by Mao Ni
"Teacher, I'm going to go now."
"Where are you going?"
"To the capital."
"Why?"
"Because I still want to live."
"I said before that it's not an illness, it's fate."
"I want to change fate."
"In the past eight hundred years, only three people have succeeded in changing their fate."
"And those people were all extremely outstanding, right?"
"Yes.”
"I am not, but I still want to try."
In the end, Chen Changsheng would have to go to the capital eventually. Even if he could not cure his illness, he would still have to go. It wasn't merely because he wanted to change his fate, rather it was because the other party of the marriage contract was in the capital.
He packed his luggage, accepted the dagger handed over by Senior Yu Ren, turned, and left.
The fourteen-year-old Daoist boy descended the mountain.
Chapter 1 – I Changed My Mind
"What sort of person is that boy?"
"He's very calm. Although he's been sitting for an hour, his posture has never changed. He only drank a mouthful of tea in the beginning, most likely out of courtesy. Afterwards, he never touched it again...in fact, his first mouthful of tea was only to wet his lips. He's not reserved, but prudent. He thinks deeply, and his mind is vigilant, so much so that there's a faint sense of hostility."
"He seems to be a smart person, at least in some small ways. How old is he?"
"Fourteen."
"I remember that he should be around that age."
"It's just that his expression is too calm, so he always looks like he's somewhat older."
"He's just a normal person?"
"Yes…his Qi is ordinary, and it's obvious that he hasn't even undergone Purification. Although we can't judge his potential, he's already fourteen. Even if he were to cultivate the Dao anew, his prospects would not be too good."
"Even if he had prospects, could they possibly compare to the final disciple of the Longevity Sect's Sect Master?"
"Madam, could it be that the marriage contract is real?"
"The authenticating object is real, so the marriage contract is naturally real, as well."
"Back then, how could the Old Master have actually...agreed to such a marriage for the young lady?"
"If the Old Master were not dead, perhaps he could give us an answer. Open the door; I will go see him."
With a creak, the door to the house slowly opened. The clear and beautiful sunshine spilled into the room, illuminating every corner, illuminating the Madam's beautiful complexion and the half of a jade pendant she tightly gripped in her hands. The elderly nanny who had just been talking to her stood in the corner, her entire body cloaked in the shadows. If one did not pay careful attention, it would be very difficult to notice her.
Supported by the old nanny, the Madam walked out of the room. She ambled forward, like a young willow buffeted by the wind. Strangely enough, the precious golden hairpin in her hair and the jade rings and ornaments on her body did not make a single sound.
The mottled shade of the trees covered the courtyard. On the lawn, there were ten-odd trees with thick trunks that would take several people to surround. One saw neither servants nor maids on either side of the stone path, but far off in the distance, one could see many people kneeling. A sense of austerity permeated the silent atmosphere, like those trees that stretched ramrod-straight to the sky or like the cold weapons displayed all around the reception pavilion.
The owner of this estate was someone who had performed outstanding military service for the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Divine General of the East, Xu Shiji. The Divine General ruled his home like he commanded his troops. His estate had always been austere and quiet. The servants and maids had all been forced into a side garden because of the matter that occurred today. The atmosphere in this place had naturally grown even more oppressive. Even the spring wind, which blew over the walls of the courtyard, seemed to freeze.
Madam Xu crossed the courtyard and came to a side reception hall. She halted her steps and looked at the youth within, her two eyebrows slightly raised.
That youth wore old Daoist clothes, washed until they were white. His complexion was soft and immature; his appearance right and proper. His eyes were bright, possessing an indescribable flavor, as if he could see the truth concealed in many matters. They were just like mirrors.
The youth placed his luggage by his feet. The luggage seemed very ordinary but organized in an extremely tidy fashion. Moreover, one could not detect a single speck of dust from his journey. Even the bamboo hat tied to the top of the luggage had been wiped sparkling clean.
What made Madam Xu raise her brows was not these things, rather it was that this youth was still as calm as ever even though not a single strand of steam rose from the cup of tea on the table. Not a single hint of boredom was evident. It was difficult for a person at this age to possess such calm and patience.
This was a person that was very difficult to deal with.
Fortunately, this sort of person was often very proud.
* * *
After he entered the estate of the Divine General and spoke a few words to that nanny, not a single person paid him any attention. He had already been sitting in the side reception hall for an hour, so it was natural for him to be somewhat bored. However, Chen Changsheng had grown accustomed to loneliness as a child, so he did not find this boredom difficult to bear.
