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Fu Yuzhang was still unaware that a single letter he sent had delivered a double blow. At this moment, he was happily directing the maids to help pack their luggage for the journey to Linzhou.

Xie Yaoniang’s eyes were brimming with tears, and she often turned away to wipe them with a handkerchief. Seeing this, Fu Yuzhang rushed over to embrace her, tilting his head with a smile: “Mother, don’t worry about me. We have guards accompanying us on the way, and once we arrive in Linzhou, Master Zhou will introduce us to Teacher Gao. He is a renowned scholar known throughout the land. Are you really unwilling to let me go to Linzhou to learn from him?”

Xie Yaoniang almost broke into tears. How could she not know how rare it was to receive personal guidance from Teacher Gao? It was precisely because she cherished this opportunity that she had held back from telling Fu Yuzhang to stay in the capital instead of going to Linzhou.

But a mother’s worry stretches across a thousand miles. Fu Yuzhang was the flesh and blood that came from Xie Yaoniang’s own body, born with a lovely, intelligent, and lively nature that endeared everyone who saw him. Now, at the tender age of five, he was to travel over a thousand miles away to Linzhou. Even though guards would accompany him, and Zhou Fu and Fu Yuan had arranged everything meticulously, Xie Yaoniang’s heart still ached deeply.

She had never been separated from her son for so long!

Fu Yuzhang patted his chest and declared loudly, “Mother, rest assured, I will write to you as soon as I disembark!”

The capital had the Bian River, where countless boats large and small transported goods from all over the country daily: oranges from Jiangling, hemp from Qilu, silk from Liangzhe, and fine tea from Shu. The waterway south to Jiangnan was a familiar route traveled countless times. With official vessels regularly plying the river and grain shipments arriving, the annual delivery of rice from Jianghuai, Huzhou, and Zhejiang to the capital reached the immense figure of one million shi. Such a bustling scene ensured the waterways were very secure, as the government had invested great effort in eradicating river pirates, allowing merchants to travel safely and trade goods throughout the empire.

With Fu Yuan’s influence, it was no trouble for Fu Yuzhang and his party to take an official boat down to Jiangnan. Even if pirates appeared, once the imperial banner was hoisted, only the most foolish would dare challenge such a high risk. Even the longest-lived man hanging himself would find it too dangerous.

Fu Yuzhang kept reassuring Xie Yaoniang, using all his charms and coaxing skills until she was finally cheered up. But upon arriving at Rongshou Hall, they saw the dowager madam’s face drawn and somber.

Beside her, Fu Huai’an looked helplessly at Fu Yuzhang, silently pleading: “Brother, you’re good at comforting people. You take this one!”

Fu Yuzhang thought: Sometimes, being the good brother in Great Qi isn’t that reliable. You’re the grandmother’s favorite eldest grandson, brother, so why am I the one coaxing her?

Fu Huai’an grew even more awkward. Seeing this, Fu Yuzhang quickly rushed over, grabbed the dowager madam’s sleeve, and without any burden, began to act cute: “Grandmother, have you ever seen the great tides of the Qiantang River? When I see them, I’ll draw them with brother and send the pictures home for you to see! On our journey, we’ll write and draw all the mountains, rivers, and interesting things we encounter and send them to you!”

The dowager madam’s expression softened. Fu Yuzhang pressed on, “I heard Jiangnan’s scenery is unparalleled—spring frogs, autumn cicadas, apricot blossoms, misty rain—every step a new scene. When I see it, I’ll paint it all!”

The dowager madam sighed softly, then beckoned both brothers into her embrace, her expression tinged with melancholy: “I always knew you two were not ordinary, but I never expected you to leave the capital at such a young age.”

She sighed again, “A soaring eagle cannot stay long on low branches. Go, spread your wings, and see how vast the world is.”

Fu Yuzhang sensed the unspeakable, lingering reluctance and regret in her tone and quietly nodded, then said, “Perhaps after this journey, your grandson can write a travelogue.”

The dowager madam unexpectedly smiled, “You sure think big—already dreaming of writing a book?”

Fu Yuzhang shook his head proudly, “As long as there’s a pen and a thousand books in my heart, why must one be old to write?”

