Aoyama

Mingse Tower has quieted down. The koi carp that were previously left unfed have dispersed, but now they are drawn back to the wide pond outside Mingse Tower, whether by the lights or by the poems.

The guests looked at each other in disbelief. No one had expected that Plum Blossom Ferry would produce a poem on the Mid-Autumn Festival night that was enough to overshadow the capital.

In the long silence of Mingse Tower, the sound of sobbing came from beside Qi Zhaoning.

She turned her head and saw Qi Zhaoyun with her head down, covering her face with her sleeve, tears falling one by one onto the table.

Qi Xianshu glanced at his daughter and sighed softly, "People have sorrows and joys, separations and reunions, just as the moon has its phases of waxing and waning. Nothing in this world is ever perfect... This poem fully expresses the sorrow of parting and the longing of unrequited love. From now on, there will only be this one poem for Mid-Autumn Festival. People will not remember any others. When someone picks up a pen to write about the full moon of Mid-Autumn Festival and thinks of this poem, they will find it unappealing and utterly uninteresting."

There are thousands of literary gatherings in the capital every year. Today it's the Qi family's gathering, tomorrow it's the Xu family's gathering. People write poems to enhance the drinking atmosphere, but it's rare for someone to write a poem that will dominate the entire gathering.

Qi Zhenwu smiled bitterly: "Is this man from Wuxiang County deliberately trying to sabotage the literary gathering? During his second debate with Wuzhai, he used Wuzhai's words to say that the literary gathering was a vulgar attempt to cover up the truth, which caused no one in the capital to dare to hold a literary gathering for more than half a month, for fear of being called vulgar. Now he has thrown out such a poem... Originally, the Qi family had also prepared a poetry recitation tonight, intending to compose poems when the wine was flowing freely. But now that a poem in the style of 'Shuidiao Getou' is hanging over our heads, who would be willing to pick up a pen and make a fool of themselves? It's better not to write anything."

Qi Xianshu listened to his son's complaints and was rather nonchalant: "It's alright. Today, it's not just our Qi family that's suffering. His evening paper should have been sent to every corner of the capital by now. The Xu family, the Li family, the Zhou family... I bet they're all holding this poem and looking at each other in bewilderment. Tonight, no one can think about composing poems. Let's just drink our wine in peace."

Chen Ji had advised the Gelaohui (a secret society) not to fight with Wen Yuan Bookstore, suggesting that since they were only here to experience life, they should do something more meaningful. But the Gelaohui insisted on writing one more poem, and only one more. He reasoned that if he didn't write this one, he feared he wouldn't be able to sleep well.

At this moment, Yang Zhong, holding the evening newspaper, looked at the signature of "Shuidiao Getou" and whispered, "Chen Chong's last words... With such poetic talent, how could he have ended his life like this?"

It's unbelievable that someone who could write "A bright moon rises over the sea, we share this moment though we are far apart" and "Prelude to Water Melody" would just leave this world like this.

Yuan Wang suddenly said, "Perhaps he no longer cares about writing poetry."

Yang Zhong asked in confusion: "Disdain?"

Yuan Wang said with a smile, "Just as the man from Wuxiang County is unwilling to compete with us, everything that Meihua Ferry has been doing these days is for the sake of 'governing the world and benefiting the people.' You all don't know this, but there are still people on the market offering high prices to buy old newspapers from Meihua Ferry."

Yang Zhong was even more puzzled: "A high price to buy?"

Yuan Wang turned to the third page, pointed to the newspaper, and explained: "Some merchants have made soap according to what the Morning Post said, and sure enough, their hands are clean after washing away dirt and grease. Other merchants have made honeycomb briquettes according to the Morning Post's instructions. In another month, when it will get cold, many people are buying them, and in many alleys, honeycomb briquettes are piled up like small mountains. Lord Zhang Zhuo has also adopted the method of using soil fertilizer and is about to promote it in the capital region, Luzhou, and Jizhou... These are all business opportunities. Yesterday, a merchant who had just come from Jinling heard about this and immediately went to Liulichang to buy back the newspaper at a high price. After receiving the newspaper, he even abandoned his business and returned to Jinling overnight."

Yang Zhong hesitated: "Are all those novelties published in the Morning Post useful?"

Yuan Wang stroked his chin: "You all probably don't know this, but this cement stuff was also invented by the man from Wuxiang County in Luocheng. This stuff has been around for a while now. My Yuan family used it when we renovated our house. It's sturdy and saves time. It's hard to buy on the market now because the imperial court is purchasing it for the repair of city walls. The Guyuan city wall, which originally took three years to repair, is said to have been completed in half a year... The city wall on the east side of our capital was also built with this stuff."

At this moment, an official from the Ministry of Revenue glanced at Grand Secretary Chen, who was seated at the head of the table, and then said loudly, "Every year, the Ministry of Revenue has to allocate hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to repair the city walls and purchase glutinous rice, lime and other materials. When the war is urgent, many places will run out of food and starve to death. Now, this alone can save 300,000 taels of silver."

The official from the Ministry of Revenue continued, “Furthermore, a city wall that would take three years to solidify using glutinous rice can now be impregnable in just one month. Do you all remember that in the twenty-fifth year of the Jianing era, the Jing Dynasty invaded? They took advantage of the fact that the walls of the Youjin Pass in the Twelve Linked Cities of Chongli Pass were under repair and unstable, which allowed a small group of their elite troops to break into the pass. I dare say that with this, our dynasty will never repeat the same mistake.”

