Chapter Ten: Reluctant Return to the Jade Pavilion and Golden Palace

When Tong Guan arrived, he came in a small boat with seven or eight attendants, drifting across rivers and streams.

When he left, he took with him three treasured ships from the Yang family fleet, fully laden with rare and exotic goods, and he carried several precious land deeds from Yangzhou, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold.

Cai Jing chatted amiably with him. Although the appointed hour had arrived, neither of them showed any intention to depart, their eyes frequently glancing toward the distance.

“Apologies, apologies, I am late,” came a hurried voice. The two future power brokers exchanged a knowing smile—they had been waiting for Yang Lin.

Tong Guan half-joked, “I am but a humble servant. For Yang Jieyuan to see me off is an immense honor. Even if you come tomorrow at noon, I would still wait here at the bow of this boat.”

Cai Jing waved his fingers, laughing uproariously, abandoning any airs of official dignity. “Wenyuan made his name young, born into a wealthy family, gifted in both literature and charm; naturally, he should be the star of the show.”

At this time, neither man had yet risen to prominence. Though Yang Lin’s status was temporarily lower, his future ascent to this rank was certain, after all, he had placed first in the prefectural examination.

After days of mingling together, the three ambitious men had formed a pact of mutual benefit and friendship.

Yang Lin deliberately wore a stern face, feigning anger. “I respect you as my superiors, yet who would have guessed you’d do such underhanded things? To keep me in the dark is one thing, but to mock and jest here—better restore my reputation quickly, or if I get angry, I’ll tear this coat apart and we’ll part ways here, strangers to one another.”

“Yang Jieyuan, if you want to emulate Guan Ning and sever ties, I and Yuan Chang are not Hua Xin. It’s better not to tear the coat.”

“The hour grows late. Wenyuan and I will now bid farewell to Tong Gongfeng. Should fate allow, we shall meet again in Bianliang.”

Yang Lin and Cai Jing clasped fists and bowed at the shore. The three men bowed in return. Tong Guan turned and boarded the ship bound for Bianliang.

Watching the vessel fade into the vast river mist, Cai Jing felt anxious. “Wenyuan, do you think he can succeed?”

All of Cai Jing’s hopes rested on Tong Guan, so it was natural he felt uneasy.

Yang Lin blinked, hiding the cold smile in his eyes, and replied, “Tong Gongfeng is a close attendant to the ruler, most familiar with his preferences. As long as he speaks well at the right moment, why should the chancellor fail to win favor? It has long been said that the arts of literature and martial skill serve the emperor. The sovereign’s choice of ministers is like a woman shopping for vegetables—not concerned with freshness, but what she loves to eat. Whether we are valued depends solely on the ruler himself.”

Cai Jing’s eyelids twitched, a shiver running down his spine. Who had ever compared the loftiest matters of court to a woman buying vegetables?

The young man before him, meticulous and cautious for fifteen years, had gained a reputation for integrity. Yet his insight was far deeper than that of many long-entrenched officials.

Noticing the sudden awkwardness, Yang Lin turned to see Cai Jing silently watching him and inwardly cursed—he had nearly revealed too much.

“Haha, dear chancellor, no need to worry. Just wait quietly at home for good news.”

At this moment, Cai Jing only longed to return to Bianliang, to reclaim his place at the center of power, holding a seat in the imperial court. As for ruling the realm or wielding supreme power, that was beyond his current thoughts.

Yang Lin, however, knew full well that once Tong Guan returned and spoke well of him, Cai Jing would soon be reinstated in Bianliang. Cai Jing’s resume was once illustrious: in the second year of the Xining era, he passed the imperial exam, held posts as magistrate of Qiantang and judge of Shuzhou, and gradually rose to keeper of the imperial records. After a diplomatic mission to the Liao kingdom, he was appointed as a secretary in the Secretariat. His younger brother, Cai Bian, was already serving as a secretary, and by custom, officials were ranked by seniority. Cai Bian requested to be ranked below Cai Jing so the brothers could jointly manage the imperial edicts.

Their fraternal modesty became a proud example throughout the Song dynasty. Cai Jing was then promoted to the Dragon Pavilion’s attendant official and governor of Kaifeng.

