Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 182 Arrival in Luoyang: Auspicious Omens Flying Everywhere - Shangguan Wan'er
The next day, early in the morning.

The morning mist in late autumn looked like a layer of cotton covering the outside of the window.

Liu Jianjun, who gets up early, is full of energy again, as if every morning is a new beginning for him. As soon as Li Xian went out, he saw Liu Jianjun embracing the morning mist, arms outstretched, head tilted back, enjoying the morning.

Li Xian's mood improved for no apparent reason.

He walked over and teased, "In this situation, why not compose a poem?"

Liu Jianjun was taken aback, turned his head, and looked at Li Xian with a puzzled expression: "What poem are you going to write? I slept with my arm pressed against something last night, and the bed boards in this shabby inn are all hard..."

Liu Jianjun is such a spoilsport.

Li Xian turned his head and walked towards the stable to get his horse. Liu Jianjun followed closely behind. As soon as the two reached the outside of the stable, they heard a minor official inside shouting, "Auspicious omen! Auspicious omen!"

Li Xian was curious and peeked inside.

Two minor officials were carrying a log out. Upon closer inspection, the log turned out to be a fence from the stable, and it was considered auspicious because a small clump of fungi had grown on it.

Two minor officials carried the log to Li Xian's side. One of them hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Highness! What an auspicious sign! Look at the wooden fence of the stable. Such fresh and lush fungi have sprouted in the late autumn. This is a good omen from heaven, which must be a sign of peace and prosperity for the country!"

Another person quickly chimed in, "Yes, Your Highness! We have been serving at this post station for over a decade and have never witnessed such a strange event! It must be a sign from Heaven, bestowing auspicious omens upon Your Highness's journey!"

Li Xian frowned, finding it absurd.

The stable is always damp and warm, especially this piece of wood, which looks wet and smells foul. It must be because it is often "moistened" by horse urine behind the stable. How can it be considered auspicious to have fungi growing there?
He was just about to casually dismiss the two petty officials who wanted a reward when Liu Jianjun approached, circled the wood, pointed at the clump of mushrooms, and exclaimed in amazement, "Wow, they're quite plump. Tell me, gentlemen, can these... be eaten?"

The two minor officials were taken aback by his question and stammered, "This...this is an auspicious omen from heaven, how...how can we desecrate it..."

"So you can't eat auspicious fungi?" Liu Jianjun's eyes widened. "If God gives you food and you don't eat it, aren't you disrespecting God? Besides, what if these fungi are poisonous? Is it an auspicious sign or an ominous one?"

The minor official was bewildered by his fallacies and heresies, and for a moment he didn't know how to respond.

Li Xian suppressed a laugh, waved his hand, and said to the clerk, "Since it is an auspicious omen, keep it safe and don't damage it. As for eating it... there's no need for that."

He shook his head, casually gave them a few coins to send them away, and the clerk immediately thanked him profusely and carried the "auspicious omen" away.

As he walked over to take the horse, Liu Jianjun came over again, laughing and saying, "See? He's gone mad."

Li Xian was puzzled.

"Isn't this all thanks to your mother's scheme? Now the whole world is full of auspicious omens. Believe me, the closer we get to Luoyang, the more auspicious omens we'll see. Plus, with that whistle-dropping system your mother set up earlier, tsk tsk, I reckon everyone in the world is thinking about sending auspicious omens to the capital, dreaming of getting promoted and making a fortune overnight." Liu Jianjun walked up to his whirlwind horse and grabbed a handful of hay to feed it.

Li Xian, leading his horse, frowned even more deeply after hearing Liu Jianjun's words.

Having experienced so much, he wasn't ignorant of these intricacies; it was just that seeing and hearing them with his own eyes and ears still made him feel nauseous.

This is hardly an auspicious omen; it is clearly a sign that the culture of flattery has penetrated to the bone, and even the lowly officials at this remote post station have learned to use this method to engage in opportunism.

This world is truly bizarre, absurd, and utterly ridiculous.

After feeding the horses, Liu Jianjun patted the grass clippings off his hands and said, "It's fortunate that we received that rice stalk early on. Otherwise, with so many auspicious omens around, what good is a handful of rice stalks?"

Li Xian retorted, "The rice ears are different; this is a matter of people's livelihood..."

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Jianjun interrupted him: "What's the difference? With careful fertilization and round-the-clock care, you can only get a handful of plump, top-quality fruits from several acres of land. This isn't auspicious; it's an over-distribution of productivity. With that kind of free time, I could grow more than ten acres of land."

