The Western Rong royal city of Chana—in Western Rong language meaning “City in the Sky.”
It was called this because Chana was built against mountains. The continuous mountain ranges undulated gently across the earth, and the royal palace spiraled upward following the mountain terrain. The higher one’s status, the higher one lived. The highest point was the Great King’s sleeping palace, half-embedded in clouds with its peak touching rosy clouds, appearing like a divine palace in the high heavens when viewed from afar.
The residences of princes and ministers were also built in a circle around that mountain palace. The higher one’s status and the closer to royalty, the nearer to the royal palace.
Ordinary houses also followed this pattern, spreading out layer by layer. But the farther from the royal palace, the lower the terrain, the more chaotic the layout, and the more dilapidated the buildings. From above, it looked like a fan—the handle finely crafted, but the surface scribbled on chaotically by mischievous children.
Where the “handle and surface” met was the boundary between inner and outer cities—one side with neat houses, the other with low eaves and disordered tiles.
Merchants in Chana often lived on this boundary line, since merchants weren’t permitted to enter the inner city. This was the closest place to reach the stewards of those lords in the inner city, and they could also conveniently trade with common people in the outer city.
Recently, due to warfare, very few merchants from Great Qian came over, so when a merchant caravan arrived recently, both the common people in the outer city and stewards in the inner city were quite pleased.
The common people were happy because the caravan’s arrival would somewhat enliven the depressed market, giving them possible work opportunities.
The stewards were happy because due to the war, shops hadn’t had southern goods for a long time, and their masters, accustomed to enjoying Great Qian’s exquisite objects, had scolded them plenty for this.
Now finally a caravan had come. Each household swarmed over, but merchants are most cunning—hoarding rare goods. They claimed that with current border blockades, they had spent much silver greasing many palms to cross borders and reach Western Rong, making costs incomparable to the past. Therefore, they wouldn’t sell things casually but would hold auctions, and the best items wouldn’t even be displayed, waiting only for destined people.
Upon hearing this, everyone was somewhat confused—what did “destined people” mean?
The clever ones understood that these merchants wanted to use these goods to knock on doors of nobles or the royal palace, right?
This was common practice, but previously the royal palace had strict security and didn’t like associating with merchants. Merchants had especially low status in Western Rong, naturally unable to gain entry.
Now that the Crown Prince had seized the royal palace, after the palace underwent great devastation with much destruction, the nobles inside were precisely when they lacked everything.
But this group of merchants didn’t rush to curry favor with anyone, instead genuinely organizing an auction as they said.
This term sounded fresh. People from both inner and outer cities were very interested, and the auction was set for Antelope Street between the inner and outer cities.
The time was set for the afternoon two days hence. As news spread farther and farther, many people from outside the city rushed over. Antelope Street’s foot traffic had clearly increased these past days. City management officials hadn’t seen such lively scenes for a long time.
An ox cart struggled through the crowd, stopping before a small courtyard. A person jumped down from the cart, cupping hands toward the cart and laughing heartily, “Thank you, Guard Captain, for personally escorting me.”
The person inside waved his hand, saying, “My brother, no need to thank me for such a small matter. Let’s drink again when there’s a chance!”
That man waved back—in daylight, his large, sturdy frame was easily approachable to Western Rong people.
He looked across the street and beckoned. From inside, a person came out drunkenly, arm around a Western Rong man’s shoulder, slurring as he made introductions, “Fat Tiger… this is my new friend… Bahateer…”
Tian Wu laughed heartily, patted that man’s shoulder, grabbed the alcohol-reeking Yang Yixiu, tucked him under his arm, and walked toward the opposite courtyard.
Yang Yixiu giggled under his armpit, “Success?”
Tian Wu chuckled.
“Didn’t you say that guy was impervious? Guarding a palace gate like guarding the national gate, watertight security.”
Tian Wu said, “His Highness and Supervisor Rong both said there are no impeccable people or matters in this world—didn’t we find the way? Everyone says he dotes on his wife, wanting to give her the best of everything. But his wife loves promoting her family, and his palace salary isn’t enough to support that large extended family. So I didn’t work on him directly—I directly taught his wife’s brother the skill of braised beef. Now he’s already been hired as a palace cook.”
Yang Yixiu clicked his tongue.
