Chapter 81: What a Fine Nephew

In the Tonghe Hall, Zhang Zhao had no choice but to offer Li Shengtian the full grand ceremony of obeisance, and as he watched Zhang Zhao kowtow obediently below, Li Shengtian on the throne narrowed his eyes, his mood unreadable.

Only after Zhang Zhao had finished kowtowing did that expression tinged with mischievous amusement reappear on Li Shengtian's face.

"Making you kowtow is to make you understand: your father died young, your mother is not by your side, so I, your maternal uncle, am the same as your parents to you.

You're something else, boy! You gave the queen of Sanpoba to a brave general under your command, and to your uncle you sent two little yellow-haired girls. You're quite the filial one!"

If you're going to bring that up, then I'm wide awake! Zhang Zhao perked up at once. He took the chance to rise, putting on a fawning expression.

"Uncle, Son of Heaven, your words are mistaken. What is so good about that queen of Sanpoba? The Zhongyun people are crude and know nothing of refinement; she might suit a rough soldier, but how could she be worthy of an uncle like mine, a master of poetry and painting!

But these two daughters of Sanpoba are different. Graceful and lovely, tall and slender, though still young, one can already see they will grow into great beauties.

If Uncle keeps them in the palace and has them taught the qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, the Confucian classics, the scriptures of the Exalted Buddha, and the arts of the bedchamber,

then in his leisure Uncle may even instruct them personally. By the time they are grown, they will already be perfectly attuned to his heart — talented, accomplished, skilled at flattery and pleasing, and noble as princesses of their own kingdom. With such beauties ever at his side, would that not be the supreme joy of this world?"

Without even looking at Li Shengtian's expression, Zhang Zhao knew this pitch had hit Li Shengtian right where he itched. He might be a king of the Western Regions, but the Yuchi (Li) family of Khotan was a true oddity among the kings of the Western Regions.

And "oddity" here is meant as praise, not criticism, because several hundred years ago, the famous painters of the Sui-Tang era, the Elder and Younger Yuchi, were of the Khotan royal house.

Later, in the golden age of the Great Tang, the Khotan royal house produced a succession of great masters of poetry and painting, their literary cultivation far surpassing that of ordinary Central Plains gentry scholars, and they took great pride in this.

In short, for several hundred years this family had been much like the great Han and Tang aristocratic clans of the Central Plains, and by the standards of the present age they could absolutely be called civilized people.

Now, a civilized man like Li Shengtian did not lack women around him. Ordinary pretty faces and vulgar charms could hardly attract him, and the land of Anxi happened to be short of women with such literary cultivation.

So Zhang Zhao's proposal — raising a noble-born, beautiful, and literarily accomplished beauty — was absolutely to Li Shengtian's taste.

Sure enough, Li Shengtian on the throne froze. Slurp! He let himself imagine it for a moment. Th-this... this really is damn thrilling!

Uh! No, wait! Li Shengtian's face suddenly changed, and he put on the pained, heartbroken look of an elder.

"You're so young — how do you understand such things? A young man should set his ambitions high. What are you thinking about all day?"

"Uncle's instruction is right!" Zhang Zhao quickly lowered his head and put on a submissive look. Li Shengtian was having trouble saving face.

Indeed, for a nephew to discuss such things with his uncle was somewhat improper, but there was no help for it — he needed to close the distance with Li Shengtian as quickly as possible!

Still, this so-called Son of Heaven uncle of his was a bit of a bumpkin! Not only had he never heard of "raising" a girl, but the Yangzhou slender-horse game should not have been particularly rare at this time, right? He ought to have known about it!

"That queen of Sanpoba you bestowed — let me take her back for you! Although you had no choice at the time but to win men's hearts that way, a queen of a kingdom is ultimately not something a man under your command should enjoy.

Have him send her to the Suomoruo Temple to become a nun. I shall bestow in compensation a palace maid, a suit of fine armor, and two fine horses!"

Seeing Zhang Zhao admit his fault decisively, Li Shengtian nodded with satisfaction. But then, in just a few words, he took away the Right Queen of Sanpoba whom Zhang Zhao had given to Yan Jin.

