Chapter 237: Entering the White Tiger Hall

Kuche Street was already lively by evening. The dancing girls, unafraid of the cold, seemed to change into light, thin gauze and leaned against the railings. When guests arrived, they would throw down handkerchiefs from upstairs. The fragrant handkerchiefs, carried by the wind, landed directly on the heads of pedestrians. The pedestrians would take the handkerchiefs off their heads, and when they looked up, they would see a glimpse of white skin.

Chen Ji rode his horse out of the Dragon Gate Inn at a gallop. The dancing girls leaning against the buildings saw him and immediately threw out handkerchiefs in droves. But Zaozao was too fast. Before the handkerchiefs could fall, she had already carried Chen Ji far away. The light gauze handkerchiefs fell to the ground one by one, like flower petals scattered on the green stone slab road.

The madam of the brothel walked out, bent down, and picked up the handkerchiefs one by one, muttering angrily: "Next time, look carefully before you throw! If I see you again throwing yourselves at people who are in a hurry, you'll have to restrain your flirtatiousness!"

Chen Ji didn't know what was happening behind him. He was focused only on rushing forward with extreme urgency.

But outside Kuche Street, the merchants who had set up stalls during the day still hadn't packed up. The streets of Guyuan City were so narrow that only one or two people could pass at a time. No matter how divine Zaozao was, she couldn't run fast.

Chen Ji rode Zaozao, squeezing through the crowd, from Kuche Street to Ruo Mo Street, from Gushi Street to Xu Wei Lane. The setting sun, like blood, gradually sank behind the city wall. By the time he reached the front of the Dusi Fu, the sky was already dark.

Four large bonfires burned in front of the Dusi Fu, illuminating the three gold-embossed characters "Dusi Fu" on the gate, making them shine brightly. Dozens of border army armored soldiers patrolled around the mansion. When they saw Chen Ji approaching in a hurry, they raised their long halberds from a distance: "Dismount!"

Chen Ji leaped off his horse, led the reins closer, and said to the border army armored soldiers guarding the gate: "Generals, I have an urgent matter to report to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

The border army armored soldiers remained unmoved. One of them slowly lowered his long halberd and said with a stern face: "His Highness the Crown Prince is discussing important matters with the various generals of the Yu Lin Army. Idle and miscellaneous people are to avoid."

Chen Ji took a step forward. Several armored soldiers holding halberds crossed their long halberds in front of him and shouted angrily in unison: "Avoid!"

He frowned, considering whether to force his way in. The Dusi Fu was no ordinary place. This was originally the central army command center of the Guyuan border army. Breaking into the Dusi Fu would be considered collaborating with the enemy and plotting rebellion. Moreover, with dozens of border army soldiers in formation, he feared he wouldn't be able to break in anyway.

Chen Ji scanned his surroundings, thinking about whether he could climb in from the side. Just as he was thinking, he heard someone say: "Eh, how did the third young master of the Chen family get here?"

Chen Ji looked in the direction of the voice, and his whole body tensed up. The person who had arrived was none other than the border army armored soldier whom Zhang Xia had pointed out earlier, suspected of poisoning and killing the thirty-four members of the Chen family. The scar under his right cheek, extending from the corner of his mouth to his earlobe, was extraordinarily conspicuous.

The scar-faced border army armored soldier saw Chen Ji's gaze, subconsciously touched his scar, and explained with a smile: "This scar was left during the decisive battle at Quwu Mountain in Jia Ning's twenty-fourth year with the Jing Dynasty's Tian Ce Army. At that time, General Commander Zhou led us to kill toward the Jing Dynasty thieves' main army banner, and on the way, I was blocked by a general officer holding a knife. He chopped at me with one swing. If General Commander Zhou hadn't pulled me, half of my head would have been chopped off at that time."

Chen Ji cupped his fist: "Border army soldiers throw their heads and spill hot blood, I admire you."

The scar-faced armored soldier waved his hand: "No need to call me general, I'm just a small deputy general under General Commander Zhou. Just call me Old Wu. I don't know what matter Third Young Master Chen has. His Highness the Crown Prince is indeed discussing important matters with the Yu Lin Army. If it's not an important matter, I can relay it for you."

