CH 87

Five or so days after the West Mountain banquet where Xie Ying had been dressed in white and overwhelmed the audience present, the most fashionable Heir Apparents and Imperial princes had found the genuine tailor shop to place an order of the garments. As for those martial academy students who had yet to graduate and were still under the watchful eye of their parents, they just had their residences make new robes for them.

But, students had a student’s pride.

Although the students could not pester the maids and wet  nurses in the residence to make new clothes in the middle of the night, they also could not take an invitation card to their Stewards and ask their servants to go to the Cui Residence to inquire about the tailor’s whereabouts. They were more passionate, bolder and more daring than those who had good relations with officials whose favor permeated their bones.

After the robes were made, Li Yan, Zhang Tai, the grandson of the Guard Commander of the Left Imperial Insignia Guard, and Chang Jing, the son of Guard Commander Chang in the Jinyiwei, these twenty or so youths skipped the afternoon class and scampered off to the Imperial College to flaunt. When it was time for the students in the Imperial College to be let out for the day, three military academy students, dressed in their new garments while sitting astride tall horses with neatly braided manes, blocked up the road outside the Imperial College’s gates to show off.

They were eighteen-years or nineteen- years old, elegant and outstanding noble Young Masters, sitting astride a tall horse and blocking the flowing sea of people dressed in green robes and fangjin……

In terms of dress alone, they were much better than the Imperial College students….

Li Yan enjoyed the envious gazes of the jiansheng and the exclaims of admiration coming from passersby. Gradually, he felt dissatisfied and he turned around to ask Zhang Tai, “Are we dressed up so nicely just for these old jiansheng to look at? Even if we do not dress up, if we were dressed in those same green robes, we would still be much better than them ah.”

Zhang Tai was still immersed in the elation of seeing other people stunned by his looks and pointed to the crowd with a whip, replying, “Aren’t there also some young ones here? Not all of them are old. Even if they are young, they are still not as good-looking at us. Look at the inlaid jade on the headscarves and the embroidered cuffs on their sleeves. Even though they deliberately cleaned up, it is still incomparable to us.”

Li Yan continued, “I’m not talking about that. With all of us being so neatly dressed, to the point of looking like real brothers, it doesn’t mean much if it’s just so these random tribute students can take a look, it has to be that….”

“Call that prodigy over here!” Chang Jing continued to say to him, “We must call him over to take a look. What is the use of making clothes and forcing himself to study? He is of mediocre and poor background, on what grounds can he seek connection with us young generals?”

Li Yan clapped his hands, “That’s right! Let’s not beat or curse at him. Just let him come out to take a look at the character of military academy students and let him see how close we are with Xie da-ge. It is nothing more than embarrassing for him, what can other people say?”

They wandered outside the Imperial College’s gates for a while, but they didn’t come across anyone who looked like a child prodigy. Hence, they casually stopped passing jiansheng and asked if they recognized a newcomer to the Imperial College, a county child prodigy that was about sixteen or seventeen years-old.

The jiansheng were at a loss with their line of questioning and did not even know which child prodigy they were referring to. Li Yan felt that this method was not working, so he threw down the jiansheng in his hands and turned around before asking Zhang Tai and Chang Jing in a low voice, “I didn’t read that lousy book that was on display in our main hall and only remembered that the other was named Cui something. What’s his real name?”

Zhang Tai replied, “Its Cui Xie. I took a look and his surname has the same tone as our Xie shixiong’s, no wonder Xie-xiong regards him so highly.”

Cui Xie still had quite a reputation in the Imperial College. Some people thought that this group was here to seek revenge, hence, when they heard his name, they put out their hands and said they did not recognize him. Afterwards, they ran back to the Teaching Assistant on duty and reported the matter to him.

The three of them asked around for a long time, but still hadn’t found anyone. Without any better option, they personally went inside to find him. It was unknown how long they searched for when they caught sight of a student inside the gates who looked around sixteen or seventeen, looking extremely immature next to the older jiansheng around. Regardless of whether they had found the right person or not, they raised their reins and opposed the stream of people to gallop over, yelling as they dashed towards him, “Cui Xie, Cui Xie!”

