The winter air was bone-chillingly cold. Zhang Zhuo, dressed in a long blue robe, waved from afar toward Chen Liqin, a warm smile of reunion on his face.

Chen Liqin’s expression shifted slightly. “Master Zhang, forgive my bluntness, but you and I are not on the same path. Why insist on returning to the capital together?”

Zhang Zhuo laughed heartily. “What nonsense are you speaking, Master Chen? You and I were partners in Luocheng, and we were promoted together. If we don’t return to the capital side by side, people might think we lack broad-mindedness and can’t tolerate each other.”

Chen Liqin snapped impatiently, “Master Zhang, please don’t beat around the bush and make veiled accusations. You and I have no personal connection, so it would be better not to travel together.”

Zhang Zhuo stroked his beard and asked with interest, “Master Chen, are you perhaps worried that my presence near Chen Ji will overshadow you as a father?”

Chen Liqin angrily replied, “Master Zhang, don’t make baseless assumptions! I simply find your Zhang family’s carriages so numerous and lined up that I truly dare not associate myself!”

The Chen family valued reputation and social standing, priding themselves on their noble integrity. With Zhang Zhuo so blatantly departing with hundreds of cartloads of wealth, how could Chen Liqin be willing to travel with the Zhang family? If people saw them, they might even think he and Zhang Zhuo were complicit in embezzlement!

Zhang Zhuo wasn’t angry. He took a few steps forward, intending to take Chen Liqin’s hand to show closeness, but Chen Liqin quickly pulled his hand back into his sleeve. “Master Zhang, speak your business, don’t be so hands-on!”

Zhang Zhuo chuckled cheerfully. “Master Chen, don’t overthink it. Your Chen family’s convoy will go first, and my Zhang family will follow behind, keeping some distance. Then no one will misunderstand you!”

Chen Liqin grew suspicious. “Master Zhang, why do you insist on traveling with me?”

Zhang Zhuo smiled and patted his shoulder. “Master Chen is about to join the Eastern Palace administration. Can’t I, Zhang, get closer to a future loyal subject of the Crown Prince in advance? Master Chen, you represent the Crown Prince now. Are you going to reject my Zhang family and Xu family on behalf of the Crown Prince? Does the Crown Prince know about this?”

Chen Liqin opened his mouth, but no words came out.

In recent years, the succession struggle had intensified, and rumors about the Crown Prince, Prince Fu, and Prince An were already common gossip in the market. At such a time, the Crown Prince would naturally want as much support as possible. The Xu family had not yet declared their stance in the succession. If he antagonized Zhang Zhuo, how would the Crown Prince view him?

At this thought, Chen Liqin was indeed cornered by Zhang Zhuo, unable to refute.

Zhang Zhuo laughed loudly and turned to leave. He walked back along the Chen family’s convoy, calling out loudly, “Chen Ji, Chen Ji! Which carriage are you in?”

Chen Ji gently lifted the carriage curtain, jumped down, and bowed with cupped hands. “Master Zhang.”

Zhang Zhuo leaned in, lowering his voice significantly. “Has Wang Chongli’s death been traced back to you?”

Chen Ji also lowered his voice. “Reporting, Master Zhang, the matter has not been traced to me.”

“That’s good. I didn’t sleep a wink last night, fearing any further disturbances,” Zhang Zhuo sighed in relief, then gravely instructed, “The Prince Jing case is already unresolved, and Wang Chongli’s identity is sensitive. His death involves a wide scope. All the way north, the Secret Intelligence Department’s agents have set up checkpoints for inspection. I hope you can step forward then and not let them open cases to inspect my Zhang family’s goods. These hundreds of carts of wealth must be safely delivered to the capital, otherwise, my life, Zhang, will be in peril.”

Chen Ji suddenly understood. So Zhang Zhuo wanted to use his identity as Haidongqing for protection; that’s why he was waiting here so early.

He sincerely said, “Understood. Please rest assured, Master Zhang, I will ensure the Zhang family’s wealth reaches the capital safely.”

Just then, Zhang Xia appeared in a fiery red robe, leading Zaozao, and handed the reins to Chen Ji.

