Chapter 1, Tonghui River

Song Li laughed and said, "How can it not count? We've just arrived in Tongzhou, and your tone has already changed; the Beijing accent is getting stronger. Your tongue hasn't been straightened out at all—didn't you think about going back home to take a look?"

How is it?" Song Li held the handle of the large fan, vigorously fanning while smiling and asking Liu Jian

Isn't it auspicious to have an even number? Moreover, there are quite a few people like you who come in with less than four, so wouldn't that give us some business

Alright, please wait a moment.

Welcome, old customer, please come in and take a seat! Here is a bowl of cool tea, perfect for refreshing and quenching your thirst

How is it? Young Master Fei dismissed his secretary, twisted his neck, and said to Song Li: "What’s so great about putting on airs? My nephew is a newly minted top scholar, and he has sent a junior scholar from the Hanlin Academy. Aren't you going to make room for me, young master?"

Song Li, Liu Jian, and Peng Deng, along with a servant from the Song family, disembarked from the boat and walked along the shore, enjoying the sights of the market while chatting leisurely. Song Li casually remarked, "I hear that you, dear brother, are a local from Beijing. This trip must fulfill your wish, allowing you to return home in glory." Liu Jian shook his head and smiled, saying, "My hometown is at the foot of Xuanping Slope in the northwest of Beijing, a place called Huling'er, which is quite far from the city, so I can't really be considered a Beijinger."

Then he also said that I made a significant fortune at the beginning of the year, which is indeed true. It has already been half a year; how did he deduce that?

Even Song Li was deceived by Liu Jian: "Jing Ru, are you truly well acquainted with the top scholar Lin?" He himself came from the National University and held the highest respect for those who passed the imperial examination, thus he treated Liu Jian, who was also a successful candidate, with utmost courtesy. Not to mention the top scholar, who appears only once every three years; he is indeed a role model for scholars. Despite holding the esteemed position of a second-rank official, Song Li never dared to underestimate these younger generations.

Excuse me, sir, what place is this?" Peng Deng quickly changed his words.

Come on! Come and taste the authentic Tanghuoshao from Dashunzhai

Song Ligang was about to lose his temper when Liu Jian waved his fan and stopped him: "Lin Chongbi, he has indeed visited my humble residence and we had quite a pleasant conversation. However, I have never heard him mention that you are such a relative. No matter, we are not in a hurry. Please feel free to use this boat. When we return to the capital and mention it to my younger brother, it will indeed make for a good story."

The Zhan Shifu is the office responsible for the education of the Crown Prince. Although it holds little power, it is quite prominent among the officials in the capital due to its close proximity to the Crown Prince—who is, after all, the future emperor. This is a well-known fact; as the saying goes, "A new emperor brings new ministers." Even if the Crown Prince merely remembers a name or a face, when the current emperor passes away and the Crown Prince ascends the throne, he will surely be favored. Unfortunately, Liu Jian has a natural aversion to the social interactions of the officialdom. Despite being in a prestigious office, he does not earn the appreciation of his superiors or the closeness of his colleagues. Everyone finds him bothersome, and this time he simply sought a pretext to be expelled from Nanjing and sent to Beijing.

Embarrassing? It is your chaotic writing that brings me shame—go ask the boatman where we have arrived

Hearing Song Li's question, Liu Jian couldn't help but smile slightly: "Not at all, I have only heard of its name."

Song Li is a large man, and during the late summer heat, he feels extremely uncomfortable. He has unbuttoned two buttons of his royal blue silk shirt, leaving the collar wide open, and is bareheaded, with a square cap tossed on the table. He has been fanning himself with a palm fan without pause, yet he cannot stop the sweat from streaming down his forehead. Upon hearing Liu Jian say that he has a fierce expression, he cannot help but ask for clarification.

Upon hearing Liu Jian's words, the three individuals could no longer discern the depths of the water. It is said that the newly appointed top scholar, surnamed Lin, given name Huan, and courtesy name Chongbi, could be easily inquired about by anyone with a little attention. However, Liu Jian directly mentioned his nickname "Jiao Zhai," which could only be known by very close friends.

