Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Fifty-Third Chapter

Lian Cheng didn't need to rest; he still had to discuss the second round's strategy with his brothers. But he couldn't refuse Lian Xiusheng's offer, afraid of hurting their bond.

He went over, drank two bowls of tea, exchanged pleasantries with Ye Xin and the others, and was about to leave when everyone at the table suddenly stood up to bow in the same direction. Lian Cheng quickly stood and followed suit. He saw Eunuch Cui walking up from beneath the eaves, pale-faced and beardless, with a refined and cultivated demeanor. The eunuch raised a finger to his lips. "Someone like me hardly deserves the greetings of you young masters. Please sit down, lest we attract undue attention."

Lian Cheng wanted to overhear their conversation, so he picked up his tea bowl, intending to linger a bit longer.

"Venerable Eunuch, busy with daytime affairs, still found time to come out for a walk," Ye Xin, always the first to speak among this group, said as he personally poured tea for Eunuch Cui.

"The best time of spring is here. I'm just taking the chance to soak up some of its vitality. These good times belong to you young people."

Lian Cheng sipped his tea and glanced at Eunuch Cui. He wasn't old either—probably incapable in that area, his heart aged. Ah, what a pity.

He subconsciously looked toward Lu Zhen on the field, wondering if Lu Zhen knew Eunuch Cui was coming today. Lian Cheng wanted to go tell his good brother, so he downed the rest of his tea and stood to leave. He wasn't part of this group of schemers anyway, so no one tried to stop him. Only Lian Xiusheng suddenly grabbed his hand, squeezing his little finger, saying that if Third Brother left, he wasn't allowed to talk to anyone else.

Lian Cheng verbally agreed but thought to himself that his brother was being unreasonable again.

The whole table watched as the third son of the Lian family ran off. The person next to Ye Xin was named Tan Xiangzhao. He rested his elbow on the table, laughing continuously. "Sixth Lang, you treat your Third Brother so well now. Let's hope he doesn't let you down."

Lian Xiusheng said he didn't care.

Another voice chimed in, "From Sixth Lang's tone, it sounds like he's willing to endure anything for someone."

Ye Xin shook his head with a smile. "You still don't understand Xiusheng. Whether he's let down or not is for him to decide. He doesn't care."

The others didn't fully grasp it. Over there, Lian Cheng had already reached Lu Zhen and the others. Lian Cheng asked, "Eunuch Cui is here. Did you know?"

"Ah," Lu Zhen let out an involuntary breath, then immediately turned his back toward the horse. "Did he see me?"

Lian Cheng realized he hadn't known. He leaned in and said, "He's probably here for you."

Lian Cheng was even more frightened than Lu Zhen. "What do we do?"

Seeing his friend so panicked, Lu Zhen relaxed instead. "With so many people around, he can't do anything to me. Let's just play well."

Li Wan and Zhang Xian were still unaware of the matter between Lu Zhen and Eunuch Cui. Hearing that the eunuch had arrived, they turned to peer at the distant viewing pavilion. Indeed, he had come. Li Wan cursed the "damned eunuch," while Zhang Xian's mind was on the match. He was the most serious. "Luo Ke and his group—Luo Ke is best at dribbling but not at shooting. Ruozhu is best at controlling his horse. We'll have Ruozhu block Luo Ke, while Du Heng and I intercept the other four. Whoever gets the ball, pass it to Minzi. Once Minzi has it, we'll block the opposition at all costs."

The drums sounded. Lian Cheng mounted his horse, twirling his mallet. At the third drumbeat, he shot out like the wind.

This time, they had experience. They immediately headed for their targets. Luo Ke, the son of the Minister of Works, was heading toward Lian Cheng but was unexpectedly intercepted by Lu Zhen midway. The ball fell to Li Wan's mallet. Li Wan decisively passed it to Lian Cheng, who struck with the force of a meteor, scoring a direct hit.

Luo Ke and his group, their horses hemmed in, cursed dejectedly. The riders also wore dark expressions, whispering among themselves.

