Chapter 541: Rival in Love

In the misty drizzle, a line of carriages halted by the shore of West Lake.

Pang Yu dismounted directly; before him lay West Lake, vast and blurred in the misty rain, and not far ahead, a long causeway stretched from the bank out into the lake.

He had been here twice in his past life, and judging by the surrounding scenery, they should be near Spring Dawn at Su Causeway; a dock beside the long causeway moored a row of boats large and small.

Wang Ranming walked to his side. "General, please look — these three small boats to the right are also mine. The outermost one is named Gourd Scoop, taken from the idea of a single scoop's worth of land, suited for a few people drifting on the lake, watching the vastness of heaven and earth where water and sky merge into one hue. The middle one is named Watching Leaves, because when one goes to watch falling leaves, one must enter the lush, overgrown creeks and water-lanes where large boats are inconvenient, hence this craft. The nearest one is named Rain-thread Wind-slice, from 'The Interrupted Dream' in The Peony Pavilion — 'rain-thread, wind-slice, misty waves, a painted boat.'"

Pang Yu followed Wang Ranming's pointing; he did not quite grasp the meaning of Rain-thread Wind-slice or the like, but his face showed not the slightest trace of puzzlement, as if it were only to be expected, and he even earnestly admired them as he looked.

Wang Ranming's Hengshan Villa at Xixi was vast in scale, and Pang Yu had heard he also owned a residence within Hangzhou city; here by the lake, his pleasure boats alone numbered five. Pang Yu felt that Wang Ranming's wealth likely surpassed even Ruan Dacheng's.

Ruan Dacheng, standing nearby, held an umbrella for himself; he inquired about the price of the Gourd Scoop, looking as if he had a mind to acquire one for Mochou Lake as well.

Pang Yu, however, very much doubted Ruan Dacheng would still dare go boating on Mochou Lake, because that Restoration Society crowd had not only shouted abuse outside Shichao Garden in Treasury Department but had already tracked him to the shores of Mochou Lake; before Pang Yu and his party set out, someone had thrown stones at Ruan Dacheng's courtyard gate. If Ruan Dacheng returned to Nanjing, he could probably only stay at Niushou Mountain, where there were no such amenities as Mochou Lake.

Niushou Mountain was thirty li from the city; a trip there cost no small amount, and there were no restaurants or inns nearby. If the Restoration Society people walked over in the morning, they would barely get in a few curses before nightfall, and their lodging and meals would become a problem. That crowd of Restoration Society scholars could not endure much hardship, so they could not go often. Ruan Dacheng could hide away in peace and quiet at Niushou Mountain, but it amounted to self-imposed exile. Leaving the city of Nanjing, all kinds of information would lag, and communication would be inconvenient, causing great loss to his main business as a political broker. Pang Yu, as his biggest client, had relationships with multiple interested parties all maintained through Ruan Dacheng, so the impact on him was considerable as well.

The Public Denunciation affair had been steadily fermenting since its release; the Restoration Society scholars in Nanjing were beating a drowning dog. Ruan Dacheng was utterly dejected, and Pang Yu worried his mental spirit might break. After bringing him away from Nanjing, Pang Yu felt Ruan Dacheng's state had recovered considerably, only he was a little more unkempt than before, and also unwilling to show his face in public — even coming to West Lake, he traveled by carriage.

The road from Xixi was in very good condition, yet Ruan Dacheng kept telling the driver to go slower, so that the entire party moved very slowly.

Ruan Dacheng was quite taken with that Gourd Scoop and went closer with Wang Ranming to look; Pang Yu followed along, and out of the corner of his eye saw Liu Yin and her maid constantly glancing back behind them, their expressions betraying some anxiety.

This Liu Yin's riding skill was passable — she could manage a canter — but after only two or three li she stopped and waited until her maid caught up to help her dismount, and thereafter she too stayed in the carriage. Even so, it made Pang Yu see her in a new light. Only, along the whole journey he had not seen those pursuers of hers catch up, and he wondered where they had chased to.

Wang Ranming and Ruan Dacheng were in full conversational flow, braving the fine rain to discuss small-boat design by the lakeshore; Liu Yin, though anxious, did not come over to hurry them.

After thinking a moment, Pang Yu said to Wang Ranming, "Mr. Wang, is that moored over there the Buxi Garden?"

Wang Ranming indeed turned and pointed to the two large boats there. "The General has a keen eye. The larger one there is the Buxi Garden; the smaller one is the Suixi Retreat."

"I have heard that the Buxi Garden takes the boat as its dwelling and the lake and hills as its garden. I am an impatient man by nature and cannot help wishing to feast my eyes a little sooner."

