The grudge between the two men could be traced back two years.
The Liang family had been in the grain trade for generations. It was an industry with waters far deeper than they appeared, one that ordinary wealthy households could not hope to enter. It was closely tied to government granaries, grain transport, and tax grain from various regions. Without connections and considerable skill, no family could hope to establish itself in the trade.
In Huzhou, the Liang family was naturally counted among the city’s most prominent magnates. Liang Fourth Son was the youngest son born to Master Liang in his later years. Spoiled without limit from childhood, he had grown into a spoiled young master with the arrogance to match, convinced that he was one of the finest young talents in all of Huzhou.
Unfortunately, Huzhou was blessed with outstanding people and never lacked young talents. Chief among them was the renowned Shen Guanting, practically the standard by which Huzhou’s younger generation was measured.
Though he was the son of a merchant, he had been blessed with striking looks and exceptional scholarly ability. He had become the sole disciple admitted into the household of the great scholar Yun Jianshan at a very young age. After taking over part of the family business, he had made a resounding success of everything he handled, from the silks of the Zhiyun Silk House to the treasures of the Jizhen Pavilion.
The more Liang Fourth Son thought about it, the more bitter he became. Shen Guanting surpassed him in every way. Nor was the Shen family some merchant household without a foundation. Old Master Shen had once been a military commander and held an important post at court; the family was hardly one that could be bullied at will.
What was even more infuriating was that Shen Guanting’s learning, reputation, and even his face—so attractive that it drew everyone’s attention—made Liang Fourth Son look dull by comparison.
For this reason, Liang Fourth Son had always been deeply dissatisfied with Shen Guanting. Since the two men both moved in Huzhou’s business circles, they inevitably crossed paths at seasonal celebrations, trade gatherings, and other such occasions. Whenever Liang Fourth Son found an opportunity, he would provoke Shen Guanting with a few pointed remarks or flaunt his family’s closeness to the authorities, trying to outshine him.
Yet Young Master Shen always appeared mild and unconcerned, as though nothing in the world could trouble him. His tongue, however, was razor-sharp. He might ignore a provocation entirely, but once he chose to respond, a few words were enough to leave his opponent speechless. Liang Fourth Son had suffered such defeats many times.
Thus, his one-sided resentment had accumulated in his heart for a long while. He was always looking for an opportunity to blunt Shen Guanting’s edge and finally give himself the satisfaction of holding his head high.
To be fair, the Liang family did possess connections beyond the reach of most others. The eldest son of Elder Uncle Liang served in the residence of a certain prince in the capital as a yishan—a senior adviser and civil official of considerable importance beside a prince.
In previous years, the Third Prince’s influence at court had steadily grown. The Liang family naturally took pride in this, growing more confident and increasingly brazen in their conduct. Liang Fourth Son, in particular, had begun to feel that his status was extraordinary, carrying himself with something approaching the superiority of a member of the imperial family.
Two years earlier, the man who had now ascended the throne as His Majesty the Emperor was still the Third Prince, at the height of his rising influence. With his birthday approaching, Elder Uncle Liang had sent word home, asking the Huzhou branch of the family to keep an eye out for any rare or extraordinary treasures that might be presented to the prince as a birthday gift.
Liang Fourth Son happened to learn of this. He immediately felt that Heaven had handed him a perfect opportunity. If he could find an impressive birthday gift for the prince, not only would he have a chance to make himself known before His Highness the Third Prince, but it would also greatly enhance the Liang family’s standing in Huzhou—and allow him to crush the Shen family once and for all.
As it happened, the Jizhen Pavilion, owned by Shen Guanting, was preparing an exhibition of rare treasures. The gathering would invite Huzhou’s leading figures, distinguished scholars, and renowned collectors to view a collection of recently acquired foreign curiosities, antique objects, paintings, and calligraphy. Several of the pavilion’s prized treasures, usually kept hidden from public view, would also be brought out for the occasion.
Among them was an ancient sword said to have belonged to a famous general of a bygone dynasty, a weapon surrounded by a rich and legendary history. It had long been one of the Jizhen Pavilion’s most prized possessions. Someone had once offered ten thousand taels of silver for it, yet the pavilion had refused to sell.
