♂?，，

  One word: miserable. Chen Yuan didn't emerge from his room until almost lunchtime the next day, and even then he had to hold onto the stairs for support as his legs trembled from time to time.

  Yelü Niwulu and Pang Xi who were sitting downstairs couldn't help but burst out laughing when they saw this.

  Chen Yuanyuan slowly walked to the table and sat down, looking at the two people's eyes: "What are you laughing at?"

  Yelü Niegulu said: "Brother Chen, it was just one night yesterday, how did you become like this? Originally, I still wanted to invite you to try our Liao country's women after arriving in Yanjing, now it seems... Hehe."

  Yelü Niegulu said that's all for here and won't say any more. However, the implication behind his words is understood by all men.

  Chen Yuan would certainly not concede on this matter and immediately said: "I'm just practicing a single character, don't speak nonsense!"

  Pang Xi and Yelü Niegulu exchanged a glance, and both said in unison: "Oh, so it's to practice the One-Character Horse Exercise."

  From their expressions, Chen Yuan immediately understood what they meant and said again: "I'm really practicing one word at a time!"

  The two of them said in unison: "Oh, so it's really true that one can practice a single character for a horse!"

  Chen Yuan knew that no matter what he said, they wouldn't believe him, so he didn't say anything more and took a plate of braised meat to eat by himself.

  Just after taking a bite, Bai Yutang came in from outside and asked Chen Yuan with his first sentence: "Brother Chen, what happened last night?"

  Chen Yuan was perplexed: "Last night? What's wrong?"

  Bai Yutang said casually: "Last night I was in the barracks and seemed to hear someone calling from the inn, what happened?"

  Chen Yuanyong glanced around with his eyes and found that Pang Xi and Yelü Nieruo were both lowering their heads, their shoulders constantly twitching.

  He immediately asked Bai Yutang very seriously: "Yutang, I said I was practicing a one-word horse, did you believe me?"

  "Are you kidding me? Practicing calligraphy at midnight? Come on, I'm not that kind of person."

  Chen Yuan didn't explain any further, lowered his head and picked up the plate of braised meat: "I'll go upstairs to eat, you guys can laugh if you want."

  He had just turned around when Pang Xi burst out laughing loudly, and then Ye Lü Nu'er also started laughing.

  Chen Yuan didn't know either and took the dish back to his room.

  Three days later, the merchant caravan on its way to Liao had grown to seven branches, with a total of over 1,800 people including carters and apprentices, a scale that was enough to guarantee that those small groups of horse bandits would not dare to disturb them.

  Then Chen Yuan set out on his journey to Yanjing.

  His mood now is different from that in Datong. At that time, he was just helping Lü Yijian and Pang Ji to complete the task of sowing discord between the Liao State and the Tanguts.

  Although it's said that the mission failed and I'm in danger, if I find a remote place to hide, I should still be able to get by. At least, if things don't work out, I can choose to stay in Liao country and not return to Song Dynasty.

  It's different now, this mission has become extremely dangerous, Ye Lü Nu'er is right by his side, and Yang Wenguang is also in his team. The addition of these two gentlemen makes Chen Yuan have to stake his life to achieve the best results, otherwise, the Great Song will not tolerate him, and Liao Guo will not have a foothold either.

  Yelü Niegulu must have already had doubts about himself, but he couldn't figure out what the purpose of this trip was. If he brought his doubts to Liao State, it would be over.

  So Chen Yuan rode his horse alongside Yelü Nügu's carriage all the way, looking for an opportunity to dispel Yelü Nügu's suspicions about him.

  Neither Chen Shimei nor Chen Yuan had ever set foot in the northwest, and in Chen Yuan's imagination, this landscape should be a desolate desert with no human habitation for thousands of miles.

  But he was wrong. The border between Song and Liao was not a desert, and in this world of over a thousand years ago, the sky and earth outside the city still retained their mysterious and enchanting primitive appearance.

  Especially in this border area where they are located, due to the sparse population, it is often possible to see groups of animals roaming in the wilderness.

  The terrain here is mostly low and small hills, or vast plains, with dense forests and lush greenery. The whole team walks on a quiet and lovely little path, if the donkey friends of the 21st century came, they would definitely linger here.

  The peaks are steep and beautiful, with cleverly arranged rocks, dense forests, and occasionally rare birds and strange beasts appear.

