Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Sixth Episode

Lian Cheng wasn't being stingy about showing his ass, but was he really that close to Lian Xiusheng?

Forget it.

Checking out his butt could wait.

"Xiu Sheng, don't worry yourself sick over this. I took the medicine you sent last night, and I'm fine now," Lian Cheng said, acting all casual, taking a sip of his tea. "But I thought it over all night. I realized I've been nothing but trouble for the family all these years, and this time I got Father impeached. After some reflection, I've decided to find something to do with myself."

Lian Xiusheng's tone was indifferent. "It's good that Third Brother has seen the light. But a gentleman, while he must not neglect the worries of mind and body, shouldn't miss out on life's pleasures either. We should think before we act."

Lian Cheng looked down, counting how many pine nuts were floating in his tea.

"What's keeping you up at night?" He wondered if Lian Xiusheng had taken the wrong path because of chronic insomnia, since in modern times, people have turned into murderers because of noisy neighbors keeping them up.

When it came to himself, Lian Xiusheng grew even colder. "Just old ailments and lingering illnesses, nothing to worry about."

"Alright." Lian Cheng would keep an eye on him.

Lian Cheng planned to finish his tea before leaving. The tea at Yiqiu was tastier than that at Lanyuan; the latter was too greasy, with a meaty flavor, while Yiqiu's was light and fragrant, quite palatable.

"Did Third Brother apply scented powder today?" Lian Xiusheng was still watching him.

"No."

Lian Xiusheng didn't get off the bed; he just leaned forward slightly, sniffed near Lian Cheng, and said, "But I smell a whiff of orchid on you. Are you wearing a sachet?"

"No, I'm not." Lian Cheng was sure he hadn't; he had been in a rush this morning.

Lian Xiusheng returned to his previous lounging position against the headboard, but he no longer watched Lian Cheng, who was guzzling tea by the bedside. He lowered his eyes and, amidst the room full of orchid fragrance, finally managed a brief, restful nap.

After finishing his tea, Lian Cheng saw that the other had fallen asleep sitting up. He cursed inwardly: no wonder he's destined to be a traitor minister—a little liar even at his age, claiming he couldn't sleep, yet here he was sleeping like a log.

Footsteps sounded from outside. Lian Cheng stood up and walked out. Under the eaves, Man Cai was leading a few people toward them.

Huqiu, hands tucked in his sleeves, remarked, "So the young master finally decided to come out. I wonder what you and Sixth Brother have to talk about."

"No talk, just trying to get along with him." Lian Cheng saw Man Cai approaching and said to him, "Lian Xiusheng is asleep. What do you need?"

"Asleep!" Man Cai was both startled and delighted, peeking into the room, then glanced at Lian Cheng and tiptoed to close the two doors quietly.

The person behind Man Cai said, "Seems inconvenient today. I'll come visit Xiusheng another day. Man Cai, take good care of your young master. Don't tell him I was here."

Then he turned to Lian Cheng, who was leaning against a pillar, idly enjoying the post-rain scenery. "Minzi, come with me."

Great, another elder or senior brother?

Fortunately, Huqiu was there. Huqiu had a grudge against everyone, and whenever he saw someone, he'd complain about them to Lian Cheng.

"When was the last time Eldest Brother came to see the young master? He probably doesn't even remember himself. Sixth Brother can't sleep, and he rushes over all concerned. Although Eldest Brother and Sixth Brother aren't born of the same mother, Eldest Brother lost his mother early and was raised by the lady. But when the young master suffered so much yesterday, did he come to see him? Just another phoenix that won't land where there's no treasure—a young master who doesn't act without benefit."

Lian Cheng was grateful for that; Huqiu could keep muttering like that forever, and he wouldn't call him rude or presumptuous.

Eldest Brother's name was Lian Feng, courtesy name Maojun. This character didn't appear much in the book either, since they were just part of the evil minister's family background. The author often dropped threads, saying things like "this we won't discuss now." Lian Cheng, even with a good memory, couldn't know what the author didn't write. But from what Lian Cheng knew about Lian Feng so far, he was a man of no great ambition, naturally no great drive either. He currently held the post of Junior Minister in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, with little to do in his spare time, spending his days at home smoothing over disputes.

