Don’t want it anymore, not selling it, help
The next day, the imperial guards gradually left, and the gates of Peony District finally opened wide.
Those trapped here for seeking pleasure rushed home without delay.
During this period, several farces occurred, with some refusing to pay for the three days of entertainment.
In the brothel, not only was there an overnight stay, but also accompanying guests for drinks. Besides the offspring of the powerful, a large number of literati and scholars mingled in Peony District, making it a place for hosting banquets and singing gatherings. Indeed, those who never stepped foot here were considered oddities, gaining a reputation for being eccentric in their circles.
Hosting and singing meant there were geishas and dancers, as well as famous women of talent and beauty to accompany the guests.
Those invited drank themselves into a stupor and gradually left. If by accident they stayed past curfew, the brothel had rooms available at a higher price than inns.
Such places catered to the patrons’ status; the truly poor were left at tables covered in leftovers, ignored as long as they didn’t cause a drunken ruckus. Those with some means were taken to rooms where servants helped them wipe down and fed them strong tea to sober up. The truly wealthy woke up clean, with young women having fanned them throughout the night.
It wasn’t like in the stories where a poor scholar, invited by classmates, gets so drunk he knows nothing, to be favored by a courtesan eager to reform or a female guest entering the wrong room, leading to a night of passionate encounters.
Peony District was not a lowly place; to become a favored guest, one needed to be seen four or five times, accompanied in conversation, and drink seven or eight times before being considered acquainted. It wasn’t because their status was high or they lived freely, but because without spending enough money, one couldn’t even touch a courtesan’s hand.
The city under martial law trapped those who came by invitation to freeload, listen to music, and gain insight but found themselves embarrassed by a lack of funds. If the host refused to pay for their three days of tea, room, and board, they could only argue and default on the bill.
Some, caught up in a drunken haze, seeing the situation outside deteriorate, simply got drunk for three days or even became favored guests during the brothel’s anxious moments, now found themselves in a predicament.
Everywhere was noisy, with endless disputes, and some even pulled in officials from the Taijing Prefecture who hadn’t managed to withdraw in time to argue their case.
One side argued vehemently that it was unfair for them to stay an extra three days against their will, unable to leave, so why should they pay? The other side retorted that they drank the wine, ate the food, and spent whole days with the girls, so refusing to pay now was unjust. If they had simply slept in the rooms for three days, room charges could have been waived.
The arguments escalated into indecipherable insults, and eventually, fights broke out.
The Second Prince stood at the entrance of the alley where the bookstore was located, watching the chaos outside in disbelief.
“Is Taijing always like this?” Lu Min couldn’t help but ask.
“It’s my first time in Taijing.”
Mo Li had never seen such a scene either.
Rotten vegetable leaves, tables, chairs, lanterns, and shoes scattered everywhere.
Clothes hung from the eaves, with sleeves fluttering in the air.
Thus, Peony District, just unsealed, was once again surrounded by officials from the Taijing Prefecture, who loudly halted the ongoing brawl.
An old man with a wolf-shaped birthmark, also residing in Fengxing Pavilion, was so angry he nearly passed out.
What was this madness?
Out of caution, they hadn’t been among the first to leave Peony District, wary of the imperial guards’ strict inspections causing trouble and wanting to find out when the city gates would open. So, they prepared to leave with the crowd from Peony District at a leisurely pace.
Instead, they were caught up in the brawl that broke out among the various parties.
Fortunately, being skilled in martial arts, he wasn’t caught directly but managed to slip into an alley before the patrol arrived.
When Sha Qiancheng saw Mo Li, whether out of anger or some other motive, he was about to pass by but suddenly turned and aimed a palm strike to send Lu Min out of the alley.
Mo Li intercepted the strike with his hand.
Before Sha Qiancheng could react, Mo Li used his internal force to counter, causing the old man to grunt and stagger back several steps.
“There’s another one over there.”
The patrol saw someone stumbling out of the alley as if they’d run into something, swaying from side to side.
Sha Qiancheng was shocked. Looking up again, Mo Li had already retreated into the bookstore with Lu Min, and his own men were sprawled all over the ground, just like when they encountered Meng Qi the day before, confusedly lying down.
“Move aside!” Sha Qiancheng bellowed angrily, knocking down several city guards and quickly darting into another alley.
Between the flower buildings of Peony District, the view was obstructed by various lanterns and gauze curtains, making Sha Qiancheng aware that his appearance would surely arouse suspicion, not looking like an ordinary citizen, so he ran swiftly and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Once out of the Peony District, he would naturally be untroubled.
He grabbed a piece of clothing that had floated to the wall, changed his attire, and was about to climb over the wall when he suddenly saw a figure sneak in.
