Chapter 801: Big and Small Pearls Falling on a Jade Plate (Part 1)

Su Su had never imagined she would live a life of such luxury and leisure. She remembered growing up in that small town in Beimang, where she only knew idle time, but no money. However, after arriving in Nanzhao, especially after Old Master Zhao and a certain white-clothed man formed an alliance, her life truly began to flourish. They lived in a summer villa rumored to belong to the former Nanzhao royal family, eating exquisite delicacies from mountains and seas. Even the outhouse was more lavish than her previous abode. Occasionally, guests would call at night, their identities more intimidating than the last. Su Su had met six or seven former Nanzhao noble elders alone. More and more unfamiliar faces appeared around the Old Master, especially those old men around his age who liked to preface their names with titles like "Minister" or "Assistant Minister." Almost every one of them would burst into tears upon seeing Su Su.

Su Su knew these were likely former Western Shu officials who had come upon hearing the news. Old Master Zhao had instructed him to listen more, speak less, and simply weep silently with these elders. If he couldn't genuinely cry, he was to discreetly rub some Nanzhao’s local sparrow pepper powder on his palm beforehand, then pretend to wipe his tears while bowing his head. A single rub would make it impossible not to cry. Su Su tried it once and vowed never to repeat the experience; his eyes were swollen for two or three days. However, the effect was indeed remarkable at the time, moving those Western Shu old officials to tears, with the oldest even crying himself unconscious on the spot.

Today, Su Su was sent by Old Master Zhao to a library called Mugeng Tower. He wasn't expected to actually read for pleasure, but merely to feign cultivation and refinement within the library. Seizing the opportunity when no one was watching, Su Su sat on the high-rise railing. Beside him stood the blind zither player, Xue Songguan. After the two of them nearly died at Chen Zhibao's hands, Su Su no longer pestered the blind zither player to play games of young hero and demon lord. Perhaps a burnt child dreads the fire, and he had developed a certain fear of the so-called jianghu. These days, Xue Songguan had been very busy helping Old Master Zhao connect with the eighteen tribes of Nanzhao, almost traversing half of Nanzhao's territory. Su Su missed her greatly, but when they finally reunited, he didn't know what to say. The man and woman sat in silence.

Su Su looked up and finally spoke slowly, "Before, I loved to daydream during the day, imagining I might be the posthumous child of some prominent figure, or perhaps an illegitimate son from a powerful family, hidden from sight. I thought perhaps one day I'd be recognized by my ancestors and my fortune would turn. Now, I've discovered I truly am a crown prince. It's a pity that the dream came true, because only then did I realize that even if I wore the dragon robe, and was indeed the crown prince, I didn't act like one. Fortunately, Old Master Zhao has spent the past year diligently teaching me the ways of the wealthy, like '奉帖唐碑' and '青田黄冻' and '蕉叶青花'—a whole host of expensive objects. I don't know why, but I've always liked valuable things since I was a child. These things are certainly valuable enough, aren't they? Looking at them, I was initially quite excited, wishing I could even sleep hugging them. But the more time passed, the less enthusiastic I became. How to put it... it's like a poor boy, wallowing in the mud, who one day inexplicably marries a beautiful woman. It's not that he doesn't like her, but he understands that he ultimately won't be able to keep her; she will eventually leave."

The young zither player, who had accompanied Su Su and Zhao Dingxiu from Beimang to Nanzhao, was blind but empathetic. She smiled softly and said, "The Su family ruled Western Shu for a full two hundred years. Although it was lost for twenty years during your father's reign, with Old Master Zhao's assistance and the promise from that King of Shu, this family inheritance actually has a chance to be preserved. As Chen Zhibao said, although you won't become the Emperor of Shu, you can at least be a King of Shu, ruling a fragmented territory under Liyang. In this way, it would be a worthy outcome for your Su family's ancestors."

Su Su sighed, "If Xu Fengnian hadn't found us in Beimang, how could I be where I am today? The saying in books, 'good birds choose their trees,' makes a lot of sense. But for someone like me, principles are never found in books. It's either by brute force, or..."

