637: Chapter 48 A Half-Day Trip to Chang'an

"What scented powder?"

Hearing Meng Li's words, Hong Kui retorted with a question, pretending ignorance, though the flicker in her eyes betrayed her lack of conviction.

Meng Li lowered his head to sniff near her neck and replied with a smile, "Didn't you say you don't like wearing rouge and powder? Then where did this scent of scented powder on you come from? It smells exactly like the one Lan Kui bought from Wan Yuzhi before."

Hong Kui turned her head away. "It's from Lan Kui. I was close to her earlier and picked up some of her scent."

As soon as she finished speaking, Lan Kui's voice came over. "Elder Brother Meng, Hong Kui..."

After calling out, Lan Kui saw Meng Li and Hong Kui lying on the ground, embracing each other. Her eyes widened immediately, and her voice cut off abruptly.

Startled, Hong Kui hurriedly broke free from Meng Li's embrace, quickly stood up, and began straightening her dress while thinking of an excuse. But even after tidying her clothes, she couldn't come up with a good explanation. She could only glare at Lan Kui and say, "You saw nothing. Don't you dare tell anyone."

Lan Kui gazed at her silently, her expression inscrutable.

Meng Li cleared his throat and explained, "Hong Kui almost accidentally hurt Jing Tian earlier and was feeling a bit upset. I was just offering some guidance."

"Lan Kui, would you like to join us?"

Join?

Lan Kui was taken aback, then recalled the scene of Hong Kui and Meng Li embracing. A flutter stirred in her heart, but it was quickly overwhelmed by a wave of shyness and annoyance.

She stomped her foot lightly and whispered a rebuke, "Elder Brother Meng, you're so bad!"

With that, Lan Kui turned and walked away.

Seeing this, Hong Kui, her face darkening, elbowed Meng Li and snorted, "I knew you were up to no good."

After saying that, she strode off.

Meng Li smiled and quickly followed.

Returning to the gathering spot, the group made brief preparations before continuing their journey.

However, when they took to the skies again, the seating arrangements had shifted somewhat.

Tang Xuejian did not ride with Hong Kui and Lan Kui. Instead, for the first time, she shared a Flying Sword with Jing Tian.

Clearly, the arrow Hong Kui had shot still left Tang Xuejian with lingering fear.

With Tang Xuejian and Jing Tian paired up, Xu Maoshan was assigned to Xu Changqing for the flight.

Meng Li continued to ride his cloud.

Hong Kui and Lan Kui shared the Flying Tiger Jade Beast.

The journey passed in silence until they reached Chang'an.

...

At the gates of Chang'an City.

Jing Tian looked at the towering city gate tower, his Adam's apple bobbing unconsciously. "So this is Chang'an?"

Xu Maoshan stared at the massive city gates and the sprawling walls, unable to hold back an exclamation. "The gates are so tall and huge, the walls so long."

Tang Xuejian also remarked, "Much more impressive than Yu Zhou City."

Lan Kui, looking at the long queue waiting to enter the city, said, "So many people."

Hong Kui remained silent, inwardly comparing Chang'an's city gates to those of the Jiang Kingdom's capital, finding the latter far inferior to the former.

Xu Changqing smoothed the corner of his robe ruffled by the wind and said, "Chang'an lies at the feet of the Son of Heaven. It naturally possesses an imposing grandeur."

Then, his gaze swept over the clothing and hairstyles of the passing crowds, and he lowered his voice in reminder. "This place is unlike others. We must be cautious in our words and actions."

Only Meng Li remained utterly unperturbed.

This was his first visit to Chang'an in this life, but he had been here more than once in previous lives. Though it might not be the exact same place, there wouldn't be significant differences. Even the most splendid and majestic sights lose their power to astonish after being seen too often.

Noticing Meng Li's demeanor, Xu Changqing couldn't help but be curious. "Brother Meng, you seem unfazed. Have you been to Chang'an before?"

Meng Li shook his head. "First time. But Chang'an has long been renowned. I've heard many people speak of it, so through constant exposure, I've gained a rough understanding."

Hearing this, Jing Tian became interested. "Then, Elder Brother Meng, tell us about Chang'an. What are the good places to eat and have fun?"

Meng Li thought briefly and gave a simple reply. "The West Market."

Then he explained, "As far as I know, Chang'an is divided into four districts based on the cardinal directions."