—The other seemed to have the same idea as Sha Qiancheng about this secluded wall: one coming in, the other going out.
Sha Qiancheng was also considered a renowned figure in the martial world, a true predecessor of the martial world, and one not to be trifled with. In his early years as a bandit outside the border, he killed without mercy, striking terror into the hearts of many.
Now, in his hurry to leave the city and hide his tracks, the discovery of a murdered body would only lead to greater troubles, so he unusually gave way, even turning his head to hide his face in the shadows.
He had thought the other would also choose to leave quickly to avoid further trouble, but instead, the person jumped down from the wall and just stood there.
Anger rising from his heart, Sha Qiancheng raised his hand to strike, but halfway through, his arm suddenly pained intensely.
“You…”
Sha Qiancheng then realized he had been hit by a hidden attack earlier, injuring the meridians in his right arm.
That wasn’t all; the person across spoke leisurely.
“In such a hurry, where are you going?”
Meng Qi, with his sleeves rolled up, holding a bulging bundle that seemed to contain many things, his shoes and clothes stained with some black ash, looked even more like a refugee than Sha Qiancheng, yet people differ from one another.
Seeing his face, Meng Qi smiled playfully and put his hat back on.
The previous aura and temperament were gone in an instant, not because the face was covered, but also because the standing posture and even the air around him changed. It wasn’t ordinary, but a mysterious sense that merged with everything around, indistinguishable from his surroundings.
Sha Qiancheng’s breath hitched.
He had seen top experts and had even escaped from such experts’ pursuit before.
He had thought Meng Qi practiced some strange technique, making him hard to deal with, but now Sha Qiancheng knew he was wrong, terribly wrong. This kind of terror that made one’s limbs stiff and scalp tingle, filled him with fear.
Without a word, he turned and ran.
***
At Fengxing Pavilion Bookstore.
Lu Min watched the city guards take people away, feeling very pleased, because he had heard that these were people under Tianshou King’s command. The crown prince had said that the southwest was already in chaos due to Tianshou King, with the people blindly following the ZiWei XingJun, appearing crazed.
Pleased as he was, he wouldn’t say it directly but instead dodged the bookstore’s clerk and asked in a low voice, “Does the doctor have a grudge against them?”
“We had never met before yesterday, how could there be any grudge?”
Mo Li spoke indifferently, but the Second Prince did not believe it, because he didn’t understand martial arts. He didn’t realize that Sha Qiancheng had tried to push him out just now, as everything happened too quickly, with experts’ moves changing in the blink of an eye. Lu Min was momentarily distracted and found himself back in the bookstore, the old man gone, and the rest unconscious.
Truth be told, the Second Prince also felt embarrassed; being carried away like a rabbit without any resistance, by the time he realized what was happening, it was all over.
He, who prided himself on his bravery, felt complex emotions.
This wasn’t the first time; he had been taken out of the palace in the same way.
Lu Min tried to forget these moments, then probed, “Did the doctor act because they sided with Tianshou King?”
“What Tianshou King is like, I have never seen.”
“Then is it because he was once a bandit outside the border?” Lu Min thought of another reason.
Mo Li remained noncommittal.
The real reason was something else entirely—the bandit group called Qinglang Qi outside the border had encountered Ning Changyuan five years ago and was almost completely wiped out, with only the leader Sha Qiancheng escaping alone.
Ning Changyuan was still trustworthy. Moreover, Mo Li hadn’t really done anything just now, just casually tricked someone.
“Don’t think that gentlemen won’t trick people.”
Using their own methods against them, it was done effortlessly.
As the city guards searched the alley, Lu Min saw the situation turning sour and thought to hide in the back, but Mo Li glanced at him and said seriously, “It’s too late to run now, but don’t worry, unless someone familiar with you sees you, even if they have seen you once or twice, they definitely won’t recognize you now.”
Lu Min was startled and instinctively looked at his attire.
Although he had changed into a set of ordinary civilian clothes, the difference should not have been resolved.
—Wait a minute!
Lu Min remembered a crucial matter, reached up to touch the top of his head, and his face darkened.
The fight between Ancestor Qingwu and Meng Qi had collapsed the rafters of the Spring Flower Palace’s side hall, and the fierce wind had even shaved off his hair. Busy with the assassination of the emperor the previous day and in a hurry this morning, he hadn’t combed his hair, which was messy and standing on end around him, feeling no different. Now, upon closer inspection, he realized a patch of hair was missing on the right side.
“Where is the bronze mirror?”
Lu Min asked with a dark face, but such an item was not available in the bookstore.
