Chapter 66 Guarding the New Year Together

Chapter 66 Welcoming the New Spring Together

The bustling comings and goings made Brocade Quarter as lively as ever.

Chu Jiubian alighted from the carriage on the long street outside the market and made his way inside.

He was still wearing the crimson-purple official robe reserved for first-rank officials, cloaked in a heavy black cape. The collar was lined with soft, fluffy fur, giving him an imposing and dignified appearance.

Yet his hairstyle was entirely different from that of others of the time. The strands of his hair stirred in the wind, tempering the solemnity of his attire and lending a touch of lightness.

His slender, tall figure and finely sculpted, almost divine features set him further apart from the crowd.

The moment he appeared, he became the center of attention.

By now, everyone in the capital knew of Senior Tutor Chu, though none were sure of his temperament. They only saw his aloof and distant demeanor and assumed that deities were naturally high above, so they kept their distance, not daring to approach.

Chu Jiubian took in everyone’s reactions but paid them no mind, continuing his leisurely stroll inward.

Before long, he noticed a particularly lively shopfront, where the sounds of drums and cheers filled the air. What drew the most attention were the three large vermilion drums at the center of the crowd and the dancers dancing gracefully atop them.

The dancers wore the latest fashionable long skirts, their hair adorned with glimmering gold, silver, and jeweled hairpieces.

Their movements were enchanting and captivating.

But what truly made them stand out was the clothing they wore.

The style of their dresses was similar to that of the capital’s women, but the fabric was vastly different.

The silk, in soft shades of pink, pastel yellow, and light purple, was delicate, lightweight, and had an elegant fall. Under the sunlight, it shimmered like rippling water.

The idea of using real-life models had been proposed earlier by Situ Zhaoling.

Their silk was meant to cater to the luxury market. The best strategy would have been to have palace nobility wear it, but currently, there was no empress, no imperial consorts, and no princesses—no one to serve as a "spokesperson."

So they had to settle for the next best thing: having dancers wear and showcase the silk.

In Great Ning, singers and dancers held a rather low standing. Women from respectable families usually avoided associating with them, and even high-status maidservants from influential households held higher standing than these performers.

Situ Zhaoling, coming from the Southern Territories, had no such concerns, which was why she suggested this method. Wang Qichen, however, was hesitant.

But he soon changed his mind. After all, the dancers were only showcasing the fabric, and they were also part of the target audience for the silk. There was no harm in having them model it.

Besides, he himself would wear the silk and serve as a male model.

Moreover, during the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, Chu Jiubian had worn the same fabric. The young ladies and madams who had attended the banquet would surely recognize it.

If both noble scions and the revered Senior Tutor Chu wore it, these women would have no reservations.

Thus, for the opening day, Wang Qichen decided to use real-life models.

Chu Jiubian didn’t enter the silk shop but stood at the edge of the crowd watching for a while.

Brocade Quarter was expensive, so most of those shopping or strolling there were from well-off families. Many women were present, though their faces were veiled.

At a glance, Chu Jiubian spotted one or two who looked somewhat familiar—likely from the palace banquet.

These young ladies, along with the other onlookers, were whispering among themselves.

“This is actually silk from the Southern Territories? It looks even better than Suzhou and Zhejiang silk.”

"Yes, and look at the texture and colors—nothing like we've ever seen. If the price isn't too high, I'd definitely get a few rolls of each color to make dresses."

"But the dancers are wearing this silk too—wouldn't it be embarrassing if we wear it?"

"Laugh at what? We wear silk from the Suzhou and Zhejiang region just like the dancers do, so why should this Southern Xinjiang silk be any different?"

"That makes sense, and I actually heard something else." The girl speaking was one whom Chu Jiubian had briefly seen at the palace banquet, where she had performed, playing the pipa beautifully.

"What is it?" another girl in the group asked.

"After returning from the Mid-Autumn palace banquet, didn’t I say that Grand Tutor Sir’s outfit looked like it was made for a celestial being?"

"I remember now! Could it be that he was wearing this Southern Xinjiang silk?"

"Exactly! And it was that light pink color, paired with a silver-white cross-collar neckline and belt—unbelievably handsome."

