Chapter 209 Returning to Beijing
The cold wind was howling, and the sky of the capital was covered with dark clouds. The weather that was about to snow made everyone feel depressed.

Prince Zhongshun, dressed in official uniform with a gloomy face, was walking aimlessly on Chongwenmen Street with two guards and a group of patrolling soldiers.

People passing by avoided the road and countless hurried eyes cast sidelong glances at Prince Zhongshun and his entourage.

The common people living under the emperor’s feet had seen the world, but they had never seen a prince from the royal family patrolling the streets in person.

As he walked, Prince Zhongshun stopped and looked towards the restaurant diagonally opposite and at the carriage parked in front of the restaurant.

Prince Zhongshun: “Is that Qiguan’s carriage?”

A guard took a closer look and replied, “Your Highness, it’s Officer Qi’s carriage.”

Prince Zhongshun frowned and said, “Didn’t he say he was recuperating at home?”

The guard paused and said, “Maybe he has something important to do and has to go out.”

Prince Zhongshun was so angry that his face twisted: “What’s so important about a actor like him?! I want to see it today.” Then he walked towards the restaurant.

Another guard spoke up: “Your Highness, this Taihe Tower is the property of Earl Zhongyong. The old housekeeper said that it is not appropriate to cause trouble at this time.”

King Zhongshun was stunned for a moment, then he slashed his hand downwards and said loudly: “Qi Guan is just a dog I raised. What’s wrong with me catching my own dog?”

The guard was anxious: “Your Majesty, the palace just reprimanded you yesterday. If we go to the property of the Earl of Zhongyong and make a scene today, what will the palace think? Your Majesty, please think twice!”

Another guard immediately said, “The Earl of Zhongyong is not only the Crown Prince’s confidant, he is also a close confidant promoted by His Majesty!”

Prince Zhongshun was so angry that his eyes turned red. He cursed the retired emperor again in his heart. If he hadn’t caused trouble at the Winter Solstice Banquet, he wouldn’t have been reprimanded by the emperor and forced to patrol the streets in such a cold weather.

The guard said: “He is just an actor. Your Majesty, please don’t get angry and make yourself sick.”

King Zhongshun became even angrier: “I’m angry and getting sick? What a joke.” After saying this, he flicked his sleeves and walked forward.

The two guards looked at each other and hurriedly chased after him.

Prince Zhongshun was walking when he suddenly stopped, looked at Taihe Tower fiercely, and then said to the guard, “You keep an eye here and see who it is.” After that, he strode away.

The guard looked around, walked towards the teahouse opposite Taihe Building, and sat down at a table near the door.

In a private room on the second floor of Taihe Building facing the street, Qi Guan was standing behind a half-open window and watching.

After looking at the receding figure of Prince Zhongshun and the teahouse across the street, Qi Guan smiled, gently closed the window, turned around and said to the waiter standing by the door of the box, “It’s almost time, let them serve the wine and food.”

“Yes.” The servant pushed open the door of the box and walked out.

After a while, the waiters came in one after another and served the wine and food in an instant.

At this moment, the servant’s voice came from outside the door: “Master Bao and Master Xue are here.”

Qi Guan was slightly startled. Why did Jia Baoyu come?

Jia Baoyu and Xue Pan walked in one after another.

Qi Guan was startled again. In such cold weather, Xue Pan was wearing a silk robe with a black background and hidden flowers. The silk robe was very light, so it fluttered in the wind when he walked, revealing the leather robe with a moon-white background embroidered with light red plum blossoms. He was also holding a folding fan with a Xiangfei bone silk surface in his hand, which he gently waved as he walked in.

Seeing Qi Guan, Xue Pan immediately walked over with a smile on his face, stared at him and said, “Good brother, I just said I would invite you to dinner, and your invitation has arrived. It shows that we are close friends. What is your heart?”

Jia Baoyu: “It’s a mutual understanding.”

Xue Pan folded his folding fan, slapped it on his palm, and said loudly: “Yes, we are of the same mind!”

Qi Guan smiled faintly: “It’s so cold, why are you dressed like this and holding a folding fan?”

Before he finished speaking, Xue Pan quickly unfolded his folding fan, gently waved it and said: “From yesterday on, Master Xue is a donated student of the Imperial College, and I have achieved honors!”

