Thousand Miles Walk Chapter 4

"After the Wanshou Festival, you will come back to Qian'an with me."

As they were about to enter the city, Griffin told Caleb: "If there is anything unfinished, please deal with it as soon as possible."

Caleb was stunned and gestured: I can't leave, I have to stay in Beijing to help you.

"No need." Griffin shook her head. "After meeting Parker and Mason, the emperor should be completely relieved. There is no point for you to stay here. It is better to go back with us. In the future, you can live a stable life with me."

Without waiting for Caleb to refute, Griffin continued, "You also said that Levi doesn't remember the old friendship. He turned a blind eye and let you go last time. What about next time? Besides, the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince may still fight. The Fifth Prince has the support of Prince Yu's Mansion, and the Fourth Prince may not be able to withstand it. You are not safe in his house. I can't leave you here."

Lin thought about it, didn't insist, and nodded hesitantly.

Griffin patted his shoulder and said, "Go ahead."

Caleb kowtowed to Griffin, and left quietly as he had done when he came. Griffin lifted the curtain of the carriage, looked at the city gate not far away, and straightened his clothes.

Griffin was worried about being questioned, so she didn't get out of the car. Outside, Hudson went to hand over documents to the minor officials from the Ministry of Rites and the officials guarding the city. They had received news half a month ago that the Qian'an Palace was coming to the capital, so they didn't make it difficult. They saluted from a distance to Parker's carriage, asked about the number of servants accompanying them, and then led everyone into the city.

The former Ning Wang Mansion was taken back by the current emperor a long time ago. After renovation, it is now the residence of the fifth prince Bennett. When passing by Ning Wang Mansion, Griffin lifted the curtain of the carriage.

When the current emperor first ascended the throne, he was at least very generous to his younger brother on the surface. He made him a king, granted him a mansion, and personally selected noble ladies for his marriage, acting like an elder brother who was like a father to him.

At that time, the Zhong Mansion, the family of Prince Ning's maternal family, had already committed a crime. The Zhong family had many girls and few boys, and had produced two imperial c0ncubines, but not many male members of the family itself, and almost all of the notable ones were implicated. Only a boy in a small branch family was barely spared from implicate because he was too young. Later, he was taken into Prince Ning's mansion and adopted as his son, thus shutting up the Censorate.

Thanks to Prince Ning's protection, Griffin was able to grow up without worries.

Griffin was so grateful to Prince Ning, yet she almost lost Parker when the incident happened. She was too ashamed to look at the place where she grew up. She took a deep breath and lowered the curtain of the car.

Everyone was taken to another mansion, which was not big but quite exquisite.

Hudson was not used to dealing with these petty officials. Griffin took a few purses and put them in her sleeves, jumped out of the car, walked over and greeted them familiarly, making the petty officials of the Ministry of Rites smile.

"Your Highness, please take a good rest here, and it would be best if you wash up a bit." A minor official smiled and suggested, "Someone from the palace will probably come to invite you around 3 p.m."

Griffin handed the lotus over and said, "Thank you."

After sending the people from the Ministry of Rites away, Griffin didn't have time to rest. She rubbed her aching neck and went to the inner courtyard to ask everyone to clean up the young lady's room first. Standing in the courtyard, Griffin asked through the door curtain: "Is the young lady's boudoir decorated well?"

Eden had been with him since childhood, so he didn't shy away from suspicion. He came out holding a fox fur cape and said, "I've been working on it all the way, and I've finally finished sewing it. Take a look and see if it fits."

Griffin took it quickly and said with a smile: "So you made it for me these days? I thought it was for your elder brother..."

"You are more afraid of the cold." Compared to her naive and naughty brother, Eden is much smarter. She has a cold personality and her tone is indifferent when she cares for others. "It is really cold in Beijing. Go to your room early and don't get sick again when you come back."

"I know." Griffin smiled and wrapped her cloak around her, agreeing, "I'll go right away."

Eden looked around and silently noted down the size, saying, "It's too late to alter it. Wear it first. I'll tighten the collar when it's delivered to you in the evening."

