Chapter 568: Make a Feint to the East and Attack in the West |
Mao time (5-7 AM). Chengtian Gate outside warmly noisy rising coming. Each yamens responding to Mao's Officials uniformly flowing un-ceasingly.
Morning Roll Call Propriety procedures abundantly (cumbersome). Rank levels slightly small's Officials about to first arrive at each self yamens's front hall. At Mao registers upon draw pressing (signing). And after anew waiting holding broadly managing matters's Hall Officials suffering separately singing names.
Rank levels high's Six Ministries Hall Officials then about to frontward head Meridian Gate responding to Mao. Using preparing Emperor Ning calling meeting.
Originally structurally this set of Propriety procedures already shapes identically emptily establishing. Each house Mao registers simply at front hall placing holding. Coming causing most early's people helping identically colleagues a single identically drawing pressing. Simply is genuinely possessing people which day hadn't come. Only needing following ascending officials hitting good greeting simply capable of. Ascending officials comprehensively ordinarily universally will reply promising.
That was a single block of beautifully wonderfully's days and sons. Front a single day drinking liquor arriving at Heavens brightening also un-obstructing matters... Straightly arriving at Zhang Zhuo broadly managing Capital Evaluation.
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Realizing at now. Full Capital City's Officials calling bitter un-ceasingly. A single dawn absenting Mao. Lightly then punishing salaries. Heavily then avoiding officials (dismissed). Short short's several named months. Six Ministries yamens simply cleanly retreating a hundred surplus people.
If at toward days. Officials responding to Mao's after simply about to opening starting handling public matters.
Today days possessing somewhat permissible un-identically. Each yamens's small officials suffered ascending officials differentially dispatching arriving at Court of State Ceremonial's Alleys inside. A single named a single named exchanging heads receiving ears' waiting holding what.
Palanquin bearers coming dropped spirits: "You how knowing?"
Small official knocking holding melon seeds. Eyes yet hadn't departed opening Court of State Ceremonial doors front: "His house carriage drivers speaking's bei. Carriage driver at Court of State Ceremonial outside faces securing dropped a single entire night."
A single named palanquin bearer stretching hands desiring from small official hands inside picking dotting melon seeds. Yet suffered the other party avoiding opening.
Palanquin bearer resentfully, resentfully said: "You speak that Viscount Wuxiang today days will un-will come?"
Small official smoothly mouths speaking said: "Solidly determining coming ah. I yesterday days intimately eyes viewing catching sight of he suffering finishing Court Flogging rising body. King of Hell Morning Roll Call seemingly's a single named a single named asking words."
Speaking arriving at this location. He learning holding Chen Ji's models and appearances. Pointing holding a single named palanquin bearer coldly sounds said: "This positioned Excellency. You will head Imperial Music Bureau or?"
Carriage driver excellently strangely said: "Dotting's whoever?"
Small official joyfully harmoniously, harmoniously said: "Chief Surveillance Bureau's Censor Zhou. Merely seeing that positioned Censor Zhou face colors a single varying. Hastily hurriedly replying 'We and our peers Pure Stream Faction speech officials. How will head Imperial Music Bureau that type of local places'."
Surrounding's looking guests seeing he forminging causing uniquely wonderfully uniquely identically (vividly). Also a single identically conning passing coming.
Small official speaking causing even more rising energies dropped somewhat: "And after Viscount Wuxiang again dotting dropped Ministry of Revenue's Registrar Excellency Xing. Waiting until Excellency Xing also speaking un-heading Imperial Music Bureau. He simply separating holding good several named people asking Feng Xi Excellency Feng."
Small official again learning rising dropped Chen Ji's language breath: "Excellency Feng. I hearing speaking you about to head Imperial Music Bureau? Still speaking the Feng Family with Prince Jing possessing old resentments. About to shine caring (take care) a single beneath old deceased person's female?"
Possessing people shockingly exhaling: "Huo! Excellency Feng how speaking?"
Small official haha a single smiling: "Excellency Feng hurriedly tightly speaking himself lacking silver. Dropping wildly and escaping (fleeing in panic). Un-using considering. Viscount Wuxiang this general remembering hated's people. Today days about to measuring's solidly determining is Excellency Feng. Will not possess diverging."
"His Majesty a single determining will dropping ranks complaining punishing. This time speaking un-determiningly simply un-ceasing fifty floggings already."
"Viscount Wuxiang Official Path Gateway Heavenly bestowing divergently grasping. Yesterday days suffering dropped ninety floggings farts matters hadn't possessed. Suffering dotting Court Flogging exchanging stripping lives. Worth already."