Wang Ranming immediately came over to lead the way. "The General takes an interest in my humble boat; Wang is overwhelmed by the honor. General, please."

Pang Yu exchanged a few polite words. When they reached the side of the Buxi Garden, Yan Guan was already waiting on the deck; he had sent over ten men aboard earlier, and they had not yet finished their inspection.

Pang Yu stopped before the gangplank and sized up this Buxi Garden a little. It was about twenty-some meters long and four or five meters wide; on the deck stood a single-level cabin, the cabin roof had an enclosure fence, and above that was a canopy roof built of bamboo blinds. It looked as though the cabin top was designed as a terrace.

Yan Guan on the deck nodded to Pang Yu. Pang Yu said in a low voice to Wang Ranming, "Mr. Wang, forgive me. These years I have killed too heavily and made enemies everywhere under heaven. These guard soldiers have their duty; wherever we go, they must inspect first. It is not that I distrust you, sir — please do not take offense."

"The General has wiped out bandits and subdued barbarians; the enemies you have made, you made on behalf of all the people under heaven. I, Wang, would wish to make such enemies but lack the ability. There is only admiration, no offense. General, please!"

Pang Yu extended a hand, inviting Liu Yin to board first. Wang Ranming paused a moment, then also stopped and said, "In that case, Brother Liu, please go first."

Liu Yin's gaze swept over the two men like flowing water and came to rest on Pang Yu's face. "Mr. Wang has his 'Buxi Garden Charter,' with Twelve Fitting Things and Nine Taboos. All who use the boat must fall into one of four categories: renowned gentlemen, eminent monks, bosom friends, and beautiful women. I merely wonder which category the General falls into."

Pang Yu answered without the slightest hesitation, "Beautiful woman. Brother Liu, please."

Liu Yin smiled and stepped onto the gangplank; her maid carefully supported her as they boarded together.

Just as Pang Yu was about to follow aboard, a sudden shout came from behind. "Ranming, wait a moment — I've finally caught up!"

……

"Went all the way to Xixi, then was told you meant to tour the lake — made me go back and forth, I'm nearly worn to a shadow. Good thing I rushed and hurried and managed to catch up after all."

Pang Yu stood on the deck. Before him, a middle-aged scholar had just caught up to the boat. He looked to be around fifty, and had clearly come by carriage; his long gown bore only a few traces of rain, but he had carelessly stepped into a puddle at the shore, soaking his shoes and stockings through. Once on deck, he stamped his feet incessantly and, ahead of Pang Yu, scurried into the cabin door.

"Hurry up, won't you." The middle-aged scholar, his face full of displeasure, urged toward the rear. Two servant-like attendants ran up; one swiftly crouched behind the scholar, and the scholar plopped his rear down onto the servant's shoulder while the other servant began changing his shoes and stockings.

The cabin doorway was not wide, and the scholar was blocking it; no one on the deck could enter. Both Liu Yin and her maid looked thoroughly annoyed, while Wang Ranming was somewhat embarrassed and gave Pang Yu an awkward smile.

While they waited, two more women came up from below. The foremost wore a long white robe with narrow sleeves, a waist-sash revealing her figure, her bearing graceful and poised as she moved. Behind her came a household servant carrying a shoulder-pole load. After boarding, they all waited on the deck. The woman in white kept sizing up Liu Yin, her eyes seeming to hold hostility.

At last the scholar finished changing his shoes and stockings and, now satisfied, rose and cleared the cabin doorway. Pang Yu was the last to enter; at the door he removed his bamboo hat and oilskin raincoat, and Yan Guan immediately took them.

Inside the door was the first cabin room. Pang Yu swept a glance over it; the decor was not lavish, but the four walls were lined with wine vessels, perhaps over a hundred bottles. The wine vessels were of varied materials and shapes; a few even appeared to be glass wine bottles. The arrangement had a certain novelty to it, truly different from other painted pleasure boats.

Wang Ranming led the way ahead. Past the wine cabin was a small sitting room, roughly ten feet square, furnished with three low tables — enough for a few people to drink on ordinary days, but hard to arrange for so many people today. Sure enough, Wang Ranming continued forward, and the next room was a bedroom. On the right was a bed-couch, with a window beside the bed for viewing the lake scenery; on the left stood a row of cabinets, their contents unknown.

Exiting the bedroom, one came to an enclosure fence, above which a cloth canopy was spread to block the rain. Following the fence along, there was a wooden ladder.

Several of Pang Yu's guards were on the deck beyond the fence; the middle-aged scholar swept a glance over them and glared a few times in displeasure.

