Chapter 109 First Entry into Shengjing

Chapter 109: First Entering Shengjing

Winter, the twenty-fourth year of Qisheng, the thirtieth day of the eleventh month.

After more than a month of traveling by river, the boat carrying Meng Wan and the others finally arrived at the dock outside Shengjing City early in the morning.

The wind was strong at the dock, howling with cold gusts. A few strands of Meng Wan's hair were blown loose from his forehead, wildly slapping against his face.

Although winter in Shengjing was cold, it was far less harsh than in Changping. Meng Wan straightened his shoulders and back, lifted his eyes, and looked at the bustling dock, which was three times larger than the one in Changping. Although it was early morning, laborers were already shouting as they worked, and a few breakfast stalls had been set up on the dock.

Third Master Zhu hired some laborers to carry luggage and rent a carriage. Xue Sheng stood guard over their belongings, while Song Tingzhou took Meng Wan's hand as they disembarked.

Zhu Zening asked them, "It'll take a while to move the luggage. Sister-in-law, would you like to eat something?"

Traveling by boat was more comfortable than by land, but it had its inconveniences. The moment his feet touched solid ground, Meng Wan let out a long, relaxed breath.

"Let's have a bowl of wontons. I'm craving some hot soup."

The three of them sat at a wonton stall and ordered three bowls of wontons. Meng Wan scooped some from his own bowl into Song Tingzhou's. Catching the worried look in his eyes, he gave a slight smile. "I'm not that hungry. I just wanted some hot soup."

Zhu Zening sat across from them, silently eating his wontons, pretending to be invisible.

The wontons had thin wrappers and thick fillings, bursting with flavor with every bite. The price was fair—twelve coins for a large bowl, including the soup. It wasn't as expensive as Meng Wan had imagined compared to the prefectural city.

"Young Master Meng! Oh dear, this old servant came late."

Someone got down from a carriage in the distance, their sharp eyes scanning the crowd until they spotted Meng Wan at the wonton stall. They hurried over to call him. His striking appearance made him stand out even in the chaotic mix of the docks.

Meng Wan looked surprised to see the person and quickly stood up from his seat to greet them. "Nanny Geng, why are you here?"

Nanny Geng laughed helplessly. "My dear master, this old servant has been waiting at the dock for seven or eight days straight, afraid of missing your arrival."

Meng Wan was taken aback. "But didn't my master leave the capital with her husband to return to their hometown? Why didn't you go with her?"

Nanny Geng's face crinkled with a kind smile. "With the young master's husband taking the metropolitan exam, our esteemed lady made all the arrangements before she left. She left a two-courtyard residence on Shichun Lane for you. This old servant has been staying there managing affairs on your behalf. Please, follow me."

Meng Wan was dumbfounded. "What?"

His master had even prepared a house for him? In all their years of correspondence, she had never once mentioned it.

Nanny Geng had not only come herself but also brought seven or eight servants. Third Master Zhu had originally planned to first find an inn and then slowly rent a small courtyard to settle down. With an available house now, Meng Wan invited him to come along.

They left the dock, boarded the carriage, and crossed the suspension bridge over the moat outside the city. Ahead lay the massive city gate.

The city gate of Shengjing was three zhang higher than the gate of Changping Prefecture. The city walls were heavily guarded, with soldiers patrolling at all times.

The gate tower, arrow tower, barbican tower, and watchtowers were each staffed with soldiers. Just the garrison at this one gate alone likely numbered over a thousand.

Shengjing had twelve such well-equipped gates in total.

After presenting their travel permits and household registration books, the soldiers carefully checked them before allowing entry. Nanny Geng's carriage led the way, followed by the carriage Third Master Zhu had rented.

The streets of the capital were bustling and orderly. At any moment, one might pass nobles dressed in silk and satin, adorned with jade belts and gold and jade hairpins. Fine fabrics and fashionable attire were unremarkable here.

The bluestone paving on the streets was clean and flat, and even the alleys were paved with stone slabs.

The carriage entered the city and traveled for nearly two hours before finally turning into a quiet alley. The alley had seven or eight households, and Nanny Geng's carriage stopped at the very end.

She got down and directed the servants to remove the threshold so the carriage could enter and unload.

Meng Wan and Song Tingzhou descended and were led by Nanny Geng into the two-courtyard residence.

"Please don't mind, young master. This residence on Shichun Lane is small, but it's peaceful. It's only a half-hour carriage ride from the examination hall. Back when the esteemed lady was young, she painted a portrait for the husband of the old Marquis Zhongyi. He casually gifted her this house, and it's been decades since then."

Nanny Geng continued as they walked, "Before leaving the capital, the esteemed lady had the entire house renovated. If you find anything lacking, young master, feel free to tell this old servant and I'll have it added."

