Chapter 58: The Miss of the Si Family, by the Banks of the Yellow Dragon River

Today, torrential rain was lashing Xuantian Capital.

This was the first heavy downpour of the capital since the start of summer.

Countless pavilions and terraces in Xuantian Capital grew hazy amidst the wind and rain, while many common folk who made their living on the streets fled in panicked haste from the sudden squall.

Yet, Si Yao, the ninth young lady of the Si family, was walking against the wind and rain, accompanied by a maid and a scholar.

The young lady of the prominent household held an oiled paper umbrella herself. Although the slanting wind drove the pouring rain into the umbrella's shelter, a misty, ethereal aura naturally emanated from Si Yao, repelling the moisture.

"He is merely a painter; the scholar could simply write a letter and have it delivered to the inn. Why should it require Young Lady to trouble herself with a personal visit?"

The maid following behind Young Lady Si did not possess the cultivation required to shield herself from the wind and rain. Compounded by the sheer intensity of the day's storm, holding an umbrella proved utterly futile.

The rain beat down upon the maid, leaving her looking rather bedraggled.

Si Yao furrowed her brow as she walked in the lead. She seemed equally perplexed as to why the Dowager had insisted on her coming in person.

On the contrary, the middle-aged scholar walking behind Si Yao, dressed in a scholar's long robe, smiled and said, "With the Audience Festival approaching, these painters have grown increasingly precious. A mere letter might not suffice to invite a renowned artist."

"Yet the painter the Dowager specifically instructed us to invite does not seem to have any great reputation. I have never heard his name in Xuantian Capital before," the maid said, looking somewhat unconvinced.

Si Yao turned her head to glance at her, saying, "The Dowager told us to invite him, so we shall go and invite him. Say no more."

The maid stuck out her tongue and fell silent, though discontent flickered in her eyes as she thought to herself: *My Si family is a household of ministers and generals. When the Si family sends a letter, how could that painter dare refuse or fail to comply? The Dowager overestimates these scholarly painters.*

The middle-aged scholar glanced at the maid, seemingly seeing right through her thoughts, and smiled. "Our Si family is a noble and prominent house, so naturally we should possess a certain bearing. For Young Lady to personally invite this painter will also look good when word gets out. Showing humility and treating scholars with courtesy is considered proper etiquette anywhere."

Realizing the middle-aged scholar had guessed her thoughts, the maid quickly lowered her head.

Deeply favored by her young lady, she was not bound by as many rigid rules as the other maids. Nonetheless, she knew her place; if her chatter displeased her mistress, she would inevitably feel a sense of dread and panic.

The middle-aged scholar's words also helped calm Si Yao's mind significantly.

She, too, found it deeply baffling. As a young lady of the Si family—daughter of the reigning General Rongtian and the Buddha-Slayer Marquis—she held a top-tier status, even in Xuantian Capital where aristocrats were as common as the clouds.

With such a status, she was actually expected to personally invite a painter. She could not help harboring a trace of resentment toward the Dowager in her heart.

What kind of painter could possibly warrant a personal invitation from her?

At this thought, even Si Yao grew somewhat curious, and her pace involuntarily quickened.

Continuing until she reached Ganlu Street in the east of the city, she spotted in the distance an inn bearing the sign "Guest Clear".

*I knew it. This painter truly lacks renown. A famous painter would have already made a fortune; how could they possibly stay in such a shabby inn?* the maid mused to herself.

As a maid of a grand household accompanying her mistress, she had naturally seen the world.

Serving as the young lady's personal and favored maid, she certainly did not lack for silver in her purse.

Therefore, in the maid's eyes, any lodging that cost less than ten taels of silver a night was naturally considered shabby.

In truth, Guest Clear Inn was far from shabby. A courtyard standing a full five stories tall, it displayed dark green tiles and gray bricks when viewed from the outside, presenting an elegant and refined sanctuary. Each night's lodging cost three to four hundred copper cash.

If placed in an impoverished prefecture, many small-scale peddlers would struggle to earn three or four hundred copper cash even after half a month of labor.

The three of them approached the inn.

Only then did they notice that outside the inn's doors, there were actually many other delegations from prominent noble houses.

Numerous carriages were parked in front of the inn, and stewards and maids from various great households surrounded a middle-aged man, chattering away.

"It's not that this humble one refuses to announce you, but the moment Master Chen put down his luggage, he went straight out."

"I merely run an inn; how would I dare question where an esteemed guest is going?"

"My Lord, why not step inside the inn to wait? Best not let the rain soak Your Lordship's robes."

