Green Mountain-Chapter 738 - 589: He Is Binghu

The drumbeats on the Nine Gates City Tower finally stopped, and the lingering sound dragged on in the night wind for a long time before reluctantly dissipating.

The Double Ninth Festival had come and gone, leaving behind only a mess. The curfew turned the vast Imperial Capital into a crouching beast, swallowing all the warmth accumulated during the day in one gulp.

Chen Ji walked alone right in the middle of the empty Andingmen Avenue. The crushed Cornelian fruits were ground into the cracks of the bluestone slabs by footsteps, turning a dark red. Chrysanthemum petals formed a thin layer, in mingled yellow and white. Blown by the wind, they rolled gently along the ground, rustling like whispers from the shadows.

The flickering torchlight on the Anding Gate Tower behind him elongated his shadow, making it appear somewhat thin and desolate.

Chen Ji did not return home because the night's business was not yet over.

Having let Han Tong go, someone had to give an account to the Jiefan Building.

The sound of horse hooves rose in the distance.

Urgent and dense, at least twenty to thirty riders.

Chen Ji's pace did not falter as he walked towards the sound of hoofbeats.

The sound of hooves drew closer, and dozens of Jiefan Guard riders, following the trail of the carriage, came face to face with the returning Chen Ji.

Led by Qianhu Wang Zhao, they galloped forward swiftly, seemingly not expecting to encounter Chen Ji, and immediately surrounded him: "You audacious thief, impersonating the Twelve Signs to escape with a vital prisoner of the court!"

Chen Ji lifted his head, his gaze calm under the bamboo hat: "Having listened to Xuan Snake's one-sided story, later go and receive twenty imperial punishments, each person twenty."

His voice was not loud, but each word fell clearly into everyone's ears.

The surrounding Jiefan Guards were stunned.

First, because they did not expect Chen Ji would not flee, meeting them at the Andingmen Avenue, and second, they were surprised that this wanted criminal dared to be so imposing, not only refusing to surrender but also ordering them to go receive punishment.

One Jiefan Guard rode up close to Wang Zhao, lowered his voice, and asked: "My Lord, could there be a mistake?"

Wang Zhao's face was unreadable; after all, their information came from Hai Dongqing under Xuan Snake, but now it seemed there might be errors.

Chen Ji, as if no one was there, passed through the encirclement: "If you want to follow, then come along and see where I am going."

The Jiefan Guards looked towards Wang Zhao, who thought for a moment and could only follow silently behind Chen Ji.

Wang Zhao watched as Chen Ji walked through Andingmen Avenue, then slowly along Chang'an Street, and finally continued deeper as they reached Taiye Pond.

Upon entering Taiye Pond, he encountered Gao Yi approaching with dozens of spies in tow, intending to search the entire city for Han Tong.

Yet, seeing Chen Ji unfazed and followed by dozens of Jiefan Guards, they dared not act.

Chen Ji nonchalantly continued forward, while the spies retreated.

With spies ahead and Jiefan Guards behind, they surrounded him and moved towards the West Gate like a tide.

Before reaching the West Gate, a figure emerged from the gatehouse.

Changxiu.

He stood in the shadow beyond the torchlight, smiling at the large crowd, lazily saying: "So many people, the West Gate is lively tonight."

The spies and Jiefan Guards stood outside the gate, saying nothing.

Changxiu focused on Chen Ji at the front, politely clasping his hands and asking: "This gentleman looks unfamiliar, may I know your name?"

Chen Ji took out a domino: "Binghu, have urgent business to meet the Prime Minister."

Changxiu asked politely: "Could you please let me verify it?"

Chen Ji tossed the domino through the air to Changxiu.

Changxiu caught it, examined it carefully in the moonlight—yin and yang fish, Three Auspicious Gates.

His finger slowly traced over the domino, from the Open Door to the Rest Gate, finally stopping at the Sheng Gate, where there was an exceedingly small mark, so tiny that it couldn't be seen without careful inspection, not even drawn on the shadow map.

Changxiu smiled brightly: "Indeed, it's Master Xu's handiwork from years ago."

After speaking, he stepped forward, returned the domino with both hands, and then made way: "Lord Binghu, please."

