Chapter 79

Chen Yi He could hardly imagine that this person named Situ Qing, with just a few words and a token, had driven away the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Before leaving, Lu Chuanchuan didn't forget to tell Chen Yi He, "Kid, you can't have someone protecting you your whole life."

Chen Yi He never even thought of being protected his whole life, and the people protecting him, he didn't even know.

"Hello, thank you for saving my life!" Chen Yi He stepped forward and clasped his fists to thank Situ Qing.

"It's only right." Situ Qing said in a flat tone.

"My name is Chen Yi He."

"Situ Qing, I know your name. I have come on the prince's orders to rescue you."

Chen Yi He didn't have time to thank him again before hearing Situ Qing say, "Good thing we arrived in time."

Chen Yi He thought, "With your lightning lightness skill, if you couldn't catch up, I'd surely be dead… really just a moment's difference." He asked Situ Qing, "Why did they leave? They could have killed us and reported later."

"Because I showed the prince's token; holding it is as if the prince himself were present. If we died today, even if it had nothing to do with anyone, all these Embroidered Uniform Guard present, including Lu Chuanchuan, would have to pay with their lives." Situ Qing replied, "Because the prince knows it was Eunuch Zhang who sent people to kill you."

"That Eunuch Zhang is truly a lingering evil, everywhere!" Chen Yi He exclaimed angrily; he hadn't even met a worthy opponent yet, but had already been hunted three or four times by Eunuch Zhang's men.

"Still, you're outstanding." Situ Qing said, then whistled; his horse came running from afar, he leapt onto its back, and told Chen Yi He, "Follow me."

Chen Yi He had no choice but to follow Situ Qing, otherwise the Embroidered Uniform Guard would come back later and the consequences would be unthinkable.

Along the way, Situ Qing hardly spoke; even when Chen Yi He asked him, he gave half-answers, as if his thoughts were nowhere near Chen Yi He, as he himself said, "I'm only here on the prince's orders to rescue you; I don't inquire into anything else, as long as I safely deliver you to the prince's mansion."

Chen Yi He had two doubts: who is this prince? And why save him?

Carrying his doubts, Chen Yi He followed Situ Qing to the capital. Later on the road, although some hid in the dark intending to ambush Chen Yi He, they never acted, presumably because Lu Chuanchuan had given the order.

……

By the evening of the third day, under Situ Qing's guidance, Chen Yi He finally arrived at the legendary capital.

From afar he saw the towering black city walls, full of antiquity, full of vicissitudes, full of a sense of time.

Time has worn it down, yet it still stands tall like a wrathful vajra; how much sorrow has it endured?

The splendor of wind, flowers, snow, and moon; the sadness of people leaving and tea growing cold; moss is the trace of time's passage, while it guards this most ancient city.

Chen Yi He imagined himself standing on the broad city walls, gazing far into the endless sky, beholding the boundless multitudes.

The east wind at night blows forth a thousand trees of flowers, then scatters them like falling stars.

Jewel-adorned horses and carved carriages fill the road with fragrance.

The phoenix flute sounds, the jade goblet's light turns.

In one night, fish and dragons dance.

Riding slowly, they entered the capital. Chen Yi He knew he was absolutely safe; no one would dare act against him again.

Lights blazed, crowds thronged, countless scents seemed to drift from innumerable wine shops and guesthouses.

The capital was this prosperous.

Broad streets, dense crowds, bustling vendors, enthusiastic merchants… everything was present, all that could be desired.

Chen Yi He had the illusion of being in the real world.

"First time in the capital?" Situ Qing had spoken no more than five sentences in the three days; this was his first time speaking to Chen Yi He today, and also his first initiative in those three days.

Chen Yi He nodded, watching the pedestrians on the street, feeling they all bore a noble air, probably because the capital was full of relatives and retinues of nobles and officials.

"Ahead is the capital's most prosperous district—Changle Gate, Hundred Flowers Pavilion, Autumn Fragrance Workshop, and so on—all on that street; want to have a look?" In the blink of an eye they reached the fork, and Situ Qing asked Chen Yi He.

Chen Yi He understood that the road ahead led to prosperity, while the other led to their destination; there would be plenty of time to see the bustle, and besides, the accounts at Changle Gate couldn't be settled today.

Why not go see the person we need to meet a bit earlier?

The prince's mansion lies in the southwest of the capital, somewhat distant from the bustling center.

"As it turns out, even characters in books know that truly wealthy people should live in the suburbs!" Chen Yi He saw the prince's mansion lit up from afar.

Situ Qing gave a slight smile and told Chen Yi He, "The prince is waiting for you."

"Waiting for me? For what?" Chen Yi He asked.

But Situ Qing said nothing more.

The grandeur of the prince's mansion was already evident at night; Chen Yi He felt as if he faced a new mansion with a thousand layers of courtyards!

Outside the gate, officials stopped Chen Yi He and Situ Qing, only letting them pass after Situ Qing produced the prince's token.

The horses were led away by the officials; after dismounting, Chen Yi He walked along the courtyard's pebble path for a good half-hour before reaching the hall where the prince conducted affairs.

Above the main hall's entrance hung a golden-threaded fragrant wood plaque bearing the two characters "Prince's Mansion"; the hall's walls were made of pure fragrant wood, exuding a rich fragrant wood fragrance.

Stepping into the hall, the gold-and-lacquer walls made Chen Yi He gasp; the gold powder on them glittered under the lantern light, dazzling and bright.

No one guarded the hall, and the seats in the main chamber were empty, suggesting the prince had not yet taken his seat.

Golden lampstands, golden railings, golden tables and chairs made Chen Yi He stare; he swallowed and exclaimed, "My goodness, how much would all this be worth!"

Situ Qing remained standing at the side, arms crossed, silent.

Yet before he could take it all in, his thoughts were interrupted.

"The prince approaches!" a eunuch stationed at the door shouted.

Two men strode in from outside, laughing loudly, paying no heed to the officials outside.

Chen Yi He, who had been admiring the golden walls, was startled. One of the two was Ye Wuming! The very Ye Wuming who had stolen his roasted chicken three days earlier and given him a Heartless Pill!

Back then he was clearly a disheveled old man; how could he now be so imposing? His attire, speech, and demeanor were all imposing!

Beside Ye Wuming was the sole prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Zhou Ke!

Zhou Ke stood about 1.8 meters tall, around fifty-five years old, wearing light purple-gold silk and delicate leather slippers.

Even before the scorching summer, he dressed this coolly.

He had sword-like brows and an eagle nose, a tiger's back and bear's waist; his words bore boundless vigor, his bearing was bold and unrestrained—certainly no ordinary man.

He hardly glanced aside, as if unaware of Chen Yi He's presence, and walked straight to his throne.

Chen Yi He's gaze followed Zhou Ke's movement.

Until Situ Qing and Ye Wuming knelt down, shouting loudly, "Long live the Prince, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, myriad years."

"Enough." Zhou Ke sat firmly on the throne, lightly waved his hand, gesturing for the three to sit down.

The tables and chairs had been prepared for them.