Chapter Thirty: The Power of the Aristocratic Families

A capable young clerk pushed open the door and entered, cupping his hands respectfully toward Jia Deyin.
"Young Master Chuan Yun is here and requests to see you."
Jia Deyin was still lost in thought and responded absently, "Oh, I see."
Suddenly, realization dawned on him and he shot to his feet, turning to the young clerk.
"What? Which Young Master Chuan Yun?"
The clerk, sharp-eyed and quick-witted, knew that the only possible "young master" could be the eldest son of the third lady of the Marquis's household. Who else could it be? But sensing the gravity of the times in Shengjing and the master's preoccupation, he patiently clarified,
"It's the eldest miss's son, Young Master Shangguan Chuan Yun. He says he wishes to see you."
"Quick, invite him in," Jia Deyin replied after a brief consideration, then added, "No, I’ll go to receive him myself."
With that, the two of them left the room one after the other.

Shangguan Chuan Yun carried with him a jade token inscribed with the Jia family’s name—a round gold-mountain pixiu emblem. He knew this was the Jia family’s crest; nearly all families with centuries or even a millennium of heritage bore such symbols. The family crest was both a mark of lineage and a sign of identity—a special sigil binding enormous interests together.
Dynasties may last a hundred years, but noble families can endure for a thousand.
In his past life, Shangguan Chuan Yun had met some thousand-year-old clans—the most notable being the House of Confucius and the Celestial Masters of Mount Longhu. For a family to endure a millennium, their cultural depth and philosophy of stewardship could not be mere words.

Carrying the Jia family token, Shangguan Chuan Yun found a modest money house near the Marquis’s residence, its signboard bearing the gold-mountain pixiu. Unsure whether the token would work, he decided to try his luck.
He explained his purpose to the clerk inside, who then led him to a waiting room. Shangguan Chuan Yun glanced around; the room was not large but exquisitely furnished, each piece of furniture perfectly placed, the architecture subtly designed to gather fortune and energy—a clear sign that a master of geomancy had overseen its construction.

He sipped his tea when suddenly a hearty voice rang out before its owner appeared.
"The magpies have been chattering all morning—now I know why! Nephew Chuan Yun has graced us with his presence, and I, Uncle De, have failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive me!"
As the words faded, a round, chubby man entered with a cheerful smile. Despite his bulk, he moved with surprising ease—clearly a practitioner of martial arts, and at no mean level. He looked like a walking ball of fire.
Shangguan Chuan Yun recognized his distant kinsman, set down his tea, and rose to return the gesture.
"Chuan Yun greets Uncle De. I would not trouble the ancestral hall for nothing; I have come with a request."
He did not waste words but spoke directly. Jia Deyin glanced at the jade token at his waist, thinking, "This is an elder’s token—Young Master Chuan Yun must hold considerable standing in the Jia family."
He continued,
"It makes sense. Our young miss has risen in status because of her son, and the Jia family’s prosperity in recent years is inseparable from these two young gentlemen’s positions."
He then said, "Say no more. Whatever you need, Nephew, just tell me. If it’s within my power, I shall see it done at once."
Shangguan Chuan Yun noticed Uncle De’s gaze lingering on his token—this was the one his maternal grandfather had given him, bearing the Jia family crest. He’d stowed away his own family’s qilin token today, since wearing two at his waist would look ridiculous.

He didn’t give the matter further thought; Uncle De’s ready compliance was surely the result of this token’s authority. So he spoke plainly:
"I’d like Uncle De’s help tracking two people. One is the Marquis’s son, Shangguan Hongyun. I need to know where he’s been these past few days, and what he’s been up to. The second is a Daoist priest who arrived recently, seemingly in pursuit of Shangguan Hongyun. I believe he’s somewhere near the palace."
Shangguan Chuan Yun observed Jia Deyin’s pensive look and added,
"I wonder if Uncle De can investigate this for me."
Hearing this, Jia Deyin recalled his nephew’s mysterious ways and, connecting it to recent events, broke into a cold sweat. Clearly, the young master was not seeking Shangguan Hongyun for tea and conversation—
He frowned deeply and spoke with a worried expression,
"Nephew, you mustn’t do anything reckless. Shangguan Hongyun is now a third-rank general appointed by the Emperor himself, and has been taken as imperial son-in-law. He’s heavily guarded, and a cruel, ruthless man, infamous for his love of human flesh…"
At first, Shangguan Chuan Yun thought Uncle De was being reasonable, but as the words grew more outlandish, he realized the man was simply afraid of trouble—likely to run off and tattle to his mother the moment he left.

