Perhaps because it had rained for several days in a row, Shu Prefecture City felt much fresher.
The roads of Kanning Street in North City were paved with slabs of bluestone, each one clearly bearing a carved lotus pattern, signifying Step by Step Lotus.
Scholars loved seeking such auspicious signs, whether for attaining high ranks in the Imperial Examination or for gaining office and wealth.
In short, Kanning Street was the most refined and scholarly street in all of Shuzhou City.
Unlike the stone slabs along Yanhuaxiang in South of the City, which were carved entirely with images of beauties, as though afraid people would not know what business was conducted inside.
Chen Yi paid no attention to such things. No matter how fine the city's decorations were, in his eyes, they deserved only the appraisal of "antique charm."
Things had improved somewhat lately. He had read quite a few books and gained a fair understanding of Shuzhou's local customs and rules, enough to speak of them with some familiarity.
Especially those things he often came into contact with—brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
At the very least, Chen Yi already knew that Yunsong Paper came from Guangyue Prefecture and was made from the local pine and cypress wood.
There was also soot ink from Jiangnan Prefecture, wolf-hair brushes from Northern Prefecture, and Jingzhou, famed for producing strange stones used to make inkstones.
Though he understood only the broad outlines, the prices of these seemingly insignificant items still made him click his tongue in amazement.
Take the Yunsong Paper he often used. A single sheet one chi square cost five copper coins, the price of a jin of coarse rice.
Of course, that was also because he lived in Marquis Dingyuan's Estate, among the Great Wei Dynasty's highest nobility. Naturally, his food, clothing, and daily necessities differed from those of ordinary people.
As for scholars from common households, let alone using Yunsong Paper, they rarely even saw it. Most used cheap wood paper.
Beyond that, the history books Chen Yi read most often had also familiarized him with many major events that had taken place in the Great Wei Dynasty over the past two hundred years.
He had even sought out historical records from the previous dynasty, mostly to understand the changes Shuzhou and Jiangnan Prefecture had undergone over the years.
Not long after.
The carriage bearing Marquis Dingyuan's Xiao Family Red Banner left the city gates and stopped at the entrance to a Post Station three li away.
Wang Lixing and Yan Hong, who were driving, looked around, their expressions turning puzzled.
Outside the Post Station stood no fewer than ten carriages of various sizes.
One of them also bore the Xiao Family Red Banner, clearly belonging to another master of the estate.
By the official road, more than a dozen officials in blue and green robes waited with craned necks. The man at their head was none other than Shuzhou Prefect Liu Si.
The two exchanged a glance, neither knowing what Chen Yi had come here for.
Especially when they recalled the "trouble" Chen Yi had caused on his previous trips out of the mansion, their hearts felt as though cats' claws were scratching at them. They wanted nothing more than to turn around and head straight back.
Fortunately, they spotted Xiao Dongchen of the Second Branch among those officials. With him here, the second son-in-law should rein himself in somewhat.
"Are we here?"
At that moment, Chen Yi lifted the curtain to take a look, then stepped down from the carriage with Xiao Wuge and Xiao Die.
Wang Lixing glanced at Xiao Dongchen, whose expression seemed somewhat unusual, then leaned close to Chen Yi and asked in a low voice:
"Second son-in-law, what have you come here for today?"
As Chen Yi straightened his robes, he replied, "To pick someone up."
"Could it be the same person those officials over there are waiting for?"
"Probably."
Chen Yi looked toward the officials. Seeing quite a few of them turn their heads his way, he smiled and rose to his full height before cupping his hands in salute.
Fortunately, he still held the Xiucai degree. He did not need to kneel before these officials, or it would have been awkward to stand so close to them.
Wang Lixing bared his teeth as though they ached, utterly uncertain. He shot Yan Hong a look, signaling him to go up and keep asking.
But before Yan Hong could speak, Xiao Wuge, who had been curiously surveying the surroundings, withdrew his gaze and turned to Chen Yi.
"Brother-in-law, who are you picking up?"
"Chen Yunfan."
"Oh, I think I've heard that name somewhere before."
As he spoke, Xiao Wuge seemed to recall something. "I know now. He's the person who doesn't get along with you, brother-in-law, right?"
Chen Yi smiled and shook his head. "I wouldn't dare say that. If someone heard it, they might think there was a rift between Elder Brother and me."
There isn't?
Even Wang Lixing, a rough and burly man, did not believe it.
Though he felt more certain now, it was precisely because it was Chen Yunfan that an ominous premonition arose within him.
Yan Hong beside him felt the same. The features on his face nearly twisted into a knot.
