A day later, the group arrived safely at Dànzhōu Fǔ.
Gan Cai’er chose a luxurious inn to stay in. Since her Rebirth, she had never traveled this far before; after a day in the carriage, her back felt as if it were about to break.
Upon entering the room, she practically threw herself onto the bed, too lazy to even wash up, and was ready to sleep.
“You’ve had a tiring journey; rest well for a while,” Lan Tingzhou said.
“Aren’t you resting?” Gan Cai’er asked in surprise.
She saw Lan Tingzhou take out an outer robe to change into, as if he were about to go out.
“I made plans to meet a few classmates when we arrived. I’ll be back soon.”
With that, Lan Tingzhou closed the door and left.
Gan Cai’er instantly felt her drowsiness vanish and couldn’t help but be taken aback. Since when did Lan Tingzhou have classmates in Dànzhōu Fǔ?
The Qizhi Academy where Lan Tingzhou studied had only about fifty people in total, including teachers and students, all from the town and surrounding villages within a ten-mile radius. She had never heard of anyone being in Dànzhōu Fǔ.
In her previous life, the two of them had never traveled to Dànzhōu Fǔ together, so she had no idea that Lan Tingzhou already had connections with people here at this time.
A strange thought suddenly occurred to Gan Cai’er. Perhaps she had never truly understood Lan Tingzhou; he might not be as simple as she had assumed.
In the elegant room of the Mingpin Teahouse.
A young man in dark robes sat by the window, legs crossed leisurely, sipping tea slowly and with an air of casual ease.
This was the scene Lan Tingzhou saw when he pushed the door open. Although the two had not seen each other for ten years, the vaguely familiar features still allowed him to recognize the other person at a glance: Lu Qingning.
Lan Tingzhou stood still for a long time.
“Haha, don’t tell me you’re about to cry,” Lu Qingning looked up and teased with a smile.
“Ten years apart, and your temperament hasn’t changed a bit,” Lan Tingzhou replied with a faint smile.
“Old habits die hard. Aren’t you still as stern and cold as ever?” Lu Qingning chuckled.
Lan Tingzhou walked over slowly and sat down, pouring himself a cup of tea.
“I heard you were promoted to Jin Jun captain. Let me congratulate you with tea instead of wine.”
“Haha, congratulations to you too. I also congratulate you on winning first place in the County Examination.”
Lu Qingning downed his tea with gusto, as if he were drinking fine wine rather than tea.
Lan Tingzhou smiled; Lu Qingning was still the same passionate person.
After two cups of hot tea, the subtle sense of unfamiliarity between them vanished. After all, over the years, the two had exchanged letters frequently, never losing touch.
After exchanging pleasantries, they began discussing serious matters.
“How are things in Jingdu now?” Lan Tingzhou asked.
“Same as before. The emperor is weak, and the entire court is controlled by the Prince Regent,” Lu Qingning replied.
“No rush, there will be opportunities,” Lan Tingzhou lowered his gaze and said calmly.
The connection between Lan Tingzhou and Lu Qingning originated from the Prince Regent, Gongsun Yi.
Lu Qingning’s original name was Lu Yu. His father, Lu Jun, was a Zhonglang Jiang, a fifth-rank official stationed at the northwestern border of Da Yong.
During the reign of Xian Di, Lu Jun was implicated in an embezzlement case and was later stripped of his official position by the Ministry of Justice, with his entire family exiled three thousand miles away.
Lan Tingzhou’s father, Lan Yaoshi, was serving as a supervisory censor at the time. Sensing something amiss with the case, he submitted three consecutive memorials, pleading with Xian Di to reinvestigate the case. He even spoke out directly in court during a grand assembly.
Lan Yaoshi was a famously stubborn and outspoken official in Jingdu. Though Xian Di was often infuriated by him, Xian Di cherished his reputation too much, so he had no choice but to remand the case for a joint retrial by the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice.
In the end, this case uncovered a shocking scandal involving embezzlement of military funds and private minting of official silver.
More than five or six officials of the third rank or higher were investigated and punished, while over twenty others were dismissed, had their properties confiscated, or were exiled.
Lu Jun’s name was finally cleared. Xian Di issued an edict restoring him to his official position and returning all confiscated property.
But justice came too late. The Lu family had already fallen ill during their exile, with some dying and others perishing—none survived.
Lu Qingning survived only because, during the exile, Lady Lu bribed the escorting officers with banknotes hidden in the soles of her shoes, allowing the seven-year-old Lu Yu to escape with his life.
Later, Lu Yu wandered his way back to Jingdu, changed his name to Lu Qingning, and enlisted in the military.
After Lu Jun was exonerated, he remained unusually silent and did not step forward to reclaim his identity.
