Misty Rain of the Old Times

Yinlong County is located in the northern part of Haozhou. It is neither in the hinterland nor on the border. It is on the left bank of the Qingping River. The county seat is about 30 or 40 miles away from the Qingping River. The martial arts tournament is held here.

This grand event is a united effort by the righteous martial arts factions to address the current chaotic situation within Haozhou and several surrounding prefectures. It is quite large in scale, making it a major event in the southern martial arts world of Jing Kingdom, second only to the national martial arts community.

One of their primary targets was the recently released "Broken Water Mad Blade," who boasted of uniting the many river bandits on the Qingping River to dominate the region. Naturally, the venue for the event wouldn't be too far from the Qingping River, making it a blatant challenge, which was provocative.

The Flying Feather Sect, the Tai Xuan Sect, and the Maple Leaf Manor will all send representatives to participate. These three forces are all well-known in the Jianghu of Jing Kingdom, and they belong to the southern Jianghu forces. Among them, the Flying Feather Sect and the Tai Xuan Sect are among the five major Jianghu forces in Jing Kingdom. The Tai Xuan Sect even has a Grandmaster-level expert. I wonder what 'Broken Water Mad Blade' will think when he finds out that he has been targeted by them.

Even if he has the right to be arrogant, isn't this going a bit too far?
Of course, this martial arts tournament isn't just targeting him, so the pressure is naturally much less. Besides, if he's not stupid, he'd know to unite with underworld forces to fight back. After all, the martial arts world is all about you cutting me and me cutting you.

Putting all that aside, Yinlong County is also a nice place. According to ancient legend, a dragon once hid here, hence the name. Later, it stirred up storms and went along the Qingping River to swim in the sea.

These mythical legends shouldn't be taken too seriously, but they're not impossible either. In fact, every country has at least eight or ten thousand places named after dragons.

Yinlong County is famous for three special products: Dragon Crystal Rice, Dragon Pattern Brocade, and Dragon Scale Ink. The annual output is not large, and most of them are presented to the capital as tribute.

Chen Xuan had eaten at Lao Deng's place a few times with Longjing Rice. It was truly delicious. The grains were round and translucent, like pale red jade. The cooked rice had a slightly reddish hue and was incredibly fragrant. Even a few grains mixed into ordinary rice when cooked together had excellent nourishing effects. The entire county produced no more than 10,000 jin (5,000 kg) of it each year. Ordinary people couldn't even smell it. The planting and harvesting were overseen by the government. However, although the production was less than 10,000 jin, tens of millions of jin circulated in the market every year. Anyone with a brain knows that most of it was fake. It's estimated that ordinary rice would come to Yinlong County, take a stroll, and then dare to call it Longjing Rice and sell it at a high price, since ordinary people had never seen it before.

Dragon-patterned brocade is a rare and highly sought-after item, with the saying that a foot of brocade is worth an ounce of gold. Many of the little princess's clothes are made of this fabric. When the old emperor was still the emperor, he could have as much as he wanted. Now, if he wants it, he has to find a way himself. But it's not difficult; it's just a matter of whether he wants it or not. Besides, there are other fabrics that are comparable or even better, such as ice silkworm silk, a 'priceless treasure' that only the Cold Mountain Sword Sect possesses. Chen Xuan's family still has several boxes of it. When they got married, the Cold Mountain Sword Sect probably emptied their coffers to give it as a wedding gift.

Dragon Scale Ink is a rare and valuable item. Chen Xuan is not involved in cultural circles and doesn't know much about it. Apparently, when he was the top student in the college entrance examination, Lao Deng rewarded him with a small piece, but he was reluctant to use it.

Furthermore, Yinlong County is one of the top counties in Jing Kingdom, with a total population of over three million. The permanent population of the county seat alone exceeds 500,000, which is several times more than Yang County under Chen Xuan's rule. This can be described as people making a living off the land and water. With those three special products, people have plenty of ways to make money and get rich, and the population has gradually increased.

