Aoyama

Chapter 385 Silver Hairpin
On the official road, Yangyang galloped away on his horse, kicking up dust, and disappeared without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Zheng chuckled as he rode up to Chen Ji's carriage and teased, "Yang Yang, the eldest son of the Yang family, is a commander of the Wansui Army. The Yang family is said to own half of Jinling. They don't often come to the north, and none of them have entered the cabinet. They just guard their small territory in the south."

"In his early years, this Yangyang sought to escape an arranged marriage by having someone create a fake household registration to sneak into the Shenji Camp. Later, in the Shenji Camp, because his superior, Commander Li, harassed a respectable woman while drunk, he beat up the commander and prepared to escape back to Jinling. However, he was favored by the General of the Wansui Army and recruited."

Chen Ji raised an eyebrow: "Is no one going to hold anyone accountable for falsifying household registration?"

Zhang Zheng said shyly, "My father helped him make the fake. As long as the money is enough, it's not a problem."

Chen Ji remarked with a sigh, "Master Zhang's scope of business is quite broad..."

Zhang Zheng raised his riding whip, pointing in the direction Yangyang had gone: "You've never seen anyone so inexplicably provoking you before, have you? Ha, you've only just arrived in the capital and don't yet know the infamous reputation of Rouge Tiger. Yangyang is just the first, but certainly not the last. Perhaps you'll encounter others at the foot of Fragrant Hills today. Rouge Tiger may be fierce, but her admirers are spread throughout the Three Great Camps of the Imperial Guard and the Six Ministries."

Zhang Xia glared at him: "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Chen Ji smiled, glanced at Si Cao Gui's retreating figure, and turned to ask Zhang Xia, "Are you also going on the spring hunt?"

Zhang Xia nodded: "We are not participating in the spring hunt, but only going to observe the ceremony. The Crown Prince sent an invitation half a month ago, and also sent four more seven days ago, three days ago, and one day ago."

Zhang Zheng added from the side, "We only send three invitations to other people."

Chen Ji seemed to be deep in thought.

At this moment, Qi Zhaoning stared at Zhang Xia, who was dazzlingly beautiful, on Zaozao's back. Suddenly, she lifted her skirt, jumped off the carriage, and strode towards Chen Ji's carriage.

She walked up to the carriage without saying a word, then climbed in and sat down. Once seated, she brought up the old topic again: "Chen Ji, our carriage was too crowded. There were not only members of the Qi family, but also two sisters from the Qian family. Your carriage is quite empty. Would it be alright if I sat down for a bit?"

Chen Ji calmly replied, "It's alright."

Qi Zhaoning laughed: "It's alright as long as it's nothing."

Having said that, she lifted the curtain slightly and called out, "Let's go. We need to get to the Red Leaf Villa at the foot of Fragrant Hills before Shenshi (3-5 PM). I heard that the Crown Prince is bringing a troupe from the Music Bureau tonight to perform 'The Immortal Points the Way,' a piece that the Music Bureau hasn't performed in a long time. We mustn't miss it."

She lowered the carriage curtain, leaving only her and Chen Ji inside.

But before the carriage curtain was completely drawn, Zhang Xia jumped off his horse and said to Chen Ji, "You ride the horse, I'll rest in the carriage for a bit."

Chen Ji nodded, climbed out of the carriage, and took the reins from Zhang Xia.

Qi Zhaoning exclaimed and reached out to stop Chen Ji. But before she could react, Zhang Xia grabbed her wrist, which was halfway outstretched, and sat down opposite her, bringing a cool morning breeze.

Qi Zhaoning remained seated, stunned.

Outside the carriage.

Chen Ji touched Zao Zao's cheek, and Zao Zao responded affectionately. The two, one man and one horse, seemed like long-lost friends.

At dawn, he sent Xiaoman to Zhang Xia to devise a plan, to see if any of the Zhang family's assassins were Grandmasters of the Dao Seeking Realm, in order to deal with Si Cao Gui's possible pursuit.

Originally, Zhang Xia and Zhang Zheng had not planned to participate in the spring hunt, but they came at the last minute. Zhang Xia even specially exchanged the dates with him.

This was Zhang Xia's hint: if things went wrong, escape on Zaozao first. Zaozao sped along the official road, and even a Dao Seeking Realm official couldn't catch it.

Chen Ji mounted his horse, and Zao Zao galloped off as if it were on fire. Si Cao Gui watched silently, raising his whip to urge the carriage on.

Inside the swaying carriage.

After Zhang Xia sat down, she closed her eyes to rest, her lips moving as she silently chanted "Zheyun".