"Ah, just thinking about it feels wonderful. I wish we could see Grand Tutor Sir up close."

"Why are you blushing? Don’t tell me you..."

The teased girl, she said shyly, "Don’t talk nonsense. There are so many talented young men in the capital, but Grand Tutor Sir is someone we wouldn't dare dream about."

"True, he's practically immortal anyway. Let’s not bring it up again."

Amid the chatter, the dancers finished their performance but remained standing smiling on the large drums.

The shopkeeper, a woman in her thirties, finally emerged from the silk store. She greeted everyone with friendly greetings before saying, "Our Southern Xinjiang Silk Store sells newly produced silk from Southern Xinjiang. You can see the quality and beauty for yourself—just take a look."

Someone yelled out, "Shopkeeper, how much does a bolt of this silk cost?"

The shopkeeper smiled. "It depends on the craftsmanship. Feel free to come inside and see—all prices are clearly marked, so you’ll know at a glance."

At that time, stores didn't usually show prices openly; customers usually had to ask clerks for prices. But when Wang Qichen and Situ Zhaoling were discussing how to set up the store, High Priest had offered suggestions—like dividing the shop into ready-to-wear, fabric, and custom-order sections, and providing fitting rooms for trying on clothes.

Another idea was to clearly mark the price on every bolt of fabric and piece of clothing, so customers wouldn’t need to ask and could see the cost themselves.

Although the capital had no shortage of noblewomen or big spenders, there were also those with limited budgets, and this spared them the embarrassment of asking.

The two believers thought these were great ideas and even came up with more ideas for marketing and running the shop.

Now, the onlookers, wanting to see how these "clear prices" worked, headed into the store.

The store had two floors. The first was divided into ready-to-wear and custom sections. As soon as people entered, they saw eight long tables neatly arranged on the left, with tailors seated behind them, busy at work.

On the right were two long racks holding many ready-to-wear dresses in various colors, all hung on hangers made by Situ Zhaoyao.

In front of the racks were over thirty display pieces displaying dresses with fancier embroidery and newer, prettier styles.

Each hanger had a small tag showing the price.

It really caught your eye.

The shopkeeper said with a smile, "The second floor displays silk fabrics in different textures and colors. You're welcome to go up and look around."

Immediately, some folks went upstairs.

Upon reaching the second floor, everyone saw layers upon layers of silk hanging from the ceiling in an orderly yet artfully arranged manner, while neatly stacked bolts of silk were arranged on the shelves below, organized by color from light to dark. Lit by the sunlight streaming through the window, the scene was breathtakingly beautiful.

“This isn’t a silk shop—I’d believe it was the Divine Realm,” someone remarked in awe.

Though everyone had entered the silk shop, Chu Jiubian stayed put, standing in place.

His gaze, however, wasn’t fixed on the shop but rather on the newly renovated "Yaotai Bookstore" next to the silk shop.

Bookstores were rare in Great Ning, with most being "ink shops."

Ink shops primarily sold brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Books available for sale were limited to the Analects, publicly published articles and debate records by Confucian scholars, excerpted poetry collections, and some recreational storybooks.

Storybooks were exceedingly scarce, many of them retelling ancient legends, myths, and tales of gods and ghosts. There was no surge of leisure books featuring scholars and noble ladies.

Naturally, even ink shops were not common—there were only five or six in the capital, which was considered quite a few.

This was because all those in Great Ning who could afford an education came from families with some wealth.

Such families could simply place orders for necessary writing supplies with paper mills and ink workshops, and have them delivered directly to their homes, eliminating the need to personally select items from an ink shop.

As a result, ink shops generally did poor business. Most were opened by pretentious literati seeking to flaunt their cultured, literary family backgrounds.

Thus, the Yaotai Bookstore, located in such a bustling area as Jinxiu Fang, stood out conspicuously.

Chu Jiubian shifted his gaze from the ornate sign to the second floor.

The window on the bookstore’s second floor was open, and a young man dressed in a light pink round-collar robe stood by the window, toying with a folding fan. His slightly curled long hair cascaded freely down his back.

His fox-eyed gaze, slightly upturned at the corners, held a playful glint, and when he looked down, his gaze seemed almost flirtatious.

It was Wang Qichen.

