Could any woman be so perfect?
He had to know, and so he set about devising a way to meet the lady during the day. Normally, a wealthy daughter waskept away from all young men until it was time for her to wed. Unfortunately, Ling Xin was destined for the emperor, so he would not be able to meet her in the normal course of events.
But he still had a plan. It only needed Master Gao to agree to help him during tomorrow’s Chingming festival.
“Master Gao, wouldn’t it be smart for me to speak with someone who has passed the imperial exam? Just to get his advice.”
His teacher looked up from where he’d been filling his pipe. “I have taken the exam. Why would you—”
“Of course, you understand a great deal. But what about Earl Song? Does he not live next door? Did you not teach his two sons?”
“Of course I did, but those lazy dullards didn’t pass. They didn’t apply themselves, and their father blames me. He is a fool!” And with that, Master Gao went back to his pipe, sucking on it with hard, angry breaths.
“I see. I see,” Zhi Hao continued as if thinking deeply. “You know, I hear the ladies talking in the garden next door.”
“You should not listen to all that silly chattering.”
“But I hear that a cousin has come to visit. A woman named Li Fei.”
Master Gao grunted. “So? You need to stop thinking of women.”
“I was thinking of her younger brothers. Will they not need to be taught by someone?”
“I told you. Earl Song has no faith in me. I failed his sons. He thinks I will fail his nephews.” He stood up and headed for the back garden. Zhi Hao had to catch him before he left completely.
“But if you flatter him,” he pressed. “If you take me to learn from him—”
“Then he will believe me even more inept.” The tone was mournful now rather than angry.
“Or he will recognize your intelligence. After all, flattery is always useful when used judiciously. And he knows a great deal about the emperor.”
Master Gao turned to him. “Why do I need to know about the emperor?”
Wasn’t that obvious? “To know what he wants in his officials. So that I can say it in my examination essays.”
For all that Master Gao was irritable, he was no fool. He paused in the doorway as he puffed on his pipe.
“You make a compelling argument.” Master Gao drew himself to his full height. “But you took much too long to think of it. I have been waiting for you to suggest such a thing.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Now tell me how we can best achieve this feat?”
“Perhaps a dinner request?”
Master Gao snorted. “I cannot ask an earl to invite us to dinner. Think, boy!”
Zhi Hao was thinking. Indeed, he’d been chewing on this for the better part of the morning.
“Tomorrow is the Chingming Festival,” he said. “I must honor my ancestors and give them a bounty so that I may pass the imperial exam, yes?”
“You can make your bows in the courtyard where you practice your exercises.”
Zhi Hao nodded. “I could, but perhaps there is someone important that you should honor? Perhaps at the Song shrine?”
His master frowned. “Why would I honor…” His voice trailed away as he considered the possibility. “It would be an act of contrition for failing to teach his lazy sons. I could clean the family tomb.” He narrowed his eyes as he looked at Zhi Hao. “Wecould scrub the dirt away and leave an offering. And if the earl finds the work acceptable, then we can give him our bows and he will be grateful.”
“That’s a great idea. You truly are a master,” he said.
Sadly, the man was too smart to be fooled. “I am not as stupid as you think. And this could go very badly. But if you wish to take the chance of angering the earl, then we will attempt it.”
Zhi Hao frowned. “Why would cleaning his tombs anger the Song patriarch?”