Chapter Three: The Lofty Young Master and the Ants Below

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Where water comes, block it; where soldiers come, cover with earth. Chen Zhian’s heart was already clear—this young master of the Zhou family did not summon him here merely for a simple portrait. Yet, since he had crossed into this world, he had grown indifferent to such matters, feeling neither anxious nor fearful.

He followed Zheng Yuan into the room.

The room was small but exquisitely furnished. Several chairs and tables were crafted from Chongyang wood, exuding a natural fragrance. On the north wall hung a few large characters: “Hundreds of Crafts Await Awakening.”

Without much thought, he surmised this was likely the workshop within the government office.

Among the six departments of the government office, the workshop oversaw all artisans; the entire Huangmen office was subordinate to this workshop. Besides Huangmen, the workshop included the fields of agriculture, construction, and water conservancy.

In an ordinary county office, the workshop was merely for laborious tasks, but this was the Sunan Prefecture government office—the most prosperous place in Suwuzhou, with a population of millions. Controlling all artisans, construction, and waterworks of the prefecture, one could imagine the immense power this workshop held.

Chen Zhian entered the room and saw seated at the main position a short, lean middle-aged man with a sparse goatee. Chen knew this was Zheng Liu, the workshop chief, who had inspected the painting academy before; he remembered his face.

Besides Zheng Liu and the young master of the Zhou family, another familiar figure was Wu Peilin, the chief of Huangmen.

As Chen Zhian stepped in, Zheng Liu, Wu Peilin, and Zhou Xiujing all turned to look at him.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Zhian bowed and greeted them, “The humble painter from the academy pays respects to Lord Zheng and Lord Wu.”

“This youth is Chen Zhian of the painting academy,” Wu Peilin said. Older than Zheng Liu, he was in his fifties. Now, his expression was calm and smiling, a stark contrast to his usual stern demeanor when reprimanding or issuing orders at the academy.

Zheng Liu nodded and then addressed the young master, “It seems our workshop has some talented hands if they can pique your interest.”

Zhou Xiujing wore an exquisitely embroidered silk robe with golden cloud patterns, a jade pendant of emerald green hanging at his waist, intricately carved with a rare flower, exuding nobility.

Hearing Zheng Liu’s words, Zhou Xiujing turned and smiled at the workshop chief, “I only happened to learn of this painter’s name recently. I heard he draws portraits with charcoal swiftly and vividly. Moreover, with the recent uproar over a certain matter, it seems this Huangmen painter’s luck has arrived. Out of curiosity, I asked the lord to summon him so I could see what such a fortunate person looks like.”

Both the workshop chief and the Huangmen chief immediately became interested.

Zheng Liu looked at Chen Zhian with curiosity and asked, “Might we know what luck the young master refers to?”

Chen Zhian lowered his head, concealing his expression.

Zhou Xiujing smiled and explained, “Yesterday, Miss Xu Xiyue of the Xu family held a ‘silk ball’ matchmaking event. This Huangmen painter received the silk ball; soon, he will enter the Xu household as a son-in-law. It’s quite a turnaround—from mud to sunshine, so to speak.”

The workshop chief was momentarily stunned before laughing heartily.

It was widely known among the prominent families and officials of Sunan Prefecture that Zhou Xiujing had repeatedly expressed his feelings to Miss Xu Xiyue. But the proud young lady paid no heed, instead devising the absurd idea of the silk ball matchmaking.

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Of course, Zhou Xiujing would never rush to snatch the silk ball on Xiqing Street, nor would he abandon his status as a Zhou family son to become a son-in-law of the Xu family. Hence, this opportunity fell to the humble painter from the academy.

Wu Peilin’s eyes darted about, quickly understanding why Zhou Xiujing had summoned Chen Zhian to the government workshop.

Zhou Xiujing had long regarded Miss Xu Xiyue and even the entire Xu family as his possession. Now, that lowly painter had snatched the peach from beneath his nose—how could he not be enraged?

“Is this an act of venting frustration?” Wu Peilin mused inwardly.

He laughed, “Miss Xu is truly absurd. With her beauty that shakes Sunan Prefecture and the Xu family’s abundant wealth, what sort of husband couldn’t she find? Yet she chose such a lowly Huangmen painter?”

Hearing this, Zheng Liu understood Wu Peilin’s intentions to curry favor with the young master.

He added, “The old master of the Xu family is gravely ill and unable to manage the family’s medicine business. With no male heir, only Miss Xu manages the household affairs. She must marry a common or even incompetent man. If she married someone capable, the Xu family might no longer be the Xu family.

“Master Zhou, you need not worry. With your talent and martial prowess, you will surely find a worthy match.”

