223. Surprise
An urgent letter sent over five hundred miles disrupted all plans.
Zhang Zhuo looked down at the 'Ivory Plate of Inspection' from the Secret Service in his hand, which was inscribed with the words "Inspection on behalf of the Emperor, major matters will be reported to the emperor for judgment, and minor matters will be decided immediately."
He naturally knew that this was an ivory plaque suitable only for a Saker Falcon. Above that were the "Ivory Plaques" for the twelve zodiac animals, granting entry to the Forbidden City and the six eastern and western palaces. It was said that the top three zodiac animals also had separate ivory plaques, which were never visible to outsiders.
Seeing that there were no outsiders in the room, Zhang Zhuo weighed the ivory cards in his hand and sighed softly: "Chen Ji, what I just said to Master Chen was not nonsense after drinking."
Chen Ji asked in a low voice, "Master Zhang, are you worried about the succession?"
Zhang Zhuo shook his head. "When it comes to the Jin Party's border troops, it's no longer a simple matter of succession. It's a complex web of contradictions between the imperial court and the border towns, between the Jin Party and the Donglin Party. Unless you're involved, you'll never understand. If you can't understand something, try not to get involved."
Zhang Zhuo lowered his voice and continued, "I've never dealt with the Crown Prince, so I don't know his character. It's just that everyone says he's kind-hearted and praised by great scholars. In this world, kindness is considered weakness. If someone like him tries to investigate the border troops' killings, he'll only harm those around him."
Chen Ji lowered his head and thought for a long time, and finally said softly: "I understand what Master Zhang said, but I have my reasons for going."
"Well," Zhang Zhuo advised, "I have an old acquaintance in Guyuan. I'll write you a letter. If there's anything you can't resolve, go find him. He should be able to get you out of Guyuan."
Chen Ji bowed solemnly and said, "Thank you, Master Zhang."
Zhang Zheng suddenly said, "Father, I also want to follow Chen Ji..."
Zhang Zhuo said calmly, "Get lost."
Zhang Zheng: "Oh."
Zhang Xia pulled Zhang Zheng towards the post station and said, "Brother, please don't cause trouble for father. We still have to hurry back to the capital to celebrate New Year's Eve."
Chen Ji asked, "Miss Zhang Er, we will be parting tomorrow. I will return Zaozao to you."
Zhang Xia waved his hand without even turning his head: "No, no, I'll lend it to you first."
Zhang Zhuo looked at his children's backs and sighed, "If only this kid were half as sensible as A-Xia... Go back and get some rest."
When I returned to the room, I saw Xiaoman sitting in front of the eight-immortals table, dozing off with his chin supported by his hand.
Hearing the door open, she stood up dazedly: "Master, you are finally back. I will ask the waiter at the post station to come over and give you some hot water to wash."
Chen Ji smiled and said, "Don't bother. I can do it myself. Where's Su Zhou? Has she eaten yet?"
Xiaoman rubbed her eyes and said, "She's still hiding in the box on the carriage. It's said that there are people from the Secret Service behind this post station, and she doesn't want to take the risk of coming out. She's eaten, and I brought her some snacks when no one was around."
Chen Ji hummed, "Tomorrow I will go to Guyuan with the Chen family. You will go to the capital with the Zhang family. Follow Miss Zhang's arrangements on the way and don't act on your own."
Xiaoman's eyes suddenly widened: "Master, are you going to chase me away?"
Chen Ji explained, "I'm not chasing you away. It's Master Zhang who said that Guyuan is a place full of mixed people and it's not peaceful. Not letting you go is for your own good."
The light in Xiaoman's eyes swirled around: "Then you should take me with you so that you can take care of me."
Chen Ji said nonchalantly: "You are just a little maid, what can you take care of? If you were an official, I would take you with me, but you are not."
Xiaoman was speechless: "I...someone has to take care of you anyway."
Chen Ji said without question, "You go with the Zhang family, take good care of Su Zhou, and escort her to the capital."
