Chapter 673: Wang Fu

"Where are you from?"

"Do you have an entry permit?"

In the capital, the checks for entering the city were even more stringent.

All merchants from outside the city were required to have permits issued by checkpoints along their route, and they also needed someone to vouch for them before they could enter the city to conduct business.

Commoners living near the capital who entered the city every morning to work or sell wild goods from the mountains were usually let through simply, provided they weren't carrying large amounts of cargo, even if they hadn't earned much money.

But those like Li Yan, who carried blades and guns, were key targets of scrutiny.

Those walking the Some Jianghu had to be vouched for by a local Chamber of Commerce or the Divine Fist Society.

If they didn't, they could forget about entering the city for the rest of their lives.

A bronze mirror hung above the gate; it was polished in a strange way, making even the shadows of those standing close to it appear somewhat blurred.

This object was called a "Demon-Reflecting Mirror."

It didn't reflect human shadows, but rather Qi.

If there was any flow of martial or baleful Qi, the blurred shadows on it would distort.

Some wealthy families hung this object at their entrances.

Legend had it that some things that weren't human would hurry away upon reaching the door to avoid revealing their true forms.

Of course, such Dharma artifacts were complex to craft and not something ordinary people could afford.

Even if one managed to get a genuine one, it would be stolen by someone before long.

Naturally, the one at the capital's gate was not a fake.

Occultists entering the city could not hide their identities; they had to obediently produce their Daoist credentials and head to the City God Temple to register.

Before leaving, Luo Feng had already helped him obtain a fake Daoist credential to hide his identity, but when Li Yan arrived at the city gate and saw that his shadow on the "Demon-Reflecting Mirror" showed no abnormalities, his heart stirred, and he decided against taking out the credential.

His Dragon-Snake Tablet was a sacrificial vessel used by the ancient Shu tribes to worship the Ba Serpent, and it could also be considered a national sacrificial artifact.

Such a treasure could evade the Heavenly Court and the Yin Office, so naturally, the "Demon-Reflecting Mirror" couldn't detect it either.

No matter how authentic the fake Daoist credential Luo Feng had made was, it couldn't compare to leaving no trace at all.

Li Yan suddenly had an epiphany: there must be quite a few national sacrificial artifacts in the capital, and the same went for hidden experts.

But even so, the guards at the city gate didn't let him off.

"Name?!"

"Liu Ergou."

"Where are you from?"

"Unlike Yichang, Ezhou."

"Do you have travel papers and a guarantor?"

"Reporting to you, my lord, they are right here..."

After a strict interrogation, and seeing Li Yan produce the fake identity provided by the Lei family of Ezhou, the soldier finally relaxed his vigilance slightly. However, he still snorted, looked at the scabbard at Li Yan's waist, and said coldly, "The capital has its rules and laws; you'd best not stir up trouble!"

"Don't worry, my lord, I'm just here to make a living."

"Alright, move along!"

After letting Li Yan pass, the soldiers stopped the next merchant caravan.

The caravan had over a dozen horse-drawn carriages and a large amount of cargo; a thorough inspection would take an unknown amount of time. Fearing they would miss their window, the caravan manager hurried forward and secretly slipped them a silver ingot, "Gentlemen soldiers, please make things convenient..."

"None of that!"

The city guards were instantly annoyed, shoved the man aside, and inspected even more carefully.

At this moment, Li Yan was following the flow of people entering the city through the archway of the Yongdingmen.

Hearing the shouting behind him, he turned his head to look, lost in thought.

Even for the capital, this level of inspection was too stringent.

Could something have happened?

Thinking of this, he lowered his straw hat, trying his best not to draw attention to himself.

The capital of the Great Da Xuan Dynasty was the Beiping of his past life.

When the previous dynasty was divided between north and south, this place was originally the capital of the Golden Tent Wolf Kingdom, while the Great Xing Dynasty's capital was in Jin Ling.

Ever since the founding emperor of the Great Da Xuan, Xiao Xiao Chengyou, destroyed the Great Xing and drove the Golden Tent Wolf Kingdom deep into the grasslands, he had established his capital here.

This involved Feng Shui and strategic objectives, so although the timeline had changed, Beiping remained the imperial capital.

The entire capital had a "convex" shaped city wall structure.

The central area, from inside to outside, consisted of the Palace City, the Imperial City, and the Inner City.

