บท 185: Leaving the Prince’s mansion
บรรณาธิการ: Translation Nation
Palace
The butler left the main hall and walked through the corridors, bumping into many people. Most of them bowed deeply towards him as he passed. Ren Wei and Zhao Xu Ting hurriedly rushed to greet him as soon as they saw him.
When the butler saw the pair walking up to him, he looked at them in disdain before giving a cold laugh.
"Butler Qing, as for the matter of us resigning on medical grounds and returning to our villages, has his majesty approved of it?" The both of them asked uneasily.
"Hm, do you think that his majesty won’t know that you both wish to leave his palace? His majesty was extremely enraged. His instructions were to break both your legs before throwing you out of the palace. This would serve as a good lesson to the both of you. Fortunately for you, I was there to ask for mercy on your behalf. If not, you would be leaving the palace on a stretcher." The butler spoke out proudly.
Just hearing something like this cause cold sweat to form across their backs. The butler glanced across at their worried expressions and laughed out, "A man would be able to endure sufferings. At first his majesty wanted to reward you with ten taels of silver. But it’s been reduced to just two taels. Are you contented with this?"
Ren Wei and Zhao Xu Ting heard this and remained silent, clearly suspicious, but also afraid. They were contractual officials, not prostitutes. Even if they were to be dismissed the payout and the way in which they were reimbursed wouldn’t be so pathetic. The atmosphere turned silent.
Before long, Ren Wei straightened his robes before stepping forward, "Many thanks to his majesty for this reward."
He looked calm while he accepted the money. Zhao Xu Ting seemed a bit unhappy and wanted to voice his disapproval but Ren Wei stopped him, "Brother Zhao, his majesty is giving us money, why shouldn’t we accept it?"
As he spoke, he yanked at Zhao Xu Ting’s sleeves. He knew that Zhang Xu Ting wasn’t satisfied, but he still walked up to receive it anyway, "Many thanks to his majesty for this reward."
The way he accepted it and showed his gratitude was proper, but his tone was clearly one of unhappiness. The butler cleared his throat once, "Move all your belongings out by this afternoon. The palace is small and there’s not enough room for a pair of deities like yourselves."
Zhao Xu Ting’s face turned red as his eyes became bloodshot. However Ren Wei held him back and shook his head. When butler Qing was far away, Zhao Xu Ting then asked, "Brother Ren, why did you stop me just now? I wanted to clarify some matters."
Ren Wei gave a cold laughter, "Brother Zhao, if you really dare to question his majesty about the amount of money we’re supposed to receive, then go ahead."
Zhao Xu Ting paused, "I have this feeling that butler Qing pocketed some of our silver. It’s very normal for contractual officials to come and go, that’s why they’re called contractual officials. After working here for an entire six months, there should at least be ten taels of silver as our fees. What right does he have to deduct as and when he deems fit? I’m sure butler Qing got greedy."
Ren Wei had a strange expression written across his face, "So what do you intend to do?"
"We should report this matter to his majesty, and let him know that we’re not to be taken advantage of, and ask him to cough out the remaining amount." Zhao Xu Ting replied hastily in anger.
"Then what?" Ren Wei asked again.
"Of course King Lu will punish him, and return the remaining silver to us." Zhao Xu Ting replied him confidently.
At this, Ren Wei gave a cold laughter, "The butler of King Lu’s mansion was someone that King Lu trusted personally. Not anybody can rise up the ranks to become a butler. The prime minister’s own butler was a seventh ranked official, what do you think of King Lu’s butler?"
"King Lu practices military rule. If he finds out that butler Qing was meddling in places he shouldn’t be and ruined King Lu’s image because we reported the matter, we might even be rewarded with more money. But we’re just a pair of mere contractual officials, do you really think he will administer justice on our behalf?"
"Especially now that we’re leaving, which is a sort of betrayal to him. If we really do report the matter, not only won’t we get back the remaining eight taels, we might even get beaten to death." Ren Wei replied him plainly before turning away.
Zhao Xu Ting watched Ren Wei’s disappearing shadow as he walked off, and stood there rooted.
Ren Wei walked off without hesitation, carrying his luggage and headed straight for the exit. He took off the King Lu’s tile which was strapped to his waist and returned it. He then gazed upon the palace and remained quiet for a long time. He stared at the grey, glazed roof tile and the white washed walls in silence. He recalled how he had placed all his hopes and ambitions within these very walls, and now he was leaving, diminished of all hopes.
