Chapter 3: Did the Grand Tutor have a lover?
Luo Jie responded with a "yes," and watched as the Grand Tutor strolled out of the council hall.
Jiuzhang Mansion, which served as the temporary capital during the Qianyu era, was built to be extremely magnificent. Its upturned eaves and towering buildings corresponded to the number of stars in the Purple Palace Enclosure in the sky. Walking along the covered walkways felt like walking on the Milky Way.
Unfortunately, he had no interest in appreciating the night view. Luo Jie ordered two guards to carry the puppet into the secret room, asking as they went, "What's the difference between it and a real person?"
The guard said, "His hands and feet are cold, but his weight is no different from that of a real person."
Luo Jie was somewhat surprised. "Was it cold? It was clearly warm when I first collapsed. Just how powerful is this puppeteer to be able to make such a lifelike dummy?"
“They must have poured hot water in.” The guard carried the person onto the bed and analyzed the situation according to his own speculation. “There are springs in the joints. As long as you move around, you can keep the water at a constant temperature.”
Luo Jie chuckled. "You might as well say there's a hidden stove inside the mechanism; when the person moves, the stove lights up." As he spoke, he cautiously examined the machine, muttering to himself, "These puppeteers are so well-made; in the future, to distinguish the real from the fake, I'll probably have to lift their clothes and look at their chests..."
But since this imposter was made in the likeness of the Grand Tutor, staring at it directly seemed offensive. So he took a curtain and covered himself from head to toe, instructing the guards not to spread the word. Once everything was settled, he left Jiuzhang Mansion under the cover of night.
The city's guards searched all night without finding anything new, but the commotion they caused was considerable. Even at midnight, hurried footsteps could be heard in the alleyways, but by daybreak, everything returned to normal. After the festival, there were things to do to clean up the mess, catch up on lost work, and ensure the East and West markets remained open. Only those who witnessed the events of yesterday could truly feel the lingering effects.
The two military officers whom Zhonghou had arranged to stay behind were now standing with their backs to the front gate of the Lu residence. Last night it was freezing cold, but this morning when the sun rose and people were bathed in the morning light, they finally felt their toes and fingers come alive.
Speaking of coming to life, the Lu residence is eerily quiet at night. No one walks around, no one speaks—no washing, no fetching water, no chopping wood, no cooking—nothing at all. If I hadn't seen the whole family standing together in the courtyard before, I would have almost doubted whether the house was even empty.
The tall Wuhou looked back and tried to peek through the crack in the door, muttering to himself, "They really don't know any manners. They know we're outside, yet they don't even bring us some hot water or snacks to comfort us."
The short man leaned against the brick wall with his eyes closed, mocking him for his wishful thinking. "They're surnamed Lu, and given the patriarch's temper, it's already quite good that he didn't throw cold water on us."
After he finished speaking, they finally heard some activity inside the house. Just like the gates of a marketplace opening at the appointed time, with wealthy merchants and peddlers flocking into the city, the Lu residence was now truly alive, like a family enjoying the daily necessities of life.
The tall man waited expectantly for the person inside to realize what was happening and bring out some hot food, but the short man had already spotted the imperial carriage approaching from the alleyway. He hurriedly nudged his companion with his elbow, one of them went forward to greet it, while the other turned around and knocked on the door of the Lu residence.
The gate was wide open, but the scene was unexpected. Only Lu Kongshan stood in the center of the courtyard, neither humble nor arrogant.
The person who stepped out of the carriage and across the threshold was instantly recognizable as a puppet. Even if the facial features and body shape were exactly the same, a fake was still a fake, nothing more than another display of skill by the puppeteer, placed here for the sake of excitement and visual appeal.
However, this Yanren was treated quite well; at least he knew how to lead the way with a cupped hand.
Lu Min lifted his robe and ascended the steps, his attendants stopping before him. He followed the yakuman alone into the depths of the mansion, which was surprisingly spacious and open, with two halls connected. Several layers of ebony partitions hung under the high ceiling, and floor-to-ceiling panels in the style of falling flowers and flowing water stood on both sides. Sunlight streamed through the window lattices, and the water-polished tiles on the floor perfectly reflected the shape of the windows.