While waiting for someone to hurry over, he was silently reciting to himself the commentary on the sixth scroll of the Flower Court Classic. He wanted to return this marriage contract, as he had many things he needed to do after resolving this matter.
It was true that he had only taken a mouthful of the tea upon the table and had only done so to wet his slightly dry lips, but it was not out of any reservation or prudence as that nanny had guessed. Rather, it was because he felt that if one were a guest at another's house and if one drank too much tea and wanted to go to the restroom, it would inevitably seem like one was somewhat lacking in manners. Moreover, even if the teacups in the Divine General's estate were all made from extremely precious Ruyao[1] porcelain, he was not used to drinking water from the cups of others.
On this aspect, he was somewhat of a clean-freak.
He stood up and gave the bow of a junior to the elegantly and splendidly dressed Madam. He guessed that she was Madam Xu of the Divine General's estate. He thought to himself that he would finally be able to resolve this matter. He stuck his hand in his bosom, preparing to take out the marriage contract.
Madam Xu raised her hand to indicate that there was no rush. She leisurely seated herself in the owner's seat and took the tea the stewardess brought. Gazing at his calm expression, she asked, "Have you visited the Mausoleum of Books? Or the Bridge of Helplessness? Or perhaps, you can go to the Li Palace and see the Vines of Eternal Spring; they’re very beautiful."
Chen Changsheng thought to himself that these were just pleasantries. He never thought pleasantries were necessary, but since these were the words of a senior, he could naturally not lack in etiquette. He simply and briefly gave a respectful answer, "I still have not, but I will in the coming days."
Madam Xu's hand, which was carrying the lid of the cup, stopped in mid-air as she asked, "So what you're saying is that as soon as you arrived in the capital, you came to the general's estate?"
Chen Changsheng sincerely answered, "I didn't dare delay in the slightest."
"So, it was like that."
The Madam raised her head and coldly glanced at him. She thought to herself, Some impoverished youth from the middle of nowhere was not actually attracted by the magnificent sights of the capital, but directly came here to discuss the engagement. It is truly laughable for his thoughts to be so earnest.
Chen Changsheng did not understand what the words 'So, it was like that' were about. He stood up and once again stuck his arm in his bosom, prepari
ng to return the marriage contract to the Madam. Since he had already resolved himself to this, he was not prepared to waste any more time thinking about it.
However, his actions caused a misunderstanding once more. The Madam watched him, and her expression grew even colder. "I will not agree to this engagement. Even if you take out the marriage contract, it will be meaningless."
Chen Changsheng had not anticipated to hear these words and stared blankly for a moment.
"The Old Master was saved by your master many years ago and set up this engagement; does this not seem like a fantastical tale?"
Madam Xu looked at him with a cold expression and said, "...but in reality, it is a fantastical tale that lives only in plays and operas. It's impossible for such a thing to occur in the real world. Besides those imbecilic gentlewomen, who would believe it?"
Chen Changsheng wanted to explain, to say that the purpose of his coming was to end the engagement, but when heard these arrogant words and saw the unconcealed disdain and indifference on Madam Xu's face, he found it very hard to open his mouth. At the moment, his hand was still in his bosom, already touching the edges of those somewhat stiff pieces of paper. One sheet of paper was the marriage contract personally written by the Grand Minister. The other sheet of paper contained the girl's date of birth and horoscope.
"The Old Master departed from this mortal coil four years ago, and so this marriage no longer exists."
Madam Xu looked at the youth in front of her and continued, "I know you are a smart person, so we should speak as smart people. The matter you want to ponder at this moment is not continuing this marriage, but rather to carefully consider what sort of compensation you can obtain. What do you think about my suggestion?"
Chen Changsheng took his hand out of his bosom. Instead of producing the marriage contract, he let his hand hang by his waist. He asked, "May I ask why?"
"Why? This is not a question a smart person would ask."
Madam Xu looked at him expressionlessly and said, "Because your teacher's medical skills are not bad, but he is still just a normal Daoist, while this is the Divine General's estate; because you are just a youth from the countryside wearing old Daoist clothes, while my daughter is the young lady of the Divine General's estate; because you are a normal person, while the Divine General's estate is not a place a normal person should be able to enter. Is my explanation clear enough?"
Chen Changsheng slightly clenched his hand, but his voice did not tremble, "It is very clear."
Madam Xu looked at his face, which still had a childish air about it and decided to exert a little more pressure. She had a clear understanding of what a smart and proud person could bear the least. In a short while, he would end the engagement of his own initiative.