Looking warmly noisy's eternally distantly un-disliking matters grand.
Small officials with palanquin bearers with Feng Xi previously lacking melon vines (ties/conflict). Considering arriving at Court of State Ceremonial Vice Minister this models and appearances's grand people items ordinary days inside eating fragrantly drinking spicily. Night night reed mouth organ singing. They simply sensing Feng Xi dying already also lacking relations. Possessing warmly noisy looking simply walking.
Court of State Ceremonial doors front's people increasingly gathering increasingly numerous. Each yamens's Hall Officials universally taking each house small officials dispatching coming waiting holding. A single possessing disappearing breath immediately returning replying (reporting back).
At this time. The Qi Family horse carriage quietly quietly stopping at Chang'an Avenue upon. Surrounding securing holding ten surplus named accompanying followers.
Carriage boxes inside. Qi Xianzhun leaning back relying at carriage walls upon shutting eyes nourishing spirits: "People hands universally arranging placing good already?"
Qi Zhenwu taking carriage curtains lifting opening a single strip of crevice gap: "Possessing two people night inside simply arriving at. Securing at Court of State Ceremonial rear doors. Still possessing two people Mao time only then arriving at. Disguising accomplishing palanquin bearers securing at Court of State Ceremonial doors front. Absolutely Foolproof. A single dawn Chen Ji moving hands. Facing arena simply taking him picking descending. Guarding sending Meridian Gate."
Qi Xianzhun eyes skins universally hadn't lifted: "Un-necessarily. He horizontally vertically universally are about to taking Feng Xi dragging heading Meridian Gate's. My Qi Family is clear newly honorable people houses. This type of matters capable of un-daubing body. Simply uniquely un-about to daubing. Only needing staring properly him simply capable already."
Qi Zhenwu cupping hands said: "Brightly brightly (Understood) already."
Qi Xianzhun un-anew speaking words. Patiently waiting.
But time interval a single dot a single dot passing to go. Court of State Ceremonial doors front yet lately lately un-seeing Chen Ji that a single smear of red colored body shadow.
Possessing somewhat palanquin bearers, carriage drivers waiting causing anxiously urgently. Tiptoeing rising feet toward Alleys outside looking to go: "Strangely oddly. Chen Ji yesterday days uniquely is Heavens hadn't brightened simply headed Meridian Gate's. Today days un-non (could it be) is sleeping passing dropped head?"
Again possessing people asking said: "Viscount Wuxiang isn't isn't un-daring to come already?"
"Un-capable of enough right. Yesterday days still that similarly fiercely or. Today days simply cowardly already?"
"Also capable of is yesterday days that ninety floggings hitting broken dropped body sons. Therefore today days resting holding already."
Knocking holding melon seeds's Ministry of Works small official speaking said: "Un-capable of. Yesterday days I intimately eyes viewing catching sight of he face un-varying colors. Un-identically is injuring holding's models and appearances."
"Then he why hadn't come?"
"This..."
Straight arriving at Zhengyang Gate city towers upon's steps pawns (infantrymen) knocking rising watch drums. The Qi Family horse carriage inside. Qi Zhenwu in a low voice lifting awakening said: "Second uncle. Chen time (7-9 AM) already. Chen Ji still hadn't come. He isn't isn't un-daring to come already?"
Qi Xianzhun suddenly opening opening both eyes: "You if sensing he un-daring to come already. That simply small looking his gall identifying and energy. Longitudinally viewing his this grandly grandly minutely, minutely's Merits. Which time isn't picking life exchanging coming's. But anything retreating shrinking a single time. He universally walking un-arriving at this inside. If he un-daring to come. Matching un-rising Old Master's boasting praising. Also un-worth obtaining I sitting at this inside waiting him."
Qi Zhenwu confusedly doubting said: "But he how still un-coming? Always un-arriving at genuinely sleeping passing head already right."
Qi Xianzhun considering pondering for a moment: "This son habitually will Sword Striking From A Slant. Since already hadn't come Court of State Ceremonial. A single determiningly headed bystander locations. Quickly. Sprinkling exiting people hands searching for him."
Qi Zhenwu exactly simply descending dropped carriage.
...
...
This time this moment. Chen Ji spurring horse arriving at Heaven-Facing Palace beside's Tea Leaves Alley.
Entire strip of Tea Leaves Alley altogether counting seven locations of courtyards dropping. Suffered people grand hands brushes buying descending's after hitting passing accomplishing a single location. Hanging ascending dropped beautifully thinly's tablets plaques: "Qian Estate."
