Chapter 463: How Did He Even Come?

Xiao Ningyuan's eyes flashed coldly.

Lu Qi suddenly opened his mouth, his voice low and hoarse: "Are you sure?"

Su Wan Yun met his gaze, a faint smile on her lips: "If Seventh Uncle doesn't believe, just go and see for yourself."

The owner of the Incense Burning Tower is surnamed Xue, named Xue Jiangtao; his methods are very formidable, and in Yuzhou, from high officials down to petty merchants, all give him a bit of deference.

The private room fell silent for a moment, only the faint sounds of river waves and the market beyond the window could be heard.

Xiao Ningyuan lifted his tea cup: "Thank you, Madam Su."

"There's another thing I'd like to know: the upheaval in Jingcheng—has it affected the people's hearts here?"

Su Wan Yun heard that and smiled lightly: "Yuzhou is far and mountainous; the events in Jingcheng reaching here are just idle talk in tea houses and rumors at the docks."

She looked toward the mist‑shrouded distant mountains: "As long as the boats on the river keep running, the mountain city's chilies stay fragrant, the common folk of this city won't care who sits on the throne in Jingcheng."

Compared with the rice cooked at our own hearth, these matters are too distant and have little relevance.

Xiao Ningyuan silently nodded.

Tuan Tuan listened for a while: "Sister Su, the hot pot is delicious; is there anything even tastier here?"

Everyone laughed.

Su Wan Yun smiled: "Yuzhou snacks are famed across the world; Lord Master, if you have time, come here often, and I guarantee you'll never get the same dish twice!"

Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands: "Great! Thank you, Sister Su!"

The few of them rose to take their leave and returned to the inn.

Tuan Tuan flopped onto the bed: "Finally I can sleep on a proper bed! So comfortable!"

Xiao Ningyuan felt a pang; his younger sister, originally a legitimate daughter of the Prince's Mansion, a golden‑branch jade‑leaf, now was delighted merely by having a bed to sleep on.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi exchanged a glance, both feeling uneasy; the miss was indeed overworked.

Xiao Ningyuan let out a soft sigh: "Tuan Tuan, the brothers… we really have let you down."

Tuan Tuan turned over, looking at him: "No, you've all been very kind to me."

She rolled comfortably on the bed: "Big brother, I like it here!"

"Father always says what he wants to see is the people living peacefully and prosperously; this place is exactly that!"

"If everyone could be like the people here—eating their fill, having a bed, and being able to go to tea houses for fun—Father would be happy!"

Xiao Ningyuan felt his heart warm; his sister's childlike words summed up his father's half‑a‑life's original aspiration.

He walked to the bedside and pulled his sister into his arms: "Tuan Tuan is right. Once we drive all the villains away, our family will come back here for a hot‑pot feast together!"

Tuan Tuan was delighted: "Alright, alright!"

Xiao Ningyuan patted her little head: "Sleep quickly; tomorrow we must rise early and go to White Crane Beam and the Incense Burning Tower for a look."

Early the next morning, the group asked the inn's attendant for directions and arrived at White Crane Beam.

White Crane Beam is a massive stone beam in the middle of the river; during the dry season most of it is exposed, its surface covered with water‑level carvings and scholars' inscriptions.

The few of them walked along the damp riverbank toward it.

On the gray‑white stone beam, chiseled marks criss‑crossed; a handful of youths resembling scholars stood upon it, chanting toward the river, occasionally lifting pens to add a few lines on the stone.

Xiao Er whispered: "This place is open and uncovered; it's certainly not a hiding spot for anything."

Lu Qi looked around: "Exactly. If there were any movement here, it would be obvious on the riverbank; it's not a place for covert actions."

Tuan Tuan looked up at the poem on the beam: "Big brother, what's written here?"

"The river flows with ancient sorrow, the stone bears a century‑old heart," Xiao Ningyuan recited softly. "It's scholars lamenting—sorrow over the throne changing hands, sorrow over ambitions hard to fulfill."

"Oh," Tuan Tuan replied, "I don't understand!"

