Chapter 195: Chen Mansion

The heavy vermillion gate of the Chen mansion was slowly pulled open from the inside, leaving a narrow gap.

A small servant looked out from the gap, saw it was Chen Ji, and immediately closed the large gate again.

Chen Ji didn't urge them, only waited quietly in front of the gate.

He heard the small servant shouting from behind the door: "Steward, steward! The third young master is back, what should we do?"

Footsteps echoed from inside the door. The steward frowned: "How many times have I told you all, there are only two young masters inside the Chen mansion, where did a third young master come from?"

A moment later, the vermillion gate opened again, just wide enough for one person. The steward stood inside the gap, sizing Chen Ji up and down.

Finally, his gaze fell on the blue bundle on Chen Ji's shoulder: "You... why are you back?"

Chen Ji asked calmly: "Have the rules of the Chen mansion changed? When a Chen family member wants to return to their own home, do they still need to get the agreement of a subordinate?"

The steward's face changed: "It's not about getting my agreement. Originally, the Old Master sent you to the medical hall as an apprentice. Now you want to return, so you must at least ask the Old Master?"

Chen Ji pressed his back against the beast head on the large gate, lightly using force to push the gate open.

The steward had originally wanted to block the gate, but he was almost pushed off balance by the force of the opening door.

Chen Ji walked straight inside. The steward staggered to regain his balance, got up and tried to pull his arm: "How can you just rush inside? The Old Master isn't home. Whether you can return to the Chen mansion is something you must ask the Old Master about first!"

However, just at this moment, a voice came from the front hall: "What's all this noise early in the morning? This is the Assistant Magistrate of Luò City's residence, not a marketplace tile shed."

The small servants froze. Chen Ji looked up and saw a middle-aged woman wearing a purple stand-collar robe. A pure gold full crown was on her head, inlaid with a sun-green jade pick heart at the center of the full crown. Glass-like green and white interspersed top hairpins were inserted at the top of her hair bun. Even Jing Fei seldom dressed so formally on a daily basis.

Chen Ji had only seen this kind of meticulous, exquisite head ornament on Yun Fei.

This was Chen Li Qin's first wife, the Liang clan.

Chen Ji turned around and bowed respectfully: "Big Mother."

The Liang clan stood on the steps of the main hall, looking at him with a smile: "You've finally returned. It's just that after two years away, why have you become so distant? You used to call me mother, but now you only call me Big Mother. If this gets out, people outside will truly think our mother and son are estranged, and they'll also laugh at our Chen mansion for having no rules."

In the Ning dynasty, there was a difference between legitimate and illegitimate children. An illegitimate son could only address his birth mother as "aunt," and had to address his legitimate mother as "mother."

Just these two words, Chen Ji could not possibly utter them, no matter what. Other matters he could endure, but not this one.

He only saw him bow again and change the subject: "Big Mother, the Jing Wang mansion has already been sealed, and the Tai Ping medical hall can't stay open either. I plan to return home, study classics and meanings with my elder brother, and wait for the next imperial examination."

The Liang clan saw that he was unwilling to change his address and wasn't angry. She raised her arm, and a maidservant immediately supported her: "Listening to Wen Xiao say you've now reformed yourself is naturally good, but you've already studied medicine for two years, wouldn't it be a pity to abandon it halfway? It just so happens I heard that Imperial Physician Qiao from the Imperial Medical Bureau is looking for an apprentice, how about..."

As she spoke, a carriage slowly stopped outside the door. The wooden wheels pressed on the bluestone road, making a loud grinding sound.

Chen Ji turned his head and saw Chen Li Qin, wearing his red official robe, lift the carriage curtain and get down with the help of the coachman.

Officials in the Ning dynasty went to the yamen before the sky was bright in the Mao time, and waited until the Si time, when they would finish their official business and return home for lunch.

As Chen Li Qin stepped into the doorway, he looked up and saw Chen Ji and the bundle on his shoulder. His eyes lit up: "When did you return? You ran off to who knows where during these chaotic days in Luò City with soldiers and horses, it worried me quite a bit."

Chen Ji smiled and bowed: "I was just in the Tai Ping medical hall, I didn't go anywhere."

Chen Li Qin was slightly startled: "Is that so? Then you are now..."

Chen Ji explained: "The Jing Wang mansion and the Tai Ping medical hall are being sealed. I plan to return home to prepare for the next imperial examination." "Good, good, good," Chen Li Qin said "good" three times in succession, pulling Chen Ji's arm and walking inside: "It's right for you to think this way. Studying medicine is ultimately a minor path. Being able to thoroughly read classics and meanings and guard a region in the future is what a great man should do. After a few days, I'll send a letter to Dong Lin Academy and discuss the matter of you entering the school with the mountain chief."

