Chapter 147: The Secret Mistress

Zhang Yue could not help but feel some doubt regarding the other man's identity. If he were truly that senior leader of the Old Party from history, he would have already entered official service by now, yet his servant addressed him merely as a scholar.

If not for the signature "Sima Twelve," which seemed to match the man's historical birth order, Zhang Yue could not see him as an official in the slightest. He possessed no air of officialdom whatsoever, carrying instead the impractical pedantry typical of a scholar.

Still, Zhang Yue could not resist asking, "Is the elder an official?"

Sima Twelve and the merchant both burst into laughter. The man smiled and said, "Third Young Master, why do you ask?"

Even the merchant on the side chuckled, "I have known Master Sima for many years, and I have never known him to be an official."

Zhang Yue thought to himself: *That cannot be right. Since he is Sima Twelve and also called Junshi, how could he not be?*

Noticing Zhang Yue's hesitation, the servant interjected, "Third Young Master has misunderstood. My master, Scholar Junshi, has never held official office."

Seeing the honest and artless expression on the servant's face, which did not look like that of a liar, Zhang Yue wondered if he had made a mistake.

Zhang Yue mused that while it was possible the man might conceal his identity from the merchant and himself, there was no need to hide it from his own servant. Furthermore, the man was famously known in history for his absolute sincerity; he had a famous maxim: "Let supreme sincerity be the guide, and trustworthiness the foundation." He surely would not deceive him.

However, Zhang Yue had no intention of probing further into the man's identity. Taking the money and walking away was the paramount principle; there was no reason to refuse payment just because the customer happened to be so-and-so.

Otherwise, how would he afford brushes and ink? Would he still be able to go to the Shaozhu Courtyard to feast and indulge later? Being in Bianjing was unlike being at home; money was needed everywhere. Even if the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty himself came to buy his seal, he would still have to pay! The fact that he had not asked for an extra charge earlier was already showing him immense courtesy.

"I see. It was an idle question on my part."

The man also smiled ruefully, saying, "There is no such thing as an official who cannot afford silk garments. This old man is indeed just a commoner."

Zhang Yue asked Sima Twelve, "My carving technique with the knife is not as skillful as that of a professional seal-cutter. May I ask why the elder looks upon it with such favor?"

Sima Twelve replied, "Although Third Young Master's carving is not as refined as a craftsman's, it is precisely because you lack rigid training and carve according to your own intent that your work is entirely free of any vulgar craftsmanship. The seals carved by artisans may be straight and neat, but they lack scholar's spirit. Third Young Master's carving style is rustic yet elegantly archaic, possessing much of the divine charm of Han dynasty seals. Its essence lies not in form, but in the seal script held within the heart and the cultivation derived from poetry and books. Just now, watching your seal script, I knew from this alone that among the younger generation of our time, not a single one can surpass you."

At this, Sima Twelve seemed somewhat self-reproachful. "For me to speak thus sounds as though I am merely trying to secure your seal-cutting service with lavish praise and honeyed words. Third Young Master, please do not take it to heart; just pretend I never said these things."

Zhang Yue nodded. This man could certainly be described by the word "sincere."

The man's theory bore some resemblance to Dong Qichang's theory of the Northern and Southern Schools in painting, which distinguished literati painting from artisan painting, arguing that inferior technique was outweighed by superior artistic conception. Could it be that seal carving also had such a distinction?

"Just now, I noticed that Third Young Master's seal script differs from your carving on stone, as if the two have yet to merge completely," Sima Twelve suddenly observed.

Zhang Yue replied, "Indeed. The elder possesses a discerning eye. My seal script is seal script, and my seal carving is seal carving; it is difficult to make them entirely as one. I only hope that one day, through familiarity, skill will naturally arise, and then my seal carving will achieve maturity."

"Familiarity breeds skill," Sima Twelve stroked his beard, savoring the phrase for a moment before asking, "This expression is quite novel. Where does it originate?"

Realizing that this phrase might not have been coined yet in this era, Zhang Yue fabricated an origin: "It probably comes from Ouyang Gong's *The Oil Vendor*, derived from the idea that 'through sheer familiarity of hand, it becomes natural'?"

Hearing this, Sima Twelve showed a pleased expression and said, "So that is it. He who applies himself greatly reaps distant rewards, thus deserving to be called 'familiarity breeds skill.' Truly a wonderful phrase!"

With that, Sima Twelve picked up a brush and casually jotted it down in a small notebook he carried with him.

