Chapter 603: Chapter 603

The lake at the foot of the mountain was long and narrow, and just walking from one end to the other would cover at least several dozen li. The high mountains ran almost parallel to the western shore of the lake, though the mountain base did not directly touch the lakeside. On the contrary, there was a stretch of gently sloping flatland about ten li wide between them.

Nestled in the middle of this area was a city, surrounded by countless villages.

This city was called Xianning, a name that meant “cloud.”

Before the Central Plains dynasty conquered Yunzhou, Yunzhou had been its own independent kingdom, which was prosperous and culturally advanced. It had eagerly studied and adopted the culture and technologies of the Central Plains, using their writing and ritual systems.

Back then, the capital of that kingdom was not at present-day Yundu, but right here. That was why, even now, Xianning remained just as bustling as Yundu, and its cityscape was equally grand and imposing.

However, in the painting, the city was absent.

Song You first walked along the lakeshore, taking in the scenery. Once the swallow told him they were directly below Xianning, he chose a small upward path and began to ascend.

It actually took him over an hour just to reach the city, a testament to the sheer distance.

Xianning had once been a capital, and its tall, imposing brick walls enclosed the city in a perfect square. The west gate faced the mountains, while the east gate looked out over the lake. On the other hand, the south gate led to the heart of Great Yan, and the north gate connected to the Snowy Plains. Merchants on Yunzhou’s Chama Road all passed through here, trading southern tea and goods for horses in the north.

Song You arrived just in time, entering before the city gates closed.

Yunzhou had long been annexed into the Central Plains dynasty, so his ordination certificate was valid here.

However, Yunzhou had seen unrest in recent years, and Xianning in particular seemed even more turbulent. The guards at the city gates inspected him with extra care.

Once inside, the city’s prosperity was immediately apparent. There was no curfew here either.

The Daoist entered through the east gate and made his way uphill. This main road stretched from the east gate toward the northwest, cutting Xianning into northern and southern halves.

Along with the road connecting the south and north gates, it was one of the city’s two busiest streets, and likely the only two routes in town worthy of being called “streets” at all. They divided the city into four square quarters, and aside from them, everything else was made up of small, winding alleys. Though it looked complex, it was almost impossible to get lost.

At this hour, the streets were glowing with lights and vibrant with life. Women could often be seen sitting in upper-floor windows, calling out to passersby below. This place was not much different from other cities at a glance.

By now, shops selling local folk garments and household goods had likely closed for the night.

Song You led his horse onward at a slow pace. Beneath him, the paved stones echoed crisply under the horse’s hooves.

“The weather’s not bad here. With Aha Lake nearby, we might as well spend the winter here,” Song You said to his cat. “I heard from the Zhu family in Yundu and a few merchants on the road that it doesn’t get cold here until deep into winter. Before that, strong-bodied folks can get by with just a single layer during the day, and it only gets chilly at night.”

“If you get bored, just walk down toward the lake with your fishing rod. Find a quiet place by Aha Lake to fish. You can even practice your spells a bit. Catch a few fish and sell them too.”

Having finished her last sugarcane stick, Lady Calico had transformed back into her cat form. It felt far more comfortable this way. She trotted along beside the Daoist in quick, dainty steps, not bothering to answer. She only turned her head this way and that to look around, yet she hadn’t seen a single sugarcane stall.

“No need to worry about getting lost, either,” Song You continued. “There’s a mountain on one side and a lake on the other. Go up and you’ll reach the foot of the mountain. Go down and you’ll hit the lakeshore. The main road in the middle is bound to lead to Xianning, and in the city there are only two big roads crisscrossing. No matter how you walk, you’ll eventually end up on one of them.”

“Lady Calico, you’re being so dismissive. Are you preoccupied with finding a place to stay tonight?”

“No need to look. There are a few right here.” Song You came to a halt, glancing at both sides of the street ahead.

This city had been built quite early, laid out in neat, square grids. Traces of the lifang system[1] from the previous dynasty could still be found here; for example, trades of the same or similar types were often clustered in the same area. This section had likely been a designated district for inns and lodging houses, and even now, quite a few such establishments remained. Still, it wasn’t entirely the same anymore; after all, Great Yan’s economy was highly developed, and the limitations of the old lifang system had become more apparent. Adjustments had long been made based on practical needs.