"Think about it, is it better for a person to carefully tend one acre of land and produce two bushels of grain, or to take care of ten acres of land with a little care and produce fifteen bushels of grain?"

Li Xian fell silent.

indeed.

In the short time that followed, Liu Jianjun had already mounted his horse, his tone relaxed again: "Let's go, to Luoyang, and see how many more auspicious omens your mother has managed to conjure up!"

……

The convoy set off again.

Just as Liu Jianjun had predicted, the closer they got to Luoyang, the more bizarre and auspicious rumors about omens appeared.

In almost every prefecture and county along the way, similar news could be heard: a strange rock naturally shaped like a human was discovered in a certain place; a pond in a certain place suddenly bloomed with twin lotus flowers overnight; there were even rumors that an old cow in a local family gave birth to a "unicorn calf" that was pure white and had spiral patterns on its horns...

These messages were solemnly written into memorials by local officials and sent to the capital by fast horse, becoming capital for their political opportunism.

There was much discussion among the public, with conflicting information that was difficult to discern.

Under Empress Wu's enthusiastic "invitation," the whole world seemed to be in a frenzy of auspicious omens. Li Xian was thinking about Liu Jianjun's theory of "two shi per mu and fifteen shi per ten mu." When he saw these auspicious omens, he wondered: how many mu of yield must have produced these auspicious omens?
But Liu Jianjun didn't care about any of that. Instead, he listened to these things as amusement, commenting: "Tsk, the cost of faking these strange stones is too high. The twin lotus flowers at least have some technical skill, but as for that white calf... I bet it was just coated with a layer of lime. The skill level is terrible..."

……

At the end of November, the convoy finally arrived at the outskirts of Luoyang.

Instead of going directly into the city, they temporarily settled down at Longmen Post Station on the south bank of the Luo River.

Although Li Dan has been sidelined by Empress Wu, his status as emperor has been firmly established. Therefore, according to the rules, when a prince returns to the capital, he must first submit a petition here and wait for the palace's arrangements.

After Li Xian finished writing his letter of homage and explaining his purpose, he sent a minor official from the post station to deliver it to the office of the interpreter in the city.

Liu Jianjun had disappeared. He only returned after Li Xian finished everything. As soon as he entered the post station, he shouted, "Good heavens, Xianzi, do you know what I just saw outside?"

Before Li Xian could answer, he continued, "I just took a stroll around and saw several courtyards with strange-looking things covered in red cloth. I guess they are all treasures waiting to be presented to the emperor."

"There's an old man over next door who's said to be over a hundred years old. His great-grandson sent him to Luoyang as an auspicious omen. I'm thinking if this old man kicks the bucket in front of your mother, all the auspicious omens in the world will come to his funeral. That would be hilarious."

Li Xian glared at him irritably: "A centenarian is certainly a venerable person."

But then, he looked reluctant: "It's just... such a long and arduous journey, treating an elderly person like an object to seek favors, is really against human ethics and filial piety."

Liu Jianjun shrugged, sat down opposite Li Xian, poured himself a bowl of water, and said, "Filial piety? What does it matter when it comes to promotion and wealth! What you've seen now is just an appetizer. Once we get into Luoyang, that's when things will really get chaotic!"

He lowered his voice, "I just heard that officials from several places almost got into a fight outside the post station over the order of presenting auspicious omens. This is no auspicious gathering, but a stage for fame and fortune."

Li Xian silently stroked the rim of the teacup, the feeling of absurdity and powerlessness welling up in his heart again.

This pervasive wind of delusion, like a poisonous fog, is eroding the foundations of the empire.

……

The days of waiting to be summoned were tedious and long.

Besides reading, Li Xian spends his days practicing calligraphy, trying to calm his mind.

Liu Jianjun, on the other hand, was like a restless monkey, sometimes "exploring" around the post station, sometimes strolling to the Luo River to watch the boats come and go, and occasionally bringing back some true or false gossip from the streets.

On the evening of the third day, Liu Jianjun returned from gathering information in the city.

"My son." He closed the door, his expression slightly grave, and said in a low voice, "Because of the rebellion by the imperial clan, your mother said that she is still furious. Recently, another group of officials have been implicated and imprisoned. Now, no one in the court or the public dares to speak up for the imperial clan easily. There are also some unpleasant voices about you."

Liu Jianjun quickly sat down next to Li Xian and asked, "Has there been any news from the palace?"

Li Xian shook his head: "There is no clear imperial decree summoning her yet. The yamen of the Tongshi Sheren only said that it has been reported and is awaiting the emperor's decision. However, that person also said that tomorrow the Empress Dowager will receive a batch of auspicious omens that have just arrived at Shangyang Palace. The scene must be quite grand."