"Anything goes with the pictures and books, good wine and good dishes, just bring out what you're good at," Song Li said casually as he took out a two-hundred-wen banknote, "The rest is yours."

Song Li was very strict with his subordinates in the yamen, but he was generally quite magnanimous in his demeanor and did not fuss over trivial matters. Over the past few days, Liu Jian had gotten along very well with him. Liu Jian had no intention of disembarking, but upon hearing Song Li's words, he felt it would be inappropriate to dampen his spirits: "Then this official shall not be disrespectful and will trouble Lord Song."

I said, how could you, a sixth-rank official, directly address Lin Chongbi, who is renowned and a leader among scholars?

Hello, which family does not incur expenses during the New Year? Given your age, your family must be prosperous; the amount spent on giving red envelopes to the children must be quite substantial, right?

Liu Jian smiled faintly, withdrawing her gaze from Song Li's face. With a snap, she opened her folding fan and said, "It is better for you to be cautious, my lord. From my perspective, your face bears a sinister aura, which is likely to invite misfortune."

After some light-hearted banter, they finally stopped in front of a modestly sized hotel. Liu Jian raised his folding fan and pointed, saying, "The name of this establishment is quite interesting; shall we go in and sit for a while?" "Sure," replied Song Li, who, with his large belly, was already tired from walking. His forehead was covered in sweat, glistening, and upon hearing this, he quickly nodded in agreement.

The famous foods of Tongzhou are known as the "Three Treasures of Tongzhou," which include the grilled catfish from Xiao Lou, the sweet fire buns from Da Shun Zhai, and the fermented bean curd from Wan Tong Soy Sauce Shop. Xiao Lou Restaurant is an old halal establishment that still operates today, located behind the Hualian Shopping Center at the north entrance of South Dajie in Tongzhou District

Song Li still does not believe: "The ways of the world, my foolish brother knows a little about. Most of them speak of worries rather than joys, using alarming words to frighten people, which is how they can deceive the simple villagers and foolish women out of their money. But this fortune teller says I will have smooth sailing; this does not conform to common sense"

What is the bet

Young Master Fei! Please take your time, your status is esteemed, and you should proceed with caution

"May I ask, esteemed elder, where is this place as the boat sails here?" As the young attendant finished speaking, shaking his head, a half piece of watermelon flew out from inside as the cabin curtain was lifted, landing wetly on the back of the head of the one holding the lamp.

When the young master saw a large, stout man burst in, with his belly protruding and his lips curled, he couldn't help but be startled, taking half a step back. However, he quickly regained his composure and resumed his previous haughty demeanor: "What’s the matter? I, the young master, want to take your boat, so why don’t you hurry up and make way for me!"

Song Li could not contain his anger any longer: "If you insist on saying it this way, do you dare to make a bet with me?"

What Liu Jian needs to collect and organize is the remaining less than 10% of the documents, which only record the daily activities of the people in the royal residence, except for the prince (that is, the current emperor), including their eating, drinking, and other mundane matters. It is quite trivial, and no one cares about it regardless of how well it is collected and organized

Eat, just eat, he evaded the topic, Song Li was unable to unravel the mystery, feeling a bit anxious, "Why don't you tell me, what disaster do you see coming from my appearance?"

"Naturally, the practitioners of the martial world are adept at deceiving others with grandiose words," Liu Jian pondered for a moment, carefully considering his response. "However, the sage once said, 'Outside the six realms, there exists that which is not to be discussed.' The so-called 'arts of divination' cannot be entirely dismissed, can they? Did not Lord Song also believe in that 'Tang Half-Immortal'?"

Mr. Sai suddenly realized his gaffe, his face flushed, and he hurriedly retreated behind Young Master Fei

The old man rowing the boat did not actually understand what the child was saying; he only heard the word "come." So he leaned in and asked, "What is it, young lad?"

Liu Jian nodded earnestly and said, "You are right, my lord. I do harbor some resentment towards this person for his outrageous words. You mentioned accumulating virtue through speech, and I admit my fault; however, when I say that his life will not last beyond tonight, it is indeed the truth."

