If I Could Startle the World into Dreams

"A little Public Esteem is no small thing."

Chen Cuo's Mother considered this, then said, "To make a name for oneself in Jiankang City is no simple matter. This is the hub of Southern Heaven, where hidden talents abound. A third of the realm's finest must be here. I know what my boy is capable of. He can't do it."

Chen Cuo kept his expression still as his thoughts raced. He had already settled on a plan.

"No matter!" Zhou Youzi waved a hand. "This is a kind of trial. My lineage teaches that one should never take things to the absolute; always leave a way forward. Such is the natural order." He smiled at Chen Cuo's Mother, then changed tack. "I understand your concern, madam. Giving the pill to the Commandery Prince may not necessarily work, either. But if it has first been nurtured by the Public Esteem of a blood relative, there will be fewer obstacles."

Chen Cuo's Mother's eyes lit up. "You mean this could benefit Eldest Son, too?"

Zhou Youzi said, "Why not set a five-day deadline and let the young lord and the third young lady try to build up Public Esteem? If they fail, then it was never theirs by fate, and the Commandery Prince should have it. By then, nurtured by the Public Esteem of kin who share his blood, it will be easier for him to obtain."

"I can try too?" Chen Jiao asked in surprise, pointing at herself.

Zhou Youzi nodded. "These two objects came from the late prince's legacy. You and the young lord both carry his blood. Why couldn't you?"

Seeing that Chen Cuo's Mother was about to speak again, he said, "Five days corresponds to the number of the Five Elements. Some advanced cultivators breathe in starlight, gather the Five Qi within their chests, and nurture the Five Elements. Whether Commandery Prince or young lord, both are mortal. Taking a pill or wielding a Magical Artifact without preparation carries some danger. Let the five days pass, and let their shared bloodline nurture the objects. Then using them will be entirely safe!"

He glanced at Chen Cuo and Chen Jiao. "At present, the young lord and young lady have only a trace of Public Esteem. Even building up a little in five days will be difficult. And even if all goes well, with only a little Public Esteem to their names, the two of you can choose only one of the objects in these boxes. You cannot have both."

"In that case, you two may try. But you have only five days." Chen Cuo's Mother finally nodded. She fixed her gaze on Chen Cuo and warned, "Remember, don't push yourself beyond your limits!"

Zhou Youzi looked at Chen Jiao. "If there's anything else you don't understand, come find me at any time. I'll answer your questions."

Chen Cuo said nothing more.

Chen Jiao glanced at Chen Cuo's Mother. Seeing no sign of objection, she hurriedly asked, "Mr. Zhou, I read your travelogue. You said you left half your heart in Bashu Forest. Is that true?"

"Nonsense!" Chen Cuo's Mother immediately scolded her. "Mind your manners!"

Chen Jiao fell silent, looking aggrieved. She even shot Zhou Youzi a glance that plainly said, You told me to ask, and now I'm getting scolded for it!

"It's quite all right. There's no reason I can't speak of it." Zhou Youzi waved a hand and nodded to Chen Jiao. "It's true. That is why I call myself the Half-Heart Hermit. Fortunately, my sect took me in, taught me its arts, and cultivated my Mindfield. Though it has yet to take shape, it was enough to help me survive the calamity."

Chen Jiao perked up and wanted to ask more. Even Chen Cuo was intensely curious.

How had he survived with half his heart gone? And how had it been removed?

But Chen Cuo's Mother cut them off. "Five days isn't long. If you intend to try, go back and prepare. Stop fooling around here, or you needn't try at all." She addressed them both, but her eyes stayed on Chen Cuo.

Chen Cuo had noticed it too. Zhou Youzi seemed easy to talk to, but most of the time, his attention had been on Chen Jiao.

He glanced at the wooden boxes, bowed in farewell, and left without looking back.

He returned to his own residence.

Chen Hai and Cui Ju came out to greet him, both looking perfectly respectful.

But Chen Cuo remembered how everyone had pressured him that morning. He grew wary. These servants worked in his residence, but their loyalty lay with the prince's estate. Unless he brought them to heel, they would remain a liability.

I may have taken Chen Fangqing's place, but I'm the one who has to live with being pushed around. An order from the prince's estate came today, and I couldn't even finish my meal. Who knows how far it'll go next time? These people handle everything I eat, wear, and use. If they discover there's something special about my gourd, they'll report that too. If an order comes from the prince's estate to hand it over, what then? If I give in today, what grounds will I have to refuse? Am I supposed to skulk around my own home, hiding my things?

That was absurd.

So he did not hesitate. "From what I saw today, your hearts are all with the prince's estate. It's a shame to keep you here in the Marquis's Residence. When I have a moment, I'll explain matters to Mother and have you sent back. How does that sound?"

