The pattering rain began in the middle of the night, and the sound of the window being closed startled the servant who had been dozing inside the room.
“Your Highness, I deserve death,” the young attendant hurriedly said as he stepped forward.
Duke Jin’an waved his hand, indicating that it wasn’t necessary.
“The rain is good – it can ease the pressure on this year’s autumn grain,” he said, listening to the sound of rain outside.
The attendant quickly responded in agreement, glancing at the young man’s reddened, sleep-deprived eyes.
“Your Highness, you should rest earlier. You really mustn’t keep staying up like this,” he said.
Duke Jin’an turned and went back to the desk.
“It’s fine. I know my limits,” he said, picking up the court gazette once more.
The attendant didn’t dare persuade him further; he stepped forward to brighten the lamp and then went to the stove to pour hot tea.
Hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. After a brief, low exchange of words, someone lifted the curtain and came in.
“Your Highness, the people from the capital have returned.”
Duke Jin’an’s eyes lit up, and he set down the document in his hand.
“Bring them in quickly,” he said.
The rainy-night room grew lively as item after item was laid out.
“These are the garments Her Majesty the Empress Dowager instructed us to bring.”
The messenger recited as he took things out.
“It’s not as if there are no clothes here – no need for Her Majesty to send them from so far away,” Duke Jin’an said with a smile.
“It’s not just clothes,” the attendant said with a grin, pointing at another small bundle. “These are shoes sent by Her Majesty the Empress.”
Duke Jin’an looked over and smiled slightly.
“Her Majesty the Empress said these shoes were specially made for Your Highness. If the shoes fit well, one can walk steadily,” the attendant continued.
Duke Jin’an looked at the shoes revealed from the opened bundle – black with gold thread, embroidered with the characters Ruyi (“as one wishes”).
“Yes. Please thank Her Majesty. I will certainly walk steadily,” he said.
The attendants packed up the remaining items and withdrew, and the room fell quiet again.
“All the gifts have been delivered?” Duke Jin’an asked.
The attendant nodded.
“Is Lady Cheng doing well?” Duke Jin’an asked.
The attendant looked a little hesitant.
“Well… yes and no,” he said.
Duke Jin’an lifted his head to look at him.
“Lady Cheng and Young Master Gao were competing for the courtesan at Desheng Pavilion,” the attendant said.
Duke Jin’an paused for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.
“Someone actually dared compete with her?” he said with a laugh. “What would they even compete in? Who has more guts? Or who has more money?”
The attendant couldn’t help laughing as well.
“In the end, she must have carried off the beauty, right?” Duke Jin’an said, still smiling.
The attendant nodded.
“Fifty thousand for a month,” he said. “The whole capital is in an uproar.”
Duke Jin’an laughed again.
“But… the Empress Dowager has bestowed a marriage upon Young Master Gao and Lady Cheng,” the attendant said after a brief hesitation.
Duke Jin’an’s laughter stopped abruptly.
The spring rain had continued all night. Dawn was just beginning to break, the sky a dim gray, and the lamps inside the room had grown faint and dull.
“…I told you before – keep an eye on things for me. That this Young Master Gao really isn’t someone suitable for her to marry…”
Duke Jin’an stared at the words on the paper, then finally threw down his brush in irritation.
“Nonsense!” he snapped, crumpling the paper in a few swift motions and tossing it aside.
Crumpled papers were already scattered all around the desk.
“When has it ever been about what she wants or doesn’t want! It’s never even reached the point where she gets to decide! It’s always other people deciding for her!” Duke Jin’an said through gritted teeth as he stood up. “Saying these so-called comforting words is truly ridiculous.”
He took a few deep breaths, then strode to the door and pulled it open.
The attendants standing outside hurriedly turned around.
“Send word to Master Liu and the others – I am going to meet with Shi Tang and the rest,” he said.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present looked shocked.
Shi Tang actually referred to two people – both key figures in the current rebellion. They had originally been mountain bandits on Dou Mountain and had taken advantage of the civil unrest to join in the chaos.
But as the government simultaneously carried out disaster relief and suppression, and with Duke Jin’an personally campaigning on behalf of the Son of Heaven to pacify the people, the disaster subsided and the unrest gradually quieted. The remaining rebels withdrew back to Dou Mountain and, relying on the mountain’s steep terrain, stubbornly refused to surrender, causing the authorities great frustration and helplessness.
