Aoyama

Chapter 487 Unauthorized Trespassing at Renshou Palace

Beijing, Andingmen, evening.

The soldiers guarding the city of Wucheng Garrison saw dust rising on the official road from afar, and the person in the lead was wearing a red official robe and a black turban with upturned corners.

Behind them stood the Imperial Guards, clad in gleaming silver armor.

A foot soldier stood with a halberd, looking on in surprise and doubt: "Didn't the document from the Court of State Ceremonies say that they were going to leave through Desheng Gate? Why are they heading straight for our Anding Gate?"

The deputy commander guarding the city was also puzzled: "I'm afraid something has gone wrong."

The foot soldier asked in a low voice, "Should we stop them?"

The lieutenant said expressionlessly, "Last time he came alone and we couldn't stop him. This time he brought back more than a hundred people and even got a title. You think you can stop him? Then you go and stop him."

The foot soldier shrank back: "I couldn't stop him either."

The general turned around and looked through the city gate. Zhang Li was sitting at a table outside the tavern, writing and drawing on a blank book, muttering to himself: "Three drumbeats, horns wailing, the beautiful woman dares to break through the Zhuge Liang formation, her red dress charging straight into the White Tiger Hall..."

Zhang Li didn't sit in a chair, but instead sat on the back of the blue ox, which lay under his buttocks eating a steamed bun.

The lieutenant sneered, "No wonder that Taoist priest suddenly came to Andingmen; he knew Chen Ji would leave through here. The first ten chapters of his damn new storybook, 'Winter in Luoyang,' have been printed. The ninth chapter is called... what was it called again?"

The foot soldier whispered, "Those scoundrels from the Military Affairs Bureau are troublesome. Prince Fuxian, please lead Changge's horse..."

The lieutenant cursed, "Damn it, these days the teahouses are all accusing my Five Cities Garrison of being traitors, it's giving me a headache. If I stop them again today, who knows what kind of curses they'll get in the next twenty chapters."

The foot soldier shrank back: "It's not just twenty chapters... That Taoist priest was just telling the shopkeeper that this story will be eighty chapters long."

The lieutenant closed his eyes and took a deep breath: "Don't meddle in other people's business. This is not something we can interfere with. Let them into the city..."

Just then, a fast horse galloped in from inside the city.

The lieutenant turned around and hurriedly saluted: "Commander Lin."

Lin Yanchu did not answer, but simply stopped his horse outside the city gate and quietly watched the traces of the past approach.

Chen Ji reined in his horse in front of the city gate and looked at the former Imperial Guard from afar.

He looked him up and down for a moment: "You've become the deputy commander of the Five Cities Garrison? Congratulations."

Lin Yanchu clasped his hands and bowed his head: "This humble servant has come to support you, sir, so that no more fools will obstruct you."

"Thank you very much then," Chen Ji said without any harsh words, and continued to ride his horse into the city: "Let's go into the city."

Lin Yanchu said in a low voice, "Steward Chen asked me to pass on a message to you. Even His Majesty doesn't want to get involved in this matter, which is why he used a secret decree to give you the unranked and ungraded position of Imperial Guard Envoy. Once you enter the capital, no one will recognize you... You'd better find a way to extricate yourself from this."

Chen Ji calmly replied, "I understand."

Lin Yanchu stood guard at the door, and as Qi Zhenzhuo and the others passed by him, their gazes swept across his face like knives.

Duo Bao couldn't help but sneer, "A meteoric rise to power, you've certainly sold the master for a good price. I wish Commander Lin a bright future and soaring success."

Lin Yanchu lowered her head and did not refute.

As the Imperial Guards entered the city, passersby cast indifferent glances their way.

Qi Zhenzhu muttered, "We came back from the brink of death, it's like we've broken some heavenly law? Let's hurry up and leave."

"We are returning in triumph, why should we hide from people?" Chen Ji dismounted in front of the tavern and called out to the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, bring me a jar of wine."

But the shopkeeper turned his head away and said, "I don't do business with those who pander to the enemy and seek only peace."

Chen Ji was not angry. Instead, he smiled and praised, "The shopkeeper has a fine character."

He went around the counter, took a wine jar from the shelf, and walked out: "Go to Plum Blossom Ferry to get the money for the wine."

Chen Ji took a swig from the wine jar and handed it to Li Xuan. Li Xuan took a swig and handed it to Qi Zhenzhuo. Qi Zhenzhuo took a swig and then passed it on.

Chen Ji took another jar of wine and came to the coffin. He slowly poured the wine on the ground and said softly, "I'm sorry, there's no one to greet you when you come back this time."

Having said that, he poured out all the wine, then mounted his horse again and headed south.

"Wait a minute," Zhang Li hurriedly closed the wordless book and put it in his robes, inserting the brush into his hair. He patted the blue ox under his buttocks, but the ox was reluctant to get up.

Zhang Li said helplessly, "Get up quickly, or I won't let you steal the incense from the City God Temple."

The green ox slowly got up and carried Zhang Li and Chen Ji side by side.

Zhang Li cautioned Chen Ji, "Kid, you absolutely mustn't get involved in the Jing Dynasty's peace talks. That would be a disgrace that will go down in history."

Chen Ji kept his eyes straight ahead: "Daoist Master, you waited at Anding Gate just to talk to me about this?"

Zhang Li said seriously, "You think this is a small matter? Now someone is paying the storytellers in the teahouses to spread this story. Whoever promotes peace talks will be criticized by the people. Don't underestimate this matter. If this step is wrong, you may have to bear the infamy for thousands of years..."

