Beneath the table, Bi Yunfei quietly tugged at Gu Qingzhou's robe and whispered, "D-Duke Gu, they did reserve this place yesterday. Why don't... we go somewhere else?"
Gu Qingzhou squinted drunkenly and raised his wine cup high, slurring at Bi Yunfei, "Stop... calling me duke... makes us sound like strangers. I'm two years older than you. Call me big brother from now on!"
With the Cui Family men standing nearby, watching like hungry tigers, Bi Yunfei felt as though he were sitting on needles. He could only steel himself, raise his cup, and clink it against Gu Qingzhou's. "Yes, Brother Gu. I'll remember!" He lifted his cup and drained it.
"That's more like it!" Gu Qingzhou roared with laughter, then cast a sidelong glance at the Cui Family men. "Get out, all of you! When I'm drinking... I hate people cluttering up my sight... I'll count to three. Disappear... or don't blame me for hitting you!"
With a contemptuous, wildly arrogant smile, he drained his cup and swayed to his feet.
Cui Mengshu and the others turned livid with rage, unable to resist rolling up their sleeves and preparing to attack.
Cui Zhixia stretched out an arm to stop them. His face pale, he drew a deep breath and said through clenched teeth, "Since Duke Gu refuses to yield, we shall not disturb your enjoyment any further. Farewell!" With that, he waved a hand for them to leave.
They had reached the doorway when Gu Qingzhou rose, bracing himself against the table, his eyes unfocused. He shouted, "Wait-don't forget to pay for this table of food and wine before you leave!"
He threw his head back and laughed several times, then sat down without sparing them another glance. Raising his cup again, he called thickly to Bi Yunfei, "Come... brother, drink... your big brother... will toast you too..."
Cui Zhixia froze. His face grew even paler, and he clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles cracked. Veins bulged across his hands, and his shoulders trembled.
He was the grandson the Cui Old Patriarch valued most. Every member of his generation treated him with utmost respect, and even his elders were courteous to him. To suffer such a monstrous humiliation before his own family today-at that moment, he truly wanted to kill Gu Qingzhou.
Cui Zhixia tightened his fists, driving his long nails into his palms. The piercing pain kept him lucid and rational, reminding him that he could not strike-not yet, at least.
Tilting his head, Gu Qingzhou watched Cui Zhixia stand motionless across the table. He rolled his eyes and gave a contemptuous snort. "What? Can't stomach it?... Want... to hit me? Come... on. I won't... even move. Try hitting... me... If you haven't got the balls... hurry up and get out. Don't... foul my eyes!"
Watching this scene, Bi Yunfei felt his entire view of life turned upside down.
Two days earlier, Gu Qingzhou had taken him drinking and treated him to the capital's world-famous water banquet. A single meal had cost eighty-five taels of silver, yet Gu Qingzhou had not so much as blinked. He had casually pulled a hundred-tael banknote from his robe, tossed it to the waiter with a flourish, and told him to keep the change.
Today, the son of the Minister of Personnel, a member of the wealthiest family under heaven-the Cui Family of Fanyang Commandery-had tucked his tail between his legs before Gu Qingzhou and dared not even let out a fart. This was the power of nobility and imperial authority. No matter how exalted your clan or how vast your fortune, you still had to bow before absolute aristocratic and imperial power.
Bi Yunfei's chest heaved with emotions he could not calm, and hot blood surged straight to the crown of his head. Gritting his teeth, he clenched his fists and secretly swore, This is how a true man should live. One day, I too will possess such power, whatever the cost...
The men left the Grand View Tower, Cui Zhixia silent and grim-faced.
Cui Mengshu tried carefully to ingratiate himself. "Young Master Cui, the Dewei Tower is just up ahead. Their chef was hired from the Eastern Yang Kingdom, and the dishes are exquisitely prepared. Why don't... we try it?"
Cui Zhixia gave a grunt of assent, and Cui Mengshu hurried ahead to lead the way.
They settled into the finest room at the Dewei Tower. As the waiter brought out their dishes one after another, Cui Zhixia had already suppressed his anger.
He was not the oldest among them, but he occupied the seat of honor, and everyone else regarded that as perfectly natural.
