The Three Moon River House.

In a great city like Jizhou, pleasure houses were naturally plentiful — and they came in many grades. The Twin Stars Pavilion, which Xiahou Zuo frequented, ranked as a first-class establishment by Jizhou’s standards.

But next to the Three Moon River House, it fell short by more than a single tier. If the Twin Stars Pavilion was paradise on earth, the Three Moon River House was paradise above paradise.

Xiahou Zuo had been here before and knew well how magnificent the place was. The reason he hadn’t come often was precisely because everything here defied ordinary human experience.

Every brick, every tile, every blade of grass, every pavilion and walkway — even the most fastidious guest could not find a single flaw. And if such a guest did find one, the Three Moon River House would set about correcting it immediately.

So it was said in Jizhou: the old First Hall had once been considered the epitome of refinement — but compared to the Three Moon River House, the First Hall’s elegance seemed performative, even strained.

Here at the Three Moon River House, you could fall into idle conversation with any serving girl on the subject of poetry, songs, renowned prose, or ancient texts, and she would hold her own. Say to her *how much sorrow can a man contain?* and she would smile back: *A gentleman need not sorrow — the Three Moon River awaits, to accompany him on his way.* Her reply alone was enough to dissolve whatever grief had come.

Xiahou Zuo and Liu Ge had barely stepped through the gate and paused on a small wooden bridge to watch the gently flowing water below when Cui Tai, the proprietor, appeared before them with a warm smile.

“My respects to General Xiahou, my respects to General Liu.”

Cui Tai bowed.

Liu Ge smiled. “He has been here before — I can understand you recognizing him. But I have never once set foot in your Three Moon River House. How is it that you know me?”

Cui Tai smiled in reply: “If a man of General Liu’s distinction were to come to the Three Moon River House and we failed to recognize him, that would only speak to our own inadequacy.”

Liu Ge sighed appreciatively. “There’s a reason the Three Moon River House is first in Jizhou.”

“You are too kind, General,” Cui Tai said. “As this is General Liu’s first visit, allow me to cover all expenses for this evening. Consider it my honor.”

Liu Ge glanced at Xiahou Zuo with an appreciative look. This sort of establishment — every detail made you feel at ease.

“The front halls are somewhat noisy,” Cui Tai continued. “Toward the back, there are several private courtyard suites — more refined than the front. If the generals are willing, I can lead you to the rear garden. Whichever courtyard takes your fancy, I will have it freshly prepared for you.”

“The rear courtyard, then,” Liu Ge said. “Quieter back there.”

“Right this way, gentlemen — and please be careful crossing the bridge.”

Cui Tai led them through to the rear. Even Xiahou Zuo, who had been here before, had not known of this inner sanctum until Cui Tai had shown him on a previous visit.

That previous time, Cui Tai had also brought Xiahou Zuo back here. But on that occasion Xiahou Zuo had merely wanted to drink away some troubles, and so he had chosen a girl at random. She had sat with him drinking half the night. Xiahou Zuo had collapsed into sleep; when he woke, it was nearly noon the following day.

He discovered that his clothes had been changed. He was wearing a fresh set of spotless white undergarments. The clothes he had somehow removed the night before were folded neatly to one side — washed, dried, and pressed smooth with an iron kettle filled with boiling water.

The room held not a trace of liquor smell. Given how much he had drunk, and that he had been sick, the room should have reeked — yet all he caught when he woke was a faint, pleasant fragrance.

The girl stood at a respectful distance. When she saw he had woken, her first act was to apologize — because Xiahou Zuo had simply fallen asleep, she assumed she had not been accomplished enough to hold his interest.

For exactly this reason, Xiahou Zuo had never returned since. The place was too perfect. Come a second time, and he feared he would be lost.

Here at the Three Moon River House, provided you could afford it, you were treated like a god.

The individual courtyards in the rear were all differently appointed — some evoking the landscapes of the Jiangnan south, others the rugged northern highlands of the Yanshan range. Each courtyard had its own atmosphere, its own deliberate design.

