Chapter 5: Exchanging Potatoes for Freedom
Recently, everyone in the capital had been talking about how miserable the eldest young master of Minister Chen’s family was now.
It was said that he had been locked alone in his courtyard, eating only plain vegetables and coarse rice. A dignified eldest young master was living a life worse than that of an ordinary person. On top of that, no physician dared to visit and treat him. The fact that he had survived at all was practically a miracle.
After this incident, his personality seemed to have changed somewhat as well. He had become silent and taciturn, no longer as arrogant and overbearing as before.
He also no longer made a fuss like he had in the beginning, insisting that he had been wronged.
But his entire future had already been ruined. What use was changing now? In the future, he probably would not be able to show his face in public anymore. His life would likely be just like this forever.
He had barely managed to survive, but the punishment that ought to come was soon to follow.
“Those ten lashes were merely ordered by Crown Prince Jiao in a fit of rage. They don’t count as an official punishment under court law.”
“Corrupting public morals and bringing disorder to the imperial household—those are no small crimes.”
There were even many people who felt it would have been easier if he had simply died. “In any case, he’s a cut-sleeve. He can’t carry on the family line.”
At the Tingwei Office estate, in the main courtyard.
The mistress of the household, Lady Ronghua, was crying bitterly. “My lord, please think of something. I no longer expect Brother Bai to gain wealth or status. I only… I only hope he can be safe.”
He had offended the imperial household and caused uproar throughout all of Shangjing. According to the law, he would certainly be heavily punished. With Brother Bai’s current body, how could he endure it?
Chen Shouye’s face was also livid. “Which noble person would dare help him now? Let him suffer for the sins he committed himself.”
Even the silver he had sent out had been rejected. It had all been returned to him untouched.
There was no saving this now.
Just then, the eunuch from the imperial palace arrived to deliver the decree.
After being locked up for so many days, Chen Bai was called out for the first time to receive the decree.
The eunuch glanced at Chen Bai and could not help freezing. Why was he so different from the withered, tortured eldest young master described in street rumors?
Of course, this was none of his business.
The eunuch delivering the decree began reading with a beaming smile.
The room suddenly fell completely silent.
At last, even Chen Shouye could not help asking aloud, “How did it become a commuted sentence—entering Shangjing Academy to receive the teachings of the sages, in hopes of reform?”
This was punishment? Brother Bai was already a student of Shangjing Academy. If he had understood correctly, this simply meant Brother Bai could return to his studies, only under the pretext of receiving the sages’ teachings.
Lady Ronghua, still with tears in her eyes, kept stuffing silver into the eunuch’s hand.
Chen Shouye pulled the eunuch aside. “May I ask Gonggong to explain which noble person spoke up for us? Chen would like to thank them in person.”
He truly could not figure out who would dare risk offending Crown Prince Jiao to help that wretched son of his. This was an enormous favor.
The eunuch weighed the silver in his sleeve. It was quite substantial. He did not answer directly.
Instead, he smiled and said, “Lord Tingwei should not rejoice too soon. Shangjing Academy is where the imperial princes and the sons of senior court officials study. Among them are no few followers of the Crown Prince. With Brother Bai’s current situation, if he returns to the academy and encounters them, do you think he will have an easy time?”
Lady Ronghua, who had been crying with joy, instantly turned pale. How could she have forgotten this?
More than half the students in Shangjing Academy were waiting to enter the Crown Prince’s residence after completing their studies. To curry favor with the Crown Prince, who knew what they might do?
If Brother Bai went to Shangjing Academy, would he not be tormented within an inch of his life?
Chen Bai also frowned slightly. Qi Zheng had handled this matter…
It was not that Qi Zheng had handled it badly. Rather, he had handled it too well, returning Chen Bai’s life completely to how it had been before.
But the problem was precisely this: his life had returned to how it had been, but his reputation could not. How was he supposed to face those students at Shangjing Academy?
