Chapter 21: Guessing

"I know no one might believe me when I say this, but... there are indeed some things I genuinely don't want to do. Whether it's being a gifted scholar, gaining fame, or achieving official status – I have no desire to pursue them. This... is true." Ning Yi's tone was calm, yet the conviction in his words was undeniable. He was answering the question earnestly, without reluctance, hidden difficulties, or any pretense, speaking with sincerity and candor. Though he appeared to be a young man in his early twenties, and had once been a stiff, awkward scholar – if he were still that bookworm, he would likely stammer in front of Elder Qin and Elder Kang. However, at this moment, his entire demeanor commanded attention. Combined with his physical presence, he seemed transcendent and unconstrained by worldly things. Had this same aura belonged to a middle-aged man of forty or fifty, it would have conveyed maturity, composure, profound wisdom, and irrefutable authority.

This very response deepened the two men's perplexity. For someone like Elder Kang, merely posing such a question carried profound implications. Furthermore, given their current interactions, Elder Kang was not seeking a transaction or expecting anything in return from Ning Yi. An ordinary person might suddenly lose their composure, perhaps out of pride or an awkward desire to decline, but Ning Yi was far from such a naive youth. Amid their confusion, Ning Yi offered a somewhat helpless, wry smile.

"Ah, I understand this might be puzzling, but..." He lightly tapped his forehead. "Perhaps you two don't know, but a few months ago, I suffered a blow to the head and only regained consciousness after several days in a coma. I've forgotten most of my past. As for official careers, I genuinely can't bring myself to care about them right now. And spending time with scholars in brothels and pleasure boats, composing poetry to win women's favor – I have little interest in that either. The children at the academy, however, I find interesting. Occasionally telling them stories and listening to their chatter, or simply coming to this riverside to play chess and drink tea – I feel quite at ease. I also have some interesting ideas in my head that I might slowly develop. I am content with my current life, and as for a few disapproving glances, why should I bother with them? What the future holds, I still can't clearly imagine. However, I truly appreciate your kind intentions, Lord."

He cupped his hands in a bow and nodded, saying, "I will remember this matter."

Naturally, there was both truth and fabrication in his words, but it was impossible, of course, to fully explain the reality to them. Linking his current sentiments to a head injury and amnesia was the most effective approach. This explanation required no further elaboration; it was inherently plausible and prevented the other party from feeling overly concerned or meddlesome, simply suggesting that he had encountered a personal difficulty.

As expected, after he finished speaking, both Elder Kang and Elder Qin remained somewhat puzzled. Ning Yi then recounted the amnesia incident once more, and only then did both men show expressions of sudden realization. Kang Xian shook his head and smiled, "I never imagined such a thing." They simply assumed that his ideas had become somewhat eccentric after his memory loss.

Afterward, Elder Kang no longer brought up those matters. He drank a cup of tea, and Ning Yi picked up the whiteboard and charcoal, then bid farewell and departed for Yushan Academy. Once Ning Yi's figure disappeared at the distant intersection, Elder Kang finally sighed. "I never expected this. To be struck like that and emerge with such a detached mindset... it's truly rare among young people. It's just a pity about all that talent."

Elder Qin smiled and took a sip of tea. "He's only in his early twenties now; who can say how he'll turn out in the future? With his talent, he won't be able to avoid what he's destined to encounter. However, looking at today's events, some things are quite concerning... Lord, Li Heng is far too pragmatic."

Kang Xian frowned. "Now that you mention it, that is indeed the case. His poems, written effortlessly, are all excellent verses, yet he seems completely indifferent to the art of poetry itself. Haha, 'When will the bright moon appear, hanging from the southeast branch...' His calligraphy is also casually done, yet he can achieve such high levels in so many styles. It seems he only treats these as mere pastimes. In his eyes, these things are apparently less interesting than chalk..."

Elder Qin nodded. "Pragmatism is generally good, but if one is too pragmatic, too direct, it might lead to trouble later. Although Li Heng understands how to seek advantages and avoid harm, he is young and spirited, and quite arrogant in some matters. He was unwilling to humor the students' challenges and rejected invitations; in front of you and me, he made little attempt to conceal his true feelings, likely for this very reason..."

He pondered for a moment, then smiled. "There's no need to overthink this matter. We merely gather to play chess with friends; worrying too much would be excessive. Since we know his thoughts, that's enough. As for what will happen in the future, we shall see."

