Green Mountain

The dark cloud on the roof leapt down and landed on the table.

Aunt Ping’s voice cut off. She wanted to reach out to touch Wu Yun’s head, but Wu Yun evaded her and jumped straight into the arms of Vermillion.

Vermillion couldn’t even focus on eating, holding Wu Yun closely: "Wu Yun, Wu Yun, have you eaten yet?"

Wu Yun stood in her arms, sniffing the noodles on the table, and Vermillion fed it with a spoon, to which it did not refuse.

Chen Ji noticed Aunt Ping’s hand hovering mid-air and quickly explained: "Wu Yun is wary of strangers, and usually only lets familiar people hold it. Even Xiao Man took several months to gain its acceptance. But it’s strange how quickly it grew close to Little Vermillion despite knowing her for such a short time."

Aunt Ping slowly withdrew her hand, nonchalantly asking: "Does it let Lord Zhang or Mrs. Zhang hold it?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "It does not."

Aunt Ping suddenly asked: "What did you want to ask earlier?"

Chen Ji took a few bites of noodles, then looked up and asked: "Aunt Ping, did the East Garden craftsmen go to the Qi family prior to the grand funeral?"

Aunt Ping’s gaze moved from Wu Yun and Vermillion back to Chen Ji: "On the day of the grand funeral, the East Garden craftsmen need to enshroud and seal the coffin of Mr. Qi... Do you think there’s an issue with them?"

Chen Ji avoided answering directly, carefully pondering: "Upon the passing of a First-Grade Official, the court will undoubtedly grant the Eastern Garden Secret Artifact. They must have calculated on this... But the grand funeral is on the third day, and the condolence visit is on the fourth. That doesn’t make sense. Wait, would the court send someone to the Qi family on the day of the grand funeral?"

Aunt Ping shook her head: "I have long wandered the Jianghu and am not well-versed with the court’s specific ceremonies."

Chen Ji told Vermillion, "Little Vermillion, let your brother Changsheng speak."

Vermillion obediently said, "Alright then, but next time tell me the story of the little monkey."

Chen Ji nodded: "Promise."

After making a pinky promise with Vermillion, she obediently closed her eyes. When she reopened them, her face displayed a pattern of brown, red, white, and black colors, with a tightly shut third eye at the center of her forehead.

Changsheng wore the wooden monkey mask and spoke in a sharp voice: "Why have you brought me out?"

Chen Ji inquired: "On the day of Mr. Qi’s grand funeral, which high-ranking court officials will be present?"

Changsheng recalled: "On the grand funeral day, Ministry of Rites officials and Taichang Temple officials will be present to observe the rituals and ensure the funeral rites adhere to First-Rank standards, checking for any transgressions. A Junior Minister of Honglu Temple will personally oversee the ceremony... Possibly even a Prince will come to mourn and offer condolences on behalf of His Majesty, bestowing a posthumous title. However, this is a great honor, not given to everyone."

Chen Ji thoughtfully pondered: "If His Majesty dispatches someone for mourning, who would it be?"

Changsheng confidently replied: "The Crown Prince has a leg ailment and cannot meet outsiders; the one sent for mourning must be Prince Fu."

Upon hearing the name Prince Fu, Chen Ji recalled a name he had written in the kitchen, and everything aligned.

At this moment, Aunt Ping softly asked, seeing his silence: "Are the noodles good?"

Chen Ji took a few bites, agreeing: "Delicious."

Aunt Ping carelessly remarked: "How about compared to Mrs. Zhang’s?"

Chen Ji chuckled: "Each has its strengths. Mother makes Southern Su-style soup noodles, which are lighter, and Aunt Ping makes Northern-style noodles, which are more robust in flavor... But I’m a Northerner, so I prefer the bolder taste."

Aunt Ping’s expression was hidden behind the black veil of her hat: "My specialties are dumplings and steamed buns. I’ll make some for you to try tomorrow."

Chen Ji agreed with a smile: "Thank you, Aunt Ping."

Aunt Ping suddenly asked: "Is it already at the point where you must leave the Imperial Capital, unable to prove your innocence?"

Chen Ji sighed: "It’s difficult. It’s not just the rumors spreading in the market; there are more formidable figures hunting me. My chance of survival lies outside the Imperial Capital."

Aunt Ping inquired again: "You just got married. If you secretly flee from the Imperial Capital, what about Second Miss Zhang?"

Chen Ji remained silent for a long time.

Aunt Ping softly said: "I heard of Second Miss Zhang’s reputation a long time ago. Even in Changping, you could hear scholars talking about the Yan Zhihu from the Imperial Academy. At the time, I thought she was just another unruly young lady. But then I heard she stormed the White Tiger Festival Hall of Jiang Xianzong for you, risking her life to secure a chance of survival for you. Such courage and spirit are a thousand times more precious than any family status, talent, or femininity skills... In these turbulent times, those who are loyal and righteous are most easily wronged. She is true to you; do not fail her."

Chen Ji smiled broadly: "What are you thinking, Aunt Ping... I’m just stepping out for a bit."

...

...

Chen Ji left the whale blade at Third Master Hu’s place, and wearing a bamboo hat, he walked alone toward Xuanwu Gate Street, with only Wu Yun silently following along the eaves.

Not far from his departure, he encountered the Five Cities Military Department coming toward him, and he quickly ducked into an alley, standing under the eaves watching them carry a portrait of him.

Chen Ji turned back into the depths of the alley, where he met a street vendor carrying a pole, calling out: "Stove sugar rice cakes, dried fruit and candied snacks!"

Chen Ji stopped him: "How much for both loads together?"

The vendor was taken aback: "Sir, why are you buying so much?"

Chen Ji casually replied: "There are many people at home, and I need them for visiting relatives."

