The first place Fan Chongqing went to after re-emerging into the world was a tavern frequented by his brothers.
The tavern was located near the National Academy, and everyone was familiar with the proprietor. They would often go there to relax when they had free time.
He went there today and found that several of his familiar brothers were indeed present.
Fan Chongqing ordered a pot of wine from the shopkeeper and carried it upstairs with one hand. He saw four or five familiar, tall figures near the window, their backs to him, gazing at the distant street scene.
Fan Chongqing deliberately lightened his footsteps, wanting to surprise them. As he approached, he heard one of his brothers sigh and say, “Ah, without brother Fan, life feels so dull.”
Fan Chongqing couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride, stroking his loose hair.
He had only been in seclusion for a few days, and these people already missed him so much. Truly, a deep brotherhood.
If it were any other time, he wouldn’t have heard them say such warm words.
Then another person said, “When will brother Fan recover? Fifth Son Gu was too ruthless, wasn’t he? How many days has it been?”
Fan Chongqing’s smile faltered, and his eyebrows furrowed sharply.
“Indeed, we haven’t seen him in quite some time.“ by carpreads.pages.dev
“Was it really Fifth Son Gu who did it? I still find it hard to believe.”
“I didn’t believe it at first either, but Young Master Fan hasn’t appeared for many days, and there hasn’t even been a message. What else could it be besides him being injured?”
Fan Chongqing was so angry he wanted to unleash a torrent of insults, but someone else quickly spoke up:
“That’s right, brother Fan is never one to stay idle. To keep him confined to his home, there are only two possibilities: death or disability!”
“To be honest, I went to the tavern where they fought and asked around. The incident alarmed the Imperial Insignia Guards, and there were many onlookers. According to their descriptions, Fifth Son Gu was merciless. Half of the tables and chairs in the tavern were smashed, leaving a trail of debris. Fifth Son Gu first pinned the man to the ground and repeatedly punched his face. Then he grabbed the man’s collar and flung him from one end of the tavern to the other. It was extremely brutal and relentless. The man was beaten beyond recognition, his blood flowing freely. Even so, Fifth Son Gu only stopped when the Imperial Insignia Guards arrived.”
Everyone: “Wow… Ouch!”
Fan Chongqing’s facial expression twitched, and he raised his wine jug, pouring it down his throat.
He was curious to hear what kind of stories this group could concoct.
“That explains it. Brother Fan is truly pitiful, to be beaten so badly by Fifth Son Gu!”
“Wait, based on your description, could Fifth Son Gu’s move be the legendary Mountain-Crushing Fist?”
“Young Master Fan is a skilled fighter, and even he was pinned to the ground, unable to resist. It seems Fifth Son Gu’s strength is truly exceptional. Perhaps it was the Mountain-Crushing Fist.”
“More than that! Young Master Fan’s muscles are as hard as iron. How could an ordinary person injure him? Let alone beat him beyond recognition…”
“Truly terrifying! I had no idea Fifth Son Gu was so skilled in martial arts!”
“He doesn’t hang out with us, so how would we know?”
“The word ‘hang out’… perhaps it’s a bit too blunt. We don’t need to be so literal.”
“Well, this is certainly possible. Think about it, his archery skills that day were extraordinary. If he hadn’t been training regularly, how could he have been so precise? I think if he had the strength, he could easily shoot an arrow through a target a hundred paces away.”
“But Fifth Son Gu was too harsh, he actually beat Young Master Fan so badly that he’s bedridden. Did they have any past grievances? What did brother Fan do?”
Fan Chongqing could no longer bear it. He shouted, “He didn’t beat me!”
Everyone was startled, they turned their heads and saw the newcomer, shouting in unison, “Young Master Fan!”
Fan Chongqing’s face was dark as he strode forward, pointing at their noses and scolding, “I’ve only been gone for a few days, and you’re already spreading rumors about me. I considered you brothers! If outsiders heard this, what face would I have? You’re clearly trying to ruin me!”