Although he also bestowed a beauty, armor, and famous horses as compensation, this was not necessarily a good thing for Zhang Zhao!

Li Shengtian was planting a nail among his people!

Would this bestowed woman turn out to be a trained palace spy? Would Yan Jin be won over by Li Shengtian's grand gesture? This was the most important general under his command.

All of this was possible. After all, Li Shengtian was the ruler of a great kingdom, while he, Zhang Zhao, was only an empty-handed lord trading on his ancestors' name — even his office of Commandant was self-conferred.

But at this moment he absolutely could not hesitate. If you, a nephew come to scrounge, acted as though your uncle, lord of seven hundred thousand people, would swallow up your paltry assets and men, you would seem utterly petty, and it would easily earn Li Shengtian's disgust.

So Zhang Zhao swiftly clasped his hands and sang out a hearty salute! "Aye! Many thanks to Uncle for resolving this! Your nephew acted rashly in the heat of the moment; it was indeed not well done."

Seeing that Zhang Zhao seemed genuinely to think himself in the wrong, Li Shengtian's expression improved considerably.

He did indeed intend to plant a nail among Zhang Zhao's people, but this nail was not, as Zhang Zhao imagined, meant to buy off his subordinates or anything of the sort.

Rather, Li Shengtian felt this nephew was a little too restless, and that he had to know his movements and keep him in check from time to time, so that he might grow into something worthwhile.

But Li Shengtian, whose expression had just improved, then remembered another matter. This fine nephew of his had nerve that truly gave no peace! He had even dared to climb into the bed of Li Ruoyu's younger sister.

That Li Ruoliu had been a troublemaker as a child, and as an adult she was even less easy to handle. These two were indeed kindred spirits. And the boy had even dared to send someone to contact Li Ruoyu — his nerve was considerable.

"Li Ruoyu has sent a memorial saying that Li Ruoliu, the queen of our Li family married to Zhongyun, wishes to become queen regent. What do you think?"

As he spoke, Li Shengtian still could not restrain himself. He stepped down from the throne, and at Zhang Zhao, who stood ramrod straight, he raised a leg and delivered a kick.

"She is my cousin, your cousin-aunt. You certainly know how to have fun! Was the bed of a queen of a kingdom easy to climb into? Do you have any idea..."

Li Shengtian had meant to say, do you have any idea how sensitive the identity of their branch of the family is, but on reflection he felt that would be too blunt, so he forcibly swallowed the words.

To be honest, Zhang Zhao rather disliked this feeling of having everything about him thoroughly understood by others. Still, the fact that Li Shengtian was willing to speak to him this way proved he did not treat him as an outsider, which was a good thing.

"Your nephew did this out of necessity. The foundation of the Guiyi Army was originally my Zhang family's. To rescue my mother from her plight, I must retake Guazhou and Shazhou.

My greatest hope was originally you, Uncle, Son of Heaven. But in the present situation, with Hexi and Anxi ringed by barbarians on all sides, Khotan and the Guiyi Army rise and fall together. No matter how much Uncle cherishes my mother and me, he cannot openly support me.

So your nephew thought of the kingdom of Zhongyun, as a place of refuge in the days to come, and as a cover when seeking a measure of support from Uncle."

Li Shengtian was nearly angered into laughter. Although he did indeed have the intention of supporting Zhang Zhao in retaking his inheritance, it was exactly as Zhang Zhao said: given the current relationship between the Guiyi Army and Khotan and the circumstances they faced, not only openly, but even in secret, it was inconvenient for him to lend support.

"Since you understand these principles, let me ask you: how do you intend to take back your family estate? A beardless boy like you — what can you do before the Great King of Tuoxi?"

Zhang Zhao met Li Shengtian's gaze without the slightest hesitation. "Uncle, your nephew has no other reliance. Apart from a heart set on reclaiming the ancestral estate and a hundred brave men, my greatest reliance is my youth.

The Great King Linggong is nearing sixty, and his health is failing day by day. His remaining sons are mediocre, and no longer young.

Your nephew can build up strength while he waits. Even if I must wait until thirty, or forty, I will take back the ancestral estate!"

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