Chapter 298

The man who regretted spending extra money glanced back at Wang Xiujin and then looked up at the shop where Wang Xiujin stood, unable to guess his background. He answered cautiously, "Sir, you mustn't underestimate these children. They were born with good fortune."

"How so?" Wang Xiujin was puzzled; this was the first time he’d heard such a saying.

"If they weren't blessed, how could they be born into noble households? Even those born of concubines are still above common folk." The man's reply amused Wang Xiujin, yet it felt quite reasonable. Seeing Wang Xiujin silent, the man continued, "Sir, don't look down on these children. Not just their birth, but even the school they attend—it's the best in the capital..." He gestured with his hand. "I've heard the teachers there teach things differently, with a unique style. Their students, though they don’t take the imperial exams, surpass others in knowledge and other areas. It's a pity the school doesn’t admit outsiders." The man’s regret seemed genuine. "If they did, no matter how expensive, I'd send my son there."

Wang Xiujin had never known the school was so highly regarded. After a few more words with the man, the shop assistant invited him in for lunch. The man stared after Wang Xiujin, suddenly realizing he was the owner of the grain shop—wasn’t he the renowned imperial merchant of Great Liang? The man’s legs went weak with fear as he recalled their conversation, relieved he'd said nothing offensive.

That evening, returning home, Wang Xiujin recounted his talk with the stranger to Li Linshan. "Should we open a school to outsiders?" Wang Xiujin considered transplanting the modern educational system to Great Liang, starting from basics and progressing, but quickly realized it wouldn’t work. In ancient times, schooling was only to prepare for official posts, and some ideas in the books seemed questionable to Wang Xiujin; even good children could slowly turn into ones who made others grit their teeth.

"Where would you find teachers?" Li Linshan asked directly. If the royal tutors taught commoners, the imperial family would never allow it.

Wang Xiujin paused, unable to answer. Teachers were a challenge; hiring from outside wouldn't ensure acceptance of new ideas. He abandoned the proposal.

The days before the New Year were busy, right up to the palace feast on New Year's Eve. This year, although the emperor hosted the feast, not everyone was invited. The honored ministers kept a low profile, while those not invited worried, guessing if they'd fallen out of favor. The Wang and Li families, along with Wang Xiujin, remained regular guests. This year’s feast was simple, held in the main hall rather than the garden. The warm floor heating and the slow music, accompanied by dance performances, made Wang Xiujin stifle yawns—he feared he’d fall asleep if it went on much longer.

Envoys from various vassal states lined up to offer auspicious words, among them the envoys from Bang and Kou. The Kou envoy looked displeased; he’d arrived outside the city walls a month ago but only entered the capital two days earlier. Aside from tribute, he brought just enough silver for lodging, not a coin more, and hadn’t been allowed to bring bribe money for the palace. As the last to arrive, their accommodation was predictably poor. Previously, they mocked other envoys for staying in cold, damp quarters; now it was their turn, but with no money, they couldn’t upgrade.

Presenting tribute, they were received not by an official but by a literate servant, who checked the inventory and said nothing more before shooing them away, mocking their inability to pay bribes. No one would take their business, and before departing, they were spat upon; Kou had never suffered such treatment.

At the palace feast, the envoys were harassed by guards at the gate, then placed in a corner at the banquet. They offered New Year’s greetings, awaiting imperial rewards. All other vassals received gifts—even Bang, despite offending the emperor, received plenty—while Kou seemed forgotten, not even mentioned. Dissatisfied, they dared not speak out, remembering the fate of the last envoy; the current envoys all acted meekly.

Wang Xiujin listened as nearby officials identified the Kou envoys, noting they brought less than last year. "I heard the princess came too, but was stopped at sea and not allowed ashore."

"They say she looks like a ghost—pale as paper, with two red dots on her lips, thick black eyebrows, two red spots on her cheeks, all in white robes, neither human nor ghost."

"How do you know?"

"My distant relative works as a minor official there; his wife came to give us New Year's gifts recently and mentioned it."