Because he knew his parents had not died of illness—they had been murdered.
And it was around that time that Lan Yaoshi sowed the seeds of his own misfortune. The year after Lu Jun’s exoneration, Lan Yaoshi was imprisoned.
This time, however, he did not encounter another “Censor Lan” willing to stand up and speak out for him.
It was then that Lan Tingzhou met Lu Qingning.
They shared a common enemy—the man who had killed their fathers: the then Second Prince, now Prince Regent, Gongsun Yi.
But for two powerless, penniless, bare-handed youths of eighteen or nineteen, toppling the nominal Prince Regent and de facto ruler of Da Yong was as difficult as climbing to the heavens.
Yet they never once thought of retreating.
“That ‘Ode to Heavy Snow’ you sent me last time—I showed it to several officials. Master Zhang from the Ministry of Rites particularly liked it and kept praising you,” Lu Qingning said.
“Master Zhang? Zhang Jun?”
“Exactly. Do you know him?” Lu Qingning raised an eyebrow.
“I met him when I was young. He was still a Hanlin bachelor then and visited our home. My father once praised his literary talent highly,” Lan Tingzhou replied with a faint smile.
“He’s now a Director in the Ministry of Rites. When you arrive in Jingdu, having his support will make it easier for you to establish yourself.”
Lan Tingzhou nodded, then suddenly asked, “What do you think of the elderly Master Lu who’s coming this time?”
“Him? Don’t even mention him! He’s such a pedantic old scholar, always spouting classical phrases, weeping at the slightest breeze—a real headache.”
Lan Tingzhou lowered his gaze, a slight smile playing on his lips.
“No way? You know Elder Master Lu too?!”
“Yes. When I was little, I chased him out with a broom,” Lan Tingzhou said calmly.
“What?!” Lu Qingning was stunned.
Lan Tingzhou smiled but offered no further explanation.
Lu Yu and Lan Yaoshi were like rivals yet friends.
Both were obsessed with calligraphy and painting, but their views on the arts differed greatly—one championed the Southern School, the other the Northern School—and both were equally stubborn and irritable.
Whenever they met, they would clash like fighting cocks. Yet whenever they acquired a fine copybook or a remarkable painting, they would inevitably flaunt it in front of the other just to provoke them.
Once, Lan Yaoshi was so infuriated by Lu Yu that he couldn’t eat for three days. Later, when Lu Yu visited again, the five-year-old Lan Tingzhou simply picked up a broom and chased him out the door.
Lu Yu was devoted to calligraphy and painting, disdaining the power struggles of the court. For years, he had only held a sinecure at the Hanlin Academy, and after more than three decades as an official, he remained a sixth-rank academic attendant. He had once taught calligraphy and painting to the Jing He Emperor, and after the emperor ascended the throne, the number of people flocking to flatter and curry favor with him surged.
“Old Master Lu enjoys the emperor’s deep trust. If you could secure his recommendation, you would surely soar to great heights!” Lu Qingning said earnestly.
But Lan Tingzhou shook his head.
“Old Master Lu is upright and pure in character, unfamiliar with the internal strife of the court. Involving him would not only harm him but also jeopardize us.”
“Rice must be eaten bite by bite, and the road must be walked step by step—there is no need to rush. Qingning, rest assured, blood debts will ultimately be repaid.”
Lan Tingzhou’s voice was light, calm, yet resolute.
“Alright, as long as you have a plan,” Lu Qingning replied.
“By the way, do you have an invitation to the upcoming Lotus Appreciation Banquet?” Lan Tingzhou asked.
“Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t drag Old Master Lu into this?”
“Lord Du is hosting this Lotus Appreciation Banquet, and all the slightly renowned scholars and literati within Danzhou will attend. I merely wish to observe and learn.”
“Oh, I see. It’s said that invitations are extremely scarce this time, and I don’t have one either. However, I could take you in directly.”
Lan Tingzhou felt a slight disappointment.
He let out a soft sigh. “Then forget it. For now, it’s best not to let others know about our relationship.”
Seeing Lan Tingzhou refuse, Lu Qingning did not press further. Since childhood, Lan Tingzhou had always been the one with strong opinions. Though Lu Qingning was a year older, he had always deferred to him.
“Oh, by the way, in your last letter, you mentioned you got married? Is it the woman Tingzhi keeps saying bullies you every day?” Lu Qingning suddenly teased.
Lan Tingzhou fell silent, his ears uncontrollably tinged with a faint blush, before slowly nodding.
Lu Qingning studied him for a moment, marveling, “Huh, you’re actually blushing? No way? Are you really being bullied by her?”
Lan Tingzhou shot him a glance and said coolly, “Do you have nothing better to do?”
With that, he flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.