I Have A Qi Fortune Altar.
Chapter 628: 424: High Position, Leader of the Imperial City!_3

Chapter 628: Chapter 424: High Position, Leader of the Imperial City!_3

Princess Pingyang possessed an elegance and grace that was simply irresistible, making people yearn to conquer it.

“Chen, the Green Envoy, has a brilliance in both literary and martial arts that I admire,” said Pingyang, her pearly teeth lightly tapping together as she spoke in her melodious voice. “I would like to invite the Green Envoy to the palace. What do you think?”

However, Chen Yuan was unmoved, still responding with the same excuse as before.

“If that’s how it is, then let it be. I hope that once the Green Envoy is less busy, you will not reject Pingyang’s invitation,” she said with a light smile.

“Definitely next time.”

“I will take my leave.”

“Princess, please take care.”

Pingyang curtsied slightly, a smile playing on her lips as she left with Sima Ke, heading in the direction of the palace.

As Chen Yuan watched their departing figures, his gaze was primarily fixed on Sima Ke. The graceful figure of the princess at his side failed to distract him.

He wondered, just who was this old acquaintance Sima Ke had mentioned? It seemed that in the Capital, other than Tao Qingyuan, he should not have any other old acquaintances.

“Chen, the Green Envoy, I, too, shall take my leave now,” said the Eldest Prince, Sima Qian, with a light smile.

“Your Highness, please feel free.”

In the blink of an eye, the only ones left were Chen Yuan and Sima You. Just as he was about to leave, Sima You spoke:

“I am also about to leave the Imperial City. Would the Green Envoy care to join me?”

“Very well.”

Walking on the cobblestones of the Imperial City, Sima You and Chen Yuan exchanged words. Indeed, the other man was just as the rumors said, cultured and gentle.

He did not seem like a prince but rather like a modest and humble scholar.

Moreover, he had no traces of cultivation about him, appearing solely devoted to his studies, with no interest in martial arts.

His personality was as gentle as water, and he was quite curious, asking Chen Yuan if he had any more poems. Chen Yuan, with a smile, said that he was but a coarse martial artist.

What did he know of poetry?

The verses he had recited earlier were just spur-of-the-moment utterances.

Indeed, he had other literary works, making him quite dashing as a gentleman of letters. However, he did not relish such things. Espousing the belief that ‘a good-for-nothing scholar is useless,’ he adhered to a philosophy where power reigned supreme.

Having no desire to ingratiate himself with Sima You, why would he bother composing poems just to please him?

As they spoke, Sima You inquired when Chen Yuan had arrived in the Capital. Chen Yuan told him truthfully. Upon hearing that Chen Yuan had not yet found lodging, Sima You warmly invited him to stay at his mansion.

But Chen Yuan declined with a smile, for if he were to stay at the mansion of the Second Prince, others would likely interpret it as support for Sima You.

Jiang He and Zhang Yantong might even be perceived as betting on Second Prince Sima You.

Currently, Chen Yuan may seem solitary, but everyone knew of his close relationship with Jiang He, and now that he was connected with the Zhang faction, it was also thought that Zhang Yantong regarded him favorably.

As a Divine Envoy of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau with the status of a Yang Transformation True Master, Zhang Yantong was the one truly valued by these princes. This was one of the reasons for their previous enthusiasm.

After leaving the Imperial City, Chen Yuan bid farewell to Second Prince Sima You and headed for an inn in the Capital. He was not inclined to stay in the residences of various princes.

He also did not want to stay at the Zhang Mansion, even though Zhang Yantong had invited him and even though there was a beautiful sister named Zhang Xuan there. In any case, he didn’t want to go.

No matter how you put it, it wasn’t his home.

Although it wasn’t exactly living under someone else’s roof, the feeling was somewhat uncomfortable, and it wasn’t as if he couldn’t afford to purchase a residence in the Capital.

Even though properties near the Imperial City were priced at a premium, he wasn’t the least bit concerned, considering the silver… the silver he had “accidentally” accumulated while “accidentally” serving as the Green Envoy in Tangshan Prefecture.

Currently sealed within his Heavenly Book were the results of that inadvertence.

He didn’t carry much with him on this outing, just ten thousand taels of silver and three thousand taels of gold, which combined were worth forty thousand taels of silver. This was more than enough to buy one home, let alone eight or ten with ease.

Not to mention the several dozen Primordial Crystals he had on his person; given his worth, he was admired by many officials in the Core Realm. Yet, most could not rival his wealth, with the capacity to completely control a prefecture and even eliminate the myriad Jianghu forces that had been hoarding resources for decades or centuries.

Even though he needed some for expanding his influence, there was still plenty of surplus.

Walking the streets of the Capital, Chen Yuan habitually reflected on the day’s events from beginning to end, as if reviewing a film.

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, thinking back to a moment in the Imperial Garden.

Everything seemed normal except for an oddity during Jingtai’s handling of the Civilian Umbrella; he remembered Jingtai actively wanting to look at the umbrella,

but he only touched it briefly before retracting his hand.

At the time, it didn’t seem unusual, and he didn’t think much of it. But now, if he reconsidered, he could detect something amiss. Could it be that he was overthinking?

Chen Yuan frowned slightly.

The Civilian Umbrella appeared to have no issues, just an ordinary umbrella woven by the common folk. He had always taken it for granted, usually keeping it inside his Heavenly Book.

It was only today, during his audience with Jingtai, that he had taken it out to present for inspection…

As he pondered the situation, Chen Yuan could not think of any reason why an emperor would have a problem. He decided to put aside this slightly suspicious concern for the time being and turned his thoughts towards his imminent appointment as the leader of the Imperial City.

This trip was relatively smooth. Despite some setbacks, he had ultimately managed to secure the position. Now, all was ready except for the ancestral sacrifice ceremony.

Of course, that was provided that the Taoist Divine Palace revealed the location of the Dragon Vein to him; otherwise… he feared that the search would be left to him.

Within the vast expanse of the Capital, locating it would be no easy task. Most importantly, in his opinion, Dragon Veins were typically situated within the Imperial City, a place not readily accessible.

Even with the convenience of his new post as the leader of the Imperial City, he still risked being detected by others.

Before long, Chen Yuan arrived at the inn and requested an excellent room. After setting up a Formation, he eagerly shared the news of his ascension to the leadership of the Imperial City with Jiang He.

His reply, however, was rather succinct:

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Are you there? Can I ask for a Monthly Ticket?