Green Mountain
Chapter 200: January 1

Chapter 200: January 1

The snow stopped.

The red tassels on the helmets of the Thousand-year Army fluttered above the snowy plain, like a grand banner boldly advancing northwards.

Chen Ji spurred his horse to the front, his breath misting white in the air, blowing far away with the wind. He felt as if a surging gloom within his heart had cleared, and at last, he truly felt alive in this world.

Bai Li wrapped in a white mink fur cloak, her features as exquisite as a painting, rode up behind him and asked loudly, "Chen Ji, what’s the first thing you want to do when we get back to Luocheng City?"

Chen Ji reined in his horse to slow its pace, riding side by side with Bai Li, and responded with a smile, "Take a hot bath and then sleep until the world blurs."

Bai Li responded with a laugh, "Your clothes are pretty worn in many places. After you wake up, come with me to Li Ji’s Clothing Store. Let them take your measurements and make you two sets of new clothes, along with boots and a hat."

Chen Ji replied, "I can patch up these clothes and they’ll still be wearable."

Thinking he was worried about the cost, Bai Li hurriedly said, "I’ll pay for it; you don’t need to worry about the money."

"Ah?" Chen Ji paused, "That doesn’t seem quite right."

After musing for a moment, Bai Li said, "What’s wrong with that? If it weren’t for you, I certainly wouldn’t have lived to return. Besides, you stood up for me during the scripture debate. Providing you with a couple of new outfits is the least I can do."

Chen Ji chuckled, "Alright then."

With a beaming smile, Bai Li added, "In a month, it will be New Year’s Day. Will you return to the Chen family for the celebration?"

"I won’t."

Bai Li continued cheerfully, "If you don’t want to go back to the Chen family home, why don’t you come to the Prince Mansion? We can all play cards to wait for the New Year, and go out on the streets to set off firecrackers together."

New Year’s Day is the Spring Festival, followed closely by the Lantern Festival, where people eat sweet rice balls and stroll through the lantern displays.

Chen Ji thought for a moment, "By then, Senior Brother Liu and Senior Brother She will have to go home for the New Year. Only master will be left in the Medical Hall - I should stay to keep him company."

Bai Li pondered for a quite while, and then proposed, "How about if my brother and I come to your Medical Hall to celebrate? We could clean in the morning, hang lanterns, make dumplings, steam buns in the afternoon, and stay up late playing cards!"

Chen Ji was puzzled, "Doesn’t the Commandery Princess and the Princely Heir need to celebrate at the Prince Mansion? New Year’s Day is typically spent with family."

Bai Li fell silent for a moment, then said, "The Prince Mansion doesn’t have the atmosphere of New Year’s celebration. The servants steam the buns and make the dumplings. My father will still be busy with government affairs, and my mother will go to rest early. It’s not very lively."

Chen Ji smiled, "Then the Commandery Princess and the Princely Heir should come to the Medical Hall. We will clean, hang lanterns, make dumplings, and steam buns together."

Bai Li’s eyes sparkled, "Great, it’s a deal... Oh, by the way, did you secretly look at the red ribbon I tied on the apricot tree?"

Chen Ji shook his head, "No, Commandery Princess, rest assured, that’s your secret, I won’t peek."

Bai Li let out a long ’oh’: "...that’s good then."

Not far behind the two, Prince Jing and Wang Daosheng rode side by side. The red cloak on Prince Jing’s back was particularly striking against the white world.

Mr. Wang spoke, "Prince, the movement of the Thousand-year Army this time was without an order from the Ministry of War. Once word of this reaches the Imperial Capital, it may again be subject to public condemnation."

The Thousand-year Army was once the direct regiment of Prince Jing, but it was, after all, not a private army. Moving more than three hundred soldiers out of camp required an order from the Ministry of War.

Now Prince Jing had summoned a thousand soldiers and was surrounding Lu Hun Manor. Depending on His Majesty’s mood, this matter could be made a big deal of, or be considered trivial.

Yet Prince Jing seemed unconcerned, "If one can’t protect even their own children, it would be better to just be a commoner. I reckon His Majesty, upon hearing this, would also be understanding."

Wang Daosheng asked, perplexed, "Over these past years, my Lord, you have been cautious, preserving your feathers carefully, for fear of making a mistake and arousing His Majesty’s suspicions. How can you be so rash today?"

Prince Jing smiled without replying.

He watched Chen Ji and Bai Li from afar, diverting the topic, "Mr. Wang, didn’t you previously say that you would only allow Chen Ji to listen in, not even considering him a Registered Disciple? How come he is now a Direct Disciple?"

Wang Daosheng replied indifferently, "He was surrounded by monks, helpless to leave. It seems he must have offended a major Buddhist taboo during the scripture debate. As his senior, naturally, I had to find a way to protect him. By doing so, if the monks from Wuzhai wish to vent their anger, they should come looking for me, not him."

Prince Jing chuckled, "How noble of you, master. This lad doesn’t study the scripture, and if questioned on his knowledge in the future, I’m afraid he might embarrass you."

Wang Daosheng shook his head, "No matter. With the Princely Heir as the exemplar, it doesn’t hurt to have one more or one less Chen Ji."

Prince Jing slowly retracted his smile, giving his eldest son a displeased look.

The Princely Heir, noticing his father watching him, thought he wanted to speak with him, and immediately nudged his horse forward, "Father, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you wear armor. You’re as impressive as ever."

Prince Jing responded, "In earlier years, I had to lead troops to quell rebellions. These are times of peace; naturally, there is no need to wear it."

Suddenly reflective, the Princely Heir said, "Seeing you in the old Ming Guang Armor, I realized you’ve lost a lot of weight."

Prince Jing was taken aback. Sometimes people don’t notice their own weight fluctuation until they can no longer fit into their old clothes, or they suddenly find their attire loose and realize they have lost weight.