The former crown prince, who had escaped the Western Shu imperial palace as an infant, gave a bitter smile and pointed a finger to his chest. "Or it's here. Although I, Su Su, always pretend to be at odds with Xu Fengnian and speak ill of him in front of you, you should know that he is truly my only friend in this life. Of course, what kind of person is Xu Fengnian? The most powerful prince with a different surname under heaven, one of the four Grandmasters, and as handsome as a jade tree in the wind, spoken of in the same breath as 'Northern Xu, Southern Song,' with profound knowledge. Such a rare and charismatic figure might not even consider me, Su Su, a friend. But I truly consider him one. What was the result? After coming to Nanzhao and gaining such immense advantages, just as I finally found my footing and it was time to repay him, that stoic white-clothed man intervened. Old Master Zhao cast Beiliang and Xu Fengnian aside. I know it couldn't be helped, but deep down, I truly feel guilty."

Xue Songguan softly said, "You yourself said it, it couldn't be helped."

Su Su vigorously rubbed his cheeks, then cupped his face with both hands, mumbling, "Yes, it couldn't be helped. What can a person like me, with no great ambitions or real talent, do besides eat well, drink well, sleep well, use well, and act well here every day?"

She hesitated, then sighed, "Actually, Old Master Zhao also feels terrible inside. He often goes to drink with your blacksmith uncle to drown his sorrows. Once, he was so drunk he completely lost his composure."

Su Su lowered his hands, resting them on the railing, and gave a bitter smile. "I've never blamed Old Master Zhao. If he hadn't raised me, acting as both father and mother, there would be no Su Su. Besides, don't I know the old man's temper? He's as stubborn and foul-tempered as a rock in an outhouse. If it weren't for me, for that Western Shu dynasty which actually vanished long ago, Old Master Zhao would never have acted against his own principles."

Xue Songguan nodded.

Su Su suddenly mused, "I'm so idle all day, sometimes I even feel tired. So, what about Xu Fengnian, who bears the life and death of three hundred thousand Beiliang iron cavalry? Or Chen Zhibao, that ambitious King of Shu who aims to conquer the world? Are these people truly enjoying themselves, or do they also feel tired?"

The blind zither player shook her head and smiled, "I don't know."

Su Su turned his head, a radiant smile on his face. "If, I mean, if one day I could truly let go of everything and travel the jianghu with you, and if I were to tell the new martial arts masters and grandmasters I meet, 'Xu Fengnian, the world's foremost expert, once freeloaded off me,' wouldn't that be incredibly prestigious?"

The woman thought of how she had almost killed that young prince in a rainy alley in Beimang back then, and smiled knowingly. "It couldn't be more prestigious."

Su Su's smile was intoxicating. "Although I'm still very jealous of Xu Fengnian, there's a kind of person in this world whom, no matter what, once you've met them, you just can't bring yourself to dislike them. Right?"

The blind zither player smiled without speaking.

Su Su cautiously asked, "Do you really... not like him? To be honest, if I were a woman, I'd probably be infatuated with him."

She replied helplessly, "Why would I like him? Because Xu Fengnian is as handsome as a jade tree in the wind? But I'm blind."

Su Su scratched his head, feeling that something was off with that reason.

She leaned on the railing. "If we go to the Central Plains' jianghu later, should I still play the part of the murderous female demon lord, and you pretend to be the chivalrous young hero?"

Su Su gazed into the distance, his eyes resolute. "No! We'll be immortal lovers!"

The blind woman, for the first time, blushed and turned her head, softly saying, "Susu, I'm blind."

Su Su lowered his head, looking at the back of her head that she presented to him, and said gently, "I know."

The female expert of the Zhixuan realm said softly and timidly, "I'm also older than you."

Su Su chuckled, "I know that too."

She turned, raised her head, and "looked" at Su Su, smiling yet not smiling, "If we go to the Central Plains' jianghu later, where there are countless beauties, and I find you looking at any female heroes or fairies a few times too many, I, Xue Songguan, will kill them outright."

Su Su sheepishly said, "Well... I really didn't know that before, but now I do."

She smiled enchantingly, "I was just teasing you."

