Early morning, before the rooster crowed.

Chen Ji opened his eyes in bed. As his hand glided over the delicate satin quilt, he felt a strange awkwardness.

Outside the bed, Xiaoman awoke from her small chair upon hearing a sound. Cradling a small black cat, she tentatively asked, “Young Master, are you awake?”

Chen Ji threw back the covers. “Xiaoman, please change the quilt to a coarse cotton one today.”

Xiaoman looked puzzled. “Were you uncomfortable, Young Master? This satin quilt is very expensive; ordinary wealthy families can’t even buy it.”

Chen Ji chuckled self-deprecatingly. “Perhaps I’m not worthy of such a fine thing. Every time my hand touches the satin, it snags on the threads.”

Xiaoman suddenly understood. “Satin is delicate, woven from fine threads. Officials and nobles without calluses wouldn’t find it uncomfortable, but you have too many calluses on your hands, Young Master, so they snag the threads… What noble young master would have so many calluses? They don’t do manual labor.”

Chen Ji smiled. “I am no noble young master.”

He got out of bed, put on his boots, rolled up his sleeves, and went to the side room to pick up a carrying pole before heading out. A light mist clung to the bluestone path of the Chen family estate. With the curved pole resting on his shoulder and the cool morning breeze on his face, he felt an indescribable sense of ease.

The servants and maids of the Chen residence were all awake, busy preparing hot water and breakfast for the various courtyards.

A maid approached, and seeing Chen Ji carrying the pole, she subtly lowered her head.

Xiaoman, dressed in a light green ruqun, followed closely behind Chen Ji. Noticing the maids’ suppressed smiles, she whispered, “Young Master, perhaps you shouldn’t carry water anymore. The household servants are secretly saying behind your back that you have the habits of a common laborer because of this.”

Chen Ji replied indifferently, “Ignore them. I just enjoy carrying water.”

He arrived at the well in Qinzheng Garden, and using the wooden handle of the windlass, lowered the bucket into the well. Even the sound of the wooden windlass was dull and steady, bringing a sense of peace.

Seeing that she couldn’t persuade him, Xiaoman changed the subject. “Young Master, you’re attending a literary gathering at the Qi residence tonight. Which clothes do you plan to wear? I’ll iron them for you beforehand.”

What Xiaoman referred to as “ironing” involved using a three-foot-long copper iron with a long handle, filled with agarwood powder, to press clothes. Clothes ironed this way would not only be smooth but also carry the fragrance of agarwood.

Chen Ji thought for a moment. “I’ll wear the black one with the large lapel.”

Xiaoman, holding the small black cat, mused, “If you ask me, you should go to Liangji on Chessboard Street and have a few new outfits made as soon as possible. You’re a prominent figure now, and you’ll certainly be attending many literary gatherings and banquets. Constantly wearing the same two outfits won’t do. The officials and nobles in the capital are very sharp-eyed; they’ll judge how to treat you based on your jade pendant and clothes. If you wear the same outfit to this literary gathering as you did to the last, they’ll think you’re shabby, as if you only have one presentable garment.”

Chen Ji burst out laughing. “What kind of prominent figure am I, a mere Centurion of the Imperial Guards? Let them look down on me if they wish. Have you forgotten what I told you? We need to save money, lots and lots of money.”

Xiaoman stood by the well, eyes wide. “Young Master, didn’t you just take control of the Eight Great Hutongs and Liulichang? You can collect a lot of protection money every month from there! That’s the most prosperous area in the outer city, nowhere else is as bustling.”

Chen Ji patiently explained, “We should be able to collect over ten thousand taels of silver each month, but ninety percent of that must be given to the Zhang family. The remaining thousand-plus taels are needed to support our people. To maintain control of the outer city’s businesses, we can’t do without manpower.”

Xiaoman said dejectedly, “So, isn’t that just a waste of effort?”

Chen Ji, turning the wooden windlass and lifting the bucket, smiled and said, “It’s not a waste of effort, Xiaoman. With people, there will be money; there are always ways.”

Xiaoman mused thoughtfully, “The way you do business, Young Master, is quite different from Auntie’s.”

Chen Ji asked curiously, “How is it different?”

Xiaoman thought for a moment. “Auntie relies on careful budgeting, while you rely on seizing things.”

Chen Ji paused, then chuckled. “Careful budgeting isn’t as fast as seizing money.”

Xiaoman mumbled softly, “Anyway, remember to come back early from the yamen this afternoon, at least to change into something more presentable. Young Master, tonight’s literary gathering at the Qi residence won’t be simple; it’s definitely related to your marriage.”

Chen Ji stopped what he was doing. “Oh?”

Xiaoman said mysteriously, “I heard the servants in the mansion say that Madam has been to the Qi residence several times these past few days, and Master Qi Xianshu from the Qi family’s second branch has also visited our Chen residence. It must be related to your marriage. At tonight’s gathering, Elder Qi probably wants the Qi family’s young ladies to observe you from a hidden spot. This is how prominent families usually operate.”

Chen Ji hummed in acknowledgment.

Xiaoman continued worriedly, “I previously asked Sister Duanwu, and she told me that the Qi family currently has three unmarried young women: two legitimate daughters, Qi Zhaoning and Qi Zhaoyun, and one illegitimate daughter named Qi Zhenzhu. I don’t know which one the Qi family intends to marry you to. If it’s about family status, it should be Qi Zhenzhu, but if you were adopted into the main branch…”

At this point, Xiaoman secretly observed Chen Ji’s expression. “Then it would definitely be one of their legitimate daughters.”

Chen Ji remained silent, concentrating on turning the windlass and drawing water.

