Inside Flying Cloud Court, Consort Yun picked up her teacup and slowly stirred the floating tea leaves with its lid. "How many people risked their heads today, waiting for your people to make contact, only for not a soul to appear? If you cannot account for this today, you need not leave the prince's residence."
Chen Ji thought quickly. Liu Shiyu of the Liu Family was close to Consort Jing, so why had he contacted Consort Yun instead of her?
Why had Consort Jing not known that he was a Jing Dynasty spy?
Wait.
Chen Ji suddenly recalled the lead-barium glass cup that had caused Consort Jing to miscarry. It was as though some unseen thread was guiding him toward the truth.
"Why aren't you answering?" Consort Yun asked in a deep voice. The dignified consort sat in an armchair, the pythons embroidered on her robes seeming to stare at Chen Ji. Without showing anger, she commanded awe.
Chen Ji said quietly, "Something serious happened in the Liu Family. Bright Rabbit and Cloud Goat of the Secret Intelligence Directorate nearly uncovered it, so, to be safe, our side suspended the plan at the last minute."
In fact, he had gone to Zhou Chengyi's residence that night to tell Zhou Chengyi the delivery date, only to be killed by Cloud Goat and Bright Rabbit.
Having returned from the dead, Chen Ji had known nothing about it.
Consort Yun said calmly, "The Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Directorate casually canceled something both sides had agreed upon. That explanation alone is not enough. Have you thought of an answer, or would you rather become fertilizer in my back garden?"
Chen Ji suddenly said, "The Secret Intelligence Directorate in Luo City is a threat to both of us. Since you have already been willing to show your sincerity, madam, the Military Intelligence Directorate should naturally demonstrate our strength as well. Cloud Goat and Bright Rabbit were thrown into prison today as a result of our directorate officer's plan. Are you satisfied, madam?"
Consort Yun's eyes lit up. "So the person who delivered the letter was actually one of yours? Who is this directorate officer? Not only has he planted a spy in the Secret Intelligence Directorate, he can even slip into the Liu Family residence without a sound!"
Chen Ji was startled. Consort Yun knew the full story that afternoon of what had happened that morning, which meant the Liu Family was keeping in close contact with her.
He lowered his eyes. "The directorate officer is naturally one of the finest in the Military Intelligence Directorate. The director sent him here to ensure that our cooperation proceeds smoothly."
Consort Yun no longer looked so imposing; her manner had softened considerably. "When I first saw you, I thought the Military Intelligence Directorate had sent a green youngster to deal with me, and I treated you somewhat coolly. But at Evening Star Court, you proved you were no good-for-nothing. Very well. Since the Military Intelligence Directorate's spies in Luo City are all elites, I can rest easy."
Chen Ji thought for a moment before answering, "Cloud Goat and Bright Rabbit are now in prison. Before the Secret Intelligence Directorate's new person in charge arrives in Luo City, we can ensure our transaction goes off without a hitch. Madam, let us set a new date and place for it."
Consort Yun gave him a longer look. "Tomorrow night, then, at the place we agreed on last time."
Chen Ji did not know where they had agreed to meet last time, or how he was supposed to tell the directorate officer, so he said at once, "That won't do. The Military Intelligence Directorate never makes two transactions in the same place... Please give us a new location, Consort Yun."
"You are certainly cautious." Consort Yun thought for a moment. "This time, let it be the Gold House in Red Clothes Alley in the East Market. Find the madam and say 'Luo Tian.' She will take you to where the goods are hidden."
After weighing the matter and considering the advantages and disadvantages, Chen Ji finally asked the question that puzzled him. "Madam, there is something the Military Intelligence Directorate has never understood."
If he did not know the whole story, he would never be able to seize the initiative.
Consort Yun picked up her teacup and took a gentle sip. "Go on."