When Liang Fourth Son heard about it, his heart stirred. The sword had an illustrious name, an extraordinary provenance, and the air of military glory about it. Presented to the Third Prince, who at the time was in particular need of military prestige to bolster his position, it would make a perfect birthday gift. What was more, if he bought the sword publicly at the Jizhen Pavilion, he would undoubtedly steal the spotlight on Shen Guanting’s own ground.
On the day of the exhibition, the main hall of the Jizhen Pavilion shimmered with light. Treasures of every description gleamed beneath the lanterns, dazzling the eyes.
At the center of the hall stood a tall rosewood platform draped in dark green velvet. Upon it lay the ancient sword. It remained sheathed, and though its old-fashioned scabbard had taken on the marks of time, the lamplight only made it appear more solemn and austere.
Shen Guanting stood before the platform, dressed in a blue crane-patterned cloak with broad sleeves. He was calmly explaining the sword’s origins to the assembled guests. His figure was tall and straight, his features open and handsome. Amid the hall’s glittering treasures, he did not appear the least bit overshadowed. If anything, his easy composure made him even more striking, drawing the eye and holding it.
His voice was unhurried and clear, like a stream flowing slowly through a forest:
“This sword was not passed down through the Shen family. My grandfather happened to acquire it in his travels many years ago from the descendant of a hermit…”
He had just reached this point when Liang Fourth Son arrived with several attendants. Pushing through the crowd, he walked straight to the front of the platform.
That day, he wore a brand-new brocade robe and a jade belt around his waist. His eyes fixed directly on the ancient sword, and he called out loudly, “It truly is a fine sword! A treasure like this deserves a hero. Brother Shen, the Liang family wants it. We intend to present it to His Highness the Third Prince as a birthday gift. Name your price—I’ll pay however much silver you ask.”
The remark was rather abrupt. The surrounding chatter fell silent, and every eye turned to Liang Fourth Son.
Liang Fourth Son lifted his chin, looking even more pleased with himself.
Shen Guanting remained composed, though the smile in his eyes gradually faded.
“Young Master Liang has an excellent eye. This sword is indeed a rare antique weapon. However, I’m afraid I must apologize—the sword is not for sale.”
The smile on Young Master Liang’s face stiffened. He gave a derisive laugh, then raised two fingers, his voice rising as well. “Twenty thousand taels! Brother Shen, I’m making a sincere offer. Sitting in your shop, the sword is nothing more than a display piece gathering dust. Give it to me and you’ll be fulfilling my filial devotion. Wouldn’t that be beneficial to us both? The price is still negotiable.”
Shen Guanting continued to smile gently. “Young Master Liang has misunderstood. It isn’t a matter of price. My grandfather instructed that this sword holds special significance for Jizhen Pavilion. It is to be displayed for the appreciation of fellow enthusiasts and is absolutely not to be sold. That is the pavilion’s rule.”
Young Master Liang’s expression darkened. “Brother Shen, what exactly do you mean by that? It’s only a sword. My Liang family has made an offer, and you bring up your elders and your rules to brush me off. Are you looking down on me, Liang Fourth Son, or do you not take His Highness the Third Prince seriously?”
Shen Guanting’s smile was faint and unreadable. His voice remained calm, yet it somehow sent a chill through the air. “Young Master Liang, you overstate the matter. I have no such intention. It’s simply that the sword’s origins are somewhat complicated. A sword is, after all, a weapon…”
Already incensed, Liang Fourth Son failed to understand the implication in his words. He only felt that Shen Guanting was being deliberately mysterious, making excuses and repeatedly thwarting him in order to humiliate him. His fury flared even hotter, and he cut him off sharply.
“Enough, Brother Shen! I, Liang Fourth Son, am putting this plainly today: I will have this sword!”
Shen Guanting had lost patience with the polite back-and-forth. “The crude wares of my Jizhen Pavilion presumably wouldn’t catch the eye of the noblemen of the capital. Young Master Liang comes from a distinguished family and is a member of the imperial clan. If you truly intend to offer a birthday gift to a noble person, then in my humble opinion, you should seek out something auspicious and celebratory. A weapon such as this is, ultimately, inappropriate.”
