Imperial Capital, Anding Gate, dusk.

The soldiers of the Five Cities Military Department guarding the city caught sight of the dust rising on the official road. Leading the way was a person dressed in a red official robe, wearing a black flared-corner futou.

Behind him were the Yulin Army, clad in glaring silver armor.

Some infantry stood with halberds in hand, filled with suspicion: "Didn't the documents from Honglu Temple say they were supposed to come through Desheng Gate? Why are they heading for our Anding Gate?"

The Vice General guarding the city was also perplexed: "Something must have gone wrong."

The infantry asked in a low voice, "Should we stop them?"

The Vice General, expressionless, replied: "Last time, we couldn't stop him even when he came alone. Now he's returned with over a hundred men and a title. Do you think you can stop him? Then you go and stop him."

The infantry shrank back: "I can't stop him either."

The Vice General turned around, peering through the gate. Zhang Li was sitting by a table outside a tavern, sketching and muttering words from a Wordless Heavenly Scripture: "Drums sound three times, horns wail, dare to break through Wu Hou Formation, dressed in red, straight to White Tiger Hall..."

Zhang Li wasn't sitting on a chair, but rather on the back of the Qing Niu, which was beneath him, eating buns.

The Vice General sneered: "No wonder that Daoist with a cow's nose suddenly came to Anding Gate; he rightly guessed Chen Ji would come through here. His new novel 'Luocheng Winter Delay' has been printed up to chapter ten. Chapter nine is called... what's it called again?"

The infantry whispered: "The Five Cities Military Department's little ghosts are troublesome, Prince Xian leads the horse for Changge..."

The Vice General cursed: "Damn it, now the teahouses are criticizing us, saying we are the claws of a tiger all day, giving me a headache. If we stop him again today, who knows what they'll say in the next twenty chapters."

The infantry shrank back further: "Not just twenty chapters... that cow-nosed Daoist just told the shopkeeper that this novel will have eighty chapters."

The Vice General closed his eyes and took a deep breath: "Don't meddle in affairs that are beyond us, let them into the city..."

At this moment, a rider came galloping from inside the city.

The Vice General turned around and quickly saluted: "Commander Lin."

Lin Yanchu did not respond, but paused his horse at the entrance of the gate, quietly watching as Chen Ji approached from afar.

At the city gate, Chen Ji reined in his horse, gazing at this former member of the Yulin Army from a distance.

He scrutinized him for a moment: "Made Deputy Commander of the Five Cities Military Department? Congratulations."

Lin Yanchu cupped his fists and lowered his head: "I'm here to assist you, sir, to prevent any ignorant people from obstructing you."

"Then thank you," Chen Ji did not speak ill but continued to ride into the city: "Enter the city."

Lin Yanchu lowered his voice: "Housekeeper Chen asked me to convey a message. Even His Majesty does not wish to be involved in this matter, which is why you were given the unranked and ungraded title of ceremonial envoy in a secret decree. Once you enter the capital, no one will recognize you... It's best if you find a way to stay out of it."

Chen Ji replied calmly: "Understood."

Lin Yanchu remained at the gate. As Qi Zhenzhuo and others passed by him, their gazes cut across his face like sharp knives.

Duobao couldn't help but sneer: "Rising in one step, you managed to sell out your lord for a good price. I wish Commander Lin a promising future and to soar high on the clouds."

Lin Yanchu kept his head down, making no rebuttal.

As the Yulin Army entered the city, passersby threw indifferent glances at them.

Qi Zhenzhuo muttered: "Returning alive against all odds, why does it seem like we've committed a heavenly crime? Let's go quickly."

"We are victorious, why avoid people?" Chen Ji dismounted in front of the tavern, calling to the shopkeeper: "Shopkeeper, bring a jar of wine."

But the shopkeeper turned his head away: "I don't do business with those who flatter enemies to ensure their own survival."

Chen Ji did not get angry. Instead, he smiled and praised: "Good integrity, shopkeeper."

He then went behind the counter, took a jar of wine from the shelf, and walked out: "Take the wine money from Meihua Ferry Crossing."

Chen Ji took a gulp from the wine jar and handed it to Li Xuan. Li Xuan also took a swig and passed it to Qi Zhenzhuo, who continued to pass it back.

Chen Ji then took another jar of wine to the side of the coffin and slowly poured the wine onto the ground, speaking softly: "Sorry, this time there's not even someone here to welcome you back."

After speaking, he poured out the entire contents before getting back on his horse and heading south.

"Wait for me, poor Daoist," Zhang Li hurriedly closed the Wordless Heavenly Scripture, putting it in his chest and sticking the brush in his hairbun. He patted the Qing Niu beneath him but it refused to move.

Zhang Li helplessly said: "Get up quickly, or I'll not let you steal the incense from the City God Temple."

Only then did the Qing Niu get up slowly, carrying Zhang Li to walk alongside Chen Ji.

Zhang Li advised Chen Ji: "Boy, don't interfere in the Jing Dynasty's peace talks. This matter will be recorded in history... as infamy."

Chen Ji stared straight ahead: "Did the Daoist wait at Anding Gate just to tell me this?"

Zhang Li replied solemnly: "Do you think it's a small matter? Nowadays, someone is paying for the storytellers in the teahouses to circulate this issue; whoever facilitates the peace talks will be criticized by the people. Don't underestimate this; if you take the wrong step, you might bear the infamy for thousands of years..."

