Chapter Fifteen: Once One Has Seen the Vast Ocean, No Water Elsewhere Will Suffice (4)

The Yang and Kong families have long been bound by ties of friendship and marriage. With Snow Ruo already betrothed to him, and seeing that he possesses both talent and learning, why should I risk earning the infamous reputation of being unkind and unjust for all ages?” Yang Qi smiled lightly. “Madam, daughter, this time, I shall make the decision.”

Madam Zheng sighed softly, “As you say, my lord.”

Yang Snow Ruo gracefully moved forward, her expression complex as she bowed to her father. “If Father decides, I will obey without question.”

In truth, Yang Snow Ruo did not know why she agreed. It seemed she was compelled by her father’s authority, yet perhaps her heart had shifted imperceptibly, no longer as resistant to Kong Sheng as before.

“Daughter, you witnessed Kong Sheng’s public display of talent. Those poems and songs of his will surely become masterpieces of this era, and his fame is bound to spread across the world. To speak plainly, that young man is handsome and refined; he is your perfect match.” Yang Qi’s voice softened as he gazed at his daughter, nodding and smiling.

Snow Ruo’s cheeks flushed prettily. She lowered her eyes in silence, curtsied, and retreated behind her mother.

Yang Kuan, standing nearby, accompanied his words with a smile and whispered, “My lord, if that young master of the Kong family is foolish enough to ignore your kindness, what would become of him?”

In Yang Kuan’s mouth, Kong Sheng had quietly changed from “the Kong family’s servant boy” to “the Kong family’s young master”—for as the Yang family’s head insisted on accepting Kong Sheng as a son-in-law, he would become the true kinsman of the Yangs. With only one daughter and no other heirs, the vast family fortune would fall to Kong Sheng. How could Yang Kuan dare be disrespectful?

Yang Qi was a unique figure among the high officials of the Tang dynasty. In a court where keeping concubines for pleasure was the norm, he had only ever married Lady Zheng, devoted his affections to her alone, and took no concubines, only a few chamber maids. This was almost a miracle, a true feat.

“Yang Kuan, if he refuses my goodwill, his fate is clear. In Jiangning, he would have no place to stand. The fact that he has been able to endure so long shows his deep cunning. I believe he is a smart man and knows which path to take.” Yang Qi smiled coldly. “Of course, he may seem arrogant now, acting out the pride of youth, but it won’t be long before he realizes that without the support of the Yang family and myself, he has no way forward.”

Yang Qi’s words were clear to Yang Kuan, and even Lady Zheng understood. The former wastrel Kong Sheng, always causing trouble and making enemies in the city—like Liu Nian from the Liu magistrate’s family and the sons of other officials. And then there were the gentry families led by Zhou Chang, who would not accept being overshadowed by a ruined noble. Retribution was inevitable.

With the Yang family’s protection, no one would dare touch Kong Sheng. Without it, neither Liu Nian’s group of rakes nor Zhou Chang’s circle of scholars would let him go—Liu Nian, in particular, would not rest until Kong Sheng was ruined.

Thus, Yang Qi was certain that Kong Sheng would eventually find himself cornered and would seek out the Yang family of his own accord. From this perspective, Kong Sheng was like a dish on Yang Qi’s table, and escape was impossible.

Standing behind Lady Zheng, Snow Ruo raised her pretty face, a shadow of worry flickering across her delicate features and in her eyes.

Yang Kuan was sent to find Kong Sheng, while Snow Ruo returned to her private courtyard chamber. She stood quietly by the bamboo grove swaying in the wind, her face alternating between pale and flushed, hesitating for a long time before making up her mind. She turned and went inside, wrote a letter, and called for her maid, Red Cotton.

“Red Cotton, go to the Shunsheng Inn in the city and find Kong Sheng. Give him this letter.” Snow Ruo’s cheeks were faintly red as she spoke softly.

Red Cotton had heard the rumors of Kong Sheng’s “transformation from a black chicken to a phoenix,” but she was still half skeptical. The once shameless, lazy, cunning, and shiftless Kong family weakling had become a true talent? Surely it was just boasting?

But she was a young girl, uncomplicated in her thoughts, and since her mistress’s attitude had changed, she could not cling to her old opinions.

“Miss, you…” Red Cotton was surprised. Her mistress, who had always despised Kong Sheng and refused even to look at him, was now sending him a private letter.

Snow Ruo’s face reddened further, but her voice remained calm. “Don’t ask so many questions. Just deliver the letter quietly. Make sure you place it directly in his hands. Do not tell anyone else.”

