Chapter 164: Escape

Entrusting an orphan is the most profound trust between men.

A person holds something as precious as their life, solemnly entrusting it to another.

From that moment on, regardless of war, disease, poverty, or wealth, that other person will cross a thousand miles of blade mountain and a thousand miles of fire sea without hesitation.

Is it worth it? Is it reasonable?

No one considered worth or reasonableness.

At the Eight Immortals table, Chen Ji and Jing Wang looked at each other in silence.

It wasn't until the waiter at Fu Lou Teahouse placed the tea, preserved fruit, and melon seeds between them that the heavy atmosphere eased.

After the waiter retreated, Chen Ji picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for Jing Wang. "Your Highness, why me?"

Jing Wang picked up his teacup and took a shallow sip. "In terms of strength, you haven't even reached Innate. Under my command, there are many people more powerful than you. In terms of wisdom, although your mind is quick, you are not someone who can plan a thousand miles ahead."

Jing Wang continued, "But you seem different from others. You worked hard to make cement, and you distributed the dividends as soon as you said you would. When others avoided civil unrest, you said you would jump in and jumped. In Dragon King Village, where it was nine deaths and one life, you didn't escape alone. Sometimes, I'm not sure if you are clever or foolish."

Chen Ji remained silent.

Jing Wang stared at the remaining tea in his cup, then glanced sideways at Chen Ji. "Leaving so much wealth to Bai Li might not be a good thing for her. Although I really don't want to praise you, and I'm even a little annoyed with you now, this king has to admit, if I changed to someone else to protect her, I wouldn't be at ease. If it's you, it's still acceptable!"

Chen Ji asked, puzzled, "Why does Your Highness annoy me?"

Jing Wang grabbed a handful of melon seeds and looked at Chen Ji. "Think about it yourself."

Chen Ji didn't dwell on this question but asked casually, "Doesn't Your Highness plan a little for the heir apparent? You haven't mentioned the heir apparent from beginning to end!"

Jing Wang was silent for a moment. "He has his own path to walk!"

Chen Ji thought for a long time, finally mustering the courage to ask, "What exactly is Your Highness planning to do? Why entrust the orphan? What role is Your Highness playing in this change of the Liu family? Are you suppressing the rebellion or plotting rebellion?"

Jing Wang didn't answer the question, only calmly said, "The storyteller has arrived. Let's listen to the storytelling!"

At this moment, a middle-aged man with white hair was seen below the stage, fiercely taking a puff from his pipe, then knocking out all the ash in the pipe bowl with the sole of his shoe.

He slowly walked to the front of the desk, heavily struck the gavel, and his opening words resonated, "Life in the world, day after day, sun and moon are like a shuttle, year after year. Rich families, they have and have, poor people, cold cold cold. Rise in official position and get rich, get get get. Two legs kick, complete complete complete."

"Storytelling and opera advise people to be upright, walk the central three great roads. Good and evil will finally have their reward, the true path of humanity is full of vicissitudes."

"Words say Jia Ning thirty-first year, in winter, at Lu Hun Mountain Villa, the Buddha and Dao debated scriptures. A young man suddenly appeared, sitting in the middle of the yin-yang fish, questioning the Buddha's disciples, if there is no self, who is in reincarnation, who needs liberation?"

Chen Ji was astonished. This segment of storytelling immediately pushed him to the opposite side of the Buddha gate from the start, fundamentally giving no room for reversal.

Jing Wang, cracking melon seeds, gloated, "Surprised? Now in An Le Street, nineteen of the twenty-one teahouses are telling this story. The script was written by a master. As long as the storyteller Mister tells it once, he can get a hundred wen copper coins."

Chen Ji was startled in his heart. This was someone trying to borrow his scripture debate to ruin the reputation of the Buddha gate. "Who did it? No need to ask, it must be the work of the Dao Court!"

"Guess right!"

