Chapter 3, Cold Alley

In early spring, the days are still short and the nights long. As Xue Chongxun emerged from the residence of Princess Zhen Guo Tai Ping, the night sky gradually unfolded. Riding on horseback, he was accompanied by his guards and servants. Some of the servants held horse whips, while others carried lanterns on poles. The group proceeded southward along the street. Each lantern bore the character "Xue," attached to a long handle that is usually inserted into a base at the front door for easy transport and illumination when going out

Pang Er exclaimed in astonishment: "I have no issues, why should I cut my own flesh to eat?"

"Not Holding" is a term for noodles, likely because the noodles are cut directly from dough sheets into strips with a knife before being cooked, without being held in the palm, distinguishing them from the previously made flat sheets known as "Soup Pancakes". Before becoming "Not Holding Xishi", she was a noodle seller, as her husband was implicated in a crime and became a slave. The Xue family bought her and presented her to Pang Er as a reward for his long-standing loyalty.

She covered her face, making it difficult to see her features, but her voice was that of a woman, urgent and panicked. Xue Chongxun glanced at the approaching flames and thought to himself that those people must be here to capture this woman. He then asked in a deep voice: "Have you committed a crime?"

The woman said, "No, those pursuing me are not officials."

Firstly, with Xue Chongxun's intervention, any lingering doubts in his mother's mind could be dispelled; it was impossible for him to have clandestine dealings with Gao Lishi. Secondly, since Xue Chongxun was the appointed Minister of Rites, he was unable to exert control over the Ministry of Rites. In fact, the day-to-day operations and most of the authority were in the hands of the Vice Minister Feng Yuanjun. Removing him and replacing him with Princess Taiping or someone from his own faction would be highly advantageous.

Through the knowledge of past history, Xue Chongxun became increasingly aware of the dangers of being the eldest son of Princess Taiping. However, there was no other way; he could only find ways to assist his mother, Princess Taiping, striving to gain every bit of advantage possible in an attempt to navigate through the crisis. The opponents were formidable, including the Crown Prince and perhaps even the Emperor. Only his mother possessed the strength and status to engage with them.

The people in front and behind the alley quickly approached, all of them masked. They stopped at a distance that was neither too far nor too close, and upon seeing that Xue Chongxun had several guards, they were certain he was a person of status, so they did not act rashly.

Xue Chongxun also tightened the reins and focused his gaze ahead, only to see a figure dressed in tight black clothing rushing towards him.

Xue Chongxun was also anxious, but he maintained his composure in front of his subordinates, merely stating casually: "First, let's stabilize the situation; these people may not necessarily be targeting us."

"After entering Anyifang, do not return to the residence first; go to Yinyunzhai instead," Xue Chongxun instructed. Wealth naturally has its advantages, allowing one to enjoy many pleasures unattainable by ordinary people

Since the master has spoken, Fang Yuzhong no longer said much, only instructing the guards around him: "Pay attention."

"Yes, my lord," replied the person below.

Xue Chongxun was also amused and couldn't help but say: "I think you two should perform a military play."

The Taichang Temple, responsible for the group rituals, ceremonial music, and astronomical calculations, played a significant role during the Tang Dynasty. One notable aspect of its influence on the power dynamics was that the offspring of influential officials had a pathway to officialdom: by serving as assistants during state rituals. After participating in such ceremonies, they could then become court attendants or low-ranking civil officials, subsequently climbing the ranks through the influence of prominent families. The eligibility to participate in these rituals was naturally determined by the Taichang Temple.

This is a code, which serves as a reminder for everyone to be aware of the situation

Xue Chongxun, upon hearing this, said: "This is in Chang'an City, what is there that is not peaceful? The temperature drops at night, and I wish to return home early, without taking a detour"

In an instant, flames lit up both ends of the alley, and hurried footsteps echoed. The situation became somewhat dire, and Fang Yuzhong and the guards spoke with a tone of tension and unease, "Brothers, protect our lord well"

Fang Yuzhong furrowed his brow. The guards accompanying him were insufficient in number, primarily focused on ensuring the safety of the lord. However, the master's orders must not be disobeyed. He quickly arranged for personnel and led them out armed. The old man hurriedly shouted "Retreat," and both groups turned and fled. Xue Chongxun's guards, seeing the others running away, did not dare to pursue too far. They merely pretended to chase before returning to report: "Reporting to the lord, the thieves ran too quickly, and we could not catch up."

The woman, seeing that the man who had pursued her to the point of desperation was so easily frightened away by this young gentleman's few words, was filled with admiration. She hurriedly said: "Thank you, noble sir, for saving my life. In the future, if there is any way I can be of service to you, just say the word, and I will not hesitate."

At this moment, Xue Chongxun felt much more relaxed and noticed that her voice was somewhat hoarse, sounding rather strange. He exhaled a puff of white breath and said, "The weather is really cold; let's talk about it when we get back"

"Thank you for your great kindness and virtue!" The woman was overjoyed, getting up from the ground and walking towards Xue Chongxun. At this moment, Fang Yuzhong was extremely tense, his eyes fixed on her without blinking, while Xue Chongxun appeared calm and composed, sitting on his horse with an air of nonchalance. Concealing skill while revealing clumsiness was his consistent style; he seemed careless, but in reality, he was paying close attention to the woman's shoulders, prepared for any unexpected movements. Xue Chongxun was also someone who practiced martial arts regularly, and given the presence of numerous guards, it was unlikely that one person could pose a threat to him.