The Tian family had originally made their fortune with braised beef, relying on a beef stall to eventually build their commercial empire. Their braised beef recipe could be called a family treasure, worth ten thousand gold and never exchanged. Yet Tian Wu had given it out just like that to please a Western Rong palace gate guard captain.
But Tian Wu himself felt it wasn’t unworthy.
Their group, disguised as a merchant caravan and arriving at Western Rong’s royal city, aimed to resolve the Crown Prince issue.
The Eagle Master said he still had companions in Western Rong who could help, so he also left Huyin’s army and came along.
Merchant caravans were what the royal city needed most currently, but goods were a problem. However, Huyin said it wasn’t difficult—she led a squad of soldiers out of camp and returned two days later dragging a long convoy.
She had robbed wealthy households from several distant cities. Those people had always traded with Great Qian caravans. Western Rong considered using Great Qian goods fashionable, so these wealthy families had many Great Qian porcelain pieces, tea, jewelry, rouge and powder, wine and silk—all confiscated by Huyin for public use.
The merchant caravan quickly took shape. With Huyin’s great army secretly responding and escorting, the journey to the royal city went smoothly.
Chana was recently under martial law, making entry difficult. The Eagle Master contacted old subordinates remaining in the city, paying the price of several bolts of silk to lead the merchant caravan into the city.
Tie Ci led the merchant caravan to rent a courtyard at the boundary between inner and outer cities. Dan Shuang displayed her culinary skills, making exquisite Great Qian pastries and sweets to distribute, attracting neighborhood children to linger daily. With children running about the streets daily, everyone gradually knew a merchant caravan had come to Antelope Street.
The goods the caravan brought were also abundant—needles and thread, pots and bowls that common people needed daily. Previously, Great Qian merchants wouldn’t carry such worthless items, since for long-distance trading, item value naturally had to be maximized. But after the royal city underwent devastation, most merchants fled, all trades declined, and people’s lives became inconvenient—many households didn’t even have cooking pots.
Tie Ci had initially had Huyin rob more daily necessities. Now setting up stalls to sell them at fair prices naturally gained great reputation.
While trading with common people, she also intentionally mentioned having fine goods, attracting inner city people to explore.
Tie Ci had a list provided by the Eagle Master’s subordinates with markings. Not everyone from the inner city was received.
Once someone on the list appeared, it was time for the academy companions to practice.
For example, the palace interior guard captain—a very key figure managing palace security, highly trusted by the Crown Prince. He himself wouldn’t betray this trust, adjusting palace guard arrangements daily with new duty schedules, so even the Eagle Master’s companions, despite familiarity with the palace and standing guard outside for days, couldn’t determine guard appearance patterns and timing.
The Eagle Master’s companions had tried attacking this person multiple times but always failed. That man cared nothing for gold and silver, beauty, or fine food. He was wooden, upright, and meticulous—an almost impeccable figure.
Tie Ci had planned to personally handle this person, but Tian Wu volunteered.
Tie Ci let him proceed freely—money or people, whatever he needed.
Tian Wu asked for neither money nor people. He ran to challenge the palace interior guards, knocking others down and getting knocked down himself. Despite bruises, he enjoyed it tirelessly, behaving like a martial arts fanatic.
This attracted the captain’s interest.
After being consecutively knocked down four times by the captain, Tian Wu’s eyes lit up as he pestered to become a disciple.
Traditionally, literature has no first place, martial arts no second. Martial artists might not care about fame, profit, or material things, but often sympathize with others equally devoted to martial arts.
Being admired and worshipped by such a person, even a stone would inevitably enjoy it internally.
The result of internal enjoyment was that though he wouldn’t accept disciples, he was willing to give some guidance. Having given guidance made him half a teacher, making it natural for the half-disciple to invite him for a meal.
It naturally followed to eat and drink together. Wine tables are always best for accomplishing things and loosening tongues. Tian Wu had that naturally honest nature that made people immediately see he had no ulterior motives—such people most easily gained others’ trust.
When Rong Pu helped him formulate strategy plans, he advised him not to pretend or look ahead and behind—just be himself.
Concentrating on being himself, Tian Wu indeed gradually gained the captain’s trust. Once slightly tipsy, he couldn’t help expressing his troubles.
In this world, people and matters aren’t afraid of having troubles—they’re afraid of having no troubles. As long as difficulties exist, there are definitely gaps to exploit.
