Market Tour
The small windows were emerald green, with hollow carvings of vermilion. The private rooms within the embassy were elegantly designed and uniquely sized. A bouquet of fresh osmanthus flowers stood in a celadon vase on the table, filling the room with a sweet fragrance. Inside, neatly arranged were a variety of vessels and jars, all made of porcelain and pottery. The celadon and white porcelain were dazzling, each with its own unique carvings, but all exquisite and refined. This kind of porcelain had never been seen in other countries, its texture light and translucent, the same texture as the porcelain boy embedded in the glass I had bought in the market that year. As I was carefully observing and appreciating it, someone behind me said, "What would the Marquis of Dingyuan like to have for dinner this morning?"
Zishu turned around and saw the postman standing behind him. He said politely, "Just follow the customs of Qi State. There's no need to go out of your way. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Besides, I'm quite interested in Qi State cuisine and want to savor it carefully."
The postman said, "I will go to the kitchen to prepare it."
The kitchen of the embassy gathered chefs who specialized in cuisines from all over the world. They had superb cooking skills and even the breakfast was exquisitely prepared. Soon, the table was filled with food. After the postman introduced the food to each of them in detail, Zishu Xingzhi smiled and said to the postman, "How can I eat so much by myself? If you don't mind, I would like to invite you to eat with me." After that, he raised his hand and gestured to the opposite side, inviting the postman to sit down.
The postman pushed and shoved with him for a while, and finally sat opposite him, but he felt very uneasy while eating the meal.
The Marquis of Dingyuan from the Qing Kingdom arrived with a murderous aura, yet he was polite and approachable. Was this a gentle tactic? He wondered what was going on. But the Emperor had commanded him to treat the envoy with the highest courtesy. The envoy had already offered him a seat and dinner. To directly refuse his respect would be impolite, contrary to the Emperor's will, and a disgrace to his mission. So, he simply ate. We could discuss anything else afterward.
Zishu Xingzhi, however, devoured the dish with gusto. The tofu pudding, smooth as tender fat, lay softly in the white porcelain bowl, soaked in chicken broth and garnished with chopped cilantro, safflower, platycodon, and chili peppers. As the porcelain spoon gently scooped it from the bowl, it made a subtle percussion sound, like the melodious sound of Shao music. Perhaps it was inspired by Confucius's "Three Months of Not Knowing About Meat," ensuring not only the ultimate enjoyment for the taste buds but also the ultimate pleasure for the senses. The bowls and plates were all made of high-quality white porcelain. In the morning light, the translucency was so clear that one could vaguely see the shapes of the soup and vegetables in the bowls and plates, a hazy and graceful illusion.
Served with tofu brain are steamed buns with both vegetarian and meat fillings. The vegetarian filling has the fresh fragrance of green vegetables and wood ear mushrooms, and is supplemented by the richness of peace wormwood and peppercorns. Combined with the soft and glutinous texture of vermicelli, it is really refreshing and not greasy, leaving a lingering fragrance in the mouth. The meat filling is made by marinating meat with secret seasonings, which greatly releases the meaty aroma and mixes with the mellow fragrance of tofu brain, making it irresistible and endlessly memorable.
After the meal, Zishu Xingzhi wiped his mouth gracefully and praised, "Qiguo's cuisine is indeed well-deserved." You Ran looked at the postman, "Does your Excellency have any official business today?"
The postman smiled calmly, "My official duty is to be the Marquis of Dingyuan."
Zishu Xingzhi smiled. "Well, I'm so excited after breakfast today that I want to go to the market for a stroll." As if remembering something, he reminisced, "Last night, I saw lanterns outside the pavilion, as bright as day. It was a bustling scene. I think it must be the famous Linlanghai Market. I've heard it's the busiest place in Linjun City." His eyes lit up as he asked, "But I'm new here and don't know much about Qi State. I came here in a hurry and don't have a map. Could you please serve as a guide for me?"
The postman curled his lips. It was just official business, what was right or wrong? Then he said, "This is my duty. Marquis Dingyuan, please follow me."
The postman raised the curtain and ushered Zi Shuxing out. Suddenly, he became puzzled and asked, "Since this is Marquis Dingyuan's first time in Qi, why is he so familiar with Qi? Could it be that he has an old friend here?"
Marquis Dingyuan smiled but said nothing.
Eunuch He regained his composure under the gaze of the three men. He suddenly realized that his exclamation had been somewhat abrupt. He lowered his head, somewhat bewildered. As he hesitated, he heard Zhong Yujing ask, "When did you see him?"
Eunuch He was hesitating when he heard these words and suddenly woke up. He looked up and saw Zhong Yujing looking at him. Without time to consider his words, he answered, "It was that day when the envoys from the Qing Kingdom came to see Your Majesty. The Dingyuan Marquis spoke offensively, and Your Highness the Wise Prince stepped forward and grabbed his right arm. The situation was intense at the time. I looked up and vaguely saw what looked like a mark on the Dingyuan Marquis's right arm..." Eunuch He rubbed his chin, recalling. Emperor Hong asked again, "Where on the Dingyuan Marquis's right arm did you see the mark?" Eunuch He rolled his eyes and pointed to the middle of the lower part of his arm. "It should be here. I was very surprised at the time. I heard people say that the barbarians in the western border areas would tattoo words and pictures on their bodies. This Dingyuan Marquis is a relative of the Qing Kingdom. How could he have such a habit?"
