Chapter 216: A Weighty Gift

Plop!

Something landed inside the courtyard wall. Inside the room, Tao Yan’er had been bent over a desk, writing line after line in an elegant hand. She raised her head and looked toward Lu Shengzhong, who sat cross-legged nearby with his eyes closed, resting his mind. When he showed no reaction, Tao Yan’er set down her brush, rose from the desk, and went outside. She picked up a crumpled ball of paper from the courtyard. This was not the first time she had retrieved something similar. She did not open it.

Returning indoors, she walked to Lu Shengzhong's side and held out the paper ball. Her voice was soft and melodious.

“Brother.”

Lu Shengzhong opened his eyes, accepted the paper, and unfolded it. He set aside the stone wrapped inside. Tao Yan’er knew that whenever this happened, it was not something she should watch. She turned gracefully and went back into the courtyard to give him privacy.

As she paced slowly back and forth outside, she still did not know what Lu Shengzhong truly did or what he intended to accomplish. But she was an intelligent woman versed in qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting. From Lu Shengzhong's secretive, sinister conduct, she had already sensed the dark currents surging beneath the apparent calm.

After pacing for a while, she folded her hands lightly over her abdomen and raised her finely drawn face toward the clear sky. Birds wheeled freely overhead. They looked so carefree, so free. The sight stirred longing in her. Inside, Lu Shengzhong paced while studying the secret message in his hand. He came to the writing desk and sat down. His gaze shifted to the delicate handwriting on the sheet of paper before him. He read over it briefly.

It was a lyric poem filled with the mood of distant travel. The calligraphy was beautiful. Lu Shengzhong could not help feeling some admiration. Even the daughters of many respectable households probably did not possess this level of skill. Brothels spent real effort training their finest courtesans in order to make money. He moved the page with the elegant writing aside, lifted a brush, and decoded the secret message.

After reading the decoded instructions and memorizing them, he lit a flame and burned both the original message and the decoded copy together inside the brush washer. Only then did he call, “Yan'er.”

Tao Yan’er entered from outside and stood beside the desk, watching him.

Lu Shengzhong was silent for a moment before asking, “Will Wu Tiannan come today?”

“He should. He said he would come today to compare chess skills.”

The words had barely left her mouth when a knock sounded from the courtyard gate. Wu Tiannan's voice followed.

“Brother Tao!”

The fake brother and sister exchanged a glance. Speak of the man and he arrived. Lu Shengzhong nodded toward the ashes in the brush washer, then rose and headed outside. He called back, “Coming.”

Tao Yan’er quickly took the brush washer away to clean it. The courtyard gate opened. Wu Tiannan stood outside smiling, a food box in his hand.

“Brother Tao.”

He greeted Lu Shengzhong and stepped inside. The two had obviously become quite familiar with one another. Lu Shengzhong closed the gate and turned.

“What are you carrying?”

Wu Tiannan lifted the food box.

“Wine and dishes from Eight Treasures Studio. It's almost mealtime, so this saves Sister Yan'er the trouble of cooking.”

“There is no need to be so courteous.”

“Brother Tao is the one being too courteous. We're all fellow townsmen.”

Lu Shengzhong chuckled and shook his head, saying no more. The two entered the room. Tao Yan’er was once again sitting upright at the writing desk, writing. That soft, cultured grace made Wu Tiannan stare blankly for a moment. Only when Tao Yan’er raised her head did he laugh awkwardly.

“Sister, studying hard?”

Tao Yan’er set down her brush, rose, and saluted.

“Brother Wu.”

Wu Tiannan put down the food box, walked closer, and looked at the writing on the desk. He clapped his hands in praise.

“Sister Yan'er, what fine literary talent!”

Tao Yan’er answered modestly, with a touch of shyness.

“Brother Wu flatters me. I'm only imitating refined people for appearance's sake. How could I compare with Brother Wu's family learning?”

“This is not flattery. It truly is good writing. Look at these characters!”

Wu Tiannan pointed at the page and shook his head repeatedly.

“I can only admit inferiority.”

Lu Shengzhong sighed.

“Enough of the two of you praising each other.”

“Yan'er, Tiannan brought food. Set it out.”

