27 Character Divination
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In five days, the Dragon Boat Festival on the fifteenth day of the fifth month would arrive. It was also Jing Chen’s birthday.
Emperor Hong had already issued an edict appointing Jing Wei to arrange Jing Chen’s birthday banquet, which would be held at the Prince of Xiaoyao’s residence for all the guests.
Jing Chen had moved his distillery into the compound where Long Yi was recovering from his injuries. It was a secret warehouse belonging to the Weiyuan Escort Agency, situated in a remote area with its own private courtyard—an unsuitable place for anyone to follow or spy on them.
The soap workshop had been moved to the residence of Princess Jing Se.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard was under the command of Fire Qilin Lu Jun, the Seven Fan Gate was led by Leopard Head Lei Bao, and the Iron-Blood Alliance was commanded by Zhang Fei.
Every member was equipped with threaded steel.
Zhang Qing of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits, Golden Spear Xu Lin, and Shi Jing had also sent back word that all seventy-two Earthly Fiends of the Burning Heaven Pavilion had pledged themselves to Prince Jing Wei’s cause. There were more than four thousand soldiers at Crouching Dragon Ridge, all of whom obeyed the Prince’s household. Recently, the Hundred Flowers Pavilion had been in frequent contact with the martial-world faction known as the Mad Lion Hall.
The Third Lady of the Misty Rain Tower had sent word as well: Nangong Feifeng had recently summoned the Heavenly Wolf Palace to Chang’an, and they would soon arrive in the capital.
Dugu Shangyang of Western Liang, Crown Prince Duan Chunhua of Nanzhao, and Crown Prince Puxin of Pyu had secretly accompanied Tuoba Hao to Northern Di.
Jing Chen instructed everyone stationed outside the capital to pay close attention to their safety. They must never confront an enemy by force; staying alive was the most important thing.
They also had to remain concealed. They were to train harder in their spare time and live well. Chicken, duck, fish, and meat must never be lacking.
That day, Jing Chen dreamed that he was standing inside a small room. Walls surrounded him on every side, with only a tiny window.
A tall, thin man was holding a dagger and thrusting it toward Jing Chen’s heart.
The blade flashed coldly, yet Jing Chen could not make out the attacker’s face. He was horrified and hurriedly dodged. The movement of his body woke him.
It had only been a dream.
Recalling the scene, Jing Chen felt as though he had been inside a prison cell. His heart tightened, and he thought to himself: I must keep a low profile during this period and act with the utmost caution.
While in the capital, he would earn as much money as possible, then strive to reach his fief as soon as he could and seize military power. Power came from the barrel of a gun—an unchanging truth throughout the ages.
Dignity existed only at the edge of a sword.
Otherwise, let alone clearing the Crown Prince’s name, he might not even be able to save his own life.
Long Yi went to recruit the Thirteen Guardians. The Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits were distributed among the Princess’s residence, the Commandery Princess’s residence, the Weiyuan Escort Agency, and the Ruyi House hotpot restaurant, which was still under renovation.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Seven Fan Gate were stationed in the northern part of the city, using horse trading and the sale of beef and mutton as their cover.
The Iron-Blood Alliance was not far from the Prince of Xiaoyao’s residence. It operated under the guise of a blacksmith’s shop, where embroidered spring sabers and Zhuge repeating crossbows were being manufactured in secret.
After finishing his morning exercises, Jing Chen took Zhang Meng, Zhao Hu, Wang Chao, and Ma Han to the Fatty Beef Noodle House for breakfast.
From far away, they could already see a long queue of people.
When Little Fatty saw Jing Chen arrive, his face broke into a broad smile. He ushered them upstairs.
Before long, breakfast was served.
The broth was rich and delicious, while the noodles were springy and chewy.
The stock was made from fresh beef bones, mutton bones, pork bones, chicken, and fish, all simmered for a full twelve hours. It was thick and fragrant, leaving an endless aftertaste.
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Little Fatty truly possessed a gift for business. In the morning and at noon, he served breakfast and lunch; in the evening, he arranged for the shop to offer late-night meals. The building was in use all day, with not a moment left idle.
He had also opened one branch, while two more were being renovated.
Everything was proceeding in perfect order, and Jing Chen was extremely satisfied.
After eating and drinking their fill, Jing Chen and the others strolled leisurely back.
As fate would have it, a fortune-teller had just finished setting up his stall.
Jing Chen cast him a glance. Fortune-telling was merely a means of making a living, and Jing Chen did not believe in it.
Yet that single glance drew the fortune-teller’s eyes toward him as well.
The man had a head of white hair, but his face was ruddy and healthy, giving him the appearance of a youthful immortal despite his age. Though slender, he possessed an otherworldly bearing.
“Young sir, please wait,” the fortune-teller called. “This old man has only just arrived in your esteemed city, yet at a glance I can see that you possess an imposing presence. Unfortunately, the area between your brows is darkened. I fear you may soon suffer a bloody calamity. I can avert disaster and bring you good fortune, and I will not charge you a single coin.”
