Chapter 53: So It Was All a Scheme (Part One)

At this hour, the crowd in the first-floor hall had thinned considerably compared to the beginning. After Miss Ruoshui led Zhang Chi upstairs, the gentlemen, seeing that the courtesan was absent, lost much of their enthusiasm. Most simply chose one or two beauties to accompany them to the side rooms for pleasure, while others, having come solely for Miss Ruoshui, dispersed upon learning she was gone.

It wasn’t that these gentlemen were paragons of virtue; in the Wei and Jin period, which nobleman could truly be without women? The majority had come for Miss Ruoshui; if they merely sought female company, they wouldn’t have needed to visit such a brothel.

When Zhang Chi descended the stairs, he found Santong and Meng Feiyang in lively conversation, both drinking heartily. Santong, straightforward by nature, had driven away the two women attending him. It was Santong’s first time being served by women, and he was rather awkward at first. Now, after several rounds of wine, his spirits had risen, and he had chased them off, his robe open, sleeves rolled up, exuding a bold, martial air, constantly pouring wine for Meng Feiyang and shouting, “Come, come! Since Young Master Meng does not disdain my company, from now on we’re brothers. Let's drink three more cups!”

Santong was still urging him to drink when he turned and saw Zhang Chi standing beside him. Surprised, he said, “Eh! Brother Zhang, how did you come down so quickly?”

“I wouldn't let amusement distract me from our purpose,” Zhang Chi replied with a smile. “We came to Kuaiji to seek the Wine Maiden.”

“So Young Master Zhang came to Shanyin to find someone?” Meng Feiyang asked after hearing Zhang Chi’s words.

Zhang Chi nodded. Meng Feiyang smiled and said, “Why didn’t you say so earlier? My family has lived in Kuaiji for generations. If the person you seek is anywhere within the commandery, I can help you find them.”

“In that case, let me ask you about the power of the Way of Five Pecks of Rice here in Kuaiji. Do you know anything about them?” Zhang Chi observed that Meng Feiyang lacked the arrogance of the aristocratic clans and was warm-hearted and sincere, which made Zhang Chi greatly favor him.

At the mention of the Way of Five Pecks of Rice, Meng Feiyang frowned and said, “Their influence in Kuaiji is vast. Many nobles believe in the sect, and even the current Kuaiji Prefect Lord Wang is a follower. But judging from your words, you’re not one of them. Why would you come here seeking someone from their ranks?”

“Oh? How could you tell from my words that I am not of the Way of Five Pecks of Rice?” Zhang Chi was puzzled. Could one determine a follower by how he spoke? Did they have some secret language?

“The Way of Five Pecks of Rice is what outsiders call them, because anyone who wishes to join must pay five pecks of rice, regardless of wealth. But within the sect, they don’t call themselves that. They refer to their faith as the Way of the Celestial Master or the Orthodox Way,” Meng Feiyang explained.

“Is that so?” Though Zhang Chi liked Meng Feiyang very much, he wouldn’t reveal the origins of the Wine Maiden upon first meeting him, so he merely said, “A friend of mine was taken by the Way of Five Pecks of Rice. We’ve come to Kuaiji to find this friend.”

Meng Feiyang thought for a moment and said, “The Way of Five Pecks of Rice has long been plotting rebellion, and their power is indeed immense. I’ve heard they gather many followers hidden in the Kuaiji Mountains, planning something unknown. Perhaps the person you seek is there. But if you intend to go up the mountain, you must be extremely careful.”

Zhang Chi nodded. Seeing there was serious business at hand, Santong put down his cup and stood up, calling out to Daoxuan, “Very well, finding the Wine Maiden is our true purpose.”

It was nothing to turn his head, but as Santong did so, he was startled, nearly jumping up and shouting, “Oh no! I got carried away drinking and lost track of Daoxuan and Manager Wu!”

Meng Feiyang, too, only then noticed that in their focus on drinking, neither had paid attention, and indeed, the monk and the taciturn elder were nowhere to be seen.

Zhang Chi found Santong’s panic amusing, but kept a straight face and said, “What shall we do? Daoxuan is highly skilled, so there’s no urgent concern. But if Manager Wu has run off, how will we find the Wine Maiden?”

Santong, now thoroughly anxious, grew even more embarrassed at Zhang Chi’s words. He tried to recall when the two vanished, but his wine-clouded mind could not grasp it. He pressed his hand to his forehead, regretting, “It’s all my fault for drinking. I forgot Brother Zhang told me to keep an eye on that old man. Enough! From now on, I won’t drink again!”

Zhang Chi couldn’t help laughing at Santong’s remorse. “Don’t worry, Santong. I wanted him to run off.”

“If he’s gone, how will we find the Wine Maiden?” Santong asked, puzzled.

“Manager Wu is greedy and won’t stir unless there’s profit. How could he be willing to tell us everything about the Wine Maiden? The Daoist who sent him to Kuaiji must have told him how to make contact. Manager Wu surely had his own plan, only mentioning the bare minimum and keeping the details to himself, so he could seize the opportunity to escape and claim the reward alone,” Zhang Chi explained.

Santong realized this made sense. Though Zhang Chi said they had come to Kuaiji together, the old man was cunning and would never willingly share his fortune. Forced to bring them along by the threat of being caught for rebellion, he had no choice, but he still hoped to slip away and profit alone.

Santong now understood: “So Brother Zhang, you deliberately came to the brothel for amusement just to give the old man a chance to escape.”

Zhang Chi laughed, “Daoxuan is already following him in secret. By tracing him, we’ll find out where the Wine Maiden is.”

“Brilliant! But Brother Zhang, you weren’t very forthcoming. You and Daoxuan plotted together and kept me in the dark. I was just feeling guilty for half the day,” Santong exclaimed, slapping his thigh.

Zhang Chi laughed, “Manager Wu has long roamed the world and is full of tricks. If we didn’t act convincingly, he wouldn’t have fallen for it. You’re too honest to pretend. If you’d known, you might have given something away while drinking.”

Santong scratched his head and chuckled. Zhang Chi then bade Meng Feiyang farewell, saying, “Young Master Meng, I have urgent business to attend. We’ll take our leave for now. Until we meet again.”

Meng Feiyang replied, “You’re new to Shanyin and likely unfamiliar with the terrain. Why don’t I help you find your friend? I can act as your guide.”

Zhang Chi, Daoxuan, and Santong were indeed strangers in Shanyin and lacked a guide. Now that Meng Feiyang offered, and Zhang Chi liked him very much, he was delighted and said, “That would be most helpful, Brother Meng.”

“No trouble at all,” said Meng Feiyang. With that, the three left the Celestial Paradise.

Zhang Chi, having composed several poems at the banquet earlier, found that no one had come to collect payment for the wine.