Several people in the viewing pavilion had moved to a stand closer to the field. They stood at the front, ready to place bets on who would win. Tan Xiangzhao and two others bet on Luo Ke. Naturally, Lian Xiusheng bet on his own Third Brother. Ye Xin followed his friend's bet on the young prince. Winning or losing didn't matter much, but Xiangzhao questioned why Ye Xin would bet against his own side. They then asked Eunuch Cui which side he favored. Eunuch Zheng said Lu Zhen was the best rider, so he favored him. Tan Xiangzhao said they all had personal biases—wasn't the young prince's side short-handed? How could they win?

The second ball was thrown onto the field. Luo Ke grabbed it first. Lu Zhen immediately chased him, trying to steal the ball as it rolled across the ground. Luo Ke shot him an irritated glance, then twisted his wrist, striking the front legs of the horse behind him with his mallet.

A high-pitched neigh rang out, followed by the thud of a young man hitting the ground. Although Lian Cheng was quick to react, pulling away the agitated horse to prevent Lu Zhen from being trampled, Lu Zhen lay on the ground shouting, "Don't worry about me!" He got up on his own, using his mallet to support himself, dragging his leg half-step by half-step toward the edge of the field.

Luo Ke scored a goal, leveling the score.

Lian Cheng handed the extra horse to a servant who came to lead it away. He rode up to Luo Ke. "A victory won by foul means is still a disgrace."

Luo Ke smiled silently, revealing a few teeth. "Disgrace runs in the Third Lang's family. You shouldn't be angry; you should learn from me."

Lian Cheng showed disdain, curling his lips as he spoke slowly. "My grandfather taking advantage of others in a weak position was indeed petty. But he wronged only a couple of people. Your father, the Minister of Works, had an assistant openly selling imperial wood, exploiting the people and weakening the state. Yet he remained ignorant. Whether that's stupidity or a precursor to disaster for the nation, we should indeed take it as a lesson."

The smug look on the young man's face gradually faded. His chest heaved uncontrollably until he finally spat out, "Just you wait!"

Lian Cheng scoffed, turned around, and high-fived Li Wan and Zhang Xian. As he basked in his triumph, someone on the stand shouted, "Is Sixth Lang of the Lian family also going to play?" Lian Cheng turned to look for him, but he didn't need to search—even among ten thousand people, he didn't need to. Lian Cheng spotted him at once.

Lian Xiusheng had changed into simpler clothes, holding a mallet as he sat on his horse. He hadn't used the horses provided by the host; he rode his own black steed. With stern brows and eyes, as he approached, Luo Ke and his companions involuntarily backed their horses away.

"Third Brother, I'll take Lu Zhen's place," Lian Xiusheng said coldly. "Throw the ball."

His brother's calm, indifferent voice blended with the spring breeze. Lian Cheng felt as if the sound had brushed heavily against his ear, leaving half his face burning with heat.

But putting that aside, even though Lian Xiusheng said he wasn't good, his mere presence gave Lian Cheng immense confidence. Not just against little Luo Ke—even against the emperor himself, Lian Cheng felt he could go toe-to-toe.

The ball flew over everyone's heads. Lian Xiusheng hooked it with the grace of reaching for the moon. With a twist of his mallet, the ball shot straight into the goal like a meteor.

The others hadn't even moved from their starting positions to contest the ball.

Lian Cheng screamed inwardly, "Holy shit!" He looked left and right at Li Wan and Zhang Xian, whose expressions were equally exaggerated.

If the occasion hadn't been so serious, Lian Cheng would have hugged Lian Xiusheng and kissed him twice. What a good brother he had!

There was no need to describe how Luo Ke and his group were utterly routed. Once the ball was under Lian Xiusheng's mallet, there was no chance of it leaving. But perhaps Lian Xiusheng found bullying them uninteresting, so just before each goal, he passed the ball to Third Brother, letting Lian Cheng score. Lian Cheng didn't mind being indulged. Each time he scored, he shot Luo Ke and his group a provocative look, infuriating them.