From what was in view, there were at least four or five inns. Each had a signboard out front; some with hanging wooden plaques, some with lanterns, and others with fluttering wine flags.

Xianning Tower was clearly an upscale brothel. Ornate carved railings and painted beams adorned the place, while the sound of singing and dancing drifted down from the upper floor. It obviously offered both lodging and entertainment.

A chema inn was a place commonly used for overnight stays. It was convenient for stabling horses, inexpensive, but the environment was somewhat rough. With guests coming and going frequently and of all sorts, it was not suitable for a long-term stay.

So-called jiao inns[2] were inns without licenses to brew alcohol themselves. They had to buy wine wholesale from certified establishments or government-run breweries and resell it. Their primary business was drinking, with simple overnight accommodations for travelers to rest. However, the accommodations were usually quite basic. The drunkards didn’t mind such conditions, but it was not suitable for a long-term stay.

“Yongchun Inn.” Song You turned his gaze to the final inn.

Ah, an inn. Now that’s ideal.

Just last month, he’d received a twenty-tael silver reward from the Zhu family in Yundu. After twenty days of travel, he hadn’t touched a single coin. Now was the perfect time to upgrade his lodging.

At the same time, Lady Calico also stopped walking and sat obediently at the Daoist’s feet. Together, they looked at the row of inns. Her posture was well-behaved, and she had a charming appearance. She also had a lively expression, so much so that many passersby couldn’t help glancing her way. Upon realizing she belonged to the Daoist, anyone with a bit of leisure couldn’t help but smile.

Lady Calico, though young, had stayed in more inns than most children her age. Naturally, she could tell which were good and which weren’t just from their names and also which ones were pricey and which ones cheap.

Even without reading the signs, just the exterior decoration was enough of a clue.

“Have you made your choice?”

“I’ve made mine too,” the Daoist said with a smile. “In that case, let’s go.”

The Daoist headed toward Yongchun Inn. The cat, meanwhile, trotted toward the chema inn.

After just a few steps, she noticed the Daoist was heading in a different direction. One of her front paws froze mid-air, not touching the ground, as she turned her head to look at him. Then, realizing she’d gone the wrong way, she quickly scurried after him.

“I just want to inquire about the price for a room.”

“Oh, you’re here to stay?” The innkeeper immediately let out a breath of relief; he probably thought he was here to collect a debt. And then, his demeanor turned warm and welcoming. “Sir, will you be staying long-term or just for a short while?”

“We’re staying for three months.”

“Of course! No problem at all!”

Xianning was one of the major cities in Yunzhou, and it was quite prosperous. But in the autumn and winter months, the north grew cold, even snowy, so there were fewer merchants traveling the Chama Road, and prices were significantly cheaper.

Song You went across to ask about rates at the chema inn, mostly to give that innkeeper a little scare, and also to use their pricing as a reference for bargaining. In the end, he paid five taels of silver for a three-month stay, which included a stall in the stable, but it did not include the cost of feed for the horse.

All in all, it was actually a bit pricier than the rent he’d paid back in Changjing, but it was important to consider that the place in Changjing was housing provided by the Housing Bureau, essentially a government-subsidized rental.

Those places were difficult to get in the first place, and on top of the government subsidy, that heroine had even given him a discount, so that was how he’d gotten it so cheap.

In comparison, the small building in Changjing had the advantage of privacy and more space, while the inn here was located in a bustling area, with ready-made room amenities, such as bedding, pillows. Plus, the staff cleaned the place regularly.

All things considered, it evened out.

“My horse doesn’t need to be tethered. It won’t hurt anyone or wander off. You can rest easy. If it harms someone without cause, I’ll pay compensation. If it runs off on its own, I won’t hold the inn accountable. The same goes for the cat, she won’t damage anything in the room or hurt anyone. If she does, I’ll pay for any losses.”

As he spoke, the Daoist led the horse to a corner of the stable and gave the floor a quick sweep. With the innkeeper’s help, he then carried his belongings up to the second floor. Then he came back down and sat in the main hall on the first floor.