‘Zhou Ji charged King Lu with misconduct and fined him three thousand silvers. Although it seemed like a small minor affair, it actually signalled the beginning of a storm. I’m just a small time contractual official. If I wish to make it, I have to extricate myself from this storm.’ Ren Wei shook his head and headed towards the pier.
When he reached the pier he bought the tickets for a boat. However, there wasn’t any boats departing today. He had to wait another two days for the next boat. He thus turned around and walked through the rows of merchants doing business. It was a very lively scene.
Ren Wei didn’t even bother looking and only stopped at a book shop. This bookshop sold and bought both old and new books. Academics and students would only sell their prized books if they knew they wouldn’t make it as scholars. However, there were many books being sold to such book merchants under varying circumstances.
Ren Wei approached not to buy any new books, but to purchase second hand books. Second hand books were much cheaper than new books. Since he had nothing to do, he walked right into the shop.
When the shopkeeper saw that Ren Wei had came he laughed, "Old Ren is here to buy books again? There are several good books which just came in, you should take a look."
"Oh, shopkeeper Gong should take them out and let me see." Ren Wei replied as the shopkeeper retrieved a large book called –The Great Learning–, "Old Ren this book is very suitable for you. Although it’s an old book, it’s still in pristine condition. You can buy it when you get your next pay."
Ren Wei laughed bitterly, "There’s no need. I’ve already resigned from my post as a contract official at King Lu’s palace. I will leave tomorrow, and I don’t have much money on me. I won’t be able to afford it."
"What? Old Ren you’re such a talented man, why doesn’t King Lu have a use for you? And he even made you leave?" Shopkeeper Gong asked curiously.
"I was the one who didn’t want to stay on further." Ren Wei replied, without intending to raise the matter on King Lu’s impeachment. The shopkeeper paused for a long time before finally speaking, "You and I have known each other for half a year now. This old book, I shall give it to you, Old Ren."
"I cannot accept it, I cannot accept." Ren Wei hurriedly rejected it causing some anxiety to show on the shopkeeper’s face, "You’ve always been buying books from me, and we’re familiar with each other. Now that you’re leaving, I wish to give you a book, why won’t you accept it?"
Ren Wei then received the book from him.
At this point several academic looking people walked in. They stopped at the entrance of the shop and asked, "Shopkeeper Gong, has the author of –Let’s Drink Up– written any new books?"
"Yes, yes. He’s written another two volumes called –Story of the Western Wing– and –Chest Spirit–. They’re both good volumes, you should read them." The shopkeeper welcomed them in.
The eyes of the leader among the group of students lit up as he folded his fan and slapped it several times across his palms, "Boss, please take them out. We will buy them all. The works of this author are marvelous."
He then turned around and spoke to the rest of his companions, "Everyone shall have a book. I will pay for it. Then you wouldn’t have to make copies this time." Hearing this, the few young students cheered as they walked to a corner and started reading their books. The usually quiet shop turned lively all of a sudden.
Just then, another young academic walked in. The minute he stepped through the door he asked, "Boss, what books are new recently?"
Shopkeeper Gong hurriedly replied, "We have new books. The author of –Let’s Drink Up– released several new books. They’re titled –Story of the Western Wing– and –Chess Spirit–. They’re very good reads, maybe you should buy them.
Ren Wei looked at these few students and recalled a time when he was still interested in the pursuit of wisdom, but was too poor to afford any academic books. He had to beg his parents to provide him with an opportunity to write copies of books which he wanted to read. Now that it was peaceful times, life was much better. The dynasty had stabilized and the prices of books were significantly reduced. But people weren’t reading the same books anymore. Now, everyone else was interested in novels and stories. He shook his head and mumbled under his breath, "You read not to gain knowledge or wisdom but to enjoy stories. What a disgrace to the educated. Ai, if this continues, how will the country prosper?"
The young scholar who had just walked in was actually Pei Zi Yun, who had disguised his appearances. He heard Ren Wei mumbled to himself and casted a glance at him and the book he was holding onto, The Great Learning. Pei Zi Yun smiled, ‘Indeed, Ren Wei has finally left and has actually bought the first book written by me.’