Chu Jiubian had forgotten how he felt when he first saw the other at the auction. Now, observing this peacocking young man, he simply thought this person was really quite...

Suddenly, the mechanical voice of the system echoed in his mind: "Host, detected that you have met your follower Wang Qichen in the real world. The Divine Realm’s bonus feature has been activated."

"What additional function?" Chu Jiubian asked.

[When the host meets a follower in the real world, a binding relationship is triggered. You will possess the same commanding presence as the 'High Priest' in the Divine Realm when in the presence of your follower.]

There was actually such a function?

Chu Jiubian was thrilled.

Upstairs, Wang Qichen had also been watching Chu Jiubian intently.

He had spotted him the moment he arrived.

This was his second time seeing this Senior Tutor Chu. Compared to their previous encounter at the auction, the current Chu Jiubian seemed to project more authority and intensity, beyond just being aloof and noble.

Senior Tutor Chu’s presence was such that even standing quietly, doing nothing, he drew attention.

And when the other looked up, his pale, unnerving eyes fixed on him, Wang Qichen felt an unmistakable pressure.

It was a deep-rooted nervousness, much like what he experienced when facing the High Priest in the Divine Realm.

In other words, although he seemed to be looking down at Chu Jiubian from a higher position, he felt the other’s figure was imposing and majestic, like the most imposing temple statue.

Yet, during their previous meeting, he had not felt this way.

Is it because Chu Jiubian, this deity who descended to the mortal realm, has been acknowledged by the High Priest and thus begun to regain his powers?

Ever since encountering the High Priest, he had sought out many mythological tales to read, learning that some deities who descend to the mortal realm lose their powers for various reasons, but they can return to the Divine Realm whenever they regain their powers.

So, Chu Jiubian must have already started regaining his powers, right? Otherwise, how could he exude such heart-stopping pressure?

Wang Qichen didn’t know that this was actually a chain reaction from establishing a believer bond in the Divine Realm. His thoughts ran wild, but on the surface, he merely smiled and nodded at Chu Jiubian as a greeting.

Chu Jiubian also quirked his lips, withdrew his gaze, and headed toward the bookshop.

Today, he had originally intended to meet Wang Qichen, to reveal his connection with the High Priest, and also to mention that he knew Wang Qichen was a believer of the High Priest.

This way, if anything needed to be done in the capital later, he could directly instruct Wang Qichen using his identity as Senior Tutor Chu.

Wang Qichen never expected Chu Jiubian to smile at him, much less for him to enter his shop.

After a moment of surprise, he immediately turned and hurried downstairs to personally welcome him.

The bookshop was mostly set up and would open in a couple of days.

The shopkeeper had previously been the manager of a shop that was part of Wang Qichen’s mother’s dowry. Now that Wang Qichen’s bookshop was more important, he had called him over to manage it.

The old shopkeeper’s eyes were keen and bright. As soon as he noticed the official robe and distinctive hairstyle of Chu Jiubian, he recognized who he was and immediately stepped forward, bowing with clasped hands. "This commoner pays respects to you, sir. May I ask if there is anything you require?"

Chu Jiubian replied indifferently, "I'm looking for your proprietor."

"The owner, he—" The shopkeeper was just speaking when he heard footsteps on the stairs behind him and knew that Wang Qichen was coming down himself.

Sure enough, the pale pink robes swirled as the young man quickly descended the stairs. He walked up to Chu Jiubian and bowed, saying, "I am Wang Qichen, heir of the Wang family. I pay my respects to Grand Tutor Sir."

Chu Jiubian acknowledged with a hum and asked, "Could we talk somewhere privately?"

"Of course." Wang Qichen gestured toward the staircase. "Please, Your Excellency."

Chu Jiubian went first, with Wang Qichen following half a step behind.

The shopkeeper stood where he was, watching the two figures. They were of similar height, but their auras were completely different.

Moreover, their young master was usually an exceptionally proud individual. Even if it were Prince Ning himself, he likely wouldn’t show such deference.

The shopkeeper knew his young master well—he could tell whether Wang Qichen was genuinely respectful or merely putting on a show.

Usually, Wang Qichen only pretended respect toward noble families, powerful officials, and even his own father and elders. But with Senior Tutor Chu, it was different.

