The three of them noisily pushed their way into a room on the fourth floor, where they proceeded to give Wei Qingming’s wallet a thorough thrashing. By the time the meal was winding down, Wen Xiang was slumped against the back of her chair, letting out satisfied burps; Wen Gan was leisurely sipping tea with her eyes closed to rest her spirit; and I was staring intently at the acrobatics on the fourth-floor stage, cheering incessantly. Only Wei Qingming sat with her hand pressed to her forehead, a look of utter helplessness on her face.
“Sisters,” Wei Qingming finally cleared her throat. “It is nearly the hour of the Rat...”
“Yo! My three little sisters!” Someone burst through the door. “And yo! Brother Wei!”
Wen Sili held up his hand as if waiting for everyone to give him a high-five, but no one paid him any mind. Wen Xiang even went so far as to roll her eyes. He didn't take offense, allowing the servant who had been frantically supporting him to lower his arm. He then stumbled sideways into a chair near the door.
Wei Qingming’s legendary patience seemed to be reaching its limit. She narrowed her eyes at him with a frown. “Fifth Brother, you’ve come at the perfect time. Take your three sisters home!”
“Home? Who’s going home!” Wen Sili muttered. He then looked at the three of us with a sly glint in his eyes, tapping a finger mysteriously on the tabletop. “Do you know where the *real* secrets of the Chunan Night Banquet lie? Not above ground, but below!”
Wen Gan shot a knowing glance at Wei Qingming before leaning toward Wen Sili. “Oh? I truly haven't heard of that. Fifth Brother, what’s so fun underground? Do we have to go through some secret passage or hidden mechanism to get in?”
“Smart.” Wen Sili let out a wine-scented burp and pointed at Wen Gan in praise. “As expected of Twelfth Sister, quick on the uptake. But it’s not that complicated. Just find the attendants stationed at the entrance of any floor—the ones with a red bead set in their caps. They’ll lead you right in.”
“Since Fifth Brother is such an expert, you must have been there yourself?”
“Well... not exactly.” Wen Sili scratched his head sheepishly. “Old Zhang went. He said it’s... a lot of fun. Shall we... go together?”
Wei Qingming seemed to realize that this ordeal was unavoidable. She regained her usual composure and said flatly, “That place is not suitable for them.”
“What’s this about suitable or not?” Wen Sili argued back. “Emperor Taizong said it himself: there is no place in the Great Jing where a woman cannot go!”
“‘Let the laws of the world be such that gentlemen have nothing to violate and the base have nowhere to fit; within the four seas, there shall be no place a woman cannot tread,’” Wei Qingming quoted coldly. “It has been seven hundred years since Taizong’s passing, and this has yet to be realized. Fifth Brother, do not twist his words.”
There was a faint, almost imperceptible trace of gloom mixed into her usually emotionless voice. I stopped reaching for the candied fruits and looked at her face in surprise. Even Wen Sili sensed her somber aura; he instinctively straightened his posture and sat properly in his chair.
However, Wei Qingming quickly masked her expression, offering a relaxed smile as if nothing had happened. “The hour of the Rat has passed, and the entrance to the underground is open. If you all wish to go, then let us depart.”
Wen Gan was quick to seize the opportunity. “Exactly. Let’s go.” The five of us left the private room and headed toward the stairs.
“What was that about!” After walking a few steps, I let out a breath and nudged Wei Qingming with my elbow, whispering, “I thought you were going to oppose us to the bitter end today!”
“I must at least fulfill my duty to inform you of the risks.”
I looked up at her and asked cautiously, “Is something bothering you?”
Wei Qingming raised a hand to rub the space between her brows. “The cases I’ve been handling lately have been unsettling. It’s inevitable that I’d be a bit temperamental. Please do not take offense, Miss Su.”
Before she could lower her hand, I skipped in front of her. Standing on my tiptoes and leaning in, I looked at her with a grin. “Everyone has a temper. Personally, I’d like to see yours more often.”
Wei Qingming’s eyelashes, which usually hung low in a languid drape, fluttered. A spark of life returned to her eyes, and her subsequent smile held a touch of genuine warmth. She leaned back slightly to avoid my chin, which was nearly tucked into her collar, and replied softly, “I see.”
I spun around triumphantly and went skipping off to catch up with Wen Xiang and Wen Gan.
