Green Mountain

Bai Xingzhen, about twelve years old, stood in the shadows of the stable, his eyes still clear as crystal.

His youthful face was delicate, and he appeared especially small next to the towering Zhaolei, with a loosely fitting white mourning garment draped over his frame, adding to his frail appearance.

Bai Xingzhen pondered Chen Ji’s words carefully: "Lord Duke fell ill at the age of three, suffering nightly from restless convulsions that made sleep elusive. The traveling Taoist only appeared two years later."

"Some people are very patient," Chen Ji leaned against the stable post, looking down at Bai Xingzhen, "The Imperial Physicians are well-versed, even if some illnesses are incurable, they generally know where a mistake was made. If even the Imperial Physicians cannot comprehend the ailment, it is most likely caused by Magic."

Bai Xingzhen contemplated for quite a while and then retorted, "But the Duke has a noble title, which repels evil and calamity, how could he be hindered by Magic?"

Chen Ji casually remarked, "Perhaps the Taoist acted before Duke Huang assumed his title... When did Duke Huang take on his title?"

Bai Xingzhen replied, "At two years old, succeeding without interruption."

Chen Ji was momentarily stunned, "Inheriting the title at two and falling ill at three, it truly wasn’t the doing of the traveling Taoist then... But why did Duke Huang assume his title so young?"

Bai Xingzhen pressed his lips together and remained silent.

Chen Ji nonchalantly asked, "And how do you know this?"

Bai Xingzhen stiffened his neck, "I am of the Bai Family, naturally I know these matters."

Chen Ji suddenly asked, "What relation is Duke Huang to you?"

Bai Xingzhen’s face froze, "He, he is my great-uncle."

"No wonder you’re wearing the Qisuo mourning attire," Chen Ji chuckled, "After using the Taoist’s methods, has the Duke’s health improved?"

Bai Xingzhen nodded, "Much better, at least my... great-uncle no longer has nightly convulsions."

"That Taoist truly has talent," Chen Ji praised, "What’s the deal with the black lanterns, was it also instructed by that traveling Taoist?"

Bai Xingzhen simply sat on the straw in the stable, "They say black lanterns were hung around Lord Duke’s residence, making old debts and causes unable to find him."

Chen Ji pursed his lips, "I thought the Duke Mansion was haunted."

Bai Xingzhen quietly observed Chen Ji’s expression, "Can you teach me how to approach Zhaolei?"

Chen Ji shook his head, "You won’t learn it."

Bai Xingzhen was somewhat unconvinced, "You haven’t even taught me, how do you know I won’t learn it? I am very smart, could recite the entire Book of Songs by seven and debate scriptures with the Chief of Three at Kujue Temple by ten..."

Chen Ji suddenly asked, "Win or lose?"

Bai Xingzhen’s young face fell, "Lost."

"How many topics debated?"

"Debated nine topics..."

"Lost them all?"

"Lost them all..."

Chen Ji teased, "The Chief of Three was just playing with you, losing nine out of nine, even Wang Huiling would have managed."

Bai Xingzhen asked curiously, "Who is Wang Huiling?"

Chen Ji replied casually, "Wang Huiling is my aunt."

Bai Xingzhen rolled his eyes.

Chen Ji shifted to a more relaxed stance, "Whether or not you’re clever has nothing to do with Zhaolei, your fortunes aren’t aligned to learn it. By the way, since you’re so clever, let me ask you, do you know Princess Liyang?"

"I thought it was concerning something else," Bai Xingzhen answered, "I naturally know Her Highness Princess Liyang, but I’ve only seen her at banquets; Duke Huang Mansion has no private relations with her."

Chen Ji asked curiously, "Which Royal Family member is Duke Huang Mansion close to?"

"Why become close to Royal Family members?" Bai Xingzhen replied arrogantly, "My Bai Family of Duke Huang Mansion were founding heroes of the Jing Dynasty, overseeing ten thousand miles of Shangjing Road, externally, as long as my Bai Family exists, the northern grassland tribes dare not act rashly. Internally, my Bai Family has always commanded the Left Guard’s forces protecting the Capital, being a Heavy Weapon of the nation, no need to cling to the Royal Family members."

