Chapter 119: Looking for a House

Chapter 119: Looking for a House

When Qiu Huanian woke up the next day, the sun was already high. Whether he had adapted or Du Yunse had restrained himself, he didn’t feel much discomfort when he got up. Instead, he felt refreshed and clear-headed after a good night’s sleep.

The courtyard was quiet, as Wang Yinzhi and Deng Die had gone out to sightsee in the capital.

Originally, the money Wang Yinzhi’s family had saved was barely enough for his trip to the capital for the Imperial Examination. But by saving on rent and adding the twenty taels of silver Qiu Huanian had given them last winter for the smoked fish recipe, they now had some money to spare.

Wang Yinzhi felt quite confident about passing the Imperial Examination and was in good spirits. That morning, he took Deng Die out to make up for the hardships his wife had faced.

Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian tidied up and also headed out.

With plenty of time today, they decided to eat out before house hunting.

Bai Quan knew a famous seafood spot in Nanxun Fang and recommended it to his employers.

They took their carriage from the eastern part of the city to the central part. As they passed Mingzhao Fang near Nanxun Fang, Du Yunse suddenly told Bai Quan to stop the carriage.

“Yun Se, what’s wrong?”

Du Yunse lifted the carriage curtain and pointed to a small alley in the distance, where a small courtyard could be vaguely seen, guarded by Imperial Soldiers.

“That’s my mentor’s place.”

Qiu Huanian was startled, “Mr. Wen is inside?”

He knew Du Yunse’s mentor, Wen Huiyang, was still under house arrest in the capital, but he didn’t know the exact location. No one dared to visit someone under house arrest by the emperor’s order.

Qiu Huanian held Du Yunse’s hand, “Wasn’t Mr. Wen placed under house arrest for speaking up for the Crown Prince? Now that the Crown Prince has been released, he’ll surely be freed soon.”

Du Yunse murmured, “After the Palace Examination, at the grand ceremony, I’ll plead for my mentor’s release.”

Qiu Huanian didn’t ask how confident Du Yunse was, but simply smiled and said, “Alright.”

Du Yunse was not someone who often expressed his emotions, and he was usually reserved in such matters. However, Qiu Huanian knew the importance Wen Huiyang held in Du Yunse’s heart.

Du Yunse had left home at a young age, and his father had passed away early. He had spent nearly half his life traveling and studying under his mentor. Wen Huiyang was like both a teacher and a father to him, akin to family.

“Isn’t Mr. Wen a Great Scholar of our time? Why is his residence so small?”

“My mentor is like a free-spirited wanderer. He doesn’t care for socializing or amassing wealth, and he often gives away money generously. He’s never had enough to buy a house in the capital.” Du Yunse’s tone was somewhat subtle, “The small courtyard he lives in now was a gift from the emperor when he became the Number One Scholar twenty-two years ago.”

Typically, the rewards for the Number One Scholar did not include a house. However, Wen Huiyang was so poor at the time that when he was appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, he directly asked the newly enthroned Yuanhua Emperor, who was holding his first special examination, if he could just carry his belongings and live in the Hanlin Academy. This shocked the ministers, already intimidated by the Yuanhua Emperor’s fratricide.

The Yuanhua Emperor didn’t have the newly appointed Number One Scholar dragged out and executed. After confirming that Wen Huiyang was indeed that poor, he casually gave him a small courtyard and settled him in.

Otherwise, given Wen Huiyang’s financial situation, he would never have been able to afford a house in Mingzhao Fang in the central district.

Although Mingzhao Fang wasn’t as close to the imperial palace and the six ministries as Nanxun Fang, it was still located in the central district, right next to Nanxun Fang. A small courtyard here was worth at least two to three hundred taels of silver.

However, after Wen Huiyang received the house from the Yuanhua Emperor, he only lived there for ten years before resigning from his position, packing up, and traveling around. He only returned to the capital every few years until three winters ago, when he was punished by the Yuanhua Emperor and placed under long-term house arrest in this small courtyard.

Du Yunse briefly but thoroughly explained the history of the house to Qiu Huanian, who listened with amazement.