At this moment, the city guards came over. Mo Li stood further inside, unseen by them. Their gaze swept over Lu Min, who was neatly dressed and wearing shoes, not appearing to have been involved in a fight.
“Where is the shopkeeper? Have any strangers run in here?”
The clerk, hearing the commotion, hurried out to deal with the situation, smiling and saying no.
“What about this scab?” one of the city guards asked, pointing at Lu Min.
Lu Min was struck as if by lightning, dazed and looking especially foolish.
He didn’t even know how the city guards left.
“How…how am I a scab now?” the Second Prince asked in despair.
“You crawled under a wooden couch last night…”
Mo Li explained subtly, without going into detail.
In fact, Lu Min’s face was dusty, not seeming like he intentionally disguised himself with dirt, but like a commoner who had been through hard labor, his hair messy like a chicken nest, and pockmarked with light yellow wall dust, at first glance, didn’t he look like a scab head?
When Lu Min wished he could just hold his head and howl, the manager of Fengxing Pavilion arrived.
This bookstore manager didn’t care about the fate of Sha Qiancheng and others; as long as they were out of Fengxing Pavilion, it had nothing to do with them. Rubbing his hands, he said to Mo Li with difficulty, “This distinguished guest, I’m sorry, but the top-quality silver needles you need are available for purchase in Laurel Square. Since you are not going out now, would you like to stay another day at our Fengxing Pavilion, or should we refund half of the silver note and draw you a map to buy it yourself?”
Mo Li frowned slightly.
Lu Min widened his eyes in shock, “You were given twenty taels of silver by the doctor yesterday, and…although this servant does not know how much a set of top-quality silver needles costs, by drawing a map, you’re like pocketing ten taels of silver? Isn’t this profiteering?”
“Sir, your words are not correct. Our Fengxing Pavilion specializes in selling information, and it’s very common for a piece of information to cost a hundred taels of silver. Besides, it’s not as simple as just drawing a map. With such a large city as the Capital, it’s hard to find craftsmen skilled in needle-making without guidance! Even if you go to pharmacies or medical halls, those people might not tell you.”
The manager raised his plump finger, gesturing, “This is about a craftsman with exceptional skills; ordinary people, if not knowledgeable, can only buy ordinary goods.”
Mo Li was not good at bargaining, and the common people of Zhushan County would not likely sell him things at a high price.
The manager was eloquent, but Mo Li was not as persuasive.
In reality, although there were reasons for this, it wasn’t as exaggerated as the manager claimed. Having a map would indeed be more convenient, but this convenience was definitely not worth ten taels of silver; it was an exorbitant price.
The more troublesome aspect of Fengxing Pavilion was that they might not accept “bargaining.”
Seeing the manager’s determined look, Mo Li knew it was going to be difficult.
In the eyes of Fengxing Pavilion’s manager, a top expert like Master Meng, who lacked nothing, probably wouldn’t care about money, thinking it was all profit regardless.
But neither Meng Qi nor Mo Li were such people.
The standoff continued until suddenly, a greeting was heard from outside.
“What’s going on? Are you all standing here admiring the painting?”
Meng Qi, carrying a large bundle and wearing a hat, entered the shop with ease.
His appearance was ghostly; the bookstore clerk sweeping outside blinked, and when he looked up again, Meng Qi was already standing at the door, completely unaware of how he got there.
The manager, referred to as “the one admiring the painting,” along with Mo Li and Lu Min, looked up to see that they were indeed standing in front of a painting depicting a scene of play on a swing among osmanthus trees.
The painting was small, intended to be sold to young nobles as fan surfaces.
Printed in vibrant colors and subtly revealing, it was full of charm and elegance.
To those uninitiated, at first glance, it might seem like young men and women sharing tender moments under the cover of tree shadows.
Due to its popularity, the manager boldly displayed it in the shop.
Originally, it was not immediately visible upon entering; a large calligraphy fan covered it, and only when guests arrived was it unveiled. Recently, with all the chaos, the calligraphy piece had fallen partially, revealing the swing scene underneath.
Meng Qi nodded in approval, commenting, “This painting indeed possesses a certain spirit. I wonder who the artist is.”
Everyone: “……”
Upon closer inspection, Mo Li realized Meng Qi was right. The painting’s tree shadows were mottled, and the actions of the unseen figures could be inferred from their reflections. However, after being printed by the workshop, the finer details were lost, making it difficult to discern.
Mo Li was indifferent to the content of the painting and disliked the stereotypical faces of the figures. However, he could still sense whether the artist was sincere or harbored vulgar intentions.
“If possible, I would indeed like to see the original painting.”
Mo Li looked up after speaking, to find Lu Min’s face full of disbelief.
