After the curfew, every ward inAndu City was a thriving little world of its own, especially the districts of the wealthy, where music and dancing continued through the night without cease — none more so than Pingkang Ward and Taiping Ward.
Pingkang Ward, right next door to the East Market, was the famous gathering place of pleasure houses and brothels — a second home to examination candidates, officials awaiting appointment, merchants, and travelers from foreign lands.
Taiping Ward was the illustrious district of the nobility, famous within its bounds for the “Three Towers and Nine Establishments.” The three towers were Chongyang Tower, Qingyu Tower, and Dongfeng Tower; the nine establishments encompassed the most renowned teahouses, taverns, entertainment halls, theater houses, and gambling dens in all ofAndu City.
The eight Hua Family residences were located on the north side of Taiping Ward. Stepping out of the main gate and walking south along Qiming Street to its end, one could see the brilliantly lit Chongyang Tower.
Chongyang Tower was the foremost of Taiping Ward’s “Three Towers,” constructed eighty-three years ago, rich in history and legend. With black pillars, red walls, overhanging eaves that seemed to take flight, it stood three stories tall: the main hall on the first floor, private dining rooms on the second, and a scenic terrace on the third. It was said that the screen wall in the main hall bore countless masterworks left behind by generations of talented poets. Every year on the New Year’s Day, Chongyang Tower would compile the poetry of the new year into a volume and sell it at a high price — a tradition maintained for over thirty years, and a sight ofAndu in itself.
As the lanterns began to glow, snow began to fall again.
The innkeeper of Chongyang Tower wore a fur cap and stood in the snow craning his neck in anticipation. Catching sight of the Hua Family carriage jingling its way over, he rushed forward eagerly to bow and make his greetings.
The young manservant driving the carriage had a clear, handsome face but carried himself with an air well beyond his years. He brought the carriage to a stop, set down the stepping stool, and raised his arm high. “Fourth Young Master, we have arrived at Chongyang Tower.”
The carriage door opened slowly. A slender hand, fair as jade, extended from within, cradling a hand warmer of intricately carved and gold-inlaid design with five layered trays. Following it came a sweep of spotless white fox-fur cloak. The young man in the carriage poked his head out — his features were beautiful, his temples as dark as raven wings, his lashes black as ink. The wind caught the hem of his cloak, sending it fluttering like tender peony petals dancing in the moonlight.
The innkeeper was struck dumb. He stood there in a daze watching the young man slowly step down from the carriage with the manservant’s support. The young man turned back and extended his hand. A young woman dressed in black emerged from the carriage. She glanced at the young man’s outstretched hand with a look that seemed faintly resigned, gave it a perfunctory touch without actually leaning on it, then leapt lightly to the snowy ground — as weightless as a falling feather.
The young woman had long, arched brows and phoenix eyes. Her figure was straight as a pine tree. At her waist hung a plain, black, rough-hewn saber. In terms of appearance, clothing, and accessories, she was far less ornate than the young man; yet standing beside him, the two possessed an indescribable harmony.
The innkeeper came back to his senses and quickly clasped his fists. “Welcome, Fourth Young Master of the Hua Family and Lin Niangzi. Please, both of you come inside. Chief Secretary Liu and Military Advisor Zheng have been waiting for you for quite some time.”
Lin Sui’an looked in the direction the innkeeper indicated. Under the eaves stood two more figures — dressed in dark blue cotton robes, wearing soft-winged official caps, each sporting three strands of beard and wearing smiles on their faces. The one in front introduced himself as “Liu,” the one behind as “Zheng.” Hua Yitang stepped forward to exchange courtesies, and the three fell into warm pleasantries.
Mu Xia quietly made the introductions. “The one in front with the shorter beard is Liu Yijia, Chief Secretary of theAndu Prefecture, Senior Sixth Rank Upper Grade. The one in back with the longer beard is Zheng Yongyuan, Military Affairs Advisor, the same rank as Fourth Young Master — Junior Sixth Rank.”