Chen Ji shook his head: "Sorry, this matter must be reported to His Highness in person. I must see His Highness today."

Old Wu seemed a little difficult: "But General Li Xuan specifically instructed that idle and miscellaneous people are not allowed to enter the Dusi Fu. Now even we border army armored soldiers cannot go in, we can only guard outside."

Chen Ji's heart sank. Not allowing himself to see the Crown Prince... Could it be that this Old Wu was indeed a spy of the Jing Dynasty who poisoned the thirty-four members of the Chen family, wanting to softly imprison the Crown Prince in the Dusi Fu and isolate him from the outside world?

He glanced at the sky. There wasn't much time left.

Chen Ji probed: "Old Wu, you also know my relationship with General Commander Zhou. Please accommodate me a little. I indeed have an important matter to report to His Highness..."

Old Wu interrupted: "Is it really very important?"

Chen Ji observed the opposite face: "Very important. The matter concerns the safety of Guyuan!"

Old Wu thought for a moment, then waved his hand to the armored soldiers at the gate: "Let him pass."

The border army armored soldiers received the order and neatly raised their long halberds, no longer maintaining their drawn swords and bent bows stance.

Chen Ji was startled. Just like that, he was allowed to pass?

Old Wu signaled the border army armored soldiers to push open the large gate of the Dusi Fu and reluctantly said: "Since it is an important matter, then I will break the rules for you this time. Actually, it's not that our border army wants to stop you... Young Master Chen, you will understand in a moment."

Before the large gate was fully open, Chen Ji had already stepped over the threshold and strode inside. But just as he turned the screen wall, he was blocked by a Yu Lin Army soldier. The Yu Lin Army soldier frowned and looked at Old Wu behind Chen Ji, reprimanding: "Didn't I instruct you all? This Dusi Fu is now the Crown Prince's temporary residence. Without the permission of our Yu Lin Army, no one is allowed inside! How are you on duty?"

Chen Ji subconsciously turned his head to look at Old Wu. So it wasn't the border army intentionally making things difficult for him, but the Yu Lin Army controlling the entire Dusi Fu, not allowing outsiders to enter, and not giving the border army the power to let people in.

At this time, Old Wu frowned: "Third Young Master Chen is a relative of Lord Chen. What's wrong with us letting him in? This Dusi Fu originally belongs to our Guyuan border army. General Hu moved out of the Dusi Fu out of respect for the Crown Prince. You all really regard this as your territory."

Chen Ji stood between the two people and said amicably: "Two generals, please calm your anger. This matter arose because of me, so blame me. It's just that I now have a matter of extreme urgency to report to His Highness the Crown Prince, and I cannot delay."

"What matter of extreme urgency do you have?" The Yu Lin Army soldier squinted at Chen Ji: "Didn't you all escape before? Why are you back now? What's wrong? Today you see that the Jing Dynasty army hasn't surrounded the city, so you're not afraid of being implicated? His Highness the Crown Prince is discussing important matters right now and is not convenient to see you. Go back. The Dusi Fu is not a place you should come to."

Chen Ji ignored the Yu Lin Army soldier's dismissive remarks and kept walking inside without stopping. The Yu Lin Army soldier drew his long sword from his waist and blocked Chen Ji's path: "Stop! Didn't you hear Grandpa talking to you?"

However, Chen Ji still didn't stop. When the tip of the sword was about to reach his chest, he slightly dodged, brushing past the Yu Lin Army soldier.

The Yu Lin Army soldier was suddenly enraged: "Grandson, Grandpa told you to stop!" Saying that, he turned around and kicked Chen Ji's right hip.

Chen Ji caught his ankle, and with a casual flick of his wrist, the Yu Lin Army soldier staggered backward as if he had been pushed. By the time the Yu Lin Army soldier regained his balance, he could no longer see Chen Ji in front of him. He suddenly turned around and saw Chen Ji breaking into the depths of the Dusi Fu.

