Chapter 498: Direction of Popular Sentiment |
Inside Renshou Palace, it was peaceful and quiet. The courtiers Looked at One Another.
They knew that right now, undercurrents were surging fiercely. There were many people who did not wish to see the two dynasties negotiate peace; among them were Ning Dynasty people, and there were also Jing Dynasty people.
Even if the covenant was signed, Yuan Cheng might not necessarily be able to arrive at Chongli Pass alive. Even if the envoy procession could walk out of Chongli Pass, they might not necessarily be able to return to Upper Capital alive.
The Crown Prince wanting to send Chen Ji to his death was Within Reason. Chen Ji daring to drag the Crown Prince along to die together was unexpected.
But even up to this point, the Ministers didn't feel much surprise. Everyone had seen plenty of this sort of thing in the Imperial Court; there was nothing strange about it.
But they hadn't expected the Chen Family to break entirely from the Crown Prince over this... just because of a Concubine's Son who had entered the capital less than a year ago.
The Crown Prince hadn't expected it either.
The courtiers looked toward Elder Chen. Looking at the wrinkles on the other party's face and his drooping eyelids, they suddenly understood.
Elder Chen was too old.
At this time, Emperor Ning slowly said from the imperial throne: "Draft the decree. This is a grand scheme of the two dynasties; there must be no mistakes."
Wu Xiu responded in a low voice: "Yes."
Emperor Ning rose and walked behind the imperial screen. The Crown Prince suddenly said loudly: "Your Majesty, the Feather Forest Army lacks manpower. This son requests to dispatch the Trouble-Resolving Guard to accompany the escort."
But Emperor Ning seemed not to have heard. His figure disappeared behind the imperial screen.
Wu Xiu said loudly: "Everyone, dismiss."
Chen Ji slowly stood up. The candlelight inside Renshou Palace cast his shadow over the Crown Prince: "Your Highness, this journey will be arduous. If there are areas where we fail to take adequate care, we hope you will be considerate."
The Crown Prince took a deep breath. Standing up, he said warmly: "With the Baron of Wuxiang County here, We are actually at ease."
Hidden barbs lay between the two. Only when the courtiers walked out of Renshou Palace did they each take a step back, yielding the palace doors.
As Elder Chen tottered past the two of them, the Crown Prince acted as if nothing had just happened. Cupping his hands respectfully, he said: "Teacher, recently being grounded in Zhongcui Palace, I have consistently lacked the opportunity to visit you."
But Elder Chen didn't look at the Crown Prince. Instead, he said slowly to Chen Ji: "Let's go. Come home together with this old man."
Chen Ji cupped his hands: "Yes."
A little eunuch carried a palace lantern to lead the way in front. One old and one young, one after the other, they exited the palace. Elder Chen's formal red Official Robe draped loosely over him, as if draped over a scarecrow.
Chen Ji looked back, just in time to see the courtiers Filing Out One By One from Renshou Palace. Little eunuchs extinguished the candles with long copper handles, and darkness shrouded down.
Without turning his head, Elder Chen said slowly: "When I was young, every time I entered the palace, my walk carried a wind. The Official Robe had to be clean, and the rank badge had to be bright and beautiful. The first time I changed into the peacock rank badge, I even complained that the one issued by the Ministry of Personnel wasn't exquisite enough, specifically having Chen Xu go to Li's Embroidery to embroider a few new ones."
"Back then, this old man's guts were also as big as yours. I dared to think of anything and dared to do anything. When Wang Bao was still in power in the Directorate of Ceremonial, I even dared to point at his nose and curse him. I didn't feel lingering fear when returning home either; I'd still eat three large bowls of piping hot braised noodles all the same."
"Standing in the Imperial Court with a straight back, at a glance I only felt that Duke Qi was cowardly, Duke Hu was reckless, and Duke Xu was greedy; all were inferior to me."
The Jade Pendant swaying at Elder Chen's waist slapped against the hem of his clothes, dull and muffled like beating the waning end of the years.