Chen Ji remained silent.

Zhang Li said earnestly, "I know you have a close relationship with the Zhang family, but this is not the time for you to step forward."

Chen Ji smiled and asked, "Is the Daoist Master worried about Chen Ji, or about Li Changge?"

Zhang Li's eyes flashed: "You are Li Changge, and Li Changge is you. There's no difference." Chen Ji probed: "What will happen if I bear the infamy?"

When Zhang Li had him write his name in the blank sky earlier, he realized it was related to his official career path. Just like his and the Golden Pig's, they were bound together by fate, sharing both glory and ruin.

However, what binds him to the Golden Pig is the official realm, while what binds him to Zhang Li... should be reputation.

Zhang Li earnestly advised, "You've already tasted the benefits of having incense offerings. All you need to know is that I won't harm you; there's no need to delve into the details. No one else has walked this path, but those who succeed will transcend worldly affairs, and at the very least, become a local city god."

"What's the best option?"

Zhang Li's eyes flickered: "I don't know either, but it might be a path to sainthood."

Chen Ji said thoughtfully, "But this time it's not really about betraying the country for personal gain, but rather the Jing Dynasty surrendering a city to sue for peace."

Zhang Li said with exasperation, "The people in the city are already agitated, and there are hundreds of officials kneeling and pleading for their lives in front of the Meridian Gate. Who cares about the truth? Once Yuancheng is released, the people will only curse those involved and won't care about anything else... It's hard to say!"

Chen Ji smiled and said, "I understand."

Zhang Li breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good that you know what's important. Don't make a mistake for yourself."

"I understand, I understand," Chen Ji gently spurred the horse's belly, leaving Zhang Li's slow-moving blue ox behind.

……

……

The Imperial Guards marched south along Andingmen Street until they reached Mixiang in the eastern suburbs, where they escorted Princess Liyang to the Huitong Hall to await the date set by the palace for her audience with the emperor.

Chen Ji instructed Li Xuan: "The Imperial Guards will guard the Huitong Hall day and night. Make sure to check the food and water properly to prevent any assassination attempts."

Li Xuan nodded: "Don't worry... You should also advise Lord Zhang not to bear the blame because of Yuancheng."

Chen Ji sighed inwardly.

Only he knew that Emperor Ning wanted to send Yuancheng back to Jing Dynasty to control Lu Jin and Yuan Xiang, but he just needed someone to bear the blame.

Zhang Zhuo had no choice.

Chen Ji replied with a smile, "I went to the palace to meet the Emperor."

He rode alone to the Meridian Gate.

Before he even reached the Meridian Gate, he could see rows of officials kneeling before it, some in blue robes and some in red robes.

Upon hearing the sound of horses' hooves, the officials all turned around. One official in a blue robe straightened up and angrily rebuked, "You have been educated in poetry and books, how can you do such a thing as currying favor with the enemy and seeking peace?"

"How dare this scoundrel betray his country for personal gain? What benefits did he receive from the Jing Dynasty?"

"Was it at Zhang Zhuo's behest?"

"Do not associate with Zhang Zhuo!"

Chen Ji dismounted in front of the Meridian Gate and walked straight into it: "Instead of kneeling here, you should kill the Jing Dynasty, bring a head of the Jing Dynasty traitor, and then say these words with backbone."

One of the officials roared in anger, "You covetous opportunists dare to talk back! I think you and Zhang Zhuo are birds of a feather!"

Chen Ji suddenly turned around in front of the Meridian Gate and stared straight at the other party: "You've heard the phrase 'flattering the enemy for personal gain' so many times that you're sick of it. Didn't you think of a few more words when you formed cliques and plotted?"

Before the other party could reply, Chen Ji's figure had already disappeared into the shadows of the Meridian Gate.

Guided by a young eunuch, Chen Ji passed through the red walls and golden tiles and hurried to Renshou Palace.

Outside Renshou Palace, dozens of officials stood with their hands at their sides, while inside the palace, it seemed that someone was making a noisy commotion, with spittle flying everywhere.

A loud voice came from Renshou Palace: "Yuancheng is a major threat to our dynasty and also bears the deep-seated hatred of the border troops. I don't know who wanted to let this scoundrel return to Jing. I request Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly. This person must be in cahoots with the Jing Dynasty."

"Yuancheng must not be allowed to return to Jing; this scoundrel should be torn to pieces to appease the people's anger!"

The young eunuch instructed Chen Ji, "The magistrate of Wuxiang County, please wait outside the hall until His Majesty summons you."

Chen Ji hummed in agreement, but his steps didn't stop; he headed straight for Renshou Palace.

When the young eunuch realized something was wrong and tried to grab Chen Ji's sleeve, he found nothing.

Chen Ji strode over the high threshold of Renshou Palace and knelt on the clear, bright blue-gold bricks: "Your humble servant Chen Ji pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Renshou Palace fell silent suddenly, so quiet that the cabinet ministers and officials inside the hall almost thought they had suddenly gone deaf.

Someone rebuked, "What is the punishment for trespassing into Renshou Palace...?"

The next moment, Chen Ji said loudly, "This humble subject believes that Yuancheng should be sent back to Jing."

Renshou Palace fell silent once again, leaving the officials looking at each other in astonishment.

Zhang Zhuo, standing at the front row, suddenly turned around and clenched his fists tightly.

Only he knew that Chen Ji was trying to take all the blame for him.

(End of this chapter)