Early morning, a rooster crowed.

Children walked the bluestone slab roads, carrying single-shoulder hemp bags, shouting through the streets and alleys: “Jing Kui’s insightful policy by Gongzi Lin Chaojing on the accumulated problems of salt administration!”

“Gongzi Chen Wenzong’s new commentary on the ‘Book of Rites’ for the classics examination, praised by the Education Commissioner!”

“Shen Ye, the head of Huqiu Poetry Society, made a startling remark in the policy examination, stating that the root of the salt administration’s deep-seated problems lies not in private trafficking but in long-standing systemic issues. He advocates for a new administration, an investigation into corrupt officials, and reform, proposing to change the grain-for-salt exchange system to a silver-for-salt exchange system!”

On Fu Right Street, the vermilion gate of the Chen family opened a crack, and someone waved to a child: “Child, come here, I want one of each.”

The child beamed with joy: “Alright, sir, that’ll be thirty wen in total.”

The Chen family servant’s eyes widened: “So expensive?”

The child quickly explained: “You don’t know, this is a unique business of Wenlong Bookstore. Even if I sell you ten copies, I only earn one copper coin.”

The Chen family servant counted out thirty copper coins from his sleeve and handed them to the child, waving impatiently: “Go, go, don’t linger at the gate.”

He closed the vermilion gate and, carrying a few thin pages of documents, went to the entrance of Wendan Hall, respectfully handing them to Chen Xu.

Chen Xu glanced at them and turned to walk into Wendan Hall: “Master, it seems His Majesty is spreading rumors. Half of these secretly released articles are aimed at the salt administration… Would you like to take a look?”

“No need,” Chen Gelao, in his official robes, blew away the foam from his teacup: “The salt administration has been a thorn in His Majesty’s heart for thirty-two years. Now that we are in disarray, he naturally seeks an opportunity to remove it. However, removing this thorn won’t be easy.”

Chen Xu nodded: “Indeed.”

Chen Gelao put down his teacup: “Still haven’t found Chen Ji?”

“No, not yet.”

“What about Wang Gui?”

Chen Xu said in a deep voice: “He hasn’t been found either. That Ge Lao, Chen Chong, under Chen Ji, appeared out of nowhere. He’s quite a character. In just one month, he united the stewards of Heji and Furui Xiang, and even devised a set of secret codes and hand gestures, making Mei Hua Du impregnable.”

Just then, a servant’s voice came from outside the hall: “Second Master, please allow me to announce you first…”

Chen Lizhi flew into a rage: “Announce what? Get out!”

He hiked up his official robes and strode into Wendan Hall, standing below the main platform and angrily exclaimed: “Patriarch, what is that Chen Ji trying to do? The matter is settled, why does he keep clinging to it? If he insists, don’t blame me, his uncle, for being ruthless.”

Chen Gelao scrutinized him slowly: “What exactly does Wang Gui know that makes you so flustered? You’ve even forgotten the rules of Wendan Hall.”

Chen Lizhi was speechless.

He pondered, thinking he had no handle on Wang Gui. But Chen Ji had gone to such great lengths to hide Wang Gui, waiting for Meng Ji to arrive in the capital, clearly intending to put him to death.

Now, Chen Lizhi felt a hint of doubt…

But he still asserted confidently: “Patriarch, Wang Gui is just a steward of the third branch. What handle could he possibly have on me?”

Chen Gelao casually said: “If that’s the case, then don’t bother with him.”

Chen Lizhi suppressed his anger: “Patriarch, this Chen Ji disregards family rituals in his actions, acting on his own without informing you beforehand. How can you tolerate his recklessness?”

Chen Gelao picked up his teacup again: “You also didn’t inform this old man when you wanted to kill him.”

Chen Lizhi was speechless once more.

Chen Gelao took a small sip of tea and smiled: “It’s reasonable for him to be angry after his near-death experience during the spring hunt. You might as well compensate him with something to appease his anger.”

His tone shifted: “Or, you could find and kill Wang Gui before Meng Ji arrives in the capital, to put an end to everything.”

Chen Lizhi was silent for a moment, then turned and strode away: “This nephew understands.”

Chen Xu stood in Wendan Hall, watching Chen Lizhi’s receding back and whispered: “Master, both Second Master and Chen Ji’s thoughts are not with the Chen family. Their thoughts are only on themselves.”

Chen Gelao smoothed the wrinkles on his official robe, gazing absentmindedly at the dim sky outside Wendan Hall: “Chen Xu, in this vast Chen family, how many people’s thoughts are truly with the Chen family? This great ship of the Chen family has weathered a thousand years of storms, and this is how it has always been.”

Chen Xu bowed: “Master, this humble one is a Chen family member in life and a Chen family ghost in death.”

Chen Gelao smiled: “No need to declare loyalty. In this Chen family, you are the only one this old man trusts. Don’t worry about Chen Ji. Let him understand that home is better than outside, and his thoughts will naturally return. Have you read the debate between Chen Ji and Wu Zhai of Yuanjue Temple at Luhun Mountain Villa, published by Wen Yuan Bookstore?”

Chen Xu was startled, then lowered his head: “Reporting to Master, this humble one has not seen it.”

Chen Gelao sighed with emotion: “It was only then that this old man began to value this child, Chen Ji. At Luhun Mountain Villa, he posed an interesting question: if every plank on a large ship were replaced, would it still be the same ship… How similar is this to my Chen family? Chen Xu, you answer, is my current Chen family still the Chen family of the past?”

Chen Xu pondered for a long time: “This humble one is dull-witted.”

