Chapter 499: [Victorious Start] (Lower)

Hu Xiaotian said: "His personality is somewhat aloof; he may not necessarily accept your help. I want you to give him instructions, to secretly look after him, so he won't be bullied."

Wang Wenyou nodded and said: "All right."

Then Hu Xiaotian described Yang Lingqi's location in detail, and Wang Wenyou listened and firmly remembered it.

After instructing Wang Wenyou, Hu Xiaotian decided to go to Guanlan Street; the snow had stopped completely, but the ground was still covered with thick snow. Since Guanlan Street was not far from the inn, he chose to walk. After the Lantern Festival, the shops along the street had gradually reopened. Tianbo City is the largest city north of Kangdu, and the streets remain prosperous and lively. Hu Xiaotian had taken only a few steps when he noticed Zhan Peng following him from behind. He stopped, turned, and saw Zhan Peng give him a knowing smile before trying to conceal himself by slipping into the crowd. Wen Boyuan had ordered him to follow Hu Xiaotian, monitor his every move, which conveniently gave him a respectable pretext to protect Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian smiled, continued forward, and arrived at Yang Lingqi's art stall. He saw that Yang Lingqi had already set up early; business was as dull as the previous night. He stood alone in the cold wind, looking destitute, his gaze somewhat numb as he watched the passersby, unknown what he was thinking.

Hu Xiaotian quietly observed Yang Lingqi from the side, noticing that deep in his eyes lay stubbornness and unyielding spirit. Although they had little interaction, he felt this person was not someone easily defeated by fate. A person's outward appearance can deceive, but his eyes cannot lie.

Hu Xiaotian slowly approached the stall and coughed. This drew Yang Lingqi's attention. Seeing Hu Xiaotian, he hurriedly bowed with clasped hands, and his form of address changed from "Master Hu" to "Sir Hu".

Hu Xiaotian said: "I'm not really a sir, Elder Brother Yang. Don't stand on ceremony; if you think highly of me, just call me Brother Hu."

Yang Lingqi said: "Rank and status differ; I dare not!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I currently hold no official post, Elder Brother Yang; why bother with these trivialities?"

Yang Lingqi said: "Over the past couple of days, some news has still been circulating in the city. Although I am not talented, from our meeting last night I could infer a few things. If I am not mistaken, that lady who was attended by retinue last night is none other than the current Princess Anping. Sir Hu, is this trip of yours to escort the Princess Anping to Da Yong for her marriage?"

Hu Xiaotian secretly admired his perceptiveness and smiled: "Elder Brother Yang, it seems you have hardly any business."

Yang Lingqi said: "There has never been much business."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I must leave Tianbo City tomorrow morning. Having met you, I feel we get along well. If you have time, Elder Brother Yang, let's find a place to sit and have a drink to catch up."

Yang Lingqi pursed his lips, showing he was still hesitant, but eventually he nodded and said: "All right."

Hu Xiaotian pointed ahead to the Duowei Fang and said: "Let's go there." Yang Lingqi packed up his stall and followed Hu Xiaotian to Duowei Fang.

Today was also the first day Duowei Fang opened for the New Year, greeting guests with smiles and cheer wherever they went. If Yang Lingqi entered alone like that, he might be mistaken for a beggar and driven out. But walking together with Hu Xiaotian, the difference is obvious. Hu Xiaotian's attire is splendid and his bearing extraordinary; at a glance one sees he is either rich or noble. The attendant followed Hu Xiaotian, asking after his comfort and flattering him incessantly, yet ignored Yang Lingqi at his side. Yang Lingqi silently lamented the warmth and coldness of human relations, the fickleness of the world.

Hu Xiaotian requested a window seat on the second floor and had the attendant bring the menu to Yang Lingqi. Yang Lingqi said: "Just order whatever you think fit, Sir Hu." He glanced at the menu; to him every dish was astronomically priced.

Hu Xiaotian smiled. Without insistence, he casually ordered four specialty dishes and a pot of fine wine.

After the food and wine arrived, Hu Xiaotian raised his cup and said: "You and I could be considered destined to meet from afar; let's drink to our acquaintance and meeting."

Yang Lingqi nodded, extended his right hand to brace the cup against his disabled left wrist, lifted it, and drank it down.

Seeing him like this, Hu Xiaotian's compassion welled up. After finishing his own cup, he said softly: "Elder Brother Yang, what exactly happened to you that you ended up in this state?"

Yang Lingqi set down his cup, but absentmindedly it tipped over. Hu Xiaotian, quick-eyed and quick-handed, caught the cup, steadied it before him, and refilled it.

Seeing that he could not even manage such a simple task, Yang Lingqi involuntarily let out a sigh of dejection.

Hu Xiaotian had already heard earlier that his parents had suffered misfortune one after another, and he still remembered Xiao Tianmu mentioning that Yang Lingqi had disappeared on the way to Qingyun to mourn his parents. From Yang Lingqi's current condition, it is clear he must have endured a life‑and‑death ordeal.