After hearing the general information about Yinlong County that Xia Mei had arranged for someone to find out, the little princess exclaimed in surprise, "So the dragon-patterned brocade is produced here! I remember a few years ago, there was quite a stir in the palace because of a piece of dragon-patterned brocade. To put it bluntly, it was all about jealousy and rivalry. Father Emperor found it annoying and banished several concubines to the Cold Palace for a while."

As she spoke, she raised her arm to look at her sleeve, which happened to be a dress made of dragon-patterned brocade.

"Your father-in-law is getting on in years and people are still fighting over him? It's quite a hassle, and he hasn't even given you a few younger siblings," Chen Xuan said with a smile.

She lightly punched him, but the little princess protested, "Husband, you're not allowed to joke about Father Emperor. If he hears you, you'll definitely get a beating."

Right now, he's probably having a good time somewhere, so he doesn't have time to beat me up. That's what Chen Xuan thought, but he didn't intend to argue with his wife.

Making fun of the retired emperor is something only Chen Xuan would dare to do. Xia Mei pretended not to hear and looked ahead, saying, "Master, Madam, if we go upstream along that tributary to the left, we can reach Yinlong County directly. Shall we sail there?"

It was already late afternoon, but there was still time. Hearing this, Chen Xuan turned around and asked, "What do you think, my wife? We've been on the boat for a few days, why don't we go to the county for a change of scenery?"

"I'm fine with anything, you decide, my husband," she said indifferently. If they couldn't find a suitable place, they could just go back to the ship.

"That's settled then," Chen Xuan nodded and said, "Let's sail the boat there. I reckon there will be a lot of people in Yinlong County these days; we can go for a stroll and watch the excitement tonight."

However, things didn't go as planned. Just as their ship was about to enter the tributary, they discovered that due to the drought, the water level in the tributary had dropped and the ship could not pass through at all.

So Chen Xuan had no choice but to say, "Why don't we moor the boat at the shore and go straight there?"

"Aunt Mei heard that the martial arts tournament will be held the day after tomorrow. It's getting late today, so why don't we stay on the boat for the night, go there early tomorrow morning, explore the area, settle in, and then go directly to witness the martial arts tournament the day after tomorrow?" the little princess suggested after thinking for a moment.

Chen Xuan had no objections. He wasn't in a hurry anyway, and he wasn't really interested in martial arts tournaments. He was happy to accompany his wife if she wanted to see what it was like. So they anchored the ship and stayed overnight on the spot.

That tributary, being one of the waterways leading to Yinlong County, attracted many participants and onlookers due to the martial arts tournament. Many small boats also went there at night, but no one bothered Chen Xuan and his group, probably because they looked like they were not to be trifled with.

After a peaceful night, the next morning, when Chen Xuan was practicing his meditation and physical exercises on the deck, he saw the little princess getting up early and dressing in front of the mirror by the window. He couldn't help but smile and say, "It's still early, why don't you sleep a little longer, my lady?"

"We're going to Yinlong County later, so we need to prepare in advance to avoid wasting time," the little princess said with a smile. She was clearly quite interested in the martial arts tournament. Having grown up in the palace, she had never had the chance to witness such things and was very curious.

Let her be; as long as she's happy.

After the activities, Chen Xuan waited for breakfast to be served. When the little princess came downstairs, Chen Xuan was surprised and asked, "Wife, what's going on?"

She was dressed in men's clothing, her white clothes as white as snow. Her long hair was neatly combed and tied into a bun on top of her head, secured with a jade hairpin. She held a folding fan in her hand, and even had two fake mustaches above her lips. At first glance, she looked like a handsome young man, but even a blind man could tell that she was a woman disguised as a man.

Under Chen Xuan's amused gaze, she turned around gracefully with an air of nonchalance, then reached out and put her arms around Yun Lan and Yun Xin's waists on either side. The two of them, their cheeks flushed, leaned gently against the little princess's chest.

With her chin raised, the little princesses, flanked by her two arms, looked at Chen Xuan with a smug expression and said, "How about it, husband? Do you look the part?"

"My lady, what are you doing?" Chen Xuan asked, looking puzzled.

