The brothers Yang Bao and Yang Hu admired Xu Qingxiao immensely.
The reason was simple enough.
Since ancient times, officers handling cases had always exercised their privileges. Whether they ate and drank a little at a shop's expense or even smashed a few things, the shopkeeper would say nothing. After all, officers safeguarded the peace.
They simply treated it as a kind of protection fee.
Unless the damage was particularly severe, when had an officer ever given silver to an ordinary citizen?
Xu Qingxiao's words both demonstrated his upright character and served as a reminder to the two brothers.
A new dynasty had been established, and its various reforms all bore down on officials. If they failed to handle little things properly, those same little things might bring disaster upon them someday.
Of course, what mattered most was his character.
Sure enough, a man who had studied books was different.
The carriage continued at a steady pace. Yang Bao and Yang Hu laughed and chatted openly, but secretly kept a watchful eye on their surroundings. At the first unexpected development, both would draw their blades.
Inside the carriage, Xu Qingxiao remained somewhat wary as well.
No one could guarantee they would encounter no danger. If danger did come, a bitter battle would follow.
Fortunately, the journey brought scares but no harm.
After nearly six hours.
The carriage finally reached the outskirts of Southern Yu Prefecture.
Unlike before, the Official Road grew increasingly crowded. Carriages rolled along amid traveling merchants, peddlers, scholars, and people of every description.
Inside the carriage.
Xu Qingxiao lifted the curtain and gazed at the ancient city ahead.
Southern Yu Prefecture City looked to be thirteen or fourteen zhang tall, its walls a mottled blue-gray. Xu Qingxiao could not tell whether there were blade marks on the ancient walls; from several hundred meters away, he simply could not see that clearly. The traces of repairs, however, were obvious.
Those scars had been caused by siege engines, impacts from flaming stones and the like. Even repairs could not conceal them.
"Brother Qingxiao, we've reached Southern Yu Prefecture! Take a look. Impressive, isn't it?"
Yang Bao pointed at Southern Yu Prefecture and laughed loudly. Anyone who did not know better might have thought the place belonged to his family.
"Impressive."
Xu Qingxiao nodded against his better judgment. Ancient architecture certainly embodied great ingenuity, but having seen modern steel-and-concrete towers, he really could not find it all that impressive-not unless it came with special effects, like holy light or dragon silhouettes.
Otherwise, he truly could not agree.
"Brother Qingxiao, I'm not boasting, but Southern Yu Prefecture is the grandest ancient prefectural seat in Changping Commandery. It has endured through ten reigns of Great Wei and dates back to the nation's founding."
"And there's something inside that even the commandery capital doesn't have."
Looking at Southern Yu Prefecture, Yang Bao brimmed with confidence.
"Something even Changping Commandery's capital doesn't have? What is it?"
Xu Qingxiao grew curious.
What was a commandery capital? In modern terms, it was a provincial capital. Such places were generally the most developed cities and received priority in everything.
How could Xu Qingxiao not be curious?
"Wenwu Tower."
Yang Bao spoke confidently.
"Wenwu Tower?"
Xu Qingxiao had expected some pleasure house or brothel. Instead, it was Wenwu Tower.
What was that?
Xu Qingxiao's interest was genuinely piqued.
"Brother Bao, what is Wenwu Tower?"
Xu Qingxiao asked curiously.
"Brother Qingxiao, you really haven't seen much of the world."
"Wenwu Tower is unique to our Southern Yu Prefecture. The Literary House, as its name suggests, is where scholars like you go. Every girl there is lovely and fresh-faced, with both talent and beauty. But you have to take a liking to each other before you can enjoy yourselves. Such a bother."
"The Martial House is much simpler, without all those complications. Five hundred and eighty-eight copper coins buy you a little pleasure. Above that, there are options for eight hundred and eighty-eight and one thousand two hundred and eighty-eight. Even the most expensive is only three thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight."
"The girls there may not compare to the Literary House's pure courtesans, but their martial skills are superb. Once you start, you can't stop. I don't have much silver, but if you don't mind, brother, how about I treat you to the most expensive?"
By this point, Yang Bao looked excited, and Yang Hu beside him had perked up as well.
Xu Qingxiao was dumbfounded.
Damn, wasn't that still a brothel?
And here I thought it was something special. It was just the tame version and the full-service version.