Chen Ji brushed past him and walked alone into the depths of the Forbidden City.

Once Chen Ji was gone, Changxiu turned his smiling eyes toward Wang Zhao, Qianhu of the Jiefan Guards: "Has Lord Wang had dinner?"

Wang Zhao frowned: "Why ask that?"

Changxiu said meaningfully: "I used to think contending with Lord Wang for the Commander of Jiefan Guard might hurt the harmony and block Lord Wang's future. But now, seeing Lord Wang's wisdom, losing the position of Commander might not be a bad thing—I might have helped preserve your life and family... Thinking this way, I don't feel so guilty."

Wang Zhao's face turned drastically: "What the hell do you mean?"

Changxiu silently shook his head and walked into the West Gate with his hands behind his back.

...

...

At this moment, Xuan Snake was standing bent outside the Jiefan Building.

Inside the black entrance of Jiefan Building, Mountain Bull was seated on a giant Taishi Chair with his eyes closed, resting.

Having waited for an unknown amount of time, Xuan Snake finally could not hold back: "I wish to see Lord Prime Minister."

Mountain Bull did not lift an eyelid: "Lord Prime Minister has just fallen asleep, let him rest for a while, he'll summon you once he wakes."

Xuan Snake's voice deepened outside the gate: "Someone impersonated the Top Three Binghu to take Han Tong, a matter of great importance, how can it be delayed?"

Mountain Bull remained with eyes closed: "Food should be eaten bite by bite, things handled one by one, even the biggest matter has to wait until Lord Prime Minister wakes up."

Just as the words fell, Bai Long led Treasure Monkey to Jiefan Building, with a chattering voice beneath the wooden monkey mask: "I think the small An Nan has great ambition, tonight the An Nan King's deferential attitude towards our dynasty was all an act."

Under the mask, a hoarse voice said: "Whether it's an act or not, in the face of overwhelming power, can he really dare to rebel?"

A woman said: "That's not the way to put it, don't give the Jing Dynasty and An Nan a chance to collude, if the Jing Dynasty marches south next time, and An Nan seizes the opportunity to rebel and become independent, it'll be troublesome."

Amidst the chatter, Bai Long and Treasure Monkey did not spare a glance at Xuan Snake and walked straight into Jiefan Building.

After Bai Long crossed the threshold, he suddenly stopped and turned back to instruct Treasure Monkey, "You're too noisy, stay downstairs."

Under the Treasure Monkey mask, a high-pitched voice angrily retorted, "And you call us friends? How could a friend find me noisy?"

The original voice of Treasure Monkey hurriedly said, "Shut up."

Bai Long went upstairs, and soon after, lights came on in Jiefan Building, with a faint light escaping through the window.

Xuan Snake's expression was uncertain, he looked at Mountain Bull, speaking through clenched teeth, "Aren't you afraid someone will disturb Lord Prime Minister's nap now?"

Mountain Bull replied leisurely, "He's among the Top Three, I can't control him."

Under the Treasure Monkey mask, the high-pitched voice mocked wildly, "Little Xuan Snake dares to compare rank and status with Lord Bai Long?"

Xuan Snake's expression darkened, and he said no more.

By his side, Treasure Monkey alternated between discussions on Annan, the Jing Dynasty, and recent events concerning Chen Ji and Bai Li.

The high-pitched voice found fault with everything; the woman's voice was gentle and rational; the raspy voice was incredibly murderous. Chatting with itself, it was never bored.

Xuan Snake's ears buzzed, feeling deeply irritated, "Enough!"

The high-pitched voice snickered, "He's getting anxious!"

At this moment, a copper bell rang within the building.

Mountain Bull finally opened his eyes and looked at Xuan Snake, "Go upstairs."

Xuan Snake hurriedly went upstairs, respectfully addressing the Prime Minister at the door, "Lord Prime Minister."

He glanced inside, seeing Bai Long standing behind a screen, hands tucked into his sleeves, seemingly having already reported the matters from the farewell banquet for the An Nan Envoy earlier that evening to the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister was bent over his documents, writing without lifting his head, "What brings you to Jiefan Building at such a late hour?"

