Chapter 81

Chapter 81

When Lian Xiusheng arrived, he sat down with Ye Xin and the others, not really disturbing Third Brother, who was off to the side holding a pipa and strumming away.

They first talked about that case from a month ago which had implicated many people. Lord Wang's entire family had been thrown into prison. Fortunately, the current emperor took pity on Lord Wang's advanced age and spared their lives—not only was his property left untouched, but they were merely exiled. Others weren't so lucky; some had their assets confiscated, some were beheaded.

"My father was poor in his youth and imposed on his household quite a bit. Repaying a little now is only right," said Ye Xin. "It's just that repaying favors has no end, and my father is quite weary of this friend as well."

The several richly dressed ones nearby naturally offered words of comfort upon hearing Ye Xin's remarks. After a few cups of wine, the conversation turned to the Grand Secretariat—the administrative hub of the court, with the emperor at its center. Matters that couldn't be resolved at court assemblies could be taken up by the Grand Secretariat, whose members were mostly drawn from the Six Ministries.

As the saying goes: no one enters the Hanlin Academy without being a jinshi (the highest imperial exam degree), and no one enters the Grand Secretariat without being a Hanlin scholar. Everyone present already held Hanlin positions, so they had the qualifications to enter the Grand Secretariat—but when that might happen was anyone's guess.

"Let us speak no more of such things. Don't worry about having no position; worry about being worthy of one," said one man, the son of the Censor-in-Chief of the Metropolitan Inspection Bureau, surnamed Shen, named Rong. He rose with hands clasped behind his back. "Be the first to worry about the world's troubles, and the last to enjoy its pleasures. The Grand Secretariat is nothing for us to fuss over!"

"Shen here's the best talker of anyone. When the rest day comes, won't he be off to the countryside seeking out retired scholars for some surefire method to advance his career?" The one teasing Shen Rong was named Yu Shishi, whose family wasn't in the capital—his father was the governor of Kaifeng.

"Shishi knows Shen Rong best—not a word out of him is true, he'd even lie to his own brothers. Right now he's probably hoping we all go home and retire so he can rise to the top alone." This speaker was surnamed Xie, whose given name was Qia, the eldest son of Minister of Revenue Xie Lanjin.

There was one more who spoke the least, at most offering agreement, never expressing opinions. He was a gentle, bookish sort with little ambition. This was Han Baoqing, second son of Minister of Personnel Han Guilin.

Han Baoqing wasn't very familiar with the five young gentlemen including Lian Xiusheng and Ye Xin. He had always loved reading but didn't care about fame or fortune, mostly keeping to himself. Recently he had begun associating with these people, all because he was to be betrothed to the Lian family's cousin Ceng Yi—by keeping company with them, he could visit the Lian household more often and maybe get a look at her.

Being a young gentleman from the Minister of Personnel's household, he would never lack people willing to keep him company whenever he chose to socialize. He simply didn't care to talk much, but the others wouldn't ignore him entirely, always managing to pull him into the conversation.

"This year's official performance review, the evaluation of all officials..." Xie Qia said. "Given how my father operates, I wonder if he can remain at the Ministry of Revenue."

"Minister Xie cares deeply about the people..." Shen Rong started talking again—the rest can be skipped, whether you listened or not.

Lian Xiusheng glanced sideways at Third Brother, who was sprawled in Man Cai's arms, before saying: "The emperor knows how to handle people and has the means. You can rest assured."

Lian Xiusheng's words carried weight, so if he said not to worry, Xie Qia didn't worry. After a few more cups of wine, they moved on to discussing the performance review. They made a wager on who would remain in office and who would be pushed out—the winner would receive works by famous calligraphers and painters from the others. Lian Xiusheng wasn't interested at first, but remembering that Third Brother liked such elegant things, he joined in, remarking that the Minister of Works might need a new occupant.

The others gasped—this was a Minister, after all—but Shen Rong rose again, launching into a big speech about volunteering himself.

While Shen Rong was speaking, Han Baoqing took his wine cup and sat down beside Lian Xiusheng, asking whether Cousin Ceng Yi was home today.