How could people making livings possibly have no difficulties?
Thus Tian Wu learned of the captain’s beloved wife and the large family that burdened him unbearably.
The captain raised his cup and sighed, saying if only his wife’s brother had his own livelihood to support that large family.
But that brother-in-law had no skills whatsoever, and with all trades currently withered, where could he find good work?
Hearing this, Tian Wu was overjoyed.
The next day, he pretended to accidentally encounter that brother-in-law and intentionally taught him the secret of braised beef.
Because the Eagle Master had said the Crown Prince most loved eating braised beef.
Sure enough, just yesterday, the captain’s brother-in-law was specially recruited into the palace as a cook, specifically to prepare braised beef for the Crown Prince.
After hearing Tian Wu’s strategy account, Yang Yixiu laughed, “Now you’ve also learned these conspiracies and schemes—real progress.”
“All thanks to Supervisor Rong’s good teaching,” Tian Wu said. “How’s your progress?”
“The Crown Prince’s maternal uncle has considerable real power with troops under him, as you know. But he loves drinking. His household steward came upon hearing the news, wanting to buy wine. I told him the wine had all been bought into the palace by the Crown Prince’s orders. The Crown Prince received his uncle’s full help to gain the throne and will rely on his uncle in future—this wine was definitely bought for his uncle. I told the general to wait at his mansion for the Crown Prince’s bestowal. Those two returned very happily.”
Tian Wu sighed, “Brilliant, truly brilliant.”
The wine had been sent into the palace—Yang Yixiu had pulled connections to send it. But the Crown Prince had no idea about this wine. Having done many guilty deeds, he now paid extreme attention to his safety, staying secluded with countless guards. His daily food and drink followed Central Plains emperor practices with at least three poison tests and tastings, leaving no gaps for exploitation.
But without gaps, Tie Ci and others would create gaps for him.
Since the Crown Prince didn’t know about this wine, naturally he couldn’t mention sending wine.
That uncle holding the position of Grand Steward would likely be disappointed.
Reportedly, that person especially valued face. Yang Yixiu had also specifically encouraged his household steward to speak well of the Crown Prince’s filial devotion. Presumably, delighted and pleased, he would inevitably boast to others.
The higher the ladder is set, the more embarrassing when one can’t get down, right?
“Also Supervisor Rong’s arrangement,” Yang Yixiu smiled.
The two were about to enter the courtyard when suddenly they heard hoofbeats behind them. The horses were ridden very fast—the two even felt dirt hitting their backs.
Though Western Rong’s streets were called great streets, they could only accommodate two or three ox carts side by side and weren’t very level. Walking once on sunny days filled trouser legs with dust; rainy days splashed mud everywhere. So royal city residents rarely galloped horses on streets.
Hearing these galloping sounds, both clicked their tongues sourly.
Beauties attract butterflies wherever they go—here was a pair of sister butterflies.
Those two horses stopped right behind them. A rather pleasant female voice, speaking unfluent Great Qian language, asked, “May I ask if Young Master Rong is in?”
Another crisper voice used Western Rong language: “Sister, why ask? Just go in directly. Wei Ci, Wei Ci! Come out quickly to receive me!”
While shouting, her whip lashed toward the two men’s backs. “Hey you two, did you see me and pretend not to? Hurry up and call Wei Ci to receive me!”
Tie Ci and Rong Pu both used false names here—one called Rong Tie, one called Wei Ci.
Of course, Tie Ci never agreed to call out “Rong Tie.”
Tian Wu and Yang Yixiu both dodged the whip, but the whip couldn’t really strike down. The older girl reached out to grab the whip, reproaching, “Yun Zhu, don’t be rude.”
“Sister!”
That little girl dismounted, rushed past Tian Wu and Yang Yixiu like a whirlwind into the courtyard, bumping both men into stumbles.
The other girl also slowly dismounted, standing there quietly and courteously apologizing to both men. “My sister has a rash temperament. Please don’t mind her, gentlemen. May I ask if Young Master Rong is in?”
Yang Yixiu looked her up and down, thinking: Miss, you’re devoted to learning Central Plains lady manners, but you don’t know real Central Plains ladies don’t wear skirts when riding horses, and real Central Plains ladies would never run to men’s doors like this—
Tian Wu thought honestly: Another admirer of Supervisor Rong, twisting and turning to learn being a lady, but unfortunately, though Supervisor Rong seems like a Central Plains refined gentleman, he never likes Central Plains refined ladies.