It seemed a little demonstration was in order.
He gathered his inner strength, focused his qi, and pointed at the floor—a flash of white light shot from his finger, boring a bottomless hole into the ground, from which cold air wafted up.
Jia Deyin’s back went rigid with shock. Such cultivation! Even among the immortals, few could manage this. He stared at his enigmatic nephew in awe.
Shangguan Chuan Yun suppressed a smile. He picked up a coin from the money tree ornament, snapped off a sliver, rolled it into a tiny ball between his fingers, then flicked it lightly. The copper bead arced into the hole, clattering down and fading to silence—the echo suggested the hole was at least fifteen feet deep.

Jia Deyin’s eyes narrowed. This level of power could rival that of an immortal. Had he inherited the Marquis’s true teachings?
Aside from Marquis Wu An, there was no one else he could think of with such prowess—not even Jia Cai, the family’s formidable bodyguard, could do this.

If so, the implications were immense. Even without the title of Marquis’s son, merely possessing the true teachings would ensure the Jia family’s lasting security; it was a deterrent, a way to accomplish much with little.

But Uncle De’s shifting expressions made Shangguan Chuan Yun uneasy. He’d only wanted to demonstrate his strength to prevent tattling—his mother trusted him, but Uncle De would surely exaggerate, causing unnecessary worry and complications.

Shangguan Chuan Yun cleared his throat.
"Now, is that sufficient?"
"Yes, yes, more than enough. Nephew, please wait here while I make arrangements."
He took brush and paper, wrote a note, moved the inkstone to reveal a small hole, and dropped the rolled note inside.
Then, smiling, he said,
"A small trick, Nephew, forgive my presumption."
Shangguan Chuan Yun was not surprised; a great family must have its own methods of communication. Surely, the Jia clan had more than one such trick.
He nodded approvingly,
"Indeed, a clever method."
Jia Deyin, seeing him so composed, thought inwardly, "The Shangguan family truly is remarkable."
They exchanged idle conversation while they waited.

The tiny bell on the money tree ornament jingled twice.
Jia Deyin chuckled, moved the inkstone, and retrieved a rolled paper from within. He read it, nodded in satisfaction, and handed it to Shangguan Chuan Yun.
"Nephew, see if this meets your needs."
Shangguan Chuan Yun scanned the note; it detailed Shangguan Hongyun’s whereabouts over the past days, as well as information on Wu Chenzi—from following Cihang Pudu into the capital, to the present, every detail was recorded.

Strangely, Wu Chenzi was listed as a monk from Cihang Temple at Mount Qingcheng, though Shangguan Chuan Yun distinctly recalled him wearing Daoist robes. He surmised the investigation had missed some details, but did not dwell on it.

Satisfied, Shangguan Chuan Yun cupped his hands,
"Thank you, Uncle De, for the information. I am truly grateful."
"Think nothing of it. Should you need anything else, this place is always at your service."
"Thank you, Uncle De."
He rose to take his leave, and as Jia Deyin also stood, he said,
"I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t stay."
Jia Deyin smiled,
"Of course. If you ever need anything, just send word, and I’ll see to it."
"Uncle De, no need to see me out."
Jia Deyin nodded and accompanied Shangguan Chuan Yun to the door.

He knew this matter must be reported to the family head in Jiangnan—to adjust future decisions as needed. No matter how turbulent the Great Liang Dynasty became, he would ensure the Jia family’s losses were minimized.
Moreover, Chuan Yun was still young—youth itself was a kind of capital. Returning to his study, he wrote a note, sealed it with wax, and dropped it into a vase.

Meanwhile, the wild-haired Daoist was drinking by a window in a tavern, his new pale blue robe pristine, a round crown atop his head, and a five-foot banner slung across his back.
He looked every bit the unrestrained immortal. As dusk fell, he thought he ought to find a place to stay—days on the road had worn on him. Picking up his wine jug, he found only a few drops left. Deciding on one more jug before seeking lodging, he called to the waiter.
"Another jug of Immortal’s Drunkenness!"
"Right away, sir! Please wait a moment," the waiter answered in a sing-song voice.

By now, night was falling as Shangguan Chuan Yun left the Jia money house. He intended first to give Shangguan Hongyun a beating, forcing him to seek out Cihang Pudu for help. But on second thought, he decided it was better to speak with Wu Chenzi first.

The centipede spirit could not possibly stay cooped up in the palace refining pills forever—sooner or later, he would have to come out for some air.