Some knowledge, if no one points it out, you might struggle endlessly to understand.
But once it’s revealed, it seems trivial—like the formula for gunpowder.
Take the simplest recipe: "One part saltpeter, two parts sulfur, three parts charcoal, and a bit of sugar for a big bang."
Using the copper scale of this era, where sixteen taels make one catty, the ratio is 16:2:3. Adding sugar increases the gas output during combustion.
This gunpowder mix, when exploded in a confined space, is comparable to a miniature nuclear bomb.
Even officials like Yun Yang and Si Cao wouldn’t be able to withstand it.
Sulfur can be found in medical shops.
Charcoal is easy to make.
As for saltpeter, its scientific name is potassium nitrate, which is essentially the frost-like substance found on earthen walls.
In ancient times, people would dig at the base of walls to collect this saltpeter for making fireworks.
Nowadays, Luo City still has many houses built with a mix of bricks and earth.
In Chen Ji’s memory, wall frost was everywhere.
The military intelligence department of the Jing Dynasty had been searching tirelessly for the secret of firearms.
Instead of seeking the Liu family, they might as well have sought Chen Ji! Even the blueprints for various muzzle-loading guns were no challenge for Chen Ji.
From small handguns to large city gate cannons, Chen Ji had a basic understanding of them all.
But the most crucial point was that ever since Chen Ji arrived here, he had been constantly restrained by figures like Yun Yang, Jiao Tu, and Si Cao, all because he lacked the power to resist.
Now, he had it.
The next moment, someone interrupted Chen Ji’s thoughts: "May I ask, do the three of you have any works to share? Why are you silent?"
Liu Quxing and She Dengke exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond.
After all, this was a literary gathering, and they had come empty-handed to enjoy the food and drinks, which was indeed inappropriate.
However, Chen Ji suddenly smiled and said, "We just came with the invitation from the prince’s residence to the medical hall to enjoy the food and drinks. We’re not skilled in this field, so please enjoy yourselves. We’ll take our leave. Senior Brother She, Senior Brother Liu, I heard from Little Zhang at the restaurant across from the medical hall that there’s a place called Mu Xin Zhai on Zhenghe Street that makes excellent knife-cut noodles. My treat."
With that, he turned and left without any sign of embarrassment.
If you know something, you know it; if you don’t, you don’t.
There’s no need to force yourself for the sake of face.
Everyone has their own expertise.
You understand art, and I understand art too… but my art might just send your art packing.
Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao watched Chen Ji’s retreating figure, calm and composed, chatting and laughing with his friends as if the literary gathering had no effect on him, and he hadn’t taken the earlier incident to heart.
Chen Wenzong suddenly felt that Chen Ji wasn’t speaking out of anger but genuinely had no intention of returning to the Chen family.
But wasn’t the grand and glorious gate of the Chen family something everyone aspired to? How could someone willingly give it up?
At the banquet, Princess Baili turned to the prince: "Brother, did you invite him?"
"No," the prince shook his head.
"I don’t remember sending an invitation to the medical hall… but it’s not important!"
Princess Baili thought for a moment, then suddenly stood up: "This place is boring. I’m going out for a walk!"
The prince watched his sister’s retreating figure, wanting to say something but holding back: "You…"
…
…
On the way back.
"Senior Brother She, why did you stand up for me?" Chen Ji asked curiously.
She Dengke walked with his head down, his tall and sturdy frame appearing less imposing.
He whispered, "I almost got you killed yesterday. I’m sorry, I lost my mind. Our two-year friendship was ruined by me. I’m such a fool."
Chen Ji asked again, "Were you just trying to save Chunhua’s life at that time?"
"There was also some selfishness. Chunhua said that if this matter succeeded, she would ask Consort Jing to betroth her to me, and we could live a peaceful life together."
Liu Quxing sneered, "You believe everything Chunhua says? Your family is so poor. Would she really give up the wealth and luxury of the prince’s residence for you?"
She Dengke retorted, "She’s not that kind of person… Chen Ji, could you not tell my brother and father about this? They’d definitely kill me if they found out."
"Don’t worry, I won’t," Chen Ji smiled.
Liu Quxing, standing nearby, sighed in frustration, "I don’t know what my father was thinking, giving me this name. I’m such a disappointment. Even though I’m named after the literary star, I can’t understand those classical texts. Now, when I introduce myself, I feel a bit embarrassed to mention my name."
To be a farmer in the morning and stand in the emperor’s court by evening—this was the greatest dream of scholars in the Ning Dynasty.
But this wasn’t Chen Ji’s dream.
What was his dream? His former dream was to become a diplomatic military officer, but neither the Ning nor the Jing Dynasty was worth his loyalty.
