Chapter 393: Qi Zhenzhu

Late at night.

On the five fortress towers, Jie Fan Guards, with hands on their waist-swords and clad in straw capes, had piercingly cold gazes. Forty-two Jie Fan Guards, armed with forty-two crossbows, kept the Red Leaf Villa securely locked down until all the red lanterns were extinguished.

In the Fuxu Courtyard, Zhou Kuang, with eleven young men, guarded Prince Fu's bedchamber door. When tired, they would cradle their swords and lean against any spot to fall asleep.

At the Juxian Residence, the Crown Prince sat alone in the courtyard, lost in thought. Mr. Liao led over a dozen palace attendants, guarding the perimeter of the Juxian Residence.

The vast Red Leaf Villa was perfectly square, like a chessboard awaiting pieces. Tonight, many were destined to go sleepless.

At this moment, Chen Ji sat alone on a stone stool in the courtyard, eyes closed to rest, while remaining vigilant for any potential danger. He occasionally opened his eyes to look at the fortress towers, but the Jie Fan Guards on them seemed genuinely to be guarding the Red Leaf Villa, making no other moves throughout the night.

With a creak, the house door opened. Chen Ji looked back to see Zhang Xia emerge, carrying a cup of tea. She sat on the stone stool next to him and, dipping her finger in the tea, drew a map on the stone table. In a few simple strokes, she outlined Xiangshan, then extended the lines further into the distance.

Chen Ji watched intently as Zhang Xia said, "Tomorrow, my brother and I will go with you to the spring hunt. These people impersonating Jie Fan Guards, we don't know what they're planning, but staying at Red Leaf Villa might mean being silenced. So, being with you is the safest option."

Chen Ji nodded, "Alright."

Zhang Xia pointed to a corner of the map: "We are currently at the foot of Xiangshan. When the spring hunt begins tomorrow, we should immediately part ways with the Crown Prince and Prince Fu; the further, the better. We'll pretend to hunt for a while, and once we're far enough, we'll head straight for Xianglu Peak, then turn east."

Chen Ji smiled, "That's exactly what I was thinking. Winning the spring hunt isn't important; we can just abandon it."

Zhang Xia dipped her finger in the tea again and drew a route: "After we've left the hunting grounds, don't return to the capital right away. Head directly to Yuquan Mountain. Yuquan Mountain is where the Forbidden City gets its daily water, guarded by three hundred Jie Fan Guards, with secret agents also lurking around. No matter what these people intend to do, they wouldn't dare approach Yuquan Mountain."

Yuquan Mountain. Chen Ji thought for a moment: "We'll go to Yuquan Mountain."

Zhang Xia looked at him: "I just slept for an hour. Let me take the second half of the night watch for you."

Chen Ji smiled and refused, "I'm a cultivation official in the Xiantian realm. In a true crisis, I can last three days and nights without sleep."

Zhang Xia glanced at him, "I'm also a cultivation official now."

Chen Ji shook his head, "You haven't been cultivating for long. Don't worry, leave it to me. It'll be fine."

Zhang Xia studied Chen Ji seriously, then looked up at the starry sky, "Chen Ji, you're actually quite timid."

Chen Ji chuckled, "Am I timid? You're the first person to say that."

Zhang Xia said wistfully, "Yes, you're actually very, very timid. You're afraid of betrayal, afraid of disappointment, afraid of causing trouble for others, and afraid of implicating them. That's why you shoulder everything yourself until you're suffocated by the burden."

Chen Ji was speechless.

Zhang Xia turned to him, "But you don't have to be like this. We're friends, aren't we?"

Chen Ji smiled broadly, "Yes, we are friends."

Zhang Xia hummed in agreement, "Go inside and get some sleep. I'll watch until dawn; it's only two more hours."

Chen Ji was silent for a moment, then slowly stood up, "Okay, call me if anything happens."

Just as he stood up, he heard a knock at the courtyard gate. *Knock, knock, knock.*

Chen Ji and Zhang Xia exchanged a look, neither speaking, each guessing who might be at the door. The Crown Prince? Prince Fu? Yang Yang? Jie Fan Guards? Qi Zhenzhu?

*Knock, knock, knock.* The knocking resumed, and a woman's voice softly asked, "Is Young Master Chen resting?"

Zhang Xia whispered, "Qi Zhenzhu."

Chen Ji, puzzled, went to the door, placing his hand on the latch but not opening it. He asked through the wooden door, "Is there something you need, Miss Qi?"