Su Su gently placed his palm on her forehead. "Although I'm not blind, in my eyes, there is only you."

***

In the back mountains of Beiliang, two old stone carvers, Mi Qiong and Peng He, sat in front of a simple thatched hut. A small stool held some dishes for their drinks. Then, another old man arrived as promised, carrying two jars of "Green Ant Wine" that had been treasured for years in the Beiliang King's Mansion cellar. This old man had a pale, beardless face, and both his gait and voice exuded an air of melancholy. Mi Qiong and Peng He, as renowned scholars of Beiliang who had seen much of life, understood this implicitly and never brought it up after they became familiar. This old man, surnamed Zhao, was a eunuch. As for why he had come from the deep imperial palace to Qingliang Mountain to retire, Mi Qiong and Peng He had no interest in investigating. Initially, the two scholars did not think highly of the old man named Zhao Siku. However, after the elderly eunuch regularly came to the back mountain to lend a hand, and because Zhao Siku, despite his age, was nimble and graceful in his speech, on par with refined scholars, unlike ordinary clumsy artisans—and especially because he handled matters flawlessly—the three, being of similar age, gradually became good friends who could sit and drink together.

Mi Qiong and Peng He greeted Zhao Siku with smiles, inviting him to sit. The three old men, whose combined age neared two hundred, sat around the stool. The two Beiliang calligraphy masters, who hadn't even had time to change their ink-stained clothes, each gulped down the wine in their cups with a slurp, exhaled heavily, and their faces were somewhat gloomy. Zhao Siku, as a seasoned chief eunuch who once oversaw the seal office in the Liyang imperial palace, had now shed the conspicuously bright red python robe of the palace. Still, his skill in reading people was sharp. However, Zhao Siku said nothing; he took a small sip of wine and chose a relatively light topic as an opening. "I just returned from Qinglu Cave Academy. Master Huang Shang asked me to convey his request for a few calligraphy pieces from you two old friends. I dared not promise anything rashly, only that I would pass on the message."

Mi Qiong shook his head. "Old Peng and I have no such leisure or inclination to write calligraphy now. This matter might disappoint Old Brother Zhao and Master Huang Shang."

How could Zhao Siku not see that Mi Qiong and Peng He, who spent their days carving stone tablets, still had trembling wrists from their exhaustive labor? He chuckled, "No matter, no matter. Master Huang Shang also said beforehand that this is not urgent. He can wait, even for a few years or ten years."

Peng He laughed, "As long as the Prince drives away the Northern Barbarians, let alone three or four calligraphy pieces, I, Old Peng, can personally deliver thirty or forty to Huang Shang's Qinglu Cave Academy. But Old Brother Zhao, we are not outsiders, so I'll speak plainly. Old Mi and I heard that quite a few foreign scholars in the academies are not good people; they criticize our Beiliang military and government, always feeling that once they come to Qingliang Mountain King's Mansion or Huaiyang Pass Protectorate, they can turn the tide. These little rascals don't mind speaking without thinking of the consequences, just because our Prince is easygoing, they get bolder and bolder. Doesn't Huang Shang manage them?"

Zhao Siku, after all, was a grand eunuch who had been immersed in the imperial palace. He did not simply echo the indignant Peng He. He shook his head and said, "This matter isn't unmanageable, but a heavy-handed approach would only make it worse. Moreover, the scholars coming to Beiliang have changed a lot compared to when they first arrived. Occasionally, they still speak with the naivete of scholars, but their original intentions are for the good of Beiliang. Many young people who initially came here with the mindset of 'a tree dies when moved, a man lives when moved,' aiming for career prospects in Beiliang, have unknowingly begun to identify as Beiliang people. This is a tremendous good thing."

Mi Qiong, who once smashed his cherished inkstone in front of Xu Fengnian, hummed in agreement. "Scholarly seeds, scholarly seeds. These young people are truly taking root and sprouting in Beiliang. Sooner or later, our Beiliang will also have towering trees that Central Plains scholars will look up to, forming a magnificent scholarly forest of our own."

Peng He raised his cup, paused, and couldn't help but sigh with emotion, "My fear is that we old fellows won't live to see that day."

