The eunuch’s face darkened as if about to drip with gloom. If not for the other party’s equally formidable background, he might have personally stepped in.
Zhao Qian’s expression slightly changed, then he laughed heartily, “It seems I misjudged. I underestimated Young Hero Su’s strength. One can never measure the ocean with a mere dipper.”
His tone was sincere and humble, showing no sign of embarrassment or anger from being mocked by Meng Qi openly.
He indeed possesses some temperament of a Buddhist cultivator… Meng Qi was slightly taken aback, suppressing his smugness and smiling, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, when conditions gather we meet, and when conditions fade we part. Since we’ve already tested each other, please allow us to take our leave.”
Zhao Qian nodded with a smile, showing no frustration from defeat, “By all means.”
Without hesitation, Meng Qi left with Jiang Zhiwei, passing through the pavilion and continuing their ascent. True to his word, Zhao Qian did not send anyone to block them.
After walking a while, Meng Qi looked back and saw Zhao Qian still standing in the pavilion halfway up the mountain, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the rising clouds, lost in thought as if mesmerized by something.
“Why would Prince Liang openly reveal his ambitions? Doesn’t he fear endless troubles?” Meng Qi frowned slightly, instinctively voicing his question.
Whether he follows Buddhism or Taoism matters little to a crown prince as long as he doesn’t overstep. However, contacting various Buddhist sects to establish a terrestrial Buddhist paradise, eliminating injustice and saving all beings, would be equivalent to declaring himself an enemy of other sects and most noble families. If exposed, he would face more enemies than allies, making succession nearly impossible.
Even if he harbors such ambitions, he should remain low-key and cautious, concealing his true intentions, aligning with one faction while opposing another, waiting until his power is sufficient before sweeping all opposition aside.
What Zhao Qian had just revealed should have been a closely guarded secret, yet he spoke of it openly, seemingly unconcerned about Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei leaking it.
Jiang Zhiwei pondered, “Perhaps this secret has already been exposed, making it common knowledge throughout the capital. Otherwise, why would he come all the way to Yingcheng…”
“Or perhaps he is simply fearless…” Meng Qi added casually.
They didn’t dwell on the issue, as it was best to keep a safe distance from royal family conflicts with their current strength.
Continuing their climb, they reached Woxin Taoist Temple, but neither Meng Qi nor Jiang Zhiwei stopped, continuing upward intending to reach the summit, overlook Yingcheng, then descend to visit Woxin Temple.
Though not particularly high, Yan Yu Mountain was picturesque. Compared to the rugged mountains of Huan Province, it was merely a cluster of tall hills. Yet its scenery was beautiful; even in winter, it wasn’t desolate, with greenery sprinkled among the yellows, and shallow streams trickling slowly. At the peak, looking down, Yingcheng unfolded like a painting, with its three vertical and four horizontal waterways, sails dotting the rivers, stone bridges like threads, and mountains winding like dragons, lakes deep and mysterious like eyes.
For some reason, seeing this layout suddenly brought four words to Meng Qi’s mind: “Tiger crouching, dragon coiling.”
Jiang Zhiwei seemed to share the feeling, softly sighing, “No wonder it was once the capital of emperors?”
“Capital of emperors?” Meng Qi looked puzzled at Jiang Zhiwei.
Jiang Zhiwei chuckled, “Didn’t you know Yingcheng was the former capital of the previous dynasty?”
“Ahh…” Meng Qi’s face reddened slightly, wishing he could claim ignorance of this world’s history.
He usually only studied history when necessary, never systematically learning it, knowing more about ancient times than the recent dynasties.
Knowing Meng Qi hadn’t stayed long at Shaolin, having barely learned Sanskrit without even reaching a basic understanding of history, Jiang Zhiwei smiled knowingly, “The human race rose from the Jiangdong region. In ancient times, the Dragon Platform where the Human Emperor forged his sword was in Jiangdong. To inherit this fortune, several dynasties established their capitals in Jiangdong.”
“The former dynasty was named ‘Kang,’ with Yingcheng as its capital. It once produced several successive Dharma Bodies, suppressing even the powerful Wang Clan of Jiangdong into hiding. However, the Dao of Heaven cycles, prosperity followed by decline. In its final years, two generations of Han emperors committed grave misdeeds, angering most noble families, leading to widespread chaos.”
“At that time, the Zhao Clan of Shendu was deeply rooted with many powerful experts. After turbulent undercurrents, someone eventually attained the Dharma Body, emerging from the noble families as the leader of the alliance against the Kang. Later, unwilling to leave their homeland, they established their capital at Shendu, dismantling most of Yingcheng’s arrangements.”
