Chapter 1

Li Rong heard the mechanical voice again, "All anchor point connections are completed--" This time he was able to distract himself and think that the voice was still somewhat stiff, much calmer than the first exclamation.

"Please repeat the guidelines."

The words that sounded like a recitation rang in his ears. He opened his eyes and recited the only clear imprint in his memory, and he could hear every word.

"The only rule for an observer is to respect time and escape paradoxes." He clearly experienced the pain of quantum fluctuations with energy, and was unaware that the hatch was closing automatically, and the nutrient solution and mechanical tubes were working synchronously until they filled the entire insulation cabin.

Li Rong finally closed his eyes in such agony, his mind becoming hazy and collapsing...

"Young Master, Young Master..." Li Rong heard someone calling him while he was in a coma. He forced his eyes open and made a hoarse sound from his throat, still feeling a little dazed.

"Young Master - you finally woke up." The man spoke in a not very fluent official language with a southern accent, and his anxious mood made the words sound a little inappropriate. Li Rong subconsciously chuckled and tried to prop himself up, but was supported by the other party first.

"Why do you feel so hot, sir? Could you have caught an epidemic disease?" He vaguely saw the person who was about to help him up put him down on the couch again. Li Rong lay down like this and then realized that he was unusually cold. "I'll go get a doctor right away! Please wait a moment, sir." Before he could ask anything, he could only watch the person hurried out.

Li Rong closed his eyes, the pain making his body feel even more drowsy. He used his fingertips to pull his outer robe over himself, shivering slightly from the cold. He turned over and tried to tuck himself into the covers. Gradually, Li Rong adjusted to the drowsiness, vaguely remembering where he was.

He and his servant had traveled north from Luzhou. The servant who had just hurried away was his childhood companion, surnamed Su. When his father brought him back, he had named him after a random number he saw in the account book, and Su Si didn't mind. He couldn't help but laugh. Fortunately, he had started studying early, and over the years, he had changed Su Si's name to a homophone and taught him to write well, so he didn't have to deal with the important issue of a name in a sloppy manner.

Judging by the distance, I should still be on the road these past few days. But I think I caught a cold in the carriage, and I woke up groggy. I wonder where Su Si took me. From Luzhou, I can only get to Jiangdu by boat, and I'll need to exchange some silver at my family's branch before continuing north. The days of traveling have left me a bit dazed.

Li Rong wrapped the quilt tighter around him. He considered Su Si's usual careless nature. If he allowed the coachman to lead the way, this place would either be Gusu or Jinling. His family had branches in both places, but a long journey of study required experiencing the natural beauty of nature, and he hadn't achieved anything yet. Jiangnan was vast, and the ferry crossing offered a breathtaking view of the water, little different from a typical day in Luzhou. Their journey to Jiangdu was merely a temporary stop. Before they'd even spent the night, Su Si was leading them east again. A day or two had passed, and the scene had already become a blur.

Li Rong felt that the coldness on his body was dissipating a little after he broke out in a sweat. He sighed and wondered how long it would take for Su Si to get a doctor back. As autumn approached, a cool breeze blew south of the Yangtze River, and epidemics were indeed prevalent. He thought that he had not been to the market and had not come into contact with too many people along the way. If he was infected with the epidemic, he would have to give up his study tour. After returning, it would be difficult to comfort his mother and go out again.

He could only vaguely hope it was just a cold, and that he'd be out of bed in a few days after taking medicine. His mother had been childless for so long, leaving him alone as the eldest brother, and he always had a lot to plan. It was only with his father's kind words that he finally found the time to travel and study. Living in a wealthy place often gives people the impression of being isolated. Scholars in previous dynasties were fond of traveling and studying, visiting hermits and great scholars, and finding like-minded friends was a truly elegant pursuit, like the bright moon and gentle breeze.

Li Rong coughed lightly a few times, but the pent-up energy in his chest refused to dissipate. Jiangnan boasted the light, rich fabrics of silk, the rice that filled granaries year after year, the vibrant green of banana trees in summer, and the dancing white raindrops against dark clouds that obscured the buildings. Only the enchanting winter nights, the dark rain and snow, were rare. He had never personally visited the scenery of Chu, the homeland of Qu Yuan, and this trip was meant to be a journey of sightseeing.

He thought of the green water around the banks in the south of the Yangtze River, and wondered how the mountains in the north towered into the clouds, or whether they were as one with the water as the sky. He thought of the graceful and affectionate songs in the south of the Yangtze River, but wondered how the songs in the north could carry the wind and snow that filled the desolate places. He thought of what he had heard about the gathering of wealthy businessmen in the areas of Suzhou and Jinling, the graceful singers in famous buildings, and the lights of the cruise ships in the middle of the night. He wondered whether the people in the heart of Chang'an, the royal capital, were safe and there was no one picking up things on the streets, or whether the world's most talented people gathered there to talk about all the world's theories and schools of thought.

Li Rong gathered enough strength to stand up amidst this vision. The feeling of being top-heavy was still palpable. He donned his outer robe and went downstairs to refill his cup of tea. The cold tea was just the perfect remedy for his parched throat and dry mouth. Just a moment ago, it felt like winter, but now, with the sweating, it felt like summer. Li Rong continued to sip the coarse tea from the table, mentally calculating the delays of the past few days.