He gave a dry laugh: "When one enters the Hall of Literary Brilliance and finally becomes a Grand Secretary as well, taking a look in the mirror, they discover they are actually no longer young."
"Chen Ji ah, these past years I have always been looking, always picking, but I'm unsatisfied with everyone I look at. I thought that while the eldest follows the rules strictly, he can guard the city; while the second is radical and gloomy, he can forge ahead and innovate. It is truly difficult to choose. I also picked from the collateral branches: Chen Shu has an excess of drive but a lack of shrewdness, while Chen Lang has an excess of literary talent but a lack of flexibility. Thinking it over and over, I remained hesitant and undecided."
"Only later did I understand that actually, I had continually been waiting. Waiting for someone who could beat me, so that I could willingly hand over the Chen Family that I had painstakingly managed." Elder Chen came to a stop amidst the red walls and golden tiles. Slowly turning his head toward Chen Ji, he said: "In the second branch's game a while ago, you won. You won very dangerously, but courage and insight are Indispensable... The Chen Family's future is handed over to you."
The two were still in the palace. There were still lantern-holding eunuchs and following courtiers by their side. These words were spoken to Chen Ji, and also proclaimed to all under heaven. The next one to hold the bull's ear of the Chen Family was decided.
After Elder Chen passed away, the person presiding over the Chen Family ancestral hall would be Chen Ji, instead of Chen Lizun.
Chen Ji cupped his hands: "Many thanks, Family Head."
Elder Chen continued walking forward: "What is there to thank? This is what you fought for with your own life. On this trip to Chongli Pass, if the situation is unviable, just abandon the others and return to Capital City. There is the Chen Family. As long as you keep your life, anything can be started over."
Chen Ji cupped his hands once more: "Yes."
Elder Chen was silent for a moment, then suddenly said: "This old man only has one request: stay away from the Eunuch Faction. The hearts of the world's literati are the foundation of the Chen Family. Associating with the Eunuch Faction is no different from digging up our own foundation."
Chen Ji was slightly taken aback: "Yes."
...
Early the next morning.
When the sound of the morning bell rang out, Chen Ji, who was keeping watch outside the Huitong Relay Station, opened his eyes. He sat on the carriage and stretched his muscles and bones, crackling and popping sounds coming from his body.
He looked up toward the roof. With piercing eyes, Li Xuan was patrolling the surroundings. Seeing him looking over, Li Xuan gently shook his head: No abnormalities.
Chen Ji sighed in his heart. The security around Princess Liyang was too strict. Official Gui and Official Ding had likely given up on making a move within Capital City.
He had always harbored a doubt. Logically speaking, given that Wang Daosheng captured Yuan Cheng alive and brought him back to the Ning Dynasty, with Official Gui's style of doing things, he should have doubted his loyalty long ago.
But ever since he returned from Changping, Official Gui seemed to have suddenly become obtuse, leaving him completely unchecked... Why?
At this time, footsteps came from inside the Huitong Relay Station. Chen Ji turned his head, only to see Princess Liyang stepping over the threshold: "Lord Chen, let's go."
This Princess Liyang lacked her previous erraticness, seemingly having become much more subdued overnight.
Chen Ji pulled open the carriage curtain for her: "We are leaving the capital today. If we ride the carriage, I'm afraid it will take half a month to arrive below Chongli Pass. Once we pass Changping, I fear you must abandon the carriage and switch to a horse. This way, we can arrive in four days, to avoid a long night fraught with dreams."
Princess Liyang squeezed into the cabin: "Rest assured, this Palace knows the gravity of the situation."
Chen Ji let down the carriage curtain and waved to the Feather Forest Army.
The honor guard slowly left the eastern river rice alley heading for Meridian Gate. Just after passing through Chengtian Gate, they saw from afar the Crown Prince standing before Meridian Gate, dressed in a white archery uniform.
Beside the Crown Prince, a little eunuch was holding a horse for him. Behind him, the Trouble-Resolving Guard escorted a man wearing a black hood, dressed in a white prison uniform, his waist and back hunched.
