Green Mountain

Lin Yanchu held the Star Moon Flag in his hand, and turned back in surprise: "What orders do you have, my lord?"

Chen Ji smiled, "Have you ever been to Guyuan?"

Lin Yanchu cautiously reminded, "My lord, let's not chat idly..."

But Chen Ji ignored his reminder and continued, "Heading north from Luocheng City, you first pass through Mengcheng Post, travel for three more days to reach Jin City, and then another three days to reach Taiyuan Prefecture. There you need to swap horses for camels, as savvy merchants are stationed at the city gate just to do this business. Camels are very smelly, but they have much greater endurance than horses..."

"Arriving at Guyuan feels like entering a paradise. In Guyuan City, the attire is different from the Central Plains; people there like to decorate their foreheads, ears, and necks with colorful stones, burning with enthusiasm like a flame. What's most interesting is the people there, like stubborn and hard stones. If possible, it wouldn't be bad to venture further west into the Western Regions."

"To the east lies the vast sea, and across the ocean, it's said..."

Lin Yanchu was perplexed, not knowing why Chen Ji suddenly started talking about this, and could only reluctantly agree, "My lord, I will visit if there's a chance."

Only Bai Li knew that Chen Ji was speaking for her, and only she understood.

At this moment, the Divine Chief Eunuch heard the commotion and came running with small steps holding up his official robe, "Who was talking just now? Wasn't it instructed that you shouldn't speak carelessly?"

The person mistook it from afar, thinking it was the nuns of Jingyang Palace conversing with the Yulin Army.

Du Miao quickly explained, "Lord Admiral, we were not speaking; it was that Yulin Army soldier chatting with a colleague."

The Divine Chief Eunuch followed Du Miao's gaze to Chen Ji and said in a deep voice, "Why are you so unruly? What's your name? I will report this to your Yulin Army governor."

Wu Yun meowed a complaint, "This person said this morning they would punish the Commandery Princess."

Chen Ji suddenly pulled the reins, sitting high on his horse, looking down at the Divine Chief Eunuch.

The Divine Chief Eunuch was furious, "I was talking to you. What's your name?"

The next moment, Chen Ji abruptly raised the horsewhip, striking the Divine Chief Eunuch's face heavily, "Don't interfere with the Phoenix sedan, step back."

A sharp snap resounded.

The horsewhip left a deep bloody mark on the Divine Chief Eunuch's face.

In the ceremonial procession, the Jiefan Guard hawk-eyed, Lin Chaoqing rode at the forefront of the troop. Along Drum Tower Street, there were spies from the Ritual Supervision prowling amidst the crowd; Chen Ji saw the Xuan Snake clad in a large black cloak and the Treasure Monkey wearing a wooden mask.

Along with the nuns from Jingyang Palace, they all turned to look.

The long street fell silent.

One was the Standard Fourth Rank Divine Chief Eunuch.

One was the Sixth Rank Hundred Households of the Yulin Army.

No one expected Chen Ji to act so audaciously.

Bai Li looked up at the young man astride the warhorse, in whose eyes the fire of their first meeting still burned.

Wu Yun meowed, "Powerful!"

It took the Divine Chief Eunuch a while to regain his senses. Only when a scorching pain crept into his mind did he lower his voice and shout hoarsely, "You brat dare? I will report this to the Prime Minister, I will report this to the Imperial Court!"

Chen Ji calmly said, "Go ahead, report it wherever you like."

The Divine Chief Eunuch roared, "What's your name?"

Chen Ji spurred his horse to catch up with the procession, "Fuyou Street, Chen Ji."

The sky was fully bright, and the ceremonial procession happened to exit Anding Gate.

On the city tower of Anding Gate, Bai Long stood alone with his hands behind his back, quietly watching the procession heading north. He observed the young man below, who collected his youthful spirit just barely enough to arrive here.

But collecting it didn't mean diminishing it.

...

...

On the official road.

Bai Li rode alongside Chen Ji, holding Wu Yun in her arms, hoofbeats very near, as if she could hear Chen Ji's breathing.

Actually, she wanted to ask what if the Divine Chief Eunuch holds a grudge and comes after you? Can you handle it? Will there be any danger?

How have you been lately? Do you have clothes for the season? Did you wear the clothes I ordered for you?

