Right now, a farmer was sitting at the Yun family gate, looking extremely miserable. His clothes were torn to shreds all over, his thighs and buttocks covered in bloodstains. He leaned against the Yun family’s stone lion, his breath weak and fading.

What was going on? Yun Ye, who had just rushed back from Chang’an, was very puzzled. The Yun family had never bullied farmers in all these years—how could something happen today?

Seeing Old Qian squatting in front of that person speaking in a low voice, it appeared he was already handling it. Since Steward Qian had taken charge, there was no reason for Yun Ye to inquire further. He dismounted and went directly home through the side gate.

As soon as he entered, he discovered Yun Mu pressed against the door crack looking outside. Seeing her father return, she immediately ran over, sobbing and sniffling as she told her father the whole story from beginning to end.

As expected, it was Yun Mu’s Wang Cai who had caused trouble. Tibetan mastiffs were actually quite stupid. Why did they only recognize one master? The reason was that their brains couldn’t process so many complex relationships. Coming from the sparsely populated grasslands to prosperous Chang’an, they hadn’t adapted in such a short time. Someone had looked at Yun Mu fondly and glanced at her one more time. As a result, Wang Cai flew into a rage. If not for the little girl’s efforts to restrain him, the person outside the gate would definitely have lost his life.

Since it was an accidental injury, there was no problem—it was just a matter of compensating with some money. Old Qian would handle it well. Yun Ye dragged his daughter outside the gate and cupped his hands to the farmer, saying: “My family’s fierce dog was not properly tied up. Now having injured someone first, the fault lies with the Yun family. Rest assured, all medicinal expenses will be paid by the Yun family. During the time you’re recovering from your injuries and losing income from your household, report everything and the steward will handle it, naturally giving you an explanation. Since it was my young daughter’s mistake, I, as her father, apologize to you.”

By rights, Yun Ye, a grand marquis, had already apologized and promised compensation. This matter should be concluded. Who could have imagined that the development of events would completely exceed Yun Ye’s expectations?

Early the next morning, over ten people wearing mourning clothes and carrying spirit banners carried a dead person and blocked the Yun family gate. An elderly woman kept trying to crash into the stone lion, saying that with her son dead, there was no point in her living—better to be bitten to death by the Yun family’s big dog too. Others couldn’t hold her back no matter how they tried.

“Old Qian, when you sent him back yesterday, what did the physician say?” Yun Ye sat in the great hall asking Steward Qian who was waiting at the side. However you looked at that person yesterday, he didn’t seem like he was going to die—how could he expire overnight?

“My lord, the estate’s physician examined him yesterday. The injuries really weren’t serious—mostly superficial wounds. He was just quite frightened. By rights, there was no reason for him to die. Yesterday, this old servant compensated him with ten silver coins in front of the villagers. Tao Sibao himself was quite satisfied and kept saying he’d made a profit.”

“Then let the authorities handle it. Have the estate’s physician go examine why he died. I always feel something’s not right about this matter. The estate’s security must be strengthened these days. If those people outside can be appeased with money, use money to appease them. Continuing like this does the Yun family no good whatsoever.”

Old Qian nodded and went out to handle matters. Na Rimu led the little girl out from the inner room in distress. Seeing that the little girl was quite frightened, Yun Ye frowned and said to Xinyue who followed behind: “A dog bit someone—how did you blame the child? What does a four-year-old child understand? Look how frightened the child is. Since the matter occurred, then resolve the matter. I won’t allow you to punish my daughter anymore.”

Yun Ye held Yun Mu in his arms. Seeing the child kept covering her bottom, he lifted her little skirt and pulled down her short pants to look. He discovered two red palm prints on her little bottom. This made him angry. He glared fiercely at Xinyue and Na Rimu, then carried Yun Mu to the bedroom to apply medicinal wine to the child.

Having Yun Baobao and Yun Mu sit on the soft couch, Yun Ye was very interested in teaching the two children the “Three Character Classic.” He recited a line, the children followed with a line. Before a quarter hour, Yun Mu had already memorized nine lines—a very intelligent child. Yun Baobao was still a bit inferior. The entire morning, no one dared disturb their father and children in the study. Xinyue and Na Rimu hid far away, ordering Xiao Lingdang to deliver water once and snacks twice to the study.

When it was time for lunch, Old Qian returned. As soon as he entered, he said: “My lord, that family just wanted some silver coins—they had no other intention. The physician said that person died from fright convulsions, nothing suspicious. This old servant compensated that old woman with one hundred silver coins, which should settle the matter.”

Yun Ye was very satisfied. Now was a troubled time—as long as matters could be smoothed over, that was good. The Yun family living peacefully and steadily was better than anything.

In the afternoon when leaving for the Academy, sure enough he didn’t see that family. Old Qian’s speed at settling matters was still quite good. He brought both children—going to the Academy, the father and two children could play for a whole day. He couldn’t stand seeing those women at home for the past couple days.

Wang Cai pulled the light carriage running briskly over the ground covered with fallen leaves. The dog Wang Cai wearing a muzzle ran behind, but always liked to run to tree roots to take a piss, marking his territory.

Seeing the two children happily sitting in the carriage, he simply decided not to go to the Academy. Following along Dongyang River, they jogged slowly. Having just entered October, locust tree leaves were already falling in profusion with the wind. On the muddy paths on both sides of the stone-paved road, there were always scholars in blue robes holding scrolls, walking alone under falling leaves, either sighing at heaven or pondering with lowered heads. Solitary and alone, stirring countless autumn thoughts.