Outside the "Palace City" was the Meridian Gate, the place for regular court audiences and imperial punishments. The three main halls were used for grand ceremonies and court affairs, while the Qianqing Palace and Kunning Palace were the sleeping quarters for the Emperor and Empress. Surrounded by a moat, the four gates were guarded by the Forbidden Army, and the palace walls were high and thick; only the Emperor could enter and exit through the main gate of the Great Ming Gate.

The "Imperial City" was a site of ritual architecture, divided into the Ancestral Temple on the left and the Altar of Land and Grain on the right, in accordance with national sacrifices. The square outside the Chengtian Gate was where imperial edicts were promulgated, and the offices of the Five Ministries and Six Boards were symmetrically distributed on both sides of Chang'an Street. In addition, there were imperial gardens.

The "Inner City" was for government offices and civilian residences. The East City mostly housed civil government offices, while the West City mostly housed military institutions, commonly known as "East Civil, West Military."

Furthermore, the Inner City had nine gates, each with a different function.

For example, the "Chaoyang Gate" was the gateway for grain transport, with its wharf leading directly to the Grand Canal. The "Desheng Gate" was the gate for armies departing on campaigns and returning in triumph, while the "Xizhimen Gate" was exclusively for the imperial water from Jade Spring Mountain to be brought into the city, as its quality was superior to the bitter wells inside the city.

As for the Outer City, it was the peripheral defensive fortification with seven gates, serving as the place where commoners lived.

In this way, it formed a pattern of "palace prohibitions in the center, guarded layer by layer," fully displaying the majesty of the imperial capital.

Li Yan had entered through the Yongdingmen. As soon as he stepped into the Outer City, the bustling atmosphere of the marketplace rushed toward him.

This scent was a mixture of the charred aroma of baked cakes, the bitterness of medicinal herbs, and the muskiness of mules and horses.

Li Yan frowned slightly, couldn't help but rub his nose, and cast his gaze toward the notice posted on the inside of the city gate.

The title was "Strict Prohibition on Foreign Merchants Colluding with the Maitreya Sect and Other Evil Cults to Delude the Common People."

It read: By Imperial Edict: Recent investigations in Jinmen, Tongzhou, and other places have revealed that red-haired foreign merchants are using tribute trade as a pretext to secretly collude with Maitreya Sect evildoers, privately trafficking in opium, setting up lewd sacrificial altars, and deluding the foolish populace. Furthermore, they have colluded with Japanese pirates and salt smugglers; their crimes are unforgivable!

Following this was a list of numerous prohibitions.

"First, colluding with evil cults is prohibited. All foreign merchants entering the port must hold a permit from the Maritime Trade Office, and local officials must verify the cargo and register the accompanying personnel. Anyone who dares to privately set up fire-worship altars, Maitreya incense halls, or associate with evildoers will have the principal offender executed by slow slicing, the accomplices beheaded, their property confiscated, and the guilds and interpreters who knew but did not report will be punished with the same crime..."

"Second, private trafficking of prohibited drugs is prohibited. Opium is a poison from foreign lands; those who smoke it become emaciated and neglect production. From this day forward, all customs offices will strictly inspect foreign ships for contraband. Anything discovered will be burned immediately. Sellers, whether Chinese or foreign, will all be treated as 'plotting against the state.' The principal offender will be torn apart by chariots, and buyers will be exiled three thousand li..."

Each prohibition was clearly listed, and the punishments were severe.

The seals of the Censorate and the Five Cities Military Commission were still fresh in vermilion ink.

So that was why...

Li Yan understood immediately after seeing this.

It seemed the attack on the Jinmen wharf had thoroughly stung the imperial court.

The laws among the people were strict, and the infighting within the imperial court was likely even more ferocious.

What gave Li Yan peace of mind was that the imperial court strictly prohibited opium; perhaps this substance would no longer be able to plague the Shenzhou.

But this also meant that it was temporarily inconvenient for him to meet with Yan Yan Jiuling.

Whether he wanted to or not, because of his grandfather, that brother had already become a banner for the Open Sea Faction.

The Jinmen incident had given the Localist Faction a chance to seize the opportunity and attack the Open Sea Faction wantonly.

To maintain balance, the Emperor chose to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.

Yan Yan Jiuling was likely having a hard time right now.

If he appeared and led Zhao Zhao Qingxu to set a trap, he might end up harming Yan Yan Jiuling.

He would have to investigate in secret.

But how was he supposed to sneak into the Prince Ying's Mansion...

Li Yan pondered as he walked along the bluestone street.

The Great Da Xuan Dynasty's national fortune was flourishing, and the prosperity of the capital was second to none in the Shenzhou.