“Don’t need to tell him, right?” A young man with his neck tucked in whispered, “We just heard it from somewhere else. Now everyone in the capital knows. Who told you to stay hidden?”
Fan Chongqing was struck like lightning, unable to accept it.
He had been confined to his home for many days, forced by his father to read through two books. He had finally endured that period, but these people told him that because he had shut himself away, the news of him being injured by Fifth Son Gu had spread throughout the entire capital?
…No, it wasn’t just injured, it was crippled.
What crime had he committed to suffer such a fate?
One of them, seeing his expression, quickly stepped forward to reconcile, “Everyone was just talking about Fifth Son Gu secretly learning martial arts, they didn’t mention you much.”
Fan Chongqing was angry, “Listen to what you’re saying, why would Fifth Son Gu learn martial arts in secret!”
“Brother Fan, you don’t know!”
The young man who had spoken earlier, holding his robe, sat down at a nearby table, inviting Fan Chongqing to sit opposite him, with the air of someone wanting to have a detailed conversation.
Fan Chongqing was still resentful about what had just happened, he slammed the wine jug heavily on the table, coldly saying, “Speak!”
The young man said, “I heard it from my father by chance. He said that Duke Gu wouldn’t allow Fifth Son Gu to enter officialdom, nor would he allow him to learn martial arts. So, to the outside world, they only said that Fifth Son Gu likes to stay at home.”
Fan Chongqing leaned closer to him, pulling a fake smile, sarcastically saying, “Do you think someone like Duke Gu… is someone with a problem with their mind! Why didn’t you think more before you spoke!”
Everyone else just murmured in agreement.
“It’s true!”
“My father said the same thing. He also felt sorry for Fifth Son Gu.”
“Brother Fan, outsiders may not know this, but there have been similar rumors in the court. I didn’t believe it before, but I saw Fifth Son Gu’s skills recently, and I had to believe it.”
“If it wasn’t for the Duke’s obstruction, why would Fifth Son Gu have to hide his talents and endure such hardship?”
Fan Chongqing was in a state of confusion, his gaze flitting erratically across the faces of everyone present, as if he couldn’t understand what they were saying, only able to utter various tones of single syllables to express his feelings.
“Hey! Stop arguing!” The man in blue clothes stopped everyone, putting his arm around Fan Chongqing’s shoulder, “Brother Fan, from what you know, has Fifth Son Gu ever learned martial arts?”
Fan Chongqing carefully recalled, when Gu Fengjian had made his move, it had been swift and decisive. Whether it was the angle of his punches or the way he grabbed and held, it was all very precise, knowing how to control the opponent’s vital points, making it impossible for them to break free. If he hadn’t stepped in to stop him, that person would definitely not have been able to escape.
Those were all habitual movements, not necessarily complex techniques, but they were definitely not something an outsider could easily do.
Even if you were to take a step back, he must have been someone with a lot of experience in fighting.
Fan Chongqing felt a pang of sympathy for Fifth Son Gu in his heart, but he still argued, “So what? It’s just beating someone up, why are you making such a big deal out of it? Why don’t you talk about how you beat people up all the time?”
Everyone started talking at once, “But it’s Fifth Son Gu! Before this, who would have believed that Fifth Son Gu would have such martial skills?”
“The Gu Mansion has always said to the outside world that Fifth Young Master Gu is weak, but they never mentioned him learning martial arts.”
The young man confidently said, “Furthermore, Brother Fan, don’t you remember that Fifth Son Gu resigned from his post and went home to rest this summer? If the Duke could give him some protection, why would he have to go through this? In my opinion, it’s because the Duke allowed it on the surface, but secretly forced him, so he couldn’t bear it anymore and resigned in anger!”
It was common knowledge that Fifth Son Gu was a very peculiar person. This peculiarity wasn’t about his personality, but his experiences.
