Chapter 19

Chapter 19: The Nineteenth Chapter

"Is this water too hot? It would be difficult for you to find another person in the north or south who can match my tea-brewing skills. Lian Xiusheng, you must explain to me today—how exactly is this water too hot?"

Around midnight, the group finally headed home.

Sedan chairs, carriages, and goat-drawn carts lined up outside the tavern's entrance. As soon as the young masters appeared, their servants rushed over to support them.

"Young master, why have you drunk so much? The madam will surely scold you, and I won't help you this time."

"The master said you should go to the study and discuss 'Zhan Xi's Feast of the Troops' with him..."

Though Lian Cheng was drunk, he remained clear-headed. He looked up at the falling snowflakes like Qiong Hua petals, and a canopy of an umbrella covered him as Huqiu said in a thick voice, "Young master, hurry and get into the carriage."

"Go find the waiter and have him pack a few boxes of fine pastries and snacks. I'll bring them home for my mother to taste."

"Yes."

Just as Huqiu was about to leave, Lian Cheng had a sudden idea. "Pack a few more boxes. I'll bring one for each of the ladies and my father too. Make sure my mother's portion is especially good."

Huqiu asked, "Why give to everyone?"

"Don't ask so many questions. Go quickly. I'll wait for you outside." Lian Xiusheng, holding a hand warmer, bid farewell to Li Wan and the others. Xia Shutong sat in his goat-drawn cart, waving a handkerchief and holding a few branches of winter plums he had picked in the courtyard, calling out, "Minzi, I'll come find you to play in a couple of days!"

Lian Xiusheng had already entered the carriage, its curtain tightly drawn. Lian Cheng, spared the trouble of watching him, began strolling around the courtyard with its scattered rockeries.

He reached a small side gate and saw an old man in a coarse padded coat holding two hard steamed buns, his beard covered in frost and snow. Breathing out white mist, the old man said to someone inside the gate, "We agreed earlier—one hundred coins per character. I wrote couplets for you. A year ago, even a silver ingot wouldn't have gotten you this. How dare you give me only two steamed buns now?!"

"Oh, my dear sir, even steamed buns are a blessing now. Take a look around the capital—who dares to give you food? You're like a duck boiled in a pot—your body's gone, but your mouth's still tough."

The speaker stood inside the gate, seemingly a cook from the tavern, though not high-ranking. His voice was loud. Seeing the old man hunched over with a desolate expression, he seemed to take pity and continued, "Our boss, seeing you couldn't get by, let you write a couple of characters to earn a meal, so no one could say he was unkind. But who knew this kindness would breed resentment? Now you're blaming us for giving too little. Fine, take back your couplets and return the buns..."

Seeing the buns about to be taken away, the old man quickly stepped back several paces. "Enough, enough. I'll forgive you, you petty fellow."

The door slammed shut.

Clutching the cold buns, the old man turned and found himself face-to-face with a jade-like young gentleman who had been standing behind him for who knows how long.

Startled, he jumped back, then his vitality seemed to drain away. As he was about to leave, the other called out, "This junior just examined the couplets on the door—they're excellently written, with fine characters and a good meaning. Might I ask if you are Guan Lian, Old Master Guan?"

The old man claimed he was a wandering beggar.

Lian Cheng pointed at the couplets. "Below them, there are a few strokes of red plum blossoms. The brushwork in the branches reveals your signature."

The old man's eyes widened, his beard trembling. "Nonsense, you brat! Don't spout such rubbish!"

Lian Cheng didn't press further. He unfastened his cloak and wrapped it around the old man. "It's the dead of winter. I'll go inside and ask the waiter for some hot wine to warm you up."

The old man didn't refuse. He was truly cold and hungry, so he called out to Lian Cheng, "And get me a plate of mutton and a plate of beef! Make sure the wine is piping hot!"

"Got it!"

Lian Cheng didn't immediately return to the tavern. First, he ran back to the carriage, panting. Lian Xiusheng noticed his cloak was missing.

"Huqiu is inside packing some pastries for me to give to the ladies at home. I also have something to take care of. Wait for me." Lian Cheng spoke quickly, didn't glance at Lian Xiusheng, and ran off again.

Lian Xiusheng, distracted, held a book upside down, lost in thought.

Back in the tavern, Lian Cheng quickly fetched the beef, mutton, and hot wine. Seeing the old man still sitting under the plum tree wrapped in the cloak, he breathed a sigh of relief—glad he hadn't left.

Now, who was Guan Lian? He had been a fellow candidate in the imperial examination with Lian Xiusheng the year before. But while Lian Xiusheng was still under twenty, Guan Lian was already fifty, and one of his legs was lame.

On the day of the palace examination, the emperor personally posed questions. Among all candidates, only Lian Xiusheng and Guan Lian answered fluently, each pointing out the other's errors, quoting Confucius and Mencius back and forth until the emperor named Lian Xiusheng the top scholar and Guan Lian the second, citing his poor appearance as the reason.

Guan Lian then pointed at the emperor and cursed him for judging people by looks alone, declaring he could serve the ruler, the state, and the people, but not beauty. He also accused several cabinet ministers of blocking advice and deceiving the sovereign, enraging the emperor. Not only did he lose his second-place rank, but all his previous honors were stripped away.

