Chapter 53: The Brocade Guard Commander

  "Haha, Yang sir, you lost again!" Liu Jin clapped his hands and laughed loudly, looking extremely pleased. Along the way, nothing out of the ordinary happened. Liu Jin often invited Yang Ling to play chess with him in his carriage to pass the time. His chess skills were not particularly impressive, but once he discovered that Yang Ling's skills were even worse, he became a chess enthusiast, taking great pleasure in beating Yang Ling every day.

  Yang Ling snorted and said, "This round doesn't count. I'll eat your army, you rascal, slow down a bit. Otherwise, it's just one horse and one cannon, no matter what, you're not my opponent. No way, let's start again."

  Liu Jin hurriedly blocked his hand and smiled complacently: "Yang Gong, you have to have some demeanor, haha, I won four games and three wins today." This future villain was no different from ordinary people before he made a name for himself, and when he became complacent, he shook his head and swayed back and forth. Yang Ling had been with him for a long time, and his original apprehensive heart was gone, and the two of them got along like old friends.

  Liu Jin said, lifting the curtain to take a look outside, "We've arrived, we're about to enter the city." Yang Ling heard this and also looked out the window, seeing the vast dusk, with the grand and majestic city gate already in front of them.

  Yang Ling pushed open the door curtain and walked out, standing on the carriage to watch. The 16 imperial guards led the way, and the city defense officer did not dare to block them. The procession entered the city in a grand manner. Liu Jin also came out and stood beside him, with his hands clasped in his sleeves, smiling and saying: "Yang sir, this is the capital of our great Ming dynasty, what do you think?"

  Yang Ling looked at the Beijing city at this time, although the whole city was densely populated with houses and people, but except for some distant wine shops and the residences of meritorious officials in the distance, almost all the houses were no more than two zhang high. Looking into the distance, the golden and magnificent buildings in the place where the sunlight remained were naturally the imperial city.

  Liu Jin asked, "Mr. Yang, do you want to find an inn to stay in first? Today is already late, tomorrow at the third watch, I will meet you outside the Meridian Gate to see His Majesty."

  Yang Ling had not spoken yet, and suddenly he heard Liu Bi say loudly behind him: "Young master, Yang Lao Tai Ye has already sent someone to rush to the capital ahead of time and bought a house on Hu Guo Temple Street for you to live in. Shall we go home directly?"

  Yang Ling and Liu Jin were both stunned, but Liu Jin's face looked a bit unpleasant. He had originally thought Yang Ling was just a poor county magistrate and hadn't considered extorting money from him. But looking at the situation now, it seemed that the Yang family was still quite wealthy. Yang Ling didn't show any signs of weakness, which made Liu Jin feel a bit unappreciated. Even those who reported trivial matters to the emperor were rewarded with some money, so why shouldn't he be valued for reporting such important information?

  Liu Biao said, taking a package off his shoulder and putting it in the car. The package made a "thud" sound when it hit the car, indicating that there was something heavy inside. Liu Biao smiled and said: "Director Liu, this is something that the old master asked me to bring for you when I came out. Please take it back and try some fresh ones. It's just a small gift from a rural family, not worth much."

  Liu Jin looked at the heavy package, estimated to be at least two hundred taels of silver, and suddenly his face lit up with joy. He turned to Yang Ling and smiled: "Yang sir is too polite, the imperial palace has everything in abundance, but this local product is really rare, haha, it's hard to come by your thoughtful gesture".

  Yang Ling knew it was a preparation made by Jin Yiwei, and hurriedly smiled: "Where, where, something that is not on the stage, Liu Gonggong likes it."

  Liu Jin's eyebrows opened with a smile and said: "I like it, I like it. Our family likes to eat some local specialties. Since Mr. Yang has already had a place to go, our family will return to the palace to report back. Tomorrow morning, our family will welcome Mr. Yang at the Meridian Gate."

  At this moment, Liu Jin was overjoyed and directed the team to return to the imperial city. Yang Ling's two horse-drawn carriages turned towards the street of the Temple of National Protection. Yang Ling returned to his own carriage, and Nian Niang vaguely heard a sound, happily embracing his arm and said: "Master, do we have a house in the capital now?"