Xiaoman said reluctantly: "When you go to Guyuan, remember to visit my aunt's grave and pull out some weeds for her.
If possible, perhaps you can come and see for yourself whether what Madam Li said is true.
Chen Ji was stunned for a moment. Lu’s tomb was actually in Guyuan?
His mind raced. Guyuan was a place where people from both the Ning and Jing dynasties mixed together. Since there was an inn that could send people to the Jing dynasty, there must be someone who could send people from the Jing dynasty to the Ning dynasty.
It was probably from here that Lu Jin and his sister entered the Ning Dynasty, forging their household registration and becoming Guyuan residents. The Ning Dynasty emphasized returning to one's roots after death, so after Lu's death, Chen Liqin sent her back to Guyuan for burial.
Considering the previous statement about the "empty coffin", Chen Ji was shocked and wondered, could it be that Lu was not really dead, but took the opportunity to escape in Guyuan and returned to Jing Dynasty?
But if that was the case, why didn't Si Caogui know that the other party was still alive?
Chen Ji wanted to ask about the specific location of the tomb, but he couldn't open his mouth. This was something he should know. If he asked, Xiaoman would probably become suspicious immediately.
Chen Ji said nonchalantly, "It's a pity that she entrusted her trust to the wrong person. She can't be buried in the Chen family after she passed away."
Xiaoman sighed, "Who says it's not? But according to my aunt's personality, she doesn't want to be buried with those corrupt scholars of the Chen family. If she were buried together, it would be a lively scene. My aunt would point at the noses of their ancestors and curse them every day in the underworld..."
Wuyun stood in awe: "Very fierce!"
…
…
The next morning, the guest room in the inn was warm. Xiaoman was dozing off on a small stool, drooling on his knees.
Chen Ji got up quietly without waking her up.
He went straight to the backyard stable, brought out Zaozao, and combed his fur with a coarse-toothed comb. Zaozao felt comfortable and nudged Chenji's shoulder with his head.
A voice came from not far away: "Third brother woke up really early."
Chen Ji turned around and saw Chen Wenzong standing on the steps of the post station wearing a white fox fur coat, like a nobleman who walked out of a storyteller's story.
Chen Ji bowed and saluted: "Brother."
Chen Wenzong's eyes lit up with a hint of smile: "You call father Lord Chen, but you are still willing to call me brother."
Chen Ji smiled and said, "Brother, you are a noble person. You deserve to be called brother."
Chen Wenzong hesitated for a moment: "Father actually..."
Before he could finish his words, Chen Ji had already taken Zaozao to the front door of the post station.
In front of the post station, the escorts woke up early before dawn. One of them squatted at the door of the post station with a bowl of mutton soup. He ate the hot sesame cake and sipped the soup. After drinking until he was warm all over, he got up to put the reins on the oxen and horses and led the ox cart and horse cart out of the yard.
The post station clerk pointed at the ground and cursed, "Pick up all the cow and horse manure on the ground, or else you won't even have a place to stay in the cowshed next time you come here!"
Liang Biaotou hurriedly smiled and said, "I'll pick it up right away!"
Chen Wenzong looked at the escorts' backs and sighed, "The escorts squatted together early in the morning, drinking hot soup and eating sesame cakes. This scene of urban life is so lively. Watching them eat has whetted my appetite. I used to have no appetite at home, even with all the finery. Third brother, would you like a bowl of mutton soup too?"
Chen Ji combed Zao Zao's hair while teasing her, "Brother, the escorts have been huddled in the cowshed all night. If they don't have some hot soup in the morning, their toes are cold. The mutton soup only has two thin slices of mutton in it. If they heard you say that, they'd probably be eager to trade places with you, living under the carved beams and wooden buildings, eating the luxurious clothes and delicacies you talk about."
Chen Wenzong was stunned for a moment, then said sincerely, "I appreciate your advice... Third brother, you must have suffered a lot outside these past two years. It's a good thing you're back home."
