Chapter 39: A Stroll Through Chang'an Sparks Conflict with the Capital's Aristocratic Idlers

After bidding farewell to Chu Suiliang, Du Chengfeng wandered alone through the city of Chang'an.

To be honest, since arriving in the Tang Dynasty, he had never truly explored Chang'an. His previous visits had been hurried, merely for purchasing turbid wine, with only a cursory glance at a few small workshops.

He had to admit, the city planning of Tang-era Chang'an was truly impressive. The imperial city stood centrally in the northern part of Chang'an, flanked by residential districts to the south and on both eastern and western sides. The grand Vermilion Bird Boulevard, south of the Vermilion Bird Gate, divided the city into east and west sections. Within the city, eleven north-south streets and fourteen east-west streets shaped the residential areas into rectangular wards, each enclosed by ward walls, totaling 114 wards. Each ward resembled a modern gated community, isolated by walls, like miniature cities unto themselves.

The layout of Chang'an was exceptionally orderly; the streets were broad and straight, with meticulous attention paid to urban landscaping and beautification, enforced by strict regulations. The city itself was like a chessboard, with each ward built to uniform standards. From Du Chengfeng’s perspective, even in modern times few cities could match such rigorous planning.

Each of the eastern and western districts had its own market, named "East Market" and "West Market," solely for commerce and trade among the people and merchants. Du Chengfeng’s main purpose in strolling the streets was to visit these markets and observe the circumstances. After several rounds, he found that there were but a handful of meats available—chicken, duck, goose, with pork still rare in this era, and the rest consisting of game and ordinary aquatic products. As for vegetables, there were a dozen or so varieties, enough to suit his needs. With the ingredients at hand, Du Chengfeng reckoned he could easily concoct a dozen or twenty signature dishes.

Having satisfied his curiosity, Du Chengfeng decided to return home. As he stepped out from beneath the archway of the East Market, he heard the urgent rumble of a carriage behind him. Turning, his brows knit in displeasure.

A lavishly decorated carriage was barreling toward him, with the driver loudly shouting, "Drive! Drive!"

Pedestrians on either side cursed and hurriedly retreated to avoid the reckless carriage.

Du Chengfeng’s expression darkened. Whose carriage was this, so brazenly rampaging through the bustling marketplace, heedless of the crowds? It was outrageous.

Just as his anger was rising, a small girl was suddenly shoved from the crowd—by whom, he couldn’t tell. She stumbled and fell directly in front of the carriage, mere moments from being struck. Terrified, she sat on the ground, crying loudly.

A few bystanders wanted to rush forward and pull her to safety, but seeing the speeding carriage, they shrank back in fear.

The little girl sat alone in the middle of the street, stunned and crying out in confusion, "Mother! Mother! Where are you?"

Her plaintive cries tugged at Du Chengfeng’s heart. Without a second thought, he pushed off with force, shooting forward like an arrow.

In an instant, he reached the girl, swept her up in his right arm, and stretched his left hand out to halt the horse, his feet planted firmly, channeling immense strength through his arm to block the horse’s head.

The horse, unable to withstand the force from Du Chengfeng’s hand, let out a long, pained whinny. The carriage was brought to a sudden halt, its passengers thrown against the walls and tumbling inside.

"Who dares to block my carriage? Who’s so reckless?" an arrogant voice rang from within. A young man of about sixteen, dressed in fine robes, stormed out, his face full of swagger and contempt. He glared at the crowd and shouted, "Who blocked my carriage? Step forward!"

"Oh heavens, isn’t that Du Gou, the eldest son of Duke Cai? A great scourge of Chang’an, lawless and wild. This young man who saved the girl is in trouble now, alas!" Before Du Chengfeng could respond, murmurs broke out among the crowd, pointing at Du Gou.

"Driving a carriage recklessly through the marketplace—who else but this troublemaker? The boy looks like a commoner—how can he compete with a notorious scoundrel of Chang’an? Heaven is unjust!" an elderly man fretted aloud.

"Du Gou? The son of Du Ruhui? Hah, a Chang’an wastrel." Hearing the mutterings around him, Du Chengfeng frowned with disgust, his heart full of disdain. Duke Cai was a renowned statesman of the Tang, yet his son was so disappointing.

Du Gou leapt from the carriage, saw Du Chengfeng holding the girl in front of the blocked coach, and, rubbing his bruised forehead, pointed at Du Chengfeng threateningly, "You brat, blocking my carriage and causing me to bruise my head—unless you give me a satisfactory answer, don’t expect to leave the East Market today!"

