Nineteen: First Acquaintance with Cai Yan

  "I've long heard that Lord Cai has a clever daughter, with exceptional literary talent and ambition, who often claims to be the second Ban Zhao. Today I finally meet her and indeed she lives up to her reputation, truly a woman who doesn't yield to men."

  "The prince is overpraising you, Cai Yan's talent is as high as the sky, how can she be compared to the talented woman Ban Zhao?"

  "Does Miss Cai Yan have a courtesy name?"

  "What's this nonsense about our daughter's family having a title?"

  "You didn't think so in your heart, did you? You must be thinking, why can't men and women be equal? Why can't girls do what boys do? So what if it's just a matter of taking a surname. If you don't have a surname, Liu Bian can give you one, would that be okay?"

  "Oh, I don't know what kind of title Your Highness wants to bestow on me?"

  "Zha?o ji." Liu Bian murmured softly, one word at a time.

  Cai Yan's body trembled, for this was the very name she had secretly given herself, one that she had never told anyone about, fearing her father's blame and the worldly criticism, after all, at this time, she was still so young, not yet the independent Cai Wenji of later years.

  "Thank you, Your Highness, for bestowing this title upon me; Cai Yan will certainly remember it in her heart."

  Watching Liu Bian and Cai Yan chatting harmoniously on the side, Cai Yong's mother and wife did not disturb them, but smiled and looked at them, and an idea suddenly emerged in their hearts, that is, if they could marry Cai Yan to the imperial son Liu Bian, maybe they would be a perfect match.

  "Alright, Yan'er, stop bothering the prince. The prince has a lot of things to attend to and can't stay here with you for too long."

  The two of them again started discussing poetry and literature, but Cai Yong's elderly mother hastily interrupted them. Although they were both reluctant to part ways, they also knew that the time was indeed getting late.

  "Madam Cai, Liu Bian has an idea. He hopes that you can pretend to be ill at home and then send someone to convey a message to my father the Emperor, perhaps he will consider summoning Teacher back to the capital."

  "It doesn't matter, as long as Yang'er can come back, even if I have to pretend to be ill or really fall seriously ill, it's all worth it."

  The next day, Lu Zhi presented a memorial to the throne: "Your Majesty, yesterday Cai Dafu's family members came to the Ministry of Works to report that Old Lady Cai is now seriously ill and may not be long for this world. She hopes to see Cai Dafu before she dies, please sympathize with an old woman on her deathbed and summon Cai back."

  "Yes, Your Majesty, we are incompetent and cannot instruct the Crown Prince. Among the great Confucians of today's world, probably only Minister Cai has this ability. I hope that Your Majesty will show mercy."

  "Have mercy on us, Your Majesty."

  At this moment, many officials all spoke in unison, Emperor Ling nodded and secretly thought that it was time to summon Cai Yong back to the capital. For these past few nights, Empress He had been somewhat displeased about this matter, although she still obeyed him, he could sense her discontent.

  "You few people say, regarding Cai Yong returning to the capital, what are your thoughts?"

  After the dispersal of the morning court, Emperor Ling summoned Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong and others to the imperial study. He had always respected these individuals, and he even addressed Zhang Rang as "Father Rang" because when he was first chosen as emperor, being a son of a marquis, it was largely due to the efforts of Zhang Rang and others that he was selected by Emperor Ling's father over other candidates.

  "Your Majesty, we have no objection. Since the Crown Prince wants to find a teacher, it is natural to look for the best scholar in the world. Chancellor Cai is worthy of this title, his literary talent and knowledge are unparalleled in the world. It's also a good thing that the Crown Prince can be taught by him."

  "Haha, it's rare for you to be so generous. However, Cai Yong can return to the capital to teach the crown prince, but I won't restore his former position. Let him focus on teaching the crown prince, lest he divides his attention due to official duties."

  "What Your Majesty says is absolutely right, everything will be decided by Your Majesty."

  Soon, Emperor Ling issued an edict to pardon Cai Yong's crime of disrespect and summoned him back to the capital to be a teacher for Crown Prince Bian, but did not mention restoring his original position.

  Liu Bian secretly let out a sigh of relief upon hearing the news. With half a month's time left before the deadline for this task, Cai Yong should be able to return to the capital within that timeframe.

  He took a look at the progress of this temporary task and found that it had already been completed by 50%. He believed that as long as Cai Yong returned to the capital, he would be able to complete it. So in the following days, he spent his time practicing and training, while the rest of the time was spent chatting with the Yu Lin military officers and laughing with the old ladies and young maids in the mansion.

  Twelve days later, Cai Yong returned to the capital and after meeting with the Emperor, he came to the Shi residence and met Liu Bian. They sized each other up, and what Liu Bian saw was a tall and slender scholar-official in a high hat and wide belt, dressed in plain white clothes, though dusty from travel, yet vigorous and robust, with bright and profound eyes that seemed to see right through one's soul, shining with wisdom and intelligence. Moreover, Cai Yong had an aura of great power about him, which was in no way inferior to Liu Bian's natural talent for dignity and majesty.

  Cai Yong was also shocked at the same time. Before he arrived in the capital, his old friends and students went to welcome him. From their mouths, he also learned that he could return to the capital, mainly relying on this unfamiliar prince Liu Bian.

  He had always heard that the Emperor was not very satisfied with Crown Prince Liu Bian, so he found it strange that the Crown Prince would try to save him. Moreover, some of the officials in the imperial court, particularly those led by Shangshu Lu Zhi, Situ Chen Cen, and Jianyi Daifu Liu Tao, were more inclined to support Crown Prince Liu Bian, including some of his old friends and students.

  Today, when I met Liu Bian, Cai Yong's expression didn't change at all, but he felt the aura and demeanor on him, and was secretly amazed in his heart, because he felt the imperial aura from Liu Bian.

  Liu Bian paid his respects to the university scholars and invited the teacher to take a seat.

  In front of Cai Yong, Liu Bian was very respectful, and Cai Yong did not decline, directly sitting in the upper seat, then nodded to Liu Bian: "As soon as I returned to the capital, some old friends mentioned the matter of Crown Prince Bian. You have asked them questions before, today this scholar also has a question for Crown Prince Bian. If your answer can satisfy this scholar, this scholar can accept you as his disciple. However, if this scholar is not satisfied, then I will ask His Majesty to send me back to Lingnan again."

  Liu Bian listened to Cai Yong's words, without any unexpected expression. He knew that these great Confucians all had their own dignity and individuality, so he nodded: "Please, Master of the Imperial Academy, give us a topic."

  "What can you, as a crown prince, do to save the declining Han dynasty?" Cai Yong's question was very sharp.