295 AD

Dragon General Wang Kai’s banquet had a tremendous impact on Shi Xi. After returning home that time, he inexplicably fell seriously ill. Shi Chong blamed himself greatly and never again mentioned taking him out, instead often telling him about the day’s experiences after coming home.

The Wang family frequently held banquets, and later there was one even more thrilling than the previous one. Wang Kai had developed a new entertainment: he ordered dancing girls to urge guests to drink, and if the guest being urged refused to drink, it meant the dancing girl was not doing her job properly. His estate had no need for dancing girls who didn’t do their jobs properly—they must be executed. The guests being urged to drink, even if they didn’t consider the beauty’s face, had to drink for Dragon General’s sake. But when it was Wang Dun’s turn, he absolutely refused to drink. The beauty urging him to drink was terrified, her face drained of color, tears streaming down her face. Even when several dancing girls were directly executed at the table, Wang Dun remained unmoved.

And Wang Dun finally used several lives to completely make all of Luoyang know his name.

This was Shi Chong’s disdainful evaluation when he returned to relay the events to Shi Xi.

Shi Xi was still young and couldn’t comprehend the envy hidden in his father’s tone.

The musician who had been expelled from the Wang estate settled down in the Shi household. The flute music he played daily was melodious and far-reaching. Shi Xi originally didn’t enjoy flute music, but hearing it every day like this, it had become a habit.

His grandfather was Shi Bao, a founding hero of the Jin Dynasty. When his grandfather passed away, he distributed his wealth among his descendants, but his father Shi Chong didn’t receive a single penny.

Shi Xi already thought their family was quite wealthy, but only after visiting Dragon General Wang Kai’s estate did he understand what a vast difference meant.

However, his father soon began to be promoted.

He was appointed as Southern Commander, Governor of Jingzhou, concurrently holding the position of Southern Barbarian Colonel, with the additional title of Eagle-Soaring General.

Shi Xi didn’t understand how much government business this long string of official titles entailed, but his father came home later and later. Or even when he did come home, he would go to other concubines’ quarters and no longer visit his courtyard. He could barely see his father once or twice a month.

Correspondingly, the Shi family began to become wealthy. The estate began to expand and renovate, other residences were built elsewhere, the mansion filled with decorative ornaments of priceless value given by others, and the delicacies on the dining table increased.

But without his father’s company, Shi Xi felt these delicacies didn’t taste as good as the simple four dishes and one soup from before.

“Young Master, why are you unhappy?” The beautiful flute music stopped, and a pleasant male voice came from under the corridor.

Shi Xi put down his chopsticks, wiped the corners of his mouth with a silk handkerchief, and looked at the empty hall, sighing like a little adult. Because the flute music had ceased and the hall had become quiet, he could actually hear the intermittent sounds of pipes and flutes from other courtyards, making this place seem even more desolate and solemn.

Shi Xi turned his head to look in the direction of the pipe and flute sounds, his small face gloomy. He knew that courtyard belonged to a dancing girl named Lu Zhu, who excelled at performing the “Bright Sovereign Dance,” with skills that topped Luoyang and who was extremely favored by his father.

“Musician, was that Lu Zhu recommended by you?” Shi Xi asked with a tense little face, enunciating each word. Perhaps others wouldn’t have noticed, but he remembered that green bead that had been offered up—he had never actually gotten to hold it. And shortly after, the Shi family had inexplicably acquired a dancing girl named Lu Zhu.

“Reporting to Young Master, this was a transaction between me and the master,” the musician’s voice remained unhurried, without the slightest anger at being exposed. “He wanted incomparable wealth, so I offered Lu Zhu.”

“…Then what did you get in exchange?” Shi Xi didn’t believe it at all. This musician was probably treating him like a child and trying to fool him. Although he really was a child, he wasn’t naive to that extent. If this musician had such tremendous ability, why would he need to be a musician whose life and death were controlled by others?

Of course, it was to exchange for companionship in this lifetime.

The musician said no more, presumably knowing that no matter what he said, this young master of the Shi family wouldn’t take it seriously.

Shi Xi didn’t get angry about this. He was naturally easygoing and took these words as casual jokes. He looked melancholically at the night sky already studded with stars and asked in confusion: “Musician, are fame and profit really so intoxicating to the world?” He couldn’t understand it. But this question wasn’t really seeking an answer from the other person, and he immediately smiled self-mockingly: “Perhaps when I grow up, I’ll understand.”

