Aoyama

Chapter 496 Escort

Women understand women best.

Princess Li Yang's words were like a sword in the hand of a Grandmaster of the Divine Path Realm, piercing through Qi Zhaoning's mind with a single stroke.

Inside the grand hall of Danbi, the onlookers around the eight-immortal tables quieted down, turning to watch the spectacle. However, Chen Ji immediately ignored what Princess Liyang was saying, instead instructing the Imperial Guards to keep a close watch around the tables, preventing anyone from approaching.

His gaze swept around the vicinity, taking in each of the onlookers present.

Princess Liyang always has a purpose in everything she does. The other party would not cause trouble for no reason. Could it be that the other party insisted on coming to the Jiaofangsi because their people are inside the Jiaofangsi?

At this moment, three drumbeats sounded on the stage. The first drumbeat signaled to the actors and audience that the performance was about to begin. The second drumbeat signaled to the actors to wait backstage and to the audience to take their seats. The third drumbeat signaled to quiet the hall and officially begin the performance.

After the drumbeats ended, all the performers backstage, dressed in their costumes, came up on stage one by one. The women showed off their figures, and the martial arts actors did a few somersaults to demonstrate their skills. This was called "Bai Men" or "Chan Chang".

After the performers took the stage, the martial arts actor did thirteen somersaults and landed, but found that there was no cheering as usual. He noticed that none of the spectators were looking at the stage; instead, they were all turning to look at a corner.

in the corner.

Qi Zhaoning clenched her hands tightly, staring intently at Princess Liyang: "Do you dare say that again?"

Princess Liyang smiled slightly and said slowly, "As the saying goes, the truth is the most hurtful. If I have accidentally hurt this young lady, please forgive me."

Qi Zhaoning's expression shifted between light and dark. After a moment, she said coldly, "It is said that you kept three hundred male concubines in the capital of Jing Dynasty, indulging in pleasure with men every day. How dare you come to my Ning Dynasty to embarrass yourself?"

Princess Liyang sat calmly in her chair and picked up a melon seed: "Miss Qi, you underestimated it. It's not three hundred, it's three thousand."

Qi Zhaoning angrily retorted, "Shameless!"

Princess Liyang looked up at her and smiled, "You are not as good as Zhang Xia."

Qi Zhaoning raised her hand to slap Princess Liyang, but her wrist was caught in mid-air by Chen Ji. Chen Ji sighed softly, "Third Miss Qi, this is an envoy from the Jing Dynasty. You mustn't hit him."

Qi Zhaoning suddenly turned her head and looked at Chen Ji in disbelief: "You stopped me?"

Chen Ji was silent for a moment, then repeated earnestly, "Miss Qi, this is an envoy from the Jing Dynasty."

Qi Zhaoning shook off his hand: "Then tell me, am I worse than Zhang Xia? If you think so too, I will have my family cancel this engagement tomorrow so that you two can be together."

Chen Ji turned to Qi Zhenzhu and said, "The play is about to start. Please take Miss Qi to the front row to listen to the play."

"Fine, fine, fine!" Seeing that he refused to answer, Qi Zhaoning angrily turned around and walked to the front row, throwing the teapot and bowls on the table onto the stage one after another: "Listen to the play, listen to the play, listen to the play! Li Changge has already betrayed his country for personal gain, what's the point of listening to the play? From now on, the Jiaofangsi is not allowed to perform the Four Dreams of Bianliang, or you will regret it! Go change my costume, I want to listen to The Tale of the White Boat!"

The actors on the stage looked at each other in bewilderment. The Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites, but Grand Secretary Qi happened to be concurrently the Minister of Rites.

A minor official rushed onto the stage and pulled all the actors off: "Quick, change your costumes!"

Chen Ji sat down again, looking at the stage expressionlessly: "Your Highness, why bother? You only need to go through the motions in our dynasty to bring Yuancheng back to Jing Dynasty and make great contributions. Why create unnecessary trouble? Although Miss Qi is a bit arrogant, she is not worth provoking like this."

Princess Liyang asked curiously, "What's wrong, Lord Chen? Is he feeling sorry for his betrothed?"

Chen Ji glanced at her: "Let's not talk about this anymore."

Princess Liyang smiled slightly: "Lord Chen, you should thank me."

Chen Ji calmly said, "Thank you?"

Princess Liyang peeled a melon seed with her fingernail: "Let me guess, even Lord Chen, who has the ability to force the Crown Prince to be placed under house arrest in Zhongcui Palace, can't decide his own marriage. This Miss Qi seems to be very favored by the Qi family. If she goes back and makes a scene to cancel the engagement, wouldn't that be exactly what you want?"

Chen Ji was slightly taken aback. He had to admit that Princess Li Yang was quite eloquent, and he was actually persuaded by her to some extent.

Princess Liyang peeled melon seeds as she slowly said, "Lord Chen, Miss Zhang Er was the one who braved the White Tiger Hall for you. That day, she must have been prepared to die to get into the hall. She didn't expect to come back alive after taking that first step. But when she returned to Ning Dynasty, she remembered that you were still engaged to someone else... Sometimes, God is like a child, and He doesn't know when to stop."

Chen Ji remained silent.

Princess Liyang smiled and said, "Lord Chen, if anyone had treated me like that, I would have dared to give up all my wealth and honor to elope with him. Unfortunately, no one has. You are very lucky, much luckier than me."

Chen Ji finally spoke: "It has nothing to do with Your Highness."