Zhang Yue asked curiously, "The elder is already past the age of forty, yet you are as fond of learning as this!"

Sima Twelve tucked the notebook containing the note securely against his chest and said, "In my old age, I read slowly and my memory is poor. Diligence is my only way to make up for my clumsiness. That reminds me, judging by Third Young Master's accent, are you a man from Wu?"

Zhang Yue answered, "I am a native of Pucheng, but my local accent does sound somewhat like Wu and Yue, so others frequently mistake me for a man from Wu."

"Third Young Master is a Min man, then." Sima Twelve nodded.

Observing Sima Twelve's expression, Zhang Yue asked, "Elder Twelve, what do you think of Min men?"

The man hesitated slightly before saying, "I dare not conceal this from you. The Min men I have known in my life seem frequently to be cunning and treacherous. I speak the plain truth; I would say the same to anyone else."

Hearing this, Zhang Yue felt a pang of displeasure. This man appeared gentle, refined, and possessed of the utmost self-cultivation, yet he turned out to be, damn it, someone prejudiced against regional origins?

He utterly despised regional prejudice, especially when it was directed against his own homeland.

Zhang Yue said indifferently, "Elder Twelve, please take your leave. The seal will be delivered in three days. I require a deposit of three strings of cash first!"

"You are being unreasonable—" the servant started to protest, but Sima Twelve stopped him.

Sima Twelve said, "Very well. Bring the money."

The servant took out the coins from his purse, pooled them together, and said, "Scholar Junshi, it is still a bit short!"

The merchant laughed, "Short is short. Master Sima is our regular customer; surely you can trust him?"

Zhang Yue calmly replied, "Sima Twelve and I are meeting for the first time. If after three days the seal is not ready, do not blame me."

The merchant pleaded, "Third Young Master, please show some flexibility."

The servant grumbled, "Just forget it, Scholar Junshi. It's just a seal; we simply won't buy it. Such a young boy, yet he has no tolerance for others at all."

Sima Twelve commanded, "Do not be rude. Third Young Master's action is entirely reasonable and fair. I am presenting this seal to a close relative who happens to be fond of such antique stone artifacts and is leaving the capital in a few days. That is why I set a three-day deadline."

"May I trouble Third Young Master to wait here a moment? My home is very close by; I will simply go back and fetch the remaining money. If you still refuse, I will no longer press the matter."

Zhang Yue had no intention of making things difficult in the first place. Driving away a major customer would only incur the wrath of the shop's merchant; he had merely been venting his resentment over regional prejudice.

Therefore, Zhang Yue said, "Very well. I will accept the silver and cash for now; just come back to collect the seal in three days."

Sima Twelve said, "Thank you, Third Young Master."

With that, Zhang Yue collected the money, raised his hands in a polite salute, and took his leave.

Stepping out of the shop, Zhang Yue wandered around the Zisheng Gate for a while, purchasing a valuable ancient book, some gifts for paying respects to a master, and the brushes and ink he had bought earlier. He bundled everything up neatly and headed for Chen Xiang's residence.

***

Chen Xiang was currently a Doctor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices (Taichang Boshi), a Collator in the Secret Pavilion (Mige Xiali), and concurrently in charge of the Bureau of Sacrifices under the Ministry of Rites (Pan Shangshu Cibushi).

The Doctor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices was a titular post for salary purposes, ranking as the thirtieth grade for civil officials who passed the imperial examinations—two grades higher than Zhang Heng, who had been appointed to the Directorate of Palace Buildings upon first placing as the top scholar (Zhuangyuan).

The post of Collator in the Secret Pavilion was an honorary attached title, which represented high literary selection. Among such titles, Palace Academicians were the most prestigious; for instance, Academicians of the Guanyuan Pavilion were reserved exclusively for Chief Councillors. The second tier consisted of Academicians of various other pavilions. The third tier comprised attached titles to the Three Institutes and the Secret Pavilion, of which the Collator was the lowest, coming with a monthly stipend of ten strings of cash.

However, holding such an attached title allowed an official to bypass regular grades when receiving promotions. For instance, Chen Xiang's current salary rank was Doctor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; based on his examination background, a normal single-step promotion would make him a Vice Director of the Bureau of Colonization. But because he held a pavilion title, he could be promoted directly to Vice Director of the Bureau of Sacrifices. If an official suffered disciplinary punishment, he might be demoted to Vice Director of the Bureau of Waterways—which generally marked the end of an official career. As for those entering through irregular routes (non-examination paths), they were restricted to posts like Vice Director of the Bureau of Provisions, while those entering through imperial privilege (Yin privilege) entered the Bureau of Equines, both advancing far slower than officials who passed the imperial examinations.

