Chapter 86

Chapter 86: The Eighty-Sixth Chapter

Lian Cheng came home, mulling it over, and decided, "To hell with it"—he didn't know the original book, but he and Lian Xiusheng were now championing justice.

Yet Lian Cheng felt he couldn't be like Lian Xiusheng, acting without thinking things through. He should consider the matter thoroughly—for instance, under what banner would they rebel? Fighting for the people's cause would work best, but Li Xi, despite his extravagance and lavish construction projects, had a fairly good reputation among the common folk. Not only would that not work, it might even blow up in their faces.

Then there was the option of cooking up prophecies, resorting to some feudal superstition—spreading a rumor like "Heaven says Lian Xiusheng is a badass, Heaven says Lian Xiusheng should be emperor," making the people believe his brother was heaven's chosen one. But that wouldn't work either, as emperors have always been superstitious about prophecies. Word gets out today, and tomorrow the messenger and Lian Xiusheng are lying dead in the street—unless the country was already in chaos and Li Xi had bigger problems.

But Lian Cheng didn't really want to muddy the waters. It's not that he couldn't do it—it's just that when you stir up storms, it's the common folk who suffer. He didn't transmigrate into this book to do evil.

Even killing Li Xi outright wasn't a solution. Everyone wants to be the one above all others; if you can sit on it, so can anyone else. After killing Li Xi, how to take the throne and hold it firmly was another huge problem.

Lian Cheng really did worry about this for days. During that time, Li Wan dropped by once, and Lian Cheng was more polite to him, more put-on. Alas, if he and Lian Xiusheng were to rebel, what should they do with Li Wan?

Li Saner, who was out in the outer courtyard fussing over the sweet potato patch, saw his master had been down for days and asked what was eating at him.

Lian Cheng didn't answer, instead asking, "You've been getting pretty close with Huqiu lately, haven't you?"

Li Saner quickly said, "Please don't misunderstand, sir—it's young Huqiu. He asked me to teach him some kung fu. I haven't slacked on my actual work."

"Kung fu?" Lian Cheng leaned against the pillar, confused. "He's home all day every day. What's he gonna do with kung fu?"

Li Saner replied, "He made me promise not to tell you—he was afraid you'd make fun of him."

"Go on, tell me. I won't laugh, and I won't let him know." Lian Cheng was intrigued.

Li Saner explained, "When you were unjustly thrown into the imperial jail the other day, he felt like he'd failed to protect you. So he wanted to learn some real skills, so next time something like that happens, he can protect you."

Lian Cheng froze, then saw Huqiu coming in from the side path carrying two round stools. Huqiu grinned sheepishly, said the paint had peeled off two stools, so he'd had them repainted. Li Saner shot Lian Cheng a look, signaling him not to bring up what they'd just talked about. Lian Cheng naturally didn't, instead asking if the welts from the beating he'd taken the other day had healed up.

"Good as new," Huqiu said. "I told you—the lady didn't go all out on me. A few days later I was up and running around."

Lian Cheng nodded and said he wanted a good spread for dinner tonight.

Huqiu immediately responded, "Good call, young master. The kitchen got two tanks of live shad in this morning—steamed or fried, either way it's delicious. I'll go let the kitchen maids know in a bit."

Lian Cheng thought for a moment, then went to find Fourth Madam, saying he wanted to upgrade the standard of the servants' meals at Penglai Pavilion.

Zhou Yaniang gave Lian Cheng a proper lecture: "You don't know the price of rice and firewood unless you run the household yourself. Since the eldest sister put me in charge of household affairs, if I were weak-willed, how could I run this household properly? Even if the master himself came asking for this kind of show, I wouldn't allow it. Third Brother, remember this: when dealing with people, either keep the scales perfectly even, or if you can't, don't even try—otherwise you'll just stir up trouble."

Lian Cheng nodded, paid his respects, and turned to go, thinking he could just use his own money. But Zhou Yaniang called out to stop him again. "Combining the two courtyards into one—whose idea was that, yours or Sixth Brother's?"

"I came up with it, and Xiusheng drew the plans. So I guess you could say we both had a part in it," Lian Cheng said.

"It's good that you brothers are so close." Zhou Yaniang hesitated, then added, "But don't you two go wasting your time on frivolous things."

Lian Cheng naturally agreed again, saying without batting an eye, "Fourth Madam, rest assured. When Xiusheng and I are together, we talk about the past and present, discuss the classics, and debate the texts. There's nothing improper going on."

Zhou Yaniang smiled, then had a maid bring out a bolt of cloth for Lian Cheng to have summer clothes made. "It was originally bought for Sixth Brother, but the sample and the finished product turned out different—the finished one is too bright in color. I thought it would suit you better than him."