Princess Liyang held out more than ten melon seeds to Chen Ji: "Since Lord Chen says it's irrelevant, then it's irrelevant."

Chen Ji glanced at the melon seeds in her hand: "Your Highness wants to use me as a test subject for poison?" "No good deed goes unpunished. This is the first time I've ever peeled melon seeds for someone," Princess Li Yang rolled her eyes and threw the melon seeds on the table: "What a pity, I didn't even get to see the Four Dreams of Bianliang."

Chen Ji said calmly, "We can also listen to The Tale of the White Boat."

Princess Liyang scoffed, "Does Lord Chen think I don't know? This 'White Boat Chronicle' is a story about the invasion of my Jing Dynasty. You think that young general is a hero, but you don't know that he entered my Jing Dynasty's Longyou Road and massacred twenty-eight villages, not even sparing the children. Let's go, I don't want to listen to this kind of play, let's go back to the Huitong Hall."

Princess Liyang got up and walked outside, without eating a single melon seed or drinking a drop of water.

After the procession left Yanle Hutong, and Princess Liyang got into the carriage, Madam Lu picked up the reins and asked in a low voice, "What happened during the commotion inside?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "It's nothing, just a minor mishap."

As the carriage entered Dongjiang Rice Lane, more than a hundred Imperial Guards remained in their armor, guarding the surrounding area.

Duo Bao whispered to Chen Ji, "No one has been inside the Hui Tong Guan."

Chen Ji nodded and lifted the carriage curtain to signal Princess Liyang to get out. Princess Liyang reached out her hand to ask him to help her, but Chen Ji ignored her.

Princess Liyang smiled and jumped off the carriage: "Lord Chen is quite vengeful."

Chen Ji watched the other person walk into the meeting hall and slowly let out a sigh of relief.

Just then, the sound of orderly footsteps came from afar.

Chen Ji turned his head and saw Lin Chaoqing leading the way, followed by two rows of Jie Fan Guards who turned into Dongjiangmi Lane. Immediately afterward, palace eunuchs carried in a palanquin, with the Crown Prince, dressed in a bright red imperial robe, sitting on it.

The carriage stopped in front of the Hall of Reunion, and the Crown Prince stood up and smoothed the wrinkles on his clothes.

Chen Ji asked in confusion, "Why did Your Highness visit the Huitong Hall so late at night?"

The Crown Prince said gently, "They came here for peace talks. I wanted to wear down the Jing Dynasty's arrogance and deflate their conceit, but some people can't even wait a day. Fine, let Yuancheng return to the Jing Dynasty as soon as possible."

After saying this, he entered the meeting hall under the escort of Jie Fanwei.

Chen Ji turned and exchanged a glance with Madam Lu. Madam Lu said in a low voice, "If we can reach an agreement today, there won't be much time left. Tomorrow, when both sides officially sign the alliance, we will send Princess Liyang and Yuancheng to Chongli Pass. Princess Liyang is currently surrounded by experts, so Si Cao Ding won't make a move."

Chen Ji lowered his head in thought.

At this moment, Madam Lu turned around and gently comforted Chen Ji: "It's alright. No matter how urgent things are, we must follow the will of Heaven. If something is impossible, then we shouldn't do it. If we spare his life this time, there will be other opportunities sooner or later. Princess Liyang and Yuancheng can leave, but Si Caoding won't."

Chen Ji hummed in response, but still didn't say anything.

Half an hour later, the Crown Prince came out of the meeting hall and said to Chen Ji with a smile, "It's settled. Eight thousand warhorses and two thousand soldiers and civilians will be exchanged for Yuancheng to return to Jing. Tomorrow at the Honglu Temple, I will preside over the formal exchange of the alliance treaty. After the exchange of the alliance treaty, I will have to trouble the male escort of Wuxiang County to escort Princess Liyang and Yuancheng to Chongli Pass. Please be careful on the way."

Chen Ji felt a chill run down his spine. Had they reached an agreement so quickly?
It was too fast. He originally thought it would take at least another half month to reach a conclusion, but now all the matters were discussed in just half an hour.

He said calmly, "This humble subject will escort you?"

The Crown Prince said gently, "Now the Imperial Guards follow your lead, and Princess Liyang trusts only you. This task will naturally fall to you... What, the Marquis of Wuxiang County is unwilling?"

Chen Ji lowered his head and said, "The Imperial Guards are depleted and I'm afraid they are not capable of shouldering this heavy responsibility."

The Crown Prince smiled and said, “According to the rules, 360 people are needed to welcome the envoys, and 96 people are enough to send them off. Surely the Imperial Guards can’t be short of 96 people. The Magistrate of Wuxiang County should not refuse any longer.”

Chen Ji calmly replied, "This humble subject has no objection, but as to who will escort them, we shall await Your Majesty's decree."

This journey north is not so simple. There may be some hidden dangers along the way. If it is really impossible to get Cao Ding from Yuancheng Fishing Division out, then the three Imperial Guards should escort the Jing Dynasty envoys away and receive eight thousand warhorses from the Jing Dynasty at the border.

Why would the Imperial Guards be tasked with this?

Chen Ji looked up and examined the Crown Prince, but couldn't discern anything amiss.

The Crown Prince patted Chen Ji on the shoulder: "The magistrate of Wuxiang County has accomplished a great feat by doing this. This is an opportunity that others would not dare to compete for."

Having said that, the Crown Prince boarded his palanquin and, escorted by the Jie Fan Guards, disappeared into the night.

(End of this chapter)