Chapter 230: Feather Forest Army

In the chaotic station, armored soldiers from the Yu Lin Army and the Border Army rushed into the house together. The Border Army soldiers burst into the shared room, but before they could begin searching, the Yu Lin Army also squeezed in, making the room incredibly crowded. They secretly bumped each other with their shoulders, their armor clattering.

A Yu Lin Army soldier passed by a Border Army soldier, and the Border Army soldier carelessly stuck out a foot, tripping the other man. The Yu Lin Army soldier glared back angrily and drew his sword with a clang. Instantly, the sound of weapons being drawn echoed in the room. More than ten armored soldiers from the Yu Lin Army and the Border Army were locked together like dog teeth in the narrow space, like more than ten barrels of gunpowder colliding, ready to explode at a touch.

A Border Army soldier laughed coldly: "What, you pampered sons who stay rooted in the imperial city, haven't killed even one Jing Dynasty thief, yet you dare to draw swords against us Border Army? Has your precious sword ever killed anyone before?"

The young Yu Lin Army soldier, holding the snow-bright long sword, calmly looked around: "Don't say useless things. This grandfather is full of fire lately. If it weren't for the Crown Prince not allowing it, I would have taken you all to practice hands long ago!"

"What are you doing, wanting to kill each other!" General Zhou heard the noise and quickly took a few steps to the door, staring coldly at everyone: "My Border Army's knives are used to kill Jing Dynasty thieves, put them all away!"

The Border Army soldiers heard the words and put away their knives without hesitation. But one of the Yu Lin Army soldiers didn't give up. He stepped forward and kicked the armored soldier who had tripped him, saying: "Let you have a cheap foot!"

"You motherfucker are seeking death!" The Border Army soldier glared angrily.

At this time, the Crown Prince, who had originally gone to the Capital Commandery Office, returned and stood at the door, saying angrily: "Qi Shenluo, apologize!"

The Yu Lin Army soldier named Qi Shenluo defended himself: "Your Highness, he was the one who stuck out his foot and tripped me first!"

The Crown Prince frowned: "Apologize!"

After a moment's hesitation, Qi Shenluo reluctantly said: "Sorry!"

In the courtyard, Chen Ji led Date Date from the stable. He listened to the noise in the room from afar and asked Zhang Xia in a low voice: "How is the Crown Prince the heir to the country, and the Border Army collides with the Crown Prince like this? Are they not afraid of going to prison?"

Zhang Xia replied: "The Hu family has controlled the Border Army for many years, and it has already become too powerful to control. Only Elder Hu Cabinet in court has always been impartial, so no one wants to provoke the Hu family. Whoever provokes the Hu family will push the Hu family to the opposite side. The Hu family seems to seek survival in the cracks, yet they are the most stable ones."

Zhang Xia stroked Date Date's cheek and continued: "The court needs the Border Army to be as stable as Mount Tai so that they can sleep without worry in prosperous places. Father said that probably no one else could do better if they were in Elder Hu Cabinet's position."

Chen Ji secretly thought to himself, the Hu family is content with the world, the Crown Prince is good at smoothing things over, but the Emperor of Ten Thousand Longevities residing deep in the Xi Yuan Ren Shou Palace just wants to make them clash.

After the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, the armored soldiers searched the station thoroughly but found no useful clues.

The Yu Lin Army and Border Army soldiers walked out of the house and lined up in the courtyard to listen to orders.

The Crown Prince saw that there were no traces to be found, so he said warmly to Chen Liqin: "Master Chen, I'm afraid the murderer cannot be found now. You are all tired from the journey, please follow me back to the Capital Commandery Office to settle down first."

Chen Liqin cupped his hands and said: "Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness."

The Crown Prince led the Yu Lin Army through the main hall of the station. The white cloaks of the Yu Lin Army fluttered in the wind, majestic to the extreme.

Just as Chen Ji was leading Date Date past the Border Army soldiers, he heard General Zhou suddenly ask: "May I ask, which one is Chen Ji?"

