The walk back to the siheyuan was steeped in a heavier silence than usual. Aside from a few curt remarks on Ximen Qing's degeneracy and the corrupting influence it might have on others, neither scholar nor swordswoman spoke further. Shan remained particularly reserved regarding his private conversation with the Ximen heir. Mayumi could only speculate. Judging by his meritocratic principles, he likely regarded the current Ximen family with utter disdain, with the scion Ximen Qing standing as the pinnacle of his contempt.
"I am slightly impressed," Shan remarked, breaking the quiet.
Mayumi followed, studying his expression for any clue to the scholar's meaning.
"As someone of modest background, you held your own against Ximen Qing's disposable paramour admirably."
Her brow arched subtly at his appraisal, remembering the cynical nature of those who endorse Legalism over the humanistic teachings of the mainstream Earth Sages. Perhaps he was praising her restraint for not sullying his reputation by striking Jin Lian outright.
"I understand this may be beyond my station, may I presume that your conversation with the scion proceeded without incident?" she ventured. Her question lingered unanswered, as if Shan is seemingly weighing the propriety of disclosure.
After a moment, he spoke, the words were carefully delivered. "He made… an offer." There was a faint pause, a hesitation beneath his indifference tone. "A place from which yours truly may stand even higher above the rest."
The statement was deliberately vague. Yet, as a Zhuangyuan scholar eligible for the city's highest offices, Shan understood the value such a position commanded, as evident to the competing Upper Ring households vying to attain his favor right now. For the entrenched patrimonialism of the Earth Kingdom, the Ximen clan would derive enormous advantage should establish beneficial ties with the White Scholar of all people.
Another brief silence followed. Finally, Shan continued. "A new vantage… a place to look down upon everyone else."
Both were aware of the latent cynicism in the gesture. Ximen Qing had used Lin Daiyu as bait, a shallow stratagem considering Shan's disdain for the indecency displayed in the main hall.
"I never imagined he'd be so egregious as to sacrifice his own cousin," Mayumi said, tinged with incredulity at Lin Daiyu's plight. Shan merely regarded it as just another confirmation amongst the countless of his broader observations on human nature.
"A keen observation, although, yours truly did not know he had such a relative," Shan replied, snapping open his white paper fan with deliberate elegance. "Many members of the Ximen clan serve in the bureaucracy, yet all are distant relatives, in-laws, or extended kin. None are eligible to inherit the headship." His eyes flickered with a trace of thoughtfulness, perhaps contemplating that Lin Daiyu or her parents might once have been contenders. Such valuable information like this would no doubt reach the ears of his ever-whimsical mentor, Han Fei.
Of course, secrecy is a hallmark of any Upper Ring household, and that is the same for most aristocracy across the world. Some bastard sons or daughters here or there isn't the most newsworthy. While male primogeniture guided succession, it remained suspicious that none of the admiral's siblings were publicly acknowledged.
"The nature of the Ximen family is often shrouded in deliberate obscurity. Not even past Earth Kings dared dispatch spies into their compound, fearing that the mere discovery of such audacity might ignite the clan's rebellion." Shan emphasized, his voice carrying the weight of historical precedent. The power wielded by the Ximen family is prominent enough that even the monarchy of the past dared not overreach. Their private army, arrayed under banners of the purple blossom, may have rarely clashed on open battlefields against Jian Xin or Xiao Zhong incursions, yet the cost of eradicating every soldier would be a burden too cumbersome to bear.
"Lin Daiyu does seem slightly older," Mayumi offered cautiously.
"And certain traditions still bar her from assuming leadership of the Ximen family," Shan said, a realist to the core. "Yours truly dare say you already know why she is not the heir despite the apparent seniority. Many of the customs upheld by nepotists are, to put it bluntly, repulsive to yours truly."
In a world dictated by Shan's endorsed tyrannical philosophy, merit ought to surpass birthright. By every measure, Lin Daiyu's comportment exuded dignity and restraint, qualities that made her a far more suitable heir than any immoral delinquent. This would also benefit the state, which prefers sensible heads of households rather than promiscuous scions that tarnishes public image.