What answered him was a sigh of extremely complex emotions from under the corridor.

He dreamed of that dynasty again.

The doctor lay in bed recalling—in tonight’s dream, the cute little boy seemed to be in a bad mood.

For several days in a row, he had dreamed of the same dynasty, the same protagonist.

If it were anyone else, dreaming every day of another person’s life would surely lead to mental breakdown or questioning reality. But the doctor somehow adapted very well and even looked forward to what he would dream about. His bedtime had advanced by more than two hours each night, making his sleep schedule particularly healthy. Moreover, he discovered that for some unknown reason, if he slept in the hospital’s on-call room, he couldn’t dream at all—only when sleeping at home could he have these dreams.

This was actually quite nice—free ancient historical dramas every night.

The doctor’s mood had been quite good lately. He had saved a large sum on rent, inexplicably gained a house, and because his surgical success rate met standards, he received a hospital bonus and his base salary had increased significantly.

Deep down, he had the mentality of a petty citizen—having money meant he could buy more delicious food!

The doctor felt his luck had been bursting through the roof lately! On his way somewhere that day, passing by a lottery shop, he was mysteriously compelled to go in and buy a lottery ticket.

But he regretted it immediately after buying it. Placing hope in such minuscule odds was simply not something the wise him would do!

He casually stuffed the lottery ticket into his wallet and put the matter out of his mind, treating it as a contribution to charitable causes.

298 AD

Shi Xi walked expressionlessly across the water pavilion of Golden Valley Garden.

Golden Valley Garden was a villa his father had built over these past few years. Calling it a villa, it was actually a large private garden built by encircling a mountain valley using the terrain of Mount Mang. It utilized natural streams and newly dug waterways that wound down from the mountains around various pavilions and towers. The towers were all filled with beauties of all kinds. At mealtime, lacquer boxes were placed directly in the mountain stream from the peak, allowing the beauties to scoop them up at will. Any lacquer boxes not selected would float downstream to where the Shi family servants lived, providing food for them.

If Wang Kai’s family only played winding stream with floating cups once during banquets in their central pavilion, then the Shi family played it every day.

Shi Chong often invited literati and refined scholars to Golden Valley Garden to compose poetry, feast day and night, immediately overshadowing the Wang family’s banquets and becoming known as the famous Golden Valley Gatherings. It was said that a “Golden Valley Poetry Collection” was even published, with Shi Chong specially writing the preface. Golden Valley Garden was also designated as one of Luoyang’s Ten Scenic Spots, praised by word of mouth.

Shi Xi’s life became even more luxurious, but he was also even less happy. He was ten years old this year and had long since become thoroughly disappointed after repeatedly hoping for his father’s attention. His father had once said proudly that previously he needed to take him out to see the world, but now by simply staying in Golden Valley Garden, he could meet everyone he wanted to see.

But he didn’t want this kind of life at all.

What could he do when he grew up? After inheriting enormous wealth, would he live in debauchery like his father?

His father was recently competing in wealth with Wang Kai, comparing whose family was richer.

The Wang family used sugar water to wash pots, so the Shi family used white wax as firewood for cooking.

The Wang family used purple silk cloth to make forty li of walking screens, so the Shi family used more expensive brocade to make fifty li of walking screens.

Wang Kai used red stone wax to paint walls, so the Shi family used pepper mud to paint walls.

…

Such arena-like lavish spending was simply jaw-dropping—truly having money and being willful!

But for Shi Xi, he was extremely disgusted by this wealth competition. Unfortunately, his father was tireless in this pursuit, and the entire Shi household was united in their determination to surpass the Wang family. Today Wang Kai had personally come to Golden Valley Garden, reportedly bringing a team directly from the palace.

“Young Master, that Rear General even went to seek help from the Emperor—he really can’t accept losing,” the young servant guiding Shi Xi was well-informed and had been chattering about this for a while. Rear General was Wang Kai’s current official title.

Even the Emperor had been alarmed—Shi Xi’s still-childish face became grave.

The servant thought his young master was worried about his father’s chances of winning and quickly continued: “Don’t worry, Young Master. Even if the Emperor gets involved, it won’t make any difference!”

