Chapter 521: The Last Day |
"Official Ding?"
In the small courtyard, Aunt Ping's gaze concentrated. The hand passing the watermelon to Chen Ji stopped in mid-air: "You found Official Ding? How did you find him?"
Chen Ji carefully weighed his words to explain: "When I was in Luo City, I had once exchanged blows with the Military Intelligence Division, therefore I know the methods they use to transmit Intelligence nowadays. I used their methods, taking the identity of Official Bing, to transmit a message to Official Ding: Official Gui is already dead; tomorrow bring the Chapters and Verses of the Four Books with Collected Commentaries to Wenchang Bookstore to make contact."
He continued saying: "But before this, I must first confirm one matter with Aunt Ping. Will Official Gui jump out to stir up and disrupt the situation?"
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Aunt Ping placed the watermelon in her hands onto the stone table, saying with absolute certainty: "He will not. At this time, he ought to already be on the road returning to the Jing Dynasty. There is no need to worry about him."
Chen Ji nodded his head: "Then that's good. This was the only flaw/omission."
Aunt Ping raised her head, the edge of her words changing direction: "If Official Ding truly believes it, what do you plan to do?"
Chen Ji said earnestly: "Using the most stupid method: I will Wait By A Stump For A Rabbit in Wenchang Bookstore."
Chen Ji shook his head: "Aunt Ping, once the news is released, Liulichang will definitely be densely covered with Military Intelligence Division spies. The Secret Spy Division's Twelve Zodiacs are all familiar faces. If they appear in Liulichang, I am afraid it will Beat the Grass and Startle the Snake."
Aunt Ping suddenly realized: "So that is why you came to seek me."
Chen Ji said sincerely: "Yes."
Aunt Ping lowered her eyes, pondering over something.
Chen Ji examined her. The other party's expressions were all hidden beneath the black veil of the curtain-hat, exceptionally cautious and prudent.
A moment later, Aunt Ping raised her head to look at him: "It must be tomorrow? If there was more ample time, I could arrange manpower in the vicinity of Wenchang Bookstore to ensure everything is Absolutely Foolproof. Old Third went to the Jing Dynasty; desiring capable manpower requires transferring them over from Changping, Langfang, Tanggu, and Datong. If we could wait until next month, Old Third might even return from the Jing Dynasty."
Chen Ji actually shook his head once again: "Aunt Ping, I cannot wait anymore. There is only one day of time left. Before the Zi hour tomorrow, I must absolutely capture Official Ding."
Aunt Ping pondered for a moment: "Alright, then tomorrow it is."
Chen Ji planned: "Aunt Ping, you are a raw (unfamiliar) face in Liulichang. Appearing rashly invites people's suspicions. When the time comes, Aunt Ping, you just stand guard outside Wenchang Bookstore. Wait until I confirm Official Ding's identity inside the bookstore, and then I will call you to make a move."
Aunt Ping suddenly started laughing: "No need for such trouble."
Chen Ji was bewildered: "Hm?"
Aunt Ping pushed the sliced watermelon on the table in front of Chen Ji: "Wenchang Bookstore is an industry of my Lantern Fire. I naturally have methods to mix into its midst."
Chen Ji was dumbfounded.
Jing Dynasty trade, Longmen Inn, Bianyi Workshop, Wenchang Bookstore... How many industries had Lantern hidden exactly?
Aunt Ping conversely exhorted: "Tomorrow do not keep guard at Wenchang Bookstore. Official Ding is definitely a Path-Seeking Realm Practitioner. I fear you will be injured if you are at too close proximity. Set your heart at ease, my Lantern Fire wishes to capture Official Ding even more than you do."
Chen Ji gave a refusal: "I definitely must be at close quarters. Through this method alone can I not miss any spider's threads and horse tracks (clues)."
Aunt Ping stared at him fixedly for a moment: "Alright."
"Aunt Ping, see you tomorrow at Wenchang Bookstore." Chen Ji rose and walked to the doorway.
Aunt Ping suddenly called him to a halt: "Wait a moment."
Chen Ji turned his head back, only to see Aunt Ping walk inside the room, using hemp rope to tie into a net bag to encase a watermelon and walking out the main room.
First, she drew out a personal-carry Short Blade from her sleeve, handing the Short Blade in front of Chen Ji: "Tomorrow in Liulichang, it will not be convenient to carry that long blade of yours. Just use this short blade of mine first."
