Chapter Twenty: Speculation

"I know it may sound unbelievable, but... there are indeed some things I simply don't wish to pursue. Whether it's literary talent, reputation, or official rank, I have no inclination toward them. That much is true."

Ning Yi spoke with a calm tone, yet the conviction in his words was unmistakable. He answered honestly, without any reluctance or hidden bitterness, sincere and open. Appearing just over twenty, he had once been a stiff, bookish scholar. If it were his old self, he would have stammered before Elder Qin and Elder Kang, but now his presence was impossible to ignore. With his bearing and stature, he seemed detached and carefree, unconstrained by circumstances. On a man of forty or fifty, such temperament would be seen as mature and steady, profound and unshakable, every word carrying weight beyond doubt.

It was precisely this that deepened their confusion. For someone like Elder Kang, asking such a question carried many implications, and in their current relationship, he was not seeking a transaction or repayment. An ordinary person might fumble out of pride or some excuse, but Ning Yi was no such fool. Seeing their uncertainty, Ning Yi managed a wry smile.

"Heh, I understand how this might seem strange," he said, tapping his forehead lightly. "You may not know, but a few months ago, I suffered a blow to the head and was unconscious for several days. Most of my memories are lost, and matters of fame or ambition no longer stir me. As for lingering among scholars in brothels and boats, composing poetry to win favor with women, I find little interest in that. But the children in the academy amuse me—I tell them stories, listen to their noisy chatter, or come to the riverside to play chess and drink tea. That is freedom. My mind holds some interesting ideas; perhaps I can take my time with them. This life suits me, and as for others’ scorn, why bother? The future is unclear. But I appreciate your kindness, truly."

He bowed, nodding: "I will remember this."

His explanation contained both truth and fabrication, yet of course he could not tell them everything, linking his mood to memory loss. This excuse needed no further elaboration—it was reasonable and spared the elders needless concern, simply marking the issue as his own.

As expected, after he spoke, both Elder Kang and Elder Qin were puzzled. Ning Yi repeated the story of his memory loss, and they looked enlightened. Kang Xian shook his head with a smile, "I hadn't expected such a thing." He assumed Ning Yi's ideas had grown odd after the incident.

After that, Elder Kang did not press further, simply drank his tea, while Ning Yi picked up his writing board and charcoal, excused himself, and left for Yushan Academy. Once his figure vanished at the distant corner, Elder Kang sighed, "Who would have thought—a blow to the head brought about such detachment. Among young people, such composure is rare. It's a pity for his talent."

Elder Qin sipped his tea and laughed, "He's only just over twenty; who can say what he'll become? With his ability, what he must face cannot be avoided. But judging from today, there are concerns... Ming Gong, Liheng is too pragmatic."

Kang Xian frowned, "You're right. His poetry is all superb at a glance, yet he cares little for it. Moonlight above, hanging on the southeast branch... His calligraphy is also effortless, and each art he pursues reaches such heights, yet he treats them as mere pastime. In his eyes, even chalk is more interesting..."

Elder Qin nodded, "Pragmatism is good, but too much may bring trouble. Although Liheng understands how to seek benefit and avoid harm, he is still young and proud in some matters. He refuses to humor the scholars' tests, declines invitations, and does not hide his intentions before us. That is likely why..."

He thought for a moment, then smiled, "No need to dwell on it. We meet as friends over chess; worrying too much is excessive. Knowing his views is enough. What the future holds, we shall see."

*****

Over the past days, Ning Yi's name had stirred waves, large and small, in Jiangning. Those who knew of the "Tune of the Water Melody" and his name naturally had their own guesses and opinions. Most were simple, but the closer one was, the more complicated things became: Elder Kang and Elder Qin, the many members of the Su family—distant and close relatives, stewards, servants. And closest of all were Old Master Su and Su Boyong. Then there were Chan’er, Juan’er, and Xing’er. Recently, Xing’er often teased the other two with "sharing the moonlight over a thousand miles," and Chan’er was somewhat prepared for it, but Juan’er, caught off guard, always blushed furiously, her face as hot as a little teapot, complaining in private, "Why did the young master write that line..."

Thus, she always avoided Ning Yi, head lowered, when they met.

Among all these people, the most conflicted was naturally Su Tan’er. To be honest, what concerned her most was not her husband’s talent or his eccentricity, but rather: she could not understand him.

She originally married Ning Yi because he was simple, someone she could easily comprehend. Even after marrying and bringing him into the Su household, she could participate in the family business without criticism. Though their marriage was in name only, she had gradually accepted him. It was only a matter of time.

But now, she realized she could not see through him at all.

*****

Of course, at this point, it was only a hint of change. Her husband seemed detached, not suspicious or scheming, and Su Tan’er was calm and intelligent, unlikely to panic. Yet, as she managed the Su family’s many silk and cloth shops in Jiangning, her thoughts kept returning to this matter. In these times, no matter how clever a girl is, once married, who can truly be indifferent to her husband?

She continued her busy management, occasionally sending Juan’er to Ning Yi’s old neighborhood to gather news. At times, business acquaintances would ask, "Is Ning Yi, Ning Liheng, your husband?" Then enthusiastically praise his "Tune of the Water Melody."

After marriage, it was customary to bring the new husband to meet old acquaintances, confirming her status as a married woman and making business dealings smoother. But at the wedding, she had shown some temper, and Ning Yi had been knocked unconscious, followed by a period of convalescence. Their mode of interaction was now nearly set—only brief conversations at meals. Her attitude toward Ning Yi was natural, but marriage brought more reserve and pride. Aside from the prior invitation to the Poetry Gathering, she had yet to ask Ning Yi to accompany her out.

