Chapter 45 : Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Drink to the Full

At the head of the banquet, the Heir and Princess Baili sat behind their table, listening to the chatter without joining in. They whispered to each other, I didn’t know about what.

I watched the various faces at this literary gathering, feeling out of place, unsure when Consort Jing would summon me to talk.

At that moment, Chunhua quietly approached, bending down to whisper: “My lady requests your presence for a talk.”

I scanned the gathering, confirming Consort Yun wasn’t there, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Now, I was a Secret Spy Division agent to Consort Jing and a Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence agent to Consort Yun, like walking a tightrope ten thousand meters high.

I rose and followed Chunhua to a pavilion, peering through the bamboo curtain to see Consort Jing’s vague silhouette.

Chunhua withdrew, leaving just me and Consort Jing, separated by a curtain.

Consort Jing didn’t speak for a long time, so I stood there, both of us seeming focused on the literary gathering.

After a while, Consort Jing asked evenly: “Everyone says Liu Shiyu was driven to death by the Secret Spy Division. Why do you say he was silenced?”

I said slowly: “I examined the body. Someone colluded with Inner Prison guards to stage it as a hanging, but he was strangled. The Secret Spy Division has records to verify this.”

Consort Jing frowned: “How can I check Secret Spy Division records? How do I know you’re not fooling me?”

Standing outside the pavilion, I thought for a moment: “You know I’m telling the truth. If the Liu Family could send you that cup, they wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice Liu Shiyu’s life. I’m just a small fry working for the Secret Spy Division. Your grudge shouldn’t be with me, Consort Jing.”

Consort Jing said sharply: “Don’t think you’re off the hook. Someone told me if it weren’t for you, the Secret Spy Division wouldn’t have found Liu Shiyu’s weakness! Since you had Chunhua pass me a message, tell me how to take revenge, or you’ll die too!”

I looked at the scholars discussing romance and political ideals, while I stood in another world, talking life and death: “Madam, who’s leading the Liu Family in Luocheng now? Liu Mingxian?”

At that name, Consort Jing’s tone dripped with venom: “It’s him!”

Her suppressed tone held a trace of madness. Losing her son, then her beloved nephew the next day, had pushed her to the edge of control.

I mentally praised Liu Mingxian’s acting. That night he surrounded Zhou’s mansion, clad in mourning, eyes red, looking every bit the grieving grandson: “How do you want to retaliate?”

“I want him to die horribly!”

I exhaled, the grudge now shifted to Liu Mingxian: “When did he give you the cup?”

“Early spring!”

I asked further: “He must’ve asked you to do something you refused, so he sent the cup to punish you. What did he want you to do?”

“What’s that to you?”

I replied: “If I don’t know what he wanted, how can we plot revenge?”

Consort Jing pondered: “At the time, one of the Prince’s old subordinates was promoted to admiral, leading two thousand troops to guard Luocheng’s Crafts Supervisory. Liu Mingxian asked me to use the Prince’s name to contact this subordinate…”

I froze.

Zhou Chengyi arranged for the courtesan Cuihuan to approach the Crafts Supervisory, and Liu Mingxian asked Consort Jing to do the same for the admiral guarding it.

Why was the Crafts Supervisory so important that the Military Intelligence Division and Liu Family went to such lengths? And why did Ning Dynasty’s Crafts Supervisory need two thousand elite troops?

Wait.

Just now, a scholar mentioned that if Jing Dynasty cavalry approached Chongli Pass, Ning Dynasty’s cannons and firearms would repel them.

A spark connected all clues in my mind: the Jing Dynasty’s Military Intelligence Division wanted Ning Dynasty’s firearm production secrets!

That was the sincerity the Division Lord demanded from the Liu Family!

And since the Liu Family was working with Consort Yun and obtained firearms, that cup wasn’t just about killing a child…

Consort Yun’s condition for cooperation was likely that the Liu Family kill the uncooperative Consort Jing, making her the primary consort, as a show of loyalty.

