Chapter 5

Tianjing looked at Xu Yi in disbelief. So young, yet already so refined in literary expression.

“A son like this is what every dynasty dreams of.”

He smiled.
“It seems our Great Jing Dynasty will soon see a literary star rise.”

Even the man they called "Ladyboy"—who had never thought much of Xu Yi—was speechless for once.

He may not have known much about poetry, but even a fool could hear how extraordinary this composition was.

Once this piece got out, it was bound to shake the entire capital.

Xu Yi scratched his head sheepishly. “I don’t want fame. I just want to eat and stay warm.”

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

Ladyboy opened it, and several attendants from the Zhuangyuan Pavilion came in carrying trays full of delicious food.

Xu Yi stared at the dishes being set on the table, drooling uncontrollably.

Tianjing glanced at him and chuckled. “Lanxing, sit.”

Xu Yi hesitated. “You’re... treating me to a meal?”

Tianjing nodded.

Xu Yi had been starving. He was still recovering from illness and hadn’t eaten since yesterday.

Seeing him sit down, Tianjing said, “Go on. Help yourself.”

“Thank you, Uncle. I won’t hold back then!”

Famished, Xu Yi threw aside all manners and began devouring the food.

Tianjing simply watched, not touching his chopsticks.

“How vulgar,” muttered Ladyboy with disdain.

But neither he nor the bearded man beside him dared to sit. They stood quietly behind Tianjing.

When Xu Yi finally finished, he let out a loud burp.

Only then did he notice that Tianjing hadn’t eaten anything.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, he asked, “Uncle, why aren’t you eating?”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Then... can I take the rest of this roast chicken with me?”

Tianjing looked at him. “Do you often go hungry?”

Xu Yi nodded.

“I’ll have them pack a whole one for you.”

“No need—half a chicken is plenty.”

Tianjing didn’t insist. He nodded and shifted the subject. “So, how much do you want for that poem?”

Xu Yi thought for a moment. “You’re already feeding me. Just pay what you think it’s worth—I’ll even give you a discount.”

Tianjing considered. “How about one hundred taels of silver?”

Xu Yi’s eyes went wide.

I’m rich!

A hundred taels—enough to match a third-rank official’s annual salary!

For reference, his own father, Xu Ziming, was a second-rank minister earning about 150 taels a year. With bribes and other "perks," the real income was easily over ten thousand taels.

One hundred taels could buy a decent courtyard house in a quiet part of the capital.

Ten minutes later, Xu Yi left the pavilion with a banknote worth a hundred taels, a smaller note of one tael... and half a roast chicken.

As he was leaving, Tianjing told him to stop by the pavilion every few days.
“If you have more good poems, come find me.”

After Xu Yi left, Tianjing sat still, replaying the poem in his mind.

“What a masterpiece... truly magnificent,” he murmured.

Ladyboy immediately chimed in, “Congratulations, Your Majesty! This poem will surely elevate your reputation even higher.”

Tianjing was no ordinary man—he was the Emperor himself. Emperor Jing.

He glanced at Ladyboy. “You want me to claim it as my own? I may love poetry, but I’m not so vain as to steal credit.”

Ladyboy dropped to his knees in terror.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty! I only meant, since you purchased the poem, it belongs to you.”

The Emperor snorted. “Do you think it’s only worth a hundred taels? That poem is priceless.”

“I offered that price for his sake. He’s young and frail. Carrying too much money could be dangerous.”

“Your Majesty is merciful!” Ladyboy bowed deeply.

The Emperor waved him off. “Bring me brush and ink. I want to copy this poem and post it for all to see.”

“All those so-called scholars in the capital... and none can match a teenager. What a waste of my investment in the Zhuangyuan Pavilion.”

“As you command!”

Ladyboy scurried off to fetch writing tools.

The Emperor called out, “Nie Liang!”

A burly man with a beard and fierce eyes dropped to one knee. “Your Majesty!”

“Follow that boy—Lanxing. Find out who he really is.”

“At once!”

Outside the Zhuangyuan Pavilion, Xu Yi used part of his newfound wealth to buy a thick winter robe for five silver coins and a new pair of shoes for one.

In the Great Jing Dynasty, copper coins were still in use—one "string" equaled 100 coins—but they were heavy and cumbersome. Most merchants preferred silver.

Shops were all equipped with official scales and large scissors. To make change, you simply cut off a piece of silver and weighed it.

Xu Yi, now dressed warmly and carrying half a chicken, returned to the Xu estate.

He scaled the wall using a stone by the corner—he wasn't exactly welcomed at the front gate.

But the moment he landed, he found Xu Mao waiting for him with several guards.