In the decisive third round, Luo Ke and his friend chased after Lian Xiusheng, showing no intention of stealing the ball. Lian Cheng saw clearly from the right—they planned to use the same trick they had on Lu Zhen against Lian Xiusheng. He didn't know if Lian Xiusheng could handle it, but when he saw the mallet swing toward Lian Xiusheng's back, Lian Cheng didn't think twice. He leaped from his own horse, tackling the mallet-wielder to the ground, allowing Lian Xiusheng to score the final goal.

"Third Brother!"

"Minzi!"

Lian Cheng lay on the ground, breaking out in a cold sweat from the pain. He knew this body was delicate; he thought a few months of sword practice had strengthened it, but apparently not enough. His vision went dark. He wasn't sure who helped him up or whose arms he leaned on. Amid the chaos, he felt himself lifted into the air and finally forced his eyes open.

The person carrying him in his arms was Lian Xiusheng. Looking up from below, he saw the tense line of his brother's jaw, the barely concealed anger in the tip of his nose and lashes. Lian Cheng, still dazed, turned his head and saw Li Wan and Zhang Xian following behind. He grabbed the fabric of Lian Xiusheng's chest. "The kowtow... they haven't kowtowed to me yet..."

"...We'll remember it. There will be plenty of opportunities later," Lian Xiusheng said in a flat tone.

-

Lian Cheng had hurt his hand. The physician said it wasn't broken, just sprained, and would heal in half a month to a month.

Back home, Zhang Ailian didn't even go to Lian Garden first but headed straight to Penglai Pavilion. She stood watching intently as the physician examined Lian Cheng. After he left, she sternly scolded Lian Cheng for taking such a dangerous risk. Even if it meant losing, why would he risk his life?

At first, Lian Cheng tried to joke his way out, as he always did, hoping to coax a smile from his mother. But this time, he hit a wall. Zhang Ailian slammed her hand on the table. "Many die from falling off a horse. Do you think I'm trying to scare you?"

"Mother, how do you know so clearly?"

Qiu Fang stood with her hands clasped, speaking softly. "The Mistress's maiden family is the Grand General of the Lu Mansion in the borderlands. Many of Dayao's iron cavalry served under the Grand General. The Mistress grew up around it and knows a thing or two."

Lian Cheng fell silent and honestly admitted his mistake. Zhang Ailian, seeing him looking crestfallen, felt both anger and pity. She instructed Tong Xue and the others to take good care of the young master, then left with Qiu Fang and the others. Later, Li Wan and Zhang Xian arrived. They paced around Lian Cheng's room, thinking it was their lack of ruthlessness that caused the situation. From now on, they resolved to be unscrupulous and shameless to deal with such vile people.

"How is Lu Zhen?"

Zhang Xian said, "Eunuch Cui's men took him away."

Li Wan added, "That damned eunuch is his godfather and treats him well. Minzi, don't worry."

Then Li Wan sat on Lian Cheng's bed, studying him for a while before leaning in to plead, "The prince's mansion has imperial physicians and the best medicine. Why not convalesce at my place?"

Lian Cheng now understood that not only must he keep distance from women, but also from men. He used his uninjured hand to push Li Wan away. "I have to go to the yamen every day. Your mansion is too far. I'm not going."

Li Wan persisted, "I have several residences. Let's pick one close by and live there together, just the two of us. How about it?"

Lian Cheng refused again. He had to keep an eye on Lian Xiusheng at home, lest he sneak off to do something reckless.

Rejected once, then twice, Li Wan grew annoyed. He refused to sit any longer and left with a huff. Zhang Xian said unhurriedly, "We brought you some wild ginseng. Have your servants prepare it as a tonic."

After another round of thanks, Zhang Xian moved his stool closer and said in a low voice, "Commissioner Lou hasn't reported for duty at the yamen for several days. I asked my father about it; it seems he's also been implicated in the case of embezzling imperial wood."