In recent days, Ning Yi's name had caused ripples, big and small, throughout Jiangning City. Those who learned of the poem "Shui Diao Ge Tou" and knew his name naturally formed various speculations and opinions. Most views were simple, but they became progressively more complex the closer one was to the situation. For example, there were Elder Kang and Elder Qin, and many people in the Su family—distant and close relatives, stewards, and servants. Closer still were figures like Grandfather Su and Su Boyong. Then there were Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er. For several days, Xing'er had been teasing the two with the line "May we share the moon, though a thousand miles apart." Chan'er was somewhat prepared for this, but Juan'er truly found herself caught in the crossfire. She would frequently blush fiercely, her face burning hot like a small teapot, and privately complain to Chan'er: "Why did Master write that line...?"

Consequently, for the past few days, whenever she saw Ning Yi, she would lower her head and try to avoid him.

Among these people, the one with the most complicated feelings was naturally Su Tan'er. To be fair, what concerned her most was not her husband's talent or his peculiar personality, but rather that she could no longer understand him.

She had originally married Ning Yi because he was a straightforward person whom she could easily understand. Even after they married and he became a live-in son-in-law, she could participate in the Su family's business with less criticism. Although their marriage was still largely in name only, she had, to some extent, already accepted him in her heart. From now on, it was merely a matter of time.

Who knew that only now did she discover she completely failed to understand her husband.

Of course, at this point, the matter was only beginning to show hints. Her husband seemed detached, not like someone with ulterior motives. Su Tan'er was also a calm and intelligent woman, so she wouldn't necessarily panic. However, beyond managing various shop affairs, her thoughts inevitably lingered on this matter. In those times, no matter how intelligent or independent a girl was, once married, who could truly be indifferent to her own husband?

These past few days, she remained busy managing the Su family's numerous silk and fabric shops in Jiangning. In her leisure, she asked Juan'er to return to the alley where Ning Yi used to live to gather information. During business interactions, acquaintances she occasionally encountered would ask, "Is that Ning Yi, Ning Li Heng, your husband?" They would then praise "Shui Diao Ge Tou."

After the marriage, she should have introduced her live-in husband to people she knew, to establish her status as a married woman and facilitate business dealings. However, she had been a bit temperamental during the wedding, and Ning Yi was knocked unconscious. After that, it was a period of recovery. By now, their mode of interaction had almost become fixed; they only had some conversations during meals at home. Although her attitude towards Ning Yi was natural, having been married, she carried a bit more reserve and pride. Thus, until now, aside from suggesting they attend the Puyuan Poetry Gathering last time, she had not yet invited Ning Yi to accompany her to any event outside the house.

By now, it would probably be even harder to suggest it.

Information about Ning Yi had actually been gathered and inquired about from various sources once before the marriage. Most of it was done at her father's and grandfather's behest. She herself had gone with a few maids to observe, and had also asked Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er to inquire about Ning Yi's reputation. The information obtained then was simply that he was a straightforward bookworm, not particularly learned. Of course, he wasn't completely foolish from reading; otherwise, he wouldn't have accepted the Su family's proposal to become a live-in son-in-law. In those times, a man who agreed to marry into another family had generally accepted his fate.

However, this time, when Juan'er went to inquire, the information she obtained was slightly different.

Most of the evaluations were, of course, the same as before: Ning Yi did not have a strong presence in that alley. Some families only remembered him after Juan'er repeatedly emphasized that he was the man living in a certain house and courtyard. "Oh, yes, there was such a person," they would say. Or, "That silly bookworm, I heard he married into some family as a live-in son-in-law, and his courtyard was sold." "He probably realized he couldn't pass the imperial exams," they would add. Such statements constituted the vast majority.

However, two or three families did offer a different account: "Oh, Li Heng! I've long known his talent was amazing, but he's always been low-key and steady, unwilling to compete with others. Unlike those so-called gifted scholars who have little substance but love to show off—that's like a full bucket of water making no sound, while a half-full bucket sloshes around... Young lady, you must have come to inquire after hearing about 'Shui Diao Ge Tou,' right...?"

"Married into the family? Yes, he did, because there was a marriage contract. That child, Li Heng, is an honest person; he was bound to honor the contract..."

"Aunt San next door, and Uncle Niu Er at the alley entrance, they all said the same thing. I gave each of them fifty coins..." Though she was just a small maid, Juan'er's skill at gathering information was not to be underestimated. Thinking about it now, she smiled and shared her own view: "But I think they only said that after hearing about 'Shui Diao Ge Tou,' so it doesn't really count. Unfortunately, Master's former teacher, Old Master Zou, passed away last year. I did inquire, and Master's teacher's wife barely remembers him. However, once she understood my purpose, she still said some good things. Old Master Zou's widow and family don't seem to be doing too well, so I took the liberty of sending them two strings of coins and some smoked meat, delivered in Master's name."

"That's how it should be..." Su Tan'er nodded, then also smiled, but her profound doubt remained. When gathering information, one shouldn't blindly believe everything others say. Although some good words were received this time, the basic information was still the same as before. However, after Juan'er investigated another direction, certain seemingly correct conjectures gradually began to form a clear picture for Su Tan'er.

