Chapter Seven: The Soaring Young Girl

Before dawn, Liu Ping opened his eyes, rose, dressed, and jogged up to the mountain summit to await the sunrise. After absorbing the morning’s essence, he retraced his steps home. By then, his mother was already up, brewing a pot of thick, fragrant rice porridge. He hurriedly drank it, and soon the carriage arrived to take him away.

“I’m leaving,” he called to his mother and his sister, who had just risen.

Watching her son depart, Madam Liu reminded him, “Be careful on the road. Study diligently at the Prince’s residence, and don’t get into any trouble.”

“This son knows well,” Liu Ping replied, waving to Liu Yue before climbing into the carriage. The driver cracked his whip, and with no one on the road so early, they reached the gates of the Prince’s residence in about forty-five minutes.

He’d already registered yesterday, so the gatekeeper recognized him and had a servant lead him to the library.

The library was two stories tall and spacious. Inside, row upon row of bookshelves were crammed with volumes, and Liu Ping’s eyes immediately sparkled.

“There are three other copyists besides you. The young master instructed that you may direct them as you wish,” said a nearby maidservant, her expression somewhat proud. To serve as a maid in the Prince’s residence required respectable looks, if not beauty, and though Liu Ping was a friend of the young master, she dared not offend him.

“This is Mu Zhonghe, this is Li Xiang, and this is Fang Yi,” she introduced the three men. “The young master said you are to be treated as an honored guest. At meal times, you’ll have three dishes and a soup delivered for you alone. Since I’ve brought you here, I’ll take my leave.”

“Thank you,” Liu Ping nodded, then turned his gaze to the other three.

They were all older, about thirty or forty, roughly his father’s age, but still only students, making their living as copyists—a sign of misfortune and lost prospects. The world had movable type printing, but it was not flexible, leaving room for the work of copyists.

The three looked at Liu Ping with awe and envy. So young! If only they could return to their youth. There was no trace of contempt; Liu Ping, at thirteen, was already a student and might become a scholar after the autumn examination. His status would soar.

They greeted him one by one.

Liu Ping didn’t talk much but got straight to work. If they were old scholars, perhaps he’d consult them, for many talented men failed to become graduates due to bad luck. But these were old students—hardly worthy of respect.

The three sensed Liu Ping’s attitude. They felt a bit angry, but dared not protest. Their hearts were bitter; their wasted youth had led them here, and now they were looked down upon. Who could they blame?

Copying required careful control of the brush. One mistaken character meant rewriting the entire page. A skilled copyist might write a thousand characters an hour.

But Liu Ping had no such worries. Thanks to his cultivation of the Essence Jade Manual, his control over his body and his memory were exceptional—he could remember everything at a glance, though he still needed to review occasionally lest his memory blur. Even so, he far surpassed ordinary people.

Soon, in less than an hour, Liu Ping finished copying a volume. He sighed and placed the stack of pages aside, starting on the next.

Though his working hours were short, his productivity matched that of the other three combined.

Mu Zhonghe watched Liu Ping finish a volume and was stunned by his speed, wondering if the boy simply corrected mistakes by crossing them out—such errors would mean a deduction in pay.

Mu Zhonghe, wanting to see Liu Ping’s work, carefully picked up the stack. At first glance, he was astonished—what beautiful handwriting!

His own calligraphy was good after years of copying, but Liu Ping’s was far superior, possessing a unique and elegant style. Ordinary people wouldn’t notice, but experts like Mu Zhonghe could.

He checked the volume for mistakes or corrections and found none whatsoever. This was remarkable.

This young man was no ordinary person! Li Xiang and Fang Yi saw Mu Zhonghe staring at Liu Ping’s manuscript and hurried over, equally surprised.

“Mr. Liu, your handwriting is truly excellent,” Fang Yi praised.

“Oh, my writing is still far from yours,” Liu Ping replied with a smile.

The three men reddened with embarrassment and returned to their work.

After several hours, Liu Ping finished his lunch, completing his work for the day. Seeing the others preparing to continue copying, he said, “Wait, I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?” the three were startled and asked quickly.

