Chapter 291: Lushun

Evening.

In the northwest sky, there were no clouds, so a single red sun hung starkly above the vast and lonely landscape.

On the official road, a strong wind whipped up yellow sand into the sky.

Everyone bowed their heads on their horses, covering their mouths and noses with their arms, almost unable to open their eyes due to the wind and sand. Chen Ji looked up, squinting, and saw the outline of a county city appear on the horizon.

Upon reaching the city gate, they found the gate of Tianshui County City tightly shut. The news of the battle at Guyuan had clearly not reached them yet. The armored soldiers on the city wall saw Chen Ji and the others approaching and immediately drew their bowstrings. "Who goes there?"

Chen Ji replied from a distance, "The Tiance Army has been defeated! We are escaping from Guyuan!"

The armored soldiers on the city wall said coldly, "How can you prove it? You escaped from Guyuan and you're still on horseback? Who are you trying to fool? Release the arrows!"

In an instant, arrows rained down from the city tower. If Chen Ji had not been alert and kept his distance, they would have likely been shot full of holes.

Li Xuan was about to reveal his identity, but Chen Ji held him back. "Don't say anything!"

Li Xuan was startled. "Why?"

Chen Ji didn't answer, but turned and beckoned to Qi Jianzhe.

Qi Jianzhe led his horse forward. "What's wrong, Master?"

Chen Ji glanced at him and said in a low voice, "Pass down the order. We are now merchants who escaped the disaster at Guyuan, having lost our goods. We are heading to Taiyuan Fu for refuge. Before we reach the capital, everyone is to address His Highness as 'young master'. Anyone who reveals His Highness's identity will be dealt with according to military law."

"Yes," Qi Jianzhe accepted the order and turned to inform everyone.

Chen Ji looked at the tightly shut city gate from afar, his eyebrows furrowed. The Crown Prince next to him asked, "Are you worried about another assassination attempt on the way back to the capital?"

Chen Ji cupped his hands and replied, "It may not necessarily happen, but it's better to be careful. I hope 'young master' will bear with it."

The Crown Prince smiled. "Right Siwei is considering my safety, there's no need to be so polite. Now that we can't enter the city, what should we do?"

"We wait," Chen Ji looked at the color of the sky. "With the great victory at Guyuan, the border army will definitely send someone to deliver the news. The city gate will open then."

Qi Jianzhe at his side muttered, "These Tianshui County guards are certainly alert, but what if they don't recognize the border army when they come?"

Zhang Xia explained from the side, "Deceiving open the city gate is always an important means of attacking a city, so Tianshui County must be guarded. But there's no need to worry. Border towns always have a three-layer verification method. First, there are twelve 'shadow pictures' hung inside the city gate tower. These pictures depict the appearances of the border town general, vice general, staff officer, and nine other key military personnel. One of these twelve people must be present. Second is the tiger tally seal. Third are three pre-agreed questions and three answers. These three methods require matching at least two to open the gate. If not, the guarding official will be beheaded on the spot, and their three clans exiled three thousand li."

The Crown Prince praised, "Miss Zhang Second is indeed learned and knowledgeable. Your reputation is well-deserved."

Chen Ji sat down outside the range of the arrows. "We wait. The border army won't delay for too long."

Everyone sat on the ground, exhausted. As the sun set in the west, a rider on a fast horse finally rushed from the direction of Guyuan. The armored soldier rode past Chen Ji and the others, drew his bow, and shot an arrow towards the Tianshui County city gate tower. "Great victory at Guyuan! The Tiance Army is executed! Six hundred li urgent! Quickly verify!"

The guarding official on the city tower held a torch and quickly took down the arrow. He unfolded the white paper wrapped around the arrow and clearly saw a large seal of the Guyuan general stamped on it!

"Quick, bring the shadow pictures!" the guarding official said hurriedly.

The guarding soldiers brought the shadow pictures and compared them with the official seal. They confirmed that every missing corner was exactly the same, then shouted down at the city, "How many drum sounds signal the end of the day's leaking?"

