Chapter I: A Long Journey (Part Three)

“This way please.” The attendant nodded at the trio and happily showed the customers the way. They soon came to a room with the words “Rong-Hee Chambers” written on a scroll hung right beside the doorway, which was adorned with red curtains. In the room was a balcony that had a magnificent view of the lake. Yang Hsu-Wen was drawn by the curiosity and immediately headed to the balcony.


Staring into the lake, he noticed just how perfectly the reflections of the scenery, was imprinted on the waters. “This view is gorgeous!” Yang Hsu-Wen exclaimed finally.

“I thought so too, that’s why I insisted that this room be reserved specifically for me, during my stay here.” Hsin-Yu replied.

“Does that mean no one else gets to dine in this room?” Yang Hsu-Wen stared at Hsin-Yu, wondering if this youth was superbly loaded. Was his family one of the four richest families in the Silver Lake? In fact everyone would have heard of these four infamous families. They were said to be one of the main reasons why Silver Lake was the commerce centre of the Empire. Apart from geographical reasons, since Silver Lake was located in a strategic location that mainly Southern merchants who wished to travel to the major cities in the Empire would have to pass Silver Lake, the other reason was due to the influences of the four major families.

The first was the House of Chien, and this family owned most of the banks in the Empire, and hence ranked the wealthiest family in the Empire. The next would be the House of Dong-Men, who ran various businesses, from textiles to winery, venturing into various trades, as long as they make money. It was also said that their factories provided a lot of job for the people, and the Old Master Dong-Men was a philanthropist who often made donations for charitable causes, and was very much well-loved by the people. They were in a certain sense, more popular than the government ever was.

The third was the House of Wah. They too engaged in various businesses, though their key trade was in the arts. They were one of the chief importers of foreign artworks, and major dealer in antiques. At present, the House of Wah was headed by the young Wah Ting-Yun, who took over the bulk of the family business from his retired father some three years ago. There was much talk of the town about him, namely because he is said to be an exceptionally talented man, with a good eye for valuable things. The other reason was because given his bachelor state, he was perhaps the most eligible man in town, with many women wishing to be married to him, but he was a super picky man when it comes to his future spouse, perhaps he had thought of finding a wife like finding a gem, as with the nature of his trade.

The forth would be the House of Kwan, a family dedicated to education. They run several schools, to which many notable scholars were produced, and many members of this family were known for their scholastic achievements, and they were said to have close ties with the court. It would not be a surprise since many of the Kwan family sought positions in court, and some became associated with the noble families, and hence enjoyed a much elevated amount of respect from the people.

Running through these families mentally, Yang Hsu-Wen realized that Yuen Hsin-Yu do not bear the surname of any of these families, and remembering from earlier that he was from the capital, it might be possible that he was from a rich family in the capital. “Perhaps a son of a high-ranking official even? After all most of the high-ranking officials in court would be based in the capital.”

Apart from the commerce aspect of Silver Lake, this place had also gain popularity as a tourist spot fundamentally because it boasts of one of the largest lakes in the Empire, with waters so clear that the reflection was crystal clear. Many poets have wrote about this lake, and described its brilliance akin to the shine of silver, and the town was eventually named ‘Silver Lake’, to commemorate the poetry and perhaps the other reason was that, the old name of this place was rather plain. Yang Hsu-Wen was pretty glad that he finally got the chance to verify it with his own eyes.

“At least not during my stay here.” Hsin-Yu replied with a smile, as he set down at the table. “I have instructed that this room be left empty during my stay here. Will you not agree that this place has a wonderful view of the lake?”

“Well your smile is certainly just as charming as the lake.” Yang Hsu-Wen thought in secret amusement, and joined Hsin-Yu at the table. “Yes, but wouldn’t that be a very popular spot to dine in? The restaurant actually allowed such perpetual reservation?”

“Of course, as long as one is willing to pay a little extra.” Hsin-Yu informed with a grin, displaying somewhat an impish nature of a child. With a slight signal to his attendant, Sun Ping nodded his head and left the room.

“I see…” Yang Hsu-Wen did not ask how much ‘a little extra’ was, but he highly suspected that it was another impossible to conceive amount. “Where is Master Sun Ping going to?”