Xuan Snake hesitated for a moment, "Your humble servant today interrogated Li Muzhe in the inner prison. He has confessed, those fifty thousand taels held by Third Miss Qi were handed to her by him personally. It is the silver offered by Jiangnan scholars to the Crown Prince during the private copper coins case he supervised. However, he does not know who owns this silver money."

The Prime Minister acknowledged with a sound, continuing to write rapidly.

A moment later, the Prime Minister suddenly asked, "Is there something else?"

Xuan Snake hesitated again, "Your humble servant was interrogating Li Muzhe when a subordinate reported that someone used Lord Binghu's Court Appearance Ivory Card to take Han Tong from the inner prison, claiming he needed Han Tong to control the Cao Guild."

The Prime Minister did not respond, only paused his writing.

Moments later, Xuan Snake gritted his teeth, "Sir, your humble servant examined him, that Lord Binghu... is clearly an eighteen or nineteen-year-old pretending."

Jiefan Building fell silent.

From behind the screen, both the Prime Minister and Bai Long glanced at Xuan Snake.

In his heart, Xuan Snake felt a drum of unease starting to beat, "Lord Prime Minister, if this person is not Binghu, your humble servant asks permission to capture him and Han Tong, and will bring both back to the inner prison..."

At this moment, the Prime Minister interrupted casually, "He is Binghu."

Xuan Snake froze in place... He is Binghu?

How can that young man be Binghu? Xuan Snake fought his way out of Wunian Mountain at sixteen and then served eighteen years in the Spy Department, barely rising to the position of the zodiac, every step built over bones.

How can an eighteen or nineteen-year-old be Binghu?

While pondering, the sound of footsteps arose within Jiefan Building, steady steps climbing the wooden stairs from the shadowy staircase.

Xuan Snake looked up abruptly to see the person wearing a bamboo hat and a black cloth mask—it was Lord Binghu.

As Chen Ji passed by, he stopped, silently gazing at Xuan Snake until Xuan Snake bowed and greeted, "Lord Binghu."

Chen Ji calmly asked, "I ordered you to receive fifty imperial punishments on your own, yet you did not go to get the punishment, and came here to the Prime Minister instead?"

Xuan Snake lowered his head further, "I will go right away."

With those words, he rushed away.

The Prime Minister slowly said, "Bai Long, you can also go and rest, I have matters to discuss with Binghu."

Bai Long was silent for a moment, then bowed, "Yes."

Jiefan Building resumed its tranquility, leaving only Chen Ji and the Prime Minister.

Chen Ji entered the room and stood behind the screen, "Lord Prime Minister, I privately released Han Tong, please punish me."

The Prime Minister placed the brush by the inkstone, scrutinizing Chen Ji as if he could see through him even behind the screen.

After a long time, the Prime Minister chuckled softly, seemingly jesting, perhaps with a hint of reflection, "Fools obey blindly, wise men seek what is incomplete. In this lifetime, people spend the majority of it seeking stability and smooth sailing, yet they never realize those are just delusions. Only those who seek change through change will live to the end. This is a lesson your master failed to teach you, because he himself did not get it, you must walk through it yourself."

Chen Ji was silent, it was the first time the Prime Minister spoke to him about Old Yao.

The Prime Minister shifted his tone, "Do you remember our agreement?"

Chen Ji softly replied, "Two lives in exchange for one life."

The Prime Minister said indifferently, "You used Lin Chaoqing and Han Tong's lives in exchange for Bai Li's life, now I've given you Bai Li's life, yet you released Han Tong... so, you owe me one life, right?"

Chen Ji calmly said, "Right."

The Prime Minister smiled, "Your life belongs to Jiefan Building now. When the day comes that I need it, regardless of knife mountains or sea of flames, whatever the changes in circumstances, you must hand it over."

Chen Ji bowed, "Alright."

He understood, that prior the Prime Minister did not want the improved firearms method, nor the farmland management plan, did not want the strategy to enrich national treasury, only because he wanted his life from the start.

He sat in this Jiefan Building, quietly watching the clouds rise and fall, the winds rise and settle, only waiting for today.

Chen Ji suddenly asked, "Aren't you afraid that I might break my word?"

The Prime Minister leisurely picked up the brush again, lowered his head, "A man with loyalty and love needs not bear additional shackles, loyalty and love themselves are shackles. Go ahead."