Chapter 67: Countless Flowers Bloom Beyond the Horizon

Farewell banquet!

Both Du Shiyi and Pei Ning, as well as Cui Jianxuan, knew full well that Lu Hong loved the solitude of the mountains and cared nothing for the vanities of the world. So when they heard the words “farewell banquet,” the three of them showed expressions of startled delight, then breathed a collective sigh of relief. Cui Jianxuan, ever the enthusiastic one, hurried forward to take his teacher’s arm, smiling as he said, “Master Lu, that’s not quite right! Third Senior Brother is only staying in the Eastern Capital temporarily with his elder brother, but I’m a native here. If there’s to be a farewell banquet, it should be hosted by me! I’ve been cooped up these last few days, and tonight, I must treat Master Lu to a proper send-off with good wine!”

Seeing Cui Jianxuan act as if it were only natural, Pei Ning suddenly interjected, “I wonder how your pipa practice has been going, Ninth Junior Brother?”

At this, just as everyone was in high spirits, Cui Jianxuan was caught off guard and froze on the spot. It had been over a year since he’d last been subjected to that icy gaze, and now, unable to meet Pei Ning’s eyes, he replied a little guiltily, “Third Senior Brother, my grandmother has been gravely ill, so I’ve been home in Luoyang attending to her all year…”

“If you haven’t practiced the pipa, what business have you with farewell wine?” Pei Ning cut him off with a single sentence, then moved to support Lu Hong on the other side, lowering his voice. “Master Lu, I had to leave the Eastern Capital for family business, and so I missed the news of your arrival. Luckily, I returned today, hurried to the Quanshan Ward inn, and heard from Eldest Senior Brother that you were summoned by His Majesty. He also mentioned a tavern in the ward where the wine is fair-priced and crisp. I’ve already asked him to reserve the place for tonight. So, let me host you there for a farewell, and another day, I’ll escort you back to the mountains.”

At these words, Cui Jianxuan, who had been glancing at Du Shiyi for help, was momentarily stunned. Lu Hong couldn’t help frowning as he asked, “And your marriage?”

“Marriage is ordained by fate and cannot be forced.”

Pei Ning recalled how, when Yao Chong was dismissed as chancellor, his future father-in-law—once favored by Yao—was also exiled to a distant post in Guangdong, and his fiancée died suddenly of an acute illness. His expression dimmed, then he spoke with calm resignation. “They say my fate is too unyielding; before the marriage was consummated, she fell gravely ill and passed away. My family has many sons, no need for me to carry on the line. So I’ll content myself with studying under Master Lu in the mountains.”

“Nonsense!” Lu Hong could not help but chide him, but seeing his expression even colder than before, he sighed inwardly at such a talented man beset by misfortune. Yet, knowing his character, he realized a few words would not sway him, and was at a loss. Just then, a cough sounded nearby, followed by Du Shiyi’s voice.

“Third Senior Brother, people experience both sorrow and joy, partings and reunions; the moon waxes and wanes, and nothing is ever perfect. If everyone gave up on marriage at the first setback, how many men and women through the ages would have spent their lives alone? There’s no lack of fragrant grasses in the world—one mustn’t give up the whole forest for a single withered tree.” Du Shiyi, having little experience in such matters, forced himself to offer those words of comfort, and seeing Pei Ning remain silent, quickly changed the subject. “In any case, tonight is both a welcome for Master Lu and a farewell, as well as a long-awaited reunion for us brothers. Let’s drink and be merry! Remember, Eldest Senior Brother can hold his liquor like no other!”

With a few words, the topic was deftly shifted. The carriages had already arrived and halted before them, and seeing Cui Jianxuan and Pei Ning helping Lu Hong into the carriage, Du Shiyi stepped forward. “Master Lu, Thirteenth Lady and I agreed to meet this afternoon at Shen hour at the Southern Market. Now—”

“Go, go!” Lu Hong interrupted him with a cheerful wave, then pointed at Cui Jianxuan. “Eleventh Young Master, your junior is new to Luoyang and alone today. As a local, you should accompany him. After all, you know best the places your eldest sister likes. With your Third Senior Brother here and the palace guards to escort me back to Quanshan Ward, there’s nothing to fear.”

With joy brightening his spirits, Lu Hong looked far more energetic than in recent days, and with Pei Ning for company, Cui Jianxuan had no choice but to agree. Watching the group depart, he mounted his horse and grumbled to Du Shiyi, “We have more than an hour until Shen hour, and the Southern Market has just opened. We could’ve seen Master Lu back first! Besides, even if we don’t escort her, my sister would surely send someone to see your Thirteenth Lady safely back to the inn. You’re spoiling your sister too much. And we don’t even know what happened in the palace with Master Lu!”

“It’s not just for Thirteenth Lady, but also for your Fifth Lady.”