Finally, there was his executive duty assignment: being in charge of the Bureau of Sacrifices. While the Bureau of Sacrifices had Directors and Vice Directors, these were merely titular salary ranks, and the holders did not actually work there. Instead, the affairs of the bureau were managed by Chen Xiang in his capacity as Doctor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. This fully demonstrated how absurdly convoluted the official titles of the Song Dynasty could be.

Managing the Bureau of Sacrifices was a leisurely post. In peacetime, its duties included overseeing ancestral rituals, painting calendars, granting holiday decrees, maintaining the registry of Buddhist monks, Taoist priests, and Daoist nuns from various prefectures, and issuing tonsure and ordination certificates. Historically, when Su Shi served as a Doctor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, his executive duty was stationed in the capital as an official supervisor of the Official Edicts Court while concurrently handling the affairs of the Bureau of Sacrifices.

Zhang Yue carried his gifts and arrived at Chen Xiang's residence.

For capital officials of Chen Xiang's rank, although they received a monthly ten-string housing stipend, it was a mere drop in the bucket compared to Bianjing's housing prices and cost of living. Consequently, Chen Xiang lived in "public rental housing."

Public housing was uniformly managed by the Bureau of Palaces and Quarters (Dianzhai Wu). A residence like Chen Xiang's cost a mere three to five hundred cash a month. Whenever the house needed repairs, the maintenance command of the bureau would send men to fix it, and a collection officer would visit monthly to gather the rent. Renting a private residence of comparable size would have cost at least five or six times as much.

Such public housing was a system established by the Song Dynasty emperors to provide comfortable living for the "migrant workers" coming to Bianjing. If one could not even afford public housing managed by the Bureau of Palaces and Quarters, do not worry—there was the Futian Institution, which charged not a single cash and was dedicated to housing orphaned elderly and children. By the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song, such social relief systems were further expanded and gradually popularized in prefectures and counties alike.

Zhang Yue knocked on the door and entered.

The Chen residence was extremely compact: a small courtyard upon entry, followed by a reception hall, and three rooms behind that.

When Zhang Yue arrived with his gifts, Chen Xiang and his family were eating dinner in the reception hall.

Chen Xiang put down his bowl to receive Zhang Yue. After exchanging formal greetings, Zhang Yue presented Ouyang Xiu's letter along with his gifts. Chen Xiang looked Zhang Yue up and down, nodded, and asked, "I am ashamed; my family eats dinner rather early. Sit down and share some with us."

Seeing that the dishes were extremely simple—no more than three dishes and a soup—and that the meal was nearly half over, Zhang Yue declined, "Student has already eaten some refreshments."

Chen Xiang smiled and said, "Sit down. Do not stand on ceremony."

With that, he instructed an elderly servant to dish out a bowl of rice for Zhang Yue. Zhang Yue took the bowl and sat at the table.

Seeing the modest dishes, Zhang Yue simply focused on shoveling rice into his mouth.

Noticing this, Chen Xiang picked up a fish head, placed it in Zhang Yue's bowl, and asked, "When you came to the residence previously, why did you leave immediately after delivering the letter?"

Zhang Yue replied, "Master Guling's administrative duties are heavy; student did not dare to disturb him for long."

Chen Xiang said, "I served as an official in Pucheng for several years, and we are both Min men. You truly should not be so overly polite with me."

"Yes, Master. I heard Master Hu of the county school say that Master Guling once wrote to inquire about my studies?"

"That is true," Chen Xiang acknowledged.

Zhang Yue said nothing further and continued to use his chopsticks, hungrily shoveling down mouthfuls of rice.

Observing this, Chen Xiang thought to himself: *This boy is indeed a sincere fellow.*

Once Zhang Yue finished his rice, he ladled a bowl of clear soup and poured it directly into the remaining rice in his bowl, devouring every single grain until not a speck was left.

Seeing this, Chen Xiang nodded and said, "Now, let me test your studies."

After asking a series of questions, Chen Xiang remarked, "Your foundation in the Confucian classics is very solid. Since you wish to study poetry and prose under my guidance, I will share my insights with you."

Zhang Yue immediately adopted an attentive posture, listening with rapt attention.

"When I first began studying poetry, I only sought to craft elaborate language and ornate diction. It was not until middle age that I gained a slight awakening, gradually glimpsing grander horizons and producing a few satisfactory verses."

