Chapter 48

Chapter 48: The Forty-Eighth Chapter

Lian Cheng thought Lian Xiusheng had been frightened by his fainting, so he patted his shoulder, offered a few words of comfort, and asked why he had suddenly collapsed.

Lian Xiusheng said it was because he had angered him. Lian Cheng believed him without suspicion and demanded that Lian Xiusheng be completely obedient to his elder brother, otherwise he would fall ill from a fit of rage. Lian Xiusheng replied, "Naturally." A knock came from outside, along with a tentative voice: "Has the young master awakened?"

Lian Xiusheng rose first, then helped his third brother up before going to open the door.

Huqiu saw that Lian Cheng was already sitting up and hurriedly said he would go inform the master and madam. Tong Xue told him to go to the kitchen again and fetch some food. He clasped his hands and left, but as he was about to go, he stood at the foot of the steps, eavesdropping on Tong Xue's words. Tong Xue said in a low voice, "I won't go watch this time. The medicine is simmering on the stove over there, and I don't trust Qiong Hua to keep an eye on it. You tell those maids to be careful—if they serve some shoddy food to a sick person, I won't hesitate to use the awl I use for sewing insoles on those old women."

Huqiu had witnessed Tong Xue's fierceness before. The madam had been frail for years, and the sixth young master was becoming more and more promising. The kitchen staff, who had been in the household since the old master's time, were masters at treating people differently based on their status.

When the young master was around ten, he had fallen ill in the same way. The kitchen was supposed to prepare light soups for the patient, but they were lazy and sent the usual meals. Qiong Hua went to scold them, but being young, she ended up getting slapped twice instead. Tong Xue went later, saying nothing, but pulled a shoe awl from her sleeve and stabbed it into the back of an old woman who was chopping fish heads. The old woman bled profusely and screamed like a stuck pig.

If they dared to slight even a concubine's daughter, they would be punished with dozens of board strokes. So the kitchen staff didn't dare make a fuss. Tong Xue then went to the madam to argue their case, and those old maidservants were punished again.

Only Qiong Hua remained in the room, asking the young master if he still felt uncomfortable anywhere. She didn't leave until Tong Xue called her to fetch the medicine.

She brought the medicine and then went to get some candied fruit. By the time she returned with the fruit, the medicine was already in Lian Xiusheng's hands. Lian Xiusheng sat before Lian Cheng with the bowl, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it twice, and then fed it to his third brother after it had cooled.

Lian Cheng thought this was far too delicate. He had never winced at taking medicine since childhood, so why did he need to be fed? "I'll do it myself."

Lian Xiusheng couldn't argue with him, but he only gave him the spoon. "The medicine was just poured out, it's too hot to hold. Third Brother, just use the spoon to sip it."

Lian Cheng thought, "Watch me drink it all in one gulp and show you ancients what's what." His expression was calm, his demeanor modest. He took a big spoonful, and his facial muscles began to twitch. He opened his mouth wide and said, "Quick! Quick! Quick!" Qiong Hua quickly popped a candied longan into his mouth.

What the hell was this? He knew that some traditional Chinese medicine formulas occasionally contained feces, but this was worse than eating shit!

Lian Cheng was so disgusted by the taste that he said he wouldn't drink anymore, that he wasn't sick, and that Lian Xiusheng should drink it instead—after all, Lian Xiusheng was the one who was ill, so he should be the one to take more medicine.

Even Qiong Hua couldn't side with her own young master this time. Fortunately, Lian Cheng only said it out loud; after saying it, he got up and drank it. Unlike before, when he would refuse outright and a fight would ensue if anyone tried to persuade him.

After finishing the medicine, Qiong Hua left. Lian Xiusheng brought the candied fruit, fed a few pieces to his third brother, and then said he would stay overnight in his brother's room tonight.

Lian Cheng was lying on the bed. He pulled a storybook from the drawer inside, glanced sideways at Lian Xiusheng, and said, "What, can't sleep again? If you can't sleep, take some medicine."

