Chapter 99: Zilian Is Not Upright

To the west of the Imperial City lies the Yuxiu Terrace, the site designated for imperial sacrifices after the Han Emperor relocated his capital.

Yuxiu Pavilion sits just outside the western gate of the Imperial City, along the main thoroughfare between Xiuchun Gate and Xili. Its proximity to Xili makes it an exceptionally bustling area, and since Xiuchun Gate is near the affluent district of Xudu, the daily flow of passersby consists largely of people of significant means.

Because of this, business at Yuxiu Pavilion is exceptionally brisk.

Those who are not high-ranking officials or wealthy elites need not even consider entering. The building has three floors: the first is for commoners—mostly wealthy merchants and tycoons; the second is for court officials holding ranks between six hundred and one thousand shi; and from the third floor, one can overlook all of Xudu. Sitting by the window, one has a direct view of the majestic Yuxiu Terrace.

The name Yuxiu Pavilion is derived from this very view.

However, the third floor is not a place for commoners. It is reserved for scions of noble clans or imperial relatives. Without a salary rank of at least two thousand shi, one cannot hope to dine there; it is a matter of status.

As for the average person, they are relegated to the first floor, and one would be hard-pressed to leave without spending at least two or three strings of coins.

As dusk approached, Cao Peng and his party arrived at the main gate of Yuxiu Pavilion. Several attendants rushed forward to take their reins.

"Young Masters, will you be dining?"

"Nonsense," Xu Yi said, dismounting with a huff. "Is your pavilion not a place for eating? Why else would we come here? Cao Zidan invited us to the Wangtian Chamber—lead the way quickly and spare us the chatter."

The attendant apologized profusely with a fawning smile. Clearly, the management of Yuxiu Pavilion understood the importance of hospitality. Then again, when one considers that the clientele are all either rich or powerful, no humble attendant would dare offend them.

The first floor is a grand hall, crowded but not noisy. Small screens are placed between tables to ensure privacy. Cao Peng and his companions walked through the hall, followed a quiet corridor, and climbed the stairs.

"To be able to open such a restaurant here, the backing behind this place must be quite substantial," Cao Peng remarked.

Dian Man whispered, "This is a place owned by one of the Han family's dogs."

"The Han family's dogs?"

"Have you forgotten? Last time at the dog-fighting arena, Datou was about to lose his Black Dragon to someone else's dog, and it was you who stepped in with your knife."

"Oh!"

Cao Peng suddenly remembered. A tall, lean figure appeared in his mind: Liu Guang!

To be honest, Cao Peng hadn't paid much attention to Liu Guang at the time, as neither history books nor romanticized accounts mentioned him. Being a member of the Han imperial clan and yet failing to leave a mark in history, he must be quite ordinary. If not for Dian Man mentioning him, Cao Peng would have forgotten him entirely. Looking around the pavilion, he murmured, "To manage such a grand restaurant so orderly, this man is truly not simple."

"It’s not him managing it; he’s just letting them use his name."

Cao Peng smiled and did not argue with Dian Man. Even if Liu Guang wasn't running it himself, the fact that he could find someone who could proved his judgment wasn't poor. But these nuances were difficult to explain to Dian Man, and Cao Peng had no intention of doing so, so the group continued up to the third floor.

The third floor is a circular gallery containing ten private rooms. The Wangtian Chamber faces Xiuchun Gate directly, and from within, one can enjoy the scenery inside the gate.

Zhu Zan and Cao Zun were already there. Seeing Cao Peng and the others enter, they immediately stepped forward. "Why have you arrived only now?"

"The eldest brother isn't here yet, what's the rush?"

"The eldest brother said he would be a bit late and told us to start eating... Look, the wine and food are already set, let's take our seats."

As he spoke, Zhu Zan gave Cao Peng a wink. Cao Peng knew immediately that Cao Zhen had already arrived. He had promised to invite Cao Hong, so surely Cao Zhen and Cao Hong were in one of the other private rooms on this floor. Given their sensitive status, they could not appear publicly, especially with Dian Man and Xu Yi present, who represented other factions within the Cao camp. Cao Hong had to be cautious to avoid gossip.

Dian Man and Xu Yi were unaware of the dealings between Cao Zhen and Cao Peng. It wasn't to deceive them, but rather out of fear that they might let something slip. Regarding the gambling house, neither Cao Zhen nor Cao Peng could show their faces; only Cao Hong could step forward without raising suspicion. After all, Cao Cao did not approve of such activities, and being too high-profile would only lead to trouble.