After the four of them had their fill of food and drink, they ordered a pot of tea and sat down to enjoy it for a while. Song Li frowned and said, "Only that grilled catfish had some flavor; the other dishes... this tea is really not good, too stale." Liu Jian explained, "Tea is not produced in the north, so how could we get high-quality tea?" They idled away half the day like this, waiting until the sun had passed its zenith and it was not so hot outside before they got up and walked towards the dock

"You, this person..." Song Li found himself at a loss for words.

Liu Jian lowered the bamboo curtain, gazing at Song Li, and smiled slightly: "Brother Song, the 'old gentleman' you just mentioned refers to that 'Tang Banjian' who has been setting up a stall to tell fortunes at the Gathering Treasure Gate, right? It's all just tricks of the trade, not worth paying attention to. The journey is dull, so I offered to read your fortune for fun, and I won't charge you anything. What would I gain from deceiving you? Am I supposed to extort a watermelon from you?"

Although it has only been two years since the war ended, the "Jingnan Campaign" was relatively short-lived and cannot be compared to the decades of fragmentation during the late Yuan dynasty. Consequently, prices did not soar. At this time, with just over one hundred wen, one could arrange a moderate banquet. The attendant joyfully took the banknotes and hurried into the kitchen. Before long, a table was filled with dishes: cold vermicelli, five-spice marinated meat, sweet and sour cucumber strips, fried yellow vegetables, stuffed tripe, as well as the chef's specialty, braised catfish, accompanied by a pot of Sanhe old wine. They even brought out large pancakes and scrambled eggs with chives for the two servants holding the lanterns.

Liu Jian raised his long, slender eyebrows: "At this time, during the transition from summer to autumn, the weather is unpredictable. Moreover, you possess such a... such a noble physique, coupled with your busy official duties, your face shows signs of fatigue. If you were to say you are unwell, it would certainly not be mistaken."

Song Li was taken aback and said, "Why do you say such things, my dear brother? That old gentleman... his expertise in physiognomy is remarkable, and he is well-known in Jiangnan. He never mentioned that I would encounter any misfortune recently"

Song Li took a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead and replied, "He said that I was unwell last month, which is absolutely correct."

Song Li's business trip was undertaken in accordance with the imperial edict of the Yongle Emperor, in his capacity as the Minister of Works, to oversee the construction of the new city in Beijing. Liu Jian, on the other hand, was tasked with collecting and organizing various documents from the former residence of the Yan King in Beijing, to assist Grand Secretary Xie Jin and others in compiling the monumental work "Yongle Dadian." At first glance, this assignment may seem demanding, but in reality, it was quite leisurely. This is because the current sovereign, the Yongle Emperor, while still the Yan King in the city of Beijing, was preoccupied with thoughts of how to overthrow his nephew, Emperor Zhu Yunwen. Approximately sixty percent of the materials in the Yan King's residence were politically related, while over thirty percent pertained to military matters. These books and documents were classified, and not only would they be of little use in the "Dadian," but even in future compilations of official histories, they would likely remain unseen. As a mere sixth-rank official, he had even less opportunity to "organize" them.

Liu Jian differs from Song Li; in their twenties, he has a slender build, wears a scholar's cap, and is dressed in a wide-sleeved blue cotton long gown, impeccably clean. Song Li, accustomed to the hustle and bustle of officialdom, speaks in a hurried and rapid manner, while Liu Jian appears much more composed, lightly shaking his folding fan, nodding three times for every statement, exuding the elegant demeanor of a Confucian scholar.

By the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, due to the ravages of war, the upper section of the Tonghui River, specifically from Baifucun to Wengshanbo, was abandoned. The current Tonghui River generally refers to the section from the Dongbianmen Datong Bridge to the entrance of the North Canal in Tongzhou District, with a total length of approximately 2 kilometers

Not far from the dock, they suddenly heard the sound of an argument. The four of them were taken aback and hurried a few steps forward, only to see a flamboyantly dressed young gentleman and two men resembling clerks surrounding their old boatman, arguing loudly. The young gentleman rolled up his sleeves and brandished his fists, even pretending to strike.

The person on the left, resembling a master named Mr. De, upon hearing this, twirled his mustache and loudly proclaimed: "Listen well, my young master Fei is indeed a relative of this year's newly appointed top scholar!"

