218. What a pity
The winter air was bone-chillingly cold. Zhang Zhuo, dressed in a blue robe, waved to Chen Liqin from afar, with a warm smile on his face as if he had reunited with an old friend.
Chen Liqin's expression changed slightly. "Master Zhang, please forgive my frankness. You and I are not of the same kind. Why do we have to return to Beijing together?"
Zhang Zhuo laughed heartily and said, "What are you talking about, Master Chen? You and I were partners in Luocheng, and we were promoted together. If we don't return to the capital together, others will think we are both narrow-minded and can't tolerate each other."
Chen Liqin said angrily, "Master Zhang, please don't make insinuations or accusations. You and I have no personal relationship, so it's better not to set off together."
Zhang Zhuo stroked his beard and asked with interest, "Master Chen, are you worried that with me by Chen Ji's side, I'll outshine you as his father?"
Chen Liqin angrily said, "Master Zhang, please do not make groundless assumptions! I saw that your Zhang family's convoys were so numerous that I really didn't dare to get close to them!"
The Chen family valued their reputation and family background, and prided themselves on being noble and aloof. Zhang Zhuo had so brazenly left office with hundreds of carts of valuables, so how could Chen Liqin possibly be willing to leave with the Zhang family?
If someone saw it, they might think that he and Zhang Zhuo had embezzled the money together!
Zhang Zhuo was not angry. He took a few steps forward and wanted to take Chen Liqin's hand to show his closeness, but Chen Liqin quickly retracted his hand into his sleeve and said, "Master Zhang, please keep your mouth shut and don't touch me!"
Zhang Zhuo laughed joyfully and said, "Don't worry, Master Chen. Later, your Chen family's convoy will go in front, and my Zhang family will follow behind, keeping a distance. That way, no one will misunderstand you!"
Chen Liqin became suspicious: "Master Zhang, why do you insist on going with me?"
Zhang Zhuo smiled and patted his shoulder. "Lord Chen will soon be entering the Eastern Palace. Isn't it a good idea for me to get closer to this future minister in advance? Lord Chen, you are now representing the Crown Prince. Are you going to shut my Zhang and Xu families out on his behalf? Does the Crown Prince know about this?"
Chen Liqin opened his mouth but no words came out.
In recent years, the struggle for the throne has intensified. The rumors between the Crown Prince, Prince Fu, and Prince An have long become gossip among the people. At this time, the Crown Prince naturally hopes to get as much help as possible. The Xu family has never expressed its position on the issue of the throne. If he becomes enemies with Zhang Zhuo, how will the Crown Prince view him?
Thinking of this, Chen Liqin was actually controlled by Zhang Zhuo and had no way to refute.
Zhang Zhuo laughed heartily and turned to leave. He walked back along the Chen family's motorcade and called out, "Chen Ji, Chen Ji! Which car are you in?"
Chen Ji gently lifted the carriage curtain, jumped out of the carriage and bowed, saying, "Master Zhang."
Zhang Zhuo leaned closer and lowered his voice to a whisper, "Has Wang Chongli's death been linked to you?"
Chen Ji also lowered his voice: "Reporting to Master Zhang, this matter has not been traced to me."
"That's good. I couldn't sleep all night last night, fearing any more trouble," Zhang Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief. He then gave a serious instruction, "The Jingwang case is already unresolved. Wang Chongli's identity is sensitive, and his death has far-reaching implications. All the way north, there will be spies from the Secret Service setting up checkpoints everywhere. I hope you can step in and prevent them from opening the boxes and inspecting the Zhang family's treasures. These hundreds of carts of treasures must be delivered safely to the capital, otherwise my life will be in danger."
Chen Ji suddenly realized that Zhang Zhuo wanted to use his identity as a Haidongqing to provide protection, so he was waiting here early.
He said sincerely, "I understand, Master Zhang, please rest assured. I will definitely escort the Zhang family's wealth and goods to the capital."
At this moment, Zhang Xia, dressed in a fiery red robe, came over with Zaozao and handed the reins to Chen Ji.
Chen Ji asked doubtfully:
"Miss Zhang Er, what are you doing?"
Zhang Xia touched Zaozao's cheek and explained, "My mother doesn't allow me to ride a horse anymore. I thought you wouldn't be one to stay in a carriage, so I'll lend you Zaozao for a few days. You can return her to me when you get to the capital."
As she spoke, she patted the saddle and pointed to a long cloth bag lying across the front of it. "The knife you entrusted me with is in this bag. I saw it was missing a scabbard, so I asked someone to make you one... I'm not sure if you like the style of that scabbard. If not, I'll find a better one later."
Whale knife.
The five-foot-five-inch blade was almost as tall as a person, making it particularly eye-catching. Chen Ji had previously been unable to bring the blade back to the Chen family, so he had left it at the Zhang residence, entrusting Zhang Xia with safekeeping.
Someone had promised to make him a scabbard, but it didn't happen in time, so he didn't think about it anymore. Unexpectedly, Zhang Xia did it for him.
Zhang Xia continued, "In the bag next to the saddle, there's some beef jerky from Wuxinji and preserved plums from the candied shop. We can snack on them when we're free on the road."
Chen Ji reached out and stroked the cloth bag: "Thank you, Miss Zhang Er."
Zhang Xia said with a carefree smile, "You've helped my Zhang family so much, why are you being so polite? Besides, didn't I tell you that we're close friends who've risked our lives together in Longwangtun?"
As he was speaking, he saw Zhang Zhuo's first wife Xu walking out of the teahouse leisurely. Zhang Zheng lost his usual playful attitude and followed her obediently.
Xu's clothes were simple, a white gown with a large collar, no elaborate embroidery or gold or silver trim. Her hair was casually tied up with two wooden hairpins, unlike Liang's, who wore her hair in a bun.
