They recognize people by their faces
The Eastern and Western districts of Taijing are divided into twelve blocks, each further divided into several smaller blocks, separated by high walls.
The names of the larger blocks are more formal, composed of auspicious words and phrases similar to imperial era names, some of which have been used for hundreds of years without change.
The smaller blocks differ, especially the bustling ones with taverns and brothels standing in rows, where music plays nightly, and ordinary folks have gradually moved away, leaving only merchants conducting various businesses.
The Peony Block in the Eastern City is just such a place.
In the past, with its intricate red lanterns and streets filled with laughter and joy, Peony Block has become eerily quiet.
The imperial guards and the patrol officers stationed at the entrance of the block are still tirelessly searching the shops.
Though they haven’t resorted to outright looting, the people of Peony Block can’t avoid being frightened and tremblingly pass on some copper coins and silver notes, hoping these intimidating figures would leave soon.
The imperial guards, having accepted the money, only slightly improved their attitude, without relaxing their search in the slightest, showing a tendency to settle in the area.
Peony Block is the largest pleasure district in the capital, teeming with a mix of characters and many shady businesses. A casual inspection by the imperial guards could easily turn up hundreds of people with questionable identities.
People coming out to seek pleasure naturally wouldn’t carry a guide with them, making the capital’s patrol officers quite useful. Those of distinguished backgrounds or wealthy families who frequented Peony Block were quickly identified and did not need to be taken away for separate detention.
The imperial guards specifically targeted those carrying weapons, suspected to be ruffians from the underworld.
Those who were habitually dishonest, hopping from one misdeed to another, were arrested and handed over to the authorities for interrogation about suspicious individuals appearing in the block.
Many from the underworld were thus exposed.
The imperial guards didn’t press too hard, only surrounding these pleasure houses with crossbows and bows, claiming they were searching for traitors. Those without murder charges against them or who were particularly bold, realizing they couldn’t escape, wisely surrendered.
At most, they would spend a few days in jail.
Under normal circumstances, the court and the underworld did not interfere with each other. Even with strict arrest orders, the lower-ranking soldiers and clerks would turn a blind eye after the initial scrutiny. Since those from the underworld were desperate, pressuring them too much could lead to trouble, which no one wanted to face.
For this reason, Peony Block didn’t experience major turmoil. The imperial guards responsible for searching and sealing off the area also breathed a sigh of relief. The likeliest places for rebels to hide, aside from the farms on the outskirts of the capital, were in Peony Block.
It seems the scale of the rebellion wasn’t large, so there wasn’t much to worry about.
With the tension eased, life became much easier.
Those who hid in their houses not daring to make a sound yesterday were peeking out of their windows today, curious about the commotion.
At the end of Peony Block, there was a shop with an old signboard and a narrow front.
Behind this shop, there was a small building, along with a yard overgrown with weeds. This place was naturally searched thoroughly as well, with everything inside turned upside down, and the shopkeeper and his assistants were bowing their heads, tidying up.
The assistant had a sneaky look about him, often slacking off at the door after working for a bit.
The shopkeeper didn’t scold him, just coughed vigorously.
After three coughs, the assistant hung his head and came back.
“We’ve been under lockdown for almost two days and nights now, with only some spoiled cabbages left in the shop, what are we supposed to eat?” the assistant complained non-stop.
Each household had some grains, but perishable vegetables and fruits were not stored in large quantities.
Especially for the runners and servants in Peony Block, who didn’t live in this area, once the gates were closed, they were trapped. Many were so anxious that they got ulcers, restless and uneasy.
The imperial guards had long noticed the abnormality of the shop’s assistant. When passing by and hearing this conversation, they shifted their gaze away.
The assistant turned his back, changing his expression, and made a face at the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper silently entered the back hall, looked around carefully, and cautiously opened a mechanism on the wall, revealing a dark hole, then jumped down.
This was not a cellar, but a vast secret chamber.
After a winding passage, the space suddenly opened up, lavishly decorated, filled with tacky, glittering objects. The semi-transparent gold-dusted curtains even had hidden patterns of ingots, and two large copper coin ornaments were hanging.