Gu Fengjian entered officialdom very early, earlier than all of them.
At first, he was arranged by Duke Gu to go to the Ministry of Revenue to do miscellaneous tasks.
Although the Six Ministries were full of talented people, there was much to be done, but the interests within were intertwined and the relationships were complex, and there were many who disagreed with the Duke’s political views.
Gu Fengjian was young, so naturally people looked down on him and he wasn’t given any important tasks. He didn’t last long before he was ostracized by others, and they even mocked him, saying he was a useless son who was only relying on his ancestors’ legacy.
In a fit of anger, he reported several people, even uncovering several shops they had secretly opened outside the capital. It was unknown how he had found out about them.
Officials abusing their power and using commerce for personal gain had always been one of the court’s chronic diseases. Coincidentally, some things happened that year, and the fire was fanned, causing a shock throughout the court and the public.
Gu Fengjian retired in triumph, leaving with a flick of his wrist.
After resigning from his post at the Ministry of Revenue, he formally took the imperial examinations.
Cough… Of course, there were ways to manipulate the imperial examinations, but Gu Fengjian’s scholarship was truly astounding. Two of his essays were circulated, and his reputation spread throughout the capital.
This time, he had earned his official position through his own abilities, and no one dared to say anything against him.
However, most of the candidates from that year had been assigned to good positions. The few who ranked below Gu Fengjian were also sent to various departments for training. Only Gu Fengjian, with the Duke’s intervention, was assigned to organize documents.
Perhaps finding it truly uninteresting and seeing no future prospects, Gu Fengjian didn’t last long before he quit again.
Thinking about it carefully, these things had only happened in the past two years. Everything related to Fifth Son Gu had been a whirlwind of commotion. Therefore, although he had been living at home for a long time and didn’t like socializing, he was a well-known figure.
Fan Chongqing was confused and asked, “But what was the reason?”
“I know! I heard that Duke Gu is a devotee of Buddhism and Taoism, and Fifth Son Gu, when he was young…”
“Nonsense!”
Another sharp shout came from the air, interrupting their conversation. The young men turned their heads to look back and exclaimed in unison, “Gu Fengwei!”
Seeing Fourth Son Gu, they quickly looked at Fan Chongqing, worried that he would be enraged by meeting his enemy’s brother and lash out in anger.
However, Fan Chongqing didn’t get angry. He simply glanced at Fourth Son Gu with the same aversion as before. Fourth Son Gu, on the other hand, seemed unafraid of being beaten. He moved closer to Fan Chongqing and mocked, “Fan Chongqing, your face finally isn’t red anymore, is it?”
Fan Chongqing, enraged and ashamed, slapped his hand away and roared, “Gu Fengwei, your fifth brother is one thing, but don’t think I won’t hit you!”
“You’re spreading rumors about my Gu family here, and I’m not even angry. What are you angry about?” Fourth Son Gu sat down at their table. “Who said my fifth brother won’t enter officialdom? He’s going to take the imperial examinations next year.”
Fan Chongqing was surprised and said, “Fifth Brother is going to take the exams? Why not just have the Duke arrange a position for him? Even if he gets a good ranking in the imperial examinations, he’ll still have to start from the bottom and learn the ropes. It would be easier if the Duke just said a word.”
Fourth Son Gu waved his hand and said, “My father said he won’t interfere with my fifth brother’s career path anymore.”
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent and exchanged glances, whispering amongst themselves.
The power struggles within the Duke’s mansion were indeed fierce. Duke Gu showered Fourth Son Gu with care, while ignoring Fifth Son Gu completely.
The rumors were true!
Seeing their expressions, Fourth Son Gu clicked his tongue and said, “What are you all thinking? My father bought a stack of new books for my fifth brother just the other day. Fifth Brother was overjoyed and has been locked in his room reading for the past two days, neglecting sleep and food. The relationship between everyone in my Gu family is very good. There’s no need for you to worry.”