Pang Yu followed at the rear as they all reached the terrace atop the cabin. The terrace was roofed with a bamboo awning to keep off the rain; it was very spacious, and six low tables had already been arranged, but there were only two maids in total to attend them. Qian Qianyi had already taken one seat.

The middle-aged scholar bypassed Wang Ranming and went straight to Qian Qianyi to pay his respects. "So Mr. Yushan is here as well. Your student Xiangsan greets you, sir."

Qian Qianyi raised a hand in a vague gesture of support, his face wreathed in smiles. "Ah, it's Xiangsan. I heard you also have a villa by West Lake and had meant to inquire with Ranming about it; I did not expect to run into you here first."

Xiangsan lifted his head and said, "When I heard earlier that you, sir, had been summoned for interrogation and taken to the capital, your student was still worried. But I have been back home in mourning for years and could not help. Fortunately, in the end you returned safely, sir. Only, I heard some say you relied on aid from the Eunuch Faction — your student absolutely refuses to believe it. Mr. Mace, the literary head of the Donglin, surely cares for his reputation; how could he go entreat the Eunuch Faction? It is not as if only the Eunuch Faction can get things done."

Out of the corner of his eye, Pang Yu watched Ruan Dacheng. Sure enough, Ruan Dacheng paused in his pacing, clearly having heard those words. The Public Denunciation had caused a huge uproar, and now the words "Eunuch Faction" were extremely sensitive for him.

Qian Qianyi said, somewhat awkwardly, "The pure are pure of themselves. In my old age, I have been slandered far too many times to keep count; let them be. But you, Xiangsan, after returning home in mourning all these years, are you planning to…"

That Xiangsan suddenly turned and walked away without the slightest warning. Qian Qianyi, mid-sentence, had just raised his hand when the person before him was gone. He could not help but freeze awkwardly on the spot. Xiangsan had already headed straight for Liu Yin at the edge.

Liu Yin and her maid stood in a corner; she had been sizing up Qian Qianyi the whole time. Now that Xiangsan came over, she immediately turned her head aside, having no wish to meet his gaze.

Wang Ranming hastily grabbed Xiangsan's sleeve and turned to Pang Yu. "Master Pang, this gentleman is Xie Sanbin, courtesy name Xiangsan, a Presented Scholar of the fifth year of the Tianqi reign. Not only is he unsurpassed in both poetry and painting, he also possesses remarkable frontier talent. He once quelled the Dengzhou Rebellion of Li Jiucheng and rose to the rank of Grand Servant of the Imperial Stud."

The Nanjing Court of the Imperial Stud was in Chuzhou; Pang Yu had met the Chief Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud and also one of the Vice Ministers — already no small official, let alone one who had quelled the Dengzhou Rebellion.

During this rally-to-the-king campaign, they had once captured two prisoners from the Tianyou Army. Pang Yu had read the interrogation records: the Tianyou Army had all revolted in Dengzhou, and after being defeated by the Government Troops, crossed the sea and defected to the Qing forces, taking many Red Barbarian cannons with them. He had never expected they were put down by the troops led by this very scholar before him.

Pang Yu felt a twinge of surprise. From Wang Ranming's introduction, Xie Sanbin was accomplished in both civil and military arts, yet Liu Yin seemed to detest him thoroughly, and Wang Ranming was not particularly warm toward him either, merely receiving him out of regard for face. He wondered what the reason was.

Wang Ranming then said to Xie Sanbin, "Xiangsan, come meet my other honored guest today. This is Master Pang, an Guozijian student from Nanjing. His family is in the river…"

Xie Sanbin glanced at Liu Yin and then directly interrupted. "This Master Pang, the Southern Metropolitan Examination is imminent. Since you are an Guozijian Student, why are you not going to the Provincial Examination? Are you a Donation Tribute Academy Student? Are you enrolled as a boarding or affiliated student? These days, there are hardly any proper scholars in the Guozijian. For the civil examinations, one must still follow the proper path; do not always think of the shortcut of Donation Tribute. Talent and virtue gained through earnest study are, after all, different."

Pang Yu froze for a moment and cupped his hands, about to explain, but Xie Sanbin had already turned his head to find Wang Ranming. He pointed down at Pang Yu's guards below the terrace and said impatiently, "Who brought this many household servants aboard the Buxi Garden? Wang Xiong, the first of the Nine Taboos in your Buxi Garden Charter is taking life; the fifth of the Nine Taboos is rows of page-boys and servants. Bringing this many servants aboard, bearing swords and blades — utterly unseemly. Does this charter still count or not? Next time I shall bring a few dozen household servants aboard as well — would Wang Xiong find that acceptable?"

