From the moment it became known that Gao Xining was with child, Director Gao, the Long-Browed Daoist, and Old Zhang Zhenren — those three elders — seemed to have been wound up like clockwork.

This left Little Zhang Zhenren rather puzzled. He watched Old Zhang Zhenren busily preparing gifts for the yet-unborn Imperial Prince and let out a soft sigh.

“Master…”

“Speak if you have something to say.”

“I am your own disciple, you know.”

“Yes, and I have never said you weren’t.”

Little Zhang Zhenren said, “And yet, Master, you’ve never treated me quite this well. The Imperial Prince isn’t even born yet, and you’ve already started preparing gifts. All these years I’ve been at your side…”

Before he could finish, Old Zhang Zhenren glanced at him and said, “If you can find yourself a young woman, marry her, and have a child of your own — I’ll prepare gifts for my little grand-disciple as well.”

Little Zhang Zhenren: “…”

He went over and tugged at Old Zhang Zhenren’s sleeve. “Master — am I not loveable?”

Old Zhang Zhenren: “Let go of my sleeve. At my age I’d rather not have to use force on you — and besides, you’re a Zhenren of Dragon Tiger Mountain now. Getting beaten up would look rather undignified if someone happened to see.”

Little Zhang Zhenren: “…”

He harrumphed and said, “Fine. I’ll go find a young woman right now.”

Old Zhang Zhenren: “If you’re truly going to find one, don’t set your standards too high. Don’t worry about whether you like her — just worry about whether she likes you.”

Little Zhang Zhenren: “That should be easy enough.”

Old Zhang Zhenren: “Easy? If someone genuinely likes you, I wouldn’t even mind if it were a man.”

Little Zhang Zhenren: “…”

He spun around and walked out.

As he walked, he thought to himself: with my intelligence, my martial skill, my status as a Zhenren of Dragon Tiger Mountain — surely I can find a kindred spirit among women?

But he felt he had no experience in such matters, and decided he must first find someone to consult.

So he went to find Yu Jiuling.

After listening to Little Zhang Zhenren explain his situation, Yu Jiuling raised a hand and scratched his hair with some awkwardness.

“You’re asking me… I truly don’t know how to help you. After all, our situations are different.”

Little Zhang Zhenren asked, “How are we different?”

Yu Jiuling said, “For one thing — I already have a wife. I don’t have these troubles.”

Little Zhang Zhenren: “…”

Undeterred, he asked, “But before you had a wife — what did you do?”

Yu Jiuling: “I paid.”

Little Zhang Zhenren: “Pfft!”

Yu Jiuling: “See — you ask me, I tell you, and then you sneer. So why ask at all?”

Little Zhang Zhenren: “If there’s truly no other way…”

Yu Jiuling: “If there’s truly no other way, I can write you a list — the finest establishments I’ve visited in my years wandering the jianghu. A guide like that, only I, Yu Jiuling, could compile it.”

“Never mind…”

Little Zhang Zhenren rose to take his leave. Old Ninth Sister was clearly as unreliable as ever. He’d have to ask someone else.

After leaving, he walked along the main street uncertain who to turn to.

Walking and walking, he spotted Zhuang Wudi’s general’s manor — and on impulse decided to pay a visit.

Learning that Little Zhang Zhenren had come to call, Zhuang Wudi hurried out to receive him. The two walked side by side, chatting idly. When Zhuang Wudi heard the reason for the visit, he fell into a slight daze, stopped in his tracks, tilted his head, and looked at Little Zhang Zhenren. “Why did you think I could help you?”

Little Zhang Zhenren said, “Brother Zhuang is a few years my senior and has far more experience in the jianghu — so I thought you might have some wisdom to offer.”

Zhuang Wudi let out a sigh. “If I had that kind of skill, would this manor still be missing a general’s wife?”

Little Zhang Zhenren thought about it. That did seem a rather sound argument.

The two sat down over tea. Zhuang Wudi truly had nothing in the way of experience to pass on.

After thinking it over, Zhuang Wudi tentatively asked, “If you’re looking to marry and have children — that is a serious matter and should not be rushed. You need to understand the person well, know their background thoroughly. But if you’re simply feeling lonely and restless…”

He got up, walked to his writing desk, pulled open a drawer, and took out a sheet of paper. He came back and handed it to Little Zhang Zhenren.