Chen Ji asked, puzzled, “Miss Zhang, what is this for?”

Zhang Xia stroked Zaozao’s cheek and explained, “My mother won’t let me ride horses ostentatiously anymore. I figured you wouldn’t be the type to stay cooped up in a carriage either, so I’m lending Zaozao to you for a few days. Return her to me when we reach the capital.”

As she spoke, she patted the saddle, pointed to a long cloth bag slung across the front of the saddle, and whispered, “The saber you entrusted to me earlier is in this bag. I saw it didn’t have a scabbard, so I found someone to make one for you. I’m not sure if you’ll like the style of the scabbard, but if not, we can find another opportunity to make a better one later.”

It was the Whale Saber.

The five-foot-five-inch long blade was almost as tall as a person, exceptionally striking. Chen Ji couldn’t take the saber back to the Chen family earlier, so he had stored it at the Zhang residence and entrusted Zhang Xia with its safekeeping.

Someone had promised to get him a scabbard but hadn’t gotten around to it, so he hadn’t thought about it again. He hadn’t expected Zhang Xia to do it for him.

Zhang Xia continued, “In the saddlebag beside the saddle, there’s also some beef jerky from Wuxinji, and candied fruit and preserved plums from the sugar shop. You can eat them when you’re bored on the road.”

Chen Ji reached out and felt the cloth bag. “Thank you, Miss Zhang.”

Zhang Xia laughed boisterously. “You’ve helped my Zhang family so much, there’s no need to be polite. Besides, didn’t I say it already? We forged a life-and-death bond in Dragon King’s Hollow.”

As they spoke, Zhang Zhuo’s wife, Madam Xu, gracefully walked out of the teahouse. Zhang Zheng, no longer as boisterous as usual, quietly followed behind her.

Madam Xu was dressed simply, in a white long-sleeved robe without elaborate embroidery or gold and silver trim. Her hair was casually pinned up with only two wooden hairpins, not ostentatious like Madam Liang.

She walked calmly to Chen Ji and smiled gently. “Are you Chen Ji?”

Inside the carriage, Xiao Man saw Madam Xu approaching, immediately pulled aside the curtain, and pricked up her ears to eavesdrop.

There was a noise from the wooden box in the carriage. She quickly sat on it to prevent Su Zhou from suddenly popping out.

Outside the carriage, Chen Ji bowed with cupped hands. “Reporting, Madam, I am Chen Ji.”

Madam Xu said nothing, scrutinizing him from head to toe, then from toe to head, before slowly speaking. “I hear you were an apprentice under Imperial Physician Yao, and recently you wish to return to the Chen family to study for the imperial examination?”

With just this one sentence, Chen Ji knew that Zhang Zhuo had not told Madam Xu about his affairs. Did Zhang Zhuo not trust his own wife?

Zhang Zhuo chuckled awkwardly from the side. “Madam, it’s getting late, let’s return to the carriage.”

Madam Xu merely glanced at him sideways and did not respond.

Zhang Zhuo chuckled awkwardly twice. “Then I’ll go back to the carriage first!”

Madam Xu watched Zhang Zhuo leave, and a moment later, looked back at Chen Ji and said softly, “A prodigal son returning is more precious than gold; it’s good that you can rein yourself in before it’s too late. However, scholarship requires a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand times the effort to truly excel. You should devote yourself wholeheartedly; don’t let other matters distract you.”

Chen Ji said softly, “Madam is right, I will obey your teachings.”

Seeing that he wasn’t rebellious, Madam Xu finally smiled brightly and asked, “Chen Ji, do you have a woman you favor?”

Chen Ji was silent for a moment before replying, “Reporting, Madam, I do not.”

Madam Xu nodded. “There are many good women in the capital. When we return, I can help you look for a good family that is a suitable match for you.”

Zhang Xia’s eyes widened. “Mother, Chen Ji and the Princess…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Madam Xu grabbed her wrist. “Marriage and career are the most important things in life; how can they be delayed? Chen Ji, isn’t that right?”