“Father, what are those big brothers doing? Look, that person just secretly kicked the big tree.” Yun Baobao had sharp eyes and immediately discovered the mystery.

“They’re actually not reading—they’re putting on a show for the young ladies on the other side of the river. That one who kicked the tree thinks not enough leaves are falling to express autumn melancholy, so he kicked the tree. They’re all fools—you mustn’t learn from them.”

Ever since the Academy stipulated that the left side of Dongyang River was where men relaxed and the right side of Dongyang River was the play area for women, the Dongyang River, less than ten zhang wide, was dubbed the Milky Way by them. Gongshu Mu, to show off that his bridge-building skills were not inferior to his ancestor’s, specially built an arched bridge with stones over Dongyang River. The main span in the middle far exceeded the span of Li Chun’s Zhaozhou Bridge. For this, the Gongshu family specially went to find the historiographer, wanting to have this matter recorded in the annals. The result—they were scolded out without any face given.

Zhaozhou Bridge was built to facilitate the passage of common people on both sides of the river. Your Dongyang Bridge was built purely for aesthetics. The significance of these two was vastly different. Even if you built a bridge longer than a rainbow, it was completely useless, purely wasting money.

Yun Ye didn’t care about these things. Dongyang Bridge was indeed built beautifully, like a rainbow lying across the waves. It had already been acclaimed as the most beautiful scenery on Dongyang River. Driving the carriage onto Dongyang Bridge, when he reached the middle, he was stopped. A burly woman loudly shouted: “Another scoundrel! You think bringing two good-looking children will let you sneak through? The right side is for young ladies—you can’t go over. Driving a carriage to show off wealth—let me tell you, the day before yesterday someone gave me copper coins and I didn’t accept. A whole four copper coins! This old woman didn’t take a fancy to them.”

These words made Yun Ye nearly smoke from all seven orifices with anger. For nothing he was scolded as a scoundrel, yet he couldn’t retort. He could only turn the horse’s head around and say resentfully to the woman: “I’ll dismiss you tomorrow when I return!”

The woman’s acerbic words could still be clearly heard across more than thirty zhang. The two children lay on the seat watching that woman jump about cursing, giggling with laughter.

“Two little fools—does your father being scolded make you so happy?” Yun Ye lightly patted their little bottoms.

“A grand marquis being scolded by an ignorant rustic village woman is indeed something worth being happy about. Marquis Yun, since ancient times when village women revile marquises without being punished, it only happens when a sage sits on the throne. Only people of high moral character will cherish their reputation and not stoop to the level of village women. Observing Marquis Yun’s bearing today is truly admirable.”

An abrupt voice came over. Yun Ye looked toward the sound and saw an elderly man in plain clothes standing under a weeping willow, with thorns binding his hair, wearing a gray hemp robe. However, his face was ugly—long face, protruding forehead, high cheekbones. This kind of appearance was what people commonly called an extraordinary appearance—hermits and recluses looked like this.

Yun Ye stopped the carriage and cupped his hands asking: “Hearing your elegant speech, sir, you must be an extraordinary person and eminent scholar unknown to Yun Ye. May I ask your great name?”

“Hahaha, this old man hasn’t emerged from seclusion for so long that he’s already forgotten his name. Let this old man think—right, it seems to be called Yao Silian. You can call me ‘Want Death Face,’ meaning ‘dead set on saving face,’ hahaha.”

Hearing his name, Yun Ye could no longer remain calm. A person who had closed his doors and stopped going out to specialize in scholarship after Li Er became emperor. A person who, in the early Zhenguan period, began writing biographical chronicles, roughly completing thirty volumes—this was the only time during the Wude and Zhenguan reigns that a biographical chronicle of national history was completed. Who could record the secrets of the current dynasty? Only Yao Silian.

This was a true scholar. Both the “Book of Liang” and “Book of Chen” were his works. Previously Li Gang had invited Yao Silian to emerge from seclusion to teach national history, but he had politely declined. Who would have thought they would meet today on the bank of Dongyang River? Could it be that the old gentleman was preparing to emerge from seclusion?

“For Mister Jianzhi to come to Yushan is truly rare. This junior presumptuously invites you to the Academy for a cup of clear tea—how about it?”

“A cup of clear tea is not enough. This old man arrived at Yushan at sunrise and until now hasn’t had a grain of rice, my belly hungry and roaring like thunder. I’ve heard that the Academy’s red-braised pork is a rare delicacy that must be tasted.” After speaking, he got on the carriage himself and picked up Yun Baobao, constantly teasing him.

From the first moment he saw Yao Silian, Yun Ye liked this humorous old man. He and Xu Jingzong were both among the Eighteen Scholars, but their character and morals differed too greatly.

Arriving at the Academy, they went directly to the Academy’s kitchen. Unfortunately, their lunch had already been eaten—only some unsold leftovers remained. Yao Silian didn’t mind at all and had the cook heat it up for him, then ate heartily. Mapo tofu mixed with red-braised pork—the taste definitely couldn’t be good, yet who knew that Yao Silian ate with relish, praising it endlessly. Good heavens, what did this great Confucian scholar normally eat? Pig slop?