The yamen, candlelight, a chessboard.

Chen Ji placed a black piece, making a brilliant move.

Bailong gazed at the brilliant move, lost in thought.

It was the first time he had pondered for more than ten seconds. With that single move, he felt that although Chen Ji had sacrificed a corner, he had brought the entire game to life.

Bailong smiled and said, “It seems I can’t play fast chess with you anymore. An epiphany in life can strike in an instant or take a lifetime to achieve. Many people muddle through their entire lives without ever understanding what they’re meant to do. Congratulations, it appears you’ve found your clarity.”

Chen Ji remained impassive. “Lord Bailong, you flatter me. Your humble subordinate hasn’t quite figured it out yet. However, you, sir, had the prestigious path of a Jinshi open to you; why did you choose to join the Secret Service?”

Bailong looked up at him. “You dare to pry into my affairs? How insolent. If there’s a next time, be careful, I’ll hang you from the rafters and beat you.”

Chen Ji didn’t take the threat to heart. He had realized that while Bailong was temperamental, as long as one remained useful to him, they would be safe.

He pondered for a moment before asking, “Earlier, you mentioned having something to tell me. What is it? Is it to capture Han Tong?”

“Capturing Han Tong isn’t urgent for now; he’s like a loach in a river now, difficult to find. We’ll have to wait and see,” Bailong said slowly, gazing at the chessboard. “How much do you know about Chen Luchí, the head of the Chen family?”

Chen Ji’s heart tightened. Was the Chen family the Secret Service’s next target?

Bailong glanced at him. “What, does a member of the Chen family not even know their own family’s affairs?”

Chen Ji spoke softly. “The family head is suspicious, temperamental, and arrogant. He rules the Chen family with an iron fist; it is entirely his one-man show.”

Bailong was amused. “And what about Chen Lizun, the eldest legitimate son of the first branch?”

Chen Ji thought for a moment before replying, “He’s weak and incompetent. His official position as Bureau Chief in the Ministry of Revenue is entirely thanks to the Chen family’s influence. His standing within the household isn’t high; the first branch is actually managed by his wife, Lady Wang.”

“What about Chen Lizhi, the second legitimate son of the second branch?”

“He appears gentle and pure on the surface, but is actually sinister and cunning. He manages the Chen family’s finances, land, and legitimate businesses, but secretly runs brothels and casinos, engaging in loan-sharking.”

This “lamb’s interest” was, in fact, usury: ten taels of silver borrowed would require twenty taels in return the following year, or else it would lead to ruin, with families destroyed and wives and children separated.

Such a disreputable business could never be conducted openly, so it was always handled by intermediaries behind the scenes.

Bailong’s questioning, though surprising, posed no real danger to Chen Ji.

Earlier, to conceal his identity as an outsider, he had meticulously studied all the documents related to the Chen family in the internal archives, and this knowledge now proved useful.

However, Bailong’s tone suddenly shifted. “What about Chen Yu?”

Chen Ji hesitated inwardly… Chen Yu?

He had never even heard of this person, and there was no mention of the name in the Secret Service’s archives. Why would Bailong suddenly inquire about him?

How should he answer? Should he pretend to know him, or admit ignorance?

According to Chen family custom, legitimate sons of the same generation shared a common character in their three-character names—for example, the character ‘Li’ in Chen Liqin’s name denoted his generation. Sons born to concubines, however, did not share this generational character and typically had two-character names.

Chen Yu must also be a son born to a concubine in the Chen family, though he didn’t know which branch.

If Chen Ji were familiar with Chen Yu, they would surely have exchanged letters, but he had never seen any correspondence from him in all this time.

Chen Ji considered for a moment. “Lord Bailong, your humble subordinate is not familiar with this person.”

“Not familiar?” Bailong scrutinized Chen Ji. “Are you truly unfamiliar? I thought you both entered the Chen family academy in the same year and would have known each other.”

Chen Ji calmly replied, “Sir, in these times, who can truly claim to understand anyone?”

“Indeed,” Bailong said, rising to pace the yamen. “I don’t need to ask much about the third branch, your father’s lineage. The first thing I want you to do is to return to the Chen family.”

Chen Ji froze. Return to the Chen family?

Bailong smiled. “I know you’ve stated many times that you wish to sever all ties with the Chen family. But truly, how can blood relations in this world ever be completely cut off? When you return to the Chen family, I imagine Lord Chen will be overjoyed.”

Chen Ji rose. “Lord Bailong, since you command, your humble subordinate will naturally obey without hesitation.”

Bailong chuckled. “Father-son relationships have always been complex: like that between a ruler and his minister, like friends, and sometimes even like enemies. Only when a father lies on his deathbed do they truly become father and son. I won’t pry into your personal affairs with your father. It’s time to let go of any past grievances and prioritize the greater good.”

Chen Ji lowered his head. “Your humble subordinate understands.”

With his head bowed, a glint flickered in his eyes.

Bailong was absolutely right: ordinary father-son relationships are indeed tangled and impossible to sever. However, he was from the Forty-Ninth Heaven, with no actual connection to Chen Liqin.

But Bailong was unaware of this fact.

