Chapter 18: Deep-seated Grudge
Tian Ao looked up from the book and frowned. "Is this sort of thing common in government?"
"It's only a novel, you know. It's fiction."
"Fiction is still based on the real world, is it not?" He felt his friend was dodging the real issue.
"Well..." Yi Cheng Rui wrinkled his nose a little. He didn't like to think that the government his father was involved in--that he would also one day be involved in--was such a dirty place. "Do merchants not use underhanded tactics at times?"
"Of course. Human greed is deep. But my father would never do such a thing, so I won't, either." Tian Ao displayed a rare smile. Yi Cheng Rui had come to realize very quickly that this young man looked up to his father very much. From his few interactions with Tian Ren, he could somewhat understand why. Such bearing and intelligence were wasted on a merchant. Could this be why his father had wanted him to get closer to Tian Ao? Perhaps this merchant and his son were more important personages than they seemed.
"It's rare to be able to succeed in this world purely based on one's own merits. Sometimes, for the greater good, such measures simply have to be used." Yi Cheng Rui finally said with obvious reluctance.
"You don't really believe that, do you? How can it be the greater 'good' if it's achieved in despicable ways?"
Yi Cheng Rui smiled helplessly at his companion. "Enough, you know full well what I mean. It must be nice to be a merchant, able to stay so idealistic. Anyway, you'd better continue reading. There's still many volumes left to go." He had initially wanted Tian Ao to read the books so that he'd have another conversation topic at the banquets and get-togethers that he was now frequently attending. Even as a merchant, Tian Ao would have an easier time with more and better connections. Who knew when it turned into a philosophical discussion instead?
Still, the more Yi Cheng Rui got to know Tian Ao, the more impressed he was with the young man. He was a little rough around the edges, but this could be blamed on his birth and the fact that he was from Northern Xi. If he'd been raised in a noble household from the beginning...who knew what heights this Tian Ao could reach? Yi Cheng Rui increasingly thought it was a shame that Tian Ao would be returning to Northern Xi in a few weeks.
After about two or three incense sticks' worth of time had passed, a servant hurriedly shuffled into the room. "Young master!"
"What is it? There's no need for such fuss." Yi Cheng Rui frowned. But his expression froze once the servant explained that a new book of "Inspector of the Whistling Pines" had just been released. He rose out of his chair with such force that he knocked the chair over. It fell to the ground with a loud clatter, surprising Tian Ao.
"What's the matter?"
"I have to go and find a copy of that new book!"
"What's the rush?" Tian Ao raised an eyebrow. "You have so many servants. Why not send one to get it?"
"I may have no choice but to go myself..." He left off the words "and grovel" at the end of his sentence. Tian Ao wasn't aware of the book's rarity. He knew only that it was a popular series. "If I don't go now it may be sold out. I can't afford to not have a copy of each book!" It wasn't even so much that he enjoyed the series that much, although he did, but more so that he had a reputation to uphold. He was very much envied and admired for being able to secure a copy of each volume. He couldn't give that up now! How much would other young noblemen deride him? Yi Cheng Rui made up his mind then and there. "I'll go now."
Tian Ao rose out of his seat, leaving the book facedown on the page he'd just read. "I'll accompany you." He didn't really understand his friend's urgency, but he could hardly let Yi Cheng Rui go off alone when he was a guest at the Gui Duke estate.
The two of them set off into the city in a rush. After they had checked a few different stores with no luck, one of Yi Cheng Rui's manservants approached them in a street. "Young Master, there should be one more copy at the Floating Lotus Bookstore. I appealed on your behalf and the shopkeeper said he would hold it for a very short period for you." Basically, Yi Cheng Rui had 15 minutes to retrieve the book. This was already a very big favor.
"Make haste!" he bellowed. Tian Ao nodded and the two rode off on horseback towards the Floating Lotus Bookstore.
Just as they were about to reach the store, someone was crossing the road. Yi Cheng Rui roughly pulled the reins of his horse back in order to prevent a collision. "Watch where you're running!" he shouted. The other person had continued running without pause, arriving safely on the other side of the street before stopping and turning around.