No one believed him.
Even if Fourth Son Gu truly believed this, it didn’t mean it was the truth. As a favored son, it was only natural that he wouldn’t notice his father’s partiality.
Fan Chongqing asked, “Is Fifth Brother at home today?”
“He’s not home today.” Fourth Son Gu said, “Fifth Brother has been so engrossed in his reading that he’s been looking rather haggard these past two days. He even lacks the strength to speak. Father told me to take him out for a walk, so I thought I’d bring him here to see some people. I was afraid there might be some clueless people in the shop, so I came up to take a look first. He’s waiting downstairs now.”
Everyone ran over and leaned their heads out the window.
Sure enough, a thin young man in a white robe had appeared at the entrance at some point. His hands were hanging by his sides, and he was idly turning his head to observe both sides.
Fan Chongqing said happily, “Tell him to come up!”
His younger brothers, seeing the joy on his face, finally believed that he had not been beaten by Gu Fengjian.
Who would be happy after being beaten, and still be so happy in front of their enemy?
Gu Fengwei shouted down, “Fifth Brother! Come up to the second floor!”
The man on the street looked up, then slowly walked up.
The group chatted and waited. A guest from a distance stood up and was about to go downstairs. As he passed by them, he deliberately raised his voice and said, “Gu Fengjian? He’s just a pretentious, self-aggrandizing fellow. You’re all so eager to please him. Gu Fengwei is one thing, but Fan Chongqing, are you not afraid of ruining your father’s reputation?”
This group of people had been sitting in a corner. Gu Fengwei had not noticed them when he came up, but when he saw who they were, his face instantly turned dark.
Fan Chongqing and the others also looked displeased, their eyes filled with “bad luck.”
Naturally, there were more than just Gu Fengwei and Fan Chongqing’s factions among the young officials’ sons in the capital. Another well-known group was led by Ji Yutang.
Ji Yutang always considered their circle to be a group of dissolute young men, while his own group of brothers were a circle of talented men. Unlike Gu Fengwei and Fan Chongqing’s casualness, Ji Yutang had long prepared himself for entering officialdom. He was smooth and slick, full of oily charm.
In terms of disliking Ji Yutang, Fan Chongqing and Gu Fengwei were still on the same side. They were in step and resolute in their attitude.
The main problem was that these guys always looked down their noses at people, and would spout things like “Dissolute men never starve, while scholars often ruin their lives,” “Those who do not learn useful skills are ignorant of the law,” “Wealthy and dissolute, idle and lazy”… Did he forget that he was also a dissolute young man?
How could someone so young be so pedantic?
Song Chuzhao happened to hear this as she came up.
If it had been a few days ago, she would have politely gotten angry, but after being forced to read for days, she had no energy left.
It was rare for Fourth Son Gu to take her out today, and she didn’t want to make any more mistakes. After all, the last time Duke Gu had a night conversation, it was because she accidentally injured Fan Chongqing.
The consequences were so dire, she couldn’t bear a second time.
Fan Chongqing, beside her, was provoked and sneered, “This tavern is really lively today.”
Ji Yutang walked down, saying, “It’s always been this lively, but I just disdain to speak to you lot.”
“I wonder who’s the one who’s so eager to come over now.”
“It’s just that I can’t stand your shallow views and limited knowledge. It’s quite amusing to listen to.”
Fourth Son Gu said loudly, “I’m afraid some people are jealous of my Fifth Brother’s fame and can only vent their frustration.”
Song Chuzhao faced Ji Yutang directly. They stood on the upper and lower levels of the stairs, blocking each other’s paths.
Ji Yutang refused to yield, pretending to bump into her. Song Chuzhao didn’t even raise her eyelids, just quickly pressed her hand on his shoulder and pushed him aside.
Ji Yutang was stunned, his body uncontrollably tilted. By the time he straightened up again, Song Chuzhao had already passed through the middle.