At the stairwell, there was indeed an attendant wearing a red bead. Seeing our group approach, he bowed with his hands clasped. By now, the performances on every floor had ended, and even the departing crowds had thinned out. The vast pavilion held only a scattering of diners being helped out of their rooms in a drunken stupor. I imagined the military officers Wen Sili had dined with were either snoring at home or were already underground, indulging in their pleasures...
Wen Sili cleared his throat and said with a thick tongue, “To the underground. How do we get there?”
The attendant glanced at the people behind him. Had there been no women present, he would have led the male guests straight to the Red Zone. Instead, he asked cautiously, “Which zone does the Young Master wish to visit?”
Wen Sili blanked, but Wei Qingming spoke up: “The Green Zone.”
The attendant bowed low in acknowledgment and led the way, bringing us to a doorway hidden behind a beaded curtain near the stairs. Wen Xiang, Wen Gan, and I all widened our eyes in surprise. We had passed this stairwell countless times tonight, yet none of us had noticed such a place existed. The curtain hung against the wall behind the landing, looking like a simple dressing room. It stood there in plain sight, yet not a soul used it! I knew this was the result of some sophisticated illusion array. As I was pondering this, I was startled by the attendant’s hand reaching toward my face.
“What are you doing!” I cried out.
Wei Qingming stepped forward unobtrusively, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t be afraid. You must wear a mask.” I turned and saw the attendant holding a white fox mask. Startled by my shout, he stood there awkwardly, not knowing where to put his hands.
I let out an embarrassed “Oh” and was about to take the mask when Wei Qingming’s hand gently blocked me. She pointed to a white cat mask sitting on a nearby silk-covered table. The attendant immediately picked it up with fawning grace and presented it to me.
I shot Wei Qingming an annoyed glare, but I had to admit the white cat mask she chose was truly beautiful. It was adorned with three-colored patterns, and two stunning pale gold amber crystals were set into the eyes, making it look both lively and elegant.
Wei Qingming personally fitted the mask onto my face with great tenderness. The mask was a wondrous thing; the moment it touched my skin, it seemed to mold itself to my features, refusing to budge no matter how much I shook my head. She then picked up a crimson Tiangou mask for herself. It was painted with gold leaf, mimicking the tail trailed by the Heavenly Dog Star as it falls to earth—a design that added a touch of lethal aura to its magnificence.
Taking advantage of her distraction, I jumped up and slammed my cat nose hard against Wei Qingming’s dog snout. There was a sharp *ding* as the masks collided. Caught off guard, Wei Qingming actually stumbled back a step. As I clapped my hands in delight, the surrounding maids and attendants laughed. “What a fierce young lady!”
However, I saw that Wei Qingming was already standing calmly with her hands behind her back, the corners of her lips curving slightly beneath the mask. It occurred to me then that a master like her would have anticipated my move long before I struck; she was merely playing along with my childish antics...
Wen Xiang and the others were watching from the entrance, laughing so hard they couldn't stand straight. I huffed and walked over, shouting, “Lead the way!”
The entrance turned out to be a small-scale teleportation array. One must know that there are only three large-scale teleportation arrays in the current dynasty, and their paths are restricted to moving troops from inland garrisons directly to the border battlefields—they are one-way only. Otherwise, the Qingzhou army wouldn't have needed three full days to reach the capital. Medium-scale arrays are reserved for postal couriers; without an imperial decree, even officials cannot use them. Small-scale arrays are for civilian use and only cover a range of ten *li*, making them somewhat of a novelty, yet they are still strictly regulated. I wondered if Chunan Tower even had a government permit for this.
Wei Qingming, however, showed no suspicion and stepped onto it leisurely. If the Emperor’s lapdog didn't care, then I certainly wouldn't either. I followed right behind her.
The faint blue light of the teleportation array flickered to life. Chunan Tower truly lived up to its reputation for serving the elite; the teleportation experience was excellent—fast, stable, and perfectly comfortable. Before I even opened my eyes, the sounds of revelry reached my ears. This underground world was a literal replica of the Chunan Tower above—a seven-story pagoda-like structure, gilded and magnificent. Staircases crisscrossed, lamps shone like bright stars, and the air was thick with the scent of perfume and the rustle of fine silks. The only difference was that the unmasked women walking about were dressed in excessively thin, revealing garments...
Though we had expected something like this from Wei Qingming’s earlier warnings, it was our first time seeing such a den of iniquity, and we couldn't help but let out soft gasps.
