Aoyama

Chapter 389 Qi Zhenzhu

late at night.

On the five fortress towers, Jie Fanwei stood with his hand on his waist knife, wearing a straw raincoat, his gaze cold and menacing.

Forty-two guards and forty-two crossbows locked down the Red Leaf Courtyard until the red lanterns were extinguished one by one.

At this moment, Chen Ji sat alone on a stone bench in the courtyard, closing his eyes to rest and prepare for any potential dangers.

He would occasionally open his eyes to look at the fortress, but the guards on the fortress seemed to be truly protecting the Red Leaf Courtyard, and did not make any other moves all night.

With a creak, the door opened.

Chen Ji turned around and saw Zhang Xia come out with a cup of tea, sit on the stone bench next to him, and use his finger to dip in the tea to draw a map on the stone table.

With just a few strokes, the outline of Fragrant Hills was drawn, and then the lines continued to extend into the distance.

Chen Ji watched intently, when he heard Zhang Xia say, "Tomorrow, my brother and I will go on the spring hunt with you. These people are impersonating Jie Fan Wei and we don't know what they're up to. Staying at Hongye Villa might get us silenced, so it's safest to go with you."

Chen Ji nodded: "Okay."

Zhang Xia pointed to a corner of the map: "We are currently at the foot of Fragrant Mountain. Tomorrow, the spring hunt begins, and we will immediately part ways with the Crown Prince and Prince Fu, getting as far away as possible."

Chen Ji laughed and said, "That's exactly what I was thinking. Winning the Spring Hunt is not important; we can just give up the Spring Hunt."

Zhang Xia dipped his finger in the tea again and drew a route: "After leaving the area of ​​the Spring Hunt, do not return to the capital. Go directly to Yuquan Mountain. Yuquan Mountain is where the Forbidden City draws water every day. It is guarded by three hundred Jie Fan Guards, and there are also secret spies lurking around. No matter what these people want to do, they will not dare to get close to Yuquan Mountain."

Yuquan Mountain.

Chen Ji pondered for a moment: "Let's go to Yuquan Mountain... You all get some rest. I'm going next door to discuss something with Miss Qi."

Zhang Xia asked in confusion, "What are you discussing?"

Chen Ji was silent for a moment: "I hope the Qi family can refuse the Chen family's marriage proposal, so as not to hurt Miss Qi again after I leave."

He wanted to take advantage of Si Cao Gui's absence to ruin the marriage and prevent any further complications.

Zhang Xia laughed and said, "It probably won't be easy to refuse her."

Chen Ji sighed, "We have to give it a try."

He got up and went outside, knocking on the gate of the neighboring courtyard. A moment later, the gate opened, and Qi Zhenzhu was standing inside: "Young Master Chen?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Zhaoning ran out of the room: "Chen Ji, what brings you here?"

After much deliberation, Chen Ji said, "Miss Qi, there is something I want to tell you. I have someone I love, and I hope you can refuse the marriage proposal from the Chen family so as not to delay your future."

Qi Zhaoning's smile gradually faded: "You have someone in your heart? The princess or Zhang Xia?"

Chen Ji took a deep breath and finally decided to cut to the chase: "Miss Qi, there's no need to investigate this matter. You just need to know that I have no feelings for you, not now, and never will. So it's better to refuse this marriage proposal."

Qi Zhaoning's eyes welled up with tears: "You came in the middle of the night just to tell me this?"

Chen Ji hummed in agreement.

Qi Zhaoning said fiercely, "No matter who you're doing this for, if I, Qi Zhaoning, can't have it, no one else can either!"

With a bang, she slammed the door shut.

Chen Ji sighed and returned to his courtyard, sitting alone on a stone bench to keep watch. It seemed now that the marriage was irreversible, and he would have no choice but to leave.

In the middle of the night, they heard a knocking sound coming from outside the courtyard.

dong dong dong.

Chen Ji remained silent, guessing who was outside the door.

The Crown Prince? Prince Fu? Yangyang? Jie Fanwei? Qi Zhenzhuo?

dong dong dong.

The knocking sounded again, and a woman's voice softly asked, "Is Young Master Chen resting?"

Qi Zhenzhu.

Chen Ji walked to the door with a puzzled look in his eyes, but did not open it despite placing his hand on the latch.

He asked through the wooden door, "Miss Qi, is there something you need?"

Qi Zhenzhu said calmly, "Young Master Chen, take me away."

Chen Ji was confused, not knowing what the other party was up to.

He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Where is Miss Qi going?"

Qi Zhenzhu said softly through the door, "As long as I can leave the Qi family, I'm fine with going anywhere. Young Master Chen, you don't need to worry. I waited until they were all asleep before I came to tell you this. If you have no interest, after tonight, I will pretend I never said these things to you."

Chen Ji could imagine how much courage it must have taken for the other party to visit so late at night.

Perhaps it was Qi Zhaoning's provocation today, or perhaps it was the accumulated bitterness of the past, that made her want to find a way out for herself. Qi Zhenzhu stood outside the door, quietly gazing at the closed wooden door: "Young Master Chen, my mother was a courtesan, but after giving birth to me, my father gave her to a subordinate. The nanny told me that on the day my mother went into labor, she couldn't even get a bowl of hot soup. You are a son of a concubine, so you must understand the difficulties I face living under someone else's roof in this Qi mansion every day."

Chen Ji lowered his head and pondered for a long time before refusing, saying, "Miss Qi, we have no connection whatsoever, so there's no need for you to say these things to me. I have my own affairs to attend to and cannot concern myself with others."

