Chapter Sixteen: Cui Daolin (Part One) Please support and add to your favorites.

Zheng Yanqing enjoyed reading history and understood well why those infamous eunuchs who brought calamity upon the nation were so reviled through the ages. Ultimately, it was their physical incompleteness that led to such outcomes. As the old saying goes: “Of the three forms of unfilial conduct, having no descendants is the greatest.” Those who are physically incomplete are a group condemned by society, burdened with a sense of inferiority far deeper than most, and from this inferiority springs an uncommon willfulness. Trapped between their own vulnerability and pride, their temperaments often become twisted and gloomy.

Though Zheng Shian was not a eunuch, the truth of his incompleteness remained. This made him even more sensitive than ordinary people, more easily wounded. Though he wielded power and influence within Anyuan Hall, deep down, there was a string in his heart more tender than that of any woman. The stronger his outward demeanor, the lonelier he was within.

Gently holding Zheng Shian’s hand, Zheng Yanqing hesitated, unsure how to begin.

Zheng Shian smiled, “My dear Yanqing, don’t worry about your grandfather… If the eldest young master looks down on us, we can simply return to Xingyang. It’s hardly the end of the world if you can’t serve as the young master’s page. When the opportunity arises, I’ll swallow my pride and beg the lord to lift your status… Ah, it was my oversight back then, and now you suffer for it!”

His words were suffused with deep familial affection.

Yanqing felt a warmth in his heart and forced a smile. “Grandfather, there’s no rush about lifting my status. As long as there’s a chance, it can always be resolved. But there’s something I wish to say, though I’m not sure if I should. The master has already passed his sixtieth year; in the future, Anyuan Hall will surely be under the eldest young master’s control. Don’t be too forceful… I’ve heard it said, ‘When water is full, it spills; when the moon is full, it wanes.’

Yield when the time calls for it! If you leave, I fear even the master won’t feel at ease, and might think you’re trying to use your age as leverage.”

The phrase “when water is full, it spills; when the moon is full, it wanes” comes from the classic novel “Dream of the Red Chamber.” Later generations have a saying: “The young should not read Dream of the Red Chamber; the old should not read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.” “Dream of the Red Chamber” is a peerless work, containing countless philosophies. The young cannot grasp its true flavor and may even be led astray by it. Yanqing himself only began to comprehend its depth after the age of forty.

The book imparts many lessons on conduct and dealing with the world. For instance, in the opening of the novel, Wang Xifeng and Jia Baoyu encounter an old family retainer who drunkenly causes trouble. That old retainer is a textbook example of relying on age and past merit, believing that having once saved the master entitles him to act with reckless abandon, not realizing he has long since alienated everyone in the Jia family.

In the end, Wang Xifeng ordered him confined in the stables, where he suffocated to death…

Yanqing feared that Zheng Shian might be falling into this old retainer’s mindset. Such thoughts are dangerous; they could cost him his life. Family retainers and servants are the private property of great clans, their life and death not in their own hands. Though Master Zheng currently favors Zheng Shian, who can say what the future holds? These men are seasoned manipulators, their intentions inscrutable. If resentment were to grow from this, would it not become a grave disaster?

Yanqing certainly did not wish for Zheng Shian to meet such a suffocating end.

If that were to happen, his own position in the Zheng family would become unbearably difficult.

Zheng Shian was momentarily stunned, looking at Yanqing with confusion. He could not fathom how someone so young could possess such insight. If Yanqing’s earlier poetry could be attributed to natural talent, these words clearly came from the wisdom of long experience—something no child could easily acquire, let alone articulate so clearly.

“My clever Yanqing, where did you hear these things?”

Yanqing had already prepared an explanation for his words.

“Mr. Sun told me… Some days ago, I happened to share with him the worries you voiced that day. He said this matter must be handled carefully, but he couldn’t speak to you directly, so he asked me to find an opportunity to advise you. He also told me, ‘If one’s experience of the world is shallow, one’s understanding is shallow; if one’s experience is deep, one’s strategies are deep. It is better for a gentleman to be unsophisticated than cunning; better to be uninhibited than overly cautious.’ He wanted me to pass these words to you, saying you would surely understand.”

Yanqing’s words were drawn from “Vegetable Roots Discourse,” the original intent coming from the Dao De Jing, “See the plain, embrace simplicity, have little private desire.” Yet the language in “Vegetable Roots Discourse” is more accessible, and even if Zheng Shian lacked literary learning, he could still grasp its meaning. The message was clear: do not be overly competitive, learn to go with the flow. Life has its ups and downs; it is all in how you face them. Do not become trapped in a dead end.

Zheng Shian let out a long sigh. “Mr. Sun is truly a sage-child; every word is a gem.”

He looked at Yanqing, reaching out to gently ruffle Yanqing’s hair. “Of course I understand these principles, but I worry you might suffer wrongs if I act otherwise. Hearing you today, I know now how to handle the matter.”

