Beauty, Power and Intrigue Chapter 57

“Daoism advocates quietude and non-action. I suppose you would not study the School of Military Strategy, sir?” Although Longgu Buwang hoped that Song Chuyi would understand, the facts were right before his eyes.

Song Chuyi scratched her neck. “Do you think I am someone of quietude and non-action?”

Longgu Buwang’s eyes lit up. “Sir, are you well versed in the School of Military Strategy?”

“If you want to learn, I can teach.” Song Chuyi would stop at nothing in pursuit of her goals. If one devoted oneself to only one school of thought, one’s thinking would easily become constrained, and one would involuntarily consider matters according to that school’s way of thinking. In that way, one’s foundation would more easily be figured out by opponents, and the probability of one’s schemes being guessed would be greater.

Song Chuyi had read the discourses of all the schools, discarded what she did not agree with, and organized and carefully studied everything she found reasonable. Overall, it took Daoism as the bones, the School of Military Strategy as the heart, and Confucianism as the skin.

“Really?” Longgu Buwang was overjoyed, rubbing his hands together. “Can we begin the lesson now?”

“As for the discourses of the School of Military Strategy, haven’t you read most of them already?” Song Chuyi tapped the table rhythmically with her fingers. “Read them again. If there is anything you do not understand, you can ask me.”

Longgu Buwang was stunned for a moment. “You will not explain the meaning to me in detail?”

“You are a genius. How could I insult you with such a foolish method?” Song Chuyi yawned, stood up, and said, “Read the book first. Formal instruction will begin tomorrow.”

Longgu Buwang carefully chewed over the first half of Song Chuyi’s words. If it was meant as sarcasm, her tone seemed too sincere; if it was meant as praise, it also felt too casual and perfunctory. It was not until Song Chuyi went out that Longgu Buwang still had not figured out what she meant, yet he still did as told and took up Guiguzi to read.

After Song Chuyi came out of the study hall, she went to find the steward to ask for some medicinal herbs.

Returning to her own courtyard, Song Chuyi went to look at the child. After taking the medicine Nan Qi had given, the child’s condition seemed to have stabilized considerably, and the coughing had temporarily stopped. It was only that the body was still burning hot, and even in deep sleep, the child was curled up in the blanket, shivering.

Song Chuyi ordered Zi Ya to bring the small stove used for warming wine, cut the dried medicinal herbs into pieces, and put them into an earthenware pot to boil.

The heavy snow had stopped, the sunlight was pale, and the temperature was even lower than the previous two days.

Song Chuyi tucked her hands into her sleeves and crouched on the corridor, watching the thick accumulation of snow in the courtyard. A rich medicinal smell filled the entire courtyard.

“Master Huaijin,” someone called from outside the side gate.

Song Chuyi withdrew her thoughts. “The door is unbolted.”

The door was pushed open, and a young boy poked his head out from behind it. Seeing Song Chuyi crouching on the corridor, he then pushed the door open and called the people behind him to carry the things in.

“Master Huaijin, these are the winter supplies the steward has sent for you. Where would you like them carried?” The boy’s tone was respectful, yet he could not help secretly sizing up Song Chuyi.

Song Chuyi looked at the four servants behind the boy carrying two enormous chests and frowned. “So many things… Was this Steward Liu’s decision?”

“The lord gave instructions before, but the specific items were decided by Steward Liu,” the boy said.

“Zi Ya.” Song Chuyi called out loudly.

Zi Ya hurried out from the room.

“Bring two sets of bedding,” Song Chuyi said.

“Yes.” Zi Ya responded softly and stepped forward with her head lowered.

The boy had the chests opened, and Zi Ya took out the bedding from within and carried it into the bedchamber.

Song Chuyi said, “Take the rest back.”

“Sir?” The boy looked utterly astonished and bowed slightly, asking, “Sir, if you do not want them, may I ask why?”

As a retainer, receiving rewards from one’s lord showed that one was valued and was also a way to prove one’s ability. Most people would not only refuse, but would fear others not knowing about it. On the contrary, refusing a lord’s reward required giving an explanation.

“I have been in the estate for three days and has achieved no great merit. It is truly improper to receive such rewards,” Song Chuyi said while squinting and stirring the medicine in the earthenware pot with a spoon.

