Chapter 373: Seeking Help

Tian Wan and his companions disembarked within Suzhou city, and after Zhao Yuan paid the boat fare, the three crossed bridges and threaded through alleys in the city, finally settling at an inn called Fuyuan.

"Young Master, although we had quite a thrill this time, I've been thinking—won't this ruin the Master's grand plan? Judging by the look of things, that man surnamed Zou seems to have considerable influence locally. If we want to bring that beauty back to the capital, it's going to take some real effort! What does the Young Master plan to do next?"

Inside the main guest room of a small private courtyard behind the Fuyuan Inn, Liu Yong addressed Tian Wan, who sat in a chair warming his hands over a brazier, seeking his instructions.

"Why is this winter in Gusu just like the weather back in Yangzhou? It truly feels like the cold seeps into one's very bones! Even more unbearable than the northern climes of the capital!"

Tian Wan slowly straightened up and leaned back against his chair, then picked up the hot tea on the table and took a few sips, feeling the chill within him ease somewhat.

Liu Yong hurried forward to lift the teapot and refill the teacup with hot tea before stepping back.

"It seems this matter can't be kept small no matter what. That man surnamed Zou and his lot don't know our background—having suffered this loss, they'll surely find a way to save face. I reckon they'll be able to track us down here soon enough!"

Tian Wan tightened his robe and spoke with an unchanged expression.

"Then how should we respond? Return to the capital, or have the local authorities step in to resolve this? In the end, we have too few men—a mighty dragon can't crush a local snake. If that Zou fellow resorts to some underhanded tricks, it may bode ill for you, Young Master!"

Liu Yong, who was not yet thirty years of age, reminded him with some concern.

Both he and Zhao Yuan were natives of the capital, having been recruited into the Tian household several years prior. Tian Hongyu and Tian Wan had always treated them well—besides their regular monthly wages, they received generous rewards every New Year's holiday, which rapidly improved their previously modest family circumstances. The two were grateful to the Tian family and served with complete devotion.

"Returning to the capital is out of the question—we haven't accomplished what we came for. What kind of figure would we cut slinking back in defeat? As for the local officials, don't count on them. With the Tian family's standing, those civil officials would love nothing more than to see something go wrong with our house, then embellish the story to splash mud on the Noble Consort in the palace! This matter must be handled properly—let me think on it!"

"Young Master, you take your time thinking. I'll go to the front courtyard to check whether the meal is ready—it's already past noon, and you haven't eaten yet, Young Master! Zhao Yuan is waiting outside the door; just call out if you need anything!"

Seeing Tian Wan frowning and stroking his chin as he pondered a solution, Liu Yong announced himself and left the room.

About half an hour later, a table of steaming Suzhou dishes, along with a jar of fine daughter's wine, was set on the table beside Tian Wan. He rose, washed his hands, and helped himself.

Liu Yong and Zhao Yuan, meanwhile, took turns eating in the ground-floor hall of the inn up front, ensuring someone was always on guard near Tian Wan.

Although the Tian father and son treated them kindly, master and servant were still distinct—they had no standing to sit and dine with Tian Wan.

By the time Liu Yong finished his meal and returned, and Zhao Yuan went to eat, Tian Wan had downed half a jar of wine when he suddenly burst into laughter at the sky.

"Young Master, have you thought of a plan?"

Liu Yong, who had been outside the door, entered upon hearing the sound and asked Tian Wan with a face full of joy.

"Hahahaha! Old Liu, here we were priding ourselves on being men who've seen the world, and yet this time we've fallen into the darkness right under the lamp! Hahahaha!"

"Darkness under the lamp? Forgive my dullness, but as far as I know, our household has no usable connections in the Gusu area. If we did, I would have reminded you long ago, Young Master!"

Seeing Tian Wan in such high spirits, Liu Yong asked with a bewildered look.

"Old Liu, Old Liu—have you forgotten who your Young Master is? Haha!"

Tian Wan looked at Liu Yong with a smug expression before asking.

"Isn't the Young Master simply the eldest son of the Left Commissioner-in-Chief? Ah? Right! The Young Master is a hereditary Chiliarch of the Embroidered Uniform Guard! How could I have forgotten that! But... if I may speak bluntly, Young Master, please don't be angry—although you hold this rank, it's not an actual post. You have no authority to mobilize those gentlemen of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and those gentlemen are no easy characters!"

By the end, Liu Yong's briefly elevated spirits sank once more.

