Chapter 91

PS: Let me talk about the update times. Yesterday was special, with three chapters updated in a row, which messed up the update schedule a bit. Today, we're back to the previous times: one update at 8 PM and another at midnight!

Additionally, I want to thank everyone who supported me today. There are too many of you, so I won't mention names in the chapter, but I bow in gratitude!

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Cold! Bone-chilling cold! It was still the depths of winter, the coldest season in Guanzhong, especially in the early morning. Water splashed on the ground would freeze instantly. If the ground was this cold, how much more so the air thousands of meters up?

Zhao Chen felt like he was turning into an ice sculpture. The wind howled in his ears, his cheeks were painfully numb, and his limbs were starting to lose feeling, all in just a short while.

He couldn't afford to delay any longer. While his limbs weren't completely frozen, he quickly put on the cotton long-sleeved shirt and pants. Still feeling cold, he then bought some cold-weather gear from the supermarket, which made him feel a bit better.

The wind direction was extremely unstable, shifting from east to west. The hot air balloon drifted back and forth, floating aimlessly over Chang'an.

From the balloon, the entire city of Chang'an was visible. The streets were crowded with people, all craning their necks to look up at the orange balloon overhead.

However, Zhao Chen had no time to pay attention to this. His focus was entirely on the balloon, constantly adjusting its position and frequently checking the temperature of the balloon.

"Mother, is there really someone up there?" In the palace, a little girl with a delicate and beautiful face looked up at the orange balloon in the sky over Chang'an, then turned to look at Changsun, her voice sweet as she asked.

"Yes!" Changsun, upon hearing this, gently sniffed and looked down at the little girl with affection, saying, "The person up there is a very smart and kind child!"

"Is he as smart as Brother Aitai?" The little girl, with her bright, sparkling eyes, stared at Changsun without blinking, asking seriously. Perhaps, in her mind, her Brother Aitai was the smartest.

"He's even smarter than Brother Aitai!" Changsun thought of all the things Zhao Chen had done in the past, then suddenly looked up at the orange balloon in the sky, her voice low as she said.

The little girl, upon hearing this, softly said "Oh," then looked up at the balloon again. After a while, she turned to Changsun and asked curiously, "Mother, why is he sitting up there?"

Changsun, upon hearing this, felt as if something had struck her chest, making it hard to breathe. After a long while, she took a deep breath, her eyes slightly red, and looked down at the little girl, saying, "Because he's sad!"

In Li Yuan's palace, Li Yuan also looked up at the balloon in the sky, listening to the people around him recount Zhao Chen's recent activities in Chang'an. As he listened, Li Yuan suddenly burst into laughter.

His laughter was harsh and grating, but as he laughed, tears began to blur his eyes, and a large tear slowly rolled down his cheek.

But Li Yuan seemed unaware, continuing to laugh, his voice broken, "Good! All the sad people should leave this sad place! Go! Go far away, and never come back!"

When no one was around to hear, Li Yuan murmured sadly, "Unfortunately, I still have to stay in this sad place!"

On the streets of Xinghua Fang, Xiaomai, regardless of everything, cried out desperately to the balloon in the sky. Her lake-green dress was already stained with mud from several falls, and her two buns had come loose, hanging messily on the sides of her ears.

But these things, which Xiaomai usually cared about, were now forgotten. Her eyes were fixed on the balloon overhead, and she repeatedly cried out, begging the young master to take her with him.

"That's my brother, Cheng Chumu!" Cheng Chumu, who had just woken up from a hangover at Chai Lingwu's house, heard about Zhao Chen and rushed out of Chai Lingwu's house, sprinting towards the Dixinli residence. Along the way, anyone who got in his way was pushed aside, and he shouted at them, "That's my brother!" before continuing his sprint.

His brother was heartbroken by the emperor and was leaving Chang'an, perhaps never to be seen again. He couldn't just watch his brother leave in sadness; he had to catch up, even if it meant chasing him to the ends of the earth.

The streets of Chang'an were crowded with people, both those who knew Zhao Chen and those who didn't, all whispering about him. At this moment, information spread faster than ever. Those who had known nothing about Zhao Chen now knew everything.