Last time this master had fled marriage, he had nearly gotten Yan Hong killed. Surely he would not make such a huge fuss this time, would he?
Perhaps Xiao Wuge's voice had been a little too loud, drawing the attention of several officials in front.
Upon seeing him, Liu Si, who led them, could no longer pretend not to have noticed. He approached with the officials behind him, bowed, and cupped his hands.
"This subordinate greets the Young Marquis."
Xiao Wuge waved his hand in a manner befitting a grown man and said with a smile, "Uncle Liu, don't stand on ceremony. You were at the estate just two days ago."
At those words, Liu Si's face brightened. Clearly, he was greatly pleased by them.
"Wuge, why have you come here this time?"
"Brother-in-law said he was coming to pick someone up, so I came along to have a look."
"To pick someone up?"
Liu Si frowned at Chen Yi. Seeing that he still wore a smile without the slightest abnormality in his expression, he considered it before nodding.
"This year's Zhuangyuan, Chen Yunfan, is your brother-in-law's elder brother. He indeed ought to make this trip."
Xiao Wuge's eyes lit up. "The Zhuangyuan? Then is he even more formidable than the Third Place Scholar?"
Liu Si hesitated before nodding, saying meaningfully, "He is now a Counselor in the Provincial Administration, holding the same Subordinate Fourth Rank as your uncle."
"Fanggui is merely a Fifth-rank Advisor, a rank below the Zhuangyuan."
Chen Yi naturally caught the meaning behind his words. Liu Si was pointing it out to him, telling him to mind his status and the occasion.
But whatever he thought, Chen Yi merely acted as though he had not understood and said with a smile, "Wuge, the Prefect means Chen Yunfan is more formidable than Li Huaigu."
Liu Si's expression immediately darkened slightly. He shot Chen Yi a look, then flicked his sleeve and left.
He felt rather vexed.
For one, Chen Yi's several recent incidents in Shuzhou City had left him displeased.
For another, the relationship between Chen Yi and Chen Yunfan was clearly far from harmonious.
If they were harmonious, Chen Yi could have come alone. Why bring Xiao Wuge, the Young Marquis, along?
At that moment, the other Shuzhou officials exchanged glances, saluted Xiao Wuge once more, and all followed after Liu Si.
Only Xiao Dongchen frowned as he approached. Staring at Chen Yi, he asked sternly, "Second son-in-law, this is not exactly a good time for you to come, is it?"
He was a few years older than Xiao Xuanshuo, but he maintained himself well. Fair-faced and beardless, clad in a blue official robe, he possessed an added air of official dignity.
Chen Yi nodded noncommittally, then took out the Name Card from his robes and showed it to him. "Uncle Dongchen, Elder Brother summoned me. I had no choice."
Xiao Dongchen glanced at it, and his expression eased, though he still offered a reminder.
"Don't blame me for being meddlesome. Your elder brother traveled thousands of li from Capital Prefecture to Shuzhou to take office in the Provincial Administration. I presume you understand the special nature of his status."
"What is special about it?"
Though it was somewhat rash, Chen Yi still pressed on. "Uncle Dongchen, why not give your nephew a hint?"
Xiao Dongchen hesitated for a moment, then leaned closer and lowered his voice. "The Right Envoy of the Shu Provincial Administration is already advanced in years. At most, he will step down in two years."
Chen Yi froze, clicking his tongue inwardly. Was this connected to Chen Yunfan?
One had to know that a Provincial Governor was the chief official of an entire province, an important official of Subordinate Second Rank.
Chen Yunfan had entered as the Zhuangyuan, yet instead of receiving further refinement in the Hanlin Academy, he had been directly assigned to Shuzhou as a Subordinate Fourth Rank Counselor—already an exceptional case.
And now, to have him directly succeed as Shuzhou Right Commissioner two years later... was the current Emperor truly so arbitrary and high-handed?
Knowing that Chen Yi understood, Xiao Dongchen continued, "In extraordinary times, one must be all the more cautious, treading on thin ice."
Chen Yi cupped his hands. "Thank you for Uncle Dongchen's guidance."
Xiao Dongchen nodded, smiled as he greeted Xiao Wuge, then turned and headed toward Liu Si and the others.
Wang Lixing and Yan Hong both relaxed inwardly. At critical moments, it was still the masters of the estate who understood righteousness.
Xiao Die and Xiao Wuge, meanwhile, both seemed to understand without truly understanding.
"Brother-in-law, since the Zhuangyuan is your Elder Brother, then he isn't someone who doesn't get along with you, right?"
Chen Yi glanced at him, then shifted his gaze toward the end of the official road, saying with a half-smile:
"Probably... who knows?"
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