Such confidence!

Just then, Fu Yuan strode in and caught Fu Yuzhang’s words, twitching the corner of his mouth, feeling a complicated mix of emotions.

Sadly, Master Zhou was not present. Otherwise, he would have appreciated Fu Yuzhang’s occasional boldness—ambition is not confined by age. Humility is admirable, but youthful vigor and determination are equally heartening.

Fu Yuan quickly put their minds at ease: “I have already arranged everything. In three days, they will depart with the official boat to Jiangnan.”

The dowager madam and Xie Yaoniang’s hearts felt lighter. Fu Yuan continued, “Master Zhou has also sent a letter ahead to Jiangnan. When they arrive, An and Zhang will settle in with Teacher Gao alongside Master Zhou.”

Their eyes brightened, and they asked the two boys, “Did you bring your schoolwork? Pack the best pieces in a box for Teacher Gao’s guidance.”

A whole box? Fu Yuzhang and Fu Huai’an exchanged glances. Fu Huai’an calmly said, “The voyage takes a month. Surely after gaining new experiences, our studies will greatly improve.”

The dowager madam laughed with joy, “That makes sense; then don’t bring them.”

As the family discussed what else to bring, a hurried official arrived to report, “There are envoys from the palace.”

Fu Yuan raised his eyebrows in surprise, had the servants set up a table, and the dowager madam and Xie Yaoniang quickly rose. The maids tidied their hair and clothes. The family respectfully stood before the table in the main hall to receive the imperial decree.

The envoy eunuch wore a kindly face, followed by a long line of attendants carrying boxes tied with red silk. Fu Yuzhang glanced at Fu Yuan and whispered, “Father, what great deed did you accomplish to receive so many gifts from the imperial household?”

Fu Yuan was equally puzzled. He had been diligent at court but achieved no notable merit—just ordinary work. What was this performance by the emperor? If these gifts were from the Crown Prince to the boys, why would there be an imperial edict?

The three of them were filled with questions.

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After hearing the decree, Fu Yuzhang’s questions multiplied: Why did Emperor Jingshuo order them to bring birthday gifts to Teacher Gao? Was the Crown Prince that polite, requesting the emperor to grant gifts for Teacher Gao’s birthday?

Yet, for some reason, looking at the festive boxes nearly filling the courtyard, Fu Yuzhang strangely felt a tinge of grievance and reluctance. He shook his head to dismiss these strange feelings: this was strange and unnecessary.

Naturally, he missed the truth.

Along with the decree, there were gifts for Teacher Gao and a letter from the Crown Prince.

Fu Yuzhang tore open the letter. As expected, the Crown Prince’s bitterness nearly leaped off the page. Every word dripped with his helpless fury, surging toward Fu Yuzhang—How cruel your boasting must be to a young prince confined deep in the palace! You and the heir of the Marquis of Changping have left; who now writes to me every five days?

The Crown Prince: The sky is falling—the only source of news from outside the palace has broken!

Did Fu Yuzhang sympathize with the Crown Prince? He was overjoyed! His smile would not fade; it would merely shift from the prince’s face to his own.

Master Zhou traveled light, carrying only one box of luggage, half of which was books.

Fu Yuan looked at the vast array of gifts from Emperor Jingshuo, feeling uneasy: Compared to the emperor’s gifts, the ones he had prepared seemed thin. The boys were looking forward to Teacher Gao’s guidance and should receive more generous presents. He must add more!

But he could not overstep the emperor; there were many protocols to observe.

Fu Yuan pondered carefully and called Master Zhou and the two boys to the storeroom. He personally opened a small, meticulously cleaned chamber, unsealed a box, and carefully spread out a scroll. Master Zhou glanced at it and was astonished: “This is Zhen Daoji’s ‘Night Banquet in Wu Palace’! The Zhen family excelled in both calligraphy and painting, but few works survived; only rare pieces remain treasured in great families. I never expected the Marquis’s household to possess this painting!”

