Zhang Second Miss has also come to attend classes?

Chen Ji was slightly surprised.

Jing Wang teased, “Zhang Adult, there’s no problem with having your Zhang Xia follow Mr. Wang for lessons, but you and Mr. Wang took the same imperial examination in the same year. He was the Tanhua, and you were the Zhuangyuan. Instead of sending Zhang Xia to Mr. Wang, it would be better for you to teach her yourself.”

Zhang Zhuo chuckled, “That year, His Majesty felt he was young and vigorous, deliberately not appointing him as the Zhuangyuan. If we talk about talent, I am not as good as him.”

Jing Wang smiled slightly, “Zhang Adult is too modest.”

Zhang Zhuo shook his head, “Not at all. I still remember that year in Fengtian Hall, under the double-eaved hip roof, the layers of brackets like wells. His Majesty sat on the golden dragon chair. I didn’t even dare to lift my head, but Wang Dao Sheng dared to make eye contact with His Majesty. Just for this courage, I am not as good as him.”

Zhang Zhuo rested his hand on his waist belt, looked up at the apricot tree, and recalled, “That day in the hall, His Majesty asked me from afar why I read books. I honestly replied, to become an official. His Majesty smiled faintly and said, ‘Your piece [Fu Shui Lun] is enough to become an official.’ His Majesty then asked Wang Dao Sheng why he read books, and Wang Dao Sheng replied that reading books is naturally to become a sage. His Majesty said faintly, ‘[Ping Wo Shi Er Ce] is indeed enough to be an official, but to be a sage, it still lacks something.’ Thus, that year I was fifteen years old, he was twenty-three years old, I became the Zhuangyuan, and he became the Tanhua.”

After speaking, Zhang Zhuo chuckled again, “These past few years, I’ve been entwined with officials at gatherings every day, and my studies have all been abandoned. Learning from me is not as good as learning from him. Furthermore, Zhang Xia has just arrived in Luoyang. In three years, she hasn’t made any friends. If she can study with others, it might change her solitary nature and help her make some upwardly mobile friends.”

Liu Qu Xing softly muttered, “She may not be solitary at all.”

Just as he was speaking, an urgent call came from outside the wall, “Chen Ji, run quickly! My father received a bribe from Chen Adult to let you study with Mr. Wang. It’s to ease the relationship between you and those three brothers. Run quickly! Don’t let my father succeed in his scheme. Mr. Wang is very strict.”

Inside the small courtyard of Taiping Medical Hall, it suddenly fell silent.

Everyone slowly looked over. After a moment, they saw Bai Li County Lord’s head peering over the gray tiles of the courtyard wall.

“Ah…”

Bai Li saw the situation in the courtyard clearly and immediately was startled, leaning back. Fortunately, Shi Zi, who was under her, reacted quickly and caught her, otherwise, the fall would have been miserable.

Shi Zi complained, “We’ve already climbed over the wall dozens of times, how can you still make a mistake?”

Bai Li lowered her voice, “Run quickly, Father is in the medical hall.”

Shi Zi’s face changed greatly, “Trouble. Run quickly.”

Jing Wang said coldly, “Where else can you run? Get over here.”

“Oh…”

A rustling sound came from the opposite side of the courtyard wall. Bai Li, Shi Zi, and the little monk successively climbed into the courtyard, lowering their heads and standing in a row.

Jing Wang glanced at Chen Ji, then turned his head and said in a low voice, “Bai Li, tell me, what bribe did I receive?”

Bai Li said softly, “I originally went to Ming Zheng Building to find you about the kiln factory dividend. But I overheard you proposing a condition to Chen Adult, saying that as long as the Ministry of Household Affairs approved an extra sum of silver for the border army to purchase cotton gloves, you would lobby for him and persuade Chen Ji to enter the study.”

Jing Wang raised his eyebrows, “This is a matter of state. I am not doing it for personal gain. What is wrong with that?”

Bai Li muttered, “Dad, how can you be so righteous even when exposed!”

Jing Wang was not at all embarrassed about being exposed. Instead, he smiled and asked, “Chen Ji, the winter at Chong Li Pass is bitter and cold. The officers and soldiers of the border army all have frostbite on their hands and feet. You can’t even see a good piece of flesh on their hands. Do you think they should or should not be given an extra supply of cotton gloves?”

Chen Ji hesitated for a moment, “…Should!”

Jing Wang was gratified, “Seeing that you understand the big picture, I am relieved. Bai Li, Chen Ji agrees with me. Do you still have anything to say?”

Bai Li was helpless, “Nothing.”

Chen Ji raised his hand, “Wang Ye, wait. This is a matter of state…”

Jing Wang interrupted Chen Ji’s words and turned to look at Feng Da Ban, “Distribute it to them.”

He saw Feng Da Ban take out several strings of Buddha Gate Tong Bao from his bosom with a warm and harmonious expression and give them to Chen Ji and the others one by one.

