Green Mountain-Chapter 679 - 536: An Nan Envoy

The 15th day of the eighth month of Jia Ning's 32nd year, Mid-Autumn Festival.

The rooster crowed.

Chen Ji slowly sat up from the bed.

He had had a long sleep and a long dream.

In his dream, the Ning Dynasty had electric lights and air conditioning, airplanes and high-speed trains. He stood on Chang'an Street, watching time fly by, crowds of people coming and going like a shuttle, and the sun, moon, and stars spinning in the sky.

He saw the pavilions and towers on Chang'an Street collapse, and then tall buildings rise from the ground, Chengtian Gate became Tianan Gate, and finally, rows of beggars disappeared, as did people dying of hunger on the streets.

Chen Ji stared blankly for a long time, then laughed at himself: "What am I thinking..."

He went out, slung a carrying pole over his shoulder, and strollingly stepped out of Silver Apricot Garden.

Just as he stepped out, he saw Chen Xu standing at the door in a black Daoist robe, hands clasped inside his sleeves, eyes closed in rest.

Hearing the door open, Chen Xu opened his eyes and nodded slightly, "Master, be safe and sound."

Chen Ji, carrying the pole, asked puzzledly, "Is the housekeeper waiting for me?"

Chen Xu smiled and said, "The master set up a Capital Morning News, which has stirred a storm in the city lately, with many Imperial Censors submitting impeachment reports. The master worried that it would destroy your efforts and suppressed them all. You must know that the more you do, the more mistakes you'll make in the imperial capital, and the master is willing to take the risk with you. If anything happens to the newspaper, the master's reputation will also be damaged."

Chen Ji thought Chen Xu was there to sell Official Chen's favor, and immediately sincerely said, "Thank you..."

However, before he could express gratitude, Chen Xu changed his tone: "But the master didn't expect; he was over-worried. He originally thought you hadn't studied politics and might suffer setbacks in the face of civil servants in this vast capital; but the master said you are smart, and after a few losses, you'll know how to negotiate. Yet with your extraordinary talent, three sentences left the Imperial Censors speechless, and as of yesterday, there wasn't even a single impeaching memorial about you."

May humble families have books on their desk, and light at their window.

May people everywhere have fire in their hearths, and no frozen bones on the streets.

May people everywhere have rice in their bowls and grains in their pots.

Chen Xu chuckled and said, "From now on, when scholars see you, they will defer to you, and the common folks will appreciate it. Master has good skills."

Chen Ji was silent for a moment and then said, "Housekeeper, that's not an achievement."

Chen Xu was slightly startled: "Not an achievement?"

Chen Ji did not explain.

He published movable type printing and papermaking improvements in the morning paper, which people thought were strategies to compete with Wenyuan Bookstore; he had the little monk write those three sentences, which the Chen family thought were means to silence public criticism.

But none of it was.

Of course, it wasn't important.

Chen Ji smiled and asked, "If the housekeeper has nothing else, I will go carry water."

Chen Xu scrutinized Chen Ji: "Servants say you've been fetching water from outside the mansion lately? Is it because the well in the mansion was restored but doesn't suit your taste?"

Not wanting to explain too much, Chen Ji had to evade, "No, thank you for your kindness, housekeeper. I just want to see the market."

Chen Xu lowered his eyes: "Master, one can't always live in the past; Fu You Street Chen Family is your home."

Chen Ji turned and walked towards the outside of Chen Mansion: "Housekeeper, there's nothing that's impossible. What I care about most is left in the past."

Seeing he didn't want to chat much, Chen Xu shouted loudly behind him: "Master, today is Mid-Autumn Festival, the Qi family has a night banquet of friends at the mansion, you've competed with Third Miss Qi for so long, now that you have won, it's time to ease the relationship, after all, you'll still live together in the future. The master asked me to find you today, also hoping you could accompany the master to the banquet... After all, the Chen and Qi Families still need to work together in court."

Chen Ji paused and continued walking toward the outside of the mansion: "Alright."

He gradually got used to walking long distances to fetch water, passing through crowds alone, without unfamiliar people making false greetings or having to explain why he did something.

Chen Ji passed through Chang'an Street heading east, just outside Chengtian Gate, hearing the sound of horse hooves approaching.

He looked south and suddenly saw the Yulin Army, clad in silver armor, wearing white feathers, donning white cloaks, holding the Sun, Moon, and Stars Flag, escorting a group northward through Zhengyang Gate in two columns.

It was the Annam Envoy.

Before the Xiangshan Spring Hunt, a victory report arrived in the capital, Chen Ji thought it was Mr. Wang's great victory in Korea, but it was the Governor of Jiaozhi, Yang Xun, using eight thousand elite troops from the Kingdom of Annam to capture the Siam King alive.

At that time it was early April, and now it's mid-summer August.