Fu Yuan said nothing but reverently opened another scroll. Master Zhou nearly lost his voice, “The ‘Preface to Linghe’! This is the autograph of the calligraphy master Zhang Xiu! The original was lost in wars during dynastic changes; only copies circulated. Yet here it is in the Marquis’s household!”

When Fu Yuan opened another box, revealing countless rare calligraphic paintings and unique manuscripts, Master Zhou was utterly stunned, as if dreaming. He asked blankly, “Does the Marquis’s household truly hold so many priceless treasures?”

He must be dreaming! The first Marquis of Changping, Fu Yuan’s great-grandfather, was a commoner by birth, no scholar. The Marquis’s line had only two descendants, Fu Huai’an and Fu Yuzhang, clearly favored by the literary gods as naturally gifted scholars. No one had heard of anyone in the Fu family skilled in calligraphy or ancient books.

Then where did all these treasures come from?

Master Zhou was utterly baffled.

Fu Yuan cleared his throat and said gently, “When the great-grandfather followed the founding emperor to raise arms, he marched three thousand li without defeat. But he was unlucky—every time they divided spoils, he drew lots and always got these ‘useless’ calligraphy and paintings. He even once fought the Marquis of Yongding over it. The Marquis of Yongding was very fortunate, always drawing gold and jade.”

So this hid a tale of a hapless underdog! Fu Yuzhang listened with great interest.

Master Zhou almost fainted upon hearing these “useless calligraphy” remarks, almost shouting, “How can these be useless when each is a rare treasure?”

Master Zhou’s heart ached! Ignorance is terrible—priceless treasures right before one’s eyes, mistaken for worthless!

Fu Yuzhang tapped his nose. Their great-grandfather was a butcher by trade, born in chaotic times at the end of the previous dynasty. For someone of humble origins, knowing a few characters was already admirable. How could he appraise ancient artworks? Naturally, he preferred gold and jewels.

Fu Yuan spoke mildly, but Fu Yuzhang quickly pieced together the truth: After victorious battles, when dividing spoils, a group of rough soldiers chased after gold, silver, and jade, while the calligraphy and paintings were lumped together. To avoid offending comrades, they drew lots to decide who got which pile. Their great-grandfather’s luck was remarkable, always drawing the calligraphic treasures. These boxes of art were the result.

In another sense, he was both the unluckiest and luckiest.

Though a military family, these artworks were unimpressive to them. To scholars, however, each was a treasured first love.

Even with Master Zhou’s expertise, he was overwhelmed by such a trove of beloved treasures.

Fu Yuan calmly asked Master Zhou’s opinion: “If we present these as gifts, would they be sufficient?”

Though fewer in number than the emperor’s, they made up in quality. Catering to Master Zhou’s tastes, it was clear Teacher Gao would be very pleased.

Master Zhou nearly knelt, pressing his dry lips together before saying, “Choose just two items. If you gave all, the master would likely send people overnight to escort these two boxes back to the capital.”

Fu Yuzhang stared in amazement and exchanged a look with Fu Huai’an, both shocked.

Great-grandfather’s luck was truly extraordinary.

With Emperor Jingshuo’s unexpected gifts, Fu Yuan had to double the number of guards. Counting the maids and attendants caring for the boys, the entourage numbered nearly a hundred.

Fu Yuzhang thought it was excessive—were they going to a birthday or starting a battle? It was intimidating to see.

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Fu Yuan said, “Gifts from the imperial household must not be neglected. After delivering the presents, they will return to the capital ahead, so as not to disturb Teacher Gao too much.”

Fu Yuzhang took Fu Huai’an’s hand, and together they boarded the official boat bound for Linzhou.

Xie Yaoniang’s eyes were red and swollen, tears falling like rain. The dowager madam also had reddened eyes, forcing herself to suppress her reluctance, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on Fu Huai’an and Fu Yuzhang.

Though Fu Yuzhang felt reluctant, his excitement was greater. This was the first time in two generations they were traveling far from home—thrilling!

The official boat set sail, its flags fluttering. Fu Yuzhang stood at the bow, watching Fu Yuan and others gradually shrink into tiny black dots, feeling a pang of melancholy. His gaze then drifted to the water’s surface.

