[continued]

-And don’t tell me, something that can fall into my ears is unknown to them!” 

“They might be unaware of the gravity of the …situation, if they do know about this oncoming calamity. In fact, I cannot be sure. What is commonplace in such times are merchants hoarding their goods. Who knows whether they fear a drought in Shijiazhuang or have heard a very similar kind of news from the court? It doesn't make much of a difference in my eyes - However,” Master Su Ruhui looked up, whispering, reaching towards Master Wei’s ears, “that one over there seems to have done something last week.”

They both abruptly looked in one direction.

“If you hadn’t told me all this, I would still be struggling to guess why Li Mu had sold so many of his shares in the Local bank and hoarded all the barley in Jinghai. His stocks in the local mercantile communes were also liquidated. It made a great fuss - many shops were crying and counting their silver. One even got bankrupt - many people in the know are claiming that he is preparing a great gift for the second prince. For a while, I was even ready to believe that  he was preparing to open a brewery! Is that improbable for such a sort of man? But hilariously, only this probability could match the urgency I saw flickering in his eyes - do such thick headed men care for diplomacy? What gift for the Second prince-? But I now know, he is still far better than I give him credit for! Pity! - A brewery would have really suited his ways! Sleazy as he is, his wines would have been amorous. Heavenly.”

He then looked pointedly at the small clique nearer to the entrance door, animatedly discussing today’s fiasco of the horses, horsemen and the carriage owner. Boisterous laughter rang all around. “Look at him, not a care in the world! Who could ever guess that just recently his wife died in childbirth? The least one can ask of him is to maintain a straight face for a while, not much to ask in my opinion. But you do know, the Li’s generally treat their women lower than their mares. Pity, she was a beauty – even I once dwelled over taking her hands myself. But she wedded this brute the next year. What does he have other than his money?”

“Some more of that? A good number of lands and mines? I heard another old paper making industry fell into his hands.”

“Touché. But look at that face! Just those horse-like features will stop a woman from looking at him a second longer! But he has money. Forget it.” 

“Ah ha…you look under pressure. You still haven’t sorted out your debts to him, have you? The treasurer of the Town bank was asking me about your health a few days ago, and no Li Mu was not there. But the treasurer DID look pretty strung up – he will be killed, I assure you, if you delay any longer -Li Mu was never famous for his compassion and great heart. It was only that poor man who agreed to give you such a huge loan, and now you will have no one to borrow from all over Jinghai.” Master Wei looked amusedly at his friend, then took up the empty goblet and filled it up with some more wine from the jade gourd.

“You know…this thing really exasperates me. That man never does anything right apart from causing trouble at the most ingenious moments. What else could you expect from this wretch? I will see what I can do. But you look like you will not help me, will you? I see it in your eyes.”

“If I can help, no! – I will most likely not overexert my nerves. Your proportion of what constitutes a help is always awry. What I will spend on you might as well have entered the belly of a Whale. Wei Jia doesn’t do such loss-making businesses.” As soon as Master Wei had started dwelling over this, he was abruptly stopped in the midst of his deliberation by a very pointed voice.

“But where is the main character of our play? Your son Master Wei, I don’t see him around here? Or does he, too, shy away from the company of the likes of you - even though you are his father? I heard you earned yourself another title downtown - what was it again? Yes, the ‘Richest Flower boy of Jinghai’? Whoring all day long tends to make people renowned like you - does it not Master Wei?”

This grating voice roused both their attention as it continued to say.

“Here, here. Lord Wei has finally secured a WORTHY successor, people.” A peal of laughter came from a group following the man. Huang Dan proudly bowed to accept their amusement, and then raised a toast to the host of the banquet. “You laugh, but it’s no laughing matter here in Weijia. But fortunately, as late as it might be, at last - we can all say that the fruit hasn’t fallen too far from its grove. But some people don't share such sentiments do they?”

Another person joined the ensemble, this time an ill looking, pale faced master Fu Anan. He looked at the surrounding crowd of men, and then the strange tone of voice of the speaker. He heard the crass exchange and then came forward to deescalate the situation. 