Mi Qiong, being more emotional, said angrily, "I won't speak of Yao Baifeng, who went to the Imperial Academy in the capital; his moral integrity and scholarship are top-notch, truly worthy of the title of great scholar. Even if he left Beiliang, I, Mi Qiong, hope that Great Scholar Yao can flourish in the court. But this Yan Jiexi is truly not a good person! He climbed the social ladder by fawning over powerful figures, became a Grand Academician, and then forgot his roots! It's said that after he became one of the likely vice-examiners for the next imperial examination, he openly declared that he would reduce the number of Beiliang candidates eligible to take the imperial examination in the capital, cutting the usual forty candidates in half, allowing only twenty to participate! I even wrote many calligraphy pieces and birthday couplets for that old bastard back then; I wish I could chop off my own hands!"

Peng He sneered, "Yan the Turtle is just trying to avoid suspicion. Let's count on our fingers: among the older generation, there's Great Scholar Yao; among the younger generation, Chen Wang and Sun Yin—which of them isn't a top scholar in the imperial court? Even Jin Lanting, who also serves as a vice-examiner as Assistant Minister of Rites, is from Beiliang. Perhaps this reduction in Beiliang's imperial examination quota is a treacherous scheme cooked up by Yan Jiexi and Jin Lanting, that old one and that young one, together in secret."

Zhao Siku smiled meaningfully, "Rest assured, my old friends. In my view, this Beiliang quota will not ultimately be reduced; quite the opposite, in fact. It's simple: more and more scholars are flocking to Beiliang, how could the imperial court not be worried? At this time, Yan Jiexi and Jin Lanting's proposal is just for show. Those high-ranking officials in the central government won't accept it; on the contrary, they will increase the quota. Not only that, a significant proportion of these Beiliang scholars who go to the capital for the exams will, without exception, be lucky enough to do well in Tai'an. The court merely wants to use this opportunity to tell our Beiliang scholars that if they master both civil and martial arts, they can sell their talents to the imperial family. From now on, the price offered by the court will not be low, because 'flowers blooming inside the wall smell sweeter outside,' you see."

Peng He froze for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "This imperial court is too shameless!"

Mi Qiong was even more direct: "If I were the Prince, I'd simply stop these scholars from leaving. We should keep the benefits within our own circle."

Zhao Siku shook his head and smiled, "Beiliang, since the time of the Great General, has never done such despicable things. And under the current Prince, I don't believe it will start now either. Perhaps in the eyes of many Liyang officials, this would be a foolish thing, but in my view, justice resides in people's hearts, and that is enough."

Mi Qiong nodded. "Yes, justice resides in people's hearts."

Peng He drained the wine in his cup in one gulp, gripping the empty cup tightly, his voice hoarse. "Liu Jinu, the commander of Hutou City, is dead. Cavalry Captain Chu Hanqing is dead. Cavalry Captain Ma Zhili is dead. The entire infantry and cavalry of Hutou City are dead. Hulu Pass in Youzhou, Wogong City, Luanhe City, Xiaguang City, Qingcang City in Liuzhou—so many places, so many Beiliang border troops, so many people have died! Does their Liyang court know? Do the people of the Central Plains know?"

Peng He put down his cup and heavily pounded his chest with his hand, choking back a sob. "I don't care if they know or not, but Old Mi and I, two old bastards, personally carve the names of so many young Beiliang lads every day. Every day, it's white-haired people sending off black-haired people. I'm so choked up!"

Zhao Siku, who had once guarded the Celestial High Master Gao Shulu as a pawn of the Zhao family, remained silent.

*My lord, if you hadn't died young, if you could see this scene today, would you regret choosing Chen Zhibao back then instead of wholeheartedly assisting Xu Fengnian like Master Li Yishan?*

***

Even before autumn officially arrived, Jizhou was already in a tumultuous period that left people exasperated.