A few days earlier, however, they finally relented a little, saying they were willing to discuss terms of surrender. Everyone here had been in the middle of deliberating how to negotiate – and who to send for the talks.
So when they heard Duke Jin’an say he intended to go himself, everyone was startled.
“Your Highness, this absolutely must not be done.”
“Why not? Those men – Shi and Tang – keep nitpicking. Today they say they’ll negotiate, tomorrow they say they won’t. They demand that this person go, then refuse that person, choosing and rejecting over and over – because they think the authorities can’t be trusted,” Duke Jin’an said. “Fine then, I’ll go myself. That should show them enough sincerity, shouldn’t it?”
“Your Highness, it’s far too dangerous,” a retainer said anxiously. “Those Dou Mountain bandits are vicious and ruthless, and treacherous besides.”
“If the bandits are frightening, then what? If everyone is frightened, are we just supposed to drag this on forever?” Duke Jin’an said, stepping forward. “I don’t want to delay any longer.”
I don’t want to delay any longer.
I want to return to the capital.
…
“Ridiculous!”
Gao Lingjun – rudely awakened from sleep and still wrapped in his robe – shouted at the attendant before him, slamming the letter onto the desk, unable to contain his anger.
The attendant, dusty and travel-worn from hurrying on the road, quickly lowered his head at the outburst.
“Ridiculous!”
Gao Lingjun shouted again, his face dark with fury as he stood up and paced back and forth.
How could this happen?
How could something like this have happened?
He had only been gone for such a short time, and that Lady Cheng was now about to become his daughter-in-law?!
Unbelievable!
But being angry now was useless – the important thing was the consequences this would bring.
And to understand the consequences, he first had to understand the cause.
“Tell me everything from beginning to end, in full detail,” Gao Lingjun said in a low, commanding voice.
The attendant did not dare slacken and hurried to recount the events carefully and thoroughly.
“So you’re saying this whole matter was schemed by that courtesan?” Gao Lingjun asked after a moment of silence.
“Scholar Mao thinks so. He investigated the matter closely – there doesn’t seem to be anyone secretly directing things. It should just be an accident,” the attendant said.
Gao Lingjun paced back and forth, replaying the events in his mind over and over.
“The Emperor didn’t object?” he stopped and asked.
The attendant nodded.
“The Empress Dowager asked His Majesty, and the Emperor only said he doesn’t concern himself with these marriage matters,” he said.
Gao Lingjun let out a cold laugh.
“If he truly didn’t care, he would have stepped forward to rebuke it,” he said.
“My lord… then this matter can’t be undone, can it?” the attendant asked nervously.
Gao Lingjun gave a cold snort.
“When things are going well, they forget they have me as their father. When things go wrong, suddenly they remember that this old man is still alive, is that it?” he said angrily.
The attendant kept his head lowered, not daring to speak.
In truth, when they heard that the Emperor had not opposed the marriage – had not even asked any questions, as if he didn’t know about it at all – Scholar Mao finally became uneasy.
After all, this was Lady Cheng – not just any other woman, but a woman who had been taught by an immortal-like master.
When something abnormal happens, there must be something suspicious behind it.
Thinking of Scholar Mao’s grave expression when they set out, and now seeing Gao Lingjun’s reaction, the attendant grew even more anxious.
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Gao Lingjun pace back and forth a few more steps.
“Everyone involved in this matter has their own calculations. Our Gao family can have ours as well.”
After a moment of silence, Gao Lingjun said slowly,
“As long as we plan well, this may not be a bad thing.”
In fact, being able to marry someone like Cheng Jiao-niang truly wasn’t a bad thing -the key was how she was to be married into the family.
Originally, he would never have considered it, but since fate’s accident had turned things into this, he now had to think about what advantages there might be. As for the disadvantages – plenty of people had probably already considered those on his behalf. But whether things would go as those people wished was not up to them.
Hearing this, the attendant lifted his head with a trace of delighted surprise.
“Pack our things. I’m returning to the capital,” said Gao Lingjun.
The attendant was once again startled.
Officials serving in regional posts were not permitted to leave their posts without authorization, let alone return to the capital without a summons – even if their home was in the capital.
