Chapter 13#

Northern Capital#

This uninvited guest not only knew Balong but also recognized Helan Feng and several other children. From this, Jin Yin deduced that the man must also be from the Ye Terrace tribe. Judging from the respectful manner he showed to Hundar, he was likely a follower of General Hu.

But aside from Hundar, when Balong introduced Helan Feng to him, he also bowed to Helan Feng.

The subsequent conversation did not involve Helan Feng and the others. Balong walked with the scout to a corner of the post station and spoke in low voices. They were speaking the Northern Rong language, and Jin Yin could only barely make out a few sentences. Taking the opportunity to ask the post station attendants for hot water, he caught snippets like “Starry River” and “Great Yu,” but was quickly noticed by Balong. The two fell silent and waved Jin Yin away.

Jin Yin felt uneasy and lay awake all night. He vaguely realized that something was happening, but he was ignorant and powerless.

When he woke the next day, the scout had already left. Balong’s face held a fervent joy, but his lips were sealed, only urging everyone to set off as soon as possible.

After days of heavy snow came a long stretch of clear days. The nights were still long, the moon growing fuller each night, coldly illuminating the carriages traveling through the night.

Half a month later, they finally arrived at the Northern Capital.

For Jin Yin, the Northern Capital was entirely a city that existed only in his imagination.

The first Heavenly Sovereign of the Northern Rong was from the Blue Deer tribe. He led the Blue Deer tribe to unify a vast grassland including the Chasing Plains and established the Northern Rong. The Blue Deer tribe was the largest in the Northern Rong, backed by the majestic Cloud Terrace Peak, and its camp was primarily built of wood and stone.

This custom extended to the Northern Capital, which was truly a city of stone.

In recent decades, the Northern Rong had traffic and exchange with countries like the Jin Qiang and Great Yu. Merchants from all over settled and built mansions in the Northern Capital, and many houses of various styles emerged within the stone city. General Hu’s residence was one of them.

General Hu was the leader of the Ye Terrace tribe, had earned many merits, and possessed a rather large house in the Northern Capital. Jin Yin was greatly surprised upon entering the residence: the layout and design of the estate was a mix of Northern Rong and Great Yu styles.

Hundar was very proud and told everyone that this house had originally been bestowed by the old Heavenly Sovereign many years ago to a Great Yu peace-marriage princess. But the princess, overcome by homesickness, died within a few years. The house reminded the old Heavenly Sovereign of her grief, so the Heavenly Queen found a pretext to have the old Heavenly Sovereign bestow it upon General Hu.

“The Heavenly Sovereign lived here too!” Hundar pulled Jin Yin around to look. “Look at this courtyard, it’s said the princess arranged it herself. Does your Great Yu also have such small pools and pavilions?”

In the backyard, there were indeed covered corridors and a scenic pavilion. The pond was dry, its bottom coated with a layer of smooth ice. Jin Yin stared, dazed, and was soon pulled away by Helan Feng, feeling a twinge of reluctance: “This pavilion is somewhat like the one in my home…”

As soon as he said it, he remembered the great change that had befallen his family and immediately fell silent.

Helan Feng warned him: “Hundar is no good. Don’t associate with him too much.”

Balong格尔 walked in and out, arranging rooms for Helan Feng’s family. The two slaves would naturally stay in the servants’ quarters, but Zhuozhuo kept clinging to Ruan Buqi. Helan Feng seized the opportunity to feign helplessness: “In that case, let Ruan Buqi and Jin Yin stay with us.”

Hundar and Duze had not brought attendants, let alone slaves. The two were both angry and annoyed: “Jin Yin and Ruan Buqi are Ye Terrace slaves; they should also go over to our side to help.”

Helan Feng quickly closed the door and windows, shutting them out.

His room was spacious, and there was a hidden door connecting it to the small room where Zhuozhuo stayed. Once the floor stove was lit and a warm fire burned, making the interior gradually warm, Helan Feng removed his outer garments and hat and said seriously: “There are many unusual aspects to this trip to the Northern Capital. You must not run around recklessly.”

Jin Yin nodded. Helan Feng then turned to look at Ruan Buqi: “You too.”

Zhuozhuo immediately asked: “Can Ruan Buqi go out and play with me?”

Helan Feng: “No.”