Liu Ge chose a courtyard done in the southern style. It was not large, but exquisitely detailed — like a miniature garden, every branch seemingly pruned with care.

Cui Tai guided them in. The servants stood in two respectful rows along the pebbled path. Even the servants, clad in plain cloth rather than brocade, managed to radiate a sense of quality — not through material alone, but through the cut of their garments, each tailored precisely to the wearer’s frame, their shoes spotless down to the soles.

Liu Ge exhaled in satisfaction, and turned to glance at Xiahou Zuo — who was already looking toward the women waiting inside.

*He’s eager*, Liu Ge thought with some amusement. On a scale of one to ten for beauty, every one of these young women was above an eight.

And they were merely the maids.

Liu Ge looked to Cui Tai and said: “I’ve heard you have women from the Black Wu Empire here?”

“We do.” Cui Tai inclined his head. “I’ll have someone bring them out presently for General Liu’s inspection.”

Liu Ge nodded in satisfaction, and added: “Women from the western regions as well?”

“Also present — though we only have women from perhaps a dozen or so of those kingdoms. The western regions encompass hundreds of states, large and small, and gathering representatives of all of them would be quite beyond our means.”

Cui Tai’s tone was apologetic, as though failing to procure women from every single western kingdom was a personal failing of the Three Moon River House.

“Whatever you can conveniently bring, bring them out.”

Liu Ge settled into his chair. A serving girl immediately knelt at his side, removed his boots, and replaced them with softer, more comfortable shoes.

Before long, Cui Tai returned leading a procession of at least twenty or thirty young women — over a dozen of whom were visibly western in appearance.

They introduced themselves one by one, their names all strange and unfamiliar. Liu Ge could not retain a single one. He leaned toward Xiahou Zuo and murmured: “Can you keep track of any of them?”

Xiahou Zuo said quietly: “I went by size. That helped.”

Liu Ge blinked. “They all look roughly the same age. How did you sort them by size— I mean— *damn*. You’re something else.”

Xiahou Zuo smiled without comment.

—

Meanwhile, in another private courtyard, one of Xu Yuanqing’s men pressed his voice low and said: “Master, I spotted Xiahou Zuo and Liu Ge arriving.”

Xu Yuanqing gave a low sound of acknowledgment. “Has Gongshu Yingying arrived?”

“She should have, but we don’t know where she is — she has her own methods.”

Xu Yuanqing nodded, then instructed: “Go and ask Cui Tai — tell him I’d like to go over and offer a cup of wine to Xiahou Zuo and General Liu. Ask whether it would be convenient.”

His subordinate acknowledged the order and slipped out.

In the rear of the courtyard where Xiahou Zuo’s party was lodged, behind a great weeping willow, Gongshu Yingying lay concealed among the dense curtain of willow fronds. Her cloak seemed to shift and match the colors around her — draped within the canopy, she was exceptionally difficult to detect.

The hiding place looked perfect. And yet she was profoundly ill at ease. By her usual methods, upon hearing Xiahou Zuo and Liu Ge talking within the courtyard ahead, she would have already moved to infiltrate — with her lightness arts, getting in should have posed no difficulty.

But right now, she did not dare move. She could not shake the feeling that somewhere beyond her line of sight, someone was watching her. The moment she moved any closer, some danger she could not anticipate would come down on her.

—

Back in Xu Yuanqing’s courtyard, Cui Tai arrived with a cheerful smile. He inclined his head to Xu Yuanqing. “My apologies, Master Xu — I was momentarily occupied and left you waiting. Please think nothing of it.”

Xu Yuanqing smiled. “Manager Cui is too modest — there has been no discourtesy whatsoever. I’ve been so comfortable here I’ve half a mind to take up permanent residence.”

Cui Tai laughed. “If Master Xu were willing, I could make arrangements.”

“No, no.” Xu Yuanqing said. “I only wanted to ask — I hear Generals Xiahou and Liu have arrived. Might I step over and offer them a cup of wine?”

“Under ordinary circumstances that would be perfectly fine,” Cui Tai said, “and I could certainly have someone announce you first. But at this particular moment, it may be slightly inconvenient.”

