Chapter Forty-Nine: Aftermath

The Hairpin Banquet had concluded, and the scholars, each harboring their own thoughts, departed one after another.

Li Jie gazed up at the bright moon in the sky. The pristine moonlight added a unique charm to the night scenery. He dismissed the servant who was waiting with the carriage, intending to walk home instead. Along the way, scholars frequently greeted him; many of them were still buzzing with excitement, discussing gathering for yet another round. Seeing their behavior, Li Jie fully understood their mindset. After all, with life experiences richer than theirs, he was better equipped to keep his emotions in check.

In the days following the Hairpin Banquet, the events that transpired there naturally spread throughout Fuzhou City, and public opinion was divided.

For the ancients, who were starved of news, this incident was nothing short of explosive. It involved two prominent figures: one was Lin Pingzhi, the newly crowned top scorer who had swept the "junior three-tier exams", and the other was Gao Sheng, scion of an official's family. Its sensational impact was by no means inferior to any scandalous gossip of later generations. People discussed it endlessly on street corners, in taverns, and inside brothels.

In a tavern, a Confucian scholar remarked to his close friend, "I never imagined our top scorer Lin possessed such poetic talent. I yearn to meet him in person!"

His friend glanced at him sideways and teased knowingly, "Then your only chance is the Deer Cry Banquet after the provincial examination."

"Hmph! Isn't it just the autumn examination? You just wait! After today, I will apply myself wholeheartedly to my studies and shall not step outside tomorrow!"

"Heh, when have you ever kept that promise? You ought to copy down the poems composed by Top Scorer Lin and hang them in your study to constantly spur yourself on. Look at how profound the verse is." With that, the scholar began to recite the poetry Li Jie had written:

"Today and again today, how few days like today!
If I do not act today, when shall these matters end?
Tomorrow and again tomorrow, how many tomorrows there are!
If my life waits for tomorrow, all affairs shall be wasted in delay."

Upon hearing his friend recite the poem, the Confucian scholar reflected on how he had always lived by the motto of "tomorrow and tomorrow," and lowered his head in shame. From then on, he resolved to shut his doors and remain inside until the next autumn examination, studying with fierce determination. As a result, he passed the provincial examinations three years later, becoming a celebrated tale for a time.

In the brothels, scholars who gathered to compose poetry and play matching games also discussed the matter spiritedly during their idle moments. Most of them held Gao Sheng's conduct in utter contempt, unleashing verbal condemnation upon him. Quite a few seized the opportunity to publish commentary pieces in tabloid sheets; those who wrote biting critiques could even earn a decent writing fee, drawing financially strapped scholars to flock to the endeavor. Naturally, they had to publish under pseudonyms, as the Gao family was not someone easily crossed.

Ordinary folk, who lived modest and peaceful lives, occasionally discussed the matter while cooling themselves outside after finishing their evening meals. For unlettered commoners, the curses they hurled were quite harsh indeed: wishing the offender's future sons were utterly cursed, declaring his heart was carved from pitch, and calling him rotten to the core—such insults were considered mild, while even more vicious ones were legion.

In short, the vast majority of people held negative opinions of Gao Sheng.

If one were to name the person in the entire city most distressed by this topic, it would undoubtedly be Gao Sheng. Listening to the city-wide gossip, he regretted his past actions deeply, spending his days at home consumed by self-pity and drowning his sorrows in alcohol.

Madame Qian felt heartache seeing her son grow increasingly despondent day by day. Realizing that if things continued this way, he would be completely ruined, she came to speak with Gao Sheng on this day.

"My son, why should a great man wallow in self-pity over such a trivial matter? Is this still the foremost talent of Fuqing?"

"Trivial matter? The foremost talent of Fuqing?" Hearing his mother's words, Gao Sheng's eyelids twitched. At that moment, he had forgotten even to pay his respects to his mother, and after a muttered repetition, he spoke.

"Mother, you call this a trivial matter, but your son cannot agree. After this incident, the reputation I labored so hard to build has been utterly destroyed in a single day. How do our clansmen view me? How does the world view me?"

