Chapter 149: The Tishan Wine Gathering

Madam Xu knew her husband would have to hurry to Xuancheng again early the next morning, and her heart ached for him. “It’s much closer to get to Xuancheng from Cheng County. Since you have to go there tomorrow morning anyway, why did you rush back tonight?”

“The bed at home is more restful,” Zhao Zhigao replied with a laugh.

Of course, Madam Xu knew that Old Zhao had made the trip back especially to put her mind at ease, so that she could sleep peacefully tonight.

“By the way, I have something to tell you. Brother Ye sent over two bolts of cloth at dusk. He said they were to thank you for helping him find his long-lost younger sister and elder sister.”

Zhao Zhigao froze.

When had he ever done such a charitable thing as helping someone search for relatives?

Wait! Could those two women he had brought back today actually be Song Ye’s relatives?

How could there be such a coincidence in the world? And Song Ye had never mentioned having a younger sister and elder sister who had been separated from the family.

Suddenly, Zhao Zhigao broke into an enlightened smile, as though he had figured everything out. He grumbled inwardly:

That boy Song Ye is truly meticulous and cautious. By claiming those two women as his long-lost younger sister and elder sister, he can keep them hidden away as his concubines in broad daylight—and he’ll have an explanation ready for the Prince of Xiang’s household as well.

Zhao Zhigao had never expected things to go so smoothly. Song Ye seemed to have grasped the situation in an instant, cooperating wholeheartedly and taking the two women into his own quarters.

Then again, perhaps he had simply been holding himself back for too long.

One could hardly blame him for breaking the vows of eternal love he had made to the commandery princess. After all, in this world, no love could withstand the severing blade of time.

“Song Ye asked me many years ago to help him search for his long-lost younger sister and elder sister. When I met those two women in Peach Blossom Village, I felt they resembled his relatives. I never imagined I would actually be right.”

Zhao Zhigao immediately gave Madam Xu this explanation, helping Song Ye patch up that heaven-shaking lie.

Madam Xu smiled faintly. She seemed to understand everything, but did not expose him.

“I’ll fetch you a basin of hot water so you can wash your feet. You’ll sleep better that way,” she said.

“There’s no need to trouble yourself, dear. You should go to bed too.”

“It’s no trouble.”

With that, Madam Xu turned and walked toward the kitchen.

…

Half a month later, at Xuanqing Palace.

Zhang Zixuan entered the Inner Affairs Hall of the Teaching Directorate with a small alchemy furnace cradled in her hands.

“Master, I refined a batch of your favorite Flower-Whisker Pills. The fragrance is wonderfully pure. You’re sure to like them.”

As she spoke, Zhang Zixuan set the small furnace on her master’s desk and sat down beside her.

Su Xiqiu glanced up at her. “Out with it. What do you want your master to do for you this time?”

Zhang Zixuan propped both hands on the desk and rested her little face in her palms. “Master, you know that it’s almost been a year since your disciple passed the Immortal Master examination and received her credentials. Yet I still don’t have a single disciple of my own. How embarrassing is that?”

“I don’t expect to have students all over the world like you do, Master. I only want one obedient little disciple to order around.”

Su Xiqiu smiled faintly. “How could I not know what you’re thinking? Most of the students who came to Xuanqing Palace for instruction this year have excellent aptitude, and the results of the first aptitude assessment are already out. I’ve already selected several students with both good character and talent for you. You can choose whichever one you like and take them as your disciple.”

To prevent errors in judging a student’s aptitude, Xuanqing Palace conducted two assessments, one before and one after the period of instruction. But mistakes were rare, so as soon as the first results were released, the Immortal Masters of Xuanqing Palace had already begun privately selecting the disciples they favored.

“Master, I’ve already made my choice,” Zhang Zixuan said with a smile.

“You’ve already chosen? Don’t tell me you’ve set your sights on Yuan Wenli too,” Su Xiqiu said. “Far too many people are fighting over that boy. Quite a few Immortal Masters have already sent me gifts in private, hoping to win him.”

“Rest assured, Master. I won’t compete with all those seniors for Yuan Wenli.”

“Then who have you chosen?”

“Her name is Song Yan.”

“Song Yan?” Su Xiqiu paused, as though mentally reviewing all the students who had come to study this year. “You mean Song Ye’s younger sister, that mute girl? She didn’t even pass the aptitude assessment.”

“Master, that is precisely why I’m asking you to make an exception and allow her to remain at Xuanqing Palace for cultivation,” Zhang Zixuan said. “Her aptitude may be somewhat lacking, but I promise you that once I accept her as my disciple, I’ll be extremely strict with her and push her to cultivate diligently. I won’t let her bring shame upon you as her grandmaster.”

The smile vanished from Su Xiqiu’s face.

“So that’s why you came today—to ask me to open a back door for you. I will not agree. Leave the little furnace here, and you may go.”

“Master!”

Zhang Zixuan leaned against Su Xiqiu and began to wheedle. “For the sake of all the years I’ve served you so devotedly, won’t you help me just this once?”

“Spare me that act, Zixuan. Don’t you understand? You’ve only just become an Immortal Master, and your first disciple is especially important. That disciple will have a profound effect on your future career and even on how much you receive in annual Immortal Master subsidies,” Su Xiqiu urged earnestly. “Song Yan’s aptitude is poor enough as it is, and she cannot speak. She has no influential family background either. Her only brother merely works at the local government office. Accepting her as your disciple will bring you no benefit whatsoever. She’ll only become a burden—and a stain upon your entire life.”

Zhang Zixuan immediately argued back, “Master, you’re mistaken. Song Yan’s background is extremely distinguished. Doesn’t she have a sister-in-law who is a commandery princess?”

Su Xiqiu laughed. “A commandery princess of a mortal dynasty is hardly a distinguished figure in the immortal sects. Besides, do you think I don’t know that the princess has been unconscious for years and has never actually married Song Ye? She cannot yet be considered Song Yan’s sister-in-law.”

“Master…”

Zhang Zixuan drew out the word, pushing out her lips in a pout.

“I’m not falling for that,” Su Xiqiu said, glaring at her. “If you truly want to keep Song Yan here, there is one way. Have Song Yan’s family attend Elder Guo’s Tishan Wine Banquet, and have them personally plead with Elder Guo there. As for me, I will not open a back door for you.”

Whenever the period of instruction was nearing its end, Elder Guo Hongchang of Xuanqing Palace would hold a banquet at Tishan, inviting the families of students with prominent backgrounds.

Those influential families who wanted their children to remain at Xuanqing Palace through the back door would use the banquet as an opportunity to shower Guo Hongchang with gifts and flatter him at length.

As long as they managed to please Guo Hongchang at the banquet, everything could be arranged. Within Xuanqing Palace, this was an open secret.

“But Master, you know what Elder Guo is like. He’s an extremely snobbish man. His banquet invitations go only to the families of students with distinguished backgrounds. Song Yan’s brother merely works at a government office. Elder Guo won’t send him an invitation.”

“I can obtain an invitation for you,” Su Xiqiu said. “But whether Song Yan can remain at Xuanqing Palace will depend on her brother. This is as far as I can help you. There is no point in saying more.”

“All right,” Zhang Zixuan replied dejectedly.