Chapter 18: You Are Both Talented and Handsome

He Lingchuan sighed: "About fifty days ago, I went hunting on Mount Hulu, but I was attacked by a sand leopard and fell off a cliff. I was carried back and remained unconscious for several days before waking up."

Nian Songyu’s eyes were practically spitting fire: "Why didn't you say so yesterday?" What kind of act was this brat putting on? Sun Fu, however, only asked the key point: "What about that sand leopard?"

"It died and was carried back with me." He Lingchuan shrugged, "After I woke up, I ordered people to dismember the sand leopard. This thing almost killed me, so I had to hack it to pieces. The parts have already been sold at the market." He gestured vaguely to the east, "There are plenty of merchants here who are interested in the fur, claws, teeth, tongue, eyeballs, and inner core of monsters, and they are willing to pay a high price."

"We understand what you two are thinking." He Yue spoke up at the right moment, "Yesterday, we learned that the sand leopard that ambushed my elder brother was wounded by you. Although Father has not made a statement, he has already sent people to track down the whereabouts of the leopard's carcass."

The hidden barb in these words was quite sharp, but unfortunately, it didn't cause any pain or itching to the two people opposite. Sun Fu rolled his eyes: "Can the Prefect He really find it?"

He Yue smiled: "We will certainly do our utmost."

Just kidding, such a guarantee naturally could not be made.

Sun Fu was silent for a moment before saying: "By the way, before we set out this time, the Grand Marshal mentioned in a letter that if the crisis in the capital can be resolved, Master He’s talents need not be wasted in such a desolate place."

The He brothers were moved together: "Are you saying, no, is the Grand Marshal saying...?"

"Transfer back to the capital, recommended for promotion to Investigating Censor!"

When had these old bureaucratic foxes ever been so straightforward? He Lingchuan stood up at once: "The Grand Marshal has a discerning eye and his words are golden!" As he spoke, he reached out toward Sun Fu.

Sun Fu handed over a letter, the wax seal still unbroken.

Clearly, this was prepared by the Grand Marshal long ago, specifically to be delivered to He Chunhua.

Although promoting officials was not within the Grand Marshal's official purview, his prestige and influence in the court were immense, so it would not be difficult to facilitate this matter.

Sun Fu said indifferently: "I hope Prefect He will not disappoint the Grand Marshal's high expectations."

He Lingchuan beamed: "That goes without saying."

He Yue also said: "We will do our best to investigate the clues regarding the sand leopard, and I believe there will be news soon."

The two stood up: "Then we shall await the good news from Prefect He."

Just as Sun Fu was about to walk out, Nian Songyu turned his head to look at He Yue: "Second Young Master He, how old are you this year?"

"Fourteen."

"I heard back in Wangjin that the second son of Prefect He of Qiansong Commandery was intelligent and steady, but I didn't expect such elegant bearing; hearing of you a hundred times is not as good as seeing you once."

This guy was suddenly commenting on the second brother, what was he up to? He Lingchuan pointed at himself and took over the conversation: "What about me? Do outsiders have any comments?"

Nian Songyu laughed: "Yes, 'gold and jade on the outside'."

Everyone knew the point was the unsaid next half of the phrase, but He Lingchuan was smug: "You have an eye for talent, you have an eye for talent."

He Yue coughed lightly: "Big brother, see the guests out."

Before He Lingchuan could turn around, Nian Songyu suddenly said: "The inn where the Imperial Preceptor and I are staying is cramped and miserable. I see that Prefect He’s residence has the style of the great capital, with many rooms; I wonder if it could accommodate two more guests?"

The He brothers and Sun Fu were all taken aback.

"This is naturally..." possible.

There were many empty rooms in the He residence, so He Yue quickly notified Lady Ying to arrange a guest house for each of the two distinguished guests.

Servants ran to the inn to fetch their luggage, and that counted as them officially moving in.

After a flurry of activity, the two guests were settled.

Once the servants had dispersed, Nian Songyu looked at the tightly closed gate of the courtyard: "Sure enough, the leopard is in their hands. The one surnamed He didn't say a single true word; the leopard carcass might still be in his house."

"Even if it is, it has been well hidden." Sun Fu met his sinister gaze, "You aren't thinking of climbing over the wall to kill them and seize the treasure, are you? That won't work; we must think about the subsequent plans. The Grand Marshal was right; He Chunhua will take this opportunity to leverage and bargain."