This was Cao Zhen’s strategy, and Cao Peng naturally agreed. Making money low-key—let others take the spotlight!

"The eldest brother has been acting mysterious lately, disappearing all day long... When he arrives, we must penalize him for being late!" Dian Man sat down boisterously, grumbling.

"Today's gathering is because our two brothers are leaving soon. We must work harder in the future. Second brother, Third brother, especially you two... look at Fourth brother, he has already become the Northern Commandant."

Cao Peng raised his cup to toast, and everyone drank.

The wine of the late Eastern Han period was not high in alcohol content. It was somewhat murky, similar to the yellow wine of later generations. Distilled spirits had not yet appeared, and while the so-called "strong spirits" were only around ten percent alcohol, they had a strong kick. Cao Peng was not accustomed to it, but he followed the custom of the land. People in this era did not care for tea—or rather, the habit of drinking tea was not yet widespread. When hosting guests, this wine served as the substitute.

Forcing down the sour, astringent liquid, Cao Peng set his bowl down after one cup.

Dian Man asked curiously, "Yansun, why the sudden thought of going to Luoyang?"

Yansun was Zhu Zan's courtesy name. Strictly speaking, he was still too young for one, but as he was about to enter official service, he had received it.

Zhu Zan laughed, "There is nothing to do in Xudu all day. Zidan is now a Major with a thousand men under his command, but I have achieved nothing. Uncle Xiahou wanted me to go over last year, but I was too lazy to go... After what happened recently, I need to strive for progress. I cannot compare to you all; in terms of martial arts, I am not even as good as Old Five or Afu. If I don't get a head start, won't I be surpassed by you all in the future?"

"I feel the same," Cao Zun added.

On the surface, the logic held. Zhu Zan and Cao Zun did not want to tarnish the reputation of the "Eight Righteous Brothers." But the real reason... only Cao Peng knew. They weren't looking for a career; they were looking to pave the way. Zhu Zan would be in Luoyang, and Cao Zun in Chang'an. Although the Guanzhong region remained chaotic, it would be pacified sooner or later. With the fertile land of the region and Chang'an as its center, if Cao Zun could gain a foothold early, the Prosperity Gambling House could expand west from Luoyang.

Cao Peng raised his cup again to toast them. After they drank together, the atmosphere at the table grew lively. Wang Mai and Deng Fan had been reserved at first, but they were all old acquaintances of similar age. After a few cups, they let their guard down and drank heartily with Dian Man and Xu Yi. At this point, Zhu Zan stood up, nodded to Cao Peng, and walked out.

***

Cao Peng grabbed the package beside him and followed Zhu Zan out of the Wangtian Chamber.

"The eldest brother is in the first room on the west end. Just go in."

Cao Peng nodded, carried the package, and stopped in front of a private room named "Wind and Rain Pavilion."

The Wind and Rain Pavilion was a scenic spot in Xudu, named after a legendary stone that could sense weather changes—damp when rain was coming, dry when the sky was clear. Local people firmly believed in this wonder.

*Knock, knock, knock!*

Cao Peng tapped on the door. Moments later, the door opened, revealing Cao Zhen. Cao Peng gave him a slight smile and slipped inside. Outside, seeing Cao Peng enter, Zhu Zan glanced around before returning to the Wangtian Chamber.

Inside the Wind and Rain Pavilion, there were two others besides Cao Zhen. One was dressed in fine robes, his face lean and angular, filled with a rugged, masculine air. His eyes were long and narrow, his nose bridge high, but the tip hooked slightly inward, adding a hint of coldness to his masculinity.

"Uncle, this is Cao Peng."

The man in fine robes drooped his eyelids and didn't speak, merely sipping his wine. Cao Zhen didn't mind and pointed to the other man, who was dressed in plain clothes. "Afu, this is Master Shi A."

Shi A was around thirty-four or thirty-five, with a bronzed, rough complexion and thick eyebrows. He was perhaps less than 170 centimeters tall, with long arms and large, slender finger joints, giving him an air of latent power. Unlike the man in robes, Shi A stood up politely and bowed with a smile. "Shi A greets Young Master Cao... I am unworthy of the title 'Master,' but the name 'Master Cao' is like thunder in my ears. If the opportunity arises, I hope you might introduce me to Master Cao so I might seek his counsel."

He was a swordsman, obsessed with the blade. But as a commoner, even as an instructor for Cao Pi, he lacked the status to even request a high-quality sword.

Suddenly, Cao Hong put down his wine cup and stood up.

"Zidan, what kind of game are you playing?"