And besides, when had the young master gotten to know Senior Tutor Chu?

Currently, it was this Grand Tutor Sir who was overseeing governance and handling state matters. Moreover, he was a deity who had descended to the mortal realm. If the young master could connect with someone like him, his future would be limitless.

The shopkeeper didn’t know whether to feel relieved or proud, and it took effort to suppress his emotions.

Upstairs, Wang Qichen invited Chu Jiubian to take a seat by the window and personally poured tea for him.

Chu Jiubian took a small sip.

Wang Qichen watched his expression closely. Seeing the other set down the teacup, he cautiously asked, "Might I ask if Your Excellency has come today to assign me a task?"

"If I truly had something for you to do, would you do it?" Chu Jiubian asked with a smile.

The young man, who resembled a banished immortal, ought to have been aloof and distant. But now, with that faint smile, it was as if sunlight breaking through clouds, making one’s heart tremble.

Wang Qichen slightly lowered his gaze, no longer meeting his eyes.

"What you command, sir, I will do my best to accomplish," he said.

Not only did Chu Jiubian now wield significant authority and could compel someone like him to act without refusal, but even considering the relationship between the High Priest and Chu Jiubian, he would still do it.

Chu Jiubian was only joking with him and gave a low chuckle upon hearing this, then turned to look out the window.

The weather had turned cold, and with the window open, a chill filled the room.

Watching the bustling crowd downstairs, he asked casually, "When did He approach you?"

This "He" naturally referred to the High Priest.

Wang Qichen thought, Just as I suspected.

The High Priest said it was still hidden, but Senior Tutor Chu not only guessed the High Priest’s existence but even knew that he was His worshiper.

Still, Wang Qichen feigned ignorance and asked, "Who are you referring to?"

Chu Jiubian looked at him with a faint, knowing smile.

Wang Qichen opened his folding fan and fanned himself lightly.

"The silk shop next door was also opened on His orders, wasn’t it?" Chu Jiubian added.

Wang Qichen: "..."

What a way to say "you all"—this meant Senior Tutor Chu knew the High Priest had more than one follower.

Just how does Senior Tutor Chu's mind work?

Chu Jiubian appeared not to notice his complicated expression and continued in a chummy tone, "If He gives you a share, take it. Don't be shy about it."

Tsk, what kind of proprietary tone was that?

Wang Qichen was now certain that the relationship between these two deities must be exceptionally close, well beyond the bounds of "close friends."

But...

He couldn’t help but think of Prince Ning, who was away leading the campaign.

Rumors circulated in the capital that Qin Xiao was Chu Jiubian’s romantic destiny, and that the two shared a complicated relationship.

Then what about the High Priest?

At this thought, Wang Qichen suddenly felt that Chu Jiubian’s demeanor and tone also reminded him of Prince Ning.

As if two people who had been together for a long time unconsciously influenced each other.

The more he thought about it, the more complicated his gaze toward Chu Jiubian became.

Chu Jiubian didn’t know what was on his mind. After making his point, he didn’t stay long, only mentioning that he could seek his help in the future when dealing with Wang Huanzhi’s faction before leaving.

And the news of his meeting with Wang Qichen had already spread rapidly, quickly reaching the ears of the capital’s influential figures.

Wang Huanzhi sat gloomily in his study, sneering coldly, "No wonder that rebellious son has been opposing me at every turn lately—he’s curried favor with Chu Jiubian."

Did he think backing the imperial faction would guarantee safety?

His son was still so naive.

Their Wang family was a noble house, an enemy of both Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao. How could they coexist peacefully?

He would bet that if the Wang family helped the emperor eliminate the other three families, the next target would be them.

"That fool," Wang Huanzhi couldn’t help but curse.

Advisor Wang Zhang wore a grim expression and said solemnly, "Minister Wang’s current stance hasn't taken a clear position, obviously unwilling to get involved in the family’s internal strife. This is good for us."

"But with the old lady around, nearly half the clan will side with that rebellious son," Wang Huanzhi said.

Wang Zhang replied, "The old lady is elderly and won't last much longer. For now, we just need to focus on managing our business interests and influence. As long as we hold out until the old lady passes, the young master will lose his support and be no threat to us."