Otherwise, why would Consort Yun side with the Liu Family?

…

…

As I pondered, someone at the banquet asked loudly: “Brother Wen Zong, the Chen Family boasts two talents, both likely to top the provincial exams. But I heard you have a younger brother—why haven’t we seen him?”

“No, I recall Father Chen saying he had two sons and a daughter!”

I looked up. My two direct brothers, like dragons among men, were the focus of the scholars, their family matters naturally drawing attention.

The one who asked looked puzzled: “Brother Wen Zong, did I hear wrong?”

Chen Wen Xiao spoke up: “Our younger brother has poor character, so Father considers him no longer part of the Chen Family.”

A chubby man grew curious: “What’s that about? Is there a story?”

Chen Wen Zong glared at Chen Wen Xiao: “It’s family shame; don’t bring it up.”

But Chen Wen Xiao ignored him, casually saying: “My brother Chen Ji was always drawn to pleasure houses since childhood, a regular at Red Cloth Lane’s gambling dens. Three years ago, Father planned to send him to Donglin Academy, but a gambling den came with a debt note for six hundred taels!”

“What?”

“Six hundred taels!”

Chen Wen Zong frowned at Chen Wen Xiao: “Stop it. You’re tarnishing our family name, giving others a laugh!”

Chen Wen Xiao grabbed a wine cup, took a swig: “That kid’s record is filthy; how can you hide it? Brother, don’t fool yourself.”

He addressed the crowd: “When Father learned, he sent the steward and servants to investigate. Turns out, he didn’t just owe one den—six gambling houses in Red Cloth Lane, he owed them all!”

“Then what?”

“Then? Father wanted to beat him to death, but Mother, kind-hearted, stopped him, saying to find him a trade to fend for himself. She first got him a job as a pharmacy clerk, but he complained it was too tiring. Then he begged Mother for some silver to donate for an apprenticeship at the imperial clinic. Now, who knows where he is.”

Someone sighed: “Tsk, a gambler—truly a family disgrace.”

But with a bang, She Dakang flipped his table: “Nonsense! Chen Ji isn’t like that. He’s no gambler or slacker!”

Food and wine spilled across the floor, splashing the scholar at the next table.

All eyes turned to She Dakang. Chen Wen Xiao asked, puzzled: “Heir, who’s this?”

The Heir looked confused; he hadn’t invited this guy.

She Dakang declared: “I’m She Dakang, an apprentice at the imperial clinic. I’ve studied with Chen Ji for two years—he’s not the person you describe!”

Chen Wen Xiao squinted: “Chen Ji’s my brother; I know him better.”

She Dakang’s face flushed with anger: “You know nothing…”

“Dakang? Like ‘passing the exams’ or ‘top scholar’? Haha!” Someone laughed: “With such lofty names, why not take the exams instead of being a clinic apprentice?”

“And that cloth robe—how dare you show up at a literary gathering?”

Liu Quxing couldn’t take it anymore and stood, furious: “What’s clothing got to do with a literary gathering? We’ve known Chen Ji for two years; he’s not what you say!”

“Oh, he’s dressed decently enough, but that cherry-patterned hat doesn’t look like Li’s work—more like a cheap workshop knockoff.”

Liu Quxing was speechless; he had bought a fake for cheap.

But then, Princess Baili stood and asked loudly: “Is that what your academy teachers taught you—to judge by appearances? What he wears or does—how’s that relevant to what he says? None of you have met this so-called Chen Ji, right? I haven’t either, but these two, risking face to defend him, seem like they can’t be too bad.”

The Heir laughed heartily: “Baili’s got a point! Let me ask you all, if someone slandered you outside, would anyone speak up for you? Do you have such friends by your side?”

With that, the Heir raised his cup to She Dakang and Liu Quxing from afar: “I admire you. Drink to the full!”