Chapter 66: The Lin Family of Lianjiang

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A moment later, after harmonizing the internal qi within his body, Li Jie opened his eyes, stood up, and saluted Zhang Bin, saying, "Thank you, Your Honor, for your guidance!"

Zhang Bin smiled and replied, "I never expected your natural talent to be so extraordinary—you understand everything at the mere hint. Even without my pointers, the day you break through your bottleneck would not have been far off. I merely gave you a gentle push in the right direction."

"Will you be attending the metropolitan examination next spring? While a thirteen-year-old provincial graduate is rare, it is not entirely unheard of. However, there has never yet been a fourteen-year-old palace graduate. Would you be willing to become the very first?"

Li Jie answered without hesitation, "That is precisely my intention!"

"Splendid! Then allow me to congratulate you in advance on plucking the laurel branch from the toad palace and making your name resound throughout the capital!"

A gentle night breeze drifted from afar. The moon hung high at the zenith, and the stars of the full firmament shone upon one another in brilliant reflection. Inside the carriage, the corners of Li Jie's lips curved slightly upward. This Luming Banquet had truly been a journey well-made; he was now one step closer to the Great Heavenly Cycle, and the Xiantian realm finally felt within reach.

Upon returning home, Fang Yi was waiting for Li Jie in the courtyard beneath the moonlight. Hearing footsteps approaching from afar, Fang Kun quietly slipped out of the small courtyard.

With a sharp, scrutinizing gaze, Fang Kun looked Li Jie up and down and demanded, "Why are you returning so late?"

Looking somewhat perplexed, Li Jie replied, "After the Luming Banquet ended, Lord Administrative Commissioner gave me some pointers. Coincidentally, I made a small breakthrough. Is something the matter?"

Hearing that Li Jie had achieved another breakthrough, Fang Kun stared at him as if looking at a monster. Remembering that Fang Yi was still waiting for Li Jie in the courtyard, his expression shifted and he snapped coldly, "From now on, you had best return earlier when nothing keeps you!"

With that, Fang Kun turned and walked away. Li Jie was somewhat baffled, but as he stepped into the courtyard and caught sight of Fang Yi's figure, he finally understood why Fang Kun had looked so displeased—the man was simply feeling protective of his younger sister.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Fang Yi turned around. Upon seeing Li Jie, her face bloomed into a radiant smile. "Young master, you're back. Hot water has been kept ready in your room; you can wash away the smell of wine. You should drink less of it in the future."

Li Jie said, "Yes, thank you. From now on, you don't need to wait up for me so late. It's getting late, so go and rest early."

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Fang Yi nodded, then turned and returned to her room to rest.

The next morning, after breakfast, Lin Zhennan motioned for Li Jie to follow him into the side hall, where he asked, "Pingzhi, do you know of the Lujiang Lin clan?"

Li Jie nodded. "I do. The top scorer in the Chunqiu category of this provincial examination hails from the Lujiang Lin clan. He is exceptionally talented in scholarship. Why do you ask?"

Lin Zhennan pondered for a moment before speaking. "Your great-grandfather, Lord Yuantu, actually originated from the Yu branch of the Lujiang Lin clan. For certain reasons, he took tonsure and entered the Buddhist monastic life—the exact reasons remain unknown to me. After returning to secular life, he never rejoined the clan, and eventually, our branch was established here. Yesterday, an elder of the clan came to visit with the intention of having us return to the lineage. What are your thoughts on this?"

Li Jie was extremely surprised to hear this news. He had never imagined that Lin Yuantu shared such profound ties with the Lujiang Lin clan. Yet, upon careful reflection, it was not entirely impossible. In the original tale, Lin Yuantu had comprehended the obscure and esoteric *Sunflower Manual* upon a single hearing and was even able to draw inferences about other things from one instance. Without profound scholarship, such a feat would have been utterly impossible. Coupled with the fact that his master was the abbot of Southern Shaolin, his origins in the Lujiang Lin clan ceased to be surprising.

Li Jie asked in turn, "Is this because I passed the provincial examination?"

With a somewhat awkward expression, Lin Zhennan nodded. "Indeed. You happen to belong to the same generation as Lin Ting'ang. The primary reason the elder of the Yu branch came this time is because of you. He promised that once we return to the clan, the Yu branch will throw all its weight behind you in your official career, ensuring that your path in officialdom is much smoother."

Li Jie held no stubborn obsession against rejoining the clan. However, seeing Lin Zhennan's deep yearning for the clan's embrace during their conversation, he found it difficult to refuse. On second thought, with the backing of a powerful clan, his future path would undoubtedly be much brighter.

