Corriendo de un lado a otro y desempeñando papeles secundarios

Capítulo 3

She asked for money to call the people in, but it turned out to be Xu Qingzhi and Su Shi who had come to visit him. It turned out that their mentor, Ouyang Xiu, had arrived in time to help Xu Qingzhi out of the predicament. The two men were concerned about Li Yuxuan and, knowing that she had returned to the inn, came together.

Seeing that she was alright, the two men laughed and said, "Brother Li, you really scared us just now."

Li Yuxuan chuckled but did not reply.

Xu Qingzhi frowned and said, "Both of you gentlemen are working at the Dali Temple, so you can spend time together and exchange poems. I am the only one working at the Secretariat, so you will have to come and chat with me more often."

Su Shi was looking at the books Li Yuxuan had placed on the table when he heard this and laughed, "Are all your poems and lyrics the result of casual conversations? Very well, I know a wonderful teahouse. Let's go there now for tea and a chat and see what good articles Brother Xu can come up with."

Li Yuxuan didn't want them to stay in his room any longer, so upon hearing this, he immediately chimed in, "That's exactly what I was thinking too. Come on, it's my treat today. The three of us really should get together properly. I haven't even exchanged a few words with Brother Su since the palace examination."

The three set off immediately. Su Shi led them to the depths of an inconspicuous alley. Several green bamboos grew at the entrance, and the gilded lintel was inscribed with the words: "A cup of tea awakens the eyes all day long; the essence of plants and trees truly possesses divine power." A lantern jutted out from the wall, bearing a large character for "tea."

The three entered the courtyard. The servant in the courtyard recognized Su Shi and, seeing him enter, immediately put on a smiling face and led them to a small flower hall surrounded by water on three sides. After a while, two tea maids came gracefully with tea sets.

Su Shi told them to put down the tea set: "You don't need to serve me here, just bring me the best water."

Li Yuxuan laughed and said, "Brother Su, I only know how to drink tea, but I don't know how to brew it."

Su Shi went to arrange the tea set, saying, "No rush, just wait." Li Yuxuan watched as Su Shi prepared the tea set and began to light a fire to brew the tea. His hands were fair and slender, his fingers slightly bent, resting on the purple teaware—it felt like gently caressing a lover. Such hands... he really wanted to touch them…

Li Yuxuan blushed inexplicably. She had been here for five years, practically transforming herself into an ancient person. Was it really necessary to blush and feel so guilty, just because she had a slight physical desire for this incredibly handsome man? Everyone has a love of beauty, and she was no exception.

Su Shi also noticed Li Yuxuan's gaze, looked up and said, "Brother Li seems to be very interested in tea brewing. Would you like me to teach you the art of tea brewing?"

No, I'm just interested in you. Li Yuxuan turned his gaze away: "I'm lazy and tired, so I'd rather drink what's readily available, hehehe. Brother Su, don't mind me."

"Really?" Su Shi laughed heartily. "Why do I feel that Brother Li is deliberately keeping his distance from me?"

"Of course, you're a married man, so I naturally can't get too close to you."

"Hmm?" Su Shi looked at him, puzzled. "Does this have anything to do with my wife?"

Li Yuxuan realized he had let something slip and quickly chuckled, "Brother Su, you're being unfair. Do you really want me to tell you the truth? Would you believe me if I said it was because of your literary talent and romantic charm that I was jealous?"

"letter!"

"kindness?"

"Since Brother Li has said so, how could I not believe him? Hahahaha."

Watching Su Shi's unrestrained and flamboyant laughter, Li Yuxuan was momentarily dazed: Was he really this fond of laughing? Was his smile so sunny, unrestrained, and even a little mischievous like a child's? Such a smile could only exist on his spirited and youthful face. After experiencing the Wutai Poetry Case, after being demoted again and again by the court, would he still have the same mindset of washing his hands and brewing tea?

Thinking of this, Li Yuxuan felt a pang of heartache. This man, with his talent and charisma, truly belonged to the bustling world, amidst the aroma of tea. If only he weren't so arrogant, if only he weren't so insistent on being pragmatic, if only he were a little more tactful.

The tea was brewed, and Su Shi handed him a cup: "Try it."