Pei Zi Yun had visited this bookshop several times before and wasn’t surprised to see –The Great Learning– lying by a corner, collecting dust. However, he heard that this book had sold many copies prior to this, and every shop managed to sell at least ten copies of this particular volume. Truth be told, he didn’t mind very much that this copy was sitting here unsold.
–The Great Collection– was a type of book that grew in value as time passed. However, how can a learning book be more interesting than a novel or a storybook? However, the people in the olden days placed more importance on learning books over storybooks anyday. At this point he retrieved a novel and started flipping through it.
The printing was done very nicely with an interesting cover page as well. He then thought to himself, "Looks like the Grand Princess can really be trusted. All I did was to mention it and she actually decided to publish the books. This took quite a great deal of effort to achieve."
Just as he was flipping through the books, he opened up the system. A white plum flower appeared before his eyes as it grew bigger until it became a semi transparent information interface. It bore with it faint light perception as it floated within his vision. Several lines of information appeared before his eyes.
"Divine Powers : Stars Transposition Level 2 (65.76% Completed)
He then thought, ‘The last time I checked it was only 25.11% completed. Now it’s already 65.76%. Looks like when –Chess Spirit– starts making its rounds, I would be able to break through to the third level.’
‘Stars Transposition only has three levels. That would mean I have reached maximum levels.’
‘It’s a shame that the speed at which good books are circulating is still rather slow in this olden day era.’
He then looked at the information interface once more, "Mission: Help the Crown Prince launch an offense against King Lu. Influence a talented individual named Ren Wei to leave King Lu’s service.(Incomplete)"
Causing Ren Wei to leave to leave King Lu’s service had already been accomplished. But this mission was still not completed. It must be because the attack on King Lu hasn’t been done yet.
Just as he was thinking about this, he glanced across at Ren Wei before shouting out, "Shopkeeper, I wish to buy this book. How much does it cost?"
The shopkeeper turned his attention to him, "Young master, this is a newly released volume and cost three taels of silver."
"I will only buy this book. Here’s three taels of silver. Please keep this money properly." Pei Zi Yun then gave up three taels of silver before casting another glance at Ren Wei as he turned to leave.
The day of the boat departure. Ren Wei was standing in front, with a book in his hands and Pei Zi Yun followed behind. At that time the boat crew were ushering the passengers into the boat. Ren Wei double checked if he was boarding the right boat. He then paused as he saw Pei Zi Yun. Pei Zi Yun saluted him, "This humble subject is a travelling student. My name is Pei Shen. I wonder what’s this mister’s name."
Ren Wei paused, thinking that his person was very familiar looking, but failed to recall where he had seen him before. He then hurriedly responded.
"This humble subject’s name is Ren Wei, I’m returning to my village. The cost of living here in the capital is expensive, and I cannot afford to stay here much longer." Ren Wei spoke out slightly embarrassed.
"Brother Wei is too modest. Although this is the first time we're meeting, I can’t help but feel brother Ren is not an ordinary man. A single setback doesn’t mean anything and shouldn’t discourage you!"
"Haha!" Hearing Pei Zi Yun’s words, Ren Wei laughed out aloud, "Many thanks for your encouragement."
Pei Zi Yun noticed that apart from several articles of clothings, the only thing he had left were books. Since they didn’t know each other before, it would’ve been strange to offer a helping hand. Now that they ‘knew’ each other better, he could help.
The books were heavy as they moved the books into the cabin. They were afraid that it had gotten wet from the rain and took out every single book to dry it. Pei Zi Yun then looked at the volumes and asked, "You have so many books, you must’ve spent a fortune on them huh?"
"Not much. Most of them are old books. I purchased most of them when they were having discounts."
"The other half of the books were collection of King Lu’s books. My main job at King Lu’s palace was to copy books down, and thus got many chances to read. Many a time, I memorized the books and copied them down later for my own reading. Speaking it out like that sounds like I was abusing my position of authority."
Pei Zi Yun paused for some time. This person was supposed to remain within King Lu’s palace for a long time. Years would fly by like a single day as he continued working there, where he will eventually die from an accident. At this point, he had lost his chance at King Lu’s because of Pei Zi Yun’s actions.
Although it can be said that Pei Zi Yun’s actions prevented him from dying the way he was supposed to, it also ruined his future as an official. Thinking this way, he laughed, "If merely doing that is considered abusing your position, then there are far too many instances of people abusing their authorities."
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