"Recall how Su Wu pastured sheep in antiquity, or how the Grand Historian endured the punishment of castration yet still drove himself to complete his unfinished work! Is the ordeal you experienced not a trifle by comparison?"

Without waiting for Gao Sheng to reply, Madame Qian continued.

"A great man walking this earth must know shame and thereby regain his courage. Since the matter has already occurred, what use is there in wallowing in self-pity? You must remember that sometimes, even though the sheepfold is mended after the sheep are lost, it is still not too late."

Madame Qian's words were like the booming of great bells and resounding drums, waking him as if from a deafening blow. Gao Sheng stood stunned for a long while, then scrambled up, straightened his robes and crown, and dropped to his knees before Madame Qian to perform a formal prostration.

"Thank you, Mother. Your son has been instructed!"

Seeing this, Madame Qian felt deeply comforted, and asked, "Then what does my son intend to do?"

Gao Sheng stood up, squared his shoulders, and said with a resolute expression, "Your son intends to emulate the ancients, carry thorns upon my back, and go directly to the Lin residence to apologize to Lin Pingzhi in person. Afterward, I shall remain quietly at home to study diligently, and when the imperial examination lists are posted, I will surely win back the family's trust!"

The next day, Gao Sheng stripped off his upper garments, bound thorny branches to his bare back, bowed to his mother, and resolutely stepped out of the house.

Initially, facing the pointing and whispering of pedestrians along the way, Gao Sheng felt overwhelmingly ashamed, and the thought of giving up surged through his mind more than once. However, his mother's words from the previous day still echoed softly in his mind. Instantly, his expression hardened with determination, and he resumed his stride, walking step by step toward the Lin residence while turning a deaf ear to the surrounding gossip. As he walked, the thorns dug deeply into his flesh, causing blood to flow and bringing a sharp, agonizing pain that kept Gao Sheng's brow furrowed the entire journey.

Li Jie was practicing martial arts in the courtyard when a servant came to report that Gao Sheng had arrived carrying thorns to beg for forgiveness, which momentarily startled him. He had not expected Gao Sheng capable of such a drastic gesture, and this greatly altered his impression of the man. Originally, Li Jie had never intended to hold a grudge over what happened at the banquet, so he simply decided to ride the momentum of this opportunity, gracefully accepting the apology face-to-face and clearing the air. It would also serve to elevate his own reputation—something the ancients valued immensely.

Afterward, Li Jie changed into a set of formal attire, which was also a mark of respect toward Gao Sheng, as greeting him in casual practice clothes would have been somewhat impolite.

Arriving at the front gate, he waited for a short while before seeing Gao Sheng approach with thorns on his back, followed by a crowd of onlookers trailing behind like a long dragon. Gao Sheng remained completely unfazed by the jeers and curses from the crowd, walking step by step toward Li Jie. Sweat poured from his forehead like rain, and along the journey, the mixture of blood and sweat had soaked through his clothes, staining his pristine inner garment a brilliant crimson.

Seeing this, Li Jie was slightly moved. He quickly stepped forward to meet Gao Sheng, who dropped to one knee, cupped his fists, and said:

"What happened at the banquet that day was my fault. I should not have harbored jealousy. I hope the top scorer Lin will not hold a petty grudge against a petty person and will forgive my actions!"

Li Jie hurriedly helped him up and said to Gao Sheng, "What happened that day? Wasn't it merely a normal exchange between us?"

Hearing this, Gao Sheng's eyes grew hot with emotion. With tear-filled eyes, he nodded heavily and choked out, "Yes!"

When Li Jie removed the thorny branches from Gao Sheng's back, because the barbs had embedded themselves into the flesh, Gao Sheng could not help but draw a sharp intake of breath as they were pulled away. Li Jie thought to himself that a man like Gao Sheng would surely accomplish great things in the future; he was truly a character of substance.

The surrounding onlookers, seeing the two men resolve the matter in such a manner, burst into thunderous cheers and applause!

"Well done! Gao Sheng owns up to his actions; he is a true man!"

"Top Scorer Lin is magnanimous and righteous!"

...

Hearing the voices of the crowd, the two men exchanged a glance and smiled—a smile that swept away all past grievances and enmity.