Chengcai was beaten to death with clubs. By the time it was over, he was no more than a pulped mass. Every member of the Xu household stood in the courtyard watching, one and all pale with fright.

Xu Qinglin was forbidden from eating dinner and spent the evening in his room in solitary reflection.

Shortly after Xu Sheng returned from Prince Yu’s residence, the Xu family patriarch — the old lord himself — came in person. In the past, when matters arose, he had always sent someone to summon Xu Sheng. This time the old lord came himself, which told the entire household how seriously the family had been shaken by the affair.

Xu Sheng knelt on the floor, kowtowing as he spoke: “Grandfather, it is this grandson who failed to raise his son properly. Whatever consequences follow from this matter, this one household will bear them alone. I will not allow the whole Xu family to be implicated.”

The old lord was nearly a hundred years old, yet his eyes and ears were sharp, his white hair full, and his spirit vigorous.

“It’s nothing serious.”

The old lord smiled and said: “You see me come in person and think I’m furious, don’t you? You panicked. I’m not angry.”

He looked at Xu Sheng and said: “A man who doesn’t know how to handle things sees every situation as one good side and one bad side. A man who does know how to handle things makes both sides good. I have always believed you are a man who knows how to handle things. Today has confirmed it.”

The old lord said: “Think about it. If we had suddenly gone to Prince Yu to declare our loyalty out of the blue, it would have seemed stiff and forced — and our mercenary motives would have been too nakedly obvious. We would have lost face as well.”

He looked at Xu Sheng: “You understand this clearly — why did Prince Yu refrain from launching a loud public investigation of the Yiji Hall case? He was waiting for you to come to him.”

The old lord said: “I came to put your mind at ease. Your family paid out one hundred thousand taels — consider that the family’s contribution. I’ll have the sum reimbursed to you.”

Then the old lord rose and glanced toward the study: “As for Qinglin — he needs to be properly disciplined. With that kind of character and temperament, he will never accomplish great things.”

Xu Sheng’s heart clenched painfully. The old lord’s words had just cost Qinglin more than half his future prospects. The old lord’s authority within the family was beyond question. A single remark about needing to be “disciplined” meant being pressed down — and once pressed down, the fear was that he might never rise again.

There were so many young men in the family lined up waiting for the old lord’s favor. Why would the old lord stake anything on a single Xu Qinglin?

“This grandson understands. I will properly discipline him. Qinglin is actually…”

Before Xu Sheng could finish, the old lord waved a hand: “I know. Don’t worry. I need to rest. As for Prince Yu — because of your one hundred thousand taels, he has placed the Xu family at the very front. Even if others donate more afterward, we will still hold that position.”

With that the old lord left, and Xu Sheng was finally able to breathe somewhat easier.

With the old lord’s depth of experience, if he said there was no problem, then there was no problem. And thinking about it further — Prince Yu intended to transform his house into a dynasty. What he needed most right now was the open commitment of Jizhou’s great families. And commitment spoken in words was worthless. Real gold and silver had to be produced. Who came first, and who gave the most, would naturally carry the greatest weight in Prince Yu’s heart.

But because of all this, the Xu family had paid out one hundred thousand taels — and his son’s prospects might yet be suppressed on the old lord’s word alone. The money was one thing; his son’s future was everything.

Even if the old lord said the family would reimburse the one hundred thousand taels, that money wasn’t his — it was the family’s. And whatever the family gained in return for it, it was the family as a whole that would benefit. What would actually reach his own hands?

This was essentially trading his son Xu Qinglin’s prospects to buy a future for the Xu family.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

And especially now, with his wife weeping and wailing beside him, his irritation only mounted.

“Stop crying!”

Xu Sheng shot his wife a sharp look and said: “Didn’t the old lord say nothing would come of it? Qinglin will be fine too. I’ll do more to cultivate the relationship with Prince Yu from now on. Qinglin’s situation will remain as it was.”

His wife said reproachfully: “Do you really think I’m a fool? The other branches of the family are all watching. Once something goes wrong for Qinglin, every one of them will be eager to push him down further. Only by stepping on Qinglin can the lesser sons of the other branches climb above him.”

Xu Sheng snapped: “You think I don’t know what you’re telling me? Do you think I haven’t thought of this and more? What do you expect me to do about it now? If I hadn’t gotten ahead of things by donating that hundred thousand taels, do you think the old lord would have taken the attitude he showed today? Forget Qinglin — both you and I would have been dealt with by the old lord!”

His wife shrank back, not daring to say more, though still unable to stop crying.

“My lord, what are we going to do — if Qinglin can’t get ahead, isn’t our whole family ruined?”

She leaned closer and dropped her voice: “It can’t be that Qinglin loses his future while that wild bastard Li Chi just keeps living better and better. I can’t swallow this.”

Xu Sheng let out a long exhale and nodded. “I know. You don’t need to tell me. I was just thinking about it. One hundred thousand taels, the full backing of a great family — if that still can’t buy that wild bastard’s life, then we are getting the worst of this bargain.”

