Chapter 603

Just then, a loud voice boomed: "What's the ruckus? I dare anyone to cause trouble in front of Prince Yan's mansion!" The voice was like a great bell, shaking everyone's eardrums with a buzzing hum. Hu Xiaotian's heart skipped a beat; from the voice alone he could tell the person's inner strength was profound.

Everyone stopped and looked toward the sound, only to see the gates of Prince Yan's mansion swing open, and a middle-aged man in gray cloth stepped out first—it was Tie Zheng, the steward of Prince Yan's mansion. He was of medium build, not particularly tall or burly, but his steps were firm, each step rooted, his eyes shone with inner light, his temples bulged high, and his pair of large hands were one size bigger than ordinary, seeming mismatched with his stature.

The gate guards hurried forward, whispering a few words into his ear. Tie Zheng fixed his gaze on Hu Xiaotian and said coldly, "Are you causing trouble?"

Hu Xiaotian still smiled and said, "It's not trouble—I've come to pay my respects—" Before he could finish, a gray blur flashed before his eyes; Tie Zheng instantly appeared before him and swung a palm as large as a cattail fan toward his chest.

Although Hu Xiaotian wore a grin, he was secretly on guard. He had a solid foundation in the Formless Divine Skill; even though his opponent was far off, the moment Tie Zheng moved, Hu Xiaotian sensed the disturbance in the air and reacted instantly, sliding his foot back to widen the gap. Even so, Tie Zheng's speed exceeded his expectations; he dodged the palm, but the edge of the wind still grazed his face, making his skin feel as if cut by a knife.

Tie Zheng stepped forward, but he didn't fully complete the step when a 'whoosh' arrow flew from his front right, striking not him but the ground before his right foot; the arrow sank deep into the earth, leaving only its tail feather trembling above the soil, its residual force still vibrating.

Tie Zheng looked up and saw a slender young warrior in the distance, his bow drawn like a full moon, the icy arrowhead glinting as it aimed at him, ready to release. The tense atmosphere of drawn swords and cocked bows made the scene instantly tense.

Zhan Peng's firm lips pressed into a straight line, his gaze even straighter than the arrow's flight path. Tie Zheng's thick brows knit together, and a heavier killing intent shone in his eyes.

Hu Xiaotian sighed, "Actually, you don't need to intervene; I can handle him alone." He might not win the fight, but Tie Zheng would find it hard to injure him, for Hu Xiaotian's Dog-Dodging Eighteen Steps is an exceptionally exquisite footwork.

If he hadn't spoken, Tie Zheng might have overlooked him entirely. Tie Zheng turned toward Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian remained as breezy as spring wind, waving his hand and saying, "Put down your bows; we're here to make friends, not to fight—be courteous."

Zhan Peng slowly loosened the bowstring.

Although Tie Zheng's anger had not subsided, he could see from his earlier strike that Zhan Peng's archery was superb, and even this carefree-smiling boy's martial arts were far from ordinary—his sudden attack had actually been easily avoided by him.

At that moment, a deep, calm voice came from the mansion gate: "Tie Zheng, no rudeness!" It was Prince Yan Xue Shengjing arriving, wearing a gold Liang crown, a blue robe woven with gold dragon patterns, portly and big-bellied, with two warriors flanking him and four attendants behind.

Because of his girth, Xue Shengjing likely weighed over two hundred catties; after a few steps he stopped to wipe his sweat.

The hundred-plus people waiting outside shouted in unison, "Prince Yan has arrived, Prince Yan has arrived!"

Xue Shengjing chuckled, waving both hands, "Hello, hello! Why are you all here so early today? Do you all have some treasures to show me?"

Everyone scrambled to produce their treasures.

Hu Xiaotian watched the Prince Yan of Da Yong from afar, thinking he resembled a clown, lacking any trace of royal bearing.

Xue Shengjing spoke affably and approachably: "Don't rush, line up and lay out your things for me to see." He walked down the steps to the first young man, whose face flushed red with excitement as he handed over a celadon ceramic jar, saying respectfully, "Prince, this is a Yun kiln masterpiece passed down from my ancestors, over five hundred years old—look at the glaze, the shape, the craftsmanship…"

Xue Shengjing gave a heh-heh laugh, took a small gold hammer from an attendant, raised it and struck the jar with a clang, shattering it; the young man cried, his face fallen, "Prince, why did you smash my treasure…"

Xue Shengjing said, "Give him two taels of silver; the young man is no good, trying to fool me with inferior Liang ware fakes—look at those shards yourself; if they last more than three years, I'll eat every piece."

The young man's face flushed; he refused the money and turned to run. Immediately over a dozen people slipped away from the crowd. Prince Yan's reputation for collecting treasures spread far and wide, and his generosity attracted opportunists, yet Xue Shengjing truly had expertise in this area—ordinary people could hardly deceive his eyes. Those who slipped away were originally planning to fish in troubled waters, but seeing the young man's fate, none dared to embarrass themselves.