Lian Cheng was puzzled. "Princess Fuhui is Crown Prince Jiao's full sister. Why would she steal the building materials of the temple dedicated to her own maternal uncle and sell them? Besides, as a princess born into the imperial family, she lives in luxury—what need does she have to sell imperial wood?"

Zhang Xian said indifferently, "Isn't it a good thing for us that he's not at the yamen?"

Lian Cheng frowned. After a long moment, he said, "The imperial wood case is not that simple. The connections go far beyond the Xia family. You and I must be very careful from now on."

"Naturally." Zhang Xian nodded, studied Lian Cheng for a moment, then suddenly said, "Minzi, I feel you're not the same as before. Has something happened to you?"

Lian Cheng calmly said no.

Saying "Let me take a look," Zhang Xian began to touch Lian Cheng, pinching his face and feeling his neck. The two of them pushed and play-wrestled like children. Zhang Xian kept saying things like "My dear Commissioner, don't move anymore." When a cough sounded from outside, they both snapped into a serious front, as skillfully as they did at the yamen. Zhang Xian stood up, straightened his clothes, saw that it was Lian Xiusheng bringing medicine, exchanged a few pleasantries, then bade farewell to Lian Cheng and quickly left the courtyard.

Lian Xiusheng brought the medicine to Lian Cheng, kicked aside the round stool Zhang Xian had sat on, moved a new one over, and sat down. "Brother, you're not getting along with Li Wan anymore, and now you're getting along with Zhang Xian again?"

Lian Cheng took the medicine, frowned, and downed it in one gulp. Lian Xiusheng stuffed the candied fruit in his hand into Lian Cheng's mouth and waited for him to finish eating before answering.

"If everyone behaved as fake as you and Ye Xin do, wouldn't it be utterly boring?" Lian Cheng said.

Lian Xiusheng said calmly, "If Brother would stop making these flirtatious gestures with others, you wouldn't have kept me tossing and turning all night a few days ago."

"... " Choked, Lian Cheng hadn't expected the other to continue, and with not very pleasant words. His eyes, jet-black, seemed displeased. "Brother now knows that you are a reincarnated spirit. You should behave yourself and stay calm. Even if you do it unintentionally, it cannot be said that it's not your fault."

"Fine, fine! Nice one, blame me why don't you!" Lian Cheng got off the couch, not bothering with his shoes, holding his injured hand. His cheeks flushed like peach blossoms, and the room filled with fragrance.

Lian Xiusheng placed his hands on his knees. "Could it be that Brother wants to hear me say some affectionate words again?"

"... " Lian Cheng climbed back onto the bed and sat against the headboard. He was about to calm his heartbeat and give his younger brother a good lecture, when voices came from outside. Huqiu entered first, saying that Qiao Er had troubled to visit. Should he see him? Lian Cheng was startled for a moment, then remembered that Qiao Er was the hanger-on who had sat at the same table and drank tea on the Lantern Festival, also one of his former self's shady friends. He nodded to let him in. Lian Xiusheng still sat on the stool, showing no intention of leaving.

Qiao Er hurried in, followed by a young man dressed as a servant. As soon as they entered, they knelt and kowtowed to Lian Cheng several times. Lian Cheng, unable to move easily, quickly had Huqiu help them up and asked what the matter was.

Qiao Er said, "A month ago, Brother Zheng lent out a hundred taels of silver. It wasn't a large amount, but the recipient was the magistrate of Huangmen County. Brother Zheng didn't expect to get the silver back; he only hoped for some convenience when visiting that place later. Unexpectedly, the day the money was due, the magistrate, knowing he couldn't repay and unwilling to be left with any leverage, and even more unwilling to resort to tricks elsewhere, hanged himself from the roof beam. Fortunately, his student happened to visit him and saved him."

