Chapter 45: Drinking to the Full

At the head of the banquet, the Heir and Princess Baili sat behind their table, merely listening to the chatter of the crowd without interjecting. The two were whispering to one another, their conversation private and indiscernible.

Watching the various faces in this literary gathering, Chen Ji felt a sense of displacement, wondering when Consort Jing intended to speak with him.

At that moment, Chunhua quietly approached him, leaning down to whisper, "My lady requests your presence for a conversation."

Chen Ji scanned the scene, breathing a sigh of relief only after confirming that Consort Yun had not attended the gathering.

Currently, in front of Consort Jing, he was an agent of the Secret Intelligence Bureau; in front of Consort Yun, he was an operative of the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Department. It felt much like walking a tightrope ten thousand meters in the air.

He rose and followed Chunhua to a pavilion. Peering through the bamboo blinds, he could only make out the blurred silhouette of Consort Jing.

As Chunhua withdrew, only Chen Ji and Consort Jing remained in the pavilion, separated by a single curtain.

Consort Jing remained silent for a long time. Chen Ji simply stood there; it was as if both had come solely to focus on the literary gathering.

After an unknown amount of time, Consort Jing asked calmly, "Everyone says Liu Shiyu was driven to death by the Secret Intelligence Bureau, so why do you claim he was murdered to silence him?"

Chen Ji spoke slowly, "I performed the autopsy. Someone conspired with the prison guards to stage his death as a hanging, but in reality, he was strangled. The Secret Intelligence Bureau has the case files to verify this."

Consort Jing frowned. "How can I check the Bureau's files? How do I know you aren't merely fooling me?"

Standing outside the pavilion, Chen Ji pondered for a moment before saying, "You actually know that what I am saying is the truth. Since the Liu family could send you that cup, they naturally would not be stingy with Liu Shiyu's life. I am merely a small figure working for the Secret Intelligence Bureau; your vengeance, Consort Jing, should not be directed at me."

Consort Jing said sternly, "Do not think you can escape involvement. Someone told me that if it weren't for you, the Bureau wouldn't have found leverage on Liu Shiyu! Since you had Chunhua deliver a message, then tell me how to take my revenge, otherwise, you shall die as well!"

Chen Ji looked at the scholars and gentlemen before him. While others discussed romance and political ideals, he was discussing life and death in another world. "Madam, who is currently managing the Liu family affairs in Luocheng? Is it Liu Mingxian?"

Hearing that name, the venom in Consort Jing's voice became palpable. "It is him!"

There was a hint of madness in her suppressed tone. Having lost her son, and then losing a close nephew the very next day, the successive grief had pushed her to the brink of losing control.

In his heart, Chen Ji praised Liu Mingxian's fine acting. On the night the Zhou estate was surrounded, the man had worn mourning clothes, his eyes red and his expression weary—he looked every bit the grieving, filial son. "How do you wish to retaliate?"

"I want him to die a wretched death!"

Chen Ji breathed a sigh of relief; the hatred had shifted toward Liu Mingxian. "When did he present that cup to you?"

"In the early spring!"

Chen Ji asked again, "At that time, he must have asked you to do something. You refused, which is why he sent the cup as retaliation. I wish to ask, what exactly was the matter he asked you to handle?"

"Why are you asking this?"

Chen Ji responded, "How can I seek revenge if I do not know what he intends to do?"

Consort Jing fell into thought for a moment. "At that time, one of the Prince's former subordinates was to be promoted to Inspector, leading two thousand troops to garrison the Imperial Workshop in Luocheng. Liu Mingxian wanted me, in the Prince's name, to help him contact this former subordinate..."

Chen Ji froze.

Zhou Chengyi had arranged for the courtesan Cui Huan to get close to the Imperial Workshop; Liu Mingxian's request to Consort Jing was also intended to get close to the Inspector garrisoning the workshop.

Why was the Imperial Workshop so important that the Military Intelligence Department and the Liu family were exerting such painstaking effort? And why did the Imperial Workshop of the Ning Dynasty require two thousand elite troops for its garrison?!

Wait.

Just now, a scholar had mentioned that if Jing Dynasty cavalry approached Chongli Pass, the Ning Dynasty defenders could use cannons and firearms to repel them.

A thread of light connected all the clues in Chen Ji's mind: The Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Department wanted the Ning Dynasty's secret formulas for firearm manufacturing!

This was the "sincerity" the head of the Military Intelligence Department was demanding from the Liu family!

And since the Liu family had already cooperated with Consort Yun to obtain the firearms, that cup was not merely about killing a child...

