Chapter 146 Letter

Chapter 146: The Letter

"Lin Clan Family Law: Punishments Volume, Article 3: Punishment for Unfilial Conduct"

Any member of the Lin clan who defies elders or disregards parental instruction shall receive punishment according to the clan law:

First-time offender: Kneel in the ancestral hall and recite the "Admonitions to Sons" for three days and nights, without food or water.

Second offense: Fifty lashes with a whip, confined to quarters for three months of reflection.

Third offense, with no reform: Remove their name from the clan register, permanently expelled from the lineage.

Lin Nanshu knelt in the ancestral hall for three full days, showing not the slightest hint of remorse.

Lin Zhufeng, his temper flaring, personally supervised the punishment. The clan elder used an ox-tail whip to lash Lin Nanshu fifty times.

Having gone three days without sleep or a drop of water, Lin Nanshu remained kneeling and still refused to admit fault after the punishment.

Lin Zhufeng wanted to punish him further, but then realized that Lin Nanshu had already lost consciousness.

Lin Zhufeng was at his wit's end...

Though Lin Nanshu was a descendant of the clan, he had also raised him personally from childhood—how could he not feel heartache?

"You... your wounds haven't healed yet, and you ran off to see him? Lin Nanshu, what do you want me to say to you!"

Lin Nanshu didn't answer, only gently pressed his hand to his chest, where besides the pain from the whip lashes, something else seemed to hide.

A long silence filled the carriage.

Lin Zhufeng picked up his tea and took a sip, suppressing the anger in his chest, then spoke in a deep voice: "What did that kid say?"

Lin Nanshu's fingertips trembled slightly, and a trace of gloom flickered in his eyes. "He... doesn't know."

"Preposterous!" Lin Zhufeng set down the teacup heavily, the porcelain hitting the sandalwood table with a crisp sound. "You suffered the clan punishment for him, and he doesn't even know?"

Lin Nanshu withdrew his gaze. "That was my own business, nothing to do with Muyu."

Lin Zhufeng nearly choked on his breath, thinking how he could have raised such a good-for-nothing.

The teacup in Lin Zhufeng's hand landed on the table with a *clack*, a few drops of tea splashing out.

He stared at Lin Nanshu's calm profile, tugged his beard, and said, "Since you have feelings for him, why not tell him directly?"

Lin Nanshu's fingers gently rubbed the embroidery on his sleeve, looking down as he said, "He... likely has no interest in me."

"Absolutely ridiculous!" Grand Tutor Lin's beard trembled with anger, and he couldn't help rolling his eyes.

"The legitimate grandson of the Lin family—master of both civil and martial arts, unparalleled in grace—if that Cheng Ge doesn't appreciate this, does he expect to marry the Buddha himself?!"

A gust of wind passed outside the window, causing the carriage curtain to sway slightly.

Lin Nanshu gazed at the sliver of sky light, a bitter smile curling at the corners of his lips, as if reminding himself: "He... prefers women."

The carriage suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

Lin Zhufeng opened his mouth, then closed it again, only managing to squeeze out after a long while: "Well... that's a tough one."

After saying that, he quietly finished his cup of tea.

Lin Zhufeng had never expected that not only was his grandson gay, but the one he loved preferred women.

"I've heard that that Cheng kid has already come of age, yet he hasn't married or gotten engaged. Perhaps there's still..."

Lin Zhufeng looked at Lin Nanshu, hesitated, but the meaning was clear.

Lin Nanshu understood what he meant, but showed no joy on his face, speaking flatly: "He has a young lady he admires."

"Who? Why haven't I heard of it?" Lin Zhufeng actually had some appreciation for Cheng Ge—pleading for the people, offering a bloody memorial at the Meridian Gate, possessing the backbone of a scholar.

That was why, when he realized Lin Nanshu would never marry, he didn't harbor much hostility toward Cheng Ge.

He had even investigated Cheng Ge's background thoroughly and found no sign of close dealings with anyone.

Lin Nanshu lifted the teapot and refilled Lin Zhufeng's teacup.

"Muyu has his heart set on a Northern Di woman," Lin Nanshu said lightly. "Especially a girl named Hancock."

