Chapter 380

The Daoist nuns of Jingyang Palace looked at Bai Li with envy.

In this deep palace, being able to form a connection with a noble person meant a more comfortable life, even if that connection was only through their pet. They then looked at Wuyun in Bai Li's arms, wondering how Bai Li had gotten so lucky. Why had this little creature, of all things, jumped into Bai Li's arms instead of theirs?

A eunuch whispered to the Empress, "Your Majesty, Lord Wu Xiu has already ordered the Jie Fan Imperial Guards to be ready. It is time to depart."

The Empress acknowledged with a sound and turned to leave, but then heard Wuyun suddenly hiss! She looked back, just in time to see Wuyun baring its teeth at Xuan Zhen, its ears flattened against its head, full of hostility.

The Empress was a little surprised. She looked up and observed Xuan Zhen. "What happened to Reverend Xuan Zhen's face?"

Before Xuan Zhen could answer, Aunt Yuan Jin had already cupped her hands and said, "The Reverend called the 'Mountain Lord' a little beast and tried to hit it with a whisk. I, your servant, slapped her as a punishment!"

The Empress said sternly, "Yuan Jin, how could you? The Reverend, who is in charge of Jingyang Palace, is a figure who communicates with heaven and earth. How can you punish her so casually?"

Yuan Jin bowed. "It was my recklessness, Your Majesty!"

The Empress softened her expression and consoled Xuan Zhen. "Reverend, rest assured. After today's Silkworm Goddess sacrifice, I will certainly punish Yuan Jin. I see your face is swollen. You don't need to exert yourself with the three offerings today. Stay in Jingyang Palace and recover properly."

Xuan Zhen's expression changed. "Your Majesty, I am fine!"

The Empress said lightly, "Reverend, it wouldn't be very good if outsiders saw you in your current state, would it?"

Yuan Jin calmly said, "Quickly, kneel and thank Her Majesty!"

Xuan Zhen hesitated for two breaths, then knelt on the ground. "Thank you for Your Majesty's care. I pray for Your Majesty's good health!"

The Empress turned and walked out, the huge, dark blue hem of her ceremonial robe trailing on the ground like a fan. "Let's depart!"

The eunuch called out loudly, "Depart!"

The vast palace seemed to suddenly come alive. The Jie Fan Imperial Guards lined up in two rows, guarding the Empress on both sides. In front, palace maids carried golden incense burners, leading the way. Behind, female officials held the Empress's golden insignia, which rattled as it moved, signaling everyone to be silent and to step aside.

Once the Empress had left the palace corridor, the Supervisor of the Sacred Palace hurried to urge, "Quickly, as I taught you, form two rows behind the procession."

Xuan Zhen stood at the entrance of Jingyang Palace, looking at Bai Li with venomous resentment.

Bai Li ignored her, quietly trailing at the very end of the procession, holding Wuyun. The further away from the Empress's palanquin, the better!

Zhu Lingyun walked ahead of her. She turned her face slightly and asked, "Sister, those blue verses of yours..."

Bai Li calmly replied, "Those were originally written for you!"

Zhu Lingyun froze slightly, her expression darkening. "Sister, I'm sorry!"

Bai Li gave no response.

Zhu Lingyun's eyes reddened. "Sister, Xuan Zhen snatched those blue verses and burned them!"

Bai Li said in a low voice, "You had a chance to tell me!"

Zhu Lingyun argued vehemently, "Xuan Zhen said that if I told you about this, she would replace the manager with Liu Ping'e. You don't know how cruel Liu Ping'e is; if she became the manager, she would never let me go!"

Bai Li interrupted, "Lingyun, I warned you. Xuan Zhen has ill intentions. This current outcome is exactly what she wanted! She wanted to turn us sisters against each other, and she succeeded!"

Zhu Lingyun quickly said, "Sister, I'll listen to you from now on!"

Bai Li interrupted again. "Lingyun!"

"Yes?"

Bai Li said softly, "Do you remember that every time you got into trouble at the academy, I was the one who took the blame for you? When we were at Donglin Academy, I cooked for you and brother. You wanted to wear my clothes, my jewelry, use my rouge, and I always let you, indulged you!"

"But Lingyun, I've indulged and accommodated you for over ten years. Yesterday was fine, tomorrow will be fine, but today, it's not!"

At this moment, the long procession exited the North An Gate of the Forbidden City, passing through the vermilion palace gate. For every row of palace maids that emerged, Imperial Guards on horseback would ride alongside them, guarding both flanks.

When it was Bai Li's turn, she walked into the long shadow of the city gate archway, holding Wuyun. She inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly. Then inhaled deeply again!

"I've come to see you!"

The next moment, as she stepped from the shadow of the gate archway into the light, the Imperial Guards, who had been waiting outside the North An Gate, rode slowly alongside her. They wore silver armor, white feathered helmets, white cloaks, and carried Sun and Moon Star banners. The more than two hundred Imperial Guards, with their pure white cloaks and their vermilion banners fluttering in their hands, looked like a roadside full of blooming flowers!