To Young Master Liang, those words were no different from a public lesson on his failure to understand proper conduct and social graces. Old and new grievances surged up together.
“Shen Guanting! Who do you think you are, to presume to lecture me on how to conduct myself? How my Liang family does things is none of your concern!”
His face flushed with anger as he pointed at the sword on the stand. “I’d like to see what’s so remarkable about this broken sword that you’re hiding it away so carefully and using it to make things difficult for people!”
With that, he disregarded all propriety, stepped forward, and reached for the sword’s hilt.
For today’s gathering, Jizhen Pavilion had stationed quite a few guards nearby. After all, they had to guard against the clumsy hands of a crowd.
Two guards immediately stepped forward and, without making a fuss, positioned themselves between Young Master Liang and the sword stand.
“Get out of the way!” Young Master Liang was already in the grip of his anger. Feeling that even servants dared to obstruct him, he became all the more furious. He shoved the guard in front of him hard. “What’s the matter? You put it on display today, didn’t you? Isn’t it there for people to look at? What, will it shatter if I touch it?”
He had put considerable force into the shove, but although the guard was sturdy and did not budge an inch, he did not dare to lay a hand on Young Master Liang. He merely stepped in front of him once more.
The two attendants Young Master Liang had brought with him also moved forward. The two groups formed a tense standoff, and the atmosphere instantly grew taut.
For a moment, the entire hall was utterly silent. Watching the sudden confrontation, many of the guests frowned, yet not one of them left. They were too captivated to even blink.
Their gazes moved back and forth between the two sides, poised on the verge of conflict, before finally settling of their own accord on Shen Guanting, who stood closest to the ancient sword.
Since the confrontation began, he had watched in silence. He had neither shouted for them to stop nor rebuked anyone. The usual smile had vanished from his face, leaving only quiet indifference. It was not until Young Master Liang’s attendants joined the standoff that he made the slightest movement.
He reached out and took hold of the sword’s hilt, his motion unhurried and casual, as though he were merely picking up an ordinary object.
Yet when he turned his wrist and held the sheathed sword horizontally before him, his entire presence changed.
He still wore the same elegant crane cloak, its broad sleeves hanging toward the floor, and he remained calm and unhurried. But when he raised his eyes and swept his gaze over Young Master Liang, they seemed to hold a layer of frost. An oppressive sensation settled over the room, as though a battle-hardened general were inspecting an enemy who had trespassed onto his ground.
The anger filling Young Master Liang was doused in an instant, as if a basin of icy water had been poured over his head. Without realizing it, he took half a step back.
A faint curve appeared at the corner of Shen Guanting’s lips, and his tone remained warm and courteous. “Young Master Liang, please calm yourself. This is Jizhen Pavilion, not a training ground.”
Young Master Liang forced himself to shout, “Shen Guanting! What—what are you implying? Are you planning to attack me in front of everyone?! I’m a guest of Jizhen Pavilion. Is this how you treat your guests?”
“Young Master Liang, you misunderstand.” Shen Guanting returned the sword smoothly to its stand and lightly dusted his hands. “Wasn’t it your wish to take a closer look at the sword? I wonder—did you get a good enough look just now?”
Before Liang Fourth Son could respond, the shopkeeper of Jizhen Pavilion, who had finally spotted the right opportunity, stepped forward with a smile and placed himself tactfully between the two men.
“Young Master Liang, this sword is, after all, a weapon. Should anything go wrong and you be injured, or the treasure be damaged, it would be a grave offense indeed! You must have been so captivated by this rare treasure that you lost yourself for a moment. You’ve probably been standing for quite some time as well. The attendants have just prepared some tea in the side hall. They’re waiting there now. Please do us the honor of joining them for a brief rest—moisten your throat and compose yourself.”
Seeing this, everyone present hurried to take advantage of the opening and began smoothing things over.
“That’s right, Young Master Liang. Have some tea.”
“It’s a gathering of refined company today. Let’s not let this spoil everyone’s good spirits.”
“The treasure isn’t going anywhere. There’s no need to rush.”