Taking in the present dilemma of the host, he tried to assuage the scene, “No it's not a laughing matter indeed, you are right in saying so. That drought-ridden small town near Anshui benefited greatly from Young Master Wei’s benevolent service. We know that he is a hero, nothing short of a warrior of Dajin! With his heart in the right place and with such keen appreciation for his duties as his is to the crown, made apparent to all of us from his exemplary behaviors, we can expect great things from such a youngster! You cannot persuade me otherwise. What a sensible young man! Worthy of his grandfather’s high regard in all senses. To such a new addition to our Dajin’s industrious halls of mighty, courageous and well-meaning fellows, let me raise this toast, everyone, so that we reckon his moral superiority, his courage that wanes in us. I will be glad if you will accept it on his behalf, Master Wei.”

“You overpraise.” Master Wei replied succinctly, yet the smile didn't fade from his lip. No one could tell what he was thinking. But his companion seemed to have become a silent spectator, looking coldly at the exchange. 

“No, I am only telling the truth.”

“Although I have complaints of you being an unworthy son to your liege, Master Wei, but I expect that you do cheer on for the general prosperity of your offspring in the unaltered corners of your heart?” Huang Dan spoke, rousing everyone’s attention. Master Fu Anan rolled his eyes in his mind, then stopped talking altogether. This particular style of seeking a fight was no new thing for the people present there. Huang Dan, the son of Old Master Huang,  a well reputed courtier, unlike his gentle father would always dirty anyone’s reputation as he deemed fit. He saw no date, no time – for him, a good brawl was good on any occasion. And to scratch healed wounds of his adversary -? How dare he not enjoy such a feast! 

Only Old Master Huang could stop him from his death seeking adventures. His crown was fully pulled over his head, his elegant brows curved in the most genial ways, yet his words slipping through his lips didn’t leave much space for a cordial conversation. Many eyes lingered over him, fully expecting a scuffle. A few coughs tried to interrupt the embarrassing exchange, but couldn’t stop master Huang Dan from saying all his displeasures, or utter profanity in such company. His apparent derision couldn’t be hampered by a few interruptions, as he would turn to anyone who tried to drag him away. At this moment he was insulting a straight faced Second master of Rong. Fu Anan, having seen that he was of not much use, decided to make himself scarce so that he wouldn’t hear more than he should, but before that he gently whispered a few words in Master Wei's ears in the midst of much noise. 

“Don't take him too seriously - and the people sent have replied. The old man held a meeting in the abandoned courtyards. Send Hong Tao. A man will receive the letter, a foreigner.” It was a puzzling statement, but he didn't explain much and ran away.      

Master Wei didn’t seem to expect such a statement, but soon regained his bearing. Master Wei ignored other people, he did it all too well - whether they be men trying to cool them down, or someone pretending to be a child to enrage others into following his plans. He turned to his left to meet his friend who was near and must have heard a little of what a certain Fu Anan had said to him - a shared sense of understanding flashed between them, and then they quickly looked away.

“That is only natural, master Huang. Whatever my shortcomings may be, a love borne for one’s offspring is a gift of nature – even my failures cannot dampen that spirit.” Master Wei replied. “Love as whole remains untainted from my other evils, as it should be. No, I haven’t suddenly become a brute with a stone for a heart master Huang, as your flights of fancy might take me to be.”

Many people became silent, even the scowling Master Huang. 

“However,” Master Wei looked up and continued, “I am saddened at your singling me out like this. Who doesn’t look for some pleasure in their small lives? It is in nature of us base humans to seek pleasure and avert from pain. Just like the time you went against the wishes of your mother and married a courtesan? The love might be there, but propriety was not - was it?” He straightened his sleeves. 

“At least a marriage is a sacred ceremony - after that worship nothing is wrong in my dealings. It's you who should explain - of the many lovers, how many have passed the ceremonial acceptance in your Wei house? I seem to recall there has been no new concubine included in your family, but that beauty in the ‘Pomegranate pavilion’ is definitely yours - my servants have seen you running around there day and night these past months.” 

