Yan Liqiang got off the carriage in the western city outskirts. Strolling once again through the Imperial Capital, he could clearly feel the bleak and depressing atmosphere…
There were fewer people and carriages in the city, making the once crowded street emptier without the usual traffic. The last time Yan Liqiang was here, he saw the luxurious four-wheeled carriages produced by his manufacturing bureau everywhere and imitations of it as well. However, this time, he only saw one four-wheeled carriage from the manufacturing bureau drive past him even after wandering in the city for a long time.
There was snow on the ground and the northern wind was blowing in the city. The bleak atmosphere made the street feel much colder than it really was. Shops and restaurants that lined the street had let down the thick curtains hanging at the entrance. The reason behind the desolation wasn’t the weather, but the fact that most wealthy clans had left the city.
Many wealthy manors by the street were locked up. Several high-end restaurants that used to be popular venues had either closed down or were now empty. On the contrary, the mid to low-end restaurants and tea houses still had a few people dining even on a cold day like this…
Yan Liqiang observed the current situation in the Imperial Capital as he walked around and his mood was hitting rock bottom. Most of the wealthy clans and officials had fled, leaving behind only the commoners. He wondered what the imperial court was thinking. Did they really intend to leave the commoners to just die out here?
Yan Liqiang walked for a while and saw a few bailiffs coming from the opposite direction. After they brushed past each other, one of them suddenly turned around and called out to Yan Liqiang since he saw that Yan Liqiang was wearing a bamboo hat and was walking alone on the street. “Hey you, the one wearing a bamboo hat! Stop right there!”
Yan Liqiang halted in his tracks and turned around to look at the bailiffs calmly. “Is there a problem?”
“Of course there’s a problem. What’s your name? Where did you come from? Why are you wandering around alone on the street on such a cold day?” one of the bailiffs asked loudly as they approached Yan Liqiang. The one who spoke looked closely at Yan Liqiang from head to toe, and his gaze lingered slightly longer on the sword hanging from Yan Liqiang’s waist.
Yan Liqiang returned that bailiff’s gaze. Without speaking, he took out the identity pass issued to him back when he was still in Deer Villa and shook it in front of their eyes. When the bailiffs saw the identity pass, their expressions instantly contorted as they hurriedly apologized to Yan Liqiang with a smile. “We’re very sorry! It hasn’t been peaceful in the Imperial Capital lately so we are just doing our jobs by investigating suspicious individuals in the city! We apologize for not recognizing you…!”
“No worries, we’re only carrying out our duties. Can I be excused now…?” Yan Liqiang replied calmly and put away his identity pass. He had no desire to show off his authority and prestige in front of a few bailiffs over a small matter like this.
“Yes, please go ahead…!” The bailiff who stopped Yan Liqiang earlier bowed so deeply that the top of his head was nearly kissing the ground. Yan Liqiang’s identity pass from the Imperial Cavalry Unit had indeed shocked him terribly. Soldiers from the Imperial Cavalry Unit could do whatever they pleased in the Imperial Capital nowadays, let alone the officers of the unit. Besides, no one would dare to provoke such a figure from Deer Villa because it meant that he served directly under Eunuch Liu, a subject of the Emperor.
As Yan Liqiang walked, he soon found himself near Prosperous Spring Square, where it was filled with commercial streets. The people who lived around here were poor commoners. When Yan Liqiang arrived, the square was considerably crowded, given the cold weather. Many people were gathered outside a grain shop with a sack while they shouted. Suddenly, some noises were heard coming from inside the grain shop.
“Manager He, why are food prices going up again?! When I came here a few days ago, a jin of rice was only thirteen copper coins! Why has it gone up to fifteen copper coins now?! This is robbery…!”
“Yes! The food prices are rising too fast! It’s killing us…!”
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am not the one who increased the food prices! The supplier raised the prices so I have no choice but to follow. It’s been snowing heavily over the past few days, making travels to the Imperial Capital difficult so the suppliers raised the food prices by two copper coins over the past two days. If I don’t do the same, my shop will be closed down soon. Those who think my items are too expensive here, feel free to check the other stores to see if you can find anything cheaper…!”
“Manager He, that’s a very calculative thing to say… Can’t you earn less for once…?”
“I have a family to feed too. How can I survive if I earn less? Many grain shops here are already selling a jin for sixteen or seventeen copper coins! The suppliers increased the price by two copper coins — they sell it for an extra three or four copper coins. Since we have been neighbors for decades, I gave up quite a lot of profits by not charging extra except for the additional cost imposed by the supplier! If you think rice is too expensive, why not mix it with some sorghum and millet? They can fill your belly too…”
Hearing the noises in the grain shop, Yan Liqiang took a detour and turned into a small alley at the side. After walking for a while and making a few turns, he arrived at the entrance of a residence. Before Yan Liqiang even knocked, the main door swung open. A young man threw three or four gift boxes and fabrics out of the door, then pushed a fifty or sixty-year-old woman wearing heavy makeup and a lavish dress.
“Scram! Don’t you dare step inside our house again…!” The young man berated the old woman with a stick in hand.
“Ohhhh, how can you people from the Xu Clan behave like this? Your younger sister is fortunate to be chosen by Old Master Zhu! Besides, Old Master Zhu has obtained a travel pass. If she marries him, she will be able to leave the Imperial Capital and lead a happy life…!” The old woman who was chased out jabbered on.
“You don’t have to worry about our family’s problems…!” the young man yelled with a flushed face.
“Do you think your Xu Clan can carry on as before? Your elder brother has been arrested and you are still acting this way. If there wasn’t anyone taking care of both of you, you ingrates wouldn’t be able to last for a few more months! If your younger sister marries Old Master Zhu, she can at least be a concubine. If things get worse in the future now, she might just be sold off to the brothels and suffer…”
“What did you say…” The young man raised the stick in his hand and smashed the wall. The sharp-tongued matchmaker screeched in shock and quickly took a few steps back. She hurriedly picked up the gift boxes that were strewn on the snowy ground, then quickly left while cursing.
This was Xu Enda’s home. The young man was none other than Xu Enda’s younger brother, Xu Enci. Yan Liqiang had met him before.
Xu Enci watched the matchmaker leave while panting at the front door of his house. When Yan Liqiang called out to him and took off his bamboo hat, Xu Enci turned around and his eyes widened when he saw Yan Liqiang.
“Brother Liqiang…!” Xu Enci was slightly taken aback as soon as he saw Yan Liqiang, then tears immediately welled up in his eyes. He tossed away the stick in his hand, rushed toward Yan Liqiang, and sobbed loudly while hugging him. “My brother, Brother Little Wu and the rest have been arrested! Before my brother was taken away, he told us that you would definitely return and find a way to rescue them…!”
Yan Liqiang almost wanted to cry too when he looked at the heartbroken young man. He patted Xu Enci’s shoulder. “Don’t cry now. Rest assured, I will definitely rescue your brother and the others now that I’m back IN the Imperial Capital. Come, we’ll talk inside. I have some questions for you…”
