On the dark, long street, Liu Quxing cried for a long time. It wasn’t until his cries drew his father out that he quickly wiped away his tears and led his mother away.

Chen Ji stood silently watching from the darkness of a nearby alley. Only when the long street was deserted did he emerge from the shadows, holding Wuyun. He looked in the direction Liu Quxing had left and remarked softly, “Liu Quxing is very diligent in his study of medicine. Master once said that in a while, he would be able to see patients on his own. It wouldn’t be a waste to leave Taiping Medical Hall and all its medical texts to him.”

Wuyun asked, “Why don’t you tell Liu Quxing the truth? You’ve done so much, yet you’re still misunderstood.”

Chen Ji replied, “I can’t tell him.”

Wuyun asked, puzzled, “Why can’t you?”

Chen Ji said, “Secrecy ensures success; disclosure leads to failure.”

Wuyun was startled. “Fish by crabs?”

Chen Ji explained, “To save the Princess, we’ll have to take extreme risks. In the future, we’ll inevitably have to commit some forbidden acts. If others knew we intended to save the Princess, everything we do secretly would be linked back to us. That’s why White Dragon instructed me to be discreet and calculating. Liu Quxing isn’t good at keeping secrets; letting him know too much would only put him in mortal danger.”

Wuyun meowed, “But it’s truly painful to be misunderstood by a friend.”

Chen Ji walked down the dark street, holding Wuyun, and gently exhaled a puff of white mist. “It’s alright,” he said. “What we need to do doesn’t require anyone’s understanding.”

“Oh…”

Chen Ji said with a smile, “We’re going to the capital soon, try to be a bit happier. I’ve heard that the Lantern Festival in the capital is the most spectacular. The entire city is bedecked with dazzling lights and magnificent splendor for six days and nights, staying lit up all night long. We’ll be celebrating New Year’s Day and the Lantern Festival in the capital, and I’ll take you to see it then.”

“Alright,” Wuyun replied, still a bit downcast.

By the time Chen Ji returned to Mingquan Garden, it was past midnight. He stood outside the courtyard, looking at the open gate and the lit lamp inside the house, lost in thought. “I remember putting out the lamp when I left,” he mused. “Who would be here in the middle of the night?”

Wuyun responded, “It’s Chen Wenzong’s scent.”

Chen Ji entered the house feeling relieved, only to find charcoal burning in the room, the windows slightly ajar for ventilation, and Chen Wenzong asleep beside a mother-of-pearl inlaid tea table. He walked over and gently patted his shoulder. “Brother?”

Chen Wenzong jolted awake and immediately sat upright. “You’re back. Where did you go just now? Why weren’t you in your room?”

Chen Ji avoided the question. “Brother, why are you visiting so late?”

Reminded, Chen Wenzong quickly said, “I remembered that you hadn’t lit charcoal in your room yet, so I had someone bring over the silver-thread charcoal from Xishan Kiln in my room for you. This type is smokeless and odorless, and can burn gently for up to three hours. It’s perfect for keeping warm overnight.”

Chen Ji glanced at the brass brazier. “That was thoughtful of you, Brother.”

Chen Wenzong reached into his robes to retrieve something. However, having disciplined Chen Wenxiao with twenty strokes and Wang Gui with twenty strokes earlier that day, his arms were now sore, swollen, and painful, almost impossible to lift. He struggled significantly, finally trembling as he pulled out a string of prayer beads from his robes. He said gently, “Chen Ji, today I again reviewed the charges on Wenxiao’s confession. Over the years, he has accrued debts totaling 1,700 silver taels in various gambling houses under your name. As your elder brother, I cannot let you suffer this injustice for nothing. For the debts he falsely incurred in your name, I have withdrawn the funds from the Chen Residence’s public accounts to compensate you.”

Chen Ji looked at the string of Buddhist prayer beads, his expression unreadable. Did he lack silver? He did.

Currently, the ice current from Prince Jing swirled within his dan tian like a raging storm. He needed silver, a lot of it, to gradually dissolve the ice current. Within Chen Ji, 110 internal fires were burning fiercely. Perhaps only by igniting the remaining more than 490 could he enter the Dao-Seeking Realm and become a true Great Official.

Just as he was worrying, Chen Wenzong delivered a timely windfall. This elder brother, though a bit rigid and pedantic, could still be considered an upright gentleman. Among the Chen Residence, perhaps he was the only one worth befriending.

Chen Ji accepted the string of Buddhist prayer beads and smiled broadly. “Thank you, Brother. It’s getting late; you should go back and rest early.”

Chen Wenzong shook his head. “I still have some things to ask you.”

“What is it?”