The manager laughed and pulled out a stack of items, presenting them as treasures: “This is a masterpiece by Master Jinshui, with four more fan surfaces available, each priced at two hundred and twenty wen, and the whole set for one silver tael.”
The Second Prince: “……”
Still quite expensive.
Lu Min was tempted, wondering why spend money on erotic paintings.
“There’s also this book by Master Jinshui, ‘The Bone of the Fox,’ the last copy in our bookstore…”
“No, I won’t buy!” Lu Min said through gritted teeth, wishing he could cover his eyes, turn around, and leave to avoid temptation.
Meng Qi pushed the Second Prince back with a hand.
“Just leave it there.” Meng Qi nonchalantly dropped his bundle on the ground.
There was no sound of impact, indicating the contents of the bundle were not heavy.
It was then that Mo Li quietly said to Meng Qi using a secret message technique, “You have the scent of blood on you.”
“On the way back to Peony District, I happened upon that Qinglang Qi’s Sha Qiancheng. I disabled one of his arms and asked about the situation with Tianshou King,” Meng Qi said nonchalantly.
“Where is he now?”
“Taken away, probably sitting in the jail of Taijing Prefecture.” Meng Qi thought for a moment, then added, “I and the doctor have a good understanding; we used the internal energy method we figured out before to place a restriction on him, causing him to suffer if he tries to use his internal energy. As for the rest, we’ll deal with him when we have time.”
Mo Li paused, unable to help asking, “Do you really plan to buy… the fan surfaces and the storybook?”
“Why not? By the way, what were you discussing earlier?” Meng Qi, seeing Mo Li’s reaction, realized he had misunderstood. The manager and Mo Li were not admiring the painting.
Mo Li briefly recounted the situation, and Meng Qi raised an eyebrow, snorting coldly.
The manager had attempted to probe Lu Min’s identity by presenting several sets of prints, claiming they were precious editions collected by the previous dynasty’s royal family. Lu Min’s expression kept changing, and he seemed about to flee in panic.
“Heard you’re asking ten taels for a map?” Meng Qi removed his hat, fixing his gaze on the manager.
Despite the pressure of money, the manager of Fengxing Pavilion stood his ground, insisting, “The price is fair and useful, the craftsman’s skill is exquisite…”
“Agreed.”
Meng Qi interrupted, casually hooking the bundle with his toe, rolling it to the manager’s feet.
“The money in the bundle is for the doctor’s map information. Give back the silver note.”
“This—”
The manager was about to refuse when the bundle unraveled.
Inside were a variety of red, green, and even purple robes, embroidered with birds and beasts, exquisite in pattern and superior in material, along with several official hats.
The manager was speechless, his hands trembling.
Only officials of the third rank or higher wore purple robes.
“Count them, how much are these worth?” Meng Qi kindly unfolded the official robes with his internal energy, half-smiling, “There’s one brand new, five almost new, and the rest, though old, can still be sold for a good price in your shop.”
The manager and the clerk’s eyes nearly popped out.
Officials had to provide their own official robes; the court did not issue them, and high officials could receive clothing as rewards. In the Capital, lower-ranking officials, poor and unable to afford their own, would rent or even sell their robes to specialty shops.
These shops were not ordinary and located within the inner city, along the street outside Zhengyang Gate.
They sold official boots, hats, and the full set.
Being unable to put food on the table and thus pawning their official robes for some money, only to redeem them back when their salaries are paid, is a common practice among the lower-ranking officials in the Capital.
So, are official robes valuable? Absolutely valuable!
However, robes that circulated in such shops were usually of the seventh rank or lower, green robes, with crimson robes of the fifth rank rarely seen, let alone purple robes.
If someone saw so many official robes in a bookstore…
The manager, frightened, quickly wrapped up the bundle again with light-footed agility.
“What does this mean, Master?” the manager asked weakly.
“Pay up.” Meng Qi stated matter-of-factly, “Trading in official robes doesn’t violate any laws. Look, these are quite new, with almost no depreciation in market price, truly rare goods. Even if you just sell the crimson and green robes and keep the purple ones as collectibles, the total would be a substantial amount. Let’s see, according to the prices of the Chu dynasty, it should be over thirty taels of silver. Subtracting the ten taels for the map information, plus the fan surfaces and storybook you offered, and the twenty taels the doctor paid for the silver needles… I’ll take a loss, for the sake of Fengxing Pavilion’s face, and ask you to give me fifty taels in return.”
“……”
The clerk watched as their manager began to convulse, rolling his eyes back.
Author’s Note:
Zhu Xi’s “Commentary on the Doctrine of the Mean” hence states that the way a gentleman governs others is by applying their own methods against them.