That student raised his head in astonishment and glanced at them.

Li Yan’s grinned, baring two rows of ferocious white teeth, lifting the reins as he walked over, “You are Cui Xie? That Qian’an child prodigy who has pestered my shixiong for more than a year?”

A storm of alarm came from their surroundings. Some people said, ‘No’, ‘It couldn’t be’, and ‘Looking for Cui Xie?’.

Only that young student raised his face to look at them, his deportment unflustered and his expression composed as he calmly replied, “Are you gentlemen here at the Imperial College to look for someone? If you have any questions, there is no harm to ask for guidance from the officials to help you to mediate the situation.”

A thirty-year-old jiansheng next to him furrowed his brow and said, “Zichong, don’t associate with these people. Let’s return and have Director da-ren decide.”

Zhang Tai, Chang Jing followed behind Li Yan, both occupying a commanding position and looking down haughtily, “What are you afraid of? Would we beat a weak scholar such as you? It is nothing much, just wanted to call you over to take a look. Do our robes look familiar? Does it look good?”

The young student was protected behind his fellow students, yet his expression was as undisturbed as ever. He looked them up and down for a long time, before saying with a straight face, “I have already looked at it, do the three gentlemen have anything else to take care of?”

Li Yan had originally come with the intention of making Cui Xie feel choked up with anxiety and stress, but even after all that he did today, “Cui Xie” didn’t even so much as bat an eye. With such an old-fashioned and boring scholar, showing off in front of him had no point. The other was also an individual who had received Imperial grace, a personage who could not be beaten or cursed at.

Not knowing how to deal with the other, Li Yan clicked his tongue twice and disdainfully added, “Do you think this Lord really cares about you and especially came to the Imperial College to harass you? We were merely passing by and wanted to call you out to come take a look. The robes you specially made for Xie shixiong, he did not hide anything from his brothers, he first wore them for us to see and even asked us to make our own sets. Cui ——”

The older jiansheng coldly said, “You have found the wrong person. My nephew’s surname is Fei, not Cui.”

If your surname was not Cui, what are you doing blocking the gates for a good half the day? If your surname was not Cui, what are you doing looking at our new garments?!

Zhang Tai angrily exploded, “We are looking for that Qian’an prodigy,  what are you doing butting in?”

Fei Hong glanced at him, tugged at his Uncle’s sleeve and said, “The three of you ran to my uncle and I just now, of course we have to stop to take a look. We have seen enough, Cui anshou is not here, I must be going back.”

“Wait! Who allowed you go go back—-”

“Just who is making such a ruckus outside the Imperial College’s gates?!” An angry shout came from inside the gates and then a middle-aged official in his forties appeared, dressed in green robes. But, his appearance and bearing was not any inferior to those of the Imperial court. Trailing behind him was a group of academy servants dressed in green robes and black caps.

Li Yan and the other two hadn’t intended to summon the officials of the Imperial College, so they subconsciously took two steps back. But, when they realized that this official hadn’t recognized them as military academy students, they grew emboldened and replied, “We were not making a ruckus, just came here to meet an acquainted student here and have him take a look at our newly made yesa. It is clearly these jiansheng who were making a commotion!”

That official, the Vice Director of the Imperial College, ran over, panting as he did so, “Who are you acquainted with? Can’t even recognize the person you are acquaintances with?”

The three of them had just received their newly made robes and had excitedly skipped class to show them off in front of their foe. In the end, not to mention they had flaunted to the wrong person, they had been blocked by an instructor and servants of the Imperial College. They bitterly called out, “Cui Xie”——

Someone behind the servants suddenly answered, “Yes?”

The three of them felt thrilled and focused intently at the place where the voice had come from, only to see a youth dressed in green robes and a fangjin standing behind the servants, raising his head to look at them.

That youth’s stature was a little short, hence, he was not particularly conspicuous since he had been blocked by a row of tall and strong Imperial College servants. But upon seeing him, it was as if the surroundings around him had been covered with a fine cotton veil, causing people’s eyes to involuntarily focus on him and it was hard to look away.

