PC Chapter 1

In the spring of the third year of the Yuanshun era, in the city of Chang’an.

The wide Zhuque Avenue in Chang’an City divided the outer city into 108 wards, with Wannian County on the east and Chang’an County on the west, symbolizing the eternal longevity of Chang’an. Each county had its own market, known as the Eastern and Western Markets, where tea houses, taverns, foreign merchants, and a wide variety of goods could be found. There were 220 different types of businesses, with shops standing side by side, offering all the treasures of the world.

It was just after noon, and the Eastern Market’s tea house was bustling with activity. Conversations ranged from national affairs to the myriad aspects of daily life, all flowing from the lips of the patrons.

A young scholar ordered a pot of Longjing tea but didn’t rush to taste it. Instead, he let the aroma spread, lightly tapping his fingers on the table. His eyelashes fluttered as if in contemplation, though he was carefully listening to every sound around him.

The first table by the window discussed how the Zhang family’s chicken had pecked at the Li family’s vegetables, leading Li family to kill the chicken in retaliation. The Zhang family believed that a few leaves weren’t worth the loss of their chicken, so the next day, they found an excuse to beat up Li family’s child. Unhappy, the Li family threw a handful of moldy rice into Zhang family’s yard that night…

Su Cen shook his head and turned to listen to the conversation at another table.

In the Red Silk Lane, a young woman who had fallen in love ran away with a scholar heading to the capital for the imperial exams. However, just two days later, the scholar personally sent her back, claiming that he couldn’t afford any distractions while preparing for his exams. The woman had been tricked out of all her savings, beaten half to death, and was left muttering that she was the wife of the future top scholar. It seemed she had lost her mind.

Some criticized the woman for her poor judgment, while others condemned the scholar for his cold-heartedness. Yet, everyone treated it as a joke, laughing it off with a tinge of disdain. No one truly sympathized with the woman, nor did anyone genuinely seek to punish the scholar.

Indifference was the common attitude toward such matters.

Su Cen opened his eyes slightly, scanning the room with a sharp gaze that finally settled on two middle-aged men dressed in elegant attire. What they were discussing piqued his interest.

The older of the two said, “There are three people in the current court that must not be offended. First is the current Grand Tutor, Ning Yi, who has served through four reigns and was left as a regent by the late Emperor. Although he is now over eighty years old and rarely seen in court, his words carry great weight, and he remains a pivotal figure in the government. Second is the Empress Dowager Chu, the current Emperor’s birth mother, who rules from behind the curtain. The Emperor is still young, and all decisions are made by the Empress Dowager. Gaining her favor is equivalent to gaining the Emperor’s favor.”

Lowering his voice, he continued, “The third and most important person is Prince Ning, Li Shi, the younger brother of the late Emperor and the current Emperor’s fourth uncle. When the late Emperor passed away, the young Emperor was entrusted to Prince Ning, who also intended to use his military power to stabilize the empire and secure his nephew’s throne. Over the years, Prince Ning has become the powerful Regent, wielding the Nine-Dragon Whip bestowed by the late Emperor, with the authority to punish anyone from the Emperor down to the ministers. Even the Empress Dowager has to fear him. What’s more, there’s a rumor that the late Emperor left a secret edict, stating that if the current Emperor proves unworthy, Prince Ning could take the throne himself! This supposed edict, whether true or false, has divided the court into two factions: the Empress Dowager’s faction, supporting the young Emperor, and Prince Ning’s faction, following his lead. To enter the court as an official, the first thing one must do is figure out which faction they belong to; otherwise, they’ll find themselves caught between the two.”

Su Cen tapped the table, feeling a sense of melancholy—before becoming an official, one must first learn to take sides.

“Huh?” The other man asked anxiously, “So which side should one choose?”