"My place is far from my cousin's residence, so I wouldn't know if she's home today." Lian Xiusheng had just finished speaking when he saw his already-dizzy Third Brother set down the pipa and cling to Man Cai, sniffing at his neck. He immediately abandoned Han Baoqing, who still wanted to talk, and hauled Third Brother over to his side.

Lian Cheng's body was limp today—he struggled twice, failed to break free, and let himself be carried. He pillowed his head on Lian Xiusheng's lap and told him to peel the chilled loquats and grapes from the table to feed him.

Han Baoqing watched the two brothers' clinginess and felt left out, planning to go join the others. But unexpectedly, the Lian family's Third Brother suddenly spoke: "Since you're so worried about Cousin Miaozhen, why not send someone to invite her over?"

Han Baoqing's face flushed red. "There are many other men present, and she hasn't formally entered my family's door yet. Without a good excuse, how could I invite her?"

Lian Cheng was about to suggest telling his cousin that Minzi had invited her for tea, when Han Baoqing added that his future mother-in-law disliked him greatly.

"Why?" Lian Cheng didn't understand. The Minister of Personnel was the head of the Six Ministries—Han Guilin's titles would fill three lines on a name card. What could Lian Biyun possibly find wrong with his second son?

Han Baoqing said it was because he had kept Miaozhen waiting. He said nothing more.

Lian Cheng suddenly understood. Cousin Miaozhen was true to her name—a delicate, clear-minded beauty. But even beauties have to get through the ordeal of love. No wonder she was older than him yet had never been betrothed. In the original story, she had shaved her head and become a nun after Lian Biyun's affair with a male servant was exposed. Now he realized that the affair had likely just been the last straw—she had known there was no hope for her and Han Baoqing.

But the current Lian Biyun could still act high and mighty before Han Baoqing, since this time it was the Han family who had held up the marriage by looking down on their widow and orphans.

Lian Cheng, whose mind had turned eighteen corners, swallowed the grape flesh in his mouth and had no intention of pleading Han Baoqing's case. What a joke—if Lian Biyun scratched him with her claws again, he couldn't bear it.

Seeing Lian Cheng fall silent too, Han Baoqing's heart thumped nervously. Noticing Lian Xiusheng leisurely peeling several grapes and feeding them to his brother, he assumed all the Lian brothers behaved this way, so he peeled a grape himself and tried to feed Lian Cheng, hoping to curry favor with his two future brothers-in-law.

But Lian Xiusheng didn't even look, blocking his hand with his wrist, saying the grape skin hadn't been fully removed.

Han Baoqing looked closely—the grape flesh was perfectly translucent, with no skin remaining at all. So he said: "How is it not—" He got only three words out before suddenly freezing, as if someone had lifted him by the crown of his head and poured a bucket of ice down into him, his three souls and six spirits frozen into pillars of ice.

He stared at the two brothers by the table. If he still didn't understand, he never would. Others couldn't see through it because their hearts held only power and profit—but he was different. Fame and fortune were but smoke to him; he asked only for a lifetime with Miaozhen, one husband and one wife. Having long been trapped in love's snare, how could he fail to recognize a fellow captive?

"You... you, you two..." Han Baoqing looked left and right, gritting his teeth. "Are you mad?"

Lian Cheng was already drunk and asked who was mad.

Han Baoqing then stared at Lian Xiusheng in panic. "Xiusheng, you're a clear-headed man. You two—what is this business?"

Lian Xiusheng said: "Brother-in-law, do not be alarmed."

That single address of "brother-in-law" nearly sent Han Baoqing toppling over. He grabbed a fan and fanned himself continuously, only feeling better after the cool breeze rose. He said in a low voice: "I will certainly not speak of this to anyone else, but you two must absolutely not continue like this."

Lian Xiusheng said Third Brother knew nothing of it—it was only his own doing, and his brother-in-law need not worry.

Another "brother-in-law," and Han Baoqing had no will to refuse anything. Whatever Lian Xiusheng said, he would do. When Ye Xin later called him over to throw dice for drinking games, he still cautioned Lian Xiusheng not to be too ostentatious. "Though you are no ordinary fish, you are young and sharp, your wings not yet full-grown. If someone in power wishes to harm you two, it would cost them but a few words. Remember this, remember this."

