A hand-delivered decree, dispatched at five-hundred-li speed, threw all plans into disarray.

Zhang Zhuo lowered his head, looking at the ‘Patrol Hunter Ivory Tablet’ from the Secret Service Department in his hand. Carved on it were the words: “Patrol on behalf of Heaven, report major issues for judgment, decide minor matters immediately.”

He naturally knew this ivory tablet could only be worn by a Sea Eagle. Above this rank were the “Court Attendance Ivory Tablets” of the Twelve Zodiacs, which granted access to the Forbidden City and the Six Eastern and Western Palaces. It was said that the top three Zodiacs even had their own unique ivory tablets, which outsiders were never privileged to see.

Seeing that they were alone, Zhang Zhuo weighed the ivory tablet in his hand and sighed softly, “Chen Ji, what I just told Master Chen was not idle talk spurred by drink.”

Chen Ji asked in a low voice, “Is Master Zhang concerned about the succession dispute?”

Zhang Zhuo shook his head. “Once the border army of the Jin Faction is involved, it’s no longer a simple succession dispute. It’s an intricate web of conflicts between the imperial court and the border garrisons, between the Jin Faction and the Donglin Faction. Unless you are directly involved, you’ll never truly understand it. And if you don’t understand something, it’s best to avoid it.”

Zhang Zhuo continued in a lowered voice, “I’ve never dealt with the Crown Prince, so I don’t know his character. However, everyone says he is kind-hearted and praised by great scholars. In this world, kindness is often seen as weakness. If such a person tries to investigate the murderous thugs in the border army, he will only bring harm to those around him.”

Chen Ji bowed his head in thought for a long time before finally saying softly, “I understand everything Master Zhang has said, but I have my reasons for needing to go.”

“Very well,” Zhang Zhuo instructed. “I have an old acquaintance in Guyuan. I’ll write a letter for you; if you encounter anything you can’t resolve, seek him out. He should be able to help you leave Guyuan.”

Chen Ji solemnly cupped his hands and bowed, “Thank you, Master Zhang.”

Zhang Zheng, standing nearby, suddenly said, “Father, I also want to accompany Chen Ji…”

Zhang Zhuo calmly said, “Scram.”

Zhang Zheng replied, “Oh.”

Zhang Xia pulled Zhang Zheng and walked into the relay station. “Brother, stop causing trouble for Father. We still need to rush back to the capital for New Year’s Eve.”

Chen Ji asked, “Miss Zhang Er, we’ll be parting ways tomorrow. I should return Zaobao to you.”

Zhang Xia waved her hand without turning back. “No need, no need. You can keep her for now.”

Zhang Zhuo watched the retreating figures of his children and sighed with emotion, “If only that boy were half as sensible as Ah Xia… Go back and get some rest early.”

Upon returning to his room, he saw Xiaoman sitting at the Eight Immortals table, propping her chin with her hand and dozing off.

Hearing the door open, she groggily stood up. “Young Master, you’re finally back. I’ll go ask the relay station attendant to bring some water for you to wash with.”

Chen Ji smiled and said, “Don’t bother, I can do it myself. Where’s Su Zhou? Has she eaten?”

Xiaoman rubbed her eyes. “She’s still hiding in the carriage’s box. Apparently, there are Secret Service agents behind this relay station, and she doesn’t want to risk coming out. She did eat; I brought her some snacks when no one was around.”

Chen Ji hummed in acknowledgment. “Tomorrow, I’ll be going to Guyuan with the Chen family. You’ll travel to the capital with the Zhang family. On the way, follow Miss Zhang Er’s arrangements and don’t act on your own initiative.”

Xiaoman’s eyes suddenly widened. “Young Master, are you sending me away?”

Chen Ji explained, “I’m not sending you away. Master Zhang said that Guyuan is a chaotic and unsafe place, full of all sorts of people. Not letting you go is for your own good.”

The light in Xiaoman’s eyes flickered. “Then you should definitely take me with you! That way, someone can look after you.”

Chen Ji said casually, “What kind of care can a mere maid like you provide? If you were an official, I’d take you, but you’re not.”

Xiaoman was speechless. “I… I mean, someone has to take care of you, no matter what.”

Chen Ji stated unequivocally, “You will go with the Zhang family, look after Su Zhou, and escort her to the capital.”

