两对夫妻别墅互换当面做

Nearing noon, Zhou Rang suddenly visited, which surprised Gu Chen somewhat.

"Please have a seat, Elder Zhou. May I ask what brings you here this time?" Gu Chen clasped his hands together in greeting.

After a night\'s rest, Zhou Rang looked much better. He chuckled as he stroked his white beard and said, "This visit is primarily to express my gratitude to Lord Gu. If not for you, Lord Gu, Ning City might have faced the threat of collapse, and the lives of all 150,000 citizens might have perished."

"Elder Zhou, you\'re too kind. It was all just part of my duties. If Ning City had really fallen, the Jing Tian Department would certainly not have let me off," Gu Chen replied.

Indeed, that was the case. If Ning City had truly fallen, the Jing Tian Department would have undoubtedly held Gu Chen responsible.

"Even so, Lord Gu, you still saved the lives of 150,000 citizens of Ning City. On behalf of all the citizens, I extend my deepest thanks to you, Lord Gu."

As he spoke, Zhou Rang stood up, bent over, and bowed deeply to Gu Chen.

"Please, Elder Zhou, rise quickly," Gu Chen hurriedly helped Zhou Rang to stand.

Once on his feet, Zhou Rang smiled and said, "There is another matter I must discuss with Lord Gu. My tenure as the temporary Prefect of Ning City should be coming to an end. Tiandu has already learned of Ning City\'s situation, and the new Prefect is on his way. It won\'t be long before he arrives in Ning City."

Gu Chen nodded; he was naturally aware of this. He said, "Having someone like Elder Zhou in Ning City is a blessing for us all. Without your support, things might not have gone so smoothly."

Gu Chen meant every word. Without Zhou Rang\'s help, those citizens might not have trusted him, and the search throughout the city would not have been so easy.

Zhou Rang\'s aged face showed a rich smile as he said, "The truth is, the third matter I\'m here for today is the most important one. Of course, it\'s also a personal affair of mine."

"Please speak freely, Elder Zhou," Gu Chen gestured to Zhou Rang.

"Alright," Zhou Rang nodded and said, "Here\'s the situation: my eldest son holds a position in Tiandu. I\'m getting on in years, and the journey there is difficult for me to endure; it has been a long time since I last saw him. I have a letter here that I\'d like to trouble you, Lord Gu, to deliver when you return to Tiandu. Would you be willing to do this favor for me?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen smiled faintly and replied, "Of course, it\'s a small matter. You needn\'t mention any trouble, Elder Zhou—it\'s easily done."

"Good, Lord Gu is refreshing straightforward. I thank you in advance," Zhou Rang said.

He then took a letter from his bosom and handed it to Gu Chen.

Gu Chen took it and glanced at the address on the envelope, his eyebrows immediately raising.

"This is... If I am not mistaken, your son resides in the inner city?" Gu Chen looked up and asked Zhou Rang.

"Correct," Zhou Rang stroked his beard with a smile and nodded, "He is a First-Rank Mirror Holder in the Mingjing Department of Da Xia."

"What?!"

Hearing this, Gu Chen was taken aback, not expecting Zhou Rang\'s son to have such a status.

The Mingjing Department was on equal footing with the Jing Tian Department to which Gu Chen belonged, but the internal ranks of the Mingjing Department were not as detailed as those of the Jing Tian Department.

Within the Mingjing Department, apart from the four great Surveillance Envoys, there were the Mirror Holders, divided into First-Rank, Second-Rank, and Third-Rank Mirror Holders.

Among these, the First-Rank was the highest, and the Third-Rank, the lowest.

Although the divisions were straightforward, even a Third-Rank Mirror Holder had a status equivalent to that of a Circuit Inspector in the Jing Tian Department.

A Second-Rank Mirror Holder was equivalent to a Metropolitan Procurator within the Jing Tian Department, while a First-Rank Mirror Holder\'s status was as esteemed as that of a Commandant within the Jing Tian Department.

One must know that within the Jing Tian Department, even the lowest-ranking commander has a status equivalent to, or even half a step higher than, a third-rank official of Da Xia. From this, one can see the lofty status and immense power held by a first-grade Mirror Holder.