The border army below the city loudly answered, "Six hundred and eighty-nine sounds!"

The guarding official asked again, "If there is no night travel symbol?"

The border army answered, "Twenty-seven whips!"

The guarding official asked again, "What did you eat last night?"

The border army answered, "Elm tree flour!"

Qi Jianzhe's eyes widened. "What are these nonsensical questions?"

Zhang Xia explained, "The three questions and three answers are naturally agreed upon in advance with questions that outsiders can never answer."

Just as she finished speaking, a burst of cheers erupted from the city wall. "Guyuan wins! The Tiance Army is executed!"

"Guyuan wins!"

"Our dynasty is mighty!"

With a creaking sound, the main gate of Tianshui County opened. The guarding official lifted his official robe and ran down the city wall. Excitedly, he gathered in front of the border army's warhorse, pulled the reins on one side, and asked, "Did we really win?"

The border army impatiently said, "Get out of the way! This grandfather is waiting to change horses and send a six hundred li urgent message!"

The guarding official said, "Eh? Quick, quick, quick! Prepare two jin of mutton and two jin of cakes for the good man from Guyuan! Let him take it on the road!"

Chen Ji asked from afar, "Can we enter the city now?"

The guarding official did not have his previous enthusiasm. His face became cold. "Do you all have road permits?"

Chen Ji replied, "Lost in Guyuan, completely burned in the big fire."

The guarding official gave a cold laugh. "Then wait outside the gate."

At this moment, the border army spurred his horse back and said to the guarding official, "I recognize these people. They escaped from Guyuan this morning. Let them pass."

Chen Ji was startled, but he saw the border army cup his fists and bow to him and Li Xuan from a distance, then gallop into the city.

Chen Ji finally entered Tianshui County City, and the wind and sand subsided slightly.

Zhang Xia spurred her horse into Tianshui City, turned her head to look at the Tianshui City gate, and asked Chen Ji curiously, "You told everyone to hide their identities. Are you worried, as Lord Chen said, that someone might take this opportunity to carry out a struggle for the heir?"

Chen Ji nodded. After confirming that there were no people nearby, he recalled, "I have always not understood one thing: why did Hu Junxian suddenly call me to the city gate tower and tell me about recruiting and offering the city? There was no good reason."

Zhang Xia lowered her head in thought. "Mister Wang's letter arrived before we did, but he didn't see you early or late. He saw you precisely one day before the city was offered... Moreover, he actually never had the thought of recruiting you."

Chen Ji said, "Mm. That's right. He was actually using me to send a message to Longmen Inn: 'Now you can act'."

Zhang Xia suddenly realized, "But you didn't reveal it to the shopkeeper... Did you use that ear jar at Longmen Inn?"

Chen Ji nodded. "This time, not only Si Li Jian wants the Crown Prince dead, even the border army wants the Crown Prince dead."

Zhang Xia said in a low voice, "Fu Wang."

Chen Ji looked at the Crown Prince's back.

He had only known that the struggle for the heir was dangerous, but he didn't know where the danger lay.

He had heard of the Xuanwu Gate Incident, heard of the witchcraft disaster, heard of Hu Hai seizing the heir, heard of the chaos of the Eight Kings. He was very clear that the struggle for the heir was dangerous, but those stories from old paper piles were far from being real like this face-to-face encounter.

A country's heir apparent almost died inexplicably in a border town. It truly caught people off guard. If the Crown Prince had died here, history books would only record that the Crown Prince died for his country, and would fundamentally not consider it related to the struggle for the heir.

Perhaps this is the difference between history books and truth.

At this time, Li Xuan stopped his horse in front of an inn, turned his head, and looked at the Crown Prince. "Young master, shall we stay here today?"

The Crown Prince said casually, "This place is too close to the city gate, it will be noisy when the guards change shifts. Let's go a little further."

Li Xuan was silent.

The group walked another li, and Li Xuan again pointed to an inn and asked, "Young master, how about this place?"

