Aoyama

Chapter 296 Rules
"Is the right eye a sign of disaster or fortune?"

Chen Ji sat in the main hall of Fengtai Post Station and subconsciously rubbed his right eyelid. Since he woke up in the morning, his right eyelid had been twitching non-stop, making him feel uneasy.

Zhang Xia, who was sitting opposite the Eight Immortals Table in a fiery red outfit, smiled and explained, "There are many theories. According to the region, people living north of the Yangtze River usually say that right eye twitching means disaster, while people living south of the Yangtze River say that right eye twitching means fortune. According to the Taoist Yin-Yang theory, the left eye is Yang, which is auspicious, while the right eye is Yin, which is ominous."

Chen Ji rubbed his right eyelid again and whispered, "That should be a disaster... Is someone secretly harming me?"

Xiaoman on the right heard this and secretly stared at Liang not far away, whispering: "Sir, it must be her!"

Zhang Xia asked curiously, "Is it because you didn't sleep well? I'll ask Xiaoman to wet a handkerchief with hot water and apply it to your eyes later."

Chen Ji put down his hand that was rubbing his eyes and said, "No, it won't jump in a while."

Zhang Zheng lay on the table and said weakly, "How long do we have to stay in Fengtai? Why did we suddenly stop when we saw the capital in sight?"

For seventeen days, they traveled non-stop after leaving Guyuan, hiding their identities all the way, and only when they left Shanzhou did they breathe a sigh of relief.

But just when everyone thought that the road ahead would be smooth sailing, the prince stopped in Fengtai and did not move forward for three days.

No one knew why the prince arrived at his doorstep but did not return to the capital.

Zhang Xia suddenly whispered, "I guess the prince doesn't want to return to the capital in disgrace."

Chen Ji looked over, but heard Zhang Xia continue to say: "My father once said that the most difficult 'official position' in the world is the crown prince. Everyone thinks he has a high status, but he has no real power. The emperor hopes for success, but also guards against changes. The father guards against the son, the son guards against the father, the elder brother guards against the younger brother, and the younger brother guards against the elder brother."

Zhang Zheng's eyes widened, his hair standing on end: "Don't learn from your father's mouth, how can you speak without restraint."

"What are you afraid of if you tell Chen Ji about this?" Zhang Xia glared at him, then looked at Chen Ji. "The most important thing in the road to succession is the emperor's favor, and then the cliques. Too many cliques will arouse the emperor's suspicion, and too few cliques will make things impossible. The prince went to Guyuan this time to control the Hu family behind Prince Fu, but now he has failed to control the Hu family. If he goes to Beijing in disgrace again, there is no guarantee that some aristocratic families will switch to Prince Fu."

Chen Ji sighed, "The road to succession is like a single-plank bridge to heaven. One wrong step will lead to eternal damnation."

Zhang Zheng was surprised and said, "But the prince doesn't look sad. He even has the energy to go to Qingfeng Temple to burn incense and worship Emperor Wenchang."

Just at this moment, the sound of carriages was heard outside Fengtai Post Station, and the carriage stopped in front of the gate of Fengtai Post Station.

A young man in a green robe and round-collar official uniform served attentively, placing the horse stool and lifting the carriage curtain.

A middle-aged man wearing a black gauze hat, a red robe, and a jade belt around his waist got out of the carriage and bowed politely to the people in the post station: "Excuse me, are these people the Yulin Army?"

Qi Chenzhuo stood up and said, "That's right."

Zhang Xia quickly reminded, "The man from the inner court, wearing a three-peaked hat but not a dragon robe, should be a fourth-rank official; he can be served by a sixth-rank eunuch in a green robe and a flat hat, so he must be the eunuch in charge of some prison, but if he is from the Imperial Horse Bureau, he should be accompanied by guards instead of eunuchs; the Shangshen Bureau, Shangbao Bureau, Yinshou Bureau, Zhidian Bureau, Shengong Bureau, Yuyong Bureau, and Duzhi Bureau will not come out, and the Sili Bureau has been seen... Well, it's Wang Chao from the Sishe Bureau, who is in charge of the imperial guards. This person has always been a peacemaker and a man of the empress dowager."

As soon as he finished speaking, the middle-aged man outside the door said softly, "Eunuch Wang Chao, the eunuch superintendent of the Ministry of Supervision, requests to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Xiaoman's eyes sparkled: "Sister Xia is amazing."

"Admiral, wait a moment," Qi Zhuozhuo ran upstairs quickly. Half an incense stick later, the prince walked downstairs leisurely, holding up his clothes.

Wang Chao hurried forward a few steps: "Your Highness, I haven't seen you for a few months. How come you have lost so much weight?"

The prince smiled and asked, "I wonder what business Admiral Wang has in Fengtai?"

Wang Chao smiled and said, "Your Highness, you may not know this yet, but now every teahouse in the capital is filled with your story!"

The prince was puzzled: "Oh? What is the message for me?"