Lin Han, the current leading figure of the Lujiang Lin clan, possessed vast connections and enjoyed the deep trust of the Hongzhi Emperor. For his meritorious service in compiling the *Veritable Records of Emperor Xianzong*, he was soon to be promoted to Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.

The Chancellor of the Imperial Academy served as the president of the supreme national institution of learning, holding a rank of Senior Fourth Grade. Generally, stepping into the fourth grade meant entering the ranks of high-ranking officials. Moreover, the position was one of high prestige and purity; successive dynasties of the Ming era placed great importance on educational officials of the Imperial Academy, favoring them in promotions. Having such a grand-uncle to assist him upon entering official circles would save him from countless detours.

After turning the matter over in his mind, Li Jie stated, "This son obeys the decision of my parents!"

Hearing that Li Jie did not harbor an aversion to rejoining the clan, Lin Zhennan heaved a long sigh of relief. Since his childhood, his grandfather had often expressed in words a deep desire to return to the lineage, yet he himself had lacked the face to do so, waiting perpetually for a summons from the family.

That summons had never arrived, and even on his deathbed, the old man had still muttered with lingering longing about being able to enter the ancestral hall after death. Fortunately, he could now return to the clan in a justified and honorable manner. Although Lin Zhennan felt a slight discomfort regarding the family's opportunistic motives, his yearning to return to the ancestral lineage overrode any lingering displeasure in his heart.

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Lupu Village bordered the Lujiang River, a tributary of the Min River, to the north. Steeped in history, it was renowned throughout the region, and the famous Lujiang Academy was situated right here. Cultural education flourished greatly in these parts. A few days later, Lin Zhennan's family arrived at their ancestral homeland. Along the way, although Lin Zhennan appeared calm on the surface, his heart was surging with intense emotion. Upon reaching the village entrance, he could no longer suppress the overwhelming warmth in his chest, and tears welled up in his eyes.

Standing at the village entrance was a spirited yet gaunt elderly man dressed in a blue scholarly robe. His temples were frosted with white, and his bearing was refined and scholarly. Seeing the three members of the Lin family, he smiled warmly and said, "Welcome home! I am the current head of the Yu branch. The rest of the clansmen are gathered in the ancestral hall; please follow me."

Nourished by the river breeze, they walked along a street paved with blue flagstones into Lupu Village. Modest yet orderly houses stretched along the road all the way to the ancestral hall at the center of the village. The hall occupied an extremely vast expanse of land. At this moment, the clansmen gathered before the doors of the hall wore solemn expressions, entirely devoid of the usual noise and chatter associated with crowds.

Lin Zhennan paused before the grand gates of the ancestral hall, his hand gently brushing against the vermilion lacquer on the doors. Then, accompanied by Madam Wang and Li Jie, he paid his respects with three kowtows and nine prostrations before the entrance. Following this grand rite of reverence, they stepped into the interior of the ancestral hall.

Key figures from all six branches of the Lin clan—representing Propriety, Music, Archery, Charioteering, Calligraphy, and Arithmetic—were present in full force. They attached immense importance to the return of Li Jie and his family. A thirteen-year-old provincial graduate was unprecedented within the clan, and furthermore, Li Jie studied under the great Confucian scholar Chen Xianzhang of Lingnan, a fact that compelled the entire clan to treat this ancestral-reunification ceremony with the utmost solemnity.

A month prior, Lin Han, who was far away in the capital, had even sent a special letter expressing his welcome and stating that Li Jie must stay at his residence during the metropolitan examination.

The ceremony was presided over by a highly respected elder of the Lin clan, who called out in a resonant voice, "The lineage of Lin Yuan from the Yu branch has drifted apart since the twenty-first generation, and today it is permitted to return to the clan!"

"The grand ancestral-reunification ceremony officially begins!"

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After a series of tedious and elaborate rituals, the ancestral ceremony was finally concluded. At the very instant the ceremony ended, Lin Zhennan's eyes streamed with old tears and he rejoiced like a child. Immersed in the solemn atmosphere all around him, Li Jie could truly perceive how extraordinarily the ancients valued their clans and lineages; throughout the entire ceremony, even the young children present maintained solemn expressions, not daring to lightly disturb the spirit tablets of their ancestors.

Upon stepping out of the ancestral hall, Lin Rong, the head of the Yu branch, introduced several younger members of the clan to Li Jie, intending for them to travel together to the capital for the metropolitan examination. In addition to Lin Ting'ang, whom he had met at the previous Luming Banquet, there was also a paternal clan-uncle from the Yu branch named Lin Lan. Lin Lan had also hurried back from the capital. According to generational ranking, Lin Lan was of the same generation as Lin Zhennan, but he was young, being only in his thirties, which meant there were no conversational barriers whatsoever between them.

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