"We learned that Liu Shiyu is Consort Jing's favorite nephew, the only son of her own elder sister. Our directorate was reluctant to believe he would pass a message on your behalf because we wondered why he did not contact Consort Jing."
Consort Yun gave a mocking laugh. "My dear sister? The Liu Family cannot control her, so how would they dare entrust their great undertaking to her? The Liu Family and I now share common interests. You need not worry."
Chen Ji rose. "Then I shall..."
"Wait," Consort Yun said.
Chen Ji looked puzzled. "Is there something else, madam?"
Consort Yun smiled and extended an invitation. "The heir is hosting a gathering of scholars tonight, and your two full brothers will be attending. Why don't I send a few invitations to the clinic? You and your fellow apprentices can go together."
Chen Ji thought for a moment. "There's no need. My position is sensitive at present, and I don't want to implicate them. I still need to arrange the handover of the goods today, so I'll take my leave."
As Chen Ji left Flying Cloud Court, he glanced back at the persimmon tree once more before turning to go.
A carriage approached Luo City from the north along the official road.
The carriage was plain, and only two mounted attendants rode beside it. It was a very discreet procession.
Coming toward it on the road were more than a hundred people and horses.
When they drew near, the Yu Province officials all climbed out of their sedan chairs or dismounted. Hurrying before the carriage, they knelt and bowed deeply. "We welcome you back to Yu Province, Grand Secretary. We failed to come farther out to greet you. Please forgive us."
The Liu Family had held sway over the province for hundreds of years and now controlled more than half its farmland and tenant farmers.
Whoever came to Yu Province as an official had to watch the Liu Family's face if he wanted to collect taxes, conscript labor, and build a record of accomplishments without trouble.
Thus, apart from a very few scions of great families who had come to gild their résumés, all the officials knelt in welcome. Kneel, and Yu Province's officialdom would make room for you; refuse, and you would be unable to take a single step.
Grand Secretary Liu lifted the curtain and cast an indifferent glance over the officials kneeling on the ground. "My father has passed away. I am in no mood to renew old acquaintances with you. You may all leave."
With that, the carriage slowly set off again. An official hurried up beside it and trotted along, speaking softly to Grand Secretary Liu through the curtain. "Grand Secretary, the eldest and second masters are waiting for you at home."
Grand Secretary Liu replied, "I'm going to the ancestral graves. Send Liu Mingxian to see me."
The carriage went all the way up Northern Mang Mountain. Standing before the shattered tomb, Grand Secretary Liu watched dozens of laborers carry new stone and build a new tomb.
No one knew how long he stood there.
Then Liu Mingxian came running up, his face anxious, and knelt before Grand Secretary Liu. "Father!"
Grand Secretary Liu said nothing and left his son kneeling.
Only when Liu Mingxian's knees had begun to ache badly and he could not help shifting did Grand Secretary Liu ask slowly, "After I die, will someone open my coffin and examine my corpse too?"
Liu Mingxian hastily lowered his head. "Father, absolutely not!"
Grand Secretary Liu dismissed everyone else down the mountain, then lifted the hem of his robe and sat on a block of stone. "Liu Mingxian," he said slowly, "today you killed your grandfather for the great undertaking you keep talking about. How do I know you won't kill me for it tomorrow?"
The mountain was silent and deserted. Liu Mingxian lay prostrate on the ground, saying nothing.
Grand Secretary Liu shouted angrily, "Speak!"
Liu Mingxian hurried to explain. "Father, that wasn't what I intended. I originally used Grandfather's death as a pretext to force the Secret Intelligence Directorate to back off. Cloud Goat and Bright Rabbit are only good at killing; they have no brains. A little scare should have sent them away. Who could have expected them to actually find evidence of Liu Shiyu's crimes?"
"Then why did you kill your grandfather?"
"We received word that the Secret Intelligence Directorate was on its way to open the coffin and examine the body. If they found the coffin empty, our Liu Family would be guilty of deceiving the sovereign! So I found some datura flowers and had Grandfather take them. He only needed to feign death in the coffin for a short while. Who could have expected that Grandfather was so old he couldn't withstand the drug's effects and died?"