The Crown Prince didn't look, as if he hadn't heard.

It wasn't until Chen Ji pointed to an inn and asked the Crown Prince, "Young master, how about this place?"

The Crown Prince said warmly, "Good."

Chen Ji greeted the Yulin Army soldiers to lead the horses into the stable, then explained to Li Xuan, "Lord Li, take some people to buy water bags and food. We will continue our journey early tomorrow... Remember to arrange a good night watch. If idle people approach the inn recklessly, kill them first."

"Understood," Li Xuan asked in a low voice, "Should we hire a carriage for His Highness?"

"No," Chen Ji shook his head. "We can change to a carriage after we leave Shanzhou. If someone comes to kill us, a carriage won't run fast."

Li Xuan asked no more questions.

Chen Liqin saw the two of them discussing matters in low voices and came over. Just as he was about to ask, Li Xuan had already led people away in a hurry.

He looked at Chen Ji again, wanting to ask Chen Ji about the next plan. But Chen Ji didn't even look at him, turned around and entered the inn, and used the silver given by the Crown Prince to book the entire inn.

Madam Liang silently observed from the end of the group. She saw that in less than a *shichen*, the subordinates of the Eastern Palace had completed the transfer of power.

Wang Gui said in a low voice, "Madam, Lord is clearly the highest ranking official. How can he tolerate Chen Ji acting as the host?"

Madam Liang said calmly, "These are the rules of the heavenly family. Regardless of official rank, high or low, regardless of status, noble or humble, whoever receives imperial favor holds the power."

She stepped over the threshold and waited in the main hall of the inn.

When the shopkeeper was arranging the guest rooms, Chen Ji originally planned to have several people share a room, but the Crown Prince suddenly spoke up. "Right Siwei has worked hard these days, he should also rest well. Let him have a separate room."

Chen Ji thought for a moment, cupped his hands, and replied, "Yes."

Madam Liang's eyes moved slightly. She looked at the Crown Prince, then her gaze turned towards Zhang Xia.

Deep night.

Chen Ji sat alone in the Tianzi Yihao room, silently reviewing the matters at Guyuan, trying to recall if there were any omissions.

With a creak, the door opened.

Xiao Man rolled up her sleeves, carrying a wooden basin. "What are you thinking about, young master?"

Chen Ji came back to his senses. "Nothing."

Xiao Man said, "Oh. Young master, wash your feet to relieve fatigue."

Saying that, she squatted in front of Chen Ji and reached out to help him take off his boots.

Chen Ji quickly withdrew his feet. "No need, I'll do it myself."

Xiao Man was puzzled. "Young master, what did I do wrong?"

Chen Ji said softly, "You didn't do anything wrong. It's just that you don't need to do these things anymore."

Xiao Man's eyes widened. "Young master, what are you talking about? I'm a maid, what would I do if I don't do these things... Do you want to drive me away?"

Chen Ji smiled. "Xiao Man, if you hadn't been sold as a maid since you were little, what would you have wanted to do the most?"

Xiao Man squatted in front of the wooden basin, resting her chin in her hands, thinking for a long time. Then she lowered her head and said softly, "If I hadn't become a maid at the age of nine, I should have stayed at home waiting to be married. Dad and Mom would have found a family for me, either a butcher, a tenant farmer, or sold me to someone's family as a concubine. It wouldn't have made any difference anyway."

Chen Ji's smile slowly faded. He was silent for a moment, then asked again, "Not to mention before, if it were now, what would you want to do the most?"

Xiao Man thought for a moment. "I want to help young master marry a noble daughter ah... Young master, what do you think of Miss Zhang Second? She's good-looking, smart, and..."

Chen Ji interrupted, "Not what you want to do for me, but what you yourself want to do."

Xiao Man was stunned for a long time, then said softly, "Thinking about these things is only for officials. We maids don't need to think about these things. Sister Liqiu said that maids shouldn't think about these things. The more you think, the more you feel the days are bitter. If you don't think, it doesn't matter."