Watching Han Baoqing go over to converse with the others, Lian Xiusheng lowered his head and peeled another loquat for Third Brother. The loquat was so sour it set his teeth on edge. Lian Cheng sobered for a moment, looking up at Lian Xiusheng: "Your elder brother thinks you're not afraid of him telling others. Right now, your elder brother only wishes there were some famous ritualist who would compile your feelings and deeds toward me into a treatise and spread it abroad..."

"How has Third Brother's consideration progressed?" Lian Xiusheng lowered his eyes, stroking Third Brother's cheek, watching his lashes flutter and his face flush crimson, feeling immensely pleased.

Lian Cheng tried to sit up but was pressed back down by the waist. He glared at the other, saying his elder brother was still considering.

Lian Xiusheng gave an "oh," took a fan from Huqiu, and fanned Lian Cheng. "Third Brother looks quite warm. Your younger brother will fan you."

Lian Cheng closed his eyes, playing dead.

After a moment, he suddenly opened his eyes and pushed Lian Xiusheng's wrist. "If you're fanning me, then fan me—why are you scraping my neck with the fan handle for no reason?"

"Your younger brother didn't mean to..."

"Who believes you."

"Then what does Third Brother say I was doing, brushing you with the fan?"

"You were naturally—" Lian Cheng gnashed his teeth, realizing that whether he yielded to this threat or not, his days wouldn't be easy—the only difference being whether the whole family suffered or just him alone.

Truly, a gay younger brother defeats a hero.

-

By the Dragon Boat Festival, the household was bustling again. Fourth Madam's courtyard was in charge of festival purchases, and the kitchen was to make realgar calamus wine, zongzi, and other dishes for each courtyard. Old Master Guan Lian, whose heart was most concerned with Lian Cheng, began three days early to paint a picture of the Heavenly Master subduing the poison spirit on paper boiled with mugwort, using cinnabar.

Lian Cheng quite enjoyed the rich festive atmosphere of ancient times. When he was studying, he'd at most eat two zongzi, and sometimes he'd forget even those when busy.

Sure enough, after the household celebration came the official one. The various leaders had reached an agreement at court—they would hold a gathering of all officials, first to celebrate the festival and escape the summer heat, and second to foster connections between ministries. The supreme leader—the emperor—had originally planned to attend, but the night before he'd had a fit of sleepwalking in his bedchamber and knocked his head against the bedpost. Fearing his injured dragon body couldn't withstand the jostling, he decided not to go, handing all organizational duties to Eunuch Cui. Consequently, these past few days in the palace, Eunuch Wu bore the brunt of his antics.

The destination was a manor left by a former minister of the previous dynasty, named Lotus Garden, renowned even then for its lotus blooms. The manor's owner had collected no fewer than a thousand varieties of lotus and water lily to plant within.

In keeping with the original owner's aspiration to "gather all refined scholars and elegant gentlemen to share in wind and moon," the security was not strict—scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants alike could enter. However, the Ministry of Works said annual repairs and maintenance were costly, so a substantial entry fee was charged, meaning ordinarily few could afford to visit.

The sun blazed high, fiery clouds burned, and the officials set out in grand procession.

The guards were all drawn from the Five City Patrol Office—not a post that earned distinction or merit, so Meng Chong didn't rush to claim it.

Instead, poor Lu Zhen was called by his father Lu Qingyan to assist, delivering water to this vice minister and reading to that supervising secretary. Fortunately, his honorary grandfather doted on him and summoned him to hide from work in his luxurious sedan chair.

Lian Cheng and Zhang Xian, meanwhile, both wore armor and rode horses at the back of the procession. Zhang Xian watched Lu Zhen with his patron and felt envious. "Minzi, I wish I had an honorary grandfather too."

"...Isn't your father, the Minister of Rites, enough for you?" Lian Cheng was speechless.

"My dad would let me hide out in his carriage at a time like this?" Zhang Xian said. "Right about now he's probably plotting to have me recite the Thousand Character Classic in front of his colleagues. That's how he was when I was a kid—all about saving face."

