The ancestral hall was solemn and dignified. In front of the spirit hall, the memorial tablets of the Lin family ancestors were arranged in ten layers, representing ten generations of ancestors in the Lin family. Lin Su's gaze descended from the top.
General Lin Xiliang of the Great Cang Nation...
Grand General Lin Lijun of the Great Cang Nation...
Heroic General Lin Wanfang of the Great Cang Nation...
For two hundred years, the Lin family had produced generations of generals. There was one exception, the bottommost and central tablet, bearing only seven characters: "Spirit of Lord Lin Dingnan."
This was his father, originally the Lord of Dingnan, the commander at Blood Rain Pass. Despite being stripped of his official title and nobility, the tablet only bore a name, without any additional titles.
Lin Su's second brother inserted an incense stick into the incense burner in front of his father's tablet and knelt down with a loud thud. "Father, when you departed, Third Brother couldn't make it in time. Today, I've come to offer incense for you. Father, rest assured, regardless of the storms and changes, no matter the world's affairs, as long as your child has a breath, I will surely protect Mother and the siblings!"
Kowtowing nine times, he slowly got up. "Third Brother, it's your turn."
Lin Su respectfully inserted incense into the burner and kowtowed nine times before standing up.
"Second Brother, why did Father die?" Lin Su asked.
A flash of anger appeared in his second brother's eyes as he recounted...
The situation of the Lin family was a common problem in feudal society...
The duty of military officials was to defend the borders and engage in war. Their external attitude was one of aggression.
Civil officials believed in the influence of Confucian classics and maintained a soft and ambiguous external attitude.
This created a political environment of conflict between civil and military officials.
Civil officials controlled the discourse, while military officials were gradually marginalized. In the end, it led to the absurd situation where military officials didn't attend court sessions. In the eyes of the public, military officials even became synonymous with lowliness, with society as a whole valuing literature over martial skills.
In such an environment, no one from a military family dared to act recklessly. Lin Dingnan was not a rash person; he knew the dangers of the political arena. Despite acting cautiously and being awarded a marquisate, unforeseen events still occurred.
Last year, one of his subordinates colluded with the demonic forces, becoming a shameful traitor to the human race. Lin Dingnan couldn't let him go, administering military justice. However, this person had deep connections within the court. Zhang Wenyuan, the Minister of War, fabricated facts and falsely accused Lin Dingnan of plotting rebellion. The Emperor dispatched a team to investigate, controlled by court officials, ultimately convicting Lin Dingnan of treason. Originally, the plan was to exterminate the entire Lin family, but considering the Lin family's two hundred years of military glory and fearing a mutiny, they spared the old lady and the three sons.
Lin Su's heart burned with anger. What kind of court was this? Soldiers defended their homes and the country, yet a group of people in the rear tried various means to kill them, even fabricating crimes. The main culprit was none other than Zhang Wenyuan, the Minister of War who controlled military affairs!
Setting aside these matters for now, Lin Su changed the topic, "Mother's illness... is it not serious?"
His second brother said, "Mother's illness is caused by emotional distress. With the right medicine and the 'Qi-guiding Script,' she can recover quickly. However, none of the doctors in the city dare to visit. Relying only on the 'Qi-guiding Script,' Mother may endure days of suffering."
Lin Su was surprised, "Why wouldn't the city doctors visit? What's the reason?"
"It's still the Zhang family suppressing us! Zhang Wenyuan's hometown is also in Haining. They are obstructing the Lin family at every turn. When we tried to sell some wood and furniture, no one dared to come. With Mother's illness, even the doctors fear Zhang's influence, afraid of being implicated. But, Third Brother, rest assured. Tomorrow, I will go to the city gate to sell calligraphy and write letters. We will manage to secure a hot meal for the Lin family."
Considering Lin Su's long journey and arduous travels, his second brother advised him to rest. The brother, despite walking with an unsteady gait, entered the study. He still needed to study, prepare for the imperial examination, and carry the heavy burden of the household.
Lin Su couldn't fathom the immense pressure the scholarly Lin family member had experienced in these past months, facing his father's death, mother's illness, and the sudden responsibility of the entire marquisate.
Lin Su returned to the West Courtyard, his former residence. It was also in a dilapidated state. In the dim light, a maid-like figure stood – Little Yao!
"Big Brother!" Little Yao ran over, grabbing his hand and rubbing her head against his waist.
Lin Su gently patted her head. "Little Yao, Brother promised to find candy beans for you throughout the city, but I can't do it today."
"Brother, why are you like this? You talk as if candy beans are delicious. Little Yao doesn't like eating candy beans, really." Despite denying it, a glint of moisture in her eyes betrayed her.
Lin Su chuckled. "Go to sleep; I know you didn't sleep well last night."
"Okay!"
Little Yao slept in a side room outside Lin Su's bedroom. Soon, a steady breathing sound came, indicating sound sleep.
As for Lin Su, he lay on his bed, flipping and turning for most of the night until the first light of dawn appeared in the east.
On the next day, when the sun was high, Lin Su finally woke up. After leaving the courtyard, he entered his mother's main hall, intending to check on her. However, before he could enter, a cry of surprise came from inside, "Second Young Master, what happened to you..."
Lin Su pushed open the hall door and saw his second brother lying on the floor. His face was devoid of color, and Little Peach and his mother were frantically trying to help him up.