Over the next decade, he skillfully navigated between the bitter enemies Zhang Dun and Sima Guang, never falling from the circle of power—a testament to his political savvy.

Yang Lin comforted him once more before they parted ways to await their respective returns.

Inside the Yang residence’s inner hall, in Yang Tong’s bedroom, all concubines and maids were dismissed.

Yang Tong opened a secret door hidden within the inner wall, gazing fondly at his treasure vault—his lifelong savings.

His son’s reckless spending had already consumed nearly a third of it. Though he doted on his son, Yang Tong often felt the sting of loss.

Suddenly, brisk footsteps approached. Yang Tong knew his son had returned; no one else dared enter.

Sure enough, Yang Lin strode in. Seeing his father once again examining the treasure trove, Yang Lin chuckled and stepped forward. “Father, don’t be so stingy. Money is meant to be spent; hoarded, it’s no different from stone.” With that, he selected a golden hairpin from among the jewels—a finely crafted, exquisite piece, truly a weapon for wooing.

Yang Tong slowly closed the secret door, sighing with reluctance. “Lin, do you really think Tong Guan has such great ability? I did business in Jiangnan and have met dozens of these eunuch attendants. Each one is corrupt and greedy. Tong Guan looks different from the usual eunuchs, but isn’t this lavish spending a bit much?”

Yang Lin settled into a chair, playing with the hairpin and casually replied, “It’s not a waste. Son is counting on him for the provincial exam, let alone the palace exam—it all depends on the emperor and the powerful ministers. In a few days, once he returns to Bianliang, our father-and-son name will reach the emperor’s ears. Then, humph…”

Within the merchant circles of Yangzhou, it was well known that Yang Tong was generous to a fault. If even he felt the pinch, one could imagine how much Yang Lin had spent to win over Tong Guan.

Moreover, whenever Yang Lin was with Tong Guan, he would steer conversations toward the military, making Tong Guan feel as if he had found a kindred spirit.

This eunuch, though born lowly and without a power base at court, would inevitably rely on him when he rose. At this thought, Yang Lin felt a surge of pride—one day, he too would carve out a place in the imperial court.

-----

In the imperial palace of Bianliang,

Emperor Zhao Ji wore a Taoist robe and held a whisk. Incense smoke curled around the burners as he sat serenely on a cloud-like meditation cushion, embodying the ethereal bearing of a young sovereign.

Beside him stood two young maidens, their hair loosely tied in buns with strands cascading over their shoulders. Their delicate skin seemed translucent, their brows and lips exquisitely painted, their eyes soft and gentle.

Tong Guan knelt outside the curtain, recounting the splendor of Yangzhou and all he had witnessed.

When palace attendants entered carrying various rare treasures, Zhao Ji slowly opened his eyes and began handling and admiring the items Tong Guan had procured.

Tong Guan wisely remained silent. He had brought back three shiploads of wealth, and following Yang Lin’s advice, he had distributed gifts to the empress, the consorts, and several powerful eunuchs in the palace.

Like Yang Lin and Cai Jing, Tong Guan was an ambitious man who did not value wealth for its own sake. To them, money was merely a means to an end.

By currying favor with those close to the emperor, letting them whisper praises daily—even accidental remarks overheard by the emperor—these became precious impressions.

“Excellent. Among the Jiangnan attendants, none pleases me more than you, Tong Guan,” Zhao Ji said with a broad smile, words that sounded like celestial music to Tong Guan’s ears.

“To bring joy to Your Majesty is worth my life. But I am but a dull servant, unable to find such treasures myself. They were all secured with the help of Yangzhou’s Prefect Cai Jing and the top provincial examinee Yang Lin. Yang Lin’s family is wealthy, and I heard these offerings were made to Your Majesty without charge—they bore all the costs.”

“Oh? Cai Jing is the elder brother of Cai Bian, Left Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and a Privy Councilor. I had no idea Yangzhou had such loyal ministers to ease my worries.” The emperor gleefully picked up an exquisite jade carving, stroking its surface. “Fine jade! The best mutton-fat white jade.”

Tong Guan thought to himself, “Cai Yuanchang and Yang Wenyuan, the money and land were not taken in vain—I have done right by you.”