“The two factions are evenly matched,” the man continued. “Empress Dowager Chu has the Right Chancellor, while Prince Ning has the Left Chancellor. The Empress Dowager’s side controls the Ministries of Rites, Personnel, and Revenue, while Prince Ning’s side holds the Ministries of War, Justice, and Public Works. Most civil officials, out of loyalty to the rightful ruler, side with the Empress Dowager, while the military commanders support Prince Ning, who once fought alongside them. On the surface, it may seem that the Empress Dowager’s faction has the upper hand, but in reality, Prince Ning holds command over the Northern Imperial Guards¹The Northern Imperial Guards were elite military units that served the emperors of China, primarily during the Ming and Qing dynasties. These guards were responsible for the protection of the emperor, the imperial family, and the Forbidden City in Beijing., controlling the lives of those within the palace. The two sides are evenly matched and are fiercely competing in court.”

“What about the Emperor? Even though he is young, he must have some inclination, right? When he eventually takes full control, won’t the balance between the two factions become clear?”

The middle-aged man glanced around, then leaned in to whisper something in the other’s ear. The man’s face instantly changed, and he spilled his tea in shock.

“A heart of rebellion…” Su Cen murmured as he tapped the table. Although he couldn’t hear what the two men had whispered, he could do a bit of lip reading and, combined with some guesswork, easily grasped their meaning.

Whenever Su Cen arrived in a new place, he liked to visit bustling spots to listen to the locals’ conversations. While not everything he heard was true, and some accounts were colored by bias, he could still gain a general understanding of the situation.

From what those two men had just said, it was hard to say whether Prince Ning harbored rebellious intentions, but the struggle between the two factions was undoubtedly real.

“Second Young Master, shall we go back?” A young servant nearby lifted his head dejectedly and suggested, “If we hurry, we can still review the Four Books and Five Classics one more time.”

Tomorrow was the big day of the imperial examination, and while other candidates were likely buried in their books, desperate to study day and night, his young master had chosen to come to a tea house to rest his eyes. If the master of the household found out, he might be so angry that he’d take to his bed again.

“If you find this boring, you can go back first.” Su Cen raised an eyebrow and glanced at the servant, his expression as warm as the spring breeze in February.

Ah Fu, however, felt a chill in his heart and shook his head vigorously, then obediently lay down on the table without saying another word.

The last time the Second Young Master smiled like that was three years ago when he left home full of excitement to take the imperial examination. However, before he even made it out of Suzhou, he changed his plans and traveled to all the famous mountains and rivers across the country, avoiding Chang’an altogether. A year later, he returned home with a pitiful expression, claiming that he had been captured by a group of mountain bandits who forced him to work as a scribe for a year before he finally escaped. His performance was so vivid and heartfelt that the master and madam felt sorry for him and pampered him with good food and drink for a year. It wasn’t until a year ago, when a fellow dandy came to visit and asked when they would go on another adventure together, that the truth was revealed. The master had him tied to a tree and gave him a good beating, the marks of which were still visible on his body. This time, when he set out for the imperial examination again, the master sent Ah Fu to accompany him, warning that if he pulled any more tricks, their father-son relationship would be severed. This strict supervision was how they finally made it to Chang’an. The master even bought him a residence in the pricey Chang’an city, in the Changle Ward, right next to the Eastern Market and just a street away from Xingqing Palace. Though the house had only two courtyards, it was worth a fortune. Despite being a merchant by birth, Su Cen’s father was determined to see his son enter the court and bring honor to the family. The implication of this hefty investment was clear: if he didn’t pass the exam this time, he was to stay in Chang’an and try again in three years. He wouldn’t stop until he succeeded.

As for the Second Young Master, he indeed had a talent for studying. While other children his age were still learning “At the beginning, people are fundamentally good²The phrase “人之初，性本善” (rén zhī chū, xìng běn shàn) is a well-known line from a Chinese text called the “Three Character Classic” (《三字经》, Sānzì Jīng). This classic text, written during the Song dynasty, was traditionally used to teach young children in China basic Chinese characters, along with moral lessons and Confucian values. The full line translates to “At the beginning, people’s nature is fundamentally good.” It reflects the Confucian belief, particularly influenced by Mencius, that human beings are born with an innate goodness.,” he had already passed the local scholar exams and, at sixteen, had even topped the provincial exam. But after that… he ran off.

Beneath that harmless-looking face hid a restless heart.

