Chapter 223: Surprise

A five-hundred-li urgent imperial edict disrupted all plans. Zhang Zhuo lowered his head, looking at the Secret Service's 'Patrol Ivory Card' in his hand. Engraved on it were the words, "Patrol on behalf of Heaven, report major matters for decision, decide minor matters on the spot."

He naturally knew this was an ivory card only a Hai Dongqing could wear. Above that was the "Court Attendance Ivory Card" for the Twelve Zodiacs, which allowed entry and exit from the Forbidden City, as well as the East and West Six Palaces. It was rumored that the top three Zodiacs had separate ivory cards, which outsiders had not had the fortune to see.

Seeing that there were no outsiders present, Zhang Zhuo weighed the ivory card in his hand and let out a light sigh. "Chen Ji, I just told Master Chen that those were not drunken words."

Chen Ji asked in a low voice, "Master Zhang is worried about the succession?"

Zhang Zhuo shook his head. "It involves the Jin Party and the border army, so it's no longer just a simple matter of succession. It's an intertwining of various contradictions between the court and the border towns, the Jin Party and the Donglin Party. If you're not in it, you'll never see clearly. Things you can't see clearly, try not to touch."

Zhang Zhuo continued to lower his voice. "I haven't dealt with the Crown Prince, so I don't know his character. Everyone says he has a benevolent heart and is praised by great scholars. In this world, having a benevolent heart is a weakness. This kind of person wanting to investigate the border army's killing of talents will only harm the people around him."

Chen Ji lowered his head and thought for a long time, finally saying softly, "I understand everything Master Zhang said, but I have reasons why I must go."

"Alright then," Zhang Zhuo instructed. "Gu Yuan has an old acquaintance of mine. I'll write a letter for you. If you encounter matters you cannot resolve, go find him. He should be able to get you out of Gu Yuan."

Chen Ji solemnly cupped his hands and bowed. "Many thanks, Master Zhang."

Zhang Zheng, who was standing beside them, suddenly said, "Father, I also want to follow Chen Ji..."

Zhang Zhuo calmly said, "Get out."

Zhang Zheng replied, "Oh."

Zhang Xia pulled Zhang Zheng towards the post station. "Brother, just don't cause trouble for Father. We still have to hurry back to the capital for New Year's Eve."

Chen Ji asked, "Miss Zhang Er is leaving tomorrow. You'll return Date Date to me, right?"

Zhang Xia waved her hand without looking back. "No need, no need. I'll lend him to you for now."

Zhang Zhuo looked at his children's backs and sighed. "If this boy were half as sensible as Ah Xia, that would be good... Go back and rest early."

Upon returning to the room, he saw Xiao Man sitting in front of the eight immortals table, dozing with her hand supporting her chin.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, she groggily got up. "Young Master, you're finally back. I'll go call the post station attendant to bring some water so you can wash your face with hot water."

Chen Ji smiled and said, "Don't trouble yourself. I can do it myself. Where's Su Zhou? Did she eat?"

Xiao Man rubbed her eyes. "She's still hiding in the box inside the carriage. She said there are still Secret Service people at the back of this post station, and she doesn't want to come out and risk it. She's eaten. I gave her some snacks when no one was around."

Chen Ji hummed in acknowledgment. "Tomorrow I'm going to Gu Yuan with the Chen family. You'll go to the capital with the Zhang family then. On the road, listen to Miss Zhang Er's arrangements and don't be willful."

Xiao Man suddenly widened her eyes. "Young Master, are you driving me away?"

Chen Ji explained, "I'm not driving you away. Master Zhang said that place in Gu Yuan is a mixed bag, not peaceful. Not letting you go is also for your own good."

A light flickered in Xiao Man's eyes. "Then you should take me even more. This way, someone can take care of you."

Chen Ji said casually, "You're a little maid, what can you take care of? If you were an official, I would take you, but you're not."

Xiao Man was speechless. "I... anyway, someone needs to take care of you."

Chen Ji said without question, "You go with the Zhang family, take good care of Su Zhou, and escort her to the capital. That's all."

