Chapter 8

Lin Fu Zun smiled and said: "Fei Yang, why aren't you quickly thanking Young Master Pei? If you can earn Young Master Pei's favor, your future success will be limitless."

Lin Yu spoke for a while but did not hear Feiyang's voice. Feeling somewhat puzzled, she looked up and saw Feiyang's eager eyes fixed on her, while his spirit seemed to have drifted away. Not only was she embarrassed but also annoyed, she reached out and twisted Feiyang's left arm, playfully scolding, "What are you thinking about?"

Lin Fu felt a sudden jolt in his heart, wondering, "Which esteemed person is coming to Meixian? What could possibly attract such significant figures to this small place?"

Young Master Pei's eyes flickered, yet he remained silent, gently lifting the teacup to take a sip.

Exactly!

Lin Fu's face flushed with embarrassment; it was precisely because of a pot of exquisite seven-colored roses that he had gained the admiration of the Minister of Personnel, Pei Yuanda, who had a passion for flowers and plants. This recognition had allowed him to leap from a mere clerk in the Ministry of Personnel to the esteemed position of the governor of Meixian. Hearing Young Master Pei mention old matters, he couldn't help but feel somewhat astonished

Fei Yang, however, had no interest in listening to the mutual flattery between the two; his thoughts were entirely focused on the four individuals behind Young Master Pei. Coincidentally, these four were also intently scrutinizing Fei Yang from head to toe.

Lin Fuzun said: "Oh, this is our county's chief constable, Yun Feiyang. Although he is young, he possesses remarkable skills. Come, Feiyang, quickly pay your respects to Lord Pei. Lord Pei is indeed a talented individual, having already attained the rank of a fifth-grade official in our dynasty's Ministry of Personnel at such a young age."

Lin Fu Zun was taken aback, "May I ask if the young master could reveal a thing or two?"

Rubbing his hands, Young Master Pei smiled and said: "Well, the official business is settled. Lord Lin, the pot of seven-colored roses you sent to my father previously has received his utmost praise. He is greatly impressed by your exceptional skill in cultivating flowers and plants. Now that I am here, it is only natural that I wish to appreciate your work. However, I wonder what new varieties Lord Lin has cultivated in the past two years?"

Pei Lixin, the eldest son of Pei Yuanda, the current Minister of Personnel, was raised under the tutelage of Ouyang Tian at the renowned Tianying Fortress, one of the four great fortresses of the realm. However, he is notorious in the capital as a debauched young master. Despite his illustrious family background, his reputation is poor, indulging in pleasures and excelling in none, far inferior to his brother Pei Lizhi. Pei Lizhi, also a disciple of Ouyang Tian, has gained fame throughout the land and is recognized as the most outstanding student under Ouyang Tian. Yet, due to not being born of the first wife, he faces significant exclusion within the Pei family. Although he is favored by Pei Yuanda, the immense influence of the first lady's family leaves him with no recourse. Consequently, Pei Lizhi was assigned to serve in the military in the Western Regions. Unexpectedly, he achieved remarkable military accomplishments there, and by the age of twenty-five, he had been promoted to a second-rank deputy general, truly a stark contrast to his brother.

Young Master Pei cupped his hands and said: "Lord Lin, you are too courteous. It has been over two years since you left the capital and came here. Throughout this journey, the governance under Meixian has been commendable, with the people living in peace and contentment. This clearly reflects your effective administration, Lord Lin. Having an official of your caliber is indeed a blessing for our Great Tang."

In great pain, Feiyang suddenly woke up from his dream, looking at Lin Yu, who stammered for a long time without saying anything. Lin Yu lowered his head and said, "You fool, what do you want to say?" Yet, in her heart, she felt as if she had eaten honey, filled with anticipation for Feiyang's words.

Pei Lixin's gaze followed Lin Yu's movements, momentarily oblivious even to the calls of the Lin family patriarch. "Alright, unparalleled beauty, today I finally understand what it means to be as stunning as a fish sinking or a wild goose falling, and to make the moon hide and the flowers blush!"