That was indeed the truth, the boy thought to himself.

In the cold air, the fragrance of medicine curled upward, and the hot vapor rising from the earthenware pot almost completely obscured Song Chuyi’s figure. The boy waited for a while. Seeing that she no longer seemed inclined to speak, he said, “I take my leave.”

With that, he ordered the chests to be carried out again.

Song Chuyi took one look, and it hurt like having her heart and flesh gouged out. She thought to herself that Longgu Qing was truly unkind. If only he had secretly given her more, how wonderful that would have been.

“Ah,” Song Chuyi sighed, wrapped the earthenware pot in cloth, poured the medicine inside into a bowl, and carried it into the room.

Zi Ya had finished making the bed and hurried over to take the medicine.

Song Chuyi sat down near the brazier, thinking that she ought to get some capital to do a bit of business. The State of Wey had just experienced war. Although half its territory had been lost, many people must also have died. Along the border between the State of Wey and the State of Wei, there should be quite a lot of wasteland.

So-called wasteland was not necessarily land without an owner. Rather, when the men in a family died in battle and only the elderly, weak, women, and children remained, they were even less able to cultivate large tracts of farmland. Many places left untilled gradually became wasteland. These lands could be obtained at an extremely small cost, and if one were lucky, one might even take in some people as well.

After Zi Ya finished feeding the child medicine, she turned back and saw Song Chuyi lost in thought. She assumed Song Chuyi was feeling distressed over those things. “Sir, why did you refuse the rewards?”

Song Chuyi withdrew her thoughts. “Did I not just say why?”

She had only been in the Longgu estate for three days. Previously, when she had lobbied the State of Song on Ji Yu’s behalf, many people who knew the inside story thought it was her achievement. In truth, however, whether Min Chi went alone or she went alone, the matter could have been accomplished. Song Chuyi could not claim sole credit for that achievement. As for this current plan, it was truly a massive undertaking. Whether it could succeed was still unknown, and moreover it was being carried out in secret. In the eyes of everyone else, accepting rewards without cause would be unjustified.

For the time being, Song Chuyi still did not want to be the one sticking her neck out.

Zi Ya was convinced that Song Chuyi was someone full of schemes, so no matter what Song Chuyi did or said, she would never believe it was genuine.

Song Chuyi lowered her eyes, pondering how exactly she should arrange things for Zi Ya.

From time to time, crackling sounds came from the brazier. Zi Ya did not dare disturb her. After finishing feeding the child the medicine, she quietly withdrew.

A wind rose outside, sweeping up the accumulated snow on the ground and sending it spinning through the air.

The voices denouncing the State of Wei seemed to rise with this gust of wind, sweeping across the various states.

The Wei royal palace stood towering in the white snow, with ranks of armored guards standing densely. Suddenly, a burst of loud laughter came from the study.

“The State of Wey certainly has no shortage of fine articles. Interesting.” The bead curtain on the royal crown of the King of Wei, seated in the place of honor, swayed, clearly showing he was immensely amused.

“My king.” Senior Officer Yao Zheng cupped his hands and said, “This matter must absolutely not be underestimated. It is said that the Marquis of Wey has already sent a special envoy to the Son of Heaven Zhou to accuse us.”

“The Son of Heaven Zhou, haha, he is nothing but a figurehead. What can he do to our state?” the King of Wei said dismissively.

Yao Zheng was about to remonstrate again, but the King of Wei instead changed the subject. “Here is an article, written very incisively, and with remarkable literary grace. Have someone investigate it. If he is willing to come to our State of Wei, I wish to treat them with the rites due a senior official.”

With that, he ordered an attendant to hand the bamboo slip to Yao Zheng.

When Yao Zheng heard these words, his heart tightened, and he hastily received it with both hands.

After unrolling it and reading it through, he was already covered in cold sweat. The entire piece was magnificent in momentum, its wording ornate yet not hollow, every sentence striking the vital point. Only someone who had thoroughly analyzed the ways of the world could have written such an article. “My king, before seeking this person out, we must stop this article from spreading. Otherwise, it will be disadvantageous to us,” Yao Zheng hurriedly advised.

“Mmm, what you say makes sense.” The King of Wei nodded slightly, took another scroll from the desk, and tossed it over. “These several scrolls are also quite good. Do your utmost to win them over.”