Chapter 11: A Great Man Cannot Go a Day Without Holding Power

After exiting the gloomy Eastern Depot, Zhang Yunxiu looked up at the dome of the sky, seeing white clouds drifting leisurely and a gentle breeze blowing, and could not help but sigh: "I finally understand a principle now."

"What principle?" Zhang Jianxiu asked curiously.

"A great man cannot go a single day without holding power! If I had power myself, why would I have to be humble and subservient, begging others at every turn?"

"It's good that you know," Zhang Jianxiu gave his fifth brother a sidelong glance and added, "The person has been fished out, you take him away. I still have some matters to attend to, so I'll be going first."

Having said that, Zhang Jianxiu strode away, leaving behind the Flag Sergeant Han San to guard Zhang Yunxiu.

The group crowded together and quickly left the location of the Eastern Depot. Han San and Zhang Fu walked at the back, while Zhang Yunxiu and Zheng Guotai walked side by side.

At this moment, Zheng Guotai also realized that the person before him was the "Young Master Zhang" mentioned by the manager just now.

Having been caught by the victim of his rumors, even with his thick skin, he could not remain calm and composed.

The two walked in silence for a long time before Zheng Guotai tentatively said: "Young Master Zhang, this matter, it was my fault. How about tonight, I truly treat you to Minglan Pavilion?"

Zhang Yunxiu did not answer, but instead stepped into a teahouse, with the others following closely behind.

After finding a seat by the window and sitting down, Zhang Yunxiu waved his hand, letting Zhang Fu and Han San go downstairs to find some amusement.

The two replied "Yes," and then stepped down the stairs with a thumping sound.

As soon as they left, Zheng Guotai immediately leaned toward Zhang Yunxiu's face and asked excitedly: "Brother, your family must be super rich, right? You can even bribe people from the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Looking at Zheng Guotai, who was like a living treasure, Zhang Yunxiu's face darkened.

He did not understand why such a character could reach the first-rank position of Commander of the Metropolitan Guard just because his sister was favored.

It truly lived up to that line by Bai Juyi: "So that the hearts of parents in the world, do not value the birth of sons but the birth of daughters."

But who told him to have a good sister? Right now, Zheng Guifei had not yet become prominent; it was exactly the time for Zhang Yunxiu to make his move.

He looked at Zheng Guotai and asked: "Do you know who the person who caught you was?"

"It must be someone from the Eastern Depot!" Zheng Guotai slapped the table and said.

"There are further subdivisions within the Eastern Depot."

"I don't know about that."

"The person who caught you was precisely one of the men under Zhangin Zhang Jing."

"The favorite in the Emperor's inner circle?" Zheng Guotai was startled.

"That's right. To fish you out, I didn't spare any effort; I almost lost all of my father's face," Zhang Yunxiu said, and two hot tears actually squeezed out of his eye sockets.

Seeing that Zhang Yunxiu had a significant background and feeling his sincere affection, Zheng Guotai thought he was much better than his group of fair-weather friends.

He was moved to form a bond.

But fearing that the other party had a noble status and would look down on him, he probed again: "Gongzi, what exactly does your family do?"

"My family isn't some big wealthy household either; we are just stewards who look after the house and guard the courtyard for others," Zhang Yunxiu replied without blushing or skipping a beat.

And wasn't that the truth?

The world still belonged to the Emperor, it was just that his own father managed it twelve hours a day.

Zheng Guotai pondered for a moment and said: "Then it must be the steward of a great wealthy household."

"It's alright, enough to support the whole family."

Hearing this, Zheng Guotai made up his mind. He first smiled, then said with a hint of showing off: "Since your father works for a great household, my family isn't bad either."

"My sister has entered the Imperial Palace; she is the Emperor's woman."

"So that's how it is, brother, you really are a royal relative?" Zhang Yunxiu feigned surprise and gritted his teeth, saying, "That Zhang Jing is truly too wicked, to dare to arrest even a royal relative like you."

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu change his form of address, Zheng Guotai felt a surge of joy in his heart, and then said hatefully: "That Zhang Jing, I have definitely marked him. When there is an opportunity in the future, I will certainly take this revenge."

"However, come to think of it, this guy is not bad either. If it weren't for him, how could I have met a good brother like you?"