Xiaoman reluctantly mumbled, “Alright. When you’re in Guyuan, Young Master, remember to visit Auntie’s grave and pull out the weeds. If possible, perhaps you could see for yourself whether what Wet Nurse Li said was truly accurate.”

Chen Ji was startled. Lu Shi’s grave was in Guyuan?

His mind raced. Guyuan was a chaotic place, a mix of good and bad, situated between the Ning and Jing dynasties. Since there was an inn that could send people to the Jing Dynasty, it likely meant there were also means to smuggle people from the Jing Dynasty into the Ning Dynasty.

Perhaps Lu Jin and Lu Shi, the brother and sister, entered the Ning Dynasty from here, forged their household registrations, and transformed themselves into residents of Guyuan. The Ning Dynasty emphasized returning to one’s roots after death, which is why Chen Liqin sent Lu Shi back to Guyuan for burial after her death.

Connecting this to the earlier talk of an ’empty coffin,’ Chen Ji felt a surge of doubt and alarm. Could it be that Lu Shi hadn’t actually died back then, but instead used Guyuan as an opportunity to escape and return to the Jing Dynasty?

But if that were the case, why wouldn’t Sima Cao Gui know that she was still alive?

Chen Ji wanted to ask about the exact location of the grave, but he couldn’t bring himself to. This was something he was supposed to know, and asking about it would immediately arouse Xiaoman’s suspicion.

Chen Ji said casually, “It’s a pity she entrusted herself to the wrong person. Even in death, she couldn’t be buried within the Chen family.”

Xiaoman sighed, “Exactly. But knowing Auntie’s personality, she wouldn’t have wanted to be buried with those stuffy scholars from the Chen family anyway. If they were buried together, it would be quite a commotion; Auntie would probably be scolding the Chen family ancestors every day underground…”

Wuyun listened with solemn respect, “How fierce!”

The next morning, the guest room at the relay station was warm and cozy. Xiaoman was dozing on a small stool, her drool trickling down to her knees.

Chen Ji quietly got up, careful not to wake her.

He went directly to the stable in the backyard, led Zaobao out, and began grooming her with a coarse-toothed comb. Zaobao, feeling comfortable, nudged Chen Ji’s shoulder with her head.

A voice called from nearby, “Third Brother, you’re up early.”

Chen Ji turned to look and saw Chen Wenzong, cloaked in a white fox-fur lined robe, standing on the steps of the relay station like a noble young master straight out of a storyteller’s tale.

Chen Ji cupped his hands and bowed, “Elder Brother.”

A hint of a smile appeared in Chen Wenzong’s eyes. “You call Father ‘Master Chen,’ yet you are still willing to call me ‘Elder Brother’.”

Chen Ji smiled. “Elder Brother’s character is noble; you deserve to be called ‘Elder Brother’.”

Chen Wenzong hesitated. “Father actually…”

Before he could finish, Chen Ji had already led Zaobao to the front entrance of the relay station.

In front of the relay station, the escorts had woken up early, even before dawn. Each of them squatted by the entrance with a bowl of mutton soup, eating hot flatbreads with their soup, warming themselves thoroughly before getting up to harness the oxen and horses and leading the carts and carriages out of the courtyard.

A minor official from the relay station pointed at the ground and grumbled, “Pick up all the ox and horse manure on the ground! Otherwise, next time you come, you won’t even have a cowshed to stay in!”

Head Escort Liang quickly offered a placating smile. “We’ll pick it up right away!”

Chen Wenzong watched the escorts’ retreating figures and remarked with emotion, “The escorts squatting together early in the morning, drinking hot soup and eating flatbreads – this scene of common life has such a vibrant, down-to-earth feel. Watching them eat, I suddenly feel a great appetite. Usually, at home, with all the fine food, I don’t feel much appetite. Third Brother, would you like a bowl of mutton soup too?”

As Chen Ji continued grooming Zaobao, he retorted playfully, “Elder Brother, those escorts spent the night huddled in the cowshed. If they don’t drink some hot soup in the morning, their toes would be freezing. That mutton soup only has two thin slices of lamb in it. If they heard you say that, they’d probably jump at the chance to switch places with you and enjoy the ‘fine food’ you speak of, under carved beams and painted pillars.”

