Chapter 51: Persuasion?

Shendu Jinghua was remodeled from Qingyang City, the former capital of Luzhou in the northwest. The Founding Emperor raised his army in the northwest, yet no one had ever imagined that this impoverished farm boy with no background would ultimately establish his capital in the northwest as well.

Many people did not look favorably upon this location back then, and countless aristocratic families urged him to relocate the capital. However, Emperor Taizu was a strong-willed man; not only did he never harbor the thought of moving the capital during his reign, but he also established an ancestral precept: even if the descendants of the Li family were reduced to guarding the gates of the realm as emperors, they were never to relocate the capital.

A millennium ago, no one favored this capital city, and many even looked down upon this newborn dynasty. Yet, no one could have anticipated that the dynasty founded by this farm boy would flourish for a thousand years!

Outside the eastern gate of the capital, the family of Zhang Rui, having just entered the city, was dazzled by a millennium of prosperity.

"Brother, are we going to live here from now on?" Fourth girl Zhang Meng tightly clutched her mother's sleeve, staring at the mortal sea of lights that rivaled the Milky Way, her eyes sparkling with stars.

She had made up her mind: she would definitely marry here, live here, become a person of the capital, and never return to the countryside even if it killed her.

Where was the countryside? Everything outside this capital was the countryside!

"My son, this capital is truly a wonderful place!" The old lady was also dazzled. She had never imagined that after marrying into the mountains all those years ago, a mountain farmwoman like her would one day witness the prosperity of the royal capital with her own eyes.

"Ah, it is indeed a wonderful place." Zhang Rui smiled and nodded as well, feeling a certain shock in his heart.

In his past life, he had traveled to many cities, and he had lost count of how many times he had gazed at the brilliant lights of bustling metropolises while staying in CBDs. Yet, compared to this city before his eyes, where oil lamps and candles formed a mortal Milky Way, the scale of astonishment was far beyond anything from his previous life. Just how massive was the population of this capital?

Although the architectural style differed greatly from his past life, Zhang Rui felt one thing ought to remain unchanged: housing prices...

Sure enough, Zhang Rui, who had no desire to stay at a post station, made a few casual inquiries that terrified his entire family so much they lost their appetite for dinner.

"Lord Zhang has come at an inopportune time..." The station official happened to be a warm-hearted man and explained with great patience: "Normal rents in the capital are never cheap, and during this period, they are even more exorbitant. After all, the grand examination only takes place once every three years. As the saying goes, 'one does not open for business for three years, but once open, one feeds for three years.' Which household would let slip such a prime opportunity?"

"What if we rent a place further away?" Zhang Rui looked at the housing options the station official handed him, his heart trembling. Ordinary folk houses without courtyards were currently renting for thirty taels of silver a month—it was daylight robbery! As a rank-seven county magistrate, his monthly salary was only twenty taels. Serving in a remote northern region, he received an additional monthly government subsidy of five taels, bringing his total to twenty-five taels of silver. In the north during ordinary times, this amount could comfortably sustain a large family of dozens of mouths with plenty left over.

Yet upon arriving here, he couldn't even afford to rent a basic folk house, let alone those courtyard compounds. For now, it was only his younger sister, his parents, and the coachman. Once his wife arrived, along with maidservants, male slaves, and a cook, there would be at least twenty people. Without a small courtyard compound, how could they possibly all fit?

This was truly going to be the death of him.

"Lord Zhang, the locations I have selected for you are already considered remote. The terrain of this capital is flat and square, centered around the imperial palace, with the four directions of east, west, south, and north named after the Four Symbols. The West District, associated with the White Tiger, is mostly populated by military households. While it may not sound prestigious, that area possesses strong masculine energy due to the abundance of martial artists, bolstered by numerous stationed marquises and dukes, so evil spirits rarely dare to cause trouble there. The moment a single courtyard becomes vacant in that district, it is snapped up by wealthy merchants; ordinary folks cannot even dream of it. The East District, associated with the Azure Dragon, is the renowned wealthy district, where most imperial officials are concentrated. Officials of the fourth rank and above in our dynasty attend morning court every five days, waiting for state affairs outside the Qianqing Gate. Male officials can only enter through the Azure Dragon Gate, and detouring from other districts to the Azure Dragon District and then to the Azure Dragon Gate is far too distant. Therefore, even incorruptible officials purchase homes in the Azure Dragon District. Normally, properties in these two districts are never put up for rent."

