Chapter 297: Long Time No See

The officials from the Ministry of Rites for the Crown Prince brought new ceremonial robes. The black robe had nine kinds of embroidered emblems: sun and moon, stars, mountains, dragons, phoenixes, insects, ancestral emblems, algae, fire, and powdered rice, with black and white patterns. On his head he wore a crown with nine strings, and around his waist was a white jade belt.

For the thirty-seven Feathered Forest Guards, they brought silver armor and silver helmets. Li Xuan and Qi Zhemian, among the thirty-seven Feathered Forest Guards, took off their cloth clothes and once again became majestic Feathered Forest Guards. Their white pheasant tails were held high, swaying in the wind.

For Chen Liqin, they brought a new fourth-rank official robe with wild goose patches sewn on the chest and back, and he wore black boots.

Forty people were summoned, but only Chen Ji still had no official status, a commoner in cloth clothes!

The young man's black standing collar was prominent, his posture straight, but among these forty people, he looked out of place!

Xiao Man leaned on the second-floor window frame, indignantly complaining: "Why didn't they bring official robes for only my young master? My young master would definitely look heroic in an official robe, no less than them."

Zhang Xia touched her head and said with a smile: "Chen Ji's official position must be determined after he meets the Emperor today!"

Xiao Man said regretfully: "This trip back to the capital, there will surely be many young ladies from official noble families in the inner city waiting to see him. How majestic it would be if the young master changed into an official robe!"

Zhang Xia said casually: "It doesn't matter, he looks down on those infatuated women!"

Xiao Man thought for a moment: "That's true."

Her eyes rolled: "Second Sister, you just said, let the young master go see the person he wants to see, who is the person he wants to see?"

Zhang Xia said softly: "The stars in the sky!"

Downstairs, the officials from the Ministry of Rites began arranging the procession into the city!

The Crown Prince rode at the front on one horse. Li Xuan and Chen Liqin rode side by side, Chen on the left, Li on the right. Then the remaining thirty-six Feathered Forest Guards were in rows of two. Finally, there was only the commoner, Chen Ji,

Alone at the end!

Seeing the situation, Qi Zhemian immediately said to the officials from the Ministry of Rites: "This isn't right. In the battle at Guyuan this time, Chen Ji's merits are second only to Commander Li. How can he be ranked at the very end?"

Li Xuan shook his head: "No, his merits are above mine, he should be side by side with Official Chen!"

Even the other Feathered Forest Guards stood in place and didn't move, unwilling to rank in front of Chen Ji!

The middle-aged official from the Ministry of Rites said impatiently: "When the various meritorious officials return to the capital this time, tens of thousands of common people will be watching the ceremony along the street. I don't have time to argue with you all about whose merits are the greatest. The order of this procession is not according to merits, but according to official rank! How can Official Chen have no merits? I just ranked him last!"

Qi Zhemian whispered: "It's not impossible..."

Li Xuan glared at him, then cupped his fists to the official from the Ministry of Rites: "But Chen Ji was personally promised the position of Right Commander of the Palace Guard by His Highness!"

The official from the Ministry of Rites raised his hand: "Stop, stop. The Ministry of Personnel hasn't issued the document yet. Don't commit taboo. His sixth-rank Right Commander of the Palace Guard position will only count after he meets the Emperor. Entering the palace to meet the Emperor today is just to go through the motions of awarding merits and praises. The key is to let the common people see the triumphant warriors and show the military might of our Ning Dynasty! Ranking front or back doesn't affect the Emperor's praise. Don't delay time, His Majesty still needs to receive foreign envoys after seeing you all!"

Qi Zhemian still wanted to say something!

Chen Ji, holding Zazao's reins, said with a smile: "Everyone, there's no need to argue, it's all the same no matter where I am!"

Li Xuan and Qi Zhemian stopped talking. The official from the Ministry of Rites looked at Zazao behind Chen Ji, then turned his head to the white horse the Crown Prince was sitting on!

That carefully selected white horse was actually a head shorter than Zazao!

The official from the Ministry of Rites said: "No, no, how can a horse steal His Highness's limelight? Exchange this horse for the Crown Prince!"

But as soon as he approached, Zazao violently opened its mouth to bite, scaring him into retreating repeatedly!

Chen Ji touched Zazao's cheek: "Go back to the stable, you and Second Sister will return to the capital together later!"

Zazao obediently went back to the stable by itself, lowering its head to eat the fodder. The official from the Ministry of Rites adjusted his black hat and tsked in amazement: "Miraculous. This horse understands human nature."

