Chapter 109

Father Wen embodies all the integrity, virtue, and principles of a true scholar. When it comes to promises, he has the courage and determination to go through fire and water to fulfill them. Thus, no matter how Nianxi tried to persuade him, she could not sway his resolve to bring Pei Jian to the literary gathering.

“On that day, I’ll leave early and return early to spend the Winter Solstice with your mother and you. Don’t worry, Nian’er.”

Nianxi, left with no other choice, requested to accompany him, but Wen Yuanqiao firmly refused. “It’s a gathering of men, Nian’er—it wouldn’t be convenient for you. If you’re interested, another day, I can host an event and invite some family friends. You can then come and listen in. Would that be alright?”

Wen Yuanqiao was naturally mild-mannered, but once he decided about certain matters, even Madam Li couldn’t dissuade him.

Nianxi had to concede and settled for inquiring about the gathering’s location instead.

Literary gatherings, as they were called, involved a few close friends coming together in scenic surroundings—mountains and rivers, pines and bamboo, moonlight, and fresh breezes. They brewed tea, recited poetry, and paired their lines, savoring elegant pastimes close to nature. In the current biting cold and howling northern winds, enjoying scenic outings with poetry, wine, and song was not suitable. Wen Yuanqiao and his companions mostly held gatherings in teahouses or venues.

This time, the gathering was arranged at a teahouse called Taoju, located next to the largest entertainment district in the capital.

According to the Book of Han, “The Winter Solstice marks the rise of Yang energy, signifying the growth of the ruler’s path.” On this day, the Emperor would lead the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers in welcoming the new year with celebratory rituals, commonly known as “He Dong.” It was a customary day off for the court.

Nianxi had pre-booked a private room at Taoju and invited her older brother, Wen Qingheng, to wait with her in case any incidents arose next door. This way, they could promptly assist if needed. However, due to the passage of time, Nianxi couldn’t confirm if her father’s accident indeed happened on this specific day.

Better safe than sorry, she thought, and could only sit idly with her brother, exchanging glances in a rather dull standoff.

Wen Qingheng, having a rare day off, originally planned to meet with friends and colleagues for a small gathering. But his sister disrupted his plans, prompting him to say helplessly, “Did you come here just to admire the tea-pointing technique? Isn’t your own brewing good enough?”

This teahouse was known for its exceptional tea-making skills.

Scholars, as expected, were talkative, and their gatherings often lasted for hours without conclusion.

Out of boredom, Nianxi ordered every famous tea soup in the shop one by one. Before long, their table was filled with tea soups of various sizes and styles. At that moment, hearing Wen Qingheng’s question, she could only make up an excuse, saying, “I just wanted to try the tea and see if there’s anything we can use for our shop.”

Wen Qingheng was more than willing to accompany his sister, but sitting there was dull. After some thought, he cautiously said, “You and Shizhang…”

The words had barely left his mouth when he realized it didn’t feel right. So, he rephrased his question, “What do you think of Pei Jian?”

On the surface, Nianxi had no interactions with Pei Jian.

In Wen Qingheng’s mind, his sister probably wasn’t aware of Pei Jian’s questionable intentions. That’s why, ever since spotting Pei Jian on his sister’s carriage that day, Wen Qingheng had been perplexed.

“Isn’t he a friend of yours, Brother?” Nianxi sipped her tea gently and said, “He seems aloof and cold, not someone easy to get along with.”

That wasn’t exactly a flattering assessment.

Wen Qingheng silently shook his head at Pei Jian in his thoughts. He then followed up, “What about Zhou Yanli? What do you think of him?”

Nianxi chuckled softly. “Brother, you know Yanli well enough, so why are you asking me about him?”

Wen Qingheng paused, momentarily at a loss. He couldn’t very well tell his sister: I think that boy has feelings for you, and I’m trying to gauge your thoughts.

“…I just feel like you two aren’t as close as before—that’s all I was wondering.”

Nianxi lowered her gaze, hesitated for a moment, and then replied, “We’ve both grown up. It’s not like when we were young and naive.”

In truth, Nianxi could feel that Zhou Yanli treated her differently. She wasn’t oblivious but also prone to avoidance—avoiding a relationship that felt a bit too weighty for her. She had made a mistake before, mistaking the young and carefree official who carried his feelings subtly in his relaxed demeanor for the inexperienced boy he once was. And so, the things she had overlooked, the emotions he buried deep, gradually surfaced as Zhou Yanli took step after step closer to her.

Once, as Nianxi was preparing to return home from Fusheng Banzhan, she happened to encounter Zhou Yanli at the door. He waved at her happily, saying, “Sister, I was just heading to your home to discuss scholarly matters with Brother Wen. Are you heading back? We can go together.”

At that moment, Nianxi almost called out to him to ask a question. But looking at that delicate and youthful face, she realized that the question she wanted to ask was something Zhou Yanli of today couldn’t answer.

Only the young statesman he would later become would know the answer.

“Yanli is still young, and his thoughts are not yet steady. He has to focus on his studies and civil service exams, and there are many uncertainties…” Wen Qingheng rambled on endlessly to the point that the noise from the neighboring room had ceased without him noticing. It took Nianxi a moment to realize this.

“Brother, let’s go.”

Wen Qingheng hesitated, glanced at the table full of tea cups, and somewhat dazedly followed her out. As they descended the stairs, they saw a crowd at the entrance.

Nianxi’s heart tightened, and without thinking, she rushed toward the door.

Wen Qingheng, not typically enjoying bustling scenes, felt compelled to push through the crowd alongside his curious sister, fearing that someone might accidentally bump into her.

What they saw next was a scene that made their blood boil—

A drunken scoundrel, his clothes disheveled and his steps unsteady, pointed at their father and cursed, “You old fool!” He then grabbed a long pole from the gate of the building and swung it fiercely at their father’s forehead.

Both Nianxi and Wen Qingheng cried out in alarm. But they were still too far away. Just as the pole was about to strike Wen Yuanqiao, someone darted out diagonally, standing before their father to block the blow.