Chapter 120: Leaving Behind the Deed, Concealing One’s Fame and Merit

Zhu Biao did not stay long, choosing instead to leave the time to Xu Cunren and Kong Ne.

Stepping out of the prison, the air outside felt exceptionally fresh. As Kong Ne emerged, he found Kong Fu already waiting, his face streaming with tears of agitation.

"Young Master!"

"Uncle Fu, why are you here?"

When Kong Ne had been summoned to the palace, he hadn't notified his family, and his imprisonment was something he himself could never have foreseen.

"It was Vice Censor-in-Chief Liu who sent men to the Kong residence to inform us... Young Master, why put yourself through this?"

"Liu Ji?"

Kong Ne grew thoughtful. The Kong residence had always been a place officials avoided. Even though they frequently targeted Longhu Mountain because of the Kong family's affairs, they rarely had any direct dealings with the Duke Yansheng's mansion. Liu Bowen had now broken a long-standing, tacit convention—a breach he himself had fought to bring about.

Kong Ne clenched his small hands until his palms turned white. The feeling of no longer being isolated was quite pleasant.

"Uncle Fu, please take my teacher and me back."

The two boarded a carriage and traveled slowly toward Xu Cunren's home. Upon arrival, no one came out to greet them. Xu Cunren and Kong Ne could faintly hear voices from inside. Kong Ne stepped forward and knocked on the door.

"The master has returned!"

The person who opened the door was Zhang Yi. This result did not seem unexpected. His cheerful expression immediately put Kong Ne and Xu Cunren at ease.

"I’ve already notified your wife. She said she wants to cook something delicious herself..."

Before Zhang Yi could finish, Kong Ne rushed over and grabbed him by the collar. "You damn Taoist! You told me it would be fine, but do you know I almost went down with the teacher?"

Only when they reached the Xu residence did the fear he had suppressed finally erupt. Seeing Zhang Yi, the instigator of it all, Kong Ne felt a mix of anger and embarrassment.

"But didn't you make it out? Everyone, look! The Duke Yansheng is trying to commit murder!"

The two boys chased each other around the room while Xu Cunren laughed heartily.

"Alright, do me a favor and stop the squabbling!" Xu Cunren called out, and the two boys stopped. He closed the gate, ensuring no one was around, and bowed deeply to Zhang Yi.

Great kindness needs no words of thanks. Zhang Yi accepted the gesture with equanimity and returned the bow. Neither said a word, yet everything was understood between them.

...

After a family meal, visitors began to arrive at the Xu residence. Zhang Yi and Kong Ne hid in the backyard, sitting side by side and looking up at the lackluster sky.

"How does it feel?"

Kong Ne’s expression remained somewhat dazed. At Zhang Yi's question, he paused, then smiled. "Thank you."

"Without a diamond heart, one cannot break through the gates of hell. That you managed to break the current deadlock is the Bodhi you have proven yourself. However, while your dilemma is resolved, the Kong family's plight is not. The next step is the hardest. Forget it, I won't say more. I'm leaving..."

Zhang Yi stood up, brushed the dirt off his robes, and disappeared into the backyard toward the back gate.

"Having accomplished his task, he brushes off his sleeves and leaves, hiding his merit and fame."

Kong Ne stared at Zhang Yi’s retreating figure, lost in thought. "So this is what the books mean by an immortal. Sometimes, I truly envy his life."

"Kong Ne, Zhang Yi..." his teacher's wife called from the front. Kong Ne hurried out. "Where is Zhang Yi? Your master wants to introduce you to the various officials."

Kong Ne was led by Madam Xu into the parlor. There, he saw the official he had already met once—the one Zhang Yi had identified as Liu Bowen. Several other men sat beside him. Kong Ne did not know them, but he had seen them while kneeling outside the Imperial Study.

"Where is Zhang Yi?" Xu Cunren asked, surprised to see only Kong Ne. Seeing Kong Ne’s sheepish smile, he immediately understood. "That brat ran off again?"