Xiao Man reluctantly said, "Oh. Young Master, when you go to Gu Yuan, remember to visit Aunt's grave and pull out some weeds for her. If possible, maybe you can see for yourself if what Mama Li said is true or not."

Chen Ji was slightly startled. The Lu family's grave was in Gu Yuan?

His mind raced. This Gu Yuan was a place where the Ning and Jing dynasties were intertwined. Since there was an inn that could send people to the Jing dynasty, presumably there were also means to send people from the Jing dynasty into the Ning dynasty.

Perhaps Lu Jin and his sister from the Lu family had entered the Ning dynasty from here initially, forged household registers, and transformed into people from Gu Yuan. The Ning dynasty emphasized returning to one's roots after death, so after the Lu family's death, Chen Li Qin would have them sent back to Gu Yuan for burial.

Linking this to the previous saying about the 'empty coffin,' Chen Ji's heart was filled with surprise and doubt. Could it be that the Lu family hadn't actually died initially, but had escaped from Gu Yuan using the opportunity and returned to the Jing dynasty?

But if so, why wouldn't Si Cao Gui know the other was still alive?

Chen Ji had a mind to ask for the specific location of the grave, but he couldn't bring himself to speak. This was something he should have known originally, and asking about it would likely immediately arouse Xiao Man's suspicion.

Chen Ji said as if nothing was wrong, "It's a pity she entrusted herself to the wrong person. Even in death, she can't be buried with the Chen family."

Xiao Man sighed. "Indeed. But according to Aunt's character, she would only be unwilling to be buried with those corrupt scholars from the Chen family. If they were buried together, it might just be lively. Aunt could point at their Chen family ancestors' noses underground every day and scold them..."

Wu Yun said solemnly, "Fierce, fierce!"

Early the next morning, the guest room at the post station was warm and cozy. Xiao Man was sitting on a small stool, dozing, with saliva flowing down to her knees.

Chen Ji quietly got up and didn't wake her.

He went directly to the stable in the backyard and led out Date Date, taking a coarse-toothed comb to comb its fur. Date Date felt comfortable and rubbed its head against Chen Ji's shoulder.

A voice came from not far away, "Third Brother is awake really early."

Chen Ji turned his head and saw Chen Wen Zong, draped in a white fox fur, standing on the steps of the post station, like a noble young master who had walked out of a storyteller's tale.

Chen Ji cupped his hands and bowed. "Elder Brother."

Chen Wen Zong's eyebrows and eyes held a hint of a smile. "You call Father Master Chen, but you're still willing to call me Elder Brother."

Chen Ji smiled. "Elder Brother is of noble character and deserves to be called Elder Brother."

Chen Wen Zong hesitated for a moment. "Father actually..."

Before he finished speaking, Chen Ji was already leading Date Date towards the front gate of the post station.

At the front of the post station, the escorts were already awake before dawn. One person was holding a bowl of mutton soup, squatting by the post station door with hot steamed buns. They took a bite of the bun and a mouthful of soup, drinking until their bodies were warm before getting up to harness the oxen and horses and lead the ox carts and horse carts out of the yard.

The post station clerk pointed at the ground and scolded, "Pick up all the cow dung and horse dung on the ground for me, otherwise next time you come, there won't even be a place in the stable!"

Escort Leader Liang quickly apologized with a smile. "We'll pick it up!"

Chen Wen Zong looked at the backs of the escorts and sighed. "The escorts squat together early in the morning to drink a mouthful of hot soup and eat a mouthful of steamed bun. This kind of market life scene has a good sense of vitality. Seeing them eat suddenly makes me feel very hungry. I didn't feel much appetite when I had fine clothes and rich food at home before. Third Brother, do you want a bowl of mutton soup too?"

Chen Ji, while combing Date Date's fur, teased, "Elder Brother, the escorts huddled in the stable all night. If they don't drink some hot soup in the morning, their toes are ice cold. That mutton soup base only has two thin slices of mutton. If they hear you say this, I'm afraid they'll be eager to exchange with you and eat the fine clothes and rich food you mentioned under carved beams and painted rafters."

