Green Mountain

Wendan Hall.

Wen stands for knowledge and reputation.

Dan stands for courage and strategy.

The deep chestnut-colored pillars are like dragons, and the green gold bricks on the ground shine like mirrors.

A Taishi Chair made of purple sandalwood is placed at the head for the Family Head's exclusive seat, with carved chairs symmetrically placed on either side, Chen Lizhi on the left, Chen Lizun on the right.

Behind Chen Lizun on the left is a towering shelf filled with family genealogy, awards from various dynasties, and official gazettes; behind Chen Lizhi on the right hang sealed long swords, a Jade Axe, and a bronze cauldron.

The hall is quiet, yet in Chen Yue's mind echoes the voice of Chen Ji: "Manager Chen Yue, do you not know whether those funds are still there?"

Unexpectedly, today he raised the butcher's knife in Wendan Hall, only for it to fall upon himself.

Chen Lizun's gaze pressed down on Chen Yue: "Chen Yue, Chen Ji is asking you a question."

Chen Yue snapped back to attention and quickly responded, "Answering the Great Elder, those funds are public accounts, how dare I use them?"

Chen Ji slowly said, "Family Head, since today we are convening in the hall for clan matters, why not thoroughly audit the salt house accounts as well? Should there be any bad debts from the past, it would be good for the elders to witness."

Official Chen nodded slightly: "Alright."

Chen Wende walked out, "I'll go fetch it."

But Chen Lizun stopped him with words: "Wende, my dear nephew, you caught a cold before the New Year, let's have someone more agile to go. I'll send Chen Huang."

Official Chen nodded again: "Fine, go quickly and return promptly, do not delay the morning assembly."

Chen Lizun walked to the doorway and nodded to a middle-aged man standing outside Wendan Hall. The middle-aged man strode away, strong and muscular.

Inside Wendan Hall, all present fell silent, each practicing patience better than the next. Even Chen Ji closed his eyes, standing still, only Chen Yue couldn't help but clench his sleeves tightly, his fingernails turning pale.

After thirty minutes, Wendan Hall remained as quiet as before.

After thirty minutes, Chen Lizhi slowly opened his eyes. Being too skinny, his cheeks were sunken, making his eyes protrude like fish eyes from his face.

He straightened the sleeves of his official robe: "Chen Ji."

Chen Ji opened his eyes as well: "What instructions do you have, Second Uncle?"

Chen Lizhi chuckled, "I heard you made quite a name for yourself at the recent Qi Family Literary Meeting. With such talent, why not study the classics at the academy and then return to take the Imperial Examination for a proper path."

Chen Ji said impassively, "My ambition is to open new territories and repay the favor of the Emperor."

Chen Lizhi shifted the topic, "By the way, did you meet Miss Qi at the Literary Meeting?"

Chen Ji replied with a hum, "I met Second Miss Qi, Qi Zhaoyun; Third Miss Qi, Qi Zhaoning; and the concubine daughter, Qi Zhenzhu."

Chen Lizhi laughed, reclining against the chairback, "Which one do you favor more? I think Second Miss Qi is nice, well-mannered, but I hear Third Miss Qi is more interested in you."

Chen Ji shook his head, "I am not currently interested in romance, I do not favor anyone in particular."

Chen Lizhi shook his head, "How can you not be interested in romance? They say 'first establish a family, then a career.' A man must settle down to be at ease. In the countryside, men marry at thirteen, and even in the Imperial Capital among large families, the latest is not beyond twenty. In our dynasty's early days, the court even decreed that unmarried men at forty and women at thirty were to be matched by the government. You are already eighteen..."

Chen Ji suddenly asked, "Second Uncle, have those in the countryside who married early established their careers?"

Chen Lizhi was momentarily speechless, then sneered, "I forgot you're Doctor Yao's apprentice, always quick with a retort."

Chen Lizun's mouth twisted into a slight smile.

Chen Ji expressed mild curiosity, "Second Uncle, are you familiar with my master?"

Chen Lizhi let out a cry, "Familiar, how could I not be. Because of your elder uncle's issue of having no heir, we've invited him over several times, but he refuses to come despite offering a thousand taels of silver."

Chen Lizun's face darkened again, looking coldly at Chen Lizhi, "Why bring this up? You should rather mind your own health."

Chen Lizhi spread his hands nonchalantly, "What need for taboos within the family?"

Chen Ji frowned slightly.

The master must have divined something beforehand; with his cautious nature, refusing to come even for a thousand taels of silver is not a matter of reluctance but impossibility.

Curious, what could there be that the master is wary of?

While pondering this, several men carried two large chests to the front of Wendan Hall. They were followed by two men carrying a stretcher, upon which lay a person covered with a white cloth.

The moment the deceased was seen, Chen Ji watched Chen Yue's hands slowly release his sleeves, exhaling a long and smooth breath, no longer in panic.

Looking at Chen Lizhi, he maintained his calm demeanor, even having leisure to chat.

At this moment, Chen Lizhi cursed loudly towards the outside of the hall, "You were sent to fetch the salt house silver, how come you brought back a corpse early in the morning, what an ill omen!"

Chen Ji watched calmly, seeing Chen Huang standing outside the hall, clasping his fists and explaining, "Second Elder, when I rushed to Luoma Market Street's salt house, Manager Ye Yumin had already hanged himself on the beam in the salt house's main hall. He left a letter, admitting to embezzling two hundred thirty thousand taels of silver from public accounts over the years, feeling unworthy of the Family Head's trust, and thus took his life to apologize."

Chen Lizun abruptly stood up, walking to the threshold, speaking in a forced tone, "Is it Second Manager Ye's handwriting?"

Chen Huang silently nodded.

Chen Lizhi cursed out loud, "Embezzling two hundred thirty thousand taels of silver from the Chen family and wanting to end it with one death? How can things be that easy! Someone, take all his male relatives and send them to the government, exile them to Lingnan, and sell all his young female relatives to the Eight Great Hutongs!"