Chen Ji's hand holding the reins suddenly tightened, then he politely cupped his fists and replied: "General Zhou, this is Chen Ji."

Suddenly, the Crown Prince stopped in the main hall of the station and didn't move forward, turning his face slightly. All the Yu Lin Army soldiers turned their heads to look, their gazes going back and forth between General Zhou and Chen Ji.

General Zhou sized up Chen Ji, his wind-eroded face relaxed, and he smiled and asked: "Is Mister well?"

Chen Ji politely said: "Thank you for your concern, General Zhou. Mister is unharmed."

General Zhou patted the sword at his waist: "This sword was given to me by Mister Wang many years ago. I always carry it with me. That year, he was kind to me, and now his direct disciple has come to Gu Yuan yet almost lost his life. I am truly ashamed. If you encounter any difficulties in Gu Yuan territory in the future, be sure to come and find me. It will definitely be more effective than finding anyone else."

Chen Ji was silent for a moment then replied: "General Zhou is overthinking. With the Crown Prince's Yu Lin Army guarding us, I don't think there will be any more danger."

General Zhou was startled, turned his head to look at the Crown Prince, then said in a low voice: "Sorry, you still need to go back and settle down. Let's chat another day. I am at the Capital Commandery Office yamen every day, you can come find me anytime."

Chen Ji breathed a sigh of relief and immediately led Date Date away quickly.

When he came outside the station, he saw that the Crown Prince had already mounted his horse.

The Crown Prince saw him come out and asked softly from his horse: "Are Third Young Master Chen and Deputy Commander Zhou old acquaintances?"

Chen Ji smiled and said: "Reporting to Your Highness, my teacher Wang Daosheng and General Zhou are old acquaintances, but I have not seen General Zhou before."

The Crown Prince adjusted his fox fur coat, his smile warm: "So that's it... Master Chen, the Chen family can be said to have three outstanding talents. Wen Zong and Wen Xiao's younger brother ranked first and second in the imperial examination, and they still hide Mister Wang's direct disciple."

Chen Liqin hurriedly said: "Your Highness is overpraising. My son is not capable and cannot be called outstanding."

The Crown Prince sincerely said: "Master Chen, don't be modest. The Chen residence hides dragons and crouching tigers, eh..."

Chen Wen Zong suddenly straightened his body and interrupted the Crown Prince: "Your Highness, it is probably not the time for chatting and laughing. I have one matter that I don't know if I should speak or not."

Chen Liqin frowned: "Wen Zong, you cannot be rude to His Highness..."

The Crown Prince raised his hand to stop Chen Liqin and looked at Chen Wen Zong, saying: "Wen Zong, wise younger brother, just speak, no harm."

Chen Wen Zong bowed and cupped his hands towards the Crown Prince, saying: "My Chen family, thirty-four mouths, suffered secret harm from evildoers. This matter cannot be let go. Although they were just servants who sold themselves to my Chen family, they were also thirty-four living lives and cannot just die in vain."

The Crown Prince said earnestly: "Wen Zong, wise younger brother, do not worry. I will definitely give the Chen family an explanation for this matter. Before coming to the station, I already instructed a Yu Lin Army soldier to ride a fast horse out of the city. When he arrives at Tian Shui County, he will send the memorial through the station as a six hundred li urgent dispatch to the capital. At that time, the Father Emperor will definitely allocate the Jie Fan Guard and the Secret Spy Office to thoroughly investigate this matter."

Chen Wen Zong breathed a sigh of relief: "Many thanks, Your Highness!"

Gu Yuan at night, without the hawking merchants, the streets were much wider than during the day. The Yu Lin Army guarded the Crown Prince and the Chen family as they walked in front, while Chen Ji and the others followed slowly behind.

Xiao Man rode her small pony up and complained: "Young Master, that General Zhou is so unreasonable. When he came up to chat with you just now, didn't he want to harm you?"

