Chapter 38: The Grand Secretary

Inside Feiyun Court, Consort Yun raised her teacup, using the lid to slowly stir the floating tea leaves. She spoke with composed leisure, "So many people are holding their breath today, waiting for you to make contact, yet not a single shadow has appeared. If there is no explanation for this matter today, you shall not leave the Prince's Mansion."

Chen Ji thought rapidly: Liu Shiyu of the Liu family is close to Consort Jing; why did he choose to contact Consort Yun instead of Consort Jing?

And why would Consort Jing be unaware of his identity as a spy for the Jing Dynasty?

Wait.

Chen Ji suddenly remembered that lead-barium glass cup that caused Consort Jing's miscarriage; it felt as if an invisible thread was guiding him toward the truth.

"Why do you not answer?" Consort Yun asked in a low voice. The dignified Princess sat in a grand armchair, the python patterns on her robes seeming to stare at Chen Ji, commanding respect without even showing anger.

Chen Ji said in a low voice, "A major incident occurred within the Liu family. Jiao Tu and Yun Yang of the Secret Intelligence Bureau nearly uncovered the truth, so as a precaution, our side temporarily suspended the plan."

In reality, when he had gone to Zhou Chengyi's residence that night, his intention was to inform Zhou Chengyi of the delivery date, only to be killed by Yun Yang and Jiao Tu.

Having returned from the dead, Chen Ji had no idea such an event had occurred.

Consort Yun said calmly, "The Jing Dynasty's Intelligence Bureau cannot simply cancel agreed-upon matters at will; that explanation alone is insufficient. Have you thought of an answer, or would you rather go to my back garden to serve as fertilizer?"

Chen Ji suddenly said, "The Secret Intelligence Bureau in Luocheng is a threat to both our sides. Since you are willing to show sincerity, our Intelligence Bureau must also demonstrate our strength. The fact that Yun Yang and Jiao Tu were imprisoned today was the design of our Bureau's Sicao. I wonder if you are satisfied, Madam?"

Consort Yun's eyes lit up. "So the person who delivered the message was actually one of your Intelligence Bureau's people. Who is this Sicao? Not only did they plant a spy in the Secret Intelligence Bureau, but they also had the strength to infiltrate the Liu family undetected!"

Chen Ji was startled. Consort Yun already knew the full details of what had happened this morning; this meant the Liu family maintained close contact with her.

He lowered his eyes and said, "Lord Sicao is naturally an outstanding figure of our Intelligence Bureau. The Bureau Master sent him to ensure the smooth cooperation of both parties."

Consort Yun's demeanor was no longer majestic, but much more gentle. "When I saw you earlier, I thought your Intelligence Bureau had sent a mere boy to negotiate with me, and I treated you with some neglect. However, in Wanxing Court, you have proven you are no good-for-nothing. Very well, since the spies of the Intelligence Bureau in Luocheng are all elites, I am at ease."

After a moment of thought, Chen Ji replied, "Now that Yun Yang and Jiao Tu are behind bars, we can ensure our transaction is foolproof before the new head of the Secret Intelligence Bureau arrives in Luocheng. Madam, let us re-plan the date and location of the transaction."

Consort Yun looked at him for a few extra moments. "Then let it be tomorrow night, at the same place we agreed upon last time."

Chen Ji did not know where they had last agreed, and he wasn't sure how to explain this to Sicao, so he immediately said, "That will not do. Our Intelligence Bureau never conducts a transaction in the same place twice... Please, Consort Yun, provide a new address."

"You are certainly cautious," Consort Yun mused. "Let us set it for tomorrow night at the 'Golden Workshop' in Hongyi Lane, East Market. Find the madam and mention the name 'Luo Tian,' and she will take you to the hiding place for the goods."

At this point, after weighing the pros and cons, Chen Ji finally voiced his confusion: "Madam, there is one matter our Intelligence Bureau has always found puzzling."

Without knowing the full picture, he would never be able to seize the initiative.