Chen Wen Zong was startled and, after a moment, sincerely said, "I've learned a lesson... Third Brother must have endured many hardships outside these past two years. It's good to be back home."

Chen Ji glanced at him. "Not really."

Just then, Chen Li Qin and the Liang family had already gotten into the horse cart, avoiding another encounter with Zhang Zhuo.

Chen Ji stood at the door, called Date Date, and grabbed a handful of soybeans from the saddlebag to feed it. Wu Yun burrowed out of Chen Ji's embrace and perched on Date Date's head, and Date Date wasn't angry.

After the Chen family convoy was already on the road, Chen Ji didn't rush to mount and set off.

He said softly to Date Date, "We'll wait a little longer. Wait for your master to say goodbye to you before we go, otherwise she'll definitely be reluctant not to see you for a month."

Chen Ji knew that Miss Zhang Er treated Date Date as a friend, so she would definitely come to say goodbye.

But he waited and waited, and watched as the Chen family convoy went further and further away, but the person he was waiting for never arrived.

"Not good!" Chen Ji suddenly realized something, flipped himself up, and urged his horse to chase after the Chen family convoy.

When he reached the Chen family convoy, he rode Date Date back and forth to check, but there were no signs of Zhang Xia or Zhang Zheng among the more than ten carts.

Chen Ji shouted to the maid named 'Han Lu' on the ox cart, "Open the box and see if there's anyone hiding inside."

Han Lu was confused. "Third Young Master, what are you talking about? The box is full of our belongings. How could there be people hiding inside?"

Chen Ji insisted, "Open it and take a look."

Han Lu did as she was told, but she had just lifted the lid of the box a crack when a hand reached out from inside and closed the lid again...

Chen Ji was speechless.

Han Lu screamed, "What is it!"

Before they could open the box to check again, they heard the sound of horse hooves from the alley beside the road.

Chen Ji turned his head and saw Zhang Xia and Zhang Zheng urging their horses to catch up.

He said in puzzlement, "What are you two doing...?"

Zhang Zheng said boldly, "We've been in Luo City for two years, and Mother won't let us brother and sister travel far. We were almost suffocated. She doesn't usually manage Big Brother and Big Sister, so why is she always managing us two like this? I secretly brought Sister out, got two good horses from the post station, and we'll go to Gu Yuan with you to take a look."

Chen Ji frowned. "That won't do."

Zhang Zheng laughed heartily. "You're not my mother, so you can't manage us brother and sister!"

Chen Ji knew that Zhang Zheng had a point. He indeed had no reason to restrain the other, so he could only give up. "Miss Zhang Er, since you're out, let's exchange horses. I'll return Date Date to you."

Zhang Xia said forthrightly, "No need. I see Date Date likes you quite a bit, so I'll lend him to you for now. You need him more than I do."

Chen Ji said thanks. Then, he suddenly thought of the hand inside the box...

Since Zhang Zheng and Zhang Xia were here, then who was inside the box?

Chen Ji calmly said to the box, "Come out yourself!"

The box slowly opened, and Xiao Man was seen supporting the lid with her right hand, squatting inside and smiling brightly. "Young Master, surprise?"

Chen Ji said in a bad mood, "Why didn't you listen to my instructions?"

Seeing his expression wasn't right, Xiao Man panicked and explained, "But you really need someone to take care of you on the road. Which family's young master doesn't bring a maid? Is a young master who doesn't bring a maid still a young master?"

Chen Ji's heart sank. Xiao Man secretly following was already a done deal, but what about Su Zhou? Su Zhou had insisted on hiding in the Chen family's team to see if he was someone from Jing Wang Manor, but now both he and Xiao Man had left...

Was Su Zhou the only person in that horse cart?

At this moment, the driver was driving Chen Ji's horse cart following behind the Zhang family convoy.

As the cart swayed, a faint voice came from the wooden box inside. "Can I come out? It's very stuffy inside."

"Can I come out?"

"Give me a word!"

"Speak, dead girl!"