Chapter 273

【After several twists and turns, you finally stepped into the deep rear courtyard.】

【Along the way, the maids and servant girls cast curious glances at you frequently, simply because you were alone, without any servants, and dressed in ordinary clothing.】

【However, your appearance and bearing were outstanding; even compared to the young masters in the courtyard, you were not inferior.】

【Upon reaching the gate of the rear courtyard, you were stopped by a steward. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes.】

【"Lu Chen of the Great Courtyard, here specifically to pay respects to Mother." You stated your name calmly and composedly.】

【The steward heard this and hurriedly compared it against the list of young ladies and masters attending the banquet provided by the Lady, but he could not find the name "Lu Chen."】

【He muttered to himself in suspicion: when did the Great Courtyard have a young master named Lu Chen? Moreover, he hadn't even brought a personal servant. Just as he was filled with doubt, someone leaned in close to his ear and whispered a few words.】

【The steward's expression slowly shifted from a hint of respect to cold indifference. So, it was that unfavored young master who had also offended Lady Yuan.】

【Today's affairs were of great importance; if he were to let you in rashly, it would only cause him a great deal of unnecessary trouble. Since you were just a son born of a concubine, he didn't fear offending you.】

【Just as he was about to open his mouth to refuse, a crisp voice sounded with some surprise:】

【"To think it's Young Master Chen who has come!"】

【The steward, who was somewhat portly, turned his head to look. He saw two women walking gracefully from a winding path behind the pavilion, followed closely by four or five servants.】

【The steward bowed hurriedly and called out respectfully: "Miss Yue!"】

【You followed the sound and looked over. One of them was an acquaintance, Xie Yuan's fourth cousin, Zhang Zhang Yuzhi.】

【She was in the bloom of youth, with a graceful figure. She wore a pair of gold-inlaid, cloud-patterned red sheepskin boots, a red feather-satin-faced white fox-lined cloak, and a green-gold-flashing-green double-ring four-harmony ruyi sash around her waist.】

【Unlike usual, she was also holding a brass hand-warmer in her hand today.】

【You smiled and greeted her: "Miss Zhang!"】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi heard this, and a smile bloomed on her face.】

【In the past few days, since returning from the courtyard, she had been thinking about the bet between Xie Yuan and Lu Chen regarding the demons of Jiannan Circuit.】

【Lu Chen's analysis of the situation seemed more reasonable the more she thought about it. Therefore, she had spent the last few days buried in maps, meticulously sketching a topographical map of the west.】

【This method was not idle talk, nor was it without foundation.】

【Although no news had come from the imperial court yet, she firmly believed that the final result would be within expectations.】

【Feeling moved yesterday, she had written a letter detailing Lu Chen's analysis and sent it to her father, who was busy in Jiannan Circuit.】

【She had intended to seek advice from the diligent young scholar in the courtyard regarding Jiannan Circuit over these few days, but Xie Yuan had been grounded at home for some reason.】

【As a guest from another family, she knew well that appearing in public violated etiquette.】

【She had not expected to run into Lu Chen here!】

【The other woman walking with Zhang Zhang Yuzhi, however, merely raised her eyes slightly and glanced at you casually.】

【This was Xie Xie Qiyue, the only daughter of Xie Hong. Among all the children, she was undoubtedly the most favored.】

【She wore a small red jacket with embroidered patterns, and her figure appeared slightly petite, shorter than Zhang Zhang Yuzhi. She wore a polished green jade bracelet on her wrist and a silver longevity lock similar to Xie Yuan's hanging on her chest.】

【Her hair was tied in two braids, and her features were beautiful and cute, but at this moment, a hint of impatience was faintly visible in her eyes.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue made a move to leave, pulling Zhang Zhang Yuzhi's hand: "Sister Zhi, Father has finally returned; we must hurry."】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi, however, gently pressed her hand and smiled: "There's no rush, Xie Qiyue. If you go now, Lady Zhao will be there too. You know her temperament; your father certainly dotes on you, but if you slight your Third Brother, wouldn't that be an affront to her?"】

【"It would be better to wait outside the Grand View Garden. It shows filial piety and leaves face for their mother and son."】

【"Besides, you heard the steward; there's even a woman who came with him!"】

【Xie Xie Qiyue tilted her head to think, then nodded in deep agreement.】

【She and Zhang Zhang Yuzhi were cousins; Xie Yuan's mother in the Great Courtyard was from the Empress Zhuge family.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue's mother was also from the Empress Zhuge family, but from a branch line.】

【Lady Zhao was the mistress of the Second Courtyard. On the surface, she treated her very well, but every time she returned from serving her father in his room, Lady Zhao's gaze was like a knife.】

【You must know, after her father returned, he stayed almost exclusively in his own Spring and Autumn Courtyard, and no one else was allowed to disturb him.】