The small purple clay cup held tea as clear as jade. Li Yuxuan took a sip and drank it down: "Forget it, why should I think about these things? I am just a passerby in history, not even knowing my own life or death, so why should I care about others?"

She returned the cup to Su Shi, only to find the two men beside her staring at her with wide eyes. Oh, she had just gulped down the tea, which was against the rules. She raised an eyebrow at them, walked over, poured herself another cup, and drank it down in one go: "I'm thirsty. Do you have anything to say?"

Xu Qingzhi, having witnessed Li Yuxuan's extremes of vulgarity and refinement, shook his head: "No."

Su Shi shook his head repeatedly, then chuckled and said, "If I had known I had brought an ox with me, I would have just brewed some Pu'er tea. Why waste this top-quality Maojian tea?"

“Whether it’s cow or rabbit, it’s not a waste once it’s drunk. Alright, I’ll have another cup to savor slowly.” Li Yuxuan reached for the teapot, but Su Shi picked it up before she could: “There’s no more for you. The rest is for me and Brother Xu.”

Li Yuxuan burst into laughter at his actions: "Brother Su is indeed stingy."

After Li Yuxuan finished laughing, Su Shi smiled and said, "Brother Li, now that you can laugh so heartily, please return my things to me."

Li Yuxuan's mouth dropped open in disbelief: "I said you're stingy, and you really are this stingy? I've already drunk the tea, it's not coming out, so there's no way to return it."

Su Shi could no longer help but chuckle: "Brother Li, I was referring to my handkerchief."

"Your handkerchief?" So that handkerchief was his? She looked at Xu Qingzhi, who nodded.

Li Yuxuan reached into his sleeve and exclaimed, "Oh no! I lost that handkerchief in the palace!"

Dragon and Tiger Showdown

Seeing Li Yuxuan's anxious appearance, Su Shi couldn't help but lower his head and shake his head again: "Brother Li, it's just a lost handkerchief, is there any need to make such a fuss?"

Li Yuxuan squeezed the handkerchief lying neatly in his sleeve pocket. It belonged to Su Shi; how could he return it to him? He took his hand out and shook his head regretfully: "Why did I lose Brother Su's handkerchief instead of the silver? It shows I'm a worldly person; I can't escape worldly concerns."

"Haha!" Su Shi came over and patted him on the shoulder: "Brother Li, I love your humor. There are too many serious old scholars around us. In fact, what we do in scholarship is to feel carefree and happy and to help the world and save people. Who cares about so many rules and regulations?"

Xu Qingzhi also laughed and said, "Brother Su is half right. If you want to help the world and save the people, you must naturally follow the rules of officialdom. If you don't have a platform, your greatest learning will only be able to reach the top in the mountains and forests. Wouldn't that be a waste of Brother Su's lofty ambitions?"

"Alas," Su Shi sighed, about to speak, when a crisp slapping sound came from outside, followed by a deep and cheerful voice: "Brother, you are right. Even with a belly full of talent, if you don't understand the rules and regulations of officialdom, you are no different from a commoner." With the voice, a man wearing a dark green robe walked in.

Upon seeing the man, Su Shi quickly put down his tea set and went to greet him: "Brother Jiefu!" The man chuckled: "Brother Zizhan, are you poisoning the children with your theories again?"

"Not at all, I was just venting. Well, this Brother Xu is criticizing me mercilessly, and you just happened to hear it." Su Shi brewed a pot of tea for the man: "Let me introduce you. This is the world-renowned great talent Wang Jiefu, Wang Anshi."

Wang Anshi? Li Yuxuan was taken aback. Although she knew that the person in front of her was the famous Wang Anshi, she couldn't help but recall the blood-written letter with the character "Wang" that her father, Prefect Li, had pressed down on when she woke up that day.

She recognized the character "王" (Wang), the very clue that led her to the massacre of years past. Although she was no longer his biological daughter, the tragic scene filled her with righteous indignation, and she vowed to avenge the Li family. Otherwise, why would she bother striving for officialdom when she could simply enjoy the money in the marketplace?

Of course, there was a small personal motive behind her vying for fame and fortune: she was simply too curious about the famous figures of this period. She knew that during the Northern Song Dynasty, Su Shi, Su Zhe, Wang Anshi, Yan Jidao, and others were in their prime, pointing out the flaws in the country, writing passionately, and full of vigor.