After an unknown amount of time, Qi Zhaoning finally couldn't contain her silence and shared with feigned joy, "Hey, did you know that the Qi and Chen families are going to have a marriage alliance? I might get married at the end of this year. I'll send you an invitation then, and you must make time to attend."

In the dimly lit carriage, Zhang Xia slowly opened her eyes, quietly looking at Qi Zhaoning, still muttering to herself without saying a word.

Startled by the gaze, Qi Zhaoning shrank back slightly: "What are you going to do?"

After Zhang Xia finished reading Zheyun's name once, she calmly asked, "Why are you so afraid of me?"

"When have I ever been afraid of you?" Qi Zhaoning said angrily, "By the way, doesn't your Zhang family have carriages? Why don't you ride in a carriage yourself, but instead make others go outside in the cold wind?"

Zhang Xia leaned back: "People who went outside to enjoy the cold wind didn't say anything, why are you being nosy?"

Seeing Zhang Xia remain calm and composed, Qi Zhaoning felt a surge of inexplicable anger.

She pointed to the hairpin in her hair and boasted, "This plain silver hairpin was a gift from Chen Ji. He even had eight characters engraved on it especially for me. Do you want to see what the characters are engraved on this silver hairpin?"

Zhang Xia gave an irrelevant answer, looking Qi Zhaoning up and down: "A brocade dress, jade earrings, dressed like a noble lady, yet you wear a plain silver hairpin on your head, which is incongruous. It doesn't suit you, and you may not be worthy of it."

Qi Zhaoning smiled and said, "What makes you think I'm not good enough for him? I'm the legitimate daughter of the Qi family, and he's the illegitimate son of the Chen family..."

Zhang Xia said slowly and deliberately, "The hairpin I mentioned, what are you talking about?"

Qi Zhaoning's expression darkened slightly: "You..."

Zhang Xia looked directly into Qi Zhaoning's eyes: "If you think you can anger me with a hairpin, then you underestimate me and overestimate yourself. Qi Zhaoning, you don't really care about him that much. You're just like a child who wants to hold onto the most beautiful things. I'm different from you. I don't steal other people's things."

Qi Zhaoning retorted sarcastically: "Don't think I don't know. Didn't your mother marry your father in the same way? When your mother liked Lord Zhang, Lord Zhang's first wife was still alive! Lord Zhang didn't agree to Grand Secretary Xu's request, so Grand Secretary Xu demoted him to the Hanlin Academy, where he became a proofreader alongside Wang Daosheng!"

Zhang Xia said calmly, "Extend your palm."

Qi Zhaoning subconsciously extended his palm upwards towards Zhang Xia.

Zhang Xia smiled, but did nothing.

Qi Zhaoning realized something was wrong and quickly clenched his fists, glaring at Zhang Xia: "Do you still think you're a divination scholar from the Imperial Academy?"

Zhang Xia closed her eyes again: "You are my worst student."

Qi Zhaoning suppressed his anger and smiled, "Miss Zhang, I am different from you. I guess why you became sworn brothers with him, and I guess why you treat him with such courtesy. But I am not as generous as you. The best things must be in my hands, Qi Zhaoning. Otherwise, it is better to destroy them... Remember to come and see my wedding with him at the end of the year."

Zhang Xia calmly replied, "Okay." The caravan traveled from dawn until noon. When they passed Fengtai Post Station, Qi Zhaoning couldn't wait to jump off the carriage, leaving Zhang Xia alone inside.

Qi Zhaoning came to her carriage, lifted the curtain and glanced inside: "Qi Zhenzhu, it's too crowded here, go to the other carriage. I don't want to spend a second longer with that tigress Zhang Xia."

Qi Zhenzhu, wearing a veil, responded softly.

At this moment, a caravan that had temporarily stopped at Fengtai Post Station was taking inventory of its goods. The caravan members pulled an oxcart out from the backyard of Fengtai Post Station, ready to set off.

When Qi Zhenzhu got off the car, a breeze lifted her veil, making several porters stare in disbelief.

She approached the Chen family's carriage and asked softly, "Miss Zhang, may I get on?"

Zhang Xia lifted the curtain and silently waved for her to get in the car.

Qi Zhenzhu was taken aback. This Miss Zhang didn't seem so difficult to get along with after all.
When the caravan left Fengtai Post Station, the postmaster stood respectfully at the gate to see them off. After the caravan had gone some distance, he gave a wink to the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) in front of the post station. The head镖师 nodded silently and then waved to the镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) to put on the oxcart and set off on their journey.

After watching the escort team depart into the distance, the postmaster returned to the pigeon coop in the backyard of the post station and took out a dusty gray pigeon.

He tied a black cloth around the pigeon's leg, threw it into the air with all his might, and watched the pigeon flap its wings and fly away.