“I happen to have a list here…”

Little Zhang Zhenren instinctively took it and looked — it was basically the same as what Yu Jiuling had given him.

Except this list had more locations on it than Brother Zhuang’s version. Evidently Yu Jiuling had added to it later.

“Surely… this was written by Old Ninth Sister and given to Brother Zhuang.”

Zhuang Wudi heard this and paused. “He gave you one too?”

Little Zhang Zhenren produced his own copy and held it out. “Here, Brother Zhuang — have a look.”

Zhuang Wudi took it and compared the two, then sighed. “That Ninth Sister — said he’d only given one to me… Well, since you already have a copy, there’s no need to take mine.”

Little Zhang Zhenren saw that Brother Zhuang had no answers either and rose to take his leave.

“Wait.”

Zhuang Wudi stopped him, looking as though he wanted to say something but hesitated. Little Zhang Zhenren asked, “Is there something else, Brother Zhuang?”

Zhuang Wudi deliberated a moment, then reached out his hand. “Give me your copy of the list. I’ll add the places that aren’t on mine…”

Little Zhang Zhenren simply handed it over. “Brother Zhuang, you keep it.”

Zhuang Wudi: “Are you really sure you don’t need it?”

Little Zhang Zhenren thought about it — a man should always keep his options open. He reconsidered. “Actually, perhaps write your own copy.”

Leaving Zhuang Wudi’s manor, Little Zhang Zhenren found himself troubled again. Chang’an was so vast, and he had so many friends — yet when the moment came, he couldn’t find a single person to help.

He thought: if only Peng Shiqi were here — that fellow had quite a wealth of jianghu experience.

Just then, a thought struck Little Zhang Zhenren — he recalled the saying within books lies a house of gold; within books lies a face like jade…

If worldly-experienced men couldn’t help him, why not seek out someone deeply learned in books? Perhaps they could offer some enlightenment.

So Little Zhang Zhenren made his way toward Yan Xiansheng’s residence. He arrived and inquired, only to learn that Yan Xiansheng was in the palace in conference with His Majesty and would not be back for some time. Little Zhang Zhenren had no choice but to take his leave.

Just then, coming the other way, he spotted Gao Zhen, who was out with his personal guards making purchases. Gao Zhen would soon be leaving Chang’an to lead troops to the Southern Frontier, and was making all his necessary preparations before departure.

Seeing Little Zhang Zhenren walking toward him with his head bowed, lost in thought and looking thoroughly downcast, Gao Zhen laughed and went over to meet him.

Gao Zhen asked, “What’s the matter with Little Zhenren? You look quite troubled.”

Little Zhang Zhenren said, “My master scorned me for having no young woman fond of me, and gave me quite a dressing-down. I’ve come out looking for friends to ask — is there any way to make a young woman fond of you?”

“Fond of you?”

Gao Zhen said, “What’s so difficult about that? Come with me — I’ll go home and fetch something for you. With this treasure in hand, you’ll definitely have women who grow fond of you.”

Little Zhang Zhenren brightened. “What treasure?”

Gao Zhen: “Come home with me and you’ll find out.”

Little Zhang Zhenren followed a few steps, then stopped abruptly. “It’s not some kind of list that Yu Jiuling gave you, is it.”

Gao Zhen: “How did you know!”

Little Zhang Zhenren let out a sigh and produced the list, giving it a wave. “He gave me one too.”

Gao Zhen said, “With something like this in hand, you’re still afraid no woman will take a liking to you?”

Little Zhang Zhenren suddenly understood — he was looking for a young woman he liked; Gao Zhen was rather more focused on the part about who takes a liking to you.

So he gave Gao Zhen a sideways glance, clasped his hands in farewell, and turned to leave.

Gao Zhen watched Little Zhang Zhenren’s retreating figure and murmured to himself, “Little Zhenren, Little Zhenren — you are still so young…”

The more Little Zhang Zhenren failed to find anyone to help him, the more he felt that not one of these people was reliable.

Was it that in all the world, only His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress possessed that kind of pure and genuine affection?

With this thought, Little Zhang Zhenren suddenly had an idea. If only His Majesty and Her Majesty had such pure feelings, then why not simply go and ask His Majesty directly?

And so Little Zhang Zhenren set off toward the Weiyang Palace, his pace growing quicker with every step.

