Plundering the Dao of the Immortal Journey

King Lu’s Palace

It was a damp day in spring but the flowers within the yard of King Lu’s palace was in full bloom. The trees and plants had sprouted new leaves and flowers, adding to the overall spring ambience.

There was also a pond within the small orchard of flowers where many gold fishes were swimming. From time to time, there would also be sounds of frogs croaking.

One of King Lu’s man rushed towards a building and dashed up three flights of stairs before reaching the third story where the library was.

The library was facing the window from which one’s could see a magnificent view. Ren Wei was writing with tremendous speed on piece of parchment. After writing for some time, he was tired and finally put his quill down. He then stretched his back and rubbed his weary eyes before casting a glance out of the window to admire the beautiful flowers in full bloom. It was drizzling slightly, causing ripples to form on the pond. At this point he was deep in thought.

All of a sudden, he heard a voice rang out, "That’s good, Ren Wei, lazing again? No wonder the butler is mad at you. He told me to look for you, for he knew you would be bumming around. Indeed, the minute I came in you were lazing off and daydreaming."

Ren Wei’s face turned red. The person standing in front of him was a junior of the butler, and had a tendency of gesticulating wildly whenever he spoke. He was a difficult person to deal with and Ren Wei knew it. He sighed before explaining, "I’ve already finished copying, and was feeling tired, hence I decided to rest for several minutes."

"Hm, you’re just a lazy and poor Elementary Scholar. Aside from the fact that you can write well, I wonder what else you can do. The butler is raging mad right now. Seeing how you were lazing off, I shall report whatever I saw to him." He then turned around and walked away, clearly despising Ren Wei.

After being subject to such unjustified humiliation, Ren Wei’s face turned a deeper shade of red as he stood up and picked up the tea cup in front of him. He was about to fling it down onto the ground before he recalled how he still needed to be paid. Ren Wei then changed his mind and placed the teacup back on the table.

"The refined and educated have descended to an all time low. Even a mere uneducated and unqualified person can belittle and humiliate me to this extent. I’ve been admitted into King Lu’s palace to fulfil my aspirations and dreams, but I haven’t even gotten the chance to meet him." Ren Wei was depressed as it gave a long sigh before walking down from the building.

The minute he walked out, he saw the butler. This butler only has eyes and heart for King Lu and wore a beige coloured robe. When he noticed Ren Wei walking over, he didn’t even bother looking at him. He then resumed shouting at the few men in front of him, "You bunch of wastrels. That Xuande incense burner is not the most expensive item, but madam uses it daily and has sentimental value to her. Which sick-of-living slave dared to steal it? Madam is extremely unhappy at this point. I’ve already told all of you, King Lu his majesty doesn’t know of this incident yet and we should hurriedly recover it before he finds out. Locate it for me from all the pawn shops, brokers, antique shops or even the black market if you have to."

"If King Lu finds out about it, it won’t even be a question of whether we can find it or not. At that point, someone’s head would have to roll to compensate for it. Do you understand?"

Ren Wei heard this and his heart skipped a beat. He then stepped forward and bowed, "Butler, you were looking for me?"

The butler didn’t hesitate and started scolding Ren Wei as well, his face ashen, "What have you been doing? Why have you been making so many mistakes over the past few days? Look at the book you’ve copied, it’s filled with rubbish. Where did all these filth come from? If you can’t even transcribe something properly, what other use are you?"

Hearing these words, Ren Wei looked at the book he had copied and noticed that indeed there were several oil blotches on it. His entire face then turned red as he tried to explain, "This isn’t my fault. After I was done copying, there wasn’t any stains on it."

"Not your fault? Then whose fault is it? You came here to work, not to be an arrogant show off. If you think that you’ve come here to become a high lord, please scram now." The butler received a cup of tea from his subordinates taking a sip. His junior then whispered to him, "Butler Qing, don’t you know how crafty this person it. When I went to the library to call him over, he was slacking and bumming around and was watching the scenery through the window. I wonder how long he’s been doing that."

"Hm!" Hearing these words, butler Qing glared across at Ren Wei before smashing his own teacup down onto the ground and cleared his throat. He then scoffed at Ren Wei before walking away. The butler’s junior hurriedly followed him out as well.

Ren Wei was stumped and his face was still scarlet from the encounter. Several moments later, his face fell before turning completely pale. He stood on that same spot for a long time before retrieving the book which he had copied and walking out.

A contract official who had been bribed and bought over by Pei Zi Yun then came out from behind a pillar and gave a contented smirk. He kicked the fragments of porcelain on the ground and smiled to himself, ‘Heh heh, Ren Wei, so what if you’re morally upright and talented, you were humiliated and made a fool out of, but have no way of retaliating.’

‘Not only did I manage to get an upper hand over my opponent, I was even paid to do that, it feels really good. It’s just that I had to give some of that money to that Butler Qing’s little slave, which dampened my mood. I wonder if I can stand to earn more money from that young master.’ The contract official whispered to himself.

After some time, the junior which followed butler Qing earlier came back out. He made eye contact with the contract official before rubbing his hands, "I’ve done quite a good job. Where’s the money."

The contract official then took some silver out, "This is two taels of silver. Helping big brother do things will always be beneficial for you."

Hearing these words, the junior weighed the money in his hands and laughed, "I’ve been unhappy with him for a long time now. He thinks too highly of himself and looks down upon the rest of us who are uneducated. I had to teach him a lesson which he will remember."

"Who asked you to always be so arrogant and cocky about your own talents." The contract official cursed under his breath, "Even the servants are unhappy with you. Do you think you can still advance through the ranks at this point?"

Ren Wei then returned to his room and gave a long sigh, "Looks like I can’t stay at King Lu’s palace any longer."

