Eavesdropping discovered
Lu Zhang faced hardships in his youth but later rose rapidly to prominence.
He was ambitious, capable, and also encountered the best of times.
However, the downfall of the Chu Dynasty cannot be blamed on the Lu family.
Many things in the world are like this; they seem intricately intertwined, as if a moment’s decision could rewrite history. But in reality, it’s not the case. Without Lu Zhang, there would be another rebel.
The houses in the Lu family estate were neither old nor new. On the archway that faced the entrance, the inscriptions were still clear and legible.
The surname of the husband’s family and the maiden name of the wife combined to form a name that wasn’t really a name: Virtuous Wife, Lady Lu Zhang.
This archway was like the face of the Lu estate. There were no weeds around it, and no moss on it. It stood about ten feet tall and could be seen from a distance.
“There are many problems in the world. Even with great effort, it’s difficult to find solutions,” Meng Qi said with an inscrutable expression. He continued solemnly, “It’s like throwing a gourd into water. If you press down on one end, the other floats up. If you press down with both hands, it’s like forcibly suppressing it. While you might hold it down, the gourd still wants to break free from the force you’re applying. If there are orders from above, there’s a way to execute them below. Aren’t humans far more complex than a gourd?”
The Chu dynasty once issued a decree that if a married woman died and had no children, the husband’s family must return the remaining dowry.
The logic of this decree is sound. A woman’s dowry is her family’s hope that she will live well in her husband’s home. In major clans, the dowry includes everything, from clothing fabrics to bed curtains, combs, mirrors, jewelry, a full set of furniture, and even gold-lacquered toilets. Strictly speaking, these assets don’t belong to the husband’s family but to the children born from the woman.
Even in confiscation, there are distinctions: total confiscation and not touching the dowry of the womenfolk.
Historically, if the bride’s family was dominant and disapproved of the son-in-law, they might indeed claim back the dowry due to their daughter’s demise. However, since this isn’t codified in the legal texts, those who act on it would be criticized and ridiculed.
For ordinary families, things aren’t that complicated. The daughter’s family is unlikely to be powerful or influential, and naturally, they would be at a disadvantage.
Yet, the law intended to prevent the husband’s close relatives from killing the bride to take over her dowry was not implemented smoothly.
When the bride’s family demanded the dowry, the husband’s side would make excuses. Disputes over the original value of the dowry would arise, with both parties sticking to their claims. Many cases ended up in court.
Some even returned inferior substitutes for the dowry. A set of high-quality pear wood furniture might be valued as broken tables and worn-out chairs. They would brazenly argue that after a decade or so, things have deteriorated significantly.
Some men, idle and unproductive, had long spent their wives’ dowries.
Debates over how assets depreciated over the years, how much was used, and whether the use was reasonable could drag on endlessly.
While the law was well-intentioned, its implementation was met with widespread complaints, turning it into a source of grievances. Thus, the law was hardly enforced.
There were even numerous homicides as a result.
There were plenty of those who yelled that they had no money to repay, but if lives were demanded, they had one to spare.
The sneaky ones are one thing, but some widowers, with malice in their hearts, even took up knives and killed several members of their in-laws who demanded the dowry.
There was another case where the girl’s parents had died, and her elder brother was unable to repay his debts. His wife came up with an idea to murder the younger sister, who was married off without giving birth, in order to claim back the dowry.
For various reasons, the implementation of this law lasted less than a year before it was abruptly halted.
Mo Li listened and remained silent for a long time.
Mo Li had only ever wanted to be a Physician. He wasn’t even interested in becoming a renowned martial arts master. In Zhushan County, with its small population and simpler affairs, he never realized how challenging it was to be a competent official.
Passion alone is not enough to save a country or its people.
Even with immense talent, handling endless troubles can exhaust one’s spirit and energy.
Mo Li was worried that Meng Qi would get lost in the past and have another bout of illness. He wanted to offer words of comfort, but now wasn’t the time.
— Someone else was here.
This person was originally just passing by, but was drawn in by Meng Qi’s words and sneaked behind a tree.
Mo Li heard it, and naturally, so did Meng Qi, but he continued speaking at his own pace.
Meng Qi gave Mo Li a meaningful look, and the two left the Lu estate.
As they walked, Meng Qi said, “Take the Lu family clan, for instance. They’re not so poor that they can’t afford food. Some even had scholars and successful candidates in imperial exams. Don’t they understand propriety, righteousness, integrity, and honor? On the contrary, growing up in such an environment, they became accustomed to these behaviors and believed that’s how the world works — the roles of monarch to minister, father to son, husband to wife. Loyal subjects don’t serve two masters, and good women don’t marry twice. Dying out of loyalty to one’s deceased husband was considered commendable. Do you know what this implies?”
“They don’t believe that forcing a widow to her death is wrong,” Mo Li replied.
Because there was an outsider nearby, Mo Li did not call out Meng Qi’s name, just as Meng Qi refrained from referring to him as “Physician.”
“The Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues are seen by many as the foundation of our nation.”
Mo Li diverted a portion of his attention to the person sneakily tailing them.
The individual’s light-footed skills were mediocre at best, but they were nimble and slender in build.
