Chapter 28

Taihe Hall.

Emperor Ji Feng of Zhou was in an unusually good mood today; before his desk, he first wrote the poem “Lime Song,” then copied the “Verse of the Stubborn Stone at Qinggen Peak” from Honglou Meng.

Lacking the talent to mend the blue sky, I vainly entered this mortal world for so many years.

This is the tale of my before and after life—pray, who will send it forth as a divine legend?

Classics always withstand the test of time; Honglou Meng, upon its emergence in Great Zhou, transformed from initial skepticism to a text now everywhere copied and explored, its words destined to endure for ten thousand generations.

This was undoubtedly a groundbreaking triumph for Great Zhou’s literary world.

The Great Zhou Literary Gazette specially created a Honglou Meng feature page, containing not only serialized continuations of the story but also commentary and annotations by various scholars.

Take, for instance, the “Verse of the Stubborn Stone at Qinggen Peak.”

Li Yu, relying on his understanding of Honglou Meng’s original text and textual analysis of the four verses, ultimately penned this annotation:

Alas, the stubborn stone could not aid in mending the heavens; it came in vain to this mortal world for so many years, etching its mundane experiences upon stone to chronicle the lives of a few extraordinary women…

Upon the release of this annotation to the “Verse of the Stubborn Stone at Qinggen Peak,” a small wave of enthusiasm arose, prompting numerous talented men and women to begin studying Honglou Meng.

In their study, many cultivated the aura of scholarly fragrance.

In the latest issue of the Great Zhou Literary Gazette, Lu Fang officially published the extraordinary power and effects of the aura of scholarly fragrance.

“So there truly is scholarly fragrance.”

Ji Feng had just finished copying the “Verse of the Stubborn Stone at Qinggen Peak” when he noticed colorful scholarly fragrance between his fingers, his eyes filled with surprise.

Consuming scholarly fragrance can enhance the body, heal internal and external injuries, replenish stamina and “momentum,” and elevate one’s realm.

Yet it has no connection whatsoever to the Three Teachings’ righteous qi, primordial qi, or Buddhist dharma.

For example, consuming large quantities of scholarly fragrance can elevate one’s realm, yet it cannot enhance the consumer’s righteous qi, primordial qi, or Buddhist dharma.

This is the only flaw.

But without doubt, the emergence of scholarly fragrance grants humanity a new possibility to shatter its constraints—this contribution is immense.

Lu Fang explicitly stated in the Great Zhou Literary Gazette that scholarly fragrance is an extraordinary power generated only when humans read the elegant texts he wrote.

In other words, non-human beings—demons, barbarians, mountain spirits, or wilderness monsters—cannot produce scholarly fragrance.

Ji Feng tried consuming a small amount of scholarly fragrance, closed his eyes to sense it, then smiled: “Scholarly fragrance truly enhances the body. Send an imperial decree to the Minister of Patrols in the Northern Frontier: have the Zhenbei Army read Lu Fang’s elegant texts.”

The Chief Eunuch bowed and replied, “Yes.” He turned to leave.

Ji Feng called him back:

“Draft an imperial edict: Lu Fang’s two ‘elegant texts’ produce scholarly fragrance, benefiting Great Zhou and countless future generations of humanity. I hereby grant him the title of Marquis ‘Wenguan,’ along with a mansion, silver and gold…”

…

In this mortal world, who does not delight in the achievement of being enfeoffed as a marquis or appointed as a minister?

Lu Fang was no exception; upon receiving the imperial edict granting him the title of “Wenguan Marquis,” he bowed in thanks for the imperial grace, then walked back to his temporary residence with a giddy, swaying step.

Marquises operate outside the official bureaucracy, yet their status transcends all ranks, and they possess personal territories.

Just this alone was enough to make him boastful, let alone the mansion and bundles of silver, gold, and silk bestowed by the Son of Heaven.

Had he not been under house arrest, he would have rushed to inspect the granted mansion and carefully selected a territory from the Ministry of Revenue.

Great Zhou’s territory is vast; marquises and above have the right to choose their own lands.

Yet these lands are typically remote and harsh; within them, marquises may establish private armies and appoint officials.

“That one will do.”

Lu Fang distributed silver fragments to the several Li family servants who had carried the chests.

The servants, having received their rewards, uttered a few auspicious phrases and departed.