These two, one a Chief Secretary and one a Military Advisor, were at least mid-level officials, yet both were remarkably thin and frail-looking. Chief Secretary Liu had a large head and narrow shoulders, like a malnourished bean sprout. Military Advisor Zheng was sallow and gaunt, his two feet trembling as they propped up his heavy cotton robe, like a half-paralyzed compass.
Lin Sui’an’s heart sank halfway: It looked like the food situation inAndu wasn’t too great. Tonight’s welcoming banquet was probably going to be nothing worth eating. Alas — had she known, she wouldn’t have come.
Entering through the main gate of Chongyang Tower, they were met with a vast white screen wall, covered densely with poems, verses, lines, and rhapsodies. Red, crimson, and dark-red seals were stamped all over each other, impossible to tell who had written what. Passing the screen wall, they entered the main hall — bright as daylight, yet utterly empty inside. Clearly, the entire place had been reserved.
The redwood staircase had seen better days — tall and narrow, wide enough for only two-thirds of a foot, with the heel left dangling in the air. Every step groaned and creaked as they climbed, the handrail adding its own creaking chorus. Lin Sui’an made her way up with her heart in her throat. Even Hua Yitang’s hand on the railing was trembling. He laughed sheepishly. “Shouldn’t this staircase be renovated? It won’t just collapse while we’re on it, will it?”
The innkeeper smiled. “Rest assured, Fourth Young Master. This tower is the inaugural masterwork of Feng Yuanzi,Andu’s foremost master craftsman. It is supremely sturdy — standing for a hundred years would be no trouble at all.”
Chief Secretary Liu said: “Fourth Young Master may not know this, but Chongyang Tower has excellent feng shui. Every welcoming banquet held in this tower is said to guarantee an official a smooth career and a bright future.”
Military Advisor Zheng nodded repeatedly. “What Chief Secretary Liu says is absolutely right. Absolutely right.”
“When our Prefect Jia first came toAndu, his welcoming banquet was held right here at Chongyang Tower,” Chief Secretary Liu went on. “Thinking back on it now, it feels like it was just yesterday. Truly brings back memories.”
Military Advisor Zheng: “What Chief Secretary Liu says is absolutely right.”
Lin Sui’an: “……”
Was this Military Advisor Zheng an echo machine? Or had he left home in such a hurry that he only had time to rehearse a single line?
The group slowly made their way up the narrow staircase and finally reached the third floor. The innkeeper and Mu Xia stepped back. Chief Secretary Liu and Military Advisor Zheng led Hua Yitang and Lin Sui’an into the scenic terrace. Oh — four walls open to the sky, wind blowing in from all sides, the cotton curtains rolled high. Nearly the entire nightscape of Taiping Ward was visible — ten thousand lanterns glowing like a dream painting. The brightest cluster, naturally, was the eight Hua Family residences.
On the floor sat blazing red charcoal braziers. Outside blew a howling northwest wind. Under the eaves hung strings of red lanterns. In the firelight, snowflakes fell thick as stars drifting down from heaven — a scene of singular charm.
The moment Lin Sui’an set eyes on Prefect Jia ofAndu, she understood why Chief Secretary Liu and Military Advisor Zheng had wasted away to such a state — evidently, all the food in Dado Prefecture had been consumed by Prefect Jia alone.
Prefect Jia was enormously fat. He appeared to be around fifty years old and weighed no less than three hundred catties by visual estimation. The cotton robe stretched over him could probably be torn off and used as a blanket. He was a full head taller than Hua Yitang and three Hua Yitangs wide and three Hua Yitangs thick. Because he was so obese, his face was so large that his features looked cramped together. How such a prodigious physique had managed to squeeze up that narrow staircase was simply beyond imagining.
“Oh my, oh my — Fourth Young Master of the Hua Family! You’ve finally arrived! We’ve been waiting here so long our eyes were aching! Come, come, come — these are all your colleagues. Step forward and get acquainted.”
