Chapter 3: Baishanfang

Hangzhou can be considered a major metropolis within the territory of the Great Chu Kingdom, bustling with activity, and it serves as an economic and cultural center in the Jiangnan region

Xue Poyue bowed and said, "I beg your pardon for my rudeness; there are some trivial matters at home that require my attention, so I must take my leave now"

When Mr. Tan's shoulder was treated, the constables had already rushed over. The captain, upon seeing the body of the beautiful woman on the ground, was utterly shocked and exclaimed, "Brothers, someone has been killed!" He was the first to draw his sword, and behind him, seven or eight constables also drew their weapons, surrounding Mr. Tan in the center

He has been in this world for more than half a year, and he knows that Wang Guozhen is the title of the Prefect of Hangzhou, a fourth-rank official. This Mr. Tan directly calls him by name; if he is not being audacious, then his official rank must be higher than that of Wang Guozhen

Xue Poyue sighed, "I am but a petty person trying to make a living, and I do not dare to disturb you, esteemed one. I take my leave, I take my leave!" He shouldered the cloth bag beside him, picked up the tattered divination banner from the ground, and was about to depart

Xue Poyue said calmly: "If I have the time, I will certainly pay a visit to the old... heh heh, Lord Tan...!" With a wave of his hand, he walked away very gracefully.

... ...

Seeing this, Mr. Tan chuckled and said, "It seems that the young brother is about to leave!"

Xue Poya felt a jolt in his heart: "Is this old man an official?"

As the yamen runners departed, the head constable, accompanied by the remaining two yamen runners, stood by in a state of trepidation

The group of constables behind him, upon witnessing this, all knelt down in unison, repeatedly exclaiming, "Damn it!" The tourists in the distance, upon seeing the strange occurrences here, were both astonished and curious.

"Little brother, there is no need to be afraid; these two are the demons of the Qinglian Zhaos!" Mr. Tan looked at Xue Poyue with appreciation, his face beaming with a smile as he said, "Thank you for your righteous intervention just now!" This naturally referred to Xue Poyue smashing the inkstone to delay the handsome man's assault.

Mr. Tan carefully scrutinized Xue Poyue and said with a smile, "In the face of such a calamity, you remain remarkably calm; indeed, you possess a good state of mind"

Xue Poya touched his sharp nose and said leisurely: "May I live this life in peace and safety"

The slum is filled with small, dirty, and chaotic houses, some of which are even at risk of collapsing. Yet, people still reside within them, with nearly every house fully occupied. Compared to the affluent area in the east of the city, this place is akin to hell

The constable beside them was sweating profusely, thinking that this fortune-teller was truly remarkable, daring to speak to the official in such a manner, and surprisingly, the official did not even get angry; it was unclear what their relationship was.

The pungent, decaying odor penetrated Xue Poyue's nostrils. Although he had been living here for several months, he still could not adapt to this unpleasant smell

The captor, seeing that these individuals did not regard him at all, was extremely enraged and shouted: "Did you not hear my question? Bind them all and take them to the yamen for further discussion"

"I wouldn't dare!" Xue Poyue took a deep breath and smiled faintly, "So it turns out the old gentleman is a high-ranking official of the court, my apologies for the rudeness!" Without saying much more, he began to tidy up the items, preparing to leave, as he felt he could not afford to get involved in government matters at the moment

Mr. Tan is quite eccentric, and it is unclear what his official position is

The constables under him were about to take action, and Mr. Tan coldly laughed, saying: "I was just about to go to the yamen to inquire how Wang Guozhen is handling his duties. In broad daylight, by the West Lake, someone actually dares to attempt to assassinate this official. I must ask what these patrolling officers are doing!" His voice was not loud, but the words he spoke carried a unique authority.

However, Xue Poyue usually listened to stories in the teahouse, only to find that the times had changed, and there was no such thing as the "Chenqiao Coup." The Later Zhou dynasty also passed smoothly through several generations, until the northern marquises rose in rebellion, captured the capital, and established the Great Chu Kingdom

Although he had a strong attachment to his parents and siblings in another world, the intense sense of integration into this era allowed Xue Poyue to quickly adapt to it

A crisp and delicate voice came from inside the room, exclaiming: "Brother Po Ye has returned!"

Qinglian Zhao, Xue Poyue had also vaguely heard of it. In his understanding, it refers to a grassroots underground organization that seems to be quite dissatisfied with the court, often engaging in acts of robbing the rich to help the poor and resisting the authorities. It is said that in some areas, many officials have been killed, making it a thorn in the side of the court and a target for suppression.

Oh! Mr. Tan laughed and said, "It seems that the young brother has already calculated his own path." After a pause, he sighed, "To live a peaceful and safe life, to enjoy this life, although it is said this way, it is truly not easy to achieve such a thing."