Jing Wang chuckled, "After the scripture debate, Zhang Li led a group of young Daoists from Lao Jun Mountain Dao Court to Luo City. They stayed at Ying Xian Inn and wrote the script overnight. They not only spent money to have storytellers tell the story but also found bookshops to print the script."

Chen Ji frowned.

Jing Wang threw down a melon seed shell and laughed happily, "I guess at the latest in two months, storytellers all over Jiangnan and the north will be telling your scripture debate story once a day. By then, when the Buddha gate hears the name Chen Ji, they will have a headache. Eh, you don't seem panicked at all?"

Chen Ji lowered his head and felt the furnace fire in his body clearly jumping frantically.

The Dao Court was using him to suppress the momentum of the Buddha gate, yet he also benefited from it.

If it was truly as Jing Wang said, and this story spread throughout Jiangnan and the north in the future, perhaps his furnace fire could use this to transform into a bright yellow color.

"Little boy, what are you thinking about? Aren't you afraid the Buddha gate will trip you up?"

Chen Ji looked up and said, "Your Highness, I should first survive this current disaster. Now the Liu family regards me as a thorn in their eye and a thorn in their flesh. It's not yet the turn for the Buddha gate to be unfavorable towards me."

Jing Wang sighed, "You indeed have many debts and no pressure!"

As the words fell, the sound of neat military footsteps came from outside Fu Lou Teahouse. The tea guests inside rushed out to look, only to see a team of light armored infantry, holding long halberds, passing by from outside.

Chen Ji's pupils slightly shrank. The Liu family army had entered the city.

He turned his head to look at Jing Wang. "Your Highness?"

"Once the Liu family no longer hides their private army, everything will be out in the open. Let's go, it's time to go back!"

Jing Wang stood up and walked out.

Before going out, Jing Wang turned back to look at the storyteller inside the teahouse. The light from outside projected from behind him, and he seemed to be standing in his own shadow.

"Young man, how do you think the later storytelling stories will talk about me?"

Chen Ji gazed at Jing Wang's outline. "Your Highness, that depends on how you choose!!!"

Noon!

The winter sunlight was just right.

Old Man Yao was covered with a blanket and sat in a bamboo lounge chair by the front door, swaying back and forth, resting with his eyes closed.

She Deng Ke, Liu Qu Xing, and Liang Mao Er sat on small stools in the courtyard, using scissors to cut the complete medicinal herbs into small segments.

The next moment, Feng Da Ban rushed into the medical hall in a flurry, leading the Wang Fu guards, finally stopping in front of Old Man Yao's lounge chair.

He lowered his head to look at Old Man Yao and said in a soft voice, "Imperial Physician Yao, where is His Highness?"

Old Man Yao lifted his eyelids and slowly swept him with a glance. "His Highness is resting at noon at this time, it's better not to disturb him. She Deng Ke, have some sense, go get a chair for Feng Da Ban."

Feng Da Ban frowned. "His Highness isn't inside anymore?"

Old Man Yao sat in the lounge chair by the front door, unmoving, and said with a surprised expression, "Where else could His Highness be if he's not inside? You've already sent soldiers to completely surround Tai Ping Medical Hall. Can His Highness fly away? I confirmed yesterday when I administered needles for His Highness that His Highness did not grow wings."

Feng Da Ban looked at the thick cotton door curtain and always felt something was wrong. "Imperial Physician Yao, excuse me."

Having said that.

He waved his hand towards the guards. "Please move Imperial Physician Yao to the side."

Several guards surged forward, making a gesture to lift Imperial Physician Yao's bamboo lounge chair away. Liang Mao Er stood up and shouted angrily, "Stop!"

Yet he saw Liang Mao Er's burly figure rush forward, and with a casual pull, he pulled the guards into a tumble.

Feng Da Ban wasn't angry, only said lightly, "Imperial Physician Yao, you should tell him to stop. This official is also thinking for His Highness's safety and cannot delay."