Don’t want it anymore, not selling it, help
The next day, the imperial guards gradually left, and the gates of Peony District finally opened wide.
Those trapped here for seeking pleasure rushed home without delay.
During this period, several farces occurred, with some refusing to pay for the three days of entertainment.
In the brothel, not only was there an overnight stay, but also accompanying guests for drinks. Besides the offspring of the powerful, a large number of literati and scholars mingled in Peony District, making it a place for hosting banquets and singing gatherings. Indeed, those who never stepped foot here were considered oddities, gaining a reputation for being eccentric in their circles.
Hosting and singing meant there were geishas and dancers, as well as famous women of talent and beauty to accompany the guests.
Those invited drank themselves into a stupor and gradually left. If by accident they stayed past curfew, the brothel had rooms available at a higher price than inns.
Such places catered to the patrons’ status; the truly poor were left at tables covered in leftovers, ignored as long as they didn’t cause a drunken ruckus. Those with some means were taken to rooms where servants helped them wipe down and fed them strong tea to sober up. The truly wealthy woke up clean, with young women having fanned them throughout the night.
It wasn’t like in the stories where a poor scholar, invited by classmates, gets so drunk he knows nothing, to be favored by a courtesan eager to reform or a female guest entering the wrong room, leading to a night of passionate encounters.
Peony District was not a lowly place; to become a favored guest, one needed to be seen four or five times, accompanied in conversation, and drink seven or eight times before being considered acquainted. It wasn’t because their status was high or they lived freely, but because without spending enough money, one couldn’t even touch a courtesan’s hand.
The city under martial law trapped those who came by invitation to freeload, listen to music, and gain insight but found themselves embarrassed by a lack of funds. If the host refused to pay for their three days of tea, room, and board, they could only argue and default on the bill.
Some, caught up in a drunken haze, seeing the situation outside deteriorate, simply got drunk for three days or even became favored guests during the brothel’s anxious moments, now found themselves in a predicament.
Everywhere was noisy, with endless disputes, and some even pulled in officials from the Taijing Prefecture who hadn’t managed to withdraw in time to argue their case.
One side argued vehemently that it was unfair for them to stay an extra three days against their will, unable to leave, so why should they pay? The other side retorted that they drank the wine, ate the food, and spent whole days with the girls, so refusing to pay now was unjust. If they had simply slept in the rooms for three days, room charges could have been waived.
The arguments escalated into indecipherable insults, and eventually, fights broke out.
The Second Prince stood at the entrance of the alley where the bookstore was located, watching the chaos outside in disbelief.
“Is Taijing always like this?” Lu Min couldn’t help but ask.
“It’s my first time in Taijing.”
Mo Li had never seen such a scene either.
Rotten vegetable leaves, tables, chairs, lanterns, and shoes scattered everywhere.
Clothes hung from the eaves, with sleeves fluttering in the air.
Thus, Peony District, just unsealed, was once again surrounded by officials from the Taijing Prefecture, who loudly halted the ongoing brawl.
An old man with a wolf-shaped birthmark, also residing in Fengxing Pavilion, was so angry he nearly passed out.
What was this madness?
Out of caution, they hadn’t been among the first to leave Peony District, wary of the imperial guards’ strict inspections causing trouble and wanting to find out when the city gates would open. So, they prepared to leave with the crowd from Peony District at a leisurely pace.
Instead, they were caught up in the brawl that broke out among the various parties.
Fortunately, being skilled in martial arts, he wasn’t caught directly but managed to slip into an alley before the patrol arrived.
When Sha Qiancheng saw Mo Li, whether out of anger or some other motive, he was about to pass by but suddenly turned and aimed a palm strike to send Lu Min out of the alley.
Mo Li intercepted the strike with his hand.
Before Sha Qiancheng could react, Mo Li used his internal force to counter, causing the old man to grunt and stagger back several steps.
“There’s another one over there.”
The patrol saw someone stumbling out of the alley as if they’d run into something, swaying from side to side.
Sha Qiancheng was shocked. Looking up again, Mo Li had already retreated into the bookstore with Lu Min, and his own men were sprawled all over the ground, just like when they encountered Meng Qi the day before, confusedly lying down.
“Move aside!” Sha Qiancheng bellowed angrily, knocking down several city guards and quickly darting into another alley.
Between the flower buildings of Peony District, the view was obstructed by various lanterns and gauze curtains, making Sha Qiancheng aware that his appearance would surely arouse suspicion, not looking like an ordinary citizen, so he ran swiftly and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Once out of the Peony District, he would naturally be untroubled.
He grabbed a piece of clothing that had floated to the wall, changed his attire, and was about to climb over the wall when he suddenly saw a figure sneak in.