Cui Zhixia raised a cup of wine, and the others hastily followed suit. He took a sip and said coldly, "Gu Qingzhou must die, but the time has not yet come. His Majesty still remembers his debt to the Gu Family. Moreover, many veteran civil and military officials at court have received favors from the Gu Family in one way or another. So for now... it is not yet time to kill him. Once our Dragon Gate Academy has completely suppressed the Knowledge and Practice Institute and helped His Majesty purge its faction from court... I will slaughter him myself!"
Everyone brightened at his words. They clamored over one another to praise Cui Zhixia's foresight, declaring their willingness to follow his lead in the future.
Cui Zhixia pressed his hand downward, and the others fell silent. Looking around, he continued, "The Old Patriarch selected all of you to enter the Knowledge and Practice Institute. Harbor no resentment over that. Once inside, you will take orders from Cui Mengshu. You must stand united and recruit as many of its outstanding talents as possible for my future use. As for stubborn dissidents, you must employ suitable means to suppress them. At the same time, you must never slacken in your literary and martial studies. This time next year, our Dragon Gate Academy will compete against the Knowledge and Practice Institute. If we win across the board, His Majesty will have grounds to suppress it. Watch and wait... our era is about to dawn. Once my father becomes chancellor and rewards are handed out according to merit, don't say I never reminded you!"
It had to be said that Cui Zhixia possessed considerable leadership ability. His words were powerfully rousing and beguiling. The others rubbed their hands eagerly, then rose in delight and surrounded him like stars clustering around the moon, taking turns to toast him and vying to proclaim their loyalty.
His face flushed, Cui Mengshu thumped his chest and declared loudly, "One word from Young Master Cui, and we brothers will brave mountains of blades and seas of fire, refusing nothing even at the cost of ten thousand deaths...!" His excitement aggravated his injured ribs. His brows furrowed in pain, and a trace of viciousness crossed his face as he thought, He An, you little bastard. Just you wait. I'll never let you off.
Gu Qingzhou thoroughly enjoyed the drinking session. Rising to his feet, he pushed open the window with a smug sense of satisfaction. A bright moon hung high outside, and in the distance the waters of the Luo River shimmered. Several small boats lay moored on the river, their lights faintly visible. The chilly night breeze brushed his face and sobered him a little.
Though born to privilege, Gu Qingzhou had inherited from his father's generation a bone-deep hatred of evil. He himself might be arrogant and domineering, but he could not stand anyone being more arrogant and domineering than he was. Having put the Cui Family men in their place today, he felt immensely pleased.
He began telling Bi Yunfei about his past glorious deeds: helping Shopkeeper Liu on Cross Street recover his seized shop, helping the residents of Jia Ma Camp Alley deal with the Flying Knife Gang's protection racket, teaching unruly officials' sons a lesson on behalf of the singing girls at the Virtue and Art House, and more. Throughout Luoyang City, neither the underworld nor the lawful authorities dared deny him face. A single word from him could carry even more weight than the government.
"In all my life, the thing I've hated most is seeing people swagger around and bully the weak. My gallant heart and righteous spirit are already known throughout Luoyang City. Among the common folk in the streets and the gentlemen at court, who hasn't heard the name Gu Qingzhou?"
Gu Qingzhou talked without pause, while Bi Yunfei applauded and praised him. Born into poverty, Bi Yunfei had learned from childhood to assess circumstances and read people's expressions. Having witnessed Gu Qingzhou's heaven-filling influence today and learned that he was a duke, he had begun deliberately trying to win his favor.
He carefully chose flattering words and buttered up the duke without leaving a trace. Gu Qingzhou found it immensely gratifying and had already come to regard Bi Yunfei as a kindred spirit.
When both men were flushed and warmed with wine, Gu Qingzhou let out a long sigh. "Your big brother may seem wild and unrestrained, but in this world, eight or nine things out of ten go against our wishes, and only two or three can be spoken of to others. Today... I invited you here to drown my sorrows in wine!"
Bi Yunfei asked in surprise, "No wonder you've looked unhappy all evening, big brother. Can there really be anything in this world that could trouble you?"
Gu Qingzhou smiled bitterly, tipped back a cup of wine, and told him about his troubles with Ding Wenruo.
Bi Yunfei poured him another cup and said thoughtfully, "So it is love that troubles you, big brother. Such genuine feeling is the true nature of a man! I do have a way... I can't promise Miss Ding will change her heart, but her impression of you... even her attitude toward you will certainly improve greatly!"
