Chapter 172: Calm After the Storm (Part Two)

Episode 2: The Pool of Undercurrents

The sound of wheels and axles echoed as the carriage passed silently through street after street. Sometimes, voices and lights could be heard from outside; other times, the alleyways were dark, and silence enveloped everything. Xi Junyu sat in the carriage, occasionally frowning as he looked at the silent Guard Geng sitting opposite him.

"What exactly are we doing at this hour?" He had probed with similar questions several times, but each answer was essentially the same.

"Steward Xi will know when the time comes."

Initially, he had been contemplating what methods Su Tan'er might use to turn the tide tonight. However, he gradually began to think it wouldn't be anything like that. The issue of the Imperial Merchant title had been festering for four months, with events intricately linked to the present. Tonight's clan meeting, where the Second and Third Houses would challenge Su Tan'er, was a foregone conclusion. If this couldn't be resolved, Su Tan'er would be stripped of her authority, and any future plans would amount to nothing. What else could possibly be done at this point?

He disliked situations where he couldn't grasp the full picture. Su Tan'er was, in a way, his student, yet in this scenario, she was completely unfathomable. Nevertheless, he still had confidence in the degree to which he was trusted. He decided to wait and see what she intended to do.

Inside the carriage, he calculated the vehicle's current location, occasionally peering through the curtains to observe landmarks outside. The carriage seemed to be heading out of the city. Furthermore, this carriage was unusual; it wasn't from the Su family estate. Along the way, the carriage had made several detours, perhaps to avoid being followed. Xi Junyu grew increasingly curious. He knew perfectly well who the Su family's opponents were this time. What kind of situation required such precautions?

The carriage left Jiangning City and finally stopped in front of a courtyard outside the city. Xi Junyu surveyed his surroundings. This area was relatively secluded, yet not far away was a small, usually busy, and rather chaotic place called Shibugang. It had a few shops and fish stalls, and people from nearby villages would come to buy things. Occasionally, there would be fights, murders, or territorial disputes.

Xi Junyu walked through the courtyard gate.

For a moment, he stood there. Some things were hard to believe, but they undeniably surged into his mind, and he began to understand a few things.

A sharp knife pressed against his waist, and figures began to emerge from beside the door.

"Brother Geng, what... what's happening?"

"Please go in first, Steward Xi. Let's wait here for a while. Someone will tell you what you want to know. If I've made a mistake then, I'll apologize to you."

At Yuexiang Pavilion, the zither music was clear and beautiful, and the singing was soft and melodious.

Can Miaomiao plucked the zither strings, singing serenely under everyone's gaze. Xue Yan, Xue Jin, and others joined in, thoroughly enjoying themselves. After the song ended, they smiled and raised their wine cups in praise.

They had been waiting here for a long time for news from the Su family. Drinking and merrymaking, accompanied by Can Miaomiao, they weren't bored. After a while, Xue Jin looked in the direction of the Su family: "Speaking of which, the Su family should have a result by now."

"It's a pity we couldn't witness it in person at the Su residence. I imagine the internal power struggles of the Su family's three houses must be quite spectacular," someone nearby chuckled, agreeing.

"With Miaomiao here today, all we need to do is await the result. For you to even wish to see such schemes and rivalries is truly like burning a zither to cook a crane – utterly vulgar! Where does that leave Miss Miaomiao? Drink up!"

Amidst their laughter and playful banter, they couldn't help but lament the disunity within the Su family, feeling fortunate that their Xue family didn't have such inter-house property disputes. As they joked, someone lifted the curtain and entered. This was a member of the Lu family who had arrived earlier but had stepped out to handle some matters and was now returning. Xue Yan smiled, "Brother Lu, we've been waiting for you for so long, you're finally back! You wouldn't believe what a pity it was that you missed Miss Miaomiao's performance just now." The young man from the Lu family chuckled, apologizing a few times. After sitting down, he laughed, "I just took a turn outside and heard some quite lively news. Oh, by the way, has the result from the Su family come out yet?" "Not yet. Are you impatient, Brother Lu? Haha, I just said, the Lu family has put in a lot of effort this time. You even neglected Miss Miaomiao just now, you should be punished for this." "Haha, Brother Xue, you're joking. Everyone knows your family is the best prepared for this. Once something happens with the Su family, your family's businesses will benefit the most. Our Lu family, well, we're just picking up scraps and fishing in troubled waters. What you said, Brother Xue, is definitely a false accusation, Miss Miaomiao, don't believe him. He must be so concerned about the Su family's outcome that he's teasing others."

