After Zhou Aimin left, Jing Wen had another kettle boiled, before beginning to meditate. Once dawn had broke, he rinsed his mouth with the cold tea, and after eating breakfast, he chewed on mint leaves to refresh his breath.
Looking at Mingzhu, who was silently following him, Jing Wen asked, “Help me chose out what is appropriate.”
Mingzhu looked at the wardrobe that had only the ten-odd robes Jing Wen had brought from the manor in Jing village and asked, “Young master, what’s the occasion.”
Jing Wen said, “It’s not meeting His Majesty, so not too formal. But I also do not want to appear lacking in manners.”
Mingzhu seriously examined the simple sets of clothing in the wardrobe before saying helplessly, “Young master, this servant cannot tell the difference between these clothing.”
Jing Wen realised what Mingzhu said was reasonable. After considering his options, he headed towards Zhou Aimin’s bed chambers, asking, “May I borrow some of your clothing.”
Zhou Aimin, what was still somewhat drowsy, suddenly began coughing inexplicably. After choking for a long time, he said with a voice filled with disbelief, “Fellow Jing, are you sure you are not taking this too seriously? Indeed, for a normal person, it is naturally important to make a good impression, but you are not marrying them anyway; why place such an importance on it?”
Jing Wen replied seriously, “This is a matter of showing respect. No matter what, they have taken their time to greet me, so I naturally must present my self appropriately as well.”
Zhou Aimin struggled to arrive at a rebuttal but found Jing Wen’s explanation flawless. Sighing, he quickly took out a set of blue robes from his wardrobe. After handing it to Jing Wen, he deliberately asked in a casual manner, “Fellow Jing, where do you want Yang’er to drive the carriage?”
Jing Wen knew very well the implication behind Zhou Aimin’s words, but he had no reason to refuse it. “Of course, at Liu manor, I will be relying upon you.”
Saying that, Jing Wen no longer pursued the topic. Changing into the blue robes, he placed his hand behind his back and exited the room.
Following behind Jing Wen, Zhou Aimin quickly brought Yang’er to the carriage. After whispering a few words into the nucai’s ears and seeing Yang’er nod in return, he nodded in satisfaction before entering the carriage.
Sitting beside Jing Wen, Zhou Aimin casually waved about his fan. “Fellow Jing, it’s said that the beauties of the North and South differ greatly. Please enlighten me.”
Jing Wen felt Zhou Aimin’s question was a little strange, but he answered earnestly regardless, “I have never seen a woman from the Northern provinces, but I have heard they possess a lively and bold character, with some even exceptional equestrian. Compared to them, we Southerners are docile creatures, that have lived comfortable lives. Both the men and women of Lin’an are delicate and cultured in their character and actions. Although some of the youths in the South choose to pick up the sword and tour jianghu, they will eventually found themself unable to sleep beneath the open night sky, and quickly return to their previous lifestyle.”
Zhou Aimin, hearing Jing Wen speak, folded the fan and brought it to his chin, as if in deep thought. After a while, he began to laugh.
“What did I say?” Jing Wen did not think his analysis was improper or humorous in any manner. Hearing Zhou Aimin chuckle, he felt a bit confused.
Zhou Aimin did not reply immediately. Unfolding his fan once more with a loud ‘bang’, he said, “Fellow Jing, your words seem a little harsh. There is nothing wrong with a life of luxury; after all, who wants to go to war? The people of the border provinces only learned horse riding to defend against the North Sea raiders. Perhaps the grass appears greener on the other side, but that is merely looking from the outside.”
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Hearing this, Jing Wen pondered for some time. Indeed, since his youth, he had viewed the Northerners more fondly due to their martial nature and disdained the decadent culture and lifestyle of Lin’an. Though his opinion on this matter became less severe after a month of contemplation, he still admired the Northerner’s spirit of straightforwardness to a great degree.
Of course, how could he consider that, to the Northerners, the South appeared to be a land of milk and honey, free from famine and raids from nomads.
“Fellow Jing, it appears that you have some misgivings about we Northerners. Most of the peasants in the frontier are too weak even to pick up a pitchfork, while the officials and nobles fear conflict with the North Sea tribes.” Zhou Aimin knew it would be beneficial to broaden Jing Wen’s insight, so pushed on ruthlessly in shattering Jing Wen’s perspective of his homeland.
“What you said sounds reasonable.” Jing Wen ‘looked’ at Zhou Aimin and smiled. “You have broadened my perspective. As expected of the disciple of the venerable Guo Xiling; you are amazing.”
“Fellow Jing overpraise me; I was merely saying what all Northerners know to be true. The real effort was in your willingness to accept it. It is you that is actually amazing,” Zhou Aimin said with a meek smile.
