Chapter 120 The Third Brother of the Chen Family
Zhang Zhuo?

Chen Liqin?
The Liu family wants to take action against these two people? These two people are officials appointed by the imperial court!
In the dark cell, the flame of the oil lamp on the wall suddenly stopped.

Shopkeeper Yuan lay flat on the table and let the spy bandage his wounds, and the spy's movements slowly stopped.

Jin Zhu, who was leaning over Manager Yuan's ear, stood up subconsciously and looked at Chen Ji with wide eyes: "They want to kill Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin? How about I send some secret agents to protect them? After all, Master Chen is you..."

Chen Ji's right hand suddenly pressed on Manager Yuan's wound. In an instant, Manager Yuan's screams resounded throughout the inner prison, suppressing all other sounds.

After a moment, Chen Ji slowly asked, "What did the Liu family say?"

Shopkeeper Yuan panted and said, "Liu Mingxian said with certainty that after tomorrow, there will only be the Liu family in Yuzhou, and no one else will interfere."

Chen Ji asked again: "Did he tell me the specific plan?"

Shopkeeper Yuan's face turned pale: "Why should I tell you?"

"I think you are talking nonsense," Chen Ji pressed on the wound on Manager Yuan's thigh with an expressionless face. The bleeding that had stopped originally broke again, and Manager Yuan screamed violently.

Just as he was about to open the wound to search for the aorta, Jin Zhu pulled Chen Ji's arm out of the cell and said in a low voice, "I know you are eager to save your father, but you have never learned torture techniques, so you don't know how to control the severity of your blows. You must not kill such an important prisoner."

Chen Ji was silent.

He didn't care about Chen Liqin's life or death, he just wanted to take the opportunity to "accidentally" kill Manager Yuan, so as not to implicate Princess Chu Yun and himself. But now Jin Zhu stopped it in time, and there was no chance.

Chen Ji could only sigh: "Sir, I was too impatient."

Jin Zhu chuckled, "When I heard that you wanted to sever ties with the Chen family, I was wondering how someone could really sever blood ties. I guess you were just saying that out of anger, because you were mad at your father for sending you to the Taiping Medical Clinic as an apprentice."

Chen Ji hummed.

Jin Zhu patted Chen Ji on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, I promise that nothing will happen to Lord Chen. I have thought about it carefully just now. The Liu family is indeed capable of killing Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin in Yuzhou, but they will never break off relations with the court now. So all the Liu family has to do is drive the two away and will not kill them."

"What will the Liu family do?"

"Framed."

Chen Ji looked at Jin Zhu: "My Lord, what you mean is that the Liu family wants to frame Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin and force them to move to other official positions...Does your Lord know the itinerary of these two adults tonight?"

The Golden Pig immediately replied, "Today we two are going to host a Deer Singing Banquet for all the new candidates."

There were two banquets for the imperial examinations: the first was the Luming Banquet after the Autumn Examination, which was held to entertain new successful candidates; the second was the Qionglin Banquet after the Palace Examination, which was held to entertain new successful candidates. This was an old custom of the Ning Dynasty that had lasted for hundreds of years.

Chen Ji asked, "Where will the Luming Banquet be held?"

"Yingxian Tower," Jinzhu called Xifeng and walked out with big strides: "Let's go to Yingxian Tower now. Tonight, we must not only protect Lord Chen, but also find evidence against the Liu family! If they dare to frame an official appointed by the imperial court, not only will my Secret Service not tolerate the Liu family, but also the imperial court, the Xu family, and the Chen family, all of them will not tolerate him!"

Chen Ji glanced at Jin Zhu's back, then looked silently at Manager Yuan.

The golden pig stopped and looked back, his eyes looking back through the long dark corridor: "Let's go, what are you standing there for?"

"coming."

……

……

The original name of Yingxian Tower was Fuguifang.

Just on the grand opening day, a crane flew from the west and landed on the orange glazed tiles on the roof.