"No, no, no," Zhang Yunxiu hurriedly interrupted: "This guy is a bad seed with pus flowing from his heels and sores growing on his head. Originally, I was planning to meet you at Minglan Pavilion that day, but this guy fired a side-shot, which led to us brothers meeting in the prison."

"Ah, then this guy is indeed a bad seed."

"Isn't that so."

The two chatted back and forth, when suddenly Zheng Guotai thought of something and asked: "Brother, how did you know about me? I mean, I've never seen you before, how did you find me?"

"Do you... do you believe in fate?" Zhang Yunxiu widened his eyes and stared at Zheng Guotai, asking sincerely.

"Fate?" Zheng Guotai shrank his body back, pondering the meaning of the two words. "I had a dream, dreaming that we were good brothers in our past lives. Only after drinking Meng Po's soup did we fail to recognize each other. In this life, although we have different fathers and mothers, we must be brothers," Zhang Yunxiu pinched his thigh and said while shedding tears.

"So that's how it is, so that's how it is. I was wondering why my luck was so bad; it turns out I had a brother of my own flesh and blood wandering outside. Now that we have recognized each other, we brothers will surely turn our luck around and accomplish a great cause!"

As he spoke, Zheng Guotai became emotionally agitated.

After ten minutes of suppression, he finally calmed down.

Zhang Yunxiu took a look; the sky outside had already turned completely dark.

At this time, Zheng Guotai stood up and suggested: "Brother, since we have recognized each other, we should naturally find a good place to celebrate properly."

"Where to?"

"Minglan Pavilion!"

Having said that, he grabbed Zhang Yunxiu and left.

A few steps out of the teahouse, Zhang Fu and Han San followed behind, guarding the two as they headed toward Chongwen Gate.

While walking, Zhang Yunxiu caught a glimpse of a banner in a daze. It read: "Jiang Taigong goes fishing—the willing take the bait."

Li Banxian? To think I would run into this half-immortal here again.

"Wait." Zhang Yunxiu hurriedly called out to Zheng Guotai.

"What's wrong, brother?" Zheng Guotai looked puzzled.

"There's a fortune teller here, shall we go in and have a reading?" Zhang Yunxiu pointed to the bungalow on the side.

"Hey, these are all swindlers, their glib tongues are very sharp, don't spend that wasted money," Zheng Guotai explained hurriedly.

Zhang Yunxiu recognized Li Banxian's banner and insisted on having another reading no matter what. The other three saw this and knew they couldn't sway Zhang Yunxiu, so they had no choice but to follow him inside.

The room was not large, with an Eight Immortals table placed in the center, and stools placed on both sides.

An old man sat in the main seat with his eyes slightly closed.

It was none other than Li Banxian.

Hearing someone enter, he suddenly opened his eyes, and seeing it was Zhang Yunxiu, he couldn't help but laugh: "Noble one, I didn't expect us to have such fate, meeting here again."

"Did you calculate that I would come, sir?"

Li Banxian shook his head and gestured for them to sit down.

Zheng Guotai narrowed his eyes and looked around the room, then fixed his gaze on Li Banxian and shouted: "Let us first test if you, this 'half-immortal,' are real or fake. If it's not up to par, I'll tear down your stall!"

Hearing this, although Li Banxian was displeased, seeing the noble air about him, he could only suppress the anger in his heart.

Li Banxian bent over, poured him a cup of tea, and smiled: "I invite you to write a character, young master."

Zheng Guotai pondered for a moment and wrote a large "White" character.

Li Banxian took it, looked at it closely with wide eyes, and said: "You are a relative of the Emperor, aren't you, noble one?"

"How did you know?"

"The character for 'Emperor' has 'White' on top and 'King' on the bottom. Since you are connected to the 'Emperor' character, what else could you be if not a royal relative?" Li Banxian lightly stroked his beard and smiled faintly.

Hearing this, everyone was stunned.

Li Banxian felt proud and added: "I also know that your future prosperity will come from upon the rivers and seas."

"How so?"

"Look beside you."

"Beside me?" Zheng Guotai turned his head and looked to his left.

A cup of tea was sitting there.

"'White' plus 'water' makes 'harbor'; it should be related to water."

Zheng Guotai did not believe in this prosperity from the sea, but Zhang Yunxiu was already struck as if by a thunderbolt.

No one knew better than he did about the immense treasures hidden at sea.

(End of this chapter)