Consort Yun's condition for cooperation was likely for the Liu family to kill the disobedient Consort Jing and help her become the primary consort, serving as a blood oath.

Otherwise, why would Consort Yun stand on the side of the Liu family?

...

...

While lost in thought, Chen Ji heard someone at the table ask loudly, "Brother Wenzong, the Chen family has produced two brilliant talents, both poised to take the top honors in this year's provincial exams. Yet, I heard recently that you have another brother. Why have we never seen him?"

"That's not right. I remember my father once asked Uncle Chen how many children he had, and he said two sons and one daughter!"

Chen Ji looked up. His two legitimate elder brothers were like dragons among men, the focus of all the scholars; naturally, their family matters were subject to scrutiny.

The person who first brought it up asked in confusion, "Brother Wenzong, did I hear incorrectly?"

Beside him, Chen Wenxiao spoke up, "Our brother's conduct was poor, so my father simply acted as if the Chen family had no such son."

A stout, heavy-set man grew interested. "What do you mean? Is there a hidden story?"

Chen Wenzong glared at Chen Wenxiao. "This is a family matter. Do not speak of it further."

Chen Wenxiao ignored him and continued, "My brother Chen Ji was obsessed with places of ill repute since childhood; he was even a regular at the gambling dens in Hongyi Lane. Three years ago, my father intended to send him to the Donglin Academy, but unexpectedly, a gambling den came to collect a debt—a staggering six hundred taels!"

"What?"

"Six hundred taels!"

Chen Wenzong frowned at Chen Wenxiao. "Stop talking. You are staining our family name and merely providing fodder for others' ridicule!"

Chen Wenxiao nonchalantly picked up his wine cup and took a sip. "The boy's record is riddled with disgrace; how could it be hidden? Brother, do not deceive yourself."

He looked at the crowd. "After my father learned of this, he ordered the steward to take servants to investigate. It turned out he didn't just owe money to one place; there are six gambling dens in Hongyi Lane, and his family owed money to every single one."

"And then?"

"And then? My father wanted to beat him to death immediately, but my mother, being merciful, intervened and said we should find him a livelihood and let him fend for himself. My mother first sent him to work as a shop assistant in a pharmacy, but he found it too tiring, so he begged my mother to give him some silver to go to the Imperial Medical Hall as an apprentice. We no longer know where he is."

At the table, someone remarked with a sigh, "Tsk tsk, to produce a gambler... truly a misfortune for the family."

Suddenly, there was a loud *bang*. She Dengke stood up and flipped the table. "Nonsense! Chen Ji is not that kind of person. He is not a gambler, nor is he lazy!"

The food on the table scattered across the floor, and wine splashed onto the scholars sitting at the front table.

Everyone turned to look at She Dengke. Chen Wenxiao looked at the Heir in confusion. "Your Highness, who is this?"

The Heir was also somewhat bewildered; he hadn't invited this man.

She Dengke introduced himself, "I am She Dengke, an apprentice at the Imperial Medical Hall. I have been classmates with Chen Ji for two years. He is absolutely not the kind of person you describe!"

Chen Wenxiao narrowed his eyes. "Chen Ji is my brother. Naturally, I know him better."

She Dengke's face flushed with rage. "You know what—"

"Dengke? Like passing the imperial exams? Hahaha!" Suddenly, someone burst out laughing. "To give oneself such a grand name, why didn't you take the civil service exams instead of becoming an apprentice in a medical hall?"

"And in those commoner's clothes—how do you have the nerve to attend a literary gathering?"

Liu Quxing could no longer bear it. He stood up abruptly and shouted angrily, "What does the clothing have to do with a literary gathering? We have known Chen Ji for two years, and he is definitely not the person you claim him to be."

"Oh? You look quite presentable, but looking at that cap, it doesn't look like it was made by Li's shop; it looks like a cheap imitation from a small workshop."

Liu Quxing was speechless; he had indeed bought an imitation to save money.

However, at that moment, Princess Baili stood up and asked loudly, "Is this how the academy teachers taught you to judge people by their appearance? What he wears or does has nothing to do with what he says. None of you have actually met this so-called Chen Ji, have you? I haven't either, but people who are willing to risk their reputation to speak up for someone, in my view, cannot be bad people."

The Heir burst into laughter. "Princess Baili makes a valid point. Let me ask you all: if someone were to slander you in public, would there be anyone to defend you? Do you have such friends by your side?"

As he spoke, the Heir raised his cup toward She Dengke and Liu Quxing from across the distance. "I admire you. Drink up!"