This agility was distinct from the sneaky behavior of thieves like Li Kong’er. Instead, this person seemed accustomed to eavesdropping, maintaining a calm demeanor and excelling in concealment. Without hesitation, they could always find the perfect hiding spot.
Ordinary people tend to hide behind large trees or boulders, thinking those are safer.
But this person, just by gauging with their eyes, could pick the exact cover to conceal themselves. It might not be the largest object, but it was the most suitable. The chosen angle was perfect, too. From Mo Li and Meng Qi’s viewpoint, not even a glimpse of this person’s garment was visible.
If it weren’t for the acute hearing of a martial arts expert, he might have been easily fooled.
On a few occasions, Mo Li pretended to survey the surroundings and deliberately turned around, but the pursuer always hid in time.
“…”
What should they do with someone who doesn’t seem to harbor killing intent or explicit malice but just wants to eavesdrop?
Mo Li was ready to employ his swift-footed techniques to shake off this person, but seeing that Meng Qi seemed keen on probing further, he could only slow down, continuing to walk and converse with Meng Qi.
“Has the imperial court never restricted the power of clans?”
“The Chu dynasty did once, commanding local officials to stop clans from privately enforcing clan laws. Clans had no authority to execute criminals arbitrarily. If there were cases of individuals being drowned or beaten to death, they needed to be thoroughly investigated, with lighter cases resulting in fines and more severe cases leading to exile.”
After finishing, Meng Qi added, “Then the whole court debated it, and the entire nation opposed it.”
“Why?” Mo Li was somewhat puzzled. The measures only aimed to prevent wrongful executions, not abolish the clan system.
“… Because clans must have authority, just as a father has decision-making power over his children. They believed that the so-called foundation of the nation should be built upon this.”
Only by obeying parents at home would subjects obey the imperial power when serving the court.
The so-called governing the world with filial piety and the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues all boil down to this.
“They need authority, absolute, and unquestionable authority.”
“In that case, what’s the use of laws?”
Mo Li found this hard to grasp. In Zhushan County, the County Magistrate Xue always judged cases fairly. Every decision was well-reasoned, clarifying each point. Everyone accepted the decisions wholeheartedly.
It seems that even commoners who can’t read still understand the principles of justice.
“It’s because… the emperor himself doesn’t abide by the national laws. In a sudden fit of rage, he might order killings. The saying ‘The emperor’s anger leads to a million corpses’ isn’t this the very principle? Dynasties throughout history have never granted clans this power. This power has naturally formed and has been tacitly approved, unshakable by anyone. Hence, those who tried to stop it weren’t foolish; instead, my old friends and I were too naive.”
Meng Qi looked towards the distant imperial mausoleum and whispered, “I once thought Li Yuanze wasn’t that kind of person.”
His voice was so soft that only Mo Li beside him could hear.
— It’s challenging to conquer the world, but even more so to govern it.
During the conquest, Meng Qi never gave much thought to these matters.
When the Chu dynasty was governing, Meng Qi vaguely sensed some resistance. However, based on years of mutual trust and knowing that Emperor Chu was not capricious—having not even executed a single palace maid or eunuch in his many years of rule—he overlooked it.
“An emperor can ignore the law if he wishes, and a father can be unreasonable if he chooses. Being a subject or a child, there’s no difference.”
As Meng Qi was speaking, there was a faint sound from behind—a stone being stepped on.
It seemed like the eavesdropper was so startled that he lost control.
When Mo Li turned his head, he caught a glimpse of half the face of the listener.
— Surprisingly young, not even of age to wear the traditional scholar’s cap.
Judging by the clothes he wore, he seemed to come from a well-to-do family. Why would someone like him be near the imperial mausoleum?
The ten-mile vicinity of the imperial mausoleum was cordoned off by stationed troops, with the Lu estate conveniently situated within. Ordinary people weren’t allowed to approach, and it wasn’t easy for those from the Lu estate to leave.
The area had farmland, wells, a small hillside, and two sparse date tree groves.
It wasn’t a prison, but it might as well have been.
To sneak in unnoticed, one would probably need decent martial skills.
At that moment, there was a commotion in the distance, coming from the direction of the military camp. Mo Li couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he saw a group of soldiers scatter and search the area, as if looking for someone.
Mo Li gave Meng Qi a meaningful look. Meng Qi didn’t turn around, acting as if he was unaware of the person behind.
“Directly ahead is the imperial mausoleum. There are people around here; we should avoid them for now.”
As they spoke, they had already reached the farmlands of the Lu estate.
The Lu clan wasn’t praying for rain; they were farming.
After walking for a while, Mo Li noticed the noise behind them had stopped. He listened intently, ensuring that the person wasn’t following.
“Brother Meng, who do you think that person was?”
“He doesn’t seem like one of the Lu estate folks,” Meng Qi pondered.
Dressed nicely and looking healthy, he starkly contrasted with the emotionless Lu clan members in the fields, who were indifferent to the earlier commotion.
Mo Li speculated, “Could he be from the jianghu?”
“It doesn’t seem so either,” Meng Qi shook his head, “The topics we discussed earlier wouldn’t typically interest someone from the jianghu.”
Perhaps he’s an unusual figure from the jianghu? Mo Li thought but refrained from objecting because the young man’s light-footed techniques were quite poor, resembling those haphazardly learned. However, his attire suggested he might be a wealthy young master.