He walked for a while but didn't see Yan Shi. A square table with lotus root sections was set up about four or five zhang ahead, so he stopped and said, "You went to so much trouble to see me, and now that you've come, why are you avoiding me?"
Behind the carved partition, a figure finally emerged slowly, its outline indistinct, making it impossible to tell whether it was male or female. It spoke in a low, mocking voice: "Everyone says it's not easy to see the Grand Tutor, but now it seems the rumors are untrue."
Lu Min was magnanimous and patient, and was not angered by these few words. He stepped back and sat down in a round-backed chair. "I have accepted the gift from the Puppet Master. It is indeed exquisite and must have taken a lot of effort."
Yan Shi's tone was flat. "It's just a trivial skill, but Grand Tutor Meng doesn't mind. If we're talking about craftsmanship, the things I present to Grand Tutor are worth spending two or three months polishing."
"It's a pity he only said two words before collapsing and not getting up." He said with great regret.
"Two sentences are enough to invite the Grand Tutor to grace us with his presence."
To get straight to the point, since we've come to meet, we should at least find out the other party's purpose. Lu Min asked, "What does Master Yan want? Yesterday was the Umbrella Festival, and the whole city was in a state of panic. Master Yan must give me an explanation."
The person behind the barrier was very sincere. "This is my selfish desire. I am just an unknown nobody wandering the world, hoping to attract the attention of a great figure and make a name for myself in this world. I hope the Grand Tutor will forgive me. As for the puppeteer from yesterday, he was my pledge of allegiance, expressing my determination to the Grand Tutor on my behalf. The Grand Tutor holds a high position and great power, but he is in dire need. No one but me can solve this urgent problem. I just don't know if the Grand Tutor is willing to give me a chance."
As the puppeteer spoke, his gaze pierced through the thin partition and landed clearly on the person sitting in the armchair.
This Grand Tutor of the court was truly a man of great inner strength and dignity. Even on the verge of death, you would never find a trace of illness or dejection on his face. He stood upright, and his every move was dignified and aloof. He possessed extraordinary composure and endurance. Even when discussing matters of life and death, no matter how moved he was, he would never lose his composure, nor would he reveal his desires to you.
But Yan Shi was confident that there were no truly detached mortals in this world. He wouldn't budge because he hadn't yet let go of his pride. At this moment, a strong dose of medicine was needed to push things forward, so he kindly reminded him, "Grand Tutor, your time is running out."
The person in the chair remained calm, but his tone carried a hint of probing as he said in a low voice, "Master Yan, what makes you say that?"
It's okay if you don't admit it; just expose the scars and reveal the flesh and blood.
Yan Shi slowly said, "Every day, you endure pain ten times worse than being slowly sliced to death. When the night is quiet, you toss and turn, unable to sleep. Your bones are being crushed piece by piece, and the bone fragments spurting out of your fistulas are horrifying to behold. You are gradually losing control of your limbs, and the air you breathe can no longer support your chest. You know that it won't be long before you are pulverized to death. So you seek out famous doctors everywhere, but with little success. It's not that those doctors are not skilled, but that doctors can only cure diseases, not cure fate—you are not actually sick, but poisoned by a kind of poison called 'Flute Bone'."
Just like a fortune teller deciphering destiny, when secrets that should not be told to outsiders are exposed to the light of day, and there is no way to cover them up, one can only resign oneself to fate.
The blurry silhouette of the puppeteer slowly clung to the barrier. "There is no antidote for this poison. At first, it doesn't hurt or itch, but after ten years, it rapidly worsens. It's truly remarkable that you, Grand Tutor, have held on until today. But as time goes on, your bones will eventually be riddled with holes, and you won't even need any external force; a gust of wind could blow you down. The young and renowned Imperial Tutor of the Yan Dynasty, are you willing to die such a miserable death? You have lofty ambitions, many ideals yet to be realized, and many political affairs await your attention. You shouldn't be burdened by this broken body. Why not discard this useless shell and start afresh? You'll find the wind is gentle, the rain doesn't hurt, a higher pillow won't break your neck, and you won't have to struggle to get up the next day; you can stand up immediately... All these benefits are numerous."