Now, it seemed even harder to do so.

She had already investigated Ning Yi’s background before marriage, mostly arranged by her father and grandfather, with her maids gathering opinions. The reports then said he was a simple bookworm, not particularly talented, though not completely foolish—otherwise, he would not have agreed to marry into the Su family. In these times, a man who marries into another family has accepted his fate.

But this time, when Juan’er went to investigate, the findings were a little different.

Most opinions were still as before: Ning Yi’s presence in the neighborhood was weak, and people often needed prompting to recall him, "Oh, that one. The bookish fellow who married into some family, sold his house. Probably gave up on official ambitions." Such comments were the majority.

Yet, two or three households said, "Oh, Liheng? I always knew he was exceptionally learned, but he’s always been low-key, steady, not one to compete. Unlike those so-called scholars, who are loud but shallow—full barrels don’t splash, half barrels slosh... You must have heard of the ‘Tune of the Water Melody,’ right?"

"He did marry in, because of an engagement. Liheng is honest; an engagement must be honored..."

"Neighbor San Auntie and Uncle Niu at the alley entrance both said so; I gave them fifty coins each..." Though just a maid, Juan’er was quite capable at gathering information. She laughed, sharing her view, "But I think they only said so after hearing the poem, so it doesn’t count. Too bad Master Zou, who taught the young master, passed away last year. I inquired with his widow, but she barely remembered Ning Yi. Once she understood my purpose, she spoke kindly. The Zou family isn’t doing well; I took it upon myself to send two strings of coins and some smoked meat, in the young master’s name."

"That’s proper..." Su Tan’er nodded, smiling, but the doubts remained. Gathering information doesn’t mean believing everything, and although some positive remarks were found, the basic picture was unchanged. Yet, when Juan’er investigated another angle, some true clues began to emerge.

"The old men your husband met at the riverside chess games might be remarkable... The clearest is the one who spoke for him at the Poetry Gathering—Elder Kang..."

"Hmm?" If Ning Yi’s reputation before his memory loss was confirmed, then if anything changed, it must have happened afterward. She knew he went to play chess by the river and met some elderly friends, but had not investigated. Now, the news startled her—her husband could befriend such figures! Whether by luck or something else, the subsequent information astonished her further.

At the Poetry Gathering, it was said Elder Kang was a master of philosophy, revered in many fields. But his background, though not hidden, was simply unspoken. On inquiry, it was revealed.

Kang Xian, Kang Mingyun, was not only a master of calligraphy and philosophy, but also the consort of the Princess of Cheng, a member of the imperial family. Though the Wu Dynasty strictly controlled its princes and consorts, and a consort could not participate in state affairs, the Princess of Cheng was the emperor’s aunt, making Kang Xian the emperor’s uncle by marriage. Even as a wealthy idle man, his status was far beyond that of merchant families like the Su.

This revelation was shocking and left Su Tan’er bewildered. Yet, as the shock faded, a clear thread emerged.

"How did the young master become friends with such a figure? Chan’er said they just met while playing chess, nothing more." Juan’er mused, then hesitated, "But Elder Kang’s status, and the young master’s status... ah..."

She dared not say more, but it was enough. In business, information must be filtered constantly—sometimes clues seem unbelievable, but when others are ruled out, what remains must be considered.

*****

Her husband’s status and Elder Kang’s... both are sons-in-law, married into other families...

For Su Tan’er, though this answer seemed strange, it was closest to the truth.

Her husband may have simply met Elder Kang over chess, perhaps unaware of his identity, yet the two shared this common ground. A consort’s position appears noble, but marrying the princess meant entering the imperial family as a son-in-law. Despite his talents, Kang Xian could never hold office or realize his ambitions. It was easy to see why he might feel kinship with Ning Yi, and thus, no wonder he defended Ning Yi at the Poetry Gathering.

That poem, "Tune of the Water Melody"—her husband claimed it was written by a wandering Taoist, but neither her grandfather nor she believed it. Chan’er would never lie to her. Was the Taoist supposed to sing it aloud? It was likely her husband’s own creation, or perhaps Elder Kang’s, but she no longer cared. The previous confusion had left her full of doubts, but now she had found clarity and felt less concerned.

Her husband was a detached soul, his words and actions never unpleasant. She never cared much about his talent—whether high or low, it mattered little. If he married in, she didn’t mind; if he was exceptionally gifted, it was a pleasant surprise. The poetry gathering’s intrigue, if it was Elder Kang’s idea, might have been a joke from the old man.

"Let me teach you, surprise your wife and family..."

Such things were possible. Her husband’s temperament was calm, but at his age, he might not be content with his role as a son-in-law. Her grandfather was not harsh, and she herself did not wish him to be scorned, but occasional disdain was inevitable; people always have their opinions. It was his own hurdle to overcome, and wanting to showcase his talent was understandable.

Could it be that her husband really wished to tame his unruly wife?

Some things, once determined, cannot be changed. That was her principle. Whether marrying in or out, she had no preference. Eventually, she would inherit the Su family business—that was what mattered. Given that, her husband could only marry in. Thinking thus, she found herself not displeased by her speculations, even a little fond of them.

There was no other possibility, was there?

And so, on the way home, she smiled softly and warmly...

It was a private smile, unnoticed even by Juan’er and Xing’er riding with her in the carriage.

*****

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