Chapter 15: A Noble Person

With a new addition to the family, the inner quarters became much more lively. No one was happier than Du Yunlian. Having grown up without much discipline, she held little status within the Duke of Lai's manor, but she at least had her biological elder brother, Du Rui, and the loyal old servant, Du Zhong, to protect her. Although she was frequently bullied by the Second Miss of the Du family, her temperament was inevitably somewhat spirited. Now that she had left the Duke of Lai's manor and become the second-ranking young mistress of the Du residence, she was especially cherished by Du Rui, who treated her like a little precious treasure—or rather, a little demon. She frequently played pranks on her half-sisters, causing headaches even for the adults.

As for Du Rui's other sisters, having grown up by their respective mothers' sides and studied some books, they were well-versed in the *Admonitions for Women*. Their temperaments were somewhat rigid, making it impossible for them to play with Du Yunlian at all.

But now, things were different. With Baochai and Daiyu around, Du Yunlian finally had playmates. Of her two new friends, one was gentle and kind, while the other was cold and stubborn. Although there was a distinction between master and servant, when they truly played together, they were quite matched. Although Lady Ma felt it was somewhat improper, Du Rui did not care. In his view, children should have the temperament of children. He had no intention of teaching Du Yunlian to be a paragon of chastity obsessed with the "Three Obediences and Four Virtues." Not only did he refrain from intervening, but he even encouraged Du Yunfu and the other sisters to join in the fun. These girls were still young, and they were soon led astray into becoming little rascals, turning the inner quarters upside down every single day.

Seeing that their own daughters' temperaments were gradually becoming more cheerful, Lady Ma and the others felt it was somewhat inappropriate, but since Du Rui was indulging them, they found it difficult to say anything.

Ever since he had invented distilled liquor, Du Rui's mind had not been idle. Although he hadn't come up with any more brilliant schemes to amass wealth, he spent every day contemplating how to carry out his grand plan to comprehensively transform the Great Tang Empire.

Another month passed, and the weather gradually warmed. These days, aside from studying, Du Rui spent his time exercising. In his past life, he had mastered martial arts from various schools and possessed exceptional skills. Now, living in an era where one earned fame and fortune through martial prowess, he naturally could not neglect his training.

Upon seeing this, Du Du Ping sheng was naturally eager to learn. However, due to the distinction between master and servant, despite his boisterous nature, he did not dare to ask Du Rui to teach him. Seeing that Du Ping sheng was earnest about learning martial arts, Du Rui did not hold back his skills. After discussing it with Du Zhong, he decided that whenever he practiced martial arts in the future, he would bring Du Ping sheng along to provide some guidance.

Since Du Ping sheng had begun practicing martial arts, Du Rui did not wish to show favoritism. When it came to studying, he would have Du Ping yuan come to serve him, though he wouldn't make him do much other than read; he would simply provide careful guidance whenever there was something the boy did not understand.

One day, tired from studying, Du Rui gave word to Du Zhong and left the manor alone. Du Zhong wanted to let the two brothers, Du Ping sheng and Du Ping yuan, follow him, but Du Rui refused. Having witnessed Du Rui's martial skills, Du Zhong felt much more at ease regarding Du Rui's safety and said no more.

After wandering for half a day, Du Rui arrived at the Zuixian Restaurant. With the growing fame of Zuichang, the Zuixian Restaurant had become one of the top establishments in Chang'an. Merchants from out of town would always make a point to visit here upon arriving in the city.

Seeing that business was booming, Manager Feng was thinking of taking over the adjacent shop to expand his business. As his profits grew, he naturally felt grateful toward Du Rui. Seeing Du Rui enter, he bowed from a distance and sent his most capable waiter to attend to him.

"Are there any private rooms available upstairs?"

"Young Master Du! The private room you usually sit in is already occupied, but there are seats by the window, if you would like..."

Du Rui did not mind and smiled, "No matter! I'll go there myself. Go and arrange the food and wine!"

The waiter acknowledged him and left. Du Rui went upstairs alone. He could faintly hear the clinking of glasses and the sounds of lively conversation coming from several private rooms. At the door of one particular room, a guard carrying a blade was actually standing watch, suggesting the guest inside was of no ordinary status.

When the guard saw Du Rui heading upstairs, his gaze instantly turned cold. Du Rui paid him no mind and walked straight toward the table by the window.

Before long, the waiter arrived with food and wine. "Young Master Du! Please enjoy!"

Lately, because he had been teaching Du Ping yuan literature and Du Ping sheng martial arts, Du Rui had not had much time to visit. However, the decor of the second floor of the Zuixian Restaurant had undergone significant changes. The private rooms had been redecorated, and even the seating areas by the windows were surrounded by flowers, making them pleasing to the eye. Seeing this, Du Rui thought to himself with a smile: *Manager Feng certainly knows how to do business.*

With no one else around, Du Rui drank alone. In his past life, he had possessed a good tolerance for alcohol, and after his rebirth, perhaps due to his enhanced constitution, not only was his strength much greater, but his tolerance had increased as well. However, drinking alone in melancholy, as the sky grew dark and the bright moon hung in the sky, Du Rui felt somewhat intoxicated. He couldn't help but think of the harmonious scenes with his family in his past life, and a sense of sorrow filled his heart.

