Chapter 204

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "Now looking back, I truly had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai; if I had known your status then, no matter what, I would not dare to show off my modest skills before an expert and attempt to match your lower couplet."

Zhang Ziqian said: "A single tower at the western bank's end resembles a brush, directly writing the heavenly composition. Besides you, Brother Hu, who could come up with such a splendid couplet?"

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "The two ferries at the southern bridge head are like shuttles, horizontally weaving brocade across the river. This upper couplet was composed by you, Sir Zhang?"

Zhang Ziqian smiled and shook his head: "This old man simply does not possess such talent."

Hu Xiaotian said with deep meaning: "Could it be Grand Marshal Li?"

Their eyes met, each realizing the other already knew their identity and purpose, and then they both burst out laughing.

Zhang Ziqian still did not directly expose the matter, and tactfully said: "Grand Marshal Li also likes this couplet very much; he even personally wrote a copy and presented it to Sir Hu, the Minister of Revenue." Actually, this is tantamount to telling Hu Xiaotian, "You little brat, stop pretending; we know your background crystal clear, yet you're still playing mysterious here. If it weren't for your father, and if it weren't for the marital ties between our families, I would have lowered my dignity to come here and pay my respects."

Hu Xiaotian realized there was no longer any need to conceal his identity; he rose and bowed deeply to Zhang Ziqian, saying: "Sir Zhang, please don't blame me; my concealment of my identity is truly out of necessity." He was being called "Brother Hu" on the left and "Brother Hu" on the right, which made Hu Xiaotian's scalp go numb. Considering his relationship with Li Tianheng, he should address Zhang Ziqian as an elder of the same generation, so he respectfully said: "Sir Zhang, please never call me that; according to seniority, you are my teacher." By age, calling you "grandfather" would be appropriate.

Zhang Ziqian smiled: "This old man has never cared about such empty titles; little Hu, you just said you have difficulties—can you tell me about them?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "Sir Zhang, to be frank, I am by nature mischievous; in the capital I caused trouble and provoked public anger. My father, furious over my behavior, sent me here, intending for me to temper myself in Qingyun, to know the hardships of the world and understand the difficulties of an official career. Before my departure, my father specifically instructed: under no circumstances should I easily reveal my family background."

Zhang Ziqian stroked his beard and sighed: "How pitiful are parents' hearts; your father truly means well—he worries that if others learn of your identity, they will pamper you everywhere, which would defeat the purpose of tempering you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Exactly so; although I am somewhat stubborn in temperament, I still retain some self-respect. Since I have come here, I wish to accomplish something on my own, without relying on anyone else, solely depending on my own abilities." He glanced at Zhang Ziqian and said: "I never imagined that, from the moment I arrived at Qingyun, I had already been known by Grand Marshal Li." He understood that Zhang Ziqian had pretended to be a fisherman, waiting at Tongji He to ferry him across, which was definitely arranged in advance. Hu Xiaotian sensed there was hidden meaning in Zhang Ziqian's words—clearly implying that he did not know how to use connections, claiming to be strong-willed but actually wasting time. Hu Xiaotian secretly laughed, thinking that perhaps Zhang Ziqian did not realize he had come to Qingyun not for training, but that his father wanted him to stay away from the political storms in the capital and also to leave a retreat for the Hu family. Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir Zhang's words are like sweet dew dripping onto the heart, instantly clearing my confusion."…

Zhang Ziqian laughed: "You are a smart youngster; I really don't need to say more." After a pause he added: "Those local officials in Qingyun have surely been causing you trouble, haven't they?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled without speaking; he could handle Qingyun's affairs himself and did not want Zhang Ziqian's help.

Zhang Ziqian added: "His Highness the Prince of Zhou once spent some time touring Xizhou, and I had the fortune to meet him; I heard His Highness has made a grand vow to traverse the famous mountains and rivers of Dakang, to pray for the emperor's blessings."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Truly commendable filial devotion."

Zhang Ziqian said: "I see you two get along quite well."

Hu Xiaotian knew Zhang Ziqian was again probing his tone; he laughed: "I am also meeting him for the first time, and I think his visit this time is not aimed at me but at Miss Xi Yan of the Huan Cai Pavilion."

Zhang Ziqian couldn't help but smile at Hu Xiaotian's words; Long Ye's infatuation with Miss Xi Yan is obvious to everyone. He asked seemingly offhand: "Your relationship with Miss Xi Yan is not shallow; it seems you have known each other for quite a while."

Hu Xiaotian secretly laughed; Zhang Ziqian is definitely an old smooth operator, his real intention being to probe his relationship with Xi Yan, which is understandable since he is Li Tianheng's confidant, naturally leaning toward the Li family.

For Hu Xiaotian, this was actually a great opportunity; he put on a conflicted, embarrassed expression, which to Zhang Ziqian looked like he had a guilty conscience, and Hu Xiaotian wanted to give him that impression—his master's degree in psychology was not for nothing. His eyes flickered, his lashes drooped, and he dared not look directly at Zhang Ziqian while speaking: "I am not familiar with Miss Xi Yan!"