In the secret chamber, four or five individuals were seated, their attire starkly at odds with the copper-smelling surroundings, bearing swords and knives, more akin to figures from the martial world. The leader among them, an elderly man, bore a purple-red birthmark on his right cheek, oddly shaped like a wolf’s head, rendering him particularly ferocious.
“How are things outside?” the elderly man with the wolf-head birthmark inquired in a deep voice.
The shopkeeper hurriedly bowed and replied with a smile, “It seems the situation has eased. I’ve already sent someone to secretly inquire about the situation; in another two hours, we should receive news from the imperial city.”
The elderly man was not satisfied and huffed heavily, “What do you mean, two hours? Isn’t your Fengxing Pavilion reputed to know everything under the heavens? You failed to discover Ancestor Qingwu’s plans before, and now you’re unaware of the changes in the capital. Perhaps it’s time for Fengxing Pavilion to dismantle its signboard to avoid becoming a laughingstock.”
The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man with an unremarkable face, likely unnoticeable in a crowd, showed no anger at the elderly man’s sarcasm, still smiling, “To be honest, the incident occurred suddenly, catching us off guard. Half of our people in the capital were dispatched to Shangyun Mountain, now delayed outside the city; due to celestial phenomena, our leader sent others to gather information, and they couldn’t return due to the locked gates temporarily. But rest assured, once the patrol and search relax, they will be able to return gradually.”
“Let’s hope so,” the elderly man said, stroking his beard with an unsightly expression.
Something seemed to have crossed his mind, a hint of murderous intent flickering in his eyes.
The shopkeeper, as if he hadn’t noticed, continued smiling, “Once you enter Fengxing Pavilion’s door, you are our guest. Before the transaction is completed, Fengxing Pavilion will ensure the safety of our distinguished guests…”
“Thud.”
A sound came from above, as if someone was striking the floor.
The shopkeeper’s smile froze on his face, while the elderly man alertly grabbed his weapon and stood up.
“Safe?” the elderly man looked at the shopkeeper sarcastically.
The shopkeeper was stupefied, muttering ‘impossible’.
The underground secret chamber of Fengxing Pavilion was built very solidly, even purchasing the construction formula for walls from Yizhou’s Thunder Hall. It wasn’t easy to dig through, and even explosives might not immediately breach it unless piled high above, flattening the entire street.
Since several pipes were buried, sounds from outside could be heard inside the secret chamber, but it was very difficult for those outside to hear any noise from beneath the sturdy and thick walls.
“Thud, thud.”
The sound was clear and rhythmic, like knocking.
The shopkeeper, with a changing expression, couldn’t help but walk to a corner and open a mechanism. Inside, a few small mirrors cleverly installed allowed a view of the yard above the secret chamber.
A young man wandering about?
This shopkeeper, the chief steward of Fengxing Pavilion, with vast experience in judging people, immediately noticed that the clothing material and weave on the second prince were different from common market goods.
Not necessarily expensive, but very rare.
Observing the young man’s demeanor, he was clearly used to giving orders.
What puzzled the shopkeeper was that such a person of extraordinary background seemed to be acting like a follower, evidently heeding the advice of his companion.
Yet, the shopkeeper couldn’t see the companion, just as the knocking sound resumed, accompanied by a deliberately slowed mocking tone, “Is anyone there?”
“…”
Even if there was someone, they wouldn’t respond!
The assistant from the shop front came running with a distressed face, desperately trying to stop him, “This esteemed guest…”
“What esteemed guest? With such strict inspections outside, could anyone in your shop be ordinary?” the young man scolded, unpleased.
The assistant nodded and bowed, with a pained expression, “Yes, yes, our Fengxing Pavilion conducts fair trade. May I know what the esteemed guest desires?”
Finally, the shopkeeper saw the “knocker’s” back.
—Clearly no ordinary person.
“I’m not buying information. I’m looking for a secluded place. Passing by, I found your nice secret chamber. Spacious, well-ventilated. How about renting it for three to five days? We can discuss the price.”
“Humph, quite bold.”
It was already too late for the shopkeeper to intervene; he watched helplessly as the elderly man with the birthmark pushed himself aside, shouting towards the peeping tube, “Which junior dares to be so arrogant?”
