The events in Jizhou City swept through the streets and alleys of the city in an instant, like a great whirlwind. The common people knew only that Jizhou Prefecture had made arrests and was handling a case — they did not know that Prince Yu had sat for over an hour in the study of Jizhou’s prefectural administrator.

Compared to the turbulence on the streets, that hour of silent sitting was the true raging of an oceanic storm.

During that hour, Prince Yu had not spoken more than five sentences from beginning to end. Even so, the pressure he brought to bear on Lian Gongming was like a ten-thousand-foot mountain crashing down upon his head.

This was the imperial family.

The military commissioner had long wished to push Lian Gongming down a peg or two, but had never found a suitable opportunity. This time, Lian Gongming had delivered the opportunity himself.

Is there anyone in this world who can expand without limit?

Hearing that question, ordinary people might think of Lian Gongming — after all, he was Jizhou’s parent official. But then they would think of the military commissioner: could he expand without limit? And then of His Majesty the Emperor: could even the emperor expand without limit?

A local official who expands like Lian Gongming loses the hearts of the people and may lose his life. An emperor who expands like the current one loses not merely the hearts of the local people, but the hearts of all of Dachu’s people — and stands to lose not just his life, but the entire dynasty.

From this one can see that it is not the case that those of higher status can expand more freely. An ordinary person who puffs up a little may have little to gain or lose.

How arduous it had been when Dachu’s founding emperor conquered the realm — facing enemies on every side, including the iron cavalry of the Mongol Empire that had swept all before it. And how easy it would be to lose that realm: all it would take would be three or four unworthy descendants.

After this incident, Lian Gongming had lost nearly all of his subordinates. The people he had relied on for years were in prison, and they could not be given light sentences — if they were, Prince Yu could inform the Internal Affairs Bureau at any time.

The authority of the Internal Affairs Bureau was boundless. Since this matter involved Prince Yu, the Bureau could take the case over entirely and, on the charge of oppressing imperial family members alone, make Lian Gongming’s existence a living torment, neither human nor ghost.

And in reality, would Lian Gongming’s so-called backer — the powerful eunuch Liu Chongxin, whom he liked to boast about — actually offend the Internal Affairs Bureau on his behalf? Liu Chongxin might not be afraid of offending the Criminal Records Bureau, but he would certainly not lightly offend the Internal Affairs Bureau. Any fool knew that.

However great Liu Chongxin’s power, it rested on imperial authority. If Liu Chongxin learned that Lian Gongming had provoked Prince Yu, the people from his own Surveillance Bureau might arrive before the Internal Affairs Bureau even had a chance to act.

This bitter lesson — Lian Gongming had no choice but to swallow it. He could not spit it back out.

The Four Page Academy.

In the headmaster’s study, Li Diudiu, Xiahou Zuo, and Yan Qingzhi stood obediently side by side listening to Headmaster Gao speak.

“Though the matter has passed, certain complications remain unavoidable.”

Gao Shaowei cleared his throat and looked at Xiahou Zuo: “You — I am not worried about.”

Xiahou Zuo gave a slightly awkward smile. He did not feel this was any source of pride. That smile carried a faint, bitter edge — the feeling of being once again set apart and excluded.

Had it not always been this way? He had always been the one who was excluded.

“Xiahou Zuo will stay in the academy and recuperate properly. But…”

He looked at Yan Qingzhi: “Your disciple went out without permission. Were you aware of this?”

Yan Qingzhi shook his head: “This student was unaware.”

In truth, how could he not have known? Li Diudiu and Gao Xining going out to sell candy — he had known all about it. But to say he was unaware was negligence; to say he knew was to say he had condoned it.

Clearly, Gao Shaowei also did not wish to make this matter too explicit, since it involved his own granddaughter — so he let it rest at this.

“Some things are not as simple as you imagine. You think the matter is over — but only Xiahou Zuo’s matter is over.”

Gao Shaowei’s expression carried some irritation. It was not just because Li Chi had left the academy without permission and tried his hand at doing business; not just because Li Chi had dragged along his beloved granddaughter Gao Xining; more importantly, it was because Li Chi had naively believed that because Xiahou Zuo’s matter was resolved, his own was resolved as well.

Lian Gongming did not dare touch Xiahou Zuo — but did that mean he did not dare touch Li Chi?

Far too naive.

As long as Lian Gongming wished to, he could quietly do away with both Li Chi and Yan Qingzhi in secret. The academy would be powerless to stop it, and Prince Yu would not concern himself further either — because the effect Prince Yu wanted had already been achieved.

There is no action without benefit.

If Lian Gongming’s retaliation were limited to the child Li Chi, would Prince Yu truly come out against Lian Gongming over a relationship between Li Chi and Xiahou Zuo? That was not possible.

Of course, Gao Shaowei also had his private reasons — he was unwilling to let Li Chi have too much further contact with his granddaughter. Li Chi and his granddaughter were simply not from the same world. Too much association would benefit neither of them.

He did not want his granddaughter to grow into a wild girl. He never had, and he never would.

Yan Qingzhi bowed his head: “This student understands his error.”

Gao Shaowei looked at Li Diudiu and said: “What you did during these past days when you went out without permission — I will not pursue it further. But you should not remain at the academy for now either… A good friend of mine recently sent someone asking me to help locate a volume of an ancient text. I have found it. Yan Qingzhi — take Li Chi on a trip to Tang County.”

His gaze shifted to Yan Qingzhi. “Master Yuming — you know him.”

Yan Qingzhi bowed: “This student knows of him.”

