Liu Cheng adjusted his headscarf and raised a hand, gesturing for Xi Jiabin to lead the way.
The latter looked this northern Chuzi up and down—a youth not much older than himself—nodded, and turned inward. Rounding a side courtyard, they entered a spacious wing that looked to be formed by knocking through at least three rooms.
The atmosphere inside was distinctly bizarre. Aside from a middle-aged man lying on a couch against the wall, there was a woman and two young boys with their hair in twin tufts. The man on the couch did nothing but groan and sigh; the woman was dabbing at tears beside him; and the two boys, one seven or eight and the other four or five, were visibly unnerved by the gloom, looking uneasy and frightened.
There was certainly no shortage of maidservants and bondservants, but none dared step inside; five or six stood waiting outside the door.
Moreover, the smell in the room was not right either.
It was not that anything had been left uncleaned, but rather that behind a curtained doorway leading to a windowed side chamber, someone was clearly decocting herbal medicine.
"This is my mother." Once inside, Xi Chao first bowed to the woman, then turned back to introduce Liu Cheng.
Liu Cheng dared not be negligent and immediately bowed. "Greetings, Aunt."
Xi Chao hesitated as if to speak, but in the end said nothing more. Stepping in before his surprised mother could utter a word, he pointed straight at his father on the couch. "Hurry up and talk sense into him."
"Greetings, Lord Xi." Liu Cheng bowed with hands clasped once more, then went straight to the point. "Lord Xi, the way you use talismans is utterly mistaken! At the very least, it is not nearly diligent enough!"
The man on the couch had merely been groaning, but upon hearing this, he disregarded his sallow complexion, struggled upright with great effort, and turned his head to look. Staring at the newcomer, he was astonished. "Who are you? At such an age, have you already been entered into the sacred register?"
Xi Chao had by now stepped behind his mother. Hearing this, his face darkened visibly. He cast cold glances back and forth between the two speakers across the room, but kept silent.
"Reporting to Lord Xi, I come from the north and have no affiliation with the Way of the Celestial Masters," Liu Cheng continued with clasped hands. "However, I traveled south alongside Preceptor Lu Song of the Lu clan, a leader among northern Daoist circles, and I am well-versed in the regulations and rites of northern Daoism. That is how I know Lord Xi's cultivation is not diligent enough."
The man on the bed—none other than the head of the Xi family, Xi Yin—let out a breath of relief upon hearing this. He slowly sank back onto the couch, panted for several breaths, and only then spoke slowly: "So that is how it is. Yet at your age, without even being entered into the sacred register, how could you know what diligence truly means? Besides, differences between northern and southern traditions are commonplace. We have renowned Daoist masters in the south as well..."
Having said this all in one breath, he was noticeably flustered and short of wind, forced to halt his rebuttal.
Liu Cheng waited patiently until this moment before countering, "Lord Xi, how can you be so mistaken? Daoist teachings have an orderly transmission. The Way of the Celestial Masters, for instance, originated in Hanzhong. When Emperor Wu of Wei and Former Sovereign Liu contested Hanzhong, Zhang Lu entered Yecheng and Luoyang, and Daoism spread widely across the north. All traditions under heaven trace their origins to the north. What is more, certain matters are recorded with crystalline clarity in the north. If the south is using them incorrectly, then they are simply incorrect. How can you brush it aside as mere regional differences?"
Xi Yin furrowed his brows deeply and struggled to say more.
Just then, a Buddhist monk entered from the side room carrying a bowl of medicinal broth. Seeing this, Xi Chao took it directly and shoved it to his father's lips before he could open his mouth.
Xi Yin had no choice but to take a few sips of the medicine.
"Let us first speak of something seemingly trivial, yet the most glaring instance of southern misconceptions: this crimson color..." Taking advantage of the pause, Liu Cheng pointed to the headwrap on his own head. "My northern friend, Preceptor Lu Song, whose family has passed down Daoist traditions across Qingzhou and Jizhou for generations, explained it clearly. The reason crimson was chosen dates back to the late Han, when Daoist lineages were spreading. The Way of Great Peace was then at its height, proclaiming, 'The Azure Sky is dead; the Yellow Sky shall rise,' defying Heaven and sparking the Yellow Turban Rebellion. The Way of the Celestial Masters arose later, always aligned with the imperial court and acting in accordance with Heaven. Naturally, it needed to distinguish itself, and so adopted crimson... Yet once in the south, these southern Daoists completely lost track of the lineage and origin, resorting to wild guesses—some claiming it represents cinnabar, others claiming it signifies heart's blood..."
"That is comparatively tame. Some even claim the Way of the Celestial Masters came through Jingzhou and that crimson was adopted because of the Crimson-Head Barbarians of Wuling," Xi Yin could not resist interjecting while holding the medicine bowl, glancing at his son. "Is it truly the divide between the crimson of obeying Heaven and the yellow of defying it?"
"Indeed. Any northern Daoist ought to know this, yet in the south it has become muddled," Liu Cheng said with absolute conviction. "Actually, this matter is forgivable, for the use of crimson has only lasted a few generations, and no grand master has yet codified the proper ceremonial rites for it. But when omissions are made in well-established rituals—particularly in the mature Jiao sacrificial ceremonies—that is truly unpardonable."