"I'll have the servants prepare hot soup right away..."

The middle-aged man nodded, bowed, and offered profuse apologies.

Si Yao turned her head to look at the middle-aged scholar. "The painter we are here to invite is the one surnamed Chen, correct?"

The middle-aged scholar nodded gently. "The Dowager personally sent people to inquire. This Master Chen only arrived in Xuantian Capital today. I thought coming before noon would be considered early, but I never imagined so many people would already be waiting."

"What is the background of this painter?" Si Yao frowned.

"The Capital Magistrate's Mansion, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, the Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Personnel, the Censorate..." With her sharp eyes, the maid recognized many of the carriages that had previously visited the Si family estate. "To think so many grand households have come to wait."

The middle-aged scholar shook his head and gave a bitter smile. "I tried investigating as well, and asked several of my peers, but none of them have ever heard of a grand painter surnamed Chen in Sunan Prefecture."

"This lineup is even grander than those for master painters. No wonder the Dowager wanted Young Lady to make the invitation personally," the maid exclaimed in astonishment.

Pondering for a moment, Si Yao walked into a teahouse directly opposite Guest Clear Inn.

"The Dowager rarely orders me about on ordinary days. Since she specifically sent me today, I certainly cannot let her down. We shall wait right here in this teahouse until this Master Chen returns."

---

Chen Zhi'an had boarded an official vessel personally dispatched by the Sunan Prefecture Yamen, traveled along the Qingshui River into the Grand Canal, and journeyed all the way to Xuantian Capital.

The boat moved at an exceptional speed, arriving in a mere seven or eight days.

Before Chen Zhi'an's departure, Prefect Wei of Sunan together with Zhao Chuanji had personally come to see him off. Their words, intentionally or not, probed into why Prime Minister Song had personally signed the decree conferring honors, and why Princess Linglong had issued an expedited summons for him to enter the capital.

Chen Zhi'an deflected with vague pleasantries, pretending not to understand the underlying meanings of the two local officials from Sunan.

The food and provisions aboard the official vessel were of the finest quality, and Chen Zhi'an even had a private cabin to himself. Gazing out from his room at the scenery passing by, the entire journey had been quite comfortable.

Upon his arrival in Xuantian Capital, the Sunan Prefecture Yamen had already booked an inn for him for a month in advance, saving him over a dozen taels of silver.

Naturally, Chen Zhi'an knew that the Sunan Yamen's meticulous attentiveness was entirely due to the favor of Prime Minister Song and Princess Linglong.

High officials holding fourth or fifth-rank posts possessed exceptionally keen political instincts.

Spending a modest amount of silver to make a calculated investment was second nature to them.

Therefore, Chen Zhi'an did not stand on ceremony and checked into Guest Clear Inn.

After settling in, Chen Zhi'an borrowed an umbrella and walked alone through Xuantian Capital.

Xuantian Capital truly lived up to its name as the heavenly city. Even amidst such a torrential downpour, one could clearly perceive its bustling prosperity.

Numerous luxurious carriages galloped unrestrained, and from the teahouses lining the streets, the sounds of laughter and chatter drifted out clearly. The poetic description of "streets lined with pearls and households overflowing with silk" was likely no exaggeration.

As he walked along holding his umbrella, even in broad daylight, he could see glowing lanterns dotting various structures, majestic eaves atop green-tiled and red-walled buildings, fluttering banners from countless shops blurred by the heavy rain, surging throngs of people, and bustling crowds—all of which attested to a city of supreme opulence.

Chen Zhi'an clicked his tongue in wonder, continuing his stroll all the way to the banks of the Huanglong River in the east of the city.

Due to the rain, today's Huanglong River was particularly turbulent, held in check only by the artificially heightened riverbanks.

In the rain, the river surged with churning white-capped waves, rushing onward like a loosed arrow directly toward the distance.

Chen Zhi'an widened his eyes, gazing intently at the river until he fell into a trance.

Some half an hour slipped away quietly. As the heavy rain began to ease, a young nobleman in brocade attire suddenly galloped past on horseback. A street vendor carrying a shoulder pole panicked in his attempt to dodge, lost his balance, and was about to crash to the ground.

Chen Zhi'an glanced over and casually kicked a pebble, striking the vendor's basket so that it landed steadily on the ground.

The vendor tumbled to the earth with a groan, but seeing that the goods in his baskets were unharmed, he heaved a sigh of relief, got up, shouldered his pole, and walked away.

"Following the tropes of a storybook, when a young hero steps forth, shouldn't he not only save the victimized commoner but also teach that arrogant young aristocrat a lesson?"

