Aoyama

Chapter 298 Long time no see (end)

Officials from the Honglu Temple brought a brand new robe and crown for the prince. The black robe was embroidered with nine emblems: the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the dragons, the insects, the Zong Yi, the algae, the fire, the pink rice, the Fu, and the Fu. He wore a nine-tassel crown on his head and a white jade belt around his waist.

Silver armor and silver helmets were brought to the 37 Yulin soldiers. Li Xuan, Qi Chenzhuo and other 37 Yulin soldiers took off their cloth clothes and turned into majestic Yulin soldiers again, with white pheasant tails raised high and moving with the wind.

They brought Chen Liqin a brand new fourth-rank official robe with cloud and goose patches sewn on the chest and back, and black soap boots on his feet.

Forty people were summoned, but only Chen Ji was still a commoner and had no official position.

The boy's black stand-up collar stood out and his posture was upright, but he was out of place among these forty people.

Xiaoman leaned on the window frame on the second floor and said indignantly: "Why didn't they bring the official robes for my son? My son must look very handsome in the official robes, no worse than them!"

Zhang Xia patted her head and said with a smile, "Chen Ji's official position will be determined after he meets the emperor today."

Xiao Man said with regret, "There will definitely be many young ladies from noble families waiting to see you on this trip back to the capital. It would be so impressive if you put on your official robes."

Zhang Xia said casually: "It doesn't matter, he looks down on those crazy women."

Xiaoman thought about it and said, "That's right!"

She rolled her eyes and said, "Second sister, you just said that you wanted the young master to meet whoever he wanted to meet. Who did he want to meet?"

Zhang Xia whispered, "The stars in the sky."

Downstairs, officials from the Honglu Temple began to line up to enter the city.

The prince led the way, followed by Li Xuan and Chen Liqin, Chen on the left and Li on the right, then the remaining thirty-six Yulin soldiers walked in twos, and finally a commoner Chen Ji, standing alone at the end.

Qi Chenzhuo saw this and immediately said to the official of the Honglu Temple: "This won't do. In the Guyuan battle, Chen Ji's contribution was second only to Commander Li. How can he be ranked last?"

Li Xuan shook his head: "No, his contribution is greater than mine, and he should be on par with Lord Chen."

Even the rest of the Yulin Army stood still and were unwilling to line up in front of Chen Ji.

The middle-aged official of the Honglu Temple said unhappily, "My fellow meritorious officials, there are tens of thousands of people lining the streets to watch the ceremony when you return to the capital. I don't care to argue with you about who has the greatest merit. The order of priority is not based on merit, but on official position. Does that mean I should put Lord Chen last because he has no merit?"

Qi Zhuozhuo whispered: "It's not impossible..."

Li Xuan glared at him, then clasped his fists towards the official of the Honglu Temple and said, "But Chen Ji is the Right Guard personally appointed by His Highness..."

The official from the Honglu Temple raised his hand and said, "Stop, stop. The Ministry of Personnel hasn't issued any documents yet. Please don't violate the taboo. He is a sixth-rank right guard. It will only count after he meets the emperor. Today's visit to the palace is just a formality of awarding honors and commendations. The point is to let the people see the triumphant soldiers and show off the military power of our Ning Dynasty. Standing in front or behind will not affect the emperor's praise. Please don't waste any more time. After the emperor meets you, he still has to receive the foreign envoys."

Qi considered what else to say.

Chen Ji held Zaozao's reins and said with a smile, "There's no need to argue. It doesn't matter where I am."

Li Xuan and Qi Chenzhuo stopped talking, but the official from the Honglu Temple looked at Zaozao behind Chen Ji, and then turned back to look at the white horse under the prince's seat.

The carefully selected white horse was actually a head shorter than Zaozao.

The official of the Honglu Temple said hurriedly: "No, no, how can we let a horse steal the limelight from your Highness? Give this horse to the prince instead."

But as soon as he got close, Zaozao opened her mouth violently to bite him, scaring him so much that he stepped back repeatedly.

Chen Ji touched Zaozao's cheek and said, "Go back to the stable. You and your second sister will return to Beijing later."

Zaozao obediently returned to the stable and lowered his head to eat the fodder. The official from the Honglu Temple adjusted his black hat and exclaimed in amazement: "Amazing! This horse understands human nature!"