Compared to the four words "governing the world and benefiting the people," Mid-Autumn Festival poems seem insignificant.

When the guests at the banquet think back to the four words "Chen Chong's last words," it's like a silent mockery and ridicule: You want to compete in Mid-Autumn Festival poetry, but I think that although poetry is good, it can't solve the problem of people's basic needs. So you write your poems, and I'll do my own work to govern the world and help the people.

But then you said I did these things because I couldn't produce any poetry. Well then, I'll show you what real poetry is. After showing you, I'll move on to something more important.

I will no longer write poetry, and please don't bother me anymore.

At this moment, Grand Secretary Chen slowly raised his cup, turned to look at Grand Secretary Qi, and said slowly, "Children's fooling around should not damage the friendship between the Qi and Chen families. Chen Ji is still young and may act without thinking, but his intentions are good."

Grand Secretary Qi raised his wine cup and said slowly, "Zhaoning, don't act recklessly anymore. You're about to get married, so you should rein in your temper. Gentlemen, it's the Mid-Autumn Festival, a night of full moon, please raise your glasses together."

The guests knew that the matter between the Qi and Chen families was now over, and that Grand Secretary Qi was very satisfied with his grandson-in-law Chen Ji, so the marriage agreement remained unchanged.

That's strange, where did Chen Ji go tonight?

……

……

At this moment, Chen Ji was following Bai Long through the silent palace road and arrived at the foot of Jie Fan Tower.

Upon seeing Bai Long arrive, the spy on guard outside the Jiefan Tower immediately turned and went upstairs to report. A moment later, Shan Niu's figure slowly emerged from the dark shadows of the Jiefan Tower. The man was so tall that Chen Ji could only see half of his face from inside the tower, with the area above his nose hidden behind the lintel.

Mountain Ox stepped aside: "Go on up, the Minister is free right now."

Bai Long walked past Shan Niu and led Chen Ji up the steps. Jie Fan Lou was still filled with the scent of pine resin, books, and ink, which could calm one's mind with just one sniff.

Upon reaching the top floor, Bai Long knocked on the door: "Your Excellency, Minister of the Interior."

A hoarse voice came from inside the door: "Come in."

Bai Long pushed open the door and entered. This time, Chen Ji saw through the screen that the blurry figure was no longer sitting behind the table, but standing alone by the window, looking at the bright lights and noise of Fengxian Hall in the distance. Emperor Ning was hosting the Annamite envoys in Fengxian Hall.

Bai Long didn't speak, nor did Chen Ji.

After an unknown amount of time, they suddenly heard the inner minister say, "I wonder if Feng Wenzheng has any mooncakes to eat today?"

Chen Ji was taken aback.

Only then did he notice that all eight windows in the room were open today, offering a view of the myriad lights of the capital city during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

After the Grand Chancellor sat back down at his desk, he said slowly and deliberately, “Do you know that there are also rules for entertaining foreign envoys? Those who have rendered meritorious service to our dynasty and whose national strength is the greatest can be entertained in the Fengxian Hall, which has the highest honors; those who are most loyal and obedient can be entertained in the Xiyuan Garden to show our favor; and those who are not so loyal or whose national strength is not so great can be entertained in the Linde Hall.”

Chen Ji did not respond, nor did he know why the Minister of the Interior had brought up this matter.

The Grand Chancellor slowly said, "Originally, the King of Annam could only go to the Linde Hall, but now he has staked the fate of the nation and is sitting in the Fengxian Hall. Since he can sit in the Fengxian Hall, His Majesty will naturally not refuse his small request for a marriage alliance."

Chen Ji's expression darkened.

The minister leaned back in his chair, seemingly peering through the screen at Chen Ji: "The King of Annam captured the King of Siam and then sat in the Fengxian Hall begging our dynasty for a marriage alliance. Baron of Wuxiang County, what have you brought to my Jiefan Tower this time, begging me to help you rescue Princess Baili?"

Chen Ji, with a solemn expression, cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to the Prime Minister, this humble servant can offer a good method for governing the world, which can double the yield of grain fields."

The interior minister is noncommittal.

After a long silence, Chen Ji spoke again: "This humble servant can offer a method to improve firearms, so that our dynasty's muskets and cannons will be invincible and unbreakable."

The minister remained noncommittal.

Chen Ji gritted his teeth and said with a forced smile, "This humble servant can alleviate the problems of the salt permit system and replenish the national treasury and the imperial treasury with an ingenious method."

This time, the inner minister suddenly laughed: "You, you've been hiding quite a lot, and now you've pulled it all out at once without a care in the world."

Chen Ji said in a deep voice, "Princess Baili did not participate in the Jingwang Mansion's rebellion. I request the Inner Minister to help her and restore her freedom."

But the Prime Minister was unmoved, and casually said, "The Forbidden City has its rules, and so does my Jiefanlou. In Jiefanlou, money can buy official positions and power, but to buy life, you can only do so with your life."

Chen Ji asked without hesitation, "Who does Your Excellency wish to kill?"

The Prime Minister smiled and said, "Bring Han Tong of the Grand Canal Gang to me. Use his life to exchange for Princess Baili's life."

Chen Ji stood there, stunned.

Han Tong? That's Bai Li's biological father. He never imagined that the other party would ask him to exchange Han Tong for Bai Li.

Seeing his hesitation, the inner minister casually asked, "What's wrong? Can't you do it?"

Chen Ji remained silent for a moment, then bowed and said, "Reporting to the Grand Chancellor, it can be done." (End of Chapter)