Chapter 692: Entering Su Feng Yuanzi at Night

The pleasure quarters of the capital were mainly distributed in three alleys.

Yanle Alley, Goulan Alley, and Rouge Lane.

"Yanle Alley," near East Fourth Street, was under the jurisdiction of the Music Bureau, where official courtesans were trained in singing, dancing, and musical instruments.

Official music troupes emphasized "elegance."

The girls practiced the pipa and sanxian from a young age; their voices had to be bright, and their figures had to be soft.

The old eunuch of the Music Bureau squinted his eyes, tapping the sandalwood clappers with his orchid fingers: "The third movement of 'Rainbow Skirt'—go!"

Once the strings sounded, the courtesans in green vests shook their heads to the tune, their gold hairpins and pendants hitting their cheeks.

Turning into Goulan Alley, it was a different scene.

The blue-brick facades hung with Xiangfei bamboo curtains, from which came the tinkling sound of the moon lute, mixed with the shouting of men playing finger-guessing games.

"Call a girl—" the pimp shouted into the courtyard with a long drawl, and soon a girl with a peony hairstyle came out holding a ruan, her skirt rustling across the doorstones, leaving behind a scent of jasmine soap...

Deep in Rouge Lane, most were three-courtyard houses with stage platforms under rolled-shed roofs.

The places were secluded, and those who went were high-ranking officials and nobles.

As for the Piaoxiang Pavilion previously controlled by the Huwei Hall, its grade couldn't compare at all.

"What official courtesans, private courtesans? They're all playthings to relieve men's boredom!"

The man leading the way ahead chuckled in a low voice, "At a glance, I can tell you're a wealthy man. The capital has strict rules, but it's no different from other places; it relies on official seals and money bags."

"Look at that sedan chair, the blue-cloth sedan chair heading to Yanle Alley, the red-silk-topped sedan chair rushing to Goulan Alley. If a sedan chair stops at the door of the Su family in Rouge Alley..."

Saying this, he blinked, "That must be a high-ranking official from the Six Ministries; it costs extra!"

Behind him, Li Yan, dressed in brocade robes and a small hat, had undergone simple makeup and become a young master who had just arrived in the capital.

He had to go to the "Nine Gates Yin Ruins."

Not to mention the clues about the Jianmu demons, the demonic energy hidden within had to be cleared.

Unfortunately, the secret had leaked beforehand; Pei Zongti didn't dare to cross the line, and Luo Faqing didn't want him to take risks, so official support was off the table.

And having just arrived in the capital, he didn't have enough connections.

The only way he could think of was to seek help from the Jin Yanmen.

But this matter also carried risks.

The Jin Yanmen dealt in intelligence; no matter how bright their facade, they belonged to the underworld, and they had no qualms about cheating or swindling.

Moreover, they were too deeply involved in court struggles.

Just like before at Linqing Pass, when Zhao Wanfang went to collect intelligence.

It wasn't to quell the disaster, but to make a judgment in advance and sell knives to the Kaihai faction. So even though Zhao Wanfang gave him a token and showed goodwill on behalf of the Jin Yanmen, Li Yan didn't really want to deal with them.

Visiting for the first time, he naturally had to be cautious.

Pretending to be a wealthy young master who had just arrived in the capital was most appropriate.

"Master, we're almost there!"

The man leading the way touched the silver in his bosom, his smile becoming even more fawning.

Hearing this, Li Yan looked up and surveyed his surroundings.

Just a moment ago, they were still in the noisy Goulan Alley, where there were many people on the street, music and shouting from both sides, and girls looking out from the railings, covering their mouths and giggling behind round fans, their eyes filled with affection under the lanterns, attracting passersby to enter the shops.

But now, this alley was significantly quieter.

The singing and candlelight were all hidden behind eight-foot-high blue-brick walls.

"This is the place for fine dining."

