Chapter 195: Censors Suite
The setting sun hung low.
When they arrived at Feitian Pavilion, they happened to see the red sun setting upon the roof of the pavilion.
There was a sculpture of an eagle on the roof, which, at that moment, looked as if it were about to spread its wings and soar, appearing incredibly lifelike.
They hadn’t seen the Censors Suite yet, but the view of the sunset alone was breathtaking.
“This building wasn’t here before, right?”
“That is correct. It was newly built. You have arrived at a fortunate time, my lord. If it were during the time when merchants from other regions come to purchase goods, this suite would likely have already been booked.”
Censor He merely smiled faintly, not taking it seriously.
A room costing a thousand taels a night—how could it be booked so easily? It was likely just a gimmick.
Even as a Censor, based on his own salary, he couldn’t actually afford to stay here.
There were many memorials in the Imperial Court denouncing Commander Jiang, claiming he acted recklessly, used his birthday to extort money and receive gifts, was greedy for wealth, and had low moral character; there were all sorts of accusations.
Strangely, the civil officials attacking him didn’t actually accuse him of dereliction of duty, nor of usurping power, nor did they claim he wasn’t doing his job well.
These attacking memorials were all personal attacks; they held immense hatred but lacked substance.
The street in front of Feitian Pavilion was very wide. While there were no street vendors, many children were playing on the road.
Watching the children running around and playing, the Page Boy couldn’t help but ask, “What if someone comes by carriage or on horseback?”
Wu the Third laughed and pointed to a sign on the side of the road.
“There is a red ‘X’ and a picture of a horse on it. This indicates a speed limit. This stretch of road has a speed limit; regardless of whether it is a carriage or a horse, everyone must travel slowly here. If they go too fast, they will be fined, so the children can play safely on the roadside.”
They had walked over slowly, and indeed, they saw a carriage nearby slow down as it approached.
“I heard that this Censors Suite is the property of your Lord Sima?” Censor He asked.
Charging a thousand taels of silver for just one room—say nothing else, this Lord Sima was indeed very greedy for money.
Wu the Third shook his head. “This is the property of Lord Sima’s youngest daughter. Lord Sima dotes on his daughter immensely; all of this belongs to her.”
Censor He raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Please, sir.” Having guided so many people, Wu the Third still had a good eye for people.
The old man before him exuded an aura of officialdom and looked incredibly fierce; at a glance, he was clearly no ordinary person.
Clothing and appearance could be changed, but this temperament was hard to alter.
Wu the Third did not neglect him at all just because the old man was dressed plainly.
In their on-the-job training, there were many examples of helping plain-looking old men, putting boots on old men, gaining their appreciation, and being rewarded with wealth and beauties.
Upon entering, there was a row of chairs covered in thick fabric. When one sat down, it would sink, and as it sank, one felt a soft object supporting the lower back, instantly allowing the whole body to lean back, and the legs to relax accordingly.
Then, someone brought over a steaming hot cotton towel.
“My lord, please cleanse your hands.”
This clean, white cotton towel was actually meant for wiping hands.
He picked it up and sniffed it; there was a faint fragrance, better-smelling than the incense his wife used, like the scent of green grass in spring—very refreshing.
After wiping his hands, someone else brought over steaming hot tea and refreshments.
They didn’t ask anything, nor did they ask for payment, yet they let the guest eat and drink first?
The entrance led to a very large hall, which was very tall but not empty.
Besides the soft chairs here, not far away there was actually an artificial rockery and a stream; right inside this room, one could drink tea while listening to the spring.
Moreover, sitting in this position, one could still see the red sunset.
It was like a painting.
Not to mention the price of the Censors Suite, just from this moment of rest upon entering, one could feel that there was a reason for its high cost.
Censor He was well-traveled, had entered and exited the Imperial Palace in the capital many times, and was himself a scion of a noble family, yet he still felt that this scene was truly beautiful.
Sitting on the soft couch, watching the sunset and listening to the sound of the spring, he even thought that it was fortunate the Emperor hadn’t seen this scene. If the Emperor saw it, he would surely embark on a massive construction project to build one just like it.
This hall had many mysteries; there were many candle flames inside, and it was very bright.
The candles were as if they cost nothing, and they all had beautiful lantern casings. Looking up, it felt as if one were seeing a field of stars.
It was like a very magnificent hall; the only difference was that outsiders could enter here.
While he was sitting here drinking tea and resting, people were coming and going around him. Every time someone arrived, a waiter would gently call out, “Welcome home.”