She placed the teacup on the table and stood. "The tea on the table before you is Butterfly Tea picked before Qingming[2]. Five taels of silver can only buy one tael of tea. This teacup came from Ruyao and is more expensive than gold. The tea is cold, and you don't drink it. Perhaps this means that it is not your fate to drink this tea. You are just a blade of grass mired in the mud. You are not porcelain, just rubble. Do you want to use my Divine General's estate to change your life? My deepest apologies, although it might make you very happy, it will cause me much displeasure."
The Madam's voice was very calm. It was not deliberately overbearing, and yet, it pushed one down to the ground. She had not deliberately placed herself on high and looked down, yet it made one feel like an ant on the ground, being peered at from the sky.
She conveyed all these emotions to Chen Changsheng.
This was an unconcealed humiliation, especially that line about using the Divine General's estate to change his life. To any arrogant youth, these were all unbearable criticisms. To raise their head high and proudly take their leave, many people would choose to angrily retort, then take out the marriage contract and tear it in two. Then they would throw it at the feet of the Madam and maybe even spit on it once or twice.
This was also the scene that Madam Xu wanted to see. If that marriage contract were not so special, if she had any better way, was there any need to act like this today, to consume her mind with these words?
The side reception hall was silent, without a single sound.
She coldly watched Chen Changsheng, waiting for the youth's anger.
And yet, the situation developed in a way that completely surpassed her expectations.
Chen Changsheng looked at Madam Xu and calmly said, "In truth, Madam has misunderstood. I came to the Divine General's estate so that I could return the marriage contract. I originally came to end the engagement."
Silence filled the entire hall.
Wind blew in from the garden, brushing against the old bamboo under the gallery and making it swish.
The Madam was a little astounded. She asked, "Can you repeat that?"
She did not realize that her voice had become somewhat anxious and somewhat relieved, out of surprise and disbelief. Regardless of whether this youth was unwilling to lose face and said this on purpose or if he really had come to end the engagement, they were all things she wanted to happen.
Chen Changsheng looked at her and sincerely said, "In fact…I had come to end the engagement."
In the corner of the side reception hall, the face of that nanny, who had seemingly vanished for a long time, changed.
Madam Xu's expression did not change, but her palms lightly rested on her chest.
In this instant, the entire Divine General's estate seemed to have become much more relaxed.
However, Chen Changsheng's expression suddenly grew solemn.
He said, "But now…I've changed my mind."
The spring wind in the estate once again grew cold, the atmosphere once again oppressive. In the gloomy corner of the reception hall, the wrinkles on the nanny's face, which were countless deep ravines, suddenly deluged with water.
Madam Xu suddenly felt as if she had done something wrong.
She forcefully suppressed the unease in her heart that had sprung out of nowhere and made her voice as warm as possible. "Since you've already come around to the idea, is there any need to say those words so rashly? Wouldn't it be better…"
But she was amazed to discover that the youth had no intention of continuing to listen to her words.
Chen Changsheng took up his luggage and put it over his shoulder, then walked right out of the reception hall.
Chapter 2 – Why?
As Madam Xu watched the youth's figure slowly disappear from the side reception hall, a layer of frost seemed to form over her face. She wanted to raise the teacup and take a sip of tea to moisten her somewhat parched throat, but she found that the tea in the cup had gone cold. She wanted to throw the teacup against the floor to vent her emotions, uncaring for how expensive Ruyao porcelain was, but she didn't want anyone else to hear the sound and know the current state of her emotions.
Her mood, at the moment, was extraordinarily unpleasant. She was able to understand the meaning the youth wanted to pass on to her: “My deepest apologies, this might displease Madam, but at least it will make me happy.”
Or perhaps it was because she said similar words to him previously, “You want to use my Divine General's Estate to change your life? My deepest apologies, although it might make you very happy, it will displease me greatly.”
In truth, from beginning to end, the youth acted very courteously. He only needed to say two sentences with completely different meanings and then turn around to succeed in communicating his meaning. Perhaps this could also be considered a sort of talent.
The nanny's face was extremely gloomy. Walking over to the Madam's side, she whispered, "Are we just letting him leave like this?”
"I originally thought that he was only a proud youth, but now I know that he's actually a treacherous and crafty villain. If he really came to my Divine General's estate to seek some sort of benefit and was so cautious that he didn't even drink a mouthful of tea, how could he p
ossibly have dared bring the marriage contract into the estate? As a matter of fact, from beginning to end, did anyone actually see the marriage contract?"
Madam Xu understood the nanny's meaning. Her complexion a little gloomy, she said, "But since he's a smart person, he should understand very clearly that if he wants even more benefits, he should not have taken everything to such extremes in the beginning."