Wang Chao explained, "Seven days ago, the border troops rushed 600 miles to the capital, and everyone knows about the great victory at Guyuan. Someone bought the story of Guyuan from the border troops. Now, the story of you leading the Yulin Army to kill more than 600 people in battle, and Commander Li beheading the general in front of the battle, has become the hottest story in the teahouses in the capital. If the storyteller doesn't tell this, the teahouse will have no customers; if the storyteller tells your story, the teahouse will definitely be packed."

The prince was surprised: "There is such a thing?"

Chen Ji suddenly felt that this scene was very familiar.

When he won the debate against the Buddhist in Luhun Mountain Villa, Zhang Li wrote a story book overnight and spread it all over the country. He paid the storyteller 100 copper coins for each time he told the story, in order to suppress the influence of Buddhism and win over believers.

No wonder the prince was not in a hurry to go to the capital, but went to Qingfeng Temple to burn incense and worship Emperor Wenchang. It turned out that he wanted the Taoist court to help him build momentum. At this time, Wang Chao smiled and said, "Your Highness, the people are now asking where you are and are looking forward to your return to the capital. When you return to the capital, the people will line the streets to welcome you and pave the road with flowers. It will be very lively."

The prince shook his head: "This is not good, it may disturb the people."

Wang Chao smiled and said, "How can it disturb the people? The people are already happy. His Majesty has also heard about this matter, and ordered you to return to the capital tomorrow to meet him at twilight hour and have dinner together. I came here to take your Highness back to the capital... Oh, and Lord Li Xuan and Chen Ji of the Chen family."

Chen Ji's heart moved.

The prince asked, "When shall we leave? Now?"

Wang Chao smiled and replied, "No hurry. Going to the palace to see the emperor is the most important thing, and the eunuchs still have a lot to prepare. First of all, your appearance and crown are on the way. Tomorrow, you will show your heroic appearance, so that the people can see the style of the royal family. In addition, this is the first time for the young man from the Chen family to see the emperor, and there are still many rules to teach him."

The prince nodded: "Okay, it's all up to Admiral Wang to arrange."

Wang Chao waved his hand behind him and said, "Wang He, I have a few words to say to His Highness. After the carriage stops, you will teach the young man from the Chen family. Don't let him lose his manners in front of the palace and ruin the young hero's future."

The young eunuch in a green robe and round collar behind him hurriedly bowed and said, "Yes."

The prince led Wang Chao upstairs. Chen Ji looked around the main hall and said to Wang He, "Let's talk upstairs. It's quieter in the guest room."

Wang He smiled and said, "Young Master Chen, please go back to your room and wait for a while. I will come right after I park the carriage."

Chen Ji agreed: "Okay."

After saying that, he led Xiaoman, Zhang Zheng and Zhang Xia upstairs.

When Wang He led the carriage to the backyard, Liang stood up and also went to the backyard: "Eunuch Wang He."

Wang He was stunned for a moment: "Who is the Madam?"

Liang took out a tael of silver from her sleeve and handed it to Wang He, saying with a smile, "I am Chen Ji's mother. Now that he has finally met His Majesty, I hope that you will teach him the palace rules carefully and never let him lose his manners in front of the palace."

Wang He weighed the silver in his hand and smiled: "Don't worry, Madam."

After Liang left, he tutted softly and casually stuffed the silver into his sleeve.

……

……

Wang He parked the carriage and went to Chenji's guest room. He stopped being polite when he entered the room and said quickly, "Tomorrow when you come to see me, you must wear dark clothes, no yellow, white, green, or red. You must not carry anything with you. You must enter from Xuanwu Gate and wait at Dongye Gate. The Jiefan Guards will search you. You must not bring swords or seals, not even a piece of paper..."

Wang He knew the rules by heart, but he spoke so fast that it was almost impossible to hear or remember.

Xiao Man said unhappily, "What are you talking about so quickly?"

Wang He chuckled. This was the rule that could be accepted for a few coins. He just needed to explain it in full. Whether the other party could remember it was up to them.

He said to himself, "Master Chen, I have said everything I need to say. Please remember it well today and do not delay important matters tomorrow."

After saying that, he turned and left. Xiaoman wanted to stop him, but was stopped by Zhang Xia.

After Wang He left, Xiao Man complained, "Why are there so many rules for entering the palace to see the emperor? And what's wrong with this little eunuch? It seems like he's targeting my son."

Zhang Xia said calmly, "If no one teaches you these rules, you will be easily punished even if you enter the palace and meet His Majesty. When the previous emperor was alive, a poor candidate was extremely brilliant. Before the palace examination, his essay was appreciated by the previous emperor and he had the potential to be the top scorer. But when he entered the palace for the examination, no one reminded him of the etiquette. He was searched out of his sleeve by the Jiefan Guards at the Dongye Gate and was beaten and expelled from the palace. Another poor candidate was criticized by court officials in court for kneeling in an incorrect posture. Xiaoman, those people set these rules to eat people."

Xiaoman was anxious: "What should we do? What if we ruin the young master's future..."

Zhang Xia smiled and pointed to his head: "Why are you in such a hurry? I have all these rules in my head."

(End of this chapter)