Chapter 626
Asking for a Pot of Wine
At one time, Chen Ji thought that every step of the four thousand miles had lost its meaning.
So he returned the six gold melon seeds to the white carp, the silver and the title to the court, and the red cloth strip with the words "Year after year, year after year" written on it to the wind, but he forgot to return himself to himself.
But what he experienced in the past year was not meaningless, was it?
As Chen Ji watched the sun, moon, and stars flag fluttering in the wind, the wedding procession slowly set off. For the first time in hundreds of years, the bride and groom rode together on a single horse to get married. The groom did not have a big red flower on his chest, and the bride did not have a red veil on her head.
This was also the first time I had ever seen the Imperial Guard escort a concubine's son to his wedding.
Suddenly, a strand of hair from the back of Zhang Xia's neck drifted to his nose. He rubbed his nose and smiled as he answered Zhang Xia, "Yes."
The procession left Fuyou Street and then Chang'an Avenue, where more and more people lined both sides of the road until it became crowded.
Everyone stood on the snow-covered ground, silently watching the white pheasant feathers on the heads of the Imperial Guards, which were neatly arranged, and the young men and women protected by the Imperial Guards looked particularly well-matched.
If someone were to write all of this into a storybook, it might become famous in the capital and then spread throughout the country.
Among the crowd, someone watched the majestic Imperial Guards depart and muttered to himself, "Why does a stripped illegitimate son and a notorious eunuch have so many people helping him?"
From the corner, a voice laughed and said, "Yes, don't you find it strange? How could a bastard son who has been stripped of his title have Mr. Wang help him arrange a marriage, how could the Imperial Guards clear the way for him, and how could someone send thirty-six loads of betrothal gifts? Why would someone have so many people helping him?"
The onlookers looked over and saw a young Taoist priest with messy hair sitting crookedly on a large blue ox, holding a blank book in his hands. He said with a smile, "When he was in Luocheng, he dared to go out of the city alone to quell the riot of refugees. When he fought bloody battles in Guyuan... well, I can't explain it to you ignorant people. Once this blank book of mine has written out a new story, the truth will naturally come out."
A woman recognized him: "You...you are Zhang Li, the chief disciple of Huangshan, the one who wrote the Four Dreams of Bianliang!"
Zhang Li smiled and pointed at her with her finger in the air: "You have good taste."
The woman pressed on, "Is Master Zhang Li writing a new storybook? Will the new storybook include the story of Li Changge?"
Zhang Li shook her head: "I'm not writing anymore. This time I'm going to write a new story, a very long one."
The woman then asked, "What's the name of the new storybook?"
“Qing…” Zhang Li pondered for a long time, then chuckled and said, “I haven’t decided yet, let me think about it some more.”
After saying that, he patted the big blue ox on the neck: "Let's go."
A curious person by the roadside asked, "Where is the Taoist priest going?"
Zhang Li laughed heartily: "Of course we're going to Chen Ji's wedding banquet. I've heard that Bianyifang's banquet is exceptional, as well as their cellar-aged Shi Dong Chun tea. It's too expensive to eat there by myself on ordinary days, but since someone's treating us today, we're definitely going to join in the fun."
One of the men muttered under his breath, "Isn't it said that cultivators can't eat meat or drink alcohol?"
Zhang Li shook his head: "You're all just a half-baked expert, knowing only one side of the story. The Quanzhen School abstains from meat and alcohol, while my Huangshan Daoting is a disciple of the Zhengyi School, having studied under our patriarch Zhang Daoling. We can eat everything except beef, dog, black carp, and wild goose... Enough of this nonsense, let's go to the banquet!"
After the big blue ox took a few steps, Zhang Li turned back and teased, "Aren't you guys going?"
The pedestrian said sullenly, "They didn't invite us..."
Zhang Li laughed heartily, riding his big blue ox into the snowstorm. A line from a traditional opera drifted through the snow: "It was said that four thousand miles of dust and dirt had all been swept away by the eastward flow. Who would have thought that three hundred and six days of blood and tears would all turn into red silk."