Hearing the boatman's words, Song Li smiled and said, "That sounds good. I'll treat you; let's go ashore and have something to eat. The food on the boat has really not been great these past few days"

Liu Jian, sitting opposite him, remained silent, merely observing Song Li's features repeatedly. What constitutes a visage of wealth and nobility? This is a typical visage of wealth and nobility: a large round face, thick eyebrows, big eyes, a prominent nose, a long philtrum, and a flowing beard. Notably, the forehead is broad and full, and when the eyebrows are slightly furrowed, a "king"-shaped wrinkle may appear. According to physiognomy, this person is destined for unexpected success and prosperity.

Song Li hurriedly pushed through the crowd of onlookers and strode over, raising his head to ask, "What is the cause of this commotion?" His words carried a hint of official tone.

Liu Jiancai was about to put down his folding fan and pick up a piece of watermelon to eat when suddenly, the cabin curtain was lifted, and a young scholar of about ten years old entered, bowing respectfully and saying: "Esteemed master, it is nearly noon, and we wish to stop the boat to prepare a meal. May I inquire if this is acceptable?"

With a cry of "Ouch," the young servant raised his hands to protect his head, but was still a moment too late, receiving a solid blow that immediately caused a large bump to form. Grimacing, he touched the bump and retorted, "You are at least a sixth-rank official, serving in the Imperial Academy, and you often have the chance to see the Crown Prince. I fear that if I speak too plainly, it might embarrass you..."

Liu Jian also approached, shaking his folding fan: "Why are you being unreasonable?"

Hello, I see that this Young Master Fei is merely using a distant relative to intimidate others; it would be better to return the favor in kind.

Ha ha, very well, your boss knows how to do business

During the Western Han Dynasty, Tongzhou was known as Luxian. Over the years, it underwent several name changes, being referred to successively as Tongluting, Luxian, Tongzhou, and Tongxian. In December 1948, Tongxian was liberated, leading to the establishment of Tongxian and Tongzhou City. In March 1958, after the county and city were transferred from Hebei Province to the jurisdiction of Beijing, they were merged into Beijing's Tongzhou District. In 1960, it was renamed Tongxian again, and in April 1997, Tongxian was abolished, establishing Tongzhou District. Tongzhou has always been regarded as the eastern gateway of Beijing, historically referred to as "One Beijing, Two Weihe (Tianjin Weihe), and Three Tongzhou".

Song Li, hearing Liu Jian's refusal to relent, could not help but feel a bit angry: "You, of all people, are an official; why resort to the tricks of a street sorcerer?"

According to the "History of the Yuan Dynasty: Biography of Guo Shoujing," Guo Shoujing repeatedly advised Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, to excavate a canal from the Grand Canal to Dadu (present-day Beijing) for the purpose of transportation. In the 28th year of the Yuan Dynasty (1291), he proposed a specific plan to divert water from the Shenshan Spring in Baifu Village, Changping County, through Wengshan Lake (present-day Kunming Lake) to Jishuitan and Zhongnanhai, and then flow from Wenmingmen (present-day Chongwenmen) to Gaoli Village in Tongzhou, where it would join the Grand Canal, with a total length of seventeen li. Consequently, Kublai Khan commissioned Guo Shoujing to plan and oversee the construction of this canal. By the 30th year of the Yuan Dynasty (1293), when Kublai Khan returned to Dadu from Shangdu (present-day Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia), he passed by Jishuitan and saw that the new canal was completed, with boats coming and going, bustling with activity. He could not help but feel great joy and personally named it "Tonghui River".

Liu Jian continued to shake his head, saying, "My parents have long passed away, and I have no wife. All that remains in the family is an old house and a few old servants to look after it. It is in such disrepair that there is nothing worth seeing upon my return." A servant holding a lamp interjected, "Master's former residence, I have not set foot in for a long time." Liu Jian shot him a glare, "Shut up! I am not dead yet, so how can it be called a former residence?!"