Meng Qi stopped on the hillside, looking at another village not far away. The residents had since relocated, leaving behind slightly dilapidated houses.
This estate was as large as the Lu estate, but it lacked the memorial archway at the front.
“Yongzhou is water-scarce. Between clans, every spring, they dig channels to divert water. Over water sources, two estates might fight fiercely, resulting in injuries. Hence, you rarely see villages with multiple surnames here; it’s mostly single-surname clan settlements.”
Survival is tough for those who leave their clans to make a living from the land.
With limited water sources, how could an individual compete?
The clan system couldn’t and shouldn’t be abolished.
“In this world, not all clans would force a widow to her death over a memorial arch. Many people can’t survive without their clan. Even someone with a temperament like Deng, the scholar, eventually tolerated the metaphorical ‘grit in his eye.’ Back then, we hoped that if every household became prosperous, societal norms might change. However, fate hasn’t been kind.”
Where can one expect favorable weather every year?
The water scarcity in Yongzhou is an age-old issue, not something that can be solved just by having a peaceful era.
People of Lu estate don’t have to worry about food and drink. But this lack of worry requires annual farming. If the crops fail, how long can the stored grain last? How long can the savings sustain? They would just be depleting their reserves. Hence, the struggle to secure water is paramount.
Mo Li suddenly recalled something Meng Qi had once said and remarked, “If one day, the produce from one family’s land can support three, ten, or even more households, and the common people have other means of livelihood beyond farming, then the conflicts over water during spring planting will significantly reduce. People won’t need clans, and the influence of clans will naturally wane.”
Meng Qi responded with a broad smile, “Physician, you truly are my kindred spirit.”
“In this vast world, there are many talented individuals. If one wishes to find a kindred spirit, they won’t be lacking,” Mo Li replied, not particularly elated. He reminded, “Back in the day, you encountered many good friends. Today, you can still find them.”
“But none of them are you.”
“… The main difference between them and me might just be that I won’t leave you behind and die first,” Mo Li, having said that, immediately regretted it. He was too blunt.
Qi Mao Mountain and Shang Yun Mountain, these two ‘dragon veins,’ reincarnated one after the other. Before their encounter, Mo Li had a good mentor, and Meng Qi had beneficial friends. It wasn’t clear who envied whom more, but there’s always a certain sentiment towards what one doesn’t have.
Meng Qi tilted his head, observing Mo Li, as if trying to gauge how much the Physician cared for him.
However, to his disappointment, it seemed that Mo Li had only grown accustomed to his presence and acknowledged his irreplaceability, but it wasn’t the kind of bond Meng Qi hoped for.
For instance, Mo Li might be willing to take him back to Zhushan County to meet Qin Lu and Xue Ting and others. But this wasn’t much different from the mutual introductions between close friends. It’s just a display of familial closeness.
Meeting each other’s family and friends only proves the depth of their relationship.
Moreover, currently, only Mo Li had these ties, while Meng Qi was all alone.
“I apologize; I shouldn’t have brought that up,” Mo Li realized he touched upon a sensitive topic they weren’t ready to address.
Just then, the wind direction shifted, and a strong scent of sandalwood wafted over.
Mo Li’s nose twitched, and he couldn’t help but ask, “Who’s praying for rain now?”
The scent was so strong; were they burning the incense like firewood?
Mentioning the rain ritual made Meng Qi somewhat uneasy.
He believed that the mountain spirits were what people commonly referred to as the ‘dragon veins.’ However, not all dragons are the same; he resided in the mountains, while the Dragon King lived in the seas. The mountain spirits had no authority over cloud formation and rainfall.
There wasn’t a Dragon King of the Four Seas in the world!
Such grand rituals, burning mountains of incense, were ineffective and only choked the people.
“Achoo!”
Meng Qi turned his head upon hearing the sound, only to meet Mo Li’s gaze.
Both, hearing the sneeze, initially thought the other had made the noise. They soon realized it wasn’t either of them, and their thoughts began to drift in unison.
— Can fish sneeze? What would that look like?
— If a sand rat sneezed, its whiskers would probably flutter, and the flesh on its cheeks would jiggle too.
The very thought was amusing.
The sneeze came from a young military officer, whose hat was askew. A few soldiers followed him. They seemed to be looking for someone and just happened to pass by the foot of the hill.
“People from the capital are so fussy!” The young officer fanned himself with his hand, expressing his dissatisfaction.
“Captain, please be more cautious with your words. That’s a third-ranked official from the Ministry of Rites!” one of the soldiers cautioned.
The young officer kicked a stone in annoyance. “A third-ranked civil official is one thing; they’ve always been pedantic. But why on earth would a prince come to visit a clan temple? If that lad hadn’t come, I doubt even a fifth-ranked official would be here now. All this fuss… tsk, and now they can’t even locate the person. What was the delay in searching? Now I can’t even have a proper nap.”
This captain was rather loose-lipped, ranting and raving. The soldiers tried to interject, but they barely had a chance.
“… As you mentioned, he’s a prince! A single word from him, and we could lose our heads!”
“Rubbish!”
The captain bellowed, “We’ve been sent to guard the imperial tomb. What future are we expecting? Just waiting for death and eating our rations. If I lose my head, it’d be just a scar as big as a bowl. What’s there to fear?”
