The Liyang Post Road, centered around the imperial capital of Tai’an City, was the undisputed official highway of the realm. Once hailed by the veteran Ministry of War as the “lifeblood of the nation,” it was likened to a peerless terrestrial immortal—unmatched in history—whose vigor and vitality surpassed all ages.
The Qingma Post in Liangzhou, located near the state capital, was situated in a bustling market town. As the sole gateway to and from Liangzhou City, it boasted not only an expansive posthouse but also the only pleasure garden among the many post stations of the Northern Liang region. With over seventy couriers and a nearby garrison of light cavalry stationed year-round, its military prowess was undeniable. Half of the young prince’s elite White Horse Retinue were said to have been recruited from this very cavalry, including the now-notorious madman Hong Shuwen, who had risen meteorically through the ranks of the Northern Liang army.
Li Gongde, who had long held the highest position among Northern Liang’s civil officials, once stayed at Qingma Post and, in a moment of inspiration, left behind a calligraphic masterpiece: “A Hidden World of Wonders.” Whether due to the posthouse’s reverence for the piece or the sheer boldness of the strokes, the work had never been framed or displayed.
The town of Bei’an, where Qingma Post was located, was a thriving crossroads. Known as the “Little Lingzhou” (Lingzhou itself being famed as the “Jiangnan Beyond the Passes”), Bei’an stood out as a unique hub in Liangzhou. In recent years, with the meteoric rise of the young prince, the town had attracted swarms of martial artists from the Central Plains, blending into the Northern Liang’s martial world. Over time, the locals grew accustomed to the influx.
As one of the few towns in Liangzhou without a nighttime curfew, Bei’an was a veritable den of extravagance. Two neighboring establishments—a tavern and a brothel—boasted golden plaques with audacious slogans: “To miss these towers is to waste your trip to Northern Liang” and “The Finest Wine and Women Under Heaven.” The tavern claimed to serve the finest wines, rivaling imperial tributes, while the brothel boasted courtesan selections fit for an emperor. Skeptical outsiders often arrived with the intent to challenge these claims, only to leave either drunk under the tables or sprawled across the beds of the courtesans. Thus, the reputation of these two towers soared, echoing across Northern Liang and the Huai regions.
A particularly scandalous incident involved a top courtesan eloping with a scholar studying at the Qinglu Academy. Instead of punishing the pair, the brothel burned the courtesan’s indenture, and the tavern even funded the scholar with a thousand taels of silver to purchase books. This act of generosity became a celebrated tale, shaking Northern Liang’s literary circles and even reaching the ears of Central Plains elites. A renowned scholar publicly marveled at the chivalrous spirit pervading Northern Liang’s streets—a sentiment that, a few years prior, would have been unthinkable to voice.
When the three eunuchs of the Imperial Seal Directorate returned to Bei’an from the Longju River ferry at nightfall, the Qingma Post, fearing mishaps, dispatched over twenty elite cavalry to escort them. Had they gone missing, the post would have bypassed local authorities and alerted the garrison twenty li away—after all, these envoys represented the dignity of the Zhao imperial house.
Starving upon their arrival, the eunuchs, led by Eunuch Liu, passed by the raucous tavern, its rich aroma of wine irresistible. Feeling guilty for his exhausted companions, Eunuch Liu suggested a quick meal. The cautious Eunuch Ma, towering and dignified, advised changing into plain clothes first, while the portly yet agile Eunuch Song scoffed at the idea of danger under the Northern Liang Prince’s nose. Still, he deferred to Eunuch Liu’s authority.
After freshening up at Qingma Post, the three eunuchs, accompanied only by their imperial guard commander, entered the aptly named “Tavern.” Adjacent to the famed brothel, the sounds of flirtatious laughter made Eunuch Liu chuckle at the thought of rumors back in the capital—would they be accused of visiting a brothel?
The three-story tavern was packed even late at night. A sharp-eyed waiter led them to the best seats on the top floor, separated by ornate screens. Eunuch Song lounged in a chair carved from golden pearwood, remarking on the familiar layout.
Eunuch Liu ordered aged Jizhou liquor, Jiangnan apricot wine, and Shuhua brew, leaving the dishes to the tavern’s discretion. The waiter, delighted, praised their taste and shared the tavern’s unwritten rule: anyone who could drink six pots of the signature Lüyi wine would dine for free and even receive a night at the brothel on the house.
Eunuch Song, intrigued, tested the rule’s validity, and the waiter proudly confirmed it, boasting of their Innkeeper’s generosity. Eunuch Liu found the tavern’s approach refreshing, while Eunuch Song, in high spirits, demanded the Innkeeper’s presence for a toast—a privilege not to be missed.
The waiter, inwardly scoffing at the Fatty’s pretentious Central Plains accent, apologized that the Innkeeper was unavailable but promised to inform the deputy upon his return.
Eunuch Song’s displeasure grew, but Eunuch Liu smoothly diffused the tension by tipping the waiter generously. The young man, touched by the elder’s kindness, accepted the silver after a hesitant glance from the silent guard commander.
As the renowned six pots of wine arrived, the waiter, emboldened by the tip, brought two extra jars of premium Lüyi wine.
While Eunuch Liu remained composed and Eunuch Song carefree, the vigilant guard commander surveyed the room. The nearby tables held a mix of ordinary patrons and hidden experts—one group discussing the legendary Violet-Clad Alliance Leader of Huishan, another exuding a lethal aura that set his nerves on edge.
Midway through their drinks, two new groups arrived—one being the young martial artists from the Longju River ferry, now oddly subdued and changed into fresh clothes. Though puzzled, the commander dismissed it, confident in his ability to handle any threat.
