Into the Capital

It was September, the season of late autumn.

The early morning air was somewhat chilly, but it could not withstand the enthusiasm of the merchants.

The three hundred and sixty wards of Central Capital City were filled with the aromas of food drifting along every street.

A gust of wind carried the brain-clearing, invigorating scent of peppery hot-and-spicy soup, the fragrance of sesame-sprinkled griddle cakes assailing the nose and whetting the appetite. The old-established noodle shops cried out, "Second-thin!" "Red broth!" as if shouting could make their business ever more prosperous and enduring. The street-side stalls, their scalding oil cauldrons bubbling, were not to be outdone. Seasoned foods were tossed into the oil, sizzling loudly as they tumbled and fried, turning golden, crisp, and fragrant.

On one side, plainly dressed young ladies from respectable households laid out all manner of pastries they had made themselves, exquisite beyond compare. Move a few steps closer, and the sweetness in the air could already be smelled. On the other, burly half-naked men fished chunks of meat boiled until falling apart from a great pot, hacked them up, poured on a spoonful of red-oil sauce, wrapped them in flatbread, bundled them in lotus leaves, and handed them to the customers...

At this time, the teahouses and teashops along the streets also lowered their signboards. Written on them in gilded characters were the words "Morning Awakening." A waiter stood at the entrance with a beaming smile, a basin set before him. Steam billowed from the hot water as the waiter shouted, "Wake up early..."

That one cry forcefully roused the whole of Central Capital City.

"Morning Awakening" was a custom of Central Capital. Anyone who was not rushing off to work with a mouthful of hot food wrapped up would carry their favorite breakfast to one of the teahouses. They would wash their faces with the water from the hot basin, walk inside, choose a seat, listen to a gentleman read the Official Gazette from the court, and analyze the current situation. Thus, they would leisurely begin the day. This was "Morning Awakening."

When Great Xuan was founded, an Official of Speech proposed that "Morning Awakening" was nothing more than commoners rashly discussing court affairs and requested that it be abolished. The Founding Ancestor angrily declared, "How can the people of this world remain ignorant of the affairs of this world?" He even dispatched eunuchs from the Qingfeng Department within the palace, led by the Head Eunuch, to take up residence in every teahouse and tavern. For seven days straight, they read all memorials except those concerning secret and critical matters to the common people, finally forcing the Official of Speech to shut his mouth. From then on, anyone who went out for "Morning Awakening" could smugly toss back his head, stick up his thumb, and shout "By imperial decree, I awaken early!" with three parts pride and three parts defiance. It was霸气的很.

Nanyuan Xi walked briskly through the crowd with a piece of griddle cake clenched in his mouth. For some unknown reason, Xiao Hexiang had lost her temper the previous night and tormented him until dawn, making him rise three刻钟 late.

Whenever he thought of Xiao Hexiang, another wave of tenderness rose in Nanyuan Xi's heart. He had never imagined that, in a pleasure district, he would find the love of his life. So what if she was a courtesan? If he could, he wished he could formally marry Xiao Hexiang tomorrow and carry her through his family's gates in an eight-palanquin bridal procession.

It was just that Xiao Hexiang's redemption price was rather too high.

Nanyuan Xi fiercely chewed a mouthful of griddle cake. His Nanyuan family had once been prominent during the founding of the dynasty, and even had a Great Scholar among its ancestors. Unfortunately, each generation had been inferior to the last. After several hundred years of inheritance, by his generation, the family had finally experienced a last flare of glory, allowing him to awaken the "Omniscient Reading" Talent. Sadly, his talent was limited. After twenty years of study, he had only reached the "Writing Realm." He had thought he simply lacked guidance from a renowned teacher, so he sold off his family estate and traveled thousands of li to Central Capital City.

But what kind of place was Central Capital City? The ancient capital of a thousand years, the foremost place under heaven. He had neither power nor influence, and his natural gifts were poor. Naturally, he could not even find a way to submit a letter of introduction.

To build connections, he frequently hosted literary gatherings, but those who attended were all roughly his equal. Half a year passed in the blink of an eye, and he had made not the slightest progress toward becoming a disciple, while most of his money had already been spent.

At last, someone said they could arrange a copying post for him at Wenchang Pavilion, but it would require quite a lot of silver. At the time, Nanyuan Xi had been like a drowning man clutching at the last stalk of straw. He handed over every last coin he had, only for it all to end with drawing water in a bamboo basket—he had been swindled out of his money.

When all hope had turned to ashes, it was Xiao Hexiang who pulled Nanyuan Xi back from the brink as he was about to throw himself into the river and die. This courtesan had attended several of Nanyuan Xi's literary gatherings and had been captivated by his grandiloquent discussions.

