Green Mountain

Morning.

The unchanging hour between 5 to 7 AM.

In the inner city, the silent mansions seemed like hulking beasts, starting to stir before dawn. The servants were responsible for lighting lamps and sweeping the floors, while the maids served tea and water, attending to the officials putting on their robes.

Once the officials donned their bright red robes, the massive mansion under their feet would come fully alive.

Outside the side gate of Qingzheng Garden, Si Caogui had already led the carriage into the alley to wait.

He took out a piece of chamois cloth and meticulously polished the carriage clean, leaving no dust even in the grooves of the intricately carved patterns. The way he wiped the carriage resembled someone polishing a blade.

While polishing, Chen Ertong snuck along the wall and quietly asked, "Brother, where did Chen Ji go yesterday?"

Si Caogui continued polishing the carriage without turning his head.

Chen Ertong tossed a piece of broken silver with a bad attitude, and Si Caogui, as if he had eyes at the back of his head, caught the silver with a steady hand.

He flicked the dust off the chamois cloth: "Chen Ji did not report to the Yulin Army Commander's Mansion yesterday but went directly to Meihua Ferry Crossing instead. He left at the time of Shen together with Young Master Shen Ye. They first went to a banquet at Bianyifang Restaurant on Chessboard Street and then Chen Ji returned alone to the Chen Mansion."

Chen Ertong was curious: "Whose banquet was it at Bianyifang, and what did they discuss during it?"

Si Caogui remained silent.

Chen Ertong listened intently, but suddenly there was no more information: "And then?!"

Si Caogui answered leisurely, "One hundred silver taels."

Chen Ertong was taken aback: "Are you crazy? Do you still want to continue working at the Chen family?"

Si Caogui replied indifferently, "If I'm not allowed to work at the Chen family, I'll just find another place to be a coachman—it's not such a rare job."

Chen Ertong was frustrated: "Wait here, I didn't bring that much silver with me."

He turned and ran, returning about ten minutes later, and thrust two large silver ingots into Si Caogui's hand, panting heavily: "Quick, tell me."

Si Caogui continued polishing the carriage: "I'm just a coachman—I can't even get into Bianyifang. I could only eat some food prepared for the servants in the stables and naturally didn't know what they discussed."

Chen Ertong reached out to grab back the silver, but Si Caogui blocked him with a raised hand: "However, after the banquet ended and Chen Ji got into the carriage, he kept thanking Shen Ye, saying that he was grateful to Shen Ye for bringing a lot of clients his way. Those big salt merchants made generous offers, seeming like they wanted to jointly take over most of the salt permits in Chen Ji's hands, and more salt merchants were on their way."

"And then?"

Si Caogui finished polishing the carriage: "They also plan to connect with the borderline people and acquire all the salt permits they hold."

Chen Ertong immediately rushed to the salt shop.

Upon his return to the salt shop, Chen Yue was pacing back and forth in the main hall.

Chen Ertong approached to report the information he had gathered. Chen Yue furrowed his brows, deep in thought.

After a long while, he instructed Chen Bin beside him: "Send someone trustworthy to Tanggu to find Provincial Scholar Li—it's time for him to repay the favor he owes me."

Chen Bin hesitantly asked, "What does the shopkeeper need from him?"

Chen Yue narrowed his eyes: "Have him choose four village women to strangle, and send them to the Prefecture Government, claiming that the Ministry of Revenue's tax collection drove them to death, and the people can't survive anymore. Then find an Imperial Censor who has something to hide and expose the matter to the court, forcing Chen Lizun to go to Tanggu and quell the civil discontent."

Chen Bin's face changed: "This..."

Chen Yue turned his head and stared at him: "You've heard what the Second Master said; if you make this happen, we can drive that kid Chen Ji out of the Imperial Capital, and the position Second Manager Ye leaves vacant will be yours. However, if we fail, we'll both only be underlings for life. Chen Bin, you and I are nothing more than dogs under our master, but staying loyal to the master is better being a stray dog."

Chen Bin gritted his teeth and turned to leave.

Chen Yue watched his departing back and then instructed Chen Ertong behind him: "He's hesitated twice already. Send two people to keep an eye on him, and if necessary, restrain him first. If he turns traitor, the Cabinet Head position is yours."

Chen Ertong's eyes lit up.

Chen Yue continued to advise: "Also, gather the other shop managers at the salt shop and tell them I have important matters to discuss. Once they arrive, keep them all here to prevent anyone from informing Chen Ji."