“Oh, I see…” Finally understanding, Meng Qi looked at Yingcheng once more, now perceiving its profound historical weight and the vicissitudes of time.
After enjoying the view, it was already afternoon, and they descended the peak toward the secluded Woxin Temple.
This Daoist temple wasn’t large, only three courtyards deep. A lazy Daoist priest leaned against the wall sunbathing at the entrance, ignoring Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei’s approach, watching them walk into the temple.
“These priests are really slackers.” All along the way, warmed by the winter sun, everyone inside and outside the temple, whether sitting or lying, was idling, some even snoring loudly. Meng Qi couldn’t help but chuckle in exasperation—there wasn’t even a receptionist!
Suddenly, high and clear zither music came from the side courtyard, like flowing water over mountains, pure and refreshing.
Meng Qi found it familiar but knew it couldn’t be the little glutton; she wouldn’t perform so poorly…
He exchanged glances with Jiang Zhiwei. Perhaps infected by the priests’ laziness, they felt a leisurely curiosity and turned toward the side courtyard. Through the half-open gate, they saw a white-robed young nobleman.
He was as beautiful as a maiden, spotless and pure, sitting upright on a stone bench playing the zither, exuding elegance. Behind him stood a maid who glared fiercely at Meng Qi upon seeing him, silently warning him not to provoke another coughing fit from her master!
This was none other than “Calculating All Mortals,” the eldest young master Wang.
The zither music lingered as Wang Siyuan stopped playing, lightly coughing. Compared to their last meeting, his body seemed slightly stronger, but the harmony with heaven and earth had vanished. Sitting quietly, he seemed forgotten by the world.
The vanished “One!”
“Rumors said the eldest young master wouldn’t arrive for another couple of days. Never expected him to already be staying at Woxin Temple. His actions are indeed unpredictable.” With no trace of elegance, Meng Qi sprawled comfortably opposite Wang Siyuan, treating himself as no guest at all.
Jiang Zhiwei smiled slightly and sat down beside him.
Wang Siyuan’s smile was faint, “Staying at Woxin Temple, quietly overlooking the undercurrents of Yingcheng, has its own unique flavor.”
He answered obliquely.
“Where does this undercurrent come from?” Meng Qi treated him like a blind fortune-teller, casually asking.
Frankly, whenever he encountered someone who seemed to control everything, Meng Qi felt an urge to punch them.
“Didn’t you already meet them?” Wang Siyuan spoke cryptically.
Jiang Zhiwei didn’t indulge in his riddles, asking directly, “Zhao Qian and Zhao Yi both came to Yingcheng, certainly not just to recruit talents or attend the rising cloud banquet.”
“But they must pretend to be courteous and recruiting talents. Your identity and background might be unknown to others, but the nobles of Shendu, if they try, won’t find it hard to discover. Thus, they must make a show of courting the Su family and showing favor to Xuan Bei.” Wang Siyuan looked at Meng Qi with a half-smile.
“The Su family?” Jiang Zhiwei heard this for the first time, but she merely showed slight surprise before quickly calming down. Her relationship with the little monk had nothing to do with this.
“So what exactly are they planning?” Meng Qi’s mouth twitched slightly, though he never thought his background could be hidden from someone like Wang Siyuan. After all, his master was too prominent, widely known, and the Su family’s affairs were likely known to noble families. Therefore, he didn’t respond, hoping to extract more information from this “divine swindler.”
Coughing lightly, Wang Siyuan smiled, “If I knew clearly, why would I just sit and watch?”
“What they pursue is nothing but power struggles and imperial ambitions. Following this trail of thought and calculation, combined with Yingcheng’s centuries-old legends, one can still discern some direction. *Sigh* The aroma of stone-ground tofu pudding—would you two care to join me for lunch?”
At this moment, he was no longer himself, inheriting all the characteristics of the half-immortal, speaking ambiguously, arousing curiosity, yet refusing to continue!
Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei looked at each other, utterly clueless about the legends of Yingcheng.
After drinking Tiehua tea and eating homemade tofu from Woxin Temple, Wang Siyuan’s cough worsened. The maid, with a stern face, brought tea and signaled them to leave.
“Yingcheng legends… the Mi family must know. It’s still early, why don’t we go to the Mi family and find Brother Wang?” As they descended the mountain, Meng Qi suggested to Jiang Zhiwei.
Jiang Zhiwei shook her head, secretly transmitting her voice, “Later, the senior uncle responsible for Jiangdong might arrive. I must return to the Sword Pavilion to wait.”
Meng Qi’s heart leaped with joy at the prospect of reinforcements, nodding, “In that case, I’ll go to the Mi family alone.”