Chen Ji said without changing his expression: "Perhaps he is just straightforward and didn't notice this matter... After all, my status is low, and there is no meaning in him harming me."

He judged that General Zhou was indeed unintentionally mistaken, but exactly what the other party was thinking was impossible to explore at this time. He only hoped that he would not be remembered by the Crown Prince because of this.

As they were speaking, a Yu Lin Army rider in front pulled the reins, turned his horse back, and laughed as he walked side by side with Zhang Zheng and Zhang Xia: "Brother Zhang, A Xia, we've been separated since the capital, it's been a long time."

Zhang Xia urged her horse forward, not even looking at him, and responded coldly: "Qi Shenluo, 'A Xia' is not something you can call. You should call me Mister."

Qi Shenluo laughed heartily: "Now you are no longer a Mister at the National Academy, and I am no longer a student. Why must you be so distant? How can your personality still be so cold after several years?"

Zhang Zheng said unhappily: "My sister doesn't want to deal with you, roll away!"

Qi Shenluo frowned: "Zhang Zheng, speak a little more politely. This grandfather is not afraid of you now!"

Zhang Zheng laughed sarcastically: "Relying on your ancestors' shade to enter the Yu Lin Army, do you really think you're something? Wait until we return to the capital, you gather your people, I'll call on Yang Yang and them, and we'll practice on Peace Great Street in Xi City. Whoever loses goes for a swim in Shi Jia Lake. If you don't swim, you're a grandson!"

Qi Shenluo's face sank: "What's the point of calling on the Divine Machine Camp and how fierce Yang Yang and them are? What does that have to do with you?"

Zhang Zheng said happily: "That this grandfather can shake whoever that is is this grandfather's skill. If you don't roll away, when we return to the capital, this grandfather will just bring people to guard your rest day. If you have the guts, never go home!"

Qi Shenluo's face changed several times, finally he said in a cold voice: "I was originally thinking of being acquainted and came to remind you not to get too close to the Border Army, to avoid being implicated. But I didn't expect that you brother and sister don't know what's good for you. It's me who is asking for trouble."

After saying that, he clamped his legs on the horse's belly and chased after the Yu Lin Army team without looking back.

After he left, Chen Ji looked at Zhang Zheng with interest and teased: "Today I feel that Brother Zhang is a bit strange."

Zhang Zheng said shyly: "In the early years in the capital, I often caused trouble, so my mother had to bring me to her side and tie me down in Luo City. Now I have reformed. Just now I was just trying to scare him."

Chen Ji smiled and said: "How come I haven't heard Brother Zhang mention this before?"

Zhang Zheng sighed: "Before, I was proud of those past things, but later I thought, those messy bad things are simply not worth mentioning compared to you all, so I just didn't think it was good to bring them up. I wasn't deliberately hiding it."

Chen Ji changed the subject: "The Yu Lin Army doesn't look very fierce."

Zhang Xia on the side explained: "The Yu Lin Army mainly does imperial family guard duty every day. Inside are all some noble sons. To say the fiercest troops, they should be the Ten Thousand Years Army, the Five Armies Camp, and the Divine Machine Camp, collectively called the Imperial Front Three Great Camps, totaling seventeen ten thousand soldiers."

Zhang Zheng added: "Look at that General Li Xuan beside the Crown Prince, who acts like a dog, he is actually the son-in-law of the Qi family. Qi Shenluo, who was just spouting nonsense at us, is a collateral relative of the Qi family, and his father also served in the Yu Lin Army."

Chen Ji suddenly understood: "No wonder the Yu Lin Army is dressed so brightly. It turns out they are guards."

However, just at this moment, the lonely sound of horse hooves echoed on the dirt road behind them. The crowd turned their heads and saw a yellow-brown horse running towards them. The next moment, Yu Lin Army's Li Xuan's face changed. He looked at the Crown Prince and said urgently: "Your Highness, this is Wang Guang's horse!"

According to the time, Wang Guang should be on his way to Tian Shui County. But now the horse had returned, and the person was nowhere to be seen.