C21 Even a Rank 4 Had to Go out

On the table, the braised pork in the clay bowl was still radiating warmth. The room was quiet, and Yezi seemed to have no interest in conversation, promptly issuing a dismissal.

The pork from the mountains was indeed pricey, but it paled in comparison to the gifts brought by Zhang Yaozhi. Taken aback by Yezi's words, Zhang Yaozhi struggled to respond.

As a respected governor of Yun Province, he was accustomed to lavish meals and had indulged in countless delicacies. Yet, today's simple meal of braised pork in this modest tavern felt unexpectedly gratifying.

Hsu San, on the other hand, reacted much quicker than Zhang Yaozhi. He banged the table and stood up, his voice filled with indignation.

"How dare you! Do you realize whom you're addressing? Such insolence!"

"Cough, cough. Hsu San, take a seat."

Zhang Yaozhi coughed lightly, signaling to his subordinate. Years of holding office had endowed him with a certain composure. At his master's command, Hsu San reluctantly sat back down.

"Young man, I have a serious matter to discuss with you. I'll be frank—I am the appointed Fourth-Rank official of Yun Province. Today, as I revisited my old haunts, I encountered a promising young man like Zhixian, and I wish to take him under my wing.

Do you realize that Zhixian has a natural aptitude for studying the classics? Keeping him secluded in these mountains, how will he ever find his opportunity to shine? If he joins my tutelage, even high-ranking positions like minister are within reach. His prospects would be exponentially better than remaining here in Tongshui Town!

I understand that you've raised Zhixian and have grown attached to him. So, if you agree, I will arrange to bring you both to my residence for proper care. Surely, this secluded place cannot compare to the thriving Yunzhou Prefecture."

Zhang Yaozhi smiled with self-assurance. Having disclosed his identity, he expected the boy to eagerly seize the opportunity for prosperity and status. From his demeanor, it seemed unlikely he had ever even met the mayor of Tongshui Town.

After waiting for a response for quite some time, the man before her finally broke the silence.

"Are you done? If so, please leave. I need to wash the dishes."

Ye Zi remained calmly seated, seemingly unaffected by Zhang Yaozhi's words. She inquired in a matter-of-fact tone, as though she was about to tidy up the table.

At this, Zhang Yaozhi was at a loss for words. Not only had Ye Zi never met the mayor, but she also seemed unaware of what an official's role entailed. As Zhang Yaozhi grappled with the situation, Jiang Ning, who had remained quiet until now, chimed in.

"Young Ye, you're on your own, and with your eyesight failing, life in these mountains with Zhixian isn't easy. Go with Yaozhi; he's the old master's student and won't let you down.

Zhixian's gift is clear to me; he can recall any book after a single reading. With the right guidance, we could soon have another Lee Taibai in our midst!

A frog in a well cannot conceive of the vastness of the sky. When it's time to let go, one must do so..."

With a heavy sigh, Jiang Ning spoke to Ye Zi with heartfelt persuasion. Upon hearing his words, Ye Zi let out a soft chuckle.

"Judging by your voice, you must be Mr. Jiang from the town's private school, correct? You make a fair point. But even Lee Taibai had his debts. Zhixian and I are doing quite well here; why venture out? The world is vast, and for a well-dwelling frog, a suitable well is all that's needed..."

"Zhixian is a dragon, not meant to be confined to a well, left to the mercy of mere fish and shrimp. Before my days as a schoolteacher, I served as a Grand Scholar at the Imperial Court in Chang'an. I have the means to help a dragon reach its rightful place."

Jiang Ning steadied himself and spoke with gravity. At that moment, a subtle change came over Ye Zi's demeanor. A faint smile played at the corners of her mouth as she softly inquired,

"Has the Imperial Court's door plaque been fixed yet?"

"Door plaque? What door plaque?"

After listening to Ye Zi's words, Zhang Yaozhi was left feeling bewildered. It was as if he was trying to discern the moon through a dense fog, unable to grasp the meaning behind the conversation. Meanwhile, Jiang Ning's face was etched with astonishment. Zhang Yaozhi might have been in the dark, but Jiang Ning understood all too well.

The Imperial Academy had once been revered as the sacred ground for scholars across the land, boasting a door plaque inscribed by the emperor himself within its inner sanctum. This plaque, bearing the title "Abode of the Literary Sage," proclaimed the academy as the ancestral home of scholars, challenging the learned men of the world to surpass its scholarly achievements. Yet, no one had ever succeeded.

That is until a young man arrived. He composed poetry while drinking, penning three hundred poems in a single inebriated state, leaving the entire academy unable to decipher his work. After he had drained the academy's cellars of their finest wines, still no one could best him in the art of poetry.

Upon witnessing this, the young man let out a hearty laugh and strode out the door, his sword cleaving through the word "sage" on the plaque, splitting it in two.

Despite the attempts of many skilled craftsmen, the Sword Intent left on the plaque wounded anyone who dared to repair it. The door plaque of the Imperial Academy remained broken, a testament to the event. At the time, Jiang Ning had just taken up his post as an academy scholar and had the fortune to witness the spectacle.

He knew the identity of the young man, whose name, a decade later, would be known far and wide, his poetry recited by all. The man was hailed as the Immortal Poet and Sword Immortal, known as Lee Taibai.

This tale was known only to a select few in Chang'an City, so how could it be that he was hearing it from a mountain youth?

"Who exactly are you?" Jiang Ning inquired, taking a deep breath and gathering his courage. He was acutely aware that this person's identity was far from ordinary.

"Enough. You wouldn't be satisfied without seeing for yourself. Mr. Jiang, please have your student step outside," Ye Zi said, tapping on the table and gesturing to Jiang Ning.

"Step outside? I am a respected official of Cloud State, what could I possibly be shielded from?" Zhang Yaozhi retorted, feeling slighted. As a fourth-rank official who took his place near the front during court sessions, he couldn't fathom why he should be excluded from any conversation, especially one with a mountain youth. But before his anger could fully surface, Ye Zi's next words quenched his fury like a douse of cold water.

Having served as a government official for many years, you should be well aware of what matters to attend to and which to ignore. In Chang'an City, there have been numerous high-ranking officials who have faced execution along with their entire families for listening to things they shouldn't have.

Before your appointment as an official in Yunzhou, you were meant to be the prefect of Changqing Prefecture. If it hadn't been for the sudden death of the previous official, how could you have taken his place? But do you know the true cause of his demise?"

Zhang Yaozhi swallowed hard, staring at the young man in silent astonishment. He was no stranger to the perils of holding office, yet this individual seemed to possess an even deeper understanding.

"Yaozhi, why don't you step outside for now? I'll handle the matter concerning Zhixian," Jiang Ning suggested, offering a subtle cough to provide Zhang Yaozhi with a graceful exit. Recognizing the gesture, Zhang Yaozhi, not one to miss the cue, nodded in agreement and gestured for Hsu San to follow him out.

Before departing, Zhang Yaozhi made sure to close the restaurant's door behind him. The hall fell into a hushed stillness. Across from Jiang Ning sat Yezi, idly spinning a black wooden chopstick between her fingers. An ordinary utensil in most hands, yet in the right ones, it could be used to perform extraordinary feats—like piercing through a human skull.

"Given that you've spent time in the Hanlin Academy, Mr. Jiang, you ought to recognize me. I, too, have spent some days within those city walls..." Yezi said with a faint smile, then abruptly unwrapped a cloth band. The fabric, which had obscured her vision, gently cascaded down, coming to rest on the immaculately wiped table.

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