Chapter 372 — Complaints

Ji Yong no longer wished to do the job.

But if he quit, never mind that his great-grandfather defended him at every turn — he would likely be the first to show him no mercy.

The monthly allowance from the family coffers, the Ji clan's resources — none of it would ever tilt his way again.

With his third-place laureate's name and his credentials from compiling the Wenhua Daxun, what else could he possibly do?

He mulled it over for a long while in the Hanlin Academy.

First, food, clothing, and expenses must not be stinted; otherwise what meaning was there in living?

Beyond that, the serving boys and maids had to be kept — surely he was not going to pour his own tea and water?

Then there was the money for traveling about, which had to be ample; he had no wish to live at others' mercy, scraping by on writing fees and the like.

When all was said and done, it was money that made the trouble.

How was he to get his hands on money?

Somewhat distracted, Ji Yong returned to Yuqiao Lane.

On the way he saw a household celebrating a wedding.

He took a detour.

But he heard the onlookers saying something about "a local official from the northwest who has borrowed the Yingzhenguo Estate to take a son-in-law," and he recalled how a few days earlier his mother had said vaguely something like "what a coincidence — whatever you do, don't run into him."

He halted, lost in thought.

It must be Dou Zhiwei's uncle, Zhao Si, marrying off his daughter.

Given the affection between Dou Yan and her uncle, she would surely be there to help.

Should he mention this to Dou Yan?

The thought had barely flashed by when his feet, acting on their own, carried him through the lantern-hung, ribbon-decked gate.

Unexpectedly, he did not see Dou Yan — he saw Song Yan instead.

What rotten luck!

Ji Yong rubbed his still-heavy head and asked the master of ceremonies, "Where is Lord Zhao? I have something to say to him."

The master of ceremonies knew that Ji Yong was a son of the Ji family of Yixing up ahead, a young third-place laureate, a lofty Hanlin scholar of boundless prospects; he dared not be negligent, and hurriedly led Ji Yong to Zhao Si.

Zhao Si was talking with several of his fellow examination graduates; seeing Ji Yong come in, he was rather surprised.

Fortunately, those fellow graduates of Zhao Si's either served in the Hanlin Academy or held the post of supervising secretary in the Six Ministries. All men of letters, they knew Ji Yong, the young man who had passed both examinations with such success; someone was sure to introduce Ji Yong to Zhao Si, and others greeted him.

With a gentle smile and modest bearing, Ji Yong returned each courtesy in turn, elegant and graceful, every inch the well-bred son of a great house.

Zhao Si found himself favorably disposed toward him.

Ji Yong asked openly to see Dou Yan: "We are cousins, but as we have grown older, and my cousin is now another man's wife, there is cause for suspicion, and we must avoid it. I would ask Uncle to send someone to lead me to my cousin, so that I may speak a few words with her."

A gentleman does nothing shameful in the dark.

His open, forthright request made everyone present nod inwardly in approval.

Zhao Si too showed a measure of appreciation, but still said, "Whatever you have to say, you may say it through me."

Ji Yong said, "His Majesty has ordered me to assist Lord Yu in revising the Zhouli Hexun. When I was young I saw on my cousin's desk a copy of the Liyi Zhushu Shanyi. I once went to borrow it from my seventh uncle, but he said he did not own such a book. I want to ask my cousin whether my memory is at fault, or whether the book is her private copy. If it is, might I borrow it? In ancient times the capping ceremony had to be held in the ancestral temple; the Son of Heaven was capped four times, yet the rite was performed only once. I have never been able to find the source for this, and I want to ask my cousin whether she has any recollection on the matter."

Everyone in the room was astonished at this, and Zhao Si said in even greater amazement, "Shouyuan understands the Rites of Zhou?"

"Indeed!" Ji Yong said, his face betraying nothing, his heart not skipping a beat. "Not only does she understand them, she is thoroughly versed in them. These past days I have been searching for sources until I can no longer tell east from west, and Lord Yu keeps pressing me urgently. I had no other way, so I decided to steal a little ease." As he spoke he bowed all around to the assembled company and said, "I beg you gentlemen to do me this kindness and not spread the word."

Who would be willing to consult a woman on matters of scholarship?

Everyone wore a look of "understanding" and said in unison, "We know, we certainly will not speak of it," and their gazes toward Ji Yong grew a shade warmer. Some even urged Zhao Si: "This is a serious matter. Send someone reliable to accompany Lord Ji to see your niece."

Zhao Si also felt that this matter was indeed not one to be spread about, and it was awkward to stand in the way. He summoned a loyal old servant of the household, past sixty years of age, and had him take Ji Yong to the eastern wing, and sent someone to invite Dou Yan over for a talk.

Dou Yan was baffled, and even more astonished when she saw Ji Yong.

The loyal servant smiled and hurriedly explained the whole sequence of events.

Dou Yan was speechless with fury, but mindful of the old servant standing between them, she could only glare fiercely at the utterly unruffled Ji Yong and ask in a low voice, "Are you trying to make me out to be some female literary talent?" She could not even bring herself to deny that she was not especially well versed in the Rites of Zhou.

Ji Yong was unconcerned. Frowning, he said, "I rarely get to see you. I have something important to tell you. Don't be like those vulgar women who know only how to scold and rage, unable to tell what matters from what does not..."

Dou Yan's brows shot up.

Ji Yong had already begun to complain: "You have no idea what I have become." He rattled on, exaggerating his predicament in the Hanlin Academy, and then said, "I know you have many properties under your name and a host of head stewards. I have about five thousand taels of silver in private savings just now. Could you find someone to manage this money for me, so that I need never worry about food and clothing again?"

Dou Yan immediately understood what he was after.

She considered carefully and said, "This book-compiling is not like other work. Never mind that those Hanlin scholars have passed the highest examinations — unless a man has read deeply in the classics, he truly cannot do the job. What I fear is that your reputation has spread far and wide, and whenever His Majesty thinks of compiling some book, he thinks of you. You may well find yourself mired in it, unable to stir, with no hope of escaping the Hanlin Academy. If so, it is indeed a waste of a life..."

Ji Yong was overjoyed. "I knew Fourth Sister was different from the rest! So which head steward do you think could manage my property for me?"

Dou Yan's face went cold. "None of them would do!"

Ji Yong was taken aback.

"Do you think doing business is easy?" Dou Yan said. "It's like your studies — it demands your whole body and soul. On rainy days you think of selling umbrellas, on sunny days of mending them; day and night you lie awake, ready at any moment to ship northern goods south and southern goods north..."

Ji Yong grew irritated. "Round and round you go — in the end you're just tossing me a sweet date to chew on!"