The vendor thought for a moment: "Sir, you can have it all for 300 cents."

Chen Ji took out a piece of broken silver from his sleeve and handed it to the other party: "Give me the basket and the shoulder pole too."

The vendor, smiling from ear to ear, put down the shoulder pole: "The basket and pole aren’t worth much, you’re giving too much."

Chen Ji didn’t care, picked up the pole, and walked away.

He hunched his back and walked onto the main road, shouting in a hoarse voice as he went: "Stovetop sugar cakes and dried fruit snacks!"

Upon reaching Xuanwu Gate Street, Chen Ji lowered his bamboo hat, his gaze swiftly scanning the street, quickly identifying the twelve Jiefan Guard spies.

He continued forward with the pole, and as he passed an alleyway, he caught a glimpse of Li Dongyan hiding in the shadow of the eaves, staring intently at the side door of the Zhang Mansion.

Chen Ji calmly walked past the alley, but at that moment, Li Dongyan caught sight of his profile and a hint of suspicion flashed in his eyes: "Peddler..."

Before he could finish his words, Zhang Xia led Zaozao out of the side door of the Zhang Mansion, swiftly mounted a horse, and galloped eastward.

Li Dongyan no longer cared about Chen Ji, leapt onto the rooftop, and chased after Zhang Xia’s red figure heading east.

Chen Ji’s heart sank; he was here to find Zhang Xia, but Li Dongyan knew that as long as he kept an eye on Zhang Xia, he could find him too.

What to do?

He glanced back in the direction Zhang Xia left, gritting his teeth before following after her.

Li Dongyan was following Zhang Xia, and he was following Li Dongyan. After crossing two street corners, Zhang Xia suddenly reined in her horse, looked up at Li Dongyan on the rooftop, and said, "Lord Li, as the commander of Jiefan Guard, why resort to such furtive actions?"

Li Dongyan, having been discovered, remained unfazed, merely stating calmly, "My focus is on apprehending suspects, and I don’t mind the means."

At this moment, a hoarse voice of a street vendor rang out in the distance: "Stovetop sugar cakes and dried fruit snacks!"

Zhang Xia’s brows furrowed slightly as she said aloud to Li Dongyan: "I’m just going to the tailor shop to pick up custom-made clothes, Lord Li doesn’t need to follow me."

With those words, she rode off again.

Li Dongyan, frowning, still felt something amiss. An instant later, he abruptly looked toward the source of the vendor’s voice, but on the long street, there was only an abandoned merchandise pole, and the vendor was nowhere in sight.

Li Dongyan snorted coldly, continuing to strut along the rooftops, trailing Zhang Xia all the way.

Zhang Xia led Li Dongyan in circles inside the inner city, first to Yanle Alley, then to the drum tower, but no matter what, she couldn’t shake him off.

Until the sun was high up in the sky, Zhang Xia suddenly steered her horse southward: "Zaozao, go quickly!"

Zaozao sped up abruptly, the heavy hoofbeats like drums, startling pedestrians into hurriedly dodging out of the way.

Upon reaching Liu’s Tailor Shop, before Zaozao could come to a full stop, Zhang Xia had already leapt off the horse in advance and dashed into the tailor shop.

Just entering the door, Zhang Xia urgently asked the old tailor: "Where is he?"

The old tailor didn’t speak, just glanced towards the backyard, and Zhang Xia caught his meaning, heading straight for the backyard.

In the back of the tailor shop, there was a tall bamboo rack with dyed silk cloths hanging on it. Pushing aside the cloth, Zhang Xia saw Chen Ji quietly watching her.

Just now, Chen Ji had risked selling goods to remind Zhang Xia that he was nearby; he knew she would recognize his voice, even with his altered tone.

When Zhang Xia protested to Li Dongyan saying she was going to a tailor shop, she didn’t specify which one. But she knew that once Chen Ji heard it, he’d know which shop it was.

They didn’t have much time, with Li Dongyan trailing them and only ten breaths away from catching up. They had no time to explain past events or argue about anything; they only had the chance for two sentences.

Zhang Xia spoke quickly in a low voice: "Speak the most important thing."

Chen Ji gazed at Zhang Xia: "No matter the hardships, I’ll come back to see you."

Zhang Xia was momentarily stunned, then moved a step forward, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed Chen Ji lightly on the cheek, leaving him wide-eyed and frozen in place.

Before Chen Ji could react, she pushed him away: "Go quickly."

Chen Ji immediately turned and left.

Ten breaths later, Li Dongyan landed in the courtyard from the rooftop and drew his waist knife, slashing horizontally. The silk cloth hanging on the bamboo rack was cut in half, fluttering down.

But behind the cloth, there was only Zhang Xia.

Li Dongyan looked at the swaying silk cloth behind Zhang Xia, remained silent for a long time, then slowly sheathed his knife: "Second Miss Zhang, what you’re doing won’t help him. Why don’t you let Mr. Chen come out and face trial honestly? If he’s innocent, I will ensure he is cleared."

Zhang Xia brushed past him: "What is Commander Li talking about? I don’t understand."

Li Dongyan, watching her back, spoke with a restrained voice: "It seems like I will have to issue a sea arrest warrant."

Zhang Xia didn’t look back: "Suit yourself."

At this moment, in a small alley a hundred steps away, Chen Ji, wearing a bamboo hat, hurried along with his head down. Wu Yun leaped from the eaves, landing on his shoulder, tilting its head and observing for a while.

Chen Ji walked several more steps, noticing Wu Yun still tilting its head at him, he hesitated slightly, looking a bit unnatural and saying: "What are you looking at me for?"

Wu Yun looked at the smile that Chen Ji couldn’t suppress at the corner of his mouth and meowed: "Why do I feel like she just sucked the brain out of you?"