Chapter 301 – Three Years in Langya (Part 1)
The moon was bright, and the stars were sparse, the world wrapped in silence.
Wei Ci lifted a faint candle in his right hand, treading quietly through the corridor.
Moonlight stretched his shadow long, casting it upon the door.
“Master?”
Wei Ci paused, spotting a figure seated ahead.
Mr. Yuanjing tilted his head and waved at Wei Ci, “Zixiao, come here.”
Seeing Mr. Yuanjing draped in a cloak, Wei Ci moved closer and sat beside him, placing the lamp aside.
“How long have you been waiting here, Master?”
Wei Ci already knew without asking that Mr. Yuanjing had been waiting for him.
“It doesn’t matter.” Mr. Yuanjing replied lightly, with a hint of a smile, “Zixiao is not a reckless person. Regarding today’s evaluation, I heard from friends Mo and Shaoyin. Hitting someone with a writing desk in public? You wouldn’t do that even at three or five years old.”
Wei Ci’s face flushed red as he lowered his head to admit fault, “Disciple knows I’m wrong, please punish me, Master.”
Mr. Yuanjing shook his head, countering, “Why should I punish you? I don’t think you did anything wrong; in fact, you did quite well.”
He hadn’t killed anyone; that scholar’s actions were indeed excessive—who wouldn’t be furious?
Mr. Yuanjing chattered on, “I didn’t come today to scold you, but to tell you it’s okay to be a bit more carefree. You’re too serious, burdened with your thoughts, holding everything inside. Frankly, others aren’t mind readers; how can they know what you’re thinking?”
Wei Ci remained silent, head bowed, unsure if he had absorbed anything of what was said.
Mr. Yuanjing tapped his slightly numb leg and added casually, “If there’s something on your mind, just speak up.”
“Disciple… dares not say.”
Wei Ci had many things he wanted to express, but they spun around in his mouth, yet refused to come out.
Mr. Yuanjing chuckled, “Zixiao, those who scheme have many taboos, and one of them is not to project your own feelings onto others. I know why you hesitate to speak; because based on what you see, you already have the answers in your heart, so there seems no need to say anything, right?”
Wei Ci kept silent.
Mr. Yuanjing smiled wryly, “I won’t deny your talent for understanding people’s hearts, but there’s one person you might miscalculate.”
Though Mr. Yuanjing didn’t name who that person was, Wei Ci shared a tacit understanding with his teacher; he was well aware in his heart.
“To truly understand, you must approach it anew,” Mr. Yuanjing pointed at Wei Ci with a teasing tone, “If you keep treating her with past biases, you’ll probably expose yourself even faster. The past is like smoke, it’s gone; you should observe everything around you with a fresh mindset. If you can’t do this, you’ll surely lose—and it’ll be worse than before.”
Wei Ci finally showed a change in expression, looking at Mr. Yuanjing with a mix of shock and avoidance.
Mr. Yuanjing chuckled softly, “Old man here isn’t blind yet; I can still see.”
After a long silence, Wei Ci finally broke it.
“Master, I wish to leave for a bit.”
Mr. Yuanjing replied, “Are you trying to escape?”
Wei Ci shook his head, forcing a bitter smile, “If I were this timid, unable to face reality, I would have long followed my kin to Zhong Zhao. Why bother staying in Langya, then trudging to the capital? Encountering her was purely by chance. I’m not unable to accept it, but seeing her at just ten or so, fills my heart not with resolve but confusion—as if I’ve never known her at all.”
Once he opened the floodgates, the usually taciturn Wei Ci poured out his long-repressed thoughts as if he were a child, revealing his innermost feelings to Mr. Yuanjing.
Mr. Yuanjing played the role of a listener throughout.
He faintly guessed at Wei Ci’s experiences but hadn’t expected that this child had bottled up so many contradictions and pains inside.
“If it’s weighing on you, take some time away to sort through your thoughts,” Mr. Yuanjing advised.
Wei Ci shook his head, “Disciple has no issues; Master needn’t worry. Looking at it now, much has changed; people are different, especially her… If I continue to be bound by past memories, I fear I might end up worse than before.”
His goal was to be remembered in history, to be seen as a respectable schemer, not as something shameful.
Not only would he be mocked by future generations, but he’d also be a stain on her.
He once thought the former was his pain, but when the sword pierced his throat, he suddenly realized the latter was far less acceptable.
Mr. Yuanjing gazed at Wei Ci for a long while, sighing, “It’s best you think this way; begin anew. Old acquaintances can have new appearances.”
Wei Ci tightened his fist secretly. “Disciple understands.”
Elsewhere, Liu Zhi, weary from the day, returned to the Feng manor in a horse carriage.
The rankings from the evaluations had been arranged, and he had copied them down, sealed them with wax, and presented them to the Emperor—whether the Emperor read it or not was beyond his concern.
The announcement would be made three days later, after which would follow the Qionglin banquet, where he, as the chief examiner, would need to show his face.
After that, basically nothing else of his concern remained.
The guest room was brightly lit, and Liu Zhi saw Maidservant Ta Xue holding a lamp, waiting at the courtyard entrance.
“Lan Ting hasn’t returned tonight?” He pulled his cloak tighter against the chilly wind.
Ta Xue’s face lit up upon seeing Liu Zhi return and she stepped forward.
“Reporting to you, my lord, I was commanded by the Young Master to wait here for you.”
Liu Zhi frowned slightly, and said earnestly, “Did Lan Ting find me for something?”
He valued this daughter greatly; if she sought him out, it surely had to be something important, not to be delayed.
“The Young Master did not specify, merely asked me to inform you that he is waiting in your room.”
As Liu Zhi walked and nodded, he guessed what his daughter might need from him.
Reaching the door, indeed, a lamp flickered inside, and Jiang Pengji was reading a book illuminated by the candlelight.
“Father,” Jiang Pengji looked up at the sound.
“Ta Xue mentioned you were looking for me?”
Liu Zhi hurriedly closed the door to block the cold air from dispersing the warmth indoors.
“Father’s retirement request has not been submitted, right?” Jiang Pengji asked.
“Of course not. I plan to wait until after the Qionglin banquet to submit it,” Liu Zhi took a seat opposite her, noticing she was holding a map, “Does Lan Ting have any good suggestions?”
“Father wants to be a wealthy gentleman, but I, as an unfilial child, dare to ask you to work a little longer.”
Liu Zhi raised an eyebrow, “Not submitting the request?”
Jiang Pengji shook her head, speaking softly, “Not exactly. It’s just that I want Father to strive to secure Chongzhou.”
“Chongzhou?”
Liu Zhi’s thoughts began to shift, grasping a bit, “Planning to seize the opportunity to gather troops?”
Jiang Pengji replied, “Not just that, but also with several other purposes…”