He then walked towards the yard and back to the library. His hair was almost wet from the rain, and his face was pale. He didn’t carry an umbrella out with him.

There were several frogs around the pond still croaking. He had initially felt upbeat about the splendid spring weather, but was dejected now. He shook his head and prepared a cup of tea for himself. He readied the cup, but realized he was out of tea leaves. At this point he was completely disheartened as he staggered before falling into his chair.

He had high hopes for a career at King Lu’s Palace, starting with being a contract job worker. Now that had turned to ashes. The closest he got to King Lu was just taken several glances at him while he walked across. How should he put to use this zeal for work and his aspirations?

Would he really just give up like that, after being chased away and ill treated by several uneducated servants?

He thought about the hopeful look in his wife’s eyes when she sent him off, and felt a dagger through his heart. He couldn’t talk as tears rolled down his cheeks and stained the book which he had copied down meticulously. His tears had stained a page, causing his words to smudge. Everything was still and silent save for the frogs which were still croaking outside. It was still drizzling out.

That particular afternoon was extremely hazy for Ren Wei. He didn’t even know when or how he left the library and walked out of King Lu’s Palace only to find himself at the restaurant. He waiter welcomed him, "Old Ren, will you be having your usual set? What’s wrong with you today? You look so lost and disheartened? You didn’t get a contract job?"

Ren Wei only heard the words ‘usual set’ and responded with a grunt. At this point he regained his senses, "Get me two jugs of wine as well. I want to get thoroughly drunk. I won’t go back home if I’m not drunk."

Hearing Ren Wei’s words, the waiter looked at him strangely, "Alright, take a seat first Old Ren. The dishes will be out soon."

Ren Wei swept a glance at his surroundings before settling down at an empty table. At this point, he heard someone speaking at the next table, "You do know that the Emperor has given the longevity locket to his grandson, the son of the Crown Prince. Also, I heard that King Lu was scolded and punished for flouting several decorums. It looks like since the Crown Prince managed to produce an heir, the Emperor’s attitude towards him changed for the better as well."

"Hey, the Crown Prince is already twenty seven years old and has his own wife along with many other women given to him by the Emperor. Yet he’s never managed to produce a son. He only has a pair of daughters."

"That’s why the Emperor has always favored King Lu. You must know that King Lu has three sons and a daughter. He has given the Emperor so many grandchildren!"

Hearing these words, Ren Wei’s heart skipped a beat and he looked over. A couple of low ranking officials were drinking wine and were clearly tipsy. Their faces and ears were flushed red. When they spoke, it was rather loud and indiscreet as well.

At this point the table next to him overheard the conversation as well. The merchant turned around, clearly curious, "What’s so special about that, it’s quite normal isn’t it? In our family, whenever a grandson is born to us, we will give him a longevity locket as well."

The low ranking official then turned around to look and saw the few merchants sitting together at a table. They then laughed mockingly, "You bunch of uneducated people, what do you know about such affairs? All you know is how to trade and sell."

"Think about it, are there any small or insignificant, purposeless matters within the Royal family? A reward given to someone and a punishment to another is very indicative." The official burped as he spoke.

"Sssss, could it really be that after the Crown Prince produced an heir, his majesty had a change of heart?" The merchants inhaled a breath of cold air as they spoke out in surprise.

"Hm, it’s common knowledge that the oldest son would always inherit the throne. But all this time, the Crown Prince had always been heirless. Hence, King Lu felt like he had a chance vying for the throne. The written rules and customs of our ancestors are with King Lu." Just as the official said that, the other official hurriedly stretched out a hand as if to stop him from saying anymore, "Forgive me, we shouldn’t have spoken about such matters while inebriated. It could cost us our heads."

Hearing these words, the first official then regained his senses as he sat down, "..... Let’s not speak of this anymore. Let’s drink up."

Ren Wei heard this and sighed, "I didn’t expect the situation to take such a turn. But that’s the way it is with people’s hearts."

The few of them continued drinking, their hearts knew that something was amiss. The more they thought, the clearer it became. The fact that the Emperor gave the longevity locket to his grandson meant something. This was added to the fact that he recently punished King Lu. All these were true and not any false rumors.

‘Looks like I have to start doing some thinking myself. Should I leave King Lu’s palace?’ Ren Wei then shook his head, ‘Even if my skin can get thicker, how long can I actually remain there?’

Ren Wei was extremely troubled. He eyed the few dishes which had arrived and were on the table. He fiddled with the folds of his robes and touched the silvers within his pockets. He considered whether he should spend more money. The boss then came up and sat next to him. Realizing that Ren Wei was deep in thought, he laughed out. "One look and I can tell that your job didn’t go as well as you like. But in this life, who would face a smooth sailing journey without any problems? You just have to bear with it. Come, let me treat you to some pig’s head meat."

He then called for his waiters to serve the rich and fat pig’s head. It was sliced into several pieces. Although this was the lowest grade of pig, Ren Wei’s eyes burned as he felt tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Come, eat. You are an Elementary Scholar. You should be able to think of a way out of this. I will go back to work." He then walked away to serve other guests. Ren Wei didn’t speak anymore. He ate his meat and drank his wine.

When he had drank and eaten enough, he stood up and found his way back to his room upstairs.

"Boss, why did you give him that piece of meat? That was quite pricey." The waiter asked, "This Elementary Scholar is always very stingy, and doesn’t give us much business."

The boss didn’t reply but sighed. He then spoke, "This shop has been handed down for three generations. I’ve seen enough of people, and can tell what situation they are in. Looks like this Elementary Scholar didn’t do well in his contract job for King Lu. He’s lived here for almost half a year as well. Even people who are sentenced to die get a final meal. I guess I wanted to do something good for him?"

When the waiter heard this, he was stumped and didn’t reply. He turned away and got busy.