The iron eaves are cast in the shape of bamboo joints, and when the autumn wind passes by, they make a clear sound like newly broken bamboo shoots.

Songtao Pavilion features a plaque with gold-flecked regular script on an ebony plaque, and a three-story cypress building with lattice windows in the shape of the Chinese character "万" (wan).

Helian Chaolu secretly breathed a sigh of relief outside the door; her first scene in Fengjing was about to begin.

Upon entering the lobby, beechwood square tables are arranged in a nine-square grid.

There were quite a few people; at a glance, about 70-80% of the seats were occupied.

It wasn't as noisy as ordinary restaurants, probably because everyone there considered themselves scholars.

As soon as Helian Chaolu and her entourage stepped inside, the already restrained conversations fell even lower, and almost everyone stared at the entrance.

The waiter hurriedly came to greet him.

The locals are quick-witted and shrewd in welcoming and seeing off guests; they guessed it accurately with a quick glance.

After all, the news of the noblewoman from the border region coming to the capital had already spread far and wide.

Besides, Lieutenant Li and his men were clearly carrying swords at their waists, making it hard not to guess what was going on.

"Please come in, esteemed guests."

Lieutenant Li looked to his side, indicating that she should make the decision.

Helian Chaolu showed no fear, waved her hand, and went upstairs.

Having grown accustomed to living on flat land, I've only ever seen two-story buildings in the towns established by the Xuanwu Reserve Army.

Now that she has come to Fengjing and experienced the baptism of climbing to the top of Qizhen Tower, she is unwilling to sit on the first floor.

Even an ordinary staircase has a clever design: a treasure cabinet is set up at the corner of the staircase.

She inkstones, pine soot ink, and all sorts of unusual stones are displayed in a staggered arrangement.

As soon as you step onto the second floor, a whole wall of white chalk comes into view.

The servant busied himself explaining that this was a unique feature of Songtao Pavilion – a wall adorned with hanging poems.

If diners have newly composed poems or lyrics, they can bring them here for appreciation. If they are well-received, they can be inscribed on the wall.

Located in Songyanfang, a gathering place for literati and scholars, and being the largest restaurant in the area, it was this atmosphere that allowed it to develop.

"Anyone who writes a poem on the wall can go straight to the third floor and will receive a complimentary specialty dish from the shop."

Except for the top-ranked item, the rest are repainted with rice paste on the ninth day of each month.

Helian Chaolu was naturally aware of this rule, and the largest restaurant in Songyanfang was her target from the beginning.

She raised her head, looking so arrogant, "What do you mean? We can't even get to the third floor yet?"

As he spoke, his gaze drifted to the side, but Lieutenant Li pretended not to notice.

The rules are naturally for ordinary people. Don't underestimate him just because he's only a lowly captain; even the Imperial Guards have some influence.

If he reveals his true identity, he'll probably be able to get in.

However, this is a place where scholars gather, and given their scholarly spirit, there's no guarantee that some gossip won't spread.

Lieutenant Li didn't want to get involved in any trouble, especially since it was for someone unrelated; it was completely unnecessary.

That shrewd young servant understood immediately upon seeing the attitude of the leading imperial guard.

He cupped his hands respectfully, but his refusal was firm and unequivocal.

"Please be considerate, it's the rule of our shop."

“Heh,” Helian Chaolu crossed her arms.

"It wouldn't have mattered anyway, but if you put it that way, I'm determined to go up to the third floor for dinner today."

"this……"

The servant was speechless for a moment.

People who eat here value their reputation; I've never encountered anyone forcibly breaking into the third floor.

He was unsure about the man's identity and the imperial guards beside him, so he could only force a smile.

"You flatter me, esteemed guest..."

"Get out of the way!"

Lieutenant Li had a headache.

The former brigade commander of the Xuanwu Army had already made it very clear that this man was not one to be trifled with.

He always thought that he would restrain himself once he arrived in Fengjing City, but he never expected that he would reveal his true colors now.

Remembering his superior's instructions, he kept his eyes down and pretended not to hear.

"Hey Zhou, not just anyone can be called a distinguished guest."

The piercing sound made Lieutenant Li's heart skip a beat.

He knew the words weren't directed at him, but a conflict seemed inevitable.

"Who!" Sure enough, the next moment Helian Chaolu turned around abruptly, "Who's barking like a dog!"

The tables on the second floor are spaced further apart than those on the first floor, and are separated by screens.

It doesn't completely block the view; it just serves a decorative purpose, allowing you to see most of the area from the stairwell.

At this moment, everyone looked in the direction of Helian Chaolu, their faces full of mockery, and it was impossible to tell who had spoken sarcastically.

Helian Chaolu strode away, "A coward who dares to speak but not admit it, is this what the scholars of Fengjing are like?"

"Good heavens!" Captain Li exclaimed.

What a sharp tongue! He's managed to insult all the scholars in Fengjing.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed on the second floor as Helian Chaolu barged in.

She looked around, exuding a fierce aura.

But the scholars were not afraid; they wore mocking smiles, both reserved and unrestrained.

People of similar status only take a confrontation seriously; they maintain the self-restraint of scholars and treat it as just watching a play.

When people go to Langyinfang for pleasure, there are often men who make fun of them.

Songyanfang doesn't have this rule, but people still actively seek it out.

Some people raised their glasses and drank it all in one gulp, feeling that the wine tasted much better than usual.

"I've learned something new. So this is what scholars in Fengjing are like?"

Bah! A spirit as fragile as snowflakes, a coward who dares to speak but not admit it.

"you!"

Some hot-blooded young men, upon hearing this, were about to slam their fists on the table and stand up.

Just then, the voice that had spoken first rang out again.

It turned out to be an old man, sitting on the left side by the window.

The fine linen shirt, faded to an autumnal hue, had dark patches of honeysuckle pattern on the shoulders, all in the same color family.

The belt hangs loosely on the hip bone, and the gray-white base is exposed where the gilded buckle is worn.

Stains of mulberry wine clung to her graying temples, and her headband slipped half an inch off, revealing a forehead band bearing the hexagram "Wei Ji" (未济).

Judging from his appearance, he didn't seem to come from a wealthy family. His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes revealed his dejection and drunkenness.

A low laugh escaped his throat, and his gray head bobbed up and down.

"Good, good, good!" The old man suddenly burst into laughter, slamming his hand on the table and standing up.

The cracked jade gourd at his waist knocked over the wine pot, which was now just a broken bottom. "The wind blows through the feathered curtain, and the poem is rolled up!"

He staggered, grabbed the spur-shaped pen from the sharkskin pen case, dipped it in the spilled liquor, and began to scribble wildly on the table, reciting as he wrote:

"The stench of money permeates the tents."

Do you also aspire to ascend the Phoenix Palace and tread upon the azure clouds?

Qi Lianyue, with his sword ring hanging empty.

The dogs barked incessantly before the nine-tiered steps!

After reciting the poem, he threw down his pen, and the veins on the back of his withered hand bulged out like cracks in frozen soil.

Helian Chaolu sighed inwardly, "Even cursing people has to be turned into poetry."

As expected of Fengjing, a place renowned for its outstanding people and beautiful scenery, but... the insults were truly vulgar.

The next moment, she actually untied the five-colored silk ribbon and swung her arm to strike.

"stop!"