Chen Ertong was about to leave, but Chen Yue pulled him back: "Send people to watch the front and back gates of Meihua Ferry Crossing. It doesn't matter who goes in and out, but if anyone brings a box inside, you must tell me. By the way, have those borderline people who Chen Bin gathered yesterday been assembled?"

Chen Ertong nodded.

Chen Yue warned: "Keep a close watch on them; they will be important next. Remember, if we can't drive Chen Ji out of the Imperial Capital this time, we might as well accompany each other to the pond by the Mountain and River Altar."

...

...

Chen Ji didn't report for duty, nor did he go to Meihua Ferry Crossing; instead, he took a carriage to the Tianbao Pavilion opposite the Eastern Hua Gate.

This was a property of Mrs. Liang and was one of the most famous jewelry and silver buildings in the Capital. Often, masterpieces by the craftsmen from the Imperial Workshop would secretly flow into the market through here, drawing the attention of female relatives of the officials and nobility.

Tianbao Pavilion already implies "Heavenly Family's treasures, gathered in this pavilion."

Before noon, the entrance of Tianbao Pavilion was already filled with carriages and silk palanquins. Looking at the three-story building, it was bustling with ladies and maidens.

Si Caogui parked the carriage at a distance and asked quietly: "Since you already know the Chen family's second branch wants you dead, how can you still leisurely wander here? People willing to spend a hundred taels for information must have spent even more to buy your life."

Chen Ji lifted the curtain casually: "Didn't Lord Si Cao wish for me to form a marriage alliance with the Qi family?"

Si Caogui was taken aback for a moment: "Indeed, if you marry into the Qi family, it won't only affect the Chen family, but also the Qi family. It would be a great boost for our Military Intelligence Department."

Chen Ji jumped off the carriage: "The Qi family's daughters are the gems of Mr. Qi, who is keen on recruiting sons-in-law for them, fearing they would suffer in their marital home. So until now, the marriage between the Chen and Qi families hasn't been settled because Miss Qi hasn't made up her mind. Soon, it will be the Silkworm God festival, and when the ladies of the Capital head to the North Suburb for a spring outing, I, as a member of the Yulin Army, will also go—it's the perfect time to give gifts then."

Si Caogui suddenly understood: "I see now."

Chen Ji walked toward Tianbao Pavilion, and as he approached the door, he noticed the adjacent Gufu Building bustling with guests.

At the Gufu Building hung a plaque: "A Belly Holds Five Carts of Knowledge."

Below the plaque hung a wooden couplet. The first line read, "Observe affairs and objects, observe the sky, earth, sun, and moon, observe above and below; observing others, there are always highs and lows."

The second line read, "Laugh at the ancient and modern, laugh east, west, south, and north, laugh here and there; laughing at oneself reveals ignorance and lack of knowledge."

A restaurant displaying such a couplet does not entice guests, does not bring wealth, nor does it pray for fortune, straying far from convention. Yet Chen Ji, upon seeing this couplet, felt a stir in his heart because he had seen an identical one elsewhere.

But this was not the time to explore Gufu Building. Chen Ji lifted his hem and walked into the Tianbao Pavilion.

At that moment, someone in the carriage parked opposite was whispering.

Qi Zhaoning pulled open the carriage curtain to steal a glance at Chen Ji's back, then turned to her sister Qi Zhaoyun: "Sister, Tianbao Pavilion is a place for women; what is he doing here?"

Qi Zhaoyun was also a bit surprised: "Perhaps he's selecting a hairpin for himself?"

Qi Zhaoning angrily retorted: "Men who buy hairpins go to Chessboard Street, who would come to Tianbao Pavilion? Surely he's buying jewelry for some lover… It must be Zhang Xia, I knew it, there's something fishy between him and Zhang Xia!"

Qi Zhaoyun helplessly replied: "I've already inquired for you; he has no private relationship with Second Miss Zhang. Not only does brother-in-law say so, but even second brother says so. They said that in Guyuan, Chen Ji and Second Miss Zhang always observed propriety and never acted out of bounds. Moreover, they hinted that Chen Ji, Zhang Zheng, Second Miss Zhang, and Xiao Man had sworn sibling ties through life and death."

Qi Zhaoning was skeptical: "Really?"

Qi Zhaoyun gently touched her cheek and comforted: "Of course it's true. Suppose they survived life and death together in Guyuan; if there was really affection, why wait until now with no progress? Second brother has tested Chen Ji. If he truly had feelings for Second Miss Zhang, he wouldn't push you into a fire pit."