“These books are too disorganized. I’d like to compile a general catalogue and arrange them by category.”

“A catalogue?”

Liu Ping explained his idea, which made the three’s eyes light up, though they hesitated. “But such things are not for us to decide. Doing it privately isn’t right.”

“I’m not asking you to tidy up. I’ll inform the Prince. I want you to help find books, compile the catalogue, and arrange them accordingly,” Liu Ping laughed. “Besides, just the few of us organizing this huge library would take ages. I plan to request some extra helpers.”

Soon, the matter reached the Prince, who was delighted. “That’s an excellent idea! Approved. Send ten nimble servants to assist Liu Ping. If the task is completed, reward him with ten taels of silver.”

The old steward conveyed the Prince’s words and brought ten helpers.

Mu Zhonghe and the others were dumbfounded, hardly believing it. Seeing the reward made them envious, thinking, Why didn’t we think of that?

People truly are different.

In truth, Liu Ping wasn’t motivated by the reward, but by the need to find books efficiently. With the autumn examination approaching, he couldn’t waste time searching.

The ten helpers finished organizing the library in two days. Another half-month passed. Wang Hong visited Liu Ping several times; after the previous incident, he was confined to the residence and could only complain when they met.

During these days, Liu Ping searched for Bai Zhi in the mornings and evenings but hadn’t found her, leaving him frustrated.

One afternoon, after lunch, Liu Ping saw a youth in fine attire enter. Mu Zhonghe and the others quickly bowed, “Greetings, Second Young Master.”

“Why are you here again?” Liu Ping was unimpressed; without this fellow’s interference these days, he’d be confident in passing the scholar’s exam, but now his chances seemed only seventy or eighty percent. Thankfully, there was still time.

“No need for formalities,” Wang Hong waved to the three, then laughed, “How can you speak to me like that? It wounds my heart!”

“If you have something to say, say it. If not, spare me,” Liu Ping said impatiently. Their relationship had grown closer, and his tone was increasingly casual.

Strangely, the more Liu Ping spoke this way, the happier Wang Hong became, and their bond deepened. Liu Ping secretly marveled—this fellow was truly incorrigible.

“Wonderful! Another clever remark. If you have something to say, say it. If not, spare me. Ha! Marvelous!” Wang Hong laughed. “I won’t waste words. My confinement has ended, and my father agreed to let me go out for a trip. How about it, shall we go together?”

Liu Ping thought for a moment. “Alright. Where to?”

“Mount Huoyun.” Wang Hong opened his fan; the words “Mount Huoyun” were written boldly.

They took the carriage and reached Mount Huoyun.

Despite its name, Mount Huoyun had no fiery clouds, but countless maple trees. When autumn arrived, the leaves turned crimson, resembling clouds of fire on the horizon. Hence the name.

During autumn, the mountain swarmed with visitors. Crowds surged, but the Wang family had their ways, and soon Liu Ping and Wang Hong reached a quiet hilltop to admire the maples. Wang Hong’s mood brightened. “Beautiful.”

“I thought you’d take me to a brothel,” Liu Ping said, smirking. “You don’t seem the least bit indecent.”

“Brothels and taverns are not my style. In Qinxian County, I’m known as the refined young master, unlike…” Wang Hong boasted, but stopped mid-sentence, staring blankly at a spot.

Liu Ping was about to tease him when he noticed Wang Hong’s gaze and was startled.

Not far away, a graceful young lady led an adorable little girl through the maple grove. The young lady’s smile, paired with her exquisite features, was truly captivating. The girl was equally charming, inspiring a protective urge in any onlooker.

Wang Hong was transfixed, staring at the lady.

The beautiful pair noticed Wang Hong and Liu Ping. Suddenly, the little girl broke free from the young lady’s hand and ran toward Liu Ping, calling joyfully, “Young Master!”

She threw herself into his arms like the wind, catching Liu Ping off guard with her enthusiasm. Hearing her call, Liu Ping’s mouth fell open. “You are… Bai Zhi?”