Chang’an Small Restaurant Chapter 101
This chappy was on the shorter side, so it won’t be split!
Translated by Pure
Chapter 101 Prince of Zhao's Fourthborn
In a Taoist temple nestled in a quiet lane beside Chang'an's East Market, a wandering Taoist devotee jingled his bell as he entered through the side door, his wares of medicine in tow. Two worshippers, just stepping out of the main hall, approached him with curiosity.
The old Taoist, his eyes calm and knowing, greeted them with a respectful bow.
"Taoist," one of the pilgrims inquired, "do you merely sell medicine, or do you also treat ailments? And what of malevolent spirits—can you handle them as well?"
Before the old Taoist could offer a word, the worshipper rambled on, detailing his mother's unease since the Lantern Festival. She had been plagued by night sweats and, convinced it was caused by some malevolent influence, sought a remedy.
The old Taoist, with a calm nod, advised him, "Hang a peach wood sword inside the canopy of her bed. It will ward off such disturbances."
But the worshipper was far from satisfied with such simplicity. He peppered the Taoist with a stream of questions—about the size and length of the sword, the age of the peach wood, and whether it ought to be hung horizontally or vertically within the bed's canopy.
The old Taoist, with quiet patience, answered each of the worshipper’s many questions, one by one. His demeanor never wavered, even as the inquiries grew more specific and tedious.
Meanwhile, the Suzhou scholar, Sir Ji, passed by them with a smile and went directly to the lateral court.
Not long after, the old Taoist concluded his conversation and followed suit, stepping into the lateral court as well.
Unlike the serene front courtyard of the temple, the lateral court was a stark contrast—charged with an air of intensity. Several robust "Taoist priests" stood vigilant at the entrance and inside, their expressions firm and focused. As the old Taoist entered, they all greeted him with respectful salutes, acknowledging his presence with deference.
As the old Taoist approached the door of the building, a rather striking young servant greeted him by lifting the curtain, allowing him to enter.
Inside, Sir Ji reclined comfortably in a chair, leisurely sipping a warm cup of ginger-curdled-milk, its sweetness lingering in the air. His posture was casual, but his words carried a touch of cynicism as he glanced up at the old Taoist. "I’m quite curious—are you, Duke Qiao, truly capable of exorcising spirits and warding off evil?"
The old Taoist, who had displayed nothing but kindness and geniality in the public eye, now leveled a grave and unflinching gaze at the scholar. The weight of his presence seemed to fill the room. "Have you been to that Shen Indelible Tavern again today, Sir Four?"
"Yes," Sir Ji replied nonchalantly.
The old Taoist exhaled slowly, his voice taking on a tone of solemn advice. "Sir Four, the Vassal King has entrusted you with a significant role—to act as a leader and oversee the broader operations. Your position carries great weight. It would be wise to steer clear of places where good people mingle with unsavory sorts."
Li Yù, better known as Sir Ji, smiled faintly, his words tinged with amusement. "Act as a leader and be responsible for the overall work... And here I thought Duke Qiao might only regard me as a mere decoration."
Qiao Hai’s expression darkened, his frown deepening as he addressed Li Yù. "Sir! If I were disloyal to the Vassal King, may Heaven strike me down!"
Li Yù chuckled softly, waving off the tension. "I was only jesting, Duke Qiao. There’s no need to take offense. You know full well—I am still young and lack experience."
The phrase ‘young and inexperienced’ was initially used by Qiao Hai to describe Li Yù. When the Prince of Zhao sought Qiao Hai and the rest of his aids and advisors’ assessment on his four sons, Qiao Hai assessed them as follows: the eldest, being both legitimate and capable, was fit for great responsibilities; the second was brave and the third honest, both suitable for assisting a ruler in governing a country; but as for the Prince of Zhao’s favored concubine's son, the fourth, Qiao Hai only smiled and said, "Fourth Prince is still young and inexperienced; we shall see how he fares in the future." But now…
Looking at the frivolous youth before him, Qiao Hai suddenly felt a pang of sympathy, reminiscent of Zhuge Zhongwu’s sentiments[1]. He recalled what the Prince of Zhao had said before coming to the capital and decided to let it go, seeing it all as a way to repay the King’s favor.