Xu Qingzhi had already gone up to pay his respects to Wang Anshi, and the two exchanged pleasantries about how they felt they had met too late.

Su Shi was clearly acquainted with Wang Anshi. He asked the tea maid outside to bring in a new set of tea utensils and began brewing tea again. Wang Anshi looked at Li Yuxuan: "And this gentleman is?"

Li Yuxuan quickly clasped his hands in greeting and said, "This humble one is Li Yuxuan, paying respects to Brother Wang."

"Hahaha..." Wang Anshi laughed loudly: "So all three top scholars of this year's imperial examination are here. How fortunate I am."

Su Shi also laughed and said, "Brother, when did you return to the capital? You didn't even send someone to let me know so I could have given you a welcome-back dinner!"

“I haven’t told you I’ve been back for several days, and you’ve been busy with the exams.” Wang Anshi sat down next to Su Shi, watching him fiddling with the tea set. “It’s a pity that Brother Su’s refined taste has been wasted on a clumsy fellow like me. Your fine tea has been wasted.”

Su Shi's lips twitched repeatedly, clearly trying to suppress a laugh, but he finally couldn't help but burst out laughing, pointing at Li Yuxuan: "Brother, the real calf is right there."

Li Yuxuan chuckled, unconcerned: "Ordinary people have their own kind of happiness. Lord Wang, are there many officials with the surname Wang in the capital?"

"Your surname is Wang? What rank are you? Why are you asking this?" Wang Anshi replied casually, somewhat puzzled by her question.

"I was just asking casually, haha. I saw a poem at the Futai Restaurant the other day. It was very well written and signed Wang Min. Isn't that Lord Wang from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices?" Li Yuxuan brought up the topic.

"Among the officials in the capital, there are five civil officials of the fourth rank or above with the surname Wang, and I think there are two military officials. However, although their literary talent is good, compared with Brother Su, it's like comparing the moon to the stars."

Just as Li Yuxuan was about to speak, another hearty laugh came from outside: "Hehehe, you're all here?" Then, a curtain was lifted, and a tall, elegant man with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes entered. He wore a dark blue military officer's uniform, with a sword at his waist. He was clearly a member of the government.

When Wang Anshi saw this person enter, he smiled and said, "Brother Su's tea is indeed all the rage in the capital. Even Brother Zhan has come to join in the fun."

The man glanced at the four people in the room, a hint of surprise in his eyes, but he still smiled and said, "I didn't come here to join in the fun. It was my master who saw that you had been out for so long and hadn't gone back, so he told me to come out and see what was going on. When I asked the servant here, I learned that Brother Su was also here enjoying tea, so I knew you must have come here."

Su Shi put down his tea set: "Is Lord Bao here today as well?"

"Hehe, if Judge Bao isn't here, why would Brother Wang be here? He's now a judge in Kaifeng Prefecture. And there's someone else in this teahouse too..."

"Who?" Four pairs of eyes turned to him at the same time.

Hearing them mention Brother Zhan and Lord Bao, Li Yuxuan knew that the man before her was the legendary Zhan Zhao. Her eyes immediately lit up as she scrutinized him closely. A chivalrous hero, both tough and tender, had always been her dream life.

Zhan Zhao also noticed the elusive look in Li Yuxuan's eyes as he looked at him, as if he were studying something, or perhaps he was lost in some kind of memory, something that was hard to grasp and understand.

As a divine constable, his eyesight was incredibly sharp. He instinctively felt that this person's gaze was not that of a man, but rather that of a tender-looking young woman. If she were a young woman, why would she be dressed as a man and appear in public like this? He looked at Wang Anshi, but pointed at Li Yuxuan: "And who is this gentleman?"

Seeing Zhan Zhao's suspicious gaze, Li Yuxuan was startled, realizing that he had been careless and lost his composure again. He quickly clasped his hands and replied, "This humble brother, Li Yuxuan, greets Hero Zhan."

"Li Yuxuan?" Zhan Zhao frowned slightly. "You are Li Yuxuan, the third-ranked scholar of this year's imperial examination?" He then burst into laughter. "No wonder the rumors say that the third-ranked scholar is as handsome as Pan An, but a bit too weak and effeminate. Seeing you today, I can confirm that the rumors are true!"

