Notes on Longevity

Chapter 98 The seductive sounds from the attic continued, and killing intent gradually became apparent.
Northwest outside the city.

If Zhang Jinggong's Wuyue Hall was a teahouse-like establishment, then Tang Wanchao's Shuijing Hall was a pavilion built on water. Looking down from the windows high up in the pavilion, one felt as if they were floating on clouds, especially with the heavy snow outside and the beautiful woman by the fireplace in the pavilion, making it feel like heaven on earth.

This pavilion was built on a lake about five miles outside the city, not far from the shore, only about a hundred paces away. Zhang Jinggong, Yan Yu, and Wang Quande arrived at this place together.

After they got off the carriage, Zhang Jinggong and Yan Yu looked at the towering pavilion in front of them. They exchanged a glance, then looked at Wang Quande, who smiled at them and said, "Let's go. The officials have been waiting for you two."

After saying that, he said to the coachman, "Go back, come pick us up again tonight."

The coachman answered "Yes," and drove the carriage back the way it came.

After the coachman had gone, Wang Quande turned to the two men and said, "Please."

Zhang Jinggong wore a white overcoat draped over his shoulders, beneath which was a black robe. He glanced at Yan Yu, who was dressed rather thinly beside him, and then at Wang Quande's retreating figure walking ahead, and said, "Lord Tang is indeed different. This Shuijing Hall is truly built on the water. Unlike my hall, which is hidden in a teahouse."

"You're too kind, Lord Zhang. You've only been here a short time, while Lord Tang has been here for much longer," Wang Quande said with a hint of disdain.

Zhang Jinggong chuckled, "I wonder what brings Lord Tang here today?"

"You'll have to ask the adults. I'm just a gofer," Wang Quande said casually.

"Running errands?" Yan Yu continued, "The Vice Minister of Revenue is a minister's errand boy?"

“That’s right. All you high-ranking officials are running errands for His Majesty, while we low-ranking officials can only run errands for the higher-ups,” Wang Quande replied as he led the two men upstairs.

"Lord Wang, what you say seems to make some sense." Yan Yu gave a light, cold laugh.

The top floor of the attic is very spacious, enough for about fifty people to move around in.

Zhang Jinggong and his group had barely reached the rooftop, before even entering, when they heard loud, cheerful voices. He stood there, somewhat stunned. Yan Yu, on the other hand, smiled calmly at Wang Quande, who was standing at the front with his back to them. He placed his hands on the door, gently pushed it open, and the view inside was quite alluring.

Everyone was disheveled, and the sight of wine and women tantalized Zhang Jinggong's eyes, giving him a fleeting impulse. But fortunately, his integrity as a scholar and a gentleman prevented that thought from arising in an instant.

"Please." After Wang Quande pushed the door open, the person inside glanced at him but didn't seem to notice anything amiss, and then continued with his own business.

Zhang Jinggong took a deep breath and followed Wang Quande inside, along with Yan Yu, who remained calm and composed.

Inside the attic, decadent music filled the air, wine and women mingled, and those who watched and listened were lost in thought.

After Wang Quande led the two men there, he did not stop, but instead led them to a door on the far right.

They watched as Wang Quande knocked on the door, and a reply came quickly from inside, "Come in."

Wang Quande opened the door and respectfully stepped aside to invite Zhang Jinggong and Yan Yu inside.

Zhang Jinggong was the first to go in, followed by Yan Yu and Wang Quande.

This is a small, detached house. Unlike the open space outside, it has only a few small holes in its wooden walls, making the house somewhat dark.

In front of Tang Wanchao was a low wooden table with several candles lit on it, and he knelt on a straw mat.

Across the table were several straw mats. He glanced at them with a smile, the candlelight casting a shadow on his face that made him appear somewhat sinister. "Sit down," Tang Wanchao said, naturally adopting a more assertive demeanor as the host.

"Yes, sir." Wang Quande was the first to reply and the first to sit down.

He sat directly opposite Tang Wanchao, with two straw mats on either side of him, so the two of them could only sit on either side of Wang Quande.

"I wonder what business Lord Tang has with us?" Zhang Jinggong asked first after sitting down, wanting to see what Tang Wanchao was planning.

"It's nothing major. First, I want to congratulate Lord Yan Yu on his return to the capital to temporarily assume the position of Minister of Rites." Tang Wanchao's voice was deep and cold, giving people a chilling feeling. "Secondly, I hope Lord Zhang recovers soon." As he spoke, he suddenly stopped, carefully examined Zhang Jinggong, and suddenly smiled, "However, judging from the firelight, Lord Zhang should be fine."

Zhang Jinggong looked at Tang Wanchao calmly and said, "Thank you for your concern, Lord Tang. My health has almost recovered, but I still need a little medicinal ingredient to cure it completely."

"What kind of medicinal ingredient? Tell me, maybe I know. I'll send it to you then," Tang Wanchao said with a smile.

"I'm afraid the medicinal ingredient for Lord Zhang's medicine will be difficult to find." Yan Yu took over Tang Wanchao's words and pondered seriously.

"Tell me about it," Tang Wanchao asked, staring at Yan Yu.

"The whereabouts of this medicinal ingredient are unknown, but we can be sure it's hidden in the ground, though it runs away at the sight of people," Yan Yu said after thinking for a moment.

"It sounds like ginseng." Tang Wanchao also frowned and pondered deeply.

He reached out towards the table, trying to grab something but couldn't. Suddenly, he chuckled and said, "Look, you've been so preoccupied with your thoughts since you arrived that you forgot to make tea. Quan De, go and get some tea and some snacks."

"Yes," Wang Quande replied, standing up.

The moment Zhang Jinggong and Yan Yu watched Wang Quande open the door and leave, everyone who had been in the attic vanished. Wang Quande turned around, nodded, smiled, and slowly closed the door.

The moment the door closed, Zhang Jinggong and Yan Yu's expressions changed instantly; they knew it was just as they thought.

Only the three of them remained in the room, and judging from the situation just now, Tang Wanchao was about to attack them, so Yan Yu simply stopped pretending and asked directly, "Did you kill Lord Qu?"

"Lord Yan, what's going on? You just got back and you're already saying I killed someone? This old minister is devoted to the common people and His Majesty, how could I possibly kill a colleague?" Tang Wanchao looked completely bewildered.

“But the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites told me before that he personally witnessed you committing murder, and it was in this very place.”

Tang Wanchao looked at Zhang Jinggong and sneered, "So what if it's me?"

"Not good. Go find His Majesty and tell everyone involved in this matter." Yan Yu placed one hand on the table and stared intently at him.

"You all know that the man surnamed Qu died here, aren't you afraid I'll kill you all today too?" Tang Wanchao looked at them coldly. His other hand, which had never been moved before, suddenly clenched tightly.

“Of course I’m afraid. But what’s the use of being afraid?” Zhang Jinggong said coldly.

Tang Wanchao was a little confused. He was the one who was going to set a trap to kill them today, and he had basically made everything clear, so why did they all seem so calm?

(End of this chapter)