Notes on Longevity

Chapter 75 Heaven Official's Blessing Residence, Chapter 1 of Jingdong Commercial

"As for Young Master Li, I only heard about him from them when I was recuperating at the Pear Garden; I never met him. Is your ability to clear your name related to these two gentlemen?"

Ping An thought for a moment, and realized that she had heard Yang Youan and Xie Xiaoshuang mention the name Li Chengru before.

Zhou Zhou looked at Ping An and said, "It is indeed closely related to these two young masters."

Zhou Zhou slowly told Ping An what he knew, "Not long after you went up the mountain, the imperial examinations began. Young Master Yang also passed all the tests with flying colors, ranking first in all three subjects and six rites of the provincial examination, as well as the Four Books and Five Classics. Later, in the palace examination, Young Master Yang also won the title of top scholar because of his outstanding knowledge. Unfortunately, his good fortune did not last long. That night, when His Majesty summoned Young Master Yang, the Second Prince brought his men to the Pear Garden. When he returned the next day and saw the scene in the Pear Garden, he went mad."

Ping An frowned upon hearing this, as it was the same thing he had heard from someone outside the Pear Garden earlier that day. "If that's the case, does His Majesty not care?"

"After all, he is a prince. I heard from Young Master Zhang that the Second Prince was only placed under house arrest."

"Just confinement?" Ping An couldn't believe it. So many people from the Pear Garden had been killed, and the prince was only confined to his quarters?

"Later, Young Master Zhang wrote a letter, but no one knows where it was sent or how it got back. A year later, news came from the palace that the Second Prince had been killed. His Majesty then issued an edict saying that the Second Prince was of bad character and had committed a heinous crime, and should be executed according to the laws of Dayan. But in reality, everyone in the capital knew that the Second Prince had been killed by Li Chengru, Young Master Li."

"Young Master Li killed a prince? What happened to Young Master Li? How is he?" Ping An stared at Zhou Zhou in astonishment, finding it hard to believe. In his memory, Li Chengru, as described by Yang You'an, had always been a wandering swordsman who loved traveling and sightseeing. How could he dare to kill a prince?
"I don't know either. It's said that His Majesty asked him to stay and serve as an official, but he refused." Zhou Zhou's words were like a rushing river, crashing into Ping An's ears.

"They killed the prince, yet they let him stay and serve as an official? Who is this Young Master Li?"

Zhou Zhou couldn't answer Ping An's question either. He could only say, "Perhaps only Young Master Yang or Young Master Zhang know the answer. However, Young Master Yang is now insane and dead, and Young Master Zhang is refusing to see any guests, staying indoors and refusing to meet anyone."

"Do you know where Young Master Zhang lives?" Ping An asked.

Zhou Zhou replied, "In the east of the city."

Ping An said, "East of the city? That's exactly where I'm headed. I'll go find Young Master Zhang and see if he'll see me."

"Then let me see you off. I'm heading back to the palace anyway." Xiuyi stood up and looked at Ping An.

Ping An also stood up and bowed, "Then I will trouble Miss Zhou and the Crown Princess."

Xiuyi smiled and said, "Daoist Master, just call me by my name, Ruoru."

Zhou Zhou saw the two off at the door, watched Ping An and Xiu Yi get into the carriage, and then turned back to his residence.

On the way, Ping An suddenly remembered something. Sitting in the carriage, holding a whisk, he asked Xiu Yi, "I forgot to ask earlier, where did the corn go?"

After Ping An entered the Zhou residence, he hadn't seen Yumi. He originally wanted to ask about her, but after listening to Zhou Zhou and Xiuyi's conversation, he forgot all about it.

“Yumi is gone.” Xiuyi frowned and said, “After the Second Prince was killed, Bohong went to Young Master Li and asked him to speak on his behalf to His Majesty and plead for mercy.”

"And then? What did Young Master Li say?" Ping An asked.

“No.” Xiuyi lowered her head, looking aggrieved. “Later, it was Young Master Zhang who went to Young Master Li, and only then did he agree.” “Why is that?” Ping An was very puzzled. “The Crown Prince went to Young Master Li and he didn’t agree, but Young Master Zhang agreed. Why is that?”

"I only learned later that Young Master Li holds an extremely high position in both the martial arts world and the imperial palace. He is second only to His Majesty or even equal to him, because he dares to sit on the dragon throne in front of all the officials and His Majesty. However, he cannot participate in any matters related to the court. So when the Crown Prince sought him out, he naturally could not agree."

"So that's how it is." Ping An understood why after hearing Xiu Yi's explanation, but at the same time, his confusion about Li Chengru deepened. He was very curious about who this Li Chengru was, that he could sit with the emperor.

"Later, thanks to Young Master Li's persuasion, His Majesty cleared our name and allowed us to return to our original general's mansion. But Yumi left not long after."

"Why?" Ping An asked. Now that he had escaped the plight of a beggar, why did he want to leave again?
Xiuyi said, "I don't know about that. I only know that he was practicing martial arts with Zhou Zhou during those days."

"Practicing martial arts?" Ping An frowned, equally puzzled.

"Sister Zhou, we've arrived."

The carriage stopped, and a woman lifted the curtain in front of the carriage and spoke.

“Alright.” Xiuyi replied, then said to Ping’an, “Daoist Master, Ruoru will be taken here.”

"Thank you, Miss Zhou." Ping An bowed and got off the carriage.

We chatted all the way, and before we knew it, it was dusk again.

After watching the carriage leave, Ping An turned around and looked at the magnificent and imposing residence behind him.

The two ends of the main ridge are slightly upturned and adorned with lion-shaped ornaments. The eaves below the main ridge arch outwards, giving it a somewhat heavy appearance. The plaques and hanging signs below the eaves read "Heavenly Official Bestows Blessings," while the sign under the lintel reads "Jingdong Shangzhang No. 1."

Ping An walked to the vermilion gate and looked at the door nails and the door knocker with a lion as the door knocker. In order to avoid Zhang Ze'an refusing to see him, he first thought about his words, then pulled the door knocker and knocked three times lightly, then put his hand down and waited quietly for someone to open the door.

Soon, with a creaking sound, the door opened to reveal a space just wide enough for one person to pass through, and a young man dressed in a black servant's uniform poked his head out.

When he saw Ping An dressed in a Taoist robe and holding a whisk, he opened the door a little wider and bowed to him, saying, "Master, may I ask what brings you here? Please tell me so I can report back."

Ping An returned the greeting and said softly, "I am Ping An. Six years ago, I had a good relationship with Young Master Zhang at the Five Mile Pear Garden. I came to visit you today because I was passing by. Please tell me my Taoist name is Anpingzi, and my secular name is Ping An."

The young man looked troubled upon hearing this. His young master rarely received guests and had instructed them to decline unless it was something important. But he was now in a dilemma regarding the Taoist priest before him. After hesitating for a moment, he could only say, "I'll go and talk to him."

After finishing speaking, the young man closed the door again, then jogged across the courtyard, bypassed a small yard full of flowers, and finally arrived at Zhang Ze'an's room.

He raised his hand and gently knocked on the tightly closed door. "Young master, there is a Taoist priest outside who wants to see you. He says his name is Ping An."

(End of this chapter)