Chapter Forty-Nine: The Emperor's Summons

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After New Year’s Eve came the first day of the New Year. Lu Hong did not give lessons, so after Du Shiyi and Lu Wangzhi admired the grandeur of the frozen waterfall, they climbed up the back path to its summit. From there, they looked down at the humble thatched lecture hall and the withered winter vegetation. On their descent, they returned to their quarters, where Lu Wangzhi, inspired, composed an “Ode on Viewing the Frozen Waterfall.” Once finished, he showed it to Lu Hong, Du Shiyi, and several junior disciples, who all praised it effusively. Yet he tossed it into the brazier to burn it to ashes with a laugh, saying it served no purpose and would be better used as an offering to welcome spring.

Lantern Festival passed in a blink. Unable to resist Du Shiyi’s eloquent persuasion, Lu Hong, albeit reluctantly, allowed him and a group of disciples to go into Dengfeng’s city market to see the lanterns. Despite the recent mourning for the Retired Emperor, after the initial three months, ordinary life had resumed, and the Lantern Festival was celebrated as usual. Though Dengfeng’s lantern displays paled in comparison to the endless glittering nights of Chang’an or Luoyang, the sudden immersion in such lively, festive brilliance after so much mountain quiet still delighted Lu Hong. That night, he strolled through the festivities until late, much like the common folk in their all-night revels, and then stayed at an inn that Du Shiyi had arranged in advance through Wu Jiu, not alerting the local magistrate, Cui Weizhi.

The lanterns were displayed for three days, but Lu Hong, being no longer young, returned to the mountain the next day. As the holiday season passed, various students returned one after another. As usual, they brought the traditional offerings, but some brought local specialties as gifts. However, everyone knew Lu Hong’s disposition; their sincerity far outweighed any intent of gift-giving. Yet what truly puzzled Du Shiyi was that, while Pei Ning’s absence could be explained by his recent marriage, there was still no word from Cui Jianxuan. He considered sending Wu Jiu to make inquiries at the county offices, but at the mention of recent news, he immediately abandoned the idea.

At the end of the previous year, the longstanding ministers Yao Chong and Yuan Qianyao had both resigned. In their place were the equally renowned Song Jing and Su Ting. Unlike the solitary Du Shiyi, who only had his younger sister to care for, Cui Jianxuan’s entire family served as officials. With such political changes, there was no telling what moves they might make, so it was no surprise that Cui Jianxuan could not return for the time being.

By early February, neither Cui Jianxuan nor Pei Ning had returned, but Wang Wei and others drifted back. The lecture hall was bustling with students once more, and it was no longer appropriate for Du Shiyi to keep Du Shisanniang there. Reluctant though he was, he had to send her away. With Du Shisanniang, her maid Zhuying, and Tian Mo gone, the place felt cold and empty. Even though Lu Wangzhi remained as unrestrained and jovial as ever, Du Shiyi himself felt listless, sometimes even distracted while copying texts—a task he usually found calming.

One day, after an hour of private instruction in Lu Hong’s hut, Du Shiyi had just tossed his book onto the window-side desk when a commotion broke out outside.

“Senior Brother! Senior Brother!”

Remembering that Lu Wangzhi had left early that morning to deliver a letter for Lu Hong to Sima Chengzhen—whose whereabouts were now unclear—at Songyang Temple, Du Shiyi stepped out. He recognized the caller as Xue Liulang, whom he and Cui Jianxuan had saved the previous year upon first arriving. This son of an aristocratic family, whose voice was loud as a bell yet who was terrified of snakes, had come to study with a letter of recommendation, like Liu Ximing. Though he hadn’t performed the formal rites, Lu Hong still personally reviewed his monthly assignments. Yet, perhaps embarrassed by past misadventures, Xue Liulang always kept his distance from Du Shiyi and Cui Jianxuan and had broken off contact with Liu Ximing as well, making him almost invisible among the many students at the Lu family’s lecture hall. Du Shiyi recalled that Liu Ximing had not yet returned, and Xue Liulang, too, seemed to have been absent—until now.

“So it’s you, junior brother…” Xue Liulang’s gaze flickered as he tried to appear casual. “Is Senior Brother here?”

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“Senior Brother has gone to Songyang Temple.”

“What about Second Senior Brother?”

“Second and Fourth Senior Brothers are out in the mountains gathering herbs. The rest are not in the hall just now. If it’s urgent, I can take you to see Master Lu. If not, the others will return by evening.”

Hearing this, Xue Liulang hesitated for a long moment before forcing a smile. “It’s nothing urgent. I’ll come back for Senior Brother another time.”

As he hurried away, Du Shiyi suddenly noticed that Xue Liulang’s pant legs were spattered with mud, evidence of a fast ride along the valley path. Though the heavy snows had fallen before the New Year and the weather was now warmer, the mountain road was only just passable for horses, and normally one would proceed slowly. For so much mud to be splashed about, he must have ridden at great speed. Clearly, Xue Liulang had come on urgent business, so why the evasiveness? Puzzled, Du Shiyi refrained from pursuing the matter, knowing direct questioning would yield nothing. He returned to his room, thinking that if Cui Jianxuan were still here, they could have investigated further together. For now, he could only wait for Lu Wangzhi to return.

