Chapter 33: A Startling Dream from the Past

Chapter 33: A Startling Dream from the Past

When the three large redwood and gold-lacquered chests, intricately carved with delicate floral and bird patterns, were carried into the Forbidden Dragon Bureau, Lu Feng was in the midst of discussing the southern route with Pei Zhang.

"Take them away first."

Lu Feng's lips tightened as he turned to Pei Zhang and said, "My wife has been indiscreet. I hope Lord Pei will forgive her lack of decorum."

"Your wife is intelligent and virtuous, a paragon of grace and consideration. There is nothing to laugh at."

Pei Zhang's gaze shifted from the three redwood chests as he picked up a brush, leaning slightly forward to trace a route on the map.

"As we discussed earlier, we'll split into two groups. In ten days, Lord Xu and Lord Liu will take the imperial ship with a full contingent, departing grandly from the capital. You and I will proceed to Tongzhou first, setting off from the Tongzhou port disguised as tea merchants, traveling incognito."

Pei Zhang continued, "If we don't encounter any storms or snow along the way, we should arrive a week ahead of the two lords. We—"

He circled a location on the map with his brush, decisively marking it. "We'll land in Suzhou."

"Agreed."

Lu Feng glanced at the map, then looked at Pei Zhang with a hint of admiration in his eyes. "Lord Pei, you have a grand vision. Your considerations are thorough."

Pei Zhang smiled modestly. "You flatter me, Commander Lu. You've already considered everything I have. In truth, I'm merely displaying my ignorance in front of an expert."

"No need for modesty, Lord Pei. You're a clever man."

Unlike Pei Zhang's diplomatic approach, Lu Feng, born into nobility, was always straightforward. He disdained sparing even a glance for those he disliked, and when he praised someone, it was heartfelt.

Pei Zhang had the perseverance to meticulously review years-old case files, and his attention to detail allowed him to uncover clues. Though Lu Feng sometimes found him excessively cautious and deliberate, his considerations were well-founded.

Lu Feng rolled up the map. "That's all for today, Lord Pei. The journey south will be challenging. Be prepared."

"The Emperor's grace is immense. I dare not speak of hardship."

Pei Zhang smiled as he approached Lu Feng, bowing slightly and offering a respectful salute.

"For this journey south, I hope you, Brother Jun Chi, will take care of me."

Since they had decided to travel incognito, Lu Feng couldn't use his renowned name. He adopted the alias "Shen Jun Chi," posing as the head of a tea merchant family. Pei Zhang took the name "Shen Zhang," acting as "Shen Jun Chi's" cousin and the group's "second-in-command."

"You're too polite, Brother Zhang."

Lu Feng replied smoothly, his status allowing him to simply nod in acknowledgment rather than bow. "Everything is settled. There's no need to come these next two days. Attend to your family matters."

This was a gentle reminder.

Lu Feng always kept his private and public affairs distinct, disliking any overlap. Due to the southern expedition, he and Pei Zhang had frequently crossed paths at the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court. Sometimes Pei Zhang would visit the Forbidden Dragon Bureau directly, and the two had grown familiar.

Lu Feng often saw servants from the Pei residence delivering soup to Pei Zhang.

If it had been merely one bowl of soup, Lu Feng wouldn't have been so strict. What intrigued him was that the Pei residence didn't send it just once—they sent it thrice.

Thrice, at different times, delivered by different individuals, in different vessels.

After observing this multiple times, Lu Feng didn't inquire, but Pei Zhang was the one who offered an explanation.

"Commander Lu, would you care to join me for a meal?"

Ultimately, Pei Zhang didn't consume any of the soups, allowing them to cool, solidify, and ultimately be consumed by stray dogs on the street.

The two men clinked their cups together, and for the first time, Lu Feng noticed a hint of bitterness on the face of the young and shrewd Lord Pei.

"The chicken soup this morning was prepared by my mother. It was warm and savory, with a thin layer of oil floating on top. Back when times were hard, my mother would save all the good food for me, unwilling to eat it herself."