Qiao Hai’s expression softened. "Though you are young, Sir Four, you are of noble lineage, and destined to soar high and achieve greatness."
Li Yù smiled with satisfaction, taking a sip from his cup. "Duke Qiao, how did your meeting with Wang Bosheng fare?"
"The situation is unfavorable. The Emperor had originally intended to send someone to Shen Indelible Tavern to purchase their hot pot broth, but it was thwarted by Qin Xiang’s people."
"General Wu Jiu of the Auxiliary Army once mentioned that the Imperial Army previously attempted to purchase smoke plum beverages from Shen Indelible Tavern. Shen Indelible refused, citing the importance of their duty to safeguard the Emperor, along with the strict regulations surrounding procurement. If they are so cautious about selling something as simple as plums, it's doubtful the tavern would be willing to part with their hot pot broth for the palace."
Li Yù frowned, wondering why that miss was so cautious.
"The Emperor, upon hearing this, spoke favorably of Shen Indelible Tavern. Wu Jiu added that Shen Indelible later sold the recipe for the smoke plum beverage to the Imperial Army and suggested that they might as well buy the hot pot broth recipe too."
Li Yù inquired further, "Did the Emperor order them to make the purchase?"
Qiao Hai shook his head. "The Emperor said, ‘It’s their livelihood, so it’s best to let it be.’"
Li Yù exhaled softly, his relief evident upon learning that His Majesty had not acquired the recipe. He leaned back in his chair, musing, ‘So, His Majesty never bought the recipe... I suspect the so-called 'caution' that the miss is showing is nothing more than a clever merchant's ploy.’ The recipe must come at a high price, or perhaps it's her way of currying favor with the Imperial Guards. That miss of Shen Indelible Tavern certainly knows how to play her cards wisely...
Qiao Hai continued to remark, "It seems that meddling with the broth will be a challenging task." The palace kitchen has its own rules, and tampering with food is indeed difficult. However, items permitted by the emperor from outside the palace are much simpler. The imperial guard, Wang Bosheng, agreed to lend a hand; in the days of the late emperor, he wielded great influence, but now he is weighed down and unable to lift his head under Qin Xiang's pressure.
Li Yù chuckled. "You complained that I shouldn’t have gone to Shen Indelible Tavern, but now it seems my visit was quite timely."
Qiao Hai raised an eyebrow at him.
"Shen Indelible plans to host an ‘Attaining Ding Banquet’ for this year’s candidates before the Ministry of Rites exam. Given my patrilineal cousin’s nature, how could he not be eager to attend such a gathering of talented scholars? In these peaceful times, with the flourishing of both civil and martial achievements… Haha!" Li Yù laughed derisively.
Qiao Hai had also received information about the Attaining Ding Banquet, but the idea of assassinating the Emperor outside the palace... It was easy to imagine the carnage that would engulf the capital city at that time.
Qiao Hai has consistently favored a more "gentle" approach, eschewing the cries for violence—poisoning is already a measure of last resort. During the reign of the late emperor, he employed longevity to unsettle the mind, utilized elixirs to alter the temperament, and wielded prophecies to sway the heart. This subtle manipulation, standing behind the emperor to orchestrate affairs, was the domain in which he and his senior brother Dao Xuan, also known as the ‘Illustrious Sage of Great Virtue and Clear Guidance,’ found both preference and proficiency.
Li Yù clearly belongs to the faction that delights in vengeance and favor. "If we lure the emperor to the Shen Indelible Tavern and eliminate him here, how swift and decisive that would be! Waiting for the imperial guard, Wang Bosheng, and those old acquaintances of yours, as well as for the numerous courtiers who accept our annual gifts yet never take action—I fear that as we wait, the emperor will only solidify his hold on the dragon throne, siring numerous offspring, while my father continues to age and weaken…" For once, Li Yù exhibited a glimmer of earnestness. "The throne rightfully belongs to my father!"
In the past, Prince of Zhao's father was the legitimate descendant but was too young at the time. The current Emperor's paternal grandfather, being the elder brother, and due to the belief of "Nation Thrives Under the Competent[2]", eventually ascended to the throne, becoming the current Emperor’s ancestor.
