Chapter 580
Wontons
The traces and the white carp's silhouettes gradually receded into the distance until they disappeared into the darkness of the night.
Some onlookers stared in the direction where the two figures disappeared and murmured, "The story of Li Changge rebelling against Bianliang for the sake of the princess in the Four Dreams of Bianliang is fake. Tonight, Viscount Wu Xiang risked everything for Princess Bai Li. We saw it with our own eyes... It's just like a storybook."
One onlooker exclaimed, "I guarantee that within three days, this story will be adapted into a new play, and it's sure to be a box office hit. I've even thought of a name for it: 'The Kirin Prince's Night Raid on the Music Bureau.'"
"You're kidding me. With a name like that, I thought it was one of those operas that could only be told in teahouses after midnight."
"I wonder when the author of the Four Dreams of Bianliang will write this story into a storybook? I imagine it will be even more exciting than the Four Dreams of Bianliang."
Tonight, the onlookers felt as if they were watching a magnificent drama. The actors on stage, including the male, female, painted-face, old man, and clown, all gave their all in their performances. There were sword fights, love and hate, shattered dreams and palace intrigue, and miraculous escapes from despair.
Now, the two renowned performers have made their unique curtain call through the crowd, and it's time to leave. No matter how much the audience lingers, all good things must come to an end, and everyone eventually has to go home and sleep.
Yanle Hutong gradually quieted down, but Qi Zhaoning's crying still echoed in the Jiaofangsi, almost making her faint.
Qi Zhaoyun came and helped her away, while Jiao Tu, Yun Yang, Pao Ge, Bai Long, and the others watched quietly.
Once the music and dance hall had quieted down, Bao Hou, wearing a wooden monkey mask, hurriedly arrived, whispered a few words to Bai Long, and then quickly left.
Bai Long looked at the gangster: "Chen Chong, today His Majesty has issued an edict to take away Chen Ji's salt permit business, Plum Blossom Ferry, and Morning and Evening Newspapers. What are your plans?"
The man smiled and readily took out the land deed and house deed from his pocket, placing them on the octagonal table next to Bai Long: "I expected this to happen. These are the land and house deeds for Plum Blossom Ferry. Please take them, Lord Bai Long."
Jiao Tu smiled and said, "Brother Pao is a hero, able to take things in stride. But how could you have guessed that His Majesty would take away Chen Ji's businesses and even prepare the house deeds?"
The gangster sneered, "There are plenty of clever people in the world. Salt permits and newspapers are weapons that can only be used once. Once used, they are no longer yours. Lord Bailong, the women in Plum Blossom Ferry are pitiful. I have already returned their slave status. Now Plum Blossom Ferry is just an empty shell. Let the Directorate of Ceremonial do as it pleases."
Jiao Tu covered her mouth and said with a coquettish laugh, "Oh, I didn't expect Brother Pao to be such a gentle soul. He gave away all his wealth but still remembered to help the poor."
The man laughed nonchalantly, "It was just a small thing."
Bai Long glanced at the house deeds on the table, then looked at the Gelaohui: "Would you like to work for my Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs? Although the property is no longer owned by Chen Ji, you don't have to go with him. I can allow you to continue as the manager, with the same profit sharing. You are only thirty-five years old this year. In just ten years, the eight major merchants may well become the nine major merchants."
The man dusted off his black cloth shirt and said slowly, "Lord Bailong wants me to betray my master? Although everyone says that there are no rules in the martial world, the martial world is still the martial world. Those who are kind will escape death, and those who are ruthless will be punished. I am honored that Lord Bailong thinks so highly of me, but I cannot do such a treacherous thing."
Yun Yang said coldly, "Your employer has also done his fair share of treacherous things."
The man shook his head: "He has his reasons."
Bai Long tapped the table with his finger: "Then I won't try to persuade you anymore. Go back and rest. You can come back to me when you've figured things out."
"Thank you for your consideration, Lord Bailong," the man said, clasping his hands in a fist salute. "I'd like to offer you all a friendly reminder: although the master's businesses have been taken away, there aren't many people who can make good use of them. Perhaps these businesses will return to the master's hands someday. Farewell."
The gangster strode away.
After he walked out of the Danbi Grand Music Hall, Liu Su stepped forward and performed a curtsy: "Lord Bailong, why don't you let me manage Plum Blossom Ferry? Plum Blossom Pavilion will continue to do salt permit business, I will not interfere. The remaining profits will be split 10/90 between me and the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, with me receiving 10% and the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs receiving 90%."
Bai Long scrutinized Liu Su for a moment, then tossed the house deed out: "Approved."
Liu Su took the land deed and smiled, "Thank you, Lord Bailong. From now on, I have a new backer."
She turned and left.
Bai Long looked at Jiao Tu and said, "Aren't you leaving yet? Are you waiting for me to treat you to a meal?"
Jiao Tu covered her mouth and giggled: "Lord White Dragon is so heartless. We were just helping Chen Ji together a moment ago... Fine, fine, let's go."
Feeling guilty under the gaze of the white dragon wearing a dragon-patterned mask, Jiao Tu immediately grabbed Yun Yang and fled in panic.
The candles in the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) had burned out, one by one the lamps went out, and the light disappeared, leaving Bailong sitting alone in the darkness, lost in thought.
A minor official from the Imperial Music Bureau cautiously approached Bai Long: "Lord Bai Long, the Imperial Music Bureau is closing..."
Bai Long seemed to only come to his senses at this moment, and got up and walked out without saying a word.