However, just at this moment, Chen Ji supported Jing Wang as he walked out of the room. Jing Wang said weakly, "Feng Da Ban, what happened?"

Feng Da Ban hurriedly bowed and saluted. "Your Highness, this official has come to escort you back to the residence!"

Jing Wang said curiously, "Feng Da Ban usually has the appearance of being as steady as Mount Tai, how is he so urgent and fiery today!"

Feng Da Ban glanced at She Deng Ke and the others, then turned his head to Jing Wang and said, "Your Highness, this is not the place to speak!"

Jing Wang smiled. "But speak without harm!"

Feng Da Ban took a deep breath. "Your Highness, the Liu family's private army from the Yan Shi great camp has already entered the city. They just completely surrounded the Luo City government office, and they are coming towards An Xi Street! The Liu family seems to be rebelling!"

In the courtyard, She Deng Ke, Liu Qu Xing, and Liang Mao Er exchanged glances.

Liu Qu Xing's face was like earth. "Wasn't it still peaceful yesterday? Why are they rebelling today?"

She Deng Ke muttered, "What are you afraid of!"

Liu Qu Xing cursed, "This is a great crime that will exterminate nine clans. I'm damn it right within the nine clans. Do you think I'm afraid or not? Raised by a dog mother. Usually, I don't get half of the Liu family's benefits, but when something happens, I have to be implicated by them."

She Deng Ke was stunned. Only now did he realize that if the Liu family's rebellion failed, Liu Qu Xing would also be implicated and beheaded. "Then... then what if the Liu family succeeds?"

Liu Qu Xing subconsciously glanced at Jing Wang, then quickly twisted She Deng Ke's arm and whispered, "What nonsense are you talking about!!!"

Feng Da Ban didn't pay attention to the two's conversation. He heard the sound of horse hooves already ringing in the distance and said earnestly again, "Your Highness, time is short, you should first follow this official back to Wang Fu. Wait until we send people to take the tiger tally and bring the Wan Sui Army, perhaps there is still a chance to salvage the situation!"

Jing Wang thought for a moment. "Let's go. Back to the residence!"

At this time, Chen Ji suddenly said to Old Man Yao, "Master, Your Highness's illness cannot be without you, how about we also go to Wang Fu together?"

Old Man Yao frowned and thought for a moment, then agreed. "Good!"

Having said that, several people neatly packed their things and followed Jing Wang out.

When they reached the door, everyone turned back to look, only to see a team of soldiers riding horses coming, getting closer and closer.

She Deng Ke said in horror, "Quick, quick! They're rushing towards Wang Fu."

However, Chen Ji seemed to have just remembered something. "Master, you all go first, I forgot to bring something!"

She Deng Ke turned back as he walked, only to see Chen Ji disappear into Tai Ping Medical Hall.

He said angrily, "Chen Ji, hurry and follow us! What are you taking at this time? What is more important than life?"

She Deng Ke stopped and waited for several breaths, but he never received a response from Chen Ji.

A moment later, he gritted his teeth and went to find Chen Ji, but he was grasped by the wrist by Imperial Physician Yao and forcibly pulled into Jing Wang Fu.

Before entering Wang Fu, he suddenly discovered that the first team of cavalry leading the way did not rush towards Wang Fu, but first completely surrounded Tai Ping Medical Hall.

Everyone suddenly realized that these people were actually targeting Chen Ji.

In front of the Tai Ping Medical Hall door, the Liu family soldiers dismounted, drew their waist knives, and rushed in with surging killing intent to search everywhere!

The kitchen, bedroom, and main room were all empty.

A soldier stood in the middle of the main room, frowning and looking around. He had clearly seen Chen Ji return to the medical hall with his own eyes just now, how could he vanish into thin air?

As he was thinking, his gaze fell on the bed.

The next moment, the soldier pulled open the bed, revealing the dark tunnel below!

"Ran? Chase..."