Liu Jianjun narrowed his eyes and tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "Something's strange..."

Before Liu Jianjun could finish speaking, someone outside the door announced loudly, "The Imperial Attendant Shangguan of the Palace Ceremonial Bureau has arrived!"

This announcement startled both people inside the room.

Then, Liu Jianjun's face lit up with joy, and he said, "Wan'er is here? I was just trying to find out what was going on in the palace!" Li Xian exchanged a glance with him, quickly straightened his robes, and stood up to greet him.

The door opened, and a young woman dressed in a light pink female official's robe, with an elegant demeanor, walked in gracefully. It was Shangguan Wan'er. Behind her were two low-ranking eunuchs, holding documents, who stood respectfully outside the door.

Judging from this, Li Xian knew that Shangguan Wan'er had come out on orders from the palace.

Shangguan Wan'er remained calm, her gaze first falling on Li Xian. She bowed respectfully, her voice clear and reverent: "This humble official, Shangguan Wan'er, has come to pay my respects to His Highness Prince Pei by order of His Majesty the Divine Emperor."

"No need for such formalities, Shangguan Shangyi." Li Xian raised his hand in a gesture of support, and in the brief moment, he quickly exchanged a glance with Shangguan Wan'er.

Shangguan Wan'er's expression remained unchanged, which puzzled Li Xian.

I can make eye contact with Liu Jianjun, right?

At this moment, Shangguan Wan'er straightened up and quickly glanced at Liu Jianjun beside her. But Liu Jianjun seemed to have received some signal, and his lips twitched almost imperceptibly. Then he also pretended to cup his hands in a gesture of respect.

Li Xian suffered a setback.

How can those two make eye contact?

“Your Highness,” Shangguan Wan’er said in a businesslike tone, “His Majesty the Emperor knows that Your Highness has arrived at Longmen Post Station and has specially ordered me to come and deliver a message. His Majesty said that Your Highness has come a long way and is tired. You can rest well at the post station for two days and there is no need to rush into the city. It will not be too late to enter Shangyang Palace for an audience the day after tomorrow at 9:00 am.”

"Your Majesty, I am grateful for your consideration and will obey your decree." Li Xian replied respectfully.

Shangguan Wan'er nodded slightly and continued, "In addition, there has been much commotion in and around the capital recently due to the 'auspicious omen'. His Majesty is worried that Your Highness may be out of touch with reality due to your long absence from the capital, so he has ordered me to send some important official documents to Your Highness for your review, so that Your Highness may be aware of the current situation."

As she spoke, she gestured to the side, and a eunuch outside the door immediately brought in a stack of documents.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I am deeply grateful," Li Xian said again.

Having finished conveying the important message, Shangguan Wan'er should have taken her leave, but she did not leave immediately. Instead, she spoke in a slightly gentler tone, as if casually mentioning it, "Your Highness has been away from the capital for many years, and the capital has changed a lot. In the southern market area, many new shops run by foreign merchants have opened, selling exotic treasures, and it is quite lively."

"If Your Highness has the time, you may wish to take a look."

Li Xian was stunned.

Liu Jianjun immediately chimed in, grinning as he said to Li Xian, "Your Highness, did you hear that? The eunuch Shangguan says the South Market is bustling. After we settle in, we should definitely go for a stroll. Maybe we can find some interesting things to present to His Majesty the Emperor!"

Li Xian understood instantly.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Shangguan Wan'er's lips, but she quickly concealed it and bowed to Li Xian again: "The imperial decree has been delivered and the documents have been sent. I must return to the palace to report back and cannot stay any longer. I shall take my leave now."

Shangguan Wan'er came and went in a hurry, but it was clear that she had left some information behind.

……

The next day, after breakfast, Liu Jianjun urged Li Xian to go out.

“Your Highness Prince Pei, I’ve heard that the Hu merchants’ shops have some novelties. Why don’t we go and have a look around, so we can get familiar with the capital city beforehand?” His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for any spies or informants in the post station to hear.

Li Xian understood and immediately agreed.

The two changed into less conspicuous casual clothes and rode their horses towards the South Market.

Luoyang's South Market truly lives up to its reputation.

Although not as large as the West Market of Chang'an, its proximity to the Grand Canal made it a hub for goods from all directions, especially attracting merchants from foreign lands, giving it a unique exotic atmosphere.