Chen Ji understood, no wonder Lu Jin wanted to come to Duke Huang Mansion, and no wonder Duke Huang refused to see Lu Jin.

He thought for a moment and probed, "Today when I entered the Capital, I heard someone rebuke Princess Liyang as a demoness, why is that?"

Bai Xingzhen picked a piece of straw from the ground and played with it in his hand, "She didn’t have this reputation in her younger years, Your Majesty had often said among people ’This girl resembles me,’ and ’More power and cunning,’ truly treasuring her as a pearl, even the nobles vie for her acquaintance. At that time, having her at any family banquet truly added luster to the occasion."

Chen Ji pondered, "Then how did she become a demoness later on?"

"Blame her mother for that," Bai Xingzhen remarked with the air of someone wise beyond his years, pointing at the world, portraying a child’s pretense of maturity, "Princess Liyang initially had no ambition, nor weakness, but her mother did. At fourteen, she advised her mother not to have delusional aspirations for the dragon heir, as long as no son was born, with the protection of Longyou Road and Tokyo Road, no one in the court would view them as enemies, only friends. But that Imperial Concubine didn’t listen, believing she could covet the Divine Artifact with Yuan Zhen’s backing, thus gave birth to a Prince, she was too presumptuous."

"From the moment Liyang’s brother was born, there was no turning back, her brother had to ascend the throne for them to survive. Starting then, everyone realized that as long as she was removed, her brother couldn’t stir trouble, so some smeared her reputation, attempting to reduce her favor with the sovereign. Others proposed marriage for her, wanting to draw her away from the Prince. Later, it was said she was to be married to Lu Jin, she bought over a hundred actors from Pingkang Square into Ban Zheng Square that very night, holding revelries every night."

Bai Xingzhen shrugged his shoulders and threw away the straw in his hand, "And then her reputation turned bad."

Chen Ji looked at his prematurely mature demeanor and suddenly found it funny, Bai Xingzhen frowned and asked, "What’s so amusing?"

Chen Ji explained offhandedly, "It’s nothing, just felt that seeing you now, perhaps Old Ears looked at me the same some days ago. By the way, why did you want to take Zhaolei away?"

Bai Xingzhen lowered his head and said, "I just felt it was somewhat pitiful, obviously it should be galloping on the grasslands, but ended up chained in the Duke Mansion. Horse Kings are proud, even if not on the grasslands, it should stride on the battlefield, drink from the Yangtze River, not spend every day of the year in a stable."

Chen Ji looked at Zhaolei, "Maybe it doesn’t want to go to the battlefield at all, and just wants to stay in the Duke Mansion, with someone to provide it with good food and drink?"

But the always quiet Zhaolei suddenly became restless, as if refuting him.

Bai Xingzhen smiled: "Look, Zhaolei also wants to leave, why don’t you just let us go."

Chen Ji shook his head: "No way, the Duke Huang Mansion is heavily guarded, even if I let you out of the West Wing, you still won’t be able to leave the mansion."

Bai Xingzhen looked down dejectedly: "Oh."

At this moment, Wu Yun’s voice came from the roof, and Chen Ji waved to Bai Xingzhen: "Alright, go ahead."

Bai Xingzhen suddenly looked up: "Really? You won’t tell anyone about tonight, right?"

Chen Ji stepped aside to clear the way: "I won’t."

Bai Xingzhen patted himself and stood up: "Rest assured, you’re diligent in your duties, I won’t hold a grudge. Tomorrow when the Chief Steward returns, I’ll put in a good word for you so he’ll promote you."

Chen Ji clasped his hands and bowed: "Thank you then."

...

...

As Bai Xingzhen discreetly left the West Wing, Wu Yun jumped from the roof onto Chen Ji’s head and meowed: "Who was that just now?"

Chen Ji softly replied: "A child trapped in this Duke Mansion. So, have you found the Li Yang Princess Mansion?"

Wu Yun lamented: "Sorry, the Shangjing City is huge, I’ve been searching for a long time and haven’t found where the Li Yang Princess Mansion is."

Chen Ji stroked its head: "No need to apologize, I just gathered information from that boy’s mouth, Li Yang lives at Ban Zheng Square, let’s go find it together."