Yang Lingqi said: "I had originally been on my way to the capital to take the examinations, but midway I heard that my father had met with misfortune, so I gave up the exams and hurried back to Qingyun. Just as I was nearing Qingyun, a band of horse‑riding bandits attacked me—not for robbery but to take my life. As a frail scholar, how could I oppose more than a dozen vicious brigands? My attendant was cut down on the spot, and I too was wounded. With no way out, I jumped off a cliff. Perhaps my fate was not to die then, for a tree on the precipice caught me, and thus I snatched a life from the jaws of Yama."

Having said this, Yang Lingqi took a sip of wine; his pallid face flushed with a rosy hue from the alcohol. He spoke sorrowfully: "After enduring countless hardships to return to Qingyun County City, I must give my father a proper burial no matter what. Upon returning to Qingyun County City, I learned that silver had been found in my home, and my mother, unable to bear the shame, hanged herself." Overcome with grief, he could not hold back tears of a man.

Hu Xiaotian said: "When I served as Qingyun County Magistrate, I heard about your father's deeds and knew that Sir Yang is an upright and incorruptible person."

Yang Lingqi said: "My father's sleeves were clean, he hated evil as an enemy. From childhood he taught me to be a man who stands between heaven and earth, to act in a way worthy of heaven and earth's conscience. Even the travel funds for my journey to the capital to take the exams were borrowed by my father; how could he possibly be corrupt? My ancestors lived in Donghai City, and my father was exceptionally skilled in water—he could cleave waves in great rivers and seas—how could he have drowned by accident?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Xu Qinglian and Liu Bojiu's gang are all corrupt officials; the entire Qingyun county office is steeped in graft, except for your father, who is honest and upright. Perhaps that is why he became a thorn in their side, a nail in their flesh."

Yang Lingqi nodded with red-rimmed eyes: "Exactly! My parents died at the hands of that corrupt clique. They surely colluded with the horse bandits of Tianlang Mountain; my ambush by those bandits on the road was also their doing."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Then why didn't you go to the authorities?"

Yang Lingqi sighed: "All officials are as black as crows; the governance of Dakang is thoroughly corrupt. Going to Xiezhou, to Xizhou, or even to Kangdu would change nothing—ultimately it's still officials covering for each other. They feared someone would vindicate my parents, so after my parents' burial they still stationed men to lie in wait at the grave. I am truly unfilial, unable even to see my parents off on their final journey."

Hu Xiaotian comforted him: "A gentleman may avenge after ten years and still not be late; before the great grudge is settled, one must not act rashly. If you too were to meet misfortune, who would then avenge your parents?"

Yang Lingqi nodded: "It is precisely with this thought that I have endured humiliation and burden to survive. I dare not stay in Qingyun, so I went to Honggu County to nurse my wounds while seeking a chance for revenge. Later I heard that Qingyun had appointed a new county magistrate; I originally thought he was just another corrupt official come to exploit the populace."

Hu Xiaotian laughed.

"Later I heard you had arrested Xu Qinglian's entire gang, which let me know you differed from them and gave rise to hope. I prepared to go to Qingyun to find you, to see if I could help vindicate my parents, but then I learned you had gone to Xiezhou." Yang Lingqi said: "Not long after you left Qingyun, Xichuan rose in rebellion. Although the fighting did not reach Qingyun, Xu Qinglian's gang was released again and resumed control of Qingyun's authority."

"What?" Hu Xiaotian exclaimed in astonishment.

Yang Lingqi said: "Li Tianheng raised troops and declared himself lord; anyone who voluntarily surrendered was not only pardoned but could even be promoted, while officials who dared openly oppose him faced a policy of no‑mercy killing. Xu Qinglian, sly and deceitful, immediately declared loyalty to the rebels, so he continued to be employed by the Xichuan Li clan and remained as Qingyun County Magistrate."

Hu Xiaotian regretted deeply: "Had I known this, I should have slaughtered them all."

Yang Lingqi said: "After Xu Qinglian's gang seized power, they naturally became even more ruthless, wildly retaliating against those who had once been close to the officials. In the time since you left, Qingyun has seen who knows how many wrongful convictions."

Hu Xiaotian gritted his teeth: "This scoundrel—when I find the time, I will surely have him sliced to pieces to ease the hatred in my heart."

Yang Lingqi said: "Don't think Xu Qinglian is merely a petty county magistrate of Qingyun; he is far from simple, having long maintained secret dealings with the Tianlang Mountain horse bandits—who knows how many innocents they have jointly harmed."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Elder Brother Yang, having fled from Xichuan, you must have endured great hardship, right?"

Yang Lingqi said: "I am merely a cripple; I never intended to leave Xichuan, but after Li Tianheng declared himself lord, the various regions of Xichuan began to purge rebels. Those lower‑level officials, eager to show loyalty, launched massive sweeps in their jurisdictions, causing a climate of suspicion. Worried that my true identity would be exposed, I fled all the way to Dakang, originally hoping to settle temporarily in Kangdu, yet after many twists I ended up in Tianbo City, penniless. I can only make do here for now, hoping to earn some travel funds before heading to the capital." Recounting his experience, Yang Lingqi lamented: "In my present state, my paintings fetch no price; though I still have some works from before, I cannot bear to sell them to those who merely affect elegance."

Extra chapter uploaded—wishing everyone a happy Little New Year! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)

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