"Return the golden melon seeds to the wind and moon, return the seal to the crown, and forget yourself on the desolate hill."
"Who would have thought that human relationships are as thin as paper, and sometimes they can't be broken? Life is like a game of chess, and there are reasons that are hard to solve. This is what is meant by: what is lost, return to heaven and earth; what is gained, win back people's hearts."
……
……
Inside Bianyifang, more than ten employees were busy running around, wiping tables, arranging chairs, and serving dishes. The kitchen was even more bustling, with four large stoves burning simultaneously.
In front of Bianyifang, the Imperial Guards dismounted in unison, turned around and smiled at Chen Ji and Zhang Xia, making the two of them a little embarrassed.
Qi Zhenzhuo suddenly joked, "This is the first time I've ever seen Master so embarrassed."
Chen Ji glared at him.
Qi Zhenzhuo was completely unafraid: "If you had glared at me like that in the past, I would have been suspicious, but I'm not afraid of you today, so glaring at you won't do any good."
The Imperial Guards burst into laughter, and Duo Bao chimed in, "Sir, why are your ears all red? Didn't you already get married at Chongli Pass?"
Chen Ji hurriedly said, "You two go inside first to avoid the wind and snow, have some wine to warm yourselves up, and we'll go in in a bit."
"Even a great man has moments of weakness!" The Imperial Guards laughed heartily as they led their horses to the stables, lifting the curtains one by one as they filed in.
Chen Ji finally breathed a sigh of relief after they entered Bianyifang.
Zhang Xia turned to look at him: "What are you waiting for?"
Chen Ji thought for a moment: "I can only drink with peace of mind after I see that the Pao Ge and Er Dao are safe and sound."
Zhang Xia nodded.
The two stood side by side under the eaves, snow falling in front of them, gazing at the desolate world. Chen Ji hesitated for a moment, his right hand fiddling with the seam of his clothes, then mustered his courage and reached for Zhang Xia's left hand.
Just then, a couple braved the snow to arrive. They presented Chen Ji with a red pouch inscribed with the words "Wedding Ceremony" and containing a silver ingot.
The man explained, "I came in a hurry, and it was quite a struggle to find the red purse."
Chen Ji was stunned; the people who had arrived were none other than Zhou Chong's parents.
The man patted the snow off Chen Ji's shoulder: "I heard today is your big day, so my wife and I came to join in the fun. I've heard about what happened to you, don't worry about it. We all know your character, that you were able to bring Zhou Chong back from Andingmen and then go to the cemetery to see them off."
Chen Ji looked down at the red purse: "Thank you." The man smiled and walked past him into Bianyifang, momentarily lost in thought as he looked at the crowd of Imperial Guards. Qi Zhenzhuo recognized the man and quickly stood up to greet them: "Uncle, Aunt..."
The man paused for a moment, then said, "Everyone is doing well... Please sit down, there's no need for formalities."
Next came Zhou Li's parents, Liu Ping's parents... and most of the parents of the fallen Imperial Guards came upon hearing the news.
At the end of Chessboard Street, Jiao Tu and Yun Yang, both dressed in black, came together. Jiao Tu stopped in front of Chen Ji, looked Chen Ji and Zhang Xia up and down, and covered her mouth with a coquettish smile, saying, "I thought I had a chance, but I didn't expect to be robbed by Miss Zhang. I was the one who met Lord Chen first."
Yun Yang, standing to the side with a dark face, said, "When you first met him, it was to kill him."
Jiao Tu rolled her eyes: "Why are you bringing up that old, trivial matter? I am now Lord Chen's most loyal subordinate!"
She took out two gold ingots from her sleeve and slipped one into Zhang Xia's and Chen Ji's hands: "May you have a long and happy marriage, let's go drink."
Jiao Tu lifted the cotton curtain of Bianyifang and slipped into the main hall. As the curtain fell, Chen Ji vaguely heard Jiao Tu exclaim in surprise, "So many heroes! Come, who will drink the cross-cup wine with me?"
Yun Yang suppressed his anger and said, "You just sit still. Today is Chen Ji's wedding, not yours!"