Xue Poya said lightly, "When we read fortunes, we emphasize a calm mind and a peaceful demeanor. The affairs of the world are unpredictable; it is best to maintain an ordinary heart." He spoke these words with composure, yet his heart raced anxiously, wondering if the old man would drag him back to the yamen as well

The constable hurriedly got up and shouted, "Why aren't you apprehending them yet!" The officers rushed forward, awkwardly lifting the corpse and the handsome man as they left. Mr. Tan, wary of someone trying to snatch them along the way, signaled for two attendants to follow.

In a single sentence, Xue Poyue arrived in a historical dynasty he had never heard of, embarking on a new journey of life

A follower stepped forward and struck several acupoints on the handsome man, causing him to immediately lose consciousness.

During the era of Xue Poyue, Zhao Kuangyin staged the "Chenqiao Coup," donned the yellow robe, forced Emperor Gong of the Later Zhou to abdicate, and established the Zhao Song Dynasty

Seeing the three attendants still surrounding the severely injured young man, who was already on the brink of death, the captain, with a grim expression, said: "Where are you rebels from? How dare you harm lives in broad daylight? Is there no law left?"

Mr. Tan did not speak, while his attendant had already taken out a silver badge from his pocket, displaying it before the captain. Xue Poyue was too far away to see what was written on the badge, but he noticed the captain's face turn pale as he glanced at it, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and he hurriedly knelt down, saying: "I did not know that you were here, my lord. I deserve to die a thousand deaths, I deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

Xue Poya arrived in this world half a year ago, astonished by the wonders of the world and the twists of fate. Although time travel has become prevalent in society, Xue Poya always thought it was merely a story found in books, a form of artistic embellishment. It was only when this event occurred to him that he truly marveled at the wonders of the world

Mr. Tan stroked his beard and laughed, saying: "What a calm mind! Young brother, you spend your days divining fortunes; have you ever considered your own future?"

The Great Chu Kingdom has now lasted for over 100 years, which can be considered a time of national prosperity and peace.

After turning several corners in the narrow gaps, I finally arrived in front of a small house, and Xue Poyue called out loudly: "I am back!"

Mr. Tan watched the receding figure of Xue Poyue, and a hint of a meaningful smile unexpectedly appeared at the corner of his mouth

It is said that some individuals in Qinglian are adept at using sorcery to deceive the populace, and the authorities refer to them as "sorcerers," who are to be executed without fail

Xue Poya felt his heart racing, and this was not due to being timid or fearful. To be honest, Xue Poya considered himself to be a person of great courage. However, the series of unexpected events had left him somewhat unsettled.

... ...

Xue Poye wearily passed through the archway and entered the slum; it is quite simple, Xue Poye still resides in this place now

The attendant who was about to lose his temper while tending to Mr. Tan's wound was stopped by Mr. Tan, who coldly gazed at everyone.

The constable, sensing something in Mr. Tan's tone, cautiously asked: "Who are you?"

Indeed! Mr. Tan suddenly said: "Young brother, if there is anything, you can find me at the Hangzhou government office. I am afraid I will have to stay at hetushu.com for a while"

Mr. Tan paid no attention at all and casually remarked: "I have pressed his acupoint; just make sure he doesn't take his own life."

The silk from Hangzhou, the Qingxi dragon inkstone, the West Lake silk umbrella, the Shaozhiyan brush, Fuyang paper, and the Wangxingji fan are all renowned throughout the world and are considered exceptional treasures

Mr. Tan said in a deep voice, "Wait a moment!" The sound was extraordinarily rich, causing Xue Poyue to involuntarily halt his steps. Although his heart raced a bit, his expression remained calm as usual. He turned around and said calmly, "Sir Tan, do you have something to discuss?"

Although the city is bustling with prosperity, with a constant flow of traffic and a scene of flourishing times, there exists a slum in the west of the city where countless poor people have gathered

Upon seeing the officials arrive, Xue Poyue was unwilling to get involved and turned his head away

The smooth bluestone pavement, stained with bright red blood, presents a peculiar hue

Xue Poya confirmed that Mr. Tan and his associates could not see him, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Damn it, today almost turned into a major incident. He never expected to intervene on behalf of a high-ranking official to deal with someone from the Qinglian Zhao. It is uncertain whether this was good luck or bad luck.

Mr. Tan stroked his beard and said, "Young brother, are you even giving up the tables and chairs?"

Before entering the slum, one must pass through an archway. The archway stands tall, with the three characters "Bai Shan Fang" inscribed on it, which can also be considered the name of the slum

Xue Poya shook his head and said: "No more, no more!" It is better to leave this place of disputes as soon as possible

Mr. Tan let out a cold snort and said lightly: "These two are the demons of Qinglian Zhao, take them back to the yamen and lock them up!"