……

……

After leaving Fengtai Post Station, go west along the official road for seven li, and then go north for thirty li to reach the foot of Fragrant Hills. Along the way, seven or eight teams of fast horses galloped by, all carrying their own strong bows and quivers, their origins unknown.

Chen Ji frowned, deep in thought.

Zhang Zheng rode up to him and whispered, "There was a squad of my Zhang family's elite guards just now. They're stationed in the forest at the foot of Fragrant Mountain, ready to be deployed at any time. Although they didn't have any Grandmaster-level officers, with their combined skills and those of a dozen or so, they might be able to put up a fight. By the way, where is that officer who was chasing you? Should we set up an ambush there?"

Chen Ji had previously sent a message through Xiao Man, only mentioning that there was a Grand Master of the Seeking Dao Realm, but without specifying who it was.

He hesitated for a moment: "Driver."

Zhang Zheng was startled, but restrained himself from turning around to look at Si Cao Gui: "Who is the coachman?"

Chen Ji was unwilling to reveal his identity as a spy for the Jing Dynasty, and could only explain, "Perhaps it was sent by the second branch of the Chen family to seek revenge."

Zhang Zheng calmed himself down and said, "Understood. Just discuss what you need to do with A-Xia. My Zhang family's elite guards only listen to her, not me..."

When the convoy arrived at Hongye Villa, it was already 5:15 PM.

Dusk was falling.

From afar, everyone could see the red lanterns in front of the Red Leaf Courtyard, like guiding lights.

This Red Leaf Villa was originally the royal residence, built against the mountain. From a distance, rows of houses rise one after another, stretching across dozens of acres, with hundreds of rooms. Red lanterns hang in front of each room, creating a magnificent and imposing atmosphere.

The lights were on.

Chen Ji dismounted and came to the gate, saying to the guards in front of the Red Leaf Villa, "Please inform them that Qi Zhenzhuo and Chen Ji of the Imperial Guards have come at your invitation."

A guard bowed and said, "Please wait a moment, sir."

He strode into the Red Leaf Courtyard, and a moment later, footsteps approached from afar.

Chen Ji looked up and saw the Crown Prince, dressed in a snow-white robe, personally greeting him.

The Crown Prince called out from afar, "Brother Chen Ji, it's been a long time!"

Chen Ji cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, how have you been?"

The Crown Prince arrived at the door, his gaze sweeping over Zhang Zheng and Zhang Xia before returning to Chen Ji, teasingly saying, "Rumors in the capital say you and Sister Qi are getting married soon. Does that mean I'll soon be able to drink your wedding wine?"

Qi Zhaoning's face flushed red: "What are you saying, Crown Prince? Don't joke about this."

The Crown Prince said gently, "The atmosphere in our Ning Dynasty is not what it used to be. Merchants are thriving, and the social atmosphere is more open. The marriage alliance between the Qi and Chen families is no secret. Why are we hiding it?"

Chen Ji cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, please be careful with your words regarding matters that are still unresolved between the two families."

He thought that he probably needed to have a frank discussion with Qi Zhaoning today so that the Qi family would reject the marriage proposal.

The Crown Prince laughed and pulled Chen Ji's arm to walk inside: "Alright, alright, let's not talk about that for now. You saved my life in Guyuan before, and I haven't had a chance to thank you. Today, let's drink to our hearts' content."

Just as everyone was about to enter the Red Leaf Villa, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar: "Great victory!"

Chen Ji's heart sank. He hadn't expected that even after hiding in Fragrant Hills, he still couldn't escape this great victory.

He turned around and saw a guard riding towards him, carrying an ochre-yellow bundle on his back. Si Cao Gui, who was about to lead the carriage to the stables, suddenly stopped.

Jie Fanwei arrived at the gate of Hongye Villa and asked loudly, "Where is His Highness the Crown Prince?"

The Crown Prince released Chen Ji and stepped forward, replying, "I am here."

Jie Fanwei dismounted, untied the bundle behind him, and took out an ochre-yellow document: "Great victory! A decree has been issued from the palace. You may check it yourself; there is no need for further formalities."

The crown prince took the imperial edict and unfolded it. His brows furrowed at first, then relaxed.

Chen Ji's heart slowly rose to his throat. Not far away, Si Cao Gui's gaze was like a sword, and his killing intent was palpable.

He took a deep breath: "Your Highness, where was the great victory?"

Regardless of the outcome, he must ask; if he dares not ask or does not care, that in itself is a flaw.

The next moment, the Crown Prince burst into laughter: "Brother Chen Ji, please allow me to keep you in suspense for now and save the news of this great victory for when we're drinking!"

(End of this chapter)