He’d thought he’d handled the previous night’s affair discreetly enough, but by the time he got back from his run, the whole household already knew. His antics, it turned out, might have escaped others, but certainly not the Su family members or Li Pin who’d been right there—and they’d made a good joke of it. That morning Su Wending and the others had apparently come by and told the story, and now Su Tan’er brought it up too.
“Five hundred taels in one go—quite the spender, husband.” Xiao Chan said with a giggle as she brought over a bowl of rice porridge. Juan’er, nearby, turned and murmured to Xing’er, “Spendthrift.” Being on familiar terms with Ning Yi by now, this was just good-natured teasing, said loud enough for everyone to hear; Ning Yi, mock-annoyed, raised his spoon as if to swat at her, and she ran off laughing.
“All right, all right, husband’s never really gone to places like that before—stop teasing him about it so much.”
Though five hundred taels was indeed a considerable sum, Su Tan’er found the whole business from the night before more amusing than anything, and clearly didn’t mind at all. Once everyone had settled at the table, she asked, seemingly offhand, “Husband, do you know this Yuan Jin’er well?”
Ning Yi thought about it. “Not especially well—but I do know the other one.”
Xiao Chan’s eyes lit up. “The one in white who sang Prelude to the Water Melody? Young Master Wending said this morning she sang it beautifully, using some new style. I thought at first it might be the style husband taught, but when I tried singing it, Young Master Wending said that wasn’t it either.” She laughed, humming a few bars to herself, quite pleased. “Does it sound as nice as what husband taught me?”
“She’s genuinely impressive.” Ning Yi picked up a piece of pickled long bean, shaking his head with a smile. “You’re strictly amateur-league, Xiao Chan, no comparison.”
“Hmph.” Xiao Chan pursed her lips, then bent her head to drink her porridge. Xing’er piped up, “So who is she, then?”
“Probably some young lady who admires husband’s talents.” Su Tan’er said with a smile.
“Her name’s Nie Yunzhu, very skilled—I saved her life once before.” Ning Yi answered, then, sipping his porridge, launched into the story of that morning when Nie Yunzhu had chased her hen right into the river—from the clumsy chase itself to how he’d ended up caught up in it too and gotten slapped across the face for his trouble. Everyone at the table wore rather odd expressions by the end of it.
“Isn’t that the one who… sells preserved eggs, and had some entanglement with Gu Yanzhen too?”
“Gu Yanzhen… tsk…” Ning Yi shrugged noncommittally.
By this point breakfast had wrapped up, along with a few more scattered remarks about Nie Yunzhu. Su Tan’er glanced at Ning Yi now and then, then finally said with a small laugh, “Husband makes her sound so impressive—if the chance comes up, I’d like to meet this Miss Yunzhu myself…”
“Not many people recognized her last night—best if word doesn’t spread too far.”
“I understand.”
There was plenty more that could have been said, but for Su Tan’er, it was already time to head out and attend to some matters, so she set the thought aside for now, glancing over at Ning Yi, who seemed his usual self. These past couple of days things had been getting busier and busier; that morning she took Chan’er, Juan’er, and Xing’er out with her, while Ning Yi planned to head over to the small courtyard beside the academy to tidy up his little laboratory. Around midday, as he came out of the courtyard and made his way toward the academy, he found two carriages stopped outside its now-closed gate—still bearing the Prince Kang household’s markings. Zhou Pei and her younger brother Zhou Junwu, along with a few guards, appeared to have just knocked and found no one home, and were now heading this way; among the guards was Lu A’Gui, who broke into a delighted greeting upon spotting him.
“We just arrived, and would you believe the academy’s already closed up. We were about to head over to the Su residence instead—didn’t expect to run into you right here, what a coincidence.”
“Ha, things have been tense these past few days—no telling when the city gates might close, so the academy held a meeting yesterday and decided to shut down for now.”
The two exchanged a few pleasantries, and Ning Yi, glancing over at Zhou Pei and Zhou Junwu beside him, asked with a smile, “What brings you here, Brother Lu? Heh… don’t tell me you’re here to challenge me again?” He teased the brother and sister with a look.
“Wouldn’t dare.” Lu A’Gui quickly shook his head. “We came to…”
“My sister and I came to become your students!” Before Lu A’Gui could finish, Zhou Junwu had already cut in, putting on an earnest expression. Zhou Pei, beside him, looked startled and a little embarrassed, glancing between her brother and Ning Yi. “I… I still have a question to ask…”
Ning Yi looked at her and couldn’t help laughing. Lu A’Gui, a bit awkward beside them, coughed a few times, clearly aware of Ning Yi’s personality and trying to smooth things over. Ning Yi thought it over, then looked at Zhou Pei. “I hear you’re quite good at arithmetic?”
Zhou Pei looked at him, blinking as she considered this, then gave a small huff. “Mm.”
“I’ll ask you a few very simple questions. If you get them right, you can ask me your question—how’s that?”
“…Fine.” Zhou Pei hesitated a moment before nodding, then turned. “Let me go get paper and brush.”
“No need—these are truly simple.” Ning Yi smiled, and as Zhou Pei turned back around in confusion, he held up a single finger. “Tell me, how many is this?”
The girl looked at the finger, then at Ning Yi, then back at the finger, back at him, her gaze shifting twice as she frowned, clearly trying to work out what trick or sophistry he might be pulling. After a good while, she finally spoke, cautiously. “Master Chen once said: one is one, two is two, right is right, wrong is wrong. Anyone who tries to muddy these basic truths is engaging in sophistry…”
She said this slowly, with an air of solemn righteousness, watching for his reaction. Ning Yi wiggled his finger slightly in the air. “Uh, did someone actually say that? Who’s this Master Chen?”