His head ached a little. Xu Qingxiao was neither putting on airs of lofty purity nor uninterested in women. It was mainly too expensive, and not particularly meaningful.
Besides, there were no contraceptive charms. Better stay away!
Uh, wait. Right, there were no contraceptive charms in ancient times. Could I make them myself? Then earn some silver from them?
A bold idea emerged.
But then Chen Xinghe coughed.
"Ahem."
"I thank you both on Qingxiao's behalf for your kindness, but our main purpose in coming here is the Prefectural Examination. We must not let ourselves be distracted."
Chen Xinghe spoke up. He was a proper man who neither drank with courtesans nor thought much of such things. Hearing that the brothers intended to take Xu Qingxiao out for some pleasure, he naturally intervened, afraid Xu Qingxiao might become so happy he forgot home and sank into a haven of tender embraces.
"Thank you both for your kindness, brothers, but I'll pass on that. A few drinks would be fine, though."
Compared with Chen Xinghe's stiff refusal, Xu Qingxiao was much more tactful. The two brothers gave sheepish laughs and took the graceful way out he offered.
"Yes, yes, that works. We'll have drinks together later."
"And if anything happens to you in Southern Yu Prefecture, Brother Qingxiao, be sure to come to us. Whatever else, we've spent enough years here to have a few connections."
"Honestly, judging by the way you handled things earlier, you'd really make a good constable. If you came to Southern Yu Prefecture, you'd surely become a constable captain within three to five years."
"Such a pity you went off to study."
Yang Bao spoke from the heart.
Xu Qingxiao's quick reactions and polished, seasoned manner of handling matters made him seem nothing like a young man barely past twenty.
"Haha, there may still be a chance. Who knows? If I fail the Prefectural Examination, I might come back to serve as an officer. If I do end up in Southern Yu Prefecture, you two brothers will have to look after me."
Xu Qingxiao was not joking.
His fundamental reason for studying was to suppress the demonic nature within him. He had never truly wanted to study.
Even if he excelled at it, his future would ultimately lead to only one of two outcomes.
Wielding power over court and country, beneath one man and above ten thousand.
Choosing the wrong faction, losing his office, and being torn apart by five horses.
Politics was no laughing matter. After all, the people he would face were among the cleverest minds throughout history. Not one was a fool.
So it was best not to dream too much about becoming an official. Being an officer was fine, though. He would simply be a loyal hired hand of the emperor's household.
People had heard of prime ministers rebelling, but had anyone heard of ordinary officers doing so?
Even if things truly reached the point of rebellion, victory would make him a meritorious follower of the new emperor.
If they lost, the leader would generally say, "Spare my men. They're innocent. I surrender."
The emperor would usually agree, both to display benevolence and because they were all his own men. Every man killed was one fewer left.
Of course, all this was merely Xu Qingxiao's idle speculation.
"That would be wonderful. If you come, Yang Hu and I will follow your lead."
Yang Bao spoke earnestly.
Xu Qingxiao smiled along with him. Whether it was merely politeness did not matter. If someone was courteous, he only needed to return the courtesy.
Half an hour later.
The carriage arrived beneath the walls of Southern Yu Prefecture City.
Seeing the walls up close was rather awe-inspiring. Their great thickness represented the wealth of Great Wei's earlier reigns, as well as the suffering of countless common people.
Since ancient times, whether dynasties rose or fell, the common people suffered.
Without voicing any reflections or reciting poetry, Xu Qingxiao obediently dismounted and followed Yang Bao and Yang Hu through the inspection.
His Safe-Passage Permit served as proof of identity. With Yang Bao and Yang Hu also present, getting through went smoothly.
As they entered the passage into the city, Yang Bao walked beside Xu Qingxiao.
"Brother Qingxiao, don't leave the city for now. The guards just told me there really are signs of demons outside Southern Yu Prefecture. Things are a mess here right now, and apparently a night curfew may be imposed in a few days. If you absolutely have to go out for something, let me know first."
"We don't want anything going wrong. And don't be suspicious. Before, we were watching you under orders. Now, I'm speaking honestly as your brother. I'm a good judge of character. You're a good man. Lord Cheng misjudged you."
The journey over these past few days had greatly increased the brothers' fondness for Xu Qingxiao, so these words came straight from their hearts.
"Understood, brother."
Xu Qingxiao could hear his sincerity. He smiled, nodded, and agreed.
