Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 23

Chapter 23

The one who came to find Second Young Master Yan was Liu Wenji.

Both hailed from Lingnan, and Yan Shang was exceptionally skilled at making friends. No matter how arrogant and talented Liu Wenji might have been, he felt a wave of excitement upon reuniting with Yan Shang in Chang’an.

Liu Wenji laughed and said, "After receiving your letter saying you were coming, I had already started scouting for lodgings in Chang’an for you, just as you requested..."

Yan Shang immediately bowed with cupped hands: "I’ve troubled you, Brother Liu..."

Liu Wenji grabbed his hand and waved it, signaling that there was no need for such formalities.

Liu Wenji blushed slightly: "However, I didn't find any particularly good lodgings. For now, I only found a place at the Yongshou Temple in Yongle Ward. It’s just a little far from the bustling areas, but it’s not exactly a desolate place. Staying in a temple is actually quite convenient for you to study in peace..."

Yan Shang thanked him once more.

In truth, the lodging Liu Wenji had found was far from what Yan Shang had required; he even found Yongshou Temple to be too noisy.

However, Yan Shang naturally would not let Liu Wenji’s good intentions go to waste.

Speaking of this, Yan Shang recalled something and said, "My teacher, Master Dou, learned that I had come to Chang'an and leveraged some connections to let me attend the Imperial Academy as a temporary student for a few days."

Liu Wenji was startled, and then felt a pang of envy: "To have a professor of the Imperial Academy as a teacher, you are truly lucky."

Books were incredibly precious in this era, and the collection within the Imperial Academy was an ocean of knowledge, rarely seen elsewhere.

Even with the imperial examinations coming up so soon, the fact that Yan Shang’s teacher allowed him to attend the Imperial Academy temporarily made Liu Wenji quite envious.

Because Liu Wenji’s father had served as a Censor while stationed in Chang’an—a position that notoriously offended countless officials—he had not left behind many resources for his son.

Yan Shang glanced at Liu Wenji.

He smiled: "I requested it of my teacher, and he has permitted Brother Liu to accompany me to the Imperial Academy."

Liu Wenji: "...!"

He stopped dead in his tracks on the street, staring at Yan Shang with an expression of disbelief.

Yan Shang was consistently kind and easy to talk to, which was incredibly rare for Liu Wenji, who had tasted the bitterness of human indifference in Chang’an. He even felt his eyes well up slightly.

Liu Wenji gripped Yan Shang’s hand and shook it vigorously. He opened his mouth several times, unable to find the right words to express his gratitude, before finally saying: "Suchen, you have helped me so much; Liu will never let you down in the future."

Yan Shang replied: "It is merely a small request; why go this far?"

Liu Wenji shook his head: "I only realized after coming to Chang’an that often, even when a matter could be resolved by someone else with a single word of intercession, why would they ever bother to speak up for you? Only you would do such a thing."

Yan Shang was silent.

After a long pause, he said: "I am not without my own selfish motives. You and I are both from the Lingnan line; in the future, when we enter officialdom, others will inevitably view us as one. Naturally, we must support one another and stand united against common enemies. Just as you looked for lodgings for me, I will naturally help you enter the Imperial Academy."

Liu Wenji laughed.

He said: "Fine. Enough talk. I’m treating you to drinks!"

Yan Shang refused: "Brother Liu knows me well; I have never touched alcohol."

Liu Wenji was shocked: "No way, Second Young Master Yan? Even now, you still don't drink? You really don't touch a drop? Haven't you ever made an exception..."

The two scholars’ figures merged into the crowd, and their voices gradually faded into the distance.

Far behind them, Mu Wanyao and her party were riding out of the city, merely a group of noble men and women out for a spring outing.

They had nothing to do with each other.

The next day, Yan Shang and Liu Wenji went to the Imperial Academy together. After showing their tokens at the entrance, the two exchanged glances, both seeing a hidden sense of suppressed excitement in each other's eyes.

An older student led them inside. He spoke a few polite words to Yan Shang but merely nodded perfunctorily at Liu Wenji.

Fortunately, Liu Wenji was busy observing the grandeur of the Imperial Academy and didn't take much notice.