Lian Cheng accepted the cloth, thanked her, but hadn't gone far when he saw Qiong Hua trotting toward him. She stopped, curtsied, and said, "A divine immortal has arrived at the lady's courtyard. She's asking you to come have your fortune read."

Lian Cheng handed the cloth to Qiong Hua, asking her to store it in the warehouse, and asked where this immortal had come from.

"She was encountered by the lady on her way to the temple to burn incense. He was lying by the roadside, and Yuan Shun, the young lad, kindly helped him up and gave him water and food. When he woke and learned the lady had saved his life, he revealed his identity—said he was a wandering monk from afar who hadn't managed to beg any food for days and had collapsed by the road. To thank the lady for saving him, and hearing she was looking for someone to cast the eight characters for Fifth Miss and her cousin to pick an auspicious wedding date, he volunteered to come to the house."

"Then why call me over?" Lian Cheng asked.

"This man is quite skilled in the art of physiognomy. The lady said to have you come over and ask the immortal to read your face." Qiong Hua added, "Huqiu is already waiting at the courtyard gate. Hurry, young master."

Lian Cheng and Huqiu arrived at Orchid Garden. There were quite a few people in the hall—several of the madams and many of the sisters were there, each eating bowls of flower jelly with ice. When they saw Lian Cheng arrive, they served him a bowl too. Lian Cheng first paid his respects to the madams, then saw a gaunt Daoist in a cloth robe with straw bits on it seated in the guest seat, and went over to greet him as well.

"Just call me Immortal Li, no need for such formalities." Immortal Li helped Lian Cheng up and looked toward the woman at the head of the hall. "This young man's fortune is extraordinary—it seems heaven itself has bestowed it upon him."

Zhang Ailian's expression shifted. Lian Cheng assumed she thought the Daoist was being recklessly bold with his wild claims, so he quickly looked at the Daoist and said with a grin, "Heaven bestows upon all, each with their own role and duty. Immortal Li, your Daoist arts are impressive—you can tell I serve the state, working for the emperor and the people."

Immortal Li smiled and said no more, saying he'd first finish reading the young ladies he hadn't yet examined, then get to Lian Cheng. Zhang Ailian naturally agreed and let the Daoist continue his readings. Lian Cheng, having received a favorable word, figured his rebellion plans were nearly settled—if heaven had mandated him, he might even become imperial kin. He picked up his bowl of flower jelly and sat to the side, musing to himself about what title he'd take.

-

While eating his jelly, Lian Cheng chatted with Ceng Gui, asking why his mother trusted a Daoist picked up off the road so much. A face reading was harmless enough, but the marriages of his two older sisters couldn't be taken lightly. Ceng Gui lowered his voice and told him this Daoist was no ordinary fellow—he'd once read the face of some noble, said a few inauspicious things, and gotten a severe beating for it. His aunt had sent people to investigate on the way home in the sedan chair, and it turned out the beating was ordered by relatives of Meng Chong's family. No wonder he couldn't beg for alms afterward—they must have been afraid of the Meng family's power and wouldn't give him food.

Lian Cheng frowned. "Meng Chong isn't even the Commander anymore. Why are his relatives still so domineering?"

"It's not a real demotion, and you know it as well as I do. Compared to those of us with family connections, the emperor prefers to use men like Meng Chong—men with no backing or roots—because they make him feel more secure." Ceng Gui turned the question on Lian Cheng. "Let me ask you: now that you've been promoted to Vice Commander, have you ever handled a single significant case?"

Lian Cheng recalled Ji Xing teasing him about being the office mascot—and it was true. He gritted his teeth and crunched hard on an almond in his jelly, while listening to the Daoist speak.

At that moment, the Daoist was interpreting Fifth Miss Lian Yu's face, saying she had vitality in her features, a prosperous natal family, and a wealthy, noble husband's family. With arched brows and lovely eyes, delicate as a willow, she was destined for two or more daughters but rarely a son. Lian Yu blushed and said daughters were fine—she was a daughter herself and loved daughters. But Second Madam Wu Huajie was fussing over this and that, unclear whether she was proud of having a son or upset on Lian Yu's behalf.

Since Lian Xiusheng, ranked sixth, wasn't present, it fell to Seventh Miss Lian Yi. Lian Yi sat properly before the Daoist, who examined her face and then both her hands, saying, "Face like a silver platter, blessings and fortune both complete; bones fine and flesh smooth, body strong and healthy; brows thick and eyes round, but marred by impatience; forehead low and nose narrow, marriage may face some obstacles."

Lian Yi wasn't yet of marriageable age, and upon hearing her marriage prospects were rocky, she told her worried mother, Fifth Madam Fan Shi, that if it wasn't smooth, she'd just switch to someone else until it was. This drew laughter from the whole hall, and Fan Shi covered her mouth, saying, "You shameless girl."