He was wearing the most ordinary fangjin and cyan silk robe without any trace of embroidery. A black sash was wrapped around his waist and it wasn’t tied too tightly. But, the robes were extremely form-fitting and while the robes hung a bit loosely, but it made the person appear tall, thin and straight. His figure seemed to appear even slimmer than if he was dressed in an umbrella shaped horse-faced skirt[1].

They were dressed in brand new embroidered yesa, dressed neatly as they sat atop their hoses. But, they felt that their robes were no match for that county scholar’s cyan robes….

When all is said and done, why had they made a trip over here?

LI Yan could only say, “You are that Qian’an…” before he felt his throat constrict, unable to continue.

Did he want to praise him? That was something he would do over his dead body. This person had caused them to bitterly study for a year, not to mention this hatred was as deep as a sea. It was not so easy to let water flow under the bridge.

Did he want to mock him? But the other’s appearance and figure had been exhibited. To ridicule Cui Xie for his shabby clothes, what was the point if the good robes they were wearing were not as good-looking as the other’s uniform?

Li Yan could not utter a single word but Cui Xie could. He knew that the three of them had come here to find complaints with him, but seeing their robes, he could not help but feel happy——After all, it was Colonel Xie who had first worn such a style and had even looked so good that others would want to follow suit.

He squeezed out from behind the group of servants and said to the three people, “I am Qian’an’s Cui Xie, just what are you gentlemen here for?”

The three of them were currently looking at him with dazed looks, unable to speak for a while. Fei Hong walked a little closer and exchanged the first sentence with Cui Xie in their many days together, “They said they are here to have you take a look at their new robes.”

Looking at the clothes? It wasn’t to make trouble for him, but….were they so fond that they wanted to claim the original designer for their own?

“So that is how it is. Many thanks to Fei-xiong.” Cui Xie raised a cupped fist salute towards Fei Hong. The other immediately returned his gesture. Fei Hong’s uncle nodded towards Cui Xie, which could be regarded as sending his greetings.

At this moment, Li Yan did not want Cui Xie to look at their clothes any longer and pulled the reins, wanting to leave. The horse raised its hooves, but before it could change direction, the animal was appeased by a hand.

Cui Xie was already standing in front of the horse, stroking the horse’s forehead, and kindly replied, as if he was an elder, “The three gentlemen’s clothes are beautifully made. It would be even better if the waistline had been stitched higher. If you are afraid that those in your residence will be unable to modify it, you can go to Cobbler Alley to look for Tailor Yu. The sets I had designed were made by him.”

There were not many people who had long legs like Colonel Xie. If one wanted to make their legs appear longer, one had to raise the waistline and use a belt to press it down in order to visually elongate one’s ratio. If the leather belt was tied any lower, it would appear that one’s torso was longer and the legs shorter.

The three military academy students originally thought they had come to embarrass others, but instead, they had been first defeated by his appearance and had even directly received the designer’s guidance. Their hearts felt currently very complicated and pushing on the side of their horses, they dejectedly made to leave with their tails between their legs.

Vice Director Lin saw that the three of them were acting in a baffling manner and seeing they were about to leave, he stopped them and asked, “Just why are you all here. Who are your parents? After making trouble outside the Imperial College’s fates, how can we let you go so easily!”

Cui Xie took the initiative to intercede out of the selfishness of wanting to act like a model student, ‘Today’s matter is because I have caused trouble for the College, I will receive any punishment the Vice Director wishes to give later. These three Young Masters simply wanted to ask how my clothes were made and did not do anything. Da-ren can let them go, right?”

Fei Hong leaned forward and softly added, “This cannot be so Cui-xiong, when they talked to me, they very clearly were looking to humiliate you. At least ask them who they are.”

So that meant, this was a case where the knockoff wanted to tear up the original maker?

Cui Xie stared at the three of them in surprise. Li Yan flung his head to the side and said a gruff tone, “So what if we wanted to humiliate you. Seeing that Xie-xiong’s robes were so good looking and hearing that you had made them, we specially made them for you to have a look. But, it is not even as good as the uniform you are wearing….”