Tablets plaques are clustered newly's. Gold paints brightly causing piercing eyes. With surrounding compasses anciently old's cyan bricks grey tiles out of place. Doors front's stone lion sons also are newly chiseling's. Lacking dropped years deeply days longly's majestically majesties.
Eight grand comprehensively merchants the Qian Family establishing feet at Lianghuai. Yet taking small son sending coming Capital City Imperial Academy seeking learning. For the sake of this un-sparingly spending heavily gold buying descending Heaven-Facing Palace beside's seven locations courtyards droppings hitting passing.
Chen Ji at estate doors front pulling horse. Yet by no means descending horse. He merely is quietly, quietly looking at that fan of vermilion paint grand doors.
Door rooms is a named eyes finely's. Early from door gaps inside viewing catching sight of Chen Ji. Still possessing horizontally at horse saddles upon's that handle Whale Blade. Qilin Rank Robe and five feet five inches long's Whale Blade. Is that positioned Viscount Wuxiang already lacking diverging.
Un-numerous time. Vermilion paint grand doors suddenly openly deeply opening. Twenty surplus named house masculine men hands supporting spears clubs welcoming dropped exiting coming. Glaring like a Tiger's taking Chen Ji surrounding at appropriate center.
Door thresholds inside. A single named feet steps emptily floating's youthful light person colors fiercely inside stubbornly (fierce in appearance but timid at heart) said: "Chen Ji. Bystander people fearing you. I uniquely un-fearing. My Qian Family is eight grand comprehensively merchants. My dad uniquely is possessing Official Status's!"
Chen Ji glancing him a single glance. Lifting holding Whale Blade flipping body descending horse. Face identically peacefully lake's topping holding twenty surplus named house masculine men toward grand doors walking to go. He walking a single step. House masculine men simply tightly stretchingly's retreating rear a single step.
Twenty surplus people taking him surrounding at appropriate center. But whoever also un-daring to move hands. Only capable of suffered him forcing holding toward Qian Estate inside retreating to go.
Chen Ji gazes beginning ending staring holding Qian Estate that positioned small son Qian Xingzhi. Qian Xingzhi merely sensing himself seemingly is suffered people at ten steps's limits outside opening bows attaching arrows pointing holding eyebrow heart. Beneath intents avoiding opening gazes.
But he just merely avoiding opening gazes simply sensing this models and appearances possessing dotting lacking bone spirits (spineless). Anew again with Chen Ji mutually viewing. And after anew secondly forced un-obtaining already avoiding opening. Toward rear retreating to go.
Descending a single moment. Chen Ji crossing passing door threshold. Bystander if lacking people's toward inside walking to go. Body upon grand red-colored's Qilin Rank Robe at sun light beneath sparklingly sparklingly generating (shining brightly). Head tops black-colored Lacquered Gauze Extended-Horn Hat appropriately properly majestically majesties.
He frontwards pressing holding house masculine men identically tide waters generally surging entering Qian Estate. Identical to walking at himself house inside seemingly's.
Courtyard center a single time dropping needles capable of hearing.
Only possessing Chen Ji's feet steps sounds. Neither Hasty nor Slow's stepping holding cyan stone boards. A single step a single step toward inside walking. Twenty surplus named supporting clubs house masculine men surrounding holding him. Identical to is at protecting sending. Again identical to is suffered intentionally driving catching up (driven away). Array shapes scattering chaotically's toward inside residences retreating shrinking.
Qian Xingzhi retreating lacking capable retreating. Foot heels resisting holding dropped primarily hall front's stone stairs.
He strongly supporting holding peacefully deciding: "Standing holding. You (without permission) rushing people residences. This Capital City still possessing un-possessing King's laws!"
Chen Ji at stairs front stopping descending.
He hadn't looked at Qian Xingzhi. Gazes sweeping passing corridors beneath those exploring heads exploring brains (peering around). Face colors issuing white's (pale) maidservants small servants. Farthest after dropping at Qian Xingzhi face upon.
Submerging silently.
This submerging silently pressing causing Qian Xingzhi panting un-passing breath. Brain son inside chaotic purely purely flashing passing Yang Zhong suffered dragging walking's blood scars. Yuan Wang miserably fiercely's miserably calling. Still possessing yesterday days Meridian Gate outside that breaking dropped a single ground's Court Flogging.
Chen Ji suddenly turning body toward Qian estate's Wind Message Pavilion walking to go. Sitting at stone desks beside taking Whale Blade horizontally at knees upon: "Pouring tea."
