Chapter 39: The Streets Emptied

The news that Chen Xiaofu had brutally beaten the grandson of the Left Chancellor at the Lin'an Academy spread rapidly. While very few knew the identity of the victim, it could not be hidden from a discerning few.

Chen Shi, the chief steward of the Huaxi Villa, stood before Chen Linyuan's door for a moment after receiving the news. Old Master Chen Linyuan had been drunk the previous night, and the sound of his snoring still drifted from the room. Chen Shi turned and headed to the South Courtyard.

Under the eaves of the servant's quarters in front of the South Courtyard, Old Huang lay on his recliner. He clutched a wine pouch, taking an occasional sip, his gaze fixed on the morning glow on the horizon. Gone was the numbness that once clouded his face; the dead, vacant look in his eyes had vanished. His face held a trace of joy, and his eyes shimmered with light. He was even humming a little tune.

Chen Shi walked over to Old Huang’s side, sat on a stool, and turned to look at him. "Feeling content?"

"After seventeen years, this dead-man's mask of yours finally looks somewhat human."

Old Huang cast a sidelong glance at Chen Shi. "Of course I'm content." He turned to face Chen Shi. "Tell me, is there really such a thing as fate?"

"Or perhaps, is his spirit in heaven watching over the young master?"

"He fell from the third floor, and it seems that fall truly knocked some sense into him! You have no idea how much the young master has changed! If you had seen it with your own eyes, you would be just as content as I am."

A smile appeared on Chen Shi’s plump face. "Very well, the young master’s changes are indeed difficult to fathom. I have also just received word from the Azure Pavilion that the young master has given us another massive surprise."

Old Huang was stunned. "Didn't he go to the Lin'an Academy? The competition hasn't even begun yet; what kind of massive surprise could he have given us?"

Chen Shi pondered for three breaths. "He beat Pan Qingyun, the grandson of the Left Chancellor Pan Bufei, until he was half-dead!"

Old Huang’s eyes widened instantly. A moment later, he burst into boisterous laughter. He sat up abruptly from the recliner, took a deep swig of wine, and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Well fought! That is exactly how the young master should be! He’s just like his mother!"

Chen Shi looked at him. "But his mother never acknowledged him, and Pan Bufei has no idea who his mother is! If Pan Qingyun returns to the Imperial Capital, what do you think Pan Bufei will do?"

Old Huang’s eyes narrowed slightly, and the scar on his face twitched, making him look even more menacing. "Then we simply won't let Pan Qingyun return to the Imperial Capital!"

"...Don't you go doing anything reckless. The Old Ghost has people watching in Lin'an City. I came to tell you this news to let you know that the young master’s changes can no longer be hidden. The Old Ghost will know, and many people in the Imperial Capital will know as well."

"Next, the winds may begin to blow in Lin'an. All these years of preparation may finally come in handy!"

Old Huang pondered for three breaths. "Then I shall go to Mount Qingyun and see the Blind Man."

"Good."

"Are you not going to the Lin'an Academy to see the young master?"

Chen Shi replied, "I will wait for the Old Master to wake up and accompany him there."

When Chen Shi and Chen Linyuan arrived at the Lin'an Academy by carriage, the place was a sea of people! They couldn't push their way in—it was simply impossible. The students of the Lin'an Academy had been collecting entry fees all the way back to the main memorial archway. The Scholar's Boulevard was packed, yet these people could not enter the academy grounds.

Chen Linyuan stared at the scene, dumbfounded. What exactly was going on with his grandson? Remembering the poem from the note Xu Zizhou had given him the night before, he couldn't believe Chen Xiaofu was the author. It was simply impossible! But Xu Zizhou and Jiang Yuzheng had insisted, with absolute certainty, that the poem had been created only yesterday, right there in the library of the Lin'an Academy! It had been transcribed by An Xiaowei herself and delivered into their hands. Only Chen Xiaofu, An Xiaowei, and Liang Jingru had been in the library. If not them, then who?

Chen Linyuan was deeply confused. Even though Chen Xiaofu had changed significantly over the past two months, to suggest he had become a peer of great Confucian scholars overnight seemed far too exaggerated. Yet, there was no other explanation. Having heard from the chief steward this morning that Chen Xiaofu intended to challenge all the students of the Lin'an Academy, he felt he had to see it for himself, but it was clearly impossible now.

"Has the whole of Lin'an City gone mad?"

The two simply retreated to the shores of West Lake. Watching the endless stream of people pouring toward the academy, Chen Linyuan stroked his long beard, adding with deep concern, "I only hope Jie'an doesn't make a fool of himself in front of all of Lin'an City!"

Chen Shi bowed. "The young master... may just give everyone a surprise."

"...If it’s a surprise, that would be wonderful. But if it’s a shock... ten taels of silver to watch a farce? With so many people, a single spit from each of them would drown him!"

"Old Master, do not worry. Since we have arrived late, why not return and wait for news?"

Chen Linyuan waved his hand. "We shall wait here."

"...Very well!"

...

Inside the library of the Lin'an Academy, Old Master Jiang walked in once more. While the rest of the academy was in an uproar, this place was incredibly quiet. An Xiaowei sat at a low table reading, and Liang Jingru sat nearby, chin resting in her hands, lost in thought. Chen Xiaofu walked along a row of bookshelves, suddenly stopped, pulled out a book, and began to flip through it.

Old Master Jiang now had seven parts of confidence in Chen Xiaofu. Reading was dull and boring unless one truly grasped the content, and Chen Xiaofu had no reason to put on such an act. He had spent both yesterday and today in the library reading, which was enough to prove he was truly absorbing the material. If so, literacy was no longer an issue. And since it had been confirmed the previous night that *Fisherman's Pride: Autumn Thoughts* was not written by Chen Linyuan, the poem that had entered the seventh level of the Wen Feng Pavilion was very likely Chen Xiaofu's own creation.

Xu Zizhou was now fully convinced of Chen Xiaofu's immense talent. Upon returning to his residence last night, he had gathered his twelve disciples and told them with the utmost gravity, "In tomorrow's competition, you must all give your absolute best! Zhichiu, for the poetry; Yufu, for the lyrics—you two must strive for... second place! Qu Changye, for the rhythmic prose, you must strive for first! You have likely encountered a true opponent this time, and that is Chen Xiaofu, who has challenged you all!"

Xu Zizhou took it very seriously, but the twelve talented youths didn't seem to take it to heart. They were arrogant; they simply did not believe that a fool like Chen Xiaofu was qualified to be their opponent.

Academy Head Li also hoped Xu Zizhou's judgment was wrong. With the city of Lin'an empty today, hundreds of instructors were busy counting the silver collected! Head Li’s old face was nearly splitting with joy. He remarked that literature had no objective first place, and the chance of Chen Xiaofu winning was zero. Thus, this massive sum of silver would all belong to the academy. He planned to use it to renovate the student dormitories and build new living quarters for the instructors beneath Nanping Mountain. He even said the academy's gate needed replacing, and a new teaching building should be constructed.

He encouraged the students, "Whoever wins first place in poetry, lyrics, or rhythmic prose shall be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver by this Academy Head! Furthermore, they shall earn the qualification to attend the Book Mountain Literary Gathering in the Imperial Capital next autumn!"

The students of the Lin'an Academy were eager to prove themselves, and the twelve talents of the Qi State were filled with fighting spirit. Tens of thousands of people from Lin'an City had surrounded the academy, leaving not an inch of space.

Yet the man of the hour, Chen Xiaofu... he didn't seem to consider this a matter of any importance at all.

"Jie'an,"

Chen Xiaofu turned his head.

"The competition is about to begin!"