Chapter 18: Inquiry of the Three Treasuries

At the mention of "Ghost Ghost Fanlou," Gao Taotao's expression immediately darkened.

Ghost Fanlou was the most famous entertainment venue in Dongjing, ranked first among the seventy-two official taverns, where one could dine, drink, sing, and dance; whether officials, wealthy merchants, foreign traders, or local commoners, all took pride in spending at Ghost Fanlou.

Ghost Ghost Fanlou, by contrast, referred to a vast underground dark force hiding beneath Dongjing, calling itself the Worry-Free Cave—a nickname given by the people.

Ghost Fanlou aboveground displayed Dongjing's prosperity and bustling grandeur.

Ghost Ghost Fanlou concealed beneath the earth all the filth, ugliness, and sordid corruption of this world; the word "ghost" summed up the underground world's capacity to harbor filth and pollution.

Dongjing was built atop four ancient cities, layered over Xia Dynasty's Laoqiu City, Warring States' Daliang City, Han Dynasty's Junyi City, and Tang Dynasty's Bianzhou City; it was long said that Dongjing was a city stacked upon cities, with several buried beneath.

The reason was that Kaifeng lay in a strategically contested region, repeatedly ravaged by natural disasters and human calamities; the Yellow River breached its banks and changed course, burying cities under silt-laden waters, and when rebuilt, new cities were constructed directly atop the ruins.

To prevent flood damage from heavy rains, Northern Song Dongjing inherited and repaired the natural underground passageways left by previous dynasties, forming a system of subterranean drainage and sewage.

These underground waterways connected like a miniature world; over time, beggars, vagrants, ruthless criminals, and all manner of lawbreakers gathered there, forming a powerful force that specialized in illegal and criminal acts—doing any evil, committing any brutality, with no regard for humanity.

As early as the early Song, the court had begun cracking down when signs appeared, but due to geographical factors, every effort failed; moreover, each year saw new refugees flooding into the capital, some of the worst among them slipping underground to join Ghost Ghost Fanlou.

This was also why the court ordered annual recruitment of militia troops from among refugees—to somewhat alleviate unrest among them or prevent them from descending underground to commit crimes.

"Hmph!" Gao Taotao snorted. This matter brought shame to the court and even greater disgrace to the imperial family; during Emperor Yingzong's reign, a daughter of a royal commandery prince was abducted while out for a spring outing by Ghost Ghost Fanlou—she held the title of County Princess—and was later sold to a wealthy family outside the city; when the family learned her origin, they were terrified and hurriedly sent her back, after which she fled home herself.

The court launched a massive crackdown, killing thousands of Ghost Ghost Fanlou criminals; because it was underground, even the imperial guards suffered heavy losses—but within a year, new recruits had fully replaced the dead.

Zhao Ti observed her expression and added: "Thus, the martial skills I've learned and the guard duties I've mastered are truly insufficient. When I first ventured out to live on my own, how could I avoid fear and anxiety?"

Gao Taotao stared at him for a long while before saying: "Be cautious in daily life. Do not go out alone."

Zhao Ti blinked, then suddenly said: "By the way, Great Auntie, I dreamed of Father last night!"

"Oh?" Gao Taotao froze: "You—you dreamed of the late Emperor? Why after all these years…?"

She fell silent, remembering how, after assuming regency, she had appointed Sima Guang, Lü Princess, and others to abolish the New Methods, and sighed inwardly.

"What did the late Emperor say?"

"He didn't say much—just asked about my daily life. I told him honestly, including my worries outside."

"Hmm. What did the late Emperor say then?"

"Father said I had trained in martial arts since childhood, and if I felt it wasn't enough, I could seek out Li Xian—he said Li Xian's Wu Gong was formidable!"

"Li Xian?" Gao Taotao paused, about to ask if he was even still alive, then remembered no official report of his death had reached court, and changed course: "Where is he now?"

Zhao Ti replied: "After hearing Father's words in the dream, I went searching. I learned Zheng Fu from the household had dealings with Li Xian's adopted son, Tong Guan, and finally found him in Chengxi's Exorcism Alley."

"Oh? How is Li Xian now?"

"Not well—he's dying." Zhao Ti shook his head. "I didn't learn any Wu Gong from him. His martial arts can only be practiced by eunuchs—I can't very well cut myself just to learn them…"

Gao Taotao frowned: "What kind of heretical arts is this Li Xian teaching?"

"Exactly!" Zhao Ti said: "I asked Li Xian then: 'Are there any other martial arts I can learn?' Li Xian said…"

"What did he say?" Gao Taotao asked.