“Don’t keep calling people juniors; if you consider yourself extraordinary, why not state your name and stand out?” Meng Qi was in high spirits. This kind of martial world banter was something he learned from storytellers, rarely having the chance to use it in everyday life. However, this time, traveling from Yongzhou to Taijing with the physician, he had been dealing with martial artists all along.
He tapped the ground with his heel twice, and thuds echoed above the secret chamber. Not only was this due to his internal strength, but also because the dragon veins of Taijing had a knack for revealing hidden things below, always finding weak points, striking like a knock on everyone’s heart.
The assistant was okay, but those in the secret chamber were already on high alert.
The elder turned and glared at the shopkeeper, “Has Fengxing Pavilion run out of people? Allowing someone of unknown identity to provoke us like this.”
The shopkeeper was sweating profusely; of course, it wasn’t just him and the assistant here. Many from Fengxing Pavilion were in the small building behind the shop, but for some reason, there was no sign of them now.
Finally unable to contain himself, the elder grabbed his weapon, intending to exit through the secret passage. The shopkeeper hurriedly dissuaded him, saying it was safer to stay in the underground chamber.
“Safe? It seems this secret passage is about to be dismantled!” the elder mocked.
Should they wait to be buried underground?
Meng Qi, hands behind his back, watched leisurely as the elder led his men out, full of fury.
“May I know who you are?”
Upon seeing Meng Qi’s face, the elder instinctively sensed danger but couldn’t recall such a figure in the martial world.
His men had already charged forward, their moves swift and fierce to avoid attracting the attention of the imperial guards outside, and in the blink of an eye, they were before Meng Qi.
In another blink, they lay scattered on the ground.
Meng Qi, with his right hand behind him, remained leisurely and unconcerned.
The elder, seeing his subordinates fall inexplicably, was even more shocked.
“Could it be—”
The shopkeeper, emerging from the secret passage, gasped, turning pale with fear, as if he was about to faint.
Now, everyone’s gaze, including the assistant from the shop, who hadn’t recognized Meng Qi, was curiously focused on the shopkeeper.
Mo Li entered the courtyard just in time to hear Meng Qi ask the shopkeeper:
“Do you recognize me by this appearance?”
The shopkeeper nodded fervently, his voice trembling, “Unaware that the Grand Master Meng himself would visit our Pavilion, it’s truly… an oversight in hospitality.”
“I don’t remember meeting you.” Meng Qi thought, those who had seen him were trapped on Shangyun Mountain, how could the news have reached here?
“No, forgive my bold guess,” the shopkeeper said palely, “Fengxing Pavilion has a branch in the capital that’s a coffin shop, which received a few deals three years ago and took the opportunity to inquire… about your general appearance. Recently, there were rumors in Yongzhou that the former dynasty’s Imperial Teacher appeared and crossed rivers in full view of the public, suggesting you indeed returned to Taijing. Hence, I dared to guess. With such martial skills yet unseen by others, who else could it be but the imperial teacher?”
Mo Li paused, the words sounding eerily familiar.
“As the chief steward of Fengxing Pavilion, I dare not claim to know all the martial experts, but I am well aware of those with distinguished appearance and extraordinary bearing, holding portraits in my hand.”
The shopkeeper’s face might as well have read, “Descendant of Taijing residents, not claiming to know every hero in the martial world, but possessing an anthology of all its beauties.”
Seeing Meng Qi’s stiff smile, Mo Li coughed, ready to change the subject, when Meng Qi suddenly brightened and said to him.
“You folks are frogs at the bottom of a well, making yourselves laughable. How could you possibly know every hero in the world? For instance, do you know who this person is?”
The shopkeeper turned to look at Mo Li, immediately puzzled.
Mo Li: “…”
He seemed to hear the shopkeeper thinking, both equally outstanding, but which one is Grand Master Meng?
Author’s Note:
Oh, the leader of the news-selling gang, do you think the legendary former dynasty’s imperial teacher is a transcendent beauty or a uniquely elegant beauty?
