Lanke Chess Edge Chapter 425: Quite the Charmer!

Although Ji Yuan could only be considered a companion, and sat at the edge of the table rather than in the central seats, and although Emperor Hongwu barely spoke to Ji Yuan after those few words at the beginning and was busy chatting with his prospective in-laws as both sides worked together to steer Yin Qing and Princess Changping towards their own emotions…

That did not an that those present did not pay attention to Ji Yuan. In fact, Emperor Hongwu paid quite a bit of attention to this commoner, and the Yin family even more so.

However, the Emperor was observing secretly. The Yin family, anwhile, was afraid that Ji Yuan would dislike such social occasions, so they did not engage him in conversation so as to avoid disturbing him.

Seeing Ji Yuan drinking alone and shaking his head with a half-smile, Emperor Hongwu, who had just remarked about how Princess Changping’s learning surpassed that of several of the princes, suddenly steered the conversation towards Ji Yuan.

“Mr. Ji, why are you shaking your head? I heard from Yin Qing that he considers you his elder, which shows that you have a very close relationship with the Yin family. Don’t you think my Princess Changping and Yin Qing look like a perfect match?”

When the Emperor first arrived at the Yin residence, he tried to be sowhat discreet, concealing his intentions by having Yin Qing take the princess for a walk, without explicitly stating his purpose. Now, however, the conversation at the dinner table was lively, and Yin Qing and Princess Changming had not had any excessive reactions. It seed that the Emperor and the Yin family, who expressed interest after learning the reason for the emperor’s visit, had all finally laid their cards on the table.

Upon hearing the question, Ji Yuan turned to face the Emperor and bowed slightly.

“Both Yin Qing and Her Highness the Princess are intelligent and talented. If they could be together, it would be a match made in heaven. I have no objections.”

No matter what, this was a matter between the two families. Seeing that Yin Qing and Princess Changping, the two parties involved, were eating quietly and occasionally smiling and agreeing, it was none of Ji Yuan’s business to ddle in this matter.

“Oh, so then what Mr. Ji was thinking about just now had nothing to do with Yin Qing and Changping. What was of such interest to you, could you tell about it?”

The Emperor pressed for an answer, and Ji Yuan replied with a smile.

“Nothing, really. Just now, when I heard you talking about how the children were when they were young, I was reminded of Yin Qing from all that ti ago. But I was lost in thought and only just ca back to my senses.”

Emperor Hongwu nodded.

“It seems that Mr. Ji and the Yin family indeed have a deep connection and friendship.”

“Haha, when I first settled in Ning’an County, Master Yin was my only friend in the county, so naturally he helped resolve many of my troubles.”

Princess Changping, being a perceptive person, managed to steer the conversation in a different direction. She was also curious about Ji Yuan and the Yin family’s past. Upon hearing a certain word fall from Ji Yuan’s lips, she asked about it.

“Mr. Ji addresses Pri Minister Yin as ‘Master Yin’?”

It should be noted that nowadays, both inside and outside the court, everyone respectfully addressed Yin Zhaoxian as “Lord Yin” or “Pri Minister Yin,” even most the imperial relatives. In so places, he was even called “Star Scholar Yin.” Ji Yuan addressing him as “Master Yin” was quite unusual.

This was originally just a matter of habit for Ji Yuan, but after thinking about it carefully for a mont, he felt that it was not so simple a reason. After considering it for a mont, he spoke.

“Back then, Master Yin was the teacher of the county school, and everyone in Ning’an County respectfully called him Master Yin. Now, although he is the pri minister of the country, I still consider him both an eminent pri minister who skillfully governs the realm, and a great scholar who cares about education. Therefore, I respectfully address him as ‘Master Yin’.”

“I see!”

Looking at Ji Yuan’s composed deanor, even without a detailed examination Emperor Hongwu increasingly felt that Ji Yuan was a talented individual. As the saying went, “great hermits live in the city”;1 to be close friends with Yin Zhaoxian, his talent must be quite remarkable.

Although Yin Zhaoxian had previously stated that Ji Yuan disliked the thought of being an official, Emperor Hongwu still couldn’t resist extending an olive branch.

“Mr. Ji, have you ever participated in the imperial examinations? What rank did you achieve?”

No one present was stupid. Upon hearing the question, even Yin Zhong felt that the Emperor was showing interest in prospective talent.

Ji Yuan found it amusing; he had indeed taken the college entrance examination2 in his previous life, but he shook his head and replied.

“I have never participated in the imperial examinations,3 nor do I intend to. I know I am not cut out to be an official.”

“Oh…”

Emperor Hongwu nodded, not angry, but did not give up.

“Sir, you and Minister Yin are good friends, and I imagine you are also an accomplished scholar. I wonder if you have written any books or poems?”

What kind of books had Ji Yuan written? Most of them were about supernatural powers and spiritual techniques.

“In response to Your Majesty, I have not written any books or biographies, nor do I possess any particularly outstanding talents. My friendship with Master Yin is rely an old friendship.”

Ji Yuan gave a rather formulaic answer.

“Alas, it seems that you truly have no intention of entering officialdom!”

Emperor Hongwu sighed softly. He did not believe that Ji Yuan lacked talent; even just his calm deanor in front of the Emperor was a rare quality few could possess. This man’s excuses might truly indicate that he had no interest in serving the court or the country.

Emperor Hongwu did not want to press too much, especially with Yin Zhaoxian present, so he had no choice but to let it go.