The Yu Lin Army soldier wanted to chase, but Old Wu grabbed his wrist and said to Chen Ji: "Hurry up!"

The Yu Lin Army soldier struggled several times but couldn't break free from Old Wu's iron grip. He immediately roared angrily: "Assassin! Catch the assassin!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a single stone stirred up a thousand ripples. The sound of dense footsteps and the rubbing of armor rang out. The Yu Lin Army surrounded them from rooms and corridors on all sides. Seeing more and more Yu Lin Army soldiers blocking the way, in the next moment, Chen Ji leaped onto the corridor, stepping on the gray tiles, and ran madly towards the White Tiger Main Hall.

Chen Ji ran on the eaves and tiles, and the Yu Lin Army below ran parallel to him. One of the Yu Lin Army soldiers shouted angrily: "Send me up!"

In an instant, a colleague in front of him squatted down. When his black boots stepped on his colleague's shoulder, the colleague below suddenly stood up, sending him into the air. The Yu Lin Army soldier drew his sword from its sheath in mid-air, his white cloak fluttering behind him: "Die!" A bright sword light, like snow, chopped down, crossing Chen Ji's path.

Chen Ji suddenly stopped his feet, stepping and breaking five or six gray tiles to stop himself. The sword light chopped down from the tip of his nose, narrowly missing him. The Yu Lin Army soldier was shocked. He didn't expect Chen Ji to be able to avoid this sword.

At this time, Chen Ji took advantage of the moment when the Yu Lin Army soldier's sword was at its end. He grabbed the opponent's wrist, swung him in a full circle, and threw him back into the crowd below, causing chaos among the Yu Lin Army. By the time the Yu Lin Army helped up their fallen colleagues, Chen Ji had already approached the White Tiger Main Hall of the Dusi Fu!

From a distance, Chen Ji saw the Crown Prince sitting at the head of the long table in the middle of the hall. Li Xuan and Chen Li Qin sat on the left and right sides, not knowing what they were discussing. A Yu Lin Army soldier roared behind him: "Assassin! Protect His Highness!"

The people in the hall were startled by the sound and looked towards the roof in droves. However, they couldn't see clearly in the dark night. Li Xuan immediately stood up, his hand on the long sword at his waist, and walked out of the White Tiger Main Hall: "Protect His Highness!"

Qi Jianzhe led over twenty Yu Lin Army soldiers to form a military array in front of the hall. They all drew their long swords: "Kill!"

Chen Ji leaped down from the roof, looking at the Yu Lin Army array, but not daring to force his way in. The tempered and refined military array connected the qi of these twenty-plus Yu Lin Army soldiers, covering each other's weaknesses, leaving no gaps.

Chen Ji didn't look at the long swords, which stood like a forest. He walked forward step by step, separating the Yu Lin Army, and looked towards the White Tiger Main Hall: "Your Highness, commoner Chen Ji, has an important matter to report!"

Chen Li Qin heard these words and suddenly stood up to look outside. He lifted the hem of his official robe and quickly walked a few steps, standing on the steps and rebuking angrily: "Chen Ji, what nonsense are you spouting to disturb His Highness? What crime is this?"

Chen Ji didn't look at him, only continued to say loudly: "The commoner found a clue in the market's wells. Someone is quietly collecting tilting foot heads to get gold juice. There are over ten jars of it. The commoner suspects that it is a Jing Dynasty spy who wants to pollute the city's well water to act as an internal response for the Jing Dynasty's Tian Ce Army surrounding the city!"

In this era, when a city was besieged, what was cut off first? Water sources and supplies! Some armies would bury the carcasses of cattle and sheep upstream of a river. It would only take seven days to pollute the river water of a city. Some people would also throw poisonous substances into wells to destroy a city's water source.

However, the most convenient thing to use for pollution, which wasn't poisonous, was feces. Using arsenic would naturally have a faster poisonous effect, but if you wanted to have a dosage that would poison people, you would need to throw at least two to three jin of arsenic into one well. And extracting arsenic, this kind of arsenic compound, is very costly and involves a lot of activity, making it very difficult to cover the over a hundred wells in Guyuan City.