Red Cotton nodded, curiosity getting the better of her. “Miss, I heard the older maids in the house singing a ‘Song of Endless Regret’—they say it was written by that Kong family weakling? It’s incredible that he could produce such poetry!”

For a young maid like Red Cotton, wholly dependent on her mistress, that sweeping, passionate Song of Endless Regret was unimaginable. She could not grasp its meaning, but seeing the older, literate maids recite it with tears in their eyes, she knew it was extraordinary.

“In heaven, we wish to be birds flying side by side; on earth, we hope to be branches intertwined. Though heaven and earth may end, our regret is endless.” Snow Ruo’s mind echoed with Kong Sheng’s stirring verses from yesterday, and she recited them unconsciously, her heart filled with complex longing and a faint, hidden hope.

She herself was considered a talented woman of her time, in the bloom of youth, cherishing dreams of everlasting love, but had never expressed them in such a supreme song as Kong Sheng had.

“Go, Red Cotton.” Snow Ruo waved her hand, sitting quietly on her couch, her thoughts adrift. Kong Sheng, possessing such talent, why did he squander it and earn such a bad reputation? Had he revealed his gifts sooner, things would not have come to this; their betrothal would have been fulfilled, and their harmonious union would be the envy of all.

To fall in love with a man because of a few poems might seem absurd today. Yet in Tang society, where poetry and learning were the measure of destiny and all that mattered, a proud noble girl could easily be moved by such things. Especially since Kong Sheng’s transformation was so dramatic—whether Snow Ruo admitted it or not, this left an indelible mark on her heart.

With her father’s determined direction, her heart was quietly tied to Kong Sheng.

...

Shunsheng Inn.

Returning from riding outside the city, it was nearly dusk. Master Bai Yunzi and his disciples were shut away practicing Daoist teachings, so Kong Sheng simply washed up and prepared to eat downstairs.

His door was knocked. He jumped down from his bed and opened it, finding Yang Kuan, the chief steward of the Yang family. Kong Sheng frowned inwardly, but immediately understood his purpose.

“Congratulations, young master Kong!” Yang Kuan, formerly arrogant, now smiled obsequiously and bowed to Kong Sheng—a gesture that would have been unthinkable before.

“Chief Steward Yang, your courtesy is too much for me. Please, come in.” Kong Sheng smiled calmly, waving Yang Kuan inside.

The room was simple, with only a bed and no place for guests. Yang Kuan could not sit, so he stood awkwardly and bowed. “Young master Kong, my lord says the Yang family will fund the restoration of your ancestral home and then return it to you…”

“My lord also says that after you marry the young lady, he will recommend you to the court as the magistrate of Danyang County. Young master Kong, I hope you appreciate the lord’s kindness and sign this marriage contract soon, so I may report back to my lord and lady.”

Kong Sheng did not even glance at the marriage contract Yang Kuan unfolded. He replied coolly, “I am deeply grateful for the lord’s favor, but my family has fallen, and we are not a match for the Yangs. I cannot presume to marry the daughter of such a noble house. Please inform the lord and lady that I must decline.”

Kong Sheng sneered inwardly. He knew Yang Qi’s motives were not out of love for talent, but for the sake of the Yang family’s reputation. They had misjudged him as a wastrel and forced him to renounce the betrothal, but now, with his “rebirth,” they could only renew the engagement to avoid scandal.

Seeing Kong Sheng refuse yet again and give the Yang family no face, Yang Kuan was shocked, then his expression changed to anger. “Kong Sheng! How dare you refuse such kindness! Don’t think that, just because you have some talent, you can be arrogant and disrespectful. Without the lord’s recommendation and the Yang family’s support, you, a mere ruined noble, will never amount to anything!”

“I have never been arrogant, nor have I been disrespectful! Precisely because I am fallen, I dare not presume to marry into the Yang family. Besides, the lord and lady only recently forced me to renounce the engagement, and now you accuse me of being ungrateful—how absurd!” Kong Sheng answered fearlessly.

“As for whether I can succeed, that is my own affair. The Yang family need not concern themselves. Please convey to the lord that if ever I achieve anything, I will not forget their kindness!”

Yang Kuan had not expected Kong Sheng to be unmoved, even daring to retort and hint at threatening the Yangs. He laughed coldly, “You are bringing ruin upon yourself! Since you refuse kindness, you may as well fend for yourself!”

Yang Kuan’s eyes flashed with menace as he glared at Kong Sheng, then swept out arrogantly.

Watching the chief steward of the Yangs—so fickle and servile—leave, Kong Sheng’s lips curled in disdain.