On the second day of the second month, the dragon raises its head!
It had been over three months since Chen Zhibai's visit to the Drunken Guest Pavilion.
During these months, Chen Zhi'an had kept an exceptionally low profile, and the tales of his exploits had gradually faded from the streets of Chang'an.
In the bustling streets of Chang'an, the city's attention was captivated by the quartet of young luminaries: Xia Yuanhou, heir to the Ministry of War; Gou Youquan, eldest scion of the Martial Marquis; Li Chengxian, the esteemed Princess of the Southern Garrison; and Zhou Qian, sibling to the Minister of Rites.
Apart from the festivities of New Year's Eve, the formidable quartet comprising Li Chengxian, Xia Yuanhou, Gou Youquan, and Zhou Qian, showcased their exceptional prowess by embarking on a daring expedition beyond the city walls of Chang'an. In a single night, they vanquished over three hundred bandits and razed seven bandit strongholds to the ground, solidifying their reputation as formidable guardians of the realm.
Their fame soared overnight.
They were hailed as the Four Young Lords of Chang'an, the leading figures among the city's youth.
In comparison, the so-called Four Dandies of Chang'an were as insignificant as toads beside a golden toad, barely worth a glance.
In just three months, Chen Zhi'an and his companions seemed to have been swept away by the advancing tide of time, forgotten by the world.
However, Chen Zhi'an paid little heed to these developments.
During these three months, he had spent most of his time at the Yueya Lake, personally overseeing the construction of grand buildings on the desolate island.
Hundreds of craftsmen and thousands of laborers toiled day and night, with nearly ten thousand taels of silver spent, transforming the Crescent Lake dramatically.
"As he builds his lofty towers, as he feasts his guests, as his towers grow higher..."
Lying on a specially made recliner, Chen Zhi'an sighed for a moment before smiling and saying, "Xiao qing'er, in just one more month, our Tower of Success, Tower of Wealth, and Tower of Treasures will all be completed together!"
"Oh, congratulations, Young Master!"
Li Lanqing, holding a silk fan, swept away dust while offering perfunctory compliments to her employer.
But her mind was elsewhere.
Once the most beautiful woman in Chang'an, the foremost courtesan of hundreds of establishments, reduced to a mere maid serving tea and dusting all day long, her appearance unkempt...
How could she find any joy in this?
With the spring breeze blowing, and the news from her former colleagues lingering in her mind, she felt that her professional career was facing a significant challenge.
With a graceful sweep of her fan, Li Lanqing bit her lip, her voice tinged with a hint of desperation. "Master, I've heard troubling rumors about the Clear Music Pavilion introducing a new courtesan... She's not as young as she used to be. What should we do?"
"Don't worry, I have a plan!"
Chen Zhi'an shook his head repeatedly.
This girl seemed genuinely passionate about her profession.
Ever since she heard about the new courtesan at Clear Music Pavilion, she had been muttering about getting old at least three times.
At twenty-one years old, who knew where this sense of crisis came from?
But the matter of the new courtesan at Clear Music Pavilion couldn't be ignored.
It was time to pay a visit to Mr. Liu...
After pondering for a while, Chen Zhi'an set off alone to find the chief engineer of the Tower of Treasures, Old Yang.
The Tower of Treasures was his sanctuary, and he couldn't afford to be careless.
From design to construction, everything was handled by trusted aides from the Chen Estate, with the chief engineer being specifically recruited from Chenliu County.
Chen Zhi'an provided the ideas, and the military craftsmen executed them.
Hidden sentries, secret passages, treasure vaults, defensive formations - everything was arranged meticulously.
The old military craftsman, with his grizzled beard and hair, confidently declared that once the Treasure Tower was completed, not even a fly could penetrate its defenses.
When Chen Zhi'an heard this, his heart skipped a beat, and he quickly jumped up to cover the old man's mouth.
Such words were better left unsaid...
However, judging from the situation over the past three months, this old craftsman and his team seemed to have some skill.
Their work was meticulous, and their execution was exceptionally strong.
If it weren't for their advanced age, Chen Zhi'an would have considered keeping them around as part of his construction team for future projects.