Amidst the laughter with the servants, Xue Chongxun's mood seemed to improve, as if the heavy burden pressing on his heart had lightened somewhat. Unexpectedly, at that moment, Fang Yuzhong suddenly shouted in a deep voice: "It's bright ahead!" The surrounding guards immediately placed their hands on their weapons and responded: "Beware of the water being deep!"

Xue Chongxun smiled and, patting the goldfish pouch at his waist, said: "Do you recognize this object? Within the territory of our Great Tang, how dare you take someone in front of an official? While I am still in a good mood, all of you get out!"

The thin man said: "Don't you really want to eat pig's head meat?" Pang Er, still not realizing he was being teased, replied earnestly: "I want to eat pig's head meat, but I don't want to eat the meat on my own forehead!"

At this moment, an old man said in a deep voice: "My good sir, if this matter does not concern you, I kindly ask you to facilitate our departure. The grievances between her and me should be resolved by ourselves"

Indeed, after the figure in black approached, he did not make any aggressive moves, but instead fell to his knees with a thud and said: "Benefactor, save my life, and I will serve you as a laborer for the rest of my days, obeying your every command!"

Therefore, seizing the power of the Taichang Temple is very beneficial for cultivating party members. How can such a department allow the prince's people to interfere?

Both Pang Er and Fang Yuzhong are hereditary slaves of the Xue family, characterized by their stout figures. Their catchphrase is "My wife says," and his wife, "Not a beauty like Xi Shi," was also favored by Xue Chongxun.

Suddenly, several people around couldn't help but burst into laughter. A thin man carrying a lantern said, "Fatty, why don't you take a knife and cut a piece of meat off your own forehead to satisfy your cravings?"

Unexpectedly, Xue Chongxun suddenly raised his whip, angrily pointing ahead and declaring: "Bold and audacious commoners, seize them for me! Those who dare to harm the life of an official will be severely investigated and punished without mercy, and the crime will lead to the execution of the entire household!"

The thin man laughed heartily and said, "I thought my eyes were deceiving me, believing they were the same thing."

However, since Xue Chongxun obtained the memories of his past life, many of his thoughts have unconsciously changed. At this moment, he felt that a girl around thirteen or fourteen years old, still of middle school age, was not quite suitable to serve a man. Therefore, he said: "Tell Bu Tuo Xishi, there is no need to send Pei Niang over; the matter we discussed before is hereby canceled."

In the silent night sky, a waft of braised meat aroma drifted in from an unknown direction. Pang Er, who was leading the horse ahead, suddenly inhaled deeply a few times, nearly drooling, and said in a tone almost filled with affection: "It is braised pig's head meat"

"My lord, this ancient temple alley is too dark and desolate, and it is not very peaceful at night. Should we take a detour?" A square-faced man among the attendants signaled the servant holding the horse to stop and reported to Xue Chongxun.

Thus, the team continued to move forward, and no one paid much attention. Lang Jun was right; anyone who dared to act against the Xue family in Chang'an must have some significant backing. The servant Pang Er, who was leading the horse, walked on without looking back and said in a relaxed tone: "Lang Jun, my wife said that Pei Niang is about the right age, and she will be sent to your room tonight."

His name is Fang Yuzhong. His family has been servants of the Hedong Xue family for generations. His peers and fellow servants refer to him as Old Fang. He usually does not speak much, but his skills are quite impressive, which is why Xue Chongxun has taken a liking to him and assigned him to security duties

The other party's people did not dare to act rashly, yet they did not leave either. The old man paused and then said: "This woman is a servant of my household who has run away. I kindly ask you, my lord, to consider this matter..." After saying this, he took out two gold ingots and added, "A small token of appreciation, not a formal gift."

Xue Chongxun's residence was located in Anyi Fang, adjacent to the eastern market. As he passed through the archway at the entrance of Anyi, the sky had completely darkened, with neither moon nor stars visible, and the chill was intense. He felt as if the bones in his legs had frozen stiff, and suddenly recalled the "Yin Yun Studio" that he had instructed the craftsmen to build based on his memories from a past life.

Pei Niang is the daughter of Xi Shi, brought over from her former husband's family. She is approximately thirteen or fourteen years old this year. Previously, she was intended to be a concubine for Xue Chongxun, and now that she has reached an appropriate age, Pang Er has brought up this matter.

Very well. Xue Chongxun nodded, pondered for a moment, and then said: "Come here, no one can harm you, but I will find out your background."

As Xue Erlang stated, the family banquet could not take place, and everyone could only return home.

Stop! At the sound of Fang Yuzhong's fierce shout, several guards had already raised their crossbows, aiming at the figure in black ahead.

One must not underestimate the opponent, not only the young crown prince but also the emperor. Li Dan, the current emperor, has managed to survive from the era of Wu Zetian to the present; the political landscape during this period has been tumultuous and perilous. He has served as emperor twice, which surely indicates that he possesses some intellect.

Today, upon encountering Yu Wenji, Xue Chongxun was reminded of something: it is necessary to bring down her fiancé, the Minor Official of the Taichang Temple, Feng Yuanjun