Inside the Weiyang Palace.

Li Chi listened as Yan Xiansheng finished his report on the progress of establishing public schools across the various regions, then rose and paced back and forth inside the room.

“Great Ning has only just been founded, and the treasury is still not well-stocked. The road construction projects heading to the northern and western frontiers already account for the treasury’s largest expenditure.”

Li Chi said, “If we leave everything to the local government offices, they too are in a difficult position. I have already declared tax reductions and exemptions on grain throughout the regions — the local offices likely cannot contribute much silver either…”

The public schools Li Chi intended to establish were tuition-free — making them a pure expenditure with no financial returns whatsoever.

Of course, establishing public schools was never about making money. The greatest return lay years and decades in the future: Great Ning brimming with talented people.

“Funds are truly lacking at present.”

Yan Xiansheng said, “Perhaps, for the time being, we might slow down somewhat — try to establish county-level schools first, and push the township and village schools back a while.”

Li Chi shook his head. “County schools are not the foundation — township and village schools are. Furthermore, if every plan begins with ‘put it off a while,’ most things end up not getting done properly.”

Yan Xiansheng said, “The treasury truly cannot produce more silver in the foreseeable three to five years.”

Li Chi sighed. “If there’s truly no other way — shall we ask Cao Lie to come and discuss?”

Yan Xiansheng let out a laugh before he could stop himself.

It was indeed wrong to laugh at so serious a matter — but he simply couldn’t help it. Imagining Cao Lie’s expression when he arrived and heard His Majesty explain the situation — Yan Xiansheng could already picture it.

Just then, an attendant entered and bowed. “Your Majesty — Shen Ruhan of the Shen Medical Hall requests an audience. She is waiting at the palace gate.”

Li Chi said, “Invite her in at once.”

That Shen Ruhan had come at this moment was unlikely to be coincidence. Li Chi couldn’t help glancing at Yan Xiansheng.

Yan Xiansheng bowed. “When I visited the Shen Medical Hall a few days ago, I did speak of this matter to Shen Ruhan.”

Li Chi said, “The Shen Medical Hall has contributed enormously over all these years. Now wanting to draw more silver from them — I confess I feel some guilt.”

Yan Xiansheng snorted a laugh again.

Li Chi: “What are you laughing at, Xiansheng?”

Yan Xiansheng said, “If Cao Lie were present, he would probably be wondering — he and Shen Ruhan have both contributed enormously over the years. How is there such a difference in how they’re treated?”

Li Chi snorted a laugh as well.

Shortly, Shen Ruhan entered the imperial study. She had never been one for roundabout speech, so she explained her thoughts to Li Chi directly.

Silver — the Shen Medical Hall could provide a substantial sum, to be treated as a government loan, interest-free.

In exchange, the court would simply continue to purchase all its medicinal materials from the Shen Medical Hall going forward. When the treasury recovered, the loan could be repaid.

Li Chi was of course pleased. The silver from the Shen Medical Hall would not be enough to smoothly establish public schools across all of Great Ning — but it was enough to relieve the most pressing need.

As they were talking, an attendant entered again to report that Little Zhang Zhenren requested an audience.

Li Chi had someone invite Little Zhang Zhenren in — he was curious what the fellow had come for.

One glance told Li Chi that Little Zhang Zhenren was carrying a knot of worry on his face. He thought to himself: even such a charming little round fellow must have his troubles.

“Your Majesty — I have come to seek guidance.”

Little Zhang Zhenren bowed.

Li Chi waved him off. “Hold your question for a moment. Let me first speak of something I need your help with — shall I?”

Little Zhang Zhenren said immediately, “Your Majesty, please command me.”

Li Chi said, “I intend to establish public schools throughout Great Ning and am short of funds. You have considerable reputation among the wealthy households — I hadn’t thought of this until just now, but the moment I heard you had arrived, the idea came to me. You could approach those wealthy households and propose that those who contribute money to fund schools may have the school named after them.”

Little Zhang Zhenren: “I will see to it, Your Majesty.”

Li Chi smiled. “Now — what is it you wanted to ask me?”

Little Zhang Zhenren suddenly felt embarrassed. Perhaps because Shen Ruhan was present, he found he could not bring himself to say it.

So he shook his head. “It’s nothing, never mind…”

—