In the twenty-fourth year of Jianing, the old monk Chan-zhao from Kujue Temple in the north traveled to the capital of the Ning Dynasty and was summoned by Emperor Ning at the Huangji Hall.

During this time, for reasons unknown, the palace urgently summoned Hu Junyan, the director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau (Qintianjian), Xu Shu, the deputy director, and Zhang Li, the head disciple of Huangshan Daoting, to the palace overnight.

Zhang Li had long been living in seclusion at the Chenghuang Temple in Chongnanfang, and Hu Junyan, who usually cultivated himself at the Qintianjian, arrived at the palace early.

However, Xu Shu was nowhere to be found despite extensive searching.

Eventually, the Secret Police Department (Miedisi) found Xu Shu, who was completely drunk, in Baishun Hutong. They carried him into the Forbidden City and only carried him out again at midnight.

So, Chen Ji was not the first to enter the palace drunk to meet the emperor.

But Chen Ji was the first to enter the palace drunk to meet the emperor and still dare to sleep soundly outside the Renshou Palace.

The cabinet ministers and department heads in Renshou Palace turned to silently watch this scene, and for a moment, no one spoke.

The Chen family of Fuyou Street had a tradition of passing down literary and scholarly knowledge. Their ancestral hall had a merit and demerit board, which listed the three principles of self-cultivation: “study, understand reason, and practice,” and the three family treasures: “book collection, land, and good reputation.” On the left were the three fears of being a person: “fear of the will of Heaven, fear of state law, and fear of public opinion,” and on the right were the three “don’ts” for officials: “don’t side with powerful eunuchs, don’t form private factions, and don’t exploit the people’s interests.”

How could such a strict Chen family raise such a defiant and unruly individual?

Someone turned to look at the imperial throne, but the gauze curtain in front of it obscured Emperor Ning’s expression.

Wu Xiu waved his hand at a young eunuch next to him: “Go, wake him up.”

Emperor Ning calmly said, “No need.”

The ministers were stunned, and Wu Xiu’s expression was difficult to decipher.

Emperor Ning looked at Shanniu: “Where has Mengji reached?”

Shanniu, standing outside the threshold, replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, a pigeon post from Kaifeng Prefecture indicates that Mengji has departed from Kaifeng Prefecture and will arrive in the capital in seven days. The matter of interrogating Liao Zhong will have to wait.”

“No more waiting,” Emperor Ning looked at Liao Zhong: “Liao Zhong, I recall you were the second-place scholar in the imperial examination during the thirty-first year of the Zhengde Emperor’s reign. Later, you were convicted due to your father’s reckless discussion of court affairs, and then pardoned during the sixteenth year of Jianing, right?”

Shanniu placed the limp Liao Zhong on the ground, leaning against the high threshold of Renshou Palace. Liao Zhong, unable to move, did not rush to answer Emperor Ning’s inquiry.

He struggled to lift his head, absently surveying the Renshou Palace: above the rafters were the Five Thunder Talismans consecrated by the Daoist court, and further up was the brightly painted caisson ceiling depicting the twenty-eight constellations. The floor was paved with reflective Suzhou imperial kiln azure bricks, subtly engraved with the Big Dipper.

Liao Zhong, hoarsely, sighed, “It’s truly beautiful. Your subject dreamt of coming to Renshou Palace to see where the Grand Secretaries and department heads stood, to see how ministers presented their memorials to the emperor, and to see how major national policies were decided here… Unfortunately, as a convicted man stripped of my official status, I could only imagine it in my dreams, and that dream lasted thirty-seven years.”

A department head in the hall sternly said, “Presumptuous! Answer only what His Majesty asks you.”

Liao Zhong ignored him and continued to lament, “Your subject initially believed that after assisting the Crown Prince to ascend the throne, I would be able to stand here openly, wear red official robes like these people, offer wise strategies for governing the country, and bring glory to my Liao family. I never expected that my first time in Renshou Palace would be carried in, in such a disheveled and shameful state.”

Grand Secretary Chen slowly said, “When you passed the imperial examination, I was the Education Commissioner. I knew you had true talent and learning, but it’s a pity you were implicated by your family and harbored resentment.”

Liao Zhong smiled, “Resentment, yes. Morning a commoner, evening in the emperor’s court. I saw my patriotic heart, and in a blink of an eye, I was banished to Lingnan, with no one to pledge allegiance to, everything lost. How could I not resent? But after seeing it today, there’s nothing remarkable about Renshou Palace. The Five Thunder Talismans, the twenty-eight constellations… The emperors of the human world still seek the protection of those aloof immortals, so who will protect the people of our Ning Dynasty? Who will protect the great Ning Jiangshan!”