  All the way, the little girl also had her own thoughts, thinking that her husband was now a fifth-grade Jin Yiwei official and a servant of the prince, so she couldn't afford to make any mistakes in her words and deeds to lose face for her husband. She heard that the wives and daughters of wealthy families all sat quietly in their carriages when they went out, so after entering Beijing, she sat upright in the carriage, not even daring to lift the curtain. Now the carriage was walking on the bustling streets, but she still didn't know what Beijing looked like.

  Yang Ling gently kissed her cherry lips and said, "Hmm, I suppose it's the arrangement of the Brocade Guard." Then she whispered in Nong Nang's ear, "We just entered the city today, our family doesn't open a banquet, tonight Master will accompany you to stroll around the street."

  The young lady's expression changed to one of delight, and she nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, I've never seen the appearance of Beijing City before, and I really want to go see it. If my husband weren't accompanying me, I wouldn't dare go out."

  Yang Ling smiled and said: "Niangniang is not even afraid of the Tartars, why be afraid to stroll on the streets of the capital?"

  The young lady said innocently: "Husband, if you don't take me out, how can a woman like me go strolling around and visiting people on her own? It would be laughable."

  Yang Ling said, "You know, our family doesn't have those rules. If you want to go out and take a walk, just go for it. Take a stroll down the street, visit some shops..." As Yang Ling spoke, he gazed at Nian Niang's lovely appearance and thought to himself, "If this were modern times, if that little girl wore a T-shirt and jeans, tied her hair back in a ponytail, she'd definitely be a bright and beautiful young thing. It would be great to go see a movie with her, have a cup of coffee together, and then haggle over prices with those cunning merchants... Heh heh, but if I were living back then, I wouldn't have had the good fortune to have her..."

  The young girl saw his gaze piercing through the ground, staring at herself, her face turned even redder. She blushed and lowered her head, saying softly: "Sir, we live on Huguo Temple Street, I don't know if there is a high monk in this temple who...who...", she said, her face burning like fire, unable to continue.

  Yang Ling's spirit was lifted, and his body suddenly felt hot. The night before he left, Yang Ling coaxed and begged in a soft voice, and finally got the little girl to learn how to play the flute under the moonlight, but the charm of it was not something that could be shared with outsiders.

  This journey has been tiring, with many people around, and he didn't dare to be intimate with Nong Nang. Now that she mentions it, Yang Ling's heart starts to itch, "In the past, I was infatuated with love for Bi Yu." Feeling ashamed of my love, I turned around and hugged him. Nong Nang is indeed a little jade, and when she was truly in love, that boundless passion, who knows what kind of madness it would be?

  Yang Ling laughed slyly and said: "Right, right, tonight we'll go find a big monk to consecrate it, then let you take a good look at my little monk."

  Young lady hastily said: "Master, it's not possible, we must see the Great Monk, how many years of Taoist practice does Little Monk have? I dare not play with Master's life."

  Yang Ling's mouth curled up, and he said with a strange expression: "Must you see the Great Monk? But how can this little monk become a great monk without going through my dear wife's blessing and refinement?"

  The young lady, though naive and pure, was not lacking in wit. She detected something unusual in her husband's words and couldn't help but blink her charming eyes, looking at him with some doubt. Yang Ling chuckled and hugged the young lady, whispering a few sentences into her ear. The young lady let out a soft cry, unable to bear it anymore, and lightly patted her husband twice, biting her lip and blushing as she glared at him, saying: "Husband has an audience with the Emperor tomorrow, needs to rest well, Young Lady won't see any monks tonight."

  Yang Ling smiled and said: "How can that be? Let me see if there's a temple outside, tonight I must let my wife open the door to welcome my little monk."

  Han Youniang heard her husband say some shameless words, and she softened up, panting and leaning against him, not daring to make a sound. Yang Ling lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and looked out, seeing people coming and going outside the carriage, with shops lining the street, it seemed that this street was quite prosperous.

