In Feiyun Garden, Consort Yun calmly picked up her teacup, slowly stirring the floating tea leaves with its lid, and said, “Many people were waiting for you to make contact today, putting their lives on the line, but not a single person showed up. If I don’t get an explanation for this today, you won’t be leaving the Prince’s residence.”

Chen Ji quickly pondered: Liu Shiyu from the Liu family has a close relationship with Consort Jing, so why did he choose to contact Consort Yun instead of Consort Jing?

Why would Consort Jing not know his identity as a spy for the Jing Dynasty?

Wait.

Chen Ji suddenly remembered the lead-barium glass cup that caused Consort Jing’s miscarriage. It was as if an invisible clue was guiding him toward the truth.

“Why aren’t you answering?” Consort Yun asked in a deep voice. The dignified consort sat in the grand armchair, the python patterns on her robe seemingly gazing at Chen Ji, exuding authority without anger.

Chen Ji whispered, “A major incident occurred with the Liu family. The Secret Police Department’s Jiao Tu and Yun Yang nearly uncovered the details, so for safety, we temporarily halted the plan.”

In reality, that night he went to Zhou Chengyi’s residence to inform him of the delivery date but was killed by Yun Yang and Jiao Tu.

Chen Ji, having been resurrected, had no knowledge of any of this.

Consort Yun’s tone was calm. “The Jing Dynasty’s Military Intelligence Bureau arbitrarily nullifying an agreement between us—that explanation alone isn’t sufficient. Have you thought of a better answer, or would you prefer to become fertilizer in my backyard?”

Chen Ji suddenly said, “The Secret Police Department in Luocheng is a threat to both our sides. Since you, Madam, have shown your sincerity, our Military Intelligence Bureau must also demonstrate our capabilities. Yun Yang and Jiao Tu being imprisoned today was a stratagem by our Bureau Chief. Are you satisfied, Madam?”

Consort Yun’s eyes lit up. “So the person who delivered the message was from your Military Intelligence Bureau! Who is this Bureau Chief, to not only plant spies within the Secret Police Department but also possess the ability to infiltrate the Liu family so discreetly!”

Chen Ji was startled. Consort Yun already knew the full extent of the morning’s events by the afternoon, indicating that the Liu family maintained close contact with her.

He lowered his gaze and said, “Bureau Chief, of course, is an outstanding talent in our Military Intelligence Bureau. The Director sent him here, naturally, to ensure a smooth collaboration between us.”

Consort Yun’s demeanor was no longer stern; she had become much gentler. “When I first met you, I thought your Military Intelligence Bureau had sent a mere youth to liaise with me, and I was somewhat dismissive. However, in Wanxing Garden, you proved you are no good-for-nothing. Very good, since all your spies in Luocheng are elites, I am reassured.”

Chen Ji thought for a moment before replying, “Now that Yun Yang and Jiao Tu are imprisoned, we can ensure our transaction is foolproof before the Secret Police Department’s new director arrives in Luocheng. Madam, let’s reschedule the date and location of the transaction.”

Consort Yun looked at him intently. “Then tomorrow night it is, at the same location as last time.”

Chen Ji didn’t know where the last meeting was supposed to be or how to explain it to the Bureau Chief, so he promptly said, “That’s not suitable. Our Military Intelligence Bureau never conducts transactions twice in the same location… Please provide a new address, Consort Yun.”

“You are indeed cautious enough,” Consort Yun mused. “This time, let’s set it at the ‘Golden Workshop’ in Hongyi Lane, East Market. Find the madam and say the words ‘Luo Tian’; she will lead you to where the goods are hidden.”

At this point, Chen Ji carefully considered and, after weighing the pros and cons, still voiced his confusion: “Madam, there is one matter that our Military Intelligence Bureau has always found perplexing.”

Without understanding the full picture, he would never be able to take the initiative.

Consort Yun picked up her teacup, taking a small sip. “Please, speak.”