—The other seemed to have the same idea as Sha Qiancheng about this secluded wall: one coming in, the other going out.
Sha Qiancheng was also considered a renowned figure in the martial world, a true predecessor of the martial world, and one not to be trifled with. In his early years as a bandit outside the border, he killed without mercy, striking terror into the hearts of many.
Now, in his hurry to leave the city and hide his tracks, the discovery of a murdered body would only lead to greater troubles, so he unusually gave way, even turning his head to hide his face in the shadows.
He had thought the other would also choose to leave quickly to avoid further trouble, but instead, the person jumped down from the wall and just stood there.
Anger rising from his heart, Sha Qiancheng raised his hand to strike, but halfway through, his arm suddenly pained intensely.
“You…”
Sha Qiancheng then realized he had been hit by a hidden attack earlier, injuring the meridians in his right arm.
That wasn’t all; the person across spoke leisurely.
“In such a hurry, where are you going?”
Meng Qi, with his sleeves rolled up, holding a bulging bundle that seemed to contain many things, his shoes and clothes stained with some black ash, looked even more like a refugee than Sha Qiancheng, yet people differ from one another.
Seeing his face, Meng Qi smiled playfully and put his hat back on.
The previous aura and temperament were gone in an instant, not because the face was covered, but also because the standing posture and even the air around him changed. It wasn’t ordinary, but a mysterious sense that merged with everything around, indistinguishable from his surroundings.
Sha Qiancheng’s breath hitched.
He had seen top experts and had even escaped from such experts’ pursuit before.
He had thought Meng Qi practiced some strange technique, making him hard to deal with, but now Sha Qiancheng knew he was wrong, terribly wrong. This kind of terror that made one’s limbs stiff and scalp tingle, filled him with fear.
Without a word, he turned and ran.
***
At Fengxing Pavilion Bookstore.
Lu Min watched the city guards take people away, feeling very pleased, because he had heard that these were people under Tianshou King’s command. The crown prince had said that the southwest was already in chaos due to Tianshou King, with the people blindly following the ZiWei XingJun, appearing crazed.
Pleased as he was, he wouldn’t say it directly but instead dodged the bookstore’s clerk and asked in a low voice, “Does the doctor have a grudge against them?”
“We had never met before yesterday, how could there be any grudge?”
Mo Li spoke indifferently, but the Second Prince did not believe it, because he didn’t understand martial arts. He didn’t realize that Sha Qiancheng had tried to push him out just now, as everything happened too quickly, with experts’ moves changing in the blink of an eye. Lu Min was momentarily distracted and found himself back in the bookstore, the old man gone, and the rest unconscious.
Truth be told, the Second Prince also felt embarrassed; being carried away like a rabbit without any resistance, by the time he realized what was happening, it was all over.
He, who prided himself on his bravery, felt complex emotions.
This wasn’t the first time; he had been taken out of the palace in the same way.
Lu Min tried to forget these moments, then probed, “Did the doctor act because they sided with Tianshou King?”
“What Tianshou King is like, I have never seen.”
“Then is it because he was once a bandit outside the border?” Lu Min thought of another reason.
Mo Li remained noncommittal.
The real reason was something else entirely—the bandit group called Qinglang Qi outside the border had encountered Ning Changyuan five years ago and was almost completely wiped out, with only the leader Sha Qiancheng escaping alone.
Ning Changyuan was still trustworthy. Moreover, Mo Li hadn’t really done anything just now, just casually tricked someone.
“Don’t think that gentlemen won’t trick people.”
Using their own methods against them, it was done effortlessly.
As the city guards searched the alley, Lu Min saw the situation turning sour and thought to hide in the back, but Mo Li glanced at him and said seriously, “It’s too late to run now, but don’t worry, unless someone familiar with you sees you, even if they have seen you once or twice, they definitely won’t recognize you now.”
Lu Min was startled and instinctively looked at his attire.
Although he had changed into a set of ordinary civilian clothes, the difference should not have been resolved.
—Wait a minute!
Lu Min remembered a crucial matter, reached up to touch the top of his head, and his face darkened.
The fight between Ancestor Qingwu and Meng Qi had collapsed the rafters of the Spring Flower Palace’s side hall, and the fierce wind had even shaved off his hair. Busy with the assassination of the emperor the previous day and in a hurry this morning, he hadn’t combed his hair, which was messy and standing on end around him, feeling no different. Now, upon closer inspection, he realized a patch of hair was missing on the right side.
“Where is the bronze mirror?”
Lu Min asked with a dark face, but such an item was not available in the bookstore.