Pei Zhang downed a cup of wine and continued, "The fish soup at noon was made by my wife. She simmered it over a low flame, adding rare herbs like ginseng and lingzhi to nourish the body."

"The evening’s bowl was prepared by my cousin. She’s clever and meticulous. After a busy day, when hunger struck, her sweet yet light lotus seed and white fungus porridge was just the thing to relieve the fatigue of the day."

Lu Feng remembered the untouched lunchboxes and said gravely, "You don't like them."

He’d rather drink with his superior than touch the carefully prepared soups from home.

Lu Feng said, "If you don’t like them, just tell them to stop sending them."

Back when the Duke of Lu was still alive, he could somewhat restrain Lu Feng. But now, Lu Feng was a favored minister of the emperor outside and the head of the family inside. A single frown from him could make others tremble, and even the Second Master and Third Master dared not joke in front of their stern elder brother. Pei Zhang’s hesitation was something a strong man like Lu Feng couldn’t fathom.

"In life, how can everything go your way?"

Pei Zhang let out a bitter laugh and refilled his cup.

"My mother bore and raised me. To fund my studies, she did embroidery, stitch by stitch, nearly ruining her eyesight. As her son, how could I let her down?"

Even if the oil on top was overwhelming, he still had to smile and say, "Thank you, Mother."

"My... wife. She was originally the daughter of a wealthy family. She married me when I was at my lowest. A wife who’s stuck by me through hardship can’t be cast aside. I cannot betray her either."

Yet his wife never knew that he didn't like fish.

"My cousin, she..."

Lu Feng cut him off, unable to listen any longer. "Someone, Lord Pei’s had too much. Escort him home."

Others might call Lord Pei gentle and thoughtful, but in Lu Feng's eyes, he was indecisive and weak! He couldn’t believe someone like Pei Zhang, hailed by the emperor as a 'heavenly talent,' could be so bogged down by family matters.

...

Pei Zhang had great talent, and the emperor intended to promote him. When Lu Feng told him to "settle his family affairs," it was both a reminder and a hint.

Pei Zhang understood the underlying meaning in Lu Feng's words and bowed in farewell without saying a word.

Lu Feng watched his upright, bamboo-like figure and felt a twinge of regret. He waved his hand and ordered a junior officer, "Among the gifts from the emperor, there is a soft armor. Send it to Lord Pei."

The officer stammered, "This... my lord, that soft armor is said to be impenetrable. The emperor left it for you as a means of protection. Giving it to Lord Pei, isn't that a bit of a waste?"

Lu Feng said indifferently, "It's just a lightweight piece of armor, nothing so miraculous."

There was nothing in this world that was truly impenetrable. Lu Feng had examined it carefully; if he were to use eighty percent of his strength, he could tear it apart. Strength overcomes all, and at the age of fifteen, he could already draw a three-hundred-pound hard bow, his arm strength astonishing.

Lu Feng had been on the battlefield and learned a truth amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood: the ultimate form of defense is attack.

If one is reduced to defending, one has already lost the upper hand. This item was tasteless to Lu Feng, a pity to discard, but just right for a scholar like Pei Zhang.

It might save his life at a critical moment.

The junior officer accepted the order and left. Lu Feng thought of the luggage his wife had prepared for him and felt a warmth in his heart, but he did not immediately go to see what was inside. He put away the map and ordered, "Someone, invite Lord Xu and Lord Liu for a discussion."

The Chen faction was like a centipede—dead but still twitching. He still had much to do.

This time, we’ll round them up in one go!

***

Pei Zhang returned to the Pei residence but didn’t head to the main courtyard or visit his mother. Instead, he went straight to the study.

Upon seeing him, the servant hurried over and said, "Lord Pei, I’ve got everything you asked for ready. Here’s the list—take a look."

Pei Zhang glanced at it and said, "Good, stash it in the storeroom for now... Hold on—"

He called the servant back before he could leave, "Copy this list and send it to Commander Lu at the Forbidden Dragon Bureau."

"What?"

