Inside Feiyun Garden, the Cloud Consort picked up a teacup and slowly stirred the floating tea leaves with the lid. She said in a leisurely manner, “How many people are waiting to hear from you today, yet not a single person has shown up. If you don’t have an explanation for this, you won’t need to leave the prince’s mansion today.”

Chen Ji quickly thought: Liu Shiyu of the Liu family has a close relationship with the Quiet Consort. Why wouldn’t he contact the Quiet Consort and instead contact the Cloud Consort?

Why wouldn’t the Quiet Consort know her own identity as a Jing Dynasty spy?

Wait.

Chen Ji suddenly remembered the barium glass cup that caused the Quiet Consort’s miscarriage. It was as if a clue was guiding him in the dark to pursue the truth.

“Why aren’t you answering?” the Cloud Consort asked in a deep voice. The dignified princess sat on the grand master’s chair, and the python pattern on her clothes seemed to stare at Chen Ji, radiating majesty without being angry.

Chen Ji said in a low voice, “There was a big incident in the Liu family. Jiao Tu and Yunyang of the Secret Spy Department almost found clues, so for safety, our side temporarily halted the plan.”

The truth was, the person who went to Zhou Chengyi’s mansion that night was supposed to tell Zhou Chengyi the delivery date, but ended up being killed by Yunyang and Jiao Tu.

Chen Ji, who had died and been revived, had no knowledge of this matter.

The Cloud Consort said calmly, “The Jing Dynasty Military Affairs Department arbitrarily canceled the agreed-upon matter between both sides. This explanation alone is not enough. Think carefully about how to answer, or simply go to my backyard as fertilizer?”

Chen Ji suddenly said, “The Secret Spy Department in Luocheng is a threat to both of us. Since Madam is willing to show sincerity, our Military Affairs Department will naturally also show our strength. Yunyang and Jiao Tu are in prison today precisely because of Si Cao’s plan from our Military Affairs Department. I wonder if Madam is satisfied?”

The Cloud Consort’s eyes lit up. “The person who sent the letter was actually someone from your Military Affairs Department. Who is that Si Cao? Not only did he place a spy in the Secret Spy Department, but he also has the strength to infiltrate the Liu family quietly!”

Chen Ji’s heart was shocked. The Cloud Consort already knew the full picture of what happened in the morning by the afternoon. This indicated that the Liu family maintained close contact with her.

He lowered his eyes and said, “Lord Si Cao is naturally an outstanding person in our Military Affairs Department. Lord Si sent him to ensure the smooth cooperation between both sides.”

At this time, the Cloud Consort’s demeanor was no longer majestic, but much gentler. “When I saw you before, I thought the Military Affairs Department had sent a young boy to contact me, and I somewhat neglected you. However, in Ye Xing Garden, you have already proven yourself not to be a good-for-nothing. Very good. Since the spies of the Military Affairs Department in Luocheng are all elites, I am relieved.”

Chen Ji thought for a moment and answered, “Now that Yunyang and Jiao Tu are in prison, while the new person in charge of the Secret Spy Department has not yet arrived in Luocheng, we can ensure the absolute safety of our transaction. Madam, let’s re-plan the date and place of the transaction.”

The Cloud Consort looked at him for two more seconds. “Then tomorrow night, at the same place as last time.”

Chen Ji didn’t know where they had agreed upon last time and how to tell Si Cao, so he immediately said, “That’s not appropriate. Our Military Affairs Department never conducts two transactions in one place… Please give a new address, Cloud Consort.”

“You are indeed cautious enough,” the Cloud Consort thought for a moment. “This time, let’s set it at ‘Jin Fang’ in Hongyi Lane in the East Market. Find the old madam and say the words ‘Luo Tian’. She will lead you to the place where the goods are hidden.”

At this time, after much deliberation and weighing the pros and cons, Chen Ji still asked his question, “Madam, there is always something our Military Affairs Department doesn’t understand.”

Without grasping the full picture of the matter, he would never be able to take the initiative.