“But these have never troubled a soul other than mine.” Master Wei replied. “What I do behind closed walls, remain mostly behind it if there are no other wandering snoopers.To have a doubt of this nature, that I don’t feel a fathers love for my son is completely unwarrantable - if not other things you charge me of. It is to doubt the very essence of my human part. Am I to take from that, that your opinions of me have degraded to such an extent that you don’t even see me, a son of my Lord father, as a compatriot - a human even? But I don’t know what I have done to earn such harsh criticism from you?”

“They were never above the surface to fall down!” There was another break in between, as a few of his follower’s chuckled at Master Huang’s charade. “But I am a better son than you could ever be! Just because your father said that. My lord father doesn’t deride me in halls, and palaces alike, however harsh he may be. You know what, that is kind of heartening to know! I will have to thank you for making me realize this!”

“Many in this hall know too, that such an evil as has been done by me, were but a degree of the many shades in the larger scale of degrading human principles.” Master Wei started, his deep voice overriding other voices in the hall. Many eyes were set upon him, to see his faltering expressions, his hastening breath…they found nothing but a careless mask. “Not many can stand straight on your scrutiny master Huang, if you were to apply these same harsh principles as you do over my own actions. I cannot help but recount many familiar faces here being in those brothels you so despise -  Many here will agree, as they share similar experiences as mine, of what constitutes a human failing. If not in front of others, but they will do it in secluded, veiled parts of their hidden selves – where the toughest kind of criticism dwells and assess one’s own worth; yes, I talk of a human conscience, a great teacher. but you will not have us all condemned as no longer human, will you? Just because of our father’s frequent misunderstandings of ourselves or due to our personal failings? As I am not the only one with such failing, you must forgive us all, or talk no more of me alone. It is all too natural for human nature to find pleasure’s overpowering at times, I don’t accept your one-sided study of my principles. When you mourn my dead reason, you should recall the pain your mother suffered through in all those years owing to your selfishness, or when you drove her crazy with your indifference. When you say of my unfilial self, you should ask of the graying hairs on your father’s head! My mother never said a word against me, nor have I caused her tears, to tell you the truth.”

“How dare you bring my mother into this!?” Master Huang Dan reached out for master Wei’s lapels, raising him to his eye level, peering into his eyes with deep hatred. If not for the hands pulling him back, he would have succeeded in pulling off Master Wei or giving him a punch on his face. Master Wei clenched the hands holding his clothes and twisted it around, arousing a shriek in return. He had long stood up, with his hands reaching out towards his sword laying at his waist. But now a small table lay in between them, stopping them from breaking out into an outright fight. 

“Master Huang Dan should hold the courage to hear the truth when he speaks so overbearingly. It appears to me, just like all those years in your childhood and teenage years, you still might not be clear about rights and wrongs. When you so righteously break out in protest of my friend's debauchery, please do the same for the men here who have done worse to their slaves and commoners. But have I heard criticism of that? When great sages in the past talked of human nature, they never only talked of promiscuous sons, but also failures of masters in dealing with their servants, of dealings of husbands with their wives and of the kindness that froths from human nature that should be maintained between a slave and a liege. Not many here follow such clear teachings of wise men! Who speaks of kindness to servants? Forget being kind to slaves who of us treat them more than a beast! Are they not all beasts who look alike us, talk like us but never one of us?”

“Well pointed out.” Someone couldn’t help but agree with Master Su RuHui  “Just recently, wasn’t it your young nephew, Master Huang Dan, who kidnapped a village maiden? The whole family died as a result - I wouldn’t say more but please, don’t play this hypocritical charade over here. This is a company of learned men.” 

Finally, this new revelation seemed to have sucked away all color from Master Huang Dan and some of the people following behind him. Deciding to not make things worse for himself, he turned to Master Wei and said spitefully -

“I will see how long you can support that face, Master Wei! You don’t dissuade me. You will always be the same bug crawling in the lowest rungs of society as you were years before, a lunatic on the loose, eating dirt and whatnots. Everyone tells me you have healed, recovered, but look – what does he have in his eyes?

[to be continued]