Chapter 46: Chapter 42: Meeting the Gentleman_2
The stout Daoist sitting quietly to the side nodded his head.
“Zing!” The qin player, who had been tuning the instrument, finished his task and began to play.
The brocade-clad young master, seeing that everyone responded and turned their attention to him, was quite satisfied.
“Lady Lan is the daughter of the State Preceptor, of noble birth. She favored him, entrusted herself to him, managing his household from a young age, and waited bitterly for his return. Yet, on his wedding day, he tore up the agreement and abandoned the marriage, ruining the woman’s lifelong reputation. How is she to face the future now? This is heartless,” he stated.
“The State Preceptor regarded him as a son, instructed him personally, and supported him with great effort. Yet during the spring sacrificial rites of the king, in front of ten thousand citizens of Luojing, he accused the State Preceptor of ‘ten crimes and five acts of treachery,’ fabricating crimes that did not exist. This is unrighteous.”
“The king had great hopes for him, relinquished food and clothing for him, bestowed authority and responsibilities upon him, yet he issued laws that brought disaster to the state. With the Spring Seedling Law, he exploited the farmers for the benefit of the Lanxi Lin family; with the Retreat Law, he destroyed the teachings of Zhongnan Country, deluding the people; with the General Soldier Law, he exhausted the military and provoked border conflicts; such laws have damaged the fate of our Zhongnan Country. The list is endless. This is disloyal and unpatriotic.”
“Regarding the major matter of marriage, despite his parents’ words, he arbitrarily broke off the engagement without cause. This is undutiful, thus, he has no loyalty to family.”
“As for being ignorant and clueless… Lin Wenruo even dared to coerce the king, prompted a debate between Confucianism and Daoism to decide on the state’s teachings? Ha, an ant trying to shake a tree, totally overestimating himself!”
The brocade-clad young master scoffed.
“‘Without Wenruo, what will become of the people?’ The citizens had such eager expectations of him, but what they got in return was a man with no heart, no righteousness, no king, no country, no father, no family, and no knowledge.”
“Scholars of the Confucian Academy, just like him.”
The brocade-clad young master unfurled his folding fan with a flick of his hand and gently fanned himself, slightly smiling, feeling utterly satisfied with his speech. If this were inside Luojing City, he was sure it would earn cheers from the public.
After a placid start, the music from inside the pavilion swelled to a crescendo.
“The benefactor speaks truth,” said the previously meditative stout Daoist, opening his eyes and bowing to the brocade-clad scholar.
“This Lin scoundrel is utterly inexcusable. The Temple Master previously held him in high esteem, and my Chongxu Temple never wronged the Lanxi Lin family in the slightest, yet he turned ungrateful, biting like a mad dog, even shamelessly trying, through a debate between Daoism and Confucianism, to usurp our temple’s position as the national doctrine? With this mere lad and his rabble of riffraff behind him?”
“My Chongxu Temple has a thousand years of Daoist tradition; we had built our temple here even before Zhongnan Country was founded. How dare he harbor such thoughts? Hmph, although I am but an ordinary Daoist within the temple, I also possess a devoted patriot’s heart. If that Lin scoundrel dares appear before me, I will ensure he cannot even lift his dog’s head!” he exclaimed.
With that, the stout Daoist swung his horsetail whisk, his body shaking, and despite his corpulent frame, he managed to strike a heroic pose.
The brocade-clad young master and the stout Daoist exchanged a glance, both showing admiration. As the music soared, they both felt a tumult of emotions, lamenting their late meeting; they realized they were likeminded people, heroes of Zhongnan.
“I am Chen Hongyuan.”
“I have heard much about you.”
“Excuse my discourtesy.”
Zhao Rong raised an eyebrow, watching what seemed to be the next step towards brotherhood, and couldn’t help but chuckle.
Meanwhile, Teacher Qingxi, sitting nearby, was uninterested in the scene, and even less so in the recent upheavals and public discussions that had occurred in Luojing over the past few months.
Whether the Lanxi Lin family or Chongxu Temple is arguing, or whatever treasonous acts Lin Wenruo committed, it’s all too far from my concern.
He felt detached amid the landscapes of Zhongnan Mountain, like an elegant gentleman uninvolved in worldly matters. Perhaps his fame wasn’t as great yet and couldn’t compare to the well-known gentlemen of Luojing, but by attending more literary gatherings and partaking in some elegant activities, perhaps he could make a name for himself in Zhongnan and ascend to being a reputed gentleman.
Like at this very moment.
Teacher Qingxi sent another suggestive look towards the brocade-clad young master named Li Shiqian.
Realizing they should get back to business as he relied on Teacher Qingxi to introduce him into Luojing’s circle of gentlemen, Li Shiqian lightly coughed.
“Today, our fateful meeting at the Zuiweng Pavilion is a rare joy. We find we are kindred spirits and have enjoyed great conversation. Next to me is Teacher Qingxi from Luojing, known for his refined culture; he will host an elegant literary gathering tonight. Seeing our rapport, could I ask you to honor us with your presence?”
As he spoke, his gaze swept around, but mainly lingered on Zhao Rong’s side.
Liu Sanbian was staring distantly, lost in the scenery, and Su Xiaoxiao propped her chin, daydreaming, both of them ignoring Li Shiqian.
Seeing Li Shiqian’s glance, Zhao Rong’s mouth twitched.
Kindred spirits, enjoying great conversation? Weren’t you two the only ones talking just now?
But there’s no slapping a smiling face.
Zhao Rong smiled in return, “Sorry, we’re not locals, just passing through in a rush, and can’t afford to impose.”
Li Shiqian’s smile froze.
As Teacher Qingxi nudged him from one side, Li Shiqian persisted, asking several more times.
Zhao Rong declined several times, and seeing that he was not giving up, he turned his attention back to the scenery, ignoring him.
Seeing this, Li Shiqian and the other’s expressions darkened.
“They may not come, and that’s fine, but I have the time. Hahaha, I’ve never seen what a literary banquet hosted by you scholars looks like. Today I might just enlighten myself,” laughed the stout Daoist Chen Hongyuan.
Teacher Qingxi’s eyelid twitched, indifferent to whether he attended or not; with his bulk, he could probably crush Teacher Qingxi.
“Zhao Rong, can you stop reading now?” suddenly, the previously daydreaming Su Xiaoxiao tugged at Zhao Rong’s clothing.