Green Mountain-Chapter 638 - 495: Escort

Women understand women the best.

Princess Liyang's words were like the sword in the hands of a Great Grandmaster of the Divine Realm, easily piercing Qi Zhaoning's state of mind.

Inside the Danbi Grand Music Hall, the spectators around each square table quieted down, curiously looking over. However, Chen Ji didn't immediately pay attention to what Princess Liyang said, instead instructing the Yulin Army to firmly guard around the tables, preventing anyone from approaching.

He scanned the area, eyes sweeping over each spectator present.

Princess Liyang has a purpose in everything she does, she wouldn't cause a scene without reason. Could it be that her insistence on coming to the Imperial Music Bureau means her people are inside the bureau?

At this time, three drumbeats sounded from the stage. The first beat was to inform the actors and audience that the performance was about to begin. The second beat called the actors to wait behind the stage and for the audience to take their seats. The third beat quieted the hall, marking the official start.

After the drumbeats, all actors dressed in costumes appeared on stage one by one, with the women showing off their stance and the martial artists flipping skillfully to display their talents. This is called the opening display, also known as 'entering the arena'.

But after the actors took the stage, the martial artist flipped thirteen times and landed without the usual cheers. His eyes sharpened, realizing no audience was watching the stage; they had all turned to a corner.

In the corner.

Qi Zhaoning tightly clenched her hands, glaring at Princess Liyang: "Do you dare to say that again?"

Princess Liyang smiled slightly, speaking leisurely: "As the saying goes, the truth hurts the most. If I accidentally offended this lady, I beg your pardon."

Qi Zhaoning's expression was uncertain, and after a moment, she said coldly: "It's said you kept three hundred male companions in Shangjing of the Jing Dynasty for constant reveling, and you have the nerve to bring disgrace to our Ning Dynasty?"

Princess Liyang remained calm, picking up a melon seed: "Miss Qi underestimated, it's not three hundred, it's three thousand."

Qi Zhaoning shouted angrily: "Shameless!"

Princess Liyang looked up at her, smiling: "You can't compare to Zhang Xia."

Qi Zhaoning raised her hand to slap Princess Liyang, but her wrist was caught mid-air by Chen Ji, who sighed gently: "Third Miss Qi, this is an envoy of the Jing Dynasty, you cannot hit her."

Qi Zhaoning turned her head abruptly, incredulously looking at Chen Ji: "You're stopping me?"

Chen Ji paused for a moment and seriously repeated: "Third Miss Qi, this is an envoy of the Jing Dynasty."

Qi Zhaoning pulled her hand away: "Then you tell me, am I worse than Zhang Xia? If you think so too, I'll have my family call off the engagement tomorrow to make way for you two."

Chen Ji turned to Qi Zhenzhu: "The performance is starting, please take Third Miss Qi to the front row to watch."

"Fine, fine, fine!" Qi Zhaoning, seeing he refused to answer, angrily turned to the front row, throwing the teapot and dishes from the table onto the stage: "Watch the play, watch the play, watch the play, with Li Changge betraying for profit, who still watches plays? Hereafter, the Imperial Music Bureau is forbidden from performing the Four Dreams of Bianliang, otherwise you'll regret it! Change the costumes for me, I want to hear the White Boat Record!"

The actors on stage looked at each other in dismay, the Imperial Music Bureau was managed by the Ministry of Rites, yet Mr. Qi also held the position of Minister of Rites.

A clerk hurried onto the stage, pulling all the actors off: "Quick, go change costumes!"

Chen Ji sat down again, watching the stage expressionlessly: "Your Highness, there's no need for this. You only need to safely go through the motions in our dynasty, and you can return to the Jing Dynasty with a great achievement by bringing Yuan Cheng. There's no need to complicate things. While Third Miss Qi's temper is unruly, it doesn't warrant you provoking her like this."

Princess Liyang curiously asked: "What, Mr. Chen is feeling sorry for his fiancée who hasn't crossed the threshold yet?"

Chen Ji glanced at her: "Let's not discuss this matter any further."

Princess Liyang smiled slightly: "Mr. Chen, you ought to thank me."

Chen Ji calmly said: "Thank you?"

Princess Liyang used her nails to peel a melon seed: "Let me guess, even a capable person like Mr. Chen, who managed to confine the Crown Prince in Zhongcui Palace, cannot decide his marriage. This Third Miss Qi seems quite favored by the Qi family. If she goes back and causes a fuss to call off the marriage, wouldn't it suit your wishes?"

Chen Ji was slightly taken aback. He had to admit that Princess Liyang's argument was convincing, making him somewhat persuaded.

Princess Liyang continued leisurely peeling melon seeds, saying: "Mr. Chen, Second Miss Zhang broke into the White Tiger Festival Hall for you. On that day, she must have been resolute to face death to reach the hall. The moment she took the first step, she didn't expect to return alive. But when she returns to the Ning Dynasty, she will remember that you still have an engagement with someone else... The Heavens sometimes clumsy like a child, not knowing the weight."

Chen Ji remained silent.

Princess Liyang smiled and said: "Mr. Chen, if someone treated me like this, I would dare to forsake all riches and glory to elope with him, but alas, there's no one. You're lucky, much luckier than me."

Chen Ji finally spoke: "It's none of your business, Your Highness."