The shop signs lined up on both sides almost blocked out the daylight.

Under the gold-lettered plaque of the silk shop "Ruifuxiang," a clerk shook out a bolt of Suzhou-embroidered cloud brocade to attract passing merchants...

Next door, the bronze grinder of the pharmacy rumbled as an apprentice in a coarse cloth short jacket shouted, "Tongxintang Tiger Bone Wine, dispels dampness and cold!"

All kinds of hawking sounds mixed with the sounds of mules and horses on the street, rising and falling, and everywhere he looked was bustling.

Li Yan wasn't in a hurry to head to Prince Ying's Mansion; instead, he strolled casually through the city. He would likely be staying in the capital for a while, and the sooner he got familiar with it, the better.

After all, he was an old hand who had weathered the storms of the Some Jianghu; while outsiders only saw the prosperity, Li Yan noticed much more.

That bare-chested man performing street acrobatics was currently performing "breaking a large stone on the chest."

Generally speaking, these people were "point-performers" from the Some Jianghu "hanging trade," which was further divided into "clear-hangers" and "challengers."

"Clear-hangers" simply performed acrobatics, while "challengers" also sold wild medicines, strength-boosting pills, tiger bone wine, and other fake drugs.

Regardless of which type, they were "fishy performers," and their kung fu wasn't particularly good.

After all, if they had real ability, who would be willing to suffer this hardship?

But this bare-chested man, when the iron hammer fell, puffed out his chest and actually used internal force to shatter the bluestone.

With the impact from above and below, the bluestone exploded into pieces, and the effect was far superior to ordinary performers.

"Good!"

The surrounding commoners cheered one after another, tossing copper coins.

And this man, letting the copper coins clatter in his pottery bowl, remained indifferent.

It was just that his legs had been severed at the roots by a blade.

After the crowd dispersed, the young man holding the iron hammer hurried forward, his face full of heartache, "Master..."

"Don't say it, I can still hold on."

The man's eyes were full of desolation, "Once we've saved enough money, we'll return to Jizhou and leave this man-eating capital!"

Li Yan, who was leaving with the crowd, shook his head slightly, didn't even look, and flicked his hand casually.

Cling, cling, cling!

A small silver ingot spun rapidly in the broken bowl, right before the shocked eyes of the master and apprentice.

The man hurriedly looked up, but looking at the bustling street, he couldn't find anyone, so he could only cup his hands at the empty air, "Many thanks, brother..."

Where there were down-and-out people, there were naturally those who were riding high.

There were sturdy-looking bodyguards, in groups of three or five, laughing as they entered a brothel, clearly having received a reward for a successful escort mission.

There were also disciples of noble families in fluttering white robes, leading horses through the streets, elegant and romantic with flowers in their hair.

But in the capital, imperial power and law were ultimately supreme.

No matter who they were, when they encountered official runners and guards patrolling the streets, they would always give them a wide berth.

Unknowingly, by the time the sun set and dusk fell, Li Yan had passed through the arrow tower of the Zhengyang Gate and entered the Inner City.

The scene around him suddenly became solemn.

In front of the offices of the Six Boards outside East Jiangmi Alley, private secretaries in green clothes and small caps hurried by with documents;

Outside the military offices on West Chang'an Street, there were even more soldiers patrolling in formation.

Relatively speaking, the streets of the Inner City were cleaner. After all, not only were there various government offices here, but many mansions of the powerful and wealthy were also located here; even a small courtyard wasn't something ordinary commoners could afford.

Of course, the Inner City was just as lively.

The teahouses and wine shops along the streets were built even more prosperously, and basically, no one in tattered clothes could be seen entering or leaving.

As twilight deepened, Li Yan flashed into Wang Zhima Alley, north of the East Four Pailou.

The alley was even quieter, filled with high-gate, large-family mansions, and only occasionally would someone pass by.

In a short time, Li Yan saw several mansions of imperial officials.

All of them had vermilion gates tightly shut; if one wanted to find someone, they had to knock on the bronze door knockers on the door frame.

Almost every household had protective items placed at their entrances.

Like the "Hundred Battles Tablet" in his own home, the stone lions and stone drums bestowed by the imperial court all served to ward off evil and protect the house.

Because Luo Feng had warned him repeatedly, Li Yan didn't easily use his spiritual sense to investigate.

He simply relied on his lightness technique, restrained his aura, and moved through the shadows of the streets at dusk.

Not long after, Li Yan arrived outside a mansion of considerable size.