The Cloud Consort picked up her teacup and lightly sipped it. “Please speak.”

“We’ve investigated, and Liu Shiyu is the Quiet Consort’s most favored nephew, that is, the only son of her own elder sister. Previously, our department didn’t believe he would act as a messenger for you because we were somewhat puzzled. Why wouldn’t he contact the Quiet Consort?”

The Cloud Consort sneered, “Ah, my dear younger sister, the Liu family cannot control her. How dare they entrust such a great cause to her? Now I and the Liu family have common interests. You don’t need to worry anymore.”

Chen Ji stood up. “Then I’ll…”

“Wait,” the Cloud Consort said.

Chen Ji was puzzled. “Does Madam have something else?”

The Cloud Consort smiled and invited, “Tonight, the shizi will hold a literati gathering. Your two immediate elder brothers will also participate. How about I send several invitation cards to the medical hall, and you and your master and disciples can go together.”

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

When Chen Ji left Feiyun Garden, he turned his head again to look at the persimmon tree before turning around and leaving.

…

…

On the official road in Luocheng, a horse-drawn carriage drove from the north.

The carriage was plain, and only two followers rode horses alongside it, very low-key.

At this time, on the official road opposite the carriage, there were over a hundred people on horses coming to greet them.

When they got closer, they saw these officials from Yu Prefecture successively getting out of sedans and off horses, hurrying to the front of the carriage to kneel down in a great ceremony: “Respectfully welcoming Cabinet Elder back to Yu Prefecture. We humble officials have failed to welcome you from afar. We beg for forgiveness.”

The Liu family had controlled this prefecture for hundreds of years. Now, they held more than half of the fields and tenants in Yu Prefecture.

No matter who came to Yu Prefecture to be an official, if they wanted to smoothly collect taxes, collect labor service, and achieve something, they all had to look at the Liu family’s face.

So, except for a very few aristocratic children who came for experience, all the hundred officials knelt in greeting. If you knelt, the officialdom of Yu Prefecture would tolerate you. If you didn’t kneel, you wouldn’t be able to move an inch.

Cabinet Elder Liu lifted the curtain and indifferently swept his gaze over the officials kneeling on the ground. “My family father has passed away. I truly have no heart to chat with everyone. All disperse.”

After saying that, the carriage slowly moved again. A crowd of officials approached the carriage, jogging alongside it, and said to Cabinet Elder Liu behind the curtain in a low voice, “Cabinet Elder, the eldest master and the second master are waiting for you at home.”

Cabinet Elder Liu instructed, “I’m going to the ancestral tomb. Tell Liu Xianming to come see me.”

The carriage went all the way up Mount Beimang. Cabinet Elder Liu stood in front of the broken tomb, looking at dozens of strong men carrying new stone materials to pile up a new tomb.

He didn’t know how long he had stood in front of the tomb.

Liu Xianming appeared in a hurry and ran to Cabinet Elder Liu’s front to kneel down. “Father!”

He didn’t speak, allowing his son to kneel.

It wasn’t until Liu Xianming’s knees ached from kneeling and he couldn’t help but move his body that Cabinet Elder Liu leisurely asked, “After I die, will I also be exhumed for autopsy?”

Liu Xianming hurriedly lowered his head. “Father, absolutely not!”

Cabinet Elder Liu dismissed everyone down the mountain, then lifted his robe and sat on a piece of stone material, slowly saying, “Liu Xianming, today you killed your grandfather for your grand cause. How do I know you won’t also kill me tomorrow for a grand cause?”

It was quiet on the mountain with no one around. Liu Xianming prostrated on the ground, silent.

Cabinet Elder Liu angrily rebuked, “Speak!”

Liu Xianming quickly explained, “Father, my original intention was not like this. Originally, I intended to use grandfather’s death to force back the Secret Spy Department. Those Yunyang and Jiao Tu are only good at killing but have no brains. They would retreat if scared. 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 Spy Department was on its way to exhume the body for autopsy. If they discovered the coffin was empty, our Liu family would be committing the crime of deceiving the monarch! So I sought ‘Mandala Flower’ to feed grandfather. I only needed him to feign death in the coffin for a moment. Who would have thought that grandfather, already being of high age, couldn’t withstand the drug effect of Mandala and passed away.”