So now, he had no dream.
There was no one he wanted to protect, no place he wanted to guard.
He could only barely protect himself, being pushed along by the currents of the times.
Today, the words "gunpowder" and "sword seed" held a fatal attraction for him.
When these two things were placed on the scales of fate, perhaps the balance would tip in his favor.
As he pondered this, someone called out from behind, "Chen Ji!"
Chen Ji turned to see Princess Baili catching up.
She was still dressed in her usual heroic style, with white clothes and a red pendant.
However, today she had a silver cloud bun on her head, adorned with a circle of pearl tassels that swayed as she walked.
Chen Ji asked, "Is there something you need, Princess?"
Without explaining, Princess Baili waved her hand and said, "Come on, I’ll treat you all to a meal on Zhenghe Street. Let’s have that knife-cut noodles you mentioned!"
With that, she led the way, hands behind her back, skipping lightly.
Chen Ji watched her, thinking she looked like a free-spirited antelope.
The three brothers exchanged glances, and Chen Ji suddenly said, "You two go ahead. I’ll head back to the medical hall to fetch Liang Mao’er…"
Half an hour later, at the noodle shop, Princess Baili sat with her chin propped on her hand, staring in shock at the towering stack of bowls in front of Liang Mao’er: "Five bowls, six bowls, seven bowls… Chen Ji, you’re really something!"
Chen Ji smiled at Liang Mao’er, "Eat your fill tonight, but don’t eat so much tomorrow morning, okay?"
Liang Mao’er glanced nervously at Princess Baili, "Princess… am I eating too much?"
Chen Ji said seriously, "The Princess is generous and kind. We’re all fellow wanderers of the martial world. Who would mind how much you eat?"
"It’s fine, it’s fine. A bowl of noodles costs just a few coins!" Princess Baili said with a pained expression as she took out her purse.
"But you really can eat… No wonder last night, while everyone was drinking, you were just quietly stuffing your face."
Liang Mao’er awkwardly explained, "I don’t know why, but I’ve always been able to eat a lot. When I was three and my brother was ten, I ate more than he did."
Princess Baili didn’t dwell on it.
Since she was treating, she might as well be generous.
After paying the bill, she turned to Chen Ji and asked curiously, "Earlier, when they were criticizing you at the literary gathering, why didn’t you get angry?"
"There’s no need to get angry."
"Then, since I stood up for you, can you stop charging me tolls in the future?"
"No."
Princess Baili pouted, "Fine, I’ll never stand up for you again. Let them keep insulting you!"
Chen Ji smiled, "They can say whatever they want. Time will prove everything."
Suddenly, Liu Quxing spoke up, "Chen Ji, actually, I’ve seen you write poetry."
"Huh?" Chen Ji was taken aback.
Liu Quxing whispered, "I saw you secretly studying late at night, jotting things down on the back of a prescription. So, while you were asleep, I sneaked a look and saw half a line of poetry."
Princess Baili asked, "What did it say?"
"A man walks between heaven and earth, like a traveler far from home."
As Princess Baili recited the line, she felt as though she were walking alone through snowy mountains at dusk, enveloped in a profound loneliness.
That day, Chen Ji had woken up at dusk, surrounded by bustling streets, but no family awaited him.
In the night, he had casually scribbled a line of poetry, which Liu Quxing had seen.
Princess Baili slowly turned to Chen Ji, "This is yours…"
Before she could finish, a voice from behind exclaimed in surprise, "Chen Ji, is this your poem? If you can write, why didn’t you say anything at the literary gathering earlier?"
Chen Ji was stunned.
He turned to see the prince and a young monk standing behind him.
The prince, the star of the literary gathering, had somehow sneaked out too.
How careless!
And strangely, did this world not have this line of poetry? The Double Ninth Festival’s典故 was exactly the same.
Chen Ji, without missing a beat, shamelessly replied, "That half-line came to me by chance. I don’t have the rest of the poem. Besides, poetry isn’t my calling."
The prince hesitated for a moment, then awkwardly rubbed his hands and said, "Well… you’re looking to make money, right? Could you sell me that half-line of poetry?"
Chen Ji: "Huh?"
The prince explained, "These past three years at Donglin Academy have been torture. The scholars there write a poem a day—one for the lotus, another for the moonlight. But I can’t even come up with a single line. I know some scholars call me the ‘useless prince’ behind my back. I’ve been wanting to write a poem to shut them up, but I just can’t do it… How about this? Your half-line is impressive. I’ll give you ten taels of silver for it. I get to save face, and you get some money. Deal?"
"Deal!"
Writing poetry wasn’t necessary, but selling half a line? That was doable.
(End of Chapter)