Not only Wen Huiyang, but even the Yuanhua Emperor’s image in Qiu Huanian’s mind had changed. These great figures were not only powerful but also surprisingly vivid and interesting.

Hmm… but when dealing with the emperor, one still had to be extremely cautious.

Qiu Huanian was well aware of this, but he couldn’t resist teasing, “Do you think if you cry poor during the grand ceremony, the emperor might gift you a house?”

Du Yunse said indifferently, "Then Brother Hua should be prepared to spend all his wealth to get me out of prison."

"I’m scared—I won’t even think about it anymore."

Bai Quan recommended a place called *Haike Lai*, located by Nanxun Fang. It was a long two-story building facing the street, with a large garden behind it, featuring several small pavilions that serve as private rooms.

The garden pavilions require advance reservations, and many high officials and nobles even book them for several months, keeping the spot reserved even if they don’t come to eat.

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse weren’t picky and simply found a window seat on the second floor, called the server to order.

The restaurant, *Haike Lai*, is famous for its various seafood dishes. While the capital isn’t too far from the sea, with enough money, one can enjoy fresh seafood.

After hearing the server’s recommendations, Qiu Huanian ordered a signature claypot fish belly, a vegetable and fish soup, a shrimp dish, and a sea cucumber with scallions.

Three dishes and a soup—just enough for four without waste.

Each dish costs more than a tael of silver, and the whole meal, including a small pot of clear wine, came to eight taels.

The server eagerly recommended their signature raw fish and marinated crab, but Qiu Huanian, worried about parasites, decided against it.

As a true Chinese person, he prefers cooked food over raw.

Qiu Huanian invited Bai Quan and Xing Mi to sit and eat with them, but they refused, only agreeing to eat standing with small bowls.

Bai Quan said, "We know the Township Lord cares for his subordinates, but there’s a clear hierarchy, especially in public. If seen, it might be said that the master and Township Lord are not strict in managing the household."

Qiu Huanian understood that ancient times had their own customs, and he was powerless to change anything, so he let it be.

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse arrived not during peak hours, so *Haike Lai* wasn’t too busy. As they were wrapping up their meal, they heard the sound of horse hooves from the street below, and all the servers and the manager of *Haike Lai* went out to welcome the newcomer.

Qiu Huanian turned to look out the window and saw a man in his late twenties riding a tall, impressive horse, dressed in a bright red robe with a black cloak, gold boots, and a jade belt, his posture vigorous.

The manager greeted him respectfully, addressing him as "Taiping Marquis," and invited him into the restaurant.

Only those of some standing could enjoy *Haike Lai*, and Qiu Huanian heard some vague discussions from somewhere.

"Taiping Marquis has returned to the capital..."

"...What luck, a fisherman suddenly ennobled..."

"Noble Consort Kang... the Empress..."

As Taiping Marquis entered *Haike Lai*, those discussions immediately vanished.

Qiu Huanian blinked and looked at Du Yunse.

Du Yunse succinctly reminded, "The brother of Noble Consort Kang."

Qiu Huanian remembered. Noble Consort Kang, the most favored in the palace, came from the countryside, her hometown in the neighboring county of Zhang. Before she entered the palace, her brother was abducted by traffickers and was not found for many years. It was only two years ago that Du Yunse and Wu Shen accidentally captured a gang of traffickers in Zhang County, interrogated them, and found the clues to locate him.

According to the old customs of the Yu Dynasty, only the father and brothers of the Empress could be ennobled. The fact that the Yuanhua Emperor exceptionally ennobled Noble Consort Kang’s brother shows the extent of her favor, and many believed she was just one step away from becoming Empress.

Qiu Huanian stayed quiet, not wanting to draw the attention of this unpredictable new nobleman. However, as Taiping Marquis walked up to the second floor of *Haike Lai*, his gaze swept around and directly locked onto them.

"Du Jieyuan, Lady Qishu, I have long heard of your reputations, and finally, we meet today."

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse had to stand and greet him. If it weren’t for Qiu Huanian’s status as Township Lord and Du Yunse being a Juren, they would have had to bow to the Marquis.