The senior student led them to a classroom: "Teacher Dou has instructed that until the imperial examinations, this classroom is yours to use. You are also free to read any books in the Imperial Academy’s library."

Yan Shang thanked him, and before the senior student could rush off, he quickly added: "May I ask, Senior, when might the Teacher be free so that I may pay him a visit?"

The senior student turned to look at the disciple the teacher had just taken on. Seeing the polished and refined appearance of the young man, he had a good impression and replied: "The Teacher has recently been borrowed by an old friend to compile history; I fear he has no time to see you."

Yan Shang said politely: "Then I shall pay my respects after the examinations conclude."

The senior student gave him a surprised look, realizing the young man understood the teacher’s unspoken meaning—there was no need for a meeting if the examinations did not yield results.

After the senior student left, Liu Wenji whispered to Yan Shang: "You saw that, didn't you? Everywhere you go, people judge others by their status. Even your teacher..."

Yan Shang interrupted: "Brother Liu, watch your words."

Liu Wenji raised an eyebrow and said nothing more.

Taking a deep breath, the two stepped into the classroom. They saw a scattered few students sitting at rows of small desks, flipping through their scrolls.

Liu Wenji remained indifferent, but Yan Shang stood upright at the doorway and bowed respectfully to the students in the room: "I am new here; greetings to you all."

No one looked up.

The room was so quiet it was embarrassing.

Seeing that no one paid him any mind, Yan Shang retracted his bow.

Suddenly, a young gentleman who had been leaning against his desk, reading with casual indifference, looked up toward the door and asked offhandedly: "Where are you from?"

Yan Shang looked at the gentleman who had eased his awkwardness and replied warmly: "Lingnan, Yan Suchen."

The young gentleman who asked didn't say anything further, but others in the room burst into snickers, staring at Yan Shang and Liu Wenji at the door: "Isn't Lingnan a desolate, savage land? People there actually read books? I heard you all live like beasts, eating raw meat and drinking blood; what use is reading to you?"

Liu Wenji’s face turned livid instantly.

But he knew it wouldn't be good to offend people on his first day, so he suppressed his anger and retorted: "Lingnan is merely remote; it is still territory of the Great Wei. How could we not study there?"

The few students in the room exchanged glances and laughed even more maliciously. One of them stood up and said: "Then tell me, what books do you read? Have you read the books Grand Tutor Zhang compiled for children the year before last?"

To actually use books meant for children to insult them!

Liu Wenji’s face flushed red with rage. He stepped forward, clenched his fists, and threw a punch. The other party backed away in surprise, posturing: "You dare to hit someone?!"

Just as Liu Wenji was about to throw another punch, a hand reached out from the side to intercept him. Yan Shang stopped Liu Wenji and turned to the provocative student, asking: "May I ask where you are from?"

The other replied loudly: "I am a direct descendant of the Guan clan of Longxi!"

Yan Shang said gently: "The Guan clan of Longxi is, naturally, a grand family. I hear that the Guans have a near-monopoly on all official posts in Longxi. Your clan has been in Longxi for generations; even officials sent by the imperial court must yield to the wishes of the Guan clan. Such heroic spirit—as a small figure from Lingnan like me, I naturally admire it."

The other man’s expression turned smug, and his face even softened: "You are too kind. I didn't expect even you to have heard of my Guan clan."

The young gentleman who had initially asked where Yan Shang and Liu Wenji were from hadn't joined in the conflict, and now he watched the scene with great interest.

True to form, Yan Shang’s next sentence was: "Then Brother Guan, are you aware that once you come here, the Guan clan of Longxi is looked down upon by the true noble families of Chang’an, Luoyang, and Jinling? When the imperial examinations were first established and they were discussing the 'Standard Pronunciation,' they deliberately excluded Longxi from the ranks of noble families, calling you crude, savage people who only know how to fight and have no cultural heritage.

"As far as I know, the Guan clan has not fared well in Chang’an these past few years. You may dominate your region in Longxi, but without a heritage of classical studies, you are ultimately not considered mainstream. The people of Chang’an look down on you, just as you look down on someone like me from Lingnan."

