Chapter 14

Chu Huaiyin saw Meng Zhou keeping his little face stern while his hungry gaze refused to leave the food box. He all but had "everyone who sees it gets a share" written across his face, and Chu Huaiyin could not help laughing.

He tipped his chin, signaling Ji Yang to give it to Meng Zhou.

The vendor had skewered each whole grilled fish on two wooden sticks. Crisp outside and tender within, the flesh clung to the bones. A gentle bite tore off a richly flavored, juicy piece without making the remaining meat fall apart.

Meng Zhou held the skewers in his right hand and was just about to chomp down when Chu Huaiyin suddenly caught his arm.

He strained, trying hard to bring it toward his mouth, but the distance did not change at all.

If the fish won't come to me, I'll go to the fish. Meng Zhou leaned his mouth toward it, only for Chu Huaiyin to seize his chin.

"Mmph, mmph, mmph..." Meng Zhou accused him with his eyes.

"Think this through. If you insist on becoming a monk, you must never touch meat or fish again. Never mind this grilled fish-even steamed egg custard will be off-limits. I'll send someone to watch you. Steal a single bite, and you'll receive fifty strokes of the paddle, and so on for every bite."

Chu Huaiyin delivered his threat in all seriousness, making every consequence sound as grave as possible.

Meng Zhou's gaze froze. Like a chick caught beneath the shadow of a passing eagle, he looked utterly forlorn, too intimidated to speak.

Chu Huaiyin was just about to release him when he followed that "frozen" gaze and discovered it was fixed on... the grilled fish.

"You don't believe me? Hmm?"

Meng Zhou nodded hastily. With power, you really could do whatever you pleased.

"Still becoming a monk?"

He shook his head.

"Then eat." Chu Huaiyin released him.

Meng Zhou rubbed his aching chin. What a strong grip. Fortunately, the grilled fish could offer his wounded soul some small consolation.

He deliberately stayed one step behind Chu Huaiyin, munching away with gusto.

Wanting to probe further into what exactly went through Meng Zhou's head every day, Chu Huaiyin paused and started to turn.

Meng Zhou immediately stepped back, shielding his grilled fish as warily as a hen protecting her chicks. "What is it, Prince Huai?"

Chu Huaiyin felt rather helpless.

Over the short stretch down the mountain, Meng Zhou polished off two fish. When the man ahead was not looking, he secretly wiped his greasy mouth on his sleeve.

Three fine horses waited at the crossroads. Chu Huaiyin pointed out a docile one for Meng Zhou, then rode off first, with Meng Zhou and Ji Yang following.

"Brother Ji, there's something I don't understand..." Meng Zhou hesitated.

"What is it, Lord Meng?" After everything that had happened, if Ji Yang still could not see Meng Zhou's place in his master's heart, he might as well poke his own eyes out and tell fortunes on the street. So much for testing Meng Zhou's abilities before making him a trusted subordinate. His master was already doting on him like his own precious darling. What would happen in the future?

When he had left, his master had been in a thunderous rage. Yet in the blink of an eye, the two had emerged together, and the grilled fish he had rushed over at top speed had actually been used to persuade Meng Zhou to return to secular life!

Ji Yang nearly spat blood.

Meng Zhou stared straight ahead, upright and incorruptible, as though asking about some great affair of state or military importance. It made Ji Yang nervous too, his palms growing slightly sweaty around the reins.

As Chu Huaiyin's confidant, he knew a great deal, and he knew what he could and could not disclose. But with Meng Zhou, Ji Yang was no longer sure.

Should he tell him everything he knew, or leave absolutely nothing unsaid?

Meng Zhou asked, "The fish. Where did you buy it?"

"..."

"Hmm?"

Was that question so hard to answer?

"The third shop from the right in Second Alley in the west of the city. Their ancestors were imperial chefs. They're no longer in business, but if you want some, give Prince Huai's name."

"I see." Meng Zhou nodded happily. "Thank you, Brother Ji."

The party stopped outside Prince Huai's Residence. Meng Zhou admired its grand, imposing interior through the gates, then leaped off his horse and bade Chu Huaiyin farewell.