Liang Fourth Son’s face shifted from green to white, but he could not force out a single word. He gave a heavy snort, shot Shen Guanting a vicious glare, then flung his sleeve and turned away.
After returning home, the more Liang Fourth Son thought about it, the angrier and more aggrieved he became. Shen Guanting had humiliated him in public, using that wretched sword to frighten him and making him lose face in front of nearly every well-connected person in Huzhou. He had become a laughingstock.
Yet before he could even swallow that resentment, an even heavier blow came crashing down.
Somehow, word of his conduct at Jizhen Pavilion reached Master Liang’s ears. Rather than standing up for him and seeking out the Shen family to teach Shen Guanting a lesson, Master Liang summoned him to his study, dismissed everyone else, and launched straight into a furious tirade.
“Blockhead! Utterly hopeless!” Master Liang’s beard trembled with rage as he pointed at his son’s nose. “Who told you to act on your own and buy some ancient sword to present as a gift? Is your head full of paste? That is a prince—a descendant of the imperial dragon! On His Highness’s birthday, you wanted to give him a weapon that had killed people. Were you wishing him a happy birthday, or trying to make trouble? Are you tired of the peaceful life our Liang family has been enjoying and looking to invite disaster?”
“And even if we set aside all questions of auspiciousness, let’s take another step back! Supposing you really did want to add a touch of military prestige—who exactly were you adding it for? A prince in the prime of his life? What place would that leave for the Eastern Palace?” The more Master Liang spoke, the more agitated he became. His chest heaved, and his son’s stupidity nearly left him unable to breathe.
Liang Fourth Son was stunned by the sharp interrogation. His face turned deathly pale, but he still tried to defend himself. “Father, that sword is a rare antiquity, a priceless treasure. His Highness the Third Prince needs military—”
“Needs what? Whatever His Highness needs, is it your place to speculate and curry favor by offering it?” Master Liang cut him off, his voice filled with exasperation. “You thick-headed swine! If Shen Guanting hadn’t stopped you in time, never mind whether you could have presented the sword or not—just the outrageous things you shouted in Jizhen Pavilion would have been enough. If someone with ulterior motives had seized on your words and accused our Liang family of harboring sinister intentions, how many heads do you think you have to spare?”
He took several deep breaths. Looking at his son’s ashen face, he continued in a grave voice tinged with lingering fear. “This time, you truly ought to thank Shen Guanting. Thank him for stopping your reckless, presumptuous stunt in front of everyone!”
After finishing his tirade, Master Liang ignored Liang Fourth Son’s attempts to explain and directly ordered him confined to the house for a month to reflect on his actions.
What Liang Fourth Son found even harder to accept was that his father personally prepared a generous gift and went to Jizhen Pavilion to apologize to Shen Guanting. He said that he had failed to raise his son properly, and that his foolish, arrogant boy had acted rashly. Liang Fourth Son’s so-called “offering” that day had been nothing but a fabrication. He had merely harbored resentment toward Young Master Shen and seized the opportunity to cause trouble and assert his superiority over the Shen family’s young master. His words had been childish and laughable, and in no way represented the Liang family’s intentions.
This left Liang Fourth Son a complete laughingstock throughout Huzhou.
After hearing Qi Xuan recount the whole affair, Lin Wu could only conclude that Liang Fourth Son was indeed reckless and foolish, acting without the slightest regard for the consequences.
No wonder that, over such a small grudge from years ago, he would resort to such a despicable tactic just to disgust a bakery that had nothing whatsoever to do with him.
“This Third Prince is someone Shopkeeper Lin must know of. He is the very prince who now resides in the palace,” Qi Xuan said, lifting his already-cool teacup. “After that incident, Liang Fourth Son’s hatred of Shen Guanting likely only deepened. Once His Majesty ascended the throne, Liang Fourth Son became even more brazen. It was only because Master Liang kept him under strict control that he refrained from causing any major trouble. This time…”
He looked at Lin Wu. “He likely noticed that Shen Guanting was away from Huzhou and deliberately chose this moment to make a few minor moves—nothing serious enough to do real harm, but irritating enough to make people uncomfortable. In truth, he probably cannot do much to your shop. But he must know that Shen Guanting…”
As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward Lin Jing, and he amended his words. “Especially toward his junior apprentice-brother Jing, whom he has always protected and looked after.”
