Miss Ding, Unfeeling as Flowing Water

The sun slowly sank, staining the sky red. Ding Wenruo walked through its lingering glow, lightly lifting her pleated skirt as she stepped over thick layers of ginkgo leaves, which rustled beneath her feet.

After a full day of classes, she found that the teachers at the Knowledge and Practice Institute were so learned and had covered so much that she could not absorb it all at once. Ding Wenruo smoothed back the hair the wind had blown against her cheek, thinking she would have to ask her father about certain questions when she returned home.

Gu Qingzhou crept up behind her, but the sensitive young woman still caught his faint footsteps. Ding Wenruo turned, a flicker of displeasure crossing her lovely face.

"Wenruo, you must be tired after a whole day of classes. Would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner? I know a new place near Beautiful Scenery Gate, Zhong's Restaurant. It's quite good and should suit your tastes. Shall we give it a try?" Gu Qingzhou asked softly, all smiles.

Seeing that he had come to pester her again, Ding Wenruo's pretty face turned cold, and she quickened her pace. "Duke Gu, stop behaving this way. If it happens again, I will tell my father...!"

A cold wind swept past, sending more ginkgo leaves fluttering down from the trees. Gu Qingzhou felt as though the wind had chilled his heart as well.

Half a year earlier, after eating and drinking their fill, Gu Qingzhou and a group of wastrel friends had been strolling along Benevolent Proclamation Gate Avenue when he happened to notice Ding Wenruo shopping. Struck by her otherworldly beauty at first sight, he eagerly approached to strike up a conversation.

Ding Wenruo saw the dissolute young gentlemen around him. Some were disheveled and reeked of wine; others flaunted their poetry and prose, affecting an air of elegance. A few even cocked their brows and leered, whistling at her frivolously. She found them deeply repulsive.

Gu Qingzhou continued pestering her. The guards from the prime minister's residence who had been following Ding Wenruo discreetly emerged to protect her, and the two groups went from shoving one another to exchanging blows.

How could Gu Qingzhou's band of pampered young gentlemen be a match for the guards? They were beaten into a scattered wreck, like fallen flowers swept away by flowing water.

Just then, Gu Qingzhou's guards arrived, and the guards on both sides launched into a fierce fight. Some were even experts in the Dao Integration Realm. Evenly matched, they tangled in the street, blades flashing and fists and feet flying in a furious melee. Before long, the crowd of onlookers had clogged Benevolent Proclamation Gate Avenue.

Su Qiu, chief constable of the Capital's Six Fan Gate, sensed Dao Integration Realm experts fighting within the city and led a group over to investigate, only to discover that the combatants belonged to Duke Gu's residence and the prime minister's residence. After learning what had happened, Su Qiu could only smile bitterly in helplessness, mobilizing a large contingent of Six Fan Gate officers before finally persuading both sides to leave.

When Ding Wenruo's father, Ding Feiyong, learned of the incident, his face turned livid. Fuming, he stormed into the duke's residence alone, frightening the servants and maids so badly that none dared stop him.

Upon seeing Gu Qingzhou, Ding Feiyong said nothing and delivered a vicious slap across his handsome face.

Rubbing his burning cheek, Gu Qingzhou watched Ding Feiyong's retreating back-the man he longed to call his father-in-law. Secretly gritting his teeth, he steeled his heart and actually went before the emperor, kneeling to beg him to arrange the match and decree Ding Wenruo's marriage to him.

Emperor Chen, Zhao Chang, found this an enormous headache. Gu Qingzhou's grandfather had been a powerful outlaw chieftain during the former dynasty and later joined the late emperor's uprising. When the late emperor was trapped at Coiling Dragon Ridge, he had stood in front of him to protect him, dying with dozens of arrows lodged in his body. After the founding of Great Chen, he was posthumously granted the title of duke.

Gu Qingzhou's father, Gu Rentang, had served as minister of works. His mother died giving birth to him, and Gu Rentang, occupied with official duties, never remarried. Later, overwork made him ill, and he too rode a crane into the hereafter before reaching forty. Pitifully, an illustrious ducal household was left with nothing but a child not yet ten years old.

Gu Qingzhou had grown up with little discipline. Though he was not tyrannical or overbearing, he had picked up many of the vices of idle young aristocrats, frequently provoking trouble and seeking flowers among the willows.

The Gu family had bent their backs and exhausted themselves in service to the Great Chen Empire. Had Gu Qingzhou wished to marry any other woman, Emperor Chen would certainly have agreed at once. But he wanted the granddaughter of the prime minister's household, and Prime Minister Ding Fengyuan would surely refuse.

With no other recourse, Emperor Chen soothed Gu Qingzhou. "As long as you can win Ding Wenruo's consent and the affection is mutual, I will personally go to the prime minister's residence to arrange the match for you."