At this moment, the city guards came over. Mo Li stood further inside, unseen by them. Their gaze swept over Lu Min, who was neatly dressed and wearing shoes, not appearing to have been involved in a fight.
“Where is the shopkeeper? Have any strangers run in here?”
The clerk, hearing the commotion, hurried out to deal with the situation, smiling and saying no.
“What about this scab?” one of the city guards asked, pointing at Lu Min.
Lu Min was struck as if by lightning, dazed and looking especially foolish.
He didn’t even know how the city guards left.
“How…how am I a scab now?” the Second Prince asked in despair.
“You crawled under a wooden couch last night…”
Mo Li explained subtly, without going into detail.
In fact, Lu Min’s face was dusty, not seeming like he intentionally disguised himself with dirt, but like a commoner who had been through hard labor, his hair messy like a chicken nest, and pockmarked with light yellow wall dust, at first glance, didn’t he look like a scab head?
When Lu Min wished he could just hold his head and howl, the manager of Fengxing Pavilion arrived.
This bookstore manager didn’t care about the fate of Sha Qiancheng and others; as long as they were out of Fengxing Pavilion, it had nothing to do with them. Rubbing his hands, he said to Mo Li with difficulty, “This distinguished guest, I’m sorry, but the top-quality silver needles you need are available for purchase in Laurel Square. Since you are not going out now, would you like to stay another day at our Fengxing Pavilion, or should we refund half of the silver note and draw you a map to buy it yourself?”
Mo Li frowned slightly.
Lu Min widened his eyes in shock, “You were given twenty taels of silver by the doctor yesterday, and…although this servant does not know how much a set of top-quality silver needles costs, by drawing a map, you’re like pocketing ten taels of silver? Isn’t this profiteering?”
“Sir, your words are not correct. Our Fengxing Pavilion specializes in selling information, and it’s very common for a piece of information to cost a hundred taels of silver. Besides, it’s not as simple as just drawing a map. With such a large city as the Capital, it’s hard to find craftsmen skilled in needle-making without guidance! Even if you go to pharmacies or medical halls, those people might not tell you.”
The manager raised his plump finger, gesturing, “This is about a craftsman with exceptional skills; ordinary people, if not knowledgeable, can only buy ordinary goods.”
Mo Li was not good at bargaining, and the common people of Zhushan County would not likely sell him things at a high price.
The manager was eloquent, but Mo Li was not as persuasive.
In reality, although there were reasons for this, it wasn’t as exaggerated as the manager claimed. Having a map would indeed be more convenient, but this convenience was definitely not worth ten taels of silver; it was an exorbitant price.
The more troublesome aspect of Fengxing Pavilion was that they might not accept “bargaining.”
Seeing the manager’s determined look, Mo Li knew it was going to be difficult.
In the eyes of Fengxing Pavilion’s manager, a top expert like Master Meng, who lacked nothing, probably wouldn’t care about money, thinking it was all profit regardless.
But neither Meng Qi nor Mo Li were such people.
The standoff continued until suddenly, a greeting was heard from outside.
“What’s going on? Are you all standing here admiring the painting?”
Meng Qi, carrying a large bundle and wearing a hat, entered the shop with ease.
His appearance was ghostly; the bookstore clerk sweeping outside blinked, and when he looked up again, Meng Qi was already standing at the door, completely unaware of how he got there.
The manager, referred to as “the one admiring the painting,” along with Mo Li and Lu Min, looked up to see that they were indeed standing in front of a painting depicting a scene of play on a swing among osmanthus trees.
The painting was small, intended to be sold to young nobles as fan surfaces.
Printed in vibrant colors and subtly revealing, it was full of charm and elegance.
To those uninitiated, at first glance, it might seem like young men and women sharing tender moments under the cover of tree shadows.
Due to its popularity, the manager boldly displayed it in the shop.
Originally, it was not immediately visible upon entering; a large calligraphy fan covered it, and only when guests arrived was it unveiled. Recently, with all the chaos, the calligraphy piece had fallen partially, revealing the swing scene underneath.
Meng Qi nodded in approval, commenting, “This painting indeed possesses a certain spirit. I wonder who the artist is.”
Everyone: “……”
Upon closer inspection, Mo Li realized Meng Qi was right. The painting’s tree shadows were mottled, and the actions of the unseen figures could be inferred from their reflections. However, after being printed by the workshop, the finer details were lost, making it difficult to discern.
Mo Li was indifferent to the content of the painting and disliked the stereotypical faces of the figures. However, he could still sense whether the artist was sincere or harbored vulgar intentions.
“If possible, I would indeed like to see the original painting.”
Mo Li looked up after speaking, to find Lu Min’s face full of disbelief.