At this time, Cai Nan, the newly appointed Military Governor of Lianghuai, and Han Lin, who subsequently became the Commissioner, quickly became the focal point of discussions in the capital's official circles. Regarding Cai Nan, the trusted general of the former Grand Pillar State Gu Jiantang, officials in the capital were generally reluctant to speak well of him. However, Han Lin, the former Assistant Minister of Justice, was a well-respected and upright civil official in Tai'an City. Thus, most capital officials adopted a sympathetic stance, lamenting that Master Han's fate was unfortunate, as he had finally been assigned an external post only to inherit such a mess. For some reason, during this period, a man named Zhao, who had entered Lianghuai earlier than Cai and Han—both high-ranking regional officials—was never mentioned, from beginning to end. Even though this person was the late emperor's third son, and though he could not compare to the eldest prince Zhao Wu or the current emperor, his mother was also the eldest daughter of the Peng family, leaders of the Northern scholars' faction. Yet, after Zhao Xiong, who was enfeoffed as the King of Han in Jizhou, left the capital, he vanished as if a mud ox had entered the sea. It was known that this third prince had been a prominent figure in Tai'an City back then, constantly involved in romantic and elegant affairs. When Zhao Xiong was at his zenith, the current "Four Gentlemen of the Capital," led by Wang Yuanran, were still probably yearning with envy in some obscure corner. The late emperor had six sons: the eldest son, Zhao Wu, was enfeoffed in Liaodong and was the only prince who held military authority with a tiger tally, genuinely serving as the General who Guards the North, assisting Grand General Gu Jiantang and Old Prince Zhao Sui in jointly defending the northern frontier. The second prince, Zhao Wen, went to Jiangnan, a region of misty rain and flourishing scholarly communities. The fifth prince, Zhao Hong, was enfeoffed as the King of Yue, with his territory in old Dongyue. The sixth prince, Zhao Chun, was still young and had not yet left the capital to take his fief.

Within the newly constructed Han King's residence, there was a lake which Zhao Xiong named "Tingtao Lake," echoing the famous "Tingchao Lake" at the Beiliang King's Mansion, which invited much imagination. In the middle of Tingtao Lake was a pavilion, surrounded by water on all sides, with no bridges, accessible only by a lotus boat. Inside the pavilion were a rattan bed and bamboo table, with several plump peonies in a vase and incense smoke wafting from a censer.

Zhao Xiong, dressed in plain white casual clothes, reclined on the bed, holding a wine cup. A maid held a scroll of ancient texts before him, another beside him carried a tray of ice and seasonal fresh fruit, and yet another stood behind Zhao Xiong, fanning him to dispel the summer heat.

Zhao Xiong would read a page, then drink a cup of wine, not speaking to anyone, enjoying himself.

A whole afternoon slowly passed in the young Han King's leisurely enjoyment.

Zhao Xiong glanced at the sky outside the window. Soon, a maid helped him put on his boots. He walked to the window railing, squinting at the motionless figure on the lakeshore. Zhao Xiong clicked his tongue, "No wonder he became the youngest provincial general in our dynasty. He's truly dedicated."

Zhao Xiong left the pavilion, took the lotus boat back to the shore, and walked towards the Jizhou General, who was now in a precarious situation. As the Prince approached, the general clasped his fists and said in a deep voice, "Your humble subordinate Yuan Tingshan greets Your Royal Highness the Han King!"

Zhao Xiong waved his hand casually, smiling. "General Yuan, speak your mind."

Yuan Tingshan slowly raised his head. He had stood by the shore all afternoon, yet his eyes were bright, showing no trace of dejection, and his face held no fawning expression. "I earnestly request Your Highness to include some harsh words against your humble subordinate in that secret memorial which goes directly to the imperial study."

Zhao Xiong feigned surprise, "How does General Yuan know that this king has the duty to submit secret memorials? And why would you want this king to speak ill of you? This king has heard that General Yuan's situation is already bad enough. Not only did you fail to gain favor from your father-in-law earlier, but recently even some trusted subordinates you painstakingly recruited have defected to Han Fang, the Jizhou Deputy General. Even Military Governor Cai has closed his doors to you, not to mention Commissioner Han. You came to this king's residence today and waited all afternoon; shouldn't you be waiting for a helping hand in your time of need? Why would you want to add fuel to the fire instead? Are you tired of being a general and wish to experience being a prisoner?"

