An Exchange of Conditions

At Duke Wei's words, Liu Feng smiled, looking as though he had achieved the result he wanted...

"Jing Yan, have you come to take this year's Spring Examination?" Duke Wei asked.

"Indeed!" Su Mo nodded.

Understanding dawned on everyone. "So he's a Provincial Graduate. No wonder."

"Such unparalleled talent."

"Wonderful, wonderful!" Duke Wei laughed happily. "With talent like this, you ought to become a pillar of our nation."

Su Mo remained noncommittal...

"I shall await your name on the golden list..."

Before leaving, Duke Wei patted Su Mo on the shoulder, looking thoroughly pleased.

Liu Feng and the others left with Duke Wei. Liu Feng was still smiling as he departed, but a fleeting look of loss slipped into his eyes.

Seeing that the show was over, the crowd of onlookers clasped their fists to Su Mo in goodwill before dispersing... They would have something to talk about when they got home.

"Thank you for your help, Fairy!" Once the onlookers had scattered, Su Mo clasped his fists to Luo Yin, took the hundred-tael banknote she had given him from his pocket, and offered it back.

Luo Yin brushed aside the long hair hanging over her forehead and shook her head with a smile. "I wasn't helping you. I merely bought something I liked. Since this was a sale, you should naturally keep the money. Or do you mean to take the painting back?"

Su Mo shook his head with a rueful smile and put the banknote away. "Then it would be ungracious of me to refuse."

Beside them, Gu Yu glanced between Luo Yin and Su Mo, his eyes darting as though an idea had occurred to him.

Su Mo turned to Gu Yu, only to find him frantically winking and making faces at him.

"Ahem... Well, let me see you out." Gu Yu cleared his throat twice, then dragged Su Mo and the little girl toward the exit of the Riverboat Pavilion, leaving both utterly bewildered.

Su Mo's face filled with aggrieved indignation... I wanted to sit a while longer! It wasn't easy getting in here.

Luo Yin watched in bewilderment... What mischief is he up to now? Do they know each other?

Gu Yu dragged them all the way out of the Riverboat Pavilion, then told Su Mo, "You two should head back. No need to thank me. I have something else to do, so I'll be off."

Su Mo's head was full of questions. He gave a bemused smile. "Still, thank you, Fairy Gu, for speaking up on my behalf today."

Gu Yu waved a hand. "It was nothing. I couldn't stand what I was seeing either."

After a moment's thought, seemingly recalling the look in Liu Feng's eyes as he left, Gu Yu added a warning. "That Liu Feng is the son of Great Hua's Minister of War. By rights, he shouldn't have targeted you so openly. Be careful. I don't think this is as simple as it seems."

"Thank you for the advice, Fairy Gu!" Su Mo nodded. As he recalled everything that had happened, Liu Feng's appearance and subsequent attacks did seem somewhat deliberate.

Gu Yu waved a hand, turned, and went back into the Riverboat Pavilion.

Once Gu Yu was gone, Su Mo beamed at the little girl, pulled out the banknote, and waved it.

"Well? What do you think?" Su Mo looked unbearably smug.

The little girl was delighted. "You're amazing, young master!"

"Come on, I'll take you to eat something good!"

"We're going to eat something good!" The little girl bounced with joy.

Su Mo ruffled Little Girl's hair, took her hand, and headed down the street.

Gu Yu returned to the Riverboat Pavilion to find Luo Yin carefully admiring the painting and its inscription.

"What do you think?" Gu Yu pulled up a chair and sat down.

Luo Yin nodded. "It's a fine painting. Duke Wei already said everything there was to say about it."

"But..." Luo Yin paused thoughtfully before continuing, "what sort of experiences must someone have had to paint something like this and compose such a lyric on the spot?"

Gu Yu pursed his lips. "Isn't it just a painting? Even I can tell it's good, but surely it doesn't warrant this reaction."