Leader of the news-selling martial organization: ……
They recognize people by their faces
The Eastern and Western districts of Taijing are divided into twelve blocks, each further divided into several smaller blocks, separated by high walls.
The names of the larger blocks are more formal, composed of auspicious words and phrases similar to imperial era names, some of which have been used for hundreds of years without change.
The smaller blocks differ, especially the bustling ones with taverns and brothels standing in rows, where music plays nightly, and ordinary folks have gradually moved away, leaving only merchants conducting various businesses.
The Peony Block in the Eastern City is just such a place.
In the past, with its intricate red lanterns and streets filled with laughter and joy, Peony Block has become eerily quiet.
The imperial guards and the patrol officers stationed at the entrance of the block are still tirelessly searching the shops.
Though they haven’t resorted to outright looting, the people of Peony Block can’t avoid being frightened and tremblingly pass on some copper coins and silver notes, hoping these intimidating figures would leave soon.
The imperial guards, having accepted the money, only slightly improved their attitude, without relaxing their search in the slightest, showing a tendency to settle in the area.
Peony Block is the largest pleasure district in the capital, teeming with a mix of characters and many shady businesses. A casual inspection by the imperial guards could easily turn up hundreds of people with questionable identities.
People coming out to seek pleasure naturally wouldn’t carry a guide with them, making the capital’s patrol officers quite useful. Those of distinguished backgrounds or wealthy families who frequented Peony Block were quickly identified and did not need to be taken away for separate detention.
The imperial guards specifically targeted those carrying weapons, suspected to be ruffians from the underworld.
Those who were habitually dishonest, hopping from one misdeed to another, were arrested and handed over to the authorities for interrogation about suspicious individuals appearing in the block.
Many from the underworld were thus exposed.
The imperial guards didn’t press too hard, only surrounding these pleasure houses with crossbows and bows, claiming they were searching for traitors. Those without murder charges against them or who were particularly bold, realizing they couldn’t escape, wisely surrendered.
At most, they would spend a few days in jail.
Under normal circumstances, the court and the underworld did not interfere with each other. Even with strict arrest orders, the lower-ranking soldiers and clerks would turn a blind eye after the initial scrutiny. Since those from the underworld were desperate, pressuring them too much could lead to trouble, which no one wanted to face.
For this reason, Peony Block didn’t experience major turmoil. The imperial guards responsible for searching and sealing off the area also breathed a sigh of relief. The likeliest places for rebels to hide, aside from the farms on the outskirts of the capital, were in Peony Block.
It seems the scale of the rebellion wasn’t large, so there wasn’t much to worry about.
With the tension eased, life became much easier.
Those who hid in their houses not daring to make a sound yesterday were peeking out of their windows today, curious about the commotion.
At the end of Peony Block, there was a shop with an old signboard and a narrow front.
Behind this shop, there was a small building, along with a yard overgrown with weeds. This place was naturally searched thoroughly as well, with everything inside turned upside down, and the shopkeeper and his assistants were bowing their heads, tidying up.
The assistant had a sneaky look about him, often slacking off at the door after working for a bit.
The shopkeeper didn’t scold him, just coughed vigorously.
After three coughs, the assistant hung his head and came back.
“We’ve been under lockdown for almost two days and nights now, with only some spoiled cabbages left in the shop, what are we supposed to eat?” the assistant complained non-stop.
Each household had some grains, but perishable vegetables and fruits were not stored in large quantities.
Especially for the runners and servants in Peony Block, who didn’t live in this area, once the gates were closed, they were trapped. Many were so anxious that they got ulcers, restless and uneasy.
The imperial guards had long noticed the abnormality of the shop’s assistant. When passing by and hearing this conversation, they shifted their gaze away.
The assistant turned his back, changing his expression, and made a face at the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper silently entered the back hall, looked around carefully, and cautiously opened a mechanism on the wall, revealing a dark hole, then jumped down.
This was not a cellar, but a vast secret chamber.
After a winding passage, the space suddenly opened up, lavishly decorated, filled with tacky, glittering objects. The semi-transparent gold-dusted curtains even had hidden patterns of ingots, and two large copper coin ornaments were hanging.
