Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 45: The Noble’s Calamity

Lu Chang’sheng noted the matter, intending to ask Patriarch Lin Xiaowen about it when he got a chance.

Afterwards, he followed the junior official and received some study supplies—books, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone—then finally returned to the Diligence Institute.

"Lu Tongsheng!"

"Du Tongsheng!"

"Ma Tongsheng!"

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A crowd of early-arriving child scholars rose to greet him.

Lu Chang’sheng returned each salutation in turn, holding his materials as he reached his assigned seat. He was about to sit down when a commotion sounded.

He saw that the child scholars all around were heading outside.

Lu Chang’sheng found it curious.

Du Meng hinted, "Must be a noble scholar coming—let’s go see!"

Lu Chang’sheng immediately understood.

Noble scholars, like them, studied and pursued learning at the Diligence Institute. But unlike Lu Chang’sheng, who was merely a child scholar this year, those nobles truly had great prospects ahead.

The Huiying Building’s invitations meant nothing to the nobles—there was not the slightest trace of interest from them, so most child scholars barely knew who they were.

But these nobles were not people one could afford to offend.

Lu Chang’sheng set his things aside and followed along.

Outside the institute, several impressive child scholars strode in. Unlike the others, their builds were robust, naturally carrying a martial vigor.

Surrounded by the respectful greetings of the child scholars, the newcomers remained outwardly indifferent, but responded one by one all the same—after all, if an instructor at Jixia Academy saw them holding aloof, they might draw unwanted trouble.

Suddenly, one of them happened to sweep his gaze over Lu Chang’sheng, who stood apart from the crowd. His brows arched slightly—an expression of faint surprise.

"What is it, Xun?"

"I just spotted someone rather interesting," Xun Zimo said, shaking his head faintly.

The other nobles exchanged curious looks.

The child scholars here, though some might one day study alongside them, were by nature not of the same rank—unless one among them could actually pass the scholar examinations.

So it was a surprise to see Xun Zimo look displeased at a mere child scholar.

"Xun, you’re being a tad cryptic, aren’t you?" a noble child scholar joked.

Though noble, these youths weren’t wastrels—had they been, their clans would never have sent them to Jixia Academy. Sensing Xun Zimo didn’t wish to elaborate, they let it be and sought to move on, but Xun Zimo replied, "It’s nothing really. Not long ago, when I returned from Red Water County, I ran into this youngster—fine archery skills, so I meant to recruit him as an archery tutor for my Xun Family. Who could have guessed he’d turn me down!"

"Oh? Does he have some sort of background?"

Those from noble families voiced their surprise.

"I watched him shoot outside the city—probably meant to intimidate any lurking foes. To reach such a point at the travelers’ inn, he can’t have much in the way of support," Xun Zimo reflected.

"Then, he certainly has backbone. No wonder he passed the child scholar exam."

The noble youths laughed, hardly bothering to veil their words. Many of the child scholars grew curious—which one of them were they even talking about?

Just then, a professor carrying books entered, and at the sound of a drum and gong, the scholars each returned to their seats and settled in to study.

Soon, the bright cadence of study filled the room, followed by the professor’s lecture and explanations.

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But Lu Chang’sheng did not yet know that what seemed an utterly ordinary day would actually plunge him into a predicament.

By dusk, class was dismissed.

As Lu Chang’sheng left Jixia Academy with Du Meng and a few familiar scholars, he saw Lin Mansion’s steward, Lin An, waiting some distance ahead.

"Steward Lin!"

Lu Chang’sheng’s heart tensed slightly.

The steward’s face was somewhat cool, different from his usual bearing.

"Greetings to you young scholars. My master wishes to speak with Lu Tongsheng, so—"

Du Meng and the others quickly bid Lu Chang’sheng farewell and departed.

"Lu Tongsheng, if you would."

"May I ask what this is about, Steward Lin?" Lu Chang’sheng furrowed his brow ever so slightly.

