In the study of Zhou Mansion.

Golden Pig sat behind a rosewood desk, looking at West Wind with a half-smile. “Commander, your acting skills are so good. Is your usual loyal devotion to me also an act?”

West Wind gasped, “Huh?”

Golden Pig’s words struck West Wind like a bolt of lightning, jolting him awake from his immersion in the commander role.

West Wind groaned inwardly and quickly said, “My lord, my loyalty to you is as clear as the sun and moon, completely without falsehood.”

Golden Pig smiled, not dwelling on the matter. “What do you think of the man wearing the tiger mask just now?”

West Wind immediately replied, “Quite formidable, certainly more so than I.”

Golden Pig said meaningfully, “What if I told you he was just a young shop assistant from some store? Would you believe it?”

West Wind was stunned. “How is that possible?!”

Golden Pig leaned back completely in his chair and slowly closed his eyes. “Indeed, how could it be possible?”

Logically, he shouldn’t have doubted someone Dream Rooster had interrogated. But Golden Pig continued to suspect precisely because of that “How is that possible?”

Chen Ji first helped White Rabbit and Cloud Goat overcome their difficulties, then helped him grasp leverage over the Liu family, all while befriending the Prince and Princess and even catching the eye of Prince Jing. Could a mere apprentice achieve all this?

Crucially, the Secret Intelligence Bureau’s gazette clearly stated that the Chen family’s illegitimate son was dull and reticent, yet the current Chen Ji showed no signs of being either.

West Wind asked, “My lord, did you go to such great expense to invite Dream Rooster just to interrogate him?”

Golden Pig replied casually, “My original intention for bringing Dream Rooster was to interrogate the Liu family members, but since he’s already been brought from Kaifeng Prefecture, interrogating one more won’t hurt. This person won’t remain unknown; I won’t feel at ease until he’s thoroughly interrogated.”

West Wind asked curiously, “When do you plan to interrogate him?”

Golden Pig thought for a moment. “Immediately after the Liu family matter is resolved, he will be secretly apprehended and taken to the inner prison.”

“Understood.”

Silence fell in the study.

West Wind suddenly asked, “My lord, do you truly have a grudge against the Liu family? Isn’t it the Xu family you have a vendetta against?”

Golden Pig leaned back in his chair, narrowing his eyes slightly. “Who told you I have a grudge against the Xu family?”

West Wind brought a teacup to Golden Pig and whispered, “Lord Black Snake said so. It seems this matter has spread throughout our Secret Intelligence Bureau; some people secretly asked me about it a few days ago.”

Golden Pig didn’t take the teacup, letting West Wind hold it with both hands. He asked nonchalantly, “What else did Black Snake say?”

“Lord Black Snake said your family used to be involved in maritime trade, with goods sold as far as Luzon, Champa, and Java. Later, the Xu family forcibly conscripted your entire family for labor, and only you survived.”

Golden Pig frowned. “Did he say how he knew that?”

“No,” West Wind said, secretly observing Golden Pig. “My lord, is this true?”

Golden Pig finally took the teacup, emptied it in one gulp, and said casually, “It is.”

“Then why don’t you seek revenge against the Xu family?” West Wind asked, perplexed.

Golden Pig stood up, clasping his hands behind his back, and looked out the window. “Our Grand Counselor will not let you have your way until he has squeezed every last drop of your remaining usefulness. I am waiting, waiting for the day he allows me to take my revenge.”

“At that time, your humble subordinate will go through fire and water for you, sparing no effort!”

Golden Pig scoffed, “Don’t you get tired of professing your loyalty all day long?”

“I’m used to it, I don’t get tired!”

Golden Pig looked back at West Wind. “For all these years, I’ve held you back from being promoted to Haidongqing. Do you resent me?”

“Just a little.”

Golden Pig chuckled, then suddenly sighed, “You’re quite honest. One day you’ll understand. Once you reach the position of Haidongqing, you’ll be in the Grand Counselor’s direct sight. What you’ll gain then isn’t joy, but pain. Being a Dove-level secret agent is quite good; the pay isn’t bad. Just do your dangerous work without thinking too much.”

“My lord, is that the truth or a lie?”

“Get out.”

“Oh…”

West Wind slipped out the door. Golden Pig sat back in his chair, leaning slowly against the backrest. He picked up a gazette and placed it over his face.

Having told so many lies, sometimes even he couldn’t distinguish between what was true and what was false.

Amidst the bustling traffic, two secret agents trailed Chen Ji from a distance. They seemed connected by invisible threads that could not be broken.