If He Chunhua had been submissive, he wouldn't have brought out the letter prepared by the Grand Marshal.

Nian Songyu sneered: "A mere border prefect, a small official of no consequence, and he dares to open his mouth like a lion?"

"At this critical juncture, he might just dare. The Grand Marshal has praised him several times; this man is different from the average mediocre official."

Nian Songyu said bitterly: "What a pity, this is not Wangjin City!"

Wangjin was the capital of Xunzhou, his territory.

Sun Fu shook his head: "Business first. What these small officials want is nothing more than promotion and wealth; it’s not hard to settle."

"Although the Investigating Censor is only a rank 5b position, it has the power to supervise officials; it’s a fat job that everyone covets. In the past, I might have been jealous." Nian Songyu gave a mocking smile, "But now..."

Sun Fu’s face darkened: "Don't talk nonsense!"

In the blink of an eye, it was dark.

He Chunhua had not returned yet; he was truly busy.

The Baling mission had arrived at Heishuicheng, and local officials were responsible for the reception.

During this time, He Lingchuan made a trip to the government office to personally deliver the Grand Marshal's letter to his father.

He Chunhua, who always presented himself as gentle and steady, couldn't help but slam the table and stand up, laughing three times.

Twenty-some years, he had endured the wind and sand at the border, and finally, he was going to return to the familiar great capital!

The place that gave birth to him and raised him, the place of the He family's former glory.

He Chunhua even took out his hidden wine, picked two cups, and grabbed his eldest son to drink three cups together, feeling indescribably refreshed.

Only then did He Lingchuan realize that his father had been secretly hiding fine wine in the residence, better than any wine he had ever tasted.

He deliberately put on a look of confusion: "Father, our life in Heishuicheng isn't bad, why are you in such a hurry to go back?"

This was something the original owner would have asked.

He Chunhua looked at him and suddenly stopped smiling.

Once he stopped smiling, his expression looked a bit sinister.

"Silly child, of course we cannot stay here." He said softly and slowly, "I have endured humiliation and carried the burden at the border for twenty years, waiting for this opportunity—the opportunity to go back, the opportunity to move up!"

A strange light flashed in He Chunhua’s eyes, indescribable and unclear, making He Lingchuan feel a bit creeped out.

"The He family cannot remain at the border, otherwise our descendants will only be border people." In the blink of an eye, He Chunhua returned to his normal state, "Only by returning to the capital do we have a chance."

He Lingchuan gave an "oh" that sounded like he half-understood.

The word "chance," his cheap father had said it several times in a row.

What chance? What did he want to use the chance to do? He Chunhua seemed to regret his loss of composure; after three cups, he sent his eldest son home.

There were surprisingly few people on the road, and He Lingchuan kicked a pebble away, thinking about his current situation.

How could an ambitious and capable father raise a second-generation ancestor as arrogant and reckless as the original owner?

Thinking back carefully, it seemed to be He Chunhua’s intentional indulgence.

That was a bit strange.

But in dealing with Nian Songyu and Sun Fu, father and son should work together, there was no doubt about that.

At this very moment, his father seemed to really need him to display that kind of personality.

Since that was the case, he would continue to be his playboy; anyway, if the sky fell, He Chunhua would be there to hold it up.

By now it was already very dark, long past dinner time, and the He residence was as quiet as usual.

He Lingchuan knew no one in the house would be waiting for him to eat, so he planned to go to the kitchen to find some snacks to fill his stomach. The cook always hid a bowl of good things in the low cabinet; today it should be apple honey pastries, and if he stole them to eat, she wouldn't protest.

He walked past his second brother’s quarters.

At this time, He Yue was either reading by candlelight or reviewing documents; he usually didn't wander around the He residence.

But He Lingchuan happened to hear the voices of two people coming from the bamboo grove.

Two men.

One was He Yue: "...I don't think that's necessary, Commandant Nian!"

Commandant Nian? He Lingchuan tiptoed over.

Sure enough, the other person was Nian Songyu. He Lingchuan saw his cheekbones were flushed, clearly having drunk quite a bit: "Why not necessary? The great capital is full of powerful families, and the nobles look down on everyone. Even if your father is promoted back, he will only be a rank 5b official. How long will you have to wait to get ahead?"

He leaned in closer and laughed: "You are talented and handsome; if you get my father’s recommendation..."

(End of chapter)