The soldier’s expression grew even more troubled, murmuring that while the captain might not care, they had families back in Qiong County to provide for. They couldn’t just throw their lives away on a whim.
As they gradually disappeared from sight, Mo Li remained deep in thought.
Was the eavesdropper the prince?
Lu Zhang’s son?
Mo Li came to the vicinity of the imperial tomb because the old master of Cangfeng Sect wanted to sever the Qi Dynasty’s dragon vein. He presumed there might be insiders stationed around the tomb. Since heading to Taijing was also in this direction, Mo Li thought he might as well explore this area on the way. It would be great if he could capture someone who knew the truth about the Li Emperor’s tomb, but if not, it didn’t matter.
But instead of catching a Daoist, he seemed to have encountered Lu Zhang’s son.
“How strange.” Meng Qi mused aloud.
“What’s the matter?” Mo Li inquired.
Meng Qi pondered, “He looks somewhat familiar.”
From that brief glimpse, they had only seen half of the young man’s face.
“Have you met him before?”
“Not him, but this familiarity… I might have seen a blood relative of his. I don’t have a particularly keen memory for faces.” Meng Qi chuckled as he noticed Mo Li’s expression, “Seems like it’s a common trait among our kind as mountain spirits.”
Mo Li casually mentioned, “Maybe you’ve seen Lu Zhang before.”
“I don’t remember such an event.” Meng Qi, rubbing his forehead in recollection, said, “It wasn’t as the State Teacher, but I have many strange memories, like ones you’d have in dreams, like overlooking the entire Taijing or drifting through streets…”
“It’s a way of using spiritual power. Sometimes you’ll experience that state. I can see most of the situation in a large part of a mountain,” Mo Li interjected.
Meng Qi’s eyes lit up.
Knowing what he was thinking, Mo Li added with a straight face, “… I can only do it in Zhu Shan County. I suspect you only have this ability when you’re in Taijing.”
“What a pity.” Meng Qi thought to himself. If he had this ability now, there would be no need to run around looking for clues.
In an instant, they could locate the people from Cangfeng Sect.
And that wandering prince? They could easily capture him and give him a scare, stopping him from eavesdropping on others!
Both Mo Li and Meng Qi were sharp-minded, and they hadn’t forgotten the oddities about the young prince.
While it might be strange for a prince to learn martial arts, it’s not impossible. There are some experts in the imperial court, and the prince’s mediocre skills might be due to his unwillingness to endure hardships or maybe he simply lacked the innate talent.
But — excelling at hiding? What kind of prince is this?
Moreover, why did he lose his composure upon hearing a certain sentence, making an unintended noise?
Meng Qi was a State Teacher, not an Imperial Scholar. He himself had little interest in the position of Imperial Scholar and didn’t believe his words were so enlightening that they would deeply resonate with the prince.
Losing composure upon hearing a particular statement meant that there was a clue hidden within that statement.
Being a subject to the emperor was no different than being a child to one’s parents… Meng Qi found this statement to be common knowledge, nothing profound. If others didn’t understand, how could the prince not? The young man didn’t seem foolish.
“Let’s go. While they’re looking for someone, let’s head towards the imperial mausoleum.” Mo Li held his breath as the scent of incense became even more potent.
Even if there really were dragons, they’d probably be suffocated by the smoke. How could they bring rain under these conditions?
Wait a moment—
Meng Qi thought, if he was the local mountain spirit capable of controlling the clouds and rain, he would probably send down a bolt of lightning in his annoyance to extinguish the incense. Could this be the real essence of the rain ritual?
Meng, the State Teacher, felt that he still lacked understanding of the origins of these folk traditions.
Maybe there really were dragons?
Meanwhile, at the front of the imperial mausoleum, the official from the Capital’s Ministry of Rites was extremely anxious. Even though the area was surrounded by stationed troops, if anything happened to the prince, he would be in big trouble.
“Has the Sixth Prince not been found yet?”
“There’s no need for Lord He to worry. Hasn’t the Sixth Prince learned martial arts? What could possibly go wrong in the vicinity of the Imperial Mausoleum?”
The speaker wasn’t wearing armor and had the pale complexion of someone recovering from a severe illness. He lazily spoke a few words, noticing Lord He glaring at him with such fury that his beard seemed to tremble. The speaker then gracefully bowed and said, “I came to the capital for a duty assignment and heard about the disappearance of the Sixth Prince. I came to help. If Lord He feels I’m not contributing enough, I’ll immediately head to the county town to search. Today is the Rain Prayer Festival, and the county is bustling. The Sixth Prince is young; he might have sneaked out to have some fun.”
Without waiting for Lord He’s response, he confidently left.
“Barbaric military man!” Lord He cursed.
“General Liu, by offending Lord He, you’ll have issues in the court…”
“Do you think this is the first time I’ve offended them?” Liu Dan dismissed with indifference. With hands clasped behind his back, he leisurely walked out of the mausoleum, then suddenly turned to stare intently at a row of stone sculptures near the mausoleum.
Mo Li: “…”
Meng Qi: “…”
Ah, it seems General Liu possesses an unusual sense of alertness, surpassing that of ordinary men.
Author’s note:
Liu Dan: My intuition tells me there’s danger ahead!
Liu Dan: Be alert! Retreat!