"Get down and apologize now!" Du Chengfeng ignored the threats, his gaze icy as he spoke each word deliberately.

"What did you say?" Du Gou, hands on his hips, seethed with rage. "Do you know who I am? Do you know who my father is? Say that again if you dare!"

"I said, get down and apologize now!" Du Chengfeng’s tone grew colder, knowing the other was Duke Cai’s son, not wanting to escalate the matter.

Yet, seeing the arrogant, privileged youth before him, Du Chengfeng felt a strange pang in his chest. It was odd, but he instinctively didn’t want to embarrass Du Gou too much. Were it someone else, he would have already dealt with them harshly.

Du Gou let out a forced laugh, hopped down from the carriage, and angrily jabbed his finger at Du Chengfeng’s forehead, "You’re really bold!"

"Men!" Du Gou waved toward the rear of the carriage, and several bodyguards hurried over. "Hold down this brat—I’ll teach him a lesson!" He rolled up his sleeves, ready to strike, while the guards charged at Du Chengfeng.

Unimpressed, Du Chengfeng snorted coldly, shielding the girl with his right arm. Before the guards could approach, he leapt into the air. A few swift kicks, and with several thuds, the guards spat blood and flew backward, crashing into the carriage, shattering it with the force.

At that moment, the little girl’s mother arrived, having heard the commotion and learned what had happened from the crowd. Her eyes reddened, tears streaming unbidden, as she rushed to Du Chengfeng, intending to kneel and thank him for saving her daughter. Before she could kneel, a strong arm gently lifted her.

Du Chengfeng carefully handed the girl to her mother, his face calm. "It was a small matter, sister, no need for such formal gratitude. Just watch your child more closely next time."

"Of course, of course." The mother nodded gratefully, clutching her daughter and stepping aside.

"Now, shall we discuss the matter of an apology?" Du Chengfeng approached Du Gou, a faint smile on his lips.

"What do you want?" Du Gou stammered, his legs trembling. Du Chengfeng’s earlier display of dominance had thoroughly intimidated him; his instincts told him this was no ordinary man, but a true master. Though arrogant and unruly, Du Gou was no fool.

"I said apologize. Otherwise, you’ll end up like that carriage," Du Chengfeng stared straight into Du Gou’s eyes, casually stretching, and pointed at the wrecked coach—a clear threat.

Du Gou quailed at the blatant intimidation, realizing he’d met his match today. If he didn’t apologize, this would not end well. Damn it, where were the patrolling officers when he needed them? He cursed inwardly.

Usually, trouble would be smoothed over, out of respect for his father, Duke Cai. The young man before him seemed like a mere commoner, yet showed him no courtesy at all.

A wise man avoids immediate loss. Better to get through this moment first. So, with great reluctance, Du Gou bowed deeply to Du Chengfeng and muttered, "I’m sorry."

"You should apologize to that mother and daughter. If not for your recklessness, the girl would have died beneath your carriage!" Du Chengfeng pointed toward the frightened pair and rebuked him sternly.

"Yes, yes, you’re right!" Du Gou nodded repeatedly, anxiously stepping over to the mother and daughter, bowing deeply. "I’m sorry for frightening you—I apologize." He then returned to Du Chengfeng, asking carefully, "May I leave now?"

Du Chengfeng laughed coldly, raising his voice, "You scared the girl so badly—won’t you compensate them?"

Du Gou’s heart burned with rage at the demand for compensation. His prized carriage was smashed to pieces, and he hadn’t asked for restitution; now, he was being asked to pay instead. But he could only grumble inwardly, for his men were no match for Du Chengfeng.

Despite his resentment, Du Gou obediently retrieved two strings of coins from the carriage and handed them respectfully to the mother and daughter.

"Is that sufficient?" he asked quietly.

"Very well, you may go," Du Chengfeng waved magnanimously.

Du Gou quickly had his guards support him as he retreated, but then heard Du Chengfeng’s cold voice, "If not for the fact that you share my surname, I’d have crippled you today!"

Du Gou hurried even faster, fearing Du Chengfeng might change his mind, all the while pondering that last remark: "If not for the fact you share my surname..." Was this fierce man also named Du, or was there another meaning?

Seeing Du Chengfeng so thoroughly put the famous scourge of the capital in his place, the people cheered and applauded. The grateful mother thanked Du Chengfeng repeatedly, and after a few polite words, Du Chengfeng returned home.