Zhuozhuo was so angry she grabbed his long hair and punched him many times. With his hair disheveled, Jin Yin had to comb it tidy for him. He reminded Helan Feng: “When we eat later, Buqi and I cannot sit at the same table as you.”

Helan Feng and Zhuozhuo both showed displeasure.

Jin Yin: “Balong格尔 will be dining with us. Buqi and I are slaves; we must observe certain protocols to avoid displeasing Balong格尔. Let’s not cause any trouble, alright?”

Helan Feng and Zhuozhuo reluctantly nodded in unison.

Jin Yin: “…” He felt like an animal tamer.

After dinner, Balong格尔 decided to take them out for a stroll to see the night scenery of the Northern Capital.

The group set out in a grand procession, but the streets were deserted and desolate. Only in the southern part of the city could one faintly see lanterns and colorful lights illuminating the dark sky.

Balong格尔 led the group towards the south for a while when Hundar suddenly shouted: “Balong, are you taking us to th-that place?!”

Balong格尔 nodded. Hundar and Duze were so excited their faces turned red, and they elbowed each other.

“There’s a place on the southern side of the Northern Capital called Huixin Yuan (Heart-Return Court),” Balong格尔 suddenly switched to Han Chinese, seemingly specifically for Jin Yin and Ruan Buqi to hear. “There are quite a few Great Yu people in there.”

A flash of surprise crossed Jin Yin’s face. He instinctively looked at Helan Feng, seeking confirmation. But Helan Feng hadn’t heard this name either and frowned slightly: “What kind of place is it?”

“A singing house,” Balong格尔 said. “Huixin Yuan is the most famous singing house in the Northern Capital.”

Jin Yin’s heart sank. What the Northern Rong called a “singing house” was what Great Yu knew as a brothel or pleasure quarter. Seeing Balong格尔’s peculiar expression, Jin Yin guessed it must be a brothel engaging in the flesh trade. The so-called many Great Yu people were likely just captured Great Yu refugees and slaves.

Helan Feng asked again: “Why are we going there?”

Balong格尔 had a wicked grin: “Huixin Yuan has your brother’s lema.”

Hundar perked up at once, quickening his pace to whisper to Balong格尔: “Helan Jinying goes to that place too? I thought at his age he still wasn’t married, so I thought he… Wait, what’s a lema?”

Jin Yin had also never heard the term “lema.” He wanted to ask Helan Feng, but turned to find Helan Feng’s expression peculiarly grim, with a hint of anger brewing.

Jin Yin slowed his pace and whispered to Zhuozhuo: “What is a lema?”

Zhuozhuo: “…Pear stem?”

Well, you don’t know either. Jin Yin could only walk on with the group. His heart felt distressed for the Great Yu people inside Huixin Yuan, yet he was also immensely curious about this “lema.” While hesitating, the group turned a few corners, and a blaze of colorful light suddenly lit up before their eyes.

Huixin Yuan was not a courtyard complex but a building a full six stories high. Its outward appearance strongly resembled the Pan Tower in Liang Jing, but it was even more lively and dazzling than the Pan Tower.

Countless crimson, pale yellow, and azure silk ribbons cascaded from the tower’s central spire and were tied to the four directions. These ribbons were adorned with countless gold and silver bells that tinkled clearly in the wind. Combined with the drum music and melodies emanating from within Huixin Yuan, it had a unique atmosphere.

Unlike the pleasure quarters Jin Yin knew, there were no prostitutes in red and green parading on the street. Nearly a hundred ever-burning wind lanterns hung under the eaves, their flames dancing like stars.

In front of the building, a dense crowd clamored non-stop. All they could discern was a name being shouted, a mix of Han and Northern Rong languages.

The Northern Capital also housed many Great Yu merchants in various attire. Jin Yin, hearing the familiar accent, felt a surge of warmth in his chest and looked around eagerly. Helan Feng, afraid he might get lost, simply held his hand and followed Balong格尔 into Huixin Yuan.

The first floor of Huixin Yuan was a spacious and bright hall, brightly lit. Unlike the outside, the huge circular raised platform in the center was dim. Surrounding the platform were countless wine tables and seats, packed with people standing or sitting.

Among the crowd, countless women adorned in gold and silver moved about. Beautiful in appearance and graceful in figure, they cast smiling glances upon seeing the young men enter.