Chu Huaiyin watched his retreating back, his eyes unreadable.

"Stop."

Meng Zhou turned in confusion. The grilled fish had left his throat dry, and he was eager to buy a bowl of tea by the roadside to quench his thirst.

"A decorative stone arrived from the provinces the other day. Since you're here, why not come inside and take a look?"

A decorative stone?

Not interested.

Meng Zhou had no such refined hobby, but since Chu Huaiyin had invited him, he could only nod. What if there was a treasure map on the stone that Chu Huaiyin wanted to share with him?

Ji Yang was just as bewildered as Meng Zhou. Jade and silver ornaments, pearls, and bolts of cloth had entered the residence's treasury recently, but there had been no stones.

Could it be... could his master mean the emerald specimen sent as tribute from Wenshan?

It was a beautiful piece of coal-black mica, the emeralds growing upon it as deep and brilliant as starlight. Shaped like a crown, noble and mysterious, it was a peerless treasure.

Ji Yang could already imagine Meng Zhou exclaiming in admiration and his master smiling as he handed it over.

His heart was still as water.

"Make tea." As soon as Chu Huaiyin entered, he instructed the servants to bring out his favorite Da Hong Pao, but somehow, by the time the words left his mouth, it had become plain boiled water.

Such an enormous princely residence, and they served guests plain boiled water?

Meng Zhou was wondering whether Chu Huaiyin was in a foul mood and taking it out on him when a glance revealed that their host was drinking plain boiled water too.

So Prince Huai was simply noble in character, disciplined, and frugal.

Reassured, Meng Zhou gulped down two pots, actually finding even the plain boiled water here a little sweeter than elsewhere.

Once Meng Zhou withdrew his gaze, Chu Huaiyin slowly brought his tilted, lowered white jade cup back into place.

Kitten Meng's furtive scrutiny was far too obvious.

After they finished drinking and sat a little longer, Chu Huaiyin took him to a side hall.

Chu Huaiyin was the sole master of Prince Huai's Residence. He had neither married nor taken concubines, and most of the servants were male attendants and hidden guards. It could be called a gathering place for male creatures.

Ancient trees towered outside the side hall, and winding paths led into secluded depths. It was the quietest, most elegant part of Prince Huai's Residence. Almost no one came here, but servants cleaned it daily, leaving the windows bright, the tables spotless, and not a speck of dust. On the right stood a display shelf as high as the ceiling beams, with unusual stones arranged upon it in a pleasing composition.

Jagged Lingbi stone peaks, lustrous Shoushan ornaments, jade pieces, and porcelain shone in a colorful array.

And... Meng Zhou followed Chu Huaiyin's indication... an ordinary stone... mottled brown, yellow, and black?

"If flowers could speak, they would only make more trouble; stones cannot speak, and so are most endearing. Meng Zhou, what insight do you gain from this stone?"

Was this reading comprehension or a personal reflection?

Meng Zhou stared holes into that wretched stone and still saw nothing. He recalled his school-day reading comprehension techniques. Hmm, first, identify the question setter's intention. He stole a glance at Chu Huaiyin's composed face, imposing even without anger. Forget it. Skip that step for now...

Then begin with the stone's own characteristics... Meng Zhou chose his words carefully. "The surface has exquisite patterns, its lines interweaving light and shadow, its colors flowing between dark and pale. It is natural and simple, formed entirely by nature. There seems, seems to be some profound meaning congealed within it." He glossed over the part about profound meaning.

Next came elaboration and comparison. "Since ancient times, scholars have prized decorative stones for their slenderness, hollows, wrinkles, and openness. Some naturally form paintings, while others stand alone as landscapes. This stone is in a class of its own. The breadth of your collection and the scope of your vision inspire wonder, Prince Huai."

Finally, Meng Zhou concluded-

"This is an extraordinary stone."

Meeting Chu Huaiyin's peculiar gaze after finishing, Meng Zhou lowered his eyes and composed himself, doing his utmost to maintain an outward appearance of calm.