She feigned seriousness and said, "Who's your wife? I'm a man now, you should call me Young Master Zhou." Then, in a dramatic display, she kissed Yun Lan and Yun Xin on the cheeks, one on each side, before looking at Chen Xuan provocatively and saying, "They're mine now. Come on, you two little beauties, give me a smile."

"Young Master Zhou is so domineering, we love it!" The two sisters laughed and chatted as they cooperated with her performance.

Chen Xuan immediately covered his face and said, "Wife... oh no, Young Master Zhou, whatever makes you happy."

If this happened outside, people who didn't know better would think that the three of you stunning beauties were a bit frivolous.

"What's wrong? Does it mean you, Young Master Chen, are allowed to be surrounded by beauties, but I, this young master, am not allowed to have one on each side? Or are you reluctant to part with these two beauties, Young Master Chen? How about I give them to you?" the little princess said, raising an eyebrow, clearly enjoying her performance.

Amused, Chen Xuan joined in her teasing, waving his hand and saying seriously, "Young Master Zhou is very fortunate. A gentleman does not take what others love. I appreciate your kindness, but please do not hurt the beauty's heart." "Young Master Chen is of noble character and is not moved by beauty. I was being presumptuous. Please do not take it to heart," she said, releasing her hand and putting away her frivolous manner.

With a twitch at the corner of his mouth, Chen Xuan looked at the table full of food and asked, "Are you going to eat or not?"

"Eat up, come on, you two little beauties. If you serve me well, you'll get your share of the rewards," she said, pulling the Yunxin sisters toward the dining table and teasing them. Her hands were all over the place, and she seemed quite convincing.

Du Juan and the little maid looked at each other in disbelief, especially the little maid, who was completely dumbfounded, as if wondering if the lady had such a hobby.
They exchanged glances and then secretly looked at Chen Xuan, seemingly wondering whether they should also stick close to the master like Yun Xin and the others, but ultimately did not dare to bring it up.

During the meal, the little princess couldn't keep up the act anymore. After eating half full, she looked at Chen Xuan and asked, "Husband, no, Young Master Chen, why does everyone like to have three wives and four concubines, surrounded by beautiful women? It's all the same, isn't it?"

You're not a real man, how could you truly understand the joy in it? Without arguing with her about these things, Chen Xuan said speechlessly, "Why is my wife suddenly dressed like this?"

“Remember to call me Young Master Zhou from now on,” she corrected, then smiled and said, “We’re going to a martial arts tournament, so of course we should dress appropriately for the occasion. It’ll be more convenient when we’re out and about. Don’t you think it’s interesting, Young Master Chen?”

The invitations didn't include any martial arts tournament; they were just there to join in the fun. Besides, wouldn't that attract more attention? It would be more convenient, wouldn't it?

While thinking to himself, Chen Xuan said aloud, "Young Master Zhou is clearly an outstanding individual; he will surely shine at the martial arts tournament. I eagerly await his arrival."

"Hehe... Oh no, haha, thanks to Young Master Chen's auspicious words, let's see how I become famous throughout the world," the little princess said happily, unable to help but laugh as she spoke.

What was said in jest was taken seriously by the listener. If his wife really had this idea, Chen Xuan wouldn't mind helping her out. Looking at his wife's current attire, he blurted out, "Wife, could you dress like this tonight too?"

"Huh?" Upon hearing this, the little princess was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized what she meant, her pretty face flushed red, and she lowered her head and whispered, "Husband, are you crazy? How can you say such things so casually?"

The words were already out, and it was too late to take them back. Chen Xuan coughed to cover his embarrassment and said, "What are you afraid of? There are no outsiders here."

"Shut up, eat your food!" The little princess suddenly felt overwhelmed, her heart racing a little. She secretly thought that this outfit for tonight wasn't so bad after all...

After the meal, they took a small boat and traveled lightly up a tributary to Yinlong County. Apart from Yunlan, Yunxin, and Dujuan, who were their personal maids, Xia Mei and a boatman eunuch accompanied them. Everyone else stayed on the boat to wait.