The manager laughed and pulled out a stack of items, presenting them as treasures: “This is a masterpiece by Master Jinshui, with four more fan surfaces available, each priced at two hundred and twenty wen, and the whole set for one silver tael.”
The Second Prince: “……”
Still quite expensive.
Lu Min was tempted, wondering why spend money on erotic paintings.
“There’s also this book by Master Jinshui, ‘The Bone of the Fox,’ the last copy in our bookstore…”
“No, I won’t buy!” Lu Min said through gritted teeth, wishing he could cover his eyes, turn around, and leave to avoid temptation.
Meng Qi pushed the Second Prince back with a hand.
“Just leave it there.” Meng Qi nonchalantly dropped his bundle on the ground.
There was no sound of impact, indicating the contents of the bundle were not heavy.
It was then that Mo Li quietly said to Meng Qi using a secret message technique, “You have the scent of blood on you.”
“On the way back to Peony District, I happened upon that Qinglang Qi’s Sha Qiancheng. I disabled one of his arms and asked about the situation with Tianshou King,” Meng Qi said nonchalantly.
“Where is he now?”
“Taken away, probably sitting in the jail of Taijing Prefecture.” Meng Qi thought for a moment, then added, “I and the doctor have a good understanding; we used the internal energy method we figured out before to place a restriction on him, causing him to suffer if he tries to use his internal energy. As for the rest, we’ll deal with him when we have time.”
Mo Li paused, unable to help asking, “Do you really plan to buy… the fan surfaces and the storybook?”
“Why not? By the way, what were you discussing earlier?” Meng Qi, seeing Mo Li’s reaction, realized he had misunderstood. The manager and Mo Li were not admiring the painting.
Mo Li briefly recounted the situation, and Meng Qi raised an eyebrow, snorting coldly.
The manager had attempted to probe Lu Min’s identity by presenting several sets of prints, claiming they were precious editions collected by the previous dynasty’s royal family. Lu Min’s expression kept changing, and he seemed about to flee in panic.
“Heard you’re asking ten taels for a map?” Meng Qi removed his hat, fixing his gaze on the manager.
Despite the pressure of money, the manager of Fengxing Pavilion stood his ground, insisting, “The price is fair and useful, the craftsman’s skill is exquisite…”
“Agreed.”
Meng Qi interrupted, casually hooking the bundle with his toe, rolling it to the manager’s feet.
“The money in the bundle is for the doctor’s map information. Give back the silver note.”
“This—”
The manager was about to refuse when the bundle unraveled.
Inside were a variety of red, green, and even purple robes, embroidered with birds and beasts, exquisite in pattern and superior in material, along with several official hats.
The manager was speechless, his hands trembling.
Only officials of the third rank or higher wore purple robes.
“Count them, how much are these worth?” Meng Qi kindly unfolded the official robes with his internal energy, half-smiling, “There’s one brand new, five almost new, and the rest, though old, can still be sold for a good price in your shop.”
The manager and the clerk’s eyes nearly popped out.
Officials had to provide their own official robes; the court did not issue them, and high officials could receive clothing as rewards. In the Capital, lower-ranking officials, poor and unable to afford their own, would rent or even sell their robes to specialty shops.
These shops were not ordinary and located within the inner city, along the street outside Zhengyang Gate.
They sold official boots, hats, and the full set.
Being unable to put food on the table and thus pawning their official robes for some money, only to redeem them back when their salaries are paid, is a common practice among the lower-ranking officials in the Capital.
So, are official robes valuable? Absolutely valuable!
However, robes that circulated in such shops were usually of the seventh rank or lower, green robes, with crimson robes of the fifth rank rarely seen, let alone purple robes.
If someone saw so many official robes in a bookstore…
The manager, frightened, quickly wrapped up the bundle again with light-footed agility.
“What does this mean, Master?” the manager asked weakly.
“Pay up.” Meng Qi stated matter-of-factly, “Trading in official robes doesn’t violate any laws. Look, these are quite new, with almost no depreciation in market price, truly rare goods. Even if you just sell the crimson and green robes and keep the purple ones as collectibles, the total would be a substantial amount. Let’s see, according to the prices of the Chu dynasty, it should be over thirty taels of silver. Subtracting the ten taels for the map information, plus the fan surfaces and storybook you offered, and the twenty taels the doctor paid for the silver needles… I’ll take a loss, for the sake of Fengxing Pavilion’s face, and ask you to give me fifty taels in return.”
“……”
The clerk watched as their manager began to convulse, rolling his eyes back.
Author’s Note:
Zhu Xi’s “Commentary on the Doctrine of the Mean” hence states that the way a gentleman governs others is by applying their own methods against them.