"The old gentlemen Master met while playing chess by the river... they must be extraordinary. The one we know most clearly now is probably that Elder Kang who spoke up for Master at the Zhishui Poetry Gathering that day..."

"Hmm?" If Ning Yi's reputation before his amnesia could be confirmed, then if something truly happened, it must have been after his memory loss. She knew that Ning Yi had gone to the riverside to play chess and met some chess friends before, but she hadn't investigated it further. The information she received now truly startled her. Her husband could actually know such prominent figures. She wondered if it was luck or some other reason. The subsequent information that came back further astonished her.

The news from the Zhishui Poetry Gathering only stated that Kang Xian was a master of Neo-Confucianism, detailing his various accomplishments and how highly he was respected. However, some of the background hidden behind this was not heavily disguised; it simply wasn't mentioned. Upon investigation, it was readily discovered.

Kang Xian, Kang Mingyun, was not only a master calligrapher and a leading authority in Neo-Confucianism. At the same time, his other identity was the consort of Princess Chengguo, making him a member of the imperial family. Although the Wu Dynasty had always strictly controlled imperial relatives, and consorts could not participate in state affairs or serve as officials, Princess Chengguo was the current emperor's paternal aunt. This meant Kang Xian was the current emperor's uncle by marriage. Even if he was just a wealthy idler, such a status was truly incredibly noble, utterly beyond the reach of a merchant family like the Sus.

Once this news was revealed, the initial shock was truly ineffable. Su Tan'er was momentarily dazed, but after a brief period of astonishment, a relatively clear clue gradually presented itself before her.

"How exactly did Master become friends with such an important figure? Chan'er said they simply went over casually, played chess casually, and became acquainted," Juan'er wondered, then grew somewhat hesitant. "But speaking of it, Elder Kang's identity, and Master's identity... Oh!"

Juan'er dared not voice the rest of her thoughts, but it was already enough. In the art of business, various types of information must be constantly filtered. Sometimes, certain clues seem hard to believe, yet when other possibilities are dismissed, what remains might just be the truth.

Her husband's status, and Elder Kang's status... Are they both live-in sons-in-law...?

For Su Tan'er, although this answer might seem bizarre to ordinary people, it was already the closest to the core truth.

Her husband... perhaps only had some interactions with him while playing chess, or perhaps he didn't even know the other's identity. Yet, the two indeed shared this commonality. The consort's status seemed noble, marrying a princess, but in reality, it was marrying into the imperial family as a live-in son-in-law. With Kang Xian's talent, he could never become an official or realize his ambitions in life. It was not difficult to understand why he would feel a sense of camaraderie upon meeting her husband. In this way, it was no wonder he would silence the critics at the Zhishui Poetry Gathering and make her husband famous...

As for "Shui Diao Ge Tou," her husband said it was from a Taoist priest passing by their door. Not only did her grandfather not believe it, but she absolutely didn't either, because Xiaochuan certainly wouldn't lie to her. And would that Taoist priest have recited a poem, let alone sung it? Perhaps it was truly her husband's unexpected inspiration, or perhaps it was composed by Elder Kang—it was hard to say. She wasn't overly concerned about it now. After all, before, her mind was full of doubts, feeling suspicious everywhere. Now that she had pieced together a coherent line of thought, it was as if a light had dawned on her, and she was no longer particularly bothered by some matters.

Her husband's personality was actually detached. His words and actions were not annoying. His talent, whether high or low, she was indifferent to. A more modest talent would be fine, as he married into the family and she didn't mind. A greater talent would simply be an unexpected joy. She hadn't realized there was such a hidden agenda behind the Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering. If it was indeed Kang Xian's plan, perhaps it was just a joke the old man made on a whim.

"Watch how this old man teaches you a lesson, and gives your wife and family a fright..."

Thinking this way, it wasn't impossible. Although her husband's nature was detached, at his age, he might not truly be content with being a live-in son-in-law. Even though her grandfather didn't want to mistreat him, and she herself didn't want him to be discriminated against, a live-in son-in-law inevitably faced occasional disdain. People would always have various opinions; this was a hurdle he had to overcome himself. Therefore, wanting to display some talent was understandable.

If that's the case, her husband... was he really trying to tame her, this restless young woman...?

Some things, once decided, would not change—that was the overarching premise. She originally had no specific requirements for whether she would take a live-in husband or marry out. The key was that, one day, she had to take over the Su family business. With this prerequisite, her husband could only be a live-in son-in-law. As she thought this, she did not dislike her inner speculations; she even felt a hint of fondness.

There were no other possibilities, were there?

So, on her way home, she smiled softly and warmly...

It was a very private smile, one that even Juan'er and Xing'er, who were in the same carriage, did not notice.