Prefect Jia slapped Hua Yitang on the shoulder and made introductions one by one: the Personnel Advisor, the Household Advisor, the Military Advisor, the Granary Advisor, the Land Advisor — together with the Chief Secretary Liu and Military Advisor Zheng (who turned out to be the Works Advisor), there were nine in total. Lin Sui’an barely retained any of the names; she was too busy studying Prefect Jia’s three layers of chin — which jiggled like the skin of a fat pig whenever he spoke — and she found her hands itching with the urge to walk over and give them a good pat.
For Hua Yitang, this was a small occasion. After Prefect Jia had introduced everyone only once, Hua Yitang was able to accurately match every person to their name and rank. He made his rounds, and soon the group was talking like old brothers.
Chief Secretary Xia was quite perceptive. Seeing that Prefect Jia was occupied, he promptly guided Lin Sui’an to her seat. Surprisingly, she was placed at the upper seat on the left side — a single person, single seat, single table. Unfortunately, the new Hua Family high-legged tables and chairs had not yet broken into theAndu market; the current arrangement was still low-platform tables with armrests, requiring one to sit kneeling. The food and drink were already prepared on the table, and each seat was accompanied by a charcoal brazier that made one’s cheeks burn hot.
Prefect Jia was very pleased with Hua Yitang’s performance. He pulled Hua Yitang over to sit at the upper seat on the right side, looked him up and down, and declared: “Fourth Young Master of the Hua Family — the name truly lives up to the reputation. You are every bit the graceful young noble I imagined — orchid branch and jade tree! Just like me in my younger days — a dashing young man, incomparably handsome in white, driving countless young women wild with adoration!”
Hua Yitang shot a swift glance at Lin Sui’an and replied with his professional smile, “Prefect Jia flatters me too much. I consider myself of utterly unremarkable appearance, not even a fraction as distinguished as Prefect Jia himself. Ha ha ha…”
Chief Secretary Liu said: “Fourth Young Master is far too modest. The title of Yangdu’s foremost scholar resounds like thunder even here inAndu. Everyone says that the Fourth Young Master of Yangdu’s Hua Family is a man of both talent and looks — a red-sleeved beauty knows no bounds. It doesn’t matter how cold and proud a courtesan mistress may be; with a single glance from Fourth Young Master Hua, her soul is ensnared and her heart stolen—”
“Absolutely not!” Hua Yitang cried out. “My family discipline is exceedingly strict. If I dared so much as wander near those pleasure streets and entertainment lanes, my elder brother would be the first to break my legs!”
Hua Yitang’s reaction was so intense that the assembled guests were momentarily baffled. On closer inspection, Hua Yitang’s gaze was practically glued to the young woman in black. His expression was tense, his face somewhere between dark and flushed, beads of sweat forming at his temple. The young woman in black raised her brow and watched Hua Yitang with an expression that hovered between a smile and not, her entire bearing radiating an indescribable aura.
The guests understood at once and quickly changed the subject in embarrassment.
“Right, right — all just rumors in the streets, not to be taken seriously.”
“Come, come — drinks! Let’s drink!”
Prefect Jia roared with laughter. “This must be Lin Niangzi, renowned across several great cities!” He looked at Lin Sui’an properly for the first time. “In the rivers and lakes, everyone says that the master of Qian Jing is heroic and valiant, a true heroine among women…”
Prefect Jia suddenly stopped laughing. His pupils contracted violently, as if he had seen something terrifying on Lin Sui’an’s face.
Lin Sui’an sensed the killing intent in Prefect Jia’s eyes — no, perhaps it was hatred, or perhaps… some strange mix of hatred and fear.
“I am Lin Sui’an. My respects to Prefect Jia.” Lin Sui’an clasped her fists.
All three of Prefect Jia’s chins trembled together. The expression that had slipped out of his control snapped back in an instant. He smiled and said, “Seeing Lin Niangzi reminded me of an old acquaintance. I was momentarily overcome. I hope you’ll forgive my loss of composure.”
Lin Sui’an: “Do I resemble this old acquaintance greatly?”
Prefect Jia: “In appearance, not at all — and yet… in a way, very much so.”