As soon as Du Shiyi said this, Cui Jianxuan looked puzzled. Gesturing for him to follow, they turned from Dingdingmen Avenue onto Jianchunmen Street, where Du Shiyi reined in his horse and explained quietly, “Today, Ninth Lady appeared and said her grandmother had lifted her house arrest—conveniently, today of all days, with a noblewoman entering the palace. Don’t you find it a little too coincidental? Didn’t you say your Fifth Lady and Ninth Lady are the closest? Perhaps this was all arranged by your family elders, with you kept in the dark. Whatever the outcome, we owe Ninth Lady a debt. Who knows when she’ll be out of the palace again? It’s only right to thank your Fifth Lady in person. Besides, though Master Lu has left the palace safely, without an imperial edict, we can’t be sure he’ll be allowed to leave the capital.”

Only then did Cui Jianxuan’s eyes widen, and after a moment, he clapped his hands. “You’re right! Why didn’t I think of that?”

He straightened out his tangled thoughts and, after a long sigh, added, “I was wondering why Ninth Sister, usually so mischievous, suddenly took something so seriously and was willing to help us. It’s because of my sister! Ah, seeing Third Senior Brother so disheartened just now reminded me of my sister in the old days. But he’s luckier than she was—my sister, so clever and beautiful, only discovered after marrying that her husband had hidden a grave illness. He grew sicker and passed away within half a year…”

At this, Cui Jianxuan sighed deeply. “Afterward, Grandmother took charge, and my parents brought my sister home. But she refused to remarry, and so it’s been until now. When Grandmother fell ill, Father was away as prefect of Huazhou, and Mother’s health was poor. If not for my sister managing everything inside and out, I don’t know what would have become of our family! Grandmother and Mother both pity her… If only her temperament were a bit gentler…”

This last remark was little more than a mutter. Du Shiyi, whose ears were sharp, did not miss it, but seeing the genuine regret and faint awe in Cui Jianxuan’s expression, he thought of the time when Fifth Lady Cui had disguised herself as Lady Li of Zhao, fooling everyone despite the difference in age, simply because she could shift in an instant from alluring beauty to noble grace. Clearly, Cui Jianxuan’s regard for her was not exaggerated.

In fact, when Fifth Lady Cui was newly widowed and brought home, she immediately managed the household affairs, and not only did no one speak ill of her, everyone praised her. Compared to the later custom of confining women behind chastity arches for life, or widows taking their own lives to earn the name of “virtuous woman,” the present age was far more tolerant toward women!

He still hadn’t had a chance to ask about Lu Hong’s audience in the palace that day, but as they chatted on the way, his mind kept returning to what might have happened to leave Lu Hong so at ease, speaking of a farewell banquet with such lightness. Lost in thought, they soon reached the South Gate of the Southern Market.

By now, the market had been open since noon, but people were still streaming in—foreign merchants with high noses and deep eyes, wealthy traders in fine clothes, commoners in coarse cloth, and even high-born ladies dressed as men, servants and maids in tow. Compared to the clean, quiet streets outside, inside the market walls was a riot of noise, a cacophony that spilled over and assailed the ears.

It was Du Shiyi’s first time entering the Southern Market, but Cui Jianxuan was clearly familiar with every corner, chatting as they walked. “The Southern Market was once Sui Dynasty Fengdu Market, and is the busiest of Luoyang’s three great markets, taking up a ward and a half. There are one hundred and twenty trades, over three thousand shops, with three gates on each side—twelve in total—making entry and exit most convenient. You can buy anything here. But your Thirteenth Lady prefers quiet, so she’ll likely do as my sister does. My sister’s favorite spot is an elegant studio in the northwest corner that specializes in brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. If your Thirteenth Lady finds the bustle too much after a look around, she’ll almost certainly go there. So, shall we stroll the market first, or go straight there?”

Hearing it was a studio for the scholar’s four treasures, Du Shiyi’s interest was piqued. Entering the market, he was overwhelmed by the crowds and soon lost his desire for mere spectacle. He decided at once, “Let’s go straight to the studio. As for the bustle, we can glance at it on the way.”

Even just observing along the way was dazzling. The shops selling gold and silver, silks and satins, and so forth could be left aside. There were other shops selling Hetian jade seals, furs, porcelain, and all manner of daily trinkets. The wealthy ran proper establishments inside, while the less fortunate hawked their wares on the street like peddlers. There were open spaces where performers juggled, breathed fire, walked ropes, danced with snakes or swords, or practiced sleight of hand, always surrounded by crowds. From his vantage on horseback, Du Shiyi could see everything clearly. For a moment, he felt as if he were at a grand folk art exposition of the Tang Dynasty, though lacking the grandeur of a noble’s nighttime feast. After wandering and stopping along the way, they finally reached the studio Cui Jianxuan had mentioned, with the afternoon sun already dipping low.

Though he didn’t come often, Cui Jianxuan only had to give his surname to a servant who came out to meet them. In no time, the servant returned leading a middle-aged man in neat attire, who greeted them with a beaming smile and ushered them inside. “Eleventh Young Master, what a rare guest! As it happens, Ninth Lady is upstairs in the rear pavilion, examining some new inkstones with another Miss Du. Would you care to join them?”

Cui Jianxuan, not as fond of the scholar’s treasures as his sister, was about to decline, but Du Shiyi interjected, “Since we’re here, of course we should have a look.”