  Han Youniang also curiously looked out, only to see Liu Biao and Yang Yiqing walking alongside the carriage. In the distance, at the corner of the street, a person was standing. Liu Biao quickly made several hand gestures towards him, that person nodded, with his left hand hanging by his side, also quickly returned several hand gestures, then turned around and left.

  The two people's movements were quick and natural, if not for Han Youniang's sharp eyes and meticulous thinking, she really wouldn't have noticed. Han Youniang curiously turned her head and said: "Husband...", at this time Yang Yiqing shouted from outside: "We're home, please get off the carriage, sir and madam".

  This interruption caused Han Youniang to swallow her words again. Yang Ling lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and saw a four-sided courtyard in front of him, with an empty space in front of the door, where two rows of dragon claw elms were planted. The small yard was open, and it looked clean and tidy inside, as if it had been renovated not long ago.

  Han Youniang also jumped off the car, happily sizing up her new home. In the courtyard, there was a well and a small flower bed in the middle, with wing rooms on either side and a three-roomed tile-roofed house in front. It seemed that the original owner of the house was also a wealthy family, but it was unknown how Jin Yiwei had taken possession of it.

  Liu Biao and Yang Yiqing moved all the luggage into the house. Although they had just bought this courtyard, it was fully equipped with everything needed for daily life, saving them a lot of time to purchase and buy things. Seeing that it was still early, Han Youniang began to happily exercise her rights as the hostess, arranging her new home. For a while, she was busy and excited, and even forgot about going out to eat and visiting the temple to see the abbot.

  Yang Yiqing approached Yang Ling with a mysterious expression and said, "Sir, Commander Zhang has heard that you have arrived in the capital and wants to meet with you. Shall we go now?"

  "Ah!" Yang Ling suddenly stood up, the highest leader of the Brocade Guard wanted to meet him, how dare he be slow, he quickly said a word to Yu Niang and immediately went onto the main street with Liu Biao and Yang Yiqing accompanying him.

  Yang Ling had heard from Liu Yiqing that the Imperial Guard Commandant's office was not located within Beijing City, but rather in Tianjin Garrison. However, the most critical department of the Imperial Guard, the Northern Pacification Office, was indeed located within the capital city. As a result, the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard spent more than half his time serving in Beijing City, rather than in Tianjin Garrison.

  The Northern Pacification Commission was located in the north of Dong'an City, right next to the East Factory Gate. In this vast Beijing city, apart from the Imperial City, this place is also one of the most solemn and quiet places. As soon as you turn onto that street, the street becomes clean and empty like a dog's gnawed bone, without even a single shadow of a person.

  Yang Ling passed by the "Dongji Factory", curiously looking inside, wondering if the guards, supervisors and factory directors were really as skilled as they were portrayed in movies. Unfortunately, it was getting late, and except for the two guards standing at the gate, no one else was seen. Further ahead was the Beizhen Fu Si government office, which looked no different from other official residences. At the entrance stood two large stone lions, with brocade-clad imperial guards holding swords standing guard.

  Yang Ling followed Liu and Yang into the town's government office, entering a grand hall. On the white wall above the hall was painted a majestic tiger descending from a mountain, its eyes gleaming with life as it bared its teeth and claws, seeming to pounce down at any moment. The atmosphere in the hall was solemn and elegant. Liu Bi and Yang Yiqing stopped at the entrance, not daring to proceed further. A Jin Yiwei officer naturally invited him in. Yang Ling stood still in the hall, admiring the tiger with his hands clasped behind his back. Suddenly, a voice boomed from behind him, "Has Commissioner Yang arrived? Unfortunately, the Town Governor has taken some people to Jinling. I am Jin Yiwei Commander Yu Yong, here to welcome Commissioner Yang."

  Yang Ling hastily turned around, repeatedly saying: "I don't dare, I don't dare, sir......", he opened his eyes and took a glance, and was suddenly stunned. The person in front of him was indeed wearing the flying fish uniform of the Jin Yiwei, with an embroidered spring knife at his waist, and his attire was that of a qianhu.

