Chapter Seventy-Five: A Talent Unlike Any Other

After listening to Gou Ye’s words, Gu Shen began to calculate in his mind. Although the first step sounded simple, carrying it out would not be so easy. First of all, whether his father would agree was still unknown. But if he wanted to increase his chances of persuasion, it would not be enough to rely on himself alone—he would have to win over his siblings who shared his views.

“Brother Gou Ye, as you know, I am the youngest in my family. In terms of seniority, I have elder brothers and sisters. Relying on myself alone to persuade my father, I think, is almost impossible. So I’ve decided to join forces with my brothers and sisters to persuade our father together. Only then is there a chance he’ll agree. So convincing my siblings isn’t something I can do alone—you must be involved as well.”

Gou Ye thought it over. Since Gu Shen had already agreed to help, what did he have to worry about?

“Very well, Brother Gu Shen. I’ll go with you. Isn’t it just persuading your brothers and sisters? I believe as long as we work together, we’ll succeed!”

Gu Shen was the youngest in the family and had always been doted on by his elder siblings, but that didn’t mean they were all easy to talk to. There were eight of them in total, each with a different temperament, each with their own preferences and character. Not all of them shared Gu Shen's ambitions. Over the years, they had grown accustomed to a peaceful, uneventful life; for some, an official career no longer held much allure.

Looking at Gou Ye’s expectant face, Gu Shen made up his mind. If he couldn’t even accomplish this, then any dream of an official career in the future should simply be abandoned. As Gou Ye had said to him before, there is a solution to every problem—if there is not, then perhaps it is not a problem to be solved. He resolved to tackle them one by one.

He decided to start with the easiest: the fourth brother, Gu Yu, who was close to Wanxiang. Gu Yu’s character was as pure as his name implied—gentle, refined, a true scholar. Gu Shen believed with his current learning, at the very least he could place second in the imperial examinations.

With this in mind, Gu Shen and Gou Ye went to the rear garden, which Gu Yu frequented. Gu Yu found the scenery pleasant and the atmosphere tranquil—an ideal place to read and practice calligraphy. To be able to stay there all year round, he had even built a small wooden hut and seldom left it unless necessary.

Gu Shen knocked on the door. A voice answered from within, “Come in.”

It was Gou Ye’s first time meeting Gu Yu. Dashing and elegant—those were the words that sprang to mind, like a great writer from a television drama, exuding a sense of distinguished talent. Seeing the two, Gu Yu smiled slightly, but did not stop his brush.

“Little Eight, what brings you here today?”

Gu Shen grinned and introduced Gou Ye, “Fourth Brother, this is the young master Gou Ye I mentioned to you before.”

Gu Yu paused and glanced at Gou Ye, then continued writing as he spoke, “So you’re Gou Ye. Wanxiang has spoken of you.”

It was a simple greeting, their first meeting, so Gou Ye thought nothing of it. Gu Shen, eager, quickly explained their purpose for coming. Gu Yu only smiled and shook his head, ignoring Gu Shen; instead, he put down his brush and looked at Gou Ye.

“Miss Wanxiang calls you a man of rare talent. Forgive me for being blunt, but I’ve read your works, ‘The Legend of the Eagle-Shooting Heroes’ and ‘The Divine Eagle Lovers.’ The writing is above average among books for idle reading, but, forgive my frankness, I did not feel the unmatched brilliance Miss Wanxiang described.”

Gou Ye smiled politely and gave a courteous bow. With such a refined scholar, formality was appropriate. “Miss Wanxiang overpraised me. I consider my learning shallow and am unworthy of the title ‘man of rare talent.’”

Gu Yu laughed and gently placed his brush down. “Then there’s nothing more to say. If Young Master Gou seeks reputation but lacks substance, why should I join my brother in persuading our father? How can we trust you to help our clan re-enter officialdom? Please, both of you, take your leave.”

Now Gou Ye understood—Gu Yu held himself in high regard and his words were merely a test. His earlier gaze had not been mere curiosity, but the condescension of one scholar toward another. Was he to tolerate such treatment? Gou Ye rolled up his sleeves.

“Master Gu Yu, what makes a man is his humility and pride. I do not claim to be a man of rare talent; I believe a gentleman should be modest, not flaunting a little renown. Such men, I think, are nothing but seekers of empty fame.”

Gu Yu still regarded Gou Ye with disdain, chuckling softly. “Oh? So you do not think yourself a seeker of empty fame? Very well—simple enough. If today you can compose a poem on the spot that convinces me, I will agree to help you with my younger brother. If you cannot, then I ask you to leave.”

At this, Gou Ye was overjoyed inside. Compose a poem? Was this not playing with fire? Before a man of the modern age, and one so well read at that, this was the easiest of tasks.

Feigning deep thought, Gou Ye pulled Gu Shen aside and whispered, “Do you know Li Bai?”

Gu Shen, puzzled, shook his head. “Brother Gou Ye, I have never heard of him. Are you looking for him?”

Looking for him? If only you could. To be sure this was not another case like Doctor Hua, Gou Ye asked, “Have you ever heard the lines, ‘The waterfall cascades three thousand feet, as if the Milky Way fell from the Ninth Heaven’?”

Gu Shen shook his head again. Even such famous lines from ‘Viewing the Waterfall at Mount Lu’ were unknown—either Li Bai did not exist in this era, or he had yet to be born. Gou Ye’s mind was finally at ease. He then asked Gu Shen to fetch a jug of wine. Gu Yu, seeing this, only shook his head and resumed his calligraphy.

Soon, Gu Shen returned with the wine. Gou Ye took the jug, not bothering to pour it into a cup, but drank straight from it—one gulp after another, muttering as if pondering something.

Gu Yu watched and gently advised, “Young Master Gou, there’s no need to try so hard. I do not wish to make it difficult for you. There are other brothers and sisters in the family—you both may try persuading them. Don’t trouble yourself with me alone.”