Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 73: Qinghe

Qinghe and Beimang were the names of places in the real world and were located in similar locations as their real world counterparts. It was Beimang was more north than it should have been, but the geography of Qinghe very much corresponded to the Qinghe in the real world. When Zhao Changhe escorted Cui Yuanyang back, he thought of the meme “I’ve come to HEB Province.”[1]

The location of the capital was also very close to that of the capital in the real world. Beimang was situated more to the north, which was why Cui Yuanyong said that even though the capital was not on the way to Beimang, it was not that big of a detour to go there.

Zhao Changhe did not know how this type of phenomenon came about or what relation it had to the real world... Regarding the previous era, perhaps I can ask Cui Wenjing. Yangyang might not be very clear about it.

They walked through the streets of Qinghe Commandery. They were incomparably wide; there was an endless stream of horses and carriages; on both sides, there were small stalls from which the calls of vendors never ceased; palaces and pavilions were strewn about everywhere—it was incredibly imposing.

This was the first prosperous city that Zhao Changhe had visited in this world. It was many times more flourishing than that city where Zhao Changhe stole clothes before. I wonder how the capital compares to this?

The slaughtering of families, bloodshed, robbers looting, the conflict and treachery of the jianghu, bandits rising in revolt, clans massacring clans—all of it appeared to occur far away from this place. It felt like they did not even take place in the same world.

If one was looking for a paradise amidst these troubled times, it would probably be this place.

The Commandery Administrator was from the Cui Clan. It was not Cui Wenjing, but his brother Cui Wenjue. The Cui Clan had many more clan members, in-laws, and disciples. They also had many former subordinates that spread across the various commanderies, provinces, and the military. They were a first-rate power that truly stretched across multiple regions.

This was the Cui Clan of Qinghe.

Cui Wenjing did not hold any office in the imperial court and wanted to maintain his aloofness as the ninth person under heaven. With his strength, even Xia Longyuan had to respect him.

When Zhao Changhe met him, the head of the Cui Clan was like a sly fox, but this image of him vastly differed from how the majority of people in the world saw him. To them, he was unfathomable—an immortal that resided high above the clouds, imposing but also noble and refined.

With his modern knowledge, just from the fact that annexing lands resulted in many people being displaced, Zhao Changhe knew that beneath this prosperity lay something extremely vile. Here, the powerful families were all definitely antagonists. Oppressing the people, deceiving them, disregarding the laws of the empire, and colluding with different families—these were their fundamental methods. These powerful families played a huge part in bringing about these troubled times.

This was why Zhao Changhe, from the start, had felt apprehensive about the powerful families, so much so that he viewed them with contempt. Yangyang was indeed adorable, but she was just one person; she could not even represent her own clan, much less an entire class of people. However, after seeing the wider world and the peace and prosperity here that was completely different from what he had experienced before, he had to admit that his impression was not very objective.

There were two sides to everything. At the very least, this place really was a paradise.

The Cui family manor was located east of the city. The land it took up stretched further than the eye could see; it was extremely majestic. Outside its gates, by the footpath, willow trees were caressed by the spring wind, and there was a small bridge over a flowing stream. The solemnity of the entire place was counterbalanced by its carefree elegance. In fact, it was more stylish than the beautiful garden belonging to the Wei County Magistrate.

Cui Wenjing did not bring him here. Zhao Changhe had no idea where he was. Instead, Cui Yunyang was the one that happily brought her Big Brother Zhao into her home. From the moment they stepped in, she led him to where her chambers were located. Zhao Changhe felt the path they took was longer than circling the Beimang stronghold three times, and there were more servants tending to the flowers here than there were people in the mountain stronghold.

She’s really a rich loli.

Cui Yuanyang could see he was green with envy and grinned. “If I brought you here earlier before you discussed marriage, would you have wanted to remain here?”

Zhao Changhe answered honestly, “I’d probably say ‘rich woman, I’m hungry. I want food.’”

Cui Yuanyang imitated his crude way of speaking and said, “I, Zhao Changhe, don’t live off women.”

“Hey, have I even said this in front of you before?”

“I don’t know, but do you even need to say it? We both know that’s exactly the way you think.”

“I think that you’ve blindly overestimated me in your heart... If you give me money, I’ll really take it. Really...”

“Well, have you said something like that before?”

“Yes...”

“Then I haven’t overestimated you.” Cui Yuanyang smiled as she led him by the hand. “Come, I’ll bring you to my room. It’s really cute.”

“Young lady.” Finally, a maid by the side could not help but say, “It’s not appropriate for Lord Zhao to enter your chambers...”

These maids and servant girls had been trailing behind them for some time now. As they watched them banter flirtatiously, they had expressions that looked like they were forced to eat shit.

Right now, Zhao Changhe was basically someone shooting for something far beyond his condition. As a result, he was shunned by Cui Wenjing for being a bandit and forced to accept the three-year agreement. This matter had not been leaked outside yet, but within the Cui Clan, rumors were beginning to spread.