"What omissions are there in the Jiao rituals?" Xi Yin pressed impatiently.
"The most glaring flaw is the complete absence of music..." Liu Cheng continued with solemn assurance. "Since ancient times, who has ever heard of sacred rites devoid of music? Confucianism and Daoism differ in form yet harmonize in spirit; they are never in conflict. In the north, every kind of Jiao ritual is accompanied by specific music, and Daoists must chant the scriptures to commune with the divine spirits. Yet here, there is no such rite whatsoever... I can only surmise that when the court crossed the river south, no realized master versed in Daoist musical rites made the crossing."
"Do you know this sacred music?" Xi Yin pushed aside the medicine bowl his son tried to offer again, his eagerness undiminished.
"This junior remembers only a few tunes. However, my good friend Lu Song, who currently resides under Master Du's roof, knows them well..." Liu Cheng did not bat an eye. "Unfortunately, he has already taken up the post of head of the Civil Affairs Section in Langya Commandery, so I fear he cannot easily pull himself away."
"What does that matter? Besides, how could a scion of a great northern Daoist lineage be reduced to a petty mundane clerk?" Xi Yin dismissed the obstacle at once. "I shall write a personal letter to Daohe, and speak with Master Du to have them release him... But speaking of these immortal tunes, can you play one for me now?"
"My flute was left behind at the guesthouse on Lord Xi's estate," Liu Cheng hastily demurred. "Once Lord Xi has recovered, I shall attempt to play a tune or two for you. For now, let us return to the matter of Lord Xi's lack of diligence."
"Go on." Xi Yin's demeanor had grown far more earnest.
"Lord Xi, after learning from Jiabin that you swallowed talismans whole, I spent the entire journey racking my brains, unable to comprehend: why would you ever swallow them raw?" Liu Cheng looked genuinely baffled. "Talismans are meant to commune with the divine. Since antiquity, one burns memorial petitions to sacrifice to Heaven, and lights incense to commune with spirits... In the north, talismans have always been burned to ash and washed down with clear water. The Way of the Celestial Masters also believes raw rice has miraculous healing properties, so they are sometimes washed down with rice porridge... These are not sacrificial meats! And even sacrificial meat is cooked!"
Xi Yin stared blankly for a long while before letting out a sharp gasp. He fell back onto the couch, clutching his forehead. "That makes sense... That makes complete sense! Burning petitions to sacrifice to Heaven, lighting incense to commune with spirits... Even sacrificial meat for Heaven, Earth, and ancestors is cooked! White rice is pure and serves as a natural boundary—Master Du said so himself! Burned talismans should indeed be washed down with rice porridge!"
"It just so happens that Preceptor Xu, Master Du's direct disciple, is right over at the other courtyard. We can have him write a talisman to dispel your illness. Once you feel slightly better and return to your estate, we can burn it for you to take," Liu Cheng said quickly.
"That would work, that would work!" Xi Yin agreed without hesitation.
Liu Cheng was about to say more when Xi Chao set down the bowl, marched over, grabbed Liu Cheng by the sleeve, and dragged him outside. They walked all the way into the outermost courtyard before Xi Chao confronted him: "This is your brilliant solution?"
"Indeed." Liu Cheng spread his hands for the second time that day. "Look, Jiabin, how much harm does it do to swallow a whole wad of paper? How much remains when burned to ash? What is more, in Lord Xi's current state, he desperately needs rice porridge to supplement his meals and nourish his body—killing two birds with one stone. Even if you worry the ashes might taste astringent, at worst you can add a splash of vinegar, brew some fragrant tea, or even add medicinal herbs to nourish his constitution..."
"That's not what I'm talking about!" Xi Chao interrupted impatiently. "I'm saying your method treats only the symptoms, not the root cause! Not only does it fail to address the root, you're leading him even deeper into infatuation with the Daoists, and on top of that, you're trying to secure a post in Kuaiji for your northern friend Lu Song! What kind of game are you playing?"
"In truth, going by what you said before, having your father burn the talismans to ash before taking them—even if only treating the symptom—would already fulfill my promise. Even bringing up Lu Song could be explained as a ploy to win your father's trust." Liu Cheng stood with his hands tucked in his sleeves, a faint smile playing across his face. "Yet you and I hit it off from our first meeting. How could I not do everything in my power for you and your father? Jiabin, think carefully: am I truly not doing my utmost to treat the root cause for you?"
Xi Chao was about to flare up, but suddenly froze. "You intend to use that northern Daoist Lu Song to treat the root cause?!"
"Listen to me, Jiabin," Liu Cheng raised a hand, explaining earnestly. "Your father caused such an uproar and yet remains steadfast in his faith. This shows his obsession with Daoism has reached a point where no outsider can shake it. Trying to convince him to abandon his belief right now would be as ridiculous as building a dirt dike to stop the Zhe River! When Yu the Great tamed the floods, he dredged rather than dammed! In a situation like this, replacing the local, inferior Daoists around him—who do nothing but swindle money and harm his health—with a young northern Daoist who has no local roots, seeks a footing, and is willing to heed our words... guiding your father away from self-harm and wasteful spending... does that not count as treating the root?"
