Chapter Twenty-Three: Liangzhou

Lin Menghua looked at her, her gaze softening slightly. "You, too, have a choice."

Pei Zhenzhen offered a faint smile, one tinged with bitterness.

With their destination now close at hand, the caravan picked up speed, arriving at Nanzheng County in Liangzhou before nightfall. Fu Cen declined the Prefect’s invitation, choosing instead to stay at the largest restaurant in the county, where he grandly booked three separate courtyards. The Prefect, feeling helpless, could only order his soldiers to increase patrols and maintain tight security, determined that no harm would befall this "ancestor" within his jurisdiction.

After a night of rest, the group’s spirits were notably lifted.

The following morning, a woman wearing her hair in a single spiral bun and dressed in a peach-pink brocade robe sat contentedly in the restaurant’s main hall, enjoying her breakfast. The surrounding tables were sparsely occupied by travelers, merchants, and young men in the attire of scholars.

Fu Cen, dressed in casual robes, was descending the stairs when he caught a glimpse of what was in Lin Menghua’s bowl and paused. Behind him, Pei Zhenzhen, dressed in a snow-blue casual gown embroidered with butterflies, saw him stop, bypassed him, and walked downstairs.

"Is this hot rice noodle good?" Pei Zhenzhen asked, looking at the bowl which was topped with a generous amount of Sichuan pepper, ginger, and prickly ash, feeling quite stunned.

"It’s passable," Lin Menghua replied, taking a small breath.

Seeing this, Pei Zhenzhen immediately ordered a bowl of *jiangshui* noodles, and Fu Cen followed suit.

"It’s so lively outside..." Zhenzhen remarked.

"Today is the Double Ninth Festival," Lin Menghua said.

"The Double Ninth? We have been on the road for nine days already!" Pei Zhenzhen exclaimed.

"We shall go out later and buy some osmanthus cakes. Proprietor, where can one find the best osmanthus cakes in town?" Lin Menghua asked. The osmanthus cakes were linked to someone who needed her.

The proprietor, a slightly stout middle-aged man, knew only that distinguished guests with significant status had arrived at his establishment and that he must serve them well. Upon hearing the question, he stepped forward immediately. "If you are looking for osmanthus cakes, the ones at the Zhenxiu Pavilion are naturally the finest. But if I were to choose, I prefer those made by Mother Rong at the east end of the city; her osmanthus cakes are dense, fragrant, and sweet."

"Mother Rong used to work for a wealthy family, so she can make delicate pastries as well. Her osmanthus and chestnut flour cakes are especially popular with the young ladies of the landed gentry!"

"That sounds truly excellent," Lin Menghua said, then asked the waiter to bring two more bowls of soy milk.

Fu Cen hurriedly added, "Make that three!"

Seeing this, the proprietor’s smile deepened. "The kitchen has fresh walnut buns. Would you and the two young ladies like some?"

Lin Menghua glanced at the Senior Secretary and the military advisors coming down the stairs and said, "Bring a basket."

"Right away!"

Senior Secretary Li stepped forward with his men to offer a salute. "Prefect Sun has prepared a welcome banquet for His Highness. Shall we attend this evening?"

"No!" Fu Cen set down his chopsticks, took a napkin from an attendant, and added, "None of you are to follow me today. I wish to wander about on my own."

"Your Highness..." Senior Secretary Li hesitated.

"Chengfeng and Songyang will be with me."

Seeing the guards at his side, Senior Secretary Li had no choice but to withdraw and lead his men to a table in the back.

The steaming walnut buns were brought to the table, releasing a rich, savory aroma. They were the size of porcelain cups and golden-yellow in color. Following Lin Menghua’s instruction, the waiter brought a large portion to Senior Secretary Li’s table.

Lin Menghua took a bite, and crumbs fell onto her clothes. Pei Zhenzhen quickly handed her a napkin to clean up.

"We can take some with us when we leave," Lin Menghua said. Though slightly messy to eat, it did nothing to diminish the crisp, sweet flavor.

Watching them eat with pleasure, the proprietor continued to talk about Mother Rong. "It is a pity about Mother Rong, though. Her son passed away—such a shame, he was even a student at the Prefectural Academy..."

Fu Cen became interested. "How did her son die?"

"They say his studies were not going well, and he couldn't handle the blow. He grew increasingly depressed and died from drinking," the proprietor sighed.

Pei Zhenzhen looked at the proprietor, surprised.

Fu Cen was equally surprised and frowned. "He was not from a noble family. Since he had entered the Prefectural Academy, he must have passed the examinations to get in. How poor could his performance really have been? With such a fragile temperament, I fear he would have struggled to benefit the people had he become an official."

"What do you know!" a young man at a nearby table could not help but speak up. He was about to roll up his sleeves and come over to argue, but was pulled back by his companion.

"Oh? Do you have a different perspective?" Fu Cen glanced at him sideways.

"Forget it, Wei Xin." His companion, seeing the well-dressed status of the group opposite them—and recalling the news of distinguished guests arriving from the capital—hurriedly held his classmate back.

"Young Master Wei, these are guests from the capital; they are not familiar with the affairs of the Prefectural Academy," the proprietor also stepped in to mediate.

"I am Yu Su, a student at the academy. Might I ask how to address you?" the slightly older scholar in brocade robes stepped forward and offered a slight bow.

"Zhong Cen."

The other man was taken aback. "May I ask who you all are?"

"I am a merchant, here from the capital, on my way to Jiannan Circuit," Fu Cen explained.

Yu Su looked at their refined bearing and fine clothing, feeling a bit skeptical. It wasn't as if he hadn't seen merchants before, but dragging one's family along like this was indeed rare!

"Could you tell us more about Ji Sheng?" Lin Menghua asked.

Though still suspicious, seeing that the person speaking was a lady of dignified manner, he replied, "We are all students at the Prefectural Academy, studying in Class B-2. Ji Sheng was our classmate."

Yu Su sighed. "Ji Sheng’s father passed away early, and his family was poor. Although his classmates often tried to help, Ji Sheng was... far too stubborn."

Fu Cen pondered this and said, "In that case, he did possess some integrity. A true gentleman would not accept charity without cause."

The man was clearly startled by these words, but he nodded. "Brother Ji did indeed possess... integrity."

"His mother was not a good person either. She kept forcing him to take the official examinations, even though the pressure on Ji Sheng was already immense. That is why he suffered..." Wei Xin said, filled with righteous indignation. Although he did not finish his sentence, it was enough for the group to piece together the rest.

"Enough... Brother Wei, Brother Ji is already gone; there is no point in saying these things. As for his mother, she is also to be pitied. We should help where we can," Yu Su urged.

Lin Menghua swept a glance over them, poured herself a cup of tea, and took another bite of her walnut bun.

"Hmph! I won't help her. Even after Ji Sheng died, she wouldn't let him rest, and she still goes around berating him!" Wei Xin clenched his fists, his eyes full of resentment.

Fu Cen, however, had taken the words to heart and sighed, "To think such a mother exists in this world."

"Sir, my apologies. We must return to the academy. If we have the chance in the future, we shall certainly invite you for a drink." Yu Su, looking a bit embarrassed, bowed, and the group pulled the agitated Wei Xin away.

Fu Cen watched their retreating figures and remarked, "A gentleman is upright and steady. This Yu Su truly has the bearing of a gentleman. If we meet again, he would be worth befriending."

"Let's go. It is time to buy the osmanthus cakes," Lin Menghua said, not responding to his remark as she rose to leave.