Lin Wu frowned slightly, still puzzled. “But Master Shen is currently far away in the capital. If Liang Fourth Son causes trouble here, he may not hear about it in time. And even if he learns of it later, the matter will already be over. No matter what, this grievance cannot reach Master Shen’s doorstep.”
Qi Xuan slowly shook his head. “That is precisely where his scheming nature—and his narrow-mindedness—comes into play.
“The Liang family has some connections in the capital, and their caravans and people travel between Huzhou and the capital from time to time. He will most likely make a point of having someone pass the news along.”
He swept his gaze over the puzzled faces across from him.
“When Shen Guanting receives this news in the capital and realizes that this calamity was largely caused by his old grudge, and that you were dragged into it for no reason, how do you think he’ll feel?”
Tigerhead hurriedly chimed in, “Brother Ting will definitely be furious! He might not even be able to eat!”
“By the time the news reaches the capital, it will already have taken some time. And by the time he finds out, he won’t know whether the trouble here in Huzhou has been settled or not. With the mountains and rivers between you, he’ll be powerless to help. All he can do is worry himself sick, wondering day and night how your shop is faring, whether you’ve been mistreated, and whether you’re struggling to cope.”
Of all things, Shen Guanting hated most having trouble arise because of him while he himself was powerless to control it.
“Even if he writes a letter at once, or sends someone riding day and night to come back and look after things, how much time would be wasted on the journey there and back? By the time his people actually returned to Huzhou, I’m afraid…”
Tigerhead immediately nodded his little head. “The whole thing would be over and done with! It’d be too late for anything!”
“Exactly.” Qi Xuan gave a slight nod. “The long journey and delayed information would be enough to leave Shen Guanting fretting uselessly on the other side, anxious and troubled, yet unable to do a thing. That is the most agonizing part. What Liang Fourth Son has done is indeed a petty, underhanded tactic that harms others without benefiting himself. By the time Shen Guanting returns to Huzhou, even if he wants to demand an explanation, the matter would seem too trivial to make an issue of.”
Lin Wu now understood completely. “So what Young Master Liang wants isn’t actually for our shop to close, nor to truly stop me from doing business.”
“That’s right. He wouldn’t dare hurt you seriously, and he doesn’t have the ability to do so. But he can put a thorn in Brother Ting’s heart and make him feel stifled, and that is something he enjoys immensely. This is how that man does things—not for any practical gain, but simply to vent his anger.”
“That’s outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!” The children sitting nearby were indignant.
Tigerhead sprang up from his stool with a whoosh, nearly dragging the chair over with him. “Don’t worry, Sister Lin! Brother Ting may not be here, but I am! I’m his younger brother, so of course I have to look after Junior Brother Jing and you in his place. Leave this matter to me—I’ll definitely think of something!”
As for what that something might be, he had yet to figure it out. But he absolutely could not afford to lose his bravado, so he added, “I’ll write to Brother Ting tonight and tell him everything in Huzhou is fine. The shop is doing wonderfully, and the rice noodles and cold tossed starch noodles are delicious. I’ll tell him not to worry himself for nothing.”
Lin Jing shook his little head in disapproval. “Tigerhead, this is our family’s shop. You and Brother Ting don’t need to look after it for us. We can take care of it ourselves.”
Qi Xuan said nothing. He simply looked toward Lin Wu.
Lin Wu took a sip of tea and smiled. “I have no intention of involving myself in the old grudge between Master Shen and that man, nor do I have the ability to meddle in it. But what Young Master Liang has done is indeed interfering with our shop’s business. I still want to reason things out with them.”
“Very well. Since Shopkeeper Lin has made up her mind, Qi will certainly cooperate.”
As soon as he said this, the three small figures became terribly excited. They raised their little fists in unison and waved them in the air.
“That’s right! Let’s reason with them!”
Judging by the way they looked, however, they seemed less like they were going to reason with anyone and more like they were marching off to battle.