Chen Ji remained silent.

Zhang Li earnestly said: "I know you have a good relationship with the Zhang Family, but this isn't the time for you to stand out."

Chen Ji smiled: "Is the Daoist worried about Chen Ji, or about Li Changge?"

Zhang Li's eyes flashed: "You are Li Changge, Li Changge is you, there is no difference."

Chen Ji probed: "If I bear the infamy, what will be the consequence?"

Previously, when Zhang Li asked him to write his name in the Wordless Heavenly Scripture, he realized it was related to the Official Gateway. Just like with Jin Zhu, their fates were intertwined, sharing honor and disgrace.

However, what linked him with Jin Zhu was the realm of the Executive Officer, while with Zhang Li... it should be prestige.

Zhang Li earnestly said: "You've also tasted the benefits of incense blessing, you just need to know that I, a poor Daoist, won't harm you, no need to delve into it. This gateway is untraveled by others, but once traversed, it allows transcendence, at the very least becoming a City God."

"What's the best outcome?"

Zhang Li's eyes flickered: "I, a poor Daoist, do not know, perhaps it's a path to sanctification."

Chen Ji pondered: "But this time it isn't truly selling out the country for glory, it's Jing Dynasty offering up the city for peace."

Zhang Li, exasperated, said: "Now the public sentiments have been incited to a fever pitch, and there are hundreds of officials kneeling in front of the Imperial Palace Gate pleading. Who cares about the truth anymore? Once Yuan Cheng is sent back, the people will only scold those involved in this matter and ignore everything else... it's unspeakable!"

Chen Ji smiled: "Understood."

Zhang Li breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good that you understand the gravity, don't bring harm upon yourself."

"Understood, understood," Chen Ji gently nudged the flanks of his horse, leaving Zhang Li's slow-moving big Qing Niu behind.

...

...

The team of the Yulin Army moved south along Andingmen Avenue, until they reached Mi Alley in the eastern suburbs, only then did they escort Princess Liyang into Huitong Hall, waiting for the court to set the day for an audience.

Chen Ji advised Li Xuan: "The Yulin Army guards Huitong Hall day and night, make sure to thoroughly check the food and water to prevent assassinations."

Li Xuan nodded: "Rest assured... you should also advise Lord Zhang, don't bear the infamy just for a Yuan Cheng."

Chen Ji sighed inwardly.

Only he knew that it was Emperor Ning's plan to send Yuan Cheng back to the Jing Dynasty to restrain Lu Jin and Yuan Xiang, it just required someone to bear the infamy.

Zhang Zhuo had no choice.

Chen Ji smiled and responded: "I'm going to the palace to meet His Majesty."

He rode towards the Imperial Palace Gate alone.

Before reaching the gate, he saw from afar rows of officials kneeling in front, some in blue robes, some in red robes.

Upon hearing the sound of hooves, the officials all turned to look, and a blue-robed official straightened up and angrily shouted: "You've studied poetry and books, how can you engage in such fawning to enemies for temporary peace?"

"How dare you sell out the country for glory? What benefits did you receive from the Jing Dynasty?"

"Was it instructed by Zhang Zhuo?"

"Don't collude with Zhang Zhuo!"

Chen Ji dismounted in front of the gate and walked directly into it: "Rather than kneeling here, all of you should travel to the Jing Dynasty, bring back the head of one of their traitors and then talk of having backbone."

An official erupted in anger: "A sycophant like you dares retort, you are just like Zhang Zhuo!"

Standing at the gate, Chen Ji turned sharply, staring straight at them: "I'm tired of hearing the phrase fawning to enemies for temporary peace; when you were conspiring together, didn't you think of any other words?"

Before they could respond, Chen Ji's figure had disappeared into the shadows of the gate.

Led by the little eunuch, Chen Ji passed through red walls and golden tiles, rushing to Renshou Palace.

Outside Renshou Palace, dozens of officials stood with their hands hanging low, while inside, there seemed to be a cacophony of arguments, saliva flying.

A loud voice from within Renshou Palace said: "Yuan Cheng is a dire threat to our dynasty and carries a blood feud with the border army, who dares send him back to the Jing Dynasty? Please, Your Majesty, thoroughly investigate, this person surely colludes with the Jing Dynasty."

"We mustn't let Yuan Cheng return; this villain should be sliced to assault public anger!"

The little eunuch advised Chen Ji: "Marquis of Wuxiang, please wait outside the hall for His Majesty's summons."

Chen Ji simply hummed, but didn't stop, instead advancing straight into Renshou Palace.

When the little eunuch realized something was wrong and reached out to grab Chen Ji's sleeve, he grasped at the air.

Chen Ji strode boldly, stepping over the high threshold of Renshou Palace, kneeling on the crystal-clear green gold brick: "Your humble servant Chen Ji, pays respect to Your Majesty."

The sudden silence within Renshou Palace was so absolute that the ministers and officials inside almost thought they had gone deaf.

Someone rebuked: "What is the penalty for intruding into Renshou Palace without permission..."

In the next moment, Chen Ji loudly declared: "This humble servant believes Yuan Cheng should be sent back to the Jing Dynasty."

Renshou Palace fell silent once again, leaving the officials glancing at each other in astonishment.

Zhang Zhuo, standing in the foremost position, suddenly turned his head, clenching his fist tightly.

Only he knew, Chen Ji was intending to take all the infamy upon himself to aid him.