"Uncle, what do you mean?"

"You said you were going to bring me a fortune, so why bring a little brat? He’s still wet behind the ears; what could he possibly accomplish? I’m leaving!"

Clearly, Cao Hong looked down on Cao Peng. As Cao Zhen moved to stop him, Cao Peng grabbed his arm. He sat down behind a table and placed the package on it.

"Master Shi, this is a 'Strange Crow Sword,' forged by my father using rare ore from the Western Regions. My father used most of it to forge the Tiangang Blade, and the remaining material was only enough for this one sword. I originally intended to gift it to Prefect Cao... Since the Prefect has no interest, so be it. As the saying goes, a hero deserves a precious sword, and beauty deserves a gift. Master Shi, please accept this Strange Crow Sword."

"A Strange Crow Sword?" Shi A stood up abruptly, his gaze fixed on the brocade box.

Cao Hong stopped and turned back to look at Cao Peng, his eyes burning like two sharp blades. Cao Zhen swallowed hard, feeling incredibly nervous.

Cao Peng slowly opened the box, revealing a three-foot blade. It was five feet long, dark red and black, exuding a chilling aura.

Strange Crow ore? Cao Peng didn't have any. It was simply a weapon forged using the "pour-steel" method, branded with a fancy name. But it had taken effort. After choosing Cao Hong in the prison, Cao Peng had asked his father to forge a sword. It was completed five days ago. The blade was similar to the Tiangang Blade, with an inscription on the spine. The true brilliance lay in the hilt and guard, forged from solid gold.

It weighed five pounds, consuming nearly twenty taels of gold to refine. Unlike the circulating currency, this was pure gold. Cao Hong’s eyes lit up, narrowed into slits, and he sat back down.

"Is this sword really that good?"

Shi A walked to the table and picked up the blade. He weighed it, then slashed at the corner of the table. It cut through like a knife through tofu, the edge smooth. Joy flashed in his eyes. "A truly magnificent sword!"

However, he felt awkward, as Cao Hong had returned. Was he to compete with Cao Hong for it?

"Master Shi, if this sword were on the market, what would its value be?"

Shi A replied, "Someone once offered two thousand taels of gold for a Tiangang Blade. Now that those blades are priceless, I estimate this Strange Crow Sword to be worth over three thousand taels. Besides, divine weapons forged by Master Cao are impossible to find on the market..."

The glint in Cao Hong's eyes grew brighter. Shi A, seemingly realizing something, turned to Cao Hong. "Zilian, sell this sword to me."

"This..." Cao Hong looked at Cao Peng and asked, "Kid, it seems I underestimated you."

Cao Peng smiled, pushed the box aside, and revealed a hand-stitched book. "Prefect Cao, all my plans are written here. If you are interested, feel free to look. I cannot promise much else, but I guarantee that if we open the Prosperity Gambling House, it will bring in gold daily."

"Oh?" Cao Hong’s eyebrows twitched, a strange curve appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Little kid, aren't you afraid that I'll take this and cast you aside?"

Shi A and Cao Zhen held their breath, watching the two.

Cao Peng chuckled. "A gentleman loves wealth and acquires it through proper means; a petty man loves wealth and acquires it through improper means. It depends on whether Prefect Cao wishes to be a gentleman or a petty man."

That was a sharp remark! Cao Zhen quickly said, "Afu, how can you be so rude to my uncle?"

Cao Hong wasn't angry; he pursed his lips. "And what if I am a gentleman, or a petty man?"

"It is often said: a gentleman is broad-minded, while a petty man is full of anxiety. If the Prefect chooses to be a gentleman, wealth will roll in; if you choose to be a petty man... well, Man Chong is not the only one in this world."

The implication was clear: If you work with me, there are many ways to make money. But if you cast me aside... I don't care, I'll find another way, but you will lose many opportunities.

Cao Hong was known for his greed, often allowing his guests and servants to act recklessly, only to be silenced by the incorruptible Man Chong. Did he want to make money legitimately, or live in constant fear of the law?

Cao Zhen hadn't expected Cao Peng to be so sharp. He knew his uncle was not a broad-minded man and worried for Cao Peng.

Cao Hong stared at Cao Peng for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Little kid, you have a lot of guts."

"Men die for wealth, birds die for food... I’m just crazy for money, so I dared to be presumptuous."

Cao Hong's laughter stopped abruptly, and the coldness on his face vanished without a trace. He smiled, his cheeks dimpling like a blooming chrysanthemum in autumn. "In that case, perhaps you and I can cooperate."