After all, as a seasoned warrior once praised by the unparalleled swordsman Gu Jiantang, he trusted his skills to prevail in any duel.
As for the second group—three men and two women—the young leader carried himself with the unmistakable swagger of a martial arts hero who seemed desperate for the world to notice. Such posturing was beneath Commander Qian’s notice. But the four who followed, one after another, sent chills down his spine.
The blind woman beside the “young hero” walked with a guqin in her arms, while behind her, a dull-looking middle-aged man carried a sword case. The sword aura radiating from him was overwhelming—and that was with him deliberately suppressing it!
Behind them walked a couple, side by side. The young wife was impossible to miss—voluptuous and bewitching, dressed in dazzling tie-dyed robes, with delicate silver bells jingling from her wrists and ankles. The sound of her arrival preceded her. At her waist hung a curved dagger in a snow-white sheath. Commander Qian, with his discerning eye, recognized it instantly as the attire of the Miao people from the remote southwestern mountains. She clung to the arm of her stocky husband, her eyes brimming with undisguised pride, as if he were the greatest hero in the world.
In her presence, the otherwise unremarkable middle-aged man stood out like a crane among chickens. He wore a simple linen jacket, a blue turban wrapped around his head, and white cloth leggings.
Before Commander Qian could recover from this shock, another wave hit him. His heart, already lodged in his throat, nearly leapt out of his mouth.
Within the time it took to drink half a cup of wine, another young woman arrived on the second floor, surrounded by an entourage of four attendants.
Commander Qian’s face turned ashen as he withdrew his gaze. What kind of woman could afford to hire four top-tier experts—each at least a second-rank master—as her personal guards?
In the blink of an eye, this small tavern had turned into a gathering of elites, where powerful figures were as common as stray dogs on the street.
Even Commander Qian, no stranger to storms and upheavals, began to sweat profusely.
Eunuch Liu asked calmly, “Trouble?”
Commander Qian forced a bitter smile. “Not necessarily. But if conflict breaks out, it’ll be the kind that shakes the heavens. Even mobilizing a thousand cavalry might not be enough to quell it.”
Eunuch Liu waved a hand dismissively, chuckling. “As long as we’re in Northern Liang, that’s all that matters.”
At that moment, Commander Qian truly saw the Imperial Seal Office’s chief eunuch in a new light.
Outside the tavern, where dragons and fish mingled in a whirl of intrigue, a young nobleman leading a horse suddenly halted in the street.
His pause allowed the brothel madam at the entrance to get a good look at him. Her eyes lit up immediately, and the two gaudily dressed girls beside her nearly pounced on him like starving tigers, eager to devour the handsome, disheveled young man right then and there.
Lost in thought, the young man seemed oblivious to the heavily powdered madam’s words and let her drag him by the arm toward the brothel.
His mind wandered back many years, to the days when he, Li Hanlin, Yan Chiji, and Kong Zhenrong would drink and carouse together. Back then, it was always Li Hanlin who footed the bill—money stolen from his notoriously stingy father, a Northern Liang official. Every time, Li would act as if it were his last night before execution. Yan Chiji, nicknamed “Yan the Chicken,” was always awkward, no matter how many beauties surrounded him—it always seemed like he was the one being taken advantage of. And Kong Wuchi, the big oaf, treated brothel visits like charity work. The moment he stepped inside, he’d declare, “Which girl here hasn’t had a customer in the longest? I’ll take her!” So whenever Kong was around, the table inevitably hosted both the most beautiful and the most unfortunate-looking women in the establishment.
Snapping out of his reverie, the young nobleman grinned and asked, “If the heir to a princedom drinks here, does he still have to pay?”
The madam, her bosom heaving with laughter, replied, “Oh, young master, you do love your jokes! Even if the prince himself came, he’d have to pay!”
The young man, already dragged a few steps, stopped in his tracks. Still holding the reins, he grimaced. “Then I won’t go in.”
The older woman gave him a coquettish glare. “Oh, you’re a sly one! Daring to walk the streets with that kind of sword—you expect me to believe you’re broke? Fine, even if you don’t have a single copper on you, it’s no matter. You can owe me!”
Just as the young nobleman seemed to be wrestling with his conscience, an unremarkable man suddenly appeared beside them. Struggling to contain his excitement, he whispered urgently, “Second-class room, Earth Sector Sixteen. Urgent report.”
The young man nodded subtly, extricated himself from the brothel women with an apologetic smile, and led his horse forward.
Turning to the fervent-eyed spy from the Fushui Bureau, he asked, “Something unexpected?”
The spy replied gravely, “We’ve just uncovered an assassination plot targeting the three eunuchs of the Imperial Seal Office. Had we not discovered Your Highness’s presence, I would have already used the secret military seal at Qingma Station to mobilize the garrison into the city.”
Bowing his head, the spy—a high-ranking operative in Northern Liang’s intelligence network—added, “I beg Your Highness’s forgiveness!”
The young man chuckled. “Truly a Fushui Bureau man—just like Chu Lushan. No need for apologies; you deserve praise.”
The spy, responsible for intelligence in Bei’an Town, was momentarily flustered. Collecting himself, he quickly delivered a detailed and orderly report to the horse-leading young man.
The young man was none other than the young Prince of Northern Liang, Xu Fengnian. After listening, he nodded. “Leave this matter to me. You needn’t intervene further.”
As the spy prepared to leave, Xu Fengnian added solemnly, “You’ve worked hard.”
The Fushui Bureau agent froze, hesitated, then simply grinned wordlessly before melting back into the shadows.
Xu Fengnian led his horse slowly toward the tavern.
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