"Money is of no consequence. I only wish for him to stop ruining his body and making my mother weep," Xi Chao sighed.
"Then it all depends on you, Jiabin," Liu Cheng said solemnly. "Once Lu Song arrives, as long as you promise him a future beyond that of a petty clerk, he will surely obey your every word... If you want your father to listen to music to cultivate his temperament, have Lu Song hold more rituals and perform music for him. If you want your father to strengthen his health, have Lu Song urge him to eat more rice porridge and climb sacred peaks. If you want your father to live in harmony with your mother, spend more time with his younger sons, or even step out of retirement to take an official post, you can have these Daoists deliver the advice... Why must you insist on stuffing horse dung into their mouths? What is too rigid snaps easily; patience yields true success. That is the principle."
Xi Chao rested a hand against his forehead, looking somewhat rattled. "He is my own father after all. How can we manipulate him like this? And those rituals and theories of yours—did you make them all up?"
"Of course I made them up... But as I said, how far you wish to take this depends entirely on your own mind," Liu Cheng chuckled. "If you do not wish to manipulate your father, persuading him today to consume rice porridge with paper ash is already a success. The rest can be left to fate."
Xi Chao's face was grim as he paced back and forth in the temple courtyard, unable to make up his mind. Just then, a child came running over—the older of the two boys who had been standing by Xi Yin's couch. From a distance, he called out, "Eldest Brother! Eldest Brother! Father says you must release this northern guest back to him! He still wants to ask about the vital secrets of northern Daoism!"
Xi Chao was furious, but he forced his temper down and waved a hand dismissively. "Understood. Go tell Father I will bring him over shortly!"
Once the child ran off, Xi Chao turned back and pointed a finger at Liu Cheng. "We can bring that Lu Song over first, then see about the rest!"
"Can I have a meal at your house now?" Liu Cheng asked in all earnestness.
Xi Chao merely waved his hand, urging him to hurry back and continue hoodwinking his father.
Nothing more came of that day. But the following morning, having returned to the Xi estate, Liu Cheng finally ate a meal under their roof—and it was a rare meal of polished white rice, accompanied by fish and meat. That was not all: he was given his own room, a fresh set of clothes, and even a pony so that he could learn to ride.
In a word, life had taken a turn for the better.
Naturally, the well-fed Preceptor Xu was also asked to leave before Xi Yin returned home, after having drawn a few talismans. When Liu Cheng saw him off, he could tell the ordeal had thoroughly shaken the man and left an unforgettable scar; he would hardly dare come swindle money from the Xi family again anytime soon.
Over the next few days, however, Liu Cheng—who theoretically ought to have begun his glorious career as a study companion—did not spend his time studying alongside Xi Chao. Instead, the returned Xi Yin kept this new young retainer at his side all day long, taking him along to gatherings and rituals from time to time. Truth be told, the Xi household was a proper great clan—one that had likely experienced hardship in their youth—so the atmosphere was noticeably different from Master Du's grand hall.
Liu Cheng made no attempt to shirk these duties.
In fact, by the time the middle of the twelfth month had passed, the newly settled Liu Cheng had only two small wishes: first, that Lu Song, the genuine scion of northern Daoist orthodoxy, would arrive quickly to liberate him from Xi Yin's endless Daoist rituals; and second, after writing two letters, he had become painfully aware of how dreadful his handwriting was. Back in Jingkou, when he practiced writing alongside Liu Jili using charcoal on small wooden boards, he had not thought much of it. But here in Kuaiji, where everyone seemed to be a master calligrapher, he truly felt embarrassed.
If nothing else, the look Xi Chao gave him the first time he saw him write a letter to Lu Song was one Liu Cheng would remember for the rest of his life—even more indelible than Xi Yin's expression upon hearing him play "Mama Is the Best in the World."
"Let's go," Xi Jiabin said as he walked in from outside, interrupting Liu Cheng, who was diligently tracing characters to practice his calligraphy. "Prepare for a journey. We have two or three days of hard travel ahead."
"Where to?" Liu Cheng asked, puzzled. "Is your father going to visit another spirit medium?"
"No." Xi Chao glanced at Liu Cheng's writing and frowned slightly. "The New Year festival is approaching. My uncle by marriage, Wang Jiangzhou, has invited our entire family to a gathering in Shanyin. It's a good opportunity to broaden your horizons... If you truly can't write well, just write larger. Write larger, and it will look much better..."
"Writing larger really works?" Liu Cheng's spirits lifted. He raised his brush and drew what looked suspiciously like a talisman. "Which Wang Jiangzhou?"
— *A dividing line skilled at hoodwinking* —
*(Emperor Taizu Gao) returned to Kuaiji, and in less than several months his fame rose rapidly, making him renowned among the famed gentlemen of Jiangzuo.*
—*Old Book of Qi*, Volume 1, Basic Annals of Emperor Taizu Gao, Part 1
Chapter 42