"While it is unsurprising that many of my peers have been seduced by the Ximen family's gold and women, thereby siphoning talent that might otherwise serve the state, I suppose Ximen Qing is at least not arrogant enough to employ a lowly courtesan as bait for yours truly. Perhaps he believes I am significant enough to be swayed by one of his distant relatives, which is a crude ploy. Pathetic, nonetheless."
He waved the topic away, preferring to defer discussion of such intrigues until later as they continued onward. Inconveniently, the Ximen palace lay across the Upper Ring, a distant stretch demanding endurance. Yet, as is often true of lengthy walks, it offered contemplative quiet, which is a rare luxury amid the clamor of city life. Treading the path that brings them to the sight of the mighty gates that opens to city's the Royal Palace, Shan lingered for a moment, his gaze fixed upon the austere edifice that led directly to the throne itself.
The throne of this entire chaotic realm, the greatest allure for warlords and ministers alike.
"Shan?" Mayumi called, sensing the scholar's rare moment of silent indecisiveness.
With eyes still riveted to the palace gates, Shan allowed a fragment of his true thought to escape. It is not easy to be part of Ba Sing Se's enormous administration, especially since some profession may yield greater wealth, a reason why candidates for civil servants may succumb and seduced by the superficial excess and luxuries gifted by Ximen Qing. But Shan refuses to lose focus on gate entrance of the Royal Palace itself as they soon vacated the area. As documented in past dynasties, the greatest ceiling a scholar can legally attain is the Zhuangyuan rank. Above that would be the monarchs themselves, who are born to rule with the Mandate of Heaven.
"We shall take a detour," Shan said solemnly.
Despite having sampled the modest refreshments of the Gan Jin estate and declining the ostentatious feast offered by Ximen Qing, their hunger lingered unsated. The pair continued their walk, but instead of returning to the scholar's courtyard, they halted before a modest plaza, in front of a small shop. By comparison to the grandeur surrounding the Upper Ring, the building was unremarkable. It lacked finery, yet Shan had chosen deliberately a quiet refuge amid a district defined by wealth and spectacle.
Upon entering, a pleasant aroma enveloped them. Mayumi inhaled deeply, catching the scent of simmering meat and broth mingling with spices.
"Ma Baozi, two bowls of noodles," Shan said, eyes not even straying to the menu.
"What meat?" the shopkeeper inquired.
Shan merely replied that he would have his usual, leaving the origin of the broth's meat a mystery to Mayumi.
They settled at a small, unassuming table amid the surprisingly bustling eatery. The shopkeeper retrieved a lump of dough, kneading and stretching it with a practiced rhythm. His hands guided the pliant mass as his torso twisted, arms undulating in harmony, doubling the strands, slapping them against the wooden counter. A dusting of flour, another stretch, and then countless thin ribbons of dough were sent plunging into simmering pots. Moments later, two bowls emerged. Clear broth cradling tender morsels of meat, into which the cooked strands were gently laid.
In his customary, almost detached manner, Shan thanked the chef before beginning to eat, chopsticks and spoon moving in steady precision. Yet his attention flicked to Mayumi, who sat staring at the bowls as though the meal were some arcane ritual.
"What is this?" she asked. "It's soup… but with noodle in it."
Such a dish did not exist at Jin Lian's eatery. Yet it appears far simpler in terms of ingredients.
"Soup noodles," the scholar replied plainly.
It felt foreign to Mayumi, this idea of threading thin strands of dough into broth. Yet, having grown up on a meager diet rarely rich in grain, she found the flavor unexpectedly comforting. Its modesty was a quiet relief compared to the lavish excess of Ximen Qing's banquets.
"It's… good," Mayumi admitted, a small warmth in her tone.
But amidst this comforting meal, she remembered a potential consequence due to Jin Lian's outburst, which demands she does not stay idle.
"Shan, when we return to your estate, may I take some leave for private matters?" Mayumi believe this task might also require a discreet visit to Lady Te Gaogui, who might yield an opportunity to rectify the woes of another.
"Certainly," Shan said, lifting the noodles with deliberate care, savoring each bite. In some ways, having a cheap bowl of warm noodles is better than a life of opulence.