Chen Hai raised an eyebrow, but his expression did not change. "Is the young lord displeased with us? Please tell us what we've done wrong, and we'll correct it. The old madam arranged everyone in this residence, with the Commandery Prince's approval. To transfer us, she would have to make the arrangements herself. She sent us here because we were the best suited to serve you. Others might not do as well."

His meaning was simple: Chen Cuo did not get to decide.

"Steward Chen, you serve in the Marquis's Residence, yet you still take orders from the prince's estate. How am I supposed to command you? What purpose does keeping you here serve?" Chen Cuo's expression remained calm, as though he were merely asking a question.

Chen Hai replied, "Is it wrong for us to obey the old madam? Would the young lord defy her? Everything we do is for your sake! Please don't misunderstand us!"

Chen Cuo gave a cold laugh. "Having the prince's estate behind you certainly makes a difference! Perhaps all that deference you usually show is just a friendly mask over Evil Thought. That would be troublesome. When it matters most, I won't be able to rely on you. You might even pressure me instead. What use are servants who presume to bully their master?"

"How can obeying the old madam be called bullying our master? Even if you took this to the prince's estate..." Chen Hai's face finally changed, and he opened his mouth to argue further.

"Smooth words. You're fooling yourselves!" Chen Cuo strode past him without looking back. "You serve in the Marquis's Residence, so I am your master! My orders come first!"

Chen Hai hastily shot Cui Ju a look.

"Young lord," Cui Ju said, her clear voice carrying a note of hurt, "those are harsh words. If they get out, losing half our lives would be the least of it. We're humble servants, while you stand far above us. Why be so cruel and stoop to quarrel with us?"

Chen Cuo turned back and, to their surprise, smiled. "I'm not singling any of you out. I'm speaking of what happened. Besides, when someone calls you cruel, it's best if they're right." He looked at them all. "Judging by what you did today, the next time I give an order, you'll rush to report it to the prince's estate. How could I expect you to serve me faithfully?"

Chen Hai said, "How would we dare pretend to obey while acting against your wishes? Whatever you need, young lord, just give the order!"

"Words alone are no use. We'll see whether you listen when the time comes." Chen Cuo chuckled and walked into the residence.

A trace of panic appeared on Cui Ju's face. "The young lord really is angry this time," she murmured. "I've never heard him speak like that!"

Chen Hai forced himself to remain composed. "I think the young lord has grown Envy toward His Highness! This is serious!"

Seeing that Cui Ju was still worried, he reassured her. "Don't worry. Everyone can see the young lord has feelings for you. He said those things in anger. Once he calms down, he'll make it up to you. Besides, the young lord depends on His Highness and the old madam. We needn't take this too seriously. Just report it."

First, I provoked them into promising to obey, so they won't have an excuse when I give orders. Otherwise, I'm a commander without soldiers, and no plan of mine will get off the ground. Once I've changed the situation, I can settle accounts with them. If I can't direct my own servants, and every one of them is someone else's spy, how can I ever rest easy?

Back in his room, Chen Cuo let out a breath.

Zhou Youzi said the pill needs Merit or Public Esteem to activate it. It's all rather vague, and I can't tell what's true. That's exactly why I need to test it and learn how this world works. The first step is to build up Public Esteem quickly.

His emotions had swung wildly during the trip, leaving him with a bellyful of anger. Now he would turn it into the drive to win the prize at the end of these five days!

Public Esteem is apparently a substitute. Daoist Zhou's sect cultivates the mind through merit; ordinary people need Public Esteem to use its treasures. Unfortunately, Chen Fangqing has next to none. His elder brother has always overshadowed him. King of Nankang Chen Fangtai is no easy man to contend with, and he never stops making waves. Anyone living under his shadow would come away with a few scars. Chen Fangqing was rather timid to begin with, and that's how things ended up like this...

On the way back, he had sorted through his memories and understood why Chen Cuo's Mother had acted as she had. He had also worked out how to gather Public Esteem within five days.

I can't say whether it'll work, but it's my only path. Apart from an empty title, I have almost no resources. I'll have to go to the Dream Marsh and find a good piece of writing to try. Even if it fails, I can change how people see me and win some room to maneuver in the future. Then I can lay my plans without being rushed. And I hope this will let you rest in peace... He sighed, reached into his robe, and took out a palm-sized gourd. "Time to sleep!"

With that thought, Chen Cuo tossed the Gourd onto the bed and lay down without undressing. A moment later, he was snoring softly.

In his dream, everything was a vast expanse of white, an endless world shrouded in mist.

Chen Cuo suddenly appeared there.

He looked around at the boundless haze, then set off in one direction. Before long, he reached stacks upon stacks of books.

A few essays made that talented young man of the Lu Household famous. Even my sister became a fan. If the works in these stacks are real, I can take almost anything from here, and it won't be any worse than Lu You's writings. After all, some of these are treasures of Chinese culture!