"I believe, my lord, that although you are not skilled in poetry, lyrics, or the Confucian classics, your analyses of current affairs are incisive and penetrating. In your mouth, dry official documents become vivid, lifelike, simple, and easy to understand. Why not take up the profession of 'Text Explainer'? Perhaps some noble person will look upon you with favor. At the very least, you could save up some money to support yourself."

Xiao Hexiang's words awakened the dreamer.

Text Explainer was a profession born alongside the custom of "Morning Awakening." Text Explainers held the Official Gazette and read it aloud to the guests who came for Morning Awakening. More accomplished Text Explainers could analyze the hidden circumstances behind what the Gazette did not say and even predict the direction of current affairs. To be honored with the title of "先生" was enough to show how high their status was. From time to time, a Text Explainer would be favored by a noble and recommended for service at court or taken on as an aide.

Following Xiao Hexiang's advice, Nanyuan Xi indeed found a path suited to displaying his strengths. In only half a year, the name "Huaizui Nansheng" had gained a modest reputation. He was now the Text Explainer at North Wind Tower, one of the ten foremost Morning Awakening teahouses in Central Capital, earning thirty taels of silver a month.

He had heard yesterday that there would be an important Official Gazette today, though he did not know what it concerned. Being late was a grave taboo for a Text Explainer. Thus, Nanyuan Xi quickened his pace once more...

"Good morning, honored guests. Nansheng greets you." Hurrying as fast as he could, Nanyuan Xi finally reached North Wind Tower in time. He took the freshly copied Official Gazette from the owner and hurried onto the stage.

"Mr. Nan, I saw you sprinting all the way here on the road. Did you spend last night entangled with Xiao Hexiang and lose track of time?" a familiar early guest teased from below, drawing a roar of laughter.

"Do not speak nonsense!" One of Nanyuan Xi's supporters retorted. "If Mr. Nan had spent the night entangled with Xiao Hexiang, he certainly would not have been able to get out of bed this morning, much less sprint all the way here..."

Everyone burst into laughter again.

Nanyuan Xi: (￣ェ￣;)

Sir, are you defending me? Am I, Nanyuan Xi, really this useless in your eyes?

Nanyuan Xi coughed twice, signaling for the audience to quiet down.

"Everyone, we can joke around later. For now, let us get to the main matter and discuss today's Official Gazette." Nanyuan Xi tried to salvage his dignity by force. He picked up the Official Gazette in his hand, but after only one glance, an incredulous expression appeared on his face. He then read it over several more times.

A guest below grew impatient and shouted, "Mr. Nan, what is it? Have the barbarians invaded?"

Another chimed in, "Could the Demon Race have come to fleece us again?"

Nanyuan Xi hurriedly gathered his thoughts and set down the Official Gazette. In that brief time, he had already memorized it in its entirety.

"Everyone, rest assured. It is not the Demons and Barbarians. Today's Official Gazette contains only one matter: our Great Xuan Emperor has ennobled Chen Luo, Chen Dongliu, of Wan'an County in Qingzhou, as Earl of Wan'an!"

An uproar broke out below.

"Chen Luo? Who is that? I've never heard of him!"

"Earl of Wan'an—is that an actual fief-bearing title? Doesn't the current court most dread granting titles with real power?"

"Our dynasty has an ancestral law: none may be ennobled without merit. What merit does this Chen Luo possess?"

"How old is Chen Luo? Is he a Confucian or a Daoist?"

While everyone clamored, Nanyuan Xi took a sip of tea to suppress his astonishment. He gestured downward, pressing the noise down until the voices gradually quieted. Then Nanyuan Xi continued.

"Chen Luo is nineteen years old, the descendant of a loyal and martyred family. He wrote a Wondrous Text titled Brief Biography of Zhong Kui. Reciting it grants the power to ward off ghosts. Moreover, even those without the Omniscient Reading Talent can recite it."

"The full text follows—"

At almost the exact same moment, in every Morning Awakening teahouse across Central Capital, every Text Explainer slowly began reciting Brief Biography of Zhong Kui.

"Zhong Kui was a native of Mount Zhongnan in Shaanxi. Even in his youth, his talent was extraordinary..."

At the same time, through the Wansheng Gate of Central Capital City, a carriage slowly entered Central Capital.

Seated inside the carriage was the Great Scholar Wei Yan—and the newly ennobled Earl of Wan'an—

Chen Luo!

A fading sun spread across the water. Don't let up on those votes.

There are only nine more investments before we pass one hundred. Come on, everyone, let's push!