Just as Chen Li Qin pulled Chen Ji inside, the Liang clan said from the side: "Old Master, this matter can be planned over time. Chen Ji has just returned to the mansion, so don't nag him about studying first. He's been watching the coming and going of the Liu family soldiers at the Wang mansion, and must have eaten and slept poorly. Your concubine will first arrange his living quarters and let him rest well."

Chen Li Qin suddenly realized and quickly instructed the steward: "I remember when Mrs. Liang's younger brother came some time ago, Ming Quan Garden was tidied up. Now that he's gone, it's just right for Chen Ji to live there. Wang Gui, arrange for Chen Ji to settle in Ming Quan Garden." The Liang clan chuckled from the side: "Old Master, you're confused. Ming Quan Garden is for temporary guests, it's too far from the main house. We must arrange Chen Ji next to Wen Zong and Wen Xiao, so the three brothers can be close and help each other with any difficulties in their studies. It will also be convenient for Wen Zong and Wen Xiao to help him solve problems."

Chen Li Qin stroked his beard, appearing thoughtful: "That makes sense."

The Liang clan instructed the steward: "Wang Gui, lead Chen Ji to settle in Ting Quan Garden."

Chen Li Qin sighed: "Madam still considers things thoroughly. I rely on you in the household." The Liang clan smiled: "Old Master overpraises me."

In front of the gate of Ting Quan Garden, the steward, with a smile, removed the padlock hanging on the door and pushed open the gate leaves.

Inside the small courtyard, there were piles of miscellaneous items from the mansion. Tiles and green bricks used for repairing the residence were stacked in two rows. More than ten buckets of tung oil used for wood preservation were also placed there.

The steward's mouth curved slightly, and he turned his head to look at Chen Ji proudly: "Please, Third Young Master, you'll live here from now on."

However, Chen Ji didn't mind. He walked in by himself, pushing open the door to the main room.

Inside the room were piled old tables, chairs, and benches discarded from the mansion. On the bare bed board, documents from the Luò City government office were stacked high.

He reached out and wiped the table, wiping up a thick layer of dust.

The steward said casually: "If you're not satisfied with this living place, you can go talk to the Madam. This matter is not for me to decide." Chen Ji said casually: "This is quite good."

"Hmm?" The steward was startled: "What did you say?"

Chen Ji said with a smile: "I said this is quite good, it's quiet, just a bit dirty."

The steward quickly said: "There was a soldier disaster in Luò City a few days ago. The small servants have been busy cleaning the messy places in the mansion these past few days, so there's no way to assign someone to tidy up for you."

Chen Ji looked at him deeply: "It's fine, I'll clean it myself."

The steward was a bit uneasy, not knowing what scheme Chen Ji had in mind. He walked a few steps outside with half-belief and half-doubt: "But you said this yourself. If the Old Master asks, you can't blame..."

Chen Ji laughed: "Rest assured, it's good to have a place to live. I'm grateful, I don't have time for anything else."

The steward was even more uneasy, lowering his head and thinking if Chen Ji still had some hidden motive. This Chen Ji had been out of the mansion for two years, and his return made people ponder a bit.

While thinking, a small servant ran to the gate of Ting Quan Garden and said: "Steward, the Old Master sent me to ask if the Third Young Master's living quarters have been arranged. If so, lead him back to the main hall. The Old Master said he has some matters to instruct him about before lunch."

The steward answered in a loud voice: "It's arranged, he's just going now!"

In the back hall of the Chen mansion, a plaque hung above, with the three gold-lacquered characters "Respect the Teacher's Way" written on it.

The left couplet read: "Though poor to the bone, there is still a way to live, better to starve to death than not read books."

The right couplet read: "Learning is never enough, one needs a hundred kinds of temper, understanding literature is like achieving good fortune."

Chen Ji looked up, lifted the hem of his clothes, and stepped over the threshold.

Inside the back hall, Chen Li Qin and the Liang clan sat on grandmaster chairs. Chen Wen Zong and Chen Wen Xiao sat in the lower positions.

Chen Wen Zong saw Chen Ji and immediately got up joyfully: "You've finally decided to come back? No wonder father said there was a big matter at home and quickly called us over."

Chen Wen Xiao sat on the chair, pouting and saying: "You used to say you would never come back."

Chen Wen Zong frowned and turned his head to low drink at Chen Wen Xiao: "Shut your mouth!"