If bacteria pollution was caused by feces, it would not only save time, effort, and money, but the E. coli in the feces could even survive for five to ten minutes in water temperatures of one hundred degrees Celsius. Even if briefly killed by high temperatures, after the water temperature dropped, microorganisms would rapidly multiply again, making people sick.

Therefore, city defenders would boil feces into gold juice and pour it down from the city walls. As long as attacking armored soldiers were scalded, their wounds would inevitably rot and not heal. Extremely vicious. Extremely disgusting.

One Yu Lin Army soldier looked at Chen Ji sternly: "What nonsense are you spouting? You just heard some small rumor from the market wells and dare to come and disturb His Highness? What crime is this? Moreover, do you regard the Guyuan border army as fools? There are two armored soldiers guarding every well in this city. How can the Jing Dynasty thieves pollute the well water?"

Chen Ji retorted: "Since the Jing Dynasty thieves have made this preparation, they must have a way. Is it difficult for the border army to send several hundred officials to guard the wells?"

Qi Jianzhe scoffed: "This is the White Tiger Main Hall. It's not a place for a little child like you to boast!"

While speaking, the Crown Prince slowly walked out of the White Tiger Main Hall. Li Xuan wanted to put a clean white fox fur coat on him, but he was stopped by a raised hand.

The moment the Crown Prince walked out of the White Tiger Main Hall, Chen Ji vaguely felt a throbbing in the center of his eyebrows. It seemed that a wisp of killing intent from a side room was locked onto him, just waiting for an opportunity to act. He didn't look at the side room, but he was shocked and doubtful in his heart. Who could be hiding in the side room, guarding the Crown Prince? East Palace dead soldiers?

At this time, the Crown Prince stood on the steps, assessing Chen Ji, who stood in front of the military array, fearless in the face of danger. A strange look flashed in his eyes. He said gently: "I know the third young master of the Chen family is also kind-hearted, and I believe what you say. If the Jing Dynasty thieves really have planned this matter, I'm afraid the border army armored soldiers guarding the wells will be difficult to block. It's just... this is originally the duty of the border army, and I cannot overstep."

Chen Ji calmly replied: "Your Highness came with an imperial edict to investigate the case of killing the good and pretending to have merit, but there has been no progress. If the border army has already silenced the memorializing minor official, this matter may become a pending case. At that time, if Your Highness does not establish a strange merit, how will you return to court? How will His Majesty view you? Now that there is a clue about the Jing Dynasty spy, why not try?"

A hint of panic flashed in Chen Li Qin's eyes: "Shut up! Is this something you can intervene in?" After speaking, he hurriedly cupped his fist to the Crown Prince and said: "Your Highness, don't listen to his nonsense. You can definitely investigate the case of killing the good and pretending to have merit clearly."

However, the Crown Prince remained silent, lost in thought. The front of the White Tiger Main Hall quieted down. The Crown Prince gazed at Chen Ji's firm and unmoving appearance in front of the Yu Lin Army below the stone steps, and suddenly asked: "You have an old relationship with Vice General Commander Zhou. Why didn't you go tell him?"

Chen Ji had his own reasons, but he couldn't articulate them clearly... He cupped his fist to the Crown Prince and said: "The Chen family is a minister of the East Palace. When I encounter a matter, I should report it to the Crown Prince, not others."

The Crown Prince smiled slightly, turned his head, and instructed Li Xuan: "General Li, prepare the horses. We will go and see if the message this young brother says is true."

Li Xuan asked in a low voice: "Your Highness, do you believe what he said?"

The Crown Prince hummed: "Believe eighty percent. If it were just baseless rumors, he wouldn't risk this danger to break into the White Tiger Main Hall without authorization. Moreover, so many of you couldn't stop him and let him break through to me. Doesn't that prove his ability?"

Li Xuan's face showed shame. He turned his head and looked at Chen Ji deeply, then led the Yu Lin Army outside: "Prepare the horses!"