From then on, Gu Qingzhou could not get Ding Wenruo out of his mind, though he no longer dared pester her. Later, when he learned that she would be studying at the Knowledge and Practice Institute, he considered it an opportunity that came once in a thousand years. Hoping to draw close to her beauty, he begged Wei Zhilin to let him enter the institute as well.

Wei Zhilin deeply respected and admired Gu Qingzhou's grandfather and father. Believing that this dissolute young gentleman had finally resolved to mend his ways, cleanse his heart, and strive to better himself, he granted his wish.

Now, hearing Ding Wenruo threaten to tell her father, Gu Qingzhou remembered that burning slap and dared not act up again. He could only watch helplessly as Wenruo left the Knowledge and Practice Institute and climbed into the prime minister's carriage.

Thoroughly dejected, Gu Qingzhou wanted to find his old pack of disreputable friends and drown his sorrows in wine. Just then, he spotted Bi Yunfei coming out of the classroom. He called out and threw an affectionate arm around his shoulders, intending to take him drinking.

Grand View Tower was a renowned restaurant in the imperial capital. Rather than a solitary tower, it consisted of several connected towers, pavilions, and terraces, with soaring eaves and painted corners overlooking the magnificent rolling waters of the Luo River, where a thousand sails raced past. With its superb scenery, it had always been a place where Luoyang City's high officials and nobles ascended to drink.

As they approached Grand View Tower, carved eaves gleamed in the sunlight, and painted beams soared into the clouds. Jade-green railings met the casement windows below, while emerald curtains hung high over the doors and windows. A sight to beguile drunken eyes: fine gentlemen rode dappled horses with jade bridles, and maids served sliced carp on golden platters. Inside, zithers sounded and reed pipes played amid extraordinary bustle.

Bi Yunfei followed Gu Qingzhou into the restaurant's main hall. Several massive pillars stood within, red draperies swaying in the breeze. He could not tell what material the surrounding walls had been carved from, but they glittered with golden light.

In the center, a coral railing enclosed an enormous peony. Its lush green branches and leaves looked fresh enough to drip, yet they were carved from jadeite, with every vein on the leaves clearly visible. Its immense white-jade petals shone with a warm, intoxicating luster. Red jadeite and green jadeite were prized, but purple was the most precious-and this peony's stamens were carved from purple jadeite, gleaming like dragon whiskers. This single ornament alone was worth a city; the extravagance of Grand View Tower could readily be imagined.

Bi Yunfei looked around as he followed Gu Qingzhou all the way to the stairs leading to the second floor, his feet treading a scarlet Persian carpet. One word kept surfacing in his mind: Luxury! Seeing that every guest coming and going was either wealthy or noble, he could not help feeling uneasy and ashamed of his own humble appearance.

Gu Qingzhou glanced around and cleared his throat. A sharp-eyed attendant hurried over to greet him warmly, wearing a fawning smile as he exclaimed that the duke had honored them with another visit and brought radiance to their humble establishment.

Chin held high, Gu Qingzhou ordered him to arrange food and wine at once, serving only the best, and to send a jar of aged Du Kang wine to the Cloud-Viewing Pavilion. Then he headed upstairs with the ease of long familiarity.

At that moment, the restaurant manager hurried over in a fluster. Round and stout, dressed in a robe patterned with copper coins and immortal cranes, he cupped his hands with an amiable smile. "Your Grace, the Cloud-Viewing Pavilion was reserved yesterday. Might you grace the Rain-Listening Pavilion instead? A jar of aged Du Kang will be our humble establishment's gift to Your Grace!"

Gu Qingzhou was in a foul mood that day. Without even turning his head, he started up the stairs. "Have you forgotten who I am? What blind fool dares compete with me? Just arrange the food and wine. Leave everything else alone."

The manager's head instantly felt twice its size. He dared not offend the duke, but neither could he afford to offend the minister's household that had reserved the Cloud-Viewing Pavilion. It seemed the immortals would be fighting again today; he could only hope the restaurant's other guests would not suffer in the crossfire. Tugging at his sparse beard with a miserable expression, he helplessly told the waiter to hurry and arrange the food and wine.

Cui Mengshu had been very happy lately. His injuries had almost healed. As his family's only son, he was thoroughly doted on by his father, Cui Lishen, vice minister of revenue. A few days earlier, his father had begged the Cui Family's Old Patriarch for a spiritual medicine from Immortal Birth Valley for him to take.

Immortal Birth Valley's spiritual medicines were renowned, but though they commanded prices, none were available on the market. Even great wealth could not necessarily buy them. They could only be obtained through an equivalent exchange for superb medicinal ingredients, cultivation manuals, rare treasures, or divine weapons that caught Immortal Birth Valley's interest.

