Chapter 388

The Ning and Jing Dynasties both observed the customs of Spring Hunt, Summer Culling, Autumn Hunt, and Winter Hunt.

The Spring Hunt involved hunting non-pregnant wild beasts. The Summer Culling targeted beasts that destroyed crops in the fields. During the autumn and winter, there was no distinction made; the fiercest predators were rounded up to store fat and prepare pelts for winter.

The nature of these four seasonal hunts was similar to the ritual sacrifices to the Silkworm God. The royal family led by example, using the field hunts to demonstrate military prowess to the realm.

When Emperor Ning was young, he personally conducted these events. After he devoted himself to cultivating the Dao, he entrusted these duties to the Crown Prince. This time, not only the aristocratic youths from the capital were invited, but also elites from the Divine Mechanism Battalion, the Five Armies Camp, and the Myriad Years Army would be dispatched.

The champion would earn a position for one of his sons as a Centurion in the Imperial Guards. Those who hunted auspicious creatures like white deer or white foxes would be granted the honor of assisting in the sacrifice at the Altar of Heaven. Tiger hunters would be rewarded with a golden belt bestowed by the Emperor.

The Crown Prince would also tie a red silk ribbon around the leg of a peregrine falcon; whoever shot it would be rewarded with Emperor Ning's personal bow and quiver.

Qi Zhenzhuo rode ahead on a fast horse to return to the Qi family mansion and pack his belongings.

The Chen family's carriage slowly moved along Chang'an Avenue, heading towards Xizhi Gate.

Seeing no one nearby, Sicao Gui finally asked in a low voice, "Where do you think this great victory came from? Could it be from the reinforcement troops sent to Goryeo?"

Chen Ji detected the probing in the other's words: "Lord Sicao, if it's a victory in Goryeo, how long would it take for the news to reach Ning Dynasty?"

Sicao Gui quickly calculated the time: "It's spring now, and the prevailing winds at sea are from the southeast. Departing from Tanggu, the Ning Dynasty's navy could reach Goryeo in seven days at the fastest. The return journey would be against the wind, taking about ten days. If they didn't encounter strong winds or rough seas, then news of a victory would be arriving just in time."

No wonder Sicao Gui tensed up upon hearing the words "great victory"; solely based on the timing, it indeed seemed like a victory report from the Goryeo reinforcements.

Chen Ji calmly said, "Lord Sicao, what preparations has our Jing Dynasty made, and can we handle these reinforcements?"

Sicao Gui's voice grew grave: "Goryeo has already surrendered to our Jing Dynasty, submitting a memorial requesting vassalage and pledging to be our perpetual protectorate. Lord Lu has laid out a foolproof plan in Goryeo; as soon as the Ning Dynasty reinforcements arrive, we can ensure they never return, unless..."

Chen Ji silently clenched his fist: "Unless what?"

Sicao Gui touched the short knife in his sleeve: "Unless someone leaked the information, and the Ning Dynasty's reinforcements didn't go to Goryeo at all, but instead launched a surprise attack elsewhere."

Chen Ji asked directly, "Lord Sicao, are you suspecting that I leaked the information?"

Sicao Gui neither admitted nor denied: "I know you are Wang Daosheng's personal disciple, and that day you looked anxious heading south to see him off. So, are you worried your esteemed mentor might die in Goryeo?"

Chen Ji sighed softly: "Lord Sicao, when will you truly trust me? I've done so much for the Military Intelligence Bureau; isn't that enough to earn your trust?"

Sicao Gui rubbed the short knife in his sleeve, his expression indifferent: "Have you forgotten the first lesson of our Military Intelligence Bureau's secret training?"

Chen Ji remained silent.

Sicao Gui spoke slowly: "Never trust any trust that has been verified; learn to doubt everything that is happening. Chen Ji, the natural enemy of a Military Intelligence Bureau spy is never the enemy, but our own people."

Without waiting for Chen Ji to speak, Sicao Gui asked again, "Have you ever mentioned this to Wang Daosheng?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "No."

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely."

Sicao Gui slowly stated, "Chen Ji, being a spy is different from being an infantryman on the front lines. An infantryman's mistake might only kill himself, but if you or I make a mistake, it could kill tens of thousands of infantrymen. If you truly leaked the information, I will personally kill you."

Chen Ji calmly replied, "There's no need for you to rush to consider how to kill me, Lord. This victory report might not be from the Goryeo reinforcements."

Sicao Gui's absolute loyalty to the Jing Dynasty was unpurchasable, no matter the cost. Having such a head of the Military Intelligence Bureau by his side was like having a sharp sword constantly hanging over his head.

If the victory report truly was from the Goryeo reinforcements, a deadly confrontation between him and Sicao Gui would likely be unavoidable.

What should he do? Call Xiao Man to resist together?

No.

Sicao Gui was a Grand Official of the Dao-Seeking Realm, while he and Xiao Man were only at the Innate Realm. Even together, they might not be a match; there was no need to involve Xiao Man.

Chen Ji pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "Lord Sicao, let's return to the Chen mansion first. This coarse cloth attire of mine isn't suitable for the Crown Prince's banquet; I need to change."

Sicao Gui gravely replied, "Very well."

When the carriage passed Fuyou Street, it turned into the small alley by the Chen family mansion's side gate.

Chen Ji returned to the Chen mansion, and when he emerged from the side gate, he had changed his clothes. He slipped into the carriage and said in a low voice, "Let's go."

As the carriage slowly departed, Xiao Man, her hair tied in twin buns, quietly peeked over the courtyard wall. After confirming no one was around, she climbed over the wall and ran towards Xuanwu Gate Street.

The carriage drove out of Xizhi Gate, where Qi Zhenzhuo was waiting on horseback outside the city gate, accompanied by another carriage belonging to the Qi family.