Suddenly, the crowd grew lively. A fast horse galloped down the street, and a man with a red sash around his waist shouted loudly, “Chen Wenzong of the Chen Mansion, Jieyuan!” Behind him, a young man on another fast horse also shouted, “Chen Wenzong, young master of the Chen Mansion of Luocheng’s Associate Prefect, has achieved Jieyuan!”

“Lin Chaojing, young master of the Lin family, has achieved Yayuan!”

“Chen Wenxiao, young master of the Chen Mansion of Luocheng’s Associate Prefect, has achieved Jingkui!”

One “Jiezi” after another scrambled to report the “Five Kwai” results. The “Five Kwai” report involved the “Jiezis” waiting outside the examination hall from early morning for the results to be announced. After the announcement, they would race to deliver the good news to the top five scorers. The first to reach a “Five Kwai” family would receive a hefty reward. The rewards ranged from five to fifty taels of silver. For a prominent family like the Chen Mansion, it would certainly be the maximum of fifty taels, which is why the “Jiezis” all vied for it, even risking fights on the road.

Chen Ji watched silently, suddenly feeling a sense of unreality. It felt like just the day before he was still covered in cement dust at the kiln, and now, in the blink of an eye, the autumn imperial examination results were out. For a moment, he wished he could sit in a bright, clean academy, studying without a care… but he quickly dismissed the thought. He couldn’t learn a thing about classical prose.

Chen Ji smiled. “I’m still better suited to gambling with my life.”

At this moment, people on the street hurried to make way, even pulling ox-carts to the side, as if nothing else in the world, no matter how important, could take precedence over the announcement of the autumn examination results.

The two secret agents did not look at the “Jiezis,” but kept their eyes fixed on Chen Ji’s back in the crowd. However, as the fast horse galloped past between them, in just the briefest moment, Chen Ji’s shadow vanished as if he had disappeared into thin air. The galloping horse seemed like a sharp blade, severing the invisible thread between them.

Half an hour later, Chen Ji stood at the entrance of Taiping Medical Clinic, carrying two roasted chickens, letting the bustling morning market crowd flow past him. He took a few deep breaths and rubbed his face, which showed a hint of fatigue. Once his expression softened, he smiled, stepped over the threshold, and called out, “Master, I’m back!”

By the rosewood counter, Old Man Yao was playing chess across the counter with someone. Hearing Chen Ji’s voice, he looked up. “So you decided to come back, did you? You come and go as you please. You might as well rename my Taiping Medical Clinic to Taiping Inn.”

At that moment, the person playing chess with Old Man Yao turned around. “Young Doctor Chen is back! I was worried I wouldn’t be able to wait for you!”

Chen Ji was startled. The newcomer was none other than Zhang Zhuo, the Prefect of Luocheng!

Zhang Zhuo was uncharacteristically dressed in casual scholarly robes today, wearing a fashionable tasseled cornet hat and brand-new black boots. He didn’t look like an official at all; rather, he resembled a cultured man on his way to a banquet.

Chen Ji handed the roasted chickens to She Dengke and asked, puzzled, “Why is Lord Zhang here?”

Zhang Zhuo patted his shoulder warmly. “Your invention of that ‘cement’ resolved an urgent matter for me, so I naturally came to express my gratitude in person.”

Chen Ji smiled and said, “Lord Zhang, there’s no need to thank me. I was also doing it for business.”

Zhang Zhuo’s expression turned serious. “How can I not thank you? Do you know how many people freeze to death in Yuzhou every winter?”

“How many?”

Zhang Zhuo said, “In the nineteenth year of Jianing, thirty-one charity organizations in Yuzhou collected a total of thirty-three thousand four hundred and twenty-one bodies of people who froze to death. In the twentieth year of Jianing, they collected a total of…”

As Chen Ji listened to Lord Zhang recount the annual death toll from freezing, he grew increasingly alarmed. Could so many people freeze to death each year in just one province like Yuzhou?

Zhang Zhuo continued, “If we can build another batch of houses before the second snowfall this year, I believe many fewer people will die in Luocheng. As the parent official of Luocheng, it is only right that I come to thank you in person.”

Chen Ji smiled. “It’s an honor to be able to do something for the people of Luocheng.”

He had originally expected Zhang Zhuo to depart after some polite greetings, but to his surprise, Zhang Zhuo didn’t leave. Instead, he pulled Chen Ji by the arm to the chessboard. “Come, come, I heard from the Prince that your chess skills are exceptional. Let’s play a few games.”