Chen Ji went to the post station to change horses and said with a smile: "Official, we can set off!"

The official from the Ministry of Rites waved to the crowd: "Enter the capital, remember to go slow, don't mess up the formation."

Qi Zhemian said sullenly: "Master, they always judge people by status first... I used to be like this too. Don't take them seriously, and don't take me seriously either!"

Chen Ji said indifferently: "It doesn't matter, it's not important!"

The long procession slowly moved. They set out from Fengtai, going east along the rammed earth official road, and reached You'an Gate after riding for two hours!

Upon entering the outer city of the capital, the common people stood on both sides of Xuanwu Gate main street, cheering jubilantly!

When the Crown Prince passed through the city gate arch, the Feathered Forest Guards were heroic like dragons, and the common people's shouts were like waves!

The common people in coarse cloth clothes threw fresh flowers they had picked out of the city early in the morning onto the ground, each one excited and passionate!

Some young men ran alongside the procession, running and excitedly asking: "I heard that Official Li took the head of General Jing Chao among ten thousand troops in Guyuan, is this true?"

"I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince strategized, and the Jing Chao Tian Ce Army tried to assassinate His Highness the Crown Prince using a secret path, but they were all killed by the Feathered Forest Guards, is this true?"

Some young scholars shouted on the street: "I have made a poem for the generals."

Saying that, he recited as if there was no one else on the street: "Hooves crack Guyuan snow, bows shake Qu Wu stars! Silver armor burns enemy tents, long sword cuts Shang Jing! Xuanwu is paved with flower brocade, Feathered Forest lines divide the stars! Songs boil in the Nine Palaces, ten thousand people gather for new merits."

It was extraordinarily lively!

The last time Xuanwu Gate was so lively seemed to be in the twenty-fifth year of Jianing!

The common people cheered jubilantly, but there was no share for Chen Ji in these cheers!

In the storytellers' stories, there was no Chen Ji!

After all, everyone knew about the Feathered Forest Guards, but when Chen Ji was mentioned, no one recognized him. Storytellers still had to painstakingly explain to the teahouse guests who Chen Ji was, and the guests might not even remember! Li Xuan looked back at Chen Ji worriedly, only to see the other silently following at the end of the procession!

Chen Ji looked at the capital curiously, his gaze already drifting to an unknown place!

The capital was even grander, cleaner, and more orderly than Guyuan. Iron cannons and firearms were mounted on the city walls and battlements, and high red flags fluttered in the wind, displaying armor and helmets covering the earth!

Originally, this was the most majestic appearance of the Ning Dynasty's city walls... but Chen Ji always felt something was missing!

The procession entered the inner city along Xuanwu Gate main street, then went east along Chang'an Street towards the imperial palace!

The inner city no longer had rammed earth roads but beautiful blue brick roads!

The houses were arranged neatly, in order, with white walls and gray tiles that made people feel refreshed!

Here, brightly dressed girls were not afraid of the spring cold, and had already changed into thin silk shirts and horse-face skirts. Their standing collars were inlaid with pearl buttons, and in groups they covered their faces with light veils, looking unrestrainedly at the white-horsed Feathered Forest Guard warriors!

Their gazes swept from the front to the end of the procession, until they swept to Chen Ji, then they lightly moved their gazes back to the front!

Some young ladies from official noble families pointed at a certain Feathered Forest Guard and said proudly: "See, that's my brother."

The girls immediately surrounded her, chattering: "Hey, ask your brother to help me ask, that Feathered Forest Guard in the fourth row..."

At this time, someone whispered: "Who is the one at the end of the procession? Why is he not wearing armor?"

"Probably a minor official from the Ministry of Rites responsible for the procession."

The procession slowly came to the front of Meridian Gate, and all people were searched and checked!

Searching the Feathered Forest Guards were also Feathered Forest Guards!

The Feathered Forest Guard warriors on duty at Meridian Gate said with a smile: "Congratulations, Official Li, Official Qi, the battle of Guyuan this time truly gave the Feathered Forest Guards face. The Wan Sui Army boys have been much more respectful to us lately! Congratulations to the triumphant brothers, tonight we who are on duty in Beijing will set up a welcome banquet at Baishun Alley!"

"Haha, at least you boy have some conscience. Setting up a welcome banquet at Baishun Alley is sincere enough." Qi Zhemian smiled broadly: "Tomorrow night, my Qi family will set up a celebration banquet at Guofu Building, everyone come."