【Except for the Old Matriarch, even the Great Lady could hardly step half a step into that courtyard. Xie Xie Qiyue felt helpless about this, but she had seen the Great Lady weeping alone by the window.】

【Her father was perhaps heartless in some respects, but under his influence since childhood, Xie Xie Qiyue adored him to the point of worship, and she couldn't harbor even half a grudge in her heart.】

【Her brothers were even more in awe of their father.】

【This was perhaps because her father had been too outstanding in his youth, like a mountain pressing down on the children of the Second Courtyard.】

【Her father was the youngest martial god in the Great Qi to ignite "divine fire," recommended by the Second Master to enter the Academy in his youth, and he climbed to the sixth floor in a single day.】

【He passed two examinations in succession, and if not for his handsome appearance, which led the Emperor to appoint him as the Third Place Scholar, he would have been the top scholar. When he rode through Above Bianjing, his demeanor simply dazzled all the women in the city.】

【When he was sent as an envoy to the Great Sui, there were cranes and princesses seeing him off.】

【That remark by a great Confucian, "The Above Bianjing of Great Qi cannot contain even three-tenths of Xie Hong's talent," spread across the four seas and became world-famous.】

【Prime Minister Su visited the Xie Mansion repeatedly, inviting Xie Hong to serve three times, and he became a close friend of the Third Master, sharing a deep bond.】

【His many illustrious identities made it difficult for his children to keep up, and they could only sigh while looking at his back.】

【The father's years of coldness had left the Second Courtyard holding back a breath.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue secretly hoped that this time, her father could stay at home for a longer period.】

【She didn't have so many worries; she was a woman, and as long as she followed the rules and didn't tarnish her father's reputation, that was enough. Moreover, her father was exceptionally fond of her.】

【At this moment, the two women stood at the gate of the rear courtyard, and all the servants lowered their heads, appearing much more cautious.】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi finally turned her head and asked: "Young Master Chen, do you wish to enter the Grand View Garden?"】

【Xie Xie Qiyue also cast her gaze toward this young master of the Great Courtyard whom she had never met.】

【Lu Chen?】

【She suddenly brightened and blurted out: "Could it be the son born of a concubine from the Great Uncle's West Courtyard? Sixth Brother plays chess with you and always loses miserably!"】

【"Sixth Brother even mutters all day that you were touched on the head by an immortal. I think it's his head that was pinched by an immortal."】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi frowned at the words "son born of a concubine" and tugged on Xie Xie Qiyue's sleeve.】

【She had had a few contacts with Lu Chen, and this young master had his own spirit and ambition; he was not a young man who could be insulted at will.】

【Although Xie Xie Qiyue realized she had spoken out of turn, she didn't care at all.】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi saw your calm expression, which had remained unchanged since she first met you.】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi's face turned cold, and she reprimanded sternly, a rarity: "Xie Qiyue, Young Master Chen is your clansman and also my friend. You must not be rude."】

【Xie Xie Qiyue was startled, a look of defiance in her eyes, but seeing the sternness she had never seen before on her cousin's face, she didn't retort, only pouted.】

【You bowed slightly: "I do indeed have the intention to enter the Grand View Garden, but Lu Chen is of little consequence and finds it difficult to mobilize others. I would like to ask Miss Zhang for help."】

【Your words were frank and open, which stunned Zhang Zhang Yuzhi. Seeing your calm expression, without a trace of resentment or the attitude of someone begging, she was taken aback.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue heard this, the corners of her mouth curled up, revealing a hint of mockery: "Lu Chen, you really are thick-skinned!"】

【"Xie Xie Qiyue!" Zhang Zhang Yuzhi scolded lightly, her tone filled with a hint of anger.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue saw that Zhang Zhang Yuzhi was angry and shrank her neck.】

【"Xie Xie Qiyue, if you do this again, not only will I stop talking to you, but I will also have Xie Yuan stop associating with you."】

【"From now on, don't even think about tasting the Peach Blossom Drunk from Shufang Studio or the Bite-Sized Crisps from Shixiang Residence."】

【These two shops were the most famous pastry shops in Above Bianjing, and they also belonged to the Zhang family.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue heard this, put her hands together, and nodded repeatedly like a pestle pounding garlic: "Sister Zhi, I was wrong, I was really wrong."】

【She hurriedly grabbed her cousin's hand and acted spoiled: "Sister Zhi, I was wrong, please be the bigger person and forgive me."】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi sighed; she was helpless against this little sister's temperament. She wasn't actually bad at heart, and she was quite similar to Xie Yuan.】

【She turned to the steward at the gate and said gently: "Young Master Chen is just going into the Grand View Garden to pay respects to Lady Yuan, so please make it convenient."】

