Chapter Forty: Swearing Brotherhood with Liang Shanbo

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I looked toward the crowd and immediately spotted a familiar figure. What was that old man doing at the academy? Could Liang and Zhu have invited him up the mountain to claim credit? I strode over to him and looked at him with undisguised disdain.

“Tao Yuanming, when we went to invite you before, you pretended to be dead and refused to come. What brings you here now?”

The old man merely shrugged and smiled carelessly. “Fate is a curious thing. No one can predict it, and no one can force it.”

“Liu Yiqing, you knew all along that Uncle was Master Five Willows. Why didn’t you say anything?” Zhu Yingtai charged up to me and gave another furious roar.

Her face was streaked with tears; clearly, she had been crying just moments ago. I had no idea what had happened, but she had brought it upon herself. I would not let a single debt go unpaid.

“Twisted melons are never sweet. He was unwilling, so why should I have forced him?” I curled my lips into a cold smile, then turned to stare at Tao Yuanming. “Still, some people break their word. How can they presume to serve as teachers?”

“Enough!” the headmaster suddenly bellowed. “Master Tao was invited here by me. If you have any objections, you may report them to me.”

I glared sourly at the old man before cupping my hands toward the headmaster. “This student would never dare.”

“Headmaster,” Liu Yitang said, “Zhu Yingtai left the mountain without permission, while Liang Shanbo’s identity is unclear. He ignored repeated warnings and violated the academy rules. How do you intend to deal with them?”

“Zhu Yingtai, Liang Shanbo—from tomorrow onward, the two of you will be punished by tending the horses in the rear hills.”

“Heh… hehehe…”

Liu Yitang suddenly broke into a sinister laugh. Then, his expression grew solemn as he looked at the headmaster and raised an eyebrow.

“Tending horses? Headmaster, I fear you have grown senile. Since you cannot make a decision that satisfies me, this official shall decide the matter for you.”

Liu Yitang sat down before Liang and Zhu and cast them both an unfriendly glance.

“Zhu Yingtai, in consideration of the long-standing friendship between the Zhu family estate and the prefect’s residence, I shall show Prefect Ma some courtesy today. You will tend the horses in the rear hills, and in addition, serve food in the dining hall for one month.

“As for you, Liang Shanbo, do not blame this official for showing no mercy. Although I have exchanged letters with Xie Daoyun and know that you possess considerable learning, the laws of the court cannot be violated. Do you understand?

“Since Zhu Yingtai cannot produce proof of having sworn brotherhood with you, you shall pack your belongings and leave the mountain yourself.”

“Lord Liu, this student…” Shanbo had only just begun to speak when Liu Yitang cut him off.

“Liang Shanbo, there is no need to say more. Until your identity changes, there will be no place for you in Mount Ni Academy.”

Liu Yitang truly was stubborn to the very end. Yet I could tell that he was not deliberately making things difficult for Shanbo; he was simply handling official business according to the rules.

“Big Brother, if Shanbo’s identity is cleared, you won’t drive him away, will you?”

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Liu Yitang nodded. “Naturally. If there is no objection to Liang Shanbo’s identity, why would I expel him?”

I went over to Shanbo, took hold of his arm, and knelt at Liu Yitang’s feet.

“Big Brother, if Shanbo and I swear brotherhood, then there will be no further objection to his identity. I hope you will grant us this favor.”

“This…”

Liu Yitang clasped his hands behind his back and shook his head helplessly.

“Yiqing, get up. It is not that I am deliberately making things difficult for Liang Shanbo. It is simply that, as your elder brother, I do not possess such great authority.”

As far as I knew, Liu Yitang’s word still carried considerable weight within the Liu family. After all, the family was small, and he was the only one among them who held an official post.

“I will swear brotherhood with Shanbo.”

Xun Jubo’s voice came from behind me. He squeezed through to the front and cupped his hands toward Liu Yitang.

“This student is Xun Jubo, son of the magistrate of Lanling County. I hope, Lord Liu, that you can grant him a few more days. I shall immediately write home and inform my elders of this matter.”

“Very well.” Liu Yitang nodded. “Liang Shanbo, I will give you a few more days. But there will not be another extension.”

A smile finally appeared on Shanbo’s face. He bowed repeatedly to Liu Yitang.

“Thank you, Lord Liu.”

Then he turned to Xun Jubo and me.

“Thank you, Brother Yiqing. Thank you, Brother Jubo.”

Xun Jubo patted Liang Shanbo on the shoulder. “Shanbo, don’t worry. Although the Xun family is part of the scholar-gentry, there are only my parents and me at home. They will certainly agree.”

“I hope so. Shanbo, you will definitely be able to remain at the academy.”

Liang Shanbo nodded vigorously at me. “Yes.”

Then he looked toward Ma Wencai.

“Yiqing, Brother Wencai, are you both all right? Were you injured?”

I moved closer to Ma Wencai and pointed toward Xia Yuruo nearby.

“There are certainly injuries, but we happened to meet this celestial beauty, a noble benefactor whose help naturally made us recover much faster.”

Xia Yuruo covered her lips and smiled. “Young Master Liu, you flatter me.”

“It is Brother Wencai who truly suffered. He rolled down the mountain and broke his leg while searching for someone. Even now, he has only barely managed to walk back up.”

I said it deliberately for Zhu Yingtai to hear, wanting to see her reaction. After all, Ma Wencai had fallen down the mountain while searching for her.

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Zhu Yingtai’s expression did grow somewhat anxious, but she did not let it show. Prefect Ma, however, was beside himself with worry.

“Ma Tong, go down the mountain at once and bring Physician Zhang up here to examine the young master’s injuries.”

“There is no need,” Ma Wencai said, stopping Ma Tong. “My injuries are no longer serious.”

Prefect Ma cast an displeased glance at Zhu Yingtai and gave a cold snort.

“Zhu Yingtai, come with me to the room. I have something to ask you.”

Zhu Yingtai followed Prefect Ma out reluctantly. Tao Yuanming was also led away by the headmaster to reminisce over old times. Ma Wencai and I took Xia Yuruo to the headmaster’s wife, paid our respects, and settled the matter of her room.

After walking for an entire day, I was utterly exhausted. I was just about to return to my room to rest when, halfway there, I saw Wang Lan and Wang Lantian walking together toward the rear hills beyond the academy grounds. A-Cheng followed behind them, carrying two large baskets filled with things.

Where were they going?

Aside from treating Wang Lantian’s illness, did Wang Lan have other dealings here? I seemed to remember that she and Liang Shanbo had a fairly good relationship.

I sent Xia Yuruo and Ma Wencai back to their room first, then followed those two orchids from behind. Did they really have to walk so quickly? I had said only a few words to Ma Wencai.

“Hey, Brother Lantian, Miss Lan!” I jogged up behind them. “Where are you two going?”

Seeing me glance at the baskets, Wang Lan explained, “We are going to the temple to fulfill a vow. When all four of you disappeared at the same time, Young Master Wang and I were extremely worried, so we went together to pray at the temple. Now that all of you have returned safely, we naturally have to go and fulfill our vow as soon as possible.”

So that was it. Those two really were loyal and kindhearted. It was a pity that Wang Lantian had been poisoned and that no cure existed for him. The thought brought a wave of sadness to my heart. Though Wang Lantian was a deeply calculating man, he had indeed treated me with loyalty and affection.

“Thank you both. I’ll go with you.”

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