Chen Ji took the Short Blade and unsheathed it an inch. However, he saw the character 'Qing' carved an inch below the blade guard. The blade seemed to have been used for a very long time, becoming dull time and time again, being repolished time and time again, to the point that the blade body had become extremely thin and extremely narrow.
He raised his head, asking: "This is Aunt Ping's personal-carry object of many years, isn't it? Giving it to me to use is not suitable. I will just go find another blade and it will do."
Aunt Ping looked at that Short Blade in Chen Ji's hands, her voice becoming somewhat softer and gentler: "No matter. You holding it is quite handy; then just hold it."
Having said that, Aunt Ping again lifted the watermelon in her hands in front of Chen Ji: "Just now I let you eat it and you also didn't eat it. Carry one back to taste the novelty with Xiaoman. If you go back and there's not enough time to eat it, then just throw it in the water well first. Take it out to eat after one night passes; it will be ice-cold and sweet."
Chen Ji lowered his head and looked at the watermelon, finally receiving it in his hands with a smile: "Thank you, Aunt Ping."
...
The last day agreed upon with the Inner Chancellor, early morning.
Chen Ji rose from the bed, taking a deep breath of air, rolling up his sleeves and exiting the Chen Estate.
When passing Right Prefecture Street, he waved his hand and said to a Stick Bearer: "Give me a copy of the Morning Newspaper."
The Stick Bearer propped open his satchel and fished out a yellowing newspaper: "Honored guest, thank you for twenty wen."
Chen Ji received the newspaper, asking casually: "Wasn't it five wen? How did it become twenty wen?"
The Stick Bearer answered with a smile: "Replying to honored guest, at the time of five wen of money, our little newspaper had only just opened for business, having only one page of paper. Nowadays it's four fully packed pages, so naturally there must be a rise in prices a bit."
Without waiting for Chen Ji to speak, they instead heard a horse carriage stop by the roadside. The driver tossed a string of copper coins to the Stick Bearer: "Get a copy of the newspaper for my Lord."
Chen Ji didn't go examine the horse carriage, taking the newspaper and minding his own business heading toward the outer city.
Walking into the small alleys of Liulichang, he held up the newspaper, reading while walking, using the newspaper to conceal his peripheral vision observing every single pedestrian in the surroundings. Official Ding and the Military Intelligence Division spies were definitely hiding among them.
Suddenly, Chen Ji saw a familiar figure walk into a bookstore.
His gaze concentrated. Strange. The other party didn't seem like a person who would come to Liulichang on a normal day. Why had he come today?
Chen Ji sped up his footsteps to follow after him. However, right at this time, a voice suddenly transmitted from behind him: "Worthy younger brother Chen Ji!"
The fingers Chen Ji used to grip the newspaper tightened slightly. He feigned casualty as he turned back to look, only to see Shen Ye walking over with large strides, saying with a smile: "I already felt the viewed-from-the-back figure was familiar. Tried shouting and sure enough it's you!"
Chen Ji examined Shen Ye from top to bottom. The other party was wearing a body of cotton-hemp long gown today, shaped similar to a Daoist robe. The hair bun atop his head was casually tied up using a single white jade hairpin.
Shen Ye?
How could he appear in Liulichang? Is it a coincidence, or does he have other objectives? Today while he was in Liulichang, looking at anyone made them seem suspicious; looking at anyone made them seem like a spy of the Military Intelligence Division.
Chen Ji revealed joy on his face: "Brother Shen didn't go to the Yamen to answer roll call?"
Shen Ye gave a haha laugh: "Worthy younger brother does not need to go to the Yamen to serve duties, so naturally you are unaware. Today is a resting and bathing (day off) day for the Hanlin Academy. A certain Shen naturally has no need to go answer roll call."
Chen Ji put on an expression of sudden realization: "So it is like so... Brother Shen came to Liulichang to hunt for books?"
Shen Ye explained: "Not so, not so. I and Lin Chaojing both serve as Hanlin Bachelors in the Hanlin Academy together. In the morning he dispatched people to come to my home, saying Wenyuan Bookstore had with great difficulty managed to receive the lone surviving copy of the Stone Bell Landscape Album from the hands of a collector. It is said there is even Mister Wenxu's personal-brush colophon. The bookstore is using this opportunity to invite Capital City literati and scholars to come observe, conveniently holding a literary gathering by the way. A certain Shen is a dedicated fan of Mister Wenxu, so naturally I have to come take a look."
So it turned out he was going to Wenyuan Bookstore, not Wenchang Bookstore.