If it's an epidemic, the fever could last as short as seven or eight days, or as long as over half a month, so I can only stay indoors to recuperate. During this time, I'll need someone to write back home to reassure my mother. If it's a cold, I'll give her a strong dose of medicine. I can also let Su Si continue on the journey. After all, I've just passed my twenties, so I'm strong and healthy, so minor illnesses are not a big deal.

Missing a good day for travel would be a serious matter. Once winter arrived, it would be difficult to travel from Shu to Chang'an to witness the prosperity of the imperial capital. Li Rong considered the time it would take to reach Chang'an, and then have to wait until late spring to cross Jianguan and enter Bashu. Reaching Chang'an via Linyi, Xuzhou, and other places would pass through Qi and Lu, where Confucius' teachings flourished. He feared that studying alone, with his limited talent, would make it difficult for a great scholar to gain his acclaim.

The knocking sound outside the door interrupted Li Rong's thoughts. He recognized that the hurried tone was all Su Si's style. He cleared his throat and said a weak "Come in", wondering if his servant could hear it clearly.

As expected, Su Si entered, followed by a doctor carrying a medicine chest. Li Rong let Su Si nag about not taking care of his health, smiled, and let the doctor take his pulse. Su Si draped an extra robe over him, and Li Rong felt a chill creeping over him from his quiet time. He read the prescription the doctor had written after taking his pulse; it contained several common herbs. Sure enough, the doctor had simply said it was a case of wind evil entering the body, and that he should boil the medicine and take it on time.

Li Rong had Su Si pay double the doctor's fee and send him out. He finally lifted the still-dry prescription and finally let go of his worries. A cold wouldn't require days of bed rest, and he could explain it to his family and his mother. A two-day delay wouldn't be a big deal.

Li Rong let Su Si, who had returned, take care of him and let him rest in bed. While Su Si was about to go get medicine, he hurriedly asked where he was now.

"Young Master, you're truly delirious with fever. You should have already reached Gusu last night. If you take care of yourself, you'll be close to Jinling in the next two days." Li Rong let Su Si continue to ramble on, turning over and remaining silent to avoid any further interaction. Su Si, still mumbling to himself, remembered the old doctor's instructions and went to the pharmacy to get some medicine.

Li Rong finally felt his ears quiet down. This was Su Si's fault. He was impatient and overly worried. He would have to tell him more stories like "worrying about nothing" to teach him a lesson. He sighed silently and relaxed. He lay down and stared at the curtains beside the bed. The workmanship was indeed more exquisite and elegant than the ones in the Luzhou Inn. Now he was in Gusu. He thought to himself,

Since I caught a cold overnight, I slept all day today. If Su Si comes back with medicine in a while, he will definitely stop me from going out.

Missing the red maples of Gusu and the fishing lights along the river would be a real shame. He reached out and pulled his outer robe over his chest, covering himself tightly. Medicine for a cold is only a drop in the bucket; usually, a good night's sleep, covered until you've sweated all over, is enough to clear the illness. Li Rong felt his drowsiness fade, and he could almost hear the sounds of the street. People came and went, the night watch sounded, and a rare cool breeze blew through the window paper, causing the lanterns to flicker.

Li Rong tilted his head to look outside. Even through the papered window and the attic, he could imagine the long, bustling street. Children ran by, drawing the attention of the crowd, vendors shouted incessantly, and waiters from restaurants tried to attract customers. He didn't know how far this inn was from the singing house. He closed his eyes, hoping the autumn wind would carry him the graceful singing voice and the enchanting sound of the guqin. Perhaps there were scholars like him, those with wealth could spend lavishly on beautiful women, becoming legends in the streets, while those with less wealth could borrow the opportunity to compose poetry and couplets, not only discussing Confucianism and Taoism, but also recording the scene, making a year-long promise, so that when they meet again in the future, they can appreciate the beauty and the kindness they shared.

Su Si returned quickly enough and asked the room attendant to prepare some medicine, which he then guzzled from his teacup. Seeing that he was, as usual, not demanding anything, Li Rong thought that if he spoke up now, he might get a few more scoldings, so he decided not to. He waited for Su Si to bring him the freshly brewed medicine in a bowl, and Su Si helped him hold it while he drank it all in one gulp. The scalding liquid tasted bitter as it entered his throat. Recovering from his composure, Li Rong told Su Si to clean up after the rush of the day, covered in dust, so that he could lie down in the room for a while, feeling the bitterness.

Su Si would definitely stay with him tonight as the wind was cold, and it was not convenient for him to get out of bed and open the window to look down. Li Rong had to miss the good time tonight and took out half a scroll of bamboo slips to read his past homework.

My father had a knack for business from a young age. After his business prospered, he had a son. He hired numerous tutors to teach him from a young age, determined to secure a position in government and establish himself in the world. Following his father's lead, I studied for years, often sleeping with a desk piled high with bamboo slips and a green lamp by my side. What is the world like today? Is it exactly as described in books?

Li Rong thought of his own travels and his future studies, and he answered this question. He closed his eyes and dreamed of Jiangnan, of bamboo slips and documents, and of the northern lands he had never visited, until he gradually fell asleep. The lamp burned out, the oil extinguished, the shadows outside the window faded, and the bell outside the city rang briefly.