“Oh? Why so?”

Cui Tai’s tone remained mild. “There is a woman in the weeping willow at the rear of the garden. I assumed she was Master Xu’s shadow guard — and because of that, out of deference to the Three Moon River House’s rule against allowing guests to feel unsettled, we elected not to disturb her. Whatever she does, that is Master Xu’s business.”

“There are also several dozen of Master Xu’s men waiting outside the compound wall, perhaps ten yards out. What happens beyond our grounds is not ours to manage.”

Cui Tai looked at Xu Yuanqing steadily. “However, the woman in the willow appears to be pushing past the bounds of propriety. Were she to move any closer, there might be an… unpleasant outcome.”

Xu Yuanqing’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly.

“Master Xu,” Cui Tai continued, “there is truly no cause for concern about any danger arising within the Three Moon River House. If any guest who enters our doors cannot be guaranteed safety, that would speak to a grave failure on our part.”

Xu Yuanqing slowly exhaled, then smiled. “It is I who have not understood the Three Moon River House’s rules. I will have her withdraw.”

“If she prefers to remain and guard Master Xu from concealment,” Cui Tai offered, “I can clear out the adjacent courtyard for her. Wine, food, attendants — all provided.”

Xu Yuanqing could not help but raise his thumb in genuine appreciation. He looked at Cui Tai and said: “The Cui family’s way of conducting affairs puts the Xu family to shame. I will have her leave — and I must apologize for the imposition.”

“You are too kind, Master Xu.” Cui Tai smiled. “Then shall I go now and ask General Xiahou whether he is amenable to receiving your company?”

Xu Yuanqing was quiet for a moment, then shook his head. “No need. I won’t go over and disturb the generals’ leisure. I have another matter to attend to shortly. I’ll take my leave first.”

He bowed to Cui Tai — this man who held only a manager’s title within the Cui family — and for the first time truly understood, in his own flesh and blood, just how far the Xu family lagged behind the Cui family. A single expert in this pleasure house had been enough to leave Gongshu Yingying frozen in that willow without daring to move a muscle. Xu Yuanqing himself had not known where she was hiding. His own men had not noticed. Yet the Three Moon River House had seen through it all with a single remark.

—

At that moment, atop a stone pagoda roughly one *li* from the Three Moon River House, a young man stood in the topmost chamber, peering at the establishment through a far-seeing scope. His gaze was fixed on that weeping willow. Beside him lay an iron recurve bow — comparable in size and scale to the iron bow Yu Chaozong had once gifted Li Chi. Such a weapon was capable of sending an arrow over a *li* distant — provided the archer’s strength was sufficient.

Through the scope, he watched a figure approach the base of the willow, exchange a few words, and then saw a dark shadow detach from the willow and fly away.

He curled his lips in faint amusement. *What kind of person would dare try to infiltrate the Three Moon River House?*

—

In the courtyard below, Xu Yuanqing paused before leaving and turned back to Cui Tai with a measured smile. “I had originally intended to ask General Xiahou myself — but as that’s no longer convenient, I wonder if Manager Cui might pass along a message on my behalf. I hear that a friend of the general’s may have Master Songming’s personal seal in his possession. My family’s Old Master is very eager to purchase it at a generous price. If Manager Cui thinks it not too presumptuous, might you ask the general whether his friend would consider selling?”

Cui Tai’s gaze flickered for just an instant — then settled back into a warm smile as he nodded. “I’ll ask on Master Xu’s behalf when the opportunity arises. Whatever the answer, I’ll send word to Master Xu’s residence.”

“Many thanks.”

Xu Yuanqing smiled, turned, and walked away.

—

Inside the private suite, once Xu Yuanqing had left, Cui Tai approached Xiahou Zuo and Liu Ge and, after a pleasant interval of small talk, ventured: “Incidentally — just now, Master Xu Yuanqing was also on the premises. He had intended to come over and offer you both a cup of wine, but thought better of disturbing you and took his leave. He did ask me to pass along a question, however.”

