A new home and a new neighbor

The next morning dawned clear, with the first faint light.

Outside the Capital's West Peace Gate, a stone bridge spanned a small river.

The river flowed slowly, a few fallen leaves drifting on its surface. Now and then, an early riser crossed the bridge carrying a shoulder pole, its creaking echoing through the morning mist.

Wei Nisheng and Wei An walked side by side, passing through the West Peace Gate and across the stone bridge before reaching a quiet little lane.

The lane was narrow, its bluestone paving worn smooth by the years.

On either side stood the courtyard walls of ordinary homes, with gray bricks and blue-gray tiles, neither particularly high nor low.

Compared with the air of power and privilege around the East Flower Gate, or the vermilion doors and towering walls near the Great Ming Gate, this place seemed utterly ordinary.

There was no clamor of carriages and horses, no clouds of servants, only early-rising women carrying wooden tubs down to the river to wash clothes.

A peddler passed the mouth of the lane with his shoulder pole, calling, "Tofu pudding! Hot tofu pudding!"

Wei Nisheng liked this ordinariness very much.

No vermilion doors or towering walls, no clouds of servants.

Here was a place where he could study in peace.

Then Wei An pointed to a courtyard entrance ahead. "Young master, that's the one."

Wei Nisheng looked up.

It was a small courtyard residence with two successive courtyards. Its entrance had an ordinary wooden door, the paint peeling away to expose the natural color of the wood beneath.

The brass door rings were covered in green tarnish. An old lock hung from them, rusty as well.

"Young master, this old servant fetched the key from the safekeeping house first thing this morning."

(Safekeeping houses: establishments for storing deposited valuables, which existed as early as the Tang Dynasty.)

Wei Nisheng stepped forward, took the key from Wei An, and glanced at him.

"Uncle Wei, don't call yourself a 'servant' anymore. I told you, you're my elder."

Wei An froze at those words.

Wei Nisheng offered no further explanation and slipped the key into the lock.

The lock was badly rusted. It took two turns before it finally opened.

Then he pushed gently, and the door opened with a creak.

Beyond the door, desolation filled his view.

The weeds in the courtyard stood waist-high, almost swallowing the bluestone path.

A jujube tree grew in one corner, its branches jutting every which way. A few dates, dried by last year's winds, still hung from them, shriveled and swaying gently in the breeze.

Still, the main rooms, side rooms, and front rooms were all there.

Though old, the doors and windows were undamaged, merely coated in thick dust, while the window paper was riddled with holes.

Wei Nisheng went inside and inspected the rooms one by one.

The main room stood empty apart from a dust-covered bed frame, with a rat-gnawed hole in its boards.

The side rooms held heaps of broken odds and ends: several chairs missing legs, a table listing to one side, and a cracked earthenware jar.

The kitchen stove remained, but the pots, bowls, ladles, and basins had long since vanished...

After making a circuit, he returned to the courtyard and stood beneath the jujube tree.

Wei An followed behind him. Looking at the desolation all around, he felt a pang. "Young master, this... this is far too run-down.

"Why don't we rent a clean courtyard first and fix this place up little by little?"

"No need." Wei Nisheng shook his head. "What's there to fear about a run-down house? Once we tidy it up, it'll be fit to live in."

As he spoke, he stood in the courtyard and surveyed his surroundings, his gaze firm.

"From today onward, this is our new home."

Just then, a voice came from outside the courtyard gate. "This house has been abandoned for ages. Did you buy it?"

Hearing the voice, Wei Nisheng turned toward the entrance.

A middle-aged man stood beside the gate, leaning slightly forward and craning his neck to look inside.

The green official robe he wore had been washed until it faded, and fine threads frayed its cuffs, giving it the worn look of genteel poverty.

His face was lean, his cheekbones slightly prominent, and the small mustache above his lip was neatly trimmed.

Seeing him, Wei Nisheng stepped forward of his own accord and bowed. "No. I am the owner of this house."

The man paused at those words, then studied Wei Nisheng carefully.

The boy was around ten, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe. Though the fabric was nothing particularly expensive, it was washed spotless and pressed perfectly smooth.

His features were delicate, his brows and eyes as fine as a painting, his bearing composed.

His bow was so impeccable that he was clearly a scion of an established family.