Holding his wine cup, he stood up and walked to the window. The early spring weather was still a bit cold at night, and as the cool breeze blew, the alcohol's effect surged. In his past life, he had been a somewhat wild person, and now, being drunk, he became even more so. Raising his cup toward the bright moon, he recited

*A pot of wine among the flowers, drinking alone without a companion.* *Raising my cup to invite the bright moon, with my shadow, we make three.* *The moon understands not how to drink, and my shadow merely follows my body.* *I shall temporarily accompany the moon and my shadow, for I must enjoy the spring while it lasts.* *I sing, and the moon lingers; I dance, and my shadow flutters in disarray.* *When awake, we share joy; when drunk, we each disperse.* *Let us forever bond in this emotionless wander, and meet again in the distant Milky Way.*

After reciting this masterpiece by Li Bai, Du Rui drained his cup and prepared to leave. But just then, the armed guard he had seen earlier suddenly stepped forward, bowed slightly to Du Rui, and said, "Young Master! My master invites you to step inside for a chat!"

Du Rui was slightly stunned, and his intoxication partially cleared. Looking at the guard standing before him, who was as still as a stone statue, Du Rui thought that since his own martial skills were far from ordinary, he was not afraid of any ill intent. He smiled and said, "Please, lead the way!"

Du Rui followed the guard to the door of the private room. The guard did not open the door but merely watched Du Rui with a face full of suspicion. Seeing this, Du Rui immediately understood that the man intended to search him to ensure he wasn't carrying any sharp weapons that might harm the guest inside.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion, wondering which noble was inside to warrant such extreme caution. However, since the other party had invited him, and was now being so rude, Du Rui felt a flicker of anger.

"Since your master is not convenient to meet, I shall take my leave!"

Seeing Du Rui about to leave, the guard hurriedly stepped sideways to block his path, his face stern. "Young Master Du, it is my duty. Forgive my rudeness!"

Just as the guard was about to act, a middle-aged man's voice drifted out from the private room: "Ma Xuanliang! Do not be rude. Invite Young Master Du in! Hahaha!"

A steady, commanding baritone echoed from within. The guard named Ma Xuanliang gave Du Rui a resentful, warning glare before saying, "My master invites you!"

Ma Xuanliang opened the door to the private room. Du Rui walked in slowly, and a wave of warm air hit him. A middle-aged man with a strong masculine presence was sitting on a soft couch. Beside a delicate bronze burner, incense was smoldering. Food and wine were laid out on the table, appearing largely untouched. The middle-aged man seemed to have heard the commotion and looked up, smiling at Du Rui. "Haha! This young gentleman is not old, yet possesses such fine literary talent. Come, sit."

"Greetings, Excellency!" Du Rui bowed slightly as a greeting.

"Do not be so formal, young gentleman. Come, try this tea to ward off the chill."

"Thank you!" Du Rui took the tea and took a light sip. At this time, tea was boiled and often flavored with ginger and garlic, so the taste was truly not great. Du Rui thought to himself that one day he might as well just introduce tea-frying as well.

Seeing that Du Rui, though young, was neither humble nor arrogant, the middle-aged man felt a sense of admiration. Looking at Du Rui, he suddenly felt a sense of familiarity and said, "Young master, you look very familiar!"

Du Rui was taken aback. He also felt the man looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't recall where he had seen him. He asked, "May I ask your honorable surname, Excellency?"

"My surname is... Qin!"

A surname of Qin?

Du Rui's mind raced. He truly could not remember anyone named Qin among those he had met since his rebirth. He figured he must have seen someone with a similar appearance in his past life!

The middle-aged man of the Qin surname looked at Du Rui and suddenly thought of something. "Young master's surname is Du. I wonder, how should I address you in relation to the late Duke of Lai?"

Du Rui's expression straightened, and he bowed slightly toward the direction of Du Ling. "He was my late father!"

"Oh! So you are the illegitimate son of the late Duke of Lai!"

"That is correct!"

The man of the Qin surname grew interested. "I was quite close to the late Duke of Lai. Given the circumstances, it wouldn't be out of place for you to call me Uncle! 'Lifting my head to laugh loudly as I walk out the door, how could we of our generation be mere commoners'—this poem possesses a bit of the Duke of Lai's heroic spirit. It is a pity that Ke Ming was called Ke Jian, Ke Gongjin, and produced two sons who were somewhat mean-spirited."

Du Rui could tell that the man seemed to harbor some dissatisfaction with his two "cheap" elder brothers. He smiled and said, "Though my nephew was cast out of the manor, they at least did not drive me to my death. Now, having a roof over my head and three meals a day, I have nothing to complain about!"

The middle-aged man nodded. "You are indeed magnanimous! Very well! Let us not speak of that. Having just heard your wonderful verses, I cannot help but feel admiration. It was perhaps a bit abrupt to invite you here for a chat!"

Although the man was offering apologies, his tone lacked any hint of weakness, maintaining the air of a superior. This only increased Du Rui's suspicion, and he began to speculate about the man's identity.

"Those were merely drunken ramblings; they do not deserve such high praise from an Uncle!"

"You are being too modest! Since you have come today, how about we share a drink together?"

Du Rui smiled. "When an elder bestows a gift, I dare not refuse!"

"Good!" The middle-aged man laughed loudly. "Someone, change the wine! I wish to converse deeply with Nephew Du over wine!"

This man of the Qin surname was indeed very warm and talkative, covering everything from the far reaches of the world to astronomy and geography. The elder and the youth sat together, getting along better and better, looking exactly like friends who had transcended the gap in their ages.

Since his rebirth, it was rare for Du Rui to let himself go like this. Combined with the alcohol, he spoke freely, occasionally uttering startling words that left the middle-aged man listening as if he were hearing a heavenly text.