Therefore, the owner temporarily found a craftsman to build a stone crane and placed it in front of the door, and changed the name to Yingxian Tower.

at this time.

There were crowds of carriages and horses in front of Yingxian Tower, and people bowing and greeting each other in an endless stream.

Chen Liqin and Zhang Zhuo were wearing bright red official robes, standing out among the blue-robed officials.

While the candidates were sitting down in the building, Zhang Zhuo leaned over to Chen Liqin's ear and said, "Chen Ji has promised Prince Jing to study at Zhixing Academy, but your little tricks have been exposed by Princess Baili. In my opinion, the easiest way is to beat your housekeeper to death to vent his anger. Why do you have to go through all these twists and turns? That housekeeper is not a good guy!"

Chen Liqin glanced at Zhang Zhuo and said, "My housekeeper has been working diligently for more than ten years. Even if he has no merit, he has worked hard. Lord Zhang talks about fighting and killing all the time, which is a disgrace to the gentleman."

Zhang Zhuo said angrily: "Do you really think that the three brothers can pick up their brotherhood and remember your kindness just because they study in the same school? You might as well go to the City God Temple or Laojun Mountain to burn incense and ask the Taoist God to show his power!"

Chen Liqin said with a dark face: "As long as he can learn some real skills, I, as a father, have done something for him. As for whether he will remember my kindness or not, that is his business."

Zhang Zhuo laughed angrily.

He shook his sleeves and turned to walk into the building: "Just don't forget our agreement!"

Outside the back door of Yingxian Tower, the golden pig wearing a bamboo hat knocked gently on the door.

Xifeng opened the wooden door from the inside and welcomed Jin Zhu and Chen Ji in: "Sir, a dragnet has been set up around us. If the Liu family comes to cause trouble, they will never return."

The Golden Pig sneered and walked forward into the Yingxian Tower: "You are quite good at boasting. If you are so powerful, what do you need me for?"

Xifeng muttered softly: "Yesterday you still called me Sizhu..."

The Golden Pig suddenly turned around and said, "What the hell are you mumbling about? It must be nothing good!"

Xifeng hurriedly smiled and said, "It's alright, sir, you are wise and brave!"

Jin Zhu sneered and led Chen Ji into Yingxian Tower, hiding behind a pillar and observing silently.

In the hall, more than 30 candidates sat at round tables and drank together in a warm atmosphere. At the main table, the top five candidates of the autumn examination sat next to Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin, and their seats were higher than those of other officials.

During the banquet, an official raised his glass and stood up, smiling and saying to Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin: "I haven't congratulated you two yet." Zhang Zhuo was stunned for a moment: "Master Xing, what congratulations are you congratulating? My son didn't take the imperial examination."

The blue-robed official smiled and said, "The day before yesterday, Miss Zhang said in person at the polo match that you were going to marry her to the young master of the Chen Mansion. This is true. Now that you two are officials in the same mansion, and your two families are getting married, it can be said to be double happiness."

As soon as these words were spoken, the Yingxian Tower fell silent. The candidates looked silently towards the main table, and when they glanced at Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao, their eyes were full of envy.

Lord Xing's eyes also swung between Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao, and he asked curiously, "My Lords, I wonder which gentleman Miss Zhang is betrothed to?"

Before Chen Liqin could speak, Chen Wenxiao smiled and said, "It's not us two brothers. The one Mr. Zhang likes is my third son."

Golden Pig slowly looked at Chen Ji from behind the pillar. Isn’t this the third son of the Chen family?
Chen Ji ignored his gaze and just lowered his head to listen.

Someone at the table whispered, "The third son of the Chen family? Is he the gambler who was sent to the clinic?"

"Hush, don't let Master Chen hear it!"

"It's strange, why doesn't Lord Zhang marry his daughter to Chen Wenzong, or even Chen Wenxiao."

The golden pig looked at Chen Ji silently.

He saw Chen Ji just standing quietly behind the pillar, as if what was being discussed at the table had nothing to do with him.