Besides, the Capital's waters ran deep. Purple-robed officials were as plentiful as dogs, and scarlet-robed officials walked everywhere; even a random child might have formidable connections.

It never hurt to be careful.

With that thought, the man hurriedly returned the bow, his manner considerably more courteous. "I am Xu Li, currently serving as administrative clerk of Shuntian Prefecture."

Something stirred in Wei Nisheng's mind.

An administrative clerk of Shuntian Prefecture, Subordinate Eighth Rank, handles documents and miscellaneous affairs for the Capital Region.

Not a high office, but he's still a Capital official with responsibility for practical matters.

Wei Nisheng bowed again. "I am Wei Nisheng. My respects, Lord Xu."

At the name "Wei Nisheng," Xu Li's brows drew together slightly as he pondered. "The surname Wei... your family is..."

Wei Nisheng replied openly, "My grandfather is Wei Zheng, former Minister of Revenue and Grand Secretary of the Hall of Martial Valor. My father is Wei Mingyuan."

Xu Li froze for a moment, then seemed to recall something. "Oh? Then Lord Wei, the bureau director of the Imperial Parks Bureau under the Ministry of Works, is your..."

Wei Nisheng smiled faintly. "The Lord Wei you mentioned, the bureau director of the Imperial Parks Bureau under the Ministry of Works, is my second uncle.

"I belong to the Eldest Branch, which has now undergone Lineage Separation."

"The Eldest Branch? Duke Wenduan's Eldest Branch..." Xu Li had not expected that, but nodded in understanding all the same. "I see. No wonder..."

Then he abruptly stopped, his eyes widening and his voice rising. "Wait, your name... Wei Nisheng?!"

He suddenly remembered the news that had set the Capital buzzing not long ago.

The "Fiery Child" who had drawn his sword at ten years old and slain an evil servant, the Wei Family's son whom His Majesty had personally praised!

"Oh! You-you're that 'Fiery Child' who drew his sword and slew the wicked servant?!"

Wei Nisheng inclined his body slightly and said modestly, "I'm unworthy of the title."

Now that he had something to talk about, Xu Li's eyes filled with warmth. "I've long admired you! Your name has thundered in my ears, Young Master Wei! Meeting you today is a blessing earned over three lifetimes!"

Wei Nisheng did not know whether to laugh or cry at his enthusiasm and could only reply politely, "You flatter me, Lord Xu."

Xu Li exchanged a few more pleasantries, explaining that he lived next door. They would be neighbors from now on, so if they needed help with anything, they should simply ask.

He also said his wife was a fine cook, and once Wei Nisheng moved into his new home, he would have her send some food over.

Then he tactfully took his leave.

As he left, he glanced back at the abandoned little courtyard.

Neighbors with the "Fiery Child"! Now I'll have something else to brag about to my colleagues when I go back on duty!

After Xu Li left, Wei An came closer and said quietly, "Young master, does an administrative clerk of Subordinate Eighth Rank really deserve such courtesy from you?"

In his eyes, the young master was Duke Wenduan's grandson, of the Eldest Branch Legitimate Line, with limitless prospects ahead.

A mere administrative clerk hardly warranted so much attention.

Wei Nisheng shook his head with a smile. "Uncle Wei, you shouldn't put it that way."

As he spoke, he walked into the courtyard, crouched down, and pulled up a weed.

"We'll be neighbors from now on. Whether we lower our heads or raise them, we're bound to run into each other. Being courteous is better than making an enemy."

He tossed the weed aside and patted the dirt from his hands. "Besides, he's an administrative clerk of Shuntian Prefecture.

"Shuntian Prefecture handles affairs in the Capital Region. If we're going to settle here, we'll inevitably have dealings with them. He might come in handy someday."

Wei An considered this, then nodded. "You're right, young master. My thinking was too narrow."

"Ha." Wei Nisheng stood and smiled. "Your thinking wasn't too narrow, Uncle Wei. You simply worry too much on my behalf."

He paused, then asked, "By the way, have you managed to contact Cui Fu?"

Wei An nodded. "Yesterday, I gave an idler a few copper coins to pass along a message. I reckon we'll hear back today."

"Do you think Cui Fu knows about what happened between me and the Wei Family?"

"He certainly does."

"That fellow isn't good at much else, but he's a dab hand at gathering news."