They lobbied him earnestly, painting a picture of a life that seemed unattainable. Humans are naturally inclined to cling to life and fear death; it's nothing to be ashamed of. Therefore, he wouldn't refuse. What followed was merely a power struggle over interests, finding a mutually beneficial central axis where everyone got what they wanted.
Without much thought, the person in the armchair raised their eyes. "What does Master Yan want in exchange? Wealth, or power?"
The deep voice behind the barrier carried a hint of amusement, “I have made many puppets, but only one person has been willing to put his heart into it. The Grand Tutor is a pillar of the founding of the country and a trusted advisor to the new emperor. At the age of twelve, he was able to lead thousands of troops to pacify Guangwu City. I want to test whether such a resourceful person can take control of a strange new body without breaking a sweat.”
But is the truth really that simple? Lu Min smiled slightly after hearing this. "You created the puppet yourself, and you know its flaws and weaknesses. At that time, I'm afraid this body will become a walking cage, and I will have to obey you and be at your mercy. I can't think of any other clever way to persuade the puppet master to do me this huge favor."
A person without foresight will have immediate worries, and those who rise to high positions are mostly pessimistic. The Puppet Master knew his concerns well and didn't intend to hide anything. "When a puppet is without a master, it's no different from a sword or a bow—just an object. But once it has a master, it becomes a real person, its body and heart becoming one. It will never obey me, much less be manipulated by me. Of course, it's not that it has nothing to do with me anymore. Each step in the puppet-making process requires blood to sustain its life, so even if the fake puppet transforms into a real one, it will still need to come to me every ten days or so to extend its life. In other words, Grand Tutor, you must ensure my safety for the rest of your life; if I die, you will not live either. This is my purpose. If Grand Tutor can accept this, you might consider my good intentions."
The person in the armchair slowly stood up. "So, by reshaping the generals of Qianyu, who is Yanshi trying to trap?"
The person behind the barrier shifted half a step, revealing a rolled edge on their dark blue robe. They spoke in a melodious voice, “Saving my life isn’t just empty talk; I need absolute certainty. Chong’an City is a secondary capital, teeming with high-ranking officials and nobles. Many of the generals who made great contributions in the past are now ill or old. Although I favor the Grand Tutor, I can’t push things to the brink. If a powerful enemy rises from the dead, everyone will know that there’s a puppeteer in the secondary capital. To me, salt and brine are the same. If the Grand Tutor is grateful, I will do my utmost to pave a way for his survival; if not, I’ll find someone who is, and I’ll add to their glory. In short, I must not only ensure the safe transmission of this craft, but also promote its flourishing. If the Grand Tutor still hesitates, he can go back and reconsider with the puppeteer, but not for too long. What if someone beats him to it… I only have so much blood left; I can’t feed three living people at once.”
At this point, an ordinary person would have been impatient. But Lu Min was a man of great importance, and he never made hasty decisions in the heat of the moment. The physical pain did not affect his judgment; his turning around was still elegant. If one hadn't observed him closely for two years, how would one have guessed that he was poisoned by bone poison?
He walked towards the enormous waterfall of light in front of the door. The Puppet Master was confident that this departure was a prelude to their inevitable reunion next time. So he chased after the retreating figure, asking, "Grand Tutor, is there anyone in your room?"
He was originally twenty-seven, the age when he should have been getting married and having children. But things didn't go as planned. He was poisoned at twenty-three and his health has been deteriorating ever since. He has no interest in romance at all.
Lu Min didn't stop walking and replied, "No."
Yan Shi then said, "If you've made up your mind, you might as well marry Xia Fang. It's inconvenient for you to marry someone else with your health, but marrying her will allow you to take care of each other."
Therefore, Xia Fang was the first person to voluntarily offer his heart.
To get rid of this ailing body, he had to accept additional conditions; this mere charlatan was actually arranging his fate.
A look of disdain flashed in his eyes. He ignored it and strode away, flicking his sleeves.
A note from the author:
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200 small red envelopes~
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