Chapter 50 Chapter 50 His eyes were particularly hazy and gentle
It has been cloudy for several days, and today the sun finally came out. It looked bright, but there was not much heat, and the air was still damp and cold.
The doors and windows of the signing room were closed, and two charcoal fires were burning. Wu Yong felt so hot after entering for a while that he felt hot all over.
Chen Ling'an glanced at him and said, "I've been away for the past few days. Thank you for your hard work."
"It's not hard, it's what the subordinates should do."
"Nothing urgent happened?"
"All government offices are preparing for the spring inspection and assessment, and they're all behaving themselves!"
Chen Ling'an was silent for a while, then slowly said, "Since I'm idle... I'm sick, not dead."
What does that mean? Why are you suddenly angry? Wu Yong stared at his boss in a daze.
Chen Ling'an didn't continue the topic and asked him about the recent developments of the Chen and Liu families.
Wu Yong took out a piece of paper and began to read.
After an incense stick of time, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and waited for instructions from his superiors.
"Liu Fang has the potential to become a leader of the Qingliu movement." Chen Ling'an tapped the table slowly and calmly, recalling the day when King Cheng invited Liu Jinshu to play chess. "King Cheng and Liu Jinshu weren't close friends, but he suddenly seems interested in a friendship. What do you think?"
Wu Yong pondered, "Prince Cheng is the eldest son, and the crown prince position will be his sooner or later. There's no reason for him to associate with the Liu family, and it would easily arouse suspicion. Could it be..."
His eyes lit up, "Is this the Emperor's intention? The Emperor intends to promote Liu Fang!"
Chen Ling'an nodded, but his expression was very solemn.
Wu Yong was confused by his superior's reaction. "If Liu Fang gains power, he will undoubtedly challenge Chen Shao and significantly weaken his influence in the court. This is a good thing for us. Why is your Excellency so worried?"
"A good thing? It's a good thing for Chen Shao, but it's a bad thing for me."
Chen Ling'an laughed. "The power of the civil service group is dispersed, and they are unable to compete with the imperial power. Chen Shao, Liu Fang, and Lu Liang are equally powerful, and they check and balance each other, which stabilizes the court. This is the situation that the emperor is most happy to see."
Therefore, King Cheng hinted to him to make peace with Liu Jinshu. After the Liu family became powerful, the higher-ups would naturally order him not to keep pestering Chen Shao.
Wu Yong's big eyes blinked, and the hot sweat on his head turned into cold sweat. "Then aren't we useless?"
Chen Ling'an asked him who was the chief examiner of the Spring Examination?
Wu Yong: "According to the news leaked from the palace, Chen Shao was originally chosen, but after Mr. Lin Ting returned to the capital, the emperor seemed to intend to let Mr. Lin Ting be the chief examiner."
Chen Lingan laughed. "Whoever gave you this information, you can abandon this hidden clue. Mr. Lin Ting can't be the chief examiner."
Wu Yong chuckled twice and tactfully didn't ask why.
Outside the window came the muffled sound of firecrackers. It was the end of the year, and the children came out happily to set off firecrackers. The crackling sounds were everywhere, making such a noise that even the Northern Pacification Office could not avoid it.
Wu Yong volunteered to drive the people away.
"No need." Chen Ling'an glanced at the blazing charcoal basin and said quietly, "Let them have a good New Year first. I have other things to tell you when you come back."
"Yes." Wu Yong was in tears.
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Amid the crackling sound of firecrackers, the third year of Hongde arrived.
Staying up all night, worshiping ancestors, visiting relatives, eating and drinking, going out for fun, and eating and drinking again. Ten days have passed in a flash, and after today's Lantern Festival is over, the Chinese New Year will be over.
Xiaoman wanted to see the lanterns. "There are lanterns all along the Qinhuai River. I heard they are very beautiful. Let's go together."
Mrs. Jiang shook her head. "There are too many people, it's too crowded. Mother Fang and I won't go. You guys should go. Take Junyi with you too. Sigh, this kid, she didn't even come to dinner during the New Year. She kowtowed to me through the gate early on the first day of the New Year and didn't even take her New Year's money."
Xiaoman said, "She just likes to be alone and quiet right now. She might not go even if I call her. Besides, she wouldn't feel comfortable going there with Chen Ling'an around."
Mrs. Jiang thought about it and agreed, so she didn't mention it anymore.