Jing Wen coughed and said, “Is it fine for us to compliment each other like this?”
After the carriage drove into Long’an Avenue, the bustle outside the carriage was too loud for Jing Wen and Zhou Aimin to continue the conversation. During the silence, Jing Wen thought about the Liu family, particular, Liu Shan.
At the gate entering into the capital, Jing Wen had coincidentally passed by Liu Shan’s carriage, and seen that he still continued on with his debauched life. Even during the mourning for Jing Ping, Liu Shan was still brazen enough to public display affection with his various lovers. Jing Wen shook his head. If it weren’t for Liu Fenfang’s constant efforts, the reputation of the Liu family would rival those of the Mo family.
At this point, Yang’er stopped the horses and yelled from the carriage driver’s seat. “I think we’ve arrived at Liu manor.”
As Jing Wen and Zhou Aimin left the carriage, Yang’er shamelessly squeezed past them and sat on the comfortable bedding. Placing her feet on the opposite seat, she gave a short yawn, before falling asleep.
Zhou Aimin smiled. “See, Yang’er comes from the North, yet she lives such an immoral lifestyle.”
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The Liu family was a family that was much older than the current dynasty. If the gossips within the taverns were to be believed, the present Liu family was a branch family of the royal family of the Han (汉) Dynasty that had existed a millennium ago. Inheriting a part of the imperial treasury of the Han Dynasty, they were able to firmly establish themselves in Lin’an, creating a clan that would last over a thousand years in one manner or the other. Though they have never once attempted at restoring the Han, their coffers were a factor any ruling dynasty must consider.
It was probably due to this reason that the remarkably mediocre head of the Liu family, Liu Yu (刘玉) became the minister of justice.
Jing Wen’s father had come from an ordinary scholarly family from the South, so he naturally held no good feelings towards the Liu clan, even the famous Liu Fenfang he did not believe to be completely clean. After all, if she was able to not only survive but thrive next to her infamous brother, she certainly would possess some abilities aside from her virtues.
Of course, Jing Wen was not the sort of person who would show his distaste for others before them. Bowing towards Liu Yu, he said politely, “Minister Liu, I have troubled you with my visit.”
The man standing before Jing Wen had a head full of white hair, carefully bundled into a bun. He wore a rather unassuming set of robes that would cause one unable to distinguish him from a crowd, yet if one were attentive, they would find the clothes were actually made from the famous silver mulberry silk.
“For His Majesty to consider my daughter to be worthy of your hands is a joyous matter. Not to mention that the Venerable Zhou has also visited my inadequate abode along with you, Marquis.” Liu Yu said as he handed gatekeeper a tael of silver. With a smile that made others feel relaxed, he guided Jing Wen and Zhou Aimin into the rear garden.
As they walked along the pathway, accompanied by a small flowing creek, Liu Yu’s words of his manor being inadequate were quickly disproven. The manor’s decorations were second only to the buildings of the Imperial Palace. The area the Liu manor occupied alone was greater than all of Jing village.
After arriving at the rear garden, Jing Wen was seated at a predesignated seat while another chair was brought for Zhou Aimin. Already sitting at the table was Liu Shan and Liu Fenfang. Liu Yu was never wedded, and have only concubines, so there was no one sitting in the seat typically reversed for the main wife.
The dishes displayed on the table was simple. It was simple to a degree of being out of place in the current dynasty. There was only boiled vegetables and eight treasure rice on the mahogany table. Not present was the rare and precious sea fish commonly seen in banquets, or even the regular poultry that ordinary people would serve when receiving guests.
Jing Wen sat by the table, casually conversing with Liu Fenfang and did not touch the eight treasure rice in his bowl at all. It was rather rude since even the most impatient guest would taste the banquet their host has provided. However, the Liu family was serving dishes from many dynasties ago, and had long grown used to their guest being unengaged with their cuisine.
Zhou Aimin glanced at Liu Shan and frowned in distaste as he began flirting with one of the serving maids. Looking at the grain in his bowl, he compared it to Liu Shan’s round and white face, and found it shockingly similar.
Suppressing his laughter, Zhou Aimin began to examine Liu Fenfang. The famous pearl of the Liu family’s appearance indeed spoke for itself. Her lips were coloured red with some sort of expensive lipsticks that gave it a natural appearance, while the rouge she used accentuates her fair skin. Her voluptuous figure was likewise paired with a dress that would emphasise its assets. Overall, Zhou Aimin judged her to, while not being a beauty, a woman that was capable of fully utilising the advantage she possesses.
Zhou Aimin grimaced. Was the people of Lin’an all fool? This kind of woman certainly was not as pure as those rumours make her out to be. She was clearly a demoness!