The previous hustle and bustle outside the Jiaofangsi was gone, leaving only a mess of melon seed shells and scraps of bamboo paper, which rolled slowly along the bluestone road in the autumn wind.
After the ultimate excitement comes ultimate loneliness. While others walk amidst cheers and red carpets, only Bai Long traverses this desolate landscape alone. Clad in white, he is like a small boat in the black capital, passing through layers of towers and eaves amidst the undulating waves of the city.
Bai Long let out a long sigh of relief and went straight to the Eagle House to inspect the pigeon coop.
Surprisingly, the two pigeon coops at the top, which were usually empty, had a pigeon return to their coop today. He untied the bamboo tube from the pigeon's leg, poured out the slip of paper, glanced at the densely packed small characters on it, and then rubbed it between his fingers, turning the slip of paper into dust.
Bai Long pondered for a moment, then walked alone through the Xihua Gate to the foot of the Jiefan Tower.
Inside the Jiefan Tower, Shan Niu sat calmly in the shadows and said, "The Inner Minister is waiting for you."
Bai Long climbed the steps. This time, the door to the inner minister's room was not closed. He stood outside the door and saw through the screen that the other party was standing by the window, looking in the direction of the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau).
Bai Long stood at the door and asked softly, "Since Your Excellency likes the lights of ten thousand homes, why don't you come out of this Jie Fan Lou (Relief from Troubles) and take a look?"
The inner minister stood by the window and said casually, "The lights of thousands of homes are destined not to belong to those who are busy on their journey. When those wolf cubs from Wunian Mountain first arrived in the capital, they were all decisive and ruthless. But as time went on, they all became entangled in worldly affairs."
Bai Long said nonchalantly, "Is the Prime Minister worried that he will be trapped by the lights of thousands of homes?"
The inner minister smiled and said, "Stop trying to test me. Tell me your own story."
Bai Long cupped his hands and said, "News has come from the north that Princess Li Yang has returned alive to the capital of the Jing Dynasty, but Yuan Cheng did not return alive. It is said that he died at the hands of pirates. She has a few more people with her, one old man and three young men, who are said to be from the Martial Temple, but this has not been confirmed... The old emperor of the Jing Dynasty has restored her title of princess, so the rumors must be true, otherwise it wouldn't have been so easy."
The Minister calmly replied, "Anything else?"
Bai Long continued, "Princess Liyang led the Longyou Circuit, the Tokyo Circuit, and the Xixia Circuit to join Yuan Xiang's faction, and Lu Jin was promoted to Privy Councilor."
The slender figure behind the screen seemed unconcerned, casually asking, "Why aren't you home resting so late, just to come and talk to me about this?"
Bai Long, standing outside the screen, replied, "Princess Li Yang has grand ambitions. If she gains the assistance of the Martial Temple and joins Yuan Xiang's faction, she may shake up the Jing Dynasty court. Lu Jin has been promoted to Privy Councilor and is now qualified to rival Yuan Xiang. Our Secret Service can take advantage of this opportunity to infiltrate."
The inner minister spoke casually: "Yuan Xiang is anxious. He could have continued to feign friendship with Lu Jin, using the favor of his patronage to restrain Lu Jin from making rash moves, so as not to lose the greater good. But he is like an old bear, panicking as soon as someone steps into his territory... Too much time has passed, even Yuan Xiang has grown old."
At this point, the Inner Minister turned to look at Bai Long: "The carrier pigeon will take at least seven days to reach our Ning Dynasty from the capital. Since the news was already seven days ago, it wouldn't matter if we found out a little later. You came to Jie Fan Lou not for the Jing Dynasty, but to resign from your position as Bai Long, isn't that right?"
Bai Long did not answer.
The inner minister looked out the window again: "You don't need to rush to make a decision. Feng Wenzheng is betting his judgment that you can do better than Changxiu. Now that you have this opportunity, why not do something meaningful, even if it's just something you want to do? After all, without my Jiefanlou, you'll hardly find such a good opportunity again."
Bai Long still did not answer.
Without turning his head, the Minister of the Interior said, "Someone once told me that a brief reunion is hard to say whether it is a reward or a punishment destined by fate. It is too early to make a decision now... Go on, this good show is far from over. We can wait and see."
Bai Long remained silent for a long time before cupping his hands and saying, "This humble servant takes his leave."
Just as he was about to leave the room, the Prime Minister suddenly called out to him, "Wait a moment."
Bai Long turned around and asked, "Does the Grand Chancellor have any further instructions?"
The Prime Minister smiled and said, "It's been a long time since the capital has been this lively, and it's also been a long time since I've seen such youthful spirit in the capital. But everything that's so intense will eventually fade into tranquility, because they probably haven't even had time to think about what to do after the fervor. How long do you think they'll remain silent? And what will be their first words after they've fallen silent?"
The things this person cares about always seem to be different from the norm.
Bai Long pondered for a long time: "Are you hungry?"
The minister behind the screen paused for a moment, pondered it carefully, and then exclaimed, "That is the question we should ask."
At this time, Chen Ji and Bai Li did not return to their small house in Shaojiu Hutong.
The two walked for an unknown amount of time on the quiet cobblestone path before Chen Ji finally broke the silence by asking, "Are you hungry?"
Bai Li stopped and looked in the direction of the Forbidden City. She said softly, "Could you take me to eat a bowl of wontons? I want hot soup, with lots of coriander and dried shrimp. I heard that there are old men at the Tianqiao Night Market in the capital who carry their soup for three hours, simmering chicken bones in it... Your Majesty the Empress has been thinking about it for so long, it must be delicious."
Chen Ji thought for a moment and said, "Okay." (End of Chapter)