Chapter 383: The Effect of Stirring Sand

The eastern garden of the Shouyang Commandery Duke's mansion had a pavilion with eight eaves, named Forget Autumn. Sitting in winter and forgetting autumn—in this deep winter moment, the pavilion was nevertheless suffused with a seductive spring charm.

The pavilion was spacious inside, with light gauze and green curtains, golden cups and jade dishes, all brimming with extravagance. Within, a flock of orioles and swallows, beauties alluring, powder and rouge filling the pavilion—six concubines and maidservants in total. Two women attended at either side, two at the pavilion's left played zither and flute, one before the pavilion sang, one danced gracefully...

At the center, of course, was the mansion's master, Li Shaoyou. Fine wine, delicacies, song and dance—none were not to his liking. His lips gleamed with grease, exceptionally dissolute, his face ruddy, lust never fading, both hands placed upon the two lovely women nestled against him, wantonly...

Eyes brimming with "appreciation" lingered on the graceful figure dancing before the pavilion. As for the art of song and dance, to Li Shaoyou it had never been about the tune or the steps—his focus had always been only on the beauties.

Deep winter was bitterly cold, but whether Li Shaoyou or his beautiful concubines, all were thinly dressed. Li Shaoyou bared his chest, while the beauties covered themselves only with light gauze and thin skirts—almost a "gathering without coverings." Of course, around the pavilion, braziers were set up, burning coal, to ward off the invading chill.

Li Shaoyou had always loved beauties and delighted in women—this was famous throughout the court and even the entire Eastern Capital, and Li Shaoyou never shied from it. As of today, the lovely wives and beautiful concubines he had taken into his mansion numbered nearly thirty, almost ten times the number of titled consorts and attendants in the palace.

Lewd words and wanton talk rippled through the pavilion, echoing across the garden. Li Shaoyou could not endure this pavilion full of temptation, nor was there any need to restrain himself. Before long, amid the winter pavilion's fragrance, even more spring charm was added...

Only when the sun had shifted westward in the sky did he bathe and change into a warm, luxurious fur robe. Li Shaoyou stepped barefoot into the hall carpeted with rugs. As he entered the door, he paused for a moment—a numbness shot from his waist straight up his spine. Shaking his head with a wry smile, he muttered under his breath: "I really should exercise some moderation..."

Only in this moment of clarity could Li Shaoyou recover his usual shrewdness. Of course, knowing his mistakes without correcting them was the consistent style of men like him. However, judging from the unusual complexion on his face, the practice of taking on six at once would likely not be frequent in the future.

"Young lord, Director Hou requests an audience—he has been waiting for quite some time!" Li Shaoyou had barely settled at his desk to attend to some official business when a steward announced at the door.

"How long has he waited?" Li Shaoyou asked casually.

"An hour and a half!" the steward reported.

A trace of amusement appeared on Li Shaoyou's handsome face as he murmured: "This man does have patience."

"Bring him in!"

The "Director Hou" the steward spoke of was named Hou Zan, a Capital District Director under the Wude Office, in charge of surveillance and intelligence in the capital region—no small authority. This man came from humble origins, serving in various posts across the realm, until he was fortunate enough to hitch onto Liu Zhiyuan's war chariot to heaven, rising with the chickens and dogs. After the Great Han's founding, he was appointed Flying Dragon Envoy.

However, lacking patrons at court and showing no particular talent or virtue, he never had the opportunity for promotion, gradually becoming one of the Great Han's many redundant officials. Without a stroke of luck, he might have been forgotten forever in some corner of the court—or might even lose his Flying Dragon Envoy post one day.

Born in poverty, he naturally refused to sink back into poverty. Climbing upward and wielding authority was the driving force of men like Hou Zan. After exhausting his schemes, he managed to build a connection with Li Ye, the Imperial Uncle and Commissioner of the Southern Court of the Palace Secretariat, and through much sycophantic effort, was recommended to the Wude Office.

Although Li Shaoyou had never thought much of his young uncle, he ultimately dared not refuse him face, so he accepted Hou Zan as a personal officer of the Wude Office. But upon later contact, Li Shaoyou discovered that this Hou Zan was shallow in learning, with vision like a rat—yet in the arts of scheming, shadowing, surveillance, and fabricating accusations, he had considerable ability.

Moreover, this man knew which way the wind blew, and in an office like the Wude Office, he could easily rise to prominence. Though a petty man, even pigs and dogs have their uses—let alone Hou Zan. Those were Li Shaoyou's exact words. When they reached Hou Zan's ears, he felt no humiliation but rather excitement, exclaiming that Li Shaoyou was his true confidant—at least, on the surface...

Sure enough, putting a man to proper use yielded results. During the Wude Office's gradual expansion, Hou Zan repeatedly distinguished himself—his intelligence and information swift and effective, his name even reaching the Son of Heaven's ears. Thus, smoothly, he became the Wude Office's Capital District Director.