Wei Qingming explained, “This place is divided into four zones, colloquially known as ‘Green, Red, Black, and White.’ This Green Zone we are in is for ‘clean’ business: riddles, chess, tea ceremonies, and the like. The Red Zone consists of brothels and singing stages. The White Zone is the auction house. The Black Zone contains the black markets, gambling dens, and fighting pits—anything the government does not tolerate can be found there.” She added a note of warning: “Within the Black and White zones, life and death are a matter of fate. Not to mention lost property; Chunan Tower takes no responsibility for management there.”
Wen Xiang said boldly, “Fine, so as long as we don't go to those two zones, we’ll be fine. Chunan Tower will handle everything!”
Wen Gan smiled. “Since we’ve come to the Green Zone, let’s look around first. We can talk about other things if it’s boring.”
Wen Sili seemed to have sobered up slightly. He cupped his hands and prepared to take his leave. “I’m off to find my brothers in the Red Zone!”
“Fifth Brother,” Wen Gan said slowly. “Come back. Tonight, you shall accompany your sisters.”
To my surprise, Wen Sili—a young general with a formidable reputation on the battlefield—seemed quite afraid of her. He must have been tormented by his brilliant and eccentric younger sister since childhood. Upon hearing her words, he shuffled back obediently, his face pale as he followed behind Wen Gan... Thinking of the various ways Lu Lingfeng used to mess with me, I couldn't help but shed a sympathetic tear for him.
The Green Zone was partitioned into hundreds of small stalls, each about ten feet wide. Inside sat eccentric individuals and experts from all corners of the world. The banners hanging outside advertised fortune-telling, chess, tea tasting, and even strange competitions like “Book Duels,” “Talisman Duels,” “Incense Duels,” and “Medicine Appraising.” Each was surrounded by a few onlookers. I saw Wen Gan head straight for a small stall. A drab gray hemp banner hung at the door with the words “Calculation Duel.” As we drew closer, I saw it was for solving mathematical problems:
*“A cattail grows three feet on its first day; a reed grows one foot on its first day. Each day thereafter, the cattail’s growth halves, while the reed’s growth doubles. Question: In how many days will they be of equal length?”*
Wen Gan didn't even reach for paper or brush, instead performing mental calculations on her fingers. I thought about it for a moment but couldn't figure it out. I looked at another one:
*“Five households share a well. Two of A’s ropes are short of the depth by one of B’s ropes; three of B’s ropes are short of the depth by one of C’s ropes; four of C’s ropes are short of the depth by one of D’s ropes; five of D’s ropes...”*
I was dizzy before I even finished reading the problem. I turned back and grabbed Wei Qingming’s arm. “How boring! If I’d known, why would we have come down here?”
Wei Qingming smiled faintly. “Since we are here, there is one place I would like to visit.”
“Where? Where?” My eyes lit up.
Wei Qingming smiled but didn't answer. I looked over and saw that Wen Xiang and Wen Sili had already run off to a stall several booths away selling small exotic beasts; they were each holding a pangolin and watching them snap at each other. I asked worriedly, “Will Sister Gan be alright here by herself?”
“It is no matter,” Wei Qingming said. “When I arrived, I already arranged for people to follow her in secret. These are all problems from the mathematical classics. Only the top ten problems, adapted from the *Method of Interpolation*, are slightly difficult. If Twelfth Sister has studied them, they will not stump her.”
I nodded and asked the proprietor, “Excuse me, Manager, if my sister gets all fifty problems right, what kind of prize does she get?”
The manager was a round, pale, plump man. He clasped his hands at my question. “The young lady is too kind. I have three gifts here. If your sister answers all fifty correctly, she may take whichever one she likes. There are also rewards for answering thirty or fifteen correctly.”
Seeing that Wen Gan was so buried in the problems that she was ignoring everyone, I gave the manager a bright smile before leaving. “Alright then, you’d better save the best one for my sister!”
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
:--- | :--- | :---
青红皂白 | Green, Red, Black, and White | Literally "Green, Red, Black, White." Refers to the four zones of the underground market. Also a pun on a Chinese idiom meaning "the rights and wrongs of a matter."
天狗 | Tiangou / Heavenly Dog | A mythical creature in Chinese folklore. In astronomy, it is associated with meteors or eclipses.
《缀术》 | Method of Interpolation | *Zhuì Shù*, a famous mathematical treatise by the 5th-century mathematician Zu Chongzhi.
绠 | Well-rope | A rope used for drawing water from a well.
里 | Li | A traditional Chinese unit of distance (approx. 500 meters).
子时 | Hour of the Rat | The period from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM.