Qi Zhenzhu remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Young Master Chen, I know the person in your heart is Princess Baili, and I also know you bought that plain silver hairpin for her. You are waiting for her to come out. The marriage between the Qi and Chen families was never your intention. And there's Miss Zhang Xia..."

Qi Zhenzhu continued, "I am different from Qi Zhaoning. She only wants to get the best, but I know that we are not meant to be. You will not spend much time on me, and I will not have any hope for you. When you feel that the time is right, you can divorce me on the grounds of 'having no children'. I will have no regrets and will only be grateful."

Chen Ji pondered Qi Zhenzhu's words carefully.

This woman was usually quiet and reserved, but she saw things very clearly.

Chen Ji said, "But I'm afraid neither of us can make the decision on this matter."

"After this spring hunt, the Chen family will probably go to the Qi family to propose marriage," Qi Zhenzhu pondered. "Grand Secretary Xu is getting old, and the Qi family's spies in the Xu family have reported that he has been calling people by the wrong names lately. A few days ago, he even mistook his page for Xu Shu, the Deputy Director of the Imperial Observatory. Even the imperial memorials are being reviewed by Lord Zhang Zhuo. The Qi and Chen families want to compete for the position of Grand Secretary, and that's what they want. As for who will marry you, they don't care."

Chen Ji was taken aback.

At this moment, Qi Zhenzhu said from outside the door, "Young Master Chen, Qi Zhaoning is by no means a good match. You should choose me instead."

Chen Ji tapped his fingers on the door latch when he suddenly heard a voice from next door: "Qi Zhenzhu, where did you go?"

Qi Zhenzhu said in a low voice, "Please reconsider, Young Master Chen. I'm leaving."

Just then, a strong wind suddenly blew, causing the large trees in the courtyard to sway.

got windy.

……

……

In earlier times, spring hunts were extremely important events.

Before hunting, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau would divine an auspicious day and time. Before setting off, one would go to the Mountain and River Altar to offer sacrifices, informing the ancestors and praying for their blessings. An altar would also be set up outside the Red Leaf Villa to worship the mountain god and the earth god, praying for a bountiful harvest and the expulsion of wild beasts.

Emperor Ning would personally visit the drill ground to inspect the accompanying princes, ministers, and imperial guards.

During hunting seasons, the Imperial Guards would designate and guard the hunting grounds, strictly prohibiting civilians from entering.

Then, the three imperial guards would drive away the wild beasts to shrink the hunting ground, and Emperor Ning would shoot the first arrow to hunt the first wild animal. This was called "opening the hunt".

After the siege was lifted, the three armies raced after each other, displaying their martial prowess to the world.

After the hunt, Emperor Ning would offer the prey to the gods and then reward those who had contributed to the victory.

However, after the Crown Prince took over the presiding over the spring hunt, the ceremony became simpler year by year. There was no hunting ground, no opening of the hunt, and even the time for the spring hunt was set arbitrarily.

Initially, the three major camps would send several hundred men, but later even a hundred became difficult to come by.

This year, the Crown Prince lost power, and the three Imperial Guards avoided him like the plague, sending only a few people to make a symbolic appearance.

At dawn, the clerk of the Red Leaf Courtyard struck a gong.

Chen Ji, Zhang Zheng, and Zhang Xia squatted side by side by the water vat, brushing their teeth with torn willow twigs dipped in salt. They all rinsed their mouths with water at the same time, then spat it onto the blue bricks.

Chen Ji glanced at Jie Fanwei on the fortress tower and wiped his mouth with his sleeve: "You must stick close to me today, ignore everyone else."

A knock came from outside the courtyard. Qi Zhenzhuo called out loudly from outside the door, "Master, let's go! The Crown Prince is going to offer sacrifices to the mountain god. After the sacrifices, the siege will be lifted!"

Chen Ji went to open the door. Qi Zhaoyun looked haggard, and Qi Zhenzhu's expression was obscured by a veil. Neither of them mentioned the previous night, tacitly understanding the situation.

At this moment, a minor official came to urge them: "Gentlemen, His Highness the Crown Prince is about to offer sacrifices to the mountain god. Please go as soon as possible."

Chen Ji agreed: "I'll go right away."

When the group arrived outside the Red Leaf Villa, an altar had already been set up at the foot of the mountain, with offerings and fruits laid out.

The prince, dressed in a crisp white archery uniform, approached the offering table and accepted the incense and candles offered by Mr. Liao. Mr. Liao always carried these candles with him to ensure everything was in order.

Prince Fu stretched lazily behind him, still looking lazy, and sneered, "A villain has set a good precedent. From now on, everyone will have to bring their own incense and candles for sacrifices. It's not safe for others to prepare them."

The crown prince remained expressionless, as if he hadn't heard anything.

The sacrificial ceremony is now complete.

The prince mounted his horse and led his entourage into the mountains.

Prince Fu slowly composed himself, turning to Zhou Kuang calmly and saying, "I have violated the curfew this time, and I will certainly receive a severe beating when I return. Remember, I cannot suffer this beating for nothing. Let's go, let's add some amusement for His Highness the Crown Prince."

After saying this, Prince Fu also mounted his horse. Zhou Kuang waved to the men behind him and gave a wink to the soldiers of the Five Armies Camp. Dozens of men rode forward at the same time and surrounded the Crown Prince.

Chen Ji turned his head and looked, but Xie Fanwei was no longer to be seen on the tower of the Red Leaf Villa.

(End of this chapter)