Chapter 47
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Early in the morning, Han Jiao went to the market to buy fritters and deep-fried dough sticks. On his way back, a cart carrying grain lightly brushed his arm.
A tall man, dressed like an ordinary commoner, suddenly rushed out from behind Han Jiao and accidentally knocked down the old man pulling the cart.
Han Jiao cautiously looked around, making sure he wasn’t the target of another cart or passerby’s impact. Only then did he continue hastily towards the palace.
The man who collided with the old man was one of Prince Yan’s appointed bodyguards for Han Jiao.
Whenever a stranger lingered near Han Jiao’s residence for an extended period or if Han Jiao was bumped or jostled while outside, the rotating bodyguards would suddenly appear in different ways, instantly suppressing anyone who might harm Han Jiao.
These days were quite intense, as everyone appeared to be potential assassins.
The reason for such caution was that Han Jiao hadn’t yet figured out what the hidden enemies were planning to do next.
Thankfully, his workplace was secure. When Han Jiao entered the adjacent building to the main hall of Hanlin Academy, he relaxed and began his work for the day.
Around noon, the senior officials allowed the junior scholar-officials to take a half-hour break.
Working in the palace meant no provided meals, so Han Jiao had to prepare his own packed lunch to curb his hunger.
Han Jiao, as usual, unwrapped the oiled paper package and took out the fritters he had bought earlier in the morning to nibble on.
“Xiaobai, you’re eating leek fritters again?” A junior scholar-official in the front row turns around and hands Han Jiao a small bundle wrapped in lotus leaves. “Try this. It’s pickled vegetables from Xianxiang Inn.”
“I have some red bean pastries here, would you like to try?” Zhou Hao also offered a package.
Seeing this, their colleagues generously shared their snacks to rescue Xiaobai, who ate leek fritters every day.
“No need, I have a small appetite…” Han Jiao looked at the tempting array of food, took a deep breath, and firmly declined.
Besides his three close friends, the other colleagues at Hanlin Academy who showed kindness towards him did so to get closer to the Ninth Prince through him.
Ever since they accompanied him to explain the new cuju rules to the big boss last time, this group of people had assumed that the Ninth Prince favored Han Jiao greatly.
It might be because the big boss intentionally kicked the ball in front of Han Jiao, causing him to flap his arms to maintain balance, which in turn made the big boss burst into laughter.
Everyone believed that the big boss was showing special favor to Han Jiao.
Han Jiao had no words to respond.
The big boss did it just because he found it amusing.
Han Jiao didn’t want to give false hope to others, so he resolutely nibbled on his leek fritters and ignored the delicious food offered by his colleagues in need.
But his colleagues were persistent, urging him to practice cuju together after work.
“Today, let’s pass on that. Xiaobai and I have plans to go to Heming Manor after work.” In a crucial moment, Zhou Hao, a reliable true friend, stepped in with a suitable excuse.
“Are you talking about Heming Manor, owned by the Qin family?” Someone who knew about it exclaimed, “You can’t enter that place without an invitation from Lord Qin.”
Zhou Hao laughed. “Of course, both Xiaobai and I received invitations. We can’t afford to miss it today, so please understand.”
Everyone understood and dropped the subject.
Han Jiao quietly gave Zhou Hao a thumbs-up and continued nibbling on his fritters.
Zhou Hao offered pastries to Han Jiao again and whispered, “Aren’t you tired of eating fritters all the time? Try my family’s red bean pastries.”
Han Jiao, seeing no one was watching, immediately took the package of red bean pastries and then pretended to tear a fritter, teasing Zhou Hao, “Should I tear off half of the fritter for you?”
Zhou Hao burst into laughter. “You better keep it for yourself.”
When it was time to finish work, Han Jiao slowly gathered his documents and returned them to the archives room.
When they were about to leave, Zhou Hao followed and urged, “Hurry up, Heming Manor is quite far from here.”
Han Jiao was surprised. “Are you really going? I haven’t received any invitation from this Lord Qin. You don’t need to bring me along. I’ll slip out of the palace after they all leave, so I won’t be noticed.”
“Of course, I’m really going!” Zhou Hao whispered to Han Jiao, “I did receive an invitation from Lord Qin. He mentioned that he appreciated the poem I wrote last year at the Zuixiang Inn. He specifically invited me to taste the new tea leaves at his manor and asked me to bring a few literati with me. I was planning to invite you along.”
Han Jiao thought for a moment and asked, “Who is this Lord Qin? Is he influential?”
“You don’t know Lord Qin? He’s the eldest grandson of the late Emperor’s Prime Minister, Qin Ninghe. He’s a wealthy merchant in the capital, with extensive influence even though he hasn’t entered officialdom.” Zhou Hao whispered to Han Jiao, “Getting to know this Lord Qin would make your career much smoother.”
With Prince Yan backing him, Han Jiao didn’t need another influential figure. He decided not to involve himself with other power centers for now and planned to find an excuse to decline Zhou Hao’s offer.
Zhou Hao snatched the document from his hand and hurried to the archives room. “Come on, Brother Xiaobai! Who knows if Lord Qin will test our knowledge later? I’m counting on you, the child prodigy, to help me shine.”
Han Jiao, upon hearing this, found it hard to refuse.
Previously, when his father was unjustly imprisoned, only Zhou Hao had not avoided Han Jiao. He had shared every detail he knew, and Han Jiao hadn’t been able to repay him yet.
Since this was an important opportunity for Zhou Hao to make connections with the powerful, Han Jiao felt obligated to support him.
Shortly after, they rode together and arrived at the outskirts of Heming Manor.