Gu Qingzhou's eyes lit up. He gulped some wine and slapped the table impatiently. "What brilliant plan do you have, brother? Tell me at once!"
Bi Yunfei said, "Miss Ding is the daughter of the Chancellor's Residence, and you, big brother, are a dragon and phoenix among men. In family standing and looks alike, you are a fitting match for her-a splendid pairing. The people Miss Ding usually meets are probably the children of court ministers or learned Confucian scholars. The man she admires is likely a cultured, courteous, gentle, and refined talent. If she keeps you a thousand miles away, it is simply because she dislikes your wild, unrestrained ways and your romantic escapades. From now on, you need only stop befriending or associating with those she considers disreputable companions, apply yourself diligently to your studies, and become cultured, elegant, and gracious. Her impression of you will surely change enormously... Later, when you and Miss Ding study together at the Knowledge and Practice Institute, you will see each other morning and evening, and affection will grow with time. With your character and bearing, big brother, I can hardly imagine how Miss Ding could fail to be moved!"
Gu Qingzhou pinched his chin in earnest thought. The more he considered it, the more sense Bi Yunfei's words made. Excitedly, he slapped the table. "Good! Good! Brilliant! Hearing your words, my worthy brother Yunfei, is truly like watching the clouds part to reveal the sun-the tangled thicket in my mind has cleared! Brother, have a drink!"
Both host and guest drank to their hearts' content. Gu Qingzhou led Bi Yunfei unsteadily down from the second floor. Those Cui Family cowards really had paid the bill, which made him feel all the more triumphant and exhilarated. He pulled Bi Yunfei into his carriage, insisting on taking him back to the Knowledge and Practice Institute.
Bi Yunfei sat inside Gu Qingzhou's carriage. Built of golden silk nanmu, its cabin was spacious and comfortable, with striped tiger-skin cushions and exquisitely carved window decorations. Hidden compartments in the walls were filled with pastries and fruit. Even with the beaded curtains lowered, one could clearly see outside through the gaps, while those outside could not see in. A delicate fragrance drifted through the cabin, which was luxurious to the utmost.
Bi Yunfei quietly surveyed it all, profoundly awestruck, though outwardly he sat straight and proper, his gaze seemingly fixed ahead.
Gu Qingzhou said the carriage had been bestowed by His Majesty, an honor even the ministers at court did not enjoy. Across the entire Great Chen Empire, those granted such a fragrant carriage by the emperor could be counted on one hand. Bi Yunfei was consumed with envy, yet dared not let even a trace show on his face.
At the entrance to the Knowledge and Practice Institute, Bi Yunfei got out, and Gu Qingzhou ordered the driver to return to the duke's residence. Though he had lodgings at the institute, they were purely for amusement; he would never spend the night in such a shabby place.
Bi Yunfei returned to his dormitory and found the room empty. Those two unlucky fellows were still in confinement.
He sat at the desk and took out his brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. With moonlight flowing like water and a cool breeze stirring, he dipped his brush in ink and wrote on a yellowed sheet of letter paper: "Yunfei kneels to respectfully report to his honored mother. May ten thousand blessings attend your health and peace." After a moment's thought, he crossed it out heavily with his brush. Ink dripped and spread across more than half the sheet. Bi Yunfei crumpled it into a ball and laid out another.
After thinking for a while, he lifted his brush again and wrote: "Dear Mother, your son Yunfei bows his head to you. You hid a ten-tael banknote in my bundle. I have enough to spend, so I'm sending it back. Your health is poor; please get some good medicine from Doctor Sun at the village entrance to build up your strength. I will work hard at the Knowledge and Practice Institute, so please don't worry."
Bi Yunfei rubbed his eyes and glanced around the empty room, then continued writing: "I have become acquainted with Young Lord Gu Qingzhou, the Duke Who Guards the Nation. His status is noble and illustrious, and he has shown me many things I had never seen before. One day, I will surely soar to success. Then I'll buy a large residence in the capital and bring you here to enjoy a comfortable life. Everything is well with me here, so don't worry. I'll stop here, as I must review my lessons. Once again, your son kneels and bows..."
After finishing the letter home, Bi Yunfei rubbed the space between his brows and looked up at the moon outside the window. Blazing flames seemed to rise within his eyes.
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