Consort Yun raised her teacup and took a light sip. "Please, speak."

"We have learned that Liu Shiyu is Consort Jing's most beloved nephew, the only son of her elder sister. The reason our Bureau did not believe he would pass messages for you was due to our doubt: why would he not contact Consort Jing instead?"

Consort Yun gave a mocking laugh. "That dear sister of mine—the Liu family cannot control her; how could they dare entrust their great cause to her hands? Now that the Liu family and I share common interests, you need not worry."

Chen Ji rose. "Then I shall..."

"Wait," Consort Yun said.

Chen Ji was puzzled. "Is there something else, Madam?"

Consort Yun invited him with a smile, "The Heir is hosting a literary gathering tonight, and your two biological brothers will also attend. Why don't I send a few invitations to the medical clinic so you and your fellow disciples can go together?"

Chen Ji thought for a moment. "There is no need. My current identity is sensitive, and I do not wish to implicate them. I still need to arrange the delivery of the goods today, so I shall take my leave."

As Chen Ji left Feiyun Court, he glanced back at the persimmon tree one last time before turning to depart.

...

...

On the official highway of Luocheng, a carriage approached from the north.

The carriage was plain, accompanied only by two attendants on horseback, making it very low-profile.

At that moment, on the opposite side of the road, a group of over a hundred people and horses came to meet it.

As they drew near, these officials of Yuzhou one after another descended from their carriages and horses, hurrying to the front of the carriage to perform a formal kneeling salute. "We welcome the Grand Secretary back to Yuzhou. We failed to meet you sooner; please forgive our negligence."

The Liu family had managed this province for centuries, and now they controlled more than half of the farmland and tenant farmers in Yuzhou.

No matter who came to Yuzhou to serve as an official, if they wanted to collect taxes, conscript labor, or achieve political merit smoothly, they had to follow the Liu family's lead.

Thus, except for a few noble scions coming to build their resumes, all officials knelt in welcome. If you knelt, the Yuzhou officialdom would tolerate you; if you did not, you would find it impossible to move an inch.

Grand Secretary Liu lifted the curtain and gave a listless glance at the officials kneeling on the ground. "My father has passed; I have no heart for reminiscing with you all. Disperse."

With that, the carriage began to move slowly again. An official hurried alongside the carriage, leaning in to whisper to Grand Secretary Liu behind the curtain, "Grand Secretary, the Eldest Master and Second Master are waiting for you at home."

Grand Secretary Liu commanded, "I am going to the ancestral graves. Tell Liu Mingxian to come see me."

The carriage traveled all the way to Mount Beimang. Grand Secretary Liu stood before the broken tomb, watching dozens of strong men transport new stone materials to rebuild the mausoleum.

It was unclear how long he stood there.

Suddenly, Liu Mingxian appeared, rushing toward Grand Secretary Liu and kneeling. "Father!"

The elder said nothing, leaving his son kneeling.

It was only when Liu Mingxian's knees began to ache and he could not help but shift his body that Grand Secretary Liu asked leisurely, "After I die, will they also open my coffin to examine my corpse?"

Liu Mingxian hurriedly lowered his head. "Father, absolutely not!"

Grand Secretary Liu dismissed everyone from the mountain. He lifted his robes and sat on a piece of stone, saying slowly, "Liu Mingxian, today you killed your grandfather for the sake of the 'great cause' you speak of. How do I know you won't kill me tomorrow for that same cause?"

The mountain was silent and deserted. Liu Mingxian prostrated himself on the ground, remaining silent.

Grand Secretary Liu barked, "Speak!"

Liu Mingxian hurriedly explained, "Father, that was not my intention. Originally, I intended to use Grandfather's death to force the Secret Intelligence Bureau to retreat. Yun Yang and Jiao Tu are only good at killing and have no brains; they would have retreated if frightened. I never expected they would actually find the evidence against Liu Shiyu."

"Then why did you have to kill your grandfather?"