He paused, then continued: “He mentioned — from where he heard it I cannot say — that a friend of General Xiahou’s may have in his possession Master Songming’s personal seal. He tells me the Xu family’s Old Master is particularly fond of Master Songming’s belongings, and would be willing to pay a substantial sum. He asked if I might inquire on his behalf whether the general’s friend would consider letting it go.”

Xiahou Zuo’s eyes narrowed slightly. He studied Cui Tai for a moment, turning things over in his mind.

The Cui family’s manager was a canny one, he decided. Xu Yuanqing had asked him to relay the inquiry — presumably hoping to use the Seal as bait to draw the Cui family into the game. And Cui Tai had indeed relayed it — but in doing so had made absolutely clear that it was Xu Yuanqing who had made the request. He was openly signaling to Xiahou Zuo that the Xu family had been somewhat lacking in propriety.

Xiahou Zuo suddenly smiled. “Not necessarily out of the question. I’ll ask him when I return. But since we’ve brought up Master Songming’s seal — an item of such rarity — if my friend were willing to part with it, why not hold an auction right here at the Three Moon River House? Highest bidder wins.”

Liu Ge laughed immediately, and the laughter carried an unmistakable relish.

Cui Tai’s expression flickered — just for an instant.

Yet he recovered quickly: “If General Xiahou wishes it, hosting such an event here is no great difficulty. Say the word and it shall be arranged.”

“Then wait for my word,” Xiahou Zuo said.

On the way back, Liu Ge glanced at Xiahou Zuo and grinned. “The Xu family is testing the waters with you? If so, they’ve been rather brazen about it.”

Xiahou Zuo shook his head. “It can’t be that simple. Xu Yuanqing is no fool. Putting the Xu family so openly on display like this — that’s a losing position for them.”

Liu Ge gave a thoughtful sound. “Then what’s he after?”

Xiahou Zuo shook his head again. He hadn’t worked it out yet.

—

At the Xu household.

Xu Yuanqing looked at Gongshu Yingying and said: “Don’t read too much into tonight. It’s true that inside the Three Moon River House we simply cannot operate freely — but as long as Xiahou Zuo keeps visiting the Twin Stars Pavilion, you’ll have your opportunity.”

Gongshu Yingying nodded. Then, with a hint of puzzlement: “Master — just now, you said you mentioned the seal to Cui Tai and had him ask Xiahou Zuo directly. Was that wise?”

Xu Yuanqing smiled faintly. “Didn’t the Old Master want Xu Shengyu to go after that seal? Fine — then let it all be out in the open. If Shengyu botches it, he won’t be looking good with the Old Master either.”

He exhaled slowly. “The old man wants to make things uncomfortable for me. Well, I can return the favor. The young ones think they can ride over me — let’s see who ends up riding whom.”

He leaned back, a quiet satisfaction settling over him.

“The Old Master wants that seal. I’ve already spoken to the Cui family. The Cui family are not ones to keep secrets on the Xu family’s behalf — within no time Prince Yu will know about this. And once Prince Yu knows, who ends up with the seal is anyone’s guess.”

He smiled. “If I stood by and let Xu Shengyu hand the seal to the Old Master, what would that say about me?”

It was not a particularly brilliant scheme. But when you have no progress of your own to show and still refuse to lose, the most reliable tactic is to make things harder for your rival — dig a hole and see who falls in.

—

Yongning Tongyuan Carriage Company.

Xiahou Zuo climbed down from his carriage at the gate and found the entrance crowded with warhorses, while several armed Surveillance Bureau agents stood watch outside.

He frowned slightly and walked forward. In the dark and dim lamplight, the agents apparently had not recognized Xiahou Zuo — one of them moved to block his path.

“Bureau business — all bystanders, clear the area.”

Xiahou Zuo only smiled.

He hadn’t moved yet when Liu Ge climbed down from the carriage behind him. He looked the agents over with a cold smile and said: “Bureau business? Impressive authority.”

Liu Ge rarely showed his face in public, and none of these agents — who had never encountered anyone of real consequence — recognized him.

The squad leader who had blocked Xiahou Zuo’s path glanced at Liu Ge, and replied in the dismissive tone they were accustomed to using: “Best not to cause trouble. Trouble ends badly for people.”

