Chapter Two: The First Meeting with Wang Lantian

Turning my head, two men approached from the opposite direction. The one in front had refined features, wearing a pale blue silk tunic and a white sheer outer robe, a silver hair ornament atop his head, and was toying with an elegant folding fan in his right hand. Was this the talented scholar I had imagined? I wondered silently. The man behind him, from his attire, could only be a servant, and I immediately dismissed him from my attention.

As the refined man passed by my side, I sensed a solitary arrogance about him; there was a faint fragrance emanating from him. When they reached the gate of the courtyard, they were stopped by the local ruffian. “Who do you think you are? Such arrogance! Do you even know who I am?” he sneered.

I glared at the ruffian with utmost contempt, inwardly anticipating how my scholarly friend would teach him a lesson.

The servant behind the elegant man wasted no time. He kicked the ruffian in the chest, sending him sprawling to the ground. “Our young master is Wang Lantian, the eldest son of the Wang family of Taiyuan. Who do you think you are to call yourself the boss here?”

Heavens, I could hardly believe my ears. This graceful gentleman was none other than the infamous Wang Lantian, notorious for his misdeeds. I'd mistaken him for Ma Wencai—what a disappointment.

Wang Lantian raised his right hand to halt his servant. “Acheng, let it go. Let’s go inside.” Only then did I realize that the earlier scorn—“You, the boss? As if!”—had come from the servant, extinguishing any lingering affection I might have held.

So this was Wang Lantian. But who was the ruffian?

“Stop! You hurt me and think you can just walk away? Gangzi, get him!” The ruffian’s servant grabbed a wooden pole and charged at Wang Lantian. Liang Shanbo rushed forward to intervene, his compassionate heart flaring up once again.

Before Liang Shanbo could reach them, Acheng spun around, sword drawn and pointed directly at Gangzi’s throat, only inches away. I was stunned by the speed—Acheng was certainly a master of martial arts.

The ruffian collapsed in terror, stammering, “If you hurt me, Liu Xiangdong, my father will never forgive you!”

Liu Xiangdong? Who was that? Never heard of him.

Liang Shanbo stepped in as peacemaker, “Yes, Young Master Wang, we are all here at Nishan Academy to study together. We’ll be classmates soon, so please show mercy!” Even Zhu Yingtai couldn’t hold him back.

Wang Lantian didn’t turn, merely said coolly, “Acheng, let’s go.” He seemed wholly detached, his aura formidable. It was a pity, though—shouldn’t this have been Ma Wencai?

Liu Xiangdong, simmering with anger, kicked his servant Gangzi in the thigh and stormed off.

“Brother Liang, Brother Liu, let’s go inside as well.”

Upon entering the academy, we paid our entrance fee and bowed to Master Kong, but still there was no sign of Ma Wencai. Did he not exist in this era? The thought chilled me, dampening my enthusiasm. Was I brought to this world merely to witness the transformation of Liang and Zhu into butterflies? But without Ma Wencai causing trouble, how would Liang and Zhu become butterflies? Was their tragic love story simply a creation of later generations, not something that truly happened?

The matron posted the room assignments on the notice board. Two to a room was expected, but what truly mattered to me was with whom I would be sharing. I had hoped for a chance to room with Ma Wencai, but where was he? My beloved scholar, where are you? Do you even exist in this world?

“Matron,” Wang Lantian stepped forward and bowed, “I would like a room to myself.”

Zhu Yingtai, hearing this, struggled to push to the front, with Liang Shanbo and I following behind. But it was futile—Zhu Yingtai was destined to share a room with Liang Shanbo.

“Matron, I would also like a room to myself,” Zhu Yingtai protested upon seeing her name paired with Liang Shanbo. No matter how close their friendship, a girl from ancient times would never wish to share a room with a man. Yet without three years of daily companionship, Liang and Zhu would never become butterflies.

“There are not enough rooms in the academy for that. Since everyone else is two to a room, you are no exception.” The matron refused their requests, as was only proper—every institution has its rules.

“But, Matron…” Zhu Yingtai tried again, but was rebuffed. “Enough, the room assignments are settled. You are all classmates now, so learn to accommodate one another.”

Zhu Yingtai stamped her foot in frustration, while Liang Shanbo looked dejected. “Brother Zhu, we are sworn brothers. Sharing a room will let us look after one another. Why…?”

“Brother Liang, I…” She was at a loss for words.

“Yes, Brother Yingtai, Brother Liang will certainly take good care of you.” I played the mediator, though my mind was still on my own room assignment. Where was my name, Liu Yiqing? Right next to Wang Lantian—heavens! I turned to look for Wang Lantian, only to find he’d already gone.

Wang Lantian wanted a room to himself. Would he make me sleep on a bench like in the dramas? The thought of lying on a bench every night made my back ache with dread. I glared at Zhu Yingtai in frustration. “Brother Zhu, be grateful—you get to share a room with Brother Liang. Look at me, I have to share with Wang Lantian.”

Zhu Yingtai shot me a look. “You and I are not the same. I… Ah, forget it, let’s go!”

She was indeed luckier than I.

Yezi carried my luggage to the room. Wang Lantian had arrived ahead of me, the room already tidied by Acheng. Incense burned on the table, its fragrance identical to what I’d noticed on Wang Lantian—clearly, he cared about his surroundings. I’d heard that men in the Jin dynasty liked to wear cosmetics. Could Wang Lantian be one of them? The thought sent a chill through me.

As we entered, Acheng greeted us warmly, which surprised me. Then came the unexpected words: “Young Master Liu, our master requires care, so he cannot share the room with you. Please forgive us and stay with your own attendant.”

What? I thought I’d be sleeping on a bench, but now I was to stay in the servant’s quarters? Was there no justice?

“Why? The matron assigned me here, so I have the right to stay in this room.”

Seeing my refusal, Acheng picked up my luggage, intent on carrying it out. “Forgive me, Young Master Liu—let me escort you.”

“Acheng, that’s enough!” Wang Lantian called him off.

Wang Lantian walked over slowly, glanced at me, and instructed Acheng, “Arrange Young Master Liu’s luggage and take the incense out.”

“But, Master, the incense…” Acheng looked anxious; clearly, the incense was important.

“Do as I say,” Wang Lantian replied coldly.

Acheng reluctantly lifted the incense burner from the table. I stopped him at the door. “There’s no need—the fragrance is pleasant. Leave it.”

“Thank you, Young Master Liu!” Acheng beamed in delight, but his expression soon darkened. “Young Master Liu, I have an unreasonable request—please allow me to stay with the master, so I can look after him.”

Knowing it was unreasonable, why bring it up? There was barely enough space for a few people.

I was about to refuse, but Wang Lantian spoke first, still in that indifferent tone: “Acheng, when traveling, we make do. I’ll be fine. Go about your business.”

“Yes, Master!” Acheng withdrew reluctantly. Yezi and I began to unpack, ignoring each other.

Spotting a bronze mirror in the room, I hurried over. Reflected was Liu Yiqing’s face: round, the so-called goose-egg shape, fair skin, large eyes, double eyelids—not bad, thankfully not embarrassing. I grinned in satisfaction—Liu Yiqing even had two dimples. Ha! I liked it.