Daoist Chongxing's Gift

During this period, whenever autumn arrived in the capital, the evenings became somewhat crowded, especially along Yongan Avenue in the southern district. The Imperial Court was expanding the canal there, cutting off quite a few streets, leaving only Yongan Avenue unobstructed.

Outside Pingwang Inn, Shopkeeper Qin Wang exchanged greetings with some regular customers, then walked out through the inn's main gate under the ingratiating gazes of several attendants. A capable-looking middle-aged man who had been waiting outside for some time immediately stepped forward and greeted him, "Shopkeeper Qin, are you heading out? Shall I call a palanquin over for you?"

Qin Wang did not even spare the middle-aged man a glance. After looking around, he said arrogantly, "Fine. Hurry up."

"Right away!"

The middle-aged man answered without caring in the least about Qin Wang's attitude. He humbly cupped his hands and bowed sideways, then headed into a nearby alley. Before long, a small two-man palanquin arrived beside Qin Wang.

"Take me to Wangyue Teahouse on Big Willow Street!"

Qin Wang gave the order with a stern face, and the attendants carrying the palanquin immediately stepped forward to lift its curtain.

The capable middle-aged man called out with great flourish, "Lift the palanquin..." After calling out, he took the lead, walking ahead to clear the way.

The palanquin traveled north along Yongan Avenue for roughly six kilometers before turning into a bustling small street on the left. There was a night market there, mostly filled with teahouses and opera stages, along with merchants from the northern Cloud Sea Grassland selling wares from their stalls.

At the entrance to the street stood an old willow tree. Legend had it that when the Xia Kingdom was destroyed, this willow had been left behind from the Imperial Palace's royal garden, later transplanted into the