  But this person had blonde hair and blue eyes, with a high nose bridge and skin as white as can be, and was actually a European. This Commander Yu Yong saw Yang Ling's stunned expression, and smiled as he spoke in a Beijing accent: "I am Commander Yu Yong, sir has just arrived in the capital, another day I will host a banquet to invite sir. Hehehe, from now on working together with sir in the same court, I hope sir can help me out more often. Right, Commander is waiting for you for half a day, please follow me to go see Commander first."

  Yang Ling nodded and followed the foreign Jin Yiwei as they walked around the hall, with rooms on both sides of the corridor. Yu Yong led Yang Ling to a door, opened it and smiled: "Please enter, sir."

  Yang Ling nodded his head in thanks and stepped inside, where he saw large candles hanging on the four walls, illuminating the room brightly. A middle-aged man wearing casual Confucian attire sat behind a desk with a smile, having just put down a book scroll as Yang entered.

  Yang Ling knew that this person must be the highest leader of the Brocade Guard, Zhang Huan, and hastily stepped forward to kneel on one knee and salute: "Junior officer Yang Ling pays his respects to Commander Zhang."

  Zhang Xiu narrowed his eyes and sized him up, smiling in satisfaction: "Good, indeed young and promising. Director Yang, please sit down, no need to be polite." Yang Ling also secretly sized up this Zhang gentleman, who was about fifty years old, with a gentle and calm demeanor, refined and courteous, and from his appearance, one could not see the aura of holding power and controlling life and death.

  The gatekeeper bowed and said: "Governor, Mr. Yang, I'll take my leave first", saying that he smiled slightly at Yang Ling and gently closed the door.

  Zhang Xiu saw his strange expression and smiled: "Yu Yong is a descendant of the Western Regions, said to be from the Rhine River area, originally a local noble. During the Yuan Dynasty's western expedition, tens of thousands of blond-haired, blue-eyed slaves were captured, including his ancestors. Now, there are over 1,000 households like his living in the capital."

  Yang Ling felt relieved, and Zhang Xiang seemed to be quite satisfied with Yang Ling. He smiled and said: "Director Yang is a talented person with outstanding academic achievements. After entering the Bai Xue Garden, he will definitely be reused, very good, very good!"

  Yang Ling was taken aback: "Bai Xue Garden? Sir, what... is this place?"

  Zhang Xiu was taken aback, and awkwardly laughed: "Hehe, it's this official's slip of the tongue. Cough cough... The current crown prince is still young, uh... likes some novel playthings. In the Eastern Palace, that is to say... Hehe, the court officials often refer to the Eastern Palace as the Hundred Delights Garden, and this official also happened to say it smoothly."

  Yang Ling wiped the sweat and humbly said, "Your Excellency is overpraising me. I am just a humble scholar, able to serve as a reader for the Crown Prince is already an honor, how dare I have any further extravagant hopes?"

  Zhang Xiu smiled and said, "Heroes are not afraid of humble origins, let alone... you may know that the current crown prince's tutors and lecturers are all from the Imperial Academy, but the crown prince has never had a single reader by his side. Now the crown prince happens to like you, and asked His Majesty to summon you to the capital, the Eastern Palace favors you, and His Majesty favors the Eastern Palace, so that means His Majesty favors you too. Tomorrow at the audience, His Majesty will grant you the same status as a jinshi graduate, and from then on, you can no longer call yourself a xiucai."

  Yang Ling ate and said: "Your Excellency, I am ignorant and do not know... As a small official of the Ji Ming Yi government, how can I reach the heavens and be allowed to enter the capital to serve as a reader?"

  Zhang Xiu burst out laughing and, unable to contain his joy, slapped the table and exclaimed: "Reaching the heavens? It's not just reaching the heavens! Although you are in a remote place, do you know that at this moment, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Works, the Three Law Courts, the Imperial Censorate, the Five Armies Command, and half of the officials in Beijing are all embroiled in a huge fight, all because of you, Yang Tongzhi?"

  Yang Ling was shocked and exclaimed: "What?!"

  P.S. I just found out last night that... people from the South can also drink a lot, men are heavy drinkers, and even delicate and charming beauties can down white wine in one gulp, terrifying!