Listening to the Han King's sarcastic remarks, Yuan Tingshan's expression did not change. He maintained his respectful posture, clasping his fists and bowing, and said sincerely, "This humble subordinate's visit today brings ten thousand taels of gold, and ten chests of precious artifacts and calligraphy..."

As this young man, whom some capital officials privately called a mad dog, narrated his offer, Zhao Xiong was momentarily lost in thought. A scene flashed through his mind without any particular reason, a scene he had never witnessed but had heard about many times.

Many years ago, a young military officer was in much the same situation, begging to offer gifts at the Liyang Ministry of War.

Zhao Xiong looked up at the vast, splendid sky filled with fiery clouds and murmured to himself, "Too bad it's not raining."

Yuan Tingshan looked up at the obviously distracted Han King, then lowered his head, secretly biting his lip.

His two fathers-in-law: Grand General Gu Jiantang had explicitly stated he would not aid the deteriorating situation in Jizhou. And the Li Family's Yanbao had subtly hinted that their nearly ten thousand private cavalry were their last remaining assets and would not be handed over to him, their son-in-law, to squander freely. If these ten thousand private cavalry were to fight, they would only fight in the Jizhou South region, or even, if permitted, move entirely to the north of Jiangnan, and would absolutely not be led by Yuan Tingshan to the Jizhou northern border to clash desperately with Beimang. As a result, his once flourishing Jizhou General's residence now faced troubles both internal and external. However, Yuan Tingshan didn't mind these things. He could even retreat further and further in his official career, even abandoning his position as Jizhou General. But Yuan Tingshan was immensely wary of one person: the young emperor on the dragon throne in Tai'an City. Yuan Tingshan feared that he would become an incompetent general, useless to this ambitious emperor. Once this fatal impression formed in the emperor's mind, a hundred victories would mean nothing to Yuan Tingshan. Therefore, Yuan Tingshan came to beg Han King Zhao Xiong to impeach him in a secret memorial. Only by doing so, by making the young emperor believe that everyone in Jizhou, from top to bottom, was ostracizing Yuan Tingshan—making him appear as an isolated, principled official in the court—could he have a chance to rise again.

"Gold? My surname is Zhao, do I lack such things? Antiques and calligraphy? I have personally touched more in my life than you, Yuan Tingshan, have ever seen."

Zhao Xiong reached out and patted Yuan Tingshan's shoulder. "So, Yuan Tingshan, if you ever achieve great success, don't forget who helped you when you were at your wit's end."

Yuan Tingshan's left hand gripped the back of his right fist tightly, veins bulging. "Your humble subordinate swears never to forget!"

Zhao Xiong leaned slightly, and whispered into Yuan Tingshan's ear, "Actually, whether you serve as a general in Jizhou or lead troops to quell rebellions in Guangling, in a certain person's heart, you are ultimately not trustworthy. Only when your father-in-law dies will you have a chance to distinguish yourself. Consider this my gift in return."

Yuan Tingshan's body trembled.

Zhao Xiong seemed a little tired and waved his hand. "You may leave. I will not see you out."

Yuan Tingshan continued to bow and retreated a few steps before turning to depart.

Zhao Xiong looked at his receding back and smiled. "You underestimate my third brother too much, and yes, you underestimate me, Zhao Xiong, too much. Fine, I'll help you this once."

***

In Yangzhou, Jiangnan, there is a scenic spot called Sanhua Platform. The mountain is not high, but with no other mountains within a hundred li radius, it stands out strikingly. Legend has it that during the Great Feng Dynasty, an enlightened monk once expounded the Dharma here, causing fairies to scatter flowers and stubborn rocks to nod in agreement.

At dusk, renowned scholars and elegant figures from Jiangnan gathered at Sanhua Platform, calling out to friends to jointly admire the moonlight as summer departed and autumn arrived. Each brought their own sitting mats, wine, tea, cups and chopsticks, incense burners, and rice, spreading them out in orderly rows on the mountaintop.