It was said that this elder brother and younger sibling shared a harmonious relationship, which in turn benefited the current Prince of Zhao—stationed in the north for over twenty years, while the other Vessel Kings remained confined in the capital.
Li Yù, however, was disinterested in such historical details. The legitimacy of Prince of Zhao's claim was irrelevant; many accomplished heroes in history were not initially in line. Once achievements were made, historians would address the rest.
"I shall personally visit the Shen Indelible Tavern once more before making a final decision." Qiao Hai, after all, felt some stirrings of interest.
He had previously disguised himself as a down-and-out scholar and visited Shen Indelible Tavern twice. The slow-acting poison would be administered during transport and had little to do with Shen Indelible. His visits were due to caution and also because Zheng Two and his associates had previously fallen victim at Shen Indelible in Chongxian Lane.
"Sir Four, when you visit Shen Indelible, take care not to reveal your true identity," Qiao Hai remarked, steering the conversation back to its original focus. His gaze swept critically over Li Yù's extravagant attire, a subtle frown forming. "You must be cautious with both your words and your actions. Remember, you're posing as the son of a poor and humble family."
Li Yù remained unfazed. "It’s just a set of robes made of brocade from Sichuan, the attire provided should be something worn by a second-rate servant. If I keep wearing such tatters, how can I make an impression on that miss?"
Qiao Hai was left for words. If there was one advantage to Sir Four, it was his appearance—he had been involved with many women in the northern capital[3].
Yet Qiao Hai continued to advise him, "Sir Four, don’t be careless. Have you forgotten about Zheng Two and his associates? They initially intended to kidnap Miss Shen to coerce the Deputy Magistrate, but they ended in failure."
"I inquired thoroughly; they merely lost due to the overwhelming amount of people in the government repository. As for the Deputy Magistrate—" Li Yù pursed his lips, "he does possess a modicum of skill. Regarding the miss from the Shen Indelible Tavern that you mentioned, I've had dealings with her twice. She's just a woman with a bit of commercial savvy, nothing more."
Li Yù smiled at Qiao Hai. "Do you really think Shen Indelible is a den of crouching tigers or hidden dragons, and that miss must be a savvy and experienced figure in the judiciary, with an astute eye?"
Qiao Hai, reflecting on the delicate and charming appearance of the proprietress, chose not to argue further.
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Footnotes:
[1] Zhuge Zhongwu’s sentiments - referring to Zhuge Liang's disappointment with Liu Bei's son, Liu Shan—stemmed primarily from his perception of Liu Shan's lack of leadership and competence. After Liu Bei's death, Zhuge Liang assumed the role of guardian and strategist for the Shu Han state, hoping that Liu Shan would inherit his father's resolve and wisdom. However, Liu Shan's passive demeanor and tendency to rely on others for decision-making led Zhuge Liang to fear that he might not effectively govern or defend the state, particularly against powerful rivals like Wei. The reason why Duke Qiao refers to Zhuge Liang as Zhuge Zhongwu is because Liu Shan later issued an imperial edict to mourn and honor Zhuge Liang, bestowing upon him the posthumous title "Marquis Zhongwu."
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhuge_Liang
[2] Nation Thrives Under the Competent (国赖长君) - According to the ancient Chinese system of imperial succession, the principle of designating the eldest legitimate son was typically upheld. However, during the Qing Dynasty, established by a minority ethnic group, the method of succession shifted to favoring merit. This allowed for the possibility that any number of princes could inherit the throne, thus broadening the scope of potential successors and emphasizing the importance of capability over mere birthright.
[3] Northern Capital (北都) - In 618, Li Yuan founded Tang dynasty, which is generally considered a golden age of Chinese civilization. Taiyuan expanded significantly during the Tang dynasty, partly because Taiyuan was the military base of the founding emperors Li Yuan and Li Shimin. In 690, Empress of China, Wu Zetian set Taiyuan as the Northern Capital, one of the three capitals, along with Chang'an and Luoyang, as depicted in the poem by Li Bai: "The king of the heaven has three capitals, the Northern capital is one of them." ("天王三京，北都居一"). In 742 AD, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang changed its name further to Beijing.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiyuan#:~:text=and%20expanded%20quickly.-,Tang%20dynasty,-%5Bedit%5D