But she couldn't voice any of this.

Yet Bai Li didn't feel sad, things were fine just as they were.

If the Ancestor Silkworm Altar were thirty miles, three hundred miles, or three thousand miles further, it would be even better.

Chen Ji looked at the simple wooden hairpin on top of Bai Li's head, fingers rubbing the plain silver hairpin inside his sleeve, unsure of how to give it to her.

No opportunity.

When the Ancestor Silkworm Altar came into view, Wu Yun meowed in Bai Li's arms: "The Empress has a Grand Official named Hu Yuanjin by her side, very malicious, not to mention she doesn't like cats, but her cultivation realm is extremely high. With her there, I can't leave Kunning Palace at all. Can you find a way to get rid of her?"

Wu Yun continued, "The Empress once said she wanted to visit Jingyang Palace to look after Prince Jing's two daughters, but she was stopped by that malicious Hu Yuanjin."

Chen Ji sensed Wu Yun's deep grudge against Hu Yuanjin but was helpless against her...

Wu Yun meowed again, "Prince Fu visited Kunning Palace some days ago and said he didn't want to fight for the Crown Prince position, but the Empress disagreed."

"The Emperor rarely visits the Kunning Palace, but often sends Hu Yuanjin to carry me to Renshou Palace. Renshou Palace isn't fun; the officials always argue there, I've even seen two people spitting at each other... but the food there is delicious."

"Someone named Wu Xiu told the Emperor that the Cao Guild has become a grave threat..."

The Empress's entourage had already entered the Ancestor Silkworm Altar; soon it would be the nuns of Jingyang Palace's turn. As the parting was imminent, Wu Yun blurted out everything she had seen and heard.

Chen Ji was astonished; Wu Yun had actually become an Imperial Secret Agent.

At this point, the nuns of Jingyang Palace entered the Ancestor Silkworm Altar one by one, while the Yulin Army could only guard outside.

At the gate, Chen Ji dismounted, calmly watching Bai Li carrying Wu Yun walk through the main entrance.

Bai Li didn't look back, nor could she.

Chen Ji stood outside, gazing up: the Ancestor Silkworm Altar was like a massive Taoist temple.

Seven main halls enshrined seven altars; the Empress was to offer sacrifices at each, then use a pure gold mulberry hook to personally pluck mulberry leaves, symbolizing the court's emphasis on the sericulture industry.

Afterward, women from the capital's officials' families would pick mulberries, and the Empress would ceremonially reward them based on the quantity and quality of mulberry leaves they gathered.

However, the women seldom picked them personally, leaving it entirely to the maids. Meanwhile, the women would enjoy some respite or engage in conversations.

On the official road behind the Phoenix sedan, the chariots and sedans of the officials' families lined up neatly, chariots in front, sedans behind. Those riding in chariots obviously had great backing; those only in sedans, marginalized.

The families disembarked from their carriages and sedans at the entrance, each striving to outshine the others, following the nuns into the Ancestor Silkworm Altar.

Chen Ji pondered. The Ancestor Silkworm Altar was bustling with a diverse crowd, merely the women from officials' families totaled over a hundred, logically allowing him entry too.

He dismounted, handing the reins and Star Moon Flag to Lin Yanchu: "I'll go in for a look, just in case anyone harbors ill intentions."

Lin Yanchu was taken aback: "My lord, that's the Jiefan Guard's duty."

Chen Ji smiled, "Aren't we the Imperial Guard as well? If something happens, neither of us can evade responsibility."

Lin Yanchu fell silent.

Chen Ji approached the main entrance of the Ancestor Silkworm Altar, but upon arriving, a familiar figure blocked his path.

Lin Chaoqing clasped his hands, "Lord Chen, the duty of the Yulin Army does not extend inside the Ancestor Silkworm Altar."

Chen Ji scrutinized the middle-aged man before him, considering, "I am also part of the Imperial Guard..."

Lin Chaoqing added, "Hundred Households."

Chen Ji frowned, remaining silent.

At this moment, a call came from behind him, "Chen Ji!"

Chen Ji turned around to see Qi Zhaoning and Qi Zhaoyun approaching together, with Qi Zhenzhu, her face covered with a light veil, following closely behind.