Chen Ji went to the post station to change horses and said with a smile: "Sir, we can set off now."

The official from the Honglu Temple waved to the crowd and said, "Go to the capital, remember to slow down and don't mess up the formation!"

Qi Zhuanzhuo was annoyed: "Master, they usually look at a person's identity first... I used to be like that too, don't bother with them, and don't bother with me either."

Chen Ji said indifferently: "It doesn't matter, it's not important."

……

……

The long ceremonial procession slowly started moving. They set out from Fengtai, headed east along the rammed earth official road, and arrived at You'anmen after two hours of riding.

After entering the outer city of the capital, the people filled both sides of Xuanwumen Street and cheered.

When the prince passed through the city gate, the Yulin Army marched like a dragon, and the people cheered. The people in coarse clothes threw the flowers they had picked in the morning on the ground, and they were all excited.

There were young men running along the sides of the team, and as they walked, they asked excitedly, "I heard that Lord Li took the head of General Jing Chao from among the thousands of soldiers in Guyuan. Is this true?"

"I heard that the Crown Prince planned to assassinate the Crown Prince through the secret passage, but they were all killed by the Yulin Army. Is this true?"

A young scholar shouted in the street: "I wrote a poem for the generals!"

After that, he recited in the street as if no one was around: "The hooves cracked the snow in Guyuan, the bows bend the stars of Wu. The silver armor burned the enemy's tents, the long sword cut the capital. Xuanwu was spread with flowers and brocade, the Yulin were divided into stars. The gongs and songs were resounding in the nine palaces, and the people gathered for new honors!"

Crowded.

The last time Xuanwumen was so lively seemed to be the 25th year of Jianing.

The people cheered, but none of the cheers went to Chen Ji. Chen Ji did not appear in the storyteller's story.

After all, everyone knows about the Yulin Army, but no one knows Chen Ji. The storyteller has to take the trouble to explain to the guests in the teahouse who Chen Ji is, but the guests may not be able to remember.

Li Xuan looked back at Chen Ji worriedly, only to see him standing alone at the end of the team, silent.

Chen Ji was looking at the capital city curiously, but his eyes had already drifted away to who knows where.

The capital city was taller, cleaner and tidier than Guyuan. Cannons were mounted on the parapets, tall red flags fluttered in the wind, and soldiers were wearing armor and helmets.

It turns out that this is the most majestic appearance of the Ning Dynasty city...but Chen Ji always felt that something was missing.

The team entered the inner city along Xuanwumen Street, then headed east along Chang'an Avenue towards the imperial palace.

The inner city no longer has rammed earth roads, but beautiful blue brick roads.

The houses are lined up in an orderly manner, and the white walls and gray tiles are refreshing.

Here, the brightly dressed girls, unafraid of the spring chill, had put on gauze shirts and horse-faced skirts early, with pearl collar buttons on their standing collars, and covered their faces with gauze in groups, looking at the Yulin soldiers on white horses without restraint. Their eyes swept from the front of the team to the back until they saw the old traces, and then lightly moved their eyes back to the front.

The young lady of an official family pointed at a certain Yulin soldier and said proudly: "See, that's my brother!"

The girls immediately gathered around him, chattering, "Hey, can I ask your brother to ask for me, that Yulin Army in the fourth row..."

At this time, someone whispered, "Who is that at the end of the team? Why isn't he wearing armor?"

"I think he is a minor official in charge of ceremonial guards in the Honglu Temple."

……

……

The ceremonial procession slowly arrived in front of the Meridian Gate, and everyone was searched.

The ones who searched the Yulin Army were also the Yulin Army.

The Yulin Army officer on duty at the Meridian Gate smiled and said, "Congratulations, Lord Li and Lord Qi. The battle at Guyuan really brought honor to the Yulin Army. The guys from the Wansui Army have been more respectful to us recently. All the brothers have returned victoriously. Tonight, those of us who stayed in Beijing will hold a welcoming banquet in Baishun Hutong."

"Haha, you still have some conscience. Setting up a welcoming banquet in Baishun Hutong is a sign of your sincerity," Qi Chenzhuo said with a smile on his face. "Tomorrow night, my Qi family will hold a celebration banquet at Gufulou. Everyone come!"

"Wow, the Drum-Belly Building!"

Seeing the crowd making noise, Li Xuan poured cold water on them with a solemn expression: "If you want others to respect you, you have to train well. I have found a great coach for you. From now on, whoever slacks off will take off his armor and go home."

