After changing to fresh horses, the official road leading to the capital was wide and smooth. A’Le didn’t even need to hold the reins to control her horse—she held a paper package in one hand and took out snacks to eat with the other.
“Commander Zhang prepared all these snacks from the capital,” A’Le said. “I haven’t had them in so long. I really miss them.”
Chu Zhao smiled: “But we haven’t been away that long.”
Or rather, they had only been in the capital for about two years.
Chu Zhao looked ahead. The city walls were hidden among the green willows and red flowers. As they drew closer and closer to the capital, she surprisingly felt some excitement stirring within her.
Was this the excitement of returning home?
Father was no longer there, and Luocheng in Yunzhong Commandery had also become distant. Actually, to her, Yunzhong Commandery was separated by ten years and had indeed become quite unfamiliar.
But could the capital be considered her home? It seemed it didn’t really matter. Anywhere was the same.
“Let’s go.” Chu Zhao raised her whip and spurred her horse. No matter what, the capital right now was her destination.
A’Le hurriedly clutched the paper package and spurred her horse, not forgetting to remind Ding Dachui behind them: “Keep up with me. This is your first time entering the capital—you’re not familiar with the roads.”
Ding Dachui wore ordinary robes, dressed as a household servant, and the mountain bandits he brought with him were similarly attired.
At the post station, besides changing horses, the Dragon Guard Army continued scouting and keeping watch as before, while Ding Dachui and the others removed their armor and changed into ordinary robes to serve as attendants around Chu Zhao.
Ding Dachui and his companions were indeed somewhat nervous. Setting aside that they would be entering the imperial palace soon, even the journey itself was already dazzling—people were everywhere, and markets too—and they hadn’t even reached the capital yet.
“Stop gawking at everything,” Ding Dachui said, watching A’Le clutch her paper package as she caught up with Chu Zhao. He scolded his companions: “Don’t act like you’ve never seen anything.”
One companion chuckled: “But we really haven’t seen much. Who would have thought we’d come to the capital?”
Originally they hadn’t even dared to leave the mountains. Ding Dachui took a deep breath and looked ahead: “Things we never imagined have come true, so everyone needs to stay alert and not squander this enormous blessing.”
His companions quickly straightened their backs and responded loudly in agreement.
This unified shout startled the travelers on the road, who cast curious glances their way, then paid no more attention—obviously country folk.
Ding Dachui nervously signaled everyone to restrain themselves, so as not to draw suspicion. They galloped forward, spreading out around Chu Zhao in front, behind, left, and right, both dispersed yet tightly guarding.
……
……
The capital’s markets were prosperous. Although the citizens were accustomed to it, today still felt different somehow.
“What’s going on?” Two men walked out of a tavern in frustration. “Why are all the second-floor rooms completely full today?”
The shop assistant apologized with a smile from behind: “My apologies, my apologies. It’s just unfortunate timing today.”
Hearing this, several people about to enter stopped in their tracks.
“What?” They glared and asked, “Are all the private rooms in this establishment full too?”
The men who had just come out said irritably: “That’s right, they’re full too.”
The shop assistant smiled from behind: “Honored guests, there are still a few tables in the common seating area.”
The group was all displeased and said in unison, “Who wants to sit in the common area!”
The shop assistant smirked: “If you don’t take the common seating, those will be gone soon too.”
Today even the shop assistants had become brazen. The group flicked their sleeves in annoyance.
“Let’s go. Up ahead there’s Emerald Phoenix Tower—it’s much better than this place,” one person said.
But the three who had arrived later smiled bitterly: “Brothers, Emerald Phoenix Tower is also full. That’s why we came over here.”
“It’s not just these two establishments,” another person said, pointing at the street. This main thoroughfare was lined with taverns and tea houses. “We’ve already asked at the remaining few places too. The street-facing private rooms are all gone. If you want to sit, it can only be in the common hall.”
“How strange,” the first two men said, puzzled. “Did all the wealthy people in the entire capital come out to eat today?”
The best viewing rooms in these taverns and tea houses weren’t cheap.
“I inquired at one place. Over there, several young ladies have reserved them all,” one man said. “It seems they want to hold a celebration for someone.”
Another man also remembered: “I heard that too. It seems it’s for a Miss from the Chu family.”
Speaking of the Chu family’s young lady, everyone was familiar with her now, but the Empress wasn’t in the capital.
“Besides the Empress, the Chu family has another young lady,” the earlier man said dismissively.
And she was currently quite prominent too—she had personally captured Xiao Xun and rode on horseback through the streets alongside the Emperor’s dragon carriage. What other woman in all the land could receive such an honor?
Miss Chu Tang’s reputation in the capital had risen dramatically. She had been enfeoffed as Princess Huimin, and celebrations at Chu Garden had been held countless times already. It was said that one time they even reveled through the night with only women participating—simply unheard of.
Even when the imperial relatives the Yang and Zhao families were at their most illustrious, their women had never been like this.
“Being prominent at home isn’t enough—now they’re running to taverns and tea houses,” the men said, both helpless and annoyed. They had truly seen now that when young ladies became unbridled, they were truly capable of anything.
Never mind, never mind. The group was pondering where else to find a place to eat when they heard a commotion ahead.
“Come quickly and see! It’s Wan Qing from Spring Water Residence!”
Spring Water Residence was a famous pleasure house in the capital, and Wan Qing was Spring Water Residence’s top courtesan—talented and beautiful, especially skilled at dancing. It wasn’t easy to catch a glimpse of her.