Chen Ji instinctively glanced at Old Man Yao. He found it strange that Lord Zhang had suddenly come to the clinic, claiming to give thanks, yet brought no gifts. He didn’t leave after his hasty thanks; instead, he wanted to play chess. If this dragged on, it would soon be lunchtime, and he might even have to stay for a meal. What an odd and eccentric personality!

Old Man Yao saw him looking and scoffed, “If Lord Zhang asks you to play chess, then play; why are you looking at me? It’s a good thing; others wish they had the chance to play chess with the Prefect. If Lord Zhang is happy with your games, he might even invite you to his mansion to play every day.”

Chen Ji was confused by these words. From his master’s tone, could Zhang Zhuo’s visit be an invitation for him to become an advisor in the prefectural office?

Chen Ji stood behind the counter, picking up chess pieces while considering how to politely decline. However, Zhang Zhuo did not extend an invitation. Instead, he said slowly, “It’s good for a young man to be ambitious and proud. Others may find you unconventional, but I see your integrity. Yet, if a person loses their family, they lose their foundation, like rootless duckweed adrift… One must still have a home.”

Chen Ji frowned. “Is Lord Zhang here to be an envoy for Lord Chen?”

Zhang Zhuo chuckled. “Of course not. If you ask me, you’re right not to return to the Chen family. The Chen clan consists of self-righteous, rigid scholars. Everyone calls them gentlemen, but I find them stubborn and inflexible. Take the matter of repairing the river embankment: Lord Chen insisted on overseeing every detail, leaving no room for anyone to profit, which caused delays in the construction, and no one wanted to work!”

Zhang Zhuo continued, “And about your Chen family matter, without authorization from above, would a mere servant dare to embezzle two taels of silver every month? He wouldn’t dare, even if it meant death. You absolutely must not go back; you’d only be stifled again. Besides, you now receive two thousand five hundred taels of silver from the Prince’s mansion annually. Isn’t living independently outside more comfortable than being in the Chen Mansion? If you go back, you’ll be a fool!”

Chen Ji was completely baffled by Zhang Zhuo. What exactly was Lord Zhang here for?

Chen Ji asked, perplexed, “Then why are you here at the clinic today?”

Zhang Zhuo laughed heartily, answering evasively, “To play chess, to play chess.”

Zhang Zhuo, ignoring the “guess-first” rule, immediately placed a piece.

Chen Ji was taken aback. “Why did you just place a piece directly? Aren’t we guessing first?”

Zhang Zhuo chuckled merrily, “No need to guess first. With my style of play, going first with the black pieces makes it easier to win.”

Chen Ji: “…”

The first game of chess.

Chen Ji had originally thought Zhang Zhuo was a terrible player, but as soon as he revealed his intention to save a solitary group and capture a dragon, Zhang Zhuo immediately cornered him. Previously, Prince Jing needed three games to grasp Chen Ji’s style, but Zhang Zhuo managed to pin him down in just half a game.

Chen Ji’s expression became solemn. He adopted an AlphaGo-like strategy, snatching corners and immediately attacking any area where Zhang Zhuo placed two or more pieces, disregarding conventional moves.

Zhang Zhuo’s eyes lit up. He too mimicked the style, relentlessly pressing on. To scholars, Go was an art form embodying the way of heaven, but in the hands of these two, it suddenly became like a street brawl, using any means necessary to win, without inhibition.

Zhang Zhuo looked up at Chen Ji and praised, “You’re also someone who will do anything to win. Very good, very good!”

Chen Ji asked, perplexed, “I heard Lord Zhang praising the Prince’s chess skills earlier, almost calling him the best in the Central Plains. I didn’t expect Lord Zhang to be even better than the Prince.”

“Shh,” Zhang Zhuo chuckled merrily. “What’s there to fear about losing a few games? How much is reputation worth? If the Prince wins a game and is pleased enough to grant my request, it will benefit hundreds of thousands of people in Luocheng.”

Chen Ji looked thoughtful.

Just then, there was a sound of someone climbing over a wall from the backyard. Zhang Zhuo craned his neck to look down the corridor and saw Princess White Carp had just crossed over the gray-tiled roof eaves. He turned back and smiled at Chen Ji. “I have a banquet to attend today. Let’s chat another time!”

With that, Zhang Zhuo entered his official sedan chair waiting outside, without looking back.

Chen Ji looked blankly at Old Man Yao. “What exactly was he here for?”

Apologies for the late post. I’m going to get some sleep, and I’ll write today’s content when I wake up.