bookcurios Chapter 118 Meeting Friends in Beijing
Chapter 118 Meeting Friends in Beijing
Three days later, the ship finally sailed slowly into the capital. From afar, the tall and majestic city walls looked like a giant dragon winding around, and the gray bricks and stones exuded an ancient and heavy atmosphere under the sunlight.
As we got closer, the crowds under the city wall began to come into view. They were bustling with people coming and going, and occasionally there were wisps of smoke rising from cooking fires, adding a touch of human touch to this solemn and dignified imperial capital.
"Sister, look, what a tall and beautiful city wall!" Zhao'er pointed to the towering city wall not far away, with an expression of admiration in her eyes.
Jin Chu agreed with a smile and also admired the magnificent scenery below the imperial city.
Huan Yan behind him exclaimed, "No wonder everyone praises the capital. The grandeur of the capital is awe-inspiring just from a distance."
As he spoke, Wang Weiyuan also walked out. His eyes fixed on the nearby city wall, he sighed, "Living in the capital is not easy. This place is the most prosperous place in our Great Jin, but it is also a place where every inch of land is worth a lot of money, and where the powerful and wealthy gather. It is a place of leisure for the rich and a place of luxury for the poor."
Jin Chu smiled and said, "This is where Big Brother Wang can realize his ambitions and ascend to the top."
Wang Weiyuan turned his head and saw that the girl's almond-shaped eyes were curved into a crescent shape, looking at him half teasingly and half seriously.
He couldn't help but laugh along.
After another half an hour, the ship came to a stop. Jinchu and Huanyan carried their bags, each holding Zhaoer's hand, and followed Wang Weiyuan off the ship.
The pier was bustling with people, with waves of people coming and going, making it very lively.
Jin Chu lowered his head and told Zhao'er not to let go, but when he looked up again, he saw a young man with fox eyes wearing a red robe and a jade belt around his waist not far away. Wasn't he the young master Qin whom he met on the Lantern Festival in Lincheng before?
Ever since Qin Shijun met Wang Weiyuan at the Lantern Festival Riddle Party in Lincheng, he helped Jinchu find a suitable house the next day. As a result, his relationship with Wang Weiyuan became closer and closer. Although this man seemed a little willful, he was indeed a man of great ambitions, and was highly appreciated by Wang Weiyuan.
Later, when he left Lincheng, he often corresponded with Wang Weiyuan to exchange knowledge. Although he came from a noble family, he never looked down on him or acted arrogantly. The relationship between the two became closer and closer. After half a year of correspondence, they had developed into close friends.
Seeing that Qin Shijun was still looking around, Jin Chu called Wang Weiyuan in front and said, "If I remember correctly, is that young man in red a friend of Brother Wang?"
Following Jin Chu's gaze, Wang Weiyuan also spotted Qin Shijun not far away. He nodded and explained, "It's Ajun. We've been discussing academic matters frequently for the past six months. He learned I was going to Beijing to prepare for the exam, so perhaps he came here specifically to wait for me. Ajun is the grandson of Mr. Qin, the fifth son of the cabinet. Although he comes from a noble family, he's not pedantic or arrogant, and he's also quite knowledgeable. We have a very good relationship."
At this point, he suddenly thought of Jinchu's identity as a girl, so he said, "If it's not convenient for Sister Jin'er, I'll go get him out of the way later."
Since this person is Wang Weiyuan's friend, it is natural that they will meet each other in the future.
Moreover, this person has a grandfather who is a high-ranking cabinet minister. For Jin Chu and Wang Weiyuan, who are unfamiliar with the place, making friends like this will help them understand the powerful circle in the capital more quickly.
After all, Jin Chu came to the capital with an important mission.
It is impossible to bring down such a powerful Marquis Wu'an in one day by relying on the temporary strength of one person. It requires several or even dozens of prominent figures to collude with each other, set up ambushes, frame people, and fabricate charges in order to accomplish this.
It is just right that we can use Qin Shijun's relationship to first familiarize ourselves with the connections between several cabinet elders, and then step by step to find clues from five years ago.