Qi Zhaoning slightly relaxed: "True, who would like that rouge tiger, she's so fierce."

Qi Zhaoyun smiled wryly: "What, still remember her hitting your palm with a bamboo board at the Imperial Academy?"

Qi Zhaoning's face changed: "Don't mention that again!"

"Alright, alright," Qi Zhaoyun smiled: "I won't mention it."

Qi Zhaoning's eyes flickered for a moment before turning to another person in the carriage: "Zhenzhu, go ask Chen Ji's driver what he's doing at Tianbao Pavilion? Quickly."

Zhenzhu's expression was hidden beneath a veil; she simply responded in a low voice: "Yes."

She lifted the curtain, stepped out of the carriage, crossed the riverside street and approached Si Caogui, softly saying: "This elder brother, may I ask if this is the carriage of the Young Master Chen?"

Si Caogui quickly glanced at Qi Zhenzhu: "Indeed."

Qi Zhenzhu hesitated for a moment, took a piece of broken silver from her wallet and handed it to Si Caogui: "Can you find out what Young Master Chen is doing at Tianbao Pavilion?"

Si Caogui's gaze moved past her shoulder, quietly observing the Qi family's carriage, which was engraved with seven cranes.

The crane is the emblem of a first-grade official; to have cranes engraved on a carriage, one's ancestors must have produced a Grand Preceptor, Imperial Tutor, or Grand Protector among the three positions.

Having even one crane engraved is rare enough, and seven cranes is unique to one family.

The Qi family.

Si Caogui withdrew his gaze, returned the piece of silver, and politely said: "To report to this lady, our young master said he's here to buy a gift for the third Miss of the Qi family, to personally present during the spring walk and the Silkworm God's festival at the beginning of March."

Qi Zhenzhu was slightly taken aback, thanked him, and returned to the carriage.

Qi Zhaoning heard Qi Zhenzhu's report and couldn't believe it: "Did he really say that? Is he saying auspicious words on purpose? Earlier at the Imperial Music Bureau, he was clearly so rude!"

Qi Zhaoyun said with annoyance: "What driver would have the guts to spout nonsense? Besides, if he didn't understand Chen Ji's intentions, he couldn't make up such a story. Perhaps Young Master Chen is a bit shy, having never dealt with romantic feelings before, so he didn't dare to speak with you that day? Or perhaps he's playing a little game of 'hard to get,' both are possible."

"True." Qi Zhaoning pondered, her eyes shining brighter: "Let's go, back to the mansion."

Qi Zhaoyun was puzzled: "Going back for what, weren't you here to buy jewelry for the Silkworm God's festival?"

Qi Zhaoning smiled smugly: "Going in now would spoil it, right? Let's go, come back tomorrow."

...

...

Inside the Tianbao Pavilion.

Chen Ji casually browsed the dazzling array of gold and silver jewelry when a woman with a face covered in white powder approached, enveloped in a fragrant breeze.

She glanced at Chen Ji, who wore clothes gifted by Chen Lizun, made by the Liangji Tailors in the inner city, with the Liangji watermark on the sleeves, indicating their lofty price.

The woman covered her face with a round fan and giggled: "Is the young master here to choose a gift for his sweetheart? The first floor only displays gold and silver utensils; you need to go to the second floor to select pearls and jade."

Pearls are referred to as yuan guang, while jade is lü tou.

Chen Ji casually asked: "And the third floor?"

The woman smiled: "Going to the third floor is a matter of fate."

Chen Ji was taken aback: "Fate?"

The woman said with deep meaning: "The third floor holds treasures unique in the world; only with bestowed fate can one ascend to the third floor."

Chen Ji understood; one had to spend enough money to qualify for the third floor.

He casually said: "I'll just take a look around the first floor."

Princess Bai Li was now sequestered in Jingyang Palace, devoted to cultivating the Dao. Her hairpin must not be lavish, mustn't stand out, cannot have tiffany blue details, or gemstone inlays...

Nor could it have Buddhist motifs; it couldn't feature conjoined lotus or entangled branches either.

What could be chosen seemed limited to Eight Diagrams lines, cloud patterns, bamboo node patterns, water wave patterns, or pine needle patterns. But gifting a woman with an Eight Diagrams line, bamboo node pattern, or pine needle pattern hairpin was odd; no man would give such a hairpin to a woman.

After contemplating for a long time, Chen Ji finally set his sights on a simple silver hairpin with a cloud pattern: "This one, and I would like to trouble the craftsmen here to engrave eight characters on the silver hairpin."