"There is one market each in the east and west. The most famous street in the south is Vermilion Bird Street. The north houses the Imperial City and the Palace City. The places for good food and fun are in the two major markets. However, the East Market is where high officials and nobles reside, with relatively strict rules. It's not as free and bustling as the West Market."

"As for what's good to eat and fun to do in the West Market, you'll know once we get there."

As he spoke, it was their turn to enter the city. The gate guards glanced at the travel passes they had prepared in advance and let them through.

Once inside the city, the group headed straight for the West Market.

Even though it was already afternoon, the streets were still extraordinarily lively.

Peddlers carrying shoulder poles walked by, shaking their rattle-drums.

A vendor selling Hu-style pancakes lifted the lid of his iron oven, releasing a wave of heat carrying the aroma of sesame seeds and wheat.

Xu Maoshan stared at the plump, white meat buns in the steamer, swallowing hard.

Jing Tian laughed and patted the back of his head. "Where's your dignity? First, let's find an Inn to settle in. We'll come out to wander later, and I'll let you eat your fill."

"Great, great!" Xu Maoshan agreed repeatedly.

Before long, they found an Inn, booked rooms, settled their luggage, and came out again to stroll.

Tang Xuejian was drawn to a shop selling mother-of-pearl inlaid combs, where the shell patterns on the mirror cases shimmered with iridescent light under the sun.

Lan Kui and Hong Kui stood at the entrance of the embroidery workshop next door, watching the embroiderers inside skillfully ply their needles. Vivid patterns gradually emerged on the plain white silk handkerchiefs.

Watching this scene, they seemed momentarily lost in thought.

"Do you fancy something?" Meng Li walked up to them holding three sticks of sugar cakes and asked gently.

Hong Kui shook her head.

Lan Kui, however, said, "Back then, my mo... mother was also famous for her embroidery."

Meng Li understood. The sight had stirred old memories.

He handed a stick of sugar cake to each of them and said, "Let's go see what's ahead. There are acrobats performing up front. Jing Tian and the others are cheering over there."

Hong Kui nodded.

Lan Kui turned and called out to Tang Xuejian.

After watching a round of acrobatics, the group suddenly heard bursts of applause from further away. Curious, they hurried over to look and found Hu Ji dancers in revealing attire performing at a thrilling moment. Their water-red dance skirts spun like blooming peonies, drawing waves of cheers from the onlookers.

Xu Changqing averted his gaze.

Jing Tian and Xu Maoshan, however, were greatly amazed, their eyes lighting up.

Tang Xuejian frowned and forcibly pulled Jing Tian away. "Stop looking! There's nothing good to see!"

"Who says? So many people are cheering," Jing Tian argued instinctively, which only made Tang Xuejian pull harder. He had no choice but to leave.

Xu Maoshan seemed a bit confused but still followed.

Hong Kui turned her head to look at Meng Li, her eyes fixed on him with a teasing, half-smile. "Was it nice to look at?"

"It was nice, but if you were dancing, it would be even nicer."

"In your dreams!" Hong Kui gave a light humph and turned to leave.

Lan Kui gently tugged at Meng Li's sleeve, signaling him to stop looking and go somewhere else.

Meng Li smiled slightly and complied. He took the opportunity to buy a few sticks of candied hawthorns, caught up to Hong Kui, and handed her one with a particularly glistening, crystalline sugar coating.

Hong Kui accepted it somewhat reluctantly. After taking a bite, she frowned slightly. It was a bit sour.

Lan Kui, standing beside her, secretly smiled.

...

By the time the moon climbed over the gate tower of Xuanwu Gate, the group had returned to the Inn.

Lan Kui held a rabbit-shaped lantern in her hands. The candlelight shone through the thin gauze, casting a swaying shadow on the ground.

A golden hairpin adorned Hong Kui's hair, but she seemed unaccustomed to it. With each step, it tinkled softly.

Meng Li smiled and helped her adjust it.

Jing Tian hummed a tune he'd heard at a tavern, playfully teasing Tang Xuejian with the shadow puppets he had just bought.

Xu Maoshan let out a satisfied burp, still clutching half a piece of almond curd in his hand.

Xu Changqing held a rare, solitary copy of a poetry collection, reading it by moonlight as he walked.

Their half-day tour of Chang'an concluded in an atmosphere of "arriving with high spirits and returning fully satisfied," achieving Perfection.

However, just as they intended to rest well and depart for Fengdu the next day, Jing Tian suddenly knocked on Meng Li's door.

"Elder Brother Meng, Elder Brother Meng! An emergency situation, it's extremely urgent!"

...