"The remaining North and South Districts are where most newcomers can choose to settle. Among them, the South District is more popular because the Capital Magistrate's Office and the Six Ministries are located there. Many capital officials work in that area, and the people coming and going are more respectable, which leads to higher rents and better security. Conversely, the North District is much worse. In past years, whenever major natural disasters occurred, refugees entering the capital were mostly settled in the North District first. This has led to a long-term accumulation of mixed elements, making it the most chaotic area with the worst security. Since Your Honor has just arrived in the capital without sending anyone ahead to arrange a residence, and instead brought your entire family to stay at a post station, this humble official knew that your household's finances are excessively honest and upright. Therefore, the houses I found for you are all located in the North District near the City Defense Office. After all, official guards are on duty there, making the security relatively favorable and the cost-performance ratio extremely high."

Pausing for a moment, he continued, "As for slightly worse options, there are only the outer fringes of the North District. The populace there is truly raucous and noisy—four-seas merchants, numerous underworld martial artists, and even many unregistered vagrants. It is hardly suitable for an official like Your Honor who travels with family dependents..."

Upon hearing this, the old lady instantly fell into a dilemma. She was both reluctant to part with her money and unwilling to subject her entire family to live in a gathering place for unregistered vagrants as described by the official. After all, Fourth Girl was still unmarried, and spending time in such a place might ruin her reputation.

"My son... where did you stay when you came to the capital to take the imperial examinations back then?" the old master asked out of curiosity.

For a moment, Zhang Rui didn't know how to respond. He had cheated, and he didn't even know how he had passed the scholar examination, let alone remember where he stayed when taking the metropolitan examination for the jinshi degree!

"Lord Zhang probably lodged at the Fuzi Temple, where the imperial court bestows its grace," the station official said with a smile. "The court also sympathizes with those scholars traveling to the capital for examinations, knowing that not every arriving provincial graduate can afford housing in the capital. Ever since the reign of Emperor Taizu, Fuzi Temples have been established in various suburbs around the city, and abbots have been appointed to manage them. As long as one can provide the official degree certificate issued by the court, one can check in for free, with three meals a day subsidized. This is precisely to allow the examination candidates to focus on their studies without distractions. Those scholars who arrived alongside Your Honor today—if they fail to rent a house by tomorrow, this humble official will introduce them to those Fuzi Temples."

"There is such a place?" The old lady's eyes lit up. A gathering place for examination candidates that was completely free—that was a wonderful spot! Not only would it temporarily resolve her family's exorbitant rent expenses, but she could also take the opportunity to scout out a good husband for her daughter.

"Old Madam..." the station official chuckled. "Those places are prepared exclusively for scholars sitting for the exams, maintained by specialized court guards, and outsiders are strictly forbidden to enter."

"Oh..."

The old lady was instantly filled with regret, but Fourth Girl on the side was secretly delighted. She no longer wished to marry some impoverished traveling scholar; she wanted to marry a wealthy local family of the capital and become a lady of the capital.

"Mother, how much silver did Madam give you when you set off?" Zhang Rui turned to ask.

The old lady pursed her lips and sighed, "That wife of yours is quite generous, or perhaps feeling guilty, she didn't dare to be stingy and gave two thousand taels of silver. But how could this little bit of money be enough to buy a residential compound?"

"Two thousand taels is not a small sum outside," the station official said with a bitter smile. "Even in such prosperous places as Jiangnan, one could buy a large courtyard mansion, but in the capital, wanting to buy a private single-family courtyard is practically impossible, even in the remote areas of the North District..."

Hearing this, Zhang Rui covered his face in despair. Whether in his past life or the present, housing in the imperial capital truly remained an unreachable dream for ordinary people.

"Is Lord Zhang here?"

Just as the station official was pondering whether to introduce some cheaper options to this magistrate, a voice called out from outside. The station official was slightly startled; the voice was sharp, yet it lacked the quality of a woman's voice. Only eunuchs possessed such a distinctive duck-quack tone.

How was it that Lord Zhang had barely arrived before people from the imperial palace came looking for him?

"Right here..." Not daring to offend the palace eunuchs, the station official hurriedly stepped forward to open the door.