He stood up, walked to Cao Peng’s table, and picked up the booklet. "Shi A, I give you ten days to prepare three thousand taels of gold and deliver them to my manor... otherwise, return this Strange Crow Sword to me."

"Ah?" Cao Peng quickly stood up. "Congratulations, Master Shi."

Cao Hong loved money to an extreme. His house was wealthy, yet he had developed a miserly habit. His armor, weapons, and warhorse were all gifts or spoils of war. He was a man who felt pain at the thought of spending even a single coin. With such a man, one must never show weakness. The more weakness you show, the more overbearing he becomes.

"Zidan, I am going back... I need to ponder this matter carefully." Cao Hong said, walking away without looking back.

Cao Zhen looked at his retreating figure and couldn't help but laugh bitterly. "Afu, what do you make of this..."

"Eldest brother, don't worry. Hasn't the Prefect already agreed?"

"But he clearly said..."

Shi A interrupted, "Zilian is always like this. He won't give a definite answer, but if he says he's 'pondering,' it means he has agreed. Otherwise, he would never have kept the Strange Crow Sword. This is good; we all get what we want."

Shi A had money, but good swords were hard to come by. Three thousand taels was a lot, but for Shi A, it was manageable. He had many disciples and followers from all walks of life; gathering the sum wouldn't be difficult.

Cao Zhen, despite being Cao Hong's nephew, realized he didn't understand his uncle as well as Shi A did. He laughed at himself. "I thought it would take so much effort; I didn't expect it to be resolved so easily... Afu, it seems you understand my uncle better than I do."

It wasn't that Cao Peng understood Cao Hong, but that he understood the nature of such men. Did Cao Hong really look down on Cao Peng? Perhaps. But if he didn't want to do it, he wouldn't have come. The initial posturing was just a way to squeeze out more benefits. After all, Cao Peng was a commoner holding twenty percent of the shares. If Cao Hong didn't have other thoughts, that would be the strange part.

The three talked for a while longer, and Cao Peng shared his ideas with Shi A, who agreed to gather his followers and move to Luoyang. Shortly after, Shi A took his leave.

Cao Peng and Cao Zhen sat in the Wind and Rain Pavilion for a while more.

"Let's go back... if we stay away too long, the Second brother and the others might cause trouble."

Cao Zhen nodded, and they left the pavilion. Just then, several people walked out of the opposite room. One of them, slightly drunk, bumped into Cao Zhen. Cao Zhen, built like an ox, didn't budge, but the other man stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.

"Are you blind, you dog?" a scholar-looking man shouted.

Cao Zhen was furious. "Who are you cursing?"

"I'm cursing you! Walking without eyes—if you're not blind, what are you?"

Cao Zhen, a proud and arrogant man, couldn't swallow this. Without a word, he grabbed the man by the collar.

"Zhongjie, don't be rude! Apologize!" The man who had bumped into Cao Zhen steadied himself and shouted.

Cao Peng stepped forward and pulled Cao Zhen back. "Two young masters, please don't take offense. My friend has had too much to drink; please forgive his words."

The man was around thirty, handsome and elegant, with a refined air. His accent was not from Xudu or Yuzhou; it was light, soft, and carried a strange, faint, and indescribable scent.

Cao Zhen glared at the man and let go. He had just gotten out of jail and didn't want more trouble. Since the other party had backed down, he let it go, huffed, and turned to leave with Cao Peng.

Cao Peng bowed to the young man, then turned away.

"Zhongjie, what are you doing?" Cao Peng heard the young man’s faint reprimand behind him. "This is not Xiapi. You and I are here on the Marquis's heavy orders; how can you act on impulse?"

Xiapi? The Marquis?

Cao Peng shuddered and turned around to look at the group. Were they men of Lü Bu?

"Afu, what's wrong? Why are you staring?"

"Those people... they don't seem simple."

Cao Zhen nodded. "That fellow’s martial arts are not bad; when I grabbed him, he was clearly holding back. But if we really fought, it's hard to say who would win... Strange, they have a Xuzhou accent. How did people from Xuzhou get onto the third floor?"

Lü Bu’s reputation was not good; his men shouldn't have the qualifications to be on the third floor. And since they had just finished drinking, were they perhaps scions of some noble family? There were many noble clans in Xuzhou, though Cao Peng didn't know them all.

Cao Peng said, "That scholar seems to be the leader. Judging by his demeanor and speech, he is not an ordinary man."

"That's easy," Cao Zhen smiled. "If you want to know their origins, just ask the people at the pavilion."