The Taiping Marquis had a darker complexion compared to those who typically lived in the capital. His figure was robust, his gaze sharp, and his face bore a hearty smile, yet it was one that commanded respect.

As mentioned in the earlier discussions, before being found by Noble Consort Kang, the Taiping Marquis was a Danmin from the southeastern coastal areas. Danmin were fishermen who made a living drifting at sea, battling nature, and were rarely allowed to come ashore. Those who could survive in such an environment were certainly capable.

The Taiping Marquis smiled and urged them not to stand on ceremony. "I just returned from official business outside the capital and missed the taste of the sea so much that I came straight here on horseback. Meeting you is truly fate, and in a way, we are fellow locals."

"The fish here is caught from Haijin Town and delivered immediately by express horses. I've tried all the capital's seafood, and only here is it the freshest."

The Taiping Marquis seemed only interested in discussing food, and Du Yunse didn't mention anything else. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Du Yunse proposed to take their leave.

Noble Consort Kang was sent into the palace by Prince Pingxian, who favored the second prince. However, Du Yunse supported the crown prince, and in the public eye, he and the Taiping Marquis were not on the same side.

The Taiping Marquis didn't stop them, but as they were leaving, he suddenly said, "I've been used to life at sea, and since coming ashore these past two years, I've been suffering from dizziness and nausea. It was only after using Lady Qishu's balm that I felt better. Could you prepare a more effective remedy for me? I will pay you generously."

Qiu Huanian was unsure of the Taiping Marquis's intentions and could only say, "I've never done this before. I'm not sure I can make it."

The Taiping Marquis laughed, "Just give it a try. Even if you can't make it, I won't blame you or refuse to pay."

With things put this way, Qiu Huanian had no choice but to agree.

After leaving Haike Lai, Qiu Huanian finally asked Du Yunse about the Taiping Marquis in the carriage.

Du Yunse shook his head. He had just returned to the capital and was completely unfamiliar with this new noble marquis, yet the Taiping Marquis had recognized them both at a glance.

Qiu Huanian sighed, "Ah, the capital is good, but it's also full of challenges."

As Du Yunse entered the power center of the Yu Dynasty, this was unavoidable. They could only tackle problems as they arose.

Qiu Huanian shook his head, thinking about the spacious house they were about to see, and his mood lifted again.

Bai Quan drove the carriage to the residence of the former Vice Minister of Personnel next to the Zhan Shi Fu. The government agent was already waiting at the gate. Qiu Huanian was buying the house from the government, so the agent naturally accompanied them during the handover.

The agent was well-informed and knew that the house was just a government transfer, as it was originally intended by the crown prince for the two distinguished guests before him. He was careful not to be negligent and respectfully began the introduction.

The house covered nearly five acres, with a southern orientation and the main gate located at the southwest corner.

In ancient times, except for the imperial palace, princely residences, government offices, and temples, all civilian houses were not allowed to have their main gates on the central axis. This was partly due to regulations and partly to avoid negative energies.

The main gate of this house was also a gatehouse, with small rooms connected on both sides. The colorful paintings representing rank on the lintel had been erased, waiting to be repainted according to Du Yunse's official position once it was determined.

Upon opening the main gate, one was greeted not by a courtyard, but by a large stone carving of carp playing among lotus flowers, a small courtyard, and a moon gate on the right. Passing through the moon gate, one entered the first courtyard of the main residence.

The first courtyard was in the style of a courtyard house, with east and west wing rooms and a row of opposite rooms. The main hall directly ahead had five bays, with three bright and two dark rooms, separated by interior partition doors between the east and west end bays and the central three bays.

The main hall of the first courtyard had doors at both the front and back, with a large screen connecting to the roof placed centrally towards the rear. Walking around the screen, one could see the back door of the hall, leading to the second courtyard.

The second courtyard did not have opposite rooms, but it did have east and west wing rooms. The main hall had only three bays, with additional small rooms built in the extra space, hidden in the corners and almost invisible from the courtyard.