Looking from afar, he saw a wooden plaque hanging on the lintel that read "Imperial-Built Prince Ying's Mansion Subordinate Office."

Li Yan checked the sky, and seeing the sun setting, he immediately darted into a dark alley, preparing to climb over the wall.

But just then, he suddenly stopped, his expression turning strange.

The credential in his bosom began to heat up slightly!

Interesting...

Li Yan was truly astonished; he hadn't expected that there would be a Yin criminal hiding in this Prince Ying's Mansion!

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Yan immediately sank his mind inward.

Passing through the fog, a stone well with black water appeared before his eyes.

He placed his hand on the well rim, the black water swirled, and the information about the Yin criminal was immediately displayed:

This Yin criminal, named Uleji, came from the "Black Wolf Village" deep in the Greater Khingan Mountains and worshipped the Wolf Immortal...

So it was the "Dark Five Immortals"!

Li Yan immediately guessed the man's heritage.

The Northern Frontier was dominated by Shamanic heritage, and the most famous were naturally the "Out-Horse Immortals," who worshipped foxes, weasels, snakes, hedgehogs, and rats.

But few people knew that besides these "Bright Five Immortals," there were also the "Dark Five Immortals."

The "Dark Five Immortals" referred to those who worshipped the Tiger, Wolf, Centipede, Bat, and Frog Immortals.

Unlike the orthodox Out-Horse Immortals, the Dark Five Immortals were famous for evil arts such as blood sacrifices and seizing bodies to prolong their lives.

Just like this "Black Wolf Village," it had been wiped out by the Five Immortals Hall for refining "Mother-Child Baleful Qi" by skinning pregnant women alive, and Uleji was the only one to escape.

This man practiced "Wolf Immortal Possession," which required him to eat human hearts and livers alive every month.

Years ago, when Prince Ying led his army to suppress the rebellion in the Northern Frontier, he was ambushed by remnants of the Golden Tent Wolf Kingdom and lured into the White Mountains and Black Waters to be besieged.

Uleji, who had just been resurrected through possession, took the opportunity to ambush and kill the Shaman of the Golden Tent Wolf Kingdom, ate his heart and liver to heal his wounds, and was taken in by Prince Ying as a "strange person"...

Seeing this information, Li Yan felt a bit disappointed.

He had originally thought that the one hiding inside was a Jianmu evildoer.

Now it seemed it was just a thug taken in by the Prince's Mansion.

He had heard people from the Huangquan organization talk about this kind of thing before.

Most Earth Immortal Yin criminals hid in blessed caves and grottoes, protected by major Mystic Sects.

Both sides had a tacit understanding; as long as they didn't cause any major trouble, the living Yin messengers would turn a blind eye.

But there were also some lone wolf experts with no one to rely on.

Those who could endure the loneliness could hide in desolate mountains and wild ridges, but some couldn't stand the solitude and insisted on burrowing into the muddy world of mortals, hiding in the homes of princes and nobles to become retainers.

Thinking of this, Li Yan stopped his steps.

With such an expert in Prince Ying's Mansion, sneaking in openly would definitely lead to being discovered.

He couldn't just summon Yin soldiers to arrest the man; if he did, not a single person in the entire mansion would survive.

If the matter blew up, he would only be able to flee in a sorry state.

He had to think of a foolproof plan.

Just then, the small vermilion door at the back of the alley creaked open.

Just then, the small vermilion door at the back of the alley creaked open.

This place was secluded, and according to the general layout, it should have been the passageway for the cook to go out for supplies and transport firewood.

But the person who emerged was a gorgeously dressed young master; his features were passably handsome, but his brows and eyes drooped, his complexion was pale, his eye bags were dark, and he walked with a hunched back and slumped shoulders—the very picture of someone who had indulged too much in wine and women.

Behind him followed two guards from the Prince's Mansion, both with faces full of hesitation.

One of them pleaded, "My Lord, let's not go. Don't make the Old Lady angry."

"What is there to fear?!"

The young master glared, "My grandmother is bedridden, and the others are busy with their own schemes; who has the time to manage me?"

"Go, go, go! I heard a new girl has arrived at the Piaoxiang Pavilion. Her beauty is peerless, and she is set to 'debut' tonight. Those bastards have surely all gone, and I don't want to drink their leftovers..."

Having said that, he lifted his robes and walked out.

The two guards from the Prince's Mansion looked helpless and had no choice but to follow behind.

Li Yan looked at the high walls of the Prince's Mansion, lost in thought, and followed the young master's figure as he merged into the night...

(End of chapter)