Tao Yan’er dipped slightly toward Wu Tiannan, then turned and busied herself. Before long, wine, dishes, bowls, and chopsticks were arranged across the table. After the three raised their cups in a brief toast, Lu Shengzhong suddenly asked, “Brother Wu, why do I always seem to see you in Beizhou Prefectural Capital? Don't you need to return to Pingchuan County?”

Wu Tiannan paused. Slowly setting down his cup, he sighed.

“Since it is Brother Tao and Sister Yan'er, there is no need for me to hide anything.”

“You probably know something of Beizhou's situation. Things here are unusual.”

“Ever since Beizhou split away from the State of Yan, the State of Yan has been unable to govern this place, while the State of Han does not dare press it too hard.”

“So the people who can truly make decisions for this territory are right here in Beizhou Prefectural Capital.”

“The reason I remain active in the prefectural capital is that I hope to use connections to find a suitable post.”

Lu Shengzhong gave a quiet sound of understanding.

“Your father is the County Deputy Magistrate. Can't he arrange a decent post for you in Pingchuan County?”

“Pingchuan County is poor and barren. How good could even its best post truly be?”

Wu Tiannan lifted his chin, looking ambitious.

“My ambitions do not lie in Pingchuan. I intend to enter the halls of power here in Beizhou Prefectural Capital.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Tao Yan’er to see how she reacted. Lu Shengzhong nodded slightly.

“I see. Everyone knows the Shao family makes the decisions in Beizhou. Your father is at least a County Deputy Magistrate. Why not have him request an audience with Shao Dengyun?”

Wu Tiannan immediately smiled bitterly.

“A County Deputy Magistrate may be a great official inside Pingchuan County, but here in Beizhou Prefectural Capital he is nothing much.”

“The Provincial Governor of Beizhou is not someone my father can meet merely because he wishes to.”

Then, seemingly afraid the brother and sister would look down on him, he straightened his chest.

“But I have already found a path. I have established connections with the Provincial Governor's sons. Given time, there will certainly be results.”

Lu Shengzhong had been preparing to guide the conversation in precisely that direction. He had not expected Wu Tiannan to bring it up himself. That saved him considerable effort.

He asked casually, “I hear Shao Dengyun has three sons. Which young master's path has Brother Wu connected with?”

“The Second Young Master and Third Young Master.”

Lu Shengzhong gave a couple of thoughtful sounds.

“But I hear Eldest Young Master Shao Pingbo is the person who truly holds power in Beizhou.”

Wu Tiannan looked somewhat embarrassed. Naturally, he would have preferred to attach himself to Shao Pingbo. The problem was that he first needed the ability to get close. Shao Pingbo did not place him in his eyes at all. Wu Tiannan defended himself.

“Eldest Young Master is too busy. I have not yet had the good fortune to meet him. Once a suitable opportunity appears, naturally I will seek his favor.”

“Not good.”

Lu Shengzhong slowly shook his head. Wu Tiannan looked surprised.

“Brother Tao, what do you mean?”

“Shao Pingbo may soon face a great calamity.”

Lu Shengzhong said, “I advise Brother Wu not to invite disaster onto yourself. Better to keep some distance from him.”

Wu Tiannan grew even more astonished.

“Why would Brother Tao say such a thing?”

Lu Shengzhong hesitated, as though uncertain whether he should speak. At last he said, “By rights, there are some things I should not tell you.”

“But Brother Wu and I have become friends, and we are fellow townsmen besides, so I can reveal a little.”

“Only, these words leave my mouth and enter your ears. Once they pass, let them pass.”

“You must never tell anyone I said them.”

“I have no wish to invite trouble.”

“Otherwise, my sister and I will have no choice but to leave and will never meet Brother Wu again.”

“Does Brother Tao think I am some loose-tongued person?”

Wu Tiannan glanced at Tao Yan’er, then thumped his chest in assurance.

“Brother Tao may speak freely. I will absolutely not implicate you.”

Tao Yan’er quietly looked toward Lu Shengzhong. She did not know what he was planning. Lu Shengzhong hesitated again before slowly saying, “I do not know much about Beizhou's affairs, but I do know a little about matters in the cultivation world.”

“Some time ago there was that children's rhyme about the King of Beizhou. I wonder whether Brother Wu heard it?”

Wu Tiannan nodded repeatedly.