Even with his thick skin, Li Yuxuan blushed deeply at these words. This Zhan Zhao was really direct.

Seeing that Li Yuxuan was embarrassed and didn't know how to respond, Wang Anshi immediately took over the conversation: "Brother Zhan, what brings you here to see me?"

"Grand Scholar Ouyang has also arrived. The master wants you to come in."

"What? My mentor is here too?" Wang Anshi raised his voice: "Why didn't you say so sooner? Brother Su, Brother Xu, Brother Li, our mentor is here, you should all come over too!"

The three nodded and followed Wang Anshi up the corridor. After turning a corner, they came to a small, quiet room. Zhan Zhao gestured for them to enter: "This is it."

Li Yuxuan walked last, following them inside. She really wanted to get closer to Zhan Zhao, but after what he said earlier, she didn't know where to start. This Zhan Zhao didn't seem to like her, this effeminate girl. She had tried her best to keep her voice low, but she was still called effeminate—tragic!

Two people sat on either side of the room; one had white hair and beard, and the other was obese.

Li Yuxuan recognized the obese man; he was none other than her mentor, Hanlin Academician Ouyang Xiu, the chief examiner of this year's imperial examination.

That man with white hair and beard must be Bao Zheng. Today is truly a good day to go out; all the people she wanted to meet have appeared. And Zhan Zhao is an extra bonus. To be honest, she hadn't really included him on her list of idols before; she was always thinking of Ouyang Xiu, Su Shi, and Wang Anshi.

Upon entering the room, Wang Anshi and Su Shi remained the main focus of conversation. Xu Qingzhi, a man of few words, sat quietly to the side, smiling and sipping tea. She sat beside him, pondering how to attract their attention.

Her future and her family's grudges are all in the hands of the people sitting in front of her.

Case files from that year

Seeing that they had been discussing tea and there wasn't much tea left on the table, she smiled, stood up, and went out. A little while later, he came back with a servant carrying eight dishes of tea and snacks, all of which were rare and expensive items from the capital.

Wang Anshi chuckled: "See? What a wise choice it was to call Brother Li over! Everyone says that Brother Li is generous and spends money like water, and he certainly lives up to his reputation!"

Li Yuxuan chuckled and sat down: "Brother Wang, you're benefiting from the influence of your mentor and Lord Bao. You usually want to show your respect to your mentor but can't find an excuse. Today is the perfect opportunity to fulfill your wish."

"Hehehe." Ouyang Xiu turned his gaze from Su Shi to Li Yuxuan: "Yuewu (a name Li Yuxuan gave himself, which, when read backwards, means 'I am from another time.') You were the one who sent someone to inform me about what happened this morning, weren't you?"

Li Yuxuan shook his head blankly: "What's wrong? I didn't do anything!"

"Didn't you send someone to tell me that you're in trouble in the Imperial Study?" Ouyang Xiu also found it strange. Who could it be? His gaze swept over Su Shi and Xu Qingzhi, and both of them shook their heads.

A thought flashed through Li Yuxuan's mind as he recalled what Prince Xin had said in front of his mansion: "It might be Prince Xin."

Ouyang Xiu's expression turned serious: "Is it him?"

Bao Zheng nodded in agreement: "That's possible. Although Prince Xin is a womanizer, he's not incompetent."

Only Zhan Zhao laughed and said, "Being favored by Prince Xin is not a good thing. Brother Li should be more careful in the future." Li Yuxuan had experienced his bluntness and knew that he was talking about the rumored homosexuality of Prince Xin, so he smiled back and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Zhan."

Wang Anshi picked up the teapot and poured tea for everyone: "Come, come, everyone, let's have some tea and chat. Let's not talk about state affairs. How about we compose some poems?"

Li Yuxuan waved his hand: "I'm not coming. I've been messing around all morning, and my head is completely messed up."

Bao Zheng stood up: "I still have official business to attend to at the mansion, so I must take my leave."

Seeing that Zhan Zhao and Wang Anshi had also stood up, Li Yuxuan hurriedly asked, "Brother Zhan, how can I find you?"

"You can go to the Kaifeng Prefecture government office to look for me, but I spend most of my time handling cases outside and have no fixed abode."

"It's alright, hehe, I'll come find you whenever you're in the manor!"