Qi Guan: “Oh, this is such a great happy event!” He hurriedly ordered the servant: “Go tell the housekeeper to quickly make up for the gift and send it to Master Xue’s house.”

The servant agreed and went.

Xue Pan was even happier: “It doesn’t matter whether it’s polite or not, you have to drink a few more glasses with me later!”

Qi Guan could only nod and looked at Jia Baoyu again: “How did you find the time to come?”

Xue Pan immediately responded: “I said I would invite you to a dinner. You know my handwriting well, so I asked Baoyu to help write the invitation. Isn’t this a coincidence?”

After hearing this, Qi Guan smiled bitterly.

Jia Baoyu: “What’s wrong?” It was too late to say anything. Qi Guan could only smile and say: “Sit down, please, let’s talk while we eat.”

The three of them sat down at the same time.

Official Qi poured the wine in the thermos for Jia Baoyu first, then for Xue Pan, and then filled his own cup as well. He held up the cup with both hands and said: “This glass of wine is first to congratulate Mr. Xue for his great achievements.” After saying this, he drank the wine in the glass in one gulp.

Jia Baoyu and Xue Pan also did it.

Qi Guan picked up the wine pot and filled three glasses with wine. Then he said, “I asked Master Xue to come here today because I have something to ask of you. I bought a few acres of land in the eastern suburbs, twenty miles away from the city. I would like to ask Master Xue to help me buy some wood and stone materials.”

Before he finished speaking, Xue Pan patted his chest and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this matter!”

Qi Guan smiled and said, “Thank you, Master Xue.”

Xue Pan interrupted him again: “We are all brothers, why bother to thank each other? It’s too distant.”

Officer Qi looked at him.

Xue Pan was stunned for a moment, and asked anxiously: “Is it because you don’t have enough money? Don’t worry about the money, I will pay for you.”

Just as Qi Guan was about to speak, Xue Pan waved his hand and said, “I know you are a decent person. So, I will lend you this money without interest. Is that ok?”

Jia Baoyu spoke up: “Good, good, I will be your middleman.”

Qi Guan didn’t say anything and lowered his head.

Xue Pan’s face was a little embarrassed: “Why, do you look down on me?”

Qi Guan was anxious and shook his hands hurriedly: “No, no”

Xue Pan’s expression relaxed: “Did something happen to you?”

Jia Baoyu also looked at him.

Qi Guan: “What could possibly happen to me? I was just reminded by your words. I can buy more land and build a bigger villa.”

Xue Pan listened and nodded, saying: “That’s right. If you want to build a house, build a bigger one. It will be uncomfortable to live in if it’s too small. Do you want me to accompany you?”

Qi Guan shook his head: “No, no, just wait for my news.” Then he picked up the wine glass, “Please!”

Xue Pan drank it all in one gulp, then said with a smile: “Good brother, please leave a room for me.”

Qi Guan’s mouth twitched imperceptibly, and he poured the wine from the thermos to Jia Baoyu, saying softly, “I heard that the theater building in the mansion of the Loyal and Brave Earl has been completed?”

Jia Baoyu nodded: “It happened several days ago.”

Xue Pan interrupted: “My sister said, Ke. Ke. is tall and big.”

Jia Baoyu spat out a mouthful of wine on the ground and then burst into laughter.

Qi Guan also laughed.

Xue Pan’s face flushed: “I’m not wrong, the theater building is tall and big.”

Jia Baoyu and Qi Guan laughed at each other.

Xue Pan was anxious: “If you don’t believe it, wait until General Li comes back and I’ll take you to see it!”

Qi Guan held back his laughter and said, “Mr. Xue is right, it is tall and big. Hey, when will General Li return to Beijing?” As he said that, he looked at Jia Baoyu.

Jia Baoyu: “I don’t know, but it should be soon.”

Qi Guan blinked, then picked up the wine glass: “Come, let’s drink.”

With the sound of horses’ hooves and the flying dust, Li Hu and his party finally arrived in the capital before the first snow.

The majestic and picturesque capital city is in sight in the distance, and the tall and magnificent city towers stand tall like giants, overlooking the vast mountains and rivers of Dashun.

Li Hu pulled the reins.

The whole group stopped.

Li Hu looked at the capital and shouted, “Go home!” He squeezed his legs together and rode his horse towards the capital.

(End of this chapter)