Cabinet Elder Liu was furious. “Still not telling the truth? It was clearly because your grandfather did not approve of your collusion with the Jing Dynasty, so you took this opportunity and killed him! Liu Xianming, you are too unscrupulous! I never thought I would raise a man-eating wolf for the Liu family!”

Liu Xianming suddenly raised his head, his eyes full of ferocity. “Father, His Majesty has been racking his brains to eliminate our Liu family since he ascended the throne. First, he used the hands of the Donglin Party people to impeach with censor officials, and now he is instigating the eunuch party to frame and slander. He won’t stop until he eliminates us!”

“Father, twenty years ago, this entire court was filled with people from my Liu family. Now, we can’t even preserve our official positions in Yu Prefecture. You don’t know, the Chen family sent a Chen Liqin to be the assistant magistrate of Luocheng, and Xu Gong, that old man, sent his son-in-law Zhang Zhuo to be the prefect of Luocheng. These two colluded, swearing to investigate our Liu family’s fields and tenants.”

“Father, I am also going all out. If we sit and wait for death again, the Liu family’s foundation of several hundred years will be gone, Father!”

A thin fog drifted through the mountain valley. Cabinet Elder Liu sat in this thin fog, feeling somewhat desolate. “None of you are willing to listen to my words. Why do you still call me father?”

“I told your aunt that His Majesty is talented and intelligent, understanding the art of being an emperor from a young age, and cannot be controlled. But your aunt stubbornly refused to listen. From the time His Majesty ascended the throne at eleven years old, she has controlled the court, preventing His Majesty from personally governing. His Majesty initially endured six years of hardship. How could it be possible that he doesn’t hate our Liu family?”

“It is precisely because he hates us that we have no way to live. If we truly fight, it is not necessarily a losing battle! This world is not his Zhu family’s world alone!” Liu Xianming said with a fierce voice.

Cabinet Elder Liu suddenly became disheartened. “Forget it, forget it. I’ll just ask you one more question. When you sent that glass cup to your sister, did you know it would cause her to lose her child?”

Liu Xianming shook his head and denied, “I didn’t know. That cup was extremely exquisite. I also felt that sister would like it, so I sent it.”

“Still lying!” Cabinet Elder Liu kicked him onto the ground.

Liu Xianming no longer knelt on the ground but stood up and patted the dust off his body, smoothing his blue official robe. “Father, after she married into the prince’s mansion, she only had the Jing Wang in her heart. Where was the Liu family? Every day, she only longed to bear a child for the Jing Wang. I asked her to do something for the Liu family, but she refused. So I broke that thought of hers!”

“You are too vicious!”

“Father, am I as vicious as that eunuch party? If I’m not vicious, how can I fight with him?”

“You…” Cabinet Elder Liu had words at the tip of his tongue but didn’t know how to say them.

He sat on the stone, silent for he didn’t know how long, and finally sighed lightly. “Today, Yunyang and Jiao Tu are in prison. Who gave you the tip-off?”

Liu Xianming saw his father’s tone ease and his face lit up. He knew that the other party held a high position and naturally wouldn’t handle matters emotionally.

He respectfully said, “Son doesn’t know. We are currently investigating and haven’t determined the other party’s intention yet.”

Cabinet Elder Liu’s face was solemn. “Whether enemy or friend, having such a person by our side makes me unable to sleep. Investigate quickly. I will allocate people from Yanshi to you. These several people are not easy to use well. Put away your arrogance.”

“Understood.”

Cabinet Elder Liu waved his hand. “Go. I’m tired.”

Liu Xianming turned around and went down the mountain, leaving Cabinet Elder Liu alone on the mountain.

Like an old man in the wind, he slowly stood up, supporting the tombstone in front of the coffin. “Father, you haven’t stepped out of the Liu family’s big courtyard to see this world for a long time either.”