In the secret chamber, four or five individuals were seated, their attire starkly at odds with the copper-smelling surroundings, bearing swords and knives, more akin to figures from the martial world. The leader among them, an elderly man, bore a purple-red birthmark on his right cheek, oddly shaped like a wolf’s head, rendering him particularly ferocious.
“How are things outside?” the elderly man with the wolf-head birthmark inquired in a deep voice.
The shopkeeper hurriedly bowed and replied with a smile, “It seems the situation has eased. I’ve already sent someone to secretly inquire about the situation; in another two hours, we should receive news from the imperial city.”
The elderly man was not satisfied and huffed heavily, “What do you mean, two hours? Isn’t your Fengxing Pavilion reputed to know everything under the heavens? You failed to discover Ancestor Qingwu’s plans before, and now you’re unaware of the changes in the capital. Perhaps it’s time for Fengxing Pavilion to dismantle its signboard to avoid becoming a laughingstock.”
The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man with an unremarkable face, likely unnoticeable in a crowd, showed no anger at the elderly man’s sarcasm, still smiling, “To be honest, the incident occurred suddenly, catching us off guard. Half of our people in the capital were dispatched to Shangyun Mountain, now delayed outside the city; due to celestial phenomena, our leader sent others to gather information, and they couldn’t return due to the locked gates temporarily. But rest assured, once the patrol and search relax, they will be able to return gradually.”
“Let’s hope so,” the elderly man said, stroking his beard with an unsightly expression.
Something seemed to have crossed his mind, a hint of murderous intent flickering in his eyes.
The shopkeeper, as if he hadn’t noticed, continued smiling, “Once you enter Fengxing Pavilion’s door, you are our guest. Before the transaction is completed, Fengxing Pavilion will ensure the safety of our distinguished guests…”
“Thud.”
A sound came from above, as if someone was striking the floor.
The shopkeeper’s smile froze on his face, while the elderly man alertly grabbed his weapon and stood up.
“Safe?” the elderly man looked at the shopkeeper sarcastically.
The shopkeeper was stupefied, muttering ‘impossible’.
The underground secret chamber of Fengxing Pavilion was built very solidly, even purchasing the construction formula for walls from Yizhou’s Thunder Hall. It wasn’t easy to dig through, and even explosives might not immediately breach it unless piled high above, flattening the entire street.
Since several pipes were buried, sounds from outside could be heard inside the secret chamber, but it was very difficult for those outside to hear any noise from beneath the sturdy and thick walls.
“Thud, thud.”
The sound was clear and rhythmic, like knocking.
The shopkeeper, with a changing expression, couldn’t help but walk to a corner and open a mechanism. Inside, a few small mirrors cleverly installed allowed a view of the yard above the secret chamber.
A young man wandering about?
This shopkeeper, the chief steward of Fengxing Pavilion, with vast experience in judging people, immediately noticed that the clothing material and weave on the second prince were different from common market goods.
Not necessarily expensive, but very rare.
Observing the young man’s demeanor, he was clearly used to giving orders.
What puzzled the shopkeeper was that such a person of extraordinary background seemed to be acting like a follower, evidently heeding the advice of his companion.
Yet, the shopkeeper couldn’t see the companion, just as the knocking sound resumed, accompanied by a deliberately slowed mocking tone, “Is anyone there?”
“…”
Even if there was someone, they wouldn’t respond!
The assistant from the shop front came running with a distressed face, desperately trying to stop him, “This esteemed guest…”
“What esteemed guest? With such strict inspections outside, could anyone in your shop be ordinary?” the young man scolded, unpleased.
The assistant nodded and bowed, with a pained expression, “Yes, yes, our Fengxing Pavilion conducts fair trade. May I know what the esteemed guest desires?”
Finally, the shopkeeper saw the “knocker’s” back.
—Clearly no ordinary person.
“I’m not buying information. I’m looking for a secluded place. Passing by, I found your nice secret chamber. Spacious, well-ventilated. How about renting it for three to five days? We can discuss the price.”
“Humph, quite bold.”
It was already too late for the shopkeeper to intervene; he watched helplessly as the elderly man with the birthmark pushed himself aside, shouting towards the peeping tube, “Which junior dares to be so arrogant?”
