Chapter 68: Are You Brave Enough?

An hour later, the two of them emerged from the room.

Liang Jing’s eyes sparkled with admiration as he gave a thumbs up. “Brother, you’re impressive!”

“Heh,” Yang Xuan replied modestly, having just handed hush money to the foreign beauty. “It was just some medicine.”

“What kind of medicine?”

“Rejuvenation Pill.”

Just then a servant passed by, holding a wooden box and greeting them amiably, “Rejuvenation Pill—good for her, good for you. Gentlemen, would you care for a few?”

Back home, Yang Xuan, Cao Ying, and Yi Niang sat down to discuss business.

Yi Niang bustled in and out, serving tea, melon seeds, and snacks until the table was laden.

The three settled in.

“I just went to seek an audience with Song Zhen.”

Yang Xuan left out the part about spending money at the brothel for a foreign beauty’s wailing performance.

“Song Zhen’s words were brief, but I still sensed some grievance. This suggests that the situation in the northern frontier is far from optimistic.”

Cao Ying remarked, “The pretender emperor still appears diligent, yet he’s using the postal stations to send fruit to women. This shows he has no true affection for the realm.”

Yi Niang cracked melon seeds. “Those two are merely ambitious father and son.”

“I feel a growing urgency,” Yang Xuan admitted, troubled by an inexplicable anxiety for the future. “The Northern Liao has hundreds of thousands of cavalry—if the whole nation takes up arms, it’s truly terrifying. The Tang seems powerful, but if collapse comes, it will be utter and swift.”

Cao Ying sighed, “The pretender emperor’s stupidity is heaven’s gift, a perfect opportunity for you, sir.”

“Indeed!” Yi Niang looked expectantly at the young man she had mentored for a year.

“It seems I’ll need to keep in closer touch with that one,” Yang Xuan thought of Liang Jing.

His only chance for sudden advancement lay with the Imperial Consort.

He stood. “I’ll go find Liang Jing.”

…

Thwack! Thwack!

Arrows repeatedly missed their mark; only two stuck in the small bottle.

“I’m done!” Nian Ziyue, annoyed, jammed all the arrows into the bottle, changed clothes, and took advantage of the guards’ absence to slip quietly out the back door.

Outside, she clapped her hands with delight. “Pingkang Quarter, Western Market…”

…

Yang Xuan tracked down Liang Jing, the manager of Pingkang Quarter.

As soon as he left the brothel, Liang Jing sought out a place to drink, surrounded by a gang of rowdy friends.

“Yang Xuan, come, have a drink!”

Liang Jing shooed away the other men and ordered fresh food and wine.

Yang Xuan sat, raised his cup, and drank.

All eyes were on him. One finely dressed youth rose and said, “I’ve heard Deputy Magistrate Yang wrote a poem that moved Princess Nanyang. With so many worthy guests present, why not compose another?”

This man, dressed extravagantly, bore a sneer of disdain—clearly from a wealthy family.

Yang Xuan took a sip, then quietly said to Liang Jing, “There’s a plot of land by the Eastern Market—low-lying, waterlogged, no one wants it. Acquire it, fill it in, and build shops there.”

Liang Jing was taken aback and whispered, “Will anyone buy in that area?”

Yang Xuan smiled. “Merchants from Southern Zhou are coming.”

“What do you mean?”

“That emperor of Southern Zhou dotes on his daughter. Though he’s reluctantly sent Princess Nanyang as a hostage, he worries for her. So he’s sending merchants to Chang’an, ostensibly for business—but really, he wants the princess to live comfortably these next few years… Once they arrive, trust me, shop prices in Chang’an will soar.”

Southern Zhou was wealthy, thanks largely to its merchants.

Liang Jing asked, “How do you know this?”

Yang Xuan replied with a smile, “The Imperial Academy is responsible for tracking Southern Zhou spies—and I’m a student there… I uncovered this information.”

Liang Jing was delighted, but kept his composure. “If it’s such a lucrative deal… why not work together?”

Why wouldn’t you want a share in such a windfall?

The foppish youth across the table was about to lose his mind.

Yang Xuan glanced sidelong at him and said to Liang Jing, “Where did my county constable post come from?”

Liang Jing nodded. “Granted by Her Ladyship—well done!”

Loyal to the core.

Yang Xuan stood. “I’m off, then. Move quickly.”

“Thank you.” Liang Jing knew Yang Xuan wouldn’t risk his future to deceive him.

So—

Brother’s about to get rich.

The foppish youth, ignored for so long, finally exploded with rage, pointing at Yang Xuan. “Are you not going to compose or what?”

Yang Xuan walked up to him.

The youth sneered coldly.

“I’ll compose your mother!” Yang Xuan kicked him to the ground and strode out, feeling utterly refreshed.

The youth, already drunk, was left with blood streaming from his nose. He raised his head and shouted, “Brother Liang!”

Crash!

Liang Jing flung his cup to the ground and leapt up to give the youth a vicious beating.

“Spare me, Brother Liang!” the youth pleaded, clutching his face, bewildered by Liang Jing’s wrath.