Led by a servant, the two entered the estate. The breathtaking surroundings filled them both with wonder.
Ancient wealthy individuals certainly knew how to enjoy life. In the midst of nature, they had created a paradise of their own. The estate was adorned with natural beauty, with gardens, flowers, and flowing water, even more naturally appealing than royal mansions.
Guided to the garden where the banquet was held, they found thirty to forty guests seated around low tables, sipping tea and exchanging laughter.
Han Jiao followed Zhou Hao to their seats. On the low table in front of them, besides continuously changing individual servings of delicious food, there was a tea master showcasing their skills on-site.
Unfortunately, Han Jiao had no knowledge of tea tasting and could only nod and compliment along with the other literati nearby.
After the tea master left, a scholar took the center stage and explained the origins of the precious plants and flowers throughout the estate. Then, the guests formed small groups and, guided by others, went to appreciate the scenery in various parts of the estate.
Zhou Hao was called away by someone, but Han Jiao was still hungry. He lowered his head, ignoring the inquisitive glances from others, and was eventually allowed to stay alone in the garden to continue savoring the food.
As darkness fell, the attendants swiftly lit lanterns throughout the garden.
The glow of the lanterns caught Han Jiao’s attention. He raised his head and realized that he was the only one left beside the low tables. It seemed the servants were all looking in his direction.
Han Jiao couldn’t bear the attention and reluctantly put down his chopsticks, bidding farewell to the delightful dishes. He stood up and went to admire the scenery.
He wasn’t always such a gluttonous person. During his stay at Prince Yan’s mansion, his palate became more refined. Returning home these past few days, he had eaten plain dishes like cabbage and steamed bread, so the mere scent of meat was making his mouth water.
On the way, Han Jiao encountered several waves of literati engaging in poetic exchanges, a field he wasn’t skilled in.
Keeping his head down, he hurried through the crowd, navigating the maze-like garden paths until he finally found a secluded spot.
Under the rosy sunset, amidst the lush greenery, clusters of vibrant flowers swayed in the gentle breeze.
Standing outside a wooden fence, Han Jiao took a deep breath and gently closed his eyes, savoring the fragrance of the flowers.
“You might get dizzy if you keep inhaling that floral scent.”
The sudden deep voice startled Han Jiao. He opened his eyes to locate the source of the sound. He noticed rustling in the nearby bushes.
A man emerged from the waist-high flowerbed, supporting a hoe, and calmly made eye contact with Han Jiao from a distance.
The man appeared to be in his fifties, tall and lean, dressed in simple work attire, likely one of the gardeners in the estate.
Under the man’s sharp gaze, Han Jiao felt an unexplained unease.
Seeing that Han Jiao hadn’t left, the man picked up his hoe and walked out of the flowerbed, approaching Han Jiao with a calm demeanor. “Since you’re a guest, why not engage in intellectual discussions with the others?”
His voice had a magnetic quality and carried an inexplicable sense of authority.
Standing face to face at close range, the old man’s trousers were rolled up, and his sleeves were pushed back, giving him a rustic appearance. However, his tall and slender figure, clear features, and especially his bright eyes were in stark contrast to his attire, creating a striking presence.
Han Jiao regained his composure and calmly replied, “I don’t know anyone among the guests.”
The man turned to lean his hoe against the fence, casually dusted off his clothes. “You have to make an effort to get to know people if you want to become acquainted with the powerful.”
Detecting a hint of sarcasm in the man’s words, Han Jiao responded indifferently, “I’m here as a companion to a friend’s invitation, not to make connections with the powerful.”
“I see,” the man said as he adjusted his sleeves. He turned to look at Han Jiao and continued, “At your age, there’s still a bit of scholarly idealism left. Missing opportunities is common.”
Han Jiao furrowed his brow, sensing the man’s words had a sting to them. He retorted with displeasure, “If not wanting to cozy up to the powerful is considered idealism, then no matter how many years pass, I won’t be able to wash away this scholarly idealism that permeates me.”
The man smiled faintly, his sharp gaze fixing on Han Jiao. “Is befriending the powerful the same as cozying up to them? By that logic, it seems you’ve already categorized people into different classes in your mind. You’re only willing to associate with the common folks. Is that a sign of intellectual integrity or self-righteousness?”
A tricky question!
Han Jiao was taken aback, realizing that this old man was quite adept in debate.
“I’m not unwilling to befriend those in high positions. It’s just that among the guests here, there are complex power dynamics at play. Befriending one person may require catering a group of people. I’m cautious and observant. Does that make me self-righteous?”
“Well, that may not be self-righteousness, but it could be a lack of courage, preventing you from achieving greatness.” The man remained composed, his voice deep and forceful. “In the world, most things that endure are those that benefit the majority. Achieving greatness is no different. It requires the audacity to navigate various power circles and become the focus of people’s aspirations. That is the path to lasting achievement for the ambitious.”
Han Jiao found the old man somewhat inscrutable but couldn’t immediately find words to refute him.
Before Han Jiao could speak, he heard hurried footsteps approaching from behind.
Two servants swiftly arrived at Han Jiao’s side, bowing respectfully to the old man and urgently said, “Senior Minister Li, Prince Duan is looking for you.”
Han Jiao’s heart skipped a beat. He looked at the person before him in disbelief.
The old man nodded, instructing the servants to deliver the basket of flowers and plants he had just collected to Prince Duan. He then turned back to Han Jiao with a faint smile and said, “Can’t keep His Highness waiting for long. If the young friend here is still unconvinced, you can join me in the adjacent reception hall for a lively debate.”
Han Jiao regained his composure and hastily saluted. “I pay my respects to Senior Minister Li!”
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