The leading man raised his eyebrows, "Master, Rouge Lane is worthy of your status; there are no idlers to disturb you, and the girls are all peerless in beauty and talent. I know a few; I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

Li Yan's brow furrowed, "I want to go to the Su family courtyard."

The man shook his head hurriedly, "The Su family courtyard is a place for high officials; you spend money like water, and all you get is listening to small tunes and touching small hands. It's more cost-effective here; the girls really treat you like a master."

Li Yan was already a bit impatient, "Either go, or get lost. Why are you babbling?"

He saw through the man's intentions at a glance.

He clearly regarded him as a fat sheep and wanted to find a place to fleece him, so he changed his mind temporarily.

"Hey!"

The man's expression changed immediately, and he stared with his neck stiff, "I said, why are you so ungrateful?"

While speaking, he blew a loud whistle, and three people immediately ran out from the dark alley, all masked and carrying sticks.

"What are you doing?!"

Before Li Yan could speak, an arrogant voice sounded from behind.

The speaker was a burly young man.

He was dressed in brocade robes, wearing beautiful jade at his waist, his muscles strong and full of power; it was clear he was a martial artist.

Behind him followed two men in black, wearing sabers at their waists, their expressions gloomy.

The man leading the way also had a sharp eye; seeing this, he hurriedly apologized with a smile: "Master, this has nothing to do with you."

"Get lost!"

The young man glanced coldly: "I... I hate undisciplined things the most!"

The leading man and his companions wanted to argue, but the two servants behind the young man had already leaped out, brandishing their scabbards and beating the men until they howled like ghosts and wolves, stumbling away.

Li Yan cupped his hands slightly, "Many thanks, your Excellency..."

But before he could finish, the young man left with his subordinates without looking back.

Li Yan slowly lowered his hand, his eyes somewhat playful.

Although this young man was very arrogant, the pride and nobility in his bones were real.

The two guards were also wearing official boots under their casual clothes.

They should be scions of noble families in the capital.

Without a guide, Li Yan had to walk in by himself.

At the end of this bluestone Rouge Lane was a mottled shadow wall, with a few branches of white wood-fragrance vines peeking out from the cracks in the gray bricks.

If an ordinary person saw this, they would definitely think it was a dead end and turn back.

But the two small sedan chairs parked in the alley and the direction the young man was walking made Li Yan guess that there was something else inside.

Sure enough, after bypassing the mottled shadow wall, the view suddenly opened up.

A huge courtyard unfolded before his eyes like a scroll, clearly using the clever gardening technique of "heaven and earth in a pot."

The outer walls of this garden were all polished bricks with aligned seams, the bluestone brick surface as delicate as a mirror, and the tile drips were all Song-style lotus patterns.

Beside the moon gate stood a pair of Taihu stones, their thin, wrinkled, leaky, and transparent posture like an immortal pointing the way. At the base of the stones leaned half a broken stele, which, upon closer inspection, turned out to be a broken fragment of the Yuanyou Partisan Stele. The Su and Huang calligraphy, with its rugged character, had long been blurred by rubbing, and it was set off by flowers and plants.

It looked casual, but it was actually meticulously designed, with quite an ancient charm.

And on the black gate, a plaque reading "Su Feng Yuanzi" was hung impressively.

"Greetings, Young Master Xiao."

A man in green with a goat-like beard stood at the door. Seeing the young man arrive, he hurriedly stepped forward to salute and whispered: "The person is inside, and the matter has been half-settled. Please follow me."

After saying this, he led the young man into the garden.

Li Yan just wanted to follow, but was stopped by the two small servants guarding the gate.

"Guest, please stay your steps."

The two spoke very politely, "This is a private residence and does not receive outside guests."

Li Yan was a bit displeased, "The Su family courtyard is so famous; does it not do business?"

"It is a private residence; please forgive us."

The two had smiles on their faces, but they were still in a posture of rejecting people from a thousand miles away.