Can Miaomiao glanced at them. "You lot, there's not a single trustworthy word among you! Miaomiao truly doesn't know who to believe. I'm afraid I'd count money for you even if you sold me, and for a bad price at that..." The woman chuckled. "That Su family, they truly are pitiful to have become your opponents."

The men laughed heartily. Xue Yan shook his head, "Let's not talk about that, let's not talk about that. The Su family's matter was already destined, why worry? Today, pleasure comes first; everything else is secondary. But Brother Lu, you mentioned some lively news just now. What was it?"

"Oh, there's quite a commotion at Changyun Pavilion. I heard Liu Qingdi is having a fierce poetry battle against many, haha, it's almost coming to blows."

Today, Puyang Yi hosted a banquet at Changyun Pavilion, and Liu Qingdi, Cao Guan, and others were present, making it one of the more significant gatherings in Jiangning City that day. With so many poets and lyricists, Xue Yan and the others naturally couldn't participate. Even if Xue Jin and others had some literary skill, it was only enough to avoid writing doggerel. At previous banquets, they had also discussed the poetry gathering there. Hearing now that the situation was intense, Can Miaomiao asked with concern, "Is Sister Qilan alright?" "Haha, of course she's fine. It's just a manner of speaking. With Puyang Yi there, a real fight is impossible. It's just that both sides got heated. However," he paused, glancing at Xue Yan and Xue Jin, "this matter involves Ning Yi from the Su family."

Xue Jin was startled. "Impossible, how could Ning Yi be at Changyun Pavilion at this hour?"

"He's not there in person, haha. Rather, someone at Changyun Pavilion produced a new lyric poem by Ning Yi. It's an interesting story, concerning Liu Qingdi..."

This person recounted the situation at Changyun Pavilion, from Liu Qingdi's dispute with others, to his dominance over the scholars with numerous poems, and then to the outburst of the Hermit of Empty Mountains. He also took out two sheets of Xuan paper from his sleeve, on which were copied some of the excellent poems from the Changyun Pavilion gathering.

"...And finally, there's a new ci poem by Ning Yi. It's said he's currently teaching at Yushan Academy at home, and he composed it casually a few days ago while explaining poetry to a nine-year-old child. It wasn't publicized, but Su Chonghua saw it and later told Chen Lu, the Hermit of Empty Mountains. This ci poem is actually called 'Ding Fengbo'—it's truly a good one. I'm afraid Ning Yi's literary fame will rise another notch after today... but considering the current state of the Su family, it's quite ironic..."

Amidst the laughter, everyone took the poems. The competition at Changyun Pavilion today was of a high standard, and all the pieces were excellent. However, upon seeing the last one, everyone's expressions became somewhat complex. Can Miaomiao took them and read each one slowly, her eyes sparkling with admiration, but when she reached the last one, she hesitated for a long moment before finally reciting the lines.

"'Ding Fengbo: Hear not the sound of leaves beaten through the forest; why not chant and walk slowly? Bamboo staff and straw sandals are lighter than a horse, who's afraid? A straw cape through the misty rain, let it be for a lifetime. A biting wind wakes me from my wine, a slight chill, but the setting sun on the mountain peak welcomes me. Turning back to the desolate place I came from, returning... neither wind nor rain, nor clear sky... This poem...'"

Many present had already read it. After Can Miaomao finished reciting, there was an awkward silence. Xue Yan looked on from the side, then started to laugh.

"'Ding Fengbo, Ding Fengbo... Haha, Ning Yi's talent in poetry is undeniable! But given all his recent troubles, why write something like 'Ding Fengbo'? Is he perhaps feeling dejected and trying to comfort himself?'"

As he spoke, the others joined in the laughter. "No wonder he only showed it to a nine-year-old child. Perhaps he felt it was too self-deceptive, so he could only write it for a child to find solace."

"I, for one, think it's not as good as 'Drinking Wine with Pei Di,' which he wrote for Wu Chenghou in his anguish that night. At least that was plagiarism, it wouldn't make people laugh, hahahaha!"

"We are all crude men and aren't very good at discerning the quality of poetry. However, Miss Miaomiao's scholarship far surpasses ours. Miss Miaomiao, what do you think of this poem?" Can Miaomao looked at their expressions, then at the poem in her hand, and chuckled softly, "The ci poem... it's quite good." As she gave the poem a "quite good" evaluation, the others laughed even more merrily. Can Miaomao casually looked at the lines a few more times, then smilingly passed it to someone else, silently reciting it in her heart.

