Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Lian Cheng brought Qiong Hua and first went to the Orchid Garden to pay respects to Zhang-shi, but unexpectedly found several guests already there.

There were no maids in the courtyard. Qiong Hua lifted the curtain, and he entered.

Suddenly, a divinely handsome young man entered, stunning the women in the room for a moment. When they recovered, a woman in a green silk padded jacket seated facing west stood up. She circled Lian Cheng, looking him over, and asked, "Is this your Cheng Geer?"

Zhang Ailian confirmed that he was her son, then pretended to be stern, saying, "You caught a cold a couple of days ago. I excused you from coming to pay respects. Why did you run over here on your own?"

Lian Cheng gave an elegant bow. "Though I was ill, I have always been thinking of Mother. Seeing that Mother's complexion has improved much more than in previous days, my illness is as good as cured."

Zhang Ailian stared at Lian Cheng for a few seconds, then couldn't help but burst into laughter. "I can see you still have the strength to joke. Your illness must be over. Later, when you return, go to Qing Zhu and get some food and clothes. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and the whole family will worship the ancestors and have the reunion dinner together."

Lian Cheng agreed, and then Zhang Ailian pointed to the woman in the green silk jacket beside him and said, "This is the wife of the Assistant Judge of the Court of Judicial Review. You should call her Aunt."

Lian Cheng obediently said, "Hello, Aunt."

The woman responded. Her maidservant stepped forward holding a red sandalwood gift box. She took it, opened it for everyone to see, and said with a smile to Lian Cheng, "It's nothing valuable—just some little trinkets my wayward husband made himself."

A box full of gold ingots. When picked up, each revealed itself to be in the shape of a plum blossom, with tiny rubies embedded in the pistil. They weren't worth much, but it was clear care had been taken.

Lian Cheng accepted it and thanked the Aunt.

Then, under her guidance and introduction, he came to know the other women in the hall. They were the wives of functionaries in state organs, who had come early to pay New Year's visits.

Lian Cheng followed behind the first lady, calling each as instructed, until he could barely hold all the gift boxes.

It was only after he had greeted everyone that it was over.

Lian Cheng did not stay long in the Orchid Garden. They were all womenfolk, and not close acquaintances. He felt it improper to linger. After only half a cup of tea, he bid everyone farewell.

"There's too much stuff. I'll have Huqiu come fetch it later. Let's go see Father first." Perhaps because he had come out from the warm room, the sudden shift from heat to cold was too abrupt. Lian Cheng coughed a few times, and Qiong Hua quickly patted his back.

"These people are so annoying," Qiong Hua said in a low voice. "They come, and they make you go around recognizing everyone. What's the point? In the end, they only have eyes for power and influence. Not to mention it's New Year's Eve tomorrow and the household is busy with preparations. When the former wife was sick to the point of death, they didn't even send anyone to glance at her. Now they're willing to come, but all they're thinking about is the Sixth Brother."

Qiong Hua could see clearly, but Huqiu couldn't, saving Lian Cheng the need to explain further—these wives must have sensed that the Lian family was about to rise in power. Lian Xiusheng was currently favored by the Emperor. Even when he caught a cold, the Emperor sent an old eunuch with an imperial physician to visit. Naturally, they had to increase their interactions with the Lian family.

Seeing that her young master remained silent, Qiong Hua pouted. "I have nothing against the Sixth Brother. I'm talking about those snobs."

"I know," Lian Cheng said with a smile. "Sister Qiong Hua is the most clear in her likes and dislikes."

Qiong Hua stamped her foot. "Young master, stop being glib. Let's hurry to the Floating Fragrance Pavilion and then go back. It's cold outside, and you haven't fully recovered yet."

The snow fell in fine flakes. By the time the master and maid reached the Floating Fragrance Pavilion, the garden was covered in silver. Lian Pu was sitting cross-legged in the very center of the courtyard, with a small table before him set with a charcoal stove, teapot, and teacups.

Lian Cheng's face darkened. Was there no one normal in this household?

But at least Lian Pu seemed to be sitting alone in the cold to suffer, without making his young servants or maids suffer alongside him.

The master and maid tacitly slowed their steps and approached quietly. But when they were still a few steps away, Lian Pu suddenly turned his face, startling both of them.