Yuan Cheng.
Following beside the carriage on horseback, Li Xuan sighed with emotion: "Just looking at this, how could anyone tell this is a major figure who shook the Jing Dynasty? When disaster strikes, Fame and Fortune turn to passing clouds in the blink of an eye. Not a shred of dignity remains."
Sitting inside the carriage, Princess Liyang said: "Once he returns to the Jing Dynasty, he will once again be that high and mighty Privy Councilor. Therefore, the most crucial thing in a person's life is still to be useful. Only by being useful can one be saved."
The honor guard stopped before Meridian Gate. The Trouble-Resolving Guard escorted Yuan Cheng into a carriage. Then, as if avoiding a plague, they hurriedly returned inside Meridian Gate, deeply afraid of getting involved in any trouble.
The Crown Prince took the reins from the little eunuch and vaulted onto the horse.
He didn't look at Chen Ji. Instead, he looked at Li Xuan: "Lord Li, this scene reminds me of the scene when we went to Guyuan previously. Unfortunately, last time there were still many people to see us off, accompanying us to Plum Pavilion three miles away before dispersing. This time, we are all alone."
Li Xuan answered politely: "Your Highness, our actions are worthy of our conscience; we have no need for the cheers of others."
The Crown Prince smiled: "Having not seen you for a while, Lord Li is much more mature and composed than before. I entrust this journey to you."
Li Xuan remained polite: "The Crown Prince overpraises. This lowly official will definitely do his duty."
The Crown Prince looked at Li Xuan before him. His gaze swept over the hundred-plus Feather Forest Army soldiers again. Unlike last time, someone had expressed their loyalty before they even set out, and along the way, it was like Stars Crowding the Moon.
Now, the other party's words were still respectful, but their expressions hid alienation.
The Crown Prince did not lose heart. Continuing to smile, he said: "On this trip to Chongli Pass, everything will be decided by Lord Li. Which official road do we plan to take, and how many days will it take to arrive at Chongli Pass?"
As soon as these words came out, the Feather Forest Army realized that the Crown Prince had spent so much time laying the groundwork just to prop up Li Xuan to divide power.
Li Xuan possessed the highest Official Position in the honor guard and was also the Governor of the Feather Forest Army. If differences arose between Li Xuan and Chen Ji, the Feather Forest Army ought to listen to Li Xuan, not Chen Ji.
But Li Xuan didn't answer the Crown Prince directly. Instead, he looked at Chen Ji: "Lord Chen?"
Sitting on the carriage, Chen Ji looked at the Crown Prince: "Your Highness, we have already been to Chongli Pass once. Just follow us. There is no need to ask too much passing by."
The Crown Prince fixed his gaze on Li Xuan: "Does Lord Li mean the same?"
Li Xuan said calmly: "Exactly."
The Crown Prince's expression gradually turned plain: "The Baron of Wuxiang County truly has great ability. In just a few short months, you actually managed to make the Feather Forest Army follow your lead exclusively."
Chen Ji said indifferently: "Your Highness, since ancient times, people thrive on sincerity. Whether the Heavenly Mandate stays or goes, the Direction of Popular Sentiment—all are decided by this. May Your Highness learn well, and observe well."
Before the Crown Prince could speak, horse hooves sounded outside Meridian Gate again.
Looking over, the crowd saw Zhang Xia arriving on a date-red horse. Stopping before Meridian Gate, she tossed over the Whale Blade and the Yang family's Stiff Bow through the air.
Catching them in his hands, Chen Ji asked curiously: "I had Xiaoman bring them over. How did she get lazy."
Zhang Xia explained with a smile: "Since Princess Liyang and I were friends, I also ought to come see her off, so I simply brought them along for you in passing... Careful on the road."
Saying this, she turned her horse's head and galloped away. Princess Liyang had only just opened the window curtain, yet she could only watch her departing back.
Chen Ji took a deep breath: "Set out."
(End of this chapter)