Shops lined both sides of the street, their flags waving, selling spices, gems, and carpets from the Western Regions, Persian silverware, Arabian glass, and even Indian Buddha statues—a dazzling array of goods. The air was filled with the aromas of various spices, leather, and baked goods, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and haggling filled the air.

Bustling and lively.

Liu Jianjun seemed genuinely there to shop, looking at the Hu people's scimitars here and there, touching the brightly colored brocade there, and occasionally asking the Hu merchants questions in broken Hu language mixed with gestures. Li Xian followed behind him, but his eyes subtly swept over the shop signs along the street, silently thinking of the Hu merchants' shops.

"Hey, Xianzi, what do you think of this?" Liu Jianjun picked up a veiled cap, put it on his head, and pretended to be mysterious. "Wear this, and I guarantee no one will recognize you."

Li Xian shook his head helplessly and said in a low voice, "Don't be silly, important matters are more important."

"Don't worry, I won't forget." Liu Jianjun took off his hat, put it down casually, and continued walking forward, but his eyes were intentionally or unintentionally scanning his surroundings.

Li Xian thought to himself that Shangguan Wan'er hadn't left any clear instructions. With so many Hu shops all over the street, which one was the Hu shop that Shangguan Wan'er was talking about?

Liu Jianjun, however, seemed confident and continued to stroll around at a leisurely pace.

After passing several large shops selling spices and gems, Liu Jianjun did not stop. He then passed a noisy tavern, but only glanced at it before continuing on his way.

Li Xian followed behind him, his doubts growing. Just as he was about to ask in a low voice, he saw Liu Jianjun slow down at a relatively secluded corner.

Here is a small but elegantly decorated Sogdian merchant's shop, whose signboard reads "Kangjiabao Goods" in both Tang Dynasty script and winding Sogdian script.

Unlike the shops next door that loudly hawked their wares and attracted customers, this shop was quiet. The beaded curtain was half-rolled up, and there were no noisy shop assistants or ostentatious displays of goods at the entrance. Only a young Sogdian apprentice sat quietly inside the threshold, polishing a small silver pot.

Liu Jianjun strode toward the shop.

Li Xian instantly understood, but couldn't help asking, "How did you know it was this shop?"

Liu Jianjun pointed to an inconspicuous wooden sign hanging at the shop entrance, a lewd grin on his face: "Because of this."

Li Xian turned to look, his face blank.

The logo is a symmetrical shape with a peach in the middle and wings on both sides resembling outstretched bird feathers; it looks quite nice.

Li Xian thought to himself, this might be some kind of secret code that Liu Jianjun and Shangguan Wan'er had agreed upon.

Li Xian finally felt relieved, and at the same time secretly admired Shangguan Wan'er and Liu Jianjun's tacit understanding and meticulousness. This layered communication method greatly ensured safety.

As soon as the two entered, the shop owner gave a wink to the servant beside him, who immediately went to the shop entrance to keep an eye out. The shop owner then lifted a dark curtain next to the counter and gestured for them to enter.

Li Xian and Liu Jianjun strolled inside. It was a completely different world, with a layout similar to a restaurant, containing more than a dozen separate rooms.

Li Xian and Liu Jianjun were led to a side room by the shop owner, who then excused himself and left.

Li Xian then began to examine the layout of the private room. The private room was slightly smaller than the outer shop and simply furnished, with only a low table and a few embroidered stools. A Western Region-style carpet hung on the wall, which blocked out the outside noise and made it exceptionally quiet.

Li Xian and Liu Jianjun had barely settled into their quiet room when they heard soft footsteps outside the door.

It wasn't the shop owner returning, but a young woman dressed as a maid in a light blue, narrow-sleeved ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with her head down and carrying a lacquered tray with a teapot and cups, who walked in with light steps.

She skillfully placed the tea set gently on the low table, then bowed her head and stepped aside, saying in a soft voice, "Please enjoy your tea, esteemed guests. The shopkeeper instructed that if you require anything, please feel free to call me."

Li Xian nodded and said, "Thank you for your trouble."

The maid did not leave immediately. Instead, she turned to Liu Jianjun, her tone carrying just the right amount of hesitation and respect: "This...is Mr. Liu?"

Liu Jianjun raised an eyebrow and replied, "What advice do you have for me, young lady?"

The maid did not answer, but simply handed a silk ribbon to Liu Jianjun.

Li Xian noticed that at the end of the ribbon, there was a tiny pattern embroidered with silver thread that was very similar to the heart on the sign outside the store.

Then the maid said, "Mr. Liu, please come with me first, the shop owner has something else to invite you to."

……

(End of this chapter)