“Placing the orders. He will instruct the people the dishes I would like to have.” Hsin-Yu explained, and as if he realized something, he flushed a little and added, “I’m sorry, I did not ask what you would like to have? I hope you’re not particular about food.”

“I’m glad to even get a place in here…I’m not a fussy eater anyway.” Yang Hsu-Wen replied immediately. The last thing he need was to further trouble this helpful youth.

“Say, are you here solely as a tourist?” Hsin-Yu asked his new-found friend.

“Actually, I’m on my way to the capital. I thought of staying a few days in Silver Lake just to look around this place.” Yang Hsu-Wen informed.

“You’re a candidate for the Imperial Examination?” Hsin-Yu asked again, and Yang Hsu-Wen nodded.

“How did you guess?”

“It’s pretty obvious. You looked scholarly, and since the imperial examinations are held only one every three years, there are plenty of scholars from all over the Empire making their way to the capital.” Hsin-Yu shrugged. “Would this be your first attempt?”

“Yea…I heard it’s not easy to pass it though.” Yang Hsu-Wen replied with some embarrassment. Although he had aced all the provincial examinations that are held in their local district, he was not confident of his knowledge when ‘competing’ on a national level.

“I suppose. If it would have been me I would have certainly flunked out.” Hsin-Yu laughed. “Don’t mind me, I’m just not very intellectually inclined. I’d given my tutors too much headaches, and they all agree I’m a piece of rotten wood, unable to be carved into anything good.”

“That’s…not quite a nice statement to make of a person.” Yang Hsu-Wen answered uneasily, though Yang Hsu-Wen had the impression that the youth was at least a smart person. Did he not easily denounce the rickshaw-puller from earlier, obviously knowing his options, and the laws and regulations of the Empire. How could one who has been well-informed be comparable with a ‘rotten wood’? Granted, this had been a common saying to imply ‘useless bums’, and applying this saying itself would have indicated the youth’s familiar usage of idioms.

“Well, that’s not really too bad. My mother made worse-off statements.” Hsin-Yu shrugged his shoulders again. At this moment, Sun Ping returned to the room, bringing a flask of wine in hand.

“Ah, Master Sun Ping is back.” Yang Hsu-Wen greeted Sun Ping with a friendly smile.

“Oh dear, you must not address me as master. I’m only a humble servant of young master. If you must, just call me Sun Ping will do.” Sun Ping replied frantically, as he placed the flask of wine on the table.

Hsin-Yu took the flask of wine, and immediately poured it into a cup and smelled it. “This smells great! Would you like to have some?”

“Ah, thank you.” Yang Hsu-Wen replied, and poured a cup for himself. He was a little apprehensive upon taking the wine because back home he hardly had the opportunity to drink any alcoholic beverages. The last time he took any alcohol was when he was eighteen, and his uncle deemed him old enough to at least indulge a little in alcoholic beverages, and gave him some. In the end, he had a little too much and went so drunk, creating such a din at home that he felt too guilty and never drink again. Seeing that the youth before him simply gulped down the first cup, he blinked in surprise. “Is this kid even old enough to drink?”

“Are you alright?” Hsin-Yu asked, noticing that Yang Hsu-Wen’s eyes were fixated on him.

“Ah…nothing…” Yang Hsu-Wen panicked and hastily picked up the drink and gulped it, to dispel the uneasiness. However, he was unused to it and choked on the wine and began to cough uncontrollably.

“Gosh…you don’t have to drink it so fast…this wine is pretty strong.” Hsin-Yu cautioned, though he was observing Yang Hsu-Wen carefully. “If it were him, he would have easily down the strongest wine and still remained sober. They are different people after all.”

“Well, you down it in one gulp as well…” Yang Hsu-Wen pointed out, though feeling somewhat embarrassed that a little boy way younger than himself could hold the wine much better than he.

“Sorry, bad habit of mine…you might have said I was under ‘bad’ influences.” Hsin-Yu replied sheepishly.

“You’re not going to tell me you’re one of those rich kids that spent their time and money indulging in vices, are you?” Yang Hsu-Wen widened his eyes in astonishment.

“Hmm…” Hsin-Yu peered at Yang Hsu-Wen curiously, somewhat amused by his expression. “What sort of vices do you have in mind?”