Eavesdropping discovered
Lu Zhang faced hardships in his youth but later rose rapidly to prominence.
He was ambitious, capable, and also encountered the best of times.
However, the downfall of the Chu Dynasty cannot be blamed on the Lu family.
Many things in the world are like this; they seem intricately intertwined, as if a moment’s decision could rewrite history. But in reality, it’s not the case. Without Lu Zhang, there would be another rebel.
The houses in the Lu family estate were neither old nor new. On the archway that faced the entrance, the inscriptions were still clear and legible.
The surname of the husband’s family and the maiden name of the wife combined to form a name that wasn’t really a name: Virtuous Wife, Lady Lu Zhang.
This archway was like the face of the Lu estate. There were no weeds around it, and no moss on it. It stood about ten feet tall and could be seen from a distance.
“There are many problems in the world. Even with great effort, it’s difficult to find solutions,” Meng Qi said with an inscrutable expression. He continued solemnly, “It’s like throwing a gourd into water. If you press down on one end, the other floats up. If you press down with both hands, it’s like forcibly suppressing it. While you might hold it down, the gourd still wants to break free from the force you’re applying. If there are orders from above, there’s a way to execute them below. Aren’t humans far more complex than a gourd?”
The Chu dynasty once issued a decree that if a married woman died and had no children, the husband’s family must return the remaining dowry.
The logic of this decree is sound. A woman’s dowry is her family’s hope that she will live well in her husband’s home. In major clans, the dowry includes everything, from clothing fabrics to bed curtains, combs, mirrors, jewelry, a full set of furniture, and even gold-lacquered toilets. Strictly speaking, these assets don’t belong to the husband’s family but to the children born from the woman.
Even in confiscation, there are distinctions: total confiscation and not touching the dowry of the womenfolk.
Historically, if the bride’s family was dominant and disapproved of the son-in-law, they might indeed claim back the dowry due to their daughter’s demise. However, since this isn’t codified in the legal texts, those who act on it would be criticized and ridiculed.
For ordinary families, things aren’t that complicated. The daughter’s family is unlikely to be powerful or influential, and naturally, they would be at a disadvantage.
Yet, the law intended to prevent the husband’s close relatives from killing the bride to take over her dowry was not implemented smoothly.
When the bride’s family demanded the dowry, the husband’s side would make excuses. Disputes over the original value of the dowry would arise, with both parties sticking to their claims. Many cases ended up in court.
Some even returned inferior substitutes for the dowry. A set of high-quality pear wood furniture might be valued as broken tables and worn-out chairs. They would brazenly argue that after a decade or so, things have deteriorated significantly.
Some men, idle and unproductive, had long spent their wives’ dowries.
Debates over how assets depreciated over the years, how much was used, and whether the use was reasonable could drag on endlessly.
While the law was well-intentioned, its implementation was met with widespread complaints, turning it into a source of grievances. Thus, the law was hardly enforced.
There were even numerous homicides as a result.
There were plenty of those who yelled that they had no money to repay, but if lives were demanded, they had one to spare.
The sneaky ones are one thing, but some widowers, with malice in their hearts, even took up knives and killed several members of their in-laws who demanded the dowry.
There was another case where the girl’s parents had died, and her elder brother was unable to repay his debts. His wife came up with an idea to murder the younger sister, who was married off without giving birth, in order to claim back the dowry.
For various reasons, the implementation of this law lasted less than a year before it was abruptly halted.
Mo Li listened and remained silent for a long time.
Mo Li had only ever wanted to be a Physician. He wasn’t even interested in becoming a renowned martial arts master. In Zhushan County, with its small population and simpler affairs, he never realized how challenging it was to be a competent official.
Passion alone is not enough to save a country or its people.
Even with immense talent, handling endless troubles can exhaust one’s spirit and energy.
Mo Li was worried that Meng Qi would get lost in the past and have another bout of illness. He wanted to offer words of comfort, but now wasn’t the time.
— Someone else was here.
This person was originally just passing by, but was drawn in by Meng Qi’s words and sneaked behind a tree.
Mo Li heard it, and naturally, so did Meng Qi, but he continued speaking at his own pace.
Meng Qi gave Mo Li a meaningful look, and the two left the Lu estate.
As they walked, Meng Qi said, “Take the Lu family clan, for instance. They’re not so poor that they can’t afford food. Some even had scholars and successful candidates in imperial exams. Don’t they understand propriety, righteousness, integrity, and honor? On the contrary, growing up in such an environment, they became accustomed to these behaviors and believed that’s how the world works — the roles of monarch to minister, father to son, husband to wife. Loyal subjects don’t serve two masters, and good women don’t marry twice. Dying out of loyalty to one’s deceased husband was considered commendable. Do you know what this implies?”
“They don’t believe that forcing a widow to her death is wrong,” Mo Li replied.
Because there was an outsider nearby, Mo Li did not call out Meng Qi’s name, just as Meng Qi refrained from referring to him as “Physician.”
“The Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues are seen by many as the foundation of our nation.”
Mo Li diverted a portion of his attention to the person sneakily tailing them.
The individual’s light-footed skills were mediocre at best, but they were nimble and slender in build.