“Well, well... climbing walls like a stray dog. You really have no shame, do you?”

“Father ordered you to reflect on your mistakes, and this is how you repay him?”

Xu Mao cursed him loudly, spittle flying.

But suddenly he fell silent.

Xu Yi said nothing. He simply bent down, picked up a heavy stick, and started walking toward him.

Xu Mao thought of Xu Xing, still bedridden after getting hit with a porcelain pillow. And he remembered last night—when Xu Yi asked their father to burn him alive.

Goosebumps crawled up his spine as he backed away in fear.

“W-What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m not going to kill you,” Xu Yi said coldly. “I just want to smash your damn head in.”

“You... you dare lay a hand on me? If Father finds out—do you know what’ll happen?”

Xu Yi’s voice turned colder. “By the time he finds out, you’ll already be dead. I’ll gladly pay with my life. Having you as a companion to the grave seems fair.”

Xu Mao suddenly remembered—he had guards!

“What are you waiting for? Grab him!”

The guards moved forward, weapons in hand.

Uncle Chai—an old servant—rushed out to shield Xu Yi, trembling with fear.

Xu Yi shouted, “I dare any of you to touch me! I may not be favored, but I’m still the fourth son of this house. You think you dogs have the right to touch me?”

The guards hesitated.

He was right. No matter how unloved, he was still a master. They were servants.

Xu Mao yelled, “He’s not a real son! He’s worse than a mutt! Do it! If anything happens, I’ll take the blame!”

Xu Yi smirked. “Your status might protect you. But if they attack me? That’s a capital offense. Beating a master? Minimum punishment is thirty strokes with the rod. Think you can survive that with your weak little bones?”

“Back off!”

His voice cracked like thunder. The guards flinched and stepped back.

Xu Yi charged at Xu Mao with the stick.

Xu Mao screamed and bolted.

Chapter 6

Xu Mao ran too fast—Xu Yi couldn’t catch up.

So he returned to the west courtyard, chased off the servants, and brought Uncle Chai inside.

He handed him the leftover roast chicken.

Chai unwrapped it, stunned for a moment before swallowing hard.
As a lowly servant with barely enough wages to get by, he rarely tasted meat.

“Uncle Chai, I saved this just for you. Eat it while it’s hot.”

Chai shook his head. “It’s wasted on me. You’re still recovering—you should eat it to regain your strength.”

“I’ve already eaten. This half is yours. Take it home—pair it with some wine if you have any.”

Xu Yi insisted. If he didn’t, Uncle Chai would never accept it.

Moved to tears, Chai kept bowing. “Thank you, Young Master... thank you...”

“Stop thanking me,” Xu Yi said. “If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead already.”

Meanwhile, in the imperial study.

By candlelight, Emperor Jing was reading a scroll.

Ladyboy stood by, silent and cautious.

A young eunuch crept in.

“What is it?” the Emperor asked.

“Your Majesty, Commander Nie requests an audience.”

Commander Nie Liang—the bearded warrior—was one of the Emperor’s most trusted bodyguards.

“Let him in.”

A moment later, Nie Liang entered and bowed.

“Your Majesty!”

“Speak.”

“I’ve discovered the boy’s true identity. His name is not Lanxing. He’s Xu Yi, fourth son of Minister Xu of the Ministry of Rites.”

The Emperor raised a brow. “Xu Yi?”

Ladyboy blurted out, “Should we have him arrested? He dared deceive the Emperor—surely that’s a crime!”

The Emperor snorted. “He didn’t know who I was. That’s no crime.”

Ladyboy quickly fell silent.

The Emperor frowned. “I thought Minister Xu had only three sons?”

Nie Liang bowed again. “Your Majesty, Xu Yi was lost for many years. Only recently was he found. Word is, he's not well regarded in the household and is rarely mentioned.”

The Emperor thought for a moment. “Ah... I remember now. Years ago someone accused Minister Xu of abandoning his wife and child. But we were at war with Tuo Luo back then—I was too busy and forgot the matter.”

“A second-ranked minister’s son, dressed in rags and starving? Winter’s nearly here, and he’s still in thin clothing.”

He scowled. “Minister Xu has a good public image and literary reputation. I didn’t expect such behavior behind closed doors.”

Ladyboy bowed again. “Shall I summon Minister Xu?”

The Emperor waved him off. He wouldn’t confront a valuable minister over private affairs.

He knew who the loyal ones were. He also knew who the corrupt ones were. But as long as they didn’t cross his line—like rebellion or treason—he could tolerate them.

“Minister Xu may be lacking in virtue... but he’s still a capable official.”