Meng Wan was deeply touched; he could never bring himself to complain. "Nanny, please don't say that. This place is already more than twice as large as where we lived in Changping. However, my husband's classmates will also be staying for a while. I'll trouble you to look after their group as well."

"Oh, that's nothing." She led him to the main hall, where all the furniture was new pearwood, reasonably priced and pleasant to look at.

Nanny Geng took a small locked box from a pair of display cabinets against the wall, then retrieved a small copper key from her pouch. She handed both the box and the key to Meng Wan.

"Inside are the deed to the house and the bond certificates for eight coarse servants. If you find any of them too clumsy or foolish, just dismiss them."

Meng Wan wasn't too surprised. Ever since Nanny Geng mentioned that Mr. Xiang had left him a small courtyard, he had guessed it might be a gift. But only now, living here, did he fully appreciate his master's thoughtfulness.

Once Nanny Geng left to settle Third Master Zhu and his group, Song Tingzhou couldn't help but remark, "I never expected Mr. Xiang, who seems so aloof, to be so meticulous."

With no one else around, Meng Wan took off his plain hairpin and redid his bun. Hearing Song Tingzhou's words, he couldn't help but snicker. "Do you really think my master thought of all this? It must have been Lord Lin or one of the attending nannies who reminded her."

Mr. Xiang had taken on a young disciple at her advanced age, much like having a late-born child, and she cherished him. But she was naturally indifferent and not good at expressing herself, so the thoughtful arrangements were mostly handled by Lord Lin.

That wasn't to say she didn't care for Meng Wan. She had left her personal, long-serving nanny with him, and gifted him a two-courtyard residence in a prime location in Shengjing, worth at least a thousand silver taels. With such a master, what more could Meng Wan ask for?

"Tonight, I'll write her a letter. Next year, I must go visit her and Lord Lin."

The front courtyard rooms were for the Zhu father and son and their servants. They would stay in Shengjing at least until the third month. The escort guards would rest for one night and return to Changping the next day.

The gatekeeper's room housed four young servants bought by Nanny Geng. The kitchen had one cook. The rear courtyard had four coarse maids responsible for cleaning rooms, serving tea and water, and helping in the kitchen.

At noon, the cook prepared a meal. Shengjing was located in the northeast, so the cuisine was similar to Changping's, leaning towards salty and savory.

However, there was no offal or similar items on the table, and even the roast chicken had its tail and claws removed.

Meng Wan found this amusing and asked the serving maid about it. She replied, "In Shengjing, people don't eat offal. Ordinary households feed it to pigs and dogs, while wealthy families forbid their masters from even seeing it."

Even without interacting with the local people, this small detail made Meng Wan feel that the capital's rules were undoubtedly numerous and cumbersome.

Even without constant reminders, the moment one entered Shengjing, there was an unconscious sense of constraint that enveloped the entire body, making every step difficult.

Between the decorative gate and the main house was a small garden. After lunch, Song Tingzhou went to borrow books from Zhu Zening, while Meng Wan strolled alone in the garden. No flowers were in bloom; only withered branches and broken leaves remained. He picked up two dead twigs and toyed with them, breaking them apart as chaotic thoughts filled his mind.

Had Prefect Wu already realized that Song Tingzhou had taken the accounts?

How should they handle this hot potato in their hands?

They would be spending the New Year in the capital. As far as he knew, his master's son and daughter were also in the capital. Protocol dictated he should visit them, but he didn't yet know their situation. A hasty visit would be presumptuous. He would need to ask Nanny Geng for details.

Each problem was more troublesome than the last. The most urgent was the account book in their hands. If they didn't pass it on, it remained a dangerous burden. If they did, they had to choose the right recipient to maximize its impact. Otherwise, wouldn't Lord Yan have died in vain?

That afternoon, he organized the luggage he had brought, putting away the clothes. In the evening, after washing up and brushing their teeth, he and Song Tingzhou finally entered the bedroom.

Shengjing also had heated brick beds, but they were placed in the outer room as a low platform—more like a place to entertain close siblings or chat idly. The proper sleeping arrangements used a bed, which the maids had already prepared with fresh bedding.

Meng Wan hadn't slept in a bed in a long time. He found it novel as he lay down. When Song Tingzhou came up, he lowered the bed curtains and eagerly pulled him into the covers to talk.

"Before we left, you asked Mother to take Bi Yun back to her hometown after we were gone. But it still doesn't seem entirely safe... Have you confirmed that as soon as we brought the accounts back, someone would immediately arrest Wu Yong? But isn't the item still with you?"