As soon as it got dark, Chen Ling'an came to pick up Xiaoman. Chen Yanning was also there, lifting the car curtain and smiling sweetly at her.
Halfway through the journey, I met He Ping again, and needless to say, we went together.
When we arrived at the Qinhuai River, it was already dark.
The lights on the riverside houses and the trees along the shore lit up, as did the stone bridges and the pleasure boats. The dazzling lights extended from beneath our feet, piercing the veil of darkness, winding for dozens of miles, reaching the distant mountaintops and merging with the starry sky.
Xiaoman was almost dazzled.
There was a stall in front for guessing lantern riddles. The price was fifteen cents each time, and if you guessed correctly, you could get a lantern. Seeing two girls looking around frequently, Chen Lingan suggested that they give it a try.
Xiaoman agreed immediately and pulled Chen Yanning to the stall. "Whichever one you like, I'll give it to you."
Chen Yanning half-hid behind her and pointed at the lotus lantern.
The stall owner took the riddle off the lotus lantern: one side is green, the other side is red, one side likes rain, the other side likes wind, guess one word.
Xiaoman thought about it carefully, shook her head and said, "I can't guess, you know?"
Chen Yanning nodded. Xiaoman was delighted and put down another fifteen cents, looking at her expectantly.
"It's the word 'Autumn'." Chen Yanning said in a mosquito-like voice. Fortunately, Xiaoman was close, otherwise he would not have been able to hear it clearly.
"Qiuzi!" Xiaoman laughed loudly, "Boss, right?"
The stall owner said, "What a clever girl," and handed the lotus lantern to Chen Yanning.
Chen Yanning was shy and excited, and took the lantern with a smile.
Xiaoman was not convinced and kept asking for more, so Chen Ling'an simply put down a silver ingot and let her play to her heart's content.
The girl with pearly white hair is betrothed to the man with pen-leaf hair. She dresses to take a bath, and undresses to get on the bed.
Xiaoman pondered for a long time and looked at Chen Yanning for help.
"It's zongzi." she said softly.
Xiaoman slapped his forehead and said, "Oh, why didn't I think of that? Come again, come again."
The stall owner happily brought one: Second girl, guess a word.
Xiaoman guessed several times but none of them were correct, so she had to look at the girl next to her again.
"Zi, the Zi as in posture." This time Chen Yanning's voice was a little louder.
"The second girl... the second daughter is Zi! Hey, interesting, what about the third girl?"
Chen Yanning pointed at Xiaoman and laughed, "You!"
Xiaoman clapped and cheered, and Chen Yanning was also smiling with her eyes curved. At this time, she looked like a fourteen-year-old girl.
When they left, they only took two lanterns. Chen Yanning chose the lotus one, and Xiaoman chose the revolving lantern.
Chen Ling'an took a few steps back and said "thank you" to Xiaoman.
Xiaoman looked puzzled, "Thank me for what?"
The light shattered in Chen Lingan's eyes, making his look particularly hazy and gentle. Xiaoman was actually a little afraid to look directly into his eyes!
"How could someone who could come up with the riddle 'Third Miss' and make Yan Ning laugh so hard not be able to guess those simple riddles?"
"Simple? It's very difficult, okay? Are you praising me or scolding me?" Xiaoman snorted at him and ran away to play with Chen Yanning.
Chen Ling'an smiled and followed them.
Those lanterns are ordinary lanterns made of paper and bamboo strips, and they sell for only ten cents each. The stall owner just wants to sell lanterns and create a gimmick of guessing lantern riddles. Why would he use difficult riddles?
After a while, Xiaoman came running over eating a candied haws, holding one in her hand, and vaguely called out to Chen Yanning to eat it.
At first, Chen Yanning felt embarrassed to eat while walking, but when Xiaoman and He Ping were chewing vigorously on either side, she felt less embarrassed.
After eating the candied haws, the three of them started to eat the roasted sweet potatoes.
Then I stood by the roadside and slurped my tofu pudding...
Chen Ling'an, who was behind, suddenly felt like a well-behaved little sister who had been led astray.
"Look!" Xiaoman pointed to the other side of the river. "What a huge field of lanterns, like a battle array."
Chen Lingan squinted his eyes and looked for a while, "It is indeed a lantern formation, let's go and take a look."
The Lantern Array is a maze made of lanterns, rockery, trees, flowers and plants. It is held every year. Children and young people like to go in and have a look. It is very simple and I have never heard of anyone being trapped in it.