The wise tend toward mischief. Perhaps because he wasn't exceptionally clever, he was honest and kind. The only time he flew into a rage was when the Lian family was surrounded, and after the entire household knelt to hear the imperial decree, he drew a sword from his study and sang to the heavens, "I wish my lord's heart were as bright as a candle, and I would die content!" But in the end, he was a weak scholar with no strength to fight. He didn't strike hard, blood splattered everywhere, and he didn't die. He only died when the entire Lian family was beheaded.

Lian Cheng didn't have a bad impression of him, so he proactively called out "Eldest Brother."

Lian Feng led Lian Cheng out of the courtyard and stopped between two white walls with green tiles. He reached out to lift Lian Cheng's clothes. "Did Sixth Brother hit you hard yesterday? Let me see."

Lian Cheng almost jumped onto the eaves.

What was this all about? What was with the Lian family, always wanting to see his backside?

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Lian Cheng dodged, hiding behind the tall Huqiu, and asked, "Why didn't Eldest Brother come to see me yesterday?"

A hint of apology crossed Lian Feng's gentle face. "Last night, Yun Jieer had a stomachache and cried nonstop until dawn. Your sister-in-law and I only got a chance to rest then. As soon as I opened my eyes, I came over. I went to Penglai Pavilion to look for you, but Qiong Hua told me you weren't there. I didn't expect you to be here at Xiusheng's."

"On my way back from paying respects to Mother, I saw Xiusheng's servant leading a doctor. I guessed he was ill, so I came to check on him."

Lian Feng said approvingly, "In peaceful times, strangers are like kin; in troubled times, brothers rush to help. It's good that you're learning to maintain brotherly bonds."

Then he added, "I had Lai'an deliver two jars of fresh fish and a roast goose to your courtyard. Whenever you want to eat them, have the servants cook them for you, or get the kitchen to do it. Also, I just saw those two male prostitutes in your yard arguing. It sounded like it was about clothing and adornments. It's getting cold, and they feel they're suffering. Go fetch two bolts of cloth and make them two winter outfits each. If they follow you, don't talk about wealth; just keep them from hunger and cold. You're the master; you need to manage that. Additionally, Mother just sent a servant to find me, saying you've come to your senses. I've already prepared generous gifts. In a few days, I'll take you to pay respects to the family tutor..."

Lian Cheng's head started to spin. The book hadn't said Lian Feng was this long-winded.

-

After finally getting rid of Lian Feng, Lian Cheng returned to his own courtyard. Although he found Lian Feng naggy, he took everything he said to heart. So the original owner kept two male prostitutes? He might as well deal with that now.

"Bring them both to see me." Lian Cheng didn't know their names, but surely Huqiu would understand.

"On it." Huqiu indeed knew.

The two prostitutes had just finished washing up; their faces and necks still bore wounds that even makeup couldn't cover. From afar, they heard Huqiu's footsteps, and soon he was like a mountain blocking the doorway, shouting gruffly, "The young master wants to see you. Get over there now."

One prostitute immediately beamed. "The young master finally remembered us!"

The other made a fuss, throwing down his comb. "So he does remember us after all. I guess our backsides aren't just for show. He never used them, insisted on making a scene in public, and now that he's in trouble, he remembers us."

Huqiu was annoyed and cursed, "You bastard! If the young master calls you and you don't come, pack your bags and get lost right now. Who are you putting on airs for? If you keep blabbering, my fists know the young master, but they don't know any damn prostitutes!"

The two prostitutes, with sullen faces, came before Lian Cheng.

Lian Cheng had already prepared; he set out two large silver ingots for each, saying he wanted to send them away and let them find a good livelihood.

Unexpectedly, getting rid of them was easier said than done. Both threw down the silver, refusing to leave.

"Young master, how can you bully us like this? We've been in this courtyard for half a month, and today is the first time we see you. The moment you do, you want to drive us away. If we go back like this, even with silver, we'll be laughed at!"

The gentler one cried with red eyes, "If you send me away, I'd rather die than live."

"..." Lian Cheng was taken aback. Why were they threatening suicide?