Afterwards, there was more chatter and laughter, repeating tales of the Su family's efforts two months prior and their spectacular failure, Ning Yi's pathetic composition of "Drinking Wine with Pei Di" in front of the Wu family, and various other subsequent events. However, the atmosphere began to subtly change. Sometimes, someone would discuss a few excellent works written by Liu Qingdi, holding the manuscript paper and glancing at them, yet inevitably their gaze would linger for a moment on "Ding Fengbo" before quickly turning away.

This sudden appearance of "Ding Fengbo" was like a small, invisible disruption, hovering within the space.

However, no one explicitly mentioned it. It wasn't a major issue anyway; once the news from the Su family arrived, this subtle disruption would simply vanish. Xue Yan occasionally glanced downstairs, and at one point, he finally smiled.

"The result has arrived."

A servant ran up from downstairs. Everyone was already smiling. Xue Yan, whose window was near the door, opened the room door and stepped out, watched by the others from the corner of their eyes. The servant also came up from downstairs. Everyone could see Xue Yan's waiting back.

"Come, drink, drink," Xue Jin said, feigning indifference, greeting everyone. They smiled and responded, waiting for Xue Yan to re-enter and deliver the news.

The Su family's situation was already certain, and the announcement would just be a matter of a word or two. Even if there were minor complications, there wouldn't be much to say. Everyone waited for Xue Yan to turn around, smiling, and recount the outcome. However, the servant spoke mysteriously into Xue Yan's ear for a long time, and they waited for what felt like ages.

"What did you say...?" "How... how is that possible...?" "Who did you say?"

For a long time, faint, fragmented whispers filtered in, not very clear, but some people sitting closer to the door still heard them. Xue Yan was there, questioning and repeating. The formerly laughing and toasting crowd finally quieted down, exchanging perplexed glances, unsure what was happening or if there were any complications. However, it was also possible that something unexpected had happened to the Xue family, though participants like the Chen and Lu families weren't overly worried yet. Finally, Xue Jin stood up. He thought for a moment, then walked towards the door.

He wanted to ask, "Brother, what happened?" However, the words didn't leave his mouth. Xue Yan had already turned back; his expression was complex, and his mind seemed to be elsewhere. He merely glanced at his younger brother, then stepped back into the room, looking at everyone, opening his mouth as if to speak, but no words came out.

He walked back to his seat under everyone's gaze, shaking his head, feeling as if some things were simply incomprehensible.

"Brother Xue, what's wrong?" the man from the Lu family asked.

"Heh," Xue Yan chuckled. After a moment, he said softly, "The Su family's result is out."

"How is it?" "How is it...?" Xue Yan repeated, blinking his eyes. A moment later, he pressed his hand hard against his forehead, squeezing his eyes shut. The Xue family had made the most extensive arrangements concerning the Su family's affairs. At this point, everyone began to realize that the outcome was probably not as desired—or rather, very undesirable. Xue Yan opened his eyes, sweeping away the bowls and chopsticks in front of him with one hand. Then he noticed the two sheets of poetry manuscripts nearby. He tapped them with two fingers, then decisively pulled out the bottom sheet, held it before his eyes, and after a moment, he read aloud, as if addressing everyone.

"Haha, 'Hear not the sound of leaves beaten through the forest; why not chant and walk slowly? Bamboo staff and straw sandals are lighter than a horse, who's afraid? A straw cape through the misty rain, let it be for a lifetime...'" He recited the entire "Ding Fengbo" poem, and to everyone present, it now carried an entirely different meaning. Then, he looked at them all again. "'Returning to the desolate place I came from...' If I told you that we all guessed wrong, that everyone was completely outmaneuvered and calculated against, what would you say?" No one answered.

"Four months..." Xue Yan gazed out the window, muttering, "Heh, the Wu family was probably the most terribly outmaneuvered. The incompetent Second and Third Houses of the Su family as well..."

"Brother Xue... exactly, what happened?"

"It's like this." Xue Yan slapped the ci poem manuscript onto the table. "They're laughing. The outcome... is the best possible result for Su Tan'er... All internal and external troubles cleared at once. That fabric, that fabric actually..." His emotions seemed to be spiraling out of control as he massaged his forehead. "Thinking about it now... it's simply... a calculation at every step..." "...Ning Liheng."

This exclamation, ending with that name, echoed through the hall, leaving everyone stunned. Yet, they still didn't fully understand the whole situation. Xue Yan took a deep breath, finally looked up, and smiled.

"My apologies, everyone. Four months of planning... no, over two months of planning... it all went to pot. I'm a little discomposed, please bear with me. The Su family's outcome is out. I'll tell you all, and you'll understand..."

The narrative returns to a little while earlier, night, the Su family's clan meeting hall.

A debate had finally reached its conclusion...