This was beyond Li Yan's expectations.

He had thought the Jin Yanmen was just a brothel; he hadn't expected he wouldn't even be able to get through the door.

Looking at these two green-clad servants again, they were wearing cloud-head shoes with thousand-layer soles, their arms hanging down like holding yin and yang, secretly matching the four-image and eight-pole stance, and there were calluses on their tiger's mouths. Although they were bowing their heads, it was clear they were martial artists with solid skills.

"If that's the case, then it's a pity." Li Yan smiled slightly and turned to leave.

This place was more complicated than he had imagined; it was better to find another way.

But before he turned around, he stopped.

"This young master, is there anything else?"

One of the servants was already slightly impatient.

Li Yan was silent for a moment and took a token directly from his bosom, "I want to see Miss Zhao Wanfang."

"Uh."

The servant was a bit surprised, but after taking the token, his expression changed drastically, and he immediately bowed respectfully: "A distinguished guest has arrived. If there has been any offense, please forgive us. Young master, please follow me."

After saying this, he turned sideways, bent over, and raised his hand, very particular about etiquette.

Li Yan didn't talk nonsense and walked in with a cold face and long strides.

The layout outside this courtyard was already exquisite, and the inside was even better.

Passing through the blue-brick archway, facing him was the "four waters returning to the hall" patio unique to Hui-style architecture.

The black-tiled eaves slanted like swallow wings, and copper bells hung from rain chains, swaying lightly in the wind.

The carved lattice windows of the side rooms on the second floor were all covered with light gauze, faintly revealing the flickering candlelight inside.

Li Yan had also been to the Prince's mansion and the Imperial Palace; to be honest, the luxury here couldn't compare, but the style was very high-level.

But at this moment, he couldn't care about appreciating it at all.

Just a moment ago, the Gou-Die had been faintly heating up, as if there was a reaction, but it wasn't clear.

There was a Yin criminal hiding in this garden!

Li Yan looked around, his heart already alert.

Since leaving Luoyang, he hadn't seen many Yin criminals along the way.

But upon arriving in the capital, he had discovered Uleji and Kong Shangzhao one after another.

Could that old demon be hiding here?

Following the leading man, walking rapidly along the "Z"-shaped corridor by the pool, Li Yan kept gripping the Gou-Die.

Unfortunately, the previous reaction had disappeared and never appeared again.

He noticed that copper mirrors hung between the corridor pillars, with the twenty-eight constellations engraved on the mirror surface.

Wang Daoxuan had once said that this was the method of a "Mirror Array."

When suppressing some demons, they were often arranged in underground palaces, and invisible demons would be trapped within them, unable to leave.

But using it here was both to prevent Yin Sha from invading and to refract the figures of intruders into the eyes of various secret sentries.

Combined with the garden's Feng Shui array, it also had the effect of isolating divine ability probing.

The person who built this garden must be a Feng Shui master.

Just as Li Yan was deep in thought, the two had passed through two moon gates.

The view suddenly opened up; the rockery made of Taihu stones was two zhang high, surrounded by towering bamboo forests.

In the secluded path, one could see small courtyards, scattered in an orderly manner, separated from each other and not interfering with each other.

The two servants of the "Young Master Xiao" from just now were guarding outside one of the small courtyards.

Seeing Li Yan arrive, the two immediately gripped their saber hilts, full of vigilance.

Fortunately, Li Yan soon disappeared from their sight.

Led by the servant, Li Yan came to one of the courtyards.

The courtyard was laid out very elegantly; although it wasn't large, it introduced a pool of water, and a two-story small building was built by the water. In the open hall by the water, palace lanterns and agarwood were lit, a maid was kneeling and cooking tea, and the light gauze curtains all around were fluttering with the night wind.

It looked like a painting.

"Distinguished guest, please wait a moment."

The servant bowed respectfully: "Miss Zhao is not here; I will go find the garden owner."

Zhao Wanfang is not here?