The next moment, Chen Liqin said, "This is a misunderstanding. Master Zhang Zhuo only mentioned it twice as a joke before, and we didn't take it seriously. My son is naughty and unworthy of Miss Zhang Er."

Lord Xing froze the hand that was holding up the wine glass, and asked awkwardly: "Why did Miss Zhang ..."

Zhang Zhuo smiled and explained, "She just overheard my conversation with Lord Chen and mistakenly thought that Lord Chen and I had settled the matter. As a little girl, she believed everything she heard, so she went out and spread rumors everywhere, causing a misunderstanding. I hope everyone will not spread rumors."

Lord Xing sat back awkwardly: "I see, that's how it is."

However, Zhang Zhuo changed the subject and said with interest: "But I think you have misunderstood Chen Ji. As the saying goes, hearing is not believing, seeing is believing. I have met him several times and I personally think he is not as despicable as you say. Not only me, but even Prince Jing now praises him. I think there must be some misunderstanding before."

Chen Liqin looked at Zhang Zhuo in surprise.

Behind the pillar, Jin Zhu lowered his voice and said cheerfully, "Neither your father nor your brother has ever spoken for you, but this Lord Zhang and I have the same opinion! Ignore them, practice hard, and make meritorious deeds. When you are promoted to the 12 zodiac signs, it will be easy to confiscate their homes and exterminate their families one by one!"

Chen Ji looked at the golden pig with a complicated expression, not knowing how to react...

……

……

Three poles on the moon.

The candles and lamps in the Yingxian Tower were replaced again and again, and the new scholars vied with each other in reciting poems and composing couplets to show off their talents in front of Zhang Zhuo.

However, everything was safe and sound, and the storm that Chen Ji and Jin Zhu were waiting for did not come.

Seeing that the Lu Ming Banquet was about to end, if the Liu family did not do something, they might not have another chance.

Jin Zhu's legs were numb from standing behind the pillar, and he wondered, "Damn it, has the news leaked out again?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "No, Xifeng is keeping an eye on the spies and not allowing them to leave. No one can tip off."

Jin Zhu leaned against the pillar and rubbed his temple: "Could it be that the thief from Jingchao is deceiving us?"

Chen Ji closed his eyes and thought.

wrong.

Manager Yuan was not lying. At that moment, the other party was trying to gain the trust of the Secret Service to save their lives. How could he deceive them over such a small matter?

But what exactly is the Liu family going to do?

What should the Liu family do to make Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin leave Yuzhou in disgrace?

The Golden Pig said, "They are about to leave, so let's leave too."

"No."

"Ok?"

In the darkness behind the pillar, Chen Ji suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Jin Zhu: "This is not the place where the Liu family is going to take action!"

Golden Pig was surprised: "Huh?"

Chen Ji asked, "Sir, can you bring the royal banner?"

Jin Zhu shook his head: "How can you carry that kind of thing with you? If you lose it, you will lose your head. Wait, why are you asking this..."

Chen Ji took a deep breath.

He took out a piece of gray cloth from his sleeve and covered his face with it. He lowered the brim of his hat and walked quickly to Zhang Zhuo's side. "Master Zhang, my Secret Service needs help. Please come with us."

Zhang Zhuo narrowed his eyes slightly. "Secret Service? I am a fifth-rank prefect of the current dynasty. You told me to help, so I will help?"

Chen Ji was silent for a moment, then said to Zhang Zhuo solemnly, "Don't worry, Master Zhang. We are not trying to arrest you and take you to the inner prison. We just need your help. If you miss the opportunity, tens of thousands of refugees outside the city will die, and you will lose your bright future."

Zhang Zhuo listened to Chen Ji's voice and suddenly looked suspicious.

He stared into Chen Ji's eyes, and Chen Ji did not retreat or avoid.

Finally, Zhang Zhuo stood up calmly, smoothed the wrinkles on his red official robe with his hands, and said calmly: "I will go with you."

(End of this chapter)