The two were aware that Master Pei had certain confidential matters that he did not wish to disclose, and both agreed to step back.

After hesitating for a moment, Feiyang took out an object from his pocket, saying, "This is our family heirloom. My mother said it should be given to... to..." but he could not finish his sentence. Lin Yu, feeling annoyed, asked, "Who is it for?" Feiyang's face turned red, and he suddenly spoke faster, "My mother said it should be given to the person who is most important to me. I am giving it to you!" As soon as he finished speaking, his head nearly dropped to his chest. Lin Yu was both surprised and delighted as she reached out to take it, only to find it was a circular jade pendant, its texture translucent, reflecting a soft glow in the sunlight, with intricate patterns carved on it, though in her eagerness, she could not clearly see what they were.

Feiyang could not wait to escape from such an occasion; today he had made an appointment with Lin Yu to listen to Lin Yu explain the Four Books! As soon as he exited the hall, Feiyang flew towards the backyard like a bird that had escaped from its cage, disregarding the shouts and calls of Master Wang behind him

Young Master Pei, please come this way. Which few pots of flowers should I place here

Yuer, what are you doing here instead of at the embroidery building

Young Master Pei smiled and said: "Lord Lin, two years ago my father sent you here to take up your post, and he had already anticipated today's events. Who comes and what matters arise, what necessity do we have to know? My primary purpose in coming here is to handle this matter and to make some necessary preparations. This will require your cooperation, my lord!"

Young Master Pei smiled and said: "Captain Yun is being overly courteous. Although I am a civil official, I have a fondness for martial arts and have learned a bit of unconventional skills. If there is an opportunity, we must definitely exchange insights!"

A sound of footsteps approached, and Feiyang raised his head: "Someone is coming!" The two stood up, only to see a group from the Lin residence walking through the corridor, heading towards the garden.

Pei Lixin was absent-minded, lacking the mood to appreciate the flowers. He inquired, "Lord Lin, is this lady a noble's daughter?"

Upon seeing Lin Yu, Pei Lixin felt a sudden brightness before his eyes. This woman was elegant and pure, her figure graceful and her beauty striking beyond compare. Compared to some women he had encountered before, Pei Lixin felt they should all be swept into the garbage heap. For a moment, his soul nearly soared to the heavens. His gaze was as if nailed to Lin Yu, unable to move even a fraction.

The two sat silently facing each other in the hall. One was filled with both joy and shyness, while the other was anxious and apprehensive, fearing rejection from the other.

Pei Lixin smiled and said: "Lord Lin, I see that your esteemed daughter is like a pot of exquisite seven-colored roses. Compared to her, your five-colored roses might pale in comparison!"

Oh! Young Master Pei is indeed quite unexpected, causing me to glance at Feiyang several times. The Lin family patriarch laughed and scolded, "You little rascal who can't even get on the stage!" However, his expression revealed great satisfaction.

Lin Fu was both delighted and worried. The delight stemmed from the arrival of a significant figure; if he were to gain this person's favor, his future success would be assured. This individual, who could command the son of the Minister of Personnel to pave the way for him, was undoubtedly a prominent figure in the court. The worry arose from the uncertainty surrounding why Meixian had caught the attention of the court, leaving him feeling as unsettled as a bucket being drawn from a well, swinging back and forth.

Lin Fuzun, after all, was a person who had read the teachings of the sages. Upon hearing such blatant words, he was momentarily taken aback, truly at a loss for words. However, the four individuals behind Pei Lixin exchanged smiles, seemingly accustomed to such matters and finding them utterly unremarkable

Father, I will return right away! Lin Yu said softly

It seems that these individuals have come to Meixian for reasons beyond merely assessing the officials' merits; they do not appear to be officials from the Ministry of Personnel either, Yun Feiyang thought to himself

Lin Fu Zun said: "Fei Yang, Wang Shiye, go down and see how the welcome banquet I prepared for the master is coming along"