“Don’t keep calling people juniors; if you consider yourself extraordinary, why not state your name and stand out?” Meng Qi was in high spirits. This kind of martial world banter was something he learned from storytellers, rarely having the chance to use it in everyday life. However, this time, traveling from Yongzhou to Taijing with the physician, he had been dealing with martial artists all along.
He tapped the ground with his heel twice, and thuds echoed above the secret chamber. Not only was this due to his internal strength, but also because the dragon veins of Taijing had a knack for revealing hidden things below, always finding weak points, striking like a knock on everyone’s heart.
The assistant was okay, but those in the secret chamber were already on high alert.
The elder turned and glared at the shopkeeper, “Has Fengxing Pavilion run out of people? Allowing someone of unknown identity to provoke us like this.”
The shopkeeper was sweating profusely; of course, it wasn’t just him and the assistant here. Many from Fengxing Pavilion were in the small building behind the shop, but for some reason, there was no sign of them now.
Finally unable to contain himself, the elder grabbed his weapon, intending to exit through the secret passage. The shopkeeper hurriedly dissuaded him, saying it was safer to stay in the underground chamber.
“Safe? It seems this secret passage is about to be dismantled!” the elder mocked.
Should they wait to be buried underground?
Meng Qi, hands behind his back, watched leisurely as the elder led his men out, full of fury.
“May I know who you are?”
Upon seeing Meng Qi’s face, the elder instinctively sensed danger but couldn’t recall such a figure in the martial world.
His men had already charged forward, their moves swift and fierce to avoid attracting the attention of the imperial guards outside, and in the blink of an eye, they were before Meng Qi.
In another blink, they lay scattered on the ground.
Meng Qi, with his right hand behind him, remained leisurely and unconcerned.
The elder, seeing his subordinates fall inexplicably, was even more shocked.
“Could it be—”
The shopkeeper, emerging from the secret passage, gasped, turning pale with fear, as if he was about to faint.
Now, everyone’s gaze, including the assistant from the shop, who hadn’t recognized Meng Qi, was curiously focused on the shopkeeper.
Mo Li entered the courtyard just in time to hear Meng Qi ask the shopkeeper:
“Do you recognize me by this appearance?”
The shopkeeper nodded fervently, his voice trembling, “Unaware that the Grand Master Meng himself would visit our Pavilion, it’s truly… an oversight in hospitality.”
“I don’t remember meeting you.” Meng Qi thought, those who had seen him were trapped on Shangyun Mountain, how could the news have reached here?
“No, forgive my bold guess,” the shopkeeper said palely, “Fengxing Pavilion has a branch in the capital that’s a coffin shop, which received a few deals three years ago and took the opportunity to inquire… about your general appearance. Recently, there were rumors in Yongzhou that the former dynasty’s Imperial Teacher appeared and crossed rivers in full view of the public, suggesting you indeed returned to Taijing. Hence, I dared to guess. With such martial skills yet unseen by others, who else could it be but the imperial teacher?”
Mo Li paused, the words sounding eerily familiar.
“As the chief steward of Fengxing Pavilion, I dare not claim to know all the martial experts, but I am well aware of those with distinguished appearance and extraordinary bearing, holding portraits in my hand.”
The shopkeeper’s face might as well have read, “Descendant of Taijing residents, not claiming to know every hero in the martial world, but possessing an anthology of all its beauties.”
Seeing Meng Qi’s stiff smile, Mo Li coughed, ready to change the subject, when Meng Qi suddenly brightened and said to him.
“You folks are frogs at the bottom of a well, making yourselves laughable. How could you possibly know every hero in the world? For instance, do you know who this person is?”
The shopkeeper turned to look at Mo Li, immediately puzzled.
Mo Li: “…”
He seemed to hear the shopkeeper thinking, both equally outstanding, but which one is Grand Master Meng?
Author’s Note:
Oh, the leader of the news-selling gang, do you think the legendary former dynasty’s imperial teacher is a transcendent beauty or a uniquely elegant beauty?
Leader of the news-selling martial organization: ……