The other party was trembling with rage, glaring at him.

Yan Shang smiled, bowed to conclude the topic: "...Thus, it seems the difference in where one originates is not as great as you might think."

In full view of everyone, the student had been bested in an argument by a newcomer. Naturally unwilling to accept it, his expression shifted rapidly, and just as he opened his mouth to curse, someone stepped through the classroom door.

A young man’s voice, cold and detached, spoke: "What are you all arguing about? If you don't wish to study, go outside and fight. Do not disturb others."

Everyone looked over and saw a young gentleman with features as cold as snow walking in. Their expressions shifted slightly; they were furious but dared not speak, and they returned to their seats.

Yan Shang, however, stared at the young man, whose presence was like cold light, as he passed by them impassively, his mind deep in thought—

That evening, Yan Shang invited the young gentleman who had initially helped them, and who had not joined in the harassment, to go out for drinks.

He also invited the young man who had arrived last, who had scolded everyone and indirectly helped him.

The former was all smiles and agreed as soon as he heard about drinks. The latter ignored them entirely; it was only due to Yan Shang’s eloquence and persuasive tongue that he convinced the young man.

Liu Wenji, as Yan Shang’s fellow townsman, naturally went with them.

Yan Shang invited them to the Northern Ward for a "Famous Flower Banquet," said to be the most expensive in all of Chang’an; just to open the table cost 300 coins. Liu Wenji felt a pang of heartache just hearing it, but Yan Shang’s expression remained unchanged.

This made both the invited young man and the cold youth look at Yan Shang with added interest.

Once seated, pouring his own wine, the young gentleman introduced himself as Feng Xianyu. He said with total indifference: "My grandfather was a merchant, and I’m often looked down upon by that group. Yan Suchen, the way you scolded them today was truly satisfying."

Liu Wenji knew Yan Shang didn't drink, so he proactively swapped Yan Shang’s wine for tea, turning to look at him: "To tell you the truth, I’ve known Second Young Master Yan for many years, but this is the first time I’ve seen him actually argue with someone. Our Second Young Master is a Bodhisattva descended from heaven who never loses his temper!"

Yan Shang replied: "Allowing oneself to be bullied is simply foolishness, not an absence of temper."

He then said to the cold youth: "Judging by your age, you should perhaps drink less."

The other party glanced at him and didn't speak.

Feng Xianyu laughed from the side: "You two don't know who this is, do you? His name is Wei Shu. If it hadn't been for him today, those people wouldn't have let it go..."

Yan Shang: "Could it be the Wei clan of Luoyang?"

Wei Shu looked at him coldly: "You certainly know the noble families like the back of your hand. However, if you are looking to climb the social ladder through me, you have made a mistake. I am an illegitimate son; the Wei family's resources do not favor me."

Yan Shang’s tone remained calm: "If you think I only befriend people for the sake of utility, you underestimate me."

Such magnanimity.

Wei Shu glanced at him and said no more.

After that, they ate and drank, chatting about everything under the sun. Wei Shu didn't say much. Feng Xianyu was clearly well-acquainted with Wei Shu’s situation, and every time he glanced at him, he wore a smirk that left Yan Shang deep in thought.

Midway, Liu Wenji went out to use the facilities. Wei Shu, unable to stand Feng Xianyu’s periodic staring, set down his chopsticks: "I know why you keep staring at me; it’s because you suspect me of being a candidate for the Princess’s consort, isn't it? If you feel such disdain, why bother associating with me?"

Feng Xianyu was startled, then cried out that he was wronged: "You’ve got it all wrong! I envy you! I wish with all my heart that some Princess would take a fancy to me so I could rise through the ranks of officialdom..."

Wei Shu was stunned, clearly not expecting the other man to have so little pride.

Yan Shang mediated, pouring tea for both, and asked: "The 'Princess's consort' Juyuan spoke of is naturally one way to seek an official post. I only wonder, which Princess?"

Wei Shu replied: "Princess Danyang."

Yan Shang spat out the tea he had just been drinking, coughing until his face flushed bright red.