Wu Xiu was enraged, “How dare you! Guards, seize him…”

“I am a dying man, do not threaten me with death,” Liao Zhong sneered at Wu Xiu, “What do you want to ask me? Yes, it was I who abducted the Crown Prince and made him compromise at Meigu. It was also I who sought Chen Ji to silence him, and it has nothing to do with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I have served the Crown Prince for twelve years. This Renshou Palace should have its curtain removed, and the Crown Prince should take that imperial throne!”

The cabinet ministers in the hall lowered their eyes and remained silent.

The department heads looked down, as quiet as cicadas in winter. They had not expected that Mengji had not arrived, yet Liao Zhong took all the blame himself. Nor had they expected Liao Zhong to speak so wildly in Renshou Palace before his death.

Such rebellious words would surely lead to death by a thousand cuts.

Emperor Ning on the imperial throne, however, did not show anger. He slowly said, “Imprison Liao Zhong in the Imperial Prison (Zhaoyu) to await sentencing. The Crown Prince’s discipline of his subordinates was lax; he is to be confined to the Ten Princes’ Residence for six months, copying Daoist scriptures daily to reflect upon himself.”

The department heads couldn’t help but exchange glances. Such rebellious words from Liao Zhong, yet only imprisonment in Zhaoyu? But thankfully, the Crown Prince was ultimately saved.

Shanniu picked up Liao Zhong and turned to leave the palace gate.

As he passed by the Crown Prince, Liao Zhong and the Crown Prince looked at each other. The Crown Prince’s eyes were so deep they seemed to drip black venom. Liao Zhong laughed loudly, his laughter fading into the distance.

Then Emperor Ning spoke again, “The Jiefan Guard issued a nationwide arrest warrant without thoroughly investigating the truth. Wu Xiu is to have his salary docked for three years, and Wu Xuange is to be dismissed from his post and never employed again.”

Wu Xiu bowed deeply and respectfully said, “Yes, Your Majesty. This eunuch will also copy Daoist scriptures daily to reflect upon himself.”

Just when everyone thought the matter was settled for the day, Emperor Ning suddenly looked outside the hall and said, “Chen Ji’s impropriety before the imperial presence warrants twenty strokes of the rod and dismissal from his post.”

Having said that, Emperor Ning rose and walked behind the imperial screen: “Those who understand me say my heart is troubled; those who do not understand me ask what I seek. The Ning Dynasty has endured for nine hundred and sixty years, with forty-eight glorious emperors. It is time for change with me. All of you may retire and rest.”

The Grand Secretaries and department heads walked out, two rows of young eunuchs lighting the way with palace lanterns, passing by Chen Ji and the Crown Prince. Only Zhang Zhuo did not rush to leave.

He stood outside the threshold of Renshou Palace, quietly watching the Jiefan Guard press Chen Ji against the Xiaoti Stele, raising the imperial rod and striking Chen Ji’s back, stroke after stroke.

Twenty strokes of the rod, breaking two imperial rods.

To prevent any deceit, the unspoken rule for twenty strokes of the rod was to break two imperial rods; for thirty strokes, three rods; and for fifty strokes, direct caning to death. If the person did not die after the caning stopped, the executioner would be imprisoned in Zhaoyu for deceiving the emperor.

Chen Ji was dead drunk and didn’t utter a single cry of pain.

The Jiefan Guard was about to drag him out of the palace when Zhang Zhuo suddenly said, “I’ll do it.”

He bent down to lift Chen Ji’s arm over his shoulder, but Chen Ji, though appearing slender, was surprisingly heavy, and Zhang Zhuo couldn’t support him alone.

Zhang Zhuo looked around. There was no one else nearby, so he could only instruct the Jiefan Guard next to him, “Lend a hand, I’ll carry him out of the palace.”

The Jiefan Guard exchanged glances: “Lord Zhang, we should do it.”

Zhang Zhuo said with unquestionable certainty, “I will.”

The Jiefan Guard, left with no choice, placed Chen Ji on Zhang Zhuo’s back.

Zhang Zhuo, dressed in his red official robe, slowly walked out with Chen Ji on his back, passing through red walls and golden roofs, through magnificent palaces. If seen from the night sky above, the two figures appeared extraordinarily small on the wide palace road, like a lone boat at sea.