Hundar and Duze looked left and right, unable to get their fill. Zhuozhuo, held in Ruan Buqi’s arms, received the curious gazes of the crowd but instead felt happy, chattering away non-stop.

Only Helan Feng looked grim. He kept gripping Jin Yin’s wrist tightly; Jin Yin even felt some pain, knowing Helan Feng was angry.

Before Balong格尔 even showed his military token, a stout woman came forward from within Huixin Yuan, identifying herself as the procuress. Hooking her arm through Balong格尔’s, she led the group upstairs.

Jin Yin felt even more that this place resembled the Pan Tower: the second floor had private rooms very close to the central platform. Numerous translucent curtains hung down from the platform. In the flickering light, one could see several women holding musical instruments seated at the platform’s edge. In the center was another person, not clearly visible, but judging from the silhouette, they were seated in the middle of the platform, holding a pipe of tobacco.

Despite the pervasive scents of rouge, flowers, and wine in Huixin Yuan, Jin Yin could still distinguish that the person on the platform was indeed smoking a water pipe. The scent of the smoke brought a sudden, slight wave of nostalgia: his grandfather used to hold a water pipe when he was alive, often strolling with him along Swallow Stream.

After they were seated, various pastries were served quickly. All the food in Huixin Yuan followed Great Yu styles, tending towards sweet and moist. Helan Feng, while nursing his inexplicable anger, gestured for Jin Yin to eat. Jin Yin spotted the honey-preserved plum blossoms and Guanghan Cake at a glance and looked up at Helan Feng.

Helan Feng: “Is it Great Yu food?”

Jin Yin nodded.

Helan Feng picked up a piece of Guanghan Cake and placed it in Zhuozhuo’s hand, then pushed all the remaining pastries and honey-preserved plum blossoms towards Jin Yin. Jin Yin tried a little and was greatly disappointed: the flavor was extremely inauthentic. The honey on the plum blossoms was too sweet and lacked fragrance. The Guanghan Cake used too little osmanthus, the rice flour was too hard, and it tasted dry and astringent in the mouth.

Helan Feng ate a piece himself, maintaining his peculiarly annoyed expression, and whispered to Jin Yin: “Not tasty.”

He seemed to have lost interest in the Liang Jing delicacies Jin Yin often mentioned. Jin Yin couldn’t help but laugh: “Indeed not tasty.”

Hundar and Duze were chatting excitedly with Balong格尔, spitting as they spoke. Jin Yin wanted to ask Helan Feng why he was unhappy, when suddenly a piercing zither note rang out, silencing everyone inside and outside Huixin Yuan.

It seemed a wind swirled up from the central platform. The curtains that had covered the platform fluttered up. The musician’s music swelled, and the figure who had been hidden at the center of the platform rose to their feet.

The dancer was tall, with porcelain-white skin and a head of black hair tied back with a silk ribbon, loose strands falling over the forehead, loosely veiling a pair of smiling eyes. Their wrists fluttered like bird feathers, like butterfly wings. One foot was planted firmly on the platform, the other tapped lightly. Following the music, they spun, the pearls and jade they wore clinking softly, like another ethereal, lively zither.

Because their clothing was light and thin, every movement caused the gauzy fabric to flutter, revealing earlobes with blood-red gemstones, wrists adorned with gold rings, and a slender waist bound by a belt of interwoven gold and silver. In the navel was another red gem, from which countless fine gold threads hung, swaying ceaselessly with the twisting of the waist and swaying of the hips.

Exclamations and cheers erupted throughout Huixin Yuan. Hundar and Duze stared, transfixed. Zhuozhuo happily clapped along with the music. Only Helan Feng’s face was ashen. He grabbed Balong格尔 and said through gritted teeth: “This is my brother’s lema?!”

Jin Yin stared in stunned silence—it was Yue Lianlou!

Author’s Note: At this very moment, the distant Helan Jinying sneezed three times in a row.

Today, let’s treat you all to Guanghan Cake. Guanghan Cake is actually just osmanthus rice cake. Whether it’s delicious mainly depends on the quality of the osmanthus and the rice. The Guanghan Cake Jin Yin usually eats is imperial tribute grade, while this kind from Huixin Yuan… it’s causing a certain amount of damage to his palate and soul.