Especially during the day, and on the main street?
The men unconsciously lifted their feet to follow the crowd, then came to their senses and felt somewhat embarrassed. They exchanged glances and straightened their postures.
“Let’s go check other establishments,” everyone said in unison, then smiled awkwardly and merged into the crowd on the street.
The commotion wasn’t deceiving anyone. After walking just a few steps, they saw an elaborately dressed woman on the street.
The woman wore gorgeous makeup and had a voluptuous figure, standing out distinctly in the crowd. At this moment, she stood before a shop, examining her makeup in a bronze mirror held by a maid, gently dabbing at her lip rouge with her finger—this coquettish gesture provoked waves of excitement from the surroundings.
The crowd gathering around didn’t affect Wan Qing. The shop assistants had long since blocked the entrance to prevent the citizens from getting too close.
This was a gold and jewelry shop. The owner’s family name was Sheng, a large and wealthy family with extravagant sons.
“Which Young Master Sheng spent lavishly to invite Wan Qing to their home?” Some busybody citizens called out loudly.
“Isn’t he afraid of having his legs broken by Old Master Sheng?” Others laughed.
When the young masters caroused outside, the family elders would turn a blind eye, but if the trouble came to the family’s doorstep, family discipline would be enforced.
The shop manager stood to the side with a beaming smile, answering the citizens: “It wasn’t one of the young masters who invited her—it was the young ladies of the house.”
This statement caused even more uproar among the citizens.
Had the Sheng family’s women started visiting pleasure houses and keeping courtesans too?
“No, no.” The manager waved his hand with a smile. “Our young ladies invited Wan Qing to dance.”
Dance! The citizens became even more excited. Sure enough, they saw Wan Qing’s attendants setting up a small stage in front of the shop.
Catching a glimpse of Wan Qing was difficult; seeing Wan Qing dance was even more difficult.
This was like picking up a fortune for free on the street!
The area before the shop was packed tight, but though the stage was set up, Wan Qing didn’t immediately mount it.
“Why isn’t she dancing yet!” Countless voices urged impatiently.
The manager waved his hand with a smile again: “The time hasn’t come, the time hasn’t come.”
There was a specific time for dancing? The citizens were both anxious and expectant. Just as the commotion was building here, there was another uproar not far away.
“Come quickly and see! The Wang family pawnshop has brought the Four Beauties from Golden Phoenix Tower!”
This sentence was like setting off firecrackers on level ground, causing a group of people to scatter—though not far, just across the street to the right front. Under the Wang family pawnshop’s signboard, four women were alighting from a carriage.
The four wore identical clothing, identical adornments, each holding a pipa, and even their faces were identical.
The Four Beauties wasn’t one person’s name—they were quadruplets, pipa players raised by Golden Phoenix Tower. They had even entered the palace to perform at grand imperial banquets and received rewards from the late Emperor.
“What kind of day is today!” The citizens in the crowd couldn’t take it all in. “Did the Wang family pawnshop make some fortune?”
They were already quite wealthy, weren’t they? Taking in and paying out, they profited at both ends.
In front of the Sheng family shop, half the spectators instantly disappeared. The manager’s beaming smile turned into a cold sneer: “The Wang family truly has no shame. Couldn’t think of any other tricks? They’re copying what our young ladies do!”
The two families caused the citizens on the street to run about chaotically, torn between here and there, when suddenly another place erupted in shouts: “Treasured Ink Pavilion—”
The citizens were momentarily stunned. Many blurted out: “Which courtesan has Treasured Ink Pavilion invited?”
Could even an elegant hall that sold literary works also—
“No, no, not at all.”
Outside Treasured Ink Pavilion, the manager and assistants set out tables with writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and folding screens.
“Today, Treasured Ink Pavilion is holding an activity, inviting everyone—” The manager pointed to the writing materials. “To compose congratulatory verses for Empress Chu.”
Empress Chu? Compose congratulatory verses for Empress Chu? Seeing there were no courtesans to watch, and it was all about literature and calligraphy and such matters, quite a few citizens dispersed. However, scholars gathered around, discussing among themselves.
Why was Treasured Ink Pavilion composing congratulations for the Empress?
Treasured Ink Pavilion did indeed have connections with Empress Chu. Back when Empress Chu was still Miss Chu and held literary gatherings at Chu Garden, the literary volumes had been sold through Treasured Ink Pavilion.
That was so long ago now. For Treasured Ink Pavilion to curry favor with Empress Chu now—wasn’t it a bit late?
“Empress Chu stopped Prince Zhongshan’s heir from causing chaos,” the Treasured Ink Pavilion manager said. They weren’t currying favor with Empress Chu—they admired her. “Empress Chu also campaigned in the border commanderies. Thinking of the past and considering the present, Empress Chu has accomplished many things. We feel we should compose congratulatory verses for Empress Chu to express her achievements.”
I see. Empress Chu had indeed accomplished quite a lot. There was much to write about, and congratulations were warranted—
“Anyone who composes congratulations for Empress Chu will be evaluated based on their talent, and that evaluation can be used as credit. All books, scrolls, and artworks in the entire establishment can be purchased with that discount.”
The entire establishment!
Writing materials and books were expensive. Being able to buy them at a discount was a rare opportunity.
Immediately, four or five scholars stepped forward.
“I’ll give it a try!”
But the assistants guarded the tables and writing materials.
“Wait!” they said. “The time hasn’t come yet. Everyone can contemplate first.”
What auspicious day was today, and what auspicious time were they waiting for?