Chapter Nineteen: The Banquet at Hongmen, Murderous Intent Rising (1)

After bidding farewell to Sima Chengzhen and his disciple, Kong Sheng wore a faint smile on his youthful, handsome face. With his hands clasped behind his back, he strolled leisurely back toward the city.

He was in excellent spirits. The fate of Kong Sheng, once a rootless vagabond with neither foundation nor support, had quietly turned. Everything now moved according to the course he’d set, and a grand, tumultuous new life was dawning. He would not admit to being a usurper of history, but he believed with conviction that he was to be the creator of an era.

At the very least, he would change his own destiny and write a history that belonged to him.

Jiangning County remained steeped in song and dance; the people, high and low, noble and humble alike, sang and danced as ever, untouched by the turmoil of war. Even the news of a new emperor’s ascension barely stirred a ripple in the city.

Kong Sheng walked alone through the bustling markets, heading back to the Shunsheng Inn where he was temporarily staying.

Before long, Meng Chao appeared suddenly with two family servants, blocking his path.

Kong Sheng exhaled deeply. So these little clowns could not restrain themselves after all, he mused; what must come, will come. He’d already guessed that Liu Nian and the gang of privileged scions merely meant to give him some trouble and reclaim their lost face—nothing he couldn’t handle. Water meets earth, soldiers meet generals; there was little to fear.

Meng Chao, for all his swagger, had always felt some fear of the fierce and formidable Kong Sheng. The scions in the city could never fathom how the frail servant of the Kong family was born with such brute strength and wild courage. Heaven’s arrangements were indeed mysterious.

When Kong Sheng looked his way, Meng Chao instinctively stepped back half a pace. Gathering himself, he assumed a haughty pose and said, “Kong Sheng, tomorrow afternoon, Liu Nian and Zhou Chang will host a tea and poetry gathering at Rose Pavilion in the Eight Gardens of Mist and Cloud. They invite you to join them. All the scholars of the city will compete with you once more in poetry and prose. Do you dare attend?”

Watching Meng Chao’s bluster—such childish and laughable attempts at provocation—Kong Sheng couldn’t help but smile. He glanced at Meng Chao and replied coolly, “Tell Liu Nian and Zhou Chang that I have no interest whatsoever.”

With that, Kong Sheng stepped forward to leave.

Meng Chao, recalling Kong Sheng’s usual ferocity, dared not block him further, but shouted from the roadside, “Kong Sheng, if you don’t come, you’ll be branded a fraud and a plagiarist! If you refuse, Liu Nian and Zhou Chang will unite the scholars of Jiangnan and petition the authorities to banish you from the literary circles, vowing never to associate with you again!”

Kong Sheng stopped abruptly at these words, his gaze deep but unhurried.

He looked coldly at Meng Chao. “This must be Zhou Chang’s idea, I suppose? Liu Nian alone could never devise such a refined and venomous stratagem. So, it seems there is no goodwill in this invitation—you’re determined to coerce me into your trap.”

Meng Chao laughed aloud. “So, will you come or won’t you? Give us a straight answer!”

Kong Sheng turned to go again, tossing back lightly, “Tell Liu Nian and Zhou Chang that if they want to play, I’ll play with them to the end. I just hope they can handle it, and don’t end up crying for their fathers and wetting their pants!”

Meng Chao, delighted to hear Kong Sheng’s acceptance, failed to notice the slip in Kong Sheng’s words—pants were not yet fashionable in this age. He hurried off with his servants, running straight for the nearby Yan Yun Tower, where Liu Nian, Zhou Chang, and a group of companions were drinking and anxiously awaiting his news.

Kong Sheng picked up his pace and returned to the Shunsheng Inn, heading straight to his room.

After the poetry gathering at Wangjiang Tower, he had resolved to avoid such gatherings in the future and keep out of the limelight. He never liked being the center of attention, but his predecessor’s infamous reputation had left him little choice.

Whatever Zhou Chang and Liu Nian were scheming with this literary banquet, it was plainly a trap. The so-called poetry competition was nothing but a pretext for trouble. Kong Sheng understood this clearly. He’d have ignored them, but Zhou Chang was no ordinary figure; cunning and shrewd, he had managed to force Kong Sheng into this predicament.

If Kong Sheng declined, with the Liu family’s power in the city and Zhou Chang’s influence among the scholars of Jiangnan, they could easily rally a crowd to slander him as a fraud. That would be disastrous.

Kong Sheng cared little for empty fame—the title of “the foremost talent of Jiangnan” was worthless to him. But if he wanted to make a name for himself in the Tang dynasty and seize future opportunities, he had to preserve his reputation for now.