Tian Ao thought the other person looked very familiar. In his mind flashed an image of a beautiful young woman in a dress the color of the ocean. Yet upon closer look, while they had similar features, this person was clearly a man.
"Yi Cheng Rui," the young man across the street drawled. "Are those words for you to say? Just who is it riding their horse through the city like a madman?"
"We are riding at perfectly legal speeds!" Yi Cheng Rui snapped back, feeling a little defensive. "You are the one crossing the road so recklessly! If we'd hit you, you would have been seriously injured!"
"Which is exactly why you ought to be more careful and alert while riding, don't you think?" the young man smirked.
"Yan. Qiu. Heng!" Yi Cheng Rui forced out through gritted teeth.
The entire exchange suddenly made more sense to Tian Ao once he realized that his friend knew the young man.
"Apologies, Duke Gui-shizi. This humble one has important business to attend to and cannot accompany you further." Yan Qiu Heng bowed before briskly walking into the Floating Lotus Bookstore.
Seeing this, Yi Cheng Rui dismounted in a panic. "Not good! He must be going to get a copy of the book!"
Tian Ao stayed where he was, an amused smirk on his face as he watched his friend. Yi Cheng Rui was normally so calm and stoic. Who knew that something so trivial as a book would make him behave like this? The Duke Gui-shizi ran into the shop after Yan Qiu Heng.
A short while later, Yan Qiu Heng emerged with a package in his hands and a triumphant look on his face. He nodded at Tian Ao before departing the scene. A much longer while after that, Yi Cheng Rui came out. His face wasn't happy at all.
"Did you not get a copy of the book?" Tian Ao asked.
Yi Cheng Rui let out a loud sigh. "No, I did manage to secure a copy."
"Then why the long face?"
"Because of that Yan Qiu Heng delaying us, the storekeeper no longer kept that copy saved for me. He sold it to that rogue instead! I luckily ran into an acquaintance in the bookstore who bought two books, but his asking price was much more expensive!" Yi Cheng Rui rubbed his forehead in frustration. "At least I got a copy, but still..."
He grumbled the entire way back to the estate. It seemed to Tian Ao that he had a deep-seated grudge against Yan Qiu Heng that had started long before today. Once they'd gotten settled back in the study, Tian Ao finally asked, "Who is that Yan Qiu Heng, anyway?"
"Oh, he's the younger son of Duke Ning. Have you two met before?"
"No. But I heard... Is his sister the one marrying that Prince Rui-shizi?"
"That's right. Yan Qiu Heng and Yan Qiu Yue are twins."
Tian Ao slowly nodded. That would explain their similarities. And now he could put a name to that beauty he'd seen... Yan Qiu Yue. Though, it did irritate him that he was still thinking about her despite himself.
"Wait, do you know his sister then?" Yi Cheng Rui frowned.
"I don't. I merely saw her from afar at a banquet."
"That one is trouble. Best not associate with her."
"Not that I was going to, but... Why? Is she so ill-reputed?"
"Hmm... It's not as if it's her fault, exactly..." Yi Cheng Rui paused. "I don't know how to explain it, but it seems like she may be cursed. Any time a family has even hinted at wanting to marry her to one of their sons, something bad happens to them."
"What do you mean 'something bad'? Like what?" Tian Ao was very skeptical about curses and whatnot, but his curiosity was piqued.
"For a while, Duke Yi wanted to marry his second son to her. You know, that one who's famous for that barley idea? But then one of the duke's concubines attempted to assassinate the main wife and he got censured by the emperor for not managing his inner court well. Some other family had their son who wanted to marry Yan Qiu Yue get stepped on by a horse and paralyzed for life. Sometimes it's not so bad...the suitor just ends up marrying some other girl. But the fact is, that girl's practically an old maid and still unmarried. Now that she's engaged to Prince Rui-shizi, who knows what will happen to him?"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
LanLan
LanLan A nice, long extra chapter for this week! I think it's interesting to see how others view the twins. Sometimes it's not so nice. Yi Cheng Rui is a huge chatterbox when it comes to the Yan family. Thanks for reading. We've almost passed 10,000 views! n_n Please add TWG to your library if you're enjoying it~
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