Next came the two brothers Lian Tao and Lian Xiao. The Daoist said the two were one active and one still, with heavy brows and tiger eyes, and they should guard against bloodlust—once roused, the killing intent wouldn't stop. But though fierce, they had spirit, and were destined to become generals and marshals. The two had been slouching with sullen faces, but upon hearing they might become military leaders, they immediately jumped up.

Sixth Madam Tao wasn't entirely pleased, saying she'd rather they take the civil service exam and become clean-handed officials. Lian Tao said, "Sixth Madam, you don't understand—there's not a single general or marshal in this family, but with Sixth Brother setting the bar so high, they'd never want to live their whole lives in his shadow."

Lian Cheng watched as the Daoist paused to sip tea, knowing he was next, and took the chance to ask Ceng Gui, "Cousin Ruzhuo, what did you get?"

Ceng Gui held his teacup and smiled. "Me? I'm destined to be overshadowed by Little Six for the rest of my life."

Over on the other side, Zhang Ailian gestured for Lian Cheng to come over.

When it was Lian Cheng's turn, the Daoist carefully examined his face, then his hands, and said, "Forehead like a standing wall, brows long and curved, eyes like dots of lacquer, spirit hidden within; smile without the lips turning up—great wealth and honor need not be worried over, a marquis or prime minister may well be possible. Extremely noble. But there's a mole at the tear duct, eyes holding autumn waves—it portends a wife's death, and without strong willpower, the back courtyard will surely be crowded with many women."

Lian Cheng glanced around—thankfully Lian Xiusheng wasn't there, and thankfully neither were his two young attendants, or he'd be subjected to another round of relentless pestering.

"Rest assured, Immortal, my willpower is solid," Lian Cheng said. "Has everyone else been read?"

Wu Huajie said, "We elders naturally went first before you younger ones. Only the master and Sixth Brother haven't been read yet."

Speak of the devil, and he appears—Lian Xiusheng swept aside the curtain and entered, damp all over, saying it had suddenly started pouring outside and he'd come specially to bring his third brother an umbrella.

Zhang Ailian was naturally pleased to see brotherly harmony, but she shot Lian Xiusheng a look and teased, "You dote on your third brother the most. Could my Orchid Garden not spare him an umbrella?"

Lian Xiusheng smiled and greeted each of the madams. Wu Huajie said, "Had we known you were coming, we'd have asked you to bring one of Fourth Sister's paintings, so the Daoist could read her face too."

Lian Xiusheng asked, "Fourth Madam's face is marred. Does the Immortal read the good face or the bad one?"

"Naturally the good one," the Daoist said. "Let's first read the one who's arrived."

Hearing that Lian Xiusheng was about to have his face read, Lian Cheng set down his teacup and moved—sitting on the cushion at Zhang Ailian's feet. Zhang Ailian pinched his ear and said he was making such a girlish fuss again.

The Daoist examined Lian Xiusheng more carefully, exclaiming repeatedly, then said, "This young gentleman has a body like a white crane, elegant bone structure, and a dignified bearing—the physiognomy of a dragon and rhinoceros combined. He is surely destined to be a great minister of state. Yet his face bears an unusual bone, and the whites of his eyes show—a fierce omen of one who, if he does not kill others, will bring calamity upon himself."

"If he does not kill others, he will bring calamity upon himself." Lian Cheng sat cross-legged on the cushion, mulling over those words several times. He guessed that in the book, Lian Xiusheng's ending was likely that he killed many people and then killed himself. He just didn't know if it would happen again this time.

Meanwhile, Lian Xiusheng dashed off a sketch of Fourth Madam's portrait, just a rough outline. The Daoist said she had clear, bright eyes and depth in her heart, but a gray, cold cast to her face, prone to resentment and heavy grudges.

Zhang Ailian then had Lian Xiusheng sketch a few strokes of Lian Pu for Immortal Li to see. Lian Xiusheng did so and showed it to the immortal. The Daoist looked at it, stroked his beard for a long moment, and said, "Light brows and a round nose—a good-natured person. But the bridge of the nose protrudes with horizontal lines—I fear he may not pass the age of sixty."

Third Madam, who rarely spoke, suddenly asked, "Is there a remedy?"

"I'm but a wandering Daoist, not certain of anything. Besides, the face is shaped by heaven. If one seeks a solution, one can only ask heaven itself," Immortal Li said.

Lian Xiusheng put away the portraits of Lian Pu and Zhou Yaniang, glanced at Lian Cheng, and asked the Daoist what his third brother's physiognomy was. The Daoist joked, "It's the face of a man who needs his own wife to keep a strict watch over him."

Lian Xiusheng fell into thought upon hearing this, then concluded the Daoist was absolutely right—truly an immortal.