The corner of Chu Huaiyin's mouth twitched. Meng Zhou appeared to have said a great deal, but had actually said nothing at all. That mouth was as capable of spouting nonsense as ever.

Hmph. Just what I wanted.

"What, you haven't noticed the Zen meaning flowing through these shades?" Amusement showed in Chu Huaiyin's eyes.

Meng Zhou looked again.

No.

Chu Huaiyin put it more plainly. "This stone is called 'Buddhist Affinity.'"

Meng Zhou examined it carefully, then understood. The stone was brownish yellow-did it not vaguely resemble a wooden fish drum?

For a moment, he felt aggrieved and indignant. Wasn't this supposed to be reading comprehension? Why had it turned into a riddle? After all that circling around, were they still on the subject of becoming a monk? Couldn't they just leave it unspoken and let it pass?

"You cannot even comprehend this. Meng Zhou, you have no affinity with the Buddha."

Chu Huaiyin stood with his hands behind his back, his imposing presence bearing down as though he stood in the imperial throne hall, wielding the power of life and death, revealing the mysteries of the nine heavens in a single utterance.

His voice rang like jade and gold.

Meng Zhou nearly knelt to receive the decree.

Once Meng Zhou stepped out of Prince Huai's Residence, the devout, receptive expression on his face vanished completely.

The situation was urgent. He headed straight east for the Daoist temple the abbot had mentioned and gave the abbot's name.

Along the way, he found time to consider a question-why had Chu Huaiyin reacted so strongly to his becoming a monk? Why had he gone through eighteen twists and turns to persuade him to abandon the idea?

Had he been very idle lately?

Or was it because I said I would join him, only to go back on my word?

Meng Zhou immediately arrived at an answer. Chu Huaiyin was clearly someone who could not tolerate deception. Meng Zhou had repeatedly trodden on his bottom line, and this time he had finally angered him into taking some mild countermeasures.

Very "mild" indeed. He hardly seemed like a prince fresh from the battlefield.

Could it be, could it be that Chu Huaiyin recognized a pearl when he saw one and thought I was worth teaching, showing such exceptional tolerance because he valued talent and wanted to retain me...

Meng Zhou's lips curved, his satisfaction tinged with confidence and devilry.

Wonderful.

"Hyah!"

The horse's hooves raised a cloud of dust on the main road before plunging straight onto a narrow forest path, cutting through wind and leaves, and finally stopping before a grand, timeworn Daoist temple.

The abbot had indeed been loyal. As soon as Meng Zhou left, he had sent a young monk to contact the Daoist master of Clear Void Daoist Temple and explain everything.

Daoist Master Xiuming was a man of feeling. He stared at Meng Zhou for a long while, made him promise not to cause any major trouble that might endanger Clear Void Daoist Temple, then stroked his long beard and nodded slightly.

People who had committed too many shameful deeds often believed in the gods, vainly hoping to wash the sins from their hands through prayer. The Liu family was no exception. They held one rite after another, following Liu De's final wishes and inviting Buddhists and Daoists alike into their home.

No one imagined that a rosy-lipped, white-toothed little spy had slipped in among the Daoists in dark blue robes.

His long hair was gathered into a topknot secured with a green wooden hairpin. The plain, thin Daoist robe only accentuated his well-proportioned figure and slender, graceful form.

Meng Zhou sat cross-legged among the Daoists, shoulders hunched and head lowered, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.

But his looks were still too striking. While speaking to the lead Daoist, Liu Hongbao kept glancing toward Meng Zhou. A gleam flashed through his small, murky eyes, like a starving wolf spotting a farmer's fat chicken, revealing a vicious, ravenous hunger.

He had never imagined that a Daoist temple deep in the mountains could hold someone so full of spirit, like a pure, natural piece of uncut jade waiting for a destined admirer to discover him.

With the funeral proceedings halfway through, Liu Hongbao, who had restrained his desires for several days, could no longer keep up the dutiful-son act. His true nature emerged, his head filled with lust. He offered a few perfunctory responses, then secretly gestured to the steward as he left.