Chapter 656: Cherry Bingluo

Chang'an.

Evening.

The heat of the day has largely faded, and the evening breeze, carrying the dampness from the banks of the Wei River, brushes the locust‑tree leaves on both sides of Zhuque Avenue, rustling softly.

The setting sun melts like gold, dyeing the towering Duanmen City Gate in a warm red, and pedestrians on the street gradually increase.

The hawkers' shouts, the clatter of wheels as carriages pass, and children's playful laughter intertwine into a vivid tableau of Chang'an's splendor.

Amid the bustling crowd, three figures dressed in Brothel slowly stroll forward.

The young man walking in the middle has a face like polished jade, eyes like bright stars, a moon‑white Brothel that accentuates his upright bearing, and a jade belt at his waist securing a translucent mutton‑fat jade pendant; it is Chen Yan.

His steps are composed, and his glances sparkle.

On either side are two people in their thirties; the one on the left wears a stone‑blue Brothel, has a square face, short beard under his chin, and is Qin Zhao, just transferred back to the Capital from Xiazhou.

The one on the right dons a sauce‑colored Brothel, with gentle brows and a refined demeanor, and is Lu Miao, just returned from Lingzhou.

The two were once falsely accused and forced to leave the capital; now back in Chang'an, they gaze at the bustling scene before them, their eyes full of emotion.

Zhu Yi, sword in hand behind Chen Yan, clad in Xuanse Jinshen, eyes sharp as an eagle, scans the surroundings calmly.

Further back, a few men who appear to be ordinary passersby, some carrying baskets, some swinging folding fans, are actually embroidered‑clad agents.

They covertly safeguard the three's safety, every move within their sight.

The evening breeze carries the aromas from the street stalls, the wheat scent of hu‑bing and the sweet fragrance of candied fruit.

Chen Yan inhales deeply, turns his head toward the two beside him, a handsome smile lifting his mouth corner, his voice clear as striking jade: "Brothers, it's been years since we've walked the streets of Chang'an; shall we take a leisurely stroll?"

Lu Miao hears this, his steps pause slightly, and he also draws a deep breath of the evening air.

That wind carries the unique city‑fire scent of Chang'an, the flavor he has missed countless times amid the sandstorms of Lingzhou.

He nods slowly, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes, his tone full of emotion: "Isn't that right! In these years in Lingzhou, the north wind whirls the yellow sand, blinding people, and everyone longs for the wind of my Chang'an!"

"In this wind, all the flavors are familiar!"

Qin Zhao also repeatedly agrees beside him, scanning the lively flow of people, watching the densely packed shops lining the street.

Banners flutter, goods glitter: stalls selling rouge and powder, silk brocade, and displays of exotic treasures from the Western Regions, making the scene even livelier than the Chang'an of his memory.

He can't help but sigh lightly: "Indeed! Chang'an remains prosperous!"

"Even more bustling than when I, your brother, left the capital years ago!"

Chen Yan listens to their sentiments, smiles calmly, raises his hand toward Tian Guan Fu and solemnly clasps his fist, his tone sincere and respectful: "Our Chang'an's present splendor owes entirely to Grand Preceptor, the venerable elder, who toils day and night, dedicating his utmost effort to governance!"

"Without Grand Preceptor stationed here, how could we enjoy such peace and prosperity!"

"Indeed, indeed!" Lu Miao quickly concurs, then shifts tone, pointing at Chen Yan, a hint of teasing in his eyes, and jokes, "But A Yan, you've become even more eloquent than before!"

Chen Yan hears this, exchanges a glance with Qin Zhao and Lu Miao, and the three burst into hearty laughter.

As the laughter fades, Qin Zhao looks at Chen Yan, admiration in his eyes, smiling: "A Yan, I heard that at the start of the year you, with a flick of your finger, severely damaged Qi State's livelihood, and then allied with the Turks to disrupt Qi State's northern border!"

"Such a feat truly commands admiration!"

Having said that, he raises his thumb toward Chen Yan, his tone of praise unabashed.

Lu Miao also nods repeatedly, smoothing his short beard, adding: "Your brother, I've also heard in Lingzhou!"

"You also gathered a great amount of grain from Qi State!"

"Not only did it fill Chang'an's granaries, but new granaries were also built; now the people of Guanzhong have no fear of famine—this is a monumental achievement!"

Chen Yan hears this, quickly presses his hand, a modest expression appearing, waves his hand and says: "Brothers, you overpraise me!"

"All this is due to Grand Preceptor and Your Majesty's grace, and the soldiers' blood‑soaked valor!"