Immersing himself in copying several more pages of text, Du Shiyi gradually forgot his earlier suspicions. But just as he dipped his brush into the ink again, an even louder uproar erupted outside, with many students shouting excitedly. Sensing that something significant had happened, he hurried out. The first thing he saw was two bright red banners waving above the mountain road, followed by dozens of mounted guards escorting an official in crimson robes. He drew a sharp breath; this was a far grander retinue than the imperial inspector Liu Zhao, who had previously come to oversee locust control. Moreover, the official in crimson must signify an extraordinary mission! In that case, Xue Liulang’s earlier haste was likely because he had encountered this party on the road—if only he had spoken up sooner!

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than one of the riders broke from the group and rode up to the gathered students, announcing in a loud voice, “By imperial edict, summoning the recluse of Mount Song, Lu Hong!”

Hearing these words, Du Shiyi wasted no time. Gathering his robes, he hurried straight to Lu Hong’s hut, ignoring the astonished exclamations and chatter of the other students. Inside, finding Lu Hong seated gravely, evidently already aware of the commotion, Du Shiyi quickly bowed and said, “Master Lu, the imperial envoy is here…”

“I am but a recluse, neither gifted in governance nor aspiring to it. Why must His Majesty repeatedly summon me?” With a long sigh, Lu Hong nevertheless motioned for Du Shiyi to help him rise, then said calmly, “Come, let us see what decree this is.”

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When Du Shiyi supported Lu Hong to where the young, dignified official in crimson awaited with a bronze scroll case, he realized this man, bearded and barely past thirty, presented himself with utmost courtesy. The official even saluted first, then said with a smile, “The name of Master Lu resounds like thunder. I am Li Linfu, holding the humble post of Vice Director of the Crown Prince’s Secretariat. Today, bearing the Sage’s edict to invite you from seclusion, I am truly honored. I hope that Master Lu will understand the sovereign’s eagerness for talent and respond to his call in Luoyang, living up to the imperial trust.”

Many students were moved by his earnest words, but Du Shiyi was stunned. To encounter here and now this man who would one day be a figure of supreme power was wholly unexpected. What’s more, the Vice Director of the Crown Prince’s Secretariat was a high central government position—higher, even, than Cui Weizhi’s—and Li Linfu was so young and already so fortunate!

“I do not deserve such praise,” Lu Hong replied, having received such summons before. Glancing at the guards behind Li Linfu, each holding trays draped in red silk and standing as still as nails, he said quietly, “The realm abounds in worthy men; I am but a rustic, unfit for such honors.”

Before Lu Hong could continue to decline, Li Linfu’s expression grew solemn as he offered the scroll case with both hands. “Master Lu, please, enough humility. This is the Sage’s summons. Read it before you decide. The sovereign’s sincerity is profound—pray, consider it well. The bond between ruler and subject is not to be broken!”

At these words, Du Shiyi felt Lu Hong’s arm stiffen. Even he could sense the grave weight behind them. After a moment’s pause, he quietly released his grip and watched as Lu Hong straightened his robe and accepted the decree with both hands. Standing behind, Du Shiyi could clearly see his teacher’s face grow even more somber as he unrolled the seemingly plain paper within the bamboo case.

“I, meager and unworthy, have inherited the throne. I have long lamented the decline of the ancient ways and the failure of virtue to rise anew. With longing, I have sought out recluses, hoping for the lessons of the late Sovereign. You, with profound understanding and insight, have fathomed the mysteries and practiced the mean, your virtue lofty, your reputation rivaling the ancients. Thus have I sent repeated summons, awaiting your service, but each time you have declined. Thus have I waited in vain for years. Though I have gained the steadfastness of the hermit, I have lost the guidance of the worthy. Is it that the interests of court and recluse are truly incompatible? Or have you become so attached to the mountains that you cannot return? The rites establish the great relations; the bond of ruler and subject must not be abandoned. The capital is near at hand, not difficult to reach. Therefore, I grant you these gifts anew, and repeat my command, hoping you will reconsider and fulfill my hopes!”

Lu Hong remembered every word of previous summons, but this one was markedly more forceful, leaving him no room for further refusal. He had once lost all interest in office, disillusioned by the deadly court struggles, and, with his wife gone and his son perished, had chosen seclusion. But now, fame had once more placed him in this awkward position! As he reflected bitterly, a steady hand grasped his arm.

“Vice Director Li, Master Lu only recently underwent cataract surgery and was ill this winter; his health remains frail and he cannot obey the summons.”

Li Linfu, having already noticed Du Shiyi supporting Lu Hong, now glanced at him and saw the worry on his face. Knowing he had made his point clear, Li Linfu smiled faintly and nodded. “These gifts are bestowed by the sovereign; I ask Master Lu to accept them. I will remain in Dengfeng for several days. If Master Lu changes his mind, you may send word.”