My virtue is above yours.

Inside the Zhu Clan Ancestral Hall, Lord Zhu knelt alone in front of the hall, gazing at the memorial tablets under the candlelight.

"Grandfather, Father, your son is unfilial and unable to protect the academy. Lord Fan is a fourth-rank official and a great Confucian scholar who has always advocated rites and teachings. He will surely take this opportunity to eradicate Shengyang Academy. I am of low rank and have little influence, so I dare not oppose him."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door behind him. Lord Zhu said sternly, "Didn't I tell you not to disturb me?"

"Lord Zhu, it is I, Chen Jingxuan of the Heavenly Dao Sect."

Lord Zhu quickly opened the door and saw Chen Jingxuan standing at the door smiling at him.

Chen Jingxuan said, "Lord Zhu, the gatekeeper said you were unwell and couldn't see anyone. I know some medicine, so I took the liberty of climbing over the wall to get in. You look quite well; what's wrong?"

"I just caught a cold, but I'm fine now. Master Chen, about what we agreed on yesterday, I'm afraid..." Lord Zhu hesitated, then stopped.

"What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid... I have to change my mind. It's all because of my hometown..."

Lord Zhu's eyes met Chen Jingxuan's sincere gaze. A gust of wind blew past his ear, as if his ancestors behind him were whispering in his ear.

He sighed and bowed deeply: "I dare not conceal the truth. The younger brother of Vice Minister Fan of the Ministry of Works just came by. He advised me not to get involved with Shengyang Academy, lest it give others cause for gossip. I understand that this is Minister Fan warning me; he upholds Confucian ethics and is determined to use this opportunity to destroy the academy, implying that I should not get involved, otherwise... my entire clan will be implicated. I am but a lowly official with little influence, and I dare not defy him. Therefore, I have broken my promise, and I hope you will forgive me, Daoist Master."

Chen Jingxuan smiled and helped him up: "I am deeply grateful that Lord Zhu did not hide anything from an easy-going little Taoist like me. As the head of the family, Lord Zhu is considering the interests of the family, which I understand and do not feel guilty about. There is no need to force this matter."

"Master Chen is so magnanimous that I, Zhu, feel truly ashamed!" Lord Zhu burst into tears again.

"I have not come here to raise funds. There is a maid in your household named Pei'er who is often bullied by the other servants. I ask Lord Zhu to keep her in check. There are already too many injustices outside, let's not let this happen in the inner quarters. I will take my leave." Chen Jingxuan waved his sleeve and leaped onto the roof.

Lord Zhu wiped away his tears, turned around and went back into the ancestral hall, where he prayed before his grandfather's memorial tablet: "May my grandfather's spirit in heaven protect the academy and also protect Master Chen."

That day, he issued an order at home that no member of the Zhu family should mistreat the servants; any servant who engaged in abuse or bullying would be expelled from the household.

-

Chen Jingxuan returned home and lay down on a rocking chair under a tree with his senior brother in his arms.

He realized that things were not as simple as they seemed.

Lord Fan's refusal to allow Lord Zhu to raise funds for the academy, seemingly a well-intentioned reminder, was actually a threat.

More importantly, Lord Fan's attitude makes it difficult to proceed with subsequent negotiations, as the other party may not necessarily help report the thief who stole the contract.

The sounds of maids playing and laughing came from the next room. They were like birds chirping, pleasant to the ear when they were in a good mood, but rather noisy when they were in a bad mood.

Chen Jingxuan never made things difficult for them. He focused his divine sense and enhanced his hearing to hear what was so noisy about.

"Yours doesn't smell right. Smell mine."

"I don't want to smell it, yours is too sour. I'll smell Dongyue's. Dongyue, hurry up and take off your socks."

"No! You guys are disgusting. Chunhong, put your socks on quickly, your feet are so sore!"

Chen Jingxuan's mind was in complete chaos, unable to imagine what strange scene had occurred in the room.

"Women are terrifying! What kind of leisure activities are these? Don't listen to such things!"

When his senior brothers and sisters returned in the evening, Chen Jingxuan told them about what happened at the Zhu residence that day.

After listening, Lu Yunci slammed her chopsticks down: "Fan Chengyu is going too far! What business is it of his if others want to raise funds? Who gives him the right to interfere? He won't approve the academy's resettlement funds, and now he won't even allow others to help him. Isn't he driving people to the brink of despair?"

Zhu Lingyun asked, "We were hoping that when the thief tried to exchange the deed for resettlement funds, the Ministry of Works could help report him. If Lord Fan has this attitude, won't things become more difficult?"

