Chapter 446: Chapter 163 Danqing
After the rain of Grain Rain had passed, Shengjing welcomed the beginning of summer.
In the courtyard in front of the Board of Rites Office, peonies and hydrangeas bloomed in abundance, reds and purples, bright as clouds at dawn, making the already splendid mansion seem even more so, as if adorned with a hundred red lanterns, radiant with precious hues.
Once the rainy season began, the ground of Shengjing seemed never to dry. Jin Xianrong shed his slightly heavier spring clothes, donning a light and cool undershirt. He walked to the front of his room and from the Silver Jar took a small Fragrant Pill, carefully lit it, and transferred it to the Incense Burner.
The lid of the Incense Burner was closed, and a thin stream of blue smoke rose from the carved bull’s head, accompanied by a rich and refreshing fragrance.
Jin Xianrong bent down, drew a large breath near the smoke, satisfied, he closed his eyes and savored its taste.
He had only enjoyed a few sips when someone came in behind him.
The visitor was dressed in a luxurious robe, a hint of fatigue on his face. As Jin Xianrong turned, he let out an "oh," then smiled and said, "Yu Tai is back."
The person was Qi Yutai.
In recent days, Qi Yutai had been unwell and had taken leave to go home again.
Over the past year, he had taken leave to go home so frequently that Jin Xianrong had grown accustomed to it. Initially, when he learned that Qi Yutai was to come to the Ministry of Revenue, Jin Xianrong was quite surprised, thinking that with the Qi Family’s influence, Grand Preceptor Qi should not have arranged such an insubstantial and leisurely position for his son. Now, however, Jin Xianrong couldn’t help but admire the old Grand Preceptor’s foresight.
With Qi Yutai in his feeble health, had he been given any demanding job, wouldn’t it have been a death sentence?
Fortunately, the Ministry of Revenue was practically ornamental at present, and whether Qi Yutai was there or not made little difference.
No wonder some could become the Grand Preceptor, possessing a vision far beyond that of ordinary people.
Though he thought this way, the sycophantic concern never left Jin Xianrong’s lips as he said, "... Is it all better this time? You still look a bit tired, Yu Tai. Don’t rush things. I alone can still handle the affairs of the Ministry... The most important thing now is to recover fully. If you suffer even a slight headache or fever here, how could I explain it to the Grand Preceptor... "
Jin Xianrong was always so flattering, and Qi Yutai responded perfunctorily before returning to his own room and sitting down heavily at the table.
The closed doors shut out Jin Xianrong’s fawning as well as Qi Yutai’s disdain.
Having been confined at the mansion for several days, his mood was already irritable. Upon his return to the Board of Rites Office, Jin Xianrong’s constant references to "Grand Preceptor" were irritating. If his father hadn’t been keeping such a close watch on him recently, he would’ve gone to Fengle Building to "relax a bit."
A nameless irritability rose within Qi Yutai.
This burning frustration felt inescapable. He sat up straight, reached for the jar on the table, and upon lifting the lid of the Silver Jar, he was taken aback.
Inside the jar, Spirit Rhinoceros Fragrance Pills were stacked full to the brim, piling up like a little mountain.
Qi Yutai couldn’t help but look towards the door.
In the past, whenever he took leave to go home, it wouldn’t be long before, upon his return, he’d find the Silver Jar completely plundered of Fragrant Pills. Qi Yutai liked to get something for nothing; the Spirit Rhinoceros Fragrance was expensive, and he would often steal a few pills without noticing, along with the precious tea sent from the Qi Family.
Since they had to associate with each other regularly, despite his contempt for such behavior, Qi Yutai never openly objected and silently permitted it. After all, the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion never lacked Silver to purchase fragrances. Using small favors to win over Jin Xianrong, ensuring he occasionally facilitated matters at the Ministry of Revenue, was a deal guaranteed to yield profits.
He had braced himself for an empty jar and had even brought a new jar of Spirit Rhinoceros Fragrance before returning, only to find that Jin Xianrong had seemingly changed his ways. The jar of pills he hadn’t touched was still placed on his desk.
Qi Yutai found this odd and, unable to resist, got up to open the door and walked outside to the main hall.
Jin Xianrong lay in a mahogany lounger in the main room, reclining, with a book of Ministry documents on his lap, half-closed eyes listening to the rain outside, appearing quite content.
In front of him, on the table, stood a bronze Incense Burner, its bull figurine tail flicking, exhaling a fine blue smoke that bore a fragrance distinct from the usual dense aromas, carrying a sweet and fragrant note.
This was not the scent of Spirit Rhinoceros Fragrance.
Qi Yutai was taken aback.
Noticing someone nearby, the reclining Jin Xianrong looked up to find Qi Yutai suddenly standing before him, which startled him so much that he nearly tumbled out of the chair, exclaiming, "Yu Tai, what are you doing?"
Qi Yutai came back to his senses and pointed to the Incense Burner on the table, "Vice Minister, have you changed the fragrance?"
"Ah?" Caught off guard by the question, Jin Xianrong looked bewildered for a moment before replying, "Yes, I’ve changed it... Yu Tai, does it smell good?"
Qi Yutai leaned in and took a careful sniff.
The Spirit Rhinoceros Fragrance, made with expensive ingredients, was rich and heady, but perhaps due to long exposure, even the most dazzling of scents had become mundane. Jin Xianrong’s choice of fragrance must have been made from common materials, and at first sniff, it seemed rather ordinary and cheap; yet, upon closer appreciation, it appeared subtly elegant and sweet, reminiscent of ripe fruit in the summer heat, exuding a refreshing charm amid the rainy season.