“Isn’t the old madam’s health rather poor?” Gao Lingjun remarked lightly.
This was the way to circumvent the rules. Filial duty toward one’s parents could always be accommodated. The attendant acknowledged the order.
Yet, his heart continued to race uncontrollably.
Hadn’t they said everything was fine? Then why was his master willing to breach regulations, leaving himself vulnerable to impeachment and criticism, just to return to the capital?
“Sir, is the situation truly not as fine as we thought?” he couldn’t help but ask once more.
Gao Lingjun shook his head.
“No, no, this matter may not be bad. I’m going back to meet this Lady Cheng in person. It’s just…” he said, stroking his beard while gazing out at the deep night outside the window, “I feel somewhat uneasy.”
“Uneasy?” the attendant asked, puzzled. “Why?”
“I can’t quite explain why,” Gao Lingjun replied, shaking his head with a furrowed brow. “It’s probably intuition. Lady Cheng’s affair is a minor matter, but I feel like something isn’t right.”
“What isn’t right?” the attendant pressed.
Gao Lingjun shook his head again.
“Perhaps it was a mistake for me to leave the capital. I thought all personnel arrangements were settled, but human affairs are just that – human affairs. Sometimes a single misstep or a misplaced word can make things deviate from your expectations.”
“Now I feel that something seems to have gone awry.”
…
Upon seeing Young Master Gao enter, Desheng Pavilion instantly buzzed with excitement.
“Young Master Gao! We thought you weren’t coming,” Madam Mo exclaimed excitedly.
Bah! Damned madam, who do you think you’re talking about? Why wouldn’t I come? Do you think I’d be afraid of those Cheng siblings?
If Cheng Si–lang can swagger around enjoying the limelight, should I hide away and avoid being seen?
Though inwardly furious, Young Master Gao laughed heartily on the surface.
“Why wouldn’t I come? Desheng Pavilion is a fine place,” he said with a smile.
The news of Young Master Gao and Lady Cheng’s marriage arrangement by the Empress Dowager had naturally spread throughout Desheng Pavilion. Upon hearing his words, congratulations erupted from all around.
Young Master Gao laughed even louder.
That’s right, congratulate me, go on and congratulate me. This celebrated match is truly something for the whole world to celebrate.
“Gao Shi’si!”
A thunderous roar came from behind, shaking the entire Desheng Pavilion to its foundations.
Everyone turned to look and saw a young man standing at the entrance, his face ashen, holding a crossbow in his hand.
Who is this?
The question flashed through everyone’s minds.
“Zhou Liu-lang!”
Someone outside shouted, answering their confusion.
Zhou Liu-lang!
Another person reached out and grabbed Zhou Liu-lang’s arm, his face filled with anxiety.
“Don’t cause trouble!” Qin Shi’san-lang shouted. “If you have something to say, say it calmly.”
“The hatred of having my wife stolen – what is there to say calmly?” Zhou Liu-lang roared.
The hatred of having his wife stolen?
The entire hall was filled with stunned expressions as they watched this young man, consumed by uncontrollable rage.
“Gao Shi’si!”
The young man didn’t waste any more words expressing his rage or explaining the situation to the crowd. Instead, he shook off the friend who was holding him back and aimed his crossbow directly at Young Master Gao.
“A scholar prefers death to humiliation – go to hell!”
Qin Shi’san-lang was horrified and slammed into his arm.
Fortunately, the impact caused Zhou Liu-lang’s bolt to wobble, and it thudded into a pillar in the hall.
The pillar stood right beside Young Master Gao, the bolt’s fletching still quivering.
With his shot missed, Zhou Liu-lang simply threw the crossbow aside, drew his blade, and charged forward.
The stunned onlookers finally snapped back to their senses.
“Murder!”
Instantly, Desheng Pavilion erupted into chaos and uproar.
Amid the turmoil, Qin Shi’san-lang took a few steps back, standing on the high steps as he watched the scene unfold in the hall, a faint smile playing on his lips.
When faced with absurdity, respond with absurdity. A joke can become a celebrated tale, and a celebrated tale can just as easily turn into a scandal. In the end, they’re all just stories – and whoever tells them best and most convincingly gets to decide the narrative.