As Sicao Gui's carriage drew closer, a gap in a curtain of the other carriage was pulled open, revealing half of Qi Zhaoning's face: "Chen Ji, have you had breakfast? We have pastries and candied fruits in our carriage, and spring peaches freshly picked yesterday."

Chen Ji politely replied, "Thank you, Miss Qi, but I have already eaten."

Qi Zhaoning, however, was not discouraged. She smiled and asked, "Is there still room in your carriage? There are three of us here, and it's quite cramped."

Chen Ji was a little surprised; why had Qi Zhaoning become so solicitous?

Before he could answer, hoofbeats echoed from Xizhi Gate.

Three young armored soldiers rode past the carriage. The one in the lead wore the dark armor of the Myriad Years Army, a phoenix-winged helmet with a brow band, and his physique was as imposing and majestic as a temple guardian deity in front of a city god temple.

This man galloped rapidly, charging straight towards Qi Zhenzhuo in the middle of the official road, accelerating like a cavalry charge. Qi Zhenzhuo hastily maneuvered his horse to dodge.

The rider brushed past Qi Zhenzhuo, missing him by a hair's breadth.

Infuriated, Qi Zhenzhuo calmed his warhorse and cursed, "Yangyang, are you damn well in a hurry to be reborn?!"

The rider suddenly reined in his horse, controlled it to walk back to Qi Zhenzhuo, and said with a wild look, "Qi Zhenzhuo? Are you also going to the Spring Hunt?"

Qi Zhenzhuo raised an eyebrow: "What, you can go, but I can't?"

The Myriad Years Army soldier burst into laughter: "No, no, I, Yang, just find it a bit odd seeing the Imperial Guards at the Spring Hunt for the first time. I recall that during the 14th year of Jianing, the Imperial Guards participated in the Spring Hunt and didn't catch a single prey. After that, they had no face to come to the Spring Hunt again. Are you here to avenge the Imperial Guards' past shame this time?"

Chen Ji watched the Myriad Years Army soldier through a gap in the carriage curtain, sensing the domineering and arrogant nature of the Myriad Years Army.

At this moment, Yangyang turned to look at Chen Ji: "This person looks a bit familiar. Could he be that Chen family young master who single-handedly slaughtered over a hundred men of the Heavenly Strategy Army? I suppose tomorrow I'll get to witness Lord Chen's impressive skills, and it will be an eye-opener for me, Yang, to see how Lord Chen single-handedly slaughtered over a hundred men of the Heavenly Strategy Army."

Chen Ji had never met this person, yet he felt the hostility in his words.

Yangyang suddenly changed his tone, smiling as he said, "No, I misunderstood you two. To participate in the Spring Hunt, one should at least ride a warhorse. Lord Chen is going by carriage, so I suppose he's not going for the Spring Hunt, but rather for a spring outing, just like the ladies."

Qi Zhenzhuo cursed vehemently, "Yangyang, don't you damn well think you're so great just because you're in the Myriad Years Army! If you were stationed in Guyuan, you'd probably be dead already. It's not your place to insinuate that my master falsified military achievements!"

Yangyang's smile vanished, and he scoffed, "A fool is a fool. Even fabricated military achievements have flaws that are obvious at a glance."

As Qi Zhenzhuo was about to argue, Chen Ji glanced at Sicao Gui, then suddenly spoke up to stop him: "Qi Zhenzhuo, let this Myriad Years Army soldier say what he wants. Don't argue."

Qi Zhenzhuo's face flushed red, and he was speechless for a long time.

Yangyang shot a sidelong glance at Chen Ji: "You actually have some self-awareness. Don't think that just because you won a street fight against some ruffians in the outer city, you can get full of yourself. It's shameful for a grand Imperial Guard to go around brawling with martial arts practitioners. Listen, kid, I'm telling you, stay away from Zhang Xia. The 'rouge tiger' of the capital is not someone you should be coveting."

Chen Ji realized.

No wonder this person carried such overwhelming hostility, charging at Qi Zhenzhuo on horseback right after leaving Xizhi Gate... he was actually targeting him.

Previously in Guyuan, when Zhang Zheng challenged Qi Zhenzhuo to a fight, he had boasted about calling on Yangyang and others to ambush Qi Zhenzhuo daily. It seemed they were close friends who often hung out together.

Logically, the hostility shouldn't have been this intense.

In the other carriage, Qi Zhaoning looked indignant: "Yangyang, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Yangyang gripped the reins and sneered, "Did I say anything wrong?"

Qi Zhaoning loudly began, "Chen Ji and Zhang Xia..."

Before she could finish, hoofbeats were heard again from Xizhi Gate.

Everyone looked back; they saw Zhang Zheng and Zhang Xia riding towards them.

Their horses, especially Zaozao, exhaled white mist in the spring morning, and their hooves drummed like beating drums. Zhang Xia, dressed in a white archery suit, had sharp, stern eyes, exuding a heroic aura both herself and her horse.

Zhang Xia rode up to the carriage and looked at Yangyang, asking in confusion, "What are you doing here?"

Yangyang's expression froze: "Me? I'm representing the Myriad Years Army on the Spring Hunt; I was just passing by."

Zhang Xia's phoenix-like eyes were sharp. She first looked at Chen Ji in the carriage, then at Yangyang: "Go do what you're supposed to do!"

Yangyang said gruffly, "A'Xia, don't you go mixing with these Imperial Guard fops..."

Zhang Xia raised an eyebrow slightly: "When did I ask you to meddle in my affairs? Get out of here!"

"Can't you just speak properly?" With that, Yangyang, his mountain-like physique, turned his horse and rode away, fleeing in disarray.

Zhang Zheng burst into laughter behind him: "Hero of the Myriad Years Army, why are you running?"