She walked calmly to Chen Ji and said with a gentle smile, "Are you Chen Ji?"
In the carriage, Xiaoman saw Xu coming and immediately lifted the curtain and pricked up his ears to eavesdrop.
There was a noise coming from the wooden box in the car, and she hurriedly sat on the box to prevent Su Zhou from suddenly coming out.
Outside the carriage, Chen Ji bowed and said, "Madam, I am Chen Ji."
Xu said nothing. She looked him up and down, and then back up again. Then she slowly spoke, "I heard that you were an apprentice to Imperial Physician Yao before. Recently, you've been thinking of returning to the Chen family to study and take the imperial examinations?"
With just this one sentence, Chen Ji knew that Zhang Zhuo had not told Xu about his affairs... Could it be that Zhang Zhuo did not trust his wife?
Zhang Zhuo laughed aside: "Madam, it's getting late, let's go back to the car."
Xu glanced at him lightly but did not respond.
Zhang Zhuo chuckled and said, "Then I'll get back to the car first!"
Xu watched Zhang Zhuo leave, then looked back at Chen Ji after a moment, saying gently, "A prodigal son who returns is worth more than gold. If you can stop before it's too late, you're still a good child. However, academic research requires a hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand times more effort to excel. You should concentrate on your studies and not let other things distract you."
Chen Ji said softly, "Madam is right. I will follow your instructions."
Seeing that he was not disobedient, Xu finally smiled and said, "Chen Ji, do you have a woman you like?"
Chen Ji was silent for a moment and then responded, "Madam, no."
Xu nodded and said, "There are many beautiful women in the capital. When you return to the capital, I can help you keep an eye out to see if there are any good families that are a good match for you."
Zhang Xia's eyes widened: "Mom, Chen Ji and Jun..."
Before he could finish his words, Xu grabbed his wrist and said, "Starting a family and building a career is the most important thing in life. How can we delay it? Chen Ji, am I right?"
Chen Ji said humbly, "I dare not trouble you, Madam, with this matter."
"Zao Zao is the apple of Xia Er's eye.
"Baby, she's willing to lend you her jujubes, which means you two are close friends. It's okay for me to help her friend. Okay, let's get going," said Xu, holding Zhang Xia's wrist as they walked towards the Zhang family convoy.
"Mom, what are you doing? I haven't finished talking to Chen Ji yet. Please don't let me lose my friend!" Zhang Xia tried to break free from Xu's hand several times, but failed.
Xu glanced at her sideways and said in a low voice, "Shut up! If I continue to let you go like this, who in the capital will dare to marry you in the future?"
Zhang Xia said with a bitter face: "It doesn't matter if there is no one to marry. I will stay with you and be filial to you for the rest of my life. Anyway, there are no men in the capital that I can look up to."
Xu said angrily, "Nonsense!"
After saying that, she took Zhang Xia back to the carriage.
A servant hurriedly knelt down and lowered his body to let Xu step on his back to get into the carriage. Zhang Xia did not step on the servant, but jumped up lightly.
Chen Ji looked at Zhang Zheng, who coughed lightly, "Don't take it to heart. My sister and I are fearless, but we're only afraid of her. There's nothing we can do about it."
Chen Ji smiled and said, "How could that be? Brother Zhang, don't worry."
After Zhang Zheng left, Xiao Man angrily pulled open the curtains and said, "Master, aren't you angry?"
Chen Ji remained calm: "Why should I be angry?"
Xiaoman muttered, "Madam Zhang said she wanted to find you a marriage of equal status...but what she meant by "equal status" was a concubine's son with a concubine's daughter, and a legitimate son with a legitimate daughter. She didn't really want to help you, she was clearly warning you not to set your sights on Miss Zhang II."
Chen Ji smiled and said, "There were rumors that the Zhang and Chen families were planning a marriage, so it's normal for her to be worried. But she didn't know that Miss Zhang Er and I were friends, so it's not what she thought."
Xiaoman curled her lips: "That's good, otherwise I would have to endure their anger!"
Chen Ji didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "You are quite nosy."
Xiaoman whispered, "I'm concerned about you."
Chen Ji patted Zaozao's neck, jumped on his horse, and rode all the way to the wonton shop near the city gate.
When they arrived at the wonton shop, the diners at the wooden tables stood up involuntarily and whispered, "Master Chen."
Chen Ji sat on Zaozao's back, looking down at them, and said calmly, "Everyone sit down. We'll open the city gate later and let all the vehicles behind pass."
After saying that, he turned back holding the reins. A diner wiped his mouth, lowered his head and walked out of the back door of the wonton shop, detouring to the city gate to explain things.
The city gate opened and a long convoy passed through the city gate. The spy did not even check the simplest pass.
Chen Ji sighed a little. It turned out that today, he had become a big man in the eyes of others.
When the long convoy had all left the city, he also rode Zaozao and slowly passed through the two heavy vermilion lacquered doors and through the dark and mottled city gate.
After riding for a distance, Chen Ji couldn't help but look back.
Chen Ji was wearing a black cloak, with a long sword across his saddle, and standing still on his horse.
He saw the vermilion lacquered gate slowly closing behind him, blocking out the scenery of Luo City bit by bit, as if someone was saying to him, young man, don't look back.
Chen Ji took a last deep look, then exhaled a puff of white mist and turned around to catch up with the convoy.
Xiaoman leaned out of the car and asked, "Sir, you don't look happy?"
Chen Ji smiled and said, "What a pity."
Xiaoman was puzzled: "What's a pity?"
Chen Ji did not answer.
It’s a pity that people say that the flowers in Luocheng are in full bloom, but it’s not spring when I come.
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