Chapter 7

The three reluctantly bid each other farewell. Hu Yulin and Jiang Weiping were just about to board their carriage when a sturdy servant of the Hu Clan came sprinting over, drenched in sweat and wild with panic.

"Young masters, return at once!"

Hu Yulin solemnly asked, "What has happened?"

The servant leaned close and whispered. All three could hear him.

"The Emperor has died."

The ruler of Wei had passed, and storms were rising. The situation in Shengjing was bewildering and unfathomable, with undercurrents surging beneath the surface.

Rong Xi was far away in Qingzhou and had not been affected in the slightest. He merely needed to wear mourning white for a month to show his condolences.

In the wards and marketplaces, silk and music fell silent; fine garments and splendid robes vanished. No one dared sing, dance, brew wine, or discuss the zither.

To avoid stirring up trouble, Hu Yulin no longer visited Rong Residence. He merely made secret preparations to expand the coal business. Jiang Weiping shut himself away to make tools, swearing to master the art of ironworking and not fail Rong Xi's trust.

Linxi Town was as quiet as a mountain forest, and the common folk did not dare make a sound.

Rong Residence stood in a secluded spot west of town. Though its courtyard was fairly spacious, there were no nearby neighbors; in the distance lay only mountains and fields. There was but one master and two servants within, and its gates remained shut day and night, ignored by all.

Rong Xi was rather pleased by the peace and quiet.

Liu Zishi had been studying for over ten days. His resolve was firm, but his talent was limited, and he struggled to grasp the meaning of the books. Rong Xi thus focused on teaching him characters. The youth copied and studied a hundred characters each day, yet when tested the next day, he remembered only eleven or twelve.

Even so, Rong Xi felt gratified.

Several more days passed. On a rainy night, a group of people slipped into Linxi.

The group sought lodging without wishing to draw attention, so they naturally looked first for a lonely, quiet residence. Rong Residence caught their eye.

The bean-sized lamp flame flickered as autumn rain fell without end. Rong Xi dozed lightly on the couch, his consciousness drifting away. Suddenly, he heard a sound from the window lattice, like knocking, reaching him faintly through the rainy night.

Rong Xi was silent for a moment, but the sound continued. He rose and approached the window, only to see the paper covering torn open as a sharp bird's beak pierced through it.

A white bird perched imperiously on the windowsill, its pitch-black eyes abruptly meeting Rong Xi's.

It seemed to understand human nature. Seeing that Rong Xi had noticed it, it spat out the object in its beak—a crumpled ball of paper.

Rong Xi took it and unfolded it. The handwriting upon it was crooked and uneven.

"Sir, your heart is kind and generous. Please permit us to lodge here."

He pinched the paper and raised his head, meeting the white bird's gaze. The bird tilted its head slightly, as if trying to curry favor.

Rong Xi considered it. Travelers seeking shelter on a rainy night, unwilling to make a disturbance, had sent a message by bird. They must have something to fear.

Should he open his doors and welcome them, or remain indifferent?

Cold threads of rain drifted through the window. Rong Xi suddenly came back to himself and decided to follow his heart. Anyone who could seek the master's permission in such a manner was surely no tyrant or bully.

He reached out to stroke the bird's head, then found rain gear and followed the white bird to the side gate.

The bolt was removed, and the old wooden gate creaked open. Rong Xi's face was hidden beneath his bamboo rain hat, impossible to make out in the pitch-black night.

He caught a faint scent of blood.

The people outside were overjoyed and were about to offer their thanks when the master of the residence spoke calmly.

"How much lodging money do the guests intend to pay?"

Author's Note:

Taizhou Salted Fish: a salted dried-fish specialty of Taizhou.

An important character is making an appearance! Please leave lots of comments, dear readers~

Chapter 7

Rain fell in curtains, pouring down from the eaves.

Liu He entered carrying a tray and set it on the table. Several people occupied the room, making it somewhat crowded.

"Young master, the ginger soup is ready."

The travelers had been drenched in the rain. To keep them from catching cold and falling ill, and then passing it on to himself, Rong Xi had instructed Liu He to prepare ginger soup and bring it over.

Their lodging payment was generous, so Rong Xi decided to treat them well.

There were five travelers. One had injured his leg and found walking difficult. He now lay on the couch while one of his companions applied medicine and dressed the wound.

Judging by his practiced movements, he must have practiced medicine for many years. The fact that a physician traveled with him meant this man's identity could not be taken lightly.

Of the remaining three, one was handsome and slender, likely not yet twenty. The other two remained at his side, both tall and upright, imposing and powerfully built.

All of them wore plain white clothes.

"The night is cold and the wind biting. Why not drink the ginger soup first, then wash your hair and bathe before changing into fresh clothes?" Rong Xi suggested gently.

Fortunately, Rong Residence was spacious and had enough bedrooms. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to accommodate five people.

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, young sir." The handsome youth broke into a smile. His black hair was soaked through and clung miserably to his forehead, temples, and cheeks, giving him a somewhat pitiful appearance.

Though he said so, he did not reach for the soup.

The physician suddenly rose, picked up a bowl, and gulped it down. He smiled at Rong Xi with curved eyes, handsome and open-hearted.

"Young sir, you are kind-hearted. Thank you."

Once he had drunk it, the other three followed suit.

Liu He brought over another bowl of sugar water and approached the couch. "This gentleman is injured and should not consume ginger."

The handsome physician accepted the bowl with a smile. Looking into the man's amber eyes, he said, "Sugar water replenishes the blood."

The man glared back with sharp eyes.

The young man yielded nothing.

Only then did Rong Xi see the man's face clearly.

His beauty was at its peak. Though his features were exquisite like those of a lovely woman, he showed not the slightest weakness. His eyes were handsome, his brows finely shaped, his nose high as a hanging gallbladder, and his lips perfectly formed. Pale from blood loss, he looked somewhat delicate as he refused the sugar water.

Such a face could be called a peerless treasure.

Perhaps because Rong Xi had stared for too long, the man turned his gaze toward him. The white bird resting quietly by the couch also looked over at Rong Xi.

A pet bird followed its master; it was simply its nature.

The man's eyes were black as painted lacquer. Under the flickering candlelight, they took on an even more hazy, jewel-like hue. He stared at Rong Xi for a long while before finally speaking, his voice like a jade chime being struck.

"Forgive us for disturbing you with this midnight request for lodging. Young sir, your hospitality has been thorough, and I am deeply grateful." His tone was unhurried, yet every word rang like a stone striking the ground. "I was traveling with my younger brother on business when we encountered bandits. We were fortunate to escape with our lives. Only through your care, young sir, can we finally rest at ease."

Rong Xi did not believe a single word.

If they had encountered bandits, where had their lodging money come from? This man was clearly spinning a tale. If Rong Xi were wise, he would understand that something was amiss and refrain from asking questions carelessly.

There was only one master and two servants in the residence. They would be easy to control, and there was no fear that word would leak out.

"The hot water is ready. If there is not enough, the kitchen is less than a hundred paces away. You may prepare more yourselves. It is late. Please retire early." With that, Rong Xi left.

The five people in the room remained silent for a long while.

After a moment, the handsome youth walked to the couch, his eyes red and his nose aching. In a muffled voice, he said, "Brother, it was my fault. I made you suffer this ordeal."