Chapter 30: Return to Xingyang (Part II)

A light drizzle began to fall as he set out. Zheng Yanqing donned a thin oilcloth cloak and rode his horse away from the Bamboo Garden.

The ferry crossing was shrouded in mist. Along the banks, weeping willows were lush and verdant, swaying in the breeze and appearing graceful amidst the rain and fog, much like young maidens standing elegantly on either side of the Luo River. The air was filled with the fragrant scent of damp earth. In this season of cultivation, the earth, having gathered its strength through a harsh and bitter winter, seemed to be rallying for the grandeur of spring.

Zheng Yanqing admired the scenery along the way, and before he knew it, he had arrived outside the Huian Gate.

The guards at the Huian Gate recognized the young man in white who passed through daily, rain or shine. Some who were familiar with him would greet him and wave him through without a word. For the famous "Banyuan Jun," there was no need for badge inspections.

The management of entry badges had been a key initiative pushed by Fang Yanqian since he took office as the Governor of Henan. Every Luoyang resident entering or leaving the city had to present a badge—collected upon exiting and returned upon entering. This allowed for proper management of the large volume of people moving in and out of the city daily, and even provided insight into how many outsiders were entering or how many locals were venturing elsewhere, all discernible from the daily distribution of badges. It had to be said that Fang Yanqian’s system had indeed significantly improved public order in Luoyang.

After returning his badge, Zheng Yanqing urged his horse to a slow, steady pace. Galloping within the city of Luoyang was against the law. Even though Fang Yanqian favored him, Yanqing dared not break the rules. Who knew if the "Black-Faced Fang" would flare his eyes and reward him with ten strokes of the cane? Fang Yanqian had dared to move against the Prince of Qi’s heir; who could say he wouldn't be just as impartial toward Yanqing?

Luoyang in the rain possessed a unique charm. The shop banners fluttering in the streets and wards looked like rows of flags. Tall buildings stood in rows, and the wards were laid out in an orderly fashion. The pedestrians on the road, some leaving and some entering the city, created a picture of great elegance.

Zheng Yanqing dismounted in front of the Pili Hall. A gatekeeper hurried forward with a flattering smile. "With such heavy rain, I thought young Master Zheng would arrive later."

Zheng Yanqing smiled slightly and handed the reins to the gatekeeper. "Is the Master at home?"

"The General hasn't been feeling well today, so he hasn't gone out."

"Not feeling well?"

"Yes, whenever the weather is this gloomy, the General feels poorly. It’s an old ailment; the imperial physician says it’s a form of 'qi' disease that requires slow recovery."

That Zhangsun Sheng was in poor health was no secret in Luoyang. However, the gatekeepers of Pili Hall would not discuss such matters with just anyone. If Yanqing were not Zhangsun Sheng’s disciple, he likely would not have mentioned it.

Zheng Yanqing nodded and walked through the gates of the Zhangsun estate. Having been an apprentice for over ten days, he was already quite familiar with the grounds.

As he stepped onto the veranda, he saw a young man approaching from the other end, looking quite agitated. The man appeared to be about thirty, with refined features and a scholarly air, though his anger made him seem somewhat sullen.

"Good morning, Magistrate Gao!"

Yanqing recognized the young man as Gao Jian, the brother-in-law of Zhangsun Sheng. The name might sound unfamiliar to some, but if one mentioned his other name—Gao Shilian, one of the twenty-four meritorious officials of the Lingyan Pavilion—it would be well known. Zheng Yanqing had met him on the day he became an apprentice. History books held Gao Shilian in high regard, noting that he possessed great insight and literary talent.

Zheng Yanqing dared not be negligent; he stepped aside to let him pass and bowed in greeting. Gao Shilian, however, did not respond. He merely glanced at him, snorted, and flicked his sleeves as he walked away. Yanqing found it strange—what had bothered Gao Shilian?

When he reached the study, he saw Zhangsun Sheng tidying his desk.

"Master, let me do that." Zheng Yanqing hurried forward and took the task from Zhangsun Sheng’s hands. Zhangsun Sheng did not decline and sat down to the side. His complexion looked poor, somewhat pale. Yanqing wondered if it was the "qi" disease or the unpleasant encounter with Gao Shilian. He dared not ask and simply cleaned the desk thoroughly.