Moreover, both Crown Prince Jiao and Qi Zheng were students of Shangjing Academy. Qi Zheng was one thing, but if he ran into Crown Prince Jiao, heh, both of them would probably feel blocked up inside.
But no matter what, this was much lighter than the original punishment. In other people’s eyes, this could hardly even be called punishment.
Chen Shouye thanked the Emperor’s grace in confusion. He truly could not understand why this was the result, then saw the eunuch off.
Although Lady Ronghua was still a little worried, this result was far better than expected. “Brother Bai’s matter can finally be considered settled.”
She had only just finished speaking when Chen Shouye snorted. “Women’s shallow thinking. Chen Bai’s matter is known throughout the whole city. Now it has been treated seriously in name but lightly in punishment. Once the news spreads, there will certainly be resentment everywhere. Won’t those people vent their anger on Chen Bai?”
Chen Bai’s reputation was probably going to stink beyond repair. He would never be able to pick it back up in this lifetime.
Chen Bai also nodded. “Exactly.”
As soon as he opened his mouth, however, Chen Shouye immediately chased him away. His roar carried far into the distance. “A misfortune upon the family. Seeing you, you wretched son, makes me want to strike you dead with one palm. Why aren’t you rolling away already?”
Chen Bai was happy to have the quiet and returned to his cold, deserted courtyard.
According to the imperial decree, he had to go to Shangjing Academy tomorrow to receive the sages’ teachings and reform himself.
After thinking about it, that was fine too. Otherwise, since his personality had changed somewhat, if he stayed in the estate all day, once the people in the estate came back to their senses, it would be easy for them to notice something was off.
Besides, going to Shangjing Academy only meant going in the morning and returning at night. It was very close.
Chen Bai looked at the cold, empty courtyard. He could finally leave this cage.
Ever since he had awakened, most of his time had been spent here. How was that any different from sitting in prison?
After returning to his room, he took out his phone.
Since Qi Zheng had fulfilled his promise, Chen Bai could not break his word either.
On the phone, Qi Zheng had sent him many junk messages.
Chen Bai clearly knew they were gibberish, but he still clicked them open and looked. Obsessive-compulsive habit.
Then he tapped open a video call.
“Same as last time. Tonight at midnight, send someone to Copper Gong Alley to pick up the potato seeds.”
Qi Zheng: “…”
He had still been wondering why this demon was so indifferent to him. Every time he poked at the stone slab with his finger for ages, there was no reaction.
Still, this demon was straightforward and did not set up any other obstacles.
Qi Zheng said, “Tell me again how to plant these potatoes.”
He had forgotten to write it down last time.
Chen Bai nodded.
Mutual benefit, mutual help. A pleasant partnership. He would just act as customer service this once and ensure total satisfaction.
Chen Bai also found it rather strange. He was actually video calling with an ancient person.
Did this count as having an ancient netizen friend?
However, this man was meticulous and moody. It would be better to provoke him less in the future. If Chen Bai exposed himself, things would go badly. After all, Qi Zheng had probably guessed a few things. The so-called demon must have some connection to Young Master Bai. Whether the excuse he had given before could hold up depended entirely on whether the other party believed it.
After giving his instructions, Chen Bai hung up the video call.
Once night fell, Chen Bai bought five hundred jin of potatoes. This counted as payment to Qi Zheng for helping him escape the court’s punishment. After this, they owed each other nothing.
Potatoes cost two yuan per jin. Even if the price unit had become silver, the expense was still within an acceptable range. After all, he was the eldest young master of the Tingwei Office. Although the estate had cut off his monthly allowance now, he still had this much money.
However, throwing five hundred jin of potatoes over the wall nearly exhausted him to the point of collapse.
Five hundred jin should be enough for Qi Zheng to test planting.
…
The next day.
Chen Bai had originally thought that, as someone carrying a crime, he would just quietly go to the academy.
