Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 50 Escape

"Please grant my request (to my grandson), Your Excellency."

Upon hearing this, Yan Maoqing knew that Xia Yan had most likely gotten through this ordeal by force. He immediately bowed in agreement and secretly decided that as long as Xia Yan granted his request, he would stop cursing him in his heart.

"You're not only a smart person, but also a straightforward scoundrel."

Having lived most of his life, Xia Yan had never met someone as interesting as Yan Maoqing before. While feeling surprised, he also inexplicably felt a slight sense of admiration.
"It's not that I can't grant your request, but I have another question..."

Since it was confirmed that Yan Maoqing was determined to leave, and using him to attack Yan Song would likely be counterproductive, Xia Yan had no choice but to abandon the idea.

However, he still wanted to take this opportunity to find out where Yan Maoqing's information came from.

Only by confirming Yan Maoqing's source of information can one clearly discern the nature of the threat they face and make appropriate arrangements in advance to address it.

"Your Excellency, you said you would only ask one question."

Yan Maoqing immediately interrupted him and handed over the medical records she had in her hand.

"..."

Xia Yan was taken aback; how could she not understand that asking any further questions would be futile?

Well, that's all for now...

Fortunately, Xia Yan could also see from this incident that the mysterious force behind Yan Maoqing did not intend to target him for the time being; otherwise, it would not have been possible for them to remain silent about these matters.

On the contrary, it would be difficult to handle if the other party's identity were discovered at this moment; it would be easier if they were someone who could be won over.

If we cannot win them over, it will be tantamount to stirring up trouble. Even if we help Yan Maoqing today, it will all be meaningless.

"Alright, but you still need to promise me one thing."

Xia Yan then let out a long sigh of relief, took the medical report, and said seriously,
"After we leave, I will hand this medical certificate to my attendant. After that, no matter what I say to others, you just need to follow the attendant and leave in silence. Do not utter another word."

"If you do as I say, I guarantee you will only need to wait a moment at the Left Chang'an Gate to receive the approval from the Cabinet and the Ministry of Personnel."

"If you can't..."

“Students understand!”

Yan Maoqing readily agreed, but secretly he was thinking...

"Indeed, every mature politician has mastered the art of politics—compromise."

"Compromise with the emperor, compromise with foreign enemies, compromise with political adversaries, compromise with allies, compromise with those desperate criminals willing to risk their lives to bring them down..."

"But they will never compromise with those who compromise with them, such as lower-ranking officials whose fates are controlled by them, or ordinary people who regard them as parents and place all their hopes on them."

Yan Maoqing knew he was not mature enough and was not suited to be a politician, so he had no choice but to retire and return to his hometown.

Now, the goal is finally about to be achieved!
……

After a while.

Xia Yan covered his mouth and nose again and took the lead in leaving the duty room. In front of Chen Yingda and a group of junior scholars, he beckoned his attendant over and whispered a few words to him.

"Just go with me!"

The attendant took the medical report and said something harsh to Yan Maoqing.

Yan Maoqing kept his promise and followed without saying a word, his head bowed. Behind him came Xia Yan's impassioned voice:

"I hereby swear that this matter will not end here. The Cabinet and the Ministry of Rites will investigate it thoroughly!"

"Immediately, I will order someone to take Yan Maoqing to the Ministry of Personnel for investigation. If it is found that he has indeed committed fraud in the imperial examinations, no matter who is involved, I will eradicate them completely and show no leniency..."

"..."

Gao Gong, Gao Gong, is this what you meant by "a wise ruler in power and virtuous ministers in charge"?

What can I say?

I still wish you good luck... Yan Maoqing shook his head inwardly and quietly left the Ming Dynasty, the cradle of cabinet ministers that students from all over the world flocked to. He did not feel a trace of regret in his heart, but instead felt much more relaxed.

The rest was easy and pleasant.

He followed the attendant to the left gate of Chang'an. The attendant ordered Yan Maoqing to wait where he was, and after only a quarter of an hour, he left and returned.

When he returned, he brought with him an official travel permit jointly issued by the Cabinet and the Ministry of Personnel.

With this long-awaited official document in hand, Yan Maoqing could legally leave the capital and retire to his hometown.

"mua! mua!"

After bidding farewell to the attendant, Yan Maoqing hugged the official document and kissed it repeatedly.

Without wasting a moment, he used the "Eight Steps to Catch the Cicada" footwork that he had seen in short videos in later generations, and ran all the way out of Zhengyang Gate.

Along the way, Yan Maoqing didn't forget to buy a bag of dry food and hired a carriage with a sidecar suitable for long journeys. He then rode back to his own courtyard in the carriage...

……

[Written by Yan Maoqing – Recorded by Shen Lian, a centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.]

[The fifth day of the fifth month in the twentieth year of the Jiajing reign:]

At six quarters past the hour of Mao (5:45 AM), Yan Maoqing emerged from Zhengyang Gate, his gait strange and ugly.

Note: The daily lessons for a Shujishi (a junior official in the Hanlin Academy) should end at 5 PM (5-7 PM). It is suspected that he left early. Since Qianbu Corridor was under the jurisdiction of Jinwuwei (Imperial Guard), he was not followed into the area for surveillance to avoid being exposed. The reason is unknown.

At 1:15 AM, he bought some dry food, hired a horse-drawn carriage, and returned home.

He ordered the carriage to wait in the alley outside the courtyard, and together with the driver, he carried two wooden boxes and three bundles from his home and loaded them all onto the carriage.

At 3:45 AM, Yan Maoqing rode in a carriage and headed straight southeast.

At six quarters past Chen hour, we arrived at Chaoyang Gate and queued to pass through customs...

"???!!!"

Upon seeing Secretary Yuan arrive at this place, Shen Lian's expression changed drastically, and a great deal of suspicion arose in his heart:
"Is Yan Maoqing planning to leave the capital?!"

He was also a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) three years ago, so how could he not know the restrictions on newly appointed Jinshi?

The strictest rule is that no one may leave Beijing without approval!

Needless to say, the junior scholars (庶吉士) were also included.

Anyone who violates this prohibition will be punished with penalties ranging from being stripped of their official rank to having their academic titles revoked, or even being exiled. There are precedents for all of these.

Most importantly, Yan Maoqing left in a very hurry.

From exiting Zhengyang Gate to buying provisions and hiring a carriage, and then packing up and arriving at Chaoyang Gate to queue for passage, it only took a short hour. It was incredibly fast, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it escaping for one's life.

This immediately made Shen Lian sense that he was fleeing in fear of punishment!

No wonder Lu Bing ordered him to monitor this person continuously for twelve hours a day. It turns out that this person had already exposed some problems and had been taken into account by the Northern Garrison Command!

"So what should I do now?"

Shen Lian wanted to capture him on the spot, but then remembered Lu Bing's special instructions not to expose himself, so he immediately called over the sentry hidden nearby.
"I will continue to keep watch here. You go and report to Commander Lu immediately, saying that Yan Maoqing is preparing to leave the capital and has already arrived at Chaoyang Gate. Please give your instructions, Commander Lu!"

"Boss, he's a junior official, doesn't he know the consequences of leaving the capital without permission? Is he throwing away a promising future?"

"Stop talking nonsense, just go!"

He had made up his mind that if Lu Bing's instructions had not yet been received by the time it was Yan Maoqing's turn to pass through customs later.

He had no choice but to use his position as a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to create chaos, and he had to stall them no matter what!

(End of this chapter)