"Yanqing, let us not read Sun Tzu today. Read the Analects for me."

Zheng Yanqing agreed, took a scroll of the Analects from his satchel, knelt respectfully before the desk, and began to recite in a clear voice. A bronze censer in the corner of the room emitted thin wisps of smoke. The incense smelled somewhat like the exotic woods of the Western Regions, known to calm the body and clear the mind, though it was quite expensive.

"Yanqing, read the 'Xiangdang' chapter."

"Xiangdang" was the tenth chapter of the Analects. Zhangsun Sheng spoke softly, and Zheng Yanqing did not hesitate, pausing only slightly before reciting: "When Confucius was in his home village, he appeared simple and sincere, as if he could not speak. When he was in the ancestral temple or at court, he spoke clearly and precisely, though with caution..."

"Oh? Can you already recite the Analects?" A look of satisfaction appeared on Zhangsun Sheng’s face. "That is perfect. Give me your book, and you continue the recitation."

As he spoke, he took Zheng Yanqing’s copy of the Analects. Yanqing continued to recite from memory while Zhangsun Sheng opened the scroll, following along. Gradually, a look of strange wonder appeared on Zhangsun Sheng’s face.

"Wait!" He suddenly called out, pointing to the various punctuation marks noted in the book. "Yanqing, what is the meaning of these?"

In the Sui Dynasty, books did not have punctuation. They were usually long, continuous strings of text without separation, which often led to ambiguity during recitation due to phrasing issues. Zheng Yanqing was studying the edition annotated by Zheng Xuan, where small and large characters were crowded together in vertical columns, making them easy to misread. After listening to his master’s explanations, he had developed the habit of adding punctuation to mark the phrasing.

His books were rarely seen by others, and this was the first time Zhangsun Sheng had encountered such marks. He was greatly astonished. While he was a military man by trade, he was also well-read and could be considered a scholar-general. He grasped the function of these marks at a glance. Though he did not yet fully understand the specific purpose of the commas and periods, he could sense their immense utility. If such a system were popularized, it would surely cause a sensation in the literary world.

Zheng Yanqing stepped forward and provided a detailed explanation. "Every time I listen to your teachings, Master, I fear forgetting them. So, I use this method to mark them and ponder them repeatedly when I return home. These marks are merely a convenience I created to be lazy; I hope you will not blame me."

Zhangsun Sheng was speechless. This student of his always managed to surprise him. A convenience for laziness? In this day and age, plenty of people wanted convenience, yet none had thought to annotate books with such marks.

"Yanqing, can you leave this book with me for a while?"

"If you wish, Master, I have no objections."

"Good. Continue your recitation."

Yanqing proceeded to recite the rest of the Analects from the tenth chapter to the very end. Zhangsun Sheng did not interrupt once. After he finished, they discussed the text, and Zhangsun Sheng answered his questions.

"Yanqing, we shall not go to the military camp for drills this afternoon. I am not feeling well, so let us stop here for today. We shall continue with the thirteen chapters of Sun Tzu tomorrow."

Zheng Yanqing acknowledged the instruction but did not leave immediately. "Master, I have a request."

Zhangsun Sheng, his mood having improved, asked, "What is it?"

"I have a close friend who has been studying under Master Yan Shigu for four years in Luoyang. The Luoyang County Academy examination is coming up soon, and I am worried... As you know, the population of Luoyang is much larger now than it was four years ago."

Zhangsun Sheng paused, then understood. "You are worried your friend will be squeezed out by others?"

"It is not so much being squeezed out, but with so many people, the competition is fierce. I heard there are only thirty spots at the County Academy this year. My friend is exceptionally talented; it would be a pity if he were to be passed over."

Zhangsun Sheng nodded. "And what would you have me do?"

"I only hope he is judged on his merits and not sabotaged."

Zhangsun Sheng replied, "You should go to Magistrate Fang for this! As the Governor of Henan, he is responsible for the oversight of academic institutions."

Yanqing smiled bitterly. "Master, you know as well as I do that while Magistrate Fang is responsible for oversight, he is also incorruptible. If I don't approach him, my friend might still have a chance; if I do, it might be counterproductive."