Li Yan's brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't say much and came to the hall to sit on a meditation cushion.

Just as he sat down, the maid also served the brewed tea and then retreated silently.

Li Yan was thoughtful, still gripping the Gou-Die in his bosom.

The Gou-Die still had no reaction, as if the previous reaction was just an illusion.

This was the first time this situation had occurred.

What kind of method did the opponent use...

Just then, Li Yan twitched his nose and suddenly smelled a faint, quiet fragrance.

It seemed to be plum fragrance mixed with agarwood, with a faint bitterness of herbs.

When he looked up, he saw a woman walking from outside the courtyard with two maids.

This woman was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, her skin like congealed fat, her eyebrows like distant mountains, and a pair of phoenix eyes somewhat sharp, but her eyes seemed to contain autumn water.

Seeing Li Yan, she first smiled sweetly, waved her hand to order the maids to retreat, and then sat down slowly, leaning against the Xiangfei bamboo curtain, her fingertips twisting a mud-gold peony round fan, "Young Master Li, you've waited a long time. You've been busy these past few days; I thought you wouldn't come back."

Li Yan was expressionless, "Who are you, and where is Zhao Wanfang?"

"I am Su Yu, the owner of this Su Feng Yuanzi."

The woman didn't care, her smile frank, "Wanfang is my disciple. There is something going on in Jiaozhou, so she has already left. Young people need more experience; otherwise, I wouldn't dare hand over this Su Feng Yuanzi to her in the future."

Li Yan thought to himself, she is worthy of being an elder of the Jin Yanmen.

This frankness was neither humble nor arrogant; it both drew closer the relationship and pointed out her identity.

Seeing Li Yan silent, Su Yu smiled slightly again, "The capital has had many storms recently, and the eaves of Su Feng Yuanzi are low. Young Master Li, you are a noble and busy person; suddenly visiting, I'm afraid it's not just to visit an old friend, right?"

Li Yan drank some tea, "Wanfang said some things; I don't know if they still count?"

"Of course."

Su Yu's face showed a smile, "The Twelve Yuan Chen's signboard has already been hit; many nobles want to invite you, but they have no way to do so. If Young Master Li trusts us, my Jin Yanmen will run errands for you, guaranteeing no hidden dangers."

Zhao Wanfang had mentioned this matter before.

The Jin Yanmen wanted to be the liaison for the Twelve Yuan Chen, helping them thread the needle and introduce big jobs.

Not only did they not charge, but they also provided intelligence support.

It looked like they were at a disadvantage, but the name of the Twelve Yuan Chen was enough for the Jin Yanmen to weave more connections.

This was the foundation they relied on for survival.

"This matter is not urgent."

Li Yan drank some tea slowly, "Your place, senior, seems a bit unclean..."

Su Yu was a bit surprised, "What do you mean by unclean, Young Master Li?"

Li Yan looked up, his eyes turning cold, "Yin criminals!"

He was busy with many things and was too lazy to play riddles, so he went straight to the point.

If the other party concealed something, then there was no need for cooperation.

Perhaps, in a moment, he would find the Commandant's Office to surround this place and search.

Who knew, after Su Yu heard this, she smiled slightly and said frankly: "Young Master Li is indeed extraordinary."

"That's right, there is indeed a 'Yin criminal' hidden here. A senior Earth Immortal from Laoshan, we acted as a bridge, and today he was invited to come and enter the Prince Yan's mansion to accept protection, and at the same time serve as a guest of honor."

"If Young Master Li insists on acting for heaven, then we can't stop you."

A Laoshan Earth Immortal?

No wonder...

Li Yan suddenly realized; that Laoshan lineage of escape techniques was famously powerful.

Being able to run to the capital brazenly naturally had its wonderful methods.

And that young man surnamed Xiao from just now.

He had thought he was a noble scion; he hadn't expected him to be Prince Yan...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 693 =====