Chen Ji said seriously, "You can think now."

The next moment, he took out a yellow paper from his sleeve. "I promised you that if we could leave Guyuan alive, I would help you get back your deed of sale. Xiao Man, you are no longer a maid, you no longer need to live humbly, you can have your own life."

Xiao Man was first startled. Her own life? Young master's words were strange. He hadn't said this before.

Then, she suddenly joyfully took the deed of sale. "Oh, when did you get this back, young master?"

Chen Ji explained, "I went back to Longmen Inn a step earlier than you all to get the luggage. I wanted to get this out of Madam Liang's luggage.

Xiao Man was full of joy. "I didn't expect young master to still remember."

Chen Ji shook his head. "I didn't specifically get the deed of sale for you. I was worried that after Chen Wenxiao died, Madam Liang would regret it, so I went to find the deed for the house and land that Aunt left behind. I just didn't expect that she didn't carry it with her."

Xiao Man muttered, "Those things are all locked up in the capital. Of course, she wouldn't carry them with her. And the deed for the house and land needs to be witnessed by the clan elder and village head before it can be exchanged at the official office. Getting it back is also useless... But, but where will I go after this?"

She had longed for this for many years, and now she was truly free, but she suddenly felt lost.

Chen Ji thought for a moment. "After we return to the capital, when I get Aunt's property back, you can be a shopkeeper. You can go to Drum Abdomen Building or Yujing Garden."

Xiao Man said in mock anger, "Young master really knows how to joke. Yujing Garden is a pleasure place in the Eight Great Alleys. What can a little girl like me manage there? If I go, I'll go to Drum Abdomen Building."

Chen Ji said sincerely, "Then just be the shopkeeper of Drum Abdomen Building."

Xiao Man looked at him, then lowered her small head again. "If I go, who will serve you? At that time, you won't eat well or wear warm clothes, and you'll still blame me."

Chen Ji teased, "If you don't want it, then give it back to me."

Xiao Man said hurriedly, "No, no!"

At this time, Zhang Xia and Zhang Zheng pushed the door open and entered.

Xiao Man hurriedly carried the wooden basin out, almost bumping into Zhang Zheng.

Zhang Zheng turned his head and said, "What are you rushing off to?"

Xiao Man went out the door, carrying the wooden basin, wandering in the corridor, not knowing where she should go for a while.

She put down the wooden basin and carefully unfolded her own deed of sale again.

She saw that it said, "The person establishing dependence should serve is Yao Man, whose body and descendants shall serve the Chen family masters generation after generation, and shall go to the Chen household when called, without delay or disobedience. If there is any situation of resisting service, etc., it shall be handled by the master, according to this document as the standard."

Yao Man.

She had almost forgotten her original name.

Xiao Man looked at the deed of sale and suddenly just wanted to leave right away, to be free from then on, no longer constrained. She was an official slave, but she still had the silver she had saved over the years. Wherever she went, she could live a good life!

But...

Xiao Man turned her head to look at Chen Ji's tightly shut room door. She couldn't just leave like this, that would be too heartless.

A moment later, her eyes flickered. "Helping young master do one thing before leaving is not considered heartless!"

She quietly went to Wang Gui's guest room. When she reached the door of the Di Zi Dinghao room, she took out a dagger from her sleeve and inserted it into the door seam, trying to pick open the door bolt from the seam.

But strangely, the room door was not locked.

Xiao Man felt something was wrong and immediately pushed the door open. Where was Wang Gui?

She held the dagger in her back hand, her killing intent circling the room. The bed was untouched, the cup on the table was also untouched. It didn't look like anyone had lived there at all!

Xiao Man furrowed her brows and went downstairs, finding Qi Jianzhe on duty. "Hey!"

Qi Jianzhe turned his head and saw it was Xiao Man, quickly smiling. "Miss Xiao Man, did Master call for me?"

Xiao Man said irritably, "I already said, my young master doesn't recognize you as a disciple! Let me ask you, have you seen Wang Gui?"