Huqiu slammed the table, strode over, and slapped the loudly cursing prostitute across the face. "If you don't shut up, I'll tear that mouth right off your face."

"You damn servant, how dare you hit me!" The beaten prostitute's face swelled up, rolling on the ground and wailing.

Lian Cheng's head was pounding.

But this scene was seen by Man Cai, who had just entered. Man Cai clasped his hands and said to Tong Xue, "It seems inconvenient today. I'll come again tomorrow."

Tong Xue had never welcomed anyone from Yiqiu. She nodded dismissively and sent him off.

Man Cai ran back to Yiqiu on his short legs. Crouching by his young master's bed, he whispered, "I did as you said and went to invite Third Brother for tea again, but I found him entangled with his two male prostitutes. Huqiu, always protective of his master, went up and punched them a couple of times. Now one's crying and the other's making a scene—it's more lively than a theater."

Man Cai snickered after speaking. "If you ask me, why does Third Brother need to keep male prostitutes? Isn't he better-looking than those powdered-up boys? He could just look in the mirror and drink alone. Why bother with those lowlifes? They'd do anything once they put on their makeup."

Lian Xiusheng listened quietly. "Do you know why they're fighting?"

I wouldn't know. I got there late and missed part of it.

"He's in a good mood lately." Lian Xiusheng squinted, thinking about how he had simply fallen asleep while Lian Cheng was in his room.

In the past, no matter how many bitter doses of medicine he swallowed, he couldn't get a bit of such peaceful sleep.

"Whenever he causes trouble, he lies low for a few days—it's always been like that. I just hope he won't bring trouble to our courtyard anymore." Man Cai said, "It's still early, young master. Would you like to sleep a bit more?"

Lian Cheng didn't yet know that the incident in his courtyard had gotten out. He drove the two male prostitutes who were carrying on out of the hall, dragged a stool to the courtyard entrance, and sat down to think about what to do next.

Keeping these two male prostitutes wouldn't be a big deal—just an extra mouth to feed. The real problem was Lian Xiusheng—Lian Cheng still couldn't see any signs of his going astray.

Like members of the same family, he needed to pay attention not only to Lian Xiusheng but also to all the members of the Lian family. If only the Lian family members were more ambitious and clear-headed, the whole family wouldn't have been so muddled into having their property confiscated.

A thousand-mile dike can be destroyed by an ant nest. The Lian family now appears glorious on the surface, but Lord Lian neglects family affairs, Lian Feng just muddles through, and the First Madam is gravely ill. Who knows how rotten it is on the inside?

It's a long and difficult road ahead. Lian Cheng sighed.

"Young master, there's no need to sigh," Tong Xue said, appearing behind Lian Cheng at some point, holding a cloak. She draped the cloak over his shoulders and said, "Just give them away to someone else. There are plenty of masters in the city who enjoy keeping male prostitutes."

Lian Cheng shook his head.

Just as Tong Xue was about to ask why, someone passed by outside, dressed in clothes that didn't look like servant attire. Lian Cheng hurried to go look.

"Let me go inquire for you, young master. Please stay seated." Tong Xue pressed Lian Cheng down and walked out.

It didn't take long before Tong Xue returned. She reported, "It's several Ministers and Vice Ministers, and two Imperial Censors from the Censorate, and also some colleagues of Sixth Brother from the Hanlin Academy. They heard that Sixth Brother had fallen ill and sent various gifts."

Qiong Hua came over and heard this. She pouted and said, "What's there to see? As if our courtyard has nothing. If we go take a look, they'll think we're jealous of them."

Huqiu was repairing a few benches in the corner and pleaded, "Elder sister, please keep your voice down. If others hear, they'll inevitably gossip and say our young master can't stand seeing others do well."

But Lian Cheng said he wanted to go see for himself.

"What will you do there, young master?" Tong Xue asked.

Of course, Lian Cheng wanted to go supervise whether Lian Xiusheng had accepted bribes. If he only accepted food, drink, and tonics, that would be fine. But if he accepted gold and silver, then today it would be his turn as the elder brother to give Lian Xiusheng a good spanking. Thinking of this, Lian Cheng walked over to Huqiu, pulled out a wooden slat from his hand, and stormed out the door.