Crossing the Tianxiu River, they parted ways. Just arriving at the Mi family’s gate, Meng Qi saw Mizi Jing, Bai Wenyuan, and Wang Zai exiting together.
Wang Zai looked slightly bitter, his expression stiff, somewhat unwilling. Meanwhile, Mizi Jing and Bai Wenyuan were visibly delighted, eager and excited.
“Where are you brothers headed?” Seeing this, Meng Qi couldn’t help but ask with amusement.
Mizi Jing, no longer his usual meticulous and calm self, raised his eyebrows, deliberately lowering his voice instead of transmitting his thoughts secretly, “Xiuyue Pavilion.”
“Xiuyue Pavilion?” Meng Qi looked utterly confused.
“Haha, who would have thought that ‘Mad Blade’ Su Meng is still a green boy who doesn’t even know about the Embroidered Moon Pavilion.” Bai Wenyuan’s rough face bore a lewd grin.
Oh, it’s a brothel… Though Meng Qi had never tasted pork, he had seen pigs walk. Seeing their expressions, he immediately understood.
Mizi Jing chuckled, “Thanks to Brother Wang Zai’s upright conduct, only with him accompanying us did my father approve our visit. Young Master Su, care to join? Xiuyue Pavilion is the finest establishment on Tianxiu River. The girls there are accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. One glance and you’ll be captivated.”
Have I not seen beauties before? Meng Qi secretly scoffed. Although he was somewhat averse to brothels and pleasure houses, he thought of inquiring about the legends of Yingcheng and agreed to accompany them, planning to feign interest. Who would care about women from a brothel?
“Ah, Young Master Su, truly I could not refuse their insistence. If this gets out, my reputation will be ruined.” Wang Zai transmitted his voice, sighing.
“Remaining untainted amidst flowers is also a fine tale.” Meng Qi comforted him.
Mizi Jing and Bai Wenyuan were in high spirits, walking quickly, soon reaching Tianxiu River and boarding the pleasure boat of Xiuyue Pavilion.
Seeing the arrival of the Mi and Bai young masters, the madam smiled with wrinkles blooming across her face like a chrysanthemum, “Oh my, it’s been too long since our last visit from these young masters. Quickly, call down Nianfeng, Nianxue, and their four sisters.”
As she spoke, she led Meng Qi and the others into a private room on the third floor of the boat.
“What are the names of these two young masters?” Seeing Meng Qi and Wang Zai also possessed distinguished bearing, the madam asked politely.
Wang Zai immediately stammered, his face flushed with embarrassment. Leaving his name at such a place was almost unbearable.
Mizi Jing laughed heartily, waving his sleeve to relieve Wang Zai, “Just call the girls out. Why ask so many questions!”
With the young master’s command, the madam dared not ask further, quickly exiting to urge the girls to come.
“The most famous courtesan at Xiuyue Pavilion is Nianxue. Although her beauty isn’t the most exquisite, she is gentle and refined, knowledgeable in music and painting, like an outstanding young lady from a noble family. Commoners rarely catch her eye.” Bai Wenyuan already wore a lovesick expression before even seeing the beauties.
In the brothel, Meng Qi felt uncomfortable, but seeing Wang Zai even more so, he felt a sense of schadenfreude, momentarily forgetting his own embarrassment.
After some casual chatting, before Meng Qi could ask his question, four beauties arrived together—one delicately picturesque, one charmingly radiant, one refined and elegant, and one with willow eyebrows and phoenix eyes.
Mizi Jing smiled, “If we choose, it might cause conflict and ruin our friendship. Please, let the four beauties choose for themselves.”
As the words fell, the gentle and graceful Nianxue stepped forward, directly approaching Meng Qi, “Please, my lord, grant me your favor.”
“Oh my, truly love at first sight!” Bai Wenyuan winked at Meng Qi, their camaraderie seemingly growing closer from their shared visit to the pleasure house.
Meng Qi felt quite pleased, a natural sense of pride. Watching Nianxue sit down, he chuckled lowly, “I wonder why Nianxue chose me?”
Nianxue smiled without answering, leaning closer. Meng Qi tensed his body, wary of any hidden attack.
As she neared Meng Qi’s ear, Nianxue’s voice was soft and melodious:
“Baba!”
…Meng Qi’s expression froze, unsure of the time or place.
Nianxue whispered with a low chuckle, “A young lady asked me to call you that just now, and to relay her words exactly to you.”
Damn Gu Xiaosang! Good thing I didn’t harbor lustful thoughts, or that call might have left a lifelong trauma!
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