“Master, let him read your fortune! He isn’t asking for money,” Zhao Hu said, delighted by the excitement.
“Oh? Is that so?” Jing Chen asked with a smile. “May I ask the old gentleman’s name?”
“My name is Xuanjizi. I am also known as Master Cloud Crane,” the fortune-teller replied with a smile.
“I do not wish to provide my birth details, nor do I intend to reveal my name or family name. How will you calculate my fortune?” Jing Chen asked.
Xuanjizi smiled. “You may write a single character. I can divine your fate from that.”
As he spoke, he handed Jing Chen paper and a brush.
Jing Chen wrote the character for “one.”
Suddenly, a fast horse came racing past toward the imperial palace in the eastern part of the city.
It vanished in an instant, leaving a gust of wind in its wake.
The sheet of white paper flipped over and fell to the ground.
Xuanjizi bowed deeply. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Jing Chen froze. Could this man know who he was? Was he merely seeking fame and attention?
Xuanjizi said, “Your Highness wrote the character for ‘one.’ When ‘one’ falls upon ‘earth,’ does it not become the character for ‘king’?”
The corners of Jing Chen’s mouth lifted slightly. What utter nonsense.
He dropped a few fragments of silver, turned, and walked away.
Xuanjizi picked up the silver and handed it back to Zhao Hu.
“This old man does not tell fortunes for money,” he said. “I merely wished to remind Your Highness that a tree rising above the forest will inevitably be battered by the wind. You should make plans for your future as soon as possible.”
Jing Chen said nothing and continued forward with the others.
Xuanjizi muttered to himself, “Above the character for ‘king’ lies a sheet of white paper. White plus king becomes ‘emperor.’”
That afternoon, Xia Xiang came rushing back to the prince’s residence, panting heavily.
Jing Chen’s heart tightened. “Xia Xiang, do not panic. Take three deep breaths, then speak slowly.”
Xia Xiang obeyed and gradually calmed down.
“Your Highness, the princess consort, and everyone at the Delighted House have been arrested and thrown into prison. I was outside delivering meals to the Grand Princess’s residence and the Commandery Princess’s residence, so I escaped this disaster.”
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“Why were they imprisoned?” Jing Chen asked with a frown.
“I heard that Prince Jing Wei’s heir, Jing Xuan, ate roast chicken from the Delighted House and was poisoned. His life is in danger,” Xia Xiang said hurriedly.
“Who delivered the meal to Prince Jing Wei’s residence?” Jing Chen asked.
“It was the youngest servant who delivered it,” Xia Xiang replied.
“What about Xiaocui and the others? Are they all right?” Jing Chen asked.
“The others are all fine. Only Jing Xuan was affected,” Xia Xiang said.
“Did anyone at the Delighted House suffer from poisoning?” Li Lingli asked.
“No.”
“That is strange indeed,” Jing Chen said. “Very strange.”
“Xia Xiang, do not be afraid. Stay here at the residence. His Highness and I will handle everything,” Li Lingli comforted her.
“It is all right, Lingli. Let us first see what the authorities have to say. What poison was involved?” Jing Chen reassured her.
Jing Chen returned to his study and wrote several notes. A falcon soon rose into the sky.
Fire Qilin Lu Jun also hurried to the prince’s study.
“Your Highness, Prince Jing Xuan ate roast chicken laced with rat poison and was abducted. We rescued him and handed him over to the Ghost-Hand Divine Healer for treatment.
“The men who abducted him were also captured. After interrogation, they confessed that the attack was carried out by Tiger Might Stockade and that they had been hired by someone else.
“We acted without first seeking the young lord’s approval. We beg the young lord to punish us!”
Lu Jun was trembling with fear.
“Lu Jun, you did very well,” Jing Chen said. “When circumstances are urgent, one must act according to necessity. You need not seek my approval for every single matter.
“Do not commit acts that defy Heaven and reason. Do not slaughter the innocent indiscriminately. And under no circumstances are you to commit rape, plunder, rob, or murder.”
“Please rest assured, young lord!”
“Take good care of Xuan’er and keep this matter secret for the time being. No one is to reveal it.
“Until the investigation is complete, we do not yet know who is behind this.
“Keep a close watch on Prince Jing Wei’s household and the seventy-two Earthly Fiends. The white-liquor distillery and the soap workshop must also be placed under tighter protection.”
Jing Chen then asked, “How many people does the Embroidered Uniform Guard currently have?”
“There are one hundred and twenty-eight in total. Seventy-eight of them are newly recruited and still undergoing training,” Lu Jun replied.
“Continue recruiting. We need at least two hundred people,” Jing Chen said.
“Your Highness, Magistrate Li of the Metropolitan Prefecture has arrived at the residence,” Yu’er said from outside the study.
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