Emperor Hong speculated for a moment, then turned to Zhong Yujing and asked, "Did Prime Minister Jing see the assassin's true appearance while in meditation? Was it this Marquis Dingyuan?"
Zhong Yujing shook his head and said regretfully, "I'm ashamed. It was late at night, and there was no light in King Yao's study. The assassin's head and face were covered with a long robe. I only regret that I couldn't touch anything and couldn't change King Yao's fate... I also couldn't see the assassin's true face clearly."
Emperor Hong picked up the scroll, unfolded it, and asked, "Where on the assassin's body is the mark that Prime Minister Jing saw on him?"
Zhong Yujing knew everything and said, "It's in the chest."
Emperor Hong's brow furrowed even deeper, and he slowly put down the scroll as he pondered. Zhong Yujing continued, "Before King Yao fainted, he clutched the assassin's shirt tightly, as if he had something to ask him. Before he fainted, he ripped open the assassin's collar, revealing the mark on his body."
Emperor Hong then asked, "According to what Jing Xiang saw, does the assassin's figure and appearance bear any resemblance to the Marquis Dingyuan of the Qing Kingdom?"
Zhong Yujing lowered his eyes and thought carefully for a moment before saying, "The assassin I saw was tall and handsome, perhaps even half a head taller than King Yao. He moved like the wind, leaving no trace. He was agile and skilled in martial arts. Judging from his physique, he should be a young man. Whether it was Marquis Yuan or not, I cannot make a rash judgment."
Emperor Hong nodded slightly. Marquis Dingyuan was tall and straight, but his manners were refined and courteous, with no trace of his martial arts training. However, it was said that the Qing Kingdom was located in the vast northern wilderness, and the people were rough and untamed. Men were sent by their families to practice martial arts from a young age, and they were proud to fight in the army in the future. This was especially true for the Qing Kingdom's royal family. The previous emperor, Emperor Huan, was a master of both civil and military affairs. Given this, Marquis Dingyuan's refined demeanor might just be a deception. He looked at the pattern on the scroll again. "What on earth is this?"
No one in the hall could answer.
The more Eunuch He listened, the more he felt the weight of the matter was at stake. If he had been careless and failed to see clearly, he feared it would have sparked a war. He hesitated and said, "Your Majesty, I only saw it vaguely that day, and I didn't see it clearly. Perhaps my eyesight is blurry due to my age. Please don't wrongly accuse the Marquis of Dingyuan..."
"You are not mistaken. He does have this mark on his body."
Emperor Hong, Zhong Yujing, and Eunuch He all looked at Shangguan Yichen, who had been silent for a long time. He slowly raised his right arm and pointed to a spot inward in the middle of the lower half. He said, "It's right here on his right arm. I was closest to him and saw it clearly when I grabbed his arm. The mark on Marquis Dingyuan's body is exactly the same as the pattern on the scroll."
Then Shangguan Yichen said, "Your Majesty, although there are still many doubts in this matter, all signs now point to the Marquis Dingyuan who came from the Qing Kingdom. In this case, why not ask him to come and ask him clearly? Perhaps the doubts can be cleared up."
Zhong Yujing also said, "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Wise King is absolutely right. Marquis Dingyuan came to our Great Qi originally for the sake of the affairs of the two countries. Now he is implicated in the murder of the royal family of Qi. As an envoy of the Qing Kingdom, I must give an explanation to Qi."
Emperor Hong then drafted an imperial edict, ordering the former commissioner of the investigation into the murder of King Yao, the Dali Temple Shaoqing Sun Zili, Prime Minister Zhong Yujing, and the virtuous king to go to the embassy to question the Marquis of Dingyuan.
Zishu Xingzhi strolled through the snack street filled with fragrance in Linlanghai City. The stall owners' shouts mixed with the customers' conversations made it very lively. He also passed by an antique street. In addition to the famous colored glaze porcelain, there were many rare treasures. The shopkeepers boasted about the smelting technology and rarity of the items and bargained with the sellers. After passing the flower market, there was a shop called "Supinxian" on the east side of the street that caught Zishu Xingzhi's attention.
"Interesting, does the store specialize in vegetarian food?" Zi Shuxingzhi asked with interest.
The postman, with a businesslike expression, said in a half-dead voice, "In reply to Marquis Dingyuan, the shop is a Buddhist, so it's a vegetarian shop. Although there are no meat dishes, all the food is excellently presented and delicious, which is worthy of its name. Although this shop is not grand, it is one of the most famous stores in Linlanghai City. Marquis Dingyuan has good taste."
Zishu Xingzhi's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he was about to enter the store. It was just past the hour of Si, and the postman asked, "It's not time for dinner yet. Isn't it too early?"