“Well…I meant the obvious.” Yang Hsu-Wen swallowed hard, feeling a little nervous suddenly. Anyone would have easily guessed what the common vices were, as a saying goes, to indulge food and wine, women, and gambling. It was already pretty apparent to Yang Hsu-Wen that this youth would at least be engaging in a lot of indulgence in wine, but what of the latter two? Minding that they were actually almost strangers, having met only earlier in the same day, it would be a little rude to be too inquisitive, and thought to leave it at that. Besides, Yang Hsu-Wen often had issues putting into words anything that might potentially sound embarrassing.

“Sorry, I’m quite ignorant. Please enlighten me.” Hsin-Yu teased, seeming to take delight in poking fun at Yang Hsu-Wen, because he seemed somewhat embarrassed by the topic.

“Ah, Young Master!” Sun Ping said suddenly, disrupting the conversation. He who had been silently listening to the conversation of the two felt suddenly afraid. Why did his master have to get involve with that young scholar? Was it not easier to just leave things as it is? The last time he got himself involved with a certain young man had resulted in a big mess, ending with a tragedy which his master could not get over it till this very day.

“Yes?” Hsin-Yu turned to Sun Ping.

“Ah…Well, I shall go check the kitchen…they seemed to take forever to serve the dishes.” Sun Ping immediately made an excuse, since he had no idea what else to say.

“Go ahead.” Hsin-Yu dismissed his attendant without much regard and shifted his interest back to Yang Hsu-Wen, as if, waiting for an answer.

“I’m sorry if I’d said something offensive. I don’t mean anything with that remark…it just popped out of my mouth when you mentioned ‘bad influences’…” Yang Hsu-Wen explained with a tinge of worry, for he feared he had angered the first friend he had just made in Silver Lake.

“Don’t worry you’d said nothing offensive.” Hsin-Yu giggled. “Besides, some of the ‘places of vice’ are amongst the most popular tourist spots in Silver Lake. You might say some travelers came to Silver Lake specifically for that purpose.”

“Really?” Yang Hsu-Wen exclaimed in disbelief. Places of vice gaining so much reputation it had became an attraction spot for tourist.

“Yes…like have you heard of Butter fly Court?” Hsin-Yu asked again.

“Butterfly Court? No I have not heard of it.” Yang Hsu-Wen shook his head for he had never heard of the name. At least his uncle, a frequent traveler had never informed him about this place. “Well, granted that this is a place of vice, I guess it would not be appropriate for him to inform me about it, less he get an earful from my parents.”

“It’s alleged that the girls in that place are more beautiful than the fairies in heaven, and many men would dropped by the place whilst visiting Silver Lake.” Hsin-Yu replied, pouring himself another cup of the wine. Noticing Yang Hsu-Wen’s silence, he asked, “Would you like to visit that place too? It’s actually very near here.”

“Of course not!” Yang Hsu-Wen denied outright, his cheeks colored in embarrassment. A brothel is not a place any proper man should visit, and he was not about to do anything that would bring shame to his family.

“I suppose beautiful girls do not entice you?” Hsin-Yu grinned, rather amused by Yang Hsu-Wen’s reaction.

“Well, I have nothing against beauty itself, but…such establishments are not…proper places to visit.” Yang Hsu-Wen tried to avoid using any profane words, ransacking his mind to sound appropriate. “In fact, I advice you not to visit such places too. You’re still so young… better to take good care of your…health.”

Upon hearing Yang Hsu-Wen’s advice, Hsin-Yu burst into a fit of giggles, amused by his words.

“What’s so funny? I meant what I said. Haven’t you heard of those…diseases you might have gotten from those places?” Yang Hsu-Wen did not find his words amusing, and felt a little offended. “This kid… so young and already indulging in such activities? I wonder what his parents were doing?”

“Yeah, I know.” Hsin-Yu nodded, stifling his giggles. “Don’t worry though; I wouldn’t go there even if you paid me to do so.”

“Eh?” Yang Hsu-Wen blinked in confusion. “Thank heavens; at least this boy had some moral integrity left in him.”

“I find girls annoying, so wouldn’t that be very foolish of me to enter into the place where women would swarm around you in numbers?” Hsin-Yu reasoned.

“Finding girls annoying?” Yang Hsu-Wen heaved a sigh of relief. He remembered the days when he played with the other little children back in his hometown, and there are times when girls simply behave in a manner impossible to understand that during those days, he genuinely thought girls are annoying. Somehow as he grew older, he became gradually aware of their charms. “Guess you’re still a kid after all, who has yet to realize the charms of the fairer sex.”