But this year's formation was a bit strange. It didn't look complicated. As we walked, we became dizzy and started spinning in circles. We had to extinguish the lanterns with numbers on them and wait for someone to come forward with an instruction map to rescue us.
Except for Chen Yanning, the other three were people who did not believe in superstition. Seeing that there were yamen runners maintaining order at the entrance, they told her to wait next to the yamen runners, and then they rushed in with lanterns in hand.
There were people coming and going around, and there were many unfamiliar faces. Chen Yanning didn't dare to wait alone, so he called out "Wait for me" and went in.
A quarter of an hour later, Xiaoman and He Ping were led out. Then, the yamen runners appeared at the entrance, leading Chen Ling'an, whose face was ashen, trembling with fear.
It failed!
He Ping sighed, "It's weird. At first I could figure out the way out, but the further I walked, the more wrong it became. There were lanterns everywhere, and the more lights there were, the more dizzy I felt. Everywhere I went was a dead end."
Chen Ling'an asked the yamen runner, "Who set up the lantern array this year?"
"In reply to your Excellency, I only heard that it was a young scholar who came to Beijing to take the imperial examination. Our Excellency may know about it. I will go and ask him now."
"Forget it if you don't know. I'm just asking out of curiosity. Being visited by the Imperial Guards might affect his mood."
Xiaoman looked around, "Where's Yanning?"
Yamen runner: "Young lady, are you talking about the little girl who came with you? She also entered the lantern formation."
Oh, so that’s it. Then someone will lead her out soon.
Another quarter of an hour passed, but Chen Yanning still didn't come out. The yamen runners were ordered to go in and look for him. The runners were embarrassed and said, "Your Excellency knows that we can only go in and rescue people if we get the map. Otherwise, we will be trapped inside."
Then she urged him to wait, "Since your sister hasn't sent you any instructions, it means she hasn't turned off the lights to ask for help."
Xiaoman suddenly asked, "Will she come out?"
He Ping laughed out loud, "Impossible, Xiao Anan and I both failed."
"Let's see first." As he spoke, Xiaoman had already run towards the exit.
In the dizzying light, Chen Yanning slowly appeared in front of them. The lantern in her hand was small, emitting a faint yellow light, and was almost invisible against the surrounding lights.
"Brother, you guys are already out?" She looked embarrassed. "I'm holding you back again."
Chen Ling'an took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly, "No, no... How did you get out?"
"I just walked out. There were too many lights inside, too bright. I lowered my head, only looking at the light below me. As I walked, I found that the path inside was very similar to a chessboard. When my teacher taught me how to play chess, he said..." Chen Yanning looked at the three people opposite him in confusion, who were extremely surprised. "What's wrong with you?"
He Ping grinned: "It's that simple? I don't believe it. I want to go through it again."
This time, before a quarter of an hour had passed, the light in his hand went out. He came out, leaning against the wall and vomiting. "No, it still doesn't work. I followed your method, but I got dizzy even faster. It's even worse than when I was on the boat."
Xiaoman hugged Chen Yanning and cheered, "Look, look, I told you you're naturally intelligent! I may not be good at other things, but I'm always right when it comes to judging people. I'm right when it comes to your brother, and I'm even more right when it comes to you!"
"I'm not that good." Chen Yanning said, but the corners of his mouth curled up uncontrollably.
The lights were bright, and her smile was clearly seen by the people on the pleasure boat.
"She untied it, she actually untied it!" Li Lin clung to the window frame with both hands, his hair trembling with excitement. "Who is she? Come here, come here!"
If the servant hadn't held him back, he would have plunged into the river.
Liu Jinshu, standing by, said, "Is the formation difficult? It actually caused a 'genius' like you to lose your composure and completely mess up the formation."
Li Lin: "The formation isn't difficult. With a little practice, you can figure out how to escape once you're on the chessboard. It's just that there are so many lanterns, and they're so intricate, that looking at them makes you forget where you came from. Only those with pure minds, free of all distractions—no, free of all greed—will not be deceived."
Liu Jinshu looked at him thoughtfully and said, "You must be very eager to meet this girl."
"Of course! Brother Liu knows her?"
"I can't say I know her, but I saw the people around her and could guess her identity."
Li Lin's eyes were sharp. "Who is she?"
Liu Jinshu chuckled softly and said, "She is the younger sister of Chen Ling'an, the commander of the Northern Pacification Division. Now, are you sure you want to get to know her?"
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