CHAPTER 463: 354. IMPERIAL MUSIC BUREAU

Chen Ji brushed off the dust on his clothes with irritation, "What are you doing here?"

Chen Yu replied proudly, "I went to inspect the grain warehouse today and caught two pests right off the bat. These two scoundrels made the common folks overfill their grain measures when collecting grain, so full that they overflowed. After weighing the grain, they’d give the measures a kick, causing the overflowing grain to fall to the ground. Once all the grain was collected, they’d sweep up the fallen grain and resell it at the cheap price of Chen rice to other grain shops... How about that, impressive, right?"

Chen Ji suddenly realized; this visit was nothing but a boast.

Xiao Man placed the little black cat on the ground and brought a bowl of water from the side room, handing it to Chen Ji, "Master, have some water."

Chen Ji drank the warm water in the bowl all at once, then looked at Chen Yu, "Did you wait until 9 to 11 PM just to tell me this?"

Chen Yu shook his head, "Of course not. I heard today that you took all the salt permits, and a few shopkeepers at the salt shop set up a banquet at Bianyifang Restaurant, probably still drinking to celebrate. You’ve made a really foolish move; a lone person like you, without the ninety-three salt shops of the Chen Family Salt Shop, these salt permits are nothing but a burden to you. I had worried you might have something up your sleeve, but now there’s no need to worry."

Chen Ji sat calmly across from Chen Yu, "Then what should I do?"

Chen Yu suggested sincerely, "Though I want to win, I can’t stand seeing those scoundrels mock you like this. You should return the account books and salt permits tomorrow. I’ll teach you how to handle those shopkeepers step by step. Within three years, I’ll help you secure the salt business."

Chen Ji’s eyebrows relaxed slightly, "Thank you for your kindness, but there’s no need."

Chen Yu grew somewhat anxious, "They’ve already sent swift messengers to instruct all salt shops to stop selling salt. By the end of the year, when the family settles the accounts, all deficits will fall on you. By then, forget about fighting for inheritance, you might even struggle to get into the family genealogy. If these salt shopkeepers spread word on purpose, you’ll become the laughingstock of the entire Imperial Capital, and your marriage with the Qi Family might even be dissolved."

Chen Ji smiled faintly, "I’m not worried, so why are you?"

Chen Yu lamented, "Good intentions twisted into donkey’s liver and lungs!"

He stood and walked out, "I’ll let you take a fall first. When it hurts, come find me, and we’ll fix it together."

When Chen Yu reached the entrance of Silver Apricot Garden, he suddenly recalled something and turned back, "Oh right, today, Chen Wenren was escorted to Lingnan, traveling in an ox cart."

Chen Ji asked curiously, "Isn’t exile to Lingnan supposed to be done on foot with shackles?"

Chen Yu sneered, "Which government officer would dare shackle a legitimate son of the Chen family? They were happy enough to have a cart to ride in, why refuse? Once they escorted Chen Wenren out of Yongding Gate, they removed the shackles and changed him into clean clothes, not looking at all like someone exiled. When the carts reach Jinling, someone will arrange the paperwork for Chen Wenren and find a replacement to go to Lingnan. After all, the officials in Lingnan don’t know what Chen Wenren looks like, and no one would dare pursue the matter relentlessly."

Chen Yu added nonchalantly, "The Chen family has prepared accommodations for Chen Wenren in Jinling. He only needs to keep a low profile. By the time of the next grand celebration of His Majesty, he can offer a Longevity Gold worth ten thousand taels of silver to secure a pardon. Lingnan is for the poor; Jinling is for the powerful."

Chen Ji replied calmly, "I’ve no deep grudge against Chen Wenren. He can enjoy his freedom as long as he doesn’t interfere with me."

Chen Yu shook his head, "The second family will blame this on you... Be careful; they never lack tricks. I’m leaving."

Chen Ji sat on the stone bench deep in thought. Xiao Man came out with an invitation, "Master, today in the evening, the Qi family sent an invitation, saying the eldest grandson, Qi Zhenwu, invites you to the Imperial Music Bureau tomorrow."

Chen Ji took the invitation and saw it read: "To virtuous brother Chen Ji, from your elder brother Qi Zhenwu. In this mid-spring, the mist warms at Qujiang. With the blessing of the emperor, a new rendition of the ’Four Dreams of Bianliang’ is bestowed upon the Music Bureau. Tomorrow evening, I dare to invite my virtuous brother to enjoy an ensemble of music together."

He tossed the invitation on the stone table, "How did you reply?"

Xiao Man hurriedly picked up the invitation, "Master, don’t throw it away. Although it bears Qi Zhenwu’s name inviting you, the calligraphy is delicate and neat, obviously written by a lady herself. Clearly, a girl from the Qi family wants to invite you but couldn’t speak for herself, so she borrowed her brother’s name. Yet, she left a hint by writing the invitation herself, using the handwriting to hint at the true identity of the invitation’s sender."

Chen Ji was puzzled, "So many twists and turns?"

Xiao Man laughed, "A young woman’s thoughts are often twirled and twisted."

Chen Ji shook his head, "Then there’s no need to go."

"Alright," Xiao Man muttered, "The servant who delivered the invitation said that many scholars and literati will be attending tomorrow, all wanting to see your charisma. Master, you may not know, but your victory over the Bodhisattva’s story has already spread in the tea houses, overshadowing even those scholars who came to take the Imperial Examination."

"Literati and scholars?" Chen Ji mused, with Qi Zhaoyun’s personality, he might even extend the invitation to Huang Que.

He took the invitation from Xiao Man’s hand, "I’ll head over after I’m dismissed tomorrow. No need to wait for me at night; I might return late."

Xiao Man asked, "Master, would you like to take a carriage from home? Those attending the Imperial Music Bureau are either rich or noble, all arriving in carriages or sedan chairs. Walking might seem a bit unseemly."

Chen Ji shook his head, "No need."

...

...

The next day, in the evening, after being dismissed.

Chen Ji whispered a few words to Lin Yanchu and turned to walk toward the gate.

At that moment, in front of the gate, a carriage was parked, with the side panel of the carriage intricately carved with a leopard.