Wu Yun responded: "Okay, but what if she’s not in Shangjing City and went out to play?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "It’s almost New Year’s Eve, unless absolutely necessary, she wouldn’t travel afar."

Wu Yun asked again: "We’re just going like this, what if she betrays you?"

Chen Ji chuckled: "If she intended to betray me, the Jing Dynasty should have known by now that I built the Sword Seed Path, it wouldn’t be kept in the dark until now. This woman has never broken faith even in her most isolated times, she won’t now."

At this moment, the sound of horse hooves and voices suddenly echoed within the mansion, getting closer and closer.

Chen Ji stood in the courtyard, along with Wu Yun’s gaze, moving with the sound of horse hooves until they stopped at the door of the West Wing with a creak, the Second Steward opened the door and led a white horse inside.

Wu Yun darted into the shadows to hide, the Second Steward saw Chen Ji standing in place, and said irritably: "What are you standing there for, take the horse to the stable!"

Chen Ji took the reins: "Why are you personally leading the horse, Second Steward?"

The Second Steward sneered: "Stop feigning ignorance, the Chief Steward personally selected you one by one from Linhuang Prefecture, how could you not recognize this horse? Is it strange for me to lead the horse for the Chief Steward, do you need to be sarcastic?"

Chen Ji replied, astonished: "You’ve misunderstood, I was just casually asking."

The Second Steward waved his hand: "Okay, quickly tie the horse, the Chief Steward is summoning all of you subordinates to the East Wing to see him, don’t keep him waiting."

Chen Ji’s heart tensed, as per the Second Steward’s words, it was the Chief Steward who personally chose Bai Wu to come to Shangjing, so the Chief Steward has seen Bai Wu.

As he tied the reins, he casually said to the Second Steward: "You go ahead, I’ll be right there."

The Second Steward impatiently replied: "How long can it take to tie a horse, hurry up, you’re coming with me."

Chen Ji tied the horse, silently followed behind the Second Steward out the door.

Between the West Wing and the East Wing lay a brick wall with a small door set into it, behind which was a narrow alley, paved with pebbles that crunched underfoot.

Following the Second Steward, Chen Ji silently scrutinized his surroundings, contemplating whether to directly knock this man out and escape the Duke Mansion.

According to the Jing Dynasty nobles’ mansion layout, by skirting the edge of the Inner East Road, he could reach the southeastern corner side door, where there should be a path for transporting food and disposing of waste, suited for escape.

But just then, a team of Bai Family’s subordinates wearing leather armor passed by, walking silently like seasoned executive officers, surprisingly carrying short crossbows at their waists.

It’s unclear what kind of favor Duke Huang receives from the royalty, that his household’s subordinates can wear crossbows.

This team also headed to the East Wing, exchanging greetings with the Second Steward and traveling together along the narrow, dark alley, leaving Chen Ji with no opportunity to leave, forced to lower his head and press on to the East Wing.

The East Wing was brightly lit, with many people inside receiving orders, then rushing away, seemingly with a general adept in strategy and issuing commands, deploying soldiers within.

Trailing the crowd, Chen Ji walked into the courtyard, where two fire pits were burning, one man dressed in a white robe, holding a blue-cover ledger, sat by a stone table, sketching something.

The Second Steward stepped forward, performing a hand-clasp salute, with a flattering smile: "Chief Steward."

The Chief Steward didn’t lift his head: "Your business is done, leave now."

The Second Steward hesitated for a moment, then shamefully withdrew from the courtyard.

The Chief Steward looked down at the ledger, calmly said: "Bai Wu, come forward."

Chen Ji’s heart sank, silently passed through the crowd, performing a hand-clasp salute, speaking in a muffled voice: "Chief Steward."

The Chief Steward raised his head in surprise upon hearing the voice, looking at Chen Ji, he sensed trouble.

Then, both Chen Ji and the Chief Steward froze, unable to speak for a moment. Chen Ji had envisioned many scenarios but never imagined meeting an old acquaintance here...

Mr. Feng.

For some reason, at the instant Chen Ji laid eyes on Mr. Feng, everything he had seen and experienced since entering this Duke Mansion—the traveling Taoists, the black lanterns, the white porcelain pieces inscribed with birth dates—all seemed to connect together.

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