Chapter 336: Long Time No See

It was early morning, before the roosters crowed.

Chen Ji opened his eyes in bed, his hand stroking the delicate satin quilt. He felt a peculiar discomfort.

Outside the bedchamber, Xiaoman woke from her small chair upon hearing the movement. Cradling a small black cat, she tentatively asked, "Young Master, are you awake?"

Chen Ji pulled back the quilt. "Xiaoman, please change this for a rough cotton quilt today."

Xiaoman looked puzzled. "Was Young Master uncomfortable sleeping? This satin quilt is very expensive; even wealthy ordinary families can't afford it."

Chen Ji chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Perhaps I don't deserve such fine things. Every time my hand touches the satin, it snags the threads."

Xiaoman suddenly understood. "The satin is very delicate, woven from fine threads. Aristocrats don't have calluses on their hands, so they don't feel uncomfortable. But Young Master has too many calluses, so they snag the satin threads... What kind of noble young master has so many calluses? They don't do manual labor."

Chen Ji smiled. "I'm certainly not a noble young master."

He got out of bed, put on his boots, rolled up his sleeves, and headed out after picking up a carrying pole from the adjoining room. A light mist clung to the bluestone path of the Chen family estate. The curved pole rested on his shoulder, and the cool morning breeze brushed his face, giving him an indescribable sense of ease.

The Chen Manor's servants and maids were already awake, busy preparing hot water and breakfast for the various courtyards.

A maid approached, bowing slightly upon seeing Chen Ji carrying the pole.

Xiaoman, dressed in a pale green ruqun, followed closely behind Chen Ji. Noticing the maids' suppressed smiles, she quietly advised, "Young Master, perhaps you shouldn't fetch water anymore. The servants in the manor are secretly calling you a 'mud-legged rustic' because of this."

Chen Ji said indifferently, "Ignore them. I simply enjoy fetching water."

He reached the wellhead in Qinzheng Garden and used the wooden-handled crank to lower the bucket into the well. Even the sound of the crank was dull and steady, strangely reassuring.

Seeing that she couldn't dissuade him, Xiaoman changed the subject. "Young Master, you're attending a literary gathering at the Qi residence tonight. Which clothes would you like to wear? I'll press them for you in advance."

When Xiaoman mentioned 'pressing,' she meant using a three-foot-long copper iron filled with agarwood powder to iron the clothes. Clothes pressed this way would not only be smooth but also carry the scent of agarwood.

Chen Ji thought for a moment. "I'll wear the black one with the overlapping front."

Cradling the black cat, Xiaoman mused, "If you ask me, you should get some new clothes made at Liangji on Chessboard Street as soon as possible. You're an important figure now, and you'll definitely be attending more literary gatherings and banquets. Constantly wearing those two old outfits just won't do. The officials and nobles in the capital are very perceptive; they'll judge how to treat you based on your jade pendant and clothes. If you wear the same outfit to this gathering as you did to the last, they'll think you're shabby and only have one presentable garment."

Chen Ji burst out laughing. "What kind of important figure am I, a mere Hundred-Commander of the Imperial Guards? Let them look down on me if they wish. Have you forgotten what I told you? We need to save money, lots and lots of money."

Xiaoman stood by the well, eyes wide. "Young Master, didn't you just take control of the Eight Great Hutongs and Liulichang? You'll be collecting a lot of protection money every month from there! It's the most prosperous area in the outer city, far more so than anywhere else."

Chen Ji patiently explained, "We should be able to collect over ten thousand taels of silver each month, but nine-tenths of that has to go to the Zhang family. The remaining thousand-plus taels also need to support our men. To control the outer city's businesses, we can't do it without a workforce."

Xiaoman said dejectedly, "So all that effort was for nothing?"

Chen Ji continued cranking the well, pulling up the bucket. He smiled and said, "No, it wasn't for nothing, Xiaoman. With people, you can get money. There are plenty of ways."

Xiaoman mused, "Young Master's way of doing business is quite different from Auntie's."

Chen Ji asked curiously, "How is it different?"

Xiaoman thought for a moment. "Auntie relies on careful planning and budgeting, while you rely on... seizing things."

Chen Ji paused, then chuckled. "Careful budgeting is hardly as quick as seizing money."

Xiaoman mumbled, "Anyway, remember to come back early from the yamen this afternoon, at least to change into something more presentable. Young Master, tonight's Qi family literary gathering won't be simple; it's definitely related to your marriage."

Chen Ji stopped his work. "Oh?"

Xiaoman said mysteriously, "I heard the manor servants say that Madam has been to the Qi residence several times these past few days, and Qi Xianshu, the eldest master of the Qi family's second branch, has also visited our Chen Manor. It should be related to your marriage. At tonight's gathering, Elder Qi probably wants the Qi family women to observe you discreetly from the shadows. That's how noble families do things."

Chen Ji hummed in acknowledgement.

Xiaoman said worriedly, "I inquired with Sister Duanwu earlier. The Qi family currently has three unmarried young women: two legitimate daughters, Qi Zhaoning and Qi Zhaoyun, and one concubine's daughter, Qi Zhenzhu. I'm not sure which one the Qi family intends to betroth to you. In terms of status, it should be Qi Zhenzhu, but if you're adopted into the main branch..."

At this point, Xiaoman secretly observed Chen Ji's expression. "Then it would definitely be one of the legitimate daughters they'd betroth to you."

Chen Ji remained silent, focused on cranking the well and drawing water.