Both of them were sent on official business to Beijing by imperial decree, but they did not take an official boat; instead, they hired a small passenger vessel. Although Song Li was a second-rank official and Liu Jian was merely a sixth-rank supervisor, in terms of their backgrounds, Liu Jian was a two-time successful candidate in the imperial examination, while Song Li was only a student of the National Academy. Therefore, he could not assume an air of superiority and treated this junior official with great amiability and warmth. The two chatted casually along the way, and on this day, as the boat turned from the Grand Canal into the Tonghui River, they somehow began discussing Liu Jian's expertise in physiognomy. Consequently, Song Li asked him to read his fortune, but Liu Jian spoke frankly, and Song Li was somewhat skeptical.

Liu Jian snapped his folding fan shut with a "pa" and replied with a smile, "Most fortune tellers in the world do not truly understand the art of divination; they rely solely on observing words and expressions. Anyone who seeks to have their fortune told must be facing calamities they cannot resolve, or they feel uncertain about their future. But look at you! With your dignified appearance and extraordinary demeanor, it is clear that you are not suffering from any misfortune, leaving only the uncertainty of your future. Your movements and posture exude an air of authority, and given the recent rumors that the Emperor intends to move the capital to Beijing, it is not difficult to guess that you are about to embark on a long journey. In that case, it would be futile to speak ill of you to turn you back; it would be better to say a few good words to entice you to part with your wealth right now.

He paused for a moment and then added: "The art of physiognomy in the world relies on the experience of the physiognomist, observing their words and actions, and then applying the entries from books, deceiving others with grand claims to extract wealth. In contrast, genuine physiognomy delves into the principles of the interactions between heaven, earth, and humanity, using the omens that arise to predict fortune and misfortune—these two cannot be spoken of in the same breath"

Song Li and Liu Jian traveled north by boat in July of the fourth year of the Yongle reign. Just recently, the emperor issued an edict stating that starting from May of the following year, palaces and halls would be constructed in Beijing. The official circles had already been abuzz with rumors that His Majesty intended to move the capital to Beijing, and this edict further confirmed those speculations. Consequently, on the canal from Nanjing to Beijing, countless sails began to appear, transporting grain, goods, passengers, and construction materials. The boat carrying Song and Liu was among them.

"It is a gamble on the life of that Young Master Fei. We will send someone to follow him; if he survives tonight, I win, and if he does not, you win"

Liu Jian shook his head and said, "I don't think it's necessary. It is unclear where Young Master Fei is, so how can we place this bet?"

Liu Jian extended his hand to assist Song Li onto the boat, saying: "It is of no concern. From the appearance of this Young Master Fei, I can see that his forehead is dark and narrow, his legal lines are bluish-black, and his fate is obscure. There is a fatal mark on his forehead, indicating a violent death. This is a sign of misfortune, and he will not survive until tonight. It would be best for Lord Song to keep his identity concealed while on this inspection in disguise."

"Isn't that San Hui'er?" Song Li took the ice towel handed over by the attendant, wiped his face, and pretended to roll his tongue, asking, "What about Yi Hui'er?"

Before they even stepped through the door, the attendant had already come forward: "We've been expecting you two. On such a hot day... Please, come in. What would you like to have?" While ushering them inside, he called out to the staff: "For our esteemed guests, prepare the ice towels and serve them some cool tea!"

Liu Jian gently waved a folding fan with his right hand, while with his left hand he lifted the bamboo curtain to glance outside the boat: "The weather is getting hotter—it's better to eat the watermelon chilled in the back cabin now, as it will be just right to cool off."

Tonghui River and Tongzhou

Liu Jian let out a chuckle and interrupted Song Li's words, saying, "Alright, I will take this bet with you."

Reasoning? Hmph, you probably still do not know who I am, young master. Mr. De, you tell them

After listening to this lengthy discourse, Song Li felt as if he were shrouded in clouds and mist, half believing and half doubting: "Jingru is joking. Even if this person was rude first, you cannot curse him to such an extent. Have a little decency in your words."

Hearing Song Li say that he does not believe in his own fortune-telling, and that the so-called "Tang Banjian" has a miraculous method of divination, predicting accurately every time, Liu Jian could not help but shake his head and smile: "What did he predict correctly? Sir, you might as well give one or two examples."

Seeing this expression, the three individuals on the other side mistakenly thought that they were intimidated, and could not help but laugh triumphantly

Young Master Fei, wait for us!