Lian Xiusheng smiled. "No medicine can cure me; only Third Brother can relieve me."

Lian Cheng quickly got absorbed in his book. After reading a few lines, he stopped paying attention to whatever Lian Xiusheng was saying. He patted the bed beside him absently and said, "Come if you want. But aren't you busy right now? What's been keeping the Hanlin Academy occupied lately?"

"His Majesty is establishing an Inner School to teach young eunuchs to read and write. He has ordered me to give them a few lessons."

Lian Cheng sat up cross-legged, storybook in hand, and looked at Lian Xiusheng. "Teaching young eunuchs?"

In history, there were not a few dynasties where eunuchs wielded power. Later, some emperors even issued explicit edicts forbidding eunuchs from learning to read—though those edicts were eventually broken. Lian Cheng couldn't quite guess whether this emperor was lazy and wanted to dump all government affairs on eunuchs, hence making them literate; or whether he wanted eunuchs to seize power and compete with the scholar-officials; or whether he simply wanted everyone in the world to be educated.

Lian Cheng thought the third possibility could almost be ignored. Although the emperor needed talent, he didn't need that much. Essentially, no matter how nicely the emperor spoke or how beautifully he handled affairs, it was all for the sake of consolidating his own rule.

Given the character of this Dayao emperor, he was probably just trying to elevate the eunuchs and give the scholar-official class a sense of crisis.

But if Lian Xiusheng entered the Inner School as a teacher—once a teacher, always like a father—if he also taught a future Secretary Eunuch, that eunuch would have to be extremely respectful to him. Yet Lian Xiusheng had also become a student of the Grand Secretary. How could the emperor let someone from the Grand Secretary's faction be the teacher of the future leader of eunuchs? That didn't add up.

They must be hiding something from him. After a mental storm, Lian Cheng came to this conclusion.

But what he was most curious about was Lian Xiusheng's thoughts. Holding the storybook, he leaned in and asked in a low voice, "Whose side are you on?"

Lian Xiusheng couldn't help but laugh. "Why would Third Brother ask such a question?"

Lian Cheng replied matter-of-factly, "It is only natural for your elder brother to care about your thoughts and actions. If you don't want to say, then forget it."

"I serve the emperor in his concerns, speak for the people's will, and strive for peace for all generations. There is no question of being on 'which side,'" Lian Xiusheng answered his brother.

"..." Lian Cheng didn't believe him. He hadn't said that before. When he had pinned him down on the Moon Viewing Terrace and kissed him, he had said it was about an eye for an eye.

"Then why did the Grand Secretary take you as his student?"

"My teacher shares my aspirations."

"..."

Lian Cheng knew it was impossible to get anything he wanted to hear out of Lian Xiusheng. He sighed, then suddenly looked up again. "I know you harbor resentment in your heart. But why don't you hate me? If your family knew you let me off so easily, then..."

"They are reasonable people. Not to mention that Third Brother was only a child back then—even our grandfather would not hold a grudge against you," Lian Xiusheng said. He picked up a piece of candied fruit, rolled the sugar on it between his fingers, and said in a low voice, "When circumstances change, one must adapt. Forced to survive, it's human nature. What choice does one have?"

He knew what his third brother wanted to ask. He lifted his eyes, his gaze clear and cold. "It's just that I myself can't let it go. I need something to occupy myself, so I don't get bored."

"..." Lian Cheng opened his mouth, dumbfounded. The other party had struggled to climb to the pinnacle of power just because he was bored. Wonderful.

"Then... how do you plan to avenge yourself?"

"I haven't thought about it yet."

Lian Cheng swallowed. He wanted to say, "How about we just forget it?" But he couldn't bring himself to say it.

The two brothers sat in silence for a long time. Lian Xiusheng had already melted the sugar on the candied fruit in his hand. He looked at the storybook in his third brother's hands—it wasn't the one he had given him earlier—and asked what he was reading. Lian Cheng said it was about affairs between butterflies and bees. Lian Xiusheng paused, then frowned slightly. "Third Brother, why are you reading such vulgar books?"