In the darkness of the bed, only their two intertwined breaths could be heard. Song Tingzhou said softly, "Wan'er, the item has already been sent out."

"When?" Meng Wan said in surprise.

After a long silence, Song Tingzhou's muffled voice came, "Wan'er, things here don't seem simple at all."

Song Tingzhou took Meng Wan's hand, and Meng Wan felt a chilling coldness. He suddenly came to his senses, "I was foolish. It's better not to know who it is. We'll just be bystanders."

Meng Wan threw off the quilt. In the outer room, a charcoal brazier sat topped with cold ash. The room was neither warm nor cold. Meng Wan burrowed into Song Tingzhou's arms, unable to close his eyes for a long time.

Song Tingzhou nuzzled Meng Wan's nose, then kissed his forehead soothingly. "Things should be over soon. Don't worry, don't overthink."

Meng Wan slowly closed his eyes. "Mm..."

The next morning, Third Master Zhu went out to look for a house. He wasn't used to living in someone else's home for long, and since he had considerable assets, he decided to buy a nearby house for his son as well.

Mother Geng tactfully reminded him that houses on this part of Shichun Lane couldn't be bought with money alone. She meant that one needed connections and social status; otherwise, they wouldn't sell to just anyone.

Third Master Zhu had traveled widely for business and had been to Shengjing once, but this was his first time hearing such a notion – buying a house depended on who you were?

Without the status of an imperial merchant, he was merely a merchant, and his social standing was far from enough. After looking at several houses, he found he could only buy one three streets away from Shichun Lane. He was even mocked sarcastically by the housing brokers. Suppressing his anger, Third Master Zhu went back and scolded his son, telling him to bring honor to his father.

Third Master Zhu had ambitions. Otherwise, why hadn't his son married even though he was nearly twenty? He hoped that after Zhu Zening passed the imperial exams and changed the family's status, he could marry a minor official's daughter, even if she was a Gē'er, to lift his lineage out of the merchant class.

Zhu Zening buried himself in studies with a worried face. He had wanted to complain to Song Tingzhou, but found that Song Tingzhou was even more diligent than before. While in the prefecture, Song Tingzhou had been hardworking; now he got up before dawn to study. Seeing this, Zhu Zening could only grit his teeth and persevere.

"Mother Geng, I remember my master saying that my senior brothers and sisters are both in the capital. Would it be appropriate for me to visit them?" A few days later, after settling the household, Meng Wan called Mother Geng into the main room to talk.

Mother Geng did not sit down but stood to reply, "Actually, the eldest young master and the young lady both think of the young master. However, one is an imperial official, and the other married into the Huaien Earl's family. Given that our young master's husband is facing the metropolitan exam, they are avoiding contact to prevent any suspicion."

Meng Wan was eating dried persimmons by the charcoal brazier. After hearing this, he suddenly realized, "Ah, I see. Then I won't prepare New Year's gifts."

"The young master is right. There are many rules in the capital. This old servant doesn't fully understand the ins and outs of officialdom, but I've seen others act this way. So we should be cautious and avoid unnecessary trouble. Once the young master's husband passes the exam, the eldest young master and the young lady will surely invite you to visit."

Mother Geng was an old servant of Madam Xiang and had lived most of her life in the capital, yet she didn't dare to be presumptuous. That showed how deep the waters ran.

Meng Wan grew even more cautious. It was best for Song Tingzhou to avoid going out until the metropolitan exam.

He wouldn't visit, but someone could come to him.

"Incredible! You're living on Shichun Lane? Even my father couldn't buy a house here." Nie Zhiyao entered the room, took off his outer cloak, and handed it to his page. After three years apart, his attitude toward Meng Wan was no different from before.

Meng Wan looked at him with curiosity. Nie Zhiyao now had his hair up, wearing a round-collared lined jacket in a shade of lotus root and a horse-face skirt with an embossed pattern – a fashionable style in the capital.

"It's been so long, and you don't ask how I've been. Instead, you talk about the house." Meng Wan sat on the low kang in the outer room. A maidservant placed a small table on it with several plates of pastries and peanuts. As he ate dried fruit, he spoke to Nie Zhiyao.

Nie Zhiyao sat opposite him, picked up a peanut and peeled it as he ate. "What's there to ask? Your husband is so accomplished and treats you well." His complexion was rosy, and there was no trace of worry on his face, showing that he was living comfortably.

Meng Wan turned the question back on him. "And you? What's the story with that husband you brought in?"

Nie Zhiyao paused in his movements, then said emotionlessly to the page attending him, "Go stand guard at the door."

Meng Wan raised an eyebrow. So mysterious?

Nie Zhiyao peeled another peanut. "Have you heard of the Four Great Clans of Yu?"