Wang Ranming coughed once and said to Xie Sanbin, "There have been some water bandits on the lake recently, and with Mr. Yushan's honored presence here, extra hands to ensure safety naturally do not count as a breach of the charter."

"Water bandits on the lake?" Xie Sanbin abandoned Wang Ranming and went straight to Liu Yin, who had her back to him, and said urgently, "Miss Yang loves nothing more than boating on the lake. What is to be done if there are water bandits? After much consideration, I believe it would be best if I accompanied you in touring the lake and hills."

Liu Yin turned around. "This young woman's surname is now Liu. So long as those Green-Skins you know, sir, stay away, mere water bandits will not trouble me."

Pang Yu could hear the sharpness in Liu Yin's tone. This Xie Sanbin clearly had designs on Liu Yin, and by extension harbored hostility toward every man on the boat, seeming to regard Pang Yu's whole party as his rivals in love — including the old man Qian Qianyi. He had come aboard and first obliquely mocked his elder, then Pang Yu, the younger man; Ruan Dacheng, looking poorly kept of late, apparently posed little competition and was spared for the moment.

In the short time since boarding, he had already managed to offend nearly everyone on the boat. But Liu Yin must have had a long-standing grievance with Xie Sanbin; she showed none of the lively playfulness she had displayed toward Pang Yu earlier. Clearly, Xie Sanbin had once sent Green-Skins to harass her — no wonder she gave him not a single pleasant look and wanted only to avoid him.

Yet Xie Sanbin showed no sign of noticing anything amiss and continued warmly, "I heard that Miss Liu's honored person has been unwell, so I have specially brought some tonics as a small token of my regard."

Liu Yin smiled faintly. "I appreciate Mr. Xie's kind intentions. In the future, so long as you, sir, refrain from spreading unfounded words abroad, this slight ailment of mine may well heal on its own."

Xie Sanbin suddenly shouted, "That smile! This humble one has instantly composed a poem — bring brush and ink!"

The servant carrying the shoulder pole behind him thud-thud-thudded up onto the terrace, swept aside the oil cloth covering the load, and swiftly laid out a full set of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the small table — even the ink had already been ground.

Under the dumbfounded stares of the entire company, Xie Sanbin sat before the small table, lifted the brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote. A moment later, he raised the Petition Paper in both hands and, wagging his head, intoned, "Scented sleeves lift before the wind, a rosy face moves beneath the flowers. Half-hidden by a round fan, one smile holds all its own feeling."

Xie Sanbin finished reading with a face full of intoxicated rapture and presented the Petition Paper to Liu Yin with both hands. Liu Yin stepped two paces aside and said, "This masterwork of yours, sir, is not something a humble girl like me is worthy to receive."

An awkward atmosphere settled over the terrace. Xie Sanbin stood frozen for a moment, holding out his poem, when Wang Ranming suddenly burst out laughing. He stepped over and took the Petition Paper, saying to Xie Sanbin, "Xiangsan, to compose a poem in a mere moment — truly worthy of a student of Mr. Yushan. Indeed, a great teacher produces an outstanding pupil. Today, I, Wang, am fortunate to have you all grace Buxi Garden with your presence; it truly brings light to this humble abode. With the misty rain upon the lake today, it is the perfect time to sail toward West Cold — a flavor all its own. Buxi Garden will set sail at once. Everyone, please take your seats."

He pulled Xie Sanbin to a seat. Liu Yin walked to the other side and chose the spot farthest from Xie Sanbin, sitting down at the lower seat next to Pang Yu.

Two maids began serving the dishes. The farce moments earlier had left a strange mood over the terrace; no one spoke, only the sound of Wang Ranming introducing the dishes.

Xie Sanbin had kept his head down without speaking, but his expression was now different from before. Pang Yu could see that Xie Sanbin, having been publicly rebuffed by Liu Yin, was already brimming with pent-up anger. He kept sizing up Pang Yu, Ruan Dacheng, and Qian Qianyi, but in the end, his scrutiny settled mainly on Pang Yu — because he sat closest to Liu Yin, which made him look highly suspicious.

Pang Yu had no heart even to enjoy the lake scenery. He turned his head and saw that Liu Yin looked unwell. Just as he was about to ask, he heard Xie Sanbin across from him suddenly say, "Does Young Master Pang know why I said earlier that even in the Guozijian, one must follow the proper path and be a proper scholar?"

Pang Yu raised his head and looked at Xie Sanbin, a touch of displeasure rising in his own heart. He replied coldly, "Then what does Mr. Xie mean?"

Xie Sanbin fixed his eyes on Pang Yu and stretched his mouth into a grin, then turned toward Liu Yin beside him, a mocking, mirthless smile on his face. "Because a prime minister must be a scholar."