Chen Yi remained noncommittal, and asked, "Not a chance encounter, is it?"
"…May we have a brief conversation?" Qin Jingde made a gesture inviting him, pointing to a simple establishnt lit by lamps on the street, with a sign that read "Tea", "It's quieter over there."
The Qin Family mbers inviting soone of their own volition was quite an oddity. Chen Yi's gaze flickered slightly but didn't show any stance.
The two headed to the tea shop, inside which was only an old employee dozing off. Qin Jingde ordered two bowls of the simplest coarse tea.
"May I know the gentleman's esteed surna?"
"The humble surna is Long."
"Ah, it's Mr. Long, honored to et you."
"You don't know my na, what honor is there?"
It was indeed a difficult question, yet Qin Jingde wasn't fazed, quickly responding: "From today onward, honored to et you."
The response was quite apt, and Chen Yi narrowed his eyes, unsure whether it was only Qin Jingde who was like this or if all Qin Family mbers were so.
"Speak directly."
"The gentleman is straightforward; I won't beat around the bush." Qin Jingde was candid, though his smile remained unchanged, his tone beca more serious: "Traveling thousands of miles to protect refugees, your virtue is admirable, Jingde respects that."
Chen Yi raised the coarse pottery bowl, not drinking, just looking at the murky tea inside.
"Alright." Qin Jingde lowered his voice a bit, his gaze sincere, "You've co to the Southern Border, you must have a purpose. My Qin Family has been established here for many years; we cannot claim to rule with an iron fist, but we do have so connections. If you encounter difficulties, we might lend a little effort to build good relations."
He observed Chen Yi's reaction and continued: "Of course, it's not just empty words. There's a small matter at hand that might require your expertise, and after it's done, there will be significant gratitude, considering it… a greeting gift?" He subtly implied, without ntioning specifics, only highlighting "small matter" and "expertise."
Chen Yi looked up at him, his gaze calm and unperturbed, "The Qin Family's Iron Scale Army is renowned for their might, what matter would require outside help?"
Qin Jingde's smile didn't change, responding smoothly: "Dragons have their paths, snakes have their routes. So matters executed openly might not be as efficient as having Jianghu friends handle them. Besides, a person like you is not easy to befriend. This matter, for you, is just a small task, but for our Qin Family, it can save significant trouble."
It turns out to be a bait to pull him closer.
Although not precisely Jianghu people, they've had their fair share of troubles; as the saying goes, "Unasked kindness is either cunning or thievery," thus anyone with a hint of Jianghu experience is quite cautious of unsolicited kindness, but what about "kindness with a purpose?"
For every inch the devil moves, the Tao advances by a mile. Those who understand human nature and are skilled in forming relationships know the guard every Jianghu person has, so oftentis asking for help, a slight give and take, establishes connections.
With Chen Yi's return to the Southern Border, his purpose was clear, hence he was about to voice his refusal to Qin Jingde's plea.
Qin Jingde hurriedly said, "Sir, please at least listen; this matter is vital to my Qin Family's fate."
"…Then go on."
Seeing that he hadn't outright refused, Qin Jingde felt slightly reassured and promptly said, "Years ago, my Qin Family's ancestor earned the title of prince with great achievents, establishing five temples and five chambers. The autumn festival is approaching, and the ancestral ceremonies cannot be neglected, handled with extre care. Our family governs Nanwei for many years, exhausting energies for the imperial court, naturally garnering enemies; during the autumn festival, so unruly characters might attempt to infiltrate the Ancestral Temple with malicious intentions."
The autumn festival is one of the biggest celebrations of the year; during such tis, the royal family in the Capital City will honor ancestors and offer comfort to them.
The Qin Family's Ancestral Temple… Chen Yi sensed sothing from it.
Initially planning to refuse, Chen Yi lapsed into silence, tapping his fingers once, "What matter, where? When?"
"We only need you to disguise as a garrison guard to watch over the outer city gates of the Ancestral Temple to prevent unruly people from sneaking into the temple and penetrating the inner gates, situated at Dragon Tail City; as for the timing… as soon as three to five days, just wait for a few days for further notice. When the ti is right, soone will inform you of the details.
Once the matter is done, whatever you require, as long as it is within our Qin Family's capability, we will endeavor to fulfill it."
Chen Yi raised his eyebrow slightly, pausing his motion of holding the tea; guarding the outer city gate sounded indeed uncomplicated, yet too trivial, perhaps exaggerated...