Jiao Tu asked doubtfully, "Then will you drink the nuptial wine with me?"
Yun Yang fell silent.
Jiao Tu scoffed.
The Golden Pig, the Heavenly Horse, the Bright Rabbit, and the Cloud Sheep have all arrived.
Chen Ji stood in front of Bianyifang, quietly watching the snow fall. He exhaled a breath of white mist, which was instantly dispersed by the snow.
Zhang Xia asked softly, "What are you thinking about?"
Chen Ji remained silent for a long time, then turned to stare at Zhang Xia: "I'm wondering, with so many zodiac animals here, will the White Dragon come... Do you think he will?"
The world suddenly became quiet, and the snow fell more slowly.
Zhang Xia stretched her hand out from under the eaves to catch the snowflakes outside: "Who knows?"
The next moment, a figure in white walked towards the end of Chessboard Street, braving the wind and snow. The wide white robe fluttered obliquely in the wind and snow. Beside him was a short, small figure who had just put on a brand new wooden monkey mask.
Chen Ji was taken aback.
It turned out that Bailong and Baohou had arrived together. Bailong stopped in front of Bianyifang and took out a red purse from his sleeve, handing it to Zhang Xia: "Congratulations, may you have a long and happy marriage."
Zhang Xia smiled and said, "Thank you, Lord White Dragon. Shall we go in and have some wine?"
Bai Long turned and left: "I'm not drinking anymore. The Imperial Guards have abandoned their posts today, and the imperial decree to dismiss them must be being written. I'll go and stop them for a while, so they don't have to go to Guyuan before they can even finish their wedding wine."
Chen Ji looked at Bai Long's retreating figure, cupped his hands, and said, "Thank you, Lord Bai Long."
Bai Long and Bao Hou headed north, passing through Chengtian Gate. Chen Ji saw Bai Long seemingly holding Bao Hou's hand in the heavy snow, like leading a small child; their figures, one large and one small, were swallowed up by the wind and snow.
He looked at Zhang Xia with a puzzled expression: "Bao Hou, he..."
Zhang Xia weighed the heavy purse in her hand and said with a smile, "Lord Bailong's gift is quite generous."
A horse-drawn carriage arrived and stopped in front of Bianyifang.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and the gangsters and Erdao jumped out of the carriage.
Chen Ji looked the gangster up and down: "Are you alright?"
The man chuckled and said, "This Ning Dynasty is much more dangerous than our hometown, but it's alright. Good people don't live long, but evil people live for a thousand years. Let's not talk about these things today, drinking is the most important thing."
After saying that, the gang leader led Erdao into Bianyifang.
Zhang Xia peeked inside through the gap in the cotton curtain: "All three floors are full, let's go in too."
Chen Ji hummed in agreement. Just as he was about to go inside, he suddenly noticed a carriage parked across from Bianyifang, with a burly man sitting in the driver's seat.
Mountain ox.
The other person looked at Chen Ji, but made no move to greet him.
Chen Ji nodded to him, and then entered Bianyifang with Zhang Xia.
Mountain Ox leaned back in the carriage and asked in a low voice, "Sir, would you like to come in for a drink? It looks quite lively."
Inside the carriage, the inner minister sneered, "Do I look like the kind of person who would attend a wedding?"
After thinking for a moment, the mountain ox said in a muffled voice, "Sir, I want to drink."
The inner minister laughed angrily: "Go, go, go find the host and ask for a pot of wine."
Shan Niu grunted in agreement, braved the wind and snow to cross Qipan Street, bent down, lifted the curtain, and went inside. The Bianyifang store fell silent. Everyone watched as he walked nonchalantly to the counter, picked up a jar of wine, and left.
He returned to the carriage, removed the mud seal, tilted his head back and took a big gulp, then handed the wine jar into the carriage.
The Grand Chancellor remained silent for a long time before finally accepting the wine jar and sneering, "The last vestige of chivalry in the world? Let's go back to the palace; His Majesty is waiting."
The mountain ox cracked its whip, and the carriage swayed and rocked its way through the snowstorm, heading towards the Meridian Gate. (End of Chapter)