Zhangsun Sheng couldn't help but laugh. "What is your friend's name? When the time is right, I will have someone put in a word."

"Xu Shiji. He is from Lihu, of the fourth rank... The eldest young master also thinks highly of him and has expressed interest in supporting him."

Zhangsun Sheng thought for a moment and said, "I am aware of this now. Do not worry. If this Xu Shiji truly has talent, he will not be treated unfairly."

Zheng Yanqing was overjoyed. With Zhangsun Sheng’s word, he could finally set his mind at ease.

"One more thing: Qingming is approaching. I may need to return to Xingyang in a few days to pay my respects. I hope you will grant me permission."

"Ah, returning home for ancestral rites is a significant matter. Just let me know two days before you decide to leave."

Zhangsun Sheng would never oppose such a request and nodded readily.

Zheng Yanqing took his leave. As he walked through the back courtyard, the light rain had stopped. In the garden, peach blossoms were in bloom, and crabapple flowers were brilliant. Washed by the rain and kissed by the sunlight, they refracted colorful halos. Zhangsun Wugou, dressed in a snowy white dress, was playing with a group of maidservants. She stood amidst the pink, her face as delicate and polished as white porcelain, wearing a bright smile. Her laughter, clear as silver bells, seemed to dispel the lingering chill of the rain.

Zheng Yanqing stopped to watch her. He quite liked this little girl who would one day become a virtuous empress. In the history of the Zhenguan era, she had left a profound mark. What he remembered most was the story of how, when Li Shimin returned to the palace in a rage after being scolded by Wei Zheng in court, wishing to have Wei Zheng killed, Empress Zhangsun had instead donned her formal court attire and congratulated the Emperor on having such a virtuous official.

This anecdote alone spoke volumes of her kindness and wisdom. It was a pity the little girl would die young. What was the cause? Yanqing couldn't quite recall—it was due to illness, he thought. But looking at her now, she seemed perfectly healthy.

"Little brother! Big brother Yanqing!"

Zheng Yanqing was lost in thought when Wugou spotted him. She waved her chubby little hands excitedly and ran toward him.

"Guanyinbi, have you been a good girl today?"

Zheng Yanqing didn't know why, but whenever he saw her innocent, brilliant smile, his heart felt extraordinarily calm. He stepped off the veranda and crouched down. Wugou rushed into his arms, and he lifted her up, spinning her in a circle, which elicited a burst of giggles.

"Guanyinbi has been the best!"

Wugou held his hand. "Big brother, you promised that if I was good, you would tell me a wonderful story. I’ve been very good! I didn't climb any trees, and I even ate a sweet cake this morning!"

The maidservants did not follow; they knew Zheng Yanqing was the General’s favored disciple and a man of great reputation.

Zheng Yanqing smiled and sat down with her on the veranda. "Since you’ve been so good, I’ll tell you a story!"

He thought for a moment. The *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* was certainly inappropriate. What to tell her? A thought sparked in his mind: *Snow White*. This kind of story was most attractive to young girls. With clear distinctions between good and evil, he was sure she would love it.

"A long, long time ago, there was a very wicked queen..."

To be honest, while it was a Western story, there was no harm in framing it within an Eastern setting. Zhangsun Wugou was soon enthralled, holding his hand, her dark, liquid eyes wide with wonder. Even the maidservants became interested and gathered around to listen.

When Yanqing reached the part where Snow White ate the poisoned apple, Wugou’s eyes turned red, and she tugged on his arm repeatedly. "Big brother, don't let Snow White die! I don't want Snow White to die!"

Zheng Yanqing was caught between laughter and tears. He scratched his head and patted her little head. "Of course she won't die!"

He continued the story, telling of the seven dwarfs’ efforts to save her and how the prince’s kiss awakened her. When the story ended, Wugou beamed with joy, and the maids were equally delighted.

"Alright, little brother must go now!"

Wugou was reluctant and held his hand tightly, refusing to let go. "No, big brother, tell one more!"

"Guanyinbi must be good. As long as you are good, I will tell you a story every day."

"Really?"

"Of course, I always keep my word!"

Only then did she let him go, watching him leave with deep reluctance.