In reality, none of the servants of the Cui Clan felt that Zhao Changhe could reach the Ranking of Man in these three years, which was to say that they thought the marriage was never going to happen.

We let you in as a guest and didn’t drive you out because you are the young lady’s benefactor. This is the master’s magnanimity, yet you wish to take advantage of it and even enter the young lady’s chambers? What’re you planning to do inside? Huh?

This was why Cui Wenjing thought that this solution would severely damage Zhao Changhe’s own reputation. He was really doing all of this so Yangyang would not lose face; he did not care one bit about his own.

Cui Yuanyang knew all of this, and the more she understood, the more she could not stand other people saying such things about him. She turned around, hands placed on her hips and said angrily, “Who I bring into my chambers is my own business. If not even my father cares about this, what’s your problem!?”

The maidservant urged, “The master is occupied with too many things everyday. How could he have time to concern himself with this? Young lady, you must have respect for yourself. After leaving the house without permission, was the lesson you learned not painful enough...”

Another person said, “Indeed. Just look at him. He begged for money the moment he opened his mouth. It’s too.... I’ve never seen anyone like him. He’s really a bandit.”

Zhao Changhe could not help but laugh.

Cui Yuanyang also laughed away her anger after hearing that line. She took out a gold piece and stuffed it into Zhao Changhe’s hand. “If he wants money, I’ll give him money. Who’s going to stop me?”

After saying this, she tiptoed and tried to kiss Zhao Changhe on the cheek. “I can even kiss him. Why don’t you call my father here to stop me.”

She could not kiss him. She was too short.

As Cui Yuanyang hopped while tiptoeing, Zhao Changhe blocked her by pressing down on her head.

Cui Yuanyang seethed as she looked at him. Zhao Changhe smiled. “Trying to take advantage of the situation, eh?”

“Hmph.” Cui Yuanyang tilted her head and let go of his hand. “Let’s go. We shan’t bother ourselves with them.”

A whole group of maids stood there, stupefied. She’s even willing to kiss him in broad daylight...

It’s over. She left home for a few days and she’s already like a bandit. If she ran off to a stronghold and proclaimed herself stronghold mistress, I’m afraid that she might really fit the role...

They faintly heard Zhao Changhe say, “Alright. It’s really not convenient for me to enter your chambers. Our agreement was to protect your reputation. Don’t ruin it by yourself. It’s already a big enough headache for me and your father.”

Cui Yuanyang pouted and knew she had been too excited. In her heart, she had already thought of this whole arrangement as an engagement. However, outsiders could not and would not see it that way. On the contrary, this symbolized a falling out between Zhao Changhe and the Cui Clan.

She could not willfully ruin the efforts of her father and Big Brother Zhao.

She sighed, a little dispirited. “Oh... Then follow me over there...”

“Where?”

“The Weapon Hall,” said Cui Yuanyang as she inadvertently glanced at Zhao Changhe’s wine gourd which never left his side.

After braving the storms of the jianghu, Zhao Changhe’s saber was chipped, and even he himself did not know when it happened. On the other hand, his wine gourd was still maintained in good condition; it was just showing signs of age, but he was reluctant to throw it away.

Her gaze flitted across him and, without thinking, she said, “Big Brother Zhao, your saber is chipped. I’ll find the best saber for you—one that’ll last forever!”

“How can there be a saber that lasts forever and won’t ever chip if I bash some skulls...”

“Your w—wish is my command! Whatever you want, we definitely have it!”

How could Zhao Changhe have known that she felt like she was fighting a desperate battle? Right now, his desire to swap out his saber exceeded all his interests. Even if a naked woman lay down before him, he could not care less. “Alright. I’ll make a wish. I want to see what sabers you have!”

The Cui Clan’s Weapon Hall was not just one room, it was an entire heavily guarded building. Behind it was a road that led to a small hill upon which Zhao Changhe could make out a small pavilion that appeared to be made out of copper. He knew not what treasures were contained within it.

Seeing that Cui Yuanyang had brought someone to the Weapon Hall, the guards did not stop them. The daughter of the first wife of the Clan head was, of course, qualified to take most of the weapons. Cui Yuanyang had no intention of going to the copper pavilion on the hill and only brought Zhao Changhe to a room on the right. She smiled. “This room is specially dedicated to storing sabers.”

Zhao Changhe’s directed his gaze away from the copper pavilion and said softly, “What’s over there?”

“On the hill, behind the copper pavilion, is our clan’s ancestral temple. Right now, father is inside holding a trial...” Cui Yuanyang’s voice lowered without her realizing it. “As for the copper pavilion, it’s the place where my family’s most treasured Qinghe Sword resides. Oh right, there’s also a famed saber conferred upon us by his majesty. It’s of great importance.”

Zhao Changhe, who had read thousands of wuxia novels by this point, instinctively felt that there was more to this.

1. HEB here refers to Hebei Province. The meme is from this scene in the movie Downfall where Hitler sounds like he’s saying “I’ve come to Hebei province” when he’s speaking in German. https://youtu.be/-H-u19HjGB0?si=QJQT1hXb0H--S6bl ☜