Princess Liyang held out the peeled melon seeds she had in hand to Chen Ji: "Since Mr. Chen says it's none of my business, then it's none of my business."

Chen Ji glanced at the melon seeds in her hand: "Does Your Highness want me to test for poison?"

"No good deed goes unpunished. It's the first time I've peeled melon seeds for someone," Princess Liyang rolled her eyes, tossing the seeds onto the table. "It's a pity I couldn't see the Four Dreams of Bianliang."

Chen Ji said calmly, "You could listen to the White Boat Record."

Princess Liyang sneered, "Does Mr. Chen think I don't know? The White Boat Record is about the Jing Dynasty, and you consider that young general a hero, yet he slaughtered twenty-eight villages on our Longyou Road in the Jing Dynasty, sparing not even the children. Let's go back to Huitong Hall; I won't listen to such plays."

Princess Liyang stood up and walked out, not having eaten a single melon seed or drunk a sip of water.

The ceremonial procession exited Yanle Alley, and once Princess Liyang got into the carriage, Mrs. Lu picked up the reins and asked in a low voice, "What was all that fuss inside just now?"

Chen Ji shook his head, "Nothing, just a minor issue."

As the carriage entered East Rongmi Lane, more than a hundred Yulin soldiers remained on guard in armor.

Duobao whispered to Chen Ji, "No one has entered Huitong Hall."

Chen Ji nodded, lifted the curtain, and signaled Princess Liyang to get off the carriage. Princess Liyang extended her hand, indicating she wanted assistance, but Chen Ji ignored it.

Princess Liyang smiled gently and jumped off the carriage herself, "Mr. Chen has quite the grudge."

Chen Ji watched her walk into Huitong Hall, letting out a slow breath.

At this moment, the sound of tidy footsteps came from afar.

Chen Ji turned to look and saw Lin Chaoqing leading the way, followed by two columns of Jiefan Guard turning into East Rongmi Lane. Shortly after, eunuchs from the palace carried a sedan into view, with the Crown Prince dressed in a bright red official robe seated upon it.

The sedan stopped in front of Huitong Hall, and the Crown Prince rose, smoothing the wrinkles on his robe.

Chen Ji asked, puzzled, "Why has Your Highness come to visit Huitong Hall so late at night?"

The Crown Prince replied warmly, "I've come for peace talks, hoping to temper the Jing Dynasty's arrogance, but someone cannot even wait a day. Never mind, let's send Yuan Cheng back to the Jing Dynasty early."

With that, he entered Huitong Hall under the escort of Jiefan Guard.

Chen Ji exchanged a glance with Mrs. Lu, who whispered, "If the talks conclude today, there won't be much time left. Tomorrow, when both sides formally sign the treaty, Princess Liyang and Yuan Cheng must be sent outside Chongli Pass. Now, experts surround Princess Liyang, Si Caoding won't make a move."

Chen Ji bowed his head in thought.

At this moment, Mrs. Lu even gently comforted Chen Ji, "Don't worry, even if things are urgent, we must go along with the will of heaven. If something cannot be done, then don't do it. Forgive him this time, there will still be opportunities in the future. Princess Liyang and Yuan Cheng may leave, but Si Caoding cannot escape."

Chen Ji replied with a dull "Hmm," but said nothing more.

An hour later, the Crown Prince emerged from Huitong Hall, smiling as he said to Chen Ji, "It's settled, eight thousand war horses and two thousand soldiers and civilians in exchange for Yuan Cheng's return to the Jing Dynasty. Tomorrow at Honglu Temple, I will oversee the formal signing of the treaty. After the treaty is exchanged, we will need the Marquis of Wuxiang to escort Princess Liyang and Yuan Cheng to Chongli Pass, with all due caution on the journey."

Chen Ji felt a chill inside; had the talks been concluded so quickly?

It was too fast. He had thought it would take at least half a month to reach a conclusion, yet now everything had been settled in just an hour.

He calmly said, "I will escort them?"

The Crown Prince replied gently, "Now the Yulin Army follows only your lead, and Princess Liyang trusts only you. Naturally, this task falls upon you... What, does the Marquis of Wuxiang refuse?"

Chen Ji lowered his head, "The Yulin Army is struggling with numbers, I'm afraid it cannot shoulder this heavy responsibility."

The Crown Prince laughed, "According to the rules, receiving an envoy requires three hundred and sixty people, but sending one only needs ninety-six. The Yulin Army certainly has not fewer than ninety-six people; the Marquis of Wuxiang, stop refusing."

Chen Ji said calmly, "I harbor no objections, but ultimately, who will escort them still depends on Your Majesty's decree."

This journey north isn't so simple; there might be hidden dangers along the way. If we can't use Yuan Cheng to lure out Si Caoding, the Imperial Three Camps should escort the Jing Dynasty envoys away and receive the eight thousand war horses from the Jing Dynasty at the border.

Why would the Yulin Army undertake this task?

Chen Ji looked up at the Crown Prince, but he couldn't discern anything.

The Crown Prince patted Chen Ji's shoulder, "Achieving this task is a significant accomplishment in itself; others would strive to seize such an opportunity."

After speaking, the Crown Prince sat in the sedan and disappeared into the night under the escort of the Jiefan Guard.