Xiaoman continued, “I’ve already inquired for you. That Qi Zhaoyun reportedly has a sweetheart, a scholar from the south named Huang Que. As for Qi Zhaoning, she’s usually unforgiving even when in the right; she’s the most headstrong noble young lady in the capital, having driven away several private tutors from the Qi family.”

Chen Ji smiled. “That formidable?”

Xiaoman snorted. “Formidable? The most formidable woman in the capital is Second Sister! I only found out a few days ago that Second Sister used to have a nickname; everyone called her the ‘Rouge Tigress’.”

“Rouge Tigress?” Chen Ji was surprised.

“Mm-hmm,” Xiaoman said, smiling and revealing two small canine teeth. “They say Second Sister is difficult to provoke. She’s read all thirty thousand volumes in the Imperial Academy’s library, except for the ‘Admonitions for Women’ – she’s read everything else. She’s a female Hanlin scholar. At the Xu family’s literary debate in the 26th year of Jianing, she used her commentary on the Doctrine of the Mean to silence her opponents, making the losers swallow three spoonfuls of paper ash. Second Sister said at the time that this was ‘digesting the ancients to illuminate the present,’ helping those scholars sharpen their minds.”

Chen Ji was dumbfounded. “That fierce?”

Xiaoman chuckled even more cheerfully. “At first, scholars were willing to invite her to literary gatherings, but later, no one dared to send her invitations… I don’t know how she changed afterward, but her temper mellowed a bit.”

Chen Ji bent down, picked up the carrying pole, and started walking back. Xiaoman cautiously probed, “Young Master, do you intend to refuse the marriage proposal from the Qi family? I’m afraid you may not have a choice.”

Chen Ji calmly replied, “If I can’t refuse, then I won’t. Settling the marriage early will also help in reclaiming Auntie’s properties.”

“That’s right,” Xiaoman nodded. “Once the engagement is set, Madam will have no reason to withhold them. Young Master, do you plan to leave Ning Dynasty once you rescue the Princess?”

Chen Ji hummed in assent.

Xiaoman’s eyes darted around. “Then, when you leave, could you leave Auntie’s properties to me? You won’t need them anyway.”

Chen Ji burst out laughing. “Alright, I’ll leave them all to you.”

Xiaoman’s eyes sparkled, her mind clearly working on some small scheme.

Chen Ji got ready and headed out, arriving at the side gate of the Chen residence. Seeing him, a servant immediately rushed to open the door. “Greetings, Third Young Master.”

The moment he pushed the door open, the servant suddenly froze, instinctively taking a step back.

Chen Ji, too, was momentarily stunned as he stepped out of the side gate. Dozens of Imperial Guards stood densely packed outside, whispering among themselves. Upon seeing him emerge, they instantly straightened up.

With a fierce aura that had just emerged, each one, with faces like carved knives, respectfully greeted, “Lord Chen.”

The Chen family servant was so startled he didn’t know what to do, unsure whether to call for the resident senior official of the mansion.

Chen Ji glanced at him. “It’s fine, don’t panic.”

He stepped over the threshold, and the Imperial Guards followed him out of the alley. Only then did the servant let out a long breath and quickly closed the side gate of the Chen residence.

Outside the gate, Chen Ji asked with a smile, “Why are all of you here?”

Li Xuan stood firm and cupped his hands to Chen Ji. “This time, we all relied on you to get out of trouble. Not everyone has the ability to enter and exit the Imperial Prison twice.”

Qi Zhenzhu excitedly said, “Master, how did you do it? Everyone thought we’d suffer in the Imperial Prison again, but in the blink of an eye, everyone was promoted one rank. Brother-in-law became the Commander of the Imperial Guards, and I became a Commander. Master, do you know that the position of Imperial Guard Commander has been vacant for seventeen years!”

Chen Ji was puzzled. “That long?”

Duo Bao sighed. “Lord Chen, we offended you many times in Guyuan. Fortunately, you bear no grudges…”

Lin Yanchu said, “Lord Chen, following Chen Wenren before was very frustrating. Going through this one adventure with you makes life feel worthwhile.”

Chen Ji raised both hands. “Stop, stop. You’re scaring me like this.”

Qi Zhenzhu burst into laughter. “See? I told you, my master isn’t one for formalities. I told you to stop being so flowery and sentimental. Tonight, for the Qi family’s literary gathering, I told my father that while the scholars chat in the White Crane Hall, our Qi family will host a separate banquet in the Mountains and Rivers Hall specifically for our brothers from the Imperial Guards. We’ll have thirty-two-year-old aged Hua Diao wine ready, and we won’t stop until we’re drunk!”

Amidst the laughter, Chen Ji suddenly froze.

A familiar figure, wearing a bamboo hat and straw sandals, with gray cloth trousers rolled up halfway, looked like a coachman who had just entered the city.

Li Xuan followed his gaze but saw only carriages and horses on West Chang’an Street. There was nothing where Chen Ji was looking. “Chen Ji, what’s wrong?”

Chen Ji said with a smile, “Nothing, I just remembered I forgot something. You all go ahead and report for duty at the Commander’s Residence. I’ll go back for a moment.”

With that, he turned and walked away without looking back, disappearing among the constant flow of carriages and horses.

As a carriage passed him, Chen Ji calmly turned into Stone Stele Alley, then turned right again into Twin Horse Stakes Alley.

The next moment, the coachman from the front of the alley stopped and turned around. “Lord, long time no see!”

With that, he lifted his head, a wide smile beneath his bamboo hat.

Si Cao Gui.

It was Si Cao Gui, the one who had fled to Jing Dynasty with Wu Hongbiao.

The man was dressed plainly, just as he had been in Luocheng, as if Chen Ji had been separated from him not for months, but merely days.

Chen Ji had thought he would never see him again, but now the man had returned to the south, bringing with him the dark shadow of Jing Dynasty’s military intelligence.