Now that they’d finally made it to the capital, Ah Fu didn’t dare to hope that his master would return to his books.

A man dressed like a waiter was walking around the tables with a long-spouted brass teapot, refilling customers’ cups. However, despite his attire, his appearance and demeanor were not what one would expect from a typical tea waiter. He had a slender waist that swayed with more grace than that of a woman, and his alluring peach blossom eyes flirtatiously glanced upward from time to time. As he refilled cups, a few customers took the opportunity to lightly touch him, but he wasn’t offended. Instead, he playfully bantered back. When one customer grabbed his delicate wrist and gave a gentle tug, he fell bonelessly into the person’s arms, revealing a fair shoulder.

It seemed he wasn’t there just to pour tea but to add to the atmosphere.

Ah Fu was dumbfounded. He knew that Chang’an was known for its liberal customs, but he had never seen such blatant behavior in broad daylight. Though he told himself not to stare at what he shouldn’t, he found it difficult to look away.

When he finally snapped out of it, he met his young master’s knowing gaze. Su Cen raised an eyebrow and remarked, “I think there’s a brothel two streets to the left.”

Ah Fu blushed deeply and quickly lowered his head.

The aroma of tea drifted over, and a slender hand lifted the teapot lid. The young attendant chuckled softly and said, “Could it be that this young master doesn’t like our tea, or is there some other reason? Why did you order it if you don’t intend to drink? The water has already gone cold—such a waste of precious goods.”

Su Cen looked up at him and replied, “Wasteful, yes, but hardly precious goods. I ordered a Mingqian longjing tea, where each leaf is accompanied by a bud. Though its color is light, its fragrance is delicate and long-lasting. But what you served is obviously Yuqian longjing tea. Tea leaves change rapidly in early spring, and this tea was picked a full two weeks later than what I ordered. So how can you call it a heavenly gift?”

“You’re quite knowledgeable, young master,” the young attendant responded with a smile, showing no anger. He playfully tapped Su Cen’s chin with the long spout of the brass teapot, his tone teasing. “But if you’re not going to drink it, I won’t bother refilling your cup next time.”

Su Cen raised an eyebrow in understanding, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Ah Fu. “Drink it. Don’t waste his good intentions.”

The young attendant smiled, added just enough water to fill the cup, and then took the teapot upstairs.

“Second Young Master…” Ah Fu frowned at the cup of tea.

Su Cen took it himself and drank it down in one gulp. The fragrance was deep and lingering—undoubtedly the Mingqian longjing tea.

—

Author’s Note:

Starting a new story, thank you all for reading.

This is an alternate history, and since it’s set in Chang’an, some elements are based on Tang Dynasty conventions. The dynasty in the story is fictional, named the Great Zhou. Below are some details about the dynasty, which might be referenced in the text later.

Temple Name → Era Name → Ruler → Reign Period → Brief Description

– Taizu→ Wude → Li Cheng → 26 years → Founder of the dynasty, known for expanding the territory.

– Taizong → Yonglong → Li Yu → 23 years → Ruthless and highly talented.

– Shenzong → Tianshou → Li Xun → 8 years → Sickly and died young.

– Zhongzong → Yuanshun → Li Zhuo → Ascended the throne at age six, currently reigning.

T/N: Hello, dear readers! I’m a new translator, and this my first project, so if there’s anything you would like to correct, feel free to comment on it. The tags could be added later as i translate it as i also haven’t read the story before. Thank you for the patience!

• 1
  The Northern Imperial Guards were elite military units that served the emperors of China, primarily during the Ming and Qing dynasties. These guards were responsible for the protection of the emperor, the imperial family, and the Forbidden City in Beijing.
• 2
  The phrase “人之初，性本善” (rén zhī chū, xìng běn shàn) is a well-known line from a Chinese text called the “Three Character Classic” (《三字经》, Sānzì Jīng). This classic text, written during the Song dynasty, was traditionally used to teach young children in China basic Chinese characters, along with moral lessons and Confucian values. The full line translates to “At the beginning, people’s nature is fundamentally good.” It reflects the Confucian belief, particularly influenced by Mencius, that human beings are born with an innate goodness.