Chen Jingxuan pressed down on the rice in his bowl: "I've thought about this. Although Lord Fan has a prejudice against the academy, he wouldn't allow himself to fall into the predicament of colluding with thieves. We'll negotiate with Lord Fan as usual tomorrow, without rushing to bring up the thief, but rather to gauge his stance. I'll find a way to infiltrate the Ministry of Works. Once the thief appears and is apprehended, the Ministry of Works will have no excuse to delay the resettlement payments."

Zhu Lingyun asked, puzzled, "I understand the previous plan. But junior brother, how do you intend to infiltrate the Ministry of Works? There are many experts within the government; you can't possibly sneak in."

Lu Yunci immediately retorted, "Dark-faced man, are you saying our Xiao Quan'er isn't a master? Although our Xiao Quan'er's cultivation isn't high, he's smart. Don't use your fists and brains to think about our Xiao Quan'er."

Zhu Lingyun reached out his chopsticks to pick up some food, but Lu Yunci slapped them away, saying, "A person who doesn't trust his junior brother doesn't deserve to eat."

Without a word, Lu Yunci picked up Zhu Lingyun's bowl, placed it on the threshold, and called to her senior brother outside the door, "Come on, senior brother, eat more!"

The next evening, Chen Jingxuan led his senior brother to Xiaoyue Tower as promised.

Xiaoyue Tower is not a restaurant, but a complex of buildings connected by several corridors, with carved beams and painted rafters, and is extremely magnificent.

Light, colorful gauze draped from the rooftops all the way to the street, and on the pools between the buildings, dancers in flowing sleeves swayed in the water.

The gate was bustling with carriages and sedan chairs coming and going in a constant stream, creating a lively and extraordinary scene.

Chen Jingxuan couldn't help but exclaim, "This is so magnificent!"

The servant at the entrance led him into the main building.

The building was brightly lit, with colorful gauze hanging from the rooftop several meters high. The air was filled with the fragrance of incense and the sound of music lingered, making people feel relaxed and happy.

He went up to the fourth floor and entered a private room called "Moon in the Mirror".

Inside the private room, Lu Yunci was arm in arm with a beautiful young woman, and the two sat on the couch chatting.

Upon seeing him enter, the two immediately stood up.

The red skirt swayed with her light movements, her full breasts supporting the neckline of the high-waisted ruqun, revealing her fair and smooth neck. The rosy flower between her willow-leaf eyebrows made her look dignified and elegant, which made her baby face look too young.

Lu Yunci pulled the woman aside and introduced her, "This is Yi Bei, the young master of Qingluan Pavilion. This is my junior brother, Chen Jingxuan."

Yi Bei gracefully stepped aside to bow, her voice soft and sweet: "I've often heard Yun Ci mention you, and seeing you today, you truly are a handsome man."

Chen Jingxuan quickly bowed his head in return, to avoid lingering his gaze on any overly prominent features, which would be impolite: "Nice to meet you, please take care of me."

Yi Bei covered his mouth with a round fan and laughed, "Although this is our first meeting, and although you may not know me, I do know you. The toothpaste you invented is the treasure of my Qingluan Pavilion. It's all the rage in the capital and is highly regarded by high-ranking officials and nobles. Even the palace uses it. I must thank you for such a great deal."

Chen Jingxuan politely replied, "Business cooperation is mutually beneficial. It's nothing to mention."

Yi Bei said, "Besides that, I've also heard about the Taoist priest's poems before."

Lu Yunci exclaimed excitedly, "Poetry? Xiao Quan'er, you can write poetry?"

Chen Jingxuan was also confused, as he didn't seem to have ever copied poems to show off in the capital.

Yi Bei said, "It's that poem, 'Presented to Wang Guan at Hanfeng Cave.' I am a carefree wanderer of Qingdu's mountains and rivers, Heaven has bestowed upon me a life of unbridled passion. I once granted rain and wind permits, and repeatedly borrowed clouds and moonlight from the heavens."

Chen Jingxuan froze on the spot: Wang Guan has returned to the capital? This little brat is too shameless! I carved a poem on the wall, how did it become a gift to him? This kid must want to use this poem to make a name for himself in history. Scholars really are all shameless!

The rumors have already spread, so there's no point in denying it now. It's better to do that kid a favor.

Chen Jingxuan could only awkwardly reply, "You flatter me, you flatter me. When will Lord Fan arrive?"

Yi Bei smiled gently: "I made sure you arrived half an hour early because there are some things I'd like to discuss with you privately. Yun Ci, could you please do me this favor?"