This agility was distinct from the sneaky behavior of thieves like Li Kong’er. Instead, this person seemed accustomed to eavesdropping, maintaining a calm demeanor and excelling in concealment. Without hesitation, they could always find the perfect hiding spot.
Ordinary people tend to hide behind large trees or boulders, thinking those are safer.
But this person, just by gauging with their eyes, could pick the exact cover to conceal themselves. It might not be the largest object, but it was the most suitable. The chosen angle was perfect, too. From Mo Li and Meng Qi’s viewpoint, not even a glimpse of this person’s garment was visible.
If it weren’t for the acute hearing of a martial arts expert, he might have been easily fooled.
On a few occasions, Mo Li pretended to survey the surroundings and deliberately turned around, but the pursuer always hid in time.
“…”
What should they do with someone who doesn’t seem to harbor killing intent or explicit malice but just wants to eavesdrop?
Mo Li was ready to employ his swift-footed techniques to shake off this person, but seeing that Meng Qi seemed keen on probing further, he could only slow down, continuing to walk and converse with Meng Qi.
“Has the imperial court never restricted the power of clans?”
“The Chu dynasty did once, commanding local officials to stop clans from privately enforcing clan laws. Clans had no authority to execute criminals arbitrarily. If there were cases of individuals being drowned or beaten to death, they needed to be thoroughly investigated, with lighter cases resulting in fines and more severe cases leading to exile.”
After finishing, Meng Qi added, “Then the whole court debated it, and the entire nation opposed it.”
“Why?” Mo Li was somewhat puzzled. The measures only aimed to prevent wrongful executions, not abolish the clan system.
“… Because clans must have authority, just as a father has decision-making power over his children. They believed that the so-called foundation of the nation should be built upon this.”
Only by obeying parents at home would subjects obey the imperial power when serving the court.
The so-called governing the world with filial piety and the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues all boil down to this.
“They need authority, absolute, and unquestionable authority.”
“In that case, what’s the use of laws?”
Mo Li found this hard to grasp. In Zhushan County, the County Magistrate Xue always judged cases fairly. Every decision was well-reasoned, clarifying each point. Everyone accepted the decisions wholeheartedly.
It seems that even commoners who can’t read still understand the principles of justice.
“It’s because… the emperor himself doesn’t abide by the national laws. In a sudden fit of rage, he might order killings. The saying ‘The emperor’s anger leads to a million corpses’ isn’t this the very principle? Dynasties throughout history have never granted clans this power. This power has naturally formed and has been tacitly approved, unshakable by anyone. Hence, those who tried to stop it weren’t foolish; instead, my old friends and I were too naive.”
Meng Qi looked towards the distant imperial mausoleum and whispered, “I once thought Li Yuanze wasn’t that kind of person.”
His voice was so soft that only Mo Li beside him could hear.
— It’s challenging to conquer the world, but even more so to govern it.
During the conquest, Meng Qi never gave much thought to these matters.
When the Chu dynasty was governing, Meng Qi vaguely sensed some resistance. However, based on years of mutual trust and knowing that Emperor Chu was not capricious—having not even executed a single palace maid or eunuch in his many years of rule—he overlooked it.
“An emperor can ignore the law if he wishes, and a father can be unreasonable if he chooses. Being a subject or a child, there’s no difference.”
As Meng Qi was speaking, there was a faint sound from behind—a stone being stepped on.
It seemed like the eavesdropper was so startled that he lost control.
When Mo Li turned his head, he caught a glimpse of half the face of the listener.
— Surprisingly young, not even of age to wear the traditional scholar’s cap.
Judging by the clothes he wore, he seemed to come from a well-to-do family. Why would someone like him be near the imperial mausoleum?
The ten-mile vicinity of the imperial mausoleum was cordoned off by stationed troops, with the Lu estate conveniently situated within. Ordinary people weren’t allowed to approach, and it wasn’t easy for those from the Lu estate to leave.
The area had farmland, wells, a small hillside, and two sparse date tree groves.
It wasn’t a prison, but it might as well have been.
To sneak in unnoticed, one would probably need decent martial skills.
At that moment, there was a commotion in the distance, coming from the direction of the military camp. Mo Li couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he saw a group of soldiers scatter and search the area, as if looking for someone.
Mo Li gave Meng Qi a meaningful look. Meng Qi didn’t turn around, acting as if he was unaware of the person behind.
“Directly ahead is the imperial mausoleum. There are people around here; we should avoid them for now.”
As they spoke, they had already reached the farmlands of the Lu estate.
The Lu clan wasn’t praying for rain; they were farming.
After walking for a while, Mo Li noticed the noise behind them had stopped. He listened intently, ensuring that the person wasn’t following.
“Brother Meng, who do you think that person was?”
“He doesn’t seem like one of the Lu estate folks,” Meng Qi pondered.
Dressed nicely and looking healthy, he starkly contrasted with the emotionless Lu clan members in the fields, who were indifferent to the earlier commotion.
Mo Li speculated, “Could he be from the jianghu?”
“It doesn’t seem so either,” Meng Qi shook his head, “The topics we discussed earlier wouldn’t typically interest someone from the jianghu.”
Perhaps he’s an unusual figure from the jianghu? Mo Li thought but refrained from objecting because the young man’s light-footed techniques were quite poor, resembling those haphazardly learned. However, his attire suggested he might be a wealthy young master.
