Green Mountain

Before the Ancestor Silkworm Altar, Chen Ji turned back.

When the Qi sisters came to him, they brought a fragrant breeze.

Today Qi Zhaoning wore a willow green vertical-collared silk jacket, a moon-white skirt, and pearl headpieces, with a specially made-up face, thinly drawn brows, and lips stained with rouge.

She stood charmingly before Chen Ji, her eyes bright: "Chen Ji, we just heard on the road that you whipped the Governor of the Divine Chief Eunuch of the Eunuch Party?"

The first sentence made Chen Ji's heart sink. He instinctively looked at Lin Chaoqing beside him, knowing it was not good.

In the Ning Dynasty, civil servants take pride in criticizing the Eunuch Party. In the seventeenth year of Jianing, Imperial Censor Wen Zheyi angrily cursed the Eunuch Party outside the Imperial Palace Gate, later demoted by the Spy Department under the guise of speaking inebriantly, sentenced to be a seventh-grade County Magistrate in the south.

But Wen Zheyi was not snubbed due to demotion. As he traveled south by boat, Ning Dynasty civil servants welcomed him warmly, asking for his calligraphy. In three years of demotion, he became one of the southern literary leaders.

Today, Chen Ji whipping the Governor of the Divine Chief Eunuch openly was more significant than Wen Zheyi. Among the Twelve Imperial Supervisors, the Divine Chief Eunuch, though a cold agency, is nominally peer to Ritual Supervision.

Slapping the face of the Governor of the Divine Chief Eunuch would certainly spread widely, and Chen Ji was not worried about it becoming known...

But you cannot spread it in front of the Eunuch Party.

Lin Chaoqing looked at Chen Ji with a half-smile: "Mr. Chen, such an imposing presence. In this vast Imperial Capital, people might at most curse a few words. Few truly dare to strike the Governor of the Twelve Imperial Supervisors. I could have let Mr. Chen in to take a look, but now if I facilitate you, you will probably have no place to stand in the Inner Court."

Chen Ji did not engage in pointless talk with him and turned to leave.

He returned directly to the ranks of the Yulin Army, took back the reins from Lin Yanchu, silently pondering how to deliver the silver hairpin to Bai Li.

Qi Zhaoning followed behind as if unaware, still smiling radiantly: "Chen Ji, when I got off the carriage, everyone was discussing you, saying that a few days from now when outing for leisure, they will surely ask someone to invite you... But I told them, you might not like such excitement, it doesn't matter even if you don't go."

Chen Ji did not want to speak, but Qi Zhenzhuo beside him took over the conversation: "How could that be, at that time we will go together. After being stuck in the Imperial Capital for days, going out for some fresh air is necessary. Where do you plan to go for the outing?"

Qi Zhaoning quickly replied: "Fragrant Mountain. At that time, Crown Prince brother will also go. It's said he'll hold a spring hunt, hunting bears and wolves just out of their burrows, with prizes for winners."

Qi Zhenzhuo sneaked a glance at Chen Ji: "Wouldn't it be easy for us at that time?"

Chen Ji remained silent. The Crown Prince's spring hunt, how could the Qi family's legitimate son not know? It was merely a brother-sister duo playing along.

After pondering for a moment, he said: "The Imperial Examination is in a few days, the Yulin Army leaving the capital... it's inappropriate."

Qi Zhaoning's expression darkened.

But this time, even Li Xuan spoke up to support: "No worries, I will stay at the Governor Mansion, you two can go."

Before Chen Ji could refuse again, Qi Zhaoning pulled Qi Zhaoyun to leave: "Let's not talk about it, we are rushing to participate in a ceremony, it should be starting soon."

Chen Ji wanted to say something but stopped.

He calculated in his mind that he probably wouldn't have the chance to be with Bai Li next, so why not ask the Qi family ladies to help deliver the plain silver hairpin to Bai Li?

But thinking again, if he did so, Qi Zhaoning might cause some trouble, so he suppressed the thought.

How to deliver the silver hairpin to Bai Li?

...

...

Ancestor Silkworm Altar.

Qi Zhaoning hurriedly walked with Qi Zhaoyun. Qi Zhaoyun complained: "Slow down, there's no wolf chasing you."

Qi Zhaoning slowed her pace, patting her chest: "I don't know why, getting closer to him makes me feel a bit stuffy. I never thought of him as a military general; it only reminds me when I see him armored up close."

At this time, several officials' families caught up from behind.

A young lady holding a silk fan gleefully said: "Zhaoning, was the Yulin Army you spoke with earlier Chen Ji?"

Qi Zhaoning blushed slightly: "Yes, it was him."

Several young ladies hid half their faces with their silk fans, teasing: "Zhaoning wants to marry."

Qi Zhaoning pushed them away, face red: "Nonsense, if you keep talking, I'll tear your mouths."

Those ladies laughed: "We all know what happened, don't we? Yesterday, Mr. Chen Lizun from the Chen family went to the Qi Mansion and said something, right? I've heard, the Chen family has begun preparing the six ceremonial gifts for marriage."

Qi Zhaoning was startled: "How do you know everything?"

The lady teased: "How can there be walls without wind? In the Imperial Capital, officials buy tea and silk from only a few places. The big Chen family bought so much at once, surely not for daily use. Moreover, the big Chen family hired the Craftsmanship Supervisor to make two golden geese, apart from seeking fortune, what else could they do with them?"

For noble families, geese were required for engagement, with a pair of live geese gifted.

But it's early spring, and geese are still in the south, only returning north by March. Typical officials would replace them with live geese, but the Chen family, being extravagant, simply hired artisans to make two golden geese as a sign of sincerity.

Another young lady tapped Qi Zhaoning's shoulder: "These rumors have long spread, do you think you can hide anything? It's said Official Chen had the Chen family sons compete for succession, this Chen Ji manipulating the salt shop managers as if playing them like pawns, completely unlike a military general, more like a strategist. Now that the big family is preparing the wedding, they must have decided on the successor, and you will soon go to the Chen family to continue enjoying the luxury."