Old Master Xu could do nothing about his attitude toward Zhang Yi. The others in the room showed subtle traces of disdain. Even as descendants of prominent families, the Kong clan and Longhu Mountain were simply not in the same league.

"Never mind. Let me introduce these gentlemen to you. You have met Lord Liu. This is Lord Yang Xian, this is Master Song, and this is Lord Zhang..."

Kong Ne greeted them one by one, and the officials looked at him with appreciation.

Liu Bowen spoke: "The trouble facing the Kong family is known to us all. That you could break the deadlock proves you are no mere creature of the pond. At the very least, in the Emperor's heart, the succession of the Most Holy Sage finally has a worthy heir."

Liu Bowen’s words were blunt, nearly stating outright that Zhu Yuanzhang was not satisfied with Kong Xixue. Kong Ne was not offended; instead, he felt a surge of gratitude. To speak such words openly amidst the current political climate showed both courage and a lack of self-interest on Liu Bowen's part.

"Just be careful with the friends you keep in the future. If some friends are detrimental, stay away from them if you can."

As Liu Bowen spoke, Kong Ne understood exactly who he was referring to. He gave a bitter smile, remained silent, and bowed.

...

After receiving praise from nearly everyone at the Xu residence, Kong Ne boarded the carriage and returned to the Duke Yansheng’s mansion. Kong Kejian sat in his room, still in his dazed, foolish state. Kong Ne dismissed the servants and tended to his grandfather personally. He took hold of Kong Kejian's hands, and his grandfather gripped his back tightly.

"Grandfather, I am fine! Do you know? Those people no longer reject us... Zhang Yi said that a person's dignity must be sought by oneself, and the value of our Kong family must be fought for by us. The distinction between Hua and Yi, the authority of civilization... I have learned so much from him..."

Kong Ne spoke on, regardless of whether Kong Kejian was listening. Slowly, his grandfather grew even quieter.

"Grandfather, do you think your illness will suddenly get better?" Kong Ne looked up, staring at him with hope.

The older man's expression shifted repeatedly. Suddenly, Kong Kejian pulled his hand away and shuffled shakily toward the bed. Kong Ne felt a wave of desolation. Was his grandfather unwilling to "get better"?

...

"Why does it smell so bad?"

A few days later, a carriage appeared at the gate of Qingxin Temple. Before the passengers could even step out, they were hit by an overwhelming stench. The temple was already in a remote location, and the few passersby nearby smelled the odor and hurried away. The temple, already lacking in incense offerings, seemed even more desolate.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned as he stepped down from the carriage. Prince Zhu Biao covered his nose and mouth, looking helpless. He and his father had finally managed to carve out time to see Zhang Yi, but who knew what this fellow was concocting again?

"Master Huang, Young Master Huang, you've arrived?"

Deng Zhongxiu, unable to stand the smell inside, had been sitting by the gate in a stupor. Upon seeing the Emperor and the Crown Prince, he jumped up. Old Zhu had visited the temple many times, and he had a favorable impression of Deng Zhongxiu.

"What is your junior brother doing again?"

"Junior brother says he is refining alchemy... but... I have never seen Master refine pills with such a pungent smell..." Deng Zhongxiu said, looking aggrieved. "Miss Chang came by too, but she was chased off by the scent. Junior brother said he would be finished in a little while!"

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao exchanged a glance and walked into the temple. Following custom, Zhu Biao dropped five hundred coins into the donation box. As they reached the backyard, the scent grew even more intense—not exactly foul, just overwhelmingly heavy.

"You brat, tinkering with these things all day—aren't you afraid you won't find a wife in the future?" Old Zhu roared. Zhang Yi ran out of the alchemy room dressed in Taoist robes, looking like a wandering beggar.

"Oh, it's Uncle Huang! What brings you here today?"

"You unfilial child, I never see you, so I came to check on you!"

Zhang Yi laughed. "Don't take offense, Uncle. I was arranged by the Emperor to study at the Imperial Academy, and I'm bored to death. I don't dare skip class for fear that some busybody will report me and the Emperor will spank me..."