The agent smiled and introduced, "These small rooms on both sides, one is the kitchen, and the other is for the night guard. The master only needs to call from the main hall, and the servant will hear immediately."

Qiu Huanian held Du Yunse's hand and looked around. Just these two courtyards were already as large as their house in Xiangping Prefecture, and they hadn't even seen half of it yet.

"Behind the second courtyard is the backyard, with a back door and a row of houses for the general servants. The stables, latrines, and the shed for the carriage are also at the back. It's less presentable, so the esteemed guests need not go there."

The agent opened the corner gates on both sides of the main courtyard and indicated, "The house has two side alleys, east and west. The east side has two small one-courtyard houses and a library, while the west side has a small one-courtyard house and a garden. You can reach them all by following the side alleys."

"The small courtyard on the west side also has a separate side door leading outside. If the master has guests, it's easily accessible for them to come and go from that courtyard."

It was past noon, and the warm sun hung high in the sky. Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse walked side by side, step by step, exploring the mansion's courtyard where they would live for a long time in the future.

The former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel had just spent a fortune renovating the house. Sixteen, a servant or assistant, sent people to remove the door plaques, couplets, and unclean items written by that person, leaving the rest of the valuables. Qiu Huanian only needed to rename the courtyards, make new plaques and couplets, and spend some money to update the furniture.

The two courtyards on the east side were of the same size. Although they were only one courtyard deep, the space was quite spacious. One courtyard had several half-height lilac trees, and the other had a beautiful Chinese trumpet creeper. It was still early spring, and the flowers and trees were withered, but Qiu Huanian could imagine the scene of the garden filled with fragrance when the flowers bloomed in spring and summer.

He named one courtyard the Lilac Courtyard and the other the Trumpet Creeper Courtyard. As for the couplets, he left it to Du Yunse to worry about.

The one-courtyard house on the west side was slightly smaller than the Lilac Courtyard and the Trumpet Creeper Courtyard. The center of the courtyard was planted with many green bamboos, and the walls were built with bamboo-patterned bricks, adding a distinctive charm. Following the unified naming convention, it was named the Jade Bamboo Courtyard.

Behind the Jade Bamboo Courtyard was the newly built garden. At the end of the west alley, there was a small door that led directly to the garden. The garden, neither too large nor too small, had a lake dug in the middle, with Taihu Lake stones and a protruding rockery beside it. There was also a pavilion halfway up the hill, and many flowering trees were planted along the lake. Everything that should be there was there.

Finally, there was the small courtyard with the library located in the southeast corner. This was the smallest courtyard. The library was built facing west, and besides the library, the courtyard had a small room built on the north and south sides, though modest, they served their purpose.

The stairs in the library were typical ancient stairs, located indoors, without handrails and precariously steep. The steps were only wide enough for half a foot. Qiu Huanian hesitated for a moment and did not go up.

He feared he might fall, so he decided to ask a craftsman to build a spacious outdoor staircase later, and then he would go up to take a look.

Qiu Huanian had been naming the courtyards all the way, but he hesitated when naming the small library courtyard.

In this tiny courtyard, there was an apricot tree. It was early spring, and the temperature had not yet truly warmed up, but the apricot tree branches sprouted small green buds. Plants often sense the change of seasons more easily than humans.

The imperial examination results list was also known as the Apricot List. When the apricot flowers bloomed, the results of the Emperor Yuanhua's 23rd year examination would be announced.

Qiu Huanian was not satisfied with names like "Fragrant Apricot Courtyard." In a moment of inspiration, he blurted out, "Let's give the courtyard with the library a different name. How about calling it the Inch Gold Courtyard?"

Unaware that spring had deepened, he realized that an inch of time is an inch of gold. (Note 1)

Author's Note:

Note 1: (Tang) Wang Zhenbai, "Two Poems from White Deer Cave (Part 1)"

"Unaware that spring had deepened, he realized that an inch of time is an inch of gold. It is not the Taoist who leads to laughter, but the pursuit of Zhou's emotions and Confucius's thoughts."

The mansion is described in detail because many future plots will unfold in different parts of the mansion.