“We have learned that Liu Shiyu is Consort Jing’s most beloved nephew, the only son of her elder sister. The reason our Bureau initially doubted he would convey messages on your behalf was our confusion: why didn’t he contact Consort Jing?”

Consort Yun scoffed, “Ah, my dear sister. The Liu family cannot control her; how could they dare entrust such a great undertaking to her? Now, the Liu family and I share common interests, so you need not worry.”

Chen Ji stood up. “Then I shall…”

“Wait,” Consort Yun said.

Chen Ji asked, puzzled, “Is there anything else, Madam?”

Consort Yun smiled and invited him, “The Prince’s son is hosting a literary gathering tonight, and your two legitimate brothers will also be attending. How about I send a few invitations to your medical hall so you and your fellow disciples can go together?”

Chen Ji thought for a moment. “No need. My identity is sensitive right now, and I don’t want to implicate them. I also need to arrange the handover of goods today. I’ll take my leave now.”

As Chen Ji left Feiyun Garden, he glanced back at the persimmon tree once more before turning and departing.

On the main road in Luocheng, a carriage approached from the north.

The carriage was unadorned, and only two attendants on horseback accompanied it, making for a very low-key procession.

At that moment, on the opposite side of the road, hundreds of officials and their retinues were approaching.

As they drew near, these Yuzhou officials dismounted from their sedans and horses one by one, hurrying to the carriage to perform a grand kowtow: “We respectfully welcome Elder Ge Liu back to Yuzhou. We are deeply sorry for not coming out further to greet you. Please forgive our oversight.”

The Liu family had managed this province for centuries, now controlling over half of Yuzhou’s farmland and tenant farmers.

Regardless of who came to Yuzhou to serve as an official, they had to appease the Liu family if they wished to smoothly collect taxes, levy labor, or achieve administrative success.

Therefore, with the exception of a very few scions from influential families seeking to gain experience, all officials knelt in welcome. If they knelt, the Yuzhou official circles would tolerate them; if not, they would find it impossible to make any progress.

Elder Ge Liu lifted the curtain and cast a fleeting, indifferent glance at the kneeling officials. “My father has passed away, and I truly have no heart for pleasantries with any of you. You may all disperse.”

With that, the carriage slowly began to move again. An official rushed up to the carriage, trotting alongside, and whispered to Elder Ge Liu behind the curtain, “Elder Ge, the eldest and second masters are waiting for you at home.”

However, Elder Ge Liu instructed, “I’m going to the ancestral graves. Tell Liu Mingxian to meet me there.”

The carriage continued all the way to Mount Beiman. Elder Ge Liu stood before the broken tomb, watching dozens of strong men carry new stone materials to construct a new mausoleum.

It was unclear how long he stood before the tomb.

Then, Liu Mingxian appeared, looking hurried. He ran to Elder Ge Liu and knelt down. “Father!”

Elder Ge Liu said nothing, allowing his son to remain kneeling.

Only when Liu Mingxian’s knees began to ache from kneeling, and he instinctively shifted, did Elder Ge Liu slowly ask, “After I die, will someone open my coffin and inspect my body?”

Liu Mingxian hastily lowered his head. “Father, absolutely not!”

Elder Ge Liu dismissed everyone, sending them down the mountain. He then lifted his robe, sat slowly on a piece of stone, and deliberately said, “Liu Mingxian, today you killed your grandfather for what you call ‘the great undertaking.’ How can I know that tomorrow you won’t kill me for the same ‘great undertaking’?”

The mountain was quiet and deserted. Liu Mingxian prostrated himself on the ground, remaining silent.

Elder Ge Liu roared, “Speak!”

Liu Mingxian quickly explained, “Father, that wasn’t my original intention. I originally planned to use Grandfather’s death as a pretext to force the Secret Police Department to retreat. Yun Yang and Jiao Tu are only good at killing and lack intelligence; they would have retreated after a scare. Who would have thought they would actually find evidence of Liu Shiyu’s crime?”

“Then why kill your grandfather?”