Qiong Hua quickly curtsied. "Greetings to the Master."

Lian Pu smiled gently. "Sit."

Lian Cheng was taken aback. Where to sit?

Seeing the confusion on Lian Cheng's face, Lian Pu pointed across from him. "Brush away the snow there. There's a cushion underneath."

Seeing Qiong Hua about to jump up, Lian Cheng pulled her behind him, walked quickly over, and in a few movements dug out a cushion from the snow. After shaking off the snow, he sat cross-legged on it. Lian Pu rolled up his sleeves and placed a cup of hot tea before him.

"Cold weather sharpens the mind. Every winter, I meditate like this," Lian Pu said.

Lian Cheng held the tea, exhaling white vapor. Thinking of Lian Pu's personal achievements, he concluded that meditating in the snow and ice was utterly useless.

"Minzi, what brings you to see me today?" Lian Pu asked again.

"Son indeed has something to tell you." Lian Cheng got down to business and shed his usual grin. Through the falling snowflakes, Lian Cheng looked at Lian Pu behind them and said, "A few days ago, I attended Ye Xin's banquet. On the way home, I happened to see a man selling books to exchange for rice. He looked pitiful, so I gave him some beef, mutton, and hot wine. Upon getting to know him, I discovered he was Old Master Guan Lian, who took the palace exam with the Sixth Brother in the same year but had his honors stripped. Having long heard of the Old Master's vast knowledge, I thought of the unsettled position of the community school teacher. So I took the liberty of inviting the Old Master into the residence on the eve of that. He is currently settled in the Penglai Pavilion."

Lian Pu listened, thought for a long while, and then said, "Do you know who he is?"

Lian Cheng: "Son knows. He and the Sixth Brother—"

Lian Pu shook his head. "He and Xiusheng quarreled in court because the current Emperor insulted him for his lame leg and praised Xiusheng's jade-like beauty. The two, both pillars of the state in the same year, fell out and became enemies. You and I both know the Emperor's temperament. If he allowed the Old Master to move freely in the capital, it's clear he still intends to employ him. Now, you've stolen a march on the Emperor."

"Minzi, what am I to say to you?"

Lian Cheng blinked. Snowflakes melted on his warm eyelids, turning into water that trickled down his cheeks. He suddenly stood up, understanding. He understood why the Emperor later elevated Lian Xiusheng and belittled Guan Lian during the palace exam, only to repeatedly summon Guan Lian to court later.

From the very beginning, the Emperor never intended for anyone to dominate the court alone. Even the top scholar, still unformed, had been provided with an opponent early on.

Lian Cheng didn't have time to wonder why Lian Pu had thought of this. He asked blankly, "Father, what should I do?"

Lian Pu smiled. "Since you've already brought him into the residence, sending him out now might actually harm him. Keep him here as the teacher for now. As for the future, deal with it when it comes."

Lian Cheng's heart raced like a drum. He felt unsteady on his feet, unsure how he left the Floating Fragrance Pavilion.

One move affects the whole game. He was still a novice, far from Lian Pu's seasoned composure. Returning to his courtyard, he drank his medicine to the last drop under Tong Xue's watchful eye, then ran off to see Guan Lian.

-

Entering, Lian Cheng found the white-haired old man bent over his desk preparing lessons. He went over, knelt, and kowtowed three times. "I may have brought trouble to you, Master."

If the Emperor had his eye on this man as a pawn, and now he was not only abandoned but also became a support for the Lian family, who knew if the Emperor would see the Lian family and Guan Lian as thorns in his side.

Damn. This time, he had really stepped on the accelerator. Lian Cheng lamented inwardly.

Yet he truly felt sorry for Guan Lian. His intentions had been good, but now he had placed the other in such a dangerous position.

His face downcast, Lian Cheng recounted his earlier conversation with Lian Pu. Then he said, "But Master, please rest assured. Your student will not abandon you. From today, even if you don't leave the Lian residence, don't leave the Penglai Pavilion, don't even get out of bed, I will take care of you until you're old. If you're cold, I'll add clothes for you. If you're hungry, I'll feed you. If you pass away, I'll have the finest coffin made for you..."