Hearing these confident words, Shi Xi’s expression became even more gloomy.

What kind of confidence was this? To not even regard the ruler of a nation—how arrogant was that?

Or perhaps, one should lament that this country had already declined to such a degree that not only did the Emperor not stop such wasteful wealth competitions that harmed the people, he actually openly supported them!

In Golden Valley Garden stood a tower called Splendid Tower, a hundred zhang high, built specifically for Lu Zhu’s residence. This Splendid Tower was extremely luxurious—any jewels one could think of could be seen throughout the building, showing Lu Zhu’s degree of favor. Whenever guests visited, banquets were generally held in the pavilion below Splendid Tower, and this time was no exception.

When Shi Xi arrived, he saw Wang Kai showing off a coral tree two chi high to the visiting guests.

Coral trees, such treasures, were things ordinary people had truly never even seen. They were said to be produced only in the deep seas of the South China Sea. They were one of Buddhism’s Seven Treasures, representing auspiciousness and wealth, truly rare treasures. Moreover, the coral tree Wang Kai had brought had flourishing branches, a deep blood-red color, and stood two chi high—already a rare treasure in the world.

No wonder Wang Kai looked so pleased with himself, summoning all of Luoyang’s literati and refined scholars to Golden Valley Garden to admire it, determined to show off before everyone.

As soon as Shi Xi saw this scene, he frowned and instinctively wanted to stand beside his father. But Wang Kai had invited too many guests today, and everyone wanted to join the excitement. Shi Xi was small and weak, couldn’t squeeze through at all, and because he wasn’t tall enough, couldn’t even see clearly what was happening inside.

Just as he was looking troubled, someone grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward the outskirts. Shi Xi only struggled slightly, and after seeing clearly who it was, obediently followed the person to an artificial mountain on the pavilion’s periphery. Standing here, he could see the entire pavilion at a glance. But Shi Xi still pressed his lips together and protested: “I want to go to Father’s side, while the situation hasn’t become too difficult to resolve…”

“It’s already too late…” the musician sighed softly.

Shi Xi was startled and immediately looked toward the center of the pavilion, just in time to see his father casually raise his hand and smash that extremely precious coral tree with the ruyi scepter in his hand.

The venue erupted in uproar.

Shi Xi swayed dizzily and nearly fell directly from the artificial mountain, fortunately the musician beside him was prepared and caught his small body.

Wang Kai flew into a rage, pointing at Shi Chong and delivering a series of veiled accusations, implying that he couldn’t accept losing so he destroyed things.

Shi Chong didn’t seem to care, handing the ruyi scepter in his hand to a servant and saying indifferently: “This isn’t worth such fuss—here’s one to replace it.”

As soon as his words fell, several servants filed out from Splendid Tower, carrying out several coral trees. Each one was taller and more flourishing than what Wang Kai had brought. There were a full seven coral trees three to four chi high, with coral trees arranged in circles around the pavilion. Under the sunlight, they radiated auspicious energy and dazzling light, so bright one couldn’t open their eyes.

In comparison, the fragments of the smashed coral tree lay scattered casually on the ground, left for others to trample.

Wang Kai was struck speechless, too embarrassed to demand compensation, and left in shame.

Shi Chong smiled smugly and invited the guests to stay for the banquet. But because there were really too many guests who had come to watch the excitement, Shi Chong set up the banquet elsewhere and arranged for servants to move all these coral trees over, creating an unprecedented coral banquet. Presumably after today, many poems singing of coral would be produced.

After Shi Chong led the departure, the guests hurriedly followed, and the crowd quickly disappeared from the pavilion, leaving only a pile of coral tree fragments scattered in the dust.

Shi Xi didn’t follow. He supported himself against the rocks to barely stand steady, but his mind went back to many years ago when his father had taken him to attend Wang Kai’s banquet.

What difference was there between today’s performance and that day?

The difference was that what made Wang Dun’s name was treating human lives like grass.

And this time, his father Shi Chong would immediately become famous throughout Luoyang because he treated money like dirt.

Heh, he might even leave a heavy mark in the history books because of this.

“Fame refers to reputation and renown, profit refers to benefits and interests…” Shi Xi murmured to himself. “Could it be that fame and profit are really so intoxicating to the world?”

This question that the musician couldn’t answer years ago still couldn’t be answered now.