Qi Jianzhe recalled, "Yes, as soon as we settled down, he led a horse out, saying he wanted to help Madam Chen buy some things."

Xiao Man asked in a low voice, "When did he go?"

Qi Jianzhe answered, "It's been more than a *shichen*."

Xiao Man's heart sank. This scoundrel was actually so alert, he had run away ahead of time!

"Scoundrels live for a thousand years!" Xiao Man angrily went back to the guest room.

Chen Ji saw her like this and was puzzled. "Where did you go and what happened? Who provoked you?"

Xiao Man sat on a small stool, sulking, and said in a muffled voice, "I don't care."

Saying that, she shifted her buttocks, turning her back to Chen Ji and the others, thinking about how to eliminate Wang Gui after returning to the capital.

Thinking about it, Xiao Man suddenly stood up and placed the deed of sale back in Chen Ji's hand. "You keep this for me first. When I want it, you give it back to me."

Chen Ji was completely confused. He could only accept the deed of sale again. "What exactly is wrong with you?"

Xiao Man muttered, "Why is that Wang Gui so hard to kill? So many people died in Guyuan, and he didn't die. I just thought of going to kill him, but he still ran away."

Chen Ji was startled. "Ran away?"

Xiao Man said, "Mm. Too cunning."

Because of Xiao Man mentioning this matter, Zhang Xia also furrowed her brows. "All the servants in the Chen mansion died, except for him. It is indeed somewhat extraordinary. He was caught by the Tiance Army before, and he still didn't die."

Chen Ji's heart moved, and he suddenly asked, "After you were all caught hiding in the cellar, did the Tiance Army isolate and try to win you over separately?"

Zhang Xia shook her head. "No... No, that's not right. Wang Gui was the first one to be caught. It was about several dozen breaths later that the second person was caught. Several dozen breaths aren't enough to do anything."

Chen Ji said, "Mm. Don't think about these things first. Let's talk about the topic from just now."

Zhang Xia said to Chen Ji, "From Guyuan to the capital, passing through Qingyang, Tongchuan, Yuncheng, Taiyuan, and Huolu, it's a total of two thousand six hundred li. It's the first month now, and we'll probably reach the capital in the second month. Lord Chen urged the Crown Prince to leave quickly, actually worried that if he delayed further, he would miss Chen Wenzong's imperial examination."

Chen Ji was actually startled when he calculated the time.

Zhang Xia continued at this time, "On this road, I see Madam Liang and Wang Gui always secretly plotting something. After you go back, you might as well move out of the Chen mansion. Either live in my Zhang mansion or buy a small house. In short, it's better than staying at the Chen home..."

She saw that Chen Ji was distracted and asked curiously, "What are you thinking about?"

Chen Ji came back to his senses, somewhat lost. "I was just thinking that Master should be in Lushun. I don't know if they are living well."

Outside Lushun Port in the dark night, a two-masted ship was in the midst of the waves, approaching the port.

An old man stood at the bow of the ship, with his hands behind his back, letting the sea wind howl.

The sailors on the ship had just finished lowering the sails and were shouting slogans.

The old man, amidst the noise, silently looked at the pitch-black sea and the increasingly near port, then turned back to the ship's cabin.

Inside the ship's cabin, Liang Doger was snoring asleep on the bed, while Liang Maoer watched Zhu Yunxi, who was swinging a wooden knife again and again in the narrow cabin, sweating profusely.

Old Man Yao glanced at the three of them. "Prepare to go ashore. The people from the Military Strategy Department will meet us on shore and take us to the capital of the Jing Dynasty. Young master, I'll ask you one last time, do you regret it? If you regret it, no matter how the world floods, and no matter what dynasty's great cause, just be selfish, stay on the ship, and there is still time."

Zhu Yunxi heard the words, slowly put down the wooden knife in his hand, and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "No regrets."

Old Man Yao no longer persuaded him. "Then remember what you came to the Jing Dynasty to do. Only by enduring can you succeed. Go, there is no turning back."

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