Xiaoman continued, "I've already found out everything for you. Qi Zhaoyun supposedly has a sweetheart, a scholar from the South named Huang Que. As for Qi Zhaoning, she's known for being unyielding and is the most spoiled noble young lady in the capital. She's driven away several private tutors from the Qi family."

Chen Ji smiled. "That formidable?"

Xiaoman snorted. "Formidable? The most formidable woman in the capital is Second Sister. I only just found out a few days ago that she used to have a nickname: everyone called her the 'Rouge Tigress'."

"Rouge Tigress?" Chen Ji was surprised.

"Yes," Xiaoman said, her two small canine teeth showing as she smiled. "They say Second Sister is difficult to deal with. She's read all thirty thousand volumes in the Imperial Academy's library, except for the 'Admonitions for Women,' and she's like a female Hanlin academician. At the literary gathering at the Xu residence in the 26th year of Jianing, she used her commentary on the Doctrine of the Mean to debate her opponent into silence. The loser had to swallow three spoonfuls of paper ash. Second Sister said at the time that this was called 'digesting the ancients to enlighten the present,' helping those scholars grow some brains."

Chen Ji was stunned. "That fierce?"

Xiaoman laughed even more cheerfully. "At first, scholars were willing to invite her to literary gatherings, but later they stopped daring to send invitations... I don't know how she changed later, but her temper became a bit gentler."

Chen Ji bent down, picked up the carrying pole, and started walking back. Xiaoman cautiously probed, "Young Master, do you plan to refuse the Qi family's marriage proposal? I'm afraid you might not have a choice."

Chen Ji said calmly, "If I can't refuse, then I won't. It's better to settle the marriage early so we can retrieve Auntie's properties."

"Oh, right," Xiaoman nodded. "Once the engagement is set, Madam will have no reason to withhold them. Young Master, do you plan to leave Ning Dynasty once you rescue the Princess?"

Chen Ji hummed in affirmation.

Xiaoman's eyes darted around. "Then, when you leave, could you leave Auntie's properties to me? You won't need them anyway."

Chen Ji burst into laughter. "Alright, I'll leave them all to you."

Xiaoman's eyes sparkled, her mind clearly engaged in some small scheme.

Chen Ji finished preparing and left, arriving at the side gate of the Chen Manor. A servant, seeing him, quickly pushed the gate open. "Greetings, Third Young Master."

The moment the gate swung open, the servant froze, instinctively taking a step back.

Chen Ji was also startled upon stepping out of the side gate. Dozens of Imperial Guards stood in a dense formation outside, whispering among themselves. Upon seeing him emerge, they immediately stood at attention.

Their formidable aura, just unleashed, was palpable. Each of them, with chiseled faces, intoned, "Lord Chen."

The Chen Manor servant was terrified and at a loss, unsure whether he should call for the resident Grand Official.

Chen Ji glanced at him. "It's alright, don't panic."

He stepped over the threshold, and the Imperial Guards followed him out of the alley. Only then did the servant let out a long breath and quickly closed the side gate of the Chen Manor.

Outside the gate, Chen Ji smiled and asked, "Why have all of you come?"

Li Xuan stood still and cupped his hands to Chen Ji. "This time, we all relied on you to get out of trouble. Not everyone has the ability to enter and exit the Imperial Prison twice."

Qi Zhenzhu enthusiastically said, "Master, how did you do it? Everyone thought we were going to suffer in the Imperial Prison again, but in the blink of an eye, everyone got a promotion. Brother-in-law became the Imperial Guard Commander, and I became a Commandant! Master, do you know that the position of Imperial Guard Commander has been vacant for seventeen years!"

Chen Ji asked, perplexed, "That long?"

Duo Bao sighed. "Lord Chen, we offended you many times in Guyuan. Fortunately, you hold no grudges..."

Lin Yanchu said, "Lord Chen, following Chen Wenren before involved many frustrations. Breaking out with you this time makes it feel like life wasn't wasted."

Chen Ji raised both hands. "Stop, stop! You're scaring me like this."

Qi Zhenzhu burst into hearty laughter. "See, I told you! My master isn't one for formalities. I told you not to be so formal and overly polite. Tonight is my Qi family's literary gathering. I've already told my father that while the scholars are chatting in White Crane Hall, my Qi family will host a separate banquet for our Imperial Guard brothers in the Mountain and River Hall next door. We'll have 32-year-old aged Huadiao wine ready, and we won't leave until we're drunk!"

Amidst the laughter, Chen Ji suddenly froze.

A familiar figure, wearing a straw hat and straw sandals, with gray cloth trousers rolled up halfway, looked like a coachman who had just entered the city.

Li Xuan followed his gaze but only saw carriages and horses on West Chang'an Street. There was nothing where Chen Ji was looking. "Chen Ji, what's wrong?"

Chen Ji smiled and said, "It's nothing. I just remembered I forgot something. You all go report for duty at the Commander's Residence first. I'll go back for a moment."

With that, he turned and left without a backward glance, disappearing into the continuous flow of carriages and horses.

As a carriage passed by, Chen Ji, with a calm expression, turned into Shibei Hutong, then turned right again into Shuangmazhuang Hutong.

The next moment, the coachman at the front of the alley stopped and turned around. "Lord, long time no see!"

Then he lifted his head, a wide smile beneath his straw hat.

Si Cao Gui.

It was Si Cao Gui, the one who had fled to Jing Dynasty with Wu Hongbiao.

The man was dressed simply, exactly as he had been in Luocheng, as if Chen Ji had been separated from him for only a few days, not several months.

Chen Ji had thought he would never see him again, but now the man had returned to the South, bringing with him the dark shadow of Jing Dynasty's military intelligence.