In Luocheng City at night, the distant, old voice of the watchman drifted: “It’s freezing cold, watch out for slippery roads.”

It was Yinshi, the hour for rising.

If it were in the capital, high-ranking court officials would already be gathered in front of Wenyuan Pavilion inside Donghua Gate, breathing out white mist, waiting outside for orders from the Grand Secretaries.

Chen Ji lifted the curtain, looking at the hazy light and thin mist outside the carriage window. He thought to himself that he had to rush back to Anxi Street as quickly as possible, otherwise he would be late for school again today.

He gently lowered the carriage curtain. Inside the swaying carriage, Golden Pig was slowly recalling: “That year, the assassination case of the Minister of Revenue caused quite a stir. His Majesty gave the Grand Court of Judicial Review seven days to apprehend the real culprit. If they couldn’t solve the case, all officials of the Grand Court of Judicial Review from the fifth rank and above would be demoted three ranks, and all officials below the fifth rank would be dismissed and never rehired.”

“At that time, the capital seemed gripped by a chilling dread; everyone on the streets dared not even breathe loudly, fearing that cold air would rush into their bodies if they opened their mouths. Unfortunately, the case still couldn’t be solved in the end. It wasn’t until news of Lu Jin’s promotion and ennoblement in the Jing Dynasty came back that everyone realized what had truly happened. It was truly a difficult winter.”

As he spoke, he looked at Manager Yuan with deep eyes: “Back then, so many Assistant Ministers of the Grand Court of Judicial Review, Judicial Officers, and Censors overseeing city patrols couldn’t find any clues. Now, after so many years, it’s virtually impossible for us to investigate anything.”

Manager Yuan said, “Lord Golden Pig, if I am fortunate enough to become a Haiching operative of the Secret Service, I will certainly uncover the identity of Lu Jin’s sister. I believe she definitely did not return to the Jing Dynasty; otherwise, given Lu Jin’s status and position, she wouldn’t need to hide her tracks.”

Golden Pig chuckled merrily, “Then why do you think she didn’t return to the Jing Dynasty? Perhaps she’s dead!”

Manager Yuan replied, “If she were dead, with Lu Jin’s means, he would naturally be able to retrieve her remains. If she’s not dead, then only two things can keep a woman: love or a child.”

Golden Pig applauded with interest: “That makes sense. But does that mean you still have no clues or leads?”

Manager Yuan nodded, “Yes, that’s correct.”

Chen Ji subtly let out a sigh of relief. He began, “My Lord, if there’s nothing else here…”

Before he could finish, Golden Pig changed the subject and asked Manager Yuan, “Let’s put aside the matter of Lu Jin’s sister for now. Speaking of tonight, I feel you’re still holding something back, Manager Yuan, aren’t you?”

Manager Yuan’s expression stiffened, “What do you mean, My Lord? I’ve already said everything I know.”

Golden Pig said with a smile, “It’s true that you’ve sold out your colleagues in Luocheng, but among the officials you named, the highest rank is merely a low-ranking county official. The accounts of Luocheng’s Bailu Pavilion still show eighteen thousand taels unaccounted for. May I ask, where did that silver go?”

Manager Yuan exclaimed, “Lord Golden Pig, you are truly impressive. You’ve cleared the accounts of Bailu Pavilion so quickly!”

Golden Pig waved his hand, “It’s not that I’m impressive, but rather that my Directorate of Ceremonial has the most capable accountants in the entire Ning Dynasty.”

Manager Yuan pondered for a moment, “My Lord, change course, let’s go to Tongji Street.”

Golden Pig tapped the carriage wall, “Xifeng, to Tongji Street.”

Then Manager Yuan spoke, “My Lord, the internal ledger of the Military Intelligence Bureau was a trump card I kept for myself after joining the Secret Service. It contains evidence and accounts of bribes from Bailu Pavilion, Hongxiu Chamber, and Mingquan Garden to various officials in Yuzhou, including many high-ranking officials in Luocheng. I now hand all of it over to you, My Lord, and I hope you will promote me in the future.”

Golden Pig laughed, “Of course, of course. Oh, Chen Ji, what were you just about to say?”

Chen Ji, who had originally intended to take his leave, now sat steadily back in the carriage. He shook his head, “Nothing…”

High-ranking officials in Luocheng? Those considered high-ranking in Luocheng could be counted on one hand: Zhang Zhuo, Chen Liqin, Liu Mingxian.

This was not the time to leave.

The carriage quietly drove into Tongji Street, a gathering place for wealthy merchants. Even at this hour, almost dawn, faint sounds of laughter and erotic music could still be heard from some merchants’ homes.