From the time Zhao Chen first emerged from the deep mountains to his repeated efforts to solve problems for the Tang emperor, every detail was now laid out before them like a treasure.

Silence! After everything was understood, the streets of Chang'an suddenly fell into an eerie quiet. Some things were not for common people to discuss.

Unable to speak, they could only silently watch the orange balloon overhead!

When the news reached Yongping Fang, Sun Simiao stared at the balloon overhead, falling into a long silence. After a long while, the usually calm old Taoist suddenly turned and kicked the sand pot on the mud stove, then entered the medicine hut and slammed the door shut.

"Your Majesty, why is he always floating over Chang'an?" Under the eaves of the Taiji Hall, Li Er, along with all the officials, stared at the balloon overhead. After a long while, Fang Xuanling frowned and quietly asked Li Er.

Fang Xuanling's words made Li Er frown. Yes! If this boy was leaving, why was he always floating over Chang'an?

Unfortunately, before he could ask, the balloon, which had been floating over Chang'an, suddenly started drifting eastward, as if pulled by something.

Everyone watched the balloon intently. Li Er's fists were clenched, his teeth gritted, his eyes fixed on the balloon. The balloon had drifted east before, but just as it was about to leave the city, it had drifted back.

Would it happen again this time?

Li Er hoped the balloon would drift back, but this time he was disappointed. Once the balloon left Chang'an, it didn't stop, continuing to drift eastward.

He's gone! This time, he's really gone!

Li Er's clenched fists suddenly relaxed, and despite the cold, his palms were sweating. Watching the balloon drift out of the city and continue eastward, Li Er sighed in disappointment, suddenly understanding the same sense of loss Zhao Chen must have felt when he left.

The people of Chang'an watched the orange balloon drift out of the city. Those near the city gates immediately ran out to watch from a wider area outside.

"Where is General Duan?" Li Er, watching Zhao Chen leave in the balloon, suddenly seemed to realize something and turned to ask sharply.

"Here, Your Majesty!" Duan Zhixuan, in his black armor, stepped forward, came to Li Er, and bowed, responding in a rough voice.

"Five hundred cavalry of the Black Armor Army!" Li Er's eyes gleamed as he looked at Duan Zhixuan and said firmly, "Starting now, you will personally lead them to follow Zhao Chen. No matter where he goes, bring him back to me!"

"Understood!" Duan Zhixuan, without hesitation, bowed and then strode out of the palace towards the Black Armor Army camp.

"Wait!" Li Er, watching Duan Zhixuan leave, suddenly thought of something and called him back. He took a deep breath and said, "General Duan, just follow him. Don't approach him. I will send someone to handle it later."

"Understood!" Duan Zhixuan, without hesitation, bowed again and turned to leave the palace.

Watching Duan Zhixuan leave, Li Er still felt uneasy. He then issued several more orders, instructing the postal stations to immediately send messages to all county offices, urging them to be vigilant and to report any sightings of a young man from outside the area to Chang'an without alarming him.

After a series of orders, Li Er finally breathed a sigh of relief. No matter what, he couldn't let this boy leave again!

On Zhuque Street, Duan Zhixuan personally led five hundred Black Armor Army soldiers, thundering towards Mingde Gate. After passing through Mingde Gate, they didn't stop, but continued to follow the balloon drifting eastward in the sky.

As the Black Armor Army left, a few more people spurred their horses and galloped down Zhuque Street, following the Black Armor Army out of Mingde Gate.

The wind was blowing eastward, which Zhao Chen was glad to see. Eastward was the heart of the Tang Empire, with many places he could go. However, Zhao Chen hadn't decided where to go yet. To him, wherever he went, it would be a new beginning, a new life.

But no matter what, leaving Chang'an was the most important. Once he left Chang'an, the sky would be high and the sea wide, and he could go wherever he wanted, with no one to question or interfere!

How wonderful! Thinking about this, Zhao Chen looked back at Chang'an, which was gradually fading into the distance. From this height, Chang'an looked like a miniature model, with the neatly arranged houses and the wide Zhuque Street visible. Seeing this, Zhao Chen sighed softly, closed his eyes, and whispered, "Farewell, Chang'an!"

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