Griffin didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "I'd rather die."

Eden didn't say much. After he finished speaking, he turned around and went into the house.

Griffin had no time to rest, so she turned around and went to Parker Courtyard.

Parker looked very bad.

Partly because he returned to the capital and recalled old memories, and partly because he was frightened by Griffin.

Griffin didn't expect Parker to be so frightened at such an old age. She felt a little guilty and leaned against the door and said with a smile: "If the prince goes to see the emperor like this, the emperor will think that our Qian'an is so poor that even the prince can't eat enough."

Parker knew that Griffin was teasing him, but he still couldn't laugh. He pursed his dry lips, his eyes full of anxiety, "I have been nervous since I entered the city. My mind is full of the scene of me being trapped in the palace alone seven years ago. My father left, and you were taken away by someone. I..."

Griffin sighed.

Griffin whispered, "It's my fault. I wanted to find you at that time, but the news from Prince Yu's Mansion was not transmitted. I... forget it, it's all in the past."

Parker said worriedly: "If he asks me, asks me..."

"He won't ask you questions that would embarrass you. He doesn't want to talk about the past more than you do." Griffin said seriously, "He just wants to feel at ease. You just need to make him feel at ease. If he really wanted to kill you, he would have sent a pot of poisoned wine to Qian'an. Why would he specially call you here? Do you think the history books are not well written?"

Parker's face brightened a little after hearing this. Griffin said softly, "It's all over. Come back... I'll take you there."

"Really?" Parker's eyes lit up, "You will accompany me into the palace?"

"Of course it's fake." Griffin smiled, "I wonder if I can get in? I'm guarding outside the palace."

Parker smiled helplessly, but finally felt relieved.

At 3 p.m., someone really came from the palace, and they only brought Parker and Mason.

Griffin followed as a servant, but was stopped before he even reached the palace gate. Parker and Mason got off the carriage and followed the people in the palace.

The two men followed the eunuchs, walking carefully all the way. After many twists and turns, they finally saw the emperor and kowtowed to him.

Parker didn't even dare to look up. He answered whatever was asked and his voice was not much louder than a mosquito. He had to rely on the old eunuch to help him shout his words.

In comparison, little Mason's response was more appropriate. He was only two or three years old when the Ning Wang Incident happened and he couldn't remember anything. He grew up carefree in these years and was much braver than his elder brother. When being questioned by the emperor, he even looked up at the emperor, secretly surprised.

This "imperial uncle" is a little too old. He looks to be around 60 years old, old enough to be Mason's grandfather.

Emperor Chong'an had shown signs of aging in recent years, and his voice was a little lacking. He looked closely at little Mason, smiled kindly, and asked about his schoolwork.

Before Mason could say anything, Parker broke out in a cold sweat.

That year, Emperor Chong'an asked Parker the same question, and the next day, he and Griffin were sent to the palace.

Emperor Chong'an...will he use this as an excuse to keep Mason in the capital?

While Parker was feeling uneasy, Emperor Chong'an had already asked little Mason a few questions, and Mason answered them one by one.

Emperor Chong'an nodded in satisfaction and said in a gentle voice, "Very promising. How is the teacher your brother hired for you? How is his academic knowledge? Is he strict?"

Mason bowed her head and replied: "I didn't hire a teacher, I just followed..."

Although Mason was young, she instinctively felt that she couldn't say Griffin's name. She paused and said, "I learned it from a literate housekeeper at home."

Emperor Chong'an was silent for a moment, then asked, "Is it Guiyuan who is teaching you?"

Griffin, whose courtesy name is Guiyuan.

Mason frowned in confusion. How did he know this?

Emperor Chong'an said slowly, "With him teaching you, you won't go wrong."

Emperor Chong'an spoke very slowly, as if in a trance. After a long while, he said, "If he had passed the palace examination that year..."