Less than eight minutes later.
The Yang brothers brought Xu Qingxiao to an inn.
They booked two superior rooms and paid for them themselves. No matter what Xu Qingxiao said, neither would accept repayment, leaving him at a loss for words.
Xu Qingxiao's knack for building friendships made Chen Xinghe, standing nearby, somewhat envious.
He was reserved by nature and reluctant to interact much with others. He had a few friends, but they were all scholars. He could not navigate every social situation as smoothly as Xu Qingxiao.
"Brother Qingxiao, we'll be off now. If you need anything, just come find us at the Prefectural Yamen."
After booking the rooms and giving the proprietor a few instructions, the brothers took their leave.
Xu Qingxiao personally escorted them out of the inn, drawing quite a few looks. Being escorted by officers did lend a certain prestige, after all.
Once the two had left, Xu Qingxiao and Chen Xinghe prepared to return to their rooms and rest.
But just then.
A voice suddenly rang out.
"Chen Xinghe! Brother Chen!"
The voice was not loud, but Xu Qingxiao heard it clearly.
Turning around, he saw a refined-looking man in white approaching Chen Xinghe, his face full of smiles.
"Brother Wang Ru."
Chen Xinghe looked slightly surprised, but immediately returned the greeting, then turned to Xu Qingxiao.
"Qingxiao, this is Wang Ru, a friend of mine."
Chen Xinghe introduced him to Xu Qingxiao.
"Greetings, Brother Wang Ru. I am Xu Qingxiao, courtesy name Shouren."
Xu Qingxiao immediately offered a formal greeting as well.
"Greetings, Brother Qingxiao."
Wang Ru glanced at Xu Qingxiao and returned the courtesy, then looked curiously at Chen Xinghe.
"Brother Wang Ru, Qingxiao is my junior fellow disciple. We studied under the same teacher."
Chen Xinghe offered an explanation. Understanding dawned on Wang Ru, and he gave Xu Qingxiao another restrained bow.
Xu Qingxiao immediately returned it again.
This was the tiresome thing about scholars. If you returned a bow, the other man had to return it too. Back and forth it went until you were half dead from exhaustion.
They were nowhere near as straightforward as martial men.
Holy shit, Qingxiao, long time no see! Come on, I'll take you to a new place for some fun.
Holy shit, brother, it's you! No, let me take you to a new place instead.
How direct was that? Respectful without sacrificing courtesy, and much easier to understand.
"Brother Chen, we truly are brought together by fate."
"And your timing is perfect. Brother Li Xin is hosting a grand banquet tonight for talented scholars from all over. Since you're here, you must come. Don't turn us down. Young Master Li Xin remembers you. Your junior fellow disciple is here too, so bringing him along to broaden his horizons would be good."
Wang Ru first remarked on their fortunate meeting, then urged Chen Xinghe to attend that evening's grand banquet.
"Young Master Li Xin?"
"Very well. When?"
Chen Xinghe repeated the name, then asked about the time.
"It begins a quarter past the You Hour. There are still over four hours left. I hear an important person has come as well."
"Brother Chen, rest your feet first. I still have some matters to attend to. I'll come find you half an hour into the Shen Hour, and we can have a proper chat then."
Wang Ru seemed to have something to do and looked rather hurried, so he spoke quickly. Once finished, he left straightaway.
He truly came in haste and left in haste.
Watching this, Chen Xinghe did not know what to say either.
"Qingxiao, get some rest first. We'll attend the banquet together tonight."
Chen Xinghe spoke.
"Yes, but senior brother, if bringing me would be inconvenient, I can rest on my own."
Xu Qingxiao did not know who Li Xin was, but he seemed to have some standing. Besides, Xu Qingxiao knew scholars tended to look down on one another, and their circles held each other in contempt. If tagging along would cause trouble, he would rather not go.
"It's fine. There's no need to worry. Your senior brother has something of a reputation in Southern Yu Prefecture. There's nothing inconvenient about it. Even Young Master Li Xin must show me some deference."
"Oh, right. Young Master Li Xin is the son of Southern Yu Prefecture's Prefectural Lord. He has good character and enjoys making friends widely. He'll actually be pleased if you come."
Chen Xinghe spoke calmly. Especially when he said "something of a reputation," his lofty pride became a little more pronounced.
Yep. That flex landed.
Before you continue