Zi Shuxingzhi said excitedly, "Since it's so famous, I imagine it must be very popular during meal times. Why don't we go in now and grab a seat so we can be served earlier?"
Zishuxing lifted the front swing and walked towards the store.
The postman rolled his eyes and followed in with his head down.
The two of them ordered an elegant room with a quiet environment on the second floor. The dining room would not be disturbed by the messy guests coming and going, making it convenient for talking and chatting. Looking down from the window of this elegant room, one can have a panoramic view of the entire store. It is undoubtedly the single room chosen by dignitaries first.
Zi Shuxing was in a good mood after having a vegetarian meal. During the meal, he kept praising: "Well, it really lives up to its reputation!", "I never thought that vegetarian food could be made so delicious!" He kept sighing "Hmm!" while chewing. The postman only regretted that he had no mouth so that he could not talk while eating. The breakfast in his stomach had not been digested yet, and he was forced to eat lunch in advance. The postman felt that his already bloated stomach was even more stuffy.
After Zishuxing had eaten and drunk his fill, he specially asked the shop owner to invite him for a meeting. The shop owner was a Buddhist and a good man, so he would not refuse such a kind invitation and soon came out to meet him happily.
It was just dinner time and guests were about to start coming in to eat, so it wasn't too busy. Zishu Xingzhi chatted with the shopkeeper in the elegant room in the hall.
Zi Shuxingzhi first asked about the vegetarian cooking method. The shopkeeper said that his ancestor was the chef of the imperial kitchen in the palace, and later passed down this skill. He followed his mother to worship Buddha since he was a child, so he suddenly had an idea to promote this skill in a vegetarian way. If he could gain the praise and admiration of diners, it would not bring shame to the family and could also promote Buddhism.
Upon hearing this, Zi Shuxingzhi felt as if he had found a close friend. He said, "My father was also devoutly devoted to Buddhism, though he didn't observe the vegetarian diet like you do. He also held a deep respect for Buddhist principles. Influenced by him since childhood, I've listened to his sutras and chanted his teachings. Whenever I felt uneasy, I often used them to comfort myself and benefited greatly from them."
The shopkeeper was even more excited after hearing this. He twisted the Buddhist beads in his hand and talked with Zi Shuxingzhi about everything from Buddhist scriptures to the philosophy of life. He was very happy.
The postman knew nothing about Buddhism, and felt that he must be seen as a vulgar person in the eyes of the two of them, a lazy and common man, unlike them who were extraordinary and ethereal. So he yawned to himself, sipping Longjing tea, and looking down from the second floor to count the customers coming in and out of the store.
The teacups on the table were replaced one after another, the teas precious and varied. No money was charged; they were all gifts from the shopkeeper, who was in high spirits. On his way back from his last trip to the outhouse, the postman, feeling relieved, thought about how he had tasted teas from all over the world in just half a day. It felt like his trip with the Marquis of Dingyuan hadn't been in vain. However, he seemed to drink all the tea himself, cup after cup, making repeated trips to the outhouse. Fortunately, the two men were so engrossed in their conversation that they probably didn't notice his frequent visits, which would have been embarrassing.
As soon as he pushed the door open and entered the private room, he saw Zishu Xingzhi and the shopkeeper standing up. Zishu Xingzhi saw the postman come in and smiled and said, "Have you finished your meal, sir?"
The postman naturally agreed, saying that the food was very good and the drinks were very delicious, so he should leave quickly.
Zishu Xingzhi then went out of the store with the shopkeeper and the messenger. The shopkeeper accompanied them all the way to the door of the store. He was reluctant to leave and repeatedly asked Zishu Xingzhi to come back to discuss Buddhism with him. Zishu Xingzhi of course agreed happily.
After leaving Su Pinxian, the two continued walking forward. Zi Shuxingzhi suddenly turned his head and asked, "What do you think of Su Pinxian's tea, sir?"
The postman was slightly taken aback, not expecting such a question. He replied bluntly, "The tea... is all top-grade, beyond words. I'm afraid even the most prestigious teahouse in Linjun City doesn't have as complete a selection as this one." Only then did he realize this after thinking about it. "I didn't expect this shopkeeper, besides being well-versed in Buddhist philosophy, is also an expert in tea."
Zi Shuxingzhi nodded and smiled, "If someone who understands tea says it's good, then it's really good."
The postman was startled again and asked blankly, "How did you know I know about tea, Lord?"
Zi Shuxing gracefully brushed his sleeves behind him, cast his gaze forward, and said slowly, "I knew it when I saw you sipping tea at breakfast."
The postman stood still, staring blankly at Zishuxing's figure walking straight forward. He was such a meticulous person who could read people's expressions and see through them without making a sound. Today, he asked Zishuxing to accompany him, and he must have known in his heart that he was extremely reluctant, so he deliberately catered to his own preferences and showed him a favor invisibly, so that neither of them owed the other anything silently.
This Marquis Dingyuan from Qing State is really interesting.
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