Chen Xuanji had lived in Jiangnan Prefecture for decades and was naturally familiar with Jinling.
He could not claim to remember every flower and blade of grass, every brick and tile, but he knew its streets and lanes well.
Even the most deeply hidden, secluded alleys were known to him.
He could even name the people living in them.
However, most of what he knew remained as it had been five years ago.
Apart from a handful of people watched by the White Tiger Guard, he knew little of the other changes.
At that moment.
Chen Xuanji appeared with a single step in an alley not far from the Qinhuai River, still dressed in brocade, still wearing that White Tiger pattern mask.
He could hear the lilting songs drifting over from the Qinhuai River, and the clamor farther away at the Jinling Provincial Governor's Yamen.
"-Who does Chen Xuanji think he is?"
"He merely made a trip to the Buddhist Kingdom and brought back a few letters from its ruler. What merit earned him a promotion to Minister of War?"
"Wasn't it all by imperial favor?"
"Hmph!"
"That alone would be one thing!"
"His Chen Family is also an aristocratic clan of Jiangnan Prefecture. Rather than siding with us, he targets us at every turn!"
"To think we've treated his Chen Family with such respect all these years!"
"Enough, all of you."
"Chen Xuanji is now Minister of War and highly valued by His Majesty. Even if we brought this before His Majesty, I doubt we could have him punished."
"Then what do you suggest? Do we simply let him shit on our heads?"
"Lord Qian, please calm yourself."
"Before Chen Xuanji came to Jiangnan Prefecture, hadn't we already foreseen this situation? Why get angry?"
"I did expect him to