Chapter 35: Lord Dou's Visit
Li Residence.
Beneath the snow-laden pavilion, Li Jingjie stood with his hands behind his back, strolling slowly and quietly, listening to the recitations of ancient texts from the young disciples and children of the household nearby.
His gaze lingered on the eldest, Fu Zhi, but Li Jingjie harbored no resentment. After several days of acquaintance, Fu Zhi’s honest and obedient nature had earned him much satisfaction.
Suddenly, he saw a servant hastily approaching, announcing the arrival of Sun Yanchen, Dai Yanming, and Yan Hanfei.
“Let them come in.”
Upon hearing the servant's words, Li Jingjie’s brow furrowed slightly, though he did not refuse.
Soon, guided by the servant, three youths, seventeen or eighteen years old, entered the inner courtyard.
“Teacher!”
“Teacher!”
“Teacher!”
Sun Yanchen, Dai Yanming, and Yan Hanfei stood before Li Jingjie, raising their hands in respectful greeting.
Li Jingjie nodded, noticing each of their glances, furtive yet unmistakable, directed toward his daughter. A trace of displeasure welled within him.
It was easy to guess: certainly, disciples of Xu Huaichuan must have informed these three of the Fu family’s visit and the engagement matter, prompting their visit to the Li Residence today.
Li Jingjie understood well the intentions of Sun Yanchen, Dai Yanming, and Yan Hanfei.
“Is there something you wish to discuss today?”
He feigned ignorance and asked.
“We have doubts, so we have come to seek enlightenment from you, teacher…”
Sun Yanchen glanced at the beauty seated quietly behind the wooden table, then exchanged looks with Dai Yanming and Yan Hanfei, stepped forward, and spoke respectfully.
Li Jingjie nodded upon hearing this, signaling Sun Yanchen to continue.
“Zhaotian! Look, your favorite Brother Dai is here!”
Li Anjing, Li Anren, and several youths from Xu Huaichuan’s group, seeing the three senior brothers arrive, couldn’t resist teasing Li Zhaotian quietly.
Li Zhaotian shot them an annoyed glare, turned her head angrily, and focused on the bamboo slips in front of her.
But soon, she couldn’t help but sneak a glance at the refined and gentle Dai Yanming. In her eyes, for all these years, among the senior brothers, only Brother Dai was truly gentle. In terms of appearance…
Perhaps only that foolish Sixth Brother-in-law could compare…
Yet, thinking about Brother Dai’s father being the assistant magistrate of Zhangnan County—a background far superior to that of the refugee Sixth Brother-in-law who came to Ti County—Li Zhaotian felt a surge of pride, her face beaming with happiness.
That foolish Sixth Brother-in-law could not compare to Brother Dai in any way.
Li Zhaotian had often fantasized: how wonderful it would be if she could marry Brother Dai when she grew up!
Though Brother Dai was slightly less talented than Brother Sun and not as proficient in swordsmanship as Brother Yan, she simply adored the handsome and gentle Brother Dai.
“What has happened?”
Seeing the servants hurrying by again and hearing her father’s inquiry, Li Zhaotian snapped back to reality.
“Second Master, outside the residence, Lord Dou and a disciple of the Cui clan of Boling have requested to see the Old Madam.”
The servant reported to Li Jingjie.
“Lord Dou! The Cui clan!”
Hearing this, Li Jingjie was astonished.
At present in Ti County, mention Lord Dou, and everyone knows it is Dou Jiande; none find it strange. In the region of Ti County, Zhangnan, and Gaojibo, Dou Jiande’s reputation is unparalleled. Not only are there countless wandering knights, but even the Gao clan of Bohai, many have pledged their allegiance.
Among them, Gao Yaxian was Dou Jiande’s confidant; his father, uncles, and cousins all assisted Dou Jiande overtly and covertly.
Li Jingjie had even heard that not long ago, Gao Shida went to the Gao clan specifically because of this matter.
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“And the Cui clan—why would a disciple of the Cui clan arrive at the Li Residence today? And together with Dou Jiande!”
With these doubts, Li Jingjie instructed the servant to lead them to the main hall.
As the servant departed, Li Jingjie turned and, by chance, noticed Fu Zhi. He suddenly recalled that a few days ago, Uncle Fu had mentioned something to his mother.
He said that someone named Cao Zhan and someone named Cui Luxing had sought out the Fu family, only to be told the Fu family was no longer in Ti County and had left.
Could this Cui clan disciple be the very Cui Luxing Uncle Fu had spoken of?
No, that can’t be. How could the Fu family know the Cui clan? The Cui clan resided further north in Anping County of Boling Commandery. Let alone one of their disciples seeking out the Fu family and coming together with Lord Dou.
How was that possible!
Who in the Fu family had such ability?
It was simply impossible!
“Lord Dou! It’s actually Lord Dou! And a disciple of the Cui clan!”
Sun Yanchen, Dai Yanming, and Yan Hanfei had also heard the servant’s words, exchanging looks of astonishment before their faces lit with excitement.
That was Lord Dou! And a renowned noble from the Cui clan.
To be able to meet Lord Dou and a member of the illustrious Cui family—Sun Yanchen, Dai Yanming, and Yan Hanfei found their breathing quicken.
Among all scholars in the land, the Cui and Lu families are regarded as the most learned across generations.
If one could leave an impression on a member of the Cui clan, even a mere mention among their own would benefit them for a lifetime. If one could gain Lord Dou’s praise, it would elevate their standing wherever they went.
Thinking of all this, knowing what these two guests represented, how could the three not be excited?
At this moment.
Sun Yanchen, Dai Yanming, and Yan Hanfei looked at their teacher Li Jingjie with anticipation, hoping he might mention them or bring them to meet the guests.
