Chapter 83: It Won't Help No Matter Who Comes

Sizhou, Jiuyuan.

After Li Shuang returned, his second stop was Jiuyuan City, to pay a visit to Sizhou Inspector Wei Qingbin.

As an old Heavenly Dragon native, he was surprisingly decent toward Li Shuang.

That Taipingzhuang had occupied two or three hundred thousand mu of farmland, yet Wei Qingbin turned a blind eye and never caused any trouble.

On the contrary, toward the children of the General Er Zhu clan, he was far stricter.

Whenever any General Er Zhu clansman broke the law, as long as the offense fell into his hands, there was never a good end for them.

But given Wei Qingbin's background, seniority, and prestige, even General Er Zhu Rong would not dare raise his voice at him.

At least, not yet.

"Tianba, you've done very well in Shuozhou!"

"Not at all, it's all the Grand Commander's merit. This boy only chipped in a brick or two from the side!"

Wei Qingbin shook his head.

"What sort of character that boy Li Shen Gui is, would I not know?"

Li Shuang raised an eyebrow, but heard Wei Qingbin continue:

"When this boy went south, he stayed one night at Jiuyuan City. This old man had thought that, given his fame, he must have made some progress, so I discussed military and political matters with him. Who would have known he was still completely clueless. I knew then—why did Li Chong take you as his adopted son?"

It had to be said that the older ginger was still the spicier.

"That household retainer of yours called Jia Sixie is a capable man. He urged farming and sericulture, pacified the common folk, built waterworks, and in a short time turned Sizhou from chaos to order. In the end, though that grain tax went into your pocket, at least you didn't put it to bad use."

Wei Qingbin suddenly leaned over and asked:

"Tell me honestly, boy—after you defeated the Rouran, how much did you get?"

"Just over twenty thousand head of cattle and sheep, and a bit over two thousand Rouran slaves, I suppose!"

Wei Qingbin let out a chuckle, as if looking at someone else's child.

"I don't think that's all—at least ten times more, and that's not even counting the gold, silver, wares, and warhorses!"

"There really isn't that much. Where would this boy have such ability?"

"Those two warhorses you gave this old man, I like them very much. The ones you gave to General Er Zhu Rong and Yuan Tianmu, I know about too. These Western Region fine horses are the most important wealth of the Rouran Wang Ting. If you could get these, you still dare say you don't have that ability?"

"It was just a coincidence. The Rouran aren't that easy to deal with!"

Wei Qingbin saw that the boy before him didn't have a single truthful word, and he couldn't pry anything out either, so he waved his sleeve.

"You brat, not a single truthful word out of your mouth. This old man doesn't want to talk to you anymore!"

Li Shuang felt as if granted a great reprieve, and hurried to leave, lest he be robbed by this old man.

But just as he had taken two steps, Wei Qingbin said from behind:

"The court doesn't have it easy either!"

Wei Qingbin paid no heed to whether Li Shuang was willing to listen, and went on speaking on his own.

"When Emperor Xiaowen wanted to move the capital back then, many in Take Pingcheng opposed it. Emperor Xiaowen acted first and reported later, and still got it done. It was because Emperor Xiaowen knew full well that only by making the Xianbei the same as the Han people could the realm be at peace, and Great Wei would not collapse suddenly like Fu Qin, nor would it be like those various Hu-yi states—rising swiftly, falling swiftly!"

"But looking at it now, those who opposed moving the capital back then weren't entirely without reason! It's just that right and wrong, who can say clearly?"

Li Shuang turned his head, a simple, honest smile on his face.

"Are you talking to me, old sir?"

Wei Qingbin, helpless, cursed once.

"Get lost!"

Li Shuang, hearing this, quickened his steps.

The moment he left, Wei Qingbin's attendant came to report.

"My lord, General Er Zhu Yinge of the General Er Zhu clan bagged a few fresh roe deer while hunting and has sent them to you."

Wei Qingbin shook his head and sighed:

"What a pity about this girl. The General Er Zhu family finally produced a good person for once, but her temperament is a bit too strong."

Night.

Outside Jiuyuan City, in the hunting grounds.

General Er Zhu Yinge, bringing Zhu Tianguang and a dozen or so attendants, spent the night in a courtyard by the river.

"Third Uncle, come drink!"

Over the bonfire, roe deer was still being roasted, the aroma of meat filling the air.

"I've come to Jiuyuan, so why have you followed along too?"

"What do you mean 'followed along too'? My father told us that Inspector Wei is an elder, and told us not to forget to pay our respects often."

"I haven't seen Zhu Zhao and the others come by this diligently!"

At this, Zhu Tianguang let out a chuckle, a hint of cunning showing on his face.

"Zhu Zhao and the others can't dodge fast enough when they see Inspector Wei—how would they come visit on their own?"

"Then why are you all so diligent?"

General Er Zhu Yinge smiled proudly, pointing at the courtyard beside them.

"See that? This is the result!"

This hunting ground originally belonged to the imperial hunting estate, with a temporary palace built on it. After it fell into disuse, only this one courtyard remained.

It seemed Wei Qingbin had given this courtyard to them for their use.

Li Shuang's guards were patrolling outside. Seeing it was getting late, Li Shuang yawned.

"Why don't we wrap it up? I still have to return to Taipingzhuang tomorrow!"

"What do you mean it's late? It's barely begun!"

General Er Zhu Yinge raised her wine cup in a toast toward him. Li Shuang tried to decline.

"I'm not good at drinking either!"

Er Zhu Tianguang was also somewhat drunk by now, his words carrying a hint of intoxication.

"How is that possible? A grown man can't not know how to drink. Watch closely, burp~~~~"

Er Zhu Tianguang let out a long burp, yet he didn't forget to pour wine for Li Shuang.

After drinking much wine, Li Shuang also showed signs of drunkenness and suddenly stopped moving.

Er Zhu Yinge's face turned red, and she revealed a smile.

"Can't hold out after just this little wine? Truly useless!"

Er Zhu Tianguang said in a daze:

"What should we do? Should we call someone to carry Third Uncle into the room?"

Er Zhu Yinge waved her hand.

"No need. The two of us are enough."

Er Zhu Yinge and Er Zhu Tianguang supported Li Shuang into the house, and Er Zhu Tianguang yawned.

"Sister, I can't take it anymore. I'll go sleep first!"

"Go ahead!"

Er Zhu Yinge lifted Li Shuang onto the bed, covered him with the quilt, and suddenly her head grew heavy. When she opened her eyes again, she was only a few feet from Li Shuang's face.

She looked at Li Shuang's handsome face, extended her finger, and drew circles on his nose.

"You rascal! You kidnapped me back then and bullied me. I, my lord, forgive a small person's faults, so let it go. But now you actually dare to say I'm not as good as that Du Gu Ru! Where am I inferior?!"

Er Zhu Yinge, drunk and wobbly, looked at Li Shuang's lips and kissed him.

After the kiss, she smacked her lips and said in a daze:

"What's the big deal? It's nothing special!"

Saying this, she tapped Li Shuang's cheek with her pale white hand. A smile, sweet yet tinged with wine, appeared on her face; she looked very proud and very triumphant.

"Just you wait. You will be mine sooner or later. No one can stop me!"

Er Zhu Yinge straightened her body, swayed unsteadily, and smiled foolishly.

"Hehe, I, Er Zhu Yinge, am simply that powerful!"

She left the place in a daze and returned to her own room.

Until the moment the main door closed, Li Shuang, who had kept his eyes shut, opened them and smacked his lips!

"Not that great. Full of wine breath!"

……