To say that their embroidered and flowery yesa was not as good-looking as the other dressed in a cyan silk everyday robe was losing face.

After half a day of this, Vice Director Lin finally figured out what was going on: The three of them hadn’t come to make trouble, they just saw that Cui Xie had made robes for someone else and wanted to show their new clothes off.

This was simply a child method’s way of doing things and his trip had been in vain. Vice Director Lin could not help but shake his head and sighed. He grabbed Cui Xie and asked, “Just who did you make those clothes for? Why did they make such a big fuss over a piece of clothing?

Cui Xie helplessly said, “It was made for my benefactor who had saved me once. In the past, it was not convenient to meet because I was still in my hometown and there was nothing to repay him with. Only after returning home was there a chance to meet so I instructed people to make two new sets of robes. Wearing it, he looked particularly good looking which attracted others to try to imitate it. But, this student really does not know these three Young Masters and did not try to deliberately make trouble with them.”

Two sets? Zhang Tai no longer cared about anything else. He leaned over and grabbed Cui Xie’s collar: “You made him two sets? He only wore the white set out. What does the other set look like?”

……

Three military academy students picked a fight with a student from the Imperial College in the street, which narrowly resulted in a tragedy.

Fortunately, the three of them never dismounted from their horses and ran away fast. Only after they were a few streets away did they come to their senses. Zhang Tai patted his chest and said, “We were almost caught by the servants, but fortunately we didn’t reveal our identities. Otherwise, if someone sends a complaint, I won’t be able to step out of the residence for a year….”

Li Yan and Chang Jing glared at him resentfully, “You already grabbed him, why didn’t you ask what kind of robe it was?”

Forget it, scrummage the silver on your person first and go to the Tailor’s shop to take a look. Perhaps there were ready-made robes there and they could exchange them to wear?

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After those three people ran away, Cui Xie was scolded by Vice Director Lin in Shenjiang Hall. He told Cui Xie not to involve himself with things that had nothing to do with his studies in the future and not to do anything that would provoke these dubious Young Masters.

Cui Xie stood with his hands to the side, agreeing docilely. He merely treated the matter as the three youngsters being jealous of Xie Ying’s care for him. If he were to give a gift in the future, he would have to make a note to tell Xie Ying that it wasn’t him who had sent it.

But he did not know that all those who did not find Cui Xie pleasing to the eye were all due to his extreme love of learning. If he hadn’t produced《Antithetical Couplets from the Four Books》under the urging of others, but had been painting portraits of beauties and designing clothing, no one would have come to make a ruckus at his door.

Because of this incident, the Vice Director was worried that Cui Xie would be harassed on the road if he returned home too late, so he urged Cui Xie to head back earlier and even sent a servant to accompany him. As a result, the journey home was extremely safe. Not to mention the first group that had come to beat him up, even a second batch of people wearing white yesas were nowhere to be seen.

The servant who had escorted him also kindly comforted him, “Don’t be scared by those people dressed like noble Young Masters. They may appear to be quite imposing, but that is merely putting on airs. That day…I forget whether it was five or six days ago at the earliest, in the late morning or around noon, when I came out to tidy near the gate, I saw a man wearing such a white yesa and black cloak passing by the Imperial College’s gates on horseback. Now that is what is called truly mighty and gallant!”

The servant recalled the scene he had glimpsed upon that day and couldn’t help dancing with his hands and feet, “Just how did those robes compliment his figure and how did that man compliment his clothes! When I saw him galloping past the gates, he turned his face to look inside our Imperial College’s gates, his gaze blazing like lightning! I can still remember it clearly even now!”

It must have been Colonel Xie!

Xie Ying’s handsome face flashed in front of Cui Xie’s eyes. A crisp and clear gaze that resembled frost and snow. It was as if he could also see that amazing appearance of Xie Ying in a white dress and black cloak, straddling his horse and raising his whip, gracefully passing by the Imperial College’s gates.

Yes, this is what he made that robe for!

It was precisely so that everyone who saw Xie Ying would imprint that fleeting figure in their hearts so that whenever they thought of him, they would think him heroic and unrestrained, unrivaled in this world.

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