Zhang Ziqian chuckled: "It's obvious." The phrase "no silver here, three hundred taels" (overdoing the denial) made Zhang Ziqian secretly think: this brat has a notorious reputation in the capital; earlier it was rumored that he openly flirted with respectable women in broad daylight, and now a courtesan from the Huan Cai Pavilion has trekked from Xiezhou over mountains and rivers to seek him—claiming unfamiliarity? Ridiculous! Even with Zhang Ziqian's shrewdness, he cannot help falling for Hu Xiaotian's trick.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Once I finish this busy period, I will personally go to Xizhou to pay my respects to Uncle Li."

Zhang Ziqian said: "Grand Marshal also worries about you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir Zhang, regarding Miss Xi Yan, I hope you will not mention it to Grand Marshal, for I fear he may misunderstand." He knew that Zhang Ziqian's purpose in coming to Qingyun was, to a large extent, **for Li Tianheng to examine him**, and he certainly would not keep it secret for himself; instead he deliberately put on a nervous appearance to numb Zhang Ziqian, and the more he did so, the more Zhang Ziqian would suspect that he and Miss Xi Yan had **.

Zhang Ziqian stroked his beard, sighed, and said: "Xiaotian, there are some things I don't know whether I should say or not."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "Sir, please just instruct me."

Zhang Ziqian said: "As an official of the court, you must be careful in speech and conduct; there are things you must not do, and people you should keep at a distance." Zhang Ziqian affirmed Hu Xiaotian's talent, and last night's charity auction also let him see Hu Xiaotian's wit, but Zhang Ziqian still harbored some reservations about Hu Xiaotian's association with the courtesans of the Huan Cai Pavilion, fearing most that this young man has talent but no virtue.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I understand!"

Zhang Ziqian did not continue to dwell on this matter, shifting the topic: "Actually, there isn't much to do here in Qingyun; why don't you come back to Xizhou with me?"

Hu Xiaotian's heart jumped; why is Zhang Ziqian so eager to have me go back with him? Could it be that Grand Marshal Li can't wait? Seeing that I am too outstanding, he fears another woman will steal me away, so he wants to force me to marry his daughter? Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir Zhang also sees that the affairs here in Qingyun are really hard to let go of."

Zhang Ziqian smiled faintly, without pressing further; from this remark he had already probed Hu Xiaotian's attitude—this young man seems unwilling to see Grand Marshal Li.

Zhang Ziqian said: "This old man will return to Xizhou tomorrow; since you are occupied with official duties and cannot free yourself, you should naturally prioritize public affairs. By the way, is there anything you need me to convey?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir Zhang, I have a matter and would like you to help me."

Speak!

Hu Xiaotian lowered his voice: "Actually, His Highness the Prince of Zhou's visit this time is not to cheer me on; he came specially to receive the Shajia envoy."

Zhang Ziqian exclaimed in surprise: "The Shajia envoy?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded; from Zhang Ziqian's expression he already guessed that the latter was unaware of this, and he also found it strange that the Shajia envoy's arrival in Dakang, passing through Xichuan, such a major matter, was unknown to Zhang Ziqian.

Hu Xiaotian continued: "I have received word that the bandits of Tianlang Mountain are likely to ambush the envoy on the road from Qingyun to Honggu County."

Zhang Ziqian's expression turned extremely grave; if the Shajia envoy were ambushed en route, it could very well provoke a war between the two nations, and he understands the ferocity and toughness of the Shajia people.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir Zhang, this is no trivial matter; if anything happens to His Highness the Prince of Zhou and the Shajia envoy, not to mention my official hat would be in jeopardy, I fear even Grand Marshal Li would be in trouble."

Zhang Ziqian frowned, pondered, and said: "What do you propose to do?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Strike first; rather than wait for the Tianlang Mountain bandits to attack the envoy, we should eliminate the danger promptly."

Zhang Ziqian said: "You mean we should destroy the Tianlang Mountain bandits' lair?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head, thinking: although Zhang Ziqian has some learning, when it comes to actual combat his mind is not particularly sharp; the government has launched many anti-bandit campaigns, each ending in failure, so the idea of destroying the Tianlang Mountain bandits' lair is hardly feasible.

Zhang Ziqian said: "Then what should we do?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "The Tianlang Mountain bandits have held their ground for years; although the government has sent troops to suppress them repeatedly, the results have been minimal so far. What do you think is the reason?"

Zhang Ziqian said: "Could it be that someone inside the government is leaking information to the bandits?"

Hu Xiaotian snapped his fingers: "Exactly!"

Zhang Ziqian angrily said: "Find out who it is; this old man will certainly memorialize Grand Marshal and have him sliced to death a thousand times to relieve my hatred."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Perhaps it is not just one person; I currently have no solid evidence, but the situation at hand is urgent, and if we want to protect the safety of His Highness the Prince of Zhou and the envoy, we seem unable to continue hesitating."

Zhang Ziqian said: "How do you propose to do it?"

Hu Xiaotian lowered his voice: "By now, we have little time left; rather than let them cooperate inside and out, we had better first cut off their contact."

Zhang Ziqian said: "What do you mean?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Better to mistakenly kill a thousand than to let a single one escape!"

There are still three days left until month-end; what are you all waiting for?