In the end, early in the morning, Lady Ronghua held Chen Xiaobu’s hand and cried miserably at the door.
Chen Xiaobu also had to go to Shangjing Academy every day for elementary lessons.
“My son, when you go to the academy, stay away from them. Those damned people won’t know how to hold back when they hit.”
Chen Bai nodded. Without even thinking, he knew what kind of situation he would encounter once he went.
After saying goodbye to Lady Ronghua, who repeatedly reminded him to be careful, Chen Bai and Chen Xiaobu got into a plain carriage from the estate.
“Brother, why are we riding such a shabby carriage?”
Chen Bai thought to himself that Lady Ronghua had emphasized again and again: stay low-key to avoid disaster.
Chen Bai ignored Chen Xiaobu, whose mouth was pouted so much it could hang an oil bottle. After being locked up for so many days, now that he could finally come out, his whole body and mind felt refreshed.
It was still early, and there were not many people on the streets. In about half an hour, they arrived at the entrance of Shangjing Academy.
Shangjing Academy was built quite magnificently, with green tiles, vermilion gates, high walls and large courtyards, rows upon rows of buildings, and lush green trees. It occupied an extremely large area.
Chen Bai and Chen Xiaobu got down from the carriage, took the food box and book chest handed over by the servants, and walked into the academy.
Students were not allowed to bring servants inside. Since they had classes for the whole day, they had to bring lunch with them.
Chen Bai said to Chen Xiaobu, “Come find me at noon to eat. I brought chicken.”
Because of the weather, the food students brought was usually pastries that did not spoil easily, enough to barely get through noon.
However, the chicken Chen Bai bought was vacuum-sealed, so the weather would not be a problem.
Chen Xiaobu’s drool almost flowed out. His little head nodded like a chick pecking rice. “Brother, you have to wait until I get there before eating.”
Noon was always the hardest time to get through. He was already sick of eating those pastries.
The two had classes in different places. After handing the little book chest to Chen Xiaobu, they parted ways.
Following his memories, Chen Bai walked toward his former classroom.
There were not many people now, but the students he met along the road looked as if they had seen a ghost. For a while, none of them reacted.
By the time Chen Bai arrived at the classroom, a crowd had already gathered behind him. They were probably there to watch the excitement.
Chen Bai smiled wryly.
Even if he said nothing, he was the focus of the entire academy. Of course, being this kind of focus was nothing to be proud of.
“I was wondering why it was so lively. Isn’t this the recently famous Young Master Bai, the renowned Chen Zixiu?”
“You actually still have the face to come to the academy? Do you truly not know what shame is?”
Chen Bai: “…”
Some things really could not be avoided.
A group of people walked over from the opposite direction, each dressed in fine brocade and jade ornaments.
The person who spoke had a drake-like voice. He was Zhou Fu, son of the Remonstrance Grandee. The Remonstrance Grandee was under the authority of the Palace Gentleman Commandant, one of the Nine Ministers.
Chen Bai looked at him expressionlessly. To his surprise, Qi Zheng was also among them. Dressed in a red robe with a brocade belt, he had quite the air of standing out from the crowd. Unfortunately, he had an icy face, almost as if the words “don’t come near me” were written across it.
At this moment, he was looking at Chen Bai thoughtfully.
Chen Bai: “…”
They had briefly cooperated, after all. Was there really a need to watch the excitement like this?
Actually, Chen Bai should have been grateful. He had run into Qi Zheng rather than Crown Prince Jiao. Otherwise, that would have been a true battlefield.
As the eldest young master of the Tingwei Office, one of the Nine Ministers, it just so happened that both Qi Zheng and Crown Prince Jiao were his classmates.
However, both Qi Zheng and Crown Prince Jiao had dedicated masters of their own. They did not often come to the classroom to attend lessons with everyone else. Why had Qi Zheng appeared here so early in the morning?
Qi Zheng did indeed have important business. He was about to establish his own residence and had come to recruit retainers and strategists.