Though the Cui Family of Fanyang Commandery was a distinguished clan with deep reserves, it had only a few such medicines in its collection. After Cui Mengshu took one, its effects proved astonishing. His breastbone healed at an extraordinary speed, and he could move without much difficulty. He expected to begin studying at the Knowledge and Practice Institute before long.

Today, his older cousin Cui Zhixia had actually sent him an invitation, leaving Cui Mengshu overwhelmed by the favor. Cui Zhixia's father was Cui Yizhong, minister of personnel, foremost among the six ministries. Cui Zhixia himself excelled in both scholarly and martial pursuits and had displayed outstanding talent from childhood. At six, he had sensed vital energy and entered the Qi Refining Realm in a single day, becoming famous throughout the realm. He was already emerging as the leading figure among the Cui Family's younger generation.

Receiving an invitation from Cui Zhixia, the leader of the Cui Family's younger generation, filled Cui Mengshu with extraordinary excitement.

To attend the evening banquet at Grand View Tower, he began preparing shortly after noon. His maids helped him change through several outfits, and he selected and reselected his headcloth, belt, and boots. He could not dress too ostentatiously and steal Cui Zhixia's thunder, nor could he dress too modestly and let his own brilliance disappear among the many members of his clan.

The maids worked until sweat covered their brows. By the time Cui Mengshu was finally dressed to his satisfaction, the sky had darkened. He hurriedly ordered his carriage readied and left.

When Cui Mengshu reached Grand View Tower, four of his clan brothers were already waiting at the entrance: Cui Heng, son of Deputy Censor-in-Chief Cui Xianzhi; Cui Yikang, son of Secretariat Vice Minister Cui Changgong; Cui Cun, son of Cui Youzhen, deputy director of the Court of the Imperial Treasury; and Cui Yanrong, son of Cui Quanyou, manager of the Cui Family's bank.

He went over to greet them, then joined the others in waiting for Cui Zhixia.

After the time it took an incense stick to burn, Cui Zhixia's carriage slowly approached. Two tall white steeds drew it, and the driver, dressed in blue with a small cap, pulled on the reins. The red sandalwood carriage was carved with exquisite patterns and radiated imposing splendor.

The carriage curtain lifted, revealing a handsome face, with brows sweeping toward the temples and long, narrow eyes that bore some resemblance to Cui Mengshu's. His thin lips pressed together, Cui Zhixia stepped coldly down from the carriage. The others hurried to greet him, fawning as they clustered around him and escorted him into Grand View Tower.

At the sight of the Cui Family's party, the manager inwardly groaned. He hurried forward to explain that Duke Gu had already occupied the Cloud-Viewing Pavilion.

Cui Zhixia raised an eyebrow. Without a word, he led the Cui Family's young men upstairs.

Cui Zhixia knew Gu Qingzhou's temperament, but he did not want to lose face before his clan brothers. Entering the room, he cupped his hands and introduced himself, explaining that the room had been reserved yesterday. In accordance with the rule of first come, first served, he asked Gu Qingzhou to vacate it, adding that he would pay for the food and wine on the table.

Gu Qingzhou was already slightly drunk. Without even looking at Cui Zhixia, he loudly urged Bi Yunfei to keep clinking cups with him. He knew perfectly well that this was the son so highly prized by Cui Yizhong, minister of personnel. In recent years, the Cui Family of Fanyang Commandery had been steadily soaring in influence at court, and its younger members had grown increasingly arrogant and overbearing. They routinely threw their weight around and even bullied merchants to dominate the markets. He had long found them intolerable.

Gu Qingzhou did not so much as lift his backside. Sitting there with brazen ease, he tipped his head back and drained a cup of wine. What can you do to me? Even the imperial family owes my family a debt. Go complain to the emperor-I'm not afraid.

Cui Zhixia's expression darkened like deep water, and the flesh at the sides of his cheeks bulged. He was clearly struggling to suppress his fury.

The other young men of the Cui Family followed his lead in all things. Standing to one side, they dared not even breathe loudly. The atmosphere in the room grew stifling and unnerving.

When had Bi Yunfei ever witnessed anything like this? On one side stood the sons of ministerial households, while Gu Qingzhou was actually a duke. These were lofty figures high above him, high in the clouds, yet here they all stood before him as if in a dream.

He had grown up in the countryside. His father had died young, leaving his mother to raise him alone. He had rarely even visited the county town, and the highest official he had ever seen was merely the local ward chief.

Seeing both sides with swords drawn and bows bent, Bi Yunfei could not help becoming terribly nervous. Even the hand holding his cup trembled slightly.