Prefect Jia clearly had no wish to dwell on the topic, so he glossed over it with a laugh. Chief Secretary Liu read the room and quickly gave the advisors a meaningful look. The group steered the conversation toward Andu’s local customs and culinary culture. The wine warmed in the firelight, snowflakes danced in the lantern glow, and the atmosphere quickly grew lively once more.
After three rounds of wine, everyone had taken on a pleasant flush. Prefect Jia’s enthusiasm only grew — his cheeks were wine-red, his tongue beginning to slur. “Ah, Fourth Young Master — you have no idea how much Jia here envies you. The Hua Family of Yangdu, one of the Five Great Clans — a hundred-year household of distinction. From the moment of birth, you’re a cut above ordinary people. A smooth road ahead — enough to make anyone green with envy…”
“Jia here is a rough man — I only know how to wield a blade and a spear. It took me a full thirty years of hacking through thorns to reach this position. But for your great families of nobility, a position like this is just a curl of the finger away. What a good life…truly…good…”
Lin Sui’an raised an eyebrow. On the surface, Prefect Jia appeared to be praising Hua Yitang’s distinguished lineage; in reality, he was mocking him for rising through connections alone without any real talent or ability. Earlier as well — all that talk about his many admirers — was in fact an oblique dig, insinuating that Hua Yitang was a pampered wastrel who did nothing but idle in the company of women.
Alas, this level of backhanded sniping was something even she had grown tired of hearing. It was utterly harmless. To say nothing of Hua Yitang.
Hua Yitang maintained his professional smile. “Prefect Jia is too kind. I am well aware of my own shallow learning and meager ability — I shall have to humbly seek the guidance of His Excellency the Prefect and all my colleagues!”
“…You don’t understand… you don’t understand…” Prefect Jia murmured, shaking his head in a drunken haze. “People like us… the things we dream of… the things we pour our whole lives into trying to obtain… to your great families of nobility, they’re no more than a stone lying by the roadside — gained easily, discarded without a second thought… truly, how I envy it… envy it…”
Hua Yitang smiled. “Prefect Jia, have you perhaps had a bit too much to drink?”
“…Not too much, not too much — Jia here feels a great kinship with Fourth Young Master upon first meeting — this calls for a full toast!” Prefect Jia swayed to his feet, tipped his head back and drank down a mouthful of wine, then lurched to the center of the terrace and began to dance around the fire basin. Despite his girth and inebriated state, his footwork was surprisingly nimble. He sang and danced, his voice booming, resonating with its own echo. The song was in some dialect Lin Sui’an couldn’t quite place; she could only make out a few syllables that sounded something like “sauce dip with big flatbread,” “fool eating a bit of ice,” and “bones without any meat.”
Chief Secretary Liu gestured for the several advisors to gather around Prefect Jia, clapping hands and stomping feet in accompaniment — singing and dancing in perfect rhythm. One could tell from how seamlessly they kept the beat that this was not something they had practiced seldom.
Lin Sui’an quietly asked Hua Yitang, “What song is this?”
Hua Yitang’s brow contorted into several knots. “Terribly unpleasant.”
Still not satisfied with just dancing, Prefect Jia picked up a wine jar and went around toasting everyone. No one dared refuse, and all were forced to drink several large bowls each; their steps grew unsteady. Then they turned and saw Hua Yitang still sitting there perfectly upright and spotlessly clean. They swarmed over in a mob, shouting, “If you don’t drain this jar, you’re giving us all no face!” Hua Yitang didn’t hesitate in the slightest — he lifted the jar and poured it down his throat, gulp after gulp. A full jar down, his face didn’t flush, his legs didn’t waver, and his eyes remained clear. It was, truly, a terrifying capacity for alcohol forged through years of a debauched idle life.
Several of the advisors were thoroughly cowed and wisely retreated. Prefect Jia laughed heartily and clapped Hua Yitang on the shoulder, then turned and swayed his way toward Lin Sui’an. “Lin Niangzi — come, come! Let us share a cup!”