“This old man can’t learn their sophistry and glib talk,” Chen Gelao chuckled: “If you ask me, whether this ship is still the Chen family is not important. What’s important is whether this ship can still carry the Chen family across the oceans. If there are rotten rafters and planks on this ship, they must be replaced; otherwise, if it leaks, all the Chen family members on board will not escape.”

Chen Xu cautiously probed: “Master’s meaning is…”

Chen Gelao slowly reined in his smile: “The second son is already panicked. The matters he’s involved in are probably even greater than this old man suspects. He can’t bear these burdens, and my Chen family probably can’t either. This old man guesses that the Wang Gui in Chen Ji’s hands actually holds no real incriminating evidence; otherwise, he wouldn’t have made this matter known to everyone. He wants to use this incident to let this old man see the second son’s reaction, and then use this old man’s blade to kill the person he wants to kill… In all these years, it’s rare to see someone use this old man as a blade.”

Chen Xu respectfully said: “Master’s wisdom is like a torch, naturally able to see through childish schemes.”

Chen Gelao stroked the armrest, but suddenly asked: “What is a ‘yinmou’ (conspiracy)?”

Without waiting for Chen Xu to answer, he continued: “Carefully plotting to trick you into a trap, that’s a yinmou. What is a ‘yangmou’ (open scheme)? A yangmou is when you know about it, but have no choice.”

Chen Xu dared not speak further.

Chen Gelao was silent for a moment: “The second son cannot be kept.”

Chen Xu was startled: “Master, you only said yesterday…”

Chen Gelao stood up and slowly walked out: “Do you know what wisdom is?”

Chen Xu bowed and followed behind him: “I beg Master to enlighten me.”

Chen Gelao stepped over the threshold of Wendan Hall: “A person’s true wisdom is knowing when to do what. When it’s time to study, study well; when it’s time to admit defeat, admit defeat; when it’s time to kill, don’t be soft-handed. Those who don’t understand this principle cannot be considered smart.”

Chen Xu quickly said: “This humble one will go and handle it now.”

Chen Gelao suddenly stopped: “No rush. First, let the second son empty out all his remaining family assets, and also dampen the enthusiasm of this Chen Ji.”

The servants of the Chen family’s second branch successively left Fu Right Street. Some headed to Chongnan Fang in the outer city, others went to unknown small alleys, leading teams of people through streets and alleys, searching for traces of Wang Gui and Chen Ji.

During the day, the capital city buzzed with the Imperial Examinations, but beneath the surface, undercurrents surged.

Yet, the Chen family searched for three whole days. Teahouses, alleys, taverns, inns, suspicious commoners – they searched everywhere, but found no trace of Wang Gui or Chen Ji.

On the evening of the third day, Ge Lao was sitting in Meirui Lou, balancing accounts. Candlelight illuminated the wooden sign on the wall: Jingcheng, Jinling, Taiyuan… It had been handled so many times that the bamboo sign had been polished smooth and glossy, as if coated with a thick layer of paste.

Just then, footsteps came from Meihua Du.

Er Dao, dozing with his arms crossed in Meirui Lou, suddenly opened his eyes: “Ge, someone’s here.”

Ge Lao, however, wasn’t flustered: “It seems they haven’t found Chen Ji.”

Er Dao stood up: “What do we do?”

Ge Lao put down his brush, picked up his tobacco pipe from the table, brought it to the candlelight, and took a few strong puffs. Then he smiled and said, “It’s times like these when tobacco tastes best. If I could have a puff before I die, I can’t imagine how comfortable that would be.”

Er Dao rubbed his smooth head: “What kind of reasoning is that?”

Ge Lao laughed heartily: “You don’t need to know. Don’t be foolish later. Chen Ji is a deep thinker and never easily trusts others, not even you and me, though we are from the same village. You and I must cross this hurdle, otherwise, we’ll never be truly accepted.”

Er Dao rubbed his head again: “What kind of reasoning is this?”

As his voice fell, the door of Meirui Lou was pushed open, and six masked assassins burst in.

Ge Lao stood up, put on a black jacket, took another puff of his pipe, and then handed it to Er Dao. He said to the masked assassins, “I am the person you are looking for. Let’s go.”

The assassins paused slightly. From his demeanor, it seemed less like they were there to capture him and more like they were there to receive him.

Ge Lao walked right through them, swaggering. There wasn’t a single bodyguard outside Meirui Lou; Ge Lao had dispatched them early, as if he knew from the start that assassins would come for him.

They exited through the back door one by one and got into a carriage.

The carriage circled for two hours before stopping in a small alley. Along the way, Ge Lao sat in the middle, resting with his eyes closed. Only when the carriage stopped steadily did he get out and walk inside.

In the small courtyard, four people gathered around a bonfire. A boiling oil pot was set over the bonfire.

The head steward of the second branch, who practiced Mountain Ghost Flower Money and stood beside Chen Lizhi, rose and looked at Ge Lao with surprise; he didn’t even have a single rope on him: “He came by himself?”

The assassin replied: “He came by himself.”

The steward frowned: “Was anyone trailing him?”

The assassin cautiously said: “Confirmed, no one followed.”

This left the head steward of the second branch a bit puzzled. He looked at Ge Lao: “Who the hell are you? Are you a xundaojing xingguan (patrolling official of the Dao-seeking realm)?”

Ge Lao said calmly: “I haven’t had time to cultivate yet. I guess I’ll have to get through this ordeal first.”

The steward raised his eyebrows: “You think you can get through this ordeal? Where is Wang Gui? Where is Chen Ji?”

Ge Lao swaggered into the house, pulled a grand armchair from inside, dragged it into the courtyard, and sat down: “I won’t say anything. Just go straight to torture.”