Essentially, the whole operation of the Mingjing Department was handled by these first-grade Mirror Holders. Unless it was a matter of great importance, it wouldn\'t stir the Department\'s four great Supervising Censors.

Now, with Zhou Rang sending Gu Chen to deliver a letter to a first-grade Mirror Holder—who was also his son—it was clear that Zhou Rang was laying the groundwork for Gu Chen.

No wonder people had often said that the Prefect of Qingyang County, Zhou Rang, was excellent at mentoring juniors. Many officials in Qingyang County were either his disciples or had received his favor.

Based on what Gu Chen had learned thus far, this elder indeed served the country and its people without any personal agenda.

Gu Chen looked at Zhou Rang with deep respect, and with a formal bow, he said, "Thank you very much, Elder Zhou."

Zhou Rang, gently stroking his beard, replied with a kind and approachable smile, "Where does this come from, Lord Gu is too courteous."

After that, he stood up and said, "I believe we\'ve covered everything. I won\'t disturb you from resting any longer. Oh, when do you plan to start back to Tiandu, Lord Gu?"

Gu Chen replied, "Today."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Rang nodded and said, "In that case, I wish Lord Gu a smooth journey and hope we have the opportunity to meet again."

"Certainly," Gu Chen nodded solemnly, personally escorting Zhou Rang downstairs and watched as the old man boarded his carriage and gradually disappeared into the distance.

After that, Gu Chen packed up and set off immediately, arriving in Tiandu the following afternoon.

The city of Tiandu was as bustling as ever, with never-ending streams of people on the streets, flowing like water and horses like dragons, and the hawkers\' cries were incessant, creating a rich atmosphere of life and culture.

Tiandu, the capital of Da Xia, spanned an immense area. From the city gate, one could not see the end at a glance, as if it were a boundless mountain range standing upon the earth, grand and vast.

This city had witnessed the rise and fall of countless dynasties. Its walls were thick and dark gray in color. In some places, one could still see scars from swords and holes from arrows, all marks of the passage of time, giving one a sense of historical depth.

Tiandu is divided into four parts, organized from the periphery to the center as the Outer City, Inner City, Imperial City, and Palace City.

Each of these parts could stand alone as an immensely vast city. Combined, these four cities form the vast expanse of Tiandu.

The Outer City is where the common folk or lower-rank officials reside. The Inner City is the domain of dignitaries and the powerful elite of the current regime. Commoners need a permit to enter the Inner City and even then, their stay is limited, as they cannot linger indefinitely.

Compared to the Outer City, the Inner City\'s defenses were much stricter, and it also had a curfew, aimed at ensuring the personal safety of the distinguished residents.

As for the Imperial City and Palace City, those were related to the royal family and nobility and were beyond the reach of someone at Gu Chen\'s level.

Upon his return to Tiandu, Gu Chen first went home to change his clothes. Having traveled for a day and night, it was inevitable that he would be coated in dust. Afterward, he hired a carriage and set off for the Inner City.

The distance between the Outer and Inner City was vast, taking around one to two hours to traverse by foot for someone with Gu Chen\'s capabilities.

Soon, the carriage reached the juncture between the Inner and Outer City. Gu Chen disembarked, presented his token, and the guards allowed him through.

It is worth mentioning that, as a Patrol Commander of the Jing Tian Department, entering the Inner City did not require an additional identity token or proof. The token of the Jing Tian Department was the best pass.

Of course, if he needed to spend the night in the Inner City, he would have to choose the Jing Tian Department and could not stay anywhere else.

After paying for the carriage, Gu Chen entered the Inner City and immediately felt a difference. In contrast to the Outer City, the buildings here were more sophisticated, in various styles, and the streets wider and crisscrossed, with lush trees and verdant greenery everywhere. Each person walking the streets was well-dressed, clearly of considerable means.

The prosperity of the Inner City was beyond comparison to the Outer City. The streets were paved with bluestone, and there was an abundance of food, clothing, and more. Even for someone like Gu Chen, who came from an era of information explosion, the bustling Inner City was overwhelming, much like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden, curious about everything around her.

Yet Gu Chen did not forget the main purpose of his visit to the Inner City. Following the address in the letter, it took some time, but he eventually reached his destination.