Gao Shaowei continued: “The two of you will go on my behalf to deliver this set of books to Tang County’s Gui’an Mountain Estate for Master Yuming. The round trip should take about ten days. Go to the accounts office presently to collect travel expenses for the journey.”

Yan Qingzhi frowned and asked: “Headmaster, this student can make this trip alone — there is no need to bring Li Chi.”

Gao Shaowei said: “Reading ten thousand books is inferior to traveling ten thousand li — both benefit one’s learning. And Master Yuming possesses unparalleled talent. Is there something wrong with you going to meet him?”

Yan Qingzhi said: “Li Chi has injuries.”

Gao Shaowei said: “He was well enough to go out of the academy and engage in… other activities. Is he not well enough to make a trip to Tang County?”

Yan Qingzhi was about to say more when Li Diudiu pulled at his sleeve and bowed: “This disciple accepts the order.”

Yan Qingzhi let out a sigh, pulled Li Chi as well, and said: “Let’s go.”

The two of them gave Gao Shaowei their respects and turned to leave.

Xiahou Zuo did not leave. He regarded Gao Shaowei with unhurried interest. Gao Shaowei felt somewhat uncomfortable under that gaze — at first he held it, looking back a few times, but after a moment of meeting Xiahou Zuo’s eyes, his own gaze began to falter.

“I had thought that a man bearing the title of great Confucian of the age, founder of the Four Page Academy, would possess a character that other scholars had already lost.”

Xiahou Zuo shrugged. “Just now I finally understood: in this world, those scholars who have achieved rank and position — not a single one of them rose through character. I was wrong. This world has been wrong.”

He smiled — and that smile fell like a slap across Gao Shaowei’s face.

“What do you know!” Gao Shaowei said angrily. “I am the headmaster of this academy — can I really spend every day attending to just one or two people? There are over a thousand disciples in this academy to look after, along with the academy’s reputation, the academy’s order, the academy’s future. Have you considered any of that?”

Xiahou Zuo had already turned to leave, but glanced back: “Fortunately, I have never considered such things. Otherwise I would have become someone like you.”

Gao Shaowei trembled with fury — yet he was unwilling to get into any argument with someone like Xiahou Zuo.

“You see? You are still being cautious and calculating.”

Xiahou Zuo said mockingly: “Because I am Xiahou Zuo, you dare not even curse at me freely. What you are thinking is that you cannot afford to offend my father’s side. But if you replaced me with Li Chi — you would have already been cursing him at the top of your voice, would you not?”

He gave a cold huff and turned to leave.

Gao Shaowei was so incensed his face had gone white, his chest fully clenched, as though his very breath were being blocked. Only after a long moment did he slowly settle back into his chair, a trace of bewilderment creeping into his eyes.

*”Not a single scholar has ever risen through character.”*

He repeated Xiahou Zuo’s words, and the bewilderment in his eyes grew deeper and deeper.

In Yan Qingzhi’s small courtyard, Li Diudiu packed his things and said: “We still have twenty-odd days of the farming recess. I’ve heard that the scenery around Tang County is extraordinary — it will be a good chance to walk around and clear my head.”

Yan Qingzhi said: “You need not persuade me. Are you telling me your own heart is at ease?”

Li Diudiu smiled: “What is there to be uneasy about? You should know, Master — before I entered the academy, I roamed the jianghu. I have encountered this sort of thing far too many times.”

A faint ache passed through Yan Qingzhi’s chest.

He looked at Li Diudiu and said: “You are right. Let us treat it as a trip to enjoy the mountains and rivers… In a moment, come with me to see your master — we will bring him along too. I went to Tang County once several years ago. The small fish from the mountain streams there are a delicacy among delicacies, and the mountain mushrooms from the forests — if you are lucky enough to catch a mountain chicken and stew it, that is even more satisfying.”

Li Diudiu grinned: “The way you describe it, Master, I want to set out this instant.”

Just then, Xiahou Zuo sauntered in. He glanced at Li Chi and said: “Foolish boy — pack up my things too.”

Li Diudiu was taken aback. “You’re coming too?”

Xiahou Zuo said: “You’re going on the academy’s budget; I’m going on my own coin. Since when does that need your permission?”

Yan Qingzhi’s lips curved up slightly — one of his rare moments of warmth toward Xiahou Zuo.

Yan Qingzhi and Li Diudiu both understood clearly: Xiahou Zuo was genuinely worried about them. With him along, if Lian Gongming really did send someone to act, they would think twice — as long as Xiahou Zuo was present, no one would dare move recklessly.

Li Diudiu said nonetheless: “Your injuries are not suitable for travel.”

Xiahou Zuo said: “Do you know what the most powerful thing in this world is?”

Li Diudiu thought about it, then shook his head. “What is it?”

Xiahou Zuo grinned: “Silver… I have no shortage of silver — am I going to let myself suffer? In a while, we’ll hire the best carriage available, hire the best driver, lay down a thick cushion, and glide along gently through the mountain breeze, then sleep soundly. Wouldn’t you say that’s a fine thing?”

Li Diudiu thought for a moment and said: “You… you invited yourself along, which makes you the errand boy. And an errand boy needs to understand his place. Gliding through mountain breezes and sleeping soundly — an errand boy doesn’t get those privileges.”

Xiahou Zuo: “You really want to test me? I’ll hire two carriages, keep my food and drink separate from yours. You spend your travel money on your lodging and meals, and I’ll spend mine on mine. And don’t you come sponging off me.”

Li Diudiu said: “Then why hire two carriages? Can’t you just ignore us?”

Xiahou Zuo was taken aback, then spat: “Get lost…”

Yan Qingzhi burst out laughing.

These three fellows — they were an interesting lot.

Birds of a feather flock together.

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