Chapter 1, Wangjiang Tower

This is not the guard of an ordinary household, the shopkeeper made this judgment at the first moment. He immediately retracted his earlier intention to scold these servants and respectfully asked one of the guards: "The arrival of esteemed guests has brought great honor to our humble establishment; may I inquire who is in charge?"

Before long, the renowned delicacies from Wangjiang Tower, including silverfish soup and other assorted snacks, were served. At the deliberate urging of the proprietor, this spread was likely the most meticulously crafted work of the head chef this year. The young lady sampled the dishes and was evidently very pleased with the offerings, even serving a few pieces of pastry to Steward Liu. This young lady appeared gentle and natural, seemingly relishing the carefree experience of enjoying the scenery, sipping tea, and indulging in exquisite cuisine. In contrast, Steward Liu seemed somewhat apprehensive about the attentive hospitality from his young mistress.

The maid named Si Si drew back the curtain, and a guard pressed down on the yoke with one hand, preventing the carriage from moving at all. Subsequently, the much-anticipated young lady finally appeared. She appeared to be only around twelve or thirteen years old, dressed in a light moon-white silk shirt, which gave off no sense of opulence at all, appearing even more simple compared to her two maids dressed in pale yellow attire. However, her face bore a faint smile, evoking a feeling akin to a spring breeze. Although her complexion was pale, and her movements displayed a hint of frailty, she seemed to possess an aura that was beyond reproach. Compared to her two maids dressed in pale yellow attire, she appeared even more simple. Yet, her face bore a faint smile, evoking a feeling akin to a spring breeze. Although her complexion was pale, and her movements displayed a hint of frailty, she seemed to possess an aura that was beyond reproach. This young lady indeed seemed a bit too delicate. It was now the transition between spring and summer, and the weather had already become somewhat warm, yet this young lady's complexion remained so pale that it evoked a sense of heartache.

Manager Liu slightly bowed, and although his face was filled with a loving expression, he did not dare to diminish the respect in his tone: "Yes." Manager Liu replied, and after the young lady sat down, he sat at an angle beside her, arranged the tea set, and poured out a pot of fragrant, high-quality tea.

Despite being well-informed and experienced, the shopkeeper could not discern the origins of this group of individuals. The merchants in Yicheng come and go throughout the year without interruption, yet none possess such an imposing presence. However, these individuals do not appear to be from a noble family; even an ordinary noble family would likely not afford such agile and capable bodyguards. When it comes to their skills, they could only be compared to some members of the martial world, yet those from the martial world lack the military-like discipline exhibited by this group. The shopkeeper approached cautiously, trembling with apprehension, and respectfully said, "Esteemed guest, is there any way in which this old man can be of service to you?"

The shopkeeper closely followed Manager Liu's footsteps upstairs, only to be greatly astonished. The second floor, originally a lavishly decorated private room, now had the best view corner occupied by this group of people, who had even moved a screen to enclose the area. Two guards sat at a table outside the screen; although they appeared very interested in the food on the table, their hands remained firmly on the hilts of their knives. The enclosed area had been wiped down with boiling water, and the table and chairs were dried. A tea stove was lit in the center of the table, and a pot of water was about to boil vigorously over the few charcoal pieces. The table was set with only a pair of chopsticks and bowls, which, judging by their color, were surprisingly from the now exorbitantly priced Ningcheng Yun kiln. In one corner of the long table, a burner was lit, emitting a fragrance that was clearly the cold-tan incense used by wealthy families to ward off insects and cool off during the transition from spring to summer. Even though the shopkeeper had seen much in his time, he had never encountered such a meticulous household.

Yicheng is located near the seaside, at the estuary of the Luojiang River. The Luojiang Delta divides the Luojiang into several tributaries that flow into the sea from various directions, with Yicheng situated on the southern bank of the main Luojiang estuary. It guards the Luojiang, which serves as the transportation hub of the Eastern Ping Kingdom's waterways, overlooking the Zhuhai Bay and the even broader maritime territory beyond.

The shopkeeper responded promptly, immediately sending the waiter to the kitchen to give instructions. The status of this group of distinguished guests is likely beyond what he could have imagined.

From the vantage point of Wangjiang Tower, the expansive waters of Luo River come into full view

As soon as the young lady appeared, the guards who had already taken their seats at the bottom stood up in unison, slightly bowing their heads. It was only after the young lady ascended the stairs with the assistance of two maids that they each resumed their seats and began to enjoy the fine beef and light rice wine piled on the table.

The middle-aged man's tone was quite humble as he placed a gold ingot in the shopkeeper's hand, saying: "We have just arrived in Yicheng and have heard that Wangjiang Tower has a pleasant view and delicious dishes. My young lady would like to sit here for a while. Could you please prepare some exquisite snacks and, if possible, some unique soups?"

A middle-aged man dressed in a black coarse cloth long gown called out to the guards: "Xiao Lü, take the horses to the side alley and keep an eye on them. Tan Wu, you take two people upstairs and make sure Si Si and Xiao Cui get off the carriage quickly; they shouldn't linger in the carriage. Wipe down the tables and chairs properly. ... Xiao Xu, you see to it that the brothers have their meal and the books are taken care of, following the old rules." With each command he issued, a guard would bow in response and then methodically go about organizing the tasks. Remarkably, none of the more than ten guards uttered a single unnecessary word.

The middle-aged man, referred to as Manager Liu, quickly nodded and said, "I will go now." It seemed as if making the young lady of their family wait was a grave sin.

Looking at the single set of chopsticks and bowl on the table, the young lady smiled slightly and said to Manager Liu, "Uncle Liu, let's sit down together and have something to eat, and I still need you to brew some tea for me."

A line of carriages and horses came to a steady stop in front of Wangjiang Tower. The innkeeper was about to call out to the group to move their horses and carriages aside, so as not to block the entrance, when he was taken aback by their attire. The six fine steeds at the forefront were of superior breed, seemingly better than those used by the elite cavalry stationed in Yicheng. The leather saddles were adorned with brass fittings, and not only did they carry long-handled sabers, but they also had exquisite carved wooden lacquer bows and leather quivers. These burly men also wore another knife at their waists; judging by the thickness of the scabbard, it was likely a heavy machete, which ordinary soldiers would struggle to wield without years of training. Yet these men appeared completely at ease and comfortable.

The shopkeeper still had to attend to other guests. Seeing that the young lady and Manager Liu were quite content in their own company, he took his leave, instructing the young waiter attending to the guests in the elegant second-floor seating area to pay a little more attention to them. This was not solely due to the ingot of gold previously pressed into his hand, but also because the opulence and grace of this group, combined with their utter lack of arrogance, were truly impressive.

Manager Liu took a stroll. It is now afternoon, the time when there are fewer people in Wangjiang Tower. Those remaining in the elegant room on the second floor, apart from those who are having a late lunch, are mostly literati enjoying the scenery and drinking, or disheartened individuals seeking solace in the view. Manager Liu glanced around, slightly furrowing his brow, and then said to the two rather haughty maids, "Please invite the young lady up." He then immediately instructed the shopkeeper, saying, "Please have your head chef prepare a meal. My young lady prefers light flavors, so please pay special attention to this."

The shopkeeper repeatedly assured, "That is only right; I will have the master chef personally prepare it. Our shop's silverfish soup is unique in the entire Yicheng and will certainly not disappoint your esteemed young lady"

Just now, two graceful maids came down the stairs with the guards, curtsying to the middle-aged man, and said: "Chief Liu, everything is ready upstairs. Would you like to go take a look? The young lady has been feeling bored in the car."