Grand Secretary Liu flew into a rage. "Still not telling the truth? Your grandfather clearly opposed your collusion with the Jing Dynasty, so you took the chance to go all the way and kill him! Liu Mingxian, you'll stop at nothing. I never imagined I had raised a man-eating wolf for the Liu Family!"
Liu Mingxian abruptly raised his head, his eyes full of ferocity. "Father, ever since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has been scheming to wipe out our Liu Family. First he used the Donglin Faction's censors and remonstrating officials to impeach us, and now he's inciting the Eunuch Faction to frame and slander us. He won't stop until he has gotten rid of us!"
"Father, twenty years ago, our Liu Family's people filled the court and the realm. And now? We can barely hold on to our official posts even in Yu Province. You know the Chen Family sent Chen Liqin to serve as Luo City's assistant prefect, and that old thing Xu Gong sent his son-in-law Zhang Zhuo to serve as prefect. Those two are in cahoots, determined to investigate our Liu Family's farmland and tenant farmers."
"Father, I'm staking everything on one last throw. If we sit and wait for death any longer, the Liu Family's foundation, built over hundreds of years, will be gone, Father!"
The mountain wind blew in a thin mist. Sitting amid it, Grand Secretary Liu looked somewhat desolate. "None of you is willing to listen to me. Why bother calling me Father?"
"I told your aunt that His Majesty was exceptionally gifted, that even as a child he had grasped the art of ruling on his own, and that he could not be held in check. But your aunt refused to listen. From the time His Majesty ascended the throne at eleven, she kept the court in her grip and prevented him from ruling in person. His Majesty endured six years of hardship back then. How could he not hate our Liu Family?"
"It's precisely because he hates us that we have no way to live. If it comes to a fight, it's not certain we'll lose! This realm does not belong to his Zhu Family alone!" Liu Mingxian said fiercely.
Grand Secretary Liu suddenly seemed to wilt. "Enough, enough. I have just one more question. When you gave your sister that glass cup, did you know it would make her lose her child?"
Liu Mingxian shook his head. "I didn't know. The cup was exquisite, and I gave it to her because I thought she would like it."
"Still lying!" Grand Secretary Liu kicked him over.
Liu Mingxian did not kneel again. Instead, he got up, brushed the dust from his clothes, and smoothed out his blue official robe. "Father, after she married into the prince's residence, she had only Prince Jing in her heart. Where was there any room for our Liu Family? All she thought about every day was bearing Prince Jing a child. I asked her to work for the Liu Family, and she refused, so I put an end to that hope of hers!"
"You're too vicious!"
"Father, am I as vicious as that eunuch? If I'm not vicious, how can I fight him?"
"You..." Grand Secretary Liu had words on the tip of his tongue, but no longer knew how to say them.
He sat on the stone in silence for who knew how long. At last, he gave a soft sigh. "Cloud Goat and Bright Rabbit were thrown into prison today. Who tipped you off?"
Seeing his father's tone soften, Liu Mingxian brightened. He knew that a man in his father's high position would not let emotion govern his actions.
He said respectfully, "I don't know. I'm investigating, and I'm not yet sure what the person intends."
Grand Secretary Liu's expression grew grave. "Whether friend or foe, I can't sleep with someone like that around us. Find out quickly. I'll send some people from Yanshi for you to command. It won't be easy to make good use of them, so put away your arrogance."
"Understood."
Grand Secretary Liu waved a hand. "Go. I'm tired."
Liu Mingxian turned and went down the mountain, leaving Grand Secretary Liu alone.
The old man, like a candle guttering in the wind, slowly rose and rested a hand on the coffin before the tomb. "Father, it's been a long time since you stepped outside the Liu Family compound to see the world too."