  This enchanting scene made Chen Yuan secretly sigh with regret. If not for the entanglements in his heart, he would have liked to stay here for a few days with Hu Jing, enjoying the fresh air, hunting and sleeping, living a life like an immortal.

  Chen Yuan was enchanted by what he saw, and because of his enchantment, he felt even more heartbroken.

  It wasn't until the sky gradually darkened that they discussed with other merchant groups and decided to rest here for the night.

  The other merchant teams didn't need to be told and immediately came running over to discuss with Chen Yuan the location of their campsite and each of their own camps.

  At the same time, people were also sent to climb to the top of the nearest mountain and treetop to observe the distant movement.

  This road is the most difficult to walk, so everyone works together and takes extra care.

  On the surface, everything is peaceful and tranquil, with birds and beasts occasionally coming to the river to drink water, even mingling with their mules and horses, enjoying the sweet and refreshing waters.

  The camp was set up with care, pitched by a small river and surrounded by branches and debris brought from the surrounding area.

  After the branches and debris, the goods of each merchant team were arranged as a second line of defense, which could prevent horse bandits from sneaking up and also block some wind.

  Then nearly two thousand people lit many bonfires on the ground and sat around them in circles, singing songs, drinking wine and roasting meat.

  Chen Yuan and Yelü Niegulu sat in front of a bonfire, pouring him a cup of wine: "Ninth Prince, you've had a bumpy ride all day, can you still take it?"

  Yelü Niegulu let out a bitter laugh: "I never thought that I would have a day when I couldn't even ride in a horse carriage."

  Chen Yuan listened and smiled: "Do you know which time left the deepest impression on me?"

  Yelü Niegulu shook his head: "I don't know, tell me and I'll listen."

  Chen Yuan looked up at the stars and smiled, "It was that time when someone tried to kill me in my room. He sat silently on my bed, I was very surprised, how did he get in? At that time, even if I didn't notice, Han Qi should have seen him."

  Yelü Niegulu smiled: "I entered from the window by the wall, which is also where Han Qi jumped out."

  "Ah, I knew it! Who else could have avoided my trap? Only the Ninth Prince!"

  Yelü Nügu said at this time: "Brother Chen, with your talent and intelligence, you can take the imperial examination to obtain an official position. Why do you want to come and engage in trade?"

  Chen Yuan knew he would definitely ask this question on this road. Could he dispel his doubts? This was a crucial issue.

  Chen Yuan smiled and said: "Prince, I'll give you a few reasons why I don't want to be an official. See if they're suitable or not."

  Yelü Nu'er's face was wreathed in smiles as he raised his hand: "Please speak."

  "First of all, when you're in a position of power, you get treated to meals every day and it looks very impressive. But the truth is, excessive drinking and eating can harm your body. And when others invite you to eat, even if the food doesn't agree with you, you still have to make an effort to take a few bites, and in the long run, not only will your digestive system suffer, but your overall health will slowly deteriorate."

  Yelü Nierong nodded: "Hmm, this is indeed true. Is there any other reason?"

  "Secondly, being an official is a humble job that suffers grievances. When the position is high, it's like accompanying a tiger, and if things go wrong, it could lead to the extermination of the entire family. If the crime is deserved, one might even get a quick death, but if it's an unjust accusation, one's own life doesn't matter, but it would implicate the whole family."

  When he mentioned this second reason, Hu Jing's hand suddenly froze, and she was in a state of numbness.

  Chen Yuan did not notice anything, but Pang Xi coughed lightly and asked on behalf of Yelü Nügu, "Shopkeeper, is there any other reason?"

  Chen Yuan said: "Thirdly, although I am not a gentleman, nor am I too bad. If I delve deeper into the officialdom, it is inevitable that someone will tempt me. If I thoroughly become a bad person and be scolded by others, isn't it very unworthy?"

  He didn't wait for others to ask again, and he continued: "Fourthly, I am more free in doing business. If I do well, I can let my wife and children live a luxurious life, and make others envy me. It's also freer than those who are in office. I can eat what I want, go wherever I want to play. As long as I don't break the law, if I offend someone, at most it will be just a house search, but my life is still there. Ninth prince, do you think these reasons are enough?"

  Yelü Niegulu burst out laughing and said with some self-mockery, "Listening to this, I'm tempted to go into business together." [From the novel "The All-Powerful Wife's Rapid Rise"]

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