He looked back, but didn’t dare to go back and find trouble with Song Chuzhao, so he could only continue forward.
Fourth Son Gu stepped forward and said, “Don’t mind them.”
Song Chuzhao said, “I don’t even remember them.”
Fan Chongqing laughed, “Don’t remember them, then don’t. They’re not important anyway! Don’t let them ruin our mood.”
After the court session today, Duke Gu and the Imperial Censor walked out of the palace together. They were going in the same direction.
The Imperial Censor’s long sleeves swished through the air as he remained silent for a while before finally speaking. “Duke Gu, the Emperor asked me the other day, if your Fifth Son were to enter official service, what post should he be assigned to? What are your thoughts?”
Duke Gu said, “I don’t know. Fifth Son hasn’t told me yet.”
“Hmm.” The Censor pondered for a moment before saying, “Your Fifth Son is indeed learned, but the path of officialdom is not so simple. To navigate the political arena, one must inevitably interact with others.”
Duke Gu said, “I had Fourth Son take him out today to mingle with friends of his own age.”
The Censor chuckled, “A position in the Censorate requires much consideration. One must have a broad mind, be quick-witted, act with simplicity, and ideally, be free from personal desires…”
The wrinkles on Duke Gu’s face tightened, his expression turning serious. His already cold and sharp eyes became even more piercing.
Was he criticizing his Fifth Son?
If the Censorate doesn’t want him, his Fifth Son might not want to join either.
Just considering those points, what is it that their Fifth Son cannot do? In his opinion, no one could do better.
The Censor has been an official for so many years, yet he still allows himself to be swayed by others’ words, unable to even accurately assess a young man. He is truly senile.
There will come a day when you regret this!
Duke Gu’s displeasure with the Censor grew, manifesting as a fixed stare.
The Censor: “…” Why couldn’t he just speak properly? What was he supposed to do now?
He was also afraid.
Gu Fengjian, despite his youth, had already resigned from office twice. Both times had left the Censor terrified.
He didn’t want Gu Fengjian to be too capable, using the Censorate’s authority to expose a group of officials. Nor did he want Gu Fengjian to be too fickle, leaving after only two months.
Especially with Duke Gu and Madam Gu behind him. If they were to make things difficult, even the gods would tremble. Knowing the Emperor’s intention to place him in the Censorate, he was already worried sick.
The Censor, feeling uncomfortable under the Duke’s silent condemnation, was trying to figure out how to escape when he heard a commotion ahead. He immediately said, “Why is there so much noise on the street? Let’s go take a look.”
Duke Gu continued to stare at him.
The Censor pretended not to notice and walked towards the commotion with a stiff neck.
A group of people were arguing loudly on the street, it was unclear what they were disputing.
There was a woman crying, a man collapsed on the ground, and a group of young, wealthy men were surrounded by the crowd, being pointed at and scolded.
Among those surrounded, there was someone the Censor recognized.
“Young Master Ji? I believe his name is Ji Yutang?” The Censor introduced him to his companion. “He’s a good lad. Though his actions are still somewhat immature, he’s quite thoughtful. For his age and experience, he has a bright future ahead of him.”
Duke Gu remained expressionless, not answering.
The Censor, feeling awkward, scanned the crowd again. “Aren’t those your Fourth Son and Fifth Son?”
Duke Gu finally turned his gaze away from the Censor and looked towards the other side.
His two sons were whispering to the people beside them, standing at the front of the crowd, seemingly uninvolved in the matter.
Fan Chongqing, watching from the sidelines, couldn’t help but gloat, “Ji Yutang, so this is your day, huh?”
Ji Yutang’s face flushed red with anger. He argued loudly, “I told you it’s a frame-up! These two clearly came prepared!”
Someone shouted, ‘The evidence is clear, why are you still arguing? This is broad daylight, we all saw it with our own eyes, we can all testify!’