Both didn’t respond, mentally counting. Sure enough, after a while, they saw Tie Ci emerge with that little girl, first smiling and nodding to that girl, saying Master Rong was unwell and not seeing outside guests, then laughingly chatting with the little girl, saying these days were busy with the auction, but afterward he would definitely accompany Yun Zhu hunting. She warmly stuffed several pastries for Yun Zhu, instructing her to prepare well for hunting—there would be competitions. Without much effort, she coaxed them away.
That little girl came aggressively but left satisfied, instead pulling her reluctant, constantly looking-back sister onto their horses as the sisters rode back.
Wuliang Yun Zhu said, “Sister, I told you not to learn those Central Plains women’s coy manners. You see, you speak politely and request kindly, yet never see Young Master Rong. I come every time and always see Wei Ci. We Western Rong women, born on grasslands, raised in great deserts, accustomed to worldly openness, needn’t wrong ourselves for anyone.”
Wuliang Mu Zhen said, “Young Master Rong is such a refined person—if I were rash like you, I’d frighten him. How could I bear that?”
Wuliang Yun Zhu snorted, “Able to trek thousands of miles to Western Rong—how could he be truly delicate? Sister, don’t be deceived by his surface appearance.”
Wuliang Mu Zhen said, “How are you any better? I think Wei Ci also doesn’t seem genuinely sincere.”
“How could that be!” Wuliang Yun Zhu widened her eyes. “I’m so beautiful and like him so much—why wouldn’t he be sincere to me? Every time I come, he gives me snacks!”
Wuliang Mu Zhen didn’t speak. She felt something was wrong but couldn’t say what.
Since she and her sister once casually strolled and discovered this Great Qian merchant group, glimpsing two men among them, she and her sister had been enchanted, running to Antelope Street daily.
She liked that Young Master Rong’s orchid-like jade tree elegance, gentle and romantic, always reminding her of Jiangnan willows, curved bridges, and moon from southern books she loved reading—endless lasting charm. Compared to him, Western Rong men all seemed crude and foul.
Her sister liked that Young Master Wei Ci, warm and jade-like, noble and magnificent. Her sister said among all officials in Western Rong’s royal court, none had Wei Ci’s unforgettable bearing.
Wuliang Yun Zhu continued chattering excitedly in her ear, “…We are father king’s beloved daughters. As long as we request official positions from father king, they’ll definitely be delighted to become our namuyeh!”
Namuyeh in Western Rong language meant princess consort.
Would they…
Wuliang Mu Zhen thought uncertainly, controlling reins with one hand while looking back.
Though she’d recently starved herself thin to match Young Master Rong’s delicate bearing, her horsemanship remained first-rate.
From the small courtyard’s second floor on distant Antelope Street, a pair of sinister eyes seemed to be watching them.
The horse turned a corner, and that gaze could no longer be felt.
In the small courtyard’s upper floor, the Eagle Master withdrew his gaze from those sister flowers.
Tie Ci walked past behind him.
“Why won’t you let me act against these two?” The Eagle Master suddenly said. “These are Wuliang He’s two daughters, born of one mother. Their maternal clan is also a great family Wuliang He relies on heavily. Using these two girls as bait to hook Wuliang He—wouldn’t that be good?”
Tie Ci stopped.
After a long while, she said, “First, Rong Pu has an overall plan—no need to alert anyone individually; second, unless necessary, no need to involve innocent women.”
The Eagle Master laughed coldly.
Wasn’t mother innocent?
Wasn’t Kusuli innocent?
Who came to sympathize and protect them?
Tie Ci stared at his expression, unease slowly rising in her heart.
He had really changed too much.
Not only could he consider using women as bait without conscience barriers, but those two women were even his nieces…
Previously, she had thought such things were Feiyu’s specialty, not knowing that when men became extremely ruthless, they had few scruples.
Thinking of Feiyu, she frowned, thinking that now entering the royal city with even less accessible information, she wondered how his affairs were progressing.
Somehow, she had been suffering insomnia and troubled dreams recently, feeling depressed, as if always sensing that something bad had happened.