Qi Zhenzhu calmly replied, "Young Master Chen, please take me with you."

Chen Ji spun around to look at Zhang Xia. Both were perplexed by Qi Zhenzhu, unsure what her intentions were. Zhang Xia subtly raised her chin, hinting for Chen Ji to ask for her reasons. Chen Ji deliberated for a moment, "Where would Miss Qi like to go?"

Qi Zhenzhu softly said through the door, "Anywhere, as long as I can leave the Qi family. Young Master Chen, please don't worry; I waited until they were all asleep before coming to speak with you. If you have no intention of helping, after tonight, I will pretend I never said any of this."

Chen Ji could imagine how much courage it took for her to visit so late at night. Perhaps she was provoked by Qi Zhaoning today, or it was the accumulated suffering of the past that made her want to find a way out for herself.

Standing outside the door, Qi Zhenzhu quietly gazed at the closed wooden door: "Young Master Chen, my mother was a courtesan leader, yet after giving birth to me, my father gave her to a subordinate. My nanny told me that on the day my mother gave birth, she couldn't even get a bowl of hot soup. As a concubine's son, you must understand the daily hardships I face living under someone else's roof in the Qi Mansion."

Chen Ji looked back at Zhang Xia, who mouthed silently: *Why are you looking at me? Speak!*

Chen Ji lowered his head and pondered for a long time, then spoke, refusing her: "Miss Qi, you and I have no prior connection, so there's no need to tell me all this. I have my own matters to contend with, and I cannot concern myself with others."

Qi Zhenzhu fell silent, then slowly spoke after a long pause: "Young Master Chen, I know the person in your heart is Princess Baili. I also know you bought that plain silver hairpin for her, and you're waiting for her to emerge. The marriage alliance between the Qi and Chen families is certainly not your true intention. And Miss Zhang Xia..."

Zhang Xia let out a small cough.

Qi Zhenzhu smiled faintly, "So Miss Zhang Xia is here too."

Zhang Xia casually said, "Go on."

Qi Zhenzhu continued, "I am different from Qi Zhaoning; she only wants to seize the best. But I know we are not destined; you won't exert much effort on me, nor will I have any expectations of you. When you deem the time right, you can divorce me on the grounds of 'no offspring.' I will have no regrets and will only be grateful."

Chen Ji seriously considered Qi Zhenzhu's words. This woman, usually quiet, saw many things with clarity. Chen Ji spoke, "But on this matter, I'm afraid neither of us can make the decision."

"After this spring hunt, the Chen family will likely propose marriage to the Qi family," Qi Zhenzhu pondered. "Grand Secretary Xu is quite old. The Qi family's informants within the Xu household reported that Grand Secretary Xu has recently been misnaming people, even mistaking his attendant for Xu Shu, the Deputy Supervisor of the Imperial Observatory, a few days ago. Even imperial memorials are now being reviewed by Minister Zhang Zhuo on his behalf. The Qi and Chen families want to contend for the position of Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet; this is what they desire. As for who marries you, they don't care."

Chen Ji turned to Zhang Xia; these secrets about Grand Secretary Xu were not known to outsiders. Zhang Xia hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly. What Qi Zhenzhu said was true!

At this moment, Qi Zhenzhu said from outside the door, "Young Master Chen, Qi Zhaoning is by no means a suitable match. Choosing me would be better than choosing her."

Chen Ji tapped his finger on the door latch when he suddenly heard a voice from next door: "Qi Zhenzhu, where have you been?"

Qi Zhenzhu whispered, "Please consider carefully, Young Master Chen. I'm leaving."

Chen Ji turned and sat back down at the stone table. Zhang Xia teased, "This Miss Qi certainly has a lot of nerve, putting all her bets on you. But then again, you truly are her best option. She'd probably wish you never gave her a second glance."

Chen Ji thought for a moment, "But I won't choose her."

Zhang Xia was curious, "Why not?"

Chen Ji analyzed seriously, "Qi Zhaoning is very jealous. If I were to choose Qi Zhenzhu instead of her, Qi Zhaoning would torment Qi Zhenzhu relentlessly. Qi Zhenzhu might endure it for a glimmer of hope, but I plan to rescue the Princess and leave for a distant land before the wedding. By then, Qi Zhenzhu would have endured for months, only to find it all in vain, and that would be true despair."

Zhang Xia sighed softly, "I see."

Chen Ji changed the topic, "Grand Secretary Xu, he..."