Meng Qi stopped on the hillside, looking at another village not far away. The residents had since relocated, leaving behind slightly dilapidated houses.
This estate was as large as the Lu estate, but it lacked the memorial archway at the front.
“Yongzhou is water-scarce. Between clans, every spring, they dig channels to divert water. Over water sources, two estates might fight fiercely, resulting in injuries. Hence, you rarely see villages with multiple surnames here; it’s mostly single-surname clan settlements.”
Survival is tough for those who leave their clans to make a living from the land.
With limited water sources, how could an individual compete?
The clan system couldn’t and shouldn’t be abolished.
“In this world, not all clans would force a widow to her death over a memorial arch. Many people can’t survive without their clan. Even someone with a temperament like Deng, the scholar, eventually tolerated the metaphorical ‘grit in his eye.’ Back then, we hoped that if every household became prosperous, societal norms might change. However, fate hasn’t been kind.”
Where can one expect favorable weather every year?
The water scarcity in Yongzhou is an age-old issue, not something that can be solved just by having a peaceful era.
People of Lu estate don’t have to worry about food and drink. But this lack of worry requires annual farming. If the crops fail, how long can the stored grain last? How long can the savings sustain? They would just be depleting their reserves. Hence, the struggle to secure water is paramount.
Mo Li suddenly recalled something Meng Qi had once said and remarked, “If one day, the produce from one family’s land can support three, ten, or even more households, and the common people have other means of livelihood beyond farming, then the conflicts over water during spring planting will significantly reduce. People won’t need clans, and the influence of clans will naturally wane.”
Meng Qi responded with a broad smile, “Physician, you truly are my kindred spirit.”
“In this vast world, there are many talented individuals. If one wishes to find a kindred spirit, they won’t be lacking,” Mo Li replied, not particularly elated. He reminded, “Back in the day, you encountered many good friends. Today, you can still find them.”
“But none of them are you.”
“… The main difference between them and me might just be that I won’t leave you behind and die first,” Mo Li, having said that, immediately regretted it. He was too blunt.
Qi Mao Mountain and Shang Yun Mountain, these two ‘dragon veins,’ reincarnated one after the other. Before their encounter, Mo Li had a good mentor, and Meng Qi had beneficial friends. It wasn’t clear who envied whom more, but there’s always a certain sentiment towards what one doesn’t have.
Meng Qi tilted his head, observing Mo Li, as if trying to gauge how much the Physician cared for him.
However, to his disappointment, it seemed that Mo Li had only grown accustomed to his presence and acknowledged his irreplaceability, but it wasn’t the kind of bond Meng Qi hoped for.
For instance, Mo Li might be willing to take him back to Zhushan County to meet Qin Lu and Xue Ting and others. But this wasn’t much different from the mutual introductions between close friends. It’s just a display of familial closeness.
Meeting each other’s family and friends only proves the depth of their relationship.
Moreover, currently, only Mo Li had these ties, while Meng Qi was all alone.
“I apologize; I shouldn’t have brought that up,” Mo Li realized he touched upon a sensitive topic they weren’t ready to address.
Just then, the wind direction shifted, and a strong scent of sandalwood wafted over.
Mo Li’s nose twitched, and he couldn’t help but ask, “Who’s praying for rain now?”
The scent was so strong; were they burning the incense like firewood?
Mentioning the rain ritual made Meng Qi somewhat uneasy.
He believed that the mountain spirits were what people commonly referred to as the ‘dragon veins.’ However, not all dragons are the same; he resided in the mountains, while the Dragon King lived in the seas. The mountain spirits had no authority over cloud formation and rainfall.
There wasn’t a Dragon King of the Four Seas in the world!
Such grand rituals, burning mountains of incense, were ineffective and only choked the people.
“Achoo!”
Meng Qi turned his head upon hearing the sound, only to meet Mo Li’s gaze.
Both, hearing the sneeze, initially thought the other had made the noise. They soon realized it wasn’t either of them, and their thoughts began to drift in unison.
— Can fish sneeze? What would that look like?
— If a sand rat sneezed, its whiskers would probably flutter, and the flesh on its cheeks would jiggle too.
The very thought was amusing.
The sneeze came from a young military officer, whose hat was askew. A few soldiers followed him. They seemed to be looking for someone and just happened to pass by the foot of the hill.
“People from the capital are so fussy!” The young officer fanned himself with his hand, expressing his dissatisfaction.
“Captain, please be more cautious with your words. That’s a third-ranked official from the Ministry of Rites!” one of the soldiers cautioned.
The young officer kicked a stone in annoyance. “A third-ranked civil official is one thing; they’ve always been pedantic. But why on earth would a prince come to visit a clan temple? If that lad hadn’t come, I doubt even a fifth-ranked official would be here now. All this fuss… tsk, and now they can’t even locate the person. What was the delay in searching? Now I can’t even have a proper nap.”
This captain was rather loose-lipped, ranting and raving. The soldiers tried to interject, but they barely had a chance.
“… As you mentioned, he’s a prince! A single word from him, and we could lose our heads!”
“Rubbish!”
The captain bellowed, “We’ve been sent to guard the imperial tomb. What future are we expecting? Just waiting for death and eating our rations. If I lose my head, it’d be just a scar as big as a bowl. What’s there to fear?”