A short while later.
Led by the Li Residence servants, Dou Jiande arrived with Cui Luxing, Cao Zhan, and Ying Kai, passing through the flower garden to the front courtyard.
Seeing Li Jingjie waiting in the front courtyard, Dou Jiande smiled broadly and bowed before even arriving.
Li Jingjie hurriedly raised his hand in return.
Under the pavilion, Fu Zhi, kneeling behind the wooden table, suddenly saw something, his pupils contracted, and he quickly lowered his head, hiding behind his bamboo slips, shielding his face from those in the front courtyard.
Fu Zhi’s actions puzzled Xu Huaichuan and the other youths, but since they didn’t know Fu Zhi well, they asked no questions.
“What a pity—if our teacher would take us to the guests, even just to salute Lord Dou, I would be content for life!”
“Yes! Lord Dou’s benevolence and wisdom are rare in this world! Actually, compared to Yanchen’s talent and Hanfei’s martial skills, Yanming is the least hopeful among us. The other two may still have a chance in life, but Yanming knows well—he may never.”
“Hanfei wishes to become acquainted with the Cui clan disciple! Alas…”
Li Zhaotian’s little eyes watched the three senior brothers standing before the pavilion; it was the first time she saw such longing on Brother Dai’s face.
Was Lord Dou truly so remarkable? Why did all three senior brothers so yearn to meet him? She remembered her grandmother and mother once saying that years ago, the magistrate of Zhangnan County sent men to kill Lord Dou’s family, and afterwards, the magistrate was exterminated by those who owed Lord Dou gratitude…
But as for the Cui clan, she remembered both her grandmother and father saying it was a learned and formidable noble family, where every disciple was capable.
“They’ve gone to the main hall!”
Hearing the commotion, Li Zhaotian turned to see her three senior brothers turn back, then approach her fourth sister to pay their respects.
“Miss Qiong!”
Li Zhaotian watched her senior brothers, then looked at her stunning, intimidating fourth sister, and sighed, slumping over the wooden table.
She started counting on her fingers, wondering when her fourth sister would finally marry.
She didn’t know how much time had passed, but just as Li Zhaotian was about to fall asleep, she suddenly saw her mother hurrying from the flower garden to the front courtyard. Having learned from the servants that there were guests in the Li Residence, she came toward them.
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“Mother!”
Li Zhaotian stood and looked at her mother, curious why she was holding a sword.
“Aunt!”
“Aunt!”
“Aunt!”
Sun Yanchen, Dai Yanming, and Yan Hanfei saw Li Zhaotian’s mother, Lady Bao, and quickly stood to salute her. Li Qiong, Li Le, and others also rose.
“Aunt!”
Fu Zhi saw Aunt Bao and hurried to salute her as well. He knew she was the wife of Li Shuyun, the third son of the Li Residence, mother of Li Le and Li Zhaotian.
But seeing Aunt Bao holding the sword, Fu Zhi was surprised.
Wasn’t that Zi Hou’s sword?
How did it end up in Aunt Bao’s hands!
“Zhi’er, tell Aunt, is your family facing difficulties? If it’s hard to speak to the Old Madam, you can talk to Aunt. Why did Zi Hou pawn his own sword? Is this sword a family heirloom?”
Lady Bao asked softly. If the old steward had not been whipped by the Old Madam and sent home, she and her sister-in-law, Lady Changsun, would not have temporarily managed the household affairs.
Today, when she went to check the accounts at the pawnshop, she saw the manager holding the sword and was surprised.
At first, she thought it was a mistake, but on closer inspection, she realized it was the sword she had seen among the Fu family’s luggage outside the Li Residence days ago.
From the manager’s description, she soon confirmed it was Zi Hou—the young man engaged to her niece Li Cha—who personally pawned it for fifteen thousand coins.
She recalled the manager saying the youth claimed it was an heirloom.
She dared not take it lightly and brought the sword back to the Li Residence.
“Aunt! The grain sent by Grandma Li has barely been eaten; there’s still plenty left, nothing else is lacking! As for the sword…”
Fu Zhi was completely bewildered.
His cousin Zi Hou had pawned his own sword!
It was his favorite sword!
Now, Fu Zhi didn’t know how to answer Aunt Bao—whether the sword was an heirloom, fearing a wrong answer might harm Zi Hou.
“Sigh! Then let’s wait for the Old Madam to ask Zi Hou herself!”
Lady Bao shook her head. Seeing Fu Zhi’s uncertain expression, she concluded it was likely Zi Hou’s decision and not related to the Fu family.
With that, Lady Bao instructed Fu Zhi, her son Li Le, and nephew Li Anjing to continue their studies, left Li Qiong to chat with Sun Yanchen, Dai Yanming, and Yan Hanfei, and turned to leave.
Watching Lady Bao depart, Li Zhaotian, Li Anjing, and others looked at Fu Zhi in shock, while Sun Yanchen, Dai Yanming, and Yan Hanfei exchanged strange looks.
“To pawn one’s own sword?”
“Well, that’s quite the character!”
Sun Yanchen and Dai Yanming exchanged glances, then looked at Yan Hanfei, and all three couldn’t help but laugh.
Recalling Xu Huaichuan’s words, if their memories served, that Fu Zi Hou was the youth the Old Madam wanted to marry to Li Qiong.
These past days, they had been anxious about their beloved, fearing the matter might change. Hearing Lady Bao’s words, they finally relaxed.
Though they had never met Fu Zi Hou, he was not traveling, but in Ti County, and even pawning his beloved sword.
Such a person, they felt contempt for.
They looked down on him from their hearts.
Under the pavilion, even Li Qiong shook her head slightly.
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