A voice suddenly sounded beside Chen Zhi'an's ear.

The voice was rather aged, yet tinged with amusement.

Chen Zhi'an turned his head to see an old man standing nearby by the riverbank, gazing far out over the Huanglong River.

The old man had been there all along, but Chen Zhi'an simply hadn't paid attention.

"You jest, Elder," Chen Zhi'an said with a grin. "That was merely a clumsy trick. Catching a falling basket is one thing, but teaching a young noble a lesson is a bit beyond my station.

"To be able to gallop horses wildly through the capital implies an extraordinary background.

"If I were to overestimate my abilities and meddle, I would inevitably invite disaster."

Hearing Chen Zhi'an's words, the old man walked closer with a smile. "Xuantian Capital is wonderful in every way, except that these scions of aristocratic families are far too arrogant. Galloping horses is a minor affair; they frequently take human lives as well."

Chen Zhi'an replied, "Since they are scions of noble houses, it is only natural for them to be arrogant. Otherwise, what meaning would the two words 'aristocratic family' hold?"

The old man tilted his head in thought, then nodded. "That is indeed true; aristocratic status inherently represents privilege... Yet you look quite young, and should naturally feel indignant toward such privileges and the ways of the world. Why do you find it so unremarkable? Could it be that you, too, stem from a noble house?"

"In many matters, the indignation of ordinary folk is of no use," Chen Zhi'an chuckled. "When so many great lords in the imperial court condone such things, what is there for a humble commoner like me to be indignant about? Even if I were indignant, I could change nothing.

"Rather than wasting energy in vain vexation, I might as well observe the churning waters of the Huanglong River. Perhaps I will gain some profound insight."

"Reforming the arrogance of the nobility is indeed the duty of the lords in the imperial court," the old man said with a frown. "Yet without the support of ordinary people like you and me, where would those lords who wish to enact change find the strength to do so?"

"If one's sole aim is to reform the arrogance of the aristocracy, the aristocracy will never truly be reformed." Chen Zhi'an turned his head, his gaze returning to the churning river. "The noble houses are immortal, passed down generation after generation.

"Particularly at a time like this, plagued by internal and external troubles, the aristocracy forms the cornerstone of the empire. How else could Great Yu wage war against Great Qian and Great Li?

"It is precisely because the imperial court relies on them that these noble houses grow so overbearing.

"The lords in the court yearn for reform, but find themselves constrained at every turn, forced to promote commoner-born talents and divide resources just to allow the commoner class to rise."

"Yet... when the commoner class contends with the aristocracy, even if they manage to pull the aristocracy down, how can anyone guarantee that the commoners will not simply become a new clique of noble gatehouses?"

"In this world, people mutually despise yet flatter one another, each hoping to rise above others while cringing before them, each harboring hatred for their peers while longing to replace them."

"This is human nature; nothing short of a thorough revolution can change it."

Chen Zhi'an spoke calmly, a flash of brilliance crossing his eyes as he asked, "Am I right, Prime Minister?"

The old man froze slightly, then burst into laughter. "You take me for Song Xiqu?"

Chen Zhi'an's expression collapsed. *Not him?*

He had just arrived in Xuantian Capital when an old man approached him to discuss theories on the aristocracy.

In Xuantian Capital, the only person he had interacted with through Chu Muyan was Prime Minister Song. Naturally, Chen Zhi'an had assumed the elder was the Prime Minister seeking to recruit him.

Could he have guessed wrong?

"People mutually despise yet flatter one another... You phrase these things remarkably well. I never expected that coming to the Huanglong Riverbank to guard against potential flooding on such a rainy day would lead me to cross paths with such an interesting youth. What is your name?"

"Chen Zhi'an," Chen Zhi'an offered a sheepish, awkward smile.

The old man nodded gently. "If you have leisure, you may come to find me on Jiuguan Street. My home is beneath the tallest and largest parasol tree on Jiuguan Street."

Chen Zhi'an nodded. The old man waved his hand and departed.

"Not Prime Minister Song?" Chen Zhi'an's mouth twitched slightly. "He possesses extraordinary bearing yet isn't the Prime Minister, and his words clearly revealed discontent toward the noble houses..."

*It was merely idle talk, keeping a few points unspoken. Even if he were the head of an aristocratic clan, it wouldn't matter,* he thought to himself.

At that moment, the sound of approaching hooves echoed from the distance.

"Master Chen!"

Two men dressed in official robes dismounted and bowed.

"The esteemed noble in the palace requests an audience."