Golden Pig sneered, “We fight tooth and nail, only to protect a bunch of these scoundrels.”

The carriage arrived in front of an elegant residence.

Manager Yuan said, “This is the place. The ledgers are hidden inside.”

Golden Pig glanced at him silently, then merely extended a hand and effortlessly pushed, breaking the internal latch.

However, he did not enter through the main door. Instead, he moved to the side, lightly leaped up, and crouched steadily on the eaves of the wall, peering inside.

There were no ambushes, no traps; the residence was empty.

Manager Yuan smiled, “Lord Golden Pig, since I have decided to abandon my former ways and align myself with the proper side, I will not do anything useless.”

Golden Pig said with a forced smile, “Caution is the parent of safety. It’s not that I suspect you; it’s merely habit.”

“Understood!”

Golden Pig escorted Manager Yuan into the courtyard. The courtyard wasn’t large, but it had everything one could wish for: rockeries and a fish pond. In the pond, more than ten koi swam about.

Manager Yuan limped over, found an iron pickaxe, and violently struck a rockery.

With a crash, the rockery shattered, revealing a hidden chest inside. The chest was half a person’s height. Xifeng opened it and found it filled with ledgers.

Manager Yuan said from the side, “Zhang Zhuo, the Prefect of Luocheng, four thousand taels of silver; Liu Mingxian, the Assistant Prefect of Luocheng, two thousand taels; Chen Liqin, the Associate Prefect of Luocheng, two thousand taels before he took office. Besides these, there are also the Prefect of Kaifeng and the Magistrate of Zheng County.”

Golden Pig instinctively glanced at Chen Ji, then turned to Manager Yuan, frowning, “Chen Liqin, the Associate Prefect of Luocheng, is a man of integrity. How could he accept your bribes? You’re not slandering him, are you?”

Manager Yuan chuckled, “My Lord, you jest. All crows under heaven are black; look across the Ning and Jing Dynasties—is there any official who doesn’t accept bribes? However, this Lord Chen has always kept a low profile, having his young servants collect them on his behalf. The ledgers clearly mark when, where, and who bribed, and the chest is also marked.”

Golden Pig gave Xifeng a look, and Xifeng immediately lit a basin of fire in the courtyard.

Just as Manager Yuan was confused, Golden Pig tore out the page concerning Chen Liqin and calmly tossed it into the brazier, saying, “Chen Liqin is an upright and pure man. He has never accepted any bribes from the likes of you. Understood?”

Manager Yuan paused, then smiled, “Understood, understood.”

But before the yellowed page could fall into the brazier, a slender hand steadily caught it, folded it, and tucked it into a pocket.

Chen Ji looked at Golden Pig, “My Lord, I’ll keep this page.”

Golden Pig pondered for a moment, then smiled brightly, “Alright, you’re even more ruthless than I thought. Others’ fathers control their sons, but you, as a son, want to turn around and control your father.”

Chen Ji then looked at the ledger in Golden Pig’s hand, “My Lord, the page concerning Zhang Zhuo.”

Golden Pig burst into hearty laughter, “Earlier, when I heard about you and Miss Zhang Er at Yingxian Tower, I truly thought it was a rumor. But after sending out an informant to investigate, I discovered that Lord Zhang Zhuo was merely employing a delaying tactic. Given your relationship, of course, I should do you a favor. Help you cover it up a bit.”

As he spoke, he actually tore out the page concerning Zhang Zhuo.

Chen Ji offered no explanation. Just as he was about to reach for it, Golden Pig suddenly pulled back his hand and earnestly instructed, “Now that we are all brothers, I can naturally cover some things for you, but I have only one request.”

“Please speak, My Lord.”

“Cultivate diligently.”

Golden Pig said seriously, “Only when you become an official on the path of cultivation early can you do more for me sooner.”

Golden Pig coughed, “First, rest well, then cultivate diligently.”

Chen Ji nodded, “Understood.”

Golden Pig slapped the page into Chen Ji’s hand. Chen Ji calmly tossed the page into the brazier.

The firelight cast a warm glow on his cheek.

He remembered Zhang Zhuo saying in the city gate archway, “I have great ambitions; can you help me?”

This could be considered helping him, then.

Just then, the watchman’s gong sounded from outside the courtyard: “Morning roosters crow, early to bed and early to rise.”

It was Maoshi, sunrise.

In the distant sky, a touch of white appeared, and the layered clouds dispersed.

Chen Ji asked, “My Lord, do you still need me for anything today?”

Golden Pig smiled, “No, no, that’s all. Go back and get a good sleep. Once you wake up, then figure out how to embark on the path of cultivation. If there are no major issues in the next few days, I won’t come looking for you.”