They’d known one another a month or more—so the steward felt a trace of sympathy, saying, "How would servants like us dare guess the master’s mind? But—" he lowered his voice, "It’s nothing good, Lu Tongsheng. Best prepare yourself."

Lu Chang’sheng’s heart sank. He reflected on all he’d done recently yet saw nothing out of line. Why, then—

Soon, they arrived at Lin Mansion and saw Lin Xiaowen.

To Lu Chang’sheng’s disappointment, Lin Xiaowen was not alone in the hall; several other eminent household heads were present, including Mr. Chen.

The big names from that day at Huiying Building were all here.

Lu Chang’sheng could not fathom the reason, but seeing how things stood, guessed that something untoward must have occurred. Oddly, that thought made him calm—he stood quietly.

Seeing this, Lin Xiaowen sighed inwardly. Since the child examination ended, he had watched Lu Chang’sheng closely, convinced the young man was the brightest among all the child scholars. Now, seeing him again, he felt his judgment confirmed.

What a pity—

"Please, be seated, Lu Tongsheng."

Once he was seated, Lin Xiaowen asked, "Have you met Xun Zimo, the son of the Xun Family?"

"Xun Zimo of the Xun Family?" Lu Chang’sheng mused inwardly. Perhaps this whole affair was due to him. Try as he might, he couldn’t recall knowing Xun Zimo, but just as he was about to speak, Lin Xiaowen prompted—

"Word is, he tried to recruit you as archery master for the Xun Family."

Lu Chang’sheng remembered immediately and nodded. "Yes, that did happen."

"And you refused him?" Mr. Chen’s voice burst in, barely concealing his impatience.

Lin Xiaowen took silent exception.

This was Lin Mansion, after all, and Lu Chang’sheng’s main patron was the Lin Family. By rights, Lin Xiaowen should be the one conducting the questioning—Mr. Chen’s intrusion was out of order.

If it hadn’t been for this incident with Xun Zimo, Lin Xiaowen would never have allowed it, but looking at Lu Chang’sheng, he held his tongue.

"Yes."

Lu Chang’sheng did not hide anything; such details were sure to be dug up, given how sensitive the households had grown, so there was no point in concealment.

A collective sigh sounded through the room.

...

Dusk fell, night approached.

Lu Chang’sheng waited outside in a pavilion.

The household heads were still inside deliberating, but he felt little hope now.

"It’s better to depend on yourself than on others," he sighed inwardly, and said to Steward Lin, "It’s getting late—I’ll take my leave. If Patriarch Lin has anything to say, I must trouble you to deliver it."

Steward Lin opened his mouth to persuade him to stay, but in the dimming light, saw the calm and resolute set of Lu Chang’sheng’s face and swallowed the words back down.

Either way, a short trip was no great trouble, and Lu Chang’sheng didn’t live far.

Meanwhile, inside the side chamber, more than ten household heads continued their discussion.

"Word from the servants is, there hasn’t been the slightest conflict between Lu Chang’sheng and that fellow from the Xun Family," Lin Xiaowen said.

"Conflicts aren’t always a matter of appearances! Many think we lead easy lives, but only we know our true difficulties," one elder added, eyelids drooping as he spoke slowly.

The rest nodded in agreement.

Why, after all, did they keep striving upward?

Because if they stopped, their family fortunes would unravel easily. Even if they managed to hold on while alive, once they died, the clan might have none who could sustain it.

This was why affairs up above left them so sensitive.

"Conflicts can arise from the smallest spark—no need for obvious strife. The Xun Family’s recent moves are unpredictable; no one knows what drives them. What if that young master wakes ill-tempered one day and recalls this matter? The resources we’ve sunk would be the least of our worries—if he turns his spite on us, that’s the real disaster!" another household head lamented.

"As for Lu Tongsheng, the Fang Family will not get involved." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Nor will the Chen Family."

"Count me out too."

"Climbing to where we are now wasn’t easy—forget it, count me out too."

Soon, only the Lin Family remained.

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