as if they were going far.

Beside the ox cart, White Carp was standing on tiptoe, looking towards the end of the long street, searching for a familiar figure.

World Son leaned against the door frame and lazily said: "This Anxi Street, you can see the end with one glance. You can't see any farther even if you stand on tiptoe."

White Carp angrily said: "Liu Quxing said Chen Ji went out yesterday afternoon and still hasn't come back. Aren't you worried that something happened to him?"

World Son yawned: "This kid is mysterious day by day. I'm already used to it. With his skill, even some secret agents can't do anything to him. What could possibly happen to him? Don't worry, he'll be able to catch up soon."

White Carp said: "The key is that he hasn't received the news that Mr. Wang wants to take us to Lu Hun Manor for a study tour. He hasn't even prepared his luggage."

While the two were talking, Zhang Xia walked out from inside the academy and asked curiously: "Is Chen Ji late again?"

White Carp rolled her eyes at him: "Something definitely delayed him."

Chen Wenxiao also walked out the door: "He had something yesterday, and he has something again today. He's a medical hall apprentice. Where does he get important matters every day? As his friends, you should also advise him well. Since he has the opportunity to follow Mr. Wang to learn, he should cherish it."

Mr. Wang, wearing a blue scholar's robe, slowly walked out from inside the door and calmly asked: "Has Chen Ji still not arrived?"

White Carp was a little awkward: "Replying to Mr., something definitely delayed Chen Ji. He is definitely not intentionally late."

Chen Wenxiao cupped his hands and bowed: "Mr., if not, let's not wait for him. With the speed of the ox cart, if we delay for too long, I fear we won't make it to Yichuan County city before sunset. Additionally, this child is stubborn and unenlightened. Mr. doesn't need to waste time on him."

Chen Wenzong frowned: "Shut your mouth."

Mr. Wang's expression didn't change. He just said flatly: "As a teacher, one teaches tirelessly. How can I give up on a disciple just because he is stubborn once? Let's wait a little longer."

Saying that, he put his hands behind his back and waited quietly.

A running sound came from the distance. The crowd looked and saw Chen Ji appearing at the end of the long street, running wildly all the way.

When Chen Ji arrived in front of the academy door, he bent at the waist, supporting his knees with both hands, and panted violently: "Mr., sorry, I'm late."

Mr. Wang didn't immediately question him but said to White Carp: "Go, fetch him a cup of water."

White Carp ran into the backyard like the wind. When she ran out again, she was holding a wooden cup and held it out to Chen Ji: "Quickly drink some water."

Mr. Wang said casually: "You just ran so hard. Don't drink it down directly. It's better to rinse your mouth. In my early years, when I was suppressing the rebellion in Jiangzhou, I had soldiers under my command who drank water and died while marching in a hurry."

Chen Ji straightened his body and rinsed his mouth.

Mr. Wang didn't ask anything this time, just instructed: "Other people sit in the cart, you walk behind and follow."

Saying that, he got on the ox cart without looking back.

Chen Ji looked at White Carp and asked in surprise: "Where are we going?"

White Carp explained: "Lu Hun Manor in Song County is holding a literary meeting. At that time, the high monks of Tuoluosi Temple, the Daoists from the Dao Court of Laojun Mountain, and some literati from the South will all attend. Mr. Wang wants to take us to experience it."

She took out a small cloth package from her luggage and handed it to Chen Ji: "You haven't had breakfast yet, right? Inside are the pastries I brought. Quickly eat something to fill yourself up. Today we have to walk over forty li to settle in Yichuan County city. It's not good to be hungry."

Chen Ji thought for a moment and said: "I need to tell Mr. Wang that I might not be able to follow him to learn."

White Carp was a little startled: "This is also good. If you really don't like learning classics, it's fine not to learn."

Chen Ji walked towards the ox cart, but saw that the car driver suddenly stepped forward quickly and pulled him to one side: "Boy, persist a little longer. The silver from the Household Department will be approved soon. Wait until the border army has cotton gloves, then it won't be too late for you to withdraw from school."

Chen Ji and White Carp then saw the car driver's appearance under the straw hat and said in surprise: "Dad."

"Wang Ye?"