Lian Cheng said bluntly, "I am not inclined toward men, but I want to understand what goes on in your mind."

Lian Xiusheng's gaze softened visibly, and even his voice became gentler. "And has Third Brother figured it out?"

"No, the book doesn't say," Lian Cheng replied.

"Then you can ask me now."

Lian Cheng shook his head. "No. I'm afraid you'll say you're in love with me again."

Lian Xiusheng was silent for a long time. He ate the candied fruit in his hand, feeling nauseous.

After a few pages, Lian Cheng suddenly stopped. He squinted, trying to look sharp as he stared at Lian Xiusheng. "There's actually something else I want to ask you. On the day of the Lantern Festival, while I was walking along the road, I happened to notice a beggar who looked familiar. When I got closer, I realized it was that wretched male prostitute we kicked out before the New Year. Huqiu later told me he had returned to his hometown. How did he end up as a beggar in the city?"

He didn't reveal the names of the two people who had secretly informed him, worried that Lian Xiusheng would cause them trouble.

Lian Xiusheng's expression remained natural. He wiped his hands with a handkerchief and said unhurriedly, "When we kicked him out, we packed up his clothes and silver and gave them to him and the other boy. They said they were going back to their hometown. I didn't inquire further afterward. I didn't expect them to end up destitute in the capital."

After speaking, he saw his third brother's suspicious and puzzled gaze. He also made a puzzled "eh" sound. "What? Does Third Brother think I made him destitute in the capital? Don't misunderstand, Third Brother. That day, Jin Cai escorted him to the yamen, watched him receive his beating, and then left. That was his duty. As for whether that boy returned to his hometown, that was his own business. Round trip would cost dozens of taels of silver. You couldn't expect our household to send someone to escort him home properly, could you?"

Lian Cheng knew that was impossible. He stammered, "But I saw him crawling on the ground. Wasn't he beaten lightly? How did he end up crippled?"

"Probably the yamen runners didn't know their own strength. Third Brother, don't blame them."

Lian Xiusheng's explanation was watertight. Lian Cheng couldn't press further, but something still felt off.

Seeing his third brother absorbed in his storybook, Lian Xiusheng said he needed to go back to his study to fetch some books. He took his leave and returned to Yiqiu. Standing under the sal tree, Jin Cai came to him, made a bow, and asked what the young master wanted. Lian Xiusheng asked who had told his third brother about the prostitute's situation. Jin Cai was startled, immediately knelt, and kowtowed three times. Lian Xiusheng told him to rise and speak; he wouldn't blame him, he just wanted to know the ins and outs.

Jin Cai stood up and said, "I had everything arranged inside and out that day. You know how tight-lipped Penglai Pavilion is—no worse than our own courtyard. The yamen staff aren't familiar with our Third Young Master either. How could they just randomly bring up that prostitute's matter? It must be that Third Young Master himself saw him on the street."

After saying this, he realized something was off. "Hey, I remember that prostitute was taken in and cared for by his little companion. How could he appear on the street again?"

Lian Xiusheng had already thought of it. "It must be those two from the Moon Viewing Terrace."

“Qiao Er, Zheng Leatherwhip?” Jin Cai asked. “Why do you, my lord, suspect it’s them?”

“That day you and I saw Third Brother ascend the Wangyue (Moon-Viewing) Platform, but when I went up, I didn’t see any trace of Third Brother. Yet on the table where those two were sitting, there were two teapots. That wasn’t the main point—the two men had Third Brother’s scent on them. I originally thought they’d accidentally brushed against him on the road, but it turned out they’d spoken with him.” Lian Xiusheng finished slowly and then asked Jin Cai, “What do these two do?”

Jin Cai had long since thoroughly understood the social connections inside and outside the Penglai Pavilion. He replied, “Zheng Leatherwhip lends money at usury. Qiao Er is an idle young master who often visits rich men’s homes to taste tea, discuss paintings, and accompany them on social engagements.”