Chen Ji did not open his eyes, his lips moved: “Lord Zhang, as a frail scholar, be careful not to strain your back.”

Zhang Zhuo smiled: “Without this opportunity, the New Policies and my entry into the Grand Secretariat would have had to wait another five years. You helped me enter the Grand Secretariat, and I carry you out of the palace. All things considered, I’m not at a disadvantage, though I feel bad for you, being pursued for days and nights without getting revenge.”

“It’s fine, the Crown Prince won’t have an easy life either. Besides, my true enemy isn’t in the palace, it’s the second branch of the Chen family,” Chen Ji said casually: “Why doesn’t Lord Zhang tell me about tonight’s events? Some things I just vaguely understood, but didn’t fully comprehend.”

“Then I’ll tell you,” Zhang Zhuo said, carrying Chen Ji through the Moon Gate next to the Huangji Hall: “Tonight, Grand Secretary Xu took leave due to illness and didn’t come to Renshou Palace. Grand Secretary Chen has been eyeing the position of Senior Grand Secretary for many days and couldn’t stand me drafting imperial rescripts in the Xu manor, so he’s been making moves recently.”

“Now that something has suddenly happened to the Crown Prince, he can only temporarily abandon the position of Senior Grand Secretary to protect the Crown Prince from being deposed. Grand Secretary Chen was once the Crown Prince’s teacher; if Prince Fu were to ascend the throne, the Chen family would surely decline. Perhaps the Crown Prince is out of favor now, but as long as he is protected, there is still a future… You should understand that His Majesty cannot truly live forever.”

Zhang Zhuo walked slowly with Chen Ji on his back, and Chen Ji patiently listened to him recount the events.

“You brought back Liao Zhong, which was like holding a knife to Grand Secretary Chen’s neck. Grand Secretary Chen deliberated carefully and decided to offer Luzhou for the court to remeasure land and implement the New Policies. However, this matter could still be revoked. His Majesty worried that Luzhou would feign compliance, so he asked Shanniu where Mengji was, which was actually a reminder to Grand Secretary Chen that he could make Liao Zhong speak the truth, and he could also make Liao Zhong speak falsehoods. The reason Liao Zhong was imprisoned instead of being executed was to keep this leverage, allowing him to recant at any time.”

“But His Majesty is not only thinking of Grand Secretary Chen, but also Grand Secretary Hu. Whether Prince Fu can gain favor after the Crown Prince loses power depends on what Grand Secretary Hu is willing to offer. So, only when Grand Secretary Hu is willing to offer Shanzhou and Shaan Province will this game truly come alive.”

Thus, the Chen family, the Hu family, and the Xu family behind Zhang Zhuo all became supporters of the New Policies.

It was as if, just as the Crown Prince said, there was no difference between Renshou Palace and a livestock market, except that in the livestock market, slaves were openly priced, and servants would wear wooden tags around their necks indicating their value in silver taels.

But the prices in Renshou Palace had to be guessed.

Zhang Zhuo carried Chen Ji past the Fengxian Hall and continued, “The Crown Prince was preserved, only confined for six months, and Grand Secretary Chen breathed a sigh of relief. As for Grand Secretary Hu, in previous years, His Majesty had never assigned Prince Fu any tasks, only allowing him to be a wealthy idler. Now, he’s given him the task of investigating salt taxes. Regardless of whether it’s easy or difficult to investigate, or even possible to investigate, it’s a declaration to the world that what the Crown Prince could contend for, from now on, Prince Fu can also contend for… This is what Grand Secretary Hu exchanged for two provinces.”

Chen Ji softly sighed, “His Majesty’s prices are truly high.”

Zhang Zhuo laughed heartily: “People only think my prices for selling official positions are high, but they don’t realize that what His Majesty sells is the most expensive—the two words ‘official title’ are as heavy as Mount Tai.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Ji finally gained some clarity: “His Majesty gave Prince Fu the task of investigating salt, which forces the Hu and Xu families to contend. His Majesty also arranged a marriage with the Qi family, asking if the Qi family was willing to switch allegiances, breaking the alliance between the Qi and Chen families. The Qi family indeed agreed, following the general trend.”

“That’s right, but the Qi family has always been a fair-weather friend and won’t completely cut ties with the Chen family either.” Zhang Zhuo also felt some emotion: “Overnight, His Majesty scrambled a grand chess game, turning the court into a tangled mess, merely to buy time for the New Policies and reduce my constraints. The only thing that was a bit unexpected was…”

Chen Ji said, “Liao Zhong?”