Bai Li couldn't help but look up. The Imperial Guard beside her also looked down, his lips moved, silently uttering, "Don't be afraid!"

"Chen Ji!"

Bai Li's eyes reddened.

The procession moved slowly. However fast Bai Li walked, Chen Ji rode his horse just as fast. Both restrained themselves from speaking, walking side-by-side along the bluestone path. Bai Li heard no other sounds, only the rhythmic thud of hooves beside her. The world seemed to contain no one else; only the two of them walked side by side, and even Wuyun was discreetly quiet.

On the long street, Chen Ji wanted to find an opportunity to speak with Bai Li alone, but there were people all around them, and Bai Li wasn't even allowed to speak. Further ahead were Shuntian Mansion Street and Andingmen Avenue. After leaving the city gate and following the procession for another three li along the official road, the Daoist nuns of Jingyang Palace would follow the Empress into the Altar of the First Silkworm, while the Imperial Guards could only stand guard outside the Altar.

Chen Ji carefully recalled in his mind, but he couldn't find an opportunity or a place to speak with Bai Li. He could risk speaking to Bai Li; the consequence would just be a reprimand for him. But if Bai Li broke the rules, she would likely pay a great price!

Just then, Chen Ji suddenly spoke, addressing the Imperial Guard in front of him. "Lin Yanchu!"

Lin Yanchu, holding the Sun and Moon Star banner, turned back in surprise. "What are your orders, sir?"

Chen Ji smiled. "Have you ever been to Guyuan?"

Lin Yanchu cautiously reminded him, "Sir, let's not chat right now..."

Chen Ji ignored his reminder and continued speaking, "If you travel north from Luocheng, you first pass through Mengcheng Relay Station, then travel for three days to Jin City, and another three days to Dayuan Prefecture! Once there, you'll need to swap your horses for camels. There are clever merchants who specifically wait outside the city gates for this business! Camels smell bad, but their endurance is much greater than horses..."

"Once you reach Guyuan, it's like entering a secluded paradise! The attire in Guyuan City is different from the Central Plains. The people there like to wear colorful stones as adornments on their foreheads, ears, and necks. They are as passionate as a burning fire! The most interesting thing is that the people there are like stubborn, smelly, hard stones! If possible, going beyond that to see the Western Regions would also be nice!"

"To the east is the great sea. It's said that on the other side of the sea..."

Lin Yanchu was baffled. He had no idea why Chen Ji suddenly started talking about this, and could only reluctantly respond, "Sir, if I get the chance, I will go and see!"

Only Bai Li knew that Chen Ji was speaking to her, and only she understood.

At this moment, the Supervisor of the Sacred Palace heard the commotion. He lifted the hem of his official robe and scurried over. "Who was just talking? Didn't I tell you not to speak carelessly?" This person was far away and mistakenly thought that the female Daoists of Jingyang Palace were talking with the Imperial Guards.

Du Miao quickly explained, "Reporting to Supervisor, we weren't speaking. That Imperial Guard was chatting with a colleague!"

The Supervisor of the Sacred Palace followed Du Miao's gaze to Chen Ji and said in a deep voice, "How can you be so undisciplined? What is your name? I will report this to your Imperial Guard Commander!"

Wuyun meowed, as if complaining, "This person said this morning that he would punish the princess!"

Chen Ji suddenly reined in his horse. He sat on his horse, looking down at the Supervisor of the Sacred Palace.

The Supervisor of the Sacred Palace said angrily, "I'm speaking to you. What is your name?"

The next moment, Chen Ji suddenly raised his horsewhip and heavily struck the Supervisor of the Sacred Palace across the face. "You are obstructing the Empress's palanquin! Step aside!"

There was a sharp crack! The horsewhip left a deep red welt on the Supervisor's face.

In the procession, the Jie Fan Imperial Guards were vigilant. Lin Chaoqing was riding at the very front of the procession. Along Gulou Street, there were also secret agents from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs mingling in the crowd. Chen Ji saw Xuan She, draped in a large black cloak, and Bao Hou, wearing a wooden mask. They, along with the female Daoists of Jingyang Palace, all looked over.

The long street suddenly fell silent. One was a Supervisor of the Sacred Palace, a fourth-rank official! The other was an Imperial Guard Centurion, a sixth-rank official! No one expected Chen Ji to be so arrogant and defiant!

Bai Li looked up at the young man on the warhorse. The fire she had seen in his eyes at their first meeting was still burning.

Wuyun meowed, "Fierce."

The Supervisor of the Sacred Palace took a while to recover. It wasn't until the burning pain penetrated his mind that he lowered his voice and rasped hoarsely, "You scoundrel, how dare you? I will report you to the Grand Counselor! I will report you to His Majesty!"

Chen Ji calmly said, "Go ahead, report me wherever you wish!"

The Supervisor of the Sacred Palace angrily asked, "What is your name?"

Chen Ji turned his horse to follow the procession. "Chen Ji, from Fuyou Street!"