He sat there eating and drinking.
The tea he drank was excellent—no spices added, yet it had a natural tea fragrance; it was slightly bitter, but after drinking, the fragrance lingered on the lips and teeth, and a sweetness emerged in the throat.
The refreshments were also particularly exquisite.
He felt that a single bite could cost a tael of silver.
Just for a moment of rest, there was such treatment, making one feel embarrassed to leave and say they wouldn’t stay.
Then a waiter came over—it was actually a young woman—who generously half-knelt before him, holding pen and paper, saying she needed to register his check-in information.
The waiter was literate; she was a pretty young woman who looked like a noble lady from the capital.
Yet she was doing work that required her to be out in public.
The people around were unfazed. Censor He almost couldn’t help but ask if she had any grievances.
Fortunately, he restrained himself; there would be time later.
He gave a fake name, a merchant from the capital named Su Lin.
Even the Page Boy had to register his name. The Page Boy didn’t give a fake name; his name was Jizi.
After registering, she checked their identification documents.
Censor He watched as the woman examined Su Lin’s identification document, flipping through it several times, but she didn’t say anything more.
She then politely asked about their needs: “Sir, do you have any additional requests? Do you prefer it cool or warm? Also, what are your requirements for the mattress? Do you prefer to sleep on something softer or firmer? Does the gentleman prefer sweet or salty food? Or if you have any other special requests, whether you need to receive guests or invite anyone, you can tell us. After you check in, you will have your own exclusive butler. If you need anything, you can ring the bell to call him, and he will appear immediately.”
Censor He didn’t state his preferences, but he was somewhat startled by what the woman said; it seemed as though a place for an overnight stay could actually cater to every single aspect.
He only booked for one night and left two thousand taels, saying it was a deposit.
The Page Boy took out the silver notes, feeling the pain of the expense.
He just thought it was absurd.
Who spends so much on accommodation?
Are they sleeping on a bed made of gold?
After the two finished paying, Wu the Third prepared to return. Censor He wanted to give him a tip, but saw him refuse repeatedly.
Censor He had assumed that since he had brought in such a big order, he would naturally get a cut.
Wu the Third, however, said that he had a salary; they were all people of the Imperial Court, so he didn’t need a tip. If the gentleman saw his superior, he could just help by giving a good review and offering a word of praise.
This made Censor He feel somewhat amused.
Wu the Third clearly looked like a hooligan who had changed professions, yet he was asking for a good review.
Very well, along the way, this person was indeed quite interesting. They had been waiting for him to scam them, but it seemed he hadn’t. The Page Boy muttered, “He definitely scammed us. If he didn’t scam us, would he have introduced this thousand-tael-a-night room?”
The butler was a man with the appearance of a scholar, wearing a moon-white robe and looking refined.
When he spoke, he actually spoke with literary grace, and his speech was of a very high standard.
The butler led the way while introducing things.
First, they passed through a long corridor, then arrived at the entrance of a courtyard.
On the door was written “Censors Suite.”
The butler took out a key to open the door. Pushing the door open, the Page Boy looked at the floor; it was actually covered in cloth, and when stepping on it, it felt soft and fluffy.
It was the epitome of luxury and waste.
Stepping on the red cloth, they climbed a few steps and reached the room. There was another lock; upon opening it, the inside was very clean and had a faint fragrance. Entering the door, his nose seemed to feel a cool sensation, and his mind felt a bit clearer.
It was dusk, and the weather was a bit hot and dry.
Just before, the Page Boy had casually mentioned that his master was afraid of the heat.
He saw the butler enter and find a rod on the side of the door. The butler lifted the rod, and suddenly, they heard the pitter-patter of rain. He didn’t know where the cool breeze came from, but it blew, causing the robe sticking to his body to lift.
Looking up, he saw that it was suddenly raining outside the window?
It wasn’t rain; it was just a curtain of water outside their room, while in the distance, there was none.
Then the curtain of water fell, the water droplets landing on the stone steps at the doorway, together emitting a deep and shallow rustling sound.
He didn’t know how it was done, but in the corner, there was an automatic wooden blade spinning with a clatter, and a cool breeze blew through the room.
It was very comfortable.
This thousand-tael room was not as big as he had imagined.
It looked like an ordinary room; upon entering, there was a vestibule with a screen.
On both sides of the vestibule hung a couplet.
First line: Frugality nurtures integrity, clean as the autumn moon, forever without blemish.
Second line: Strict in self-discipline, pure as the plum blossom, naturally possessing fragrance.
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