Jinhuai Prefecture City, the capital of Nanlin Road.
Since the fall of Mozhou Road, the city had become much livelier than before. Merchant caravans from all directions gathered here, either heading to the ports of Shang'an Prefecture to set sail or continuing north.
The city's most famous landmark was Jinhuai Lake, which took up a third of the urban area. Countless scholars and refined guests had left behind widely celebrated poems here. Among the lake's attractions, the three most famous were its flower boats. The "Seven Southern Wonders"—all of them—were gathered on these three vessels, drawing the admiration and longing of countless worldly souls.
Wang Ping returned to Nanlin Road but didn't hurry back to Qianmu Temple. Instead, he first came to Jinhuai Prefecture City. He was currently standing on the shore of Jinhuai Lake, watching the scholars and guests drinking and making merry in the center of the lake, as well as the women dancing gracefully on the prows of the boats.