"I merely acted on orders, contributing a modest effort; what merit can be claimed?"

The three walk and talk, from court affairs to border battles, from the capital's changes to street gossip, and before they know it, they arrive before a food stall midway on Zhuque Avenue.

The stall's banner bears the four characters "Cherry Bingluo", its aroma wafting.

"Come, let's try it!" Chen Yan laughs, beckoning the two, and sits first at a low table before the stall.

Qin Zhao and Lu Miao exchange a smile and also take seats.

Zhu Yi and several embroidered agents disperse tacitly, some leaning under the nearby locust tree, others standing at the nearby alley entrance, eyes vigilant guarding the surroundings.

The stall owner, a dexterous middle‑aged man, quickly smiles and steps forward to greet.

Chen Yan orders three servings of Cherry Bingluo; the owner acknowledges and turns to prepare.

Soon, three steaming food boxes are brought up; lifting the lids reveals the Bingluo's outer skin golden and crisp.

Inside is wrapped fresh red cherry flesh, sweet fragrance spilling.

"Hot Cherry Bingluo is ready!" the owner places the boxes, his gaze landing on Chen Yan's face, bows respectfully and admiringly, saying, "Lord Chen Yan, please enjoy at your leisure!"

Qin Zhao, witnessing this, can't help teasing: "A Yan, your prestige is quite high these days!"

"Even the street stall owners recognize you now?"

The owner rubs his hands, a hearty smile on his face, cheerfully takes the lead, his tone full of pride and respect, loudly saying: "Sir, look at how you speak!"

"Lord Chen Yan is our Chang'an's blue sky, the guardian deity of Great Zhou; who wouldn't know him?"

"Lord Chen Yan eliminates thieves and villains, upholds justice for the people; among Chang'an's elders and kin, who does not cherish your benevolence!"

The owner is also a shrewd man, knowing that to walk alongside Lord Chen Yan and be called a brother must mean he is a person of great standing.

As soon as the words finish, Lu Miao nods repeatedly, puts down his wooden chopsticks, looks at the surrounding approving townsfolk, then turns to the owner, his tone full of praise: "Well said!"

"A Yan, though young, has brought so much benefit to Great Zhou's people, eliminating Dugu Zhao, Zhao Qian and other great villains; the title 'Chang'an Blue Sky' is truly deserved!"

Qin Zhao, however, already enticed by the aroma of the Cherry Bingluo in the food box, his eyes fixed on the golden crisp skin, smiles and calls the two: "Enough talk, let's taste Chang'an's special Cherry Bingluo!"

"Before I left the capital, this was what I missed most; today I finally fulfill that wish."

Saying that, he picks up a piece, gently bites a corner; the crisp crust crumbles, the cherry flesh inside is sweet‑sour and juicy, blending with the wheat aroma of the outer layer, a rich flavor.

Qin Zhao's eyes flash with satisfaction, repeatedly exclaiming: "Not bad! As always, delicious!"

"The cherry's sweetness, the crust's fragrance—still exactly as I remember, not a hint changed!"

Lu Miao, hearing this, also took a piece and put it in his mouth, chewing it slowly for a moment, his brows relaxed, and he nodded, "Very good!"

"Crisp on the outside, tender inside, sweet but not cloying—far more delicate than the coarse fare of Lingzhou."

The stall owner stood nearby, listening to the praise, his smile growing brighter, and he quickly clasped his fists, bowed, and said, "Thank you, sirs, for the compliments!"

"To suit the tastes of three gentlemen is a blessing for this humble servant!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he seemed to recall something, rubbed his hands eagerly, and said, "Today's cherry pastry is on me, gentlemen!"

"Lord Chen Yan works hard for us common folk; I have nothing to repay you. This modest offering cannot express my respect..."

Chen Yan heard this, waved his hand immediately, and said earnestly, "That's not acceptable!"

"Your modest shop, working from dawn to dusk, barely makes a profit; how can you work for nothing?"

Saying that, he turned his head toward Zhu Yi, who was not far behind, and called lightly, "Zhu Yi!"

Zhu Yi had already been watching the scene, understood at once, strode forward, took a heavy copper coin from the money bag at his waist, handed it to the stall owner, and said in a steady, strong voice, "Take it!"

"This is a gift from Chen Zhuguo!"

The stall owner cradled the hefty copper coin, his fingers trembling slightly, his face full of excitement, and he quickly bowed again, his voice choked, "Thank you, Lord Chen Yan! Thank you, sir!"

"You truly care for us common folk; I… I have nothing to repay!"

As he spoke, as if recalling something, his eyes brightened, and he hurriedly said, "I'll bring you more varieties!"

