Chapter Thirty-Three: The Loyalty of the Storm (Part One)

The moon was full and round, yet the starlight seemed cold and lonely. The oil-cloth covered carriage creaked slowly out of Luoyang, following the official road at a measured pace. The rhythmic turning of the wheels only heightened the sense of solitude.

Zheng Shi’an leaned against the side of the carriage, his face drawn and haggard.

Yanqing, meanwhile, gazed out through the lattice of the carriage window, as if admiring the nocturnal countryside. His cheeks were swollen and still bore traces of blood, his hairpiece slightly disheveled, lending an air of pitiful frailty to his pale and delicate face.

They had been hurriedly escorted out of the Zheng residence by Zheng Weishan, leaving Luoyang behind. The two, grandfather and grandson, brought little with them; Yanqing merely requested the return of his manuscripts. Though acting under orders, Zheng Weishan dared not refuse him in the slightest. When Dou Wei appeared at the Zheng residence, Zheng Weishan was utterly astounded. He did not know Dou Wei personally, but from the reactions of Zheng Renji and Yan Shigu, he could tell that Dou Wei was no ordinary man.

For someone whom even Zheng Renji feared to come forward on behalf of a household servant was astonishing. Later, he learned Dou Wei’s true identity from others.

From that moment, Zheng Weishan treated Yanqing and his grandfather with even greater courtesy. Unlike Zheng Renji, Zheng Weishan was born to a declining collateral branch of the family, and as an illegitimate son at that. Any status he had achieved was entirely due to his own hard work and perseverance—a struggle he understood all too well. While the Yanqing family might be in dire straits now, who could say what the future might hold?

After all, Yanqing was the famous "Goose Prince." Gold will shine, no one can stop it.

Zheng Weishan was all the more convinced that Yanqing's future achievements would be immeasurable. If nothing else, the fact that his teacher could summon someone like Dou Wei with a single word hinted at immense forces lurking behind the scenes—forces Zheng Weishan dared not even imagine.

So when Yanqing boarded the carriage and asked for his manuscripts, Zheng Weishan agreed without hesitation.

Yanqing had many original works; Cui Daolin had brought them all back to the Zheng residence. Among them were not only Yanqing’s drafts and scribbles, but also the manuscript of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and some personal notes. Yan Shigu had taken some of these, but Zheng Weishan did not dare demand their return.

Fortunately, the main manuscript and the lecture notes given to him by Li Ji were still there. After Yanqing collected his things, Zheng Weishan even returned the seven Xuanzhou purple-tipped brushes as a gesture of goodwill. Zheng Renji would not covet them, and since Dou Wei had said they were a gift from Dou Fengjie, it was only right to return them to Yanqing.

Yanqing straightened his attire and climbed into the carriage.

Zheng Shi’an, meanwhile, had changed into a white robe and sat inside, looking somewhat despondent.

"Yanqing!"

"Grandfather, what is it?"

Zheng Shi’an reached out his rough hand to stroke Yanqing’s cheek. His heart ached, and two lines of tears slid down his weathered face.

"Does it still hurt?"

"That wretch had little strength, Grandfather. Don’t worry, I’m fine."

"Alas, I had hoped to secure a future for you, but now… Yanqing, after today’s quarrel there is no hope for reconciliation with the eldest master."

Yanqing, however, was unconcerned.

He was now certain that his teacher was an extraordinary man.

For Li Ji to enlist an elder of the Hedouling Dou clan—such capability was beyond the reach of ordinary people. Yet why did he willingly remain at the academy as a penniless lecturer? Yanqing had once thought Li Ji was simply a scholar of poor birth; now, he realized he was mistaken. Li Ji’s background was both formidable and profound.

Zheng Shi’an continued, "But don’t worry. The old master is no fool; he won’t hold this against us. Once we’re back in Xingyang, I’ll find a way to beg the old master to send you to our clan’s school. One day, you’ll make your mark."

Yanqing wrinkled his nose, then suddenly smiled. "Grandfather, do you still wish to share the secret of the Dragon Blade with the Zheng family?"

Zheng Shi’an froze, his hand paused in midair.

Though he had promised Yanqing to keep the secret of the Dragon Blade, he still felt guilty toward the Zhengs. He had even thought that, once Yanqing’s plans had improved the lives of the old brothers at Tianjin Bridge, he might find a way to share the secret with Zheng Dashi.

Now...

He hesitated, then smiled. "What Dragon Blade secret? I know nothing of it."

I, Zheng Shi’an, have done all that could be asked for Anyuan Hall. Six generations have served you faithfully, not to mention that I lost the use of my limbs saving the old master. And what have I received? I am still just a servant of your Zheng family. My mother was a Zheng too, but because of my physical state, I was refused entry into the clan records.

Have you ever wondered why I am as I am? You summon me at will, treating me like a dog—I endured it. But now, you seek to entrap me, to slander me, and even to harm my grandson. How can I accept this?

The Dragon Blade... Even if I die, I will not give this secret to the Zhengs.

All the resentment in Zheng Shi’an’s heart erupted in that instant.

In the past, with no heir, he had been content to muddle through. But now, he wanted to carve out a path for Yanqing. The matter of the Dragon Blade—he would keep that for himself. Even if the Zhengs refused to help, if Yanqing had money one day, he could still buy his way out of servitude.

As the saying goes: money isn’t everything, but without it, nothing is possible.

As long as Yanqing had the means, purchasing the status of a commoner would not be a problem.

If the Zheng family treated him this way, he would not feel bound by loyalty to them.

He had thought he would feel guilty, that betraying the Zhengs would weigh heavily on him. But when he spoke those words, he felt not sorrow, but relief. If they were unjust to him, he need not be loyal in return.

"Yanqing."

"Yes?"

"Once we return, we may never see Luoyang again. The Big Hammer just finished forging the Dragon Blade—what should we do next? He’s a straightforward, rough man; without help, it will be hard for him to make a name for himself. Worse, his efforts may end up benefiting someone else."

"That’s simple. When we get back to Xingyang, we’ll have Uncle Weishan send word. I expect Zhang Zhongjian will have returned by then. We’ll have him partner with Grandfather Big Hammer. Zhang Zhongjian comes from a great family in Wu County, and his father is the richest man in Yangzhou; he has connections everywhere. Besides, I find him an agreeable sort. Let him take the lead; at worst, we’ll give up some profit, and Grandfather Big Hammer will still make a fortune."

Zheng Shi’an nodded repeatedly and drew Yanqing into his arms.

"Heh, the eldest master may not think much of you, but that just shows he’s blind. Once we have money, we can buy your freedom. An upper rank might be too much to hope for, but buying a sixth-rank status should be no problem, don’t you think?"

Zheng Shi’an was referring to the social rank system that had been in place since the Wei and Jin dynasties, known as the nine-rank evaluation system.

Generally, there were three criteria for status: family background, virtue, and talent. Of these, family was the most important, as virtue and talent were too vague to measure, and usually summarized in general terms.

For example, during the Cao Wei period, when the evaluator Wang Jia assessed the renowned scholar Ji Mao, he simply said, "Virtue excellent, talent lacking." Further details could not be given. Thus, family background was the main determinant of social rank.

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