"He said he himself had none, but during Emperor Taizong's days as crown prince, he was ordered to campaign southward and collected countless martial arts manuals from the Jianghu and outlaw bands; after ascending the throne, he built three secret treasuries in the palace to store them. During Emperor Renzong's reign, he ordered them destroyed. If any of the martial manuals survived in those treasuries, they'd be priceless—safe to learn."

"Li Xian dares to speak of such long-buried secrets? Is he senile—or has he grown tired of life?" Gao Taotao exploded in fury, slamming her hand on the table.

Zhao Ti shrank back. "He wasn't going to live much longer anyway…"

"If the late Emperor said his Wu Gong was formidable, how could he be dying? Is this lowly servant deceiving you?" Gao Taotao's expression turned grim, her voice icy.

Zhao Ti hurriedly replied: "I saw him with my own eyes—he can't even rise from his bed, spits blood constantly, glowing with a phosphorescent hue. For years, he's been kept alive by spirit medicines; now his funds are exhausted, his vitality drained, and he'll die any moment—no deception."

"So he truly is dying?"

"Truly. I didn't go alone—my men all saw it."

Gao Taotao's face was like water, silent for a long while before saying: "It's true. Emperor Renzong, in his benevolence, even at the cost of being branded unfilial, ordered the destruction of Emperor Taizong's three treasuries—especially the Poison Treasury. How could such a thing remain in the palace?"

Zhao Ti said: "Poisonous substances must certainly be destroyed, but the Weapon Treasury holds fine relics—many were wielded by famed generals of the Five Dynasties—and the martial manuals pose little danger…"

Gao Taotao looked at him, then suddenly smiled faintly, as if seeing through his intentions: "Ba Ge'er, you've gone through so many twists…"

"Great Auntie!" Zhao Ti quickly interjected, fearing that if the three treasuries hadn't been fully destroyed and she denied it, then no matter how many reasons he gave, there'd be no room for negotiation.

How could she, who ruled the realm, say one thing and then immediately contradict herself? That would be slapping her own face.

"Great Auntie, I also learned a secret from Li Xian—military in nature, of grave importance, and must be reported."

"A secret? What secret? He's been retired for years—what military secret could he still hold?"

"Great Auntie, about the Five-Pronged Campaign against Xia!"

"The Five-Pronged Campaign against Xia?"

"Yes. The failure of the Five-Pronged Campaign wasn't as simple as it seemed—it hides deeper secrets!"

Before Gao Taotao could speak, Zhao Ti rapidly recounted Li Xian's assassination attempt in his own words, then piled on: "Great Auntie, Li Xian said nothing else, but his loyalty to the late Emperor is absolute. He's a dying man; the campaign ended twelve years ago—he wouldn't lie about the late Emperor. I believe his account of those events is true, and he must have reported it to the late Emperor, who forbade him from explaining, to avoid court turmoil!"

"This…" Gao Taotao frowned in silence—this was beyond her expectations.

"And most importantly—the assassin's identity!" Zhao Ti continued.

"What was her identity?"

"Li Xian later sent men to investigate secretly and confirmed the assassin in Lan Hui was the Western Xia Empress Dowager, Mai Zang Qiushui!"

"What?" Gao Taotao rose from her chair, voice shocked: "Mai Zang Qiushui? Li Yuanhao's concubine, Li Liangzuo's mother?"

"Great Auntie, yes—this Mai Zang Qiushui's Han name is Li Qiushui. She trained for years in Jianghu sects. It was precisely because of her profound martial arts and audacious courage that she assassinated under cover of night, causing the campaign's final collapse and ultimate failure."

"This… this doesn't fully exonerate Li Xian. After all, he commanded the five armies. Even if true, he remains culpable." Gao Taotao fell silent for several breaths.

"Indeed. When raised, Li Xian immediately admitted his fault, then spoke of this matter—no attempt to shift blame."

"At least he has some self-awareness. But could Mai Zang Qiushui's martial arts truly be so formidable? She's royalty…"

"Emperor Taizu once roamed the Jianghu; his Coiled Dragon Staff met few rivals. Later, in military service, he captured enemy generals before entire armies and created the Thirty-Two Forms of Great Red Fist."

"That's true…"

"Not to mention the Southern Mountain's Heaven and Sea Temple, or even today's Dali, where the Heavenly Dragon Temple houses royal martial practitioners—Liao may have similar traditions, and Western Xia…"

"Enough. Aside from the Poison Treasury, the other two treasuries were not entirely destroyed." Gao Taotao interrupted, deep in thought.

"Not all of them destroyed?" At those words, Zhao Ti finally exhaled in relief, feeling that the sweat on his back had already soaked through his clothes.