The circle surrounding them began to shrink, someone was stirring up emotions in the shadows, causing the passersby to become increasingly agitated. They pushed and shoved each other, as if about to fight.
Seeing that the situation was about to escalate, the Imperial Censor gave Duke Gu a knowing look, and the two of them prepared to step forward and take control.
Before the Imperial Censor could speak, a loud male voice rang out from the crowd, “Enough, stop arguing! Silence!”
The voice was strong and powerful, full of authority.
The Imperial Censor paused, realizing that it was Fifth Son Gu who had stepped forward.
Song Chuzhao walked to the center, standing in front of Ji Yutang.
She was slender, especially after reading for the past two days, her face was pale. Her eyes, however, were bright and clear, with a determined look. Her posture was also upright, making it impossible to underestimate her.
She faced the agitated crowd, her gaze unwavering as she addressed them, “Since both sides have their own accounts, whether he is innocent or guilty, we should determine the truth before making any judgments. Some say they saw it, but others did not. Until the matter is settled, everyone’s testimony is open to question! If you are truly righteous, you should remain calm and wait a little longer!”
Ji Yutang was first falsely accused, then pointed at by everyone, his heart filled with anger and frustration.
The matter was related to him, and the crowd wouldn’t listen to his explanation. He knew he was being framed, but he couldn’t defend himself, and he had resigned himself to taking the blame. Seeing Song Chuzhao step forward, he was filled with astonishment, “You…”
Song Chuzhao ignored him, pointing at a man in the crowd, “You were the one shouting, weren’t you? I understand your righteous indignation and quick temper. But the officials haven’t arrived yet, and these people aren’t trying to escape, what’s the harm in waiting a moment? Why don’t you come to the center as a witness? Everyone else, take three steps back, clear a space, avoid any accidental collisions. If anyone gets hurt, it will be difficult to explain.”
Fourth Son Gu originally didn’t want to get involved, but seeing Song Chuzhao already stepping in, he was worried about her safety, so he had to follow suit and help maintain order.
Fan Chongqing and the others also stepped forward to help, trying to separate the crowd.
The situation finally calmed down.
Someone beside Ji Yutang tugged at his sleeve and whispered, “Young Master Ji, we were arguing with Fifth Son Gu… with him earlier, how could he truly help us? Could there be another scheme?”
Ji Yutang pursed his lips, giving the person a disapproving glance.
Song Chuzhao heard this because she was close by, and she couldn’t help but laugh, “I haven’t held a grudge against you, but you’re already suspecting me with such a narrow mind?”
Fourth Son Gu was already displeased, and upon hearing this, he said in a deep voice, “If that’s the case, Fifth Brother, why bother with them? Let everyone give them a good beating, after all, you’re not the one in a hurry.”
His words were stern, and the person was intimidated, so he shut up in embarrassment.
Ji Yutang wanted to say something, but in the end, he could only whisper, “I’m sorry.”
Fan Chongqing didn’t buy it. He squeezed next to Song Chuzhao, grumbling, “Fifth Son Gu, why are we protecting them? Don’t forget how he mocked you earlier! Even after this is over, they won’t remember your kindness.”
Ji Yutang hurriedly said, “I never…”
Fan Chongqing: “Shut up!”
Song Chuzhao shook her head and said,“Never mind, he didn’t do anything to me. Let’s separate the issues. I wouldn’t just stand by and watch him be falsely accused and beaten just because he doesn’t like me. It’s not a good feeling to be framed. It’s not a good feeling to be harassed by rumors. People shouldn’t be like that.”
Fan Chongqing was deeply moved and sincerely admired, “Fifth Son Gu, you are truly the most upright and honorable person I have ever met!”
Author’s Note:
Little brother Fan Chongqing: The Duke really favors Fourth Son Gu, doesn’t he? (pointing and whispering)
Fourth Son Gu: ?? Am I not being humble enough?