Thinking of this, Jin Chu looked in Qin Shijun's direction and smiled. "Since you're Brother Wang's friend, we'll naturally have some interactions in the future. Besides, we've met once before in Lincheng. This time, Young Master Qin came all the way to pick you up. How can I let him down? How about we address each other as cousins?"
This means agreeing to meet Qin Shijun. As for cousins, they are indeed more suitable for their current identities.
Wang Weiyuan nodded, waved to Qin Shijun who was still searching on the ships, and shouted, "Ajun, we are here!"
After calling out twice, Qin Shijun finally caught his eye. Seeing Wang Weiyuan, he took a few steps forward, his fox eyes smiling: "Ayuan, I've finally got you here. Come down quickly!"
As they were talking, several people followed Wang Weiyuan off the boat and onto the shore. Jin Chu smiled at Qin Shijun and bowed, saying, "It's been a while since we last met. How are you, Young Master Qin?"
"Miss Jin'er, have a safe journey!"
Qin Shijun looked at the girl who had grown into a graceful and elegant lady with an even more outstanding demeanor, and could not help but exclaim in amazement once again. This girl was becoming more and more eye-catching, and standing together with A Yuan, they were a perfect match.
He pointed to a carriage not far away and said with a smile, "My carriage is over there. You've been traveling so long today, so come home with me and rest for a while."
"There are several of us brothers and sisters this time, so we can't bother to disturb your mansion. Besides, we have been traveling for several days and our appearance is not in good shape. Let's go to your mansion to visit you another day!" Wang Weiyuan gently but firmly rejected Qin Shijun's invitation.
"I've already informed my mother and grandmother. My mother has already prepared the guest room, just waiting for you two, Yuan. My sisters at home were also very happy to hear that two sisters were coming."
Qin Shijun turned to Jinchu and Zhao'er and said, "You are new to the capital, and Zhao'er is still so young. It would be inappropriate for me to rush around with you. You should rest at my house for a few days and then slowly look for a place to live. This will save you from wasting time on trivial matters."
As soon as he heard this, Wang Weiyuan thought of the cold that Zhao'er had just recovered from, and suddenly he was not so persistent. He turned to look at Jin Chu, and Jin Chu nodded slightly.
"Ajun and Auntie are so kind, it would be disrespectful to refuse. So we will have to go to your house and bother you for a few days!"
"Ayuan, that's too polite. I can't wait to discuss knowledge with you every day." Qin Shijun's smile widened as he instructed the attendant beside him, "Go back and tell my wife that my dear friend, whom I've been waiting for for days, has arrived today..."
Jin Chu hurriedly pulled Wang Weiyuan over and asked, "How many girls are there in Young Master Qin's family?"
When a group of people visit someone for the first time, they can't come empty-handed.
Wang Weiyuan frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and said, "I vaguely remember that Ajun has a sister who is also his sister, the eighth child."
Okay, Jin Chu thought helplessly, let’s prepare eight gifts first!
She whispered to Wang Weiyuan, "Brother Wang, if you come across a jewelry store on the way, please let Huanyan and I go in and look around. We can also buy some gifts for the girls in the mansion. It's not good to go in empty-handed."
Wang Weiyuan nodded, took out a banknote and handed it over, "Sister, buy it if you like!"
Jin Chu quickly pushed it back: "I have money, why would I use Brother Wang's money?"
"As an older brother, how can I ask my sister to pay for it? What's more, this incident was caused by me, and the place we went to was my friend's house." Seeing Qin Shijun coming over, he stuffed the banknote into Jinchu's hand and said, "I don't lack money, so please don't refuse it, sister Jin'er."
After saying that, he walked towards Qin Shijun.
I don't know what Wang Weiyuan and Qin Shijun said, but the carriage really stopped when it passed a jewelry store.
Jin Chu brought Huanyan in and picked out eight ornaments that were not expensive but unique and exquisite. After packing the gift boxes, he returned to the carriage and headed towards Qin Shijun's house.