Chapter 29: The Sarcastic Liu Yitang

"Hmph, what is the meaning of this?" Liu Yitang cast a disdainful glance at the Headmaster and the tutor. "Although Liang Shanbo's father was once a county official, he passed away many years ago. By rights, he should now be considered a commoner; how could he possibly be allowed to enter the gates of this Nishan Academy?"

Good grief, what is this all about? "Big Brother, why must you be so pedantic about such a trivial matter? It’s not as if Shanbo didn't pay his tuition."

"What did you say?" Liu Yitang shot me a cold look, assuming an arrogant posture. "Rules are rules."

What on earth? What kind of person is this Liu Yitang? I had assumed that someone who could associate with Xie Daoyun must be a righteous and upright man, but it seems that is not the case at all. Could it be that Shanbo offended him?

I stepped forward and grabbed Liu Yitang's arm. "Big Brother, we haven't even gotten to the bottom of this; how can you make such a rash judgment? It's windy out here; let's go inside and discuss this properly."

Liu Yitang looked at me crossly. "Discuss what? The facts are right before our eyes." He then turned to the Headmaster and the tutor with a stern expression. "Drive him out. Chen Zijun, I shall also punish you for your negligence. Considering your many years of diligent supervision at the academy, if you have no merit, you have at least labored; pack your bags and leave the mountain."

My goodness, even the tutor is being driven away? This Liu Yitang is coming on strong.

"Lord Liu, the laws of the imperial court are unjust. Why shouldn't a commoner be allowed to study? Why shouldn't they be able to contribute their intellect to the people? If you are a good official, you should be arguing on behalf of the students, not making things difficult for them, or for the Headmaster and the tutor," Liang Shanbo retorted.

The Headmaster and the tutor nodded in satisfaction.

Liu Yitang curled his lips into a cold sneer and turned to Liang Shanbo. "Liang Shanbo, you openly show contempt for the imperial court; what is your crime? Officials are divided into nine ranks, and people into ten classes. Since you are a commoner, you belong where the commoners are. As for whether you study or not, that is none of my concern. If you dare to speak insolently again, do not blame me for punishing you without leniency."

Liu Yitang flicked his long sleeves and pulled me toward the courtyard. "Hey, Big Brother, Brother, don't be like this. Shanbo is a man of profound learning; even Master Xie thinks highly of him. How can you expel him from the academy just because of his status? By doing this, you are undoubtedly causing the imperial court to lose a good official."

Liu Yitang stopped in his tracks, looked at me, and then studied Liang Shanbo. "What did you say? Xie Daoyun thinks highly of him?"

I nodded vigorously. "Master Xie only just left the mountain. During her lectures, she often praised Shanbo and was quite appreciative of his strategies for flood control."

Liu Yitang’s suspicious gaze swept over each of us, finally settling on Ma Wencai. "Nephew Ma, is it as Yiqing says?"

Why ask Ma Wencai? He is the last person in the entire academy who should be asked; he is absolutely the first person who would want Liang Shanbo driven out.

"Brother, don't you believe me?" I grabbed Liu Yitang's arm and demanded.

Liu Yitang gave me a cold look. "Is this the first time you've lied to me?" He then turned back to Ma Wencai. "Wencai, you speak."

Damn, it seems this Liu Yiqing is a habitual liar if even her own brother doesn't believe her. I immediately glared at Ma Wencai; if he dared to talk nonsense, he would be dead.

Ma Wencai looked away with an expression of disdain. "Lord Liu, what Yiqing says is true."

Whew, I let out a long sigh of relief.

"Lord Liu, there is no dispute regarding Liang Shanbo’s status. He and I are sworn brothers; by logic, he is already a righteous friend of my Zhu family, and his status is no longer that of a mere commoner," Zhu Yingtai said.

"And who are you?" Liu Yitang asked.

Zhu Yingtai bowed. "Zhu Yingtai of Shangyu."

"Heh," Liu Yitang gave a sly laugh. "Zhu Yingtai, from the Zhu Family Village." He looked at Ma Wencai again. "Nephew Ma, your families are close friends; were you aware of this?"

"The student was not aware," Ma Wencai replied.

Zhu Yingtai stomped her feet in anger. "Ma Wencai, you are lying through your teeth, you..."

"Enough!" Liu Yitang barked softly. "Liang Shanbo may stay for the time being. I will certainly get to the bottom of this matter."

Liu Yitang held my hand as we walked. He took me into a guest room in the academy, which must have been where he was staying. A faint fragrance greeted us as he pushed open the door. Liu Yitang sighed and sat in a chair. "Haitang, I heard you are sharing a room with Wencai?"

"Yes," I nodded.

Liu Yitang asked with some hesitation, "Has he noticed anything? Or has he behaved in any way that lacks propriety?"

"No," I shook my head. "Wencai and I treat each other with mutual respect; we mind our own business."

Liu Yitang nodded and walked over to me. "You stinky girl, you’ve never given me a moment's peace since you were small. But don't get smug; if your cross-dressing is discovered, the consequences are not something you can bear alone, understand?"

"Oh, Big Brother, don't worry. I'm so smart, I can definitely take care of myself," I grinned at Liu Yitang. "Big Brother, what about Shanbo...?"

"I will investigate that matter myself. Rules are rules." Liu Yitang took a brocade box from a cabinet and handed it to me. "I heard from Xie Daoyun that the eldest son of the Taiyuan Wang family, Wang Lantian, is suffering from a virulent poison and requires 'Cloud Chestnut' for treatment, so I brought some specifically."

I took the box and opened it. This "Cloud Chestnut" really looked like ginseng, but why was it red? It was very strange. Wouldn't it be like drinking blood when boiled? I felt a chill just thinking about it. "Thank you, Big Brother. Brother Lantian has been very kind to me at the academy."

"Oh? Is that so! I shall go with you to see him. Our Liu family and their Wang family are on somewhat friendly terms."

I looked at the Cloud Chestnut in my hand and couldn't help but ask, "Big Brother, is there only one root? Master Xie said one root of Cloud Chestnut can only last for half a year."

"Silly sister, how precious is the Cloud Chestnut? I have been an official in the court for six years, and I have only managed to obtain this one root," Liu Yitang lamented.

Wow, only one small root in six years? Liu Yitang is truly generous. "Big Brother, you are so generous to be willing to give away something so precious."

Liu Yitang chuckled a few times. "Haitang, you are still young. Your brother isn't giving this medicine away for nothing. Let's go."

"Oh, and I happen to have something to give Brother Lantian as well," I nodded and took Liu Yitang to Wang Lantian's room.

Wang Lantian was carving at his desk. When A-Cheng saw us enter, he immediately came forward. "Young Master Liu, you've returned."

Hearing this, Wang Lantian looked up. "Lord Liu, Brother Yiqing."

I walked to the desk and picked up the wood carving to examine it. He had finally finished carving this piece of wood. "Brother Lantian, my brother brought some 'Cloud Chestnut' from home for you. Master Xie says this medicine has excellent curative effects for your poison."

Wang Lantian took the box and stood there, stunned. Could it be that no one had mentioned the Cloud Chestnut to him?

"Indeed, Young Master Wang, this was brought at the request of Xie Daoyun," Liu Yitang said.

Wang Lantian nodded. "In that case, this student thanks Lord Liu. Please, take a seat."

I pulled Wang Lantian to the side and took eight packets of malt candy from my wide sleeves. "Brother Lantian, these are for you."

"What... are these?" Wang Lantian asked.