Lian Xiusheng lowered his eyes, shadows of the tree fell across his eyelids. After a moment, he said, “Lending money at high interest is illegal.”

Jin Cai reacted swiftly, saying yes, then added, “I’ll report to the authorities first thing tomorrow, directly to the Commander of the Five-Ward Military Office, to stop him from bribing officials with silver.”

“Then go and invite Qiao Er to come to the mansion. Say I have a painting for him to appreciate.” After saying this, Lian Xiusheng thought for a moment and then instructed, “Also wrap up a packet of silver and send it to those two boy prostitutes. Don’t say it’s from our household. Say it’s from Third Brother—though they had a brief encounter, fate wasn’t on their side, he still hopes they live well.”

Jin Cai received the order but was puzzled. “My lord, why make it so complicated? Just kill them outright to avoid future trouble—wouldn’t that be simpler?”

“Taking lives at the slightest provocation—I’m not Yama.” Lian Xiusheng gave a light laugh. “You can leave now.”

Once the courtyard was empty, Lian Xiusheng turned around, facing the sal tree that was as thick as four or five men could wrap their arms around. The tree grew stifled in this yard, unable to spread freely, pruned every few days. He reached out and ran his fingers over the rough, scaly bark. Memories that were not his, yet belonged to him, flooded his mind. A figure—like another version of him—wearing a Daoist robe, knelt for a long time without rising under the tree.

Unfortunately, each time he touched it, he could only see this scene. So much so that Lian Xiusheng didn’t quite understand why the version of himself in the vision would kneel for so long under this tree.

But regardless of the reason, this tree had already become special in his heart. It also knew things that ordinary people didn’t know—and so did he.

-

In the evening, after bathing, Lian Xiusheng personally perfumed his clothes over a brazier before putting them on to go to the Penglai Pavilion. Man Cai led the way with a lantern, and Lian Xiusheng followed behind. Suddenly he asked Man Cai why he and Jin Cai hadn’t spoken for several days again.

Man Cai’s steps faltered. He said evasively, “It’s an ugly matter between us servants, please don’t ask, my lord, for fear of soiling your ears.”

“Let’s hear it.”

After walking the length of a corridor, Man Cai finally spoke. “He’s always restless when sleeping at night. He sticks his hand into my crotch and gropes me several times!”

Lian Xiusheng laughed in spite of himself. “Jin Cai is so lewd?”

“Exactly!” Man Cai fumed. “Since you’ve asked, I also have something to say. There are still many empty rooms in Yiqiu. Could you allocate one for me to stay? I really can’t stand Brother Jin Cai anymore.”

Lian Xiusheng treated everyone equally, without favoritism, so he nodded. “Although you haven’t yet reached adulthood, you are already fifteen. You shouldn’t have to share a room with Jin Cai anymore. Tomorrow go find Jin Chai and have her assign you a new room.”

Overjoyed, Man Cai thanked him profusely.

When they reached Lian Cheng’s room, Lian Cheng was still reading his book. Hearing the commotion, he quickly sat up and pulled back the bedclothes. “You’ve finally come. I was just making the bed to welcome you!”

Lian Xiusheng paused in his steps. He recalled the fuming Man Cai just now. He understood Man Cai, but he could relate to Jin Cai even more.

Facing Third Brother, who was lounging on the bed surrounded by colorful bedding, he wished he could pull Third Brother under him and ravish him all night. But in the end, he had read more books than Jin Cai and knew more of the sages’ teachings. He still had to proceed slowly and carefully.

Even so, in the few steps he took toward him, Lian Xiusheng still unconsciously glanced at Third Brother. Third Brother wore clothes, so naturally nothing could be seen.

He felt regret in his heart and couldn’t help sighing softly. That day after the teacher-acceptance banquet, on the way home in the carriage, he should have taken off Third Brother’s robes and taken the time to admire him. For no reason, it simply hadn’t occurred to him.