Ordinary people can also be extraordinary

Zhang Chen and Sima Feng were walking on the streets of the capital. They didn't know that the relaxation of martial law in the capital was not because it affected the lives of the people in the city, but because the Qingyu Sect sent four foundation-building disciples to the capital.

Since Xiao Yi returned to the sect, he has been investigating Zhang Chen's situation and found that according to the sect's records, Zhang Chen had defected from Black Stone City more than a year ago, and Sima Feng also died there.

This made him suspicious. According to Wang Cheng's description, the two men were comparable to Zhang Chen and Sima Feng, especially one of them who shot Wang Cheng with an arrow. This couldn't be such a coincidence.

So he reported the matter to the sect, and they sent four Foundation Establishment disciples to the capital to investigate. He also returned to the capital and learned about what happened in Sanchuan City. This made him completely furious, and he vowed not to return to the sect until he caught the two people.

At this time, Zhang Chen and Sima Feng were strolling on the street, feeling the prosperity of the capital and hearing a lot of information. It turned out that the reason why the capital was so lively was not because martial law had just been lifted, but because in a few days it would be time for the emperor to choose a concubine.

This is a grand event held every two years. There is no threshold restriction for the emperor to select a concubine. As long as one is of appropriate age and has above average looks, one can participate in the selection.

Once selected, the royal family will give generous rewards, and the poor people will basically have no worries about their lives, so there will always be a large number of civilians participating in the selection. According to past experience, it is said that very few will be selected, but those who are not selected can still stay and become palace maids, and they will also receive a generous monthly allowance, which is enough to support the family.

Therefore, many young women flocked into the capital, and these things were discussed everywhere. They all hoped that their daughters could become successful and become beautiful women. At worst, they could enter the palace as maids, which was also a good way out.

"Choosing concubines every two years? How many concubines does an emperor who has been in power for decades have?"

Sima Feng looked at Zhang Chen and asked doubtfully.

"Who knows? I heard from the village teacher that the emperor has three thousand beauties in his harem. It seems to be true."

Zhang Chen curled his lips, not knowing whether it was possible or not.

"Thousands? Does he need so many concubines? Being an emperor with such great greed, no wonder there are so many corrupt officials under him."

Sima Feng said with disdain.

Sima Feng's words gave Zhang Chen a start. He seemed to have thought of something and muttered to himself:

"That's not the case, is it?"

"what are you saying?"

Sima Feng looked at Zhang Chen in surprise.

"No no."

Zhang Chen replied, and in his mind he recalled what the casual cultivator he had killed when he took his fellow disciples to the trial a few years ago said. He said that every emperor of the Qing royal family was practicing some kind of martial arts. Zhang Chen was skeptical.

"Where are we going now?"

Sima Feng said to Zhang Chen as they walked.

"I have already inquired about it. There is a tavern in the city center called Dong Xiang Chun. It has all the information. We can find out what we want to know by asking there."

Zhang Chen walked towards the city center with a confident look on his face.

"Then find out who are the criminals in the city, and then we will catch them all in one fell swoop."

Sima Feng said with a cold expression.

"No, we can only get information this time. We can't do anything else. And we have to be extremely careful and not attract attention."

When Zhang Chen heard Sima Feng's words, he immediately stopped and spoke to him seriously.

"What? An ambush?"

Seeing Zhang Chen so serious, Sima Feng remembered what happened last time.

"This is the capital city, a place that has been run by others for hundreds of years, and it has its own background. The person we met last time must be in the capital city now. If we are discovered, we will be unable to escape. So this time we can only inquire about the news and cannot do anything else. We must not cause trouble. Even if we encounter something that makes us angry, we must hold back and not attract attention."

Zhang Chen emphasized to Sima again, fearing that he would encounter the same thing as last time.

"Okay, it's all up to you."

Sima Feng spoke helplessly and spread his hands.

So the two of them continued to walk forward, asking for directions along the way towards Dong Xiangchun.

At this moment, Zhang Chen and Sima Feng both looked up into the sky at the same time and saw two figures flying by on swords at such a fast speed that ordinary people did not notice them, but both of them noticed it.

"See? If we make some noise, we'll be in big trouble."

Zhang Chen looked up into the air and then turned to Sima Feng.

Sima Feng nodded, and the two of them walked and strolled along the way. The capital city was very large, and they were not in a hurry, so they walked for a long time but still hadn't reached the city center.

During this time, the two got to know the capital better. They vaguely felt that the prosperous scene was nothing but an enlarged bubble that would be easily punctured. They found that the vast majority of civilians living in the city were like puppets. They seemed to have lost the light in their eyes, and they were in a daze, not caring about anything and just existing.

In the evening, the two finally arrived at Dongxiangchun. Zhang Chen thought it was just a restaurant, nothing big. But when he came outside, he realized that he was still ignorant. This was not a restaurant at all. It covered several acres and had several six-story buildings. The gate was three meters wide and ten meters high.

Only after walking in did I realize that this place is not just for drinking and eating, but also for music, chess, calligraphy, painting, eating, drinking, and having fun. There is nothing you can't think of and you won't find it here. There are delicacies from all over the world, beauties of all kinds, famous paintings and fine wines.

Since they are able to collect all this, they must be quite well-informed. It is said that as long as you can pay, you can even listen to the emperor's pillow talk.

Zhang Chen and his friend were dressed like wealthy businessmen, but were arranged by the waiter to sit in the lobby on the first floor. Seeing the noise, Zhang Chen called the waiter, stuffed a large silver ingot into his hand, and asked him to find another place. After receiving the silver, the waiter immediately arranged the two of them to a private room on the second floor with a smile on his face, and served them a pot of good tea.

"It looks like this is your first time here, would you like me to introduce you to them?"

The waiter said to the two of them with a smile on his face, people who are generous are liked wherever they go.

"Man, we want to buy some news."

Zhang Chen said quietly to the waiter pouring tea next to him.

"Oh, I see. I'll notify the steward right away."

The waiter left in a hurry, and soon a fat and big-eared man in a brocade robe came up to the two of them in a very experienced manner.

"What news do you two want to buy?"

"We want to know how the war is going now?"

Zhang Chen said lightly.

"Do you want to know about the war in Qing? Or the war situation in the whole world? The scope is different, and the price is also very different. Besides, we collect the money first and give the information later."

After the steward in brocade robe finished speaking, he looked at the two of them quietly.

"How much money is in the world?"

Zhang Chen asked.

"One thousand taels of gold!"

The steward stretched out a finger calmly.

Zhang Chen frowned. He could easily take out so much money, but it would definitely attract attention and it would be difficult to explain. This was not what Zhang Chen wanted.

So Zhang Chen pretended to be embarrassed and said:

"How much is the news about the war in Qing Kingdom?"

"Fifty ounces of gold."

The steward seemed to be aware of the situation and replied calmly.

"Then I will buy this news. Anyway, I only do business in our Qing country and don't care about other places."

Zhang Chen pretended to feel pain, reached out to his chest, took out fifty taels of gold and handed it over.

The manager was a little confused when he took the gold, but he didn't think much about it. He took out a list from his pocket, stamped it, and then handed it to Zhang Chen and said:

"Please leave your address. We will personally deliver the message to you in three days."

"We have just arrived in the capital and have no place to stay. I wonder if the steward has any recommendations."

Zhang Chen put the list against his chest and said to the manager.

"In that case, how about you two come to Piaoxiang Pavilion of our Dongxiangchun? There is no better place in the whole capital."

The manager said to the two of them with a smile.

"Okay, just follow the manager's arrangements."

Zhang Chen also smiled faintly.