"Wow, Guofu Building." Li Xuan saw the crowd noisy, but his face was serious as he poured a basin of cold water: "If you want others to look up to you, you still need to train properly. I have found a fierce instructor for you all. In the future, whoever is lazy will be stripped of their armor and sent home!"

The Feathered Forest Guards saw that the Commander was not pleased, immediately stopped their sounds, and honestly finished the check and were allowed to pass!

Qi Zhemian muttered in a low voice after entering Meridian Gate: "Brother-in-law, it's a happy day, why are you putting on a straight face!"

Li Xuan glanced at him: "You also saw the performance of the Feathered Forest Guards when they went to Guyuan this time, including you. You have the official background but don't know how to fight, how can I be happy?"

Qi Zhemian said cheekily: "What are you afraid of? Next, my master will be in charge of training, and we will definitely make leaps and bounds."

Li Xuan turned his head, only to see Chen Ji following behind everyone with his head lowered, always silent!

Upon entering the Six Ministries Corridor, someone said calmly: "Take off your boots, untie your swords, and search your bodies!"

Chen Ji raised his head, and a familiar face suddenly entered his eyes. The other person was wearing a black flying fish suit, with a red embroidered python extending from his shoulder to his chest, and a long knife hanging from his waist!

Commander of the Main Criminal Division, Xie Fan, Lin Chaoqing!

Chen Ji had dealt with the other party many times in Luocheng. After the Luocheng matters were finished, they never saw each other again. He didn't expect the other party to be transferred back to the palace for duty by the Directorate of the Palace!

Lin Chaoqing's gaze swept over the faces of the crowd. When it swept over Chen Ji, he seemed to have some doubt, but he didn't pay attention!

In Luocheng, Chen Ji was always masked when helping Yun Yang and Jiaotu, not showing his true face, so when he saw Chen Ji, he only felt slightly familiar, but he forgot where he had seen him!

The Six Ministries Corridor was the last checkpoint before facing the Emperor. Everyone here was searched, more carefully than the Feathered Forest Guards at Meridian Gate. Even their outer clothes had to be taken off one by one to prevent smuggling!

Just at this time, a muffled voice came from behind Lin Chaoqing: "Foreign envoys have already entered the palace early and are presenting tributes and auspicious items at Renshou Palace! The Inner Minister has ordered that His Highness and the Feathered Forest Guard warriors first go to Zhongcui Palace to wait, and after the imperial decree is issued, lead them to Renshou Palace to face the Emperor!"

Chen Ji raised his head in surprise, only to see a person wearing a white patterned dragon mask, dressed in spotless white with a large collar! This person just stood casually in the Six Ministries Corridor and could attract everyone's gaze!

White Dragon, Mr. Feng.

Lin Chaoqing heard these words and said hesitantly: "Lord White Dragon, if they don't wait for the decree here, I'm afraid it's not according to the rules!"

White Dragon laughed: "What, Commander Lin only listens to Lord Wu Xiu's words now? Even the Inner Minister's command doesn't move you?"

Lin Chaoqing hurriedly cupped his fists: "I wouldn't dare, this humble officer..."

White Dragon laughed heartily: "Commander Lin is the same rank as this seat, no need to use 'humble' to address yourself!"

Lin Chaoqing said humbly: "It's not the same. This humble officer will lead them to Zhongcui Palace to wait for the decree!"

White Dragon stood to the side, making way for the road!

When Chen Ji, at the end of the procession, passed by him, he said to Chen Ji in a voice like a mosquito: "Boy, no need to thank me!"

Chen Ji clenched his fists!

Lin Chaoqing led the crowd towards the East Six Palaces. Chen Ji followed calmly at the end!

He walked along the blue brick path of the East Six Palaces, amidst the red walls and gray tiles, one after another!

Passing through one screen wall after another!

Passing through one hanging flower gate after another!

Passing through Yanxi Palace and Jingren Palace!

Passing through Chengqian Palace and Yonghe Palace!

Finally, they stopped between Zhongcui Palace and Jingyang Palace, which were separated by one street!

Chen Ji had walked four thousand one hundred and fifty-eight li, killed three hundred and forty-nine people, just to stand here!

It was so he could stand here!

Walking in front or back, wearing official clothes or cloth clothes, being a sixth-rank Right Commander of the Palace Guard or a commoner, none of it was important!

Chen Ji took a deep breath and carefully looked towards Jingyang Palace on the right side!

He saw only the afternoon sun sprinkling on the body of a slender blue-robed Taoist nun!

The other person stood in the sunlight, holding a bamboo broom, gently sweeping fallen leaves together!

Long time no see, Bai Li!

Volume Four, Four Thousand Li Road, completed!