Chen Ji glanced at him and said, "Not really."
At this time, Chen Liqin and Liang had already led
Chen Wenxiao got into the carriage to avoid meeting Zhang Zhuo again.
Chen Ji stood in front of the door and called Zaozao. He grabbed a handful of soybeans from his sack and fed them to Zaozao's mouth. Wuyun came out of Chen Ji's arms and nestled on Zaozao's head, but Zaozao was not angry.
When the Chen family convoy was on the road, Chen Ji did not rush to mount his horse and set off.
He whispered to Zaozao, "Let's wait a little longer until your master says goodbye to you before leaving. Otherwise, she won't be able to bear the thought of not seeing you for over a month."
Chen Ji knew that Miss Zhang Er treated Zaozao as a friend, so she would definitely come to say goodbye.
But he waited and waited, and saw that the Chen family convoy had gone far away, but no one showed up.
"Not good!" Chen Ji seemed to have thought of something and turned over and rode his horse to chase after the Chen family's convoy.
When he arrived at the Chen family's convoy, he drove Zaozao around to check, but there was no sign of Zhang Xia and Zhang Zheng in the more than ten cars.
Chen Ji called out to the maid named Hanlu on the oxcart, "Open the box and see if there are any Tibetans inside."
Hanlu was confused: "What are you talking about, Third Young Master? The boxes are full of our belongings, how could there be someone hiding in them?"
Chen Ji insisted: "Open it and take a look."
Hanlu did as she was told, but just as she opened a crack in the box, she saw a hand reaching out from inside and closing the lid again...
Chen Ji: “?”
Hanlu screamed, "What the hell?!"
Before they could open the box to check again, they heard the sound of horse hooves coming from the alley beside the road.
Chen Ji turned around and saw Zhang Xia and Zhang Zheng riding their horses to catch up.
He asked doubtfully, "What are you two doing..."
Zhang Zheng said nonchalantly, "We've been in Luocheng for two years, and Mother won't let my sister and I travel far. We're practically exhausted. She doesn't care about my older brother and sister, so why does she keep controlling us? So, I secretly brought my younger sister out, asked for two good horses from the post station, and we'll go to Guyuan with you."
Chen Ji frowned: "That won't do."
Zhang Zheng laughed heartily: "You are not my mother, so you have no right to control us siblings!"
Chen Ji knew that what Zhang Zheng said made sense, and he really had no reason to restrain the other party, so he had to give up: "Miss Zhang Er, since you are out, let's change horses, and I will return Zaozao to you."
Zhang Xia said generously, "No need. I see Zaozao likes you very much, so I'll lend it to you first. You need it more than I do."
Chen Ji thanked him, and then he suddenly remembered the hand in the box...
Since Zhang Zheng and Zhang Xia are here, who is in the box?
Chen Ji said calmly to the box: "Come out by yourself!"
The box slowly opened, and Xiaoman was seen squatting inside with her right hand supporting the lid of the box, smiling brightly: "Sir, is this a surprise?"
Chen Ji said unhappily, "Why don't you listen to my orders?"
Seeing that his expression was not right, Xiaoman hurriedly explained: "But you really need someone to take care of you on the road. What young master doesn't bring a maid? Is a young master without a maid still a young master?"
Chen Ji thought it was bad. Xiaoman secretly following him was a foregone conclusion, but what about Su Zhou? This Su Zhou insisted on hiding in the Chen family team, hoping to see if he was the one who betrayed Prince Jing's Mansion. But now that Xiaoman and he were gone...
Doesn't that mean Su Zhou is the only one left in the carriage? !
At this moment, the coachman was driving Chen Ji's carriage behind the Zhang family's caravan.
As the car swayed, a faint voice came from the wooden box inside, asking, "Can I come out now? It's very stuffy in there."
"Can I come out now?"
"Can you please give me a word?"
"Speak, you dead girl!"
(End of this chapter)
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