Jing Wang sighed, “Chen Ji, this sum of silver was originally meant to purchase cotton, but Jing Wang Fu keeps its word. We can only first distribute the dividend to all of you. I am not forcing you to reconcile with the Chen family, that is your own business. You just need to pretend for a bit with Mr. Wang, and that will count as helping me a great favor!”

Chen Ji lowered his head and looked at the string of Buddha Gate Tong Bao in his hand. It was truly two thousand five hundred taels of silver, which could buy seventy branches of ginseng and light one hundred forty furnaces of fire.

He turned his head to look at Liu Qu Xing and She Deng Ke, “Do the two senior brothers want to study with Mr. Wang?”

She Deng Ke shook his head like a rattle-drum, “Can’t learn!”

Liu Qu Xing struggled for a moment and finally said, “I prefer to stay and serve master.”

Chen Ji stuffed the Buddhist beads into his sleeve and turned to look at Jing Wang, “Wang Ye, I can go to Mr. Wang’s alone. If there is no one in the medical hall, my master alone cannot handle everything.”

Jing Wang laughed heartily and clapped his hands, “Little Chen Doctor deeply understands righteousness, I admire you. Then it’s settled. Tomorrow morning at Mao time and a quarter, you can go to Zhi Xing Academy next to Wang Fu and report to Mr. Wang.”

After speaking, Jing Wang left, leaving the crowd in the medical hall looking at each other.

She Deng Ke said in a muffled voice, “Liu Qu Xing, you don’t want to be an official? Why not go study with Mr. Wang? This is a good opportunity that is hard to come by in a thousand years. After his Ding You, his official position will be reinstated. Maybe he will arrange an official position for you.”

Liu Qu Xing rolled his eyes, “What do you understand? That Mr. Wang has been an official for twenty years and has been demoted five times. Even though he has repeatedly achieved extraordinary merits in suppressing bandits in Jiangzhou and pacifying Japanese pirates in Minzhou, he still hasn’t received His Majesty’s favor. If I truly become his disciple, it might not necessarily be a good thing.”

“Then why do Chen Wen Zong and Chen Wen Xiao want to study with him?”

Liu Qu Xing said impatiently, “Those two are members of the Chen family. Can I compare with them? Instead of joining that crowd, it’s better to wholeheartedly follow master and learn medicine. With my little intelligence, being a seventh-rank imperial doctor is fine, but as a seventh-rank county magistrate, I’m afraid I’ll be sent to Lingnan.”

Zhang Zhuo on the side stroked his mustache and laughed, “Little Liu Doctor knows how to advance and retreat, this is the most rare. If I had understood this principle at your age, maybe I would have already returned to the capital and been promoted to the Minister of Personnel.”

Liu Qu Xing then remembered that Zhang Zhuo was still present and hurriedly cupped his hands, “Adult sees me laughing.”

“No harm, no harm.”

Zhang Zhuo looked at Shi Zi and Chen Ji, “Zhang Xia is naturally not bad. I hope you young men don’t mind the previous misunderstandings. As the saying goes, a remote road knows the strength of a horse, and time reveals a person’s heart. The more you get along, the more you will understand her character. I will take my leave.”

Bai Li looked at Zhang Zhuo walking out of the back of the medical hall, confused, “Why do I feel like Zhang Adult’s words had hidden meaning?”

At this moment, a bird call sounded from outside the medical hall. Chen Ji frowned, this was the imitation signal of the secret spy department’s copper whistle.

He quickly walked out of the medical hall. On the bustling Anxi Street, a carriage stopped in front of the steamed bun shop opposite. The door and windows were tightly covered with dark blue cotton cloth curtains.

Beside the carriage, Xi Feng was dressed as a coachman and wore a bamboo hat.

Jin Zhu lifted a gap in the silk curtain from inside and mouthed soundlessly, “Get on the carriage.”

Chen Ji turned his head to glance at the medical hall, turned his body, and squeezed through the crowd to get into the carriage.

Jin Zhu knocked on the carriage body. Xi Feng raised his horse whip and drove the carriage, he didn’t know where they were going.

Inside the dim carriage, Chen Ji was puzzled, “Adult, we just separated a few hours ago, how did you find the medical hall again?”

Jin Zhu said mysteriously, “Don’t ask so much. Just rest in the carriage for a while. When we arrive at the place, you will understand. There is a great opportunity waiting for you.”

Chen Ji looked at Jin Zhu’s enthusiastic appearance at this time and suddenly felt uncomfortable, “Adult, or you can still suspect me like before. You are like this now, I am a little scared.”

Jin Zhu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “What are you saying? I know you are angry, but we will be brothers later. Why bother with me? When I find a cultivation path for you, you will know my sincerity.”

Chen Ji changed his posture and leaned against the carriage, “How can I trouble you to find a court official for me? No merit, no reward. I can slowly accumulate merit. It’s not too late to cultivate after being promoted to Hai Dong Eagle.”