Speaking of business, Wang Huanzhi frowned.

Recently, rumors had been circulating in the capital that a new paper, even better than "Langya Gold Paper," had appeared on the market—pristine white, flawless, and thin as cicada wings.

If such paper truly existed, their Wang family’s paper mill would face a significant blow.

"I wonder if this so-called new paper is real or not," Wang Huanzhi said.

"Whether it’s real or not, we must continue to monitor the situation," Wang Zhang narrowed his aged eyes slightly. "If such paper truly exists, we must obtain the technique of making it."

By "acquire," it could mean buying it or taking it by force if necessary, depending on the circumstances.

"But I’ve heard the young master has also opened a bookstore," Wang Zhang asked. "Could it be that this so-called new paper is..."

"Impossible," Wang Huanzhi said decisively. "If that rebellious son had such capability, why would he wait until now?"

Whatever bookstore he opened was just him following the example of other minor scholarly families, trying to build his reputation.

Wang Zhang frowned deeply. "Let’s hope that’s all it is."

==

That night, after his evening wash, Chu Jiubian lay down in bed.

It was already the ninth day of the eleventh month. Qin Xiao had been gone for exactly two months, and the weather had turned completely cold.

The main hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and the right courtyard had heated floors installed, so the child slept soundly at night without feeling cold at all.

But due to time constraints, Chu Jiubian didn’t want to temporarily move to another hall, so the Jade Terrace Residence had no heated floors or heated kang. Instead, he placed a metal stove he had made earlier, which provided sufficient warmth.

Huddled under the covers, Chu Jiubian took out the secret letter from the northwest that he had received just the day before from his system warehouse.

In the letter, Qin Xiao said he had led the army and driven the Sai kingdom’s forces back to the central towns.

Moba Zanpu never expected Qin Xiao to be so ruthless. He tried several times to surrender and negotiate peace, but Qin Xiao, deeply understanding the principle of nipping evil in the bud, gave him no chance, stating that he would only cease hostilities if the entire Sai royal family was dead.

The Sai royal family found themselves trapped from both sides—facing the fierce attacks of the Great Ning army upfront, while the Sai people, eager for peace, wanted to capture them and hand them over to Prince Ning.

At the end of the letter, Qin Xiao wrote, "I am well and shall return by year’s end to welcome the New Year together."

He didn’t specify with whom.

Chu Jiubian put away the letter and gazed absently at the bed frame.

The provincial-level examinations, the second stage of the imperial exams, had concluded. The list of candidates advancing to the third stage would soon arrive in the capital.

The next stage, the Metropolitan Examination, would be held on the first day of the twelfth month.

Around mid-twelfth month, exam papers from all regions would arrive in the capital for Chu Jiubian to grade personally.

Once the Metropolitan Exam papers were graded, the New Year would begin.

The Palace Exam would take place after the New Year, by when Qin Xiao ought to be back.

Chu Jiubian closed his eyes and entered the Divine Realm.

"Let me see what Qin Chuan's doing," he said.

"Alright."

The system displayed Qin Chuan's card interface.

On the screen, snow was falling heavily, covering the entire Lu estate in white.

An ordinary-looking man sat cross-legged on a thick mattress, beside a painted screen with birds and flowers. On the other side of the screen, a fair-looking youth in light blue inner garments sat on the bed, holding a bamboo scroll.

These two were none other than Lu Yao, the remarkable sleepless scholar, and Qin Chuan, who had somehow disguised himself and made his way to Lu Yao's side as an attendant.

Over the past month or so, Chu Jiubian had checked on them multiple times.

Qin Chuan was aware that the High Priest occasionally watched them from somewhere, so he paid no mind to the watching eyes and lazily yawned instead.

He tilted his head, peering past the screen at the person on the bed.

The Lu territory was the hometown of Confucius and the ancestral home of the Langya Wang clan, a testament to its flourishing literary tradition.

Thus, it was no exaggeration to say educated families were too numerous to count here.

In such a place, a small merchant family like the Lus, who ran inns and taverns, was quite insignificant.

Yet, from this modest household came a prodigy like Lu Yao.

At just nineteen, he had already studied widely, his range of knowledge was astounding.