At this point, Sun Ping came back, with a waitress carrying a tray of dishes, and laying it on the table one by one.


“Ah…so many dishes? Can we actually finish them all?” Yang Hsu-Wen wondered aloud, seeing that there were only three persons at the table. “Even if you’re still a growing kid there’s no need to gorge yourself?!”

“Erm…Sun Ping will take care of it.” Hsin-Yu smiled sweetly, and Yang Hsu-Wen was left to wonder if the servant was a big eater. Raising the cup of wine, Hsin-Yu said to new friend, “Well, a toast to you, and wish you all the best in your examinations.”

“Thank you.” Yang Hsu-Wen poured another cup of the wine and returned the toss. He was more cautious this time round and drank slowly.

There were approximately ten dishes laid on the table. The portion of each dish was not small, and could have easily fed a table of ten. As far as he is concern, he certainly cannot afford to eat all that much, and wondered how much it would have cost this pretty youth.

“Don’t stand on ceremony. Try the dishes; they are all the specialties of Silver Lake.” Hsin-Yu invited, as he picked up his chopsticks, and helped himself to them.

“Thank you.” Yang Hsu-Wen nodded and nervously picked up a less suspicious looking dish. Although some dishes look recognizable, there are some he wondered seriously if they were meant for eating. Since there was only wine and no other beverage present, Yang Hsu-Wen had no choice but to drink the wine, though he would usually preferred tea to go with the meals.

“By the way, what does your father do? You mentioned you were from the capital earlier. Just wondering what sort of a family you come from.” Yang Hsu-Wen asked Hsin-Yu casually, trying to find out more about the boy. He had reckoned that Hsin-Yu was possibly too young to hold a post himself, and is possibly still living off his parents.

Hsin-Yu paused for a little while, and said, “Good question. I don’t really know, and not particularly keen to know. Fortunately I have a competent elder brother who was pretty attentive to what he does, and perhaps in future would take over his work.”

“You have an elder brother? How many siblings do you have?” Yang Hsu-Wen asked again.

“Well, there are altogether sixteen of us; I’m the second in line.” Hsin-Yu’s reply came as a surprise.

“Sixteen? Good grief. How did his parents managed?” Yang Hsu-Wen was stunned. After recovering from the initial shock he commented, “Your mother must be very fertile.”

“No, my mother only had three children, my elder brother, myself, and a younger sister.” Hsin-Yu corrected. “The other children are by my father’s other concubines.”

“Must be a very wealthy man, to have so many wives.” Yang Hsu-Wen wondered to himself.

“How about yourself?” Hsin-Yu posed the same question back to Yang Hsu-Wen.

“I have only a younger sister. She’s about three years younger than I, and she’s sometimes as sneaky as a little she-devil.” Yang Hsu-Wen smiled, beginning to miss his family just a little. He came from a close-knitted family, whereby he got along very well with his parents and even his little sister too, though there would be times the two quarreled over the most minor issues. “I hope father’s anger had subsided by now. He was so dead against my plans to take the Imperial Examinations in the capital.”

“She-devil? But you sound like you’re really close to her. Isn’t that nice?” Hsin-Yu replied with a faint smile.

“Well, ain’t all little sisters like that?” Yang Hsu-Wen asked.

“Not really. My little sister appears like an angel, but appearances are only skin-deep.” Hsin-Yu sounded a little solemn on this issue, and poured himself another cup of wine, finishing it in one gulp.

As the two chatted on, they drank more and more of the wine, and even Yang Hsu-Wen who had been apprehensive at first, was drinking freely now. When Hsin-Yu ordered another flask of wine Sun Ping immediately protested.

“Young Master…you’re drinking way too much already.”

“But I’m in a good mood, so I want to drink more.” Hsin-Yu replied, his face already flushed, and he was certainly tipsy. Yang Hsu-Wen on the other hand was evidently drunk, as he lifted up the flask of wine and peered into the mouth of the flask, mumbling to himself, “It’s empty already?”

“Heavens! What am I to do with the both of you?” Sun Ping sighed, and grabbed the flask of wine away from Yang Hsu-Wen.