"The poetry of Li Taibai and Du Gongbu is like the wall of the Master—several fathoms high; one cannot find the gate to enter, and can only gaze at it from afar without being able to reach it. The poetry of Bai Letian and Yuan Zhen, on the other hand, allows one to peer in from the doorway."

"Poetry is one of the Six Arts and must not be treated as child's play. Therefore, if you wish to learn poetry, you must first thoroughly memorize the poetic works of the Wei, Jin, Han, and Tang dynasties, reciting them one by one until they are second nature. Yet, even if you memorize them to perfection, you still cannot reach the heels of the ancients."

At this point, Chen Xiang pointed to a few collections of poetry and said, "You have already read the works of Tang poets. These few volumes were written by modern authors; although they are inferior to the Tang masters, they are not without a few fine pieces. Once you have memorized them thoroughly, come back here on the first day of next month, and I will teach you how to write poetry."

Zhang Yue accepted the books, stood up, and said, "Thank you, Master."

Chen Xiang instructed, "Take these gifts back with you. I have no need for such things here."

Zhang Yue protested, "How can I do that? Even the sages taught that disciples must offer a formal tuition gift; this is the proper etiquette of a disciple."

After some polite declines, Chen Xiang only accepted the formal apprenticeship gift while making Zhang Yue take back the ancient books, brushes, and ink.

***

Chen Xiang smiled and said, "My hall here is barely large enough to turn a horse in, and my meals consist of no more than seasonal greens. Does Third Young Master perhaps think that I, a sixth-rank official, am rather shabby?"

Zhang Yue replied, "Master is this diligent and frugal; how could there be any talk of being shabby?"

Chen Xiang said, "My ancestors lived for generations in Guling, later moving to Taxian. Like you, I was orphaned at a young age, and my ability to pass the imperial examinations and become an official relied entirely upon the elders of my clan and my elder brother, who raised and cared for me, skimping on food and clothing to support my studies. Only because of them do I have today."

"Now that I am an official, I send the greater part of my salary back home to support my elder brother and clan elders. As for what I use daily, it is enough just to cover food and clothing. Therefore, it is not that I am deliberately frugal; I am merely repaying a debt of gratitude."

Zhang Yue said, "A drop of water received in need should be repaid with a gushing spring, let alone the grace of upbringing. I truly envy Master for having such clan members and an elder brother."

Chen Xiang looked at Zhang Yue and chanted:

*"The two youths board the boat,*
*Drifting, drifting away on the current.*
*Yearning, I think of you, my sons,*
*My heart is filled with anxiety.*

*The two youths board the boat,*
*Drifting, drifting away they depart.*
*Yearning, I think of you, my sons,*
*May no harm befall you."*

Chen Xiang's recitation came from the *Classic of Poetry*, specifically the poem *The Two Youths Board the Boat*, which describes the scene of family members bidding a sorrowful farewell as two brothers depart by boat.

Hearing Chen Xiang chant these lines, Zhang Yue could not help but recall the scene of his own elder brother seeing him off at Xianxia Ridge years ago.

"When I took leave of my hometown to travel to the capital for the imperial examinations, I journeyed upstream along the Min River. At that time, the elders of my clan saw me off at the riverbank. That scene is something I shall never forget for the rest of my life."

Chen Xiang's eyes grew somewhat moist, as if reminiscing about the past.

Zhang Yue said, "Thank you, Master. Aside from my elder brother and sister-in-law, Third Young Master has no one else to repay at home. Hearing Master recall this touches me deeply."

Chen Xiang told Zhang Yue, "Very well. To return to the subject of poetry and prose, there is a distinction between the gentleman and the petty man. The poetry and prose of the petty man are mere carving of insects and molding of clay—crafting flowery phrases and ornate sentences merely to please people's eyes and ears. Worse still, some use factional deceit and false ornamentation to harm the good. One who has the gift of speech does not necessarily possess virtue, and because of this, worldly ways have degenerated and human hearts have lost their ancient purity."

"However, the poetry and prose of the gentleman are rooted in real accomplishments and upright conduct that shine in their time; their literary output is merely a natural overflow. Therefore, the poetry of emperors and generals since antiquity was not written with the intent of making literature, yet it naturally excelled. Even so, if a gentleman lacks genuine conduct, he must still place virtue first when writing, using literature merely to supplement it, only giving expression when moved by genuine feeling."