Little Mason listened quietly, not daring to respond. After waiting for a long time, Emperor Chong'an did not continue speaking. He waved his hand and did not ask about their schoolwork. Parker secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

They chatted about family matters for a while. As it was getting dark, Emperor Chong'an seemed a little unwell, so he gave the two of them a table of imperial meal and asked the old eunuch to take them away.

Parker and Mason were taken to the small warm room. Without anyone around, Mason asked in a low voice: "Why did the emperor..." when he heard about Griffin?

The old eunuch who served the emperor came in with the waiter. Mason immediately shut up. The old eunuch curled his lips slightly, pretending not to hear, and served the two people the food.

"I just heard." The old eunuch said with a smile, "Your Highness's studies were taught by Master Zhong himself?"

Mason was surprised: "Does the father-in-law also know Griffin?"

A young eunuch behind the old eunuch covered his mouth and laughed silently.

Who doesn’t know Griffin, the erotic figure famous all over the world?

Xiao Mason had naturally heard about those things as well. She realized that they were making fun of Griffin, and her face turned pale with anger.

Parker glanced at Mason: The eunuchs around Emperor Chong'an are not people they can afford to offend.

Mason lowered her head and ate her rice with difficulty.

The old eunuch turned his head and glanced at the young eunuch, and said slowly while serving the dishes: "Of course I know. Who doesn't know that he is the youngest scholar in this dynasty?"

Mason looked up. He didn't know Griffin was so powerful. He was stunned for a moment: "Ah?"

The old eunuch smiled and said slowly, "Although the Zhong family has fallen, Prince Ning raised him like a son. With such a noble family, such a background, and such talent, which government office in the three provinces and six ministries can't he go to in the future? But Master Zhong is so proud that he wants to take the imperial examination and rise to the top... He won the first prize in the spring examination and the first prize in the autumn examination. If it weren't for..."

The old eunuch concealed what he couldn't say, "I heard that the youngest champion in the previous dynasty was 18 years old. If Master Zhong had been able to enter the palace examination..."

"I'm afraid he is the youngest number one scholar in the past dynasties." The old eunuch drew out the dustpan from his waist, turned around and hit the ignorant young eunuch, "You ignorant dog, get out of here!"

Outside the palace, Zhong Caizi, who almost won the top three prizes in the imperial examination, stood in the cold wind and sneezed.

"Really cold..."

Griffin had been waiting for two hours, and the charcoal in the hand warmer had burned out. He was afraid that his legs would be frozen, so he simply got out of the car and walked back and forth to stretch his arms and legs.

It was already 5 p.m. and the sky had already darkened. Griffin glanced at the palace gate from afar, but she was not actually in a hurry.

The worst case scenario is that the emperor will keep Mason as a hostage, but this possibility is also very small.

It makes sense to keep the prince of a vassal state who holds military power in the capital for education, but why keep Mason? What to guard against? To guard against Parker gathering dozens of people in Qian'an for rebellion?

Qian'an is a vast land with a sparse population and is so poor that the court has to provide disaster relief every now and then. If Griffin were the emperor, upon hearing that there was a rebellion in Qian'an, he would be the first to agree. He hoped that these poor people would go away and set up their own camp so that he could save himself from years of relief.

Griffin rubbed his hands stiffly. His hands were numb from the cold and were now only supported by the warmth in his chest.

Suddenly, there was the sound of carriages in the distance, and Griffin perked up and looked over.

The carriage gradually approached, the lights hanging on the carriage swayed, and the word "Yu" was clearly printed on the lights.

Griffin's heart skipped a beat.

As the carriage from Prince Yu's mansion gradually approached, Griffin's mind was filled with thoughts.

Princess Anguo has her own carriage, it can't be her.

It is absolutely impossible for the idle branches of Prince Yu's Mansion to come out of the palace at this time.

The only people sitting in the car could be Prince Yu and that guy.

Griffin took a deep breath and silently chanted in her heart, Prince Yu, Prince Yu, Prince Yu...

The carriage beside Griffin was hung with lanterns from the Qian'an Palace, so it was impossible for the other party not to see it. If it was Prince Yu in the carriage, he would not pay any attention and would just leave naturally, but if it was Levi...