He looked at his wife and said: “I’ve already given Prince Yu what he wants. If Prince Yu judges that the Xu family is worth more to him than one Li Chi, he should have no further interest in looking into it. What concerns me now is Xiahou Zuo — how to work around him…”

He paused, then continued: “Xiahou Zuo protects Li Chi far too well. If we provoke him too, Prince Yu won’t grow angry on Li Chi’s behalf — but he will grow angry on Xiahou Zuo’s behalf. This is not a simple matter.”

He leaned back and closed his eyes, murmuring to himself: “We need a plan to get Li Chi killed outside Jizhou City — and it must have no trace leading back to this family. Not even the faintest connection.”

About the time it takes to burn a stick of incense passed. Then his eyes snapped open and he looked at his wife: “A few days ago, didn’t I take in a guest — a disciple of Master Yuming — who came looking for refuge?”

“Yes, my lord.”

His wife said: “After Master Yuming fell from grace, he came and sought shelter. His father and you were classmates once, so you felt soft-hearted and took him in. I even argued with you about it at the time.”

Xu Sheng asked: “Where is he now?”

His wife said somewhat sheepishly: “I… I had him put to work in the back courtyard — chopping wood and tending horses. My lord, I was thinking of your safety. If someone found out…”

“Never mind that!”

Xu Sheng rose: “As long as the man is still here, that’s what matters. Go fetch him.”

His wife nodded quickly: “I’ll send someone to find him right away.”

—

The next day. Four-Page Academy.

Li Diudiu was feeding the divine falcon and the dog when Gao Yuanzhang came strolling over with his hands clasped behind his back — and, surprisingly, Yan the Scholar was with him. Yan the Scholar had returned to the academy at the same time as Li Diudiu and had gone to his small courtyard to tidy up, but had somehow ended up coming over alongside Gao Yuanzhang.

Li Diudiu immediately straightened up and bowed: “This student greets the Dean.”

Gao Yuanzhang’s face was cold and distant. He seemed to regard Li Diudiu with nothing but distaste — it was written plainly across his expression.

Li Diudiu knew it was all because of his closeness with Gao Xining. The Dean’s dislike of him almost certainly meant he thought Li Diudiu wasn’t worthy of her.

Gao Yuanzhang looked at the wild boar and the peregrine falcon and snorted: “Distractions that corrupt one’s ambition!”

Li Diudiu stood bent at the waist and listened, thinking to himself that if the Dean refused to let him keep these two creatures at the academy, he’d bring them home.

“There is a matter…”

Gao Yuanzhang’s tone softened slightly as he said: “Yesterday afternoon, a disciple of Master Yuming — a young man named Gao Liang — came to see me. He has been in hiding these past months and has had a difficult time of it…”

Gao Yuanzhang glanced behind him, confirming no one was within earshot, then continued: “He told me that Master Yuming had a collection of books — including works of his own composition. After Master Yuming’s fall, Gao Liang secretly retrieved these things and hid them in a location in Tang County.”

“He said he didn’t dare travel to Jizhou with that many items outright — afraid of being searched and inspected at the checkpoints — but those writings represent Master Yuming’s life’s work, and it would be a true shame to let them come to ruin.”

Gao Yuanzhang said: “The academy is on holiday now. Most of the instructors are away, and most of the students too. There are still five days until the New Year. Take Yan the Scholar and go to Tang County to retrieve the items. Say they’re goods I’ve purchased — the city gate guards will wave you through. With good speed, the round trip should take no more than three days.”

Li Diudiu said: “This student will see the items returned.”

Gao Yuanzhang nodded, was silent for a moment, and then said: “Master Yuming had the talent to govern the world. The books he wrote are worth your time to read.”

Then he turned and left.

Li Diudiu looked at Yan the Scholar: “This all came up so suddenly, didn’t it?”

Yan the Scholar shrugged: “That Gao Liang — I’m trying to recall. We may actually have met him before. Back in Tang County, Master Yuming really did instruct him to go back and find a way to retrieve those books.”

Li Diudiu said: “I vaguely remember him too. Thin and tall, looked like he couldn’t hurt a fly. Though if I recall correctly, it wasn’t Master Yuming who asked him to go — he volunteered to do it himself.”

Yan the Scholar shook his head: “Can’t remember the details clearly. But the matter itself did happen.”

Li Diudiu gave a sound of agreement: “So we set out first thing tomorrow? If all goes well, we could be back by the twenty-ninth, with time to spare for the New Year.”

Yan the Scholar asked: “Should we let Xiahou know?”

Li Diudiu thought it over: “Probably a good idea. Last night we went to his place for dinner and had no idea Prince Yu would be there — luckily we spotted his carriage in time and avoided the awkwardness. Meeting an elder over the New Year like that… would you offer a gift? And if they gave one, do you take it or not? Just thinking about it is stressful enough.”

Yan the Scholar: “…”

Li Diudiu smiled and continued: “It looks like Prince Yu may be staying at Xiahou’s home for a few days — probably planning to keep him company through the New Year. Let’s just tell Xiahou and leave him out of it. Let him spend these days properly with his family.”

Yan the Scholar nodded: “That works.”

He paused, then added: “Bring your weapons.”

Li Diudiu gave a sound of agreement: “Better safe than sorry.”

Yan the Scholar thought again, then added one more thing: “Bring Zhuang Wudi.”

Li Diudiu smiled: “Done.”

—