“We received intelligence that the Secret Police Department was on their way to open the coffin and conduct an inspection. If they discovered there was no one in the coffin, our Liu family would be guilty of deceiving the Emperor! So I found a ‘datura flower’ and had Grandfather consume it, intending for him to feign death in the coffin for just a moment. Who would have thought that Grandfather, being so old, couldn’t withstand the effects of the datura and passed away?”

Elder Ge Liu was furious. “Still not telling the truth? It’s clear your grandfather disapproved of your collusion with the Jing Dynasty, so you seized this opportunity to go all the way and kill him! Liu Mingxian, you are utterly ruthless! I never imagined I would raise a man-eating wolf for the Liu family!”

Liu Mingxian suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with a fierce expression. “Father, ever since his ascension, His Majesty has been scheming to eliminate our Liu family. First, he used the Donglin Party to impeach us through censor-officials, and now he incites the eunuch faction to frame and defame us. He won’t rest until we are gone!”

“Father, twenty years ago, the entire court was filled with people from our Liu family. And now? We can barely even hold onto official positions in Yuzhou. You know very well that the Chen family sent Chen Liqin to be the Vice Prefect of Luocheng, and that old geezer Xu Gong sent his son-in-law, Zhang Zhuo, to be the Prefect of Luocheng. These two are in cahoots, sworn to investigate our Liu family’s land and tenant farmers.”

“Father, I’m simply taking a desperate gamble. If we continue to sit back and do nothing, the Liu family’s centuries-old foundation will be gone, Father!”

A light mist drifted in on the mountain wind. Elder Ge Liu sat in the mist, looking somewhat desolate. “None of you are willing to listen to me, so why do you still call me ‘Father’?”

“I told your aunt that His Majesty is naturally intelligent, having mastered the art of emperorship since childhood, and cannot be restrained. But your aunt refused to listen. From the moment His Majesty ascended the throne at eleven, she controlled the court, preventing him from governing personally. His Majesty endured great hardship during six years of forbearance; how could he not resent our Liu family?”

“It is precisely because he hates us that we have no other way out! If we truly fight, we might not lose! This empire does not belong solely to his Zhu family!” Liu Mingxian said fiercely.

Elder Ge Liu suddenly looked dejected. “Enough, enough. I’ll just ask you one more question: when you gave that glass cup to your sister, did you know it would cause her to lose her child?”

Liu Mingxian shook his head, denying it. “I didn’t know. That cup was exquisitely beautiful; I only gave it to her because I thought my sister would like it.”

“Still lying!” Elder Ge Liu kicked him to the ground.

Liu Mingxian no longer knelt. Instead, he stood up, brushed the dust from his blue official’s robe, and smoothed it out. “Father, after she married into the Prince’s residence, her heart was only for Prince Jing. Where was the Liu family in her thoughts? Every day, her only desire was to bear a child for Prince Jing. I asked her to do things for the Liu family, but she refused, so I cut off that hope for her!”

“You are too malicious!”

“Father, am I as malicious as those eunuchs? If I weren’t malicious, how could I fight against them?”

“You…” Elder Ge Liu had words on the tip of his tongue, but he didn’t know how to voice them.

He sat on the stone, silent for an unknown period, finally sighing softly. “Yun Yang and Jiao Tu were imprisoned today. Who informed you of this?”

Liu Mingxian’s face brightened when he saw his father’s tone soften. He knew that someone in such a high position would not act emotionally.

He respectfully replied, “Your son does not know. I am currently investigating and am not yet certain of the informant’s intentions.”

Elder Ge Liu’s expression turned stern. “Whether friend or foe, I cannot sleep with such a person close by. Investigate quickly and find them. I will dispatch people from Yanshi for you to command. These individuals are not easy to manage, so set aside your arrogance.”

“Understood.”

Elder Ge Liu waved his hand. “Go now, I am tired.”

Liu Mingxian turned and descended the mountain, leaving Elder Ge Liu alone on the peak.

The old man, like a flickering candle in the wind, slowly rose, resting his hand on the coffin in front of the tomb. “Father, it has been a long time since you stepped out of the Liu family estate to see the world.”