Zhang Xia looked at the stone table, "The Xu family kept it a secret, but there are no secrets that don't eventually come out. Imperial memorials and documents are no longer sent to the Wenhua Hall; instead, they are sent to the Xu Mansion, where my father reviews them daily after work. These days, even with his photographic memory, my father has been completely overwhelmed."

At this moment, a strong wind suddenly swept through, causing the large trees in the courtyard to sway. The wind had picked up.

In earlier years, the spring hunt was an extremely grand affair. Before the hunt, the Imperial Observatory had to divine an auspicious date and time. Before setting out, they would go to the Mountains and Rivers Altar to offer sacrifices, reporting to their ancestors and seeking blessings. An altar would also be set up outside the Red Leaf Villa to sacrifice to the mountain god and earth god, praying for a bountiful harvest and the expulsion of wild beasts.

Emperor Ning would personally attend the parade ground to inspect the accompanying princes, dukes, ministers, and imperial guards. During the hunt, the Yu Lin Army (Imperial Forest Army) would delineate and guard the hunting ground, strictly prohibiting commoners from entering. Then, the Imperial Three Camps would drive wild beasts to shrink the hunting ground, and Emperor Ning would shoot the first arrow and hunt the first beast, which was called "opening the enclosure." After the opening, the three armies would compete, demonstrating their military prowess to the world. After the hunt, Emperor Ning would also offer the game to the heavens and then bestow rewards based on merit.

However, after the Crown Prince took over the spring hunt, the ceremony became simpler each year. There were no more enclosures, no "opening the enclosure," and even the timing of the hunt was decided arbitrarily. Earlier, hundreds of men from the Imperial Three Camps would participate, but later, it was difficult to even get a hundred. This year, with the Crown Prince out of favor, the Imperial Three Camps avoided him even more, sending only a few people for a symbolic appearance.

In the early morning, a minor official at Red Leaf Villa struck a gong. Chen Ji, Zhang Zheng, and Zhang Xia squatted side by side by a water vat, brushing their teeth with torn willow twigs dipped in green salt. All three gargled water simultaneously, then spat it onto the blue bricks together.

Chen Ji secretly glanced at the Jie Fan Guards on the fortress tower, then wiped the corner of his mouth with his sleeve: "Today, you must stick close to me. Don't worry about anyone else."

A knock came from outside the courtyard gate, and Qi Zhaoning called out loudly, "Chen Ji, let's go! Crown Prince Brother is about to offer sacrifices to the mountain god, and after the ceremony, the hunt will begin!"

Chen Ji went to open the door. As it opened, Qi Zhaoyun looked haggard, Qi Zhenzhu wore a veil so her expression was unclear, and Qi Zhaoning squeezed her way inside. Ignoring the others, she peeked around the house. Seeing that the beds in the main house and the east and west wing rooms had all been disturbed, she nonchalantly walked out.

Zhang Zheng wondered, "What are you doing wandering around like that?"

Qi Zhaoning casually replied, "Oh, just looking around. Maybe your courtyard is different from ours."

At this moment, a minor official came to urge them, "Everyone, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is about to offer sacrifices to the mountain god. Please proceed quickly."

Chen Ji responded, "We'll be right there."

When they arrived outside the Red Leaf Villa, an altar had already been set up at the foot of the mountain, with an offering table and sacrificial fruits laid out. The Crown Prince, in a crisp white archery suit, approached the offering table and took the incense sticks and candles handed to him by Mr. Liao. These were carried by Mr. Liao personally to ensure nothing went wrong.

Prince Fu, stretching lazily behind him, still wore a listless expression. He scoffed, "Someone set a good precedent. From now on, everyone will have to bring their own incense and candles for sacrifices, as what others prepare can't be trusted."

The Crown Prince's expression remained unchanged, as if he heard nothing.

The sacrifice was completed. The Crown Prince mounted his horse and, leading his attendants, charged into the mountain forest.

Prince Fu slowly shed his listless demeanor, turning to Zhou Kuang and calmly saying, "This time, I've violated my house arrest. When I return, I'm bound to get a good beating. Remember, I mustn't take this beating for nothing. Let's go, let's add some fun for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

With that, Prince Fu also mounted his horse. Zhou Kuang waved to the men behind him and exchanged a knowing look with the soldiers of the Five Armies Camp. Dozens of people spurred their horses forward simultaneously, together moving to surround the Crown Prince.

Chen Ji turned to look. On the fortress towers of Red Leaf Villa, there was no longer any sign of the Jie Fan Guards.