What he saw astonished him: the river was filled with boats like countless carp crossing a river, large and small—passenger, cargo, grain transport, ferries—all bustling without pause, nearly covering the entire river.

There were massive tower ships, blocking the sun, three or four stories high, their hulls so vast that their edges vanished from sight. Ordinary merchant ships beside them were like small fish beside a whale—an awe-inspiring sight.

Fu Yuzhang was momentarily stunned. Hearing the faint calls of the boatmen on the river, he took a deep breath and thought: Such big ships would be perfect for sailing oceans and circumnavigating the globe, wouldn’t they?

Fu Huai’an noticed Fu Yuzhang’s open mouth and amazed expression. Looking up at the giant ship, he said gently, “Each year, at Jinming Pool, the navy holds boat races—a spectacular event drawing huge crowds. Next spring, we’ll ask Father to take us to watch.”

“Jinming Pool is in Qionglin Garden, right? That’s the imperial garden.”

“The emperor is benevolent and allows commoners to watch the races at Jinming Pool. The bold even gamble inside Qionglin Garden, making for a lively scene. The emperor doesn’t interfere much, showing his grace in sharing joy with the people.”

Fu Yuzhang was tempted. Simulated naval battles—this must be the highest naval force of Great Qi. He wondered how large the warships were and if they could circumnavigate the globe to prove it was round.

His imagination ran wild. Upon learning from boatmen that they now had the “water compass”—the precursor to the compass—Fu Yuzhang’s desire for grand maritime voyages peaked. He struggled to quell his fevered thoughts and resolved to study Great Qi’s shipbuilding industry thoroughly when they returned.

Master Zhou, as an experienced scholar, did not ridicule the boys for their youthful curiosity about shipbuilding. Instead, he earnestly explained: “Jiangnan’s shipbuilding is particularly prosperous. When we reach Linzhou next month, I’ll take you to visit any shipyard you like.”

Fu Yuzhang beamed and nodded eagerly, “Thank you, Master!”

Contrary to the dowager madam’s expectations, Master Zhou did not strictly tutor the brothers on the boat. Instead, the three of them went fishing, moving reclining chairs to the deck to lounge lazily in the gentle breeze and warm sun. Occasionally, monkey calls and birdsong drifted from the banks, lulling them to rest.

The official boat sped downstream, flanked by numerous merchant vessels acting like escort ships, guarding it firmly in the center. At each stop, Master Zhou half-napped in his chair while telling Fu Huai’an and Fu Yuzhang about local customs and interesting stories.

For example: Xuzhou had many strange rocks, Gaozhou was home to wild men, Tanzhou had hot springs so hot that cooking an egg took only fifteen minutes…

Fu Yuzhang and Fu Huai’an listened with delight, their mental map of Great Qi growing more vivid.

When they reached Linzhou, Fu Yuzhang still felt reluctant to part.

Master Zhou, however, rose leisurely, adjusted his hat and clothes, preparing to reunite with his long-unseen fellow apprentices.

At the dock, someone awaited them: a tall, slender figure in a blue Daoist robe, his garments billowing in the wind, seeming almost ready to ride the breeze away. His well-groomed half-length beard added to his ethereal, scholarly aura.

Master Zhou smiled brightly upon disembarking, stepping swiftly forward with a bow, “Senior brother.”

Teacher Gao had eighteen inner disciples. The one whom Master Zhou addressed by surname alone was naturally the foremost disciple, the eminent and erudite Cheng Tuizhi.

Fu Yuzhang and Fu Huai’an followed Master Zhou and bowed in unison, “Greetings, respected senior uncle.”

“Are you the disciples of Zijing?” Cheng Tuizhi nodded slightly and handed Fu Yuzhang and Fu Huai’an each a brocade pouch as a welcome gift. Fu Yuzhang accepted happily but sensed a subtle, complicated look in this senior uncle’s eyes toward the two brothers.

He wondered why. Senior uncle must have seen many prodigies with Teacher Gao, so why did he look at them with such a peculiar expression?

Soon, Fu Yuzhang would understand the meaning behind Cheng Tuizhi’s gaze.

Who could explain to him this group of prodigies staring at his brothers with a look of disbelief?