Lian Cheng listened, also thinking "what a relief." Qiao Er then continued, "At this point, it should have been over, but the magistrate's student is a stubborn fellow. With the status of a provincial graduate, no one in the county could handle him. He actually filed a lawsuit against Brother Zheng in the capital yamen. I don't know where he collected all of Brother Zheng's past deeds. This time, the case was accepted by the head of the Five City Patrol Office, and he also enlisted lords from the Court of Judicature. Many people, unable to withstand the threats, confessed. It looks like Brother Zheng is about to undergo severe torture. Third Brother, could you please ask those great lords to loosen their grip? Brother Zheng said he can cough up several thousand taels of silver, as long as he is safe."

Lian Cheng initially felt sympathy, but when Qiao Er mentioned the confessions, he knew the matter wasn't that simple. This Zheng Leatherwhip was probably not innocent. He frowned and was about to ask further, but Lian Xiusheng spoke first, "Don't be impatient. If he hasn't done those things, no matter how others falsely confess, the yamen will not accept it."

Qiao Er had also been in contact with Lian Xiusheng recently, so he didn't hide anything and poured out all of Zheng Leatherwhip's deeds: "Since I came to beg, I know Brother Zheng is in trouble this time. But at that time, he had no choice. Even though he beat his father-in-law to death, it was because the father-in-law despised him for not having a scholarly title. He seized the daughter of the bean-sprout seller next door because the girl asked for it. He beat two wives to death—one was a tigress who scolded him daily, the other couldn't bear a son and was full of jealousy..."

The more Lian Cheng listened, the more numb his expression became. How could one person commit so many capital crimes and still brazenly claim innocence?

But just as he was about to refuse Qiao Er's plea for help, Lian Xiusheng spoke again before him, "You know our Lian family's current situation—stuck in the middle. I'm afraid no high lord would accept our letters."

Qiao Er said urgently, "Third Brother, Sixth Brother, your father is the Right Minister of the Court of Judicature, and the father of Brother Lu Zhen, your young friend, is the Commander of the Five City Patrol Office. How could they not accept your letters?"

"Brother Qiao, you don't understand. Our father only has the empty title of Right Minister; in the yamen, he's less useful than a janitor. If Brother Zheng were a cat or a dog, our father could still treat him, but when it comes to such major matters, he'd only make things worse. As for Brother Lu Zhen's family, don't even get me started. Recently, his father has been everywhere begging people to drink with him; he's also someone with no power or means. How can he help you?" After saying this, Lian Xiusheng personally poured tea for Qiao Er.

Qiao Er had no heart for tea and was about to open his mouth to plead again, but Lian Xiusheng spoke in a tone half-worried, half-threatening, "Brother Qiao, you are running around so much for Brother Zheng. You should also consider yourself. You've always been close; could he implicate you in the yamen? After all, people outside are still more important than those inside."

Qiao Er was stunned, cold sweat pouring down. Looking at Lian Xiusheng as if he were his savior, he didn't even stop for a sip of tea, cupped his hands in farewell, and hurriedly left with the Zheng family's servant.

Lian Cheng watched the two hurrying figures and frowned. "Why did you intimidate him?"

Lian Xiusheng said, "He runs around seeking favors for the people inside only because he can gain benefits from them. But what benefit is greater than one's life? I was just reminding him. Surely Brother doesn't think they are true sworn brothers like the Peach Garden oath?"

Lian Cheng: "Then why are you so concerned? The one he came to beg is your elder brother."

"Yes, I was out of line," Lian Xiusheng laughed, with no trace of remorse. "Even though I interrupted, it was for Brother's good. He came today to beg a favor for someone else. If he fails, he may well bear a grudge. It's better that I answer him than Brother does."

Lian Cheng was deeply moved. He leaned over with his good hand and gave Lian Xiusheng a quick hug. After letting go, he said, "Qiao and Zheng are not brothers, but you and I are closer than anyone."

Lian Xiusheng smiled, like an orchid blooming in the yard. In this wonderful scene, Huqiu came in to report again, "Young master, Miss Ma has come to the mansion. She paid her respects to madam first and then came here. She even brought you a bowl of bone broth. Want to come out and say hi?"