Though he did not say outright he would change his mind, Yanqing understood him well enough to know he would not harbor resentment any longer.

As long as Zheng Shian could let go and not act rashly, all would be well.

Even if Zheng Renji did not value Zheng Shian, as long as Master Zheng lived, Zheng Shian’s position in Anyuan Hall would remain secure.

With this thought, Yanqing finally breathed a sigh of relief.

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And so the days slipped by, busy and uneventful.

Zheng Shian remained as occupied as ever, while Zheng Yanqing led a leisurely life—reading, practicing calligraphy, or training in martial arts with Xu Shiji. In his spare moments, he would lead the donkey around the courtyard or visit the fields.

On the streets of Luoyang, the Goose Ode poem had begun to spread.

Many scholars and literati flocked to Yanshi, eager to make rubbings and copies.

Yet no one knew the true identity of the creator of the Goose Ode style, the so-called “Young Master Goose.”

Zhang Cong had not caught up with Zhang Zhongjian, so to this day he had no idea who Young Master Goose really was. He only vaguely guessed he must be a member of the Zheng clan, so he wrote home to Wu County, asking the clan elder of the Zhangs to approach the Zheng family for information. After all, there was the matter of social standing; as an illegitimate son, Zhang Cong was not in a position to call at the Zheng residence himself. Even if he did, he might not be granted an audience with the Zheng clan patriarch.

Meanwhile, in the mansion of Duke Yue in Daxing City, Chang’an, an elderly man with a pale face and black beard sat at his desk, fervently copying characters from a rubbing before him. Three elegantly dressed young men stood before the desk, hands respectfully at their sides, so solemn they scarcely dared to breathe lest they disturb the old man’s concentration and draw his ire.

“What fine calligraphy, truly marvelous!” exclaimed the elderly man—none other than Yang Su, once the all-powerful Minister of State, now Duke Yue.

He suddenly put down his brush, a look of satisfaction on his face, and smiled at the three men before the desk. “Young Master Goose lives up to his name. This Goose Ode style is indeed full of boldness and upright spirit—majestic and forthright! I have copied it many times, and only now have begun to grasp its subtlety… In his day, Zhiyong became famous for the ‘eight methods’ of the character ‘Yong’. Now, Young Master Goose has brought those eight methods to their greatest heights. The iron brush and silver hook—simple, yet powerful! The more I copy it, the more deeply I am moved, truly moved!”

The three men were Yang Su’s sons.

The eldest, Yang Xuangan, glanced at his two brothers, then said with a smile, “Father, might you not be overstating things?”

“Not in the least,” Yang Su replied gravely. “In my opinion, with the emergence of this Goose Ode style, even the two Wangs must fade into obscurity. In today’s world, only Ouyang Xun and Zhiyong can compare. Yet I have heard that this Young Master Goose is but a child! That means his style is not yet fully matured… When he comes of age and his art reaches its pinnacle, even the likes of Ouyang Xun and Zhiyong may be reduced to grinding ink for him. Such a prodigy—how I long to witness his genius in Yanshi with my own eyes!”

And who was Yang Su? A founding statesman of the Sui dynasty, Emperor Wen’s right-hand man, and the trusted confidant of Crown Prince Yang Guang. Without Yang Su’s support, Yang Guang might never have triumphed over the deposed Crown Prince Yang Yong. Though Yang Su had since fallen out of favor with Emperor Wen, his status remained unshaken. He was also a man of considerable literary talent, skilled in poetry and calligraphy, a dominant figure in the literary world of his day.

For such a man to lavish praise on the still-unseen Young Master Goose was unprecedented. Even renowned calligraphers like Ouyang Xun and Zhiyong had been described by Yang Su as merely “acceptable.” Now, he claimed even they were fit only to grind ink for Young Master Goose? Should word of this spread, the world would be astounded.

Yang Xuangan, proud as he was, felt a twinge of dissatisfaction hearing his father’s praise, but Yang Su’s authority was overwhelming. Not even his own sons dared openly disagree.

“Father’s praise is indeed a great honor for Young Master Goose.”

Yang Su shook his head. “No, it is not his good fortune, but mine. To witness such writing in my lifetime—cause enough to celebrate with a great goblet of wine!”

At this, Yang Su’s tone turned serious. “By the way, have you discovered Young Master Goose’s identity?”

“Not yet,” Yang Xuangan replied. “It’s said that Young Master Goose was seen in the company of Zhang Jiling’s youngest son from Yangzhou. I’ve already sent men to question Zhang Cong in Yanshi, but there’s been no word. Zhang Jiling’s youngest son likely knows best, but after delivering goods to Chang’an, he hurried off to Lanzhou. If only the Goose Ode had arrived earlier, we might have detained him for questioning. As it is… I’ve sent people to Lanzhou as well, instructing them to keep a close eye on Zhang Zhongjian’s movements.”

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Second update delivered, six thousand words completed today. Please recommend and add to your collections!