“Of course. The rhyme was obviously aimed at Eldest Young Master. Everyone only dares discuss it in private and no one speaks openly.”

“Is this connected to that matter?”

Lu Shengzhong nodded.

Then he asked, “Has Brother Wu heard of Tang Yi, Sect Leader of the Shangqing Sect?”

Wu Tiannan gave a lewd chuckle. Then, apparently realizing it was improper to laugh like that in front of Tao Yan’er, he quickly restrained himself and nodded.

“I have. I hear Eldest Young Master is fond of this Sect Leader and has repeatedly declared his feelings.”

“The problem lies precisely there.”

Lu Shengzhong said, “Tang Yi is a married woman.”

“Her husband is named Niu Youdao, also a cultivator.”

“He serves as a retainer cultivator beside Commandery Prince Yongping of the State of Yan and is himself a capable man.”

“How could the hatred of having one's wife coveted be a trivial matter?”

“Because of this, Niu Youdao and Shao Pingbo became enemies.”

“That children's rhyme came from Niu Youdao.”

“Shao Pingbo then struck back, mobilizing people to rush to the Great Snowy Mountains and assassinate Niu Youdao at the Ice and Snow Pavilion...”

Lu Shengzhong proceeded to tell a carefully arranged version of the Ice and Snow Pavilion affair. Despite the embellishments, it remained surprisingly close to the truth. Wu Tiannan listened with his mouth hanging open, fascinated beyond measure. Under ordinary circumstances, where would someone like him ever have the chance to hear about such things? To him, the Ice and Snow Pavilion was unimaginably distant, almost a gathering place of immortals. Tao Yan’er remained silent. Her emotions, however, were complicated.

She had spent all this time without understanding what Lu Shengzhong intended to do. Now she finally had a feeling. The map had been unrolled, and the dagger was showing. Today, Lu Shengzhong had finally revealed his savage intent... After leaving the residence, Wu Tiannan wandered the streets, his mind swinging back and forth. He knew an enormous opportunity had appeared before him. Yet becoming involved in something like this also frightened him. He hesitated again and again. At last, Wu Tiannan clenched both fists.

He seemed to make up his mind and strode away...

Outside the Provincial Inspector's Residence in Beizhou, Wu Tiannan waited for a long time. Eventually someone emerged from inside and called to him. Only then did the gate guards allow him through. At the corner of the street, Lu Shengzhong, who had secretly followed him all the way, personally watched him enter. The corner of his mouth lifted. He had prepared to offer Tao Yan’er in marriage as bait if necessary. It seemed there would be no need.

Wu Tiannan was even more “understanding” than he had expected.

Lu Shengzhong immediately turned and left. He went to a restaurant along one street, bought a jar of wine, and, when no one was watching, slipped a small folded piece of paper into the hand of one of the attendants. Then he strode away carrying the wine. By the time he returned to the residence, he had brought a carriage with him. He jumped down, pushed open the gate, and went directly to the bedroom. Tao Yan’er lay quietly on the couch.

Lu Shengzhong walked over and tapped a finger against her body, releasing the restriction on her. As she sat up, he said indifferently, “Let's go.”

A short while later, the fake brother and sister left the residence. Tao Yan’er climbed into the carriage. Lu Shengzhong took the reins and drove away, leaving the city behind...

Inside the Provincial Inspector's Residence, Wu Tiannan waited in a reception hall for a long time before Shao Wubo and Shao Fubo finally arrived at a leisurely pace. The two brothers looked at Wu Tiannan with faint disgust. They felt this fellow lacked self-awareness. Knowing one another was one thing. Was the Provincial Inspector's Residence a place someone like him could visit whenever he pleased?

Had they not heard that he was offering a weighty gift, neither brother would have let him through the gates at all.

“Second Young Master. Third Young Master.”

Wu Tiannan bent and scraped before them. The brothers sat down. Shao Wubo said nothing. Shao Fubo raised an eyebrow.

“Didn't you say you had a weighty gift? Where is it?”

Wu Tiannan glanced toward the servants by the door and hesitated.

“The gift is no small matter. Perhaps the two Young Masters should...”

Shao Fubo immediately waved impatiently. Once the servants had withdrawn, he asked, “Can you bring it out now?”

[End of Chapter 216]