Lian Cheng laughed heartily. "At your age, going to perform the Thousand Character Classic? Your dad's old face would have nowhere to hide."

The two of them chatted away, while up ahead, Li Wan was stuck with his dad. Seeing Li Wan keep lifting the curtain to look back, Prince Hui Li Po took a sip of tea and said, "Son, you're the heir apparent. Why do you have to keep hanging around them? It's beneath your station."

Li Wan pouted at the window and said, "Being a prince and heir ain't even as good as them. All I get is dignity, nothing else. I can't do a damn thing."

Li Po added, "Since you're already a prince and heir, what more do you want? To fly up to heaven and become a god?"

Li Wan knew exactly what his dad meant and sighed. Behind him, Li Po also sighed. "These past days, those two Lian brothers have been the talk of the town. The more that's true, the less you should get close to them, or people'll think you're cozying up to court ministers. Though everyone knows we don't command a single soldier, you think my crazy brother—your crazy uncle—would believe that?"

Li Wan's eyes were glued to Lian Cheng and Zhang Xian, who were having a blast. He spoke up, "Then have His Majesty come chop my head off, then."

The second he said it, Li Po chucked a teacup at the back of Li Wan's head. Li Wan, tea dripping down his head, ignored his dad's yelling, climbed out of the carriage, grabbed a horse from one of the guards, mounted it, and rode back to find his two buddies.

In this life, if you had to live as cautiously as his dad did until you died, it'd be way too boring. Better to have a good time while you can and let Old Man Yan Wang come for your soul whenever he feels like it.

Lian Cheng saw Li Wan galloping toward him and was about to make room for him to ride next to him when Qiao Yuer came running up from ahead, saying Lian Xiusheng wanted the young lord to come talk to him.

Li Wan showed up just as Lian Cheng was leaving.

"Why's Minzi leaving?" Li Wan asked Zhang Xian with great delight.

Zhang Xian grinned, folded his horsewhip, and tapped Li Wan on the lower back. "My boy, ain't it better that Minzi's gone? That leaves just you and me—come on, let me thrust my spear and battle you for two rounds."

Li Wan swung his whip at him, laughing, and said he'd tell Aunt Lian about this tomorrow.

While the two were joking around, Lian Cheng had already reached the carriage where Lian Xiusheng was riding. He lifted the curtain himself and unexpectedly came face-to-face with some old guy. After apologizing with a fist-and-palm salute, he circled around to the other side, where Lian Xiusheng had already opened the curtain and said to him, "Third Brother, this is Minister Bao of the Ministry of Personnel. I was just speaking with him."

Lian Cheng bent down from his horse, this time getting a proper look at the man, and greeted him, "Old Master, I trust you're well. I'll dismount and pay my respects properly once we reach Lotus Garden."

Bao Mingtang stroked his beard and said, "Vice Commander Lian, young and accomplished—no need for all that."

Lian Cheng nodded, then asked Lian Xiusheng what he wanted.

Lian Xiusheng held out a handkerchief and reached up to wipe the sweat off his third brother's forehead. "I saw from afar that Third Brother was sweating, and I just wanted to wipe it off for you."

"..."

Lian Cheng inwardly cursed him for a lunatic. He yanked the curtain down hard, turned his horse, and rode back to where he was.

As they continued on, they passed plenty more carriages. Some officials had brought family or mistresses. Hearing the hoofbeats, many couldn't help lifting their curtains to look, and saw a brocade-clad guard in a crimson robe with cloud patterns slowly riding past—handsome, a real fine young gentleman. Those who hadn't seen him before inquired about his identity and name, while those who knew replied that he was the newly appointed Vice Commander Lian, Third Lang of the Lian family, elder brother of Young Lord Lian.

"I knew of Third Lang of the Lian family's bearing long ago, but I never imagined he'd grown even more handsome than before."

"The Lian family has excellent feng shui."

-

Gossip aside. By midday, everyone had arrived at Lotus Garden. The arrangements were jointly handled by the Ministry of Rites, the Imperial Inner Court, and the staff on duty at Lotus Garden, with lodgings distributed according to official rank.

