Chapter Thirty: Three Days

"Malt candy," I said, opening one of the packages. "I promised you last time that I would bring you some when I came down from the mountain."

"Many thanks, Brother Yiqing," Wang Lantian said, bowing to me.

I beamed at him with a smug look. "Brother Lantian, I brought you something else, too. Care to guess what it is?"

"Hmm? There's more? What is it?" Wang Lantian looked perplexed.

"Ta-da!" I pulled out a folding fan and waved it in front of him. "I know your old fan broke when you helped Mr. Xie out of that bind last time, so I bought you a new one. Do you like it? It even has calligraphy by Wang Xizhi on it!"

Wang Lantian took the fan, examined it closely, and a slow smile spread across his face. "I love it!"

"As long as you like it. I haven't even had a chance to see the Headmaster since I got back; I need to head over there." I had been whisked away by Liu Yitang the moment I arrived at the academy, leaving me no time to report.

I glanced back to see Liu Yitang still sitting there, sipping his tea leisurely. "Big brother, aren't you coming?"

"You go ahead and see the Headmaster first. There are a few things I would like to ask Young Master Wang," Liu Yitang replied.

How strange. They didn't even know each other; what could he possibly want to ask him? I returned to my room to see if Ma Wencai would go with me, only to find that he and Zhu Yingtai had already reported to the Headmaster. This left me, the main protagonist of this mission, feeling quite redundant.

However, I still had one important question for Ma Wencai. "How do you know my big brother? And why does he call you 'Nephew Ma'?"

Ma Wencai shrugged dismissively. "Your brother is an official, and my father is an official. It is only natural that we know each other. How else would you expect him to address me?"

I pouted. "How should I know?" Suddenly, a thought about Shanbo crossed my mind. "Let me ask you, when my brother asked you earlier if you knew about Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai’s blood brotherhood, why did you say you didn't? Are you just dying for Shanbo to be expelled from the academy?"

Ma Wencai gave a cold, mocking laugh. "Who can prove they are sworn brothers? And even if they are, who recognizes it?"

I was completely baffled. I knew that formalizing a blood brotherhood in ancient times was a complicated affair, but in all the legends, Liang and Zhu were always sworn brothers. That shouldn't be a lie. They were both standing right there as living proof; what more did they need? "What do you mean by that? It’s a done deal. Who could possibly refuse to recognize it?"

Ma Wencai snorted. "Social custom does not recognize it, the elders of the Zhu family do not recognize it, and your brother, Liu Yitang, will not recognize it either."

Damn, he had some nerve. It was one thing to talk about others, but to include my own brother in that list? "How can you be so sure my brother won't recognize it? Do you think my brother is a bad person?"

"Just wait and see," Ma Wencai said as he stood up. "Let's go. It's time to eat."

I shot him a glare and stepped out of the room before him. "Shanbo will not be expelled."

After dinner, I went to Liang and Zhu’s room, while Ma Wencai returned to his own. It seemed Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo had stopped bickering, though she certainly didn't welcome me when I entered. But I wasn't there for her; I just wanted to tell Shanbo to set his mind at ease and that I would do my best to plead his case to my brother. Shanbo was very grateful.

When I returned to my room, Ma Wencai was already asleep. I suspected he might be ill, as I had never seen him sleep so early. I went over to call him, but he didn't react at all. With no other choice, I went to sleep myself.

The next day, it was pouring rain. When we arrived at the lecture hall, Liu Yitang was already seated at the podium, with Master Chen and the Headmaster standing to the side. Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed they were going to settle the matter of the Liang-Zhu brotherhood once and for all. Even the heavens weren't helping; it had to be raining this hard.

Wang Lantian had arrived earlier than me. When I asked him what my brother had said to him yesterday, he claimed it was nothing—just some talk about family business. I was stunned. Liu Yitang was a Zhongshu (Secretariat Drafter); why would he be asking about business?

"Zhu Yingtai, do you have any proof regarding your brotherhood with Liang Shanbo?" Liu Yitang asked.

Liang Shanbo stood up. "Friendship is born from the heart. Yingtai and I are sworn brothers, our bond stronger than blood. What need is there for proof?"

Liu Yitang chuckled. "Zhu Yingtai, let me ask you: when and where did you and Liang Shanbo become sworn brothers?"

"On the road to the academy," Zhu Yingtai replied.

"Hahaha..." Liu Yitang laughed from the podium.

Zhu Yingtai hurriedly asked, "Why is Official Liu laughing?"

"According to the customs of our dynasty, a brotherhood between different surnames must be recognized by the clan’s ancestral council to be valid. You formed this bond on the road to the academy, clearly without the approval of your family elders. How, then, can it be considered valid?"

"Official Liu," Liang Shanbo retorted, "my brotherhood with Yingtai has the heavens as our witness and the earth as our pledge. How can it not count?"

"Liang Shanbo, cease your sophistry," Liu Yitang said, walking over to Zhu Yingtai's desk. "Zhu Yingtai, there is only one way for Liang Shanbo to remain at Nishan Academy: write a letter to the Zhu family manor immediately, inform your elders, and obtain their approval. Once that is done, I will recognize Liang Shanbo's status."

Zhu Yingtai said nothing, while Ma Wencai watched her with a look of gloating satisfaction.

Liu Yitang sighed. "Liang Shanbo, I read your strategy for flood control last night. I truly admire your talent, but rules are rules, and the laws of the imperial court cannot be violated. I have no desire to make things difficult for you; as long as the patriarch of the Zhu family manor recognizes your relationship, I will let this matter pass."

I couldn't stand it anymore. It was just a status, right? "Big brother, since you admire Shanbo's talent, why not just turn a blind eye and let this pass? Why go to all this trouble? It hurts others without benefiting yourself."

"Liu Yiqing!" Liu Yitang shouted, his voice booming. "If you dare speak out of turn again, even though you are my own brother, I will not show you any mercy."

I was startled and retreated to my seat, feeling sheepish. I still hadn't figured out his temperament, and I certainly shouldn't play with fire. It was rare to see Liu Yitang show such a forceful side. Yezi had told me that Liu Yitang was refined in his habits, upright in character, filial to his parents, and doting on his siblings—I had only ever seen the first part.

"Zhu Yingtai, I give you three days. If you cannot give me an answer by then, do not blame me for upholding the law and punishing you along with him." Liu Yitang glared at me, flicked his sleeves, and left.

Zhu Yingtai, let's see how you get out of this. If the Zhu family finds out you’ve sworn brotherhood with Liang Shanbo, they’ll surely be furious enough to kill you.

After Liu Yitang left, the class dispersed. Neither the lecturers nor the students were in the mood for lessons. After the Master left, Liu Xiangdong and his group quickly cleared out. I walked over to the Liang-Zhu table. "Zhu Yingtai, you had better write that letter quickly. My brother only gave you three days. If there’s even the slightest delay between Hangzhou and Shangyu, you’ll miss your chance."

"I..." Zhu Yingtai looked at Ma Wencai, clearly anxious. "Is there really no other way?"