"We received intelligence that the Secret Intelligence Bureau was on its way to perform an autopsy. If they discovered the coffin was empty, our Liu family would be guilty of deceiving the Emperor! So, I sought out 'Mandala flowers' to feed him. He only needed to be in a state of suspended animation for a moment. I never expected that because of his advanced age, he could not withstand the effects of the Mandala and passed away."

Grand Secretary Liu was furious. "Still not telling the truth? It was clearly because your grandfather disapproved of your collusion with the Jing Dynasty, so you took this opportunity to finish him off once and for all! Liu Mingxian, you are too unscrupulous. I never imagined I had raised a man-eating wolf within the Liu family!"

Liu Mingxian suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with a ferocious expression. "Father, since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has been calculating ways to eliminate our Liu family. First, he used the Donglin scholars to impeach us through censors, and now he is instigating the Eunuch faction to frame and slander us. He will not stop until we are gone!"

"Father, twenty years ago, this entire court was filled with people from our Liu family. And now? We can't even protect our official positions in Yuzhou. You know very well that the Chen family sent Chen Liqin to serve as the Luocheng Vice Prefect, and that old man Xu Gong sent his son-in-law Zhang Zhuo to serve as the Luocheng Prefect. These two are in league together, determined to audit the Liu family's lands and tenants."

"Father, I am making a desperate gamble. If we sit and wait for death, the Liu family's centuries-old foundation will be lost!"

A thin mist blew through the mountain valleys. Grand Secretary Liu sat in the mist, looking somewhat desolate. "None of you are willing to listen to me. Why do you still call me Father?"

"I told your aunt that His Majesty is brilliant and mastered imperial tactics since childhood; he cannot be restrained. But your aunt refused to listen. Since His Majesty ascended the throne at age eleven, she has held sway over the court, preventing him from exercising personal rule. His Majesty endured six years of hardship; how could he not hate our Liu family?"

"It is precisely because he hates us that we have no way to live. If we truly fight, it doesn't mean we cannot win! This world does not belong to the Zhu family alone!" Liu Mingxian said fiercely.

Grand Secretary Liu suddenly became despondent. "Fine, fine. I will ask you only one more question: when you sent that glass cup to your sister, did you know it would cause her to lose her child?"

Liu Mingxian shook his head in denial. "I did not know. That cup was exquisite; I only sent it because I thought my sister would like it."

"Still lying!" Grand Secretary Liu kicked him to the ground.

Liu Mingxian no longer knelt. Instead, he stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and smoothed out his blue official robes. "Father, after she married into the Prince's Mansion, her heart belonged only to Prince Jing; what was left of our Liu family? Every day, her only thought was to bear a child for Prince Jing. I told her to work for the Liu family, and she refused, so I cut off that hope for her!"

"You are too wicked!"

"Father, am I as wicked as the Eunuch faction? If I am not wicked, how can I fight them?"

"You..." The words died on Grand Secretary Liu's lips; he did not know how to respond.

He sat on the stone in silence for an unknown amount of time before finally letting out a soft sigh. "Who tipped you off about Yun Yang and Jiao Tu being imprisoned today?"

Seeing his father's tone soften, Liu Mingxian's face brightened. He knew that because his father held a high position, he would not act purely on emotion.

He said respectfully, "Your son does not know. I am investigating, but I am not yet certain of the other party's intentions."

Grand Secretary Liu's expression turned solemn. "Whether they are friend or foe, I cannot sleep with such a person near me. Find them immediately. I will dispatch men from Yanshi to assist you. These people are not easy to acquire; set aside your arrogance."

"Understood."

Grand Secretary Liu waved his hand. "Go. I am tired."

Liu Mingxian turned to descend the mountain, leaving Grand Secretary Liu alone.

The old man, looking like a flickering candle in the wind, slowly rose and leaned against the coffin before the tomb. "Father, it has been a long time since you stepped out of the Liu estate to see this world."

(End of Chapter)