After a short wait, Lu Fang shut the door to his room, rubbed his hands, and opened one by one the three large chests bestowed by His Majesty.

Gold, silver, jewels, silk, and brocade filled all three chests.

There was also a property deed, clearly stating: “At the center of Wansheng Street, south of the Imperial Capital,” a five-court mansion facing the street…

“Only a five-court mansion befits the Wenguan Marquis’s residence.”

Lu Fang flicked the property deed with a cheerful smile.

“Hahaha…”

A hoarse laugh echoed through the room.

On the chair in the main hall sat an elderly Confucian scholar, his hair unkempt and face grimy, leaning on a wooden cane, his eyes piercingly sharp.

“When did you arrive, Senior Brother?”

Lu Fang forced a nervous laugh, tucked away his glee and the property deed, and bowed deeply.

Su Li gently supported him with a light gesture, stroked his beard, and smiled: “I’ve been here a while; you were so absorbed just now that you didn’t notice me.”

“You’re only twenty, yet you’ve earned the title of ‘Wenguan Marquis’ through your own merit. Back when I was forty, I was still just a lowly lecturer at a small academy.”

Lu Fang chuckled nervously: “I got carried away—I’ve made a fool of myself before Senior Brother.”

Su Li shook his head seriously: “A fool? If I had achieved what you have at your age, I’d want all of Great Zhou to witness this ‘foolishness.’”

“At your age, with this achievement, you are unprecedented—no doubt about it. Don’t be so modest.”

“My purpose in coming now is to speak a few words to you before I depart.”

Lu Fang bowed. “Senior Brother, speak.”

Su Li sighed:

“A tree towering above the forest invites the wind’s destruction. You bear the title of ‘Prophetic Figure,’ have written one prophetic poem and one image-revealing poem, composed two ‘elegant texts,’ and even condensed a spirit of scholarly fragrance—now you’ve been enfeoffed as Wenguan Marquis.”

“This is both good and bad.”

“Achieving success young is wonderful, but do not become arrogant.”

“Take this incident: though killing Xiao Jincheng was justified, you must consider the consequences.”

“The Xiao family of Xiao State holds three half-sages; their influence in the Imperial Capital is deeply entrenched. I happened to be in the capital and could speak up for you this time.”

“But what if I weren’t?”

“You did nothing wrong, yet you must think thrice before acting—anticipate every outcome.”

“From the moment you became a Prophetic Figure and entered our sect, countless eyes have been fixed upon you.”

“Do you understand what I mean?”

Lu Fang’s expression turned solemn: “Thank you, Senior Brother, for your teaching—I’ve remembered every word.”

Everything Senior Brother said was for his own good.

There are many kinds of geniuses, but few grow into success without perishing early—he must indeed speak and act with caution.

Su Li nodded slightly and continued:

“A true man acts where he must, and refrains where he must. The essence of being human lies in staying true to one’s heart—never let fleeting gain soil that heart.”

“Secondly, one must uphold trust.”

“The three half-sages of the Xiao family personally promised me they would no longer harass you, and I accepted on your behalf—on my word, you will not seek revenge against the Xiao family.”

“When the Duke of Xiao led armies north and south, countless members of the Xiao clan perished, their service to the nation and people of unparalleled merit.”

“If they are willing to let go, we need not pursue them to annihilation.”

“This serves no benefit to humanity, to Great Zhou, or to the common people.”

Lu Fang was deeply moved by Su Li’s words and bowed deeply: “Senior Brother is right: without trust, a man stands not; without trust, an enterprise thrives not; without trust, a state decays.”

“Since the three half-sages of the Xiao family have promised not to trouble me, and Senior Brother has accepted on my behalf, I, Lu Fang, swear: so long as the Xiao family keeps their word, I will never seek revenge against them.”

Lu Fang did not consider himself a virtuous gentleman, nor had he ever claimed to be a good man—but he had his limits: he targeted deeds, not people.

“Good!”

Su Li said, “Good.”

In this brief exchange, his junior brother’s responses had pleased him thoroughly—he was indeed worthy of the Master’s attention.

After carefully studying Lu Fang, Su Li frowned:

“You’ve written two ‘elegant texts’ and two image-revealing poems, yet your realm remains at Eighth Rank, First Level—have you been restricted by the Dao?”

“Dao restriction?”

Lu Fang froze—he had never heard this term before.