Literary Gathering

The red invitation was tied with a bright yellow ornamental cord, and auspicious clouds in gold leaf decorated the inside. It had an added touch of grandeur, but lacked something of a scholar's elegance.

This heir apparent really did love entertaining guests. He had held a literary gathering only yesterday, and now he was holding another today.

Chen Ji returned to the clinic with the invitation. Liu Quxing leaned over. "What a beautiful invitation... But since Chunhua gave it to you, perhaps you'd better not go."

As he spoke, he glanced instinctively at She Dengke and muttered, "I don't mean anything by it. I'm just reminding Chen Ji that it could be dangerous."

She Dengke kept his head lowered and said nothing.

Liang Gou'er came over as well. As soon as he drew near, the smell of wine came off him. "It's for a literary gathering this afternoon... Why did they only send you the invitation this morning?"

"Is there a problem?" She Dengke asked in a muffled voice.

"Of course there is," Liang Gou'er explained smugly. "When you hold a banquet, there should be three invitations. The first goes out three days before the feast; the second goes out on the morning of the feast; and the third and final invitation goes out one shichen before it starts. Sending an invitation three days ahead is 'inviting a guest.' Inviting someone on the day itself is 'grabbing a guest.' It means you're just there as a foil for the others at this gathering!"

"Oh." Chen Ji nodded, but paid it no mind.

Liang Gou'er immediately added, "If you go to a feast where they've 'grabbed guests' at the last minute, people will look down on you. Why don't I go in your place?"

Chen Ji said, "...The beads from your abacus just hit me in the face."

He looked at Liu Quxing and She Dengke. "As Senior Brother Liu said, I offended Consort Jing when I treated her at Evening Star Court before. I need to go and clear up the misunderstanding with her. You two don't have to come. I'll go alone."

The rear courtyard fell quiet. Liu Quxing felt like backing out, but She Dengke stepped forward. "I'll go with you. If anything does happen, I can help."

With that, She Dengke turned to Liu Quxing. "Are you coming?"

Liu Quxing's eyes darted about. "Why are you looking at me like that? ...Of course I'm going. You make it sound like you're the only one who stands by his friends. But we don't have any decent clothes for a banquet. They're all scholars, poets, and high officials. We'd look shabby if we went as we are... I'm not making excuses. I'm saying we should buy some clothes this morning. If we're going, we should look presentable."

"I don't have any money," She Dengke said glumly.

Liu Quxing gritted his teeth. "I'll lend it to you. Pay me back next month!"

Liang Gou'er clicked his tongue in amazement. "Three brothers advancing and retreating together. I can actually see the spirit of the jianghu in you. A rare sight, a rare sight."

Liang Mao'er was concerned only that Chen Ji might no longer want to learn the saber, and hurriedly added, "Keep practicing the saber with my brother, and there might be legends about you in the jianghu someday."

But Liang Gou'er cheerfully undermined him. "Mao'er, those words aren't auspicious. Where in the jianghu are there any living legends? You have to die to become a legend. Young men, the chivalrous spirit of this jianghu has had its backbone broken. Don't listen to my brother's nonsense."

Liang Mao'er pushed Liang Gou'er toward the room. "Brother, please say a little less!"

At shen hour that afternoon, Liu Quxing wore a well-fitted blue-green robe, with his hair gathered under a hairnet to keep it neat. On his head was a tasselled, ridged cap, and on his feet were Chenqiao shoes.

Chen Ji looked him over. Despite Liu Quxing's shifty eyes and ratlike features, the outfit gave him the appearance of an official. The black gauze cap on his head suited him especially well.

She Dengke was dressed more simply. Like Chen Ji, he wore only a hairpin in his hair, and his clothes were merely newly purchased garments of plain cloth.

The three arrived at the side gate of the prince's residence and presented their invitation. On seeing it, a sturdy servant immediately led them with the utmost respect toward Flying White Pond in the rear garden.

On the way, the servant cautioned them, "Please remain in the rear garden, guests. Do not trespass into the women's inner quarters."

Liu Quxing hurriedly replied, "Rest assured, Matron, we won't."

As they ventured farther into the garden, the three could hear scholars and refined guests discoursing at length amid the sound of strings and flutes.

One man declared, "In my opinion, the Jing Dynasty's cavalry is nothing to fear. Autumn has already arrived, and after all this time, they still haven't managed to break through the pass at Chongli. Their men and horses are exhausted, and they'll be withdrawing before long. If they really try to force their way through, Great Ning's cannons and firearms will give them more than they can handle."

"That's right. The greatest threat to the realm isn't the Jing Dynasty, but the Eunuch Faction! If I achieve a high rank in the imperial examinations this time, I'll be sure to explain the evils of the Eunuch Faction's interference in government to His Majesty when I appear before the throne!"

"With your great talent, Brother Lin, you're certain to come first in the provincial examination this time, and then take first place in the palace examination!"

The earlier speaker hastened to reply modestly, "First place this year can belong to none other than Chen Wenzong. During these three years at Eastern Grove Academy, he's been the apple of the teachers' eyes."

Liu Quxing muttered, "What a fucking lot of boasting. Every last one of them is going to come first in the provincial exam or the palace exam. Are there enough first places to go around?"

By Flying White Pond, dozens of low tables had been set out, with bamboo mats spread on the ground. The scholars and refined guests were all seated on the mats.

Not far away stood six small wooden pavilions, their curtains screening their occupants from view. Presumably, women of the household were seated inside.

Liu Quxing quietly asked the sturdy servant leading them, "May I ask, Matron, have any young ladies come today?"

The servant replied, "For your information, my lord, young ladies from seven or eight noble families have come."

Addressed as "my lord," Liu Quxing immediately straightened his back and adjusted his clothes before taking a seat at an empty table.

He said quietly, "My mother told me that when a literary gathering like this is held, the gentlemen of each household usually have their wives bring their daughters of marriageable age to see from behind the curtains whether there's anyone they fancy. If one of them really chooses you, you can save yourself ten years of taking the long way around."

Chen Ji sighed. "Senior Brother Liu, you really don't want to take the long way around at all."

The tables were arranged in three rows. It seemed a person's status determined who sat in the middle and who sat at the back.

The three sat side by side in the last row. She Dengke looked around for Chunhua, while Liu Quxing quietly poked Chen Ji with a finger. "Look at the first row opposite us. Your two legitimate elder brothers."

Chen Ji looked over and saw Chen Wenzong sitting upright, discussing his own proposals with the others. He hoped the court would open wider channels for counsel and revitalize the administration.

Even surrounded by talented scholars, he stood out in the crowd like a luminous pearl, impossible to miss at a glance.

Looking toward the pavilions, Chen Ji saw what seemed to be several girls peering at Chen Wenzong from behind the curtains.

Then he looked at his other legitimate elder brother. Chen Wenxiao sat slouched, his gaze wandering who knew where. When Chen Ji had seen him on horseback before, nothing had seemed amiss, but now Chen Wenzong outshone him.

As Chen Ji looked on, his eyes met Chen Wenzong's. Chen Wenzong smiled and nodded in greeting, treating him as nothing more than an ordinary guest attending the gathering and paying him no further attention.