"Besides the cherry, there are jujube paste and red bean paste ones, all freshly made today; gentlemen, please try them!"

Before the words finished, he turned and hurried into the small shed behind the stall, moving deftly to work.

Qin Zhao picked up another cherry pastry, tasted it slowly, then looked at Chen Yan and asked with a smile, "A Yan, what are our plans later?"

"It's rare to be back in Chang'an; we should stroll around and see what new attractions Jingcheng has added over the years..."

Chen Yan set down his wooden chopsticks, a sly smile tugging at his mouth, blinked, and suggested, "Brothers, shall we go to Jiaofang Si?"

Qin Zhao's eyes lit up at the suggestion, and he clapped his hands, exclaiming, "Great!"

Lu Miao also nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of anticipation, and said with a smile, "Having been away from Chang'an so long, the Jiaofang Si under your guidance, A Yan, must have new features!"

"It's a perfect chance to relax a bit, a reward for the hardships endured in Lingzhou over the years..."

The three were getting excited, and the surrounding common folk were still immersed in the joy of seeing Chen Yan.

Occasionally someone glanced at Chen Yan covertly, murmuring about this gentleman's achievements and the luck of seeing him.

The evening breeze brushed gently, the locust tree leaves rustling, the lights on Zhuque Avenue grew ever brighter, presenting a peaceful, bustling scene.

At that moment, a figure sprinted from the southern end of Zhuque Avenue, hurried steps shattering the tranquility.

The person wore a black brocade robe, a jade belt at the waist, a slender face, sharp eyes—he was You Xian, Chief of the Bright Mirror Office.

He looked hurried, fine beads of sweat dotting his forehead, briskly weaving through the crowd, scanning around, and soon fixed his gaze on the three at the food stall.

You Xian ignored the onlookers, quickened his pace to the stall, breathing slightly rapid, his face full of anxiety, and shouted at Chen Yan, "Zhuguo, urgent report!"

As he spoke, he pulled a previously opened Secret Letter from his chest and handed it to Chen Yan.

Chen Yan saw You Xian come personally to deliver the report, his expression so frantic, and felt a sudden heaviness in his heart, realizing the gravity of the matter.

He immediately suppressed his smile, took the Secret Letter with a grave expression, swiftly unsealed it with his fingertips, drew out the paper, scanned the characters, and his complexion turned iron‑blue at once.

"Fraud!" Chen Yan slammed his fist onto the low table beside him, the food boxes trembling slightly, his voice seething with uncontained fury, "How dare they?!"

"How dare they be so reckless!"

This sudden outburst instantly froze the surrounding atmosphere.

The common folk who had been murmuring fell silent, instinctively stepping back a few paces, their faces full of fear.

The stall owner just carried out a few plates of freshly made jujube paste and red bean paste pastries from the shed; seeing the scene, he froze in place, too frightened to approach.

Lu Miao, seeing this, felt a knot in his chest, rose quickly, and asked, "A Yan, what's happening? Why such anger?"

Qin Zhao also furrowed his brows, his gaze fixed on Chen Yan's demeanor, thinking to himself, "A Yan is usually composed, rarely loses control; for him to be this angry, the matter must be serious..."

Chen Yan inhaled deeply, striving to calm his fury, clenched the letter paper in his hand, his knuckles whitening slightly, and said gravely, "The Qi army has secretly colluded with the Rouran, launching an undeclared war, joint forces invading our Xia and Ling provinces!"

"The letter states the enemy forces are surging; Xiazhou is already ablaze with war, Lingzhou's border is under heavy attack, the defenders are fighting hard, but the situation is far from optimistic!"

"What?!" Lu Miao and Qin Zhao both exclaimed simultaneously, their faces full of astonishment and disbelief.

Qin Zhao sprang to his feet, his voice tinged with urgency, "How dare they?!"

Lu Miao's face was also solemn, his brows knit, "Rouran has always kept its distance from Great Zhou, and the Qi army has long avoided crossing our borders; now the two forces cooperate, clearly premeditated!"

"Behind this, there must be an even deeper scheme..."

A cold glint flashed in Chen Yan's eyes; he sprang to his feet, his moon‑white brocade robe rustling with the movement, and declared decisively, "Let's go!"

Qin Zhao hurriedly asked, "Where to?"

Chen Yan's gaze turned toward Tian Guan Fu; in the night, its lights remained bright, and he said in a deep voice, "Head to Tian Guan Fu at once!"

"This matter is grave; we must immediately consult the Grand Preceptor on a strategy!"

"Xia and Ling provinces must not suffer any loss!"