Three oil lamps lit the hall; two were fixed on central pillars, and one on the counter. They were just enough to cast a dim glow over the room.

“Do you have anything to eat?” he asked.

“It’s a bit late now, but the kitchen still has two fish, some rice vermicelli andrice noodles[3], and some preserved meats like smoked chicken and cured pork. Not much in the way of vegetables left.”

“I’ve heard the rice vermicelli around here is quite good?”

“Both rice vermicelli and rice noodles are tasty, it depends on the person. Some folks from out of town like rice noodles, some don’t,” the innkeeper said, enthusiastically promoting his food. “The broth’s made from slow-cooked pork bones, and the meat is stewed till tender. Now that it’s dark and a bit chilly, having a bowl of something so fresh, tasty, and comforting warms you right up and is sure to leave you satisfied.”

“I’ll have a bowl, then.”

“There’s not much braised pork left, I’ll give the rest to you. Any extra is on the house, consider it a little gesture of goodwill.”

“That would be perfect. Thank you, truly.”

Wearing these Daoist robes while traveling the world often brings special treatment, especially when the Daoist didn't appear to be ordinary. Whether commoners or high-ranking officials, people tend to show extra respect.

Consider it a kind of invisible benefit.

When the bowl of rice vermicelli was brought over, it was indeed piled high with meat. The Daoist took out Lady Calico’s personal bowl, which was a delicate piece of blue-and-white porcelain, and its floral pattern cast shadows on the table under the lamplight. He carefully transferred most of the stewed pork from his own bowl into hers and handed it to the cat.

Then he picked up his chopsticks but didn’t immediately start eating. Instead, he called out to the innkeeper, who hadn’t yet walked far, “While I’ve got you here, I wanted to ask...”

“What would you like to know, sir?” The innkeeper stopped at once and turned back to look at him.

“While I was walking through town earlier, I heard there’s a young woman called Lady Chai who lives here. Would you happen to know where she lives?”

“Hahaha...” At those words, the innkeeper laughed and said, “Seeing as you just arrived today, sir, and with the way you carry yourself and are clearly a cultivated Daois, I figured you’d be looking for that Lady Chai. Even if not her, surely someone else who’s suddenly made a name for themselves. People always get curious.”

“You must be used to it.”

“Used to it, indeed...”

“Then you must know where she lives?”

“As the saying goes, ‘It seems a world away, yet it's right nearby.’” The innkeeper grinned. “There’s a bit of open land behind this inn. It’s already dark now, but if it were daytime, you could see it clearly. There are always plenty of freshly dyed cloths hanging out to dry, that’s her husband’s work. Those are famous Xianyun Gauze from Yunzhou, which are supplied to the palace.”

“Right behind. Their home’s just over there. It’s not directly on this main street, but it’s a lot quieter than the street here!”

“I see...” The Daoist nodded and quietly replied, “Then it must be fate.”

Just as he lowered his head to finally eat, the cat raised her head from her bowl and meowed at him.

“...” The Daoist sighed helplessly, raised his head again, and asked the innkeeper, “Might I ask, where in the city can I buy sugarcane?”

“Sugarcane? Hmm, it’s not often sold here. Not many people grow it around these parts. But I did hear that over the southern road, on the other side of the mountain, quite a few folks grow sugarcane to boil down into syrup and sell to the sugar houses.”

The Daoist turned to look at the cat, calm and expressionless.

His gaze seemed to say, That’s what you get for not knowing when to stop.

1. Just a reminder, the lifang system is an urban layout based on the Zhou Li (Rites of Zhou). The city follows a symmetrical layout with a central axis running through the entire city, with streets on either side perfectly symmetrical. The residential areas within the city are divided into small square grids like a chessboard. ☜

2. The term literally means "foot inn," indicating a place for travelers to stop and rest their feet. ☜

3. 饵丝 Ěr sī is a type of rice noodle dish from Yunnan, China. It has a square cross-section and a clean white appearance, though bits of bran may occasionally be mixed in. With a firm texture, it retains a pleasant elasticity even after being cooked. It is especially popular among people in western and northwestern Yunnan. ☜