Chapter 48: Chapter 43: The Old Toper’s Intent
The summer sun also quietly hid behind the clouds.
What was originally clear and sunny weather had changed as if a beautiful lady had changed into a new outfit.
This weather was perfect for traveling, yet at this moment, inside Zuiweng Pavilion, the group that had sought refuge from the sun paid no heed to this fact.
For, the sudden change within the pavilion took everyone by surprise.
The atmosphere grew somewhat eerie.
Su Xiaoxiao widened her eyes as she gazed at the tall, handsome zither player not far from her.
What did he just say his name was? Lin Qingchi, styled Wenruo? Hmm, Xiaoxiao might not have heard wrong, right?
The little Fox Demon looked at Zhao Rong with a puzzled expression.
But Zhao Rong wasn’t paying attention to her at this moment.
He too was astonished, but he was sure he hadn’t misheard, and now looked at the zither player who was smiling at him.
Zhao Rong cleared his throat and stood up to bow.
“This humble man is Zhao Rong, styled Ziyu.”
Lin Wenruo pushed his zither slightly forward, stood up, and adjusted his clothes, solemnly returning the bow.
“To speak ill of others when they are not present is not the action of a gentleman, today I have been less than one,” Zhao Rong was about to bow again.
Lin Wenruo stepped forward quickly, offering his hands in support, his expression somewhat helpless. “Brother Ziyu is too polite, why say such things, it really was Qingchi who was at fault to eavesdrop on Brother Ziyu’s words behind his back.”
“Moreover, having the chance to meet Brother Ziyu today is my fortune,” Lin Wenruo’s eyes sparkled. “But the praises Brother Ziyu just now bestowed, the evaluation was indeed too high, Qingchi feels…”
Zhao Rong listened attentively, guessing what he would say next, mentally prepared to refute his words, ready to offer more praise and continue their mutual modesty for a while.
Lin Wenruo: “Feels it’s not incorrect, feels it’s absolutely right.”
“Brother Wenruo is too hum…huh?”
Zhao Rong was taken aback.
Lin Wenruo quickly blinked twice.
Zhao Rong raised an eyebrow.
Shortly afterward, the two Confucian Scholars smiled at each other.
In the Xuanhuang Realm, only Confucian scholars adopted courtesy names, and it was customary among them to address each other by these names. Consequently, famous scholars were remembered by their surnames and styled names while their real names were seldom known to the world; this was true even for the second generation Great Emperor of the Human Clan, known primarily as Jiang Taiching but whose actual name was Jiang Cang.
The atmosphere around Zhao Rong lightened, but on the pavilion’s side near the entrance, the mood was still heavy.
Li Shiqian and two others stood still, not moving an inch, carefully glancing over at Zhao Rong’s group.
The portly Daoist Chen Hongyuan looked shocked after hearing Lin Wenruo speak. He began to breathe hurriedly as the fat on his face trembled slightly. Seeing a reality he couldn’t believe unfolding before him, he carefully took subtle breaths, not daring to make any sound.
The portly Daoist narrowed his eyes minutely, casually tucked the horsetail whisk under his arm, quietly turned around, and while lifting his leg and glancing back to see that the people on the other side were still talking leisurely, subtly changed his breath, turned his back, and left the pavilion with light footsteps, never looking back again.
Teacher Qingxi clenched his teeth and puckered his cheeks. He hadn’t taken his usual laxative today, yet his cheeks became even thinner, his eyes bloodshot, and he felt hysterical inside.
You morons! Morons! Why did you have to talk about Lin Wenruo?! Now, just a single glance from him and we’re all dead!
Recalling the notorious deeds of Lin Wenruo spoken about in rumors, the old man almost wanted to whip his colleagues and the fat Daoist to death with the horsetail whisk he held.
Who was Lin Wenruo? He was the current head of the powerful Lin family of Lanxi, representing the Confucian leadership in Southern Country. If Chongxu Temple was the foremost representative of Daoism in Southern Country, then the Lin family of Lanxi represented Confucianism. Every head of the family had been the leader of the literary circles and Prime Minister of Southern Country, both in the open and behind the scenes.
There was a saying: By what does the monarch of Southern Country govern? By a blue-robed Daoist and a Lin-confucian scholar.
The former was the Temple Master of Chongxu Temple and the traditional State Preceptor of Southern Country. The latter was none other than the Lin family head, whose status in Southern Country was second only to the State Preceptor and the monarch.
Teacher Qingxi inwardly lamented his misfortune. While he had some notoriety within Luojing’s circle of literati, he was nothing before the Lin family of Lanxi; even the most renowned sage of Southern Country was but a trivial character to the Lin family.
With the ongoing strife between State Preceptor Qingjingzi and Lin Wenruo, you fools had to blabber about nothing! The debates between Confucianism and Daoism hadn’t even started, yet in Luojing petty bureaucrats and scholars of both circles were being decimated daily. Now just getting a little involved in this power struggle spells a massive ‘death’ for us, thanks to you two tugging at the tiger’s tail!
It was not entirely fair to blame Li Shiqian and Chen Hongyuan though, as neither guy could have predicted such an encounter with the very subject of widespread national debate in a pavilion outside Luojing City that had few visitors.
Moreover, Southern Country never prohibited its citizens from discussing politics, hence idle talks were rampant. Even ordinary women doing house chores could gossip about the king behind his back.
But, that depended on the knowledge that the person you were talking about was significant and couldn’t hear your minor words.
To curse Lin Wenruo behind his back was fine because everyone did it, but now that you have maligned him to his face, hats off to you for your bravery.
Teacher Qingxi sighed in despair, standing still, not daring to make the slightest movement, fearful of drawing that person’s attention. He cast a sidelong glance at Li Shiqian standing next to him, noticing his trembling legs and pale face, worse off than his own, and felt somewhat relieved, thinking that at least he wasn’t the most miserable one.
Wait, I didn’t say anything bad about Lin Wenruo just now, it was these two idiots who did!