Chapter 69: Heavenly White Jade Capital

The group turned back and did not enter the city, following the flow of people leaving the city northward.

However, they hadn't walked long before the old man's earlier remark proved true—the line was already moving quickly toward the city gate.

They encountered the tail of the civilians' queue, two long lines stretching out of sight, as people rushed forward to squeeze into the end of the line.

Zheng Yifang finally saw what was wrong: the city wall here was broken and shabby, but the road extending north from the gate was actually well built.

Paved entirely with large stone slabs, it was wide and level.

Despite the crowds, the people did not descend into chaos or crowding, but lined up honestly in two rows.

Ahead there were only two rows of people, and the road instantly felt spacious—just then a mounted armored soldier came galloping forward, patrolling on all sides while shouting.

"Please be patient and wait, don't crowd! The Great King said that all registered residents of Secluded Prefecture may receive supplies, the quantity is sufficient, no need to rush!"

The two queues grew ever straighter, making the Zheng family party standing outside conspicuous.

"An elderly woman couldn't help but say, 'You're dressed so nicely, yet you've come to buy relief grain just like us?'"

"Her sister shot her a withering glance and retorted, 'Our Great King has it hard enough—if my family could even manage half a meal, I wouldn't come to take advantage of the children!'"

The two women's voices were loud enough that nearby townspeople and the soldier turned to look.

"Mistaken for coming to take advantage, Zheng Yifang felt extremely embarrassed; he cupped his hands toward the soldier and said, 'We are not from Secluded Prefecture! We are merchants, we are merchants—we have just arrived in Secluded Prefecture City!'"

"The soldier also nodded on his horse, pointing ahead to the still-wide boulevard: 'Visitors may go on their own; at the end of Vermilion Bird Avenue there is a Myriad Phenomena City currently in trial operation—give your merchant name and you should be allowed in.'"

"Zheng Yifang didn't even know what Myriad Phenomena City was; he hastily nodded and walked forward as indicated. Under the stares of so many people who had mistaken him, he felt utterly ill at ease."

"This discomfort lasted only until they saw the end of Vermilion Bird Avenue and the bustling street scene before them—then that unease was forgotten."

"What's going on?"

"Secluded Prefecture actually has a street more prosperous and lively than Chang'an and Jiankang!"

"At the southern entrance of Vermilion Bird Avenue stood an archway bearing four large, soaring dragons and dancing phoenixes characters: Vermilion Bird Avenue."

"Inside, the civilians' queue formed an S-shape, with two shops not far inside the avenue entrance, allowing the line to extend northward while the buildings on either side blocked the wind, so those waiting would be less exposed to the cold gusts of the open fields."

"The Zheng family party thus saw the beautifully built avenue and the crowds packed shoulder to shoulder; you might say this is Jiankang's Jinhuai Avenue and I would believe you—but in fact, the buildings lining Jinhuai Avenue nowadays are truly inferior to this Vermilion Bird Avenue, which I had never heard of before."

"Zheng Yifang entered Vermilion Bird Avenue, where shops two to three stories high lined both sides as far as the eye could see. On closer inspection most were locked, but not far off two large shops stood open, and it was here that the civilians queued to buy goods."

"He found a corner to observe; above the door hung a wooden horizontal plaque reading '【Prosperous Peace Cloth Shop】', beside which fluttered a banner bearing a large 'You' character—making the owner obvious at a glance."

"This Secluded King… is rather interesting."

"A group of ragged civilians smiled as they queued outside; each time someone left, their gaze immediately followed."

"Wait—how can these civilians afford such brightly colored cloth?"

"An elderly woman emerged from the cloth shop's door, clutching a bolt of water‑green fabric and a bulging parcel, smiling and greeting the neighbors still waiting in line: 'This old lady has finally opened her eyes—living to this age, I never knew cloth could come in so many colors; I tell you there could be ten or twenty kinds! The folks at home say this water‑green shade is what they call it—boys and girls can wear it, and my grandchildren have never worn new clothes yet! Go ahead and feel it, it's not stiff at all… and there's this… cotton…'"

"Zheng Yifang instantly recognized the function of the combed cotton, he stopped the old woman to examine it closely, and grew ever more certain."

"I wonder how much silver this old lady paid for this bolt?"

"One hundred wen—it's a precious item; I hear that if you line winter clothes with it you won't feel the cold at all. Originally we were reluctant to buy it even with the Great King's subsidy for our family, but now that my son has been selected for the Great King's new ship, we can finally afford to splurge."

"Zheng Yifang's eyes burned with excitement—Secluded Prefecture really does have fine goods."

"Customs vary a hundred li apart; even the poorest places have their own specialties—this trip to Secluded Prefecture was indeed worthwhile."

"He paused a while longer; the bolts of cloth the civilians carried out were truly varied in color, and that cotton was white as snow, quite respectable. The grain shop across the street was even livelier, after all, if a household had even a single cash coin they would still prioritize buying grain."

"After observing a while, he noticed that when people's turn was coming up they would pull out a small booklet from their pockets; Zheng Yifang then stepped forward to strike up a conversation."

"He learned that this was the Secluded Prefecture household register—only with it could one purchase the Great King's grain at an extremely low price."

"Those who had finished buying eagerly showed it off to Zheng Yifang—of course, holding it themselves to display to outsiders."

"Look, when buying grain you first check the household register; after purchase they stamp it here, and with that stamp you cannot buy again."

"Zheng Yifang leaned in to look; on the top of the last page of the booklet was a rectangular red seal reading '【Purchased New Year Relief Grain】'."

"..."

"They've already distributed relief grain, and still they're celebrating the New Year!"

"Zheng Yifang watched a while longer before leading his party onward; the shops further ahead were mostly closed. He couldn't help feeling a deep regret—such splendid street‑front establishments, yet none were open for business."

"Taking another look at the townspeople's attire… tsk, the spending power here is a puzzle."

"So the question arises: who funded this street's construction? If you had that money you'd be pouring it into Chang'an City—you'd be fighting over it madly! Yet upon arriving here he never doubted the Great King."

"Myriad Phenomena City is at number six Vermilion Bird Avenue, near the northern entrance; they walked a long while before spotting an open three‑story shop."

"Its gate and signboard were more impressive than the grain shop's; the three characters 'Myriad Phenomena City' glittered with blinding gold in the sunlight. As he was taking it in, a nearby steward let out a short cry of alarm."

"It sounded as if the shout had been cut off mid‑call by someone grabbing the speaker's throat."

"Eldest Heir, quickly look north—the Immortal Palace!"

"Later Zheng Yifang returned to Chang'an and told people that the Secluded King had built a Heavenly White Jade Capital on the frontier; they thought he was mad."

"You, of the Zheng Clan, are also a prominent wealthy merchant of Jiankang—how could you be so inexperienced?"

"Even the Second Prince didn't believe it."

"How long has he been back? Without mentioning grain and supplies, his brother truly has that speed—even building a White Jade Capital… that could only be done with divine power. Having said that, he first took a cup of osmanthus wine; at the banquet everyone present chimed in with laughter."

"That's Secluded Prefecture—the Zheng family has truly declined; the younger generation is one outrage after another, and they'd even pull such a stunt to attract attention."

"Who would have thought that Zheng Yifang himself found it hard to believe at the time?"

"."

"That day the weather was clear with excellent visibility; far off, the towering, majestic city walls and the splendid, otherworldly gate towers were plainly visible. You say this is merely the gate of the Vassal Prince's Mansion, and he really could hardly believe it."

Blue sky, white clouds immortal abode—this can't be a dream, can it…?