Tonight, there were as many as nine hundred people on the mountain. Led by a distinguished nobleman, they rose gracefully and loudly recited, "Our generation's essays soar like white snow." Then, nearly a thousand people jointly sang the widely popular ancient masterpiece, "Journey to Jiangnan." For a time, their voices thundered like mighty waves, and wine flowed like a spring.

Late into the night, pure white moonlight bathed Sanhua Platform.

Among the Jiangnan literati, who sat near others of similar family background, there was a group at the most expansive viewing spot on Sanhua Platform, subtly set apart from the rest. The elderly leader, with white hair and white robes, sat cross-legged, a dozing large white cat on his lap. Around him, only six or seven mats were laid for six or seven people. Among them was Lu Daolin, who had resigned as Minister of Rites a few years ago, the old patriarch of the Huting Lu family, and also the elder brother of the former Minister of War, Lu Baixie. In just ten years, the Lu family had produced two Ministers, truly living up to the late emperor's praise, "The sons of the Lu family are like an array of jades." Although Lu Daolin now lived in reclusion and Lu Baixie had quietly left the capital, it did not diminish the Lu family's transcendent status, which surpassed the other three great families in Jiangnan. Also present was Xu Yinsheng, the old patriarch of the Gumu Xu clan. This elder had comfortably retired to enjoy his later years after his eldest son, Xu Gong, was enfeoffed as the Dragon-Gallop General. Although Xu Shufei suffered a tragic misfortune a few years prior and was imprisoned in Changchun Palace, severely weakening the entire Xu clan, fortunately, Xu Gong lived up to expectations, entering the capital to serve as Assistant Minister of War, thus propping up the family's pillar. Xu Yinsheng, who had previously closed his doors to visitors, finally appeared. Next to the old man sat his youngest daughter, Xu Huipu, dressed as a Taoist nun. Her fated but unfulfilled love-hate relationship with Tangxi Swordsman Lu Baixie was widely known among the literati of Jiangnan. And the middle-aged Confucian scholar named Yuan Jiangyan was not only the backbone of the Boling Yuan clan but also a famous and influential debater throughout the court and country.

Beside the venerable old man with the white cat on his lap sat a handsome young master, bending low and gently fanning with his folded fan, not for his ancestor, but for the lazy white cat. Far behind the young man stood a sober swordsman in green, who drank no wine. While everyone else was drunk, he was sober; while everyone else sat, he stood alone, an extremely conspicuous presence.

The four great families of Jiangnan—Huting Lu, Jiangxin Yu, Boling Yuan, and Gumu Xu—were the main southern force that countered the northern scholars. The Qing Party of Qingzhou was once a natural ally of these four families, but unfortunately, it never fully developed and was easily dismantled by the former Grand Councilor, Zhang Julu. Although these four families meticulously contended with each other in Jiangnan, with generations engaging in continuous overt and covert struggles, in Tai'an City, in the Liyang imperial court, they were incredibly unified. Xu Gong's ability to enter the capital from a regional post and forcefully secure the position of Assistant Minister of War was crucially aided by the old patriarch of the Yu family, who owned the white cat, even going to the capital to visit Yu Jiankang himself.

Xu Yinsheng looked at Yu Jiankang, who was a generation older than himself, and softly sighed, "Elder Yu, chaos is rampant these days. Take Yuan Guo, for example. He finally returned to office as Minister of Revenue, in charge of the treasury, but within a few days, he was sent to Guangling, right next to us, to serve as military governor—and only as a deputy, because it's a princely domain. And if Tangxi hadn't been supported by the Grand Libation Qi and Lord Tan, and his appointment suppressed, it might have been Tangxi, not Cai Nan, who would become the military governor of Lianghuai. Elder Yu, although Tangxi is still Minister of War, His Majesty clearly intends to move him. In your view, where will Tangxi go next? We need to plan accordingly and strategically."

Yu Jiankang smiled and pointed a finger at Lu Daolin. "Minister Lu's own elder brother isn't worried, so why are you, Xu Yinsheng, so anxious?"

Lu Daolin said helplessly, "It's not that I'm not anxious, it's that being anxious is useless. Fortunately, Cai Nan has already gone to Lianghuai, and Yuan Guo to Guangling. Now, as long as Tangxi isn't banished to the Southern frontier, I don't think his situation will be too bad."