When Chen Zhi'an found Old Yang, he was reprimanding a middle-aged craftsman with sparse hair and a face full of wrinkles.
Calling him a little rascal.
Seeing this, Chen Zhi'an quietly retreated. This old man was relentless when scolding people, regardless of whether you were a young lord or not, he wasn't someone to mess with.
After inspecting the Golden Pavilion and the Examination Tower, Chen Zhi'an led Li Lanqing away from the island towards the Chang'an Prefectural Government Office.
.....
Wang Fugui was a broad-minded and corpulent man who had held the position of Prefect of Chang'an for over twenty years.
Surviving and thriving in Chang'an was no easy feat, especially for an official.
The current Emperor, in his prime, aspired to be an enlightened ruler, aiming for a peaceful and prosperous reign.
Being a local official under such a monarch increased the danger significantly.
Before Wang Fugui, the longest-serving Prefect of Chang'an had lasted no more than five years, and those who retired peacefully were few.
Moreover, most of them were summarily dismissed by the enraged Emperor, with no chance for a trial by the Three Judicial Offices.
Yet Wang Fugui had been in his position for over two decades, and he might continue for even longer...
At this moment,
Wang Fugui reclined in his rocking chair.
Due to his excessive weight, the chair creaked and groaned as if it might collapse at any moment, presenting a somewhat comical sight.
"The way of an official lies in loyalty, loyalty, and damn loyalty...
You were the one who brought Liu Qi in initially, and now you're the one who wants to get him out as well.
After all, Liu Qi once wrote taboo poetry, and releasing him goes against the principles of my officialdom...
Young Lord, you're putting me in a difficult spot..."
On another rocking chair,
Chen Zhi'an's lips twitched.
To hell with your way of being an official, and to hell with your loyalty.
In less than four months, you've managed to swindle three thousand four hundred and twenty-five taels and eight qian of silver from our household, and you have the nerve to talk about the way of being an official?
He was tempted to ignore this money-grubbing official.
Alas, the corrupt official held a hostage...
Reluctantly pointing to the ground, Chen Zhi'an exclaimed, "Wang Lao, there seems to be a bag in your backyard now. Does it resemble the one you lost before?"
Wang Fugui suddenly became interested, "Oh, it does look like the money bag I lost earlier, containing two hundred taels of silver."
Chen Zhi'an's lip twitched again.
After adding a banknote to the bag, he tossed it to Wang Fugui, "Wang Lao, make sure not to lose this money bag again. If you do, Liu Qi will die in prison."
Wang Fugui took the money bag and confirmed it indeed contained two hundred taels of silver. Then he chuckled, "I must have been mistaken. It was Liu San who committed the taboo, not Liu Qi..."
...
In the dungeons of the Chang'an Prefectural Government Office,
The prison guard Zhang Xiao'er raised an eyebrow, coldly informing a man with disheveled hair and slightly graying temples, "Liu Qi, you're free to go!"
The prisoner walked out of the cell without a word.
When he reached the door, he stopped, turned around, and spoke slowly, "We've met, and I have nothing to offer you. But I'll leave you with a word..."
"When water rises, it floods; when water dries, it perishes!"
Zhang Xiao'er furrowed his brow, displeased.
Recently, everything had been going his way. First, his family's dilapidated pond was sold for a hefty seven hundred taels of silver, and with that money, he successfully purchased the position of prison chief.
With excitement in his heart, he even managed to elevate himself to become a first-rate warrior.
It was a time of high spirits for him.
But now, this lowly prisoner had somehow gotten wind of the news about his family's pond being sold and dared to try to scare him.
Did he think that by smoothing things over with that waste of space, he could brazenly make such arrogant remarks?
Thinking of that person who had humiliated him so, Zhang Xiao'er felt his anger rising again and said coldly, "Ignorant scum, utter another word, and I'll beat you to death right here."
Liu Qi glanced at him indifferently, shook his head, and sighed, "You still had a way out, but it's a pity. Get ready early!"
With that, he walked away like the wind, leaving Zhang Xiao'er in a fit of rage chasing after him, only to find that the man had vanished without a trace.