There were several Chaling taverns in Ye City.
But the busiest ones were still those near the north and south city gates.
The food and wine were somewhat expensive, yet the locations were prime, the buildings impressive, and in the past few months their stir-fried dishes had gained a reputation for novel flavors. As a result, many nobles and officials of Ye preferred to drink there, or even hire the cooks to prepare meals at their own residences.
Those with money to spare would head upstairs, order a couple of dishes, and drink slowly while watching the street.
Most people, however, preferred to split a few dishes among friends, order several jugs of rough wine, and sit on the first floor discussing the state of the realm.
How the campaign against Liu the "rebel" was going.
What strange goods had arrived from Jiangdong.
Which musicians the Son of Heaven had summoned the previous day.
All of it was fair game for idle talk.
So when another courier galloped into the city and raced toward the government offices, the hall quickly erupted into speculation.
"Another messenger from Shangdang, right?"
"If not there, then where?"
"Hah. The Chancellor's been suppressing rebels for two years now. Why do they keep multiplying?"
"Shh. Watch your mouth."
"What's there to watch? You think those rebels can really fight their way out of Shangdang? I've done trade runs to Jiuyuan myself. Wuan, She County, Lu County, and Huguan. Four major strongholds. Even a hundred thousand troops might not get through. If the court isn't sending reinforcements north, that just means the Emperor isn't worried at all."
"Bullshit. Everyone knows the rebel leader is the Emperor's uncle. What nephew fears his own uncle?"
"Exactly. If anything, they ought to be close. We all know who's actually afraid of the rebels."
"Sir, I think you've had too much. Pay up and go sober off somewhere."
"Who's afraid? Fine, I'm afraid, alright?"
"I'm telling you, the roads around Shangdang are garbage. Even if you open the passes wide, how many troops could come through? The real problem's probably the southwest. A neighbor's cousin's uncle's brother told me Ye's already sent several batches of elite troops toward Henei."
"True enough. They say Hangu Pass is the greatest pass under heaven, and it still collapsed like wet clay. One stab and down it went."
"If the rebels cross the Yellow River, then we'll see real excitement. Compared to that, Shangdang doesn't matter."
"The Tiger Guards are here. Quiet!"
The once roaring hall fell silent in an instant.
Fortunately, the Tiger Guards only ordered food and sat down to drink. The loudest talkers in the room hurriedly finished their meals, paid, and left.
The captain of the guards spat disdainfully at their retreating backs.
"No thought of serving the state and killing rebels. All they do is flap their tongues."
Just then, a creak sounded behind them, and a young man in embroidered robes descended steadily from the upper floor.
The captain's expression changed at once.
"I knew it. Saw magpies on the branches this morning. Turns out it meant I'd meet a noble today."
"Haven't seen you in a while, Marquis Xuanwei. Still looking as impressive as ever. Anything you need from us brothers?"
The young noble smiled politely.
"Captain Wang, no need to be so formal. Since we've run into each other… Innkeeper, whatever these brothers order, put it on my account."
"Now that's too formal, Marquis. Our lord said you're one of our own."
"If we're our own people, what's one round of drinks?"
After a brief exchange of polite refusals, they settled on a verbal promise to drink together another day before parting ways.
Once they sat down again, one of the guards asked curiously,
"Captain, that Marquis only inherited his title from his father. Why be so polite?"
The captain glanced around to make sure the marquis was gone, then waved at the innkeeper.
"Two more jars of spring ale. And pick the expensive dishes for the brothers. Put it on the Marquis' tab."
Only then did he snort.
"He might not hold an important post, but he's close friends with Wei, the famous clerk of the Cao administration."
"And what you boys probably don't know is that the Marquis also has an elder. One even the Chancellor and our lord show some respect to."
The others leaned in eagerly, but the captain said no more, only urging them to eat.
---
After leaving the tavern and boarding his carriage, the young noble listened to the street vendors shouting outside. Inside his chest, it felt as if a wildfire were burning ever hotter.
Two streets later stood his own residence.
The gatekeeper reported a visitor. When he heard the name, the young man burst into laughter and hurried inside.
"Zijing, if you were coming, why not send word for me? You've been waiting here all this time?"
The young man in the courtyard turned around.
Clean-faced, beard and sideburns neatly trimmed, with a naturally pleasant appearance. Not particularly handsome, yet his eyes always seemed to carry a hint of laughter, and the slight curve of his lips made him immediately likable.
"Marquis Xuanwei."
The noble feigned anger.
"Wei Feng!"
Wei Feng stepped forward and seized both his hands.
"Zhang Quan, why are you angry with me?"
At once, all of Zhang Quan's displeasure vanished, replaced by a sudden surge of excitement.
"I'm not angry, it's just…"
Wei Feng cut him off.
"The sun is harsh out here. Let's talk inside."
---
Once indoors, after dismissing the servants, Wei Feng smiled faintly before Zhang Quan could speak.
"Zhang Quan. The honored one has decided to act."
Zhang Quan's face lit up.
"Truly?"
The wildfire in his chest vanished, replaced by restless tension.
"But… Grandfather still refuses to see me."
Wei Feng seemed prepared. He took out a letter.
"You still don't have a courtesy name. Everyone knows you and Jia Taizhong share a deep bond. It's only proper to ask him to bestow one."
"This is the request letter. Don't open it privately. Deliver it straight to his residence. Whether it succeeds or not, we've done what we can."
So thoroughly arranged… Zhang Quan was moved. He grabbed Wei Feng's hand.
"Rest assured. Even if this fails, I'll climb over the wall if I have to. Grandfather won't refuse me."
"No need for that." Wei Feng shook his head with a smile.
"We act in righteousness. How could we force anyone?"
Zhang Quan's admiration grew even stronger.
Fortunately, Wei Feng's letter proved effective. By dusk, a carriage arrived at the Marquis' residence to summon him.
Wei Feng had already left, unwilling to linger, so Zhang Quan boarded alone, struggling to suppress his excitement.
After a short ride, the carriage turned into a quiet alley. He recognized this road. When his father was alive, they often walked it together to visit.
Back then, his father had even told him to address the man as grandfather. The old man had only smiled and said nothing.
Now, meeting again, Zhang Quan could not even remember when they had last seen each other.
Five years? Seven?
---
After stepping down from the carriage, a servant led him through two covered corridors. At last he saw a hall so simple it bordered on austere, and within it a slightly stooped figure.
Zhang Quan took two steps forward.
Suddenly, all the fire in his heart went out.
Two more steps, and memories rose. A mother whose face he could barely recall. A father long dead. And now, a Marquis' residence with only himself in it.
He dropped to his knees.
"Grandfather…"
The old man turned.
Seeing the young man kneeling there, so similar to his old friend, tears pattering onto the floor, Jia Xu was silent for a moment before speaking softly.
"Stand up."
"Tell me… about this plan of yours to eliminate the rebels."
Zhang Quan wiped his face hurriedly.
"This is dangerous. Grandfather should pretend he knows nothing. I'll climb out over the wall afterward. No one will know I came."
Jia Xu shook his head, a faint smile appearing.
"So you would have an old man like me send your soul into the underworld?"
"Go wash up. Then come eat."
Zhang Quan rose awkwardly. His eyes fell on the letter spread before Jia Xu.
He recognized the envelope. But the handwriting on the opened letter was elegant and refined, not Wei Feng's at all.
And pressing it down was a broken jade pendant, its carved phoenix barely visible.
No wonder the letter had felt oddly heavy earlier…
Wait.
Zhang Quan's heart jolted.
What Wei Feng had said about writing on his behalf and asking Grandfather to give him a courtesy name…
…was probably not the truth at all.