"Stop, stop, stop!" Guan Lian's expression shifted from gratification to something wry. "I'm still healthy, and you're already talking nonsense, child."

When Lian Cheng fell silent, Guan Lian patted him on the shoulder. "Do you think I don't know what the Emperor is playing at? I wish to spend my life serving my country. What does it matter what role I take? But these past months, I've tasted bitterness and the coldness of human hearts. Luckily, I happened to meet this child. If I can teach you well, isn't that serving my country with all my heart?"

Tears glistened in Guan Lian's eyes. For the first time in this paper-thin book world, Lian Cheng felt his own eyes burn for a character.

But Lian Cheng still had one more thing—he hadn't told Guan Lian that Lian Xiusheng lived next door.

Could he say it now? It didn't seem right.

So he would wait, wait for a good opportunity to let them shake hands and work together for the empire.

Guan Lian was a man of integrity. Not only did he not consider this a big deal, but he also comforted Lian Cheng before giving him a harsh lesson.

"Remain calm when Mount Tai collapses before you, and keep your eyes fixed when a deer suddenly appears beside you. Only then can you control advantages and disadvantages, can you wait for the enemy. Now go out and think it over carefully."

Lian Cheng was shooed out. He stood quietly for a while. Huqiu came sneaking up. "Young master, what are you doing here?"

"Contemplating life."

Huqiu clasped his hands and said, "I just came back from drinking tea at Jin Cai's place, and I've given them the silver."

"Mm, good that you've given it."

For the first time, Huqiu asked the young master for something, even though it was on someone else's behalf, he still felt embarrassed. He stammered for a good while before finally squeezing out the complete sentence, "Sixth Brother sent me to ask you, now that you've given us the silver, what do you plan to give him?"

Lian Cheng was taken aback by Huqiu's words, then turned and walked toward his own room, "Did he really send you to ask?"

Lian Xiusheng was actually asking for something?

Wait... no, Lian Cheng halted mid-step, suddenly realizing—this was so typical of Lian Xiusheng, calculating and scheming in every way, unwilling to suffer even the slightest loss at such a young age. Having done a small favor for his elder brother, he immediately sent someone to demand payment; in the future, he might even sell government offices.

Lian Cheng pushed open the door of his study. First, he set up a ladder, opened the upper drawer, and took out a gold-flecked folding fan. He wasn't one to be ungenerous with good things—since a reward was requested, he might as well give it.

But the fan was secondary. Lian Cheng spread out a large sheet of paper and instructed Huqiu to grind ink. As Huqiu ground the ink, he chuckled, "Young master, you're working so hard at your studies even before you're fully recovered. You'll definitely be more formidable than Sixth Brother in the future!"

Lian Cheng wrote with great concentration. Since his calligraphy wasn't yet pleasing to the eye, he discarded several sheets before finally producing one he was relatively satisfied with. Then he wiped his face, placed the fan and the rolled-up paper into a box, and had Huqiu deliver it to Lian Xiusheng.

Huqiu dashed off to Yiqiu (a room in the estate). The Sixth Brother was still sitting there reading. Panting, Huqiu held the box, paid his respects, and then respectfully placed the box before him, "This is our young master's thank-you gift for you, Sixth Brother."

"You two work quickly," Lian Xiusheng said.

Thinking the words carried a hidden meaning, Huqiu hurriedly replied, "This item took quite some effort from our young master, Sixth Brother, you really ought to give it a proper look."

Lian Xiusheng had already opened the box. The fan, though a precious object, was merely a mundane thing in his eyes. He set it aside and picked up the rolled paper from the box. Even rolled up, one could still tell the writing skill of the person who wrote it—the ink had already seeped onto Lian Xiusheng's fingers.

It was written by the third brother himself. At this moment, Lian Xiusheng's brows had relaxed. He slowly unrolled the paper, and what came into view were undoubtedly three hideously ugly characters, large and small, jostling against each other—quite a lively scene.

Huqiu naturally thought everything about his young master was perfect and saw no difference between his master's calligraphy and that of famous masters.

Lian Xiusheng read for a moment, first struggling to recognize the first couple of characters.

"Eight Honors and Eight Disgraces."