Liu Ge asked: “So we cannot enter?”

“You cannot,” the squad leader answered.

If the two men had been wearing their military dress uniforms, these Bureau agents would probably have stepped aside immediately. But given that they were visiting a pleasure house that evening, wearing military dress would have been out of place — and so both men had come in civilian clothes.

Liu Ge smiled again and asked once more: “You’re certain we cannot enter?”

The squad leader’s expression hardened. “If you are members of this carriage company’s staff, you may enter to submit to questioning. If you are not, you would do well to step back.”

Liu Ge raised his thumb. “Nicely put.”

—

Inside the carriage company, Hundred-Commander Yuan Wuxian looked Li Chi over with a smile that did not quite reach his eyes. “You make this difficult for us, Master Li. The Bureau is not here to give you trouble — this is official business. Front yard, rear yard — we do need to take a look.”

Li Chi and his people were not particularly worried for themselves — even the Yanshan Camp members all carried convincingly forged identity documents. But if the Bureau’s men were actually permitted to search the premises, the weapons cache and the underground cellar would be impossible to explain away.

The Bureau had arrived without warning. Li Chi had always maintained certain precautions, but the unexpected could never be entirely ruled out.

There was also the matter of Liu Yingyuan’s family, who were staying in the rear courtyard. If the Bureau’s people wanted to make trouble, they could always find something to make trouble about.

“Of course the gentleman is welcome to look,” Li Chi said. “But there are women in the rear courtyard, and I would ask the gentleman to give them a moment — it is late in the evening, and they have already retired.”

Under other circumstances — had this person not been Xiahou Zuo’s friend — Yuan Wuxian would have lashed out with his riding crop by now.

He smiled thinly. “Fair enough. Then let’s start by gathering all the men. I’ll verify their identities one by one. It will take some time regardless.”

“That’s fine,” Li Chi said.

Just then, one of the Bureau agents came hurrying in and bent close to Yuan Wuxian’s ear, speaking in low rapid tones. Yuan Wuxian’s expression changed at once. He shot a look at Li Chi, then turned and bolted toward the gate.

When he reached the entrance, he found the street outside blazing with torchlight. Column after column of Jizhou garrison troops had completely blocked the road in front of the carriage company.

Two chairs had been set outside the gate. Xiahou Zuo and Liu Ge sat in them, deep in conversation.

The horses Yuan Wuxian had brought had been left at the gate. Now those horses were encircled by the garrison troops — and by the look of it, the troops had surrounded every street approaching the carriage company in all directions.

“General Xiahou. General Liu.”

Yuan Wuxian recognized them. He rushed over and bent himself nearly double in a bow. “The hour is late — might I ask what brings the generals here?”

Liu Ge sat where he was, absently flicking his fingernails. “Nothing in particular,” he replied offhandedly. “Routine nighttime maneuvers. And who are you?”

Yuan Wuxian quickly said: “Your subordinate is a Bureau Hundred-Commander—”

Liu Ge cut him off before he could finish.

“A Bureau man?” He fixed Yuan Wuxian with a steady gaze and enunciated each word clearly: “Does a Bureau man have the authority to barge into the grounds of a garrison troop exercise? To arbitrarily disrupt a military drill in progress? To brazenly trespass on a military encampment?”

Yuan Wuxian’s face changed. “General, when we arrived, your men weren’t yet—”

“What you mean,” Liu Ge said, “is that because you arrived first, you’re in the right? We designated this training site two days ago. Doesn’t that give me more claim to it than you?”

Yuan Wuxian fell silent, understanding that the situation was deteriorating rapidly. He bowed deeply. “Your subordinate means nothing of the sort. Your subordinate will withdraw at once.”

“Withdraw?”

Liu Ge smiled. “Your men blocked my entry. Do you think I’ll simply let you walk away?”

He turned and called out over his shoulder: “Make camp in the street. Anyone who attempts to exit the training grounds without authorization — regardless of who they are — is to be dealt with on the spot.”

“Yes, sir!”

—