The sky had fully brightened. The procession had just exited the Anding Gate. On the Anding Gate tower, Bai Long stood alone with his hands behind his back, quietly watching the procession head north. He watched the young man below the city tower, who had only just managed to come this far by restraining his youthful impetuousness. But it was merely restrained, not extinguished!

On the official road, Bai Li, holding Wuyun, walked side by side with Chen Ji. The sound of hooves was very close. She felt as if she could hear Chen Ji's breathing. She actually wanted to ask, "What if the Supervisor of the Sacred Palace seeks revenge later? Can you handle it? Will there be any danger? How have you been doing recently? Do you have seasonal clothes? Did you wear the clothes I ordered for you?"

But she couldn't ask any of it aloud. Yet Bai Li wasn't sad. This was good enough for now. If the Altar of the First Silkworm were thirty, three hundred, or even three thousand li further, it would be even better!

Meanwhile, Chen Ji looked at the simple wooden hairpin in Bai Li's hair. His fingers caressed the plain silver hairpin hidden in his sleeve, but he didn't know how to give it to her! There was no opportunity!

With the Altar of the First Silkworm now in sight, Wuyun meowed in Bai Li's arms, "There's a high-ranking official near the Empress, named Hu Yuanjin. That woman is incredibly malicious. Not only does she not care for cats, but her cultivation level is also extremely high! With her around, I can't even get out of Kunning Palace. Can you find a way to get rid of her?"

Wuyun continued, "Her Majesty the Empress once said she wanted to go to Jingyang Palace to look after the two daughters of Prince Jing, but that malicious Hu Yuanjin stopped her."

Chen Ji noticed Wuyun's deep resentment towards Hu Yuanjin, but he could do nothing about her.

Wuyun meowed again, "Prince Fu visited Kunning Palace a few days ago. He said he didn't want to contend for the crown prince position, but Her Majesty the Empress disagreed! The Emperor rarely goes to Kunning Palace, but he often has Hu Yuanjin carry me to Renshou Palace! Renshou Palace isn't fun; the ministers are always arguing there, and I even saw two people spitting at each other. But the food there is delicious!"

"Someone named Wu Xiu told the Emperor that the Grand Canal Gang has become a serious hidden danger..."

The Empress's procession had already entered the Altar of the First Silkworm, and it was soon the turn of the Jingyang Palace female Daoists. Seeing that their parting was imminent, Wuyun blurted out everything it had heard and seen!

Chen Ji was stunned. Wuyun had actually become an imperial spy!

At this moment, the Jingyang Palace female Daoists entered the Altar of the First Silkworm one by one, while the Imperial Guards could only remain outside. Chen Ji dismounted in front of the gate and calmly watched Bai Li, holding Wuyun, enter the main gate. Bai Li did not look back, nor could she.

Chen Ji stopped outside and looked up, observing. The Altar of the First Silkworm resembled a massive Daoist temple! Seven main halls enshrined seven altars. The Empress needed to offer sacrifices at each one, then personally pluck mulberry leaves with a pure gold silkworm-picking hook. This was to demonstrate the court's emphasis on the sericulture industry. Afterward, the imperial family and officials' wives in the capital would pick mulberry leaves. The Empress would then give symbolic rewards based on the quantity and quality of mulberry leaves picked by each rank. However, the imperial family and officials' wives never did the picking themselves; it was always done by their maids. The wives would either cool themselves in the shade or engage in conversation.

On the official road behind the Empress's palanquin procession, the carriages and sedans of the imperial family and officials' wives were arranged in an orderly fashion. Carriages were in front, sedans behind! Those who could ride in carriages certainly had powerful connections, while those restricted to sedans were naturally of lower status. The imperial family and officials' wives disembarked from their carriages and sedans at the gate, each vying to outdo the others in splendor as they followed the female Daoists into the Altar of the First Silkworm.

Chen Ji was deep in thought. The Altar of the First Silkworm was crowded and bustling at the moment, with hundreds of imperial family and officials' wives alone. Logically, he should also be able to enter! He dismounted from his horse and handed the reins and the Sun and Moon Star banner to Lin Yanchu. "I'll go inside and take a look, lest someone harbors ill intentions!"

Lin Yanchu paused for a moment. "Sir, that's the duty of the Jie Fan Imperial Guards!"

Chen Ji smiled. "Are we not also imperial guards? If something happens, you and I will both be held responsible!"

Lin Yanchu said nothing more.

Chen Ji walked towards the main gate of the Altar of the First Silkworm. But just as he reached the entrance, he was stopped by a familiar figure! Lin Chaoqing cupped his hands and said, "Lord Chen, the Imperial Guards' duty is not inside the Altar of the First Silkworm!"

Chen Ji looked at the middle-aged man in front of him. He weighed his words. "I am also an imperial guard..."

Lin Chaoqing added, "A centurion!"

Chen Ji frowned and remained silent. Just then, a voice called from behind him, "Chen Ji." Chen Ji looked back and saw none other than Qi Zhaoning and Qi Zhaoyun approaching together. Behind them was Qi Zhenzhu, whose face was veiled.