No wonder he had drawn the High Priest's notice.

But his temperament was unusual—not only did he go without sleep for days on end, but he also shunned company.

Moreover, when he looked at people, his stare was straightforward and piercing, his dark, bright eyes seeming to see right through them. Even someone as worldly as Qin Chuan occasionally found it unsettling.

He withdrew his gaze and suddenly heard a far-off dragon's cry.

His heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively turned toward the outside.

Almost simultaneously, a massive golden dragon glided in through the window, its enormous head lingering before him for a moment, its dark slit pupils mirroring his somewhat frozen face.

Then, the long dragon passed by with a rush.

At the same time, Qin Chuan heard the High Priest’s distant voice say, "Put Lu Yao to sleep."

Being unconscious was required for entering the Divine Realm. Qin Chuan knew this and guessed the High Priest intended to bring Lu Yao there.

So he stood up and walked around the screen.

Chu Jiubian, seated on his divine throne, watched as Qin Chuan raised his hand and struck Lu Yao’s neck. The young man’s eyes closed, and he collapsed gently onto the bed.

Chu Jiubian: "......"

He had genuinely thought Qin Chuan would use something gentler, like sleeping drugs. It seemed he still didn’t know his follower well enough.

Wasting no time, he immediately said to the system, "Summon Lu Yao."

"Detected that follower Lu Yao is in an unconscious, summonable state. Summoning now."

"Summoning complete."

As the words fell, a figure emerged from the clouds.

A golden phoenix flew over, bearing him on its back, then slowly flew back to the long table and set him down.

Chu Jiubian saw clearly that throughout, Lu Yao merely observed his surroundings curiously, without showing any signs of caution, wariness, or fear.

Once on the ground, Lu Yao looked up at the enormous divine form hidden in the mist.

"Welcome to my Divine Realm," Chu Jiubian spoke.

Lu Yao blinked and said gently, "Has Grand Tutor Sir summoned me regarding the imperial examinations?"

"?" Chu Jiubian said, "I am the High Priest."

"Well, it amounts to the same thing," Lu Yao replied.

Chu Jiubian raised an eyebrow.

Was this what a follower with 200 percent intelligence was like?

"Do you think I am the same as him?" he asked vaguely, on purpose.

Lu Yao nodded. "You must have unavoidable reasons for using two identities. I suspect the reason is that you don’t trust Prince Ning, so you’ve created a safeguard for yourself."

Chu Jiubian: "......"

Now he didn’t enjoy talking to clever people either.

"Don’t worry, I’ll keep your secret, even from my servant," Lu Yao continued.

"You know who your servant is?"

"No, I am not acquainted with martial arts circles."

Having interacted with many people for acting, including some reclusive "geniuses," Chu Jiubian knew they shared certain traits—like Lu Yao, they spoke and acted directly, paying no mind to how others might feel.

"Although you don’t trust Prince Ning, he clearly trusts you, and so do I," Lu Yao went on. "I’ve heard of your deeds and know you both want to improve the lives of the people. So I will excel in the imperial exams, join the court administration, and work for you."

Chu Jiubian felt he didn’t even need to speak—this young man had already said everything he intended to.

But with such a personality, entering officialdom may not bode well.

Still, since he was a genius, if he could master various fields of knowledge, he could surely learn interpersonal skills as well.

So Chu Jiubian said, "Interacting with people is also a form of learning."

Lu Yao paused, pondered for a moment, and said, "You’re right. To serve as an official, one must engage with others. But are there any books on this subject that I could reference?"

The system mall had plenty, but they weren’t practical enough. It would be better to learn by observing and experiencing directly.

"Your servant is no ordinary man. Learn from him," Chu Jiubian said.

Qin Chuan has such a wide network, truly a genius in interpersonal relationships, so he's the perfect person to teach Lu Yao.

Lu Yao nodded and said, "I understand, sir."

He had already begun referring to himself as "subordinate."

Chu Jiubian thought it was pretty funny and said, "Go ahead, see you in the capital."

Lu Yao bowed respectfully.

When he woke up, he found Qin Chuan standing by the bedside. The first thing he said was, "Please teach me how to deal with people."

Qin Chuan: "..."

What the...?