Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)

Chapter 15 : Oriole

Note:
The titles in chapter 13, 14, 15 – Little Cicada (小蝉), Praying Mantis (螳螂), and Oriole (黄雀) – are from the idiom “the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.” (螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后). i.e., to covet and pursue gains before oneself without being aware of (or neglecting) a greater danger behind.

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The next day was the day Shen Zechuan ought to make a trip down to the Imperial Bodyguards to receive his post. It coincided with the day Xi Gu’an’s younger brother of the same parents, Xi Hongxuan, hosted a banquet. He had invited all the up-and-coming scholars and promising talents in Qudu to have a civilized discourse at the Chaodong Tavern.

Xi Hongxuan was an obese man. When he sat down, someone had to attend to him at the side and fan him. Grasping on to a bamboo fan, he said, “This year is this humble one’s lucky year. Although I did not get to invite Yanqing, I managed to invite Yuanzhuo!”

Xue Xiuzhuo had to attend to his official duties, so he could not make it this day. The “Yuanzhuo” Xi Hongxuan mentioned was the current Secretariat Elder’s, Hai Liangyi, beloved disciple—Yao Wenyu. These three men could address each other with such familiarity as they were all from the Eight Great Clans of Qudu and had forged a friendship since childhood. 

Just then, the bead curtain was lifted, and in walked an elegant scholar as gentle and as pure as jade. He was dressed in a raven blue, wide-sleeved robe with slanting collars, along with a zhaowen bag hanging on his waist. On hearing that, he merely smiled. The various Confucian scholars at the feast rose in a welcome. For a moment, the sounds of conventional greetings being exchanged rang out. 

Yao Wenyu said his greeting to them one at a time. It was only after he invited everyone to take their seats that he sat down and responded, “We meet every year. How am I worthy of the two words, ‘rare presence’?”

As humble as he was, none of those present dared to belittle him. Because Yao Wenyu was the child prodigy of Qudu in his early years. He composed poems at eight years of age, and eulogies and proses at twelve. He was the “jade” the Old Master of the Yao Clan held in his palms. In order not to let his talents wane, he took Hai Liangyi as his teacher. Hai Liangyi was, by nature, inflexible and stern. To this day, he only had this one student—one that he prized greatly. 
After the small talk, they began to discuss the current situation.

Xi Hongxuan waved his hand to signify to his attendant to stop fanning him and said, “There is indeed something strange going on lately in Qudu. I wonder if the various brothers still remember the Prince of Jianxing, Shen Wei, who set himself on fire for fear of punishment five years ago?” 

“The vile man who colluded with the enemies and cowered without fighting!” One of them seated in the row straightened up and said, “He should have been beheaded under the law. Even executing his entire clan wouldn’t be too much. It is regrettable that His Majesty is so benevolent that he just had to spare the life of that last remaining member of the Shen Clan. This morning, I heard that he had been released. The evidence for Shen Wei’s crime is conclusive. As the son of a criminal-official whose troops had suffered a defeat, how could he take up a post? How do they expect the virtuous talents from all over to accept this?!”

“Exactly.” Xi Hongxuan said, “How is this going to work out? There has never been such a precedent before.”

“Most likely, it’s Her Majesty who wants to protect him.” Someone else said, “I have long heard that this remaining member has some relationship with the Hua Clan. But how could personal relationships prevail over state laws? Isn’t this a violation of the law itself?”