Luo Yin shook her head. "You don't understand. The painting is excellent, but I've seen its like before. What's truly outstanding is the lyric. Its first half describes the scene in the painting, with language that naturally suits the scenery. The second half expresses its meaning and emotion, echoing the painting's artistic mood. The lyric and painting complement each other. Even I consider it a masterpiece rarely seen in this world."

Oh, but what does the Dean want a painting for...? Gu Yu nodded after listening, then raised an eyebrow.

"How come you had time to visit again today?" Luo Yin set down the scroll and looked at Gu Yu curiously.

"It's all because that old... because my teacher, the Dean, sent me to buy a painting," Gu Yu grumbled.

"Buy a painting?" Luo Yin glanced down. "This one?"

Gu Yu looked at Luo Yin expectantly and nodded sheepishly.

Luo Yin held out her hand.

"What are you doing?" Gu Yu waved a hand.

"Pay up!" Luo Yin said as though it were only natural.

"I have no money!" Gu Yu declared with perfect confidence... Why does this scene and this conversation feel so familiar?

I knew you had no money... Luo Yin withdrew her hand, looking decidedly stingy. "Then you can't have it!"

Gu Yu protested, "You're such a wealthy little lady. Surely you don't need this bit of money?"

You're the wealthy little lady. That sounds awful...

"It has nothing to do with whether I need the money. A sale is a sale... Naturally, you have to pay," Luo Yin said righteously. She simply couldn't bear to part with the painting.

Gu Yu was speechless. Then his eyes shifted, and he suddenly smiled again. "How about this? Lend me the painting so I can go back and satisfy the Dean, and I'll tell you who was playing the flute last night."

"Actually, I have no use for this painting at the moment. For the Dean's sake, I'll lend it to you for a few days... Remember to return it!" Luo Yin handed the scroll to Gu Yu, sat down, and poured herself a cup of tea, calm and breezy, as though she didn't care in the slightest.

Could you at least show a little restraint...? Gu Yu, dressed in red, was utterly exasperated.

Still, Gu Yu was delighted to receive the painting... Good thing I managed to trick her into handing it over. Otherwise, I'd have had to steal it, and stealing from my best friend would weigh on my conscience.

After putting the scroll into his Storage Ring, Gu Yu fell silent. He picked up his tea and sipped it leisurely, his expression serene.

Luo Yin waited a long while, secretly frowning as she held her teacup and gently rubbed its rim.

"How's the tea?" Luo Yin asked casually.

"Not bad. Better than the Academy's."

"Has the Dean been well lately?"

"Very well. He's just getting more and more devious."

"Are your fellow disciples doing well?"

"The eldest is still sleeping all the time. Second Senior Brother spends all day wandering around with the bird he keeps. The fourth and fifth were discussing robbing the Imperial Mausoleum, so the Dean locked them up to face the wall in reflection. That silly Sixth Senior Sister has set her sights on Second Senior Brother's bird. She follows Second Senior Brother around all day, wanting to roast it and eat it."

"What about the third?"

"...I'm the third!"

"Oh..."

"I should head back. I still have to return to the Academy and report to the Dean!" Gu Yu rolled his eyes and smiled.

"Mm," Luo Yin answered lightly.

Gu Yu turned and walked out with a chuckle.

"Ahem..." Luo Yin cleared her throat twice and took a sip of tea.

Gu Yu looked back to find Luo Yin staring at him with a dark expression and a distinctly unfriendly gaze.

"Oh, right... I still have to tell you who was playing the flute yesterday." Gu Yu finally spoke, no longer toying with Luo Yin.

Luo Yin nodded and drank her tea without a word.

Gu Yu grinned.

"The person playing the flute yesterday was the Provincial Graduate who just sold you that painting... Su Mo, Su Jingyan!"

Luo Yin froze at his words, suddenly lost in thought.

His red robes fluttering, Gu Yu bolted as soon as he finished speaking...