"Oh, just ahead is Tongzhou," the old man said with a smile as he helped pick up the melon peels and seeds from his head and body, while also calling out to the passengers in the cabin. "If the two gentlemen are feeling tired, it would be a good idea to take a break in Tongzhou for a while. You can go to the dock to buy some food, and it would be fine to leave once the sun is not so harsh. We are very close to Beijing, and we should be able to enter the city before dark."

Song Li shook his head: "No, no, after all, this person is a relative of the top scholar. If what he says is true, and he were to report you to the top scholar in the future, your prospects might be adversely affected. It would be better for me to reveal my identity as an imperial envoy instead."

The attendant beside him held the lamp and made a face at Song Li, saying, "Master Song, I see you are bound to lose."

The attendant led them to a table inside the hotel, smiling and saying: "It's cool over here... As for the name of this establishment, it's because the drinks, dishes, and meals here are all reasonably priced..."

Song Li still remained somewhat unconvinced, yet he had to admit that Liu Jian's words held a certain degree of truth. Just at that moment, the servant brought in the sliced watermelon, so he chose not to pursue the matter further: "Your words are reasonable... I have learned from this." He then waved his hand, making a gesture of invitation.

Song Li curled his lips and sneered, "Look, I told you that you were just bluffing, and now you dare not bet. I am a few years older than you, so I can afford to say a few words on your behalf. To know one's mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue. Do not be stubborn like a cooked duck..."

Liu Jian walked in with his companion, while asking: "Your shop's name is quite interesting, 'Si Hui Restaurant'—what does 'Si Hui' refer to?"

Hearing him directly reveal his convoluted "family relationship," Young Master Fei couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed and hurriedly interjected, "Mr. Sai, don't say so much to them!"

The newly crowned top scholar? Both Liu Jian and Song Li were taken aback upon hearing this

Liu Jianzheng said solemnly: "If he travels by land, he won't be able to enter Beijing tonight. That is why he attempted to forcibly board our ship. Although I scared him off, it seems he is destined to encounter misfortune on land, so he will not take the water route again. I suspect he will definitely stay overnight in this Tongzhou city. We will not leave either; we will wait for news on the ship. By tomorrow morning, the outcome will be clear, what do you think?"

The boatman hid beside Song Li and whispered, "Master Song, these three insist on taking my boat. I told them it has already been reserved by you two, but they refuse to back down..."

Haha, you are all feeling timid, aren't you? My family's young master is actually the second uncle of the fourth concubine of the third cousin of the newly appointed top scholar Lin. Don't be fooled by his young age; his seniority is quite significant!

You flatter me. What can I get for you?

Before long, the passenger ship docked at the Tongzhou Wharf. This location serves as the southeastern gateway to Beijing, a hub where water and land transportation converge. Although the area is not large, it is indeed quite bustling, with crowds surging on both sides of the wharf

Of course, Liu Jian did not need to say these words; he knew that Song Liguan held the rank of the second grade and was deeply favored by the current emperor. Was there any need for flattery such as "the appearance of great wealth and nobility"? However, he remained silent for quite a while, and instead, Song Li smiled and said: "No need to look anymore. Before leaving the capital, an old gentleman said that my foolish brother would have smooth sailing..."

Liu Jianbiao, styled Jingru, was a successful candidate in the imperial examination of the second year of the Jianwen era. He currently holds the official position of Left Director of the Zhan Shi Fu. His household servant, a young scribe, is named "Pengdeng".

The grilled catfish at the small building is both fresh and tender

Young Master Fei wanted to leave but felt somewhat embarrassed to do so. After hesitating for a while, he still did not dare to act rashly. Frustrated, he stamped his foot and turned to leave. Mr. De and Mr. Sai closely followed behind him

The young bookkeeper, holding the lamp, listened to Liu Jian's instructions and quickly emerged from the cabin, waving to the boatman and saying, "Boatman, come here."

Liu Jianyi turned around and swung his folding fan, striking the book boy sharply on the head: "You really never learn, can't you say a few words like a normal person?"

However, Liu Jian himself is quite satisfied with this idle job. In the newly renovated Beijing city, he no longer needs to worry about his superior's expressions, nor does he have to navigate relationships with colleagues. Most importantly, he no longer has to wake up early every day to report to the office.