Zhang Yue understood that while Chen Xiang was ostensibly discussing poetry and prose, he was simultaneously imparting life lessons to him.

He bowed deeply and said, "Every word Master speaks is like gold and jade; student has memorized them all."

With that, Zhang Yue took his leave and departed.

Chen Xiang's elderly servant held a lantern and escorted Zhang Yue to the door. By then, the sky had grown dark. Zhang Yue turned back to bow once more toward the main hall before stepping out and leaving Chen Xiang's residence.

Zhang Yue had originally expected Chen Xiang to mention Zhang Dun during their meeting, but to his surprise, the man did not say a single word about him. Still, both Sima Twelve and Chen Xiang, whom he had met today, had left a deep impression on him.

Upon returning to the Imperial Academy, before even entering his dormitory, he saw Huang Haoyi pacing back and forth outside the door. The moment Huang Haoyi spotted Zhang Yue, he hurried forward and pleaded, "Third Young Master, no matter what, you must help me!"

Zhang Yue frowned and asked, "What is the matter again?"

Normally, Huang Haoyi never stayed overnight at the Imperial Academy on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. Why was he here today? This matter was bound to be significant.

Seeing that Huang Haoyi looked as though he were about to burst into tears, Zhang Yue asked, "Are you going to borrow money from me again?"

Huang Haoyi was startled, then stammered, "Third Young Master, you already knew?"

Zhang Yue thought to himself: *Did that even need asking?*

Normally, Huang Haoyi frequently borrowed a string or two of cash from him. Though he borrowed money, he had one redeeming quality: he always repaid his debts and never defaulted. However, borrowing with such frequency gave Zhang Yue a terrible headache. *Why are you always so short of money?*

Zhang Yue asked, "How much are you borrowing this time?"

Having accumulated a net worth of over ten strings of cash through his recent seal-cutting and the gifts from Ouyang Xiu and his son, Zhang Yue felt somewhat secure.

"Third Young Master, could you lend me twenty strings of cash first?"

"Twenty strings?" Zhang Yue exclaimed. "Where would I have that kind of money? Tell me what is going on first."

Huang Haoyi explained, "Third Young Master, it is like this. My family has arranged a marriage for me here in the capital..."

Zhang Yue thought: *Oh? So his marriage has been settled already.*

"Whose family is the bride from?" A trace of jealousy briefly flickered in Zhang Yue's heart.

Huang Haoyi replied, "She is the daughter of Vice Minister Liu of the Directorate of Waterways."

Zhang Yue praised, "Splendid, Fourth Young Master! That is truly a fine match!"

Huang Haoyi said with embarrassment, "Their family holds an inherited Yin privilege; they live on government stipends and hold no active executive post, so there is nothing much to congratulate. It can hardly be considered marrying above our station, nor is it marrying below."

Zhang Yue knew that due to severe bureaucratic bloat in the Song Dynasty, a vast number of officials were assigned no actual duties. These officials also lived in the capital, reporting to the imperial city on routine days or simply taking extended leaves, since the court gave them no official duties and did not hold it against them.

Even so, for a student like Huang Haoyi to form a marital alliance with an official's family was quite a decent match, far better in the eyes of most scholars than marrying into a merchant family.

"You mean it is an evenly matched match? For someone like you, this is already like burning incense to thank the heavens."

Scolded by Zhang Yue a few times, Huang Haoyi merely smiled awkwardly.

"Then why do you need to borrow money? Is the bridal gift insufficient?"

Zhang Yue knew that the Song Dynasty was plagued by an extreme culture of marital competition. As the saying went: "When seeking a bride, first ask about the thickness of her dowry; when marrying off a daughter, first ask about the amount of the bride price."

Exorbitant bride prices were the bane of everyone everywhere. If it genuinely was a matter of bride price, Zhang Yue, considering their friendship as fellow townsmen and classmates, would inevitably have had to chip in a modest sum—much like any other classmate in the dormitory, it was just a matter of contributing more or less.

With a look of utter dejection, Huang Haoyi said, "That is not it. My elder brother and sister-in-law have already prepared the bride price. It's just that... my affair with keeping a concubine outside has come to the knowledge of the bride's family."

Hearing this, Zhang Yue felt a deep sense of exasperation. He burst into angry reprimand, "Fourth Young Master! I told you long ago that keeping a woman outside before taking a wife is something that ruins one's reputation. You kept nodding and saying 'understood, understood,' and now the scandal has broken out? Deal with this yourself; I am powerless to help you."