**Chapter 110: The Pleasure Quarter**
Half an hour later, the black-feathered, red-crested bird galloped into the capital. Qin Mu looked ahead, and his heart trembled. He had already seen Jiangling City, which had shaken him to his core, but the capital before him now surpassed even that.
Jiangling City was built atop the Golden River, the entire metropolis raised thirty zhang above the waterline—a breathtaking sight.
But this capital sprawled across a range of mountains shaped like coiling dragons—and not just one range, but nine.
Nine dragon-like mountain ranges crouched across the plain, converging at this very spot. Nine dragons meeting, their heads gathered together—that was the capital.
This sheer grandeur dwarfed even Jiangling City perched above the Golden River. No wonder Emperor Yanfeng had been dismissive of the notion that the new city of Jiangling, built upon the dragon's head, was "severing the dragon vein." The capital already commanded the supremacy of nine dragons—why would he care that the Yankang State Preceptor had pinned down a single dragon with a city on the river?
Nine dragons guarded the capital, and thirty li out, four military encampments stood like cities unto themselves. Twenty li beyond those, eight market towns sprawled along the banks of a great river—though called towns, they rivaled cities in size.
This great river was the Tu River, Yankang's second largest waterway, offering superb water and land connections. The largest was the Yong River, born in the Great Ruins.
Though the Tu River was the second largest, it was known as Yankang's true dragon vein—the orthodox dragon vein. The claim that the Golden River was a dragon vein had always been contested by many in the court and beyond.
Qin Mu gazed into the distance. The convergence of nine dragons upon the capital was a sight of extraordinary majesty—truly worthy of the place where the Son of Heaven ruled the realm.
"The capital has hidden troops within the mountains!" Qin Mu peered at the nine dragon ranges, catching glimpses of martial aura. He couldn't hide his surprise.
The soldiers on the bird's back were equally astonished and turned to look at him. One of them said, "Young brother—you have connections in the military? You can even spot troops hidden in the mountains."
Qin Mu did not explain. He could see the vast armies concealed within the nine dragon ranges because of his Divine Sky Eye—the ninth-layered eye-opening method taught to him by the Blind One, which included the art of reading auras.
Reading auras meant perceiving the flow of fortune.
In a place like the capital, where massive armies were stationed, their martial aura served to suppress the empire's qi—and that was not something his eyes could miss.
The bow-cavalry delivered them to the capital's gates and took their leave. Qin Mu and Wei Yong verified their travel documents at the gate and entered the city. Under the Son of Heaven's feet, the capital's prosperity was natural and supreme. Though Qin Mu had already seen Jiangling City—and been dazzled by its splendor—the capital was an entirely different spectacle.
This was a different kind of prosperity. There was none of the merchant's penny-pinching haggling here. Beyond the accumulated wealth, there was a cultural depth, a weight of heritage.
The buildings had character. The stone lions flanking the streets were carved with exquisite technique. The couplets hung on the gates of grand households carried an understated elegance. Even the door gods pasted on every household had an uncanny quality—as if they might truly spring to life and bar demons and monsters from entry.
From small details one could read the larger pattern; from a single leaf one could divine the season; from a single drop of water one could sense the vast ocean. Qin Mu observed his surroundings and understood, with growing clarity, the terrifying might of this empire.
The village chief and the others had once said that the Yankang Kingdom was a sect disguised as a nation. Now he realized just how powerful that sect truly was.
"Brother Qin, do you have somewhere to stay?"
Wei Yong extended the invitation. "If not, you're welcome to stay at the Duke's residence for a few days. Once the Imperial Academy opens, we can take the entrance examination together."
Qin Mu hesitated, then shook his head. "I have old acquaintances in the city and plan to seek them out. Brother Wei Yong, this is where we part."
Wei Yong accepted this, though reluctantly. "Once you've settled in, send word to the Duke's residence so I know."
Qin Mu smiled. "I will. One more thing, Brother Wei Yong—where can I find the pleasure quarter?"
Wei Yong's expression turned peculiar. "I didn't take you for a man of such... refined tastes. The capital's largest pleasure quarter is in Flower Lane. Walk down Fenghua Street toward the end, turn right at the corner, cross three more streets, and you'll see it. The finest establishment in Flower Lane is called the Listening Rain Pavilion. Ahem—don't ask me how I know. I've never been there... Take care of yourself!"
Qin Mu was puzzled. What did visiting a pleasure quarter have to do with refined taste? And what did it have to do with his health?
The two parted ways.
Qin Mu carried Ling'er forward along Fenghua Street, heading deeper into the city.
"This doesn't look like a pleasure quarter..."
In Flower Lane, Qin Mu studied the buildings on either side with growing puzzlement. The roof tiles were indeed blue-green, but the buildings themselves were painted crimson, with lanterns hanging at their doors.
"Come up and play, pretty boy!" called several young women from the windows above, waving at him.
"Young Master Qin, do you know them?" Ling'er asked, tilting her head. "They're very enthusiastic!"