Bailong hadn’t killed him, not merely out of respect for Sick Tiger, but because he had long intended to exploit Chen Ji’s identity as a member of the Chen family.

An average person playing chess might be considered a master if they could see three moves ahead. Bailong was different; he saw ten, even a hundred moves ahead.

At this point, Bailong smiled and said, “But you must also understand that on that day at Prince Jing’s Estate, Lord Chen did not protect you; he only protected Chen Wenxiao. From now on, view family ties more lightly. You are only to serve His Majesty and Lord Neixiang; disregard everything else.”

Chen Ji humbly replied, “As you command. But Lord Bailong, what do you wish your humble subordinate to do upon returning to the Chen family?”

Bailong stood by the table, tapping his fingers on its surface. “After the Lantern Festival, Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao will travel to the capital for the imperial examinations. Chen Liqin’s transfer order is also on its way; Chen Luchí intends to recall him to the capital to serve as a Junior Imperial Tutor in the Zhan Shi Fu, entering the Eastern Palace to assist the Crown Prince. When you return to the Chen family, you can naturally and logically accompany them back to the capital.”

The Zhan Shi Fu was the institution responsible for serving imperial princes, and a Junior Imperial Tutor held a fourth-rank official position. After the Luocheng incident, Chen Liqin, instead of being demoted, was promoted, rapidly ascending through the ranks.

Bailong gazed at the night sky outside the yamen. “Chen Ji, the capital region is where the real danger lies. Be prudent in all matters, and always be cautious. Only by staying alive and preserving yourself can you accomplish more.”

Chen Ji responded, puzzled, “But sir, I am merely a son born to a concubine of the third branch. Even if I return to the Chen family and the capital, I doubt I’ll be well-received, making it impossible to uncover the Chen family’s core secrets.”

Bailong was amused. “I don’t expect you to uncover anything significant in the short term. Just go in and reside there for now; once you reach the capital, I will naturally arrange your duties.”

Chen Ji calmly inquired, “Sir, the Chen family is a renowned scholarly and upright lineage; they disdain associating with the likes of us.”

Bailong smiled. “Few people know your Sea East Green identity. Those who knew are either dead, captured, or gone. I daresay Lord Chen is still completely in the dark. Rest assured, I will personally issue instructions to help you conceal your past.”

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door as secret agents escorted forty-seven remnants of the Liu family into the yamen.

Chen Ji asked, “Sir, are all these remnants of the Liu family to be executed?”

Bailong gave a wry smile. “There are hundreds of thousands in the collateral branches of the Liu family. If I killed them all, I’d have nightmares every night. Just apprehend those beyond five degrees of kinship, interrogate them, and if they’re innocent, release them.”

“Understood.”

Bailong waved his hand at Chen Ji. “Go back and rest. Let bygones be bygones; from now on, follow me and work diligently. Regarding the Princess, I will still intervene on your behalf to ensure she doesn’t suffer.”

Chen Ji hesitated for a moment. “Sir, may I visit the Princess?”

Bailong chuckled and scolded, “Don’t push your luck with me. I spared you because I value your talent and still have great use for you. Now, scram.”

Chen Ji cupped his hands and bowed in farewell. “Understood.”

Just before he exited, Bailong called out, “Chen Ji.”

Chen Ji turned back. “What are your instructions, sir?”

Bailong calmly stated, “To achieve great things, you must be inscrutable. Do not let others easily see through you. Those who cannot relinquish anything can change nothing.”

Chen Ji was momentarily stunned, then replied, “Your humble subordinate will remember.”

“Now go.”

As he exited the yamen, Chen Ji suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. Among the arrested remnants of the Liu family, there was a familiar face: Liu Quxing.

The accumulated snow in the courtyard was already trampled. Liu Quxing and his family, with their hands bound, were held captive among a crowd of people.

Liu Quxing was timidly hiding behind his mother when he inadvertently looked up and saw Chen Ji emerging from the yamen. His eyes immediately welled up, and he stumbled toward Chen Ji.

Liu Quxing rushed up to him and spat a mouthful of saliva directly onto Chen Ji’s face. He then lowered his voice and raged from his throat, “Were you involved in framing Prince Jing’s Estate? You animal! How could the Princess and Young Lord treat you so well, only for you to be worse than a beast!”

Liu Quxing’s curses turned to sobs. “What has happened to this world? What has happened to all of you?”

Chen Ji stood motionless in the heavy snow, silent, making no move to wipe the spittle from his face.

The secret agent in charge of the Liu family remnants, seeing Liu Quxing spit on Chen Ji’s face, instantly paled with shock. He rushed over and pulled Liu Quxing away. “Sir, your humble subordinate deserves death!”

Chen Ji wiped the spittle with his sleeve. “This person is known to me. His family was not involved in the Liu family’s rebellion. Release them.”

The secret agent was astonished. “Sir?”

Chen Ji looked at him calmly. “Are my words not clear enough?”

The secret agent lowered his head. “Yes, sir.”

Chen Ji did not spare Liu Quxing another glance, striding purposefully into the heavy snowfall. Afterward, he no longer held any fondness for heavy snow, nor did he anticipate nights or days with much enthusiasm.