Arriving at the nearest dock in Yinlong County, the already small place was filled with numerous small boats, making it impossible to squeeze in and dock. We could only disembark at the nearest dock.

The docks were bustling with people early in the morning. Most of them were martial arts practitioners carrying weapons, looking travel-worn and having come from who-knows-where. In this era, the phrase "travel and hardship" was not just a figure of speech.

This martial arts tournament seems to be quite a big event. Looking around, there are quite a few people with considerable cultivation. Chen Xuan even noticed the aura of a master of innate cultivation at the dock, but he didn't recognize him at all. This was still outside the city; there must be many more in the city.

Chen Xuan and his group were already outstanding, like beacons of light in the darkness wherever they went. In particular, the little princess's disguise as a man was so obvious that it attracted a lot of attention. Fortunately, no one had bothered them for the time being.

Heading towards the county town, the little princess looked around curiously and said, "Wow, so many people! Is this the grand gathering of the martial arts world? Many of them look quite impressive, but some of them seem rather difficult to get along with. They're different from the martial arts people I've seen in the capital. How should I put it? I don't know if I'm right, but they all seem quite down on their luck. Their clothes are tattered and worn, and they can't bear to replace their worn-out shoes."

She had hardly ever traveled among the common people and was curious about everything. Chen Xuan explained, "Young Master Zhou, there's no need to be surprised. It's just the way things are. What kind of place is the capital? It's right under the emperor's nose, a place of abundant resources and treasures, a place everyone yearns for. Naturally, there are many glamorous people there. If they have the means, they'll dress themselves up to look presentable. But the real Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world) is about braving the wind and rain, sleeping in the open, so naturally, people are often covered in dust and look quite down on their luck. Most are just trying to make a living; those dressed in fine clothes and riding spirited horses are ultimately a minority."

"Oh, is that so? Then wouldn't we look out of place like this?" the little princess asked, seemingly understanding but not quite.

With a smile, Chen Xuan said, "You just realized? But then again, we're not exactly江湖人 (jianghu people, meaning people from the martial arts world)."

"That makes sense."

Their conversation was not kept secret from others; it was a normal exchange. However, under Chen Xuan's control, outsiders could not hear it. Otherwise, if such words were overheard, it could easily cause unnecessary conflict.

Being a wanderer is already tough enough, so don't make things difficult for others. Instead, people are making sarcastic remarks. Those with bad tempers might just punch them.

A long queue had already formed outside the city gate. Seeing this, the little princess shaded her eyes with her hand and said, "When will it be our turn?"

Walking directly from the side of the queue to the city gate, Chen Xuan smiled and said, "We don't need to queue, we'll use the VIP channel."

"What is a micro-splitting channel?" the little princess asked curiously, as this was the first time she had ever heard of it.

"That's where privileged people go."

"Young Master Chen, you should have said that earlier. Why did you have to say things I don't understand? Oh, right, I remember that Young Master Chen has a degree in the imperial examinations, so naturally you don't need to wait in line," the little princess said, both amused and exasperated.

Chen Xuan was immediately embarrassed, because his mere title of Tongsheng (a student who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations) was really nothing to brag about, let alone any special privileges he might receive. But he said confidently, "It doesn't matter if we don't have special privileges, as long as we have money..."

Before he could finish speaking, he heard a muffled thud from the side. Turning his head slightly, he saw Du Juan pressing down on her skirt and retracting her kicking leg. Someone he had kicked had rolled several feet away, bleeding from the head, and was unable to get up for a while.

Facing Chen Xuan's gaze, Du Juan quickly explained, "Master, that guy is dishonest; he was trying to sneak up on us and steal our money."

"Oh, it's nothing. If something like this happens again, I'll just have to break my hands," Chen Xuan said nonchalantly. Anyone who dares to reach out should be prepared to be interrupted. They won't be grateful if you let them go.

No sooner had he finished speaking than the little maidservant eagerly said, "Master, it seems we're surrounded. They're clearly all in cahoots."

...(End of chapter)