Afterward, he wandered the capital, calling himself "Ugly Hermit." The year Lian Xiusheng entered the cabinet, Guan Lian wrote books and gained fame, eventually being invited three times by the emperor before entering court.

Once in office, he clashed with Lian Xiusheng like Wang Anshi against Sima Guang.

In the end, Lian Xiusheng lost by a narrow margin, not only failing himself but also bringing down his entire family.

Lian Cheng had read extensively. Regarding historical figures' conflicts, unless it involved treason, he generally didn't take sides. He was just an observer, learning from history.

So he wasn't sure what to do with Guan Lian, now wandering the streets. In books, Guan Lian was a paragon of integrity, but who knew if the author had been a fan, idealizing him?

Sitting on a tree root above the ground, Lian Cheng watched the old man wolf down his food and sighed.

"Young sir, born into a gentry family with heavenly looks, why do you sigh?" the old man asked, chewing beef.

But regardless, Lian Cheng thought absently, anyone who could go toe-to-toe with Lian Xiusheng would be a great asset to take home and use!

He looked at the old man with renewed enthusiasm, resting his chin on his hands. "A month ago, I caused a big trouble at the community school, and I've been troubled by it ever since."

The old man paused in his eating to let the young man continue.

"The old master at the school is quite learned, but too rigid. He doesn't let students eat their fill or dress warmly before teaching. I spoke out of indignation and contradicted him. But instead of being magnanimous, he packed up and went back to his hometown. Now my elders and classmates all blame me, putting me in an awkward spot," Lian Cheng said dejectedly. "My sorrow is greater than death itself."

"Don't lose heart, don't lose heart," the old man said hurriedly, even dropping a piece of beef. He picked it up from the ground, blew on it, and tossed it into his mouth. "If you don't mind that I'm now without rank or fame, I could give a few lessons at your school."

"But, but," the old man hesitated, then tucked the beef and wine into his sleeve. "Forget it, forget it."

He turned to leave.

Lian Cheng quickly grabbed him. "No, you just promised me!"

Oh! Oh, oh! Such a handsome young man, and yet so stubborn!

The old man couldn't break free and bent down. "I'm afraid of bringing trouble on you. You know my name, so you know my story. Though the current emperor hasn't punished me further, no one else dares to take me in. Yet you're willing to hire me as a tutor. How will you convince your family elders? How will you face your classmates' questions? Drop this matter. Even if you pester me, I won't agree!"

Seeing the old man so resolute, Lian Cheng quickly snatched the hot wine from his sleeve, dodged behind a tree, and peeked out. "Then you can't drink my wine, sir. My wine is only for my teacher."

The old man hopped in place. "Outrageous! Outrageous!"

After a standoff, the old man conceded, lowering his head. "Can you make decisions at home?"

"By throwing tantrums and being persistent, yes." Lian Cheng tossed the wine back to the old man. "Wait here. I'll hire a carriage."

Lian Cheng didn't plan to let Guan Lian meet Lian Xiusheng tonight. If Guan Lian saw Lian Xiusheng in the carriage, he'd likely tear the roof off.

-

"Our young master won't be returning with the sixth young master. The sixth young master should go on ahead." Huqiu left this message, drew the curtain, and spoke briefly with the driver before the wheels began to move.

"Wait." Lian Xiusheng frowned, lifted the curtain, and called out to Huqiu. "Third brother isn't coming home with me?"

"No," Huqiu grinned, showing his teeth. "The young master picked up someone on the road, and they're dirty. Not suitable to travel with the sixth young master."

As they spoke, the driver tugged the reins, asking whether to go or stay.

"Go on." Lian Xiusheng sat back down, picking up the book that had slipped from his lap. It was compiled by the Former Crown Prince, containing many of his works.

Lian Xiusheng initially felt indifferent to this book, but because the current emperor valued brotherly affection the most, he read it just for show, yet unexpectedly, the book was a treasure trove; the Former Crown Prince was truly well-versed in literature.

A person's writing reveals their character; through the chapters of the book, Lian Xiusheng could glimpse the Former Crown Prince's talent and character: respecting parents and elders, honoring teachers and friends, loving the people more than himself, he didn't fear the late emperor's suspicions and even volunteered to supervise the front lines, and besides the above, he also cared for his younger siblings, with the current emperor receiving the most care.

The Former Crown Prince had even written several seven-character regulated poems for him, all compiled into this book; the current emperor, moved by nostalgia, although suppressing the Former Crown Prince's former officials, did not classify his works as banned books.

Outside the carriage, it was much quieter than when they first left the mansion; only various styles of lanterns still hung, while the wind and snow had become fierce, and the sounds of passersby walking through the snow were all audible.

Lian Xiusheng calmed his mind and read for a while, but before reaching the mansion, couldn't resist anymore, he put the book aside and turned to lean against the luggage box, closing his eyes to feign sleep.

He should read fewer such books, so his heart wouldn't grow soft, and then he wouldn't have stirred emotions just because Third Brother didn't return home with him.

But he was originally too lazy to care, only afraid that Third Brother had forgotten that his hands were still cold.