Chen Wenzong was taken aback. After a moment, he said earnestly, “I’ve learned something… Third Brother, you must have endured a lot of hardship these past two years while away, haven’t you? It’s good that you’re finally home.”

Chen Ji glanced at him. “Not really.”

Just then, Chen Liqin and Lady Liang had already led Chen Wenxiao into the carriage, avoiding another encounter with Zhang Zhuo.

Chen Ji stood by the door, called Zaobao over, and took a handful of soybeans from his saddlebag to feed her. Wuyun, the crow, emerged from Chen Ji’s embrace and perched on Zaobao’s head, and Zaobao didn’t mind at all.

Even after the Chen family’s convoy had set off, Chen Ji was not in a hurry to mount his horse and depart.

He whispered to Zaobao, “Let’s wait a bit longer. Wait for your owner to say goodbye to you before we go. Otherwise, she’ll surely miss you after not seeing you for over a month.”

Chen Ji knew that Miss Zhang Er regarded Zaobao as a friend, so she would definitely come to say goodbye.

However, he waited and waited. He watched as the Chen family’s convoy drove further and further away, but still, no one appeared.

“This isn’t good!” Chen Ji, as if realizing something, quickly mounted his horse and galloped after the Chen family’s convoy.

Reaching the Chen family’s convoy, he urged Zaobao to circle around, checking the dozen or so carriages, but neither Zhang Xia nor Zhang Zheng were anywhere to be seen.

Chen Ji called out to a maid named Hanlu on one of the ox-carts, “Open the box and see if anyone is hiding inside.”

Hanlu looked bewildered. “What are you talking about, Third Young Master? The box contains all our belongings. Why would anyone be hiding in there?”

Chen Ji insisted, “Just open it and take a look.”

Hanlu did as she was told, but just as she lifted the lid a crack, a hand reached out from inside and pulled the lid shut again…

Chen Ji: “?”

Hanlu shrieked, “What was that?!”

Before they could open the box again to check, they heard the sound of hooves approaching from a nearby alley.

Chen Ji turned his head and saw Zhang Xia and Zhang Zheng riding up to catch them.

He asked, puzzled, “What are you two doing…?”

Zhang Zheng said boldly, “We’ve been stuck in Luocheng for two years. Mother won’t let my sister and me travel far, and we’re practically bursting! She never restricts our elder brother and sister, so why always us two? So, I secretly brought my sister out, got two good horses from the relay station, and we’re coming with you to Guyuan to see for ourselves.”

Chen Ji frowned. “This simply won’t do.”

Zhang Zheng laughed heartily. “You’re not my mother, so you can’t control us siblings!”

Chen Ji knew Zhang Zheng had a point; he indeed had no reason to restrain them, so he gave up. “Miss Zhang Er, since you’re already out here, let’s switch horses. I’ll return Zaobao to you.”

Zhang Xia said generously, “No need. I think Zaobao likes you quite a lot, so you can keep her for now. You need her more than I do.”

Chen Ji thanked her. Then, he suddenly remembered the hand in the box…

If Zhang Zheng and Zhang Xia were here, then who was in the box?

Chen Ji calmly said to the box, “Come out yourself!”

The box slowly opened, revealing Xiaoman crouching inside, supporting the lid with her right hand, smiling brightly. “Young Master, surprise!”

Chen Ji exasperatedly said, “Why didn’t you listen to my instructions?”

Seeing his displeased expression, Xiaoman hastily explained, “But you truly need someone to look after you on the journey! What young master doesn’t bring a maid? Is a young master still a young master without one?”

Chen Ji inwardly groaned, realizing the situation was bad. Xiaoman secretly following him was now a done deal, but what about Su Zhou? Su Zhou had insisted on hiding with the Chen family’s group precisely to observe whether he was the one who betrayed Prince Jing’s estate. But now that both he and Xiaoman were gone…

Wouldn’t that mean Su Zhou was left alone in the carriage?!

At this very moment, the coachman was driving Chen Ji’s carriage, trailing behind the Zhang family’s convoy.

As the carriage swayed, a faint voice from the wooden box inside asked, “Can I come out now? It’s awfully stuffy in here.”

“Can I come out?”

“Please just say something!”

“Speak, you wretched girl!”