Chen Ji humbly replied, “I wouldn’t dare trouble Madam with this matter.”

“Zaozao is dear to Xia’er’s heart; the fact that she lent Zaozao to you shows you are close friends. It’s no trouble for me to help a friend of hers. Alright, let’s set off,” Madam Xu led Zhang Xia by the wrist toward the Zhang family’s convoy.

“Mother, what are you doing? I haven’t finished talking to Chen Ji yet! Don’t make me lose a friend!” Zhang Xia tried several times to pull her hand free from Madam Xu’s grip, but couldn’t succeed.

Madam Xu gave her a sidelong glance and quietly snapped, “Silence! If I continue to indulge you like this, who in the capital would dare marry you in the future?”

Zhang Xia made a bitter face. “It doesn’t matter if no one marries me. Your daughter will just stay by your side forever to be filial. Anyway, there aren’t any men in the capital I fancy.”

Madam Xu said angrily, “Nonsense!”

With that, she led Zhang Xia back to the carriage.

A servant boy quickly knelt down, bending low for Madam Xu to step on his back to enter the carriage. Zhang Xia, however, did not step on the servant boy, but lightly jumped onto the carriage herself.

Chen Ji looked at Zhang Zheng, who lightly coughed. “Don’t take it to heart. My sister and I, fearless as we are, only fear her; there’s nothing we can do.”

Chen Ji smiled and said, “Of course not, Brother Zhang, you don’t need to worry.”

After Zhang Zheng also left, Xiao Man, puffing her cheeks, pulled open the curtain and asked, “Aren’t you angry, Young Master?”

Chen Ji remained calm. “Why would I be angry?”

Xiao Man muttered, “Madam Zhang said she wanted to find you a suitable match… but this ‘suitable match’ usually means a concubine’s son marrying a concubine’s daughter, or a legitimate son marrying a legitimate daughter. She wasn’t truly trying to help you; she was clearly reminding you not to harbor any ideas about Miss Zhang.”

Chen Ji smiled. “There were rumors in the market earlier that the Zhang family and Chen family were to form a marriage alliance, so it’s normal for her to have such concerns. It’s just that she doesn’t know Miss Zhang and I are merely friends, not as she imagines.”

Xiao Man pouted. “That’s good, otherwise we’d have to put up with their airs!”

Chen Ji didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “You certainly worry about a lot of things.”

Xiao Man stammered, “I’m just concerned about you.”

Chen Ji patted Zaozao’s neck, swung onto her back, and galloped towards the wonton shop by the city gate.

Upon reaching the wonton shop, the ‘customers’ at several wooden tables involuntarily rose to their feet and quietly greeted, “Master Chen.”

Chen Ji, seated on Zaozao’s back, looked down at them calmly. “Sit down, all of you. The city gates will open shortly, and all subsequent carriages will be allowed through.”

With that, he turned back, holding the reins. One customer wiped his mouth, left through the back door of the wonton shop, and took a detour to the city gate to relay instructions.

The city gates opened, and the long convoy passed through the city pass. The secret agents didn’t even bother to check the most basic travel permits.

Chen Ji sighed inwardly. So it was that by now, he too had become a person of importance in the eyes of others.

Once the entire long convoy had passed through the city pass, he also rode Zaozao, slowly passing through those two heavy vermilion gates and through the dim, mottled archway of the city gate.

After riding for a distance, Chen Ji finally couldn’t help but look back.

Chen Ji, draped in a black cloak, with a long saber slung across the front of his saddle, stood still on his horse.

He watched as the vermilion gates slowly closed behind him, gradually shutting away the scenery of Luocheng, as if someone were telling him, “Young man, do not look back again.”

Chen Ji took one last deep look, then exhaled a puff of white mist, and turned to catch up with the convoy.

Xiao Man poked her head out of the carriage and asked, “Young Master, you don’t look very happy?”

Chen Ji smiled faintly. “It’s a pity.”

Xiao Man asked, puzzled, “A pity for what?”

Chen Ji did not answer.

It’s a pity that people say Luocheng’s flowers are like brocade, but I arrived when it was not spring.