Unless… there was sothing more...hidden...
Chen Yi's gaze narrowed.
He set down the tea bowl, producing a light tap against the table.
"Understood."
He stood up, left only these three words, then turned to walk out of the tea shop, his figure soon vanished into the deep autumn night.
With this response, Qin Jingde knew the matter was settled, lifted his bowl of coarse tea, downing it in one gulp.
......
The year of Jiaxu, the first day of the eighth month, Gengxu day.
Suitably for blessings and ancestral ceremonies. Unsuitable for relocation and groundbreaking.
"Thunder"
At the third ke of morning, a pale lightning split the sky, flashing suddenly, revealing heavy clouds densely covering the sky.
The pale lightning briefly illuminated the city gates, also flashed past a soldier by the gate.
Lighting up Chen Yi's face in stark whiteness, then dimming.
Having lived two lifetis, Chen Yi was not unfamiliar with the autumn festival; every year at this ti, the young Emperor personally led the officials to offer sacrifices to the Heavenly Emperor and the Ancestral Temple, also one of the few occasions in a year he appears before the court officials, hence it was particularly grand.
Although the Empress Dowager controlled the court, attempting to minimize the emperor's presence before the public, nonetheless, "Sacrifices of the suburbs and temples are the emperor's affairs," it remains a significant ceremonial event that requires even this puppet emperor to appear.
This is also why Chen Yi accepted the task; knowing that even if Empress An were excessively powerful, while she remains the Empress Dowager, she cannot officiate the sacrifices, at most providing a secondary offering during the major ceremonies, so… on this day, Qin Qingluo would certainly appear.
The relationship between the two had never been clear; even on the day of parting, they still viewed each other as adversaries. No matter how deeply Chen Yi longed, he wouldn't act rashly, even when it ca to contacting Zhu E, he was cautious and careful.
Nonetheless, seizing this opportunity to just catch a glimpse might not be impossible, even if only seeing from afar, it would bring peace of mind.
Moreover, the words Qin Jingde ntioned were slightly peculiar; unclear whether there was so underlying sche.
Chen Yi offered himself various reasons.
The distant sky was a vague gray, with only a barely discernible fish-belly white, oppressed by black clouds.
At this mont, the sound of bells and drums suddenly rang out, solemn and profound.
The garrison soldiers lining the route stood upright, regardless of how weary they were at the ti, all displayed solemnity and seriousness.
Chen Yi ignored the sound of the bells and drums, quietly waiting.
Behind the dark city gates, the crowd ca surging from afar like sheep.
The procession was extrely lengthy, looking up one could see the Iron Scale Knights leading their horses into the city, stretching endlessly, the friction of armor creating a stern feeling; most of them were Qin family mbers, in charge of ceremonial duties at this ti.
At the mont, the garrison soldiers made no movents, the grand quietude engulfed the surroundings, Chen Yi remained still as well, only his gaze moved towards the corner of his eye, tightly observing the depths of the crowd.
The ceremonial procession seed endless, accompanied by the entry of the Qin Family mbers, the civil and military officials of Nanwei, as well as Taoists, monks, and ritual officers, the central figures of Nanwei almost converged here.
The procession was long; for so reason, he felt a tinge of impatience growing, the palm of his hand began to sweat, although Chen Yi didn't show any sign of it, even he was surprised by his own anxiousness.
Did he really miss her that much?
Perhaps so.
The two hadn't seen each other for far too long; in the past three years, there hadn't been even a brief reunion, nor should there have been. Thinking of this, his mind was uncommonly restless.
Montarily it seed as if returning to the day of separation, amidst the bleak cold wind, an arrow pierced the air, she galloped on horseback, the clash of gold and iron, the snow trampled beneath the hooves, disappearing into the distant grasslands...
Back then, Chen Yi stared at the arrow in his palm for a long ti, an ominous phrase echoed in his mind without cause,
The palace of the couple, the sun turns ominous, a marriage with form but without na...
Chen Yi suddenly awoke because the sound of bells and drums intensified, apparently to welco soone into the city.
In the midst of unbearable heat, a massive shadow suddenly descended.
It was a large horse slowly passing through the city gates, Chen Yi turned his head slightly, lifting his gaze, the prince in Python Robe had already lowered his head for acknowledgent.
"——The Prince enters the temple!"
The Ceremonial Officer stood at the foot of the stairs, his voice like tal and stone, solemn and profound.
The Prince enters the temple.
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