“Master Chen Qiulan, a guest scholar at the Prince Kang residence, a great Confucian scholar of our age, who’s often in contact with my lord as well.” Lu A’Gui put in helpfully.
“Ah.” Ning Yi nodded, finger still raised. “Well said, very reasonable—but after all that, how many is this, exactly?”
“…One.” After a brief pause, the answer came back short and firm.
“Ah.” Ning Yi nodded, holding up two fingers. “And this?”
“Two.” No hesitation this time; the girl tilted her chin up, as if to say let’s see what other tricks you’ve got.
Then three fingers: “One plus one equals what?”
“Three!” The answer rang out just as confidently as before.
Ning Yi lowered his hand and burst out laughing. In front of him, Zhou Pei, and beside her, Zhou Junwu and Lu A’Gui, were still instinctively waiting for his fourth question; seeing his expression, Zhou Junwu let out an “ah” as it dawned on him. Zhou Pei blinked. “What, why aren’t you continuing… wait?”
Zhou Junwu and Lu A’Gui both burst out laughing beside her, and only then did the girl catch on, her face flushing crimson. “You, you, you—you cheated… how could you…”
“Heh, you’re overthinking this… one should be polite. Or else… are you trying to renege?”
“I… I’m not reneging at all, what do you want!”
“What do I want? Nothing—just a little joke. Though now I suppose I don’t have to answer your question after all.” Ning Yi shrugged at Lu A’Gui. “It must be a hard one—lucky me, not having to answer it.” Lu A’Gui laughed along with him. Zhou Junwu raised his hand, eyes practically shining. “Me, me, me—I don’t want to ask a question, Master Ning, can I become your student?”
“The academy’s right there—anyone who wants in can come in. It’s just closed right now; when it reopens, come pay the tuition and attend classes.”
Ning Yi said this casually enough. Lu A’Gui spoke up quietly. “Actually, if possible, Prince Kang would like Liheng to come teach at the estate—ideally with some kind of guest-scholar title there. I know Liheng isn’t fond of holding office, but this guest-scholar position wouldn’t obligate you to much of anything, just a monthly stipend. What does Liheng think?”
“How does Prince Kang even know about me?”
“It’s a long story—really, the prince had only heard of Liheng’s reputation for talent, but it was my lord who actually brought it up, hoping that if possible you might take on the two young lords and the young lady as students, teach them something useful. Of course, the guest-scholar position is entirely up to you.”
Ning Yi thought about it. “Then… I appreciate the kind offer, but I don’t know all that much myself. Having two more students isn’t a problem—they’re welcome to come sit in on classes, and I’ll teach what I can. But going to the estate itself, I think I’ll pass. I’m a bit eccentric by nature—telling stories and such in front of a crowd is fine, but teaching one-on-one, I genuinely wouldn’t know what to focus on.”
Zhou Junwu tugged at Lu A’Gui’s sleeve, then happily declared, “I think the academy sounds great too, and Sister… Sister?”
He turned to look at his sister, only to find Zhou Pei still sulking silently over her earlier defeat, head down. Zhou Junwu remained cheerful regardless, turning back. “It’ll be fun coming to the academy with Sister.” He’d likely grown tired of studying at home or attending some scholar’s private lessons, and was eager for a new place to enjoy himself. Lu A’Gui considered this. “Since Liheng’s put it this way, I’ll report back accordingly—shouldn’t be much of an issue. Though there will likely be one or two attendants along on most days, of course, they won’t disturb Liheng’s teaching in the slightest.”
“Understood.” Ning Yi nodded. The group continued on with the carriages, a few guards trailing behind. After a while, Ning Yi finally asked, “That long story you mentioned earlier, Brother Lu—what exactly was that about?”
Lu A’Gui considered this, then said quietly, “Actually… a few days back, when Liheng and that Li Pin, Li Dexin, were talking in the classroom, the young lord and young lady happened to overhear. I’m not entirely sure what exactly Liheng said, but…”
He explained the whole matter from start to finish, and only then did Ning Yi understand what had happened.
“My lord has been mulling over what Liheng said these past few days—you can tell he takes those words very seriously. Sometimes he calls it outrageous, unorthodox nonsense, but on the whole, I think Liheng hit rather close to the mark. If not for other business today, he’d originally meant to come along with the young lord and young lady himself. Ha, I know my lord’s temperament well enough—he’ll no doubt want to debate the matter with Liheng in person at some point. But having the young lord and young lady formally become Liheng’s students was something my lord himself proposed. Today’s visit was simply to sound out Liheng’s own wishes on the matter—my lord said that, knowing Liheng’s temperament, it would be more proper for the young lord and young lady to come in person first. When it comes time for the formal apprenticeship ceremony, of course, it won’t be handled so simply—Prince Kang himself will need to appear as well. Given the formalities involved, Liheng, you’ll want to prepare yourself a bit…”
Lu A’Gui went on, smiling as he spoke, before bringing up another matter.
“Oh, and as for what Liheng mentioned earlier about the city gates closing—that’ll likely happen within the next day or two. Today’s the thirteenth, tomorrow the fourteenth, and by the fifteenth, the Ghost Festival, every household will be making offerings to their ancestors. Quite a few people outside the city have lost family members recently—I worry it might stir up trouble…”
Before he could finish, urgent bells and gongs suddenly rang out from the direction of the eastern part of Jiangning. The carriages came to a brief halt, and everyone turned to look that way—though with the dense rows of buildings in between, nothing could actually be seen. Yet in that moment, the whole city seemed to fall unusually still, a sense of pressure spreading from the east, followed by faint, growing sounds of commotion and chaos.
“Something’s happened…”
It was nearly midday. Out on the street, Ning Yi heard Lu A’Gui murmur under his breath…