Old Zhu laughed in anger. "The Emperor has a thousand things to attend to every day; what time would he have to bother with a small fry like you? Look at yourself—worrying about this and that, purely杞人忧天 (worrying over nothing)!"

Zhang Yi replied, "That’s not how it works. If it were any other emperor, someone like me might be forgotten. But unfortunately, our Emperor is known for being petty and managing everything. As long as someone reports it, he’s bound to interfere. Better to stay out of trouble..."

Zhu Yuanzhang had not expected this brat to mock him even while speaking casually. He blew his beard and stared, while Zhu Biao laughed on the side. People are often unaware of themselves; Zhang Yi’s assessment was actually quite accurate. Old Zhu’s personality was so overbearing that he loved to scrutinize even the smallest details when observing others. If Zhang Yi were reported to the palace, Old Zhu might truly issue a decree to have him spanked. Zhang Yi’s understanding of Old Zhu had reached a level that even his own son found astonishing.

"Forget it, I can't out-talk you. But what exactly are you tinkering with? Why does it smell so bad?"

"Just refining some garlic into pills. Don't know if it will work yet. If it succeeds, I'll tell you then..." Zhang Yi winked at Zhu Biao, his angel investor, who desperately gestured for him to keep quiet. Fortunately, Old Zhu didn't think much of it; Zhang Yi was always messing with strange things.

After Zhang Yi returned to the alchemy room and closed the door, the odor in the courtyard diminished significantly.

"Speaking of the Imperial Academy, I've heard some rumors. It seems that the libationer, Lord Xu Cunren, has been arrested. The rumors are rampant in Yingtian Prefecture, and it seems to have something to do with the imperial examinations?" Zhu Yuanzhang went straight to the point.

Zhang Yi smiled. "So, Uncle, you came here today specifically to gather intelligence?"

Old Zhu replied, "That's right. The imperial examinations are a matter that concerns scholars across the empire, even if only snippets of information leak out. Especially since my son has aspirations for fame, of course, I must ask clearly!"

"Uncle, you have no connections?" Zhang Yi tried to probe Old Zhu’s background. Old Zhu glared at him. "Do you think I can just climb up to anyone? If I had that ability, I would have sent your Brother Huang to the Imperial Academy long ago. Students there can eventually secure an official position, avoiding the path of the imperial examinations! But I have no way into the Imperial Academy—unlike you, who get in and still complain about being bored!"

Old Zhu was genuinely resentful. Zhang Yi had been at the Imperial Academy for some time, but his original intentions seemed unchanged. Zhang Yi gave a sheepish smile. The current Imperial Academy was not yet the future Imperial College, and ordinary people could not easily obtain a student status through connections. It seemed he had touched a sore spot for Uncle Huang. Merchants had low social status; despite their wealth, they were strictly restricted by Old Zhu. The only way to change the fate of a clan and bring honor to one's ancestors was through education. But were the imperial examinations so easy? Out of countless scholars in the country, only a few hundred spots were available each year. Becoming a provincial graduate was a feat in itself. A provincial graduate could fundamentally change the fate of the Huang family, let alone becoming a successful candidate in the metropolitan examination.

"I have heard some things. You have a good relationship with Xu Cunren. While the power in the hands of the old man seems meager, his influence is far-reaching! If you could help me inquire, even if you only know a general direction, it would be a great opportunity for your Brother Huang! Tell me, what are your thoughts on the imperial examinations?"

Zhang Yi laughed dryly. The imperial examinations were, after all, what people valued most. Even Uncle Huang was thrown into a state of anxiety upon hearing the news.

"Uncle, even if you want to prepare, it's far too early. The grace examination won't be held for at least two years, until the third year of Hongwu! If this had been before Master Xu's trouble, I might have been able to give you some pointers. But now that the situation has changed, I don't know what to say. Furthermore, let alone me, I suspect even the Emperor doesn't know what he wants to do yet..."

Zhang Yi’s words struck a chord with Old Zhu, for it was precisely because he could not decide that he had come to the Qingxin Temple to ask.