Without waiting for Chen Ji to speak, Shen Ye pulled his arm to walk forward: "Let's go, let's go, let's go. Since worthy younger brother has also come, why not follow me to join in on the liveliness? A certain Shen heard the Patron of Wenyuan Bookstore is also opening a jar of Stone Frozen Spring tonight; that's good wine with a price but no market (priceless)!"
Chen Ji originally wanted to break free of Shen Ye's hand, but hearing these words he then loosened his strength, allowing Shen Ye to drag him.
He secretly pondered in his heart: this Wenyuan Bookstore happens to regrettably pull out a lone surviving copy right at this time, drawing Capital City literati and scholars to Liulichang. Is this someone deliberately confusing lines of sight, or perhaps it's a coincidence?
He asked curiously: "Brother Shen, does Wenyuan Bookstore frequently host literary gatherings?"
Without turning his head, Shen Ye said: "Frequently. Just the half year a certain Shen has entered the capital, Wenyuan Bookstore has hosted dozens of literary gatherings. If a famous master prints a new book they host one, if there are famous master critiques they host one, if they obtain a rare lone copy they host one. The Patron also doesn't lose out; hosting one literary gathering can sell over a hundred books."
Chen Ji said to his heart: so it is like so. Whether or not there is a problem with Wenyuan Bookstore cannot have a definitive conclusion placed on it for the time being. We will first look and then say.
When passing a bookstore, he cast sidelong glances to examine inside. That familiar back figure from just now had entered this bookstore, but looking inside at this moment, they could no longer be seen.
Arriving before the doors of Wenyuan Bookstore, human voices bubbled and boiled from within.
Before even entering the door, Chen Ji heard a resonant voice transmitting from the rear courtyard, saying: "Inviting the various esteemed brothers. Today my humble studio invites everyone to come; firstly it is to mutually appreciate the lone surviving copy, and secondly it is that my humble studio has a matter to request."
Lin Chaojing's voice transmitted over: "Patron is too polite. We receive your esteemed studio's hospitality; Patron may speak without harm."
That resonant voice said with a smile: "I do not know if everyone has read the Morning Newspaper that has caused a sensation in Capital City recently? My humble studio also wishes to emulate it one or two. It's merely that we suffer from sparse talent and shallow learning, unable to write out so many articles, thus wishing to invite manuscripts from everyone with high talent here. Only then can the newspaper be established. Of course, as long as everyone here is willing to write, my humble studio will naturally have polishing fees to respectfully offer."
Shen Ye listened outside the door. Bearing a smile that wasn't quite a smile, he turned his head to look at Chen Ji: "Worthy younger brother, that Capital Morning Post of yours has exhausted all the limelight recently; there are people whose eyes have turned red (with jealousy). This Wenyuan Bookstore's Patron is the Xu Family branch's Xu Bin. If he wishes to fight you for this business, it's impossible to say for sure; he might truly manage to bite off a chunk of meat from you."
Chen Ji did not speak. In the next moment, they only heard Lin Chaojing speaking resonantly in a bright voice within the courtyard: "I thought it was some great matter! This matter is simple. That Baron of Wuxiang County is nothing more than a mere martial artist. All seated today are young outstanding talents of Capital City. If each of us writes an article for Patron, are you still afraid we won't compare to that damned Morning Newspaper?"
Right as the sound of the words fell, Chen Ji again heard Qi Zhaoning's voice saying with a smile: "If everyone can suppress and compare that Morning Newspaper down, not only does Wenyuan Bookstore have polishing fees, my Qi Family also has a token of gratitude."
Shen Ye was amused: "Sinful karma!"
He pulled Chen Ji walking inward: "Let's go. Let's suppress their prestige."
Chen Ji stood on the original spot, planning to head toward Wenchang Bookstore: "Brother Shen, I am afraid my entering will sweep away everyone's high spirits, thus I will not go."
Shen Ye couldn't drag him. Having no other choice but to stand still and turn his head back, he said with abundant interest: "Worthy younger brother, in a certain Shen's view, even if these sour and pedantic Confucian scholars were all added together, they still couldn't compare to you. Don't worry, a certain Shen is leaning toward your side."
Saying so, he actually forcefully dragged Chen Ji stepping across the door sill: "What is everyone conferring about? A certain Shen has also come to join the liveliness!"
The people in the rear courtyard one after another turned their heads to look over. When they saw Chen Ji beside Shen Ye, it instantly became Not a Crow or Sparrow is Heard.
Seeing him, Qi Zhaoning actually moved slightly closer to Lin Chaojing's side, seemingly as if provoking him.
(End of this chapter)