When the Yulin soldiers saw that the commander looked worried, they immediately stopped talking, completed the inspection honestly and were allowed to pass.

Qi Chenzhuo entered the Meridian Gate and muttered quietly, "Brother-in-law, it's a happy day, why are you so sullen?"

Li Xuan glanced at him and said, "You have seen how the Yulin Army performed in Guyuan this time. Including you, you have the skills of an official but don't know how to fight. How can I be happy?"

Qi Chenzhuo said with a playful smile: "What are you afraid of? My master will be in charge of our training from now on. We will definitely make rapid progress!"

Li Xuan turned around, only to see Chen Ji following everyone with his head down, remaining silent.

Entering the Six Departments Corridor, he said calmly, "Take off your boots, unsheathe your swords, and search your body."

Chen Ji looked up and saw a familiar face. The person was wearing a black flying fish suit with a red embroidered python on his shoulders that stretched to his chest, and he had a long sword on his waist.

The Chief of the Criminal Department, the Commander of the Jiefan Guard, Lin Chaoqing.

Chen Ji had dealt with the other party many times in Luocheng, but never saw him again after the Luocheng incident. Unexpectedly, the other party was transferred back to the palace by the Imperial Household Department to serve on rotation.

Lin Chaoqing's eyes swept across everyone's faces. When he saw Chen Ji, he seemed confused, but he didn't care.

When in Luocheng, Chen Ji helped Yunyang and Jiaotu keep their faces covered and never showed their true faces to anyone, so when he saw Chen Ji, he only felt that he looked slightly familiar, but he forgot where he had seen him.

The Six Departments Corridor was the last checkpoint before seeing the emperor. All people were searched here more thoroughly than the Yulin Guards at the Meridian Gate. Even outer clothes had to be taken off piece by piece to prevent smuggling.

At this moment, a dull voice came from behind Lin Chaoqing: "The foreign envoys have entered the palace in advance and are presenting tribute and auspicious signs at the Renshou Palace. The Minister of Internal Affairs has ordered that your Highness and the soldiers of the Imperial Guards go to the Zhongcui Palace to wait, and then lead them to the Renshou Palace to meet the emperor after the imperial decree is passed."

Chen Ji looked up in astonishment, only to see a man wearing a white dragon-patterned mask and a spotless white robe. This man could attract everyone's attention just by standing casually in the Six Departments Corridor.

White dragon!

Mr. Feng!
Hearing this, Lin Chaoqing hesitated and said, "Lord Bailong, it is probably against the rules for them not to be here to listen to your orders."

Bai Long smiled and said, "Why, Commander Lin only listens to Master Wu Xiu now, and the Minister of Internal Affairs can no longer control him?"

Lin Chaoqing hurriedly clasped his fists and said, "I dare not, your humble servant..."

Bai Long laughed: "Commander Lin is on the same level as me, there is no need to address him as a lowly official."

Lin Chaoqing said modestly: "It's different. I will take them to Zhongcui Palace to wait for your order."

Bailong stepped aside to make way.

When Chen Ji, who was at the end of the team, passed by him, he said to him in a voice as soft as a mosquito: "You're welcome, kid."

Chen Ji clenched his fists.

Lin Chaoqing led everyone to the East Six Palaces, and Chen Ji followed at the end with a calm expression.

He walked along the blue brick road of the East Six Palaces, amidst the red walls and gray tiles.

Passing through layers of screen walls.

Pass through a series of hanging flower gates.

Pass through the Yanxi Palace and Jingren Palace.

Pass through Chengqian Palace and Yonghe Palace.

Finally, they stood between Zhongcui Palace and Jingyang Palace, with the two palaces separated by a street.

Chen Ji walked 4,158 miles and killed 349 people just to stand here.

As long as I can stand here.

It doesn't matter whether you walk in front or at the back, wear official uniform or plain clothes, or whether you are a sixth-rank Right Guard or a commoner.

Chen Ji took a deep breath and looked cautiously towards the Jingyang Palace on the right.

On a spring afternoon, the sun shone on a slender Taoist nun in a blue robe. She stood in the sun, holding a bamboo broom and gently sweeping the fallen leaves together.

Long time no see, Baili.

……

Volume 4, Four Thousand Miles, End.

(End of this chapter)