Hua Yitang’s expression shifted subtly. In a single leap he stepped in front of Lin Sui’an. “Prefect Jia, that would be inappropriate.”
Prefect Jia’s brow furrowed. “Hua Yitang — you’re just a Junior Sixth Rank advisor. I am the Prefect, your superior. Do you want to keep working or not, opposing me like this?”
With that, he thrust forward his belly, and his massive frame sent Hua Yitang’s slight figure stumbling backward. In that instant, Lin Sui’an sprang to her feet and flung out Qian Jing — the blade’s scabbard caught Hua Yitang around the waist and gently pushed him forward, so that he steadied back into his original position.
“Drinking — absolutely,” Lin Sui’an said, flicking her wrist. Qian Jing left its scabbard. A swathe of ink-green blade light blazed across the entire scenic terrace, and the heavy pressure of the blade extinguished every charcoal fire in the room.
Dead silence.
Chief Secretary Liu and several advisors stumbled backward in fright. Military Advisor Zheng sat down hard on the ground. All three of Prefect Jia’s chins began trembling uncontrollably. Cold sweat and the fog of intoxication poured from every pore, soaking through his cotton robe.
Lin Sui’an smiled faintly. She picked up a jar of wine and slowly poured it over Qian Jing’s blade. The blade bloomed with rippling waves of ink-green luminescence that shook the entire Chongyang Tower — the floorboards, roof tiles, and walls, unable to bear such fierce and pure blade intent, cried out in a plaintive moan.
Hua Yitang let out a sigh. “It appears tonight’s wine is not to Qian Jing’s satisfaction.”
Prefect Jia: “Wh-what…?”
“Prefect Jia may not know this, but this blade is a finicky drunk — it will only drink ten-year Full Jade.” Hua Yitang shook his head, then suddenly stepped forward, his large black eyes turning ominously cold: “If you feed it inferior wine, this blade—” he lurched a step closer — “will throw a fit!”
Prefect Jia jolted and stumbled three great steps backward. His enormous belly swayed several times, producing a series of gurgling sounds. The wine-flushed red that had dyed his skin suddenly drained to a deathly white. He bellowed, “Chief Secretary Liu!”
Chief Secretary Liu rushed over to support Prefect Jia. “What are your orders, Your Excellency?”
“Quick, quick, quick — help me to the privy!”
Several advisors snapped out of their daze at once, jostling and shoving to be first to help — one holding his arm, one supporting his waist, one gripping his hand, one protecting his backside, one clearing the path ahead. With great fanfare and fuss they escorted Prefect Jia out the door. The last to go was Military Advisor Zheng, who scrambled to his feet trembling, bent at the waist, and stumbled off in pursuit.
The entire scenic terrace fell quiet. Under the eaves, bamboo lanterns swayed. Snow drifted down in flurries. A faint ember leapt out of a charcoal brazier with a soft crack.
Lin Sui’an and Hua Yitang looked at each other — and burst out laughing. They settled back into their seats with great leisure. Hua Yitang grabbed two large steamed buns and stuffed them into his mouth. “I’m starving to death!”
Lin Sui’an picked up a bowl of mutton soup noodles and slurped away. “From now on, I’m not coming to any more of these ridiculous welcoming banquets. I’ve swallowed a bellyful of northwest wind and not gotten a single bite of food.”
“Could you really bear to let me come out here alone to suffer? We’re partners!”
“There’s an old saying: better a fellow traveler dies than you yourself.”
The two chatted as they ate, their appetites excellent. Hua Yitang had stuffed down ten steamed buns; Lin Sui’an was halfway through her noodles — when suddenly the entire Chongyang Tower shook with a thunderous boom.
Hua Yitang and Lin Sui’an both froze: an earthquake?
Rapid footsteps closed in. Military Advisor Zheng came tumbling in on all fours, his complexion ashen green, his voice hoarse. “S-s-s-something terrible has happened — the privy collapsed — Prefect Jia — he — he — he — they all — fell in!”
“Pfft—” Hua Yitang and Lin Sui’an simultaneously spat out their food.