Upon arriving, Lian Cheng learned there was excellent ground behind the vast estate for riding and letting horses run. He sent someone to deliver his felt-pack luggage to his quarters, while he and Zhang Xian went to the slope in back to ride.

They didn't come down from the slope until dusk, having had their fill of fun. They met up with their respective attendants and headed back to their lodgings to freshen up.

Ji Xing and Qiao Yuer walked ahead of Lian Cheng, chattering on about how they had Lord Lian to thank for getting to see the fine scenery of Lotus Garden, what a pity it was that Assistant Magistrate Meng couldn't come, and how fortunate it was that Wei Xiaoyu was diligent enough to volunteer to stay behind and mind the yamen for them.

As they walked, passing countless pavilions and towers, Lian Cheng noticed that the attendants and officials coming and going were all dressed in fine attire. He couldn't help glancing around frequently, still puzzled, and finally asked the two, "This area seems to be where civil officials are staying?"

Ji Xing said yes. "Originally you weren't supposed to be here, but it's said that Young Lord Lian asked the Imperial Inner Court to place you in the same quarters as him—a place called Youning Residence, a fine courtyard with whitewashed walls and dark tiles, pavilions and moon gates. I secretly went to look at the other courtyards, and none are as elegant as this one. It's just a bit small and secluded, only enough to house you and Young Lord Lian."

Upon hearing this, Lian Cheng involuntarily began walking with his arms and legs out of sync.

"Excellent, excellent. Sixth Brother truly takes such good care of his elder brother."

Qiao Yuer said, "Indeed. The moment your felt-pack luggage arrived at Youning Residence, Young Lord Lian personally began unpacking it for you. We had no chance to help."

"He unpacked my luggage?" Lian Cheng was stunned.

"Exactly."

Lian Cheng felt as if struck by lightning. He hastily pushed Qiao Yuer to lead the way faster. The two of them ran breathlessly to the gate, where Lian Cheng dismissed them, then asked the servant at Youning Residence where Lian Xiusheng was. Learning that he was brewing tea by the pomegranate trees in the courtyard, Lian Cheng hurried over.

Lian Xiusheng was indeed brewing tea—and a fine pot at that. Seeing his third brother arrive, he invited him to sit and have a cup.

"No, no," Lian Cheng said, hands gripping his leather belt, striding grandly around this tranquil spot twice. Then he suddenly leaned down behind Lian Xiusheng and said in a low voice, "Did you happen to see a few storybooks in my felt-pack?"

"Naturally, I saw the storybooks."

Lian Cheng's face burned with embarrassment. He stammered, "Th-those are f-for your elder brother to study whether your peculiar affliction might be cured."

Lian Xiusheng gazed quietly at the kettle on the stove and said flatly, "I had no idea Third Brother treated erotic illustrated books as medical texts."

"..." Lian Cheng wished he could crawl into a crack in the ground. Inwardly he grumbled—it wasn't his fault; he'd heard the back door was hard to navigate, and he wanted to study it carefully so that Lian Xiusheng wouldn't suffer any physical harm at his hands.

Besides, Lian Cheng thought, since he'd resolved to accept the other's threat, he might as well maintain a good brotherly relationship. No need to keep things so bitter and grim—might as well both enjoy themselves.

"Mind your own business about your elder brother," Lian Cheng said, standing in the shadow of the pomegranate tree, deliberately avoiding the lamplight. If he stood in the light, Lian Xiusheng would see that his face was now as red as a pomegranate blossom.

Lian Xiusheng indeed said no more, merely washing two sets of teacups as he said, "Third Brother, the day after tomorrow is my birthday."

Lian Cheng was taken aback and mumbled a "Happy birthday," while his soul had already floated out of his body. As a well-read modern college student, he knew all too well what it meant when the other suddenly brought up his birthday.

After a long moment, Lian Xiusheng arranged the tea set properly, turned from the stone bench, took his third brother's hand in his own, and said with an almost coercive, threatening undertone, "Third Brother, if you've made up your mind, come find me in the study that day."