Soon, a short figure appeared before the hall. Carefully observing the situation inside, he gently removed his boots and placed them neatly before the threshold, only then cautiously stepping into the hall. Noticing a speck of visible dust on the carpet, he very naturally bent down and, with his official robe's sleeve, gently brushed it away—as if wiping a rare treasure...

Only after cleaning it thoroughly did he step forward with small strides and bow respectfully: "Your subordinate pays respects to the Commandery Duke!"

"Rise!" Setting down the documents in his hand, Li Shaoyou could not help but yawn as he said casually.

"Thank you, Commandery Duke!"

"I've kept Director Hou waiting long!" Li Shaoyou said.

Gently shaking his head, Hou Zan smiled and clasped his hands: "The Commandery Duke must have had urgent matters to attend to. Without the Duke's summons, no matter how long, I would wait."

Li Shaoyou had of course been busy with "urgent matters"—and he believed Hou Zan knew it too. Hearing this speech from his lips, Li Shaoyou's mood still unconsciously improved. This Hou Zan was truly interesting.

Li Shaoyou had in fact taken in every bit of Hou Zan's performance upon entering the hall. Glancing at the hands folded before his belly, he said flatly: "The Wude Office is an institution of the court, and its robes are official garments. How can you wipe dust with them? That breaches propriety! Though this is within my private residence, if word were to get out, it would not do!"

Hearing this, Hou Zan's heart jumped in alarm, his short frame shrinking even further as he quickly said: "Your subordinate will remember the Commandery Duke's instruction and will never dare repeat the offense!"

"Sit!" Satisfied with his attitude, Li Shaoyou gestured and asked: "Coming to my door—what business do you have?"

Upon the question, not daring to beat around the bush, Hou Zan had barely sat before rising again, looking at Li Shaoyou and reporting: "To answer the Commandery Duke, news has come from Hedong—Wang Jingchong is already on his way back to the capital!"

At the mention of Wang Jingchong, Li Shaoyou's expression changed immediately. Though subtle, one could still sense it—it was not good.

Owing to the Emperor's habit of stirring sand into every pot, after Wang Jingchong took office as deputy director, the Wude Office's original monopoly was quickly and thoroughly broken. What Liu Chengyou's purpose was in having Wang Jingchong enter the Wude Office—Wang Jingchong knew, and Li Shaoyou understood it clearly in his heart. It was precisely for this reason that certain moves by Wang Jingchong could only be watched with anxiety, fretted over in silence.

Li Shaoyou was quick-witted and no mean talent, but in experience, insight, political skill, and methods of handling affairs, he was still somewhat inferior to Wang Jingchong. As for the thirst for achievement and the ambition to climb the ladder of power, they could not even be compared. Thus, under multiple factors, a banner bearing the surname Wang was quickly raised within the Wude Office, contending with Li Shaoyou on equal footing.

What kind of man was Wang Jingchong? Willingly a hawk or hound, daring to risk death for advancement—he was not overly intimidated by a royal relative like Li Shaoyou. Conversely, Li Shaoyou's wariness of Wang Jingchong grew by the day. No one could have a good attitude toward a dog that snatched food from one's own bowl—and this dog might bite at any moment...

"Commandery Duke, this time in Hedong, Wang Jingchong abolished temples, confiscated wealth, and supplied the court—earning himself credit through hardship. Several peasant uprisings in Xin and Dai were swiftly suppressed by him, adding further merit. With such hard-won achievements, I fear that once he returns to the capital, he will grow even more arrogant and powerful, pressuring the Commandery Duke..." Hou Zan's eyes flickered as he offered his counsel to Li Shaoyou. Though ostensibly considering his interests, there was always a hint of instigation in it.

Li Shaoyou's expression returned to normal. His gaze shifted downward to Hou Zan, eyes thoughtful, and he said calmly: "That assignment to Hedong has allowed him to achieve merit!"

"Wang Jingchong is a petty man who advanced through luck, acting without scruples. Relying on Your Majesty's favor, he dares not to put the Commandery Duke in his eyes—his ambition to seize power grows more evident by the day. The Commandery Duke must be on guard!" Hou Zan said.

Nodding slightly, Li Shaoyou looked at Hou Zan, twisted his neck, and asked: "I am indeed wary of Wang Jingchong. In your view, how should I guard against him?"

"Do you think—sending men disguised as bandits to ambush and kill him on his way back to the capital—how would that be?" Li Shaoyou appeared to have murderous intent.

One sentence made Hou Zan's face change drastically, his body trembling involuntarily as he hastily urged: "Even if the Commandery Duke has such a thought, it must never be carried out!"

"Hahaha..." Li Shaoyou laughed, waved his hand, and his voice turned cold: "Look how startled you are. I was only joking. This Duke is not that stupid!"