“Co, everyone, don’t just stand there, start eating! I was just asking casually at the dinner table. The most important thing today is still my Princess Changping and Yin Qing.”

“Yes, yes, yes, let’s eat!”

Yin Zhaoxian breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t felt this tense adrenaline-filled feeling in a long ti. He had been a little afraid that the emperor grow angry, not because he was worried that he would punish Ji Yuan, but rather because he was afraid that Ji Yuan would be angered as well.

Princess Changping and Yin Qing sat next to each other at the dinner table. In this feudal society, it was very impolite to arrange the seats like this before the man and woman were married, so this could only be described as a deliberate arrangent.

Seeing her father and Pri Minister Yin chatting once again at the dinner table, and her mother and Lady Yin also chatting with smiles on their faces, Princess Changming quietly approached Yin Qing without turning her face, but her voice carried softly to him.

“Minister Yin, is it true that this Mr. Ji has never participated in the imperial examinations nor written any books? According to his previous introduction, I heard that he only lives in a small courtyard in Ning’an County. So what exactly does he do, and where does his inco co from?”

Such questions were a bit too probing and impolite, so Princess Changping didn’t ask them in public. Instead, she asked Yin Qing, whom she knew better, in private.

Yin Qing was slightly taken aback and turned to look at Princess Changping. This princess was indeed intelligent. Livelihood was a major concern for ordinary people, but it was a small matter for a pampered princess who had never worried about food and clothing since childhood. It was sothing that should have been quite unlikely for her to have considered.

At this mont, a servant from the Yin family brought up two plates of steaming hot crispy chicken. As the seasonings were plentiful and the chicken had just co out of the pot, the aroma of seasoned chicken filled the room, overpowering the other dishes on the table.

Just as Yin Qing was about to find an excuse to answer Princess Changping, a loud crash sounded outside.

Almost simultaneously, another voice rang out: “Ouch…”

The sound ca suddenly, and the people at the table fell silent, while the guards around them tensed up slightly, remaining fully focused. So of them shifted their feet slightly, ready to rush to the window at any mont. They believed that their fellow guards outside had already taken action, with soone specifically sent to investigate the location from which the sound ca.

Yin Qing’s heart tightened. He recognized Hu Yun’s voice and subconsciously looked at Ji Yuan, only to find the latter sighing slightly while smiling. Noticing Yin Qing glancing over, Ji Yuan nodded towards the crispy chicken.

Outside, Hu Yun, as a fox, was too short and didn’t want to scratch the walls of the Yin family’s residence with his claws. So as he secretly observed from the shadows, he used a thick wooden stick to prop up the window and squatted on it. He used his limited supernatural abilities to observe the situation inside through the window paper.

With Hu Yun’s abilities, maintaining balance wouldn’t have been a problem, but once the crispy chicken arrived, even the fox spirit was completely captivated by the scent.

Having fallen, Hu Yun hurriedly fled, but his mind was filled with images and aromas of crispy chicken, and his heart filled with indignation.

‘It’s not fair, it’s not fair! Everyone else gets to eat, but and the little paper crane don’t get anything… wait, the little paper crane doesn’t need to eat, it’s just who doesn’t get anything!’

The fox leaped onto the roof of the dining hall, but as soon as it reached the top, it saw two guards with swords leaping up from the ridge as lightly as swallows, their movents as swift as ghosts, without making a sound.

‘Oh no!’

Hu Yun quickly flicked his tail and jumped off the roof in another direction. In his panic, he used his monstrous power, and the two guards only saw a red shadow leap off the roof.

A mont later, a guard entered the dining hall to report.

“Your Majesty, the sound just now ca from a fiery red cat, and there was nothing else unusual about it.”

“Hahaha… So it’s just a cat. Look how nervous these guards are. Could there be an assassin in Pri Minister Yin’s house?”

Emperor Hongwu smiled and tried to ease the tension. Yin Zhaoxian quickly spoke up.

“Alas, Your Majesty, you are mistaken; these guards are utterly loyal, and one can never be too careful when protecting the Emperor!”

Yin Qing couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of Hu Yun craving crispy chicken. Princess Changping looked at him and leaned closer to ask.

“Does Vice Minister Yin know that cat?”

“Yes, I am quite familiar with him! He’s a glutton, especially fond of chicken. I guess he was tempted by the aroma of the crispy chicken that was just served.”

“You have a red cat in your household? I’ve never seen a cat like that before.”

“The world is vast and full of wonders!”

Yin Qing casually made up a story with a smile. Then he dipped his finger in the wine and traced the outline of a cat on the table.

“This is a beautiful drawing! I’m even more excited for Minister Yin to paint my portrait!”

“I will make sure Your Highness is satisfied!”

Neither of them noticed that the Emperor, Consort De, and several mbers of the Yin family were also quietly focusing their attention on them. They were overjoyed to see the two chatting and laughing in private.

Even Ji Yuan was slightly surprised. He opened his supernatural eyes wider to observe them, and noticed that the two’s auras had beco quite compatible in a short period of ti.

‘This kid is quite the charr!’

The full proverb is “The diocre hermit resides in the forest; the great hermit lives in the city.” In short, it ans that true wisdom cos not from removing oneself from all distractions (i.e. going to the woods) but from remaining disciplined despite them (i.e. staying in the city) Play on words, the word JY uses is 高考 (gāokǎo) which in modern tis now ans “college entrance exam” but used to refer to the entrance exam for senior governnt posts, LOL Now the word used is 科举 (kējǔ) for “imperial examination,” which is also what the Emperor used

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