House masculine men turning head looking toward Qian Xingzhi. Qian Xingzhi face colors swelling red: "Looking at me doing what? Still about to I teaching you peers doing matters or? Li Du. My Qian Family raising you this similarly numerous years. Is letting you surrounding holding bystander people hitting turning's?"
A single named middle aged person in a low voice said: "Young Master. He possessing distinguished nobles at body. We and our peers if is moving hands. Only fearing rear suffering lacking extreme."
Qian Xingzhi suddenly wildly grandly furiously: "That his mother's simply heading pouring tea ah! Descending poisons. Poisoning dying this turtle eight eggs (bastard)!"
Qian Estate's maidservants hastily hurriedly heading to brew tea. Chen Ji simply uniquely self sitting at Wind Message Pavilion inside. Hands fingers slowly, slowly knocking striking desks faces. Gazes beginning ending dropping at Qian Xingzhi body upon.
For a moment after. Tea offering coming already. Chen Ji un-fearing possessing poisons. Pinching rising tea cups passing arriving at mouth edges.
Qian Xingzhi strengthening holding galls son ascending frontwards a single step angrily scolding said: "You coming my Qian Estate making what? I again hadn't provoked passing you!"
Chen Ji by no means speaking words. Merely shallowly sipping cups center tea waters.
Qian Xingzhi heart inside possessing somewhat issuing emptily (guilty conscience): "I was speaking passing I about to head Imperial Music Bureau. But I previously front merely is with people blowing ox skins (boasting)'s..."
Speaking words interval. Chen Ji dropping descending tea cups. Qiang's a single sound pulling exiting Whale Blade. Again from sleeve mouths pulling exiting a single piece of fine hemp cloth. A single sequence sequence's wiping carrying.
Qian Xingzhi startled dropped a single jump. Hastily hurriedly rear retreating returning heading. Colors fiercely inside stubbornly said: "I merely speaking heading to conjoining warmly noisy. By no means speaking a single determiningly about to buying Commandery Princess Baili!"
Chen Ji still as before un-comprehendingly meeting him. Still as before is wiping holding Whale Blade.
Qian Xingzhi biting, biting teeth. From hand wrists upon picking descending a single string of Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency dropping arriving at stone desks upon: "This is a single ten thousand taels silver. Counted as my Qian Family sending you already. Blessing you and Commandery Princess Baili white heads joining old. A hundred years good conjoining. Early giving birth noble sons. Numerous sons numerous fortunes. Fortune identically Eastern Sea. Longevity comparing Southern Mountains..."
Chen Ji continuing holding wiping carrying holding Whale Blade. Calmly peacefully said: "Un-enough."
Qian Xingzhi face colors a single varying: "I was coming the Capital center seeking learning's. Where capable of carrying that similarly numerous visibly silver? You knowing un-knowing a single ten thousand taels possessing numerous lacking ah. Sufficient causing buying descending inside city five completely residence sons. At Eight Great Hutongs spending ten years also spending un-finishing! A single ten thousand taels of silver. Enough giving Jinling best's leader redeeming body already!"
Chen Ji still un-speaking words.
Qian Xingzhi again hurriedly tightly explaining said: "My Qian Family's property business universally at Lianghuai or. My dad letting me at Imperial Academy good goodly seeking learning. Pressing roots simply un-giving me too numerous silver to spend... You again hadn't my Qian Family grasp handles. Relying on what searching for me about to silver?! I un-heading Imperial Music Bureau simply is already!"
He explaining causing increasingly numerous simply increasingly heart emptily. Every explaining a single sentence. Aura simply weakening a single portion.
But Chen Ji beginning ending hadn't anew spoken words.
Longly longly's quietly peacefully center. Qian Xingzhi turning his head toward Li Du angrily roaring said: "Blanking holding doing what. Heading picking rescuing anxiously urgently's (emergency) silver!"
Li Du hurriedly, hurriedly departing to go. Again hurriedly, hurriedly returning back. Taking a single string of Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency passing giving Chen Ji: "Viscount Wuxiang. This is four ten thousand taels of silver."
Chen Ji wiping carrying Whale Blade's hands finally stopping descending. But hadn't received. Inversely and identically looking toward Qian Xingzhi.
Qian Xingzhi face colors varying dropped numbers varying. Farthest finally still as before ascending frontwards several steps. From Li Du hands center receiving passing Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency. Both hands passing arriving at Chen Ji face front.