Chen Wenzong suddenly said, “Confucius said, ‘He who rules by virtue is like the North Star, which remains in its place while all the other stars revolve around it…’ What does this sentence mean?”

Chen Ji stared, dumbfounded. “What was that?”

Chen Wenzong sighed. “It seems that these past two years at the medical hall, you’ve completely fallen behind on your classical studies. But it’s alright; as your elder brother, I’ll start reviewing with you tomorrow. Since you’re going to pursue the imperial examination path, you can’t be lax anymore.”

Chen Ji’s expression changed, and the candlelight in the room flickered in response. “Brother, isn’t this a bit much? I just got back.”

Chen Wenzong’s face grew stern. “”The departed are like this! Ceaselessly day and night!” You’ll be taking the provincial examination in three years. How many more days can you afford to waste? Don’t resist, or don’t blame me for being merciless. If I can discipline Wenxiao with a rod, I can certainly discipline you.”

“Huh?” Chen Ji blurted.

Chen Wenzong walked out. “Get some rest early.”

Chen Ji watched Chen Wenzong’s retreating back and muttered blankly, “Wuyun, do you think my elder brother has gotten addicted to caning others?”

Wuyun exclaimed in shock, “Fierce!”

Meanwhile, the lights in the Chen Residence’s Buddhist hall remained lit. Faint wisps of green smoke drifted from the openwork copper censer inside the room, and the scent of sandalwood diffused with them. Lady Liang had removed her luxurious head ornaments. She knelt respectfully on a prayer mat before the Bodhisattva, fingering the prayer beads in her hand, her lips moving silently as she recited Buddhist scriptures.

Chen Liqin watched through the window for a moment. He had initially intended to find an excuse to reprimand her further, but seeing her so devoutly repentant, he could only shake his head and walk away. Hearing the departing footsteps, Lady Liang subtly raised her eyes to glance at the window crack, then composedly continued to recite the Buddhist scriptures.

“Madam, please save me!”

Lady Liang heard someone calling from outside the door behind her. She rose and opened it. In the night, Wang Gui knelt on the cold bluestone slab, pleading, “Madam, save me.”

Lady Liang calmly said, “You’re not dead, so why speak of saving you? You were just disciplined by Wenzong with a rod earlier today. Why aren’t you resting and recovering from your injuries now? What do you want from me?”

Wang Gui kowtowed on the ground. “The Master just told me that I am to stay in Luocheng from now on to look after the family’s properties and not return to the capital. Please, Madam, have mercy on my elderly mother at home. Please speak on my behalf; I must return to the capital to care for her.”

Lady Liang looked down at Wang Gui. “Why are you seeking my help? I am in disgrace, just like you.”

Wang Gui quickly said, “I know you spared my life today precisely because I am now a sworn enemy of Chen Ji, so my life has value to you.”

Lady Liang’s two slender, willow-shaped eyebrows subtly arched. “He is the Third Young Master of my Chen Residence; why would I keep someone who is his enemy? You’re too clever for your own good.”

Wang Gui did not change his words after being reprimanded. He lowered his head and said, “Madam, it’s no coincidence that Cloud Ram and Bright Rabbit, two of the Zodiac figures, came to the Chen Residence. Nor is it a coincidence that Zhang Zhuo and Zhang Xia came to the Chen Residence.”

Lady Liang remained silent.

Wang Gui continued, “The Zhang family need not be worried about. Once we’re in the capital and inside the main Chen manor, they can’t possibly come to the Chen Residence every day. As for these two Zodiac figures, I have some close friends and relatives in the capital, and my mother also has some connections in the palace. They will certainly help you uncover the full story. If Chen Ji is involved with the eunuch faction… The Master detests the eunuch faction most in his life, and he will surely not tolerate him.”

Lady Liang remained silent for a moment. “Wang Gui, you’ve come to the wrong person for help. You’ve provoked Chen Ji, and as long as his anger doesn’t subside, the Master’s anger won’t subside either. If you’re smart enough, you’ll know what to do; if not, then stay here and look after the properties.”

Wang Gui pondered for a moment, then struggled to his feet. “I understand.”

He dragged his injured body to the woodshed, took off his upper garment, revealing the wounds on his back. Then, gritting his teeth, he tied thin pieces of firewood onto his bloody, mangled back and walked towards Mingquan Garden.

Upon reaching Mingquan Garden, Wang Gui knocked on the courtyard gate, then directly knelt outside the door. He was visibly trembling and his lips were blue from the cold as he cried out, “Third Young Master, I have offended you greatly in the past. Today, having been taught a lesson by the Eldest Young Master, I have suddenly seen the error of my ways. I know my sins are profound, and I beg the Third Young Master to punish me. Even if the Third Young Master beats me to death today, I will have no complaints.”