Ning Chen looked at Ji Mingchen.

Ji Mingchen said, "The firearm plans they took were all altered... They can build from those plans forever and never get a single firearm to work."

Ning Chen was delighted. "Old men get crafty and old horses get slippery, all right... Nicely done!" (TL Note: A saying: "the older the man, the craftier; the older the horse, the slipperier.")

Ji Mingchen's mouth twitched. That didn't sound much like a compliment.

Ning Chen sighed. That dog Zhang Tianlun had emptied the treasury. From here on they'd probably have to tighten their belts.

Fortunately the autumn harvest was nearly here, and tax silver from all over would be coming in soon... Things shouldn't fall apart completely.

Just then, the Heavenly Blessing Tower's waiters began bringing the dishes.

Soon the table was covered with delicacies.

Once Eunuch Quan had checked them, Ning Chen dug in.

Watching Ning Chen wolf his food down, the Xuan Emperor smiled from ear to ear.

"Ning Chen, this emperor has had the Ning residence cleaned up for you."

After Ning Chen left the capital, the De Emperor had ordered the Ning residence sealed.

The house had stood empty ever since.

Ning Chen smiled. "Thank you, Father Emperor!"

They ate and drank their fill.

Everyone left the Heavenly Blessing Tower.

The Xuan Emperor went back to the palace.

For now, he still had to handle palace affairs.

Ning Chen's job was to put the army in order.

Ning Chen took Lei An and the others back to the Ning residence.

Looking at all the familiar things, he felt a little dazed.

When he left the capital, he'd thought he would never come back.

Ning Chen walked around the residence. Everything was just as it had been.

But without Yudie, Zisu, the Ninth Princess, Gu Yichun and the others... the house was far too quiet.

"Old Pan, go round up Old Gao, Old Feng and the rest. Tonight we're going to the courtesans' quarter to hear some music. My treat!"

Pan Yucheng paused. "Didn't you send Gao Ziping and Chen Chong to Lingzhou?"

Ning…