The servant widened his eyes, "You spent nights working on this. You’re just giving it away? For free?"

As the servant prepared the luggage, he marveled at how meticulous and careful his master was, considering every possible detail. This list was more valuable than gold or silver—how could it be given away so easily?

"It’s just a thing—not a big deal. Send it over."

Pei Zhang waved his hand tiredly and instructed the servant, "And grab me a bottle of camphor pills."

Lately, he’d been plagued by insomnia and nightmares, waking up with splitting headaches. The doctor had given him a bottle of camphor pills, its sharp smell clearing his head and helping a bit.

But camphor, though refreshing, was also a bit toxic. The doctor had warned him to be cautious with the dosage. The servant thought to remind him but swallowed his words at Pei Zhang’s icy look.

Lord Pei was usually easygoing, but his cold side was scary. Since coming to the capital, Lord Pei had become even more commanding. Even the old lady hesitated to call him to the backyard on a whim. Why should a servant like him meddle?

Pei Zhang entered the study and picked up a small porcelain bottle from the desk, bringing it to his nose to sniff gently.

His headache flared up again.

Lately, he’d been haunted by two dreams.

In the first dream, he found himself in a damp, narrow alley, where a curvy woman in a bright orange robe knelt and bowed to him. She lowered her head and softly called out, "Lord Pei."

She seemed close, but no matter how he tried, he couldn’t reach her. In the midst of his struggle, he woke up abruptly, alone in his thin clothes and light blanket.

He opened the window, staring at the full moon, his mind racing.

He’d studied the sages since he was a kid, learning propriety and shame. Yet he’d started having such thoughts about a married woman. When he woke, Pei Zhang had a wild, absurd idea.

Luckily, she was his boss’s wife. Luckily, she had a husband who wielded immense power. If she’d married a nobody, he didn’t know what he’d do.

The sages said actions count, not thoughts—no one’s heart is perfect.

He thought, it’s fine. Perhaps beauty is deceptive, and he was merely momentarily captivated by her appearance. She was a housewife, and he was a court official. He would restrain himself and uphold propriety. Their paths would never cross in this lifetime.

He would find a way to forget her.

But some things are beyond control. The more you try to forget, the more you remember.

As he tossed and turned over this dream, he began to have another one.

In this dream, he was in a familiar bookstore, where a girl with a blurred face came in to buy medical books.

She spoke with remarkable eloquence, "Shopkeeper, this book has a torn corner, and the inside is riddled with wormholes. Other than me, it’s probably only fit to feed the bugs in the storeroom."

"It’s just two coppers—don’t be so cheap."

The shopkeeper's face was not as aged then, dressed in his usual green long gown, he said helplessly, "Young lady, you've bargained down from thirty copper coins to fifteen, and now, at the last moment, you can only come up with thirteen. You can’t haggle like this."

The young lady held her head high, but the corners of her eyes were red.

She said, "I'm not taking it for free. Next time I’m here, I’ll bring you three more, all right? My mother is sick, and I need to get her medicine."

The shopkeeper exclaimed in surprise, "You can’t even scrape together fifteen copper coins, and you want to get medicine? If reading medical books could make one a doctor, even I could try for the top scholar in the imperial exams."

"You look well-dressed, not like a girl from a poor family. Move along now; this shop is for business, not games."

The young lady said nothing, nor did she leave, just stood there, frozen. He didn't know what he was thinking, despite his own destitution, he stepped forward and extended his palm.

"If you don't mind, young lady, I have two copper coins here, which you can use in an emergency."

The young lady looked him up and down, "I’m in a tough spot, and you’re not much better off. We’ve met by chance, you... aren’t you afraid I won’t pay you back?"

"Whether you pay back or not, what does it matter."

He gave a bitter laugh, "Think of it as my good deed for the day, earning some karma."

"I’m dressed in fine silks and satins, you’re in coarse cloth, do you see that?"

"I know."

"Earlier, the shopkeeper said I was just playing around, did you hear that?"

"I know."

The young lady hesitated, then asked him, "What’s your name?"