Since that was the case, he would attend the banquet and see what tricks Liu Nian and Zhou Chang could devise. As for Liu Nian, son of the county magistrate though he was, Kong Sheng viewed him as nothing more than an ignorant, pampered scion—not worth concern. The one who warranted caution was Zhou Chang of the Yixing Zhou clan.

The Zhou clan of Yixing was deeply rooted in Jiangnan, and Zhou Chang was not only well-born but also highly talented. The schemes of men of letters could be as deadly as a blade, their cruelty hidden behind laughter and conversation—it was wise to be on guard.

Kong Sheng sat quietly cross-legged on his bed, sorting through his tangled thoughts, and soon fell into deep contemplation.

The Yang Residence.

Yang Qi, upon hearing Yang Kuan’s report, was momentarily taken aback, then smiled faintly and waved his hand. “Zhou Chang is quite calculating—truly a remarkable young man. If not for Kong Sheng’s sudden rise, I would have made him my son-in-law long ago. But now that Kong Sheng is here, let the two young men contend and let’s watch how matters unfold.”

“Yes, I understand,” Yang Kuan replied, bowing and taking his leave.

From behind an ornate screen, Yang Xueruo emerged, supporting her mother, Lady Zheng. Lady Zheng frowned. “Husband, Zhou Chang is cultured and well-born—he may fall short of Kong Sheng in scholarship, but is far more suitable as our son-in-law.”

Yang Xueruo arched her delicate brows at her mother’s words but remained silent.

Yang Qi shook his head. “No need to worry, my dear. This is a chess game under my control. I am willing to give Zhou Chang another chance—if he can turn the tables and outshine Kong Sheng, I’ll consider him as a son-in-law.”

He looked up at his daughter calmly. “Daughter, what do you think?”

Yang Xueruo sighed softly. “I leave it to Father’s judgment. But I believe Zhou Chang is no match for Kong Sheng. This alliance with Liu Nian is a desperate ploy, one that will likely come to nothing.”

“Oh? Why do you say so?” Yang Qi stroked his beard with a smile. “Tell me your thoughts.”

“Father, Zhou Chang is a proud scholar—a leader among the younger generation in Jiangnan. He has always looked down on Liu Nian and his ilk, never considering them worthy company. His alliance with Liu Nian now is merely a way to leverage the power of the Liu family and set a trap for Kong Sheng. I don’t know their exact scheme, but I’m sure Kong Sheng will have a countermeasure.”

“In cunning, Zhou Chang is no match for Kong Sheng. Kong Sheng hides great talent, enduring years of criticism and slander, all to bide his time. Such patience and depth are beyond Zhou Chang’s reach.”

“In means, Zhou Chang also falls short. Kong Sheng is naturally strong, practiced in the martial arts, and now, after learning from the immortal Bai Yunzi, his resolve is even greater. With such courage and skill, if it comes to a showdown, how could Zhou Chang and Liu Nian hope to defeat him?”

“Father, Kong Sheng’s talent astounds the world. He is patient, shrewd, and both literary and martial. I do not believe he is unprepared for the current situation. Such a man is no ordinary fish in the pond—he is not to be compared with the likes of Zhou Chang or Liu Nian.”

As Yang Xueruo spoke, a faint blush colored her cheeks.

Lady Zheng frowned, uneasy at her daughter’s praise for Kong Sheng, but unable to find fault with her reasoning.

Yang Qi looked long and deeply at his daughter, then suddenly burst into hearty laughter. “My daughter truly has keen insight—far more discerning than her mother!”

“By your account, daughter, it seems your heart is set on Kong Sheng.”

Yang Xueruo bit her lip, realizing this was a rare opportunity. She gathered her courage, knelt before her father, and said, “Father, Kong Sheng is a man of both letters and arms. I believe he will one day soar to great heights. I am willing to marry him, and I beg for your approval!”

Lady Zheng was taken aback, staring at her daughter in astonishment.

Yang Qi’s smile faded, but he did not respond. Instead, he turned and left with a flick of his sleeve.

Lady Zheng hurried to help her daughter up, scolding gently, “Child, you are far too bold. What is so special about that Kong Sheng that you would set aside all modesty? See, you’ve angered your father!”

Yang Xueruo straightened and gazed at her father’s departing figure, silent, her clear eyes reflecting a light that even she could not name.

She knew her father’s temperament too well. If he were truly angry or firmly opposed to her marrying Kong Sheng, he would have scolded her outright and ordered her to abandon such thoughts.

Neither consent nor rejection—his response was itself a subtle message, worthy of contemplation.