CH 55.1

Translator – Xiao He Lian

Chapter 55.1

Not long ago, at the Peach Blossom Banquet, Wen Chi heard Shi Jin mention him going to Jinzhou.

But Wen Chi at that time never thought that this matter might be related to him, so it went in one ear and out the other, not paying attention to Shi Jin’s words at all.

Therefore, when he heard the emperor say these words, he was undoubtedly shocked in his heart.

He was so shocked that he couldn’t speak for a while.

“You don’t need to rush, there is still some time before the departure, you should go back and think about it.” The emperor said to Wen Chi and sighed, “If it weren’t for the fact that so many people have gone to no avail, I wouldn’t have come up with such an ill-conceived plan.”

Hearing the emperor’s sigh, Wen Chi glanced at Shi Jin who had wandered off from the corner of his vision and spoke with difficulty, “Your Majesty, it’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just that it’s not appropriate.”

His Majesty asked, “What is inappropriate?”

Wen Chi buried her head even lower: “I am after all His Highness’s concubine, so if I were to leave the palace without His Highness’s permission, I am afraid ……”

I’m afraid I’ll die a miserable death.

After all, this imperial palace is not a place where you can come and go whenever you want. Before Wen Chi returned to the Wen Mansion, he had to get Shi Ye’s consent. He really didn’t dare to go beyond Shi Ye and agree to the emperor’s request.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Wen Chi finished speaking, the emperor let out a burst of relaxed laughter. The emperor picked up the tea cup, took a sip and then said with a smile: “Don’t worry, if I hadn’t spoken to the crown prince, why would I have called you here?”

Wen Chi froze for a moment.

“I had people sort out your ideas and showed them to the ministers. Everyone thought they were feasible, but unfortunately they all came out of your head. ” The emperor put the tea back and continued, “I originally intended to let the crown prince go instead of Shi Jin, but unfortunately the crown prince’s legs are not convenient.”

As he said that, the emperor seemed to recall some unpleasant things, his face gradually became unpleasant and the hand on his lap gradually clenched into a fist.

And Shi Jin, who had almost been replaced, did not seem to have any sense of crisis and was still wandering off with a numb expression.

Wen Chi listened quietly to the emperor’s words without making a sound.

After a while, the emperor seemed to have sorted out his emotions,and said: “The crown prince said that he will not go but he will not influence your decision. If you are willing to help with this, you can agree to it.”

Wen Chi was also very conflicted. On one hand, he didn’t dare to provoke Shi Ye but on the other hand, he didn’t want to refuse the emperor’s request.

He heard that Shi Jin and the others had started preparing for the trip to Jinzhou a long time ago but they suddenly invited him to go with them when they were about to travel, so they must have been expecting him to join for a long time. 

And this was also a rare opportunity for him to make a mark.

If he really helped the country in this, maybe he would have a better chance of surviving in the future.

It’s just whether Shi Ye agreed willingly or for the sake of the emperor… This point remains to be investigated.

Wen Chi struggled for a long time and neither refused nor responded directly but said euphemistically: “Your Majesty, now I live deep in the East Palace, I seldom step out of the palace door and have never thought of going away, I still want to think about it.”

When the emperor heard the words, he didn’t force him anymore: “Okay, I will allow you to think about it for two more days.”

Wen Chi said: “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“If you agree, you don’t need to go out with your original identity. I will give you another identity. You don’t have to worry about it.” Speaking of this, the emperor paused for a moment, “Although you are the crown prince’s concubine, you are not the same as a daughter after all, you are also a man, so there is no need to confine your thoughts too much in the deep backyard.”

Wen Chi: “…”

If he said that he is an otaku1(Dead otaku is a modern word, referring to some otaku or otaku . The original meaning refers to people who are addicted to animation, a derogatory term, and is synonymous with “otaku”. Also used to describe an old house that is uninhabited, or to refer to an old house that is haunted.) who dreams about being a salted fish2(Lazy person), he wonders if the emperor would be so angry that he would vomit blood.

After the emperor finished speaking, he asked the eunuch to send Wen Chi back first as he still had some things to say to Shi Jin alone.

Wen Chi followed the eunuch out of the study and saw a tall and thick figure waiting outside standing like a tall poplar tree.

Wen Chi couldn’t help but glance at the man as he passed by.

It really was General Lin.

At this time, when we got close, Wen Chi realized that General Lin had thick eyebrows and big eyes and was not as rough as he imagined. Instead, he had a naïve look that made people laugh. It was just that the height of nearly two meters made General Lin look like a strong bear.

General Lin’s face was sullen, his brows slightly furrowed and his expression quite serious, like the frightening commanders in Chinese TV dramas.

However, when Wen Chi recalled the scene of General Lin playing the guqin at the Peach Blossom Banquet, he suddenly felt very awkward.

After walking for a while, the eunuch leading the way noticed Wen Chi’s glances at General Lin and explained to Wen Chi: “The locust plague in Jinzhou caused extensive damage to food and riots broke out in various places. After the famine, many people took advantage of the chaos to loot and I heard that the situation is quite chaotic, so the emperor intends to let General Lin accompany the fourth prince.”

General Lin is going too?

Wen Chi was vaguely happy in his heart and it happened that he also wanted to see what was wrong with General Lin and why he played the guqin at the peach blossom banquet instead of Wen Liang.

The eunuch said: “It’s not just General Lin, I heard that there are many people going. This time the emperor summoned a lot of people. His Majesty has been worrying about this matter day and night.”

Wen Chi listened silently.

Soon, the eunuch said again: “If even Minister Yin was not helpless against that locust plague, the emperor would not have come up with such an improper plan for you, Young Master Wen. So I hope Young Master Wen will consider it carefully.” 

Wen Chi nodded: “I will.”