Yu Jiankang reached out and stroked the white cat's head, saying calmly, "Before, there were Zhang Lu and Gu Lu, from the capital to the provinces, all revolving around the struggle between civil and military officials. Now, both Lus have become things of the past. Next, it should be the turn of the North-South struggle. Grand Libation Qi of the Central Secretariat is a typical Southerner, his deputy Zhao Youling is a Southerner. Lord Tan of the Imperial Chancellery is a Northerner, and Chen Wang is from Beiliang, making it a tie. Let's count the Six Ministries under the Six Shangshu Provinces: the new Minister of Personnel, Yin Maochun, is a Southerner. The two successive Ministers of Revenue, Wang Xionggui and Yuan Guo, are both Southerners. If we add Lu Daolin, the former Minister of Rites, and Lu Baixie, the current Minister of War, don't you feel that our Southern scholars occupy too many of the most prominent positions in the imperial court? If Xu Gong were to then take charge of the Ministry of War, and Han Lin, the former Assistant Minister of Justice, were to become Minister of Justice, how would Northern scholars ever get ahead in the future? Moreover, in recent imperial examinations, Southerners have held an absolute advantage in the number of successful candidates. So, Han Lin going to Jizhou and Yuan Guo to Guangling are all reasonable occurrences; there's no need to be surprised. It also won't be strange if Tang Tieshuang becomes Minister of War in the future, and Xu Gong has to continue toiling as Assistant Minister for another four or five years."

At this point, Yu Jiankang paused slightly and smiled. "What's interesting is that Tai'an City now has a new force that cannot be underestimated: Grand Academician Yan Jiexi, Assistant Libation Yao Baifeng of the Imperial Academy, Chen Wang from the Imperial Chancellery, Assistant Minister of Rites Jin Lanting, Huangmen Lang Yan Chiji, and the temporarily dormant Sun Yin. Without exception, all are from Beiliang, and they all have good reputations in officialdom. Though their numbers are few, each of them speaks with great weight, especially Chen Wang, who is an extraordinary figure; even compared to Bi Yan'er's career back then, he is still superior. This is somewhat similar to how the Qing Party previously intervened between Zhang Lu and Gu Lu, except that compared to the fickle Qing Party, this group of officials—which can barely be called the Liang Party—has never actually formed a faction. Haven't you noticed? Although these people all originate from Beiliang, their loyalty to His Majesty is unmatched by any other civil or military official in the imperial court. In the future, I predict that Chen Wang, with his boundless prospects, will lead them, forming a tripartite balance with our Southern and Northern scholars."

Yuan Jiangyan exclaimed, "Could it be another Bi Yan'er?"

Yu Jiankang shook his head. "I'm afraid it's more than that."

Lu Daolin looked up at the moonlit night, lost in thought.

For some reason, Xu Huipu looked a little sad, perhaps thinking of Tangxi Swordsman far away in the capital, or perhaps a certain Ms. Xu, who liked to wear red and was now separated by life and death.

Yu Jiankang smiled, "What our four families need to do next is to take a step back. Let the northern families, like the Peng family of Liaodong, vie for positions in the capital at this time. On the surface, we'll pretend to be reluctant and let them have everything. As for when to advance again, it's simple: wait. Wait until the Peng family and their people are overcrowded, and at the same time, we must act before Chen Wang, Sun Yin, and Fan Changhou's generation truly matures. Let those northerners and the young generation create their own conflicts for now. In these few years, they can make things difficult for their juniors, but sooner or later, they will suffer greatly. During this period, you people, stepping back doesn't mean doing nothing at all. You might as well add icing to the cake for the promising young people in Tai'an City: help them gain fame in the literary world, promote their reputations, and occasionally engage in poetry and song, considering it as fostering good karma."

Yuan Jiangyan laughed heartily, "What's difficult about that!"

Next, Yu Jiankang made a peculiar gesture: he raised his wine cup, turned to face the northwest, and toasted from afar.

"I, Yu Jiankang, toast you, Beiliang, on behalf of the Central Plains."

"A toast to your father and son."