The soldier’s expression grew even more troubled, murmuring that while the captain might not care, they had families back in Qiong County to provide for. They couldn’t just throw their lives away on a whim.
As they gradually disappeared from sight, Mo Li remained deep in thought.
Was the eavesdropper the prince?
Lu Zhang’s son?
Mo Li came to the vicinity of the imperial tomb because the old master of Cangfeng Sect wanted to sever the Qi Dynasty’s dragon vein. He presumed there might be insiders stationed around the tomb. Since heading to Taijing was also in this direction, Mo Li thought he might as well explore this area on the way. It would be great if he could capture someone who knew the truth about the Li Emperor’s tomb, but if not, it didn’t matter.
But instead of catching a Daoist, he seemed to have encountered Lu Zhang’s son.
“How strange.” Meng Qi mused aloud.
“What’s the matter?” Mo Li inquired.
Meng Qi pondered, “He looks somewhat familiar.”
From that brief glimpse, they had only seen half of the young man’s face.
“Have you met him before?”
“Not him, but this familiarity… I might have seen a blood relative of his. I don’t have a particularly keen memory for faces.” Meng Qi chuckled as he noticed Mo Li’s expression, “Seems like it’s a common trait among our kind as mountain spirits.”
Mo Li casually mentioned, “Maybe you’ve seen Lu Zhang before.”
“I don’t remember such an event.” Meng Qi, rubbing his forehead in recollection, said, “It wasn’t as the State Teacher, but I have many strange memories, like ones you’d have in dreams, like overlooking the entire Taijing or drifting through streets…”
“It’s a way of using spiritual power. Sometimes you’ll experience that state. I can see most of the situation in a large part of a mountain,” Mo Li interjected.
Meng Qi’s eyes lit up.
Knowing what he was thinking, Mo Li added with a straight face, “… I can only do it in Zhu Shan County. I suspect you only have this ability when you’re in Taijing.”
“What a pity.” Meng Qi thought to himself. If he had this ability now, there would be no need to run around looking for clues.
In an instant, they could locate the people from Cangfeng Sect.
And that wandering prince? They could easily capture him and give him a scare, stopping him from eavesdropping on others!
Both Mo Li and Meng Qi were sharp-minded, and they hadn’t forgotten the oddities about the young prince.
While it might be strange for a prince to learn martial arts, it’s not impossible. There are some experts in the imperial court, and the prince’s mediocre skills might be due to his unwillingness to endure hardships or maybe he simply lacked the innate talent.
But — excelling at hiding? What kind of prince is this?
Moreover, why did he lose his composure upon hearing a certain sentence, making an unintended noise?
Meng Qi was a State Teacher, not an Imperial Scholar. He himself had little interest in the position of Imperial Scholar and didn’t believe his words were so enlightening that they would deeply resonate with the prince.
Losing composure upon hearing a particular statement meant that there was a clue hidden within that statement.
Being a subject to the emperor was no different than being a child to one’s parents… Meng Qi found this statement to be common knowledge, nothing profound. If others didn’t understand, how could the prince not? The young man didn’t seem foolish.
“Let’s go. While they’re looking for someone, let’s head towards the imperial mausoleum.” Mo Li held his breath as the scent of incense became even more potent.
Even if there really were dragons, they’d probably be suffocated by the smoke. How could they bring rain under these conditions?
Wait a moment—
Meng Qi thought, if he was the local mountain spirit capable of controlling the clouds and rain, he would probably send down a bolt of lightning in his annoyance to extinguish the incense. Could this be the real essence of the rain ritual?
Meng, the State Teacher, felt that he still lacked understanding of the origins of these folk traditions.
Maybe there really were dragons?
Meanwhile, at the front of the imperial mausoleum, the official from the Capital’s Ministry of Rites was extremely anxious. Even though the area was surrounded by stationed troops, if anything happened to the prince, he would be in big trouble.
“Has the Sixth Prince not been found yet?”
“There’s no need for Lord He to worry. Hasn’t the Sixth Prince learned martial arts? What could possibly go wrong in the vicinity of the Imperial Mausoleum?”
The speaker wasn’t wearing armor and had the pale complexion of someone recovering from a severe illness. He lazily spoke a few words, noticing Lord He glaring at him with such fury that his beard seemed to tremble. The speaker then gracefully bowed and said, “I came to the capital for a duty assignment and heard about the disappearance of the Sixth Prince. I came to help. If Lord He feels I’m not contributing enough, I’ll immediately head to the county town to search. Today is the Rain Prayer Festival, and the county is bustling. The Sixth Prince is young; he might have sneaked out to have some fun.”
Without waiting for Lord He’s response, he confidently left.
“Barbaric military man!” Lord He cursed.
“General Liu, by offending Lord He, you’ll have issues in the court…”
“Do you think this is the first time I’ve offended them?” Liu Dan dismissed with indifference. With hands clasped behind his back, he leisurely walked out of the mausoleum, then suddenly turned to stare intently at a row of stone sculptures near the mausoleum.
Mo Li: “…”
Meng Qi: “…”
Ah, it seems General Liu possesses an unusual sense of alertness, surpassing that of ordinary men.
Author’s note:
Liu Dan: My intuition tells me there’s danger ahead!
Liu Dan: Be alert! Retreat!