Chen Zhian felt a mix of helplessness and surprise.

He clearly saw his immediate superior, Chief Wu Peilin, flattering this Zhou family son, which was not unexpected.

Although Wu Peilin managed Huangmen, within the government workshop he was still a laborer. Despite the perks, he was not a high official.

Zheng Liu, however, though lacking an official rank, wielded great power—comparable to the heads of major departments like water conservancy, housing, and natural resources in a provincial capital.

Though the Zhou family was influential in Sunan Prefecture, in the current Dayu Dynasty, merchant clans carried far less weight than scholarly aristocrats or government officials.

It was unlikely that the workshop chief would grovel before a merchant’s son.

Unless someone in the Zhou family held an official post in the court.

Chen Zhian pondered this quietly, maintaining an impassive face.

Zhou Xiujing smiled faintly and shook his head, “Miss Xu is a true noble lady, unlike ordinary unmarried girls. She trained in martial arts on Qixia Mountain and has attained ‘Divine Essence’ cultivation. With such a background, she is a rare talent capable of sustaining the grand Xu household. She is far beyond the reach of a mere Huangmen painter.”

“Here’s my offer: I will give you silver. I believe Lord Wu Peilin will show me some respect. After today, you may become the chief painter of the Huangmen academy, earning a monthly salary of three strings of coins.

“Rest assured, the silver I give you will suffice for a comfortable life, even your father, without official status, can live well…”

Zhou Xiujing spoke slowly, his tone brimming with confidence and arrogance, “All you have to do is refuse the Xu family.”

Chief Wu Peilin turned his head at this, his expression growing serious, reverting to his usual strict demeanor.

Narrowing his eyes at Chen Zhian, he said, “I will certainly respect Master Zhou. Such a prestigious family as the Xus is far beyond your ordinary station. Even if you forcibly married in, you would face disdain from over a hundred Xu family members. From what I know, you are the only son of the Chen family. Becoming a son-in-law there means ending your own family line.

“Moreover, even if you entered the Xu household, a great family like that would clash with a commoner like you. If you contracted some strange illness, who knows how long you would survive?

“In my opinion… take the silver from Master Zhou and avoid wading into that mess.”

Zheng Liu said nothing but took a sip from a cup on the table. A faint fragrance of tea spread quietly in the air—rich, elegant, and pleasing.

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Yet as he drank, his gaze remained fixed on Chen Zhian, nakedly appraising.

Chen Zhian finally raised his head, his eyes drifting from one of the three men to another.

Zheng Liu was somewhat surprised—this painter showed little sign of nervousness.

Wu Peilin frowned, about to reprimand him, but Chen Zhian spoke first.

“Master Zhou, if I refuse your silver, decline the monthly salary, and yet wish to enter the Xu household as a son-in-law, how would you treat me?”

Zhou Xiujing studied Chen Zhian intently. He had not expected such a question and momentarily could not hide a shadow of gloom across his fair, handsome face.

He turned to Zheng Liu.

The workshop chief smiled at him, “Master Zhou is an honored guest here. I invited you for tea, and since you have honored us with your presence, speak freely without concern for me or Chief Wu.”

Wu Peilin nodded eagerly in agreement.

“Marriage in a great household always involves many formalities and takes at least a month, even if simplified.”

Zhou Xiujing lifted a cup and gently blew on it. “There are many things in the world that can be remedied and many that cannot. A month’s time is enough for both.

“The silk ball matter can be fixed. But if something irreparable happens—say, you fall into the water again like two years ago, or bandits from West Penglai invade the city and happen upon you—these are things you cannot undo. If they happen, you will regret them deeply.”

It was now the late hour of the night. Darkness had fallen, and through the clouds, a moon could be faintly seen.

Its light spilled upon the clouds, mottled black and white, resembling a grimacing face.

Though it was spring, a gust of wind swept through the hall like an arrow piercing the heart, making Chen Zhian feel an unusual chill.

“He wants to kill,” Chen Zhian thought silently.

Where his eyes landed, Zheng Liu continued sipping tea, Wu Peilin’s sinister gaze met his own, and Zhou Xiujing’s expression remained calm and composed, exuding an air of superiority.

It was as if Chen Zhian were an ant on the ground, and this Zhou family son a passerby.

The passerby bends down to toy with the ant.

If the passerby tires of the game, one step would crush the ant to pieces.

He deeply disliked this feeling.

“A truly unwarranted calamity,” Chen Zhian cursed inwardly.

At that moment, he faintly sensed from the mist within the “Celestial Jade Capital Map” that the ginger planted last night in the Kunlun Marsh had begun to sprout. A peculiar fragrance wafted forth, invigorating his spirit.