No matter how favored Levi was, he had not yet inherited the title. When he saw Prince Qian'an's carriage, he still had to stop and give way.

The carriage from Prince Yu's mansion was getting closer and closer. In the cold wind, a layer of sweat appeared on Griffin's back.

After a moment, the carriage stopped.

Griffin closed her eyes, it was all over.

Levi's carriage slowly stopped by the roadside. A steward got off the car, saluted from a distance, then stood up and trotted over.

Griffin was delighted. In such a cold weather, Levi would not be willing to get off the car. He should send the steward to ask, and when he knew that there was no one in the car, he would leave naturally.

The steward came forward, looked up, and was stunned.

The steward immediately recognized Griffin and shouted, "Master Zhong... Master Zhong?!"

Griffin collapsed, could you please keep your voice down? ! !

Griffin clenched her frozen hands, took a deep breath, and smiled faintly: "It's me, the prince has entered the palace and hasn't come out yet, please let Prince Yu go first."

"I guessed it." The steward looked up and down at Griffin, and said excitedly, "I'll tell the master first, you are here!"

"No, no, no..." Griffin was choked by the cold wind and started coughing, "No, no..."

The manager had already run back on a Hot Wheels bike.

Griffin clutched her collar and coughed so hard that she couldn't breathe. She wished she could eat the manager alive.

He watched from afar as the steward ran to Levi's carriage, bent over and whispered something.

It's over, it's over, it's over...

This time it's over...

Griffin's heart was beating fast as she was thinking about how to deal with Levi.

The steward stood in front of Levi's carriage for a long time, so long that Griffin began to suspect that Levi was arranging for the Imperial Guards to shoot him.

"What is this for?"

Griffin couldn't speak clearly. He squinted his eyes and looked at Levi's carriage.

After about half a cup of tea, the steward called out, and the carriages of Prince Yu's mansion started moving, slowly leaving.

Leaving now?

Griffin quietly watched the carriage from Prince Yu's mansion go away, when suddenly a cold wind blew into her lungs and she started coughing violently again.

The servant who followed the carriage came over to help Griffin and asked anxiously: "Why don't you go back first? This... this..."

"No...it's okay." Griffin supported the servant for a long time and laughed at herself, "I scared myself. I thought too much."

Griffin smiled as she watched Levi's carriage going further and further away.

Whether Levi's personality has changed or not has nothing to do with me.

Even if they knew I was here, so what?

Get off the car and chat with yourself?

That tomorrow, probably everyone in the capital would know that they had met him at the palace gate.

Griffin couldn't help but laugh. He really couldn't clear himself of the blame then.

Griffin took a few breaths of cold air, and her chest felt cold, and her body seemed to be a little hot. At this critical moment, Griffin didn't dare to joke with her own body. If she collapsed at this juncture, those children would really be at a loss.

Griffin didn't dare to insist, so she listened to the servant and asked him to call a sedan chair for her.

Griffin didn't ask anyone to follow her and got into the sedan chair by herself.

Griffin leaned in the sedan and let out a sigh.

Seven years have passed, and the talented and charming young man back then has become a gay man in the storybooks.

There's nothing to see anymore.

Griffin felt hot and cold, as if she was asleep but also not asleep. She was in a daze and had a dream.

The man in the dream was a teenager, not talkative, sitting under the window and writing quietly. There was a peach tree outside the window, and the fallen petals scattered on his shoulders.

The sedan bearers carried him for who knows how long, shaking him, and finally let him fall from the sedan.

Griffin was shocked and woke up.

Griffin rubbed her eyes, lost in thought. How could such a quiet and well-behaved person do the things that Caleb described?

Griffin was frozen stiff, and just as she was trying to stand up, the curtain of the sedan chair was lifted.

Outside the sedan, Yu Ziyou, a tall man wearing a dark fox fur coat, lifted the sedan curtain expressionlessly and said word by word: "Zhong, Gui, Yuan."