【The steward looked troubled: "Miss Zhang, you know that the banquet in the mansion today is grand, and the quotas for the young ladies and masters in the courtyard are fixed."】

【Xie Xie Qiyue said impatiently: "My cousin comes to the Xie Mansion, and even the Old Matriarch greets her personally. How dare you not give her face? Besides, today's distinguished guest, the Silent Moon Master, is my cousin's uncle. What harm is there in bringing a guest?"】

【The steward heard this and became even more troubled, not daring to refuse again.】

【"However, Lady Yuan specifically instructed..." he whispered, his expression full of concern.】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi understood clearly. Lady Yuan held immense power in the mansion, and neither the Great Master Xie Ling nor the Second Master Xie Hong were at home. After all, this was the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion, and the heir was Lady Yuan's eldest son.】

【These stewards naturally didn't dare to offend Lady Yuan easily, fearing her punishment later.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue said coldly: "Fine, fine, you have such guts! Today my father returns, and I will certainly report to him that the servants in the house dare to bully the bloodline of the Xie family."】

【At these words, the steward was frightened out of his wits, not daring to argue further, and hurriedly knelt down to kowtow, his voice anxious and almost tearful.】

【"Grandmistress, please don't punish me; this little one cannot bear it."】

【The crowd of servants looked at each other in dismay, terrified, all kneeling on the ground.】

【Under the Confucianism of Great Qi, filial piety comes first. Within a family, the elders have absolute authority over the descendants.】

【If an official is unfilial, he will be dismissed and sent home; if a Confucian scholar is unfilial, he will be expelled from the Academy.】

【Disobeying parents in Great Qi is a loss of integrity, leaving one with no place to stand.】

【In the Xie Mansion, if a servant gained a reputation for bullying the masters, there would be only one dead end.】

【Beating a servant to death to rectify family discipline would only be praised as a fine story.】

【If Xie Xie Qiyue were to mention this to the Second Master, regardless of the facts, the Second Master wouldn't even need to react.】

【Lady Yuan would peel his skin off!】

【Xie Xie Qiyue, however, let out a cold snort.】

【Lu Chen stepped forward and helped the steward up: "This matter is entirely Lu Chen's own doing, sneaking in. If the mistresses blame anyone, I will bear it alone."】

【"I am just looking for someone, I will not cause trouble!"】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi also said: "Young Master Chen is a person who understands etiquette and will not cause trouble. Wu Guanshi, please rest assured."】

【The steward didn't dare to block him anymore, making way for Lu Chen to enter, and even sent a servant to guide him. The Hongjing Courtyard was ahead, requiring a crossing of the Mother Lake by boat.】

【When Lu Chen said goodbye and left, he said to Xie Xie Qiyue:】

【"Thank you, Miss Zhang, and Little Sister Xie Qiyue, for this time!"】

【Xie Xie Qiyue looked at Lu Chen's back, completely stunned.】

【She realized later: "Who... is your little sister? Make yourself clear."】

【For some reason, she felt that Lu Chen was quite different from the unfavored sons of concubines she had seen in the Xie Mansion; his tone just now carried quite a bit of the air of an elder.】

【Xie Yuan had never called her that.】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi watched Lu Chen's departing back, feeling worried in her heart.】

【An unfavored son of the Xie family, with no one to rely on, now that he was in the Grand View Garden, which was filled with powerful people, could he handle himself with ease?】

【Although she didn't understand why Lu Chen wanted to enter the Grand View Garden, she knew he was definitely not someone who would cling to power. Just entering the door had been so difficult; one could imagine what it would be like inside.】

【Once inside, there would be no shortage of cold shoulders!】

【She recalled what Lu Chen had written, "A young man relies on his own soaring pen, not looking at the marquises of the world," and felt even more sorrowful in her heart.】

【Xie Xie Qiyue looked at her cousin, who hadn't recovered for a long time while staring at Lu Chen's back.】

【She tilted her head: "Sister Zhi, do you have some handle on Lu Chen?"】

【"Just tell me, Sister Zhi. I still have a say in the Xie Mansion. I'll ask him for it, and he won't dare not give it."】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi tapped her on the head and said sternly: "This Ninth Brother Chen of yours is now an unfavored young master, trapped in a small courtyard."】

【"But he is definitely not a cowardly person who can be bullied at will."】

【"Never bully a young man for being poor!"】

(End of chapter)

【"Just tell me, Sister Zhi, I still have a say in Xie Fu, I'll ask him for it, he won't dare not give it."】

【Zhang Zhang Yuzhi knocked on her head and said solemnly: "This Ninth Brother Guan of yours is now a disgraced young master, trapped in a small courtyard."】

【"He is definitely not a cowardly person who can be bullied at will."】

【"Do not bully the young man for being poor!"】

(End of chapter)