The esteemed spirit of the Lin family is invigorated, "Your esteemed father actually remembers me? Yet I am unaware of the matter at hand"

Young Master Pei continued, "Lord Lin, before leaving the capital this time, my father has a few words for me to convey to you"

Lin Yu noticed the young man's indiscretion across from him, and could not help but feel a slight anger in his heart. He gently bowed and turned to walk towards the embroidery building

Ah, Lord Pei, I never expected you to grace us with your presence. Who would have thought that my humble Meixian could welcome a person of your stature? It truly brings honor to my humble abode!" The Lin family head clearly recognized the young Master Pei, speaking with great warmth.

Young Master Pei also noticed Yun Feiyang standing to the side, and a glint of brilliance flashed in his eyes, "Who is this?"

Young Master Pei! As he watched the beauty disappear behind the rockery, Pei Lixin finally came to his senses and heard the voice of the esteemed Lin family.

Feiyang smiled faintly: "As a rural villager, to receive the esteemed recognition of the governor and to take on the position of chief constable, Feiyang is already quite content!"

Young Master Pei said: "Our purpose for this journey is merely to make a preliminary visit. The main reason is that in three months, a significant figure will be arriving here. We are primarily here to prepare for this matter"

Yun Feiyang particularly noticed the young gentleman's pair of hands. No matter how one looked at them, they did not match the gentleman's status. They were especially large, and the palms were heavily calloused, clearly indicating that he had practiced a very domineering martial art. Feiyang felt puzzled; this group of people appeared too strange.

"Gentlemen!" "Father!" The two approached, and Lin Fu's expression changed momentarily, but it quickly vanished. "You two are here, Chief Yun. Please go ahead and check. The safety of the government office and the inn where Young Master Pei and his companions are staying must be ensured in these days. Go and inspect it again, and be cautious of those constables slacking off!" Feiyang responded promptly and hurriedly walked out.

In the hall, as Feiyang and the others stepped out, Young Master Pei said with a serious expression: "Lord Lin, our official purpose for this trip is to assess the merits and demerits of officials, but in reality, we have another matter to attend to in Meixian."

He stood up and said: "In the past two years, I have been entangled in mundane affairs, and such exquisite treasures as the seven-colored rose have become scarce. However, I still have a few pots of the five-colored variety. It is rare that the young master also appreciates them, so I must invite the young master to evaluate them. Please, young master!" A group of people chatted and laughed as they walked toward the back courtyard.

At that moment, Xiao Dao said: "Young master, rest assured, if you need people, we have them; if you need items, we have those as well. Just give your orders!"

The two engaged in affectionate pleasantries

At this moment in the cool hall of the backyard, Yun Feiyang and Lin Yu were engaged in lively conversation. Watching the charming person before him, who was smiling and speaking gracefully, with a pair of jade-like fingers delicately pointing at the book as she explained the Four Books to herself, Feiyang could not help but feel as if he were drinking fine wine, becoming intoxicated and unaware of his surroundings, completely oblivious to what Lin Yu was saying.

After a busy half month, Meixian finally welcomed the officials from the Ministry of Personnel in the capital. As Lin Fu respectfully received them into the grand hall of the government office, Feiyang couldn't help but feel quite curious. The Ministry of Personnel is responsible for managing officials throughout the realm, and it should be composed of civil officials. Yet today, each member of this group exuded a vibrant aura, their spirits contained, clearly indicating that they had reached a considerable level of skill. This was especially true for the four individuals standing behind the young gentleman at the forefront, who appeared even more remarkable. It seemed they had cultivated their internal energy for two to three decades. The young gentleman himself was handsome, and every gesture he made radiated a strong air of wealth and the arrogance of someone accustomed to being in power. If it weren't for his somewhat pale complexion, he could indeed be considered a striking talent.

Feiyang stepped forward and cupped his fists, saying: "I, Feiyang from the Meixian Headquarters, pay my respects to Lord Pei"