Chen Ji taking two strings of Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency a single conjoining successfully entering embraces inside. Rising his body simply walking. He bystander if lacking people's from house masculine men appropriate center piercing passing. From beginning arriving at end merely speaking dropped four named words.
Un-enough.
Pouring tea.
...
...
Noon time. Chang'an Avenue upon. Qi Zhenwu anxiously hurriedly, hurriedly returning coming. Lifting opening carriage curtains speaking said: "Uncle father. Chen Ji this small lad headed the Qian Family residences."
Qi Xianzhun slowly, slowly opening opening both eyes: "Eight grand comprehensively merchants that named the Qian house?"
Qi Zhenwu explaining said: "Is. The Qian house taking small son sending coming Imperial Academy seeking learning. But this small lad ending days Without Learning or Skill. Caging networking holding a single flock merchant's sons younger brothers every day eating drinking prostituting gambling. Hearing speaking this small lad front day at Imperial Academy facing holding numerous somewhat people's faces speaking about to head Imperial Music Bureau buying descending Bai Li. Still possessing un-little Imperial Academy Students a single identically rising coaxing speaking about to identically heading coming holding. Therefore today days suffered Chen Ji searching for ascending doors to go."
Qi Xianzhun slightly slightly frowning: "He taking the Qian house's sons dragging to death already? How un-seeing he coming Meridian Gate front telling sins. Genuinely using acting as himself possessing distinguishing nobles at body. Killing a named merchant's sons also capable of peacefully naturally lacking illnesses? Eight grand comprehensively merchants name righteously upon uniquely are Officials."
Qi Zhenwu shaking his head: "Chen Ji by no means not yet killing people. He simply sitting at the Qian house residences's Wind Message Pavilion inside slowly, slowly and leisurely drinking tea. A single cup tea still hadn't drinking finishing the Qian house's son simply startling breaking dropped galls. Exactly simply presenting ascending one ten thousand taels of white silver seeking he networking opening a single face (forgiving). Speaking himself merely is smoothly mouths mixedly speaking's. Hadn't intending heading Imperial Music Bureau."
Qi Xianzhun frowning: "Chen Ji replying promising already?"
Qi Zhenwu anew secondly shaking his head: "Chen Ji hadn't replied promising. Merely continuing holding drinking tea. Straightly arriving at the Qian house's son again picking exiting four ten thousand taels of silver only then freely, freely and naturally departing opening."
Qi Xianzhun slowly, slowly backing toward carriage walls: "Make a Feint to the East and Attack in the West? We suffered playfully manipulating already ah."
Qi Zhenwu turning entering carriage inside in a low voice asking said: "Second uncle's meaning is. He from a single opening starting simply hadn't intending toward Feng Xi descending hands?"
Qi Xianzhun slowly, slowly and leisurely said: "He from a single opening starting issuing dropped madness seemingly's heading suffering that ninety Court Flogging. Letting completely Capital City's people universally using acting as he mad already, un-about to lives already. But he from a single opening starting simply knowing. Desiring to rescue Commandery Princess Baili light relying on fiercely wickedly isn't walking's. Must relying on silver."
Qi Zhenwu dotting head: "Is already. He knowing killing people startling retreating un-finishing all possessing people. Rising codes startling un-holding my Qi Family. Also startling un-holding the Xu house. Eyes beneath people people looking at newspapers. Buying books's people universally somewhat lacking. Wenyuan Bookstore that named Xu Bin hating dying him already. Anxiously un-obtaining giving him utilizing a named stumbling son. Plum Blossom Ferry suffered checking sealing. Morning Newspaper supporting dying already also simply picking exiting several thousands taels of silver coming. Simply is he confiscating dropped Yang Zhong's house. Silver also un-enough buying walking Commandery Princess Baili."
Qi Xianzhun praising sighingly said: "Therefore he spending dropped two days time. Borrowing holding ninety floggings and two strips of lives establishing majesties. Now only needing toward those grass bags (idiots) face front a single standing. Grass bags simply startled breaking dropped galls sons. Obediently, obediently taking silver both hands presenting ascending... He eyes beneath headed where already?"
"Possessing people viewing catching sight of he straightly abandoning Chengguo Duke Estate," Qi Zhenwu answering said: "Duke Estate's that positioned second grandfather previously at Bianyi Workshop intimately mouths speaking about to taking Bai Li buying returning heading. This descending possessing warmly noisy viewing already. Chengguo Duke Estate although lacking dropped. Yet also isn't Chen Ji capable of grabbing pinching's."
Qi Xianzhun if possessing locally considering (thoughtfully): "Un-necessarily."
(End of this chapter)