Walking at the very front was a eunuch in green brocade, followed by a familiar face Zhang Rui had encountered previously—none other than Qin Fang, whom he had met at the painting market.

"I trust Lord Zhang has been well since we last met?" Qin Fang cupped his fists and smiled.

"Why has Lord Qin graced me with his presence?" Zhang Rui hurriedly returned the salute.

He felt a measure of internal confusion. He had heard that Qin Fang had become a eunuch, yet his voice retained a deep, masculine tone. Could it be that eunuchs who practiced martial arts differed somewhat from others?

"The Third Prince sent me," Qin Fang said as he stepped inside, glancing around before speaking. "This post station is cramped and noisy, which is hardly convenient for Lord Zhang with his entire family. The Third Prince has specially prepared a residential compound for you, located near the Azure Dragon Gate..."

Upon hearing these words, the station official was stunned. It was his first time hearing of an imperial prince proactively recruiting an official. After all, the Crown Prince's position was secure, and no imperial prince dared to stir up trouble. Even though the Third Prince held a lofty status, he had never been rumored to recruit anyone, let alone such an impoverished young minor official.

The members of the Zhang family brightened at this. Just as they were fretting over a lack of accommodation, an imperial prince was actually presenting them with a house?

The old lady suddenly recalled something and hurriedly chimed in, "My son, is this Third Prince the one you mentioned earlier who helped you out?"

Zhang Rui looked at his mother's expectant gaze and smiled bitterly and helplessly. He had not the slightest desire to become entangled with that Third Prince who harbored affection for the Empress.

"This is far too generous!" Zhang Rui directly waved his hand in refusal. "Please report back to His Highness on my behalf, Lord Qin. This humble official and His Highness met merely by chance; how could I accept such a precious gift? This humble official is unworthy and dares not accept!"

The station official standing nearby nodded inwardly upon witnessing this. This young Lord Zhang proved to be composed. Ordinary people pressed by the capital's housing prices might have hardened their hearts and accepted. Currently, the Crown Prince enjoyed the allegiance of all civil and military officials; accepting a prince's patronage at this juncture, if discovered, would result in the forfeiture of one's entire household and fortune.

Qin Fang was not surprised to see the other party drawing such a clear boundary. Back in Beihai, the Third Prince had frequently attempted to recruit him, yet this official had intentionally used the Yuchi family to evade His Highness, clearly wishing to avoid excessive entanglements with his master.

Such a choice was entirely natural; any ambitious person would not easily embroil themselves in the struggle for the imperial succession. Yet, having offended the Crown Prince, if he failed to pledge allegiance to his master, where would any future opportunities lie?

As he was thinking this, another voice rang out from outside, "Is Lord Zhang in?"

The station official was even more astonished. Another eunuch's voice! Judging by the sound, this was clearly a different faction. Just what background did this young Lord Zhang possess? He actually had more than one person from the palace trying to recruit him?

Qin Fang also furrowed his brow. The moment he heard the voice, he recognized it as belonging to Grand Eunuch Yuan, who served by the Empress's side.

"Oh, Grand Eunuch Qin is here as well?" The newcomer was a white-haired eunuch. Seeing Qin Fang, his tone held no surprise, and Zhang Rui even detected a trace of mockery—the man seemed to intentionally stress the word "Grand Eunuch" at the end!

Qin Fang lowered his eyes slightly and said in a gentle tone, "Greetings, Grand Eunuch Yuan."

"Grand Eunuch Qin is too polite," Grand Eunuch Yuan said, covering his mouth with a chuckle. "This humble servant comes under the decree of the Crown Prince to arrange a residence for Lord Zhang. I wonder what brings Grand Eunuch Qin here?"

Qin Fang remained silent, instead looking toward Zhang Rui. For a moment, the atmosphere in the entire room grew somewhat bizarre. Even the old lady, ignorant of external affairs, wisely closed her mouth at this juncture, thinking to herself: What is my son's situation? Why do so many big figures favor him?

The station official was equally amazed. This young Lord Zhang's family appeared entirely ordinary, bearing no resemblance to those hidden aristocratic clans. How could they command both the Crown Prince and another prince to vie for their allegiance?

"What does Lord Zhang have to say?" Qin Fang looked at Zhang Rui and asked with a smile.

Zhang Rui: "........."