After all, he too was a native of the capital, and having spent these years in the Tian household, he had heard no small number of inside stories and rumors—so he knew full well just how much his Young Master's status was actually worth.

As for the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which had risen anew in recent years, men like Liu Yong feared them as one fears tigers.

He knew very well in his heart that although he served in a noble household like the Tian family, any random captain or guardsman of the Embroidered Uniform Guard could dispose of him as easily as crushing a bedbug.

"Heh heh, Old Liu, although this rank of mine is an empty title, don't you forget—what did we come here for? The moment I reveal just a hint of the circumstances of this matter, as the Son of Heaven's own personal guard, who else would they help but us? Hahahaha!"

That afternoon, around the hour of Shen, inside the office of the Suzhou Chiliarchy of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Chiliarch Wang Ancheng was receiving Tian Wan, who had come to seek his help.

Because of his outstanding performance and repeated meritorious deeds in recent years, and by the personal designation of Zhu Youjian, Wang Ancheng had been fortunate enough to be posted several months prior to Suzhou, this prosperous locale, to serve as Chiliarch. This filled him with boundless gratitude and made him even more loyal to the Emperor.

Today, while on duty at the office, Wang Ancheng suddenly received a report from a captain that a certain Chiliarch Tian of the Embroidered Uniform Guard from the capital had come requesting an audience. Wang Ancheng was dumbfounded for some time before he connected this Chiliarch Tian with Noble Consort Tian.

Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard ordinarily paid little attention to these few noble relatives, and the two sides maintained a policy of non-interference, this was after all the Jiangnan region, far from the capital. For this Chiliarch Tian to suddenly appear at his door, he must have encountered some thorny problem.

Since the man had come to his door seeking help, it would hardly be appropriate not to see him. If the fellow tried to throw his weight around as a noble relative, issuing orders and making unreasonable demands, then he could simply throw him out—the sagacious Emperor would certainly not blame him for that. Of that there was no doubt.

With such thoughts in mind, Wang Ancheng received Tian Wan in the second hall.

"May I ask what instruction Chiliarch Tian has in gracing my door? Our personal guard is directly subordinate to the imperial house, and has always taken upholding the imperial reputation as its duty. His Majesty has repeatedly admonished the guard not to use its authority for private gain, on pain of severe punishment without leniency! Given Chiliarch Tian's position, you must be well aware of this. What does Chiliarch Tian think?"

After simple greetings and pleasantries, Wang Ancheng spoke first with a calm expression.

"Instruction is too strong a word. The reason I have presumed to call upon you today is that this matter involves a noble personage of the palace, and I had no choice but to come seeking help. I am of course aware of what Chiliarch Wang has said, but this is by no means a private affair of the Tian family—otherwise I would have handled it myself."

Tian Wan had anticipated Wang Ancheng's attitude. He knew the man did not hold his so-called noble relative status in any regard, and that he was already doing him a great courtesy by agreeing to meet face to face.

"Oh? Is Chiliarch Tian speaking the truth? A matter involving a noble personage of the palace? The Noble Consort is fond of tranquility and dislikes any entanglement with the outside world—this is common knowledge throughout the capital. Chiliarch Tian had best not try to deceive me, or I will immediately send men to escort you back to the capital!"

Wang Ancheng said sternly.

He assumed the noble personage Tian Wan referred to was Noble Consort Tian, and so used her well-known temperament to warn Tian Wan: Don't you dare try to fool me—nothing in the palace escapes the Embroidered Uniform Guard. If you dare to wave a borrowed banner, I'll have you roughed up and sent back to the capital right away.

"Chiliarch Wang, please do not misunderstand. Very well then, I shall speak plainly!"

Seeing that Wang Ancheng seemed inclined to show him the door, Tian Wan had no choice but to relate the morning's events.

However, he did not say that he had come south specifically to select beauties for the Emperor. Instead, he used a different story, claiming he had come south to inspect the accounts of the Tian family's commercial houses, and by coincidence had encountered Chen Yuanyuan, whose beauty was that of a celestial maiden.

He then said he had reflected that with the realm at peace and the Emperor worrying over state affairs year-round without having taken a new consort into the palace for many years, rather than let such a beauty become the plaything of some wealthy Jiangnan merchant, it would be far better to send her into the palace to comfort His Majesty's heart and spread the imperial lineage—would that not be an excellent thing?

But unexpectedly, this well-intentioned plan of his had been obstructed by others, and after much deliberation he had come to the Embroidered Uniform Guard's office, requesting the personal guard to step in and settle the matter.