"I got the same treatment when I visited Xianglong City. Some of these older sisters are very warm—it's a bit unsettling."
Qin Mu continued deeper, reading the signs along the way. Flower Lane was long and winding, with seven turns and eight corners. The further he went, the quieter it became. The women here were poised and reserved, cradling pipas by their windows, the instruments half-concealing their faces as they played melodies soft and melancholy.
Deeper still, he heard the low notes of a qin. He peered through an open door and saw gossamer curtains drifting in the breeze, several young women darting among them, while a woman sat tuning her instrument.
Further on, girls practiced singing and dancing on upper floors. The bright tinkle of laughter drifted down—playful and endearing. The foot traffic had thinned considerably by this point. Occasionally a man emerged from one of the courtyards, seemingly a resident, while a gentle woman straightened his robes and saw him off with lingering affection.
But every man who exited spotted Qin Mu and covered his face, as if terrified of being recognized.
Qin Mu found this odd. Leaving one's own home was nothing shameful—why cover one's face?
"People in the city are truly strange."
He reached the far end of Flower Lane and spotted a building bearing the sign "Listening Rain Pavilion." Its doors were locked, but the courtyard beyond looked deep and tranquil.
Qin Mu knocked. After a moment he heard the patter of light footsteps approaching. A girl's soft voice called out, "Coming, coming."
Inside, the sound of a bolt being drawn. Then the door cracked open, and a girl peered out. Seeing Qin Mu, she asked with open curiosity, "Sir, who are you looking for?"
Qin Mu was polite. "Is Fu Qingyun in?"
The girl opened the door wider, smiling. "May I have your name, sir? I'll go announce you."
"Tell her my surname is Qin."
The girl closed the door again. The footsteps receded—she had gone to announce him. After a time, the door opened once more, and a familiar face appeared: Fu Qingyun, the pavilion's proprietress. Her face lit up with surprise and delight when she saw Qin Mu. "The young master has finally arrived! Come in, come in—right this way! Girls—aren't you going to serve tea? The young master is here!"
"The young master is here?"
From within came a chorus of bright, chirping voices—like spring birds chattering in a freshly budded tree. Before Qin Mu's eyes, robes of green, red, and purple fluttered past as the girls of the Listening Rain Pavilion poured out to greet him, overwhelming him with color.
Each girl had her own charm: some were soft as jade and warm as fragrance, some cool as frost, some demure and alluring, some blazing with passion. Truly—so many blossoms, the eyes could hardly take them in.
Fu Qingyun shooed them away. "Go on, all of you! The young master has traveled far and is exhausted. Stop crowding him! Go brew tea at once!"
The girls scattered like a flock of butterflies. Some went to draw fresh spring water, others to wash the tea cups, and still others to light the fire and heat the kettle. Qin Mu felt the pressure ease and let out a breath of relief. Fu Qingyun led him to a private chamber. "These girls are terribly undisciplined—please forgive them. The roads outside have grown dangerous with the unrest. You must have encountered quite a few troubles on your journey?"
Qin Mu smiled. "A few small ones, but nothing I couldn't handle. You should notify the higher-ups in the sect—let the Patriarch know I've arrived."
Fu Qingyun smiled knowingly. "The Patriarch has been waiting for you for quite some time, actually. He already instructed us that upon your arrival, we were to bring you to him."
A girl came to serve tea, stealing glances at Qin Mu and giggling behind her hand.
Qin Mu returned a polite smile. "Sister Yun, where should I go to meet him?"
The girl who heard Qin Mu call Fu Qingyun "Sister Yun" giggled even harder.
Fu Qingyun shot her a glare and ushered her out, then turned back with a smile. "At the Imperial Academy, of course. Please drink your tea."
"The Imperial Academy?"
Qin Mu was startled. He raised the teacup but forgot to drink. Wasn't the Imperial Academy where scholars studied? Why would he meet the Young Patriarch there?
"You didn't know?" Fu Qingyun laughed. "Our Patriarch is the Grand Chancellor of the Imperial Academy—a third-rank official in Yankang, in charge of the entire institution. He naturally resides there. Though the Academy's scholars are called 'students of the Son of Heaven,' in truth they are all the Patriarch's students."
Qin Mu's mind reeled. Every scholar at the Imperial Academy was the Young Patriarch's student?
The Yankang State Preceptor and Emperor Yanfeng had given this position to the Celestial Demon Sect's Patriarch? Were they not afraid he would grow too powerful to control?
Fu Qingyun seemed to read his thoughts. "Our Patriarch moves through the world in disguise—no one knows his true identity. In truth, he is a reclusive master of great renown and deep respect, famous since the previous emperor's reign. He has always been a figure of great mystery. Even the Yankang State Preceptor once sought his counsel. It was the State Preceptor himself who personally vouched for our Patriarch to serve as Grand Chancellor."
[1] Grand Chancellor (Guozi Da Jijiu): An official title from the Tang Dynasty, roughly equivalent to the head of the nation's highest academy.