Chen Wen Xiao shrank his neck and didn't speak again.

"Cough," Chen Li Qin cleared his throat: "Today I called you all here to instruct you brothers three, that you should be of one heart and one mind from now on, with no more barriers. As the saying goes, close brothers are like tigers, and father and son soldiers go into battle together. When I am gone, the court will still need you three brothers to guard and help each other. Others are not truly reliable."

Chen Wen Zong quickly bowed: "Father is right, Wen Zong will certainly keep it in mind."

Chen Ji said with a smile: "I will certainly learn well from my elder brother and take him as a model."

Chen Li Qin looked at Chen Wen Xiao and said in a deep voice: "And you?"

Chen Wen Xiao sat in the chair, unwilling to say: "Me too."

Chen Li Qin said angrily: "Sit up straight! You have no standing posture, no sitting posture! I see you are still not as good as Chen Ji now!"

Chen Wen Xiao opened his mouth but couldn't say anything for a long time.

At this time, the Liang clan placed the teacup in her hand on the table and said: "Right, Chen Ji, I heard rumors in the market that you, the World Son, and the County Mistress, among others, worked together on the cement matter, and that you can get a dividend every year from the newly established Engineering Preparations Bureau. Is this true?"

Chen Ji didn't change his expression: "Where did Big Mother hear this?"

Chen Wen Xiao scoffed: "Liu Qu Xing from your Tai Ping medical hall even went home and said it. For this big joyous occasion, his family even specifically held a banquet to entertain relatives and friends. What, you still don't want to admit it?"

Chen Ji laughed: "There's nothing to admit or not admit, this matter is true. I indeed get two thousand five hundred taels of silver from the Engineering Preparations Bureau every year."

"How much?" Chen Wen Xiao suddenly stood up: "Liu Qu Xing only gets a few hundred taels, why do you get so much?"

Chen Ji closed his mouth and didn't answer.

The Liang clan smiled gently, turned her head to Chen Li Qin and said: "Thinking of this matter today suddenly, my heart is a bit worried. Young people like to play. Chen Ji has gambled before. Now that he has finally found his way back, your concubine body is worried that if he has too much money in his hands, he will get confused again and make a big mistake."

Without waiting for Chen Li Qin to speak, the Liang clan continued: "Old Master, it is very difficult for Chen Ji to return as a prodigal son now. It is precisely the time for him to bury his head in hard study. He absolutely cannot be allowed to get involved in bad habits again. Your concubine body thinks this way: Chen Ji should deposit this sum of silver into the Chen mansion's public fund. Your concubine body will not touch it. If Chen Ji needs silver, he can come and report to take it. After he passes the official examination, your concubine body will give him all the silver at once."

Chen Li Qin seemed thoughtful. Having too much money in hand for young people was indeed easy to lead to bad habits.

He glanced sideways at Chen Ji, unsure how to speak for a moment.

His son had just returned to the mansion. If he suddenly demanded the other party take out so much silver, it might anger the other party into leaving again.

And Chen Ji was very clear that this legitimate mother of his was not trying to plot his silver.

Although two thousand five hundred taels was a lot, it was not too tempting for the Assistant Magistrate of Luò City. Furthermore, Chen Li Qin was not an ordinary Assistant Magistrate. The Chen family tree was big and its roots were deep, how could they lack money?

The Liang clan said these words to drive him away again. In the strange and heavy atmosphere, Chen Wen Xiao suddenly said: "Father, I feel that mother is not wrong. If Chen Ji hadn't had those bad habits before, now that he has learned from past mistakes, he absolutely cannot be allowed to keep the silver in his hands. This is also for his own good."

Chen Li Qin thought about it again and again, then raised his head to look at Chen Ji: "What do you think?"

Chen Ji smiled: "Big Mother is thoughtful, I have no objections." As the words fell, a small servant stumbled in, almost tripping over the brick seam in the courtyard as he ran: "Old Master, it's not good!"

Chen Li Qin's face sank: "Panic, panic, what kind of behavior is this? The sky hasn't fallen yet!"

The small servant stood outside the door, his face ashen as he reported: "Old Master, there are eunuchs outside the door. They claim to be Jiao Tu and Yun Yang from the Secret Spy Department!"

Chen Li Qin suddenly stood up: "What? Who came?"

"Jiao Tu and Yun Yang!"

Chen Li Qin's body swayed slightly. He always had a lingering worry in his heart: the document about the rebel thief he had written for Mister Feng, its whereabouts were still unknown. If that seal of rebellion document fell into the hands of the faction, he would be guilty of the same crime as the Liu family!