“Your subordinate respectfully takes his leave.”

Chen Ji walked out. Once he was out of the courtyard, he suddenly broke into a sprint.

In front of Zhixing Academy on Anxi Street, a bullock cart was parked. A cart driver, wearing a straw hat, was bending down, holding a handful of fodder, and feeding it into the old yellow ox’s mouth.

Some luggage was placed on the long flatbed cart, as if preparing for a long journey.

Beside the bullock cart, Bai Li stood on her tiptoes, looking towards the end of the long street, searching for a familiar figure.

The Young Master leaned against the doorframe, lazily saying, “You can see the end of Anxi Street with one glance. Standing on your tiptoes won’t let you see any further.”

Bai Li said angrily, “Liu Quxing said Chen Ji left yesterday afternoon and still hasn’t returned. Aren’t you worried something happened to him?”

The Young Master yawned, “That kid is always mysterious. I’m used to it. With his skills, even those secret agents can’t do anything to him. What could happen to him? Don’t worry, he’ll surely make it back soon.”

Bai Li said, “The crucial thing is he hasn’t received the message that Teacher Wang is taking us on a study tour to Luhun Villa, and his luggage isn’t even ready yet.”

As the two spoke, Zhang Xia walked out of the academy and asked curiously, “Is Chen Ji late again?”

Bai Li rolled her eyes at her, “He must have been delayed by something important.”

Chen Wenxiao also came out, “He had something yesterday, and something again today. He’s just a medical apprentice, what important things could he possibly have every day? As his friends, you should advise him properly. Since he has the opportunity to study with Teacher Wang, he should cherish it.”

Teacher Wang, dressed in a blue scholar’s robe, slowly walked out the door and calmly asked, “Has Chen Ji not arrived yet?”

Bai Li looked a bit troubled, “Reporting, Teacher, Chen Ji must have been delayed by something. He definitely isn’t intentionally late.”

Chen Wenxiao cupped his hands and bowed, “Teacher, if not, perhaps we shouldn’t wait for him any longer. At the speed of a bullock cart, if we delay too long, we might not make it to Yichuan County Town to rest before sunset. Furthermore, this boy is stubborn; you needn’t waste your time on him.”

Chen Wenzong frowned, “Silence.”

Teacher Wang’s expression remained unchanged. He simply said calmly, “As a teacher, one should teach tirelessly. How can I give up on a student just because of a momentary lapse? Let’s wait a bit longer.”

With that, he clasped his hands behind his back and waited quietly.

The sound of running came from afar. Everyone looked and saw Chen Ji appear at the end of the long street, sprinting all the way.

When Chen Ji reached the academy gate, he bent over, hands on his knees, and panted heavily, “Teacher, I apologize, I’m late.”

Teacher Wang didn’t immediately question him. Instead, he told Bai Li, “Go, get him a cup of water.”

Bai Li ran into the backyard like the wind. When she ran back out, she held a wooden cup to Chen Ji, “Drink some water quickly.”

Teacher Wang said casually, “After running so fast, don’t drink it directly. Just rinse your mouth. Years ago, when I was suppressing a rebellion in Jiangzhou, soldiers under my command died from drinking water too quickly during a forced march.”

Chen Ji straightened up and rinsed his mouth.

This time, Teacher Wang asked nothing, simply instructing, “The rest of you will ride in the cart; you will walk behind us.”

With that, he boarded the bullock cart without looking back.

Chen Ji looked at Bai Li and asked in surprise, “Where are we going?”

Bai Li explained, “Luhun Villa in Song County is holding a literary gathering. Eminent monks from Tuoluo Temple, Daoist priests from Laojun Mountain Daoist Court, and some scholars from the south will all attend. Teacher Wang is taking us to experience it.”

She took a small cloth bag from her luggage and handed it to Chen Ji, “You haven’t had breakfast yet, have you? Inside are some snacks I brought. Quickly eat something; we have to walk more than forty *li* today to reach Yichuan County Town to rest. You can’t do it on an empty stomach.”

Chen Ji thought for a moment and said, “I need to tell Teacher Wang that I might not be able to continue studying with him.”

Bai Li was momentarily stunned. “That’s fine too. If you truly don’t like studying classical texts, then don’t.”

Chen Ji walked towards the bullock cart, only to see the cart driver suddenly step forward and pull him aside: “Lad, hold on a little longer. The Ministry of Revenue’s silver will be approved soon. It won’t be too late for you to drop out once the border army has cotton gloves.”

Only then did Chen Ji and Bai Li clearly see the driver’s face beneath his straw hat, and they exclaimed in shock: “Father.”

“Your Highness?”