Wang Xiujin pictured the Kou makeup and found the comparison fitting, chuckling lightly. Li Linshan, sitting beside him, heard clearly, squeezed Wang Xiujin’s hand gently. Wang Xiujin raised an eyebrow, suppressing his smile. He vaguely remembered reading that Kou’s makeup style was originally from Tang, though opinions differed on why it changed so much there. In fact, compared to Kou adapting what they learned, Bang’s practice of claiming others’ culture as their own was even more repugnant.

After the feast, Wang Xiujin and Li Linshan walked side by side out of the palace, barely a hundred steps before screams erupted from the main hall. Everyone stopped, turned, and rushed back. Inside, guards held the Bang and Kou envoys: Bang’s envoy looked fierce, while Kou’s cowered like a beaten dog. If not for the court’s general dislike of Kou, it would seem Bang bullied them.

"What happened?" The Fourth Prince, who had just left with his father, returned, eyeing the detained envoys, both of whom he disliked.

"Your Highness, the two just fought. The Kou envoy provoked, and the Bang envoy, as if rabid, tried to bite him." No one could bring weapons to the feast, and both envoys appeared scholarly—unable to win by words or fists, they resorted to biting.

The Fourth Prince raised his eyebrow; the two envoys were truly remarkable, fighting in a foreign palace with their mouths. "This isn’t a day for bloodshed; take them away and lock them up for now."

"Your Highness..." The Kou envoy tried to beg, fearing he’d never be released. If only he’d kept quiet, none of this would have happened. But whether the guards allowed him to speak was another matter; as soon as he uttered a word, they silenced him.

Wang Xiujin and Li Linshan, standing behind others, listened to the resolution and withdrew. As for why the envoys quarreled, it was none of their concern—they were going home for the New Year.

At the General’s Mansion, red lanterns hung high, everyone wore festive red, the fire in the floor heating burned bright, and the house was warm. After changing out of their official robes, Wang Xiujin and Li Linshan hurried to the patriarch’s courtyard. The family gathered, chatting idly and keeping vigil. At midnight, they ate dumplings, kowtowed for New Year’s blessings, and the old general, seeing three generations kneeling before him, repeatedly praised them.

After the New Year’s greetings and dumplings, everyone prepared to return to their own courtyards, when the sound of funeral bells rang out. The festive atmosphere vanished. The steward, after counting the tolls, spoke, "A noble lady from the rear palace has passed."

Everyone knew what that meant. The Empress Dowager’s health had been poor last year; though she seemed well before the New Year, it turned out to be a final rally. The steward quickly ordered staff to take down red lanterns and replace them with white. The whole household switched to mourning attire, and even the kitchen’s meat supplies were put away, as it would be some time before they could eat meat again.

On the morning of New Year’s Day, the palace issued two edicts: one for mourning the Empress Dowager, the other for war against Kou and Bang. The emperor, grieving, took his anger out on both vassals.

Wang Xiujin busied himself preparing clothes for Li Linshan’s departure. Though not the commanding general, Li Linshan held an official post, and with the emperor’s order, no one dared object now. Yachang clung to his father’s leg, insisting he wanted to follow him to the battlefield. Wang Xiujin ruffled his son’s hair; the boy couldn’t even lift a weapon—how could he go to war?

Li Linshan patted his son’s shoulder, pleased with his resolve. The sons of the Li family must be tempered by battle to truly belong. Wang Xiujin rolled his eyes at Li Linshan’s sentiment.

After packing, Li Linshan said farewell to his grandfather, who patted his shoulder and gave words of caution, then told him to say goodbye to his elder brother. Before Li Linshan could leave, the steward hurried in, "Master, Second Master is back with his whole family!"

"Second son is back!" The old general stood, craning his neck to look outside as Li Linshan supported him to the door.

In another courtyard, Wang Xiujin also heard the steward’s announcement and was delighted by the return of his second uncle’s family. He straightened his son's clothes and prepared to lead him out in greeting, but the boy dodged his hand. "Father, I’ve grown up; I can’t be led by the hand anymore."

Wang Xiujin looked at his son’s serious, earnest face, barely holding back a smile. How adorable his son was.

Author’s note: The silly author wishes everyone a prosperous Year of the Rooster, great fortune and wealth! The silly author is stuck at the ending and feels like it will go on longer—off to contemplate!