Lin Zhufeng: "???"

The grandfather and grandson were silent for a long time. Lin Zhufeng slowly set down his teacup, looking at Lin Nanshu with a complicated gaze.

"You... what are you going to do? Just take it lying down, die old and alone?"

Lin Nanshu looked out the window. They happened to pass by the Immortal Guest Inn, where a small sign hanging on the door read "Baked Chicken Available."

His eyes flickered slightly, and a faint smile tugged at his lips. "I wouldn't mind that."

………

Cheng Ge was sitting in the courtyard with his feet up, gnawing on beef jerky, with the big yellow dog Dahuang gnawing on a bone at his feet.

Star Frost was coiled right on top of Dahuang's skull, sleeping soundly.

Suddenly a shadow fell over him. He squinted and looked up to see Lü Rou hurrying over with a letter in her hands.

"Master Cheng, a letter from His Highness!"

Cheng Ge paused what he was doing and slowly raised his stump. "Quick, let me see."

Lü Rou carefully broke the wax seal. The letter paper rustled as she unfolded it and handed it to Cheng Ge.

In an instant, Cui Ji's flamboyant handwriting jumped off the page:

"Muyu:

The northern frontier winds are harsh, the moon lights the camp.

The other day I raided a Northern Di encampment and confiscated some rare goods, so I sent someone to deliver them back to you.

The camel hump meat comes from the prime fat of a desert snow camel, smoked thrice over red willow branches, and buried in a snow-covered jar beneath the old plum tree.

When you take it out, remember to slice it thinly with a silver knife, season it with salt and pepper—the flavor will be even better. You've always been a glutton, so don't eat too much at once; be careful not to get indigestion.

Also, I'm sending you a nine-jointed scorpion-tail whip, a personal weapon of the Northern Di general, Hu Yanzhuo. The steel chain was quenched in water from a frozen pool, and the three-edged spike on the whip's tip can penetrate heavy armor.

I tested it a couple of times myself; anyone with weak wrists can't handle it easily. If it suits you, I'll find you an even better one later."

The border is cold; by now, the capital must be deep in autumn. A few days ago, I seized several fine red fox pelts and ordered them made into a fur cloak, to be sent back in a few days.

Our army has been winning consecutive battles, and the Di people are retreating in defeat. Once the border troubles are settled, the court will establish three new camps, and the position of Assistant General in the army can be reserved for you.

The nights are long at the border, and outside the tent, the sound of the Hujia flute often sounds choked. Separated by ten thousand miles, I only wish you peace and joy."

Cheng Ge finished reading and felt his body warm. He thought, true to their bond of life and death, his brother remembered him with good things.

He quickly beckoned over Lü Rou: "Lü Rou, quickly grind ink for me. I want to write back to Cui Ji."

Lü Rou hurriedly fetched the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, ground the ink swiftly, dipped the brush in ink, and gently handed it over.

She bent over and whispered, "Young master, it's ready."

Cheng Ge held Cui Ji's letter, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth, and reached out his paw to take the brush.

Then his gaze fell on his own bandaged, swollen hand, and he pouted.

He glanced up and spotted Ling Feng picking at a hangnail while lying on the wall, and his eyes lit up.

"Hey, Ling Feng! Come down and help me write a letter!"

Ling Feng flipped down in a swift, hawk-like move, expressionless, and took the brush.

"I'll speak and you write," Cheng Ge said, with his legs crossed, chewing on the beef jerky Cui Ji had sent, savoring the flavor.

"Long time no see, I miss you greatly. Since you left the capital, I can no longer dine at the same table, every meal is hard to swallow."

Lü Rou sneaked a glance at Cheng Ge, seeing him grab another piece of beef jerky and stuff it into his mouth.

He'd almost finished off the large bag of beef jerky Cui Ji had sent.

But Cheng Ge, without batting an eye, remained completely shameless.

"Whenever I think of you enduring the elements—wind, snow, and harsh conditions at the border, my heart is filled with worry, tossing and turning unable to sleep." Ling Feng's mouth twitched, but he still wrote it down.

Cheng Ge glanced at it; Ling Feng was writing swiftly, but his handwriting was... well... ugly.