At this moment, the officials of the Six Ministries stopped their work and stood curiously in front of the government office, observing the envoy team. The family of inner city officials also came out, filling the streets.

Someone pushed Chen Ji forward, making the bucket on his shoulder sway.

The person who pushed him not only didn't apologize but instead glanced at him sideways, "What are you, a water carrier, doing here causing trouble? Go away."

Chen Ji ignored him and stopped to carefully observe the procession.

In the guarded procession, the leading figure wore a red official robe with a patch of a brocade chicken on his chest, presumably Yang Xun, the Governor of Jiaozhi, a Second-Grade Official.

Behind him was a dark-skinned old man, also wearing a red Ning-style official robe, but without a patch, likely the An Nan Envoy.

This person, appearing around fifty years old, had graying hair. Coming to the Imperial Capital from Annan thousands of miles away, his face showed evident fatigue.

Following them were more than a dozen prison carts, containing men, women, old, and young. Although the victory report mentioned the capture of the King, in fact, it brought the entire Siam Royal Family back. The Siam King looked disheveled and expressionless, as if, on the journey north, the Ning Dynasty had exhibited him countless times.

Victory and defeat, just so.

When the Yulin Army arrived close, Chen Ji moved aside with his carrying pole, quietly watching the procession pass by.

Li Xuan saw him in the crowd and nodded instantly; thereafter every member of the Yulin Army who saw him greeted him silently.

The observing officials and citizens noticed the peculiarity, following the gaze of the Yulin Army, realizing the person they greeted was merely a young man with rolled-up sleeves and a carrying pole.

Someone whispered, "It's him."

Finally, someone recalled the story of Chen Ji and the Yulin Army, and the rumors that the Yulin Army followed his lead, "It's the Marquis of Wuxiang County."

Chen Ji noticed people guessing his identity, unwilling to be remembered by too many, and prepared to leave immediately.

However, just as he turned around, Qi Zhenzhuo left the procession abruptly and bowed beside the road to Chen Ji, "Master!"

Originally watching the Siam Royal Family, the pedestrians turned their gaze to Chen Ji, as if he was more interesting than the Siam King.

Chen Ji stepped back with his carrying pole, standing under the eaves, frowned, "The procession is a display of national prestige, be careful the Imperial Censors don't impeach you, stripping you of your position as Commander."

"This time doesn't matter, it's not the place to talk, go to the Yulin Army Commander's Mansion," Qi Zhenzhuo rode away for dozens of steps before turning into the mansion gate, only then, looking complex, he said, "Master, the An Nan Envoy behind Yang Xun is King Li Shouze, today we return him from Fengtai Post House, and on the way we heard..."

Chen Ji asked in confusion, "Heard what?"

Qi Zhenzhuo hesitated for a moment, "Heard this time he comes not only to present the Siam King for reward... but also seeks matrimonial alliance with our Ning Dynasty, asking Your Majesty for a marriage grant."

Chen Ji's heart sank.

The request for marriage from vassal states is not for women, but hoping the Celestial Dynasty will send envoys, craftsmen, doctors, bringing Han Land's farming techniques, medical skills, weaving techniques, to develop their own country.

This is originally a reward to the vassal states.

But Emperor Ning has no daughters; originally there were two Commandery Princesses, now only one remains, Zhu Baili.

Chen Ji looked up at Qi Zhenzhuo, whose expression was complex, and he asked softly, "Guessed it?"

Qi Zhenzhuo said seriously, "Master, your story with the Commandery Princess has long spread throughout the Imperial Capital by the Four Dreams of Bianliang, although you never mentioned it, although you say the story is fictional, but on the day of the Ancestor Silkworm Altar ceremony you intentionally walked side by side with Princess Bai Li, then in front of Zhongcui Palace daydreamed at Jingyang Palace... we're not fools either."

Chen Ji was silent.

Qi Zhenzhuo sighed, "Zhaoning is my sister, I shouldn't intervene in this matter, I should watch the Commandery Princess marry far to the King of An Nan, you will forget the Commandery Princess one day. But, recalling you came from Guyuan with narrow escapes from death, I can't help but tell you."

Chen Ji turned to look at the elderly, hunched back of the King of An Nan, standing by the road, Yulin Army members carrying flags rode past him, light and shadow played on his face.

He couldn't wait for next April.

At the tail of the procession, someone rode forward, the temple minister of Honglu Temple urged Qi Zhenzhuo, "Commander Qi, don't delay here, the front of the team has reached the Imperial Palace Gate!"

Qi Zhenzhuo responded, and when he turned back to say goodbye to Chen Ji, he saw only the abandoned carrying pole and water bucket on the ground.

He looked up to search, just seeing Chen Ji's figure turn and disappear around the street corner.

Qi Zhenzhuo opened his mouth slightly, and softly reminded, "Hey, tonight there's an Autumn Festival night banquet at my place, remember to come..."