Jin Zhu’s face changed, “No.”

Chen Ji looked at Jin Zhu, suspicious, “Adult, what’s wrong?”

Jin Zhu quickly smiled and said, “You young man, you don’t know the benefits of cultivation ah. You’ve seen Tian Ma. That one hand of meteor arrows was so powerful. Even a hundred-person army formation had to temporarily avoid the sharpness. Aren’t you envious?”

Chen Ji shook his head, “No matter how fierce that is, it’s someone else’s ability, I don’t envy it.”

Jin Zhu was helpless and continued to tempt him, “When you have a cultivation path, you will no longer be one of the mediocre multitude, but an official of high standing. If you can quickly step into the innate realm, why would you still need to be a little apprentice attached to Taiping Medical Hall?”

“I am quite good in the medical hall.”

Jin Zhu hated that iron could not become steel, “I know you have a grudge with the Chen clan. Let me change the metaphor. If you can step into the realm of seeking the Way, your father will also have to be polite to you. If you can step into the realm of the Divine Way, you can stand shoulder to shoulder with the head of the Chen clan, Chen Lu Chi.”

Chen Ji became interested, “Adult, are you in the realm of the Divine Way?”

Jin Zhu’s breath caught, “No, there are only three people in the entire Ning Dynasty in the realm of the Divine Way. I am currently in the innate realm.”

“How many years have you cultivated, Adult?”

“Fifteen years…”

Chen Ji thought for a moment, “Then I probably can’t cultivate to the realm of seeking the Way!”

Jin Zhu was anxious. He leaned forward, almost close to Chen Ji, “I had a special reason for falling from the realm of seeking the Way to the innate realm. You definitely won’t be the same as me.”

Chen Ji asked casually, “Adult, why are you so attentive to my cultivation?”

Jin Zhu chuckled dryly and leaned back, “As I said, we will be brothers later.”

Chen Ji no longer spoke. He finally confirmed at this time that Jin Zhu had already bet on him.

The carriage swayed as it drove. After an unknown amount of time, it slowly stopped. Xi Feng said softly at the door, “Adult, we’ve arrived.”

Jin Zhu didn’t get off, just lifted the curtain and watched silently.

Chen Ji looked through the gap and suddenly saw that the carriage had actually stopped not far from Hundred Deer Pavilion.

The front of Hundred Deer Pavilion was already surrounded tightly by secret spies.

All the pedestrians on the entire street had hidden in the shops on the side of the street, afraid of getting involved.

Chen Ji didn’t understand, “Adult, why did you bring me here?”

Jin Zhu glanced at Chen Ji and explained, “This is one of the base camps of the Jing Dynasty’s military intelligence department in Luoyang. The Jing Dynasty thieves use it to transmit messages, gather military funds, and raise quite a few spies. Now, if our secret spy department wipes it out, it will be a great merit. I have already sent a carrier pigeon to the court official. This merit will belong to you alone. It will be used to exchange for a first-class cultivation path inside Jie Fan Building. Rest assured, at the latest in half a month, the cultivation path will be sent to Luoyang!”

Chen Ji asked, “Aren’t we getting off?”

Jin Zhu stared intently outside, without turning his head back, “Not yet. Wait until the people from the main criminal department leave.”

At this time, the first batch of secret spies led out the staff of Hundred Deer Pavilion who were tied up one by one. The second group of secret spies then carried several large boxes and placed them at the door.

In front of the door, Fish Dragon Guards from the main criminal department, wearing raincoats and carrying long knives at their waists, were already waiting. They were actually searching the secret spies one by one to prevent anyone from privately carrying silver after the search.

Following that, they opened the boxes to check the confiscated materials and registered the inventory one by one.

Jin Zhu secretly cursed, “These grandsons, all they know is to check their own people every day. If it weren’t for them, where would this seat need to secretly make money?”

Half an hour later, the secret spies and the main criminal department withdrew together.

Jin Zhu then quietly got off, tore off the seal of Hundred Deer Pavilion, and entered.

The room was messy. The counter, tables, and chairs were all flipped upside down.

Jin Zhu bent down and searched for something in the ground mess.

And ordered Xi Feng, “Xi Feng, go to the warehouse and see where the six of them are hidden in the east. Chen Ji, close the door.”

Chen Ji closed the large door and asked curiously, “What is the Adult looking for?”

The next moment, he saw Jin Zhu flip over a pile of garbage and find a small wooden box from below. His face showed joy, “Found it.”

Xi Feng’s voice also came from the backyard, “Adult, I also found one hidden in the backyard.”

Jin Zhu opened the box to check, then stuffed it into Chen Ji’s bosom, “There are fifteen branches of aged ginseng here, worth four hundred taels of silver. You just keep it. It will be of great use when the cultivation path is sent from the capital!”