Xue Shengjing, holding the small gold hammer, walked down the line, merely glancing at most of the items they brought, never stopping, until he reached an elderly woman holding a pair of green sandalwood paperweights, and he told his attendant, "Give this old lady ten taels of gold."

Everyone looked at the pair of paperweights in the old woman's hand and saw they were merely ordinary objects, worth at most one tael of silver; given Xue Shengjing's discernment, he certainly could not have missed their value—being a royal, he was instead kind-hearted.

Although over a hundred people were in line, none of the so-called treasures they brought caught Xue Shengjing's eye, and soon each packed up their things and left in disappointment.

Hu Xiaotian found the scene quite amusing; had he known, he would have been content to wait patiently in line, but there was no need to invite trouble—now Tie Zheng and a few warriors were still eyeing him warily.

Finally, Prince Yan came before Hu Xiaotian, and Tie Zheng, worried that Hu Xiaotian might harm his master, hurried forward to guard him.

Xue Shengjing laughed, "Tie Zheng, why be nervous? In the capital of Da Yong, at the emperor's feet, who would dare harm me?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled, clasped his fists, and bowed deeply to Xue Shengjing, saying, "I am Hu Xiaotian, the marriage envoy of Dakang; I pay my respects, Prince Yan, Thousand Years."

Xue Shengjing still smiled and asked, "Are you an envoy of Dakang? Is your visit public or private?"

Hu Xiaotian replied, "Of course it's private; back in Dakang I'd heard the Prince has a discerning eye for treasures, especially in calligraphy and painting, so I brought a painting for Your Highness to appraise."

Xue Shengjing said, "Bring it out; since you've gone to such trouble, it's surely worth a look."

Hu Xiaotian noticed that although Xue Shengjing looked chubby and endearing, he was far from stupid and quite shrewd in worldly affairs. He produced the landscape painting he had prepared—a work by Yang Lingqi made before his hands were injured, of exceptional mastery: the scene shows ancient pines on perilous cliffs, cold plum blossoms amidst clumps of bamboo, rugged cliffs and mountain paths, devoid of travelers, with a serene, cool, and expansive atmosphere, rich in ink and meaning, the style elegant and restrained, possessing a unique, pure, lofty, and transcendent aura.

Xue Shengjing was a true connoisseur; upon seeing the painting, his small eyes widened and gleamed. Hu Xiaotian easily perceived his longing for it, knowing he had struck a chord, and promptly closed the scroll.

Xue Shengjing had leaned in for a clearer look, not expecting Hu Xiaotian to put it away so soon, and he complained, "Sir Hu, why did you put it away?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and asked, "Your Highness, how much gold do you think this painting is worth?"

Xue Shengjing thought to himself, "Everyone says Dakang is now declining, its strength weakened—sure enough, even their envoy has come to hawk paintings at my door." He extended his plump right hand, twirling his sparse beard, and said, "I am willing to offer a thousand gold."

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "Not for a thousand gold!"

Xue Shengjing asked, "What price do you ask?"

Hu Xiaotian presented the painting with both hands, saying, "This painting is a painting is a gift for the Prince; I accept no payment."

Xue Shengjing understood the principle of not accepting reward without merit; although he greatly desired the landscape painting, he did not rush to take it, his small eyes shifting as he smiled and said, "I have never met this sir before—how could I accept such a valuable gift?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "This painting is not my gift to the Prince, nor did I paint it; the painter is Yang Lingqi. I met him by chance in Tianbo City—he was destitute, wandering the streets. I pitied his talent and wanted to help him, but he only expressed one wish: to come to Yongdu and seek refuge with Your Highness."

Xue Shengjing exclaimed in surprise and delight, "Where is he now?"

Hu Xiaotian sighed, "I had originally intended for him to accompany the envoy, but his illness worsened along the way and he died young. I pitied his unfulfilled wish, so I brought this painting to present to the Prince, thereby helping him achieve his desire. Aside from that, there is nothing else. Your Highness, please accept this painting; I take my leave."

Xue Shengjing found this reason hard to refuse, especially since he already liked the painting. He took the painting with both hands, not expecting Hu Xiaotian to turn and walk away, and said, "Sir Hu, please stay."

Hu Xiaotian had anticipated this outcome, a faint smile playing on his lips, but when he turned around his expression shifted to astonishment: "Your Highness, what else do you require?"

Xue Shengjing said, "Sir Hu, if you do not take offense, please come to my residence for a chat."

Hu Xiaotian replied, "I have nothing pressing; I only fear delaying the Prince's official duties."

Xue Shengjing said, "I happen to be quite free today." (Want to know more exciting updates of Medical Unification? Open WeChat now, click the '+' in the top right, choose Add Friends, add the official account, search 'Qidianzhongwenwang', follow the account, and you'll never miss an update! qdread)(To be continued…~^~)