The chill of the early morning pierced through the window paper like needles.
When Xing Xiuyan awoke, she felt as if every bone in her body had been disassembled and reassembled, leaving her sore and weak.
When she moved slightly, a tearing sensation arose from beneath her, making her frown.
Last night’s frenzy was like an endless storm.
She turned her head; the space beside her was empty, the bedding still holding the residual warmth of that man.
She propped herself up to sit, and a black outer garment slid off the clothes rack beside the bed.
It was his.
She picked up the garment; it still carried the faint scent of soap mixed with ink fragrance from his body.
She buried her face in the clothing and took a deep breath.
She dressed, but as soon as she stood up, her legs gave way.
She leaned on the edge of the bed and smiled faintly.
The Lin Residence was situated in the quietest alley in Jinling City.
There were no tall stone lions, nor vermilion lacquered gates.
There were only two black lacquered wooden doors, and an old plaque above the lintel inscribed with the words "Lin Residence."
Everywhere exuded a noble air of scholarly refinement, yet also the desolation of a family with few descendants.
Feng Yuan presented his calling card.
The gate attendant glanced at him, then at the name "Feng Yuan" on the calling card, and his expression immediately became respectful.
"Young Master Feng, please wait a moment. I will go and announce you right away."
Before long, an old butler dressed in blue hurried out to greet him.
Feng Yuan followed the butler through the courtyard.
The flowers and plants in the courtyard were meticulously tended.
However, the air was permeated with a thick, lingering medicinal smell that would not dissipate.
That medicinal scent overpowered the fragrance of the flowers and the scent of books, enveloping the entire residence like an invisible veil.
In the Study Room, a thin, middle-aged man was leaning against the Soft Couch by the window, holding a scroll of a book in his hand.
He was wearing a casual robe made of Hangzhou silk; the robe looked somewhat loose, making him appear even more gaunt.
His complexion was the waxy yellow of chronic illness.
Hearing footsteps, he put down the scroll and looked up.
It was the Salt Censor, Lin Ruhai.
"Junior Scholar Feng Yuan pays his respects to Lord Lin." Feng Yuan bowed deeply.
"Sit," Lin Ruhai’s voice was gentle, yet carried a weakness indicative of insufficient vital energy.
He pointed to the chair opposite him.
A Maidservant brought tea.
The tea was top-grade pre-Qing Dragon Well, but what Feng Yuan smelled beneath the tea fragrance was an even stronger medicinal odor.
"I hear you achieved the top three ranks consecutively; you are a rare genius in Jinling City, seen only once in a century." Lin Ruhai observed him.
"It was merely the Junior Scholar's luck."
"In this world, there is rarely so much luck." Lin Ruhai smiled, but the movement caused a suppressed cough.
He covered his mouth with a Handkerchief and coughed a few times.
Feng Yuan saw that the snow-white Handkerchief had faintly acquired a spot of dark red.
His heart sank.
This illness had already penetrated to the bone marrow, incurable.
Lin Ruhai recovered his breath and discreetly tucked the Handkerchief into his sleeve.
"Your soap business is doing very well."
Feng Yuan’s heart tightened.
"It is merely a small venture of the Junior Scholar, yet it has reached the ears of Your Lordship."
"More than just reaching my ears." Lin Ruhai raised his teacup, pausing the rim near his lips, "Nowadays, which Salt Merchant in the Yangzhou region does not know of the young man surnamed Feng who, backed by Prince Zhongshun, struck a deal that earns thousands of gold daily?"
His gaze, though seemingly gentle, was like a soft knife slowly scraping away Feng Yuan's background.
Feng Yuan stood up and bowed again.
"The Junior Scholar dares not deceive Your Lordship. My family is poor; studying and practicing martial arts requires money everywhere. Fortunately, I received the Prince's favor, which allowed me this livelihood."
He kept his posture very low.
"The Junior Scholar also knows that the channels for the Salt Merchants are all under Your Lordship's control. The Junior Scholar has taken the liberty of coming today to ask Your Lordship for one thing."
"Speak."
"The Junior Scholar boldly wishes to request Your Lordship's permission to allow my soap to be loaded onto the salt fleet and sold everywhere."
"Of the profits earned, the Junior Scholar is willing to offer Thirty Percent to show respect to Your Lordship."
The Study Room fell silent.
Lin Ruhai looked at him, remaining silent for a long time.
His eyes, which had witnessed the ups and downs of officialdom, betrayed no hint of emotion.
Lin Ruhai coughed a few more times.
He set down the teacup; the cup made a light sound as it met the tabletop.
"Thirty Percent is too much."
"If I take it, I would be colluding with you."
Feng Yuan’s heart lifted.
"Your soap can go on the salt ships." Lin Ruhai abruptly changed his tone.
"As for the profits, this official will not take a single cent."
"You only need to show me the annual accounts for review."
Feng Yuan was stunned.
He had expected Lin Ruhai to refuse, and he had expected him to bargain.
But he never expected this reaction.
Not taking a cent, only wanting to see the account books?
What did this mean?
He suddenly looked up at Lin Ruhai.
Lin Ruhai wore a tired smile on his face.
Feng Yuan instantly understood.
Lin Ruhai was protecting himself.
If he didn't take money, he wouldn't have leverage.
His wanting to see the account books was, first, to show goodwill to Prince Zhongshun, indicating he was not obstructing the matter.
Second, it was to keep a hold over Feng Yuan.
Should anything happen later, these account books would serve as evidence of guilt presented to the Emperor.
What a man, Lin Ruhai.
Worthy of being a Third Place Scholar; his mind was meticulous and flawless.