Xiao Ningyuan laughed: "Tuan Tuan, you don't need to understand these. Let's go; this place is probably not a treasure hideout."

Xiao Er nodded: "Young Master, the Incense Burning Tower belongs to Prince Qing; we'll probably need to disguise ourselves before we can get in."

Xiao Ningyuan replied: "I was thinking the same. It's still early; let's buy suitable clothes and rest for a while back."

"When night falls, we'll go back to the Incense Burning Tower to see the truth."

The group entered a ready‑made clothing shop and selected appropriate garments for each.

Xiao Ningyuan changed into an indigo silk robe, holding a plain paper folding fan; Tuan Tuan switched to a blue shirt and a small cap, dressed as a boy.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi dressed as attendants, binding wrists and legs, looking crisp and efficient.

After resting in the inn for half a day, until the lanterns were lit, they finally walked at a leisurely pace toward the Incense Burning Tower.

The Incense Burning Tower stood by the river, three stories tall with soaring eaves; red lanterns hung beneath the eaves, casting a warm, amber glow that reflected on the water.

Inside, the crowd roared, strings and flutes mingling with the clatter of dice and tiles, steam of wine billowing out through doors and windows—a scene of great bustle.

Xiao Ningyuan paused briefly at the doorway, snapped his folding fan open with a "swish," leading Tuan Tuan inside, followed by Xiao Er and Lu Qi.

The first floor was a tavern, tables and benches packed tightly.

The runner, carrying a tray of dishes, weaved through the crowd like a fish, announcing loudly: "Spicy Pepper Chicken—here it comes!"

"Grilled White—make way!"

The few looked up.

The second floor was even noisier, with strings, cheers, dancing maidens, and the clatter of dice cups layering together—it turned out to be a fairly large gambling hall!

Compared with the Two Rivers Confluence Tea House, this place is even more luxurious and noisy.

Only the third floor was silent, with not even a single silhouette.

A man of about forty, the hall manager, smiled and greeted them, scanning them up and down: "Gentlemen, first time here? Want a meal or what?"

Xiao Ningyuan lifted the tip of his fan slightly, pointing to the third floor: "We are itinerant merchants, just arrived in Yuzhou, drawn here by reputation."

"But it's a bit too noisy here; I think the third floor is quiet, so give us a private room. We'll have a meal first, and after we're full, we'll try our luck."

"Third floor?" the manager was startled, then with a smile: "I'm not neglecting you; the third floor, you see, is our eastern owner's private area, never open to guests."

"If you find the second floor too noisy, how about having a simple meal on this first floor?"

Xiao Ningyuan deliberately showed displeasure: "How? Such a grand Incense-Burning Pavilion, and there isn't even a private room?"

The waiter hurriedly apologized: "There are private rooms on the second floor, but they're reserved for a few big customers; if you can afford the price..."

Xiao Er stepped forward, took out a silver ingot: "Is this enough?"

The waiter beamed with joy: "Enough! Enough! Please, go up to the second floor!"

Everyone followed him to the end of the second floor, turned a corner, and entered a private room.

It was indeed much quieter here, farther from the second-floor lobby, only faint sounds could still be heard.

"Gentlemen, is this to your liking?"

Xiao Ningyuan nodded: "Bring out all your best dishes; don't hold back on expense for me!"

The waiter was delighted: "All right! Coming right up!" He turned and left, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.

Seeing him leave, Tuan Tuan swung her little legs and began to wander around the room.

Unlike ordinary teahouse private rooms, this one actually had a huge screen dividing the room in two.

Tuan Tuan went around the screen, and Xiao Er hurriedly followed.

Behind the screen was actually a huge gambling table! It was covered with various pai gow tiles, dice, and other items.

Tuan Tuan pointed and asked: "Uncle Er, what are these?"

Xiao Er replied: "They're just gambling things, miss; let's go out."

"Oh." Tuan Tuan again peered through the door crack: "This place is really fun, different from the teahouses in Jingcheng!"

A moment later.

She exclaimed: "Ah! This bastard! How did he also come here?"