Zhang Zhuo hummed: “This Liao Zhong served the Crown Prince diligently and conscientiously for twelve years, yet he was treated as a disposable pawn. He must despise the Crown Prince deeply. His words in Renshou Palace will likely prevent the Crown Prince from recovering for ten years.”

Chen Ji recalled Shanniu’s words outside the Moon Gate. Whether Liao Zhong hated him or not, this was the result the Grand Eunuch desired… it was the Grand Eunuch who wanted the Crown Prince to be unable to recover within ten years.

He had been in the capital for quite some time, yet he had not yet met that Grand Eunuch.

What did this Grand Eunuch gain from tonight?

Zhang Zhuo suddenly said, “Chen Ji.”

Chen Ji: “Hmm?”

Zhang Zhuo smiled: “You painstakingly brought Liao Zhong back, and in the end, no one offered you an explanation. Do you harbor any resentment in your heart?”

Chen Ji calmly said, “No.”

Zhang Zhuo stopped, turning to look back at the magnificent Huangji Hall: “Chen Ji, being a young knight-errant is certainly exhilarating, and the Jianghu is indeed exciting, but if there’s something you want to achieve… you must become a powerful minister.”

Chen Ji smiled and said, “Noted.”

Zhang Zhuo then continued to walk, slowly carrying Chen Ji out of the Meridian Gate.

Outside the Meridian Gate, Xiaoman paced anxiously, holding a little black cat. The young monk silently recited the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s Fundamental Vows Sutra not far from her.

The young monk whispered, “Miss Xiaoman, please stop pacing.”

Xiaoman turned to glare at him: “Recite your sutras! You’re always lazy with your practice, when will you ever be useful?”

The young monk closed his eyes: “Amitabha, this humble monk will not argue with you. Through the accumulation of good deeds, compassion arises, vowing to save all sentient beings. The golden staff in hand opens the gates of hell…”

At this moment, Xiaoman saw Zhang Zhuo emerge, carrying Chen Ji, and quickly rushed forward: “Lord Zhang, what happened to my young master?”

Zhang Zhuo smiled and said, “It’s nothing, just a beating with the rod.”

Xiaoman’s eyes widened: “A beating with the rod is nothing?”

Zhang Zhuo noticed the little black cat in her arms, slightly surprised: “This black cat…”

He lowered his voice: “Shouldn’t it be in the Qianqing Palace? No, it’s not that one.”

Chen Ji also opened his eyes: “Didn’t Lord Zhang send Miss Zhang Er to give it to me?”

Zhang Zhuo raised an eyebrow: “No, I didn’t.”

Chen Ji fell into thought.

Xiaoman didn’t think much, only urged: “Lord Zhang, let the young monk carry my young master. We should quickly take him home to apply medicine.”

Zhang Zhuo shook his head: “No rush.”

Xiaoman was stunned: “Why no rush?”

“Wait a little longer.” Zhang Zhuo, with Chen Ji on his back, turned and looked at the Meridian Gate: “So many people today benefited from Chen Ji and got what they wanted, but Chen Ji has not yet. Wait a little longer, he should also receive some compensation.”

Xiaoman’s small head was full of confusion: “Lord Zhang is so certain?”

Zhang Zhuo said nonchalantly, “If they’re not even willing to give this little compensation, then we won’t serve him anymore.”

The next moment, inside the Meridian Gate, a young eunuch holding an ochre-yellow imperial edict loudly proclaimed, “Chen Ji, receive the imperial edict! Seeing you are injured, you may dispense with the full bow!”

Chen Ji got off Zhang Zhuo’s back and bowed deeply: “This humble commoner Chen Ji receives the imperial edict.”

The young eunuch unfurled the imperial edict and read aloud: “We, the emperors of old, conducted hunts and military exercises to demonstrate martial prowess and encourage valor. Now, there is Chen Ji, whose archery skills surpass all heroes, whose whistling arrows never miss their mark, and whose horse never stops in pursuit of game. He shows the courage of Benyu when fighting tigers and leopards, and the skill of Yang Youji when piercing leather armor. Ultimately, his bounty was the most abundant, outshining all other talents and securing first place.”

“Your loyalty and bravery have been demonstrated in the hunting grounds. How could Our imperial favor be stingy with such merits? We specially grant you the title ‘Wuxiang County Baron,’ with a stipend of three hundred shi, and permit it to be hereditary without change. Respect this!”

This was the compensation Emperor Ning gave him.

Chen Ji had been ennobled.