Quickly approaching, Lin Su assisted in lifting his second brother. "Second Brother, what happened to you?"
His mother choked with tears, "It's all my fault; I've caused him harm. A normal scholar would exhaust his literary energy writing a 'Qi-guiding Script,' but Second Brother has been writing two scripts daily for the past few days. How can he not be physically and mentally drained? Little Peach, quickly prepare some soup for Second Young Master... Second Brother, lie down..."
With the combined effort of Lin Su and his mother, they helped his second brother lie down on the bed. His second brother finally caught his breath and slowly opened his eyes...
At this moment, a voice from outside interrupted, "Excuse me, is Young Master Lin Jiayang, the Second Young Master, here?"
It was a crisp female voice.
Lin Su looked through the window and saw a petite figure in a blue dress standing before Little Peach. The girl was dressed as a man but clearly a maiden.
Little Peach asked, "Miss, may I ask..."
The girl interrupted, "I'm Cui'er, serving Miss Jade in the Jade Fragrance Pavilion. I've come to request an audience with Young Master Lin Jiayang. Is he available?"
Little Peach replied, "Young Master is unwell, and we fear he cannot receive guests."
Cui'er anxiously said, "What shall we do then?... Sister, no matter what, you must let me meet him. It's urgent and cannot be delayed."
"Let her in!"
Cui'er and Little Peach entered the main hall together. Lin Jiayang, who was lying on the bed, was taken aback, "Cui'er, what happened? Did something happen to Miss Jade?"
"Second Young Master!" Cui'er said, "Miss Jade decided to retire from the pavilion today. Did you know?"
Retire? Young ladies in the pavilion would eventually take this step. In their youth, they could sell their charm, but as they aged, they would find a good family to marry into, providing a perfect ending. Although Jade Fragrance Pavilion's lead courtesan, Miss Jade, was at the top of her trade, she couldn't escape this fate.
Lin Jiayang stared blankly, "She mentioned retiring, but I didn't expect it to be today... She asked you to come; is it...?"
"Second Young Master!" Cui'er said, "Miss Jade secretly hid the invitation to the retirement banquet that was prepared by the pavilion owner. She didn't want you to participate in the retirement banquet, fearing that you would face danger. She knew that Minister Zhang Xiu from the Ministry of War, along with talented writers from Quzhou, have always wanted to obstruct your literary path. If you participate in any literary gathering, it will be extremely dangerous. Even though I understand Miss Jade's concerns, I am still worried. Minister Zhang has already stated that he will take Miss Jade as his consort after the banquet, and she couldn't resist. What if she falls into this pit... How could she turn back and have another Mid-Autumn Night conversation with you?"
Lin Jiayang was at a loss, his whole body trembling...
Lin's mother sighed gently, "Young Master Lin Jiayang, Miss Jade's concerns are valid. You should focus on recovering. Watch the situation calmly."
"But... but the Zhang family..." Lin Jiayang's chest heaved rapidly, but his face showed a faint blush amidst the paleness...
"Lin family's enemy, Zhang family, plotted against your father and cannot bear to see the Lin family rise again. As the only literati in the Lin family, you are a thorn in their eyes. Zhang family is determined to cut off your literary path. Without the protection of the marquisate, even if you are physically healthy, going there is extremely dangerous, not to mention your current physical condition. Don't get involved in unnecessary risks, and don't involve Miss Jade either," his mother said.
"But... the Zhang family..." Lin Jiayang's chest surged dramatically, but his face showed a faint blush amidst the paleness.
"Second Young Master, you're spitting blood!" his mother exclaimed in shock. Using her sleeve, she wiped the blood from her son's mouth and helped him lie down.
Cui'er was also pale, staring at the scene. She was at a loss for words...
Lin Su gently pulled her. In a daze, she knelt down before Lin Su, "Young Master, I really didn't expect it to turn out like this. I've wronged Second Young Master, causing him to spit blood and fall ill. I..."
"Cui'er, I know you meant well. Thank you," Lin Su helped her up. "I will go in his place."
Cui'er was suddenly alarmed. Participate? This was a literary gathering, and Lin Su was a man of martial background. What would he do there?
"Go back first. I will go later," Lin Su said.
After a moment of hesitation, she took out an invitation from her bosom, "Third Young Master, this invitation was prepared by the pavilion owner. Miss Jade saw it and hid it. I don't know if it's right or wrong. Please discuss with Second Young Master... I'll leave now."
Turning around, Lin Su opened the red invitation. On it was written in neat handwriting: "Respectfully presented to Lin Jiayang, one of the Ten Outstanding Scholars of Quzhou, an event to celebrate the retirement of Miss Jade from the Jade Fragrance Pavilion is scheduled for noon on the 21st day of the fourth month at the Haining Tower. Your presence is sincerely requested."
The signature at the bottom was Jade Fragrance Pavilion.
A retirement banquet, a literary gathering of the top ten scholars in Quzhou...
Lin Su's mind raced as he thought about the words Little Cui and his mother had mentioned...
Using the literary gathering to cut off Lin Jiayang's literary path? What kind of path was this, and why did his mother say it was extremely dangerous?
The literary gathering was at noon, and there were still two or three hours. He needed to understand the literary world of this world comprehensively.
Lin Su headed towards Lin Jiayang's study...