Liang Jing cursed as he beat him, “That’s my brother—who are you to boss him around? Someone, keep beating him!”

The tavern descended into chaos.

Outside, Yang Xuan took a deep breath, feeling completely at ease.

Dusk was falling, and Pingkang Quarter was about to enter its peak hours.

Nian Ziyue entered the world’s most dazzling den of pleasure.

Red lanterns, green wine, bustling crowds.

So lively!

Before leaving home, she had smeared gray powder on her face, convinced her disguise was flawless.

She bought grilled meat here, a cold drink there.

Pure happiness!

Nian Ziyue squinted with joy.

“What lively eyes,” a young scoundrel remarked, spotting her.

Oblivious, Nian Ziyue ate as she walked, peering about until she wandered into a secluded alley.

Time to head back!

She turned around.

A leering face.

Muffled cries.

The rogue clamped a hand over her mouth, dragging her into the alley. “Damn, you’re a beauty—tonight I’ll have my fun.”

Nian Ziyue struggled desperately, thinking of her parents, of Zhang Jing, and finally, unexpectedly, of that country boy.

—Whenever the princess leaves, you must inform me first. Otherwise, you’ll bear the consequences if anything happens.

Tears welled in her eyes as she struggled in despair.

If news spread that the Southern Zhou princess was assaulted in Chang’an, her parents would be furious—her entire country would be disgraced.

I was wrong! Please save me!

The sound of panting grew louder behind her as the rogue tired from her resistance.

“A little farther in!”

Just ahead was an even more deserted spot.

“One more sound and I’ll knock you out. Hah! Not a bad idea!”

He raised his fist.

Thud!

In her despair, Nian Ziyue heard someone fall behind her. Suddenly, her support vanished and she toppled backward.

She fell into someone’s arms.

The man wrapped his arms around her.

And carried her away.

“Hey!”

He called out as he walked, carrying her.

“Hey!”

Wait—this wasn’t that rogue.

She caught a glimpse of lantern light ahead and looked up.

A familiar face gazed down at her.

“Yang Xuan?”

Yang Xuan looked down. “You’re… all dusty. Who are you?”

Nian Ziyue froze—she was in Yang Xuan’s arms.

“Ah!”

She shrieked.

Startled, Yang Xuan let go instinctively.

She tumbled down.

No, that won’t do!

Yang Xuan bent and quickly caught her up again.

Then—

“Let me go!”

“Oh, oh, oh!”

“You…”

“I swear it wasn’t on purpose.”

“You dare say another word!”

…

Later, the two left Pingkang Quarter together.

“Why were you out alone?”

Nian Ziyue hung her head. “I’m a hostage.”

A hostage’s life was hard—confined to that residence, trading years of youth for her country’s safety.

“Do you look down on Southern Zhou?”

“Yes.” Nian Ziyue looked up, angered.

Yang Xuan said earnestly, “Battles are men’s affairs. Using women to buy peace is a disgrace.”

She turned away. “The Tang is strong—what can we do?”

“Then strive to strengthen your nation.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“Better yet, do it!” Vermilion Bird suddenly piped up, “Young lady, my young master is quite the catch!”

Yang Xuan fell silent for a moment.

Nian Ziyue glanced at him, deciding at least this youth had some compassion.

The road was long.

And yet, all too short.

When they stood outside the back wall of the residence, Nian Ziyue fretted. “The back door won’t open.”

“Help her—give her a push!” Vermilion Bird urged.

Yang Xuan scratched his head. For security, the walls were high. He could get over easily, but Nian Ziyue seemed to have no skills. How would she manage?

“How did you plan to get in before?”

“I was going to call for the door to be opened.”

“And now?”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

She pointed to her torn clothes from the earlier struggle. “If they see me like this, they’ll go mad.”

If the Southern Zhou treasure had nearly been violated in the Tang, it would cause an uproar.

Yang Xuan eyed the wall. “Are you brave?”

She wanted to say no, but something compelled her to nod.

“Very!”

“Stand here.”

Nian Ziyue stood beneath the wall. “What are you going to do?”

Yang Xuan vaulted easily onto the wall, hung down by his legs, and dangled upside down.

He reached out his hands. “Come!”

Nian Ziyue grasped his hands—and he gripped her back, tightly.

“Close your eyes,” Yang Xuan warned, afraid she’d scream.

“Okay.”

She closed her eyes—and suddenly, her body was airborne.

Her hair flew wildly, and she couldn’t help but open her eyes.

Right in front of her were his eyes.

Surprise flickered in his gaze; he clearly hadn’t expected this.

Their faces nearly touched as, pivoting on the wall, they spun into the courtyard.

Feet landed on the ground.

Yang Xuan let go, whispering, “Careful.”

Nian Ziyue was still dazed.

She hummed in reply, almost without thinking.

“I’m leaving,” Yang Xuan said, afraid of being discovered—Honglu Temple would skin him alive.

“Hey!” Nian Ziyue called after him. “You mustn’t tell anyone about tonight.”

Yang Xuan nodded. “All right.”

For some reason, she believed him. Turning, she found darkness ahead.

“I… I can’t find my way.”

She turned back—he was already gone.