He gave Lin Ruhai a deep bow.
"Your Lordship's righteousness is admirable; the Junior Scholar is convinced."
"Sit down," Lin Ruhai waved his hand, appearing somewhat weary.
He leaned back on the Soft Couch, his gaze fixed on the withered plum tree outside the window.
"In my life, holding a third-rank official post, I have done my duty to the Emperor and to the Ancestors of the Lin family."
"It's just that..."
His voice suddenly became tinged with sadness.
"I have no sons; I don't know to whom I should entrust this vast Family Fortune in the future."
"I am left with only one daughter, pampered and ignorant of the dangers of the world."
"Since her mother passed away, she has gone to her maternal grandmother's home in Shenjing."
Feng Yuan listened quietly, offering no interruption.
He knew the main topic was coming.
Lin Ruhai sighed.
"My mother-in-law dotes on my young daughter immensely. She has been constantly trying to matchmake her with my nephew, Second Master Bao."
"By rights, uniting two related families would be a fine match."
His gaze shifted toward Feng Yuan.
"You are also a talented young man; tell me, what do you think of this marriage?"
Feng Yuan’s heart leaped suddenly.
This was Lin Ruhai testing him.
He pondered for a moment, then slowly began to speak.
"The Junior Scholar is of low standing and dares not casually discuss the affairs of the Jia Family."
"But since Your Lordship asks, the Junior Scholar can only boldly offer a few shallow opinions."
"Speak freely."
"The Jia Family is a Duke's Residence, immensely wealthy, so it is naturally a well-matched marriage," Feng Yuan first affirmed.
Then, he shifted his tone.
"However, the Junior Scholar has heard that Second Master Bao was born with jade, a celestial being, who grew up surrounded by young ladies and dislikes matters of finance and officialdom."
"Miss Lin is a young lady from a scholarly family; her thoughts and aspirations likely do not align with Second Master Bao's."
"That... is true," Lin Ruhai nodded.
"Secondly," Feng Yuan lowered his voice slightly.
"Forgive my bold words, but the Jia Family, though currently appearing prosperous and flourishing, is in reality... already in a state of decline."
Lin Ruhai’s pupils contracted sharply.
"What makes you say that?"
"Based on my understanding of families who founded the dynasty, the current generation of Jia descendants is among the lowest tier."
"The Jia Family has a large population and huge expenses, yet their income decreases year by year. Furthermore, the two main branches of the Jia Family lack capable individuals to support them, relying only on the prestige of their ancestors to barely hold on."
"Their family rose through military merit, but now they are mostly people who fear death and only rely on handing over their military connections to Wang Ziteng, depending on the Wang Family's favor."
"If Your Lordship sends your vast family fortune along with the Young Lady, are you trying to send charcoal in snowy weather, or are you trying to add flowers to brocade?"
"There is no one in the Imperial Court to speak for them. Master Zheng donated for a fifth-rank honorary post that cannot participate in court politics, and the Eldest Master inherited a General's Hereditary Title but has never once served in the army."
"That Young Master Bao is not the Eldest Master's son, so naturally, he cannot inherit the title."
Feng Yuan's words were like a sharp knife, directly peeling away the Jia Family's glossy exterior to reveal the rot within.
Lin Ruhai's expression grew increasingly grim.
The hand holding the teacup trembled slightly.
"The most important point," Feng Yuan's voice grew colder.
"The Jia Family consists of Former Officials of the Retired Emperor. The Wang Family consists of the New Emperor's favored officials."
"Currently, the New and Old factions in the Imperial Court are locked in a life-or-death struggle."
"The Jia Family's ship is already riddled with holes. Does Your Lordship truly wish to send your only beloved daughter onto this ship that is destined to sink?"
"Crack!"
The teacup in Lin Ruhai's hand slipped, falling to the floor and shattering into pieces.
Tea and fragments splashed everywhere.
Feng Yuan stood up and straightened his robe.
"The Junior Scholar is merely an outsider; Your Lordship need only heed half of what was said."
Having spoken, he said no more, merely standing quietly there.
The Study Room was deathly silent.
Only Lin Ruhai's increasingly rapid, whistling breaths could be heard.
After a long, long time.
He looked at the mess on the floor, then at the calm young man before him.
He suddenly felt that his entire life navigating the currents of officialdom was less insightful than what this young man saw.
"You..."
He tried to speak, but was interrupted by a violent fit of coughing.
He coughed until he bent over, his whole body shaking, as if trying to expel his internal organs.
Feng Yuan stepped forward, intending to support him.
Lin Ruhai waved his hand, signaling him not to move.
He braced himself against the desk, managing to stand steady.
He looked at Feng Yuan, and a startling brightness suddenly erupted in his cloudy eyes.
"You... wish to marry my daughter?"
Feng Yuan did not avoid his gaze.
He bowed deeply.
"To say that the esteemed daughter of Lord Lin is not desirable would be impossible."
"If I can receive Your Lordship's permission, Feng Yuan is willing to swear with his life that he will never fail Miss Lin."
Lin Ruhai looked at him for a very, very long time.
Finally, he closed his eyes wearily.
"You should... go back first..."
His voice was so faint it was almost inaudible.
Feng Yuan knew that enough had been said for today.
Saying more would only be counterproductive.
He bowed again and then quietly withdrew from the Study Room.
When he reached the doorway, he looked back once.
The Winter Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, illuminating Lin Ruhai.
He sat there alone, like a stone statue about to weather away.
Feng Yuan knew that this towering tree, which had stood for half a lifetime, was about to fall.
And he was merely trying to pluck the most precious fruit from that tree before it collapsed.