He looked down at his Ming Guang Armor and then up again at the backs of Chen Ji and Bai Li. He suddenly asked, "Yunxi, what do you think of Chen Ji?"

The Princely Heir looked ahead, taking in the sight of Chen Ji with the Whale Blade slung beside his saddle. The young man’s posture was straight and strong, like a knight from Heavenly Mountain. After a moment, he answered, "Good, very good. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend."

Finishing his words, he glanced at Chen Ji and Bai Li, then at his father, a look of doubt in his eyes, "Father, why do you suddenly ask this? Are you thinking of...?"

Before he could finish, Prince Jing interrupted, "Yunxi, do you have a girl in Luocheng City that you fancy?"

The Princely Heir replied, "No, the daughters of important officials are all affected and pretentious, none catch my eye."

Prince Jing said offhandedly, "Years ago, I wanted to matchmake for you, but you insisted on studying at Donglin Academy, not wanting to think about marriage before completing your studies. Now you have been in Donglin Academy for three years and have reached the age of manhood. If you still shirk marriage, you can no longer stay in the Prince Mansion."

The Princely Heir’s face changed, "Are you planning to get rid of me or what?"

Prince Jing replied irritably, "What I mean is to send you to the border army!"

Just then, on the snowy plain, a person came galloping on horseback, head covered by a wide hat and wrapped in a black large cloak, his features entirely hidden in the shadow beneath the hat.

Three long knives hung beside the saddle of the stranger, their black scabbards and handles emitting an aura of menace.

"Protect the Prince!" The Thousand-year Army quickly closed ranks around Prince Jing and the Princely Heir, as a troop of cavalry in the rear, carrying lances, positioned themselves before Prince Jing.

Even with thousands of troops present, the uninvited guest showed no sign of slowing, refusing to yield!

At the critical moment,

Chen Ji, following the sound of horse hooves, squinted into the distance and suddenly turned to Bai Li, "Commandery Princess, isn’t that the person who has followed you numerous times before?"

Bai Li was startled, "It’s him!"

Previously, outside the Medical Hall, a middle-aged man had been secretly sizing up Bai Li from beneath a steamed bun shop. But by the time Chen Ji wanted a closer look, the man had vanished.

According to Bai Li, she had spotted this person four or five times, it wasn’t a coincidence.

Chen Ji was both startled and suspicious, why was this person here?

As the two parties drew closer, Chen Ji held Bai Li’s horse in place, waiting for the Thousand-year Army to surround and protect them.

The middle-aged man’s black horse kicked up waves of snow as it charged.

However, as he drew near and saw Bai Li on the snowy plains, he gradually slowed down.

Chen Ji tightened his hold on the reins with his left hand, moving closer to Bai Li, while his right hand gripped the handle of the Whale Blade, silently watching as the middle-aged man approached. Yet, he gradually sensed something amiss—the man lifted his head to reveal a chiseled, stern face but bore no malice.

Instead, it was as if he had sighed in relief, his whole body relaxed, and his expression softened considerably.

The Thousand-year Army reached them before the man did, enclosing Chen Ji and Bai Li completely.

As if disregarding everyone else, the man rode his horse past the perimeter of the Thousand-year Army’s formation without a word.

Within the formation, Chen Ji peered out through the gaps between the plumes on the soldiers’ helmets and noticed the man was also scrutinizing him.

A soldier holding the Royal Banner looked at Prince Jing, "Prince, should we capture him?"

Prince Jing gazed deeply at the man and gently shook his head, "They are all just passing travelers, no need for difficulties."

Beside the formation, the man gradually rode past the army, and only after they had completely passed each other did he spur his horse hard and accelerate away in another direction.

It was as if none of it had ever happened.

Bai Li wanted to go to her father to report the man’s repeated tracking, yet she was silently stopped by Chen Ji pulling on her arm.

Once again separate from the Thousand-year Army, only after a distance of several tens of steps did Chen Ji suddenly say, "I guess he heard you were in danger and set out from Luocheng City to find you at a moment’s notice. Judging by the timing, he received the news just a little later than Prince Jing."

Bai Li, puzzled, asked, "To find me?"

Chen Ji pondered for a moment before replying, "Or rather, to rescue you."

Bai Li remained silent.

Chen Ji inquired, "Commandery Princess, do you have any uncles or such kinsmen?"

Bai Li denied, "My mother was an only child."

Chen Ji looked back at the retreating figure of the man, who gradually turned into a black dot disappearing into the white world.

He glanced covertly at Prince Jing only to find his expression unchanged, as if he had noticed nothing.

Chen Ji whispered, "Let’s not tell the Prince about this for now."

Bai Li uttered a sound of agreement.

At that moment, the sound of clustered hooves came from the distance, and a figure in a red official robe appeared on the horizon. Zhang Zhuo, wrapped in a cloak, led several dozen cavalry from the Luocheng Military Department.

He dismounted before the Thousand-year Army, trudging through deep snow to Zhang Xia’s horse, anxiously scrutinizing his daughter, "Are you alright? Are you hurt, did you freeze or starve?"

Zhang Xia hastily dismounted, her eyes reddened, "Father, I’m alright. Chen Ji risked his life to rescue us from the attack. Shortly after we arrived at Lu Hun Manor, the Prince led the Thousand-year Army to us."

Zhang Zhuo let out a long sigh of relief, draping his cloak over Zhang Xia’s shoulders, "As long as you’re fine, as long as you’re fine."

Bai Li looked from Zhang Zhuo to Chen Ji.

Finally, her gaze turned towards the end of the snowy plains. Prince Jing Mansion had come, Zhang Zhuo had come, even the mysterious man had made his presence felt—only the Chen family was out of sight.