County Lieutenant Qin rose angrily, his ingratiating smile changing as he did so. Even his straight waist had bent considerably.
He hurried out the door and invited in the good-for-nothing brat who had been “shouting and carrying on, with no upbringing.”
Xiao He.
Upon seeing that face, Xiang Yuan’s eyelid twitched. He knew he was Unlucky today, but he had not expected to be this Unlucky.
“Little Yuan Ge, I asked you to come find me and get your Umbrella. Why didn’t you come? Did you Forgot?”
Xiao He wore a Grinning Face as he circled Xiang Yuan. Xiang Yuan said nothing and ignored him, while County Lieutenant Qin circled Xiao He with a face full of smiles. Xiao He did not even turn his head, treating him as air.
How could they be so alike!
Old Liu stared in astonishment at the scene before him. Being as shrewd as he was, he immediately guessed that Xiao He’s Origin was extraordinary. He just Didn't understand when Xiang Yuan, who had also come from a Mud-legged person’s background like him, had gotten to know such a person.
It seemed that the other side had Proactively approached him.
How strange!
According to Old Liu’s Idea, if it were him, he would have attached himself to Xiao He without waiting for Xiao He to throw himself at him.
Old Liu looked toward Xiang Yuan. Xiang Yuan slightly shook his head, remaining silent.
Xiao He pressed his hot face against a cold Buttocks, yet he neither became angry nor disappointed. Instead, he turned toward County Lieutenant Qin and looked at him through his nostrils. “Who are you? Why have you been chattering nonstop?”
“Your subordinate is Qin Yun, County Lieutenant of Fengxian County. Do you still remember, Young Master? When you first came to this county, Lord Sima and Lord Wu held a welcoming banquet for you. I even toasted you with two cups of wine!” County Lieutenant Qin’s waist bent even more deeply.
“Oh, so it was you. I seem to remember something like that.”
Xiao He blinked, his face full of having already Forgot who the other man was. “A Noble person has many things to forget. If I have Offended you, Lord Qin, please be magnanimous.”
“Young Master, you jest. There is no lord here.” County Lieutenant Qin spoke sycophantically.
“Don’t smile yet. I heard very clearly just now that you asked who had come, and who had raised this good-for-nothing brat, didn’t you?”
Xiao He narrowed his eyes. “My father is Xiao Yan. He taught me to become this worthless. If you do not believe me, you may go to Zhen Dian Prefecture in Guanshan Dao Town and question him yourself.”
In an instant, County Lieutenant Qin was sweating profusely. Trembling with fear, his face was as white as a paper figure, and he stammered, “Your subordinate misspoke. I hope Young Master will be lenient. Please, do not Alarm Prince Zhao.”
Prince Zhao!
The Lord of Eight Prefectures, the Guanshan Dao Grand Secretariat.
This brat came from such a powerful background?
Xiang Yuan found it Unbelievable. From head to toe, inside and out, Xiao He did not possess the slightest Image of a Prince’s Heir Apparent. Could this be the classic case of a tiger father with a Dog Father’s son, a hero giving birth to a beast?
Old Liu also found it Unbelievable. He had more common sense than Xiang Yuan and had heard about the circumstances of Prince Zhao’s Estate. He knew of an amusing story about this Prince.
Years ago, a Daoist priest had read Xiao Yan’s fortune and said that he was destined to have ninety-nine sons, and that only through Unification could he be Perfected.
Xiao Yan fathered children like mad. Finding himself too slow, he began widely accepting Adopted sons as well. Judging by the time that had passed, he should have at least eighty, if not ninety.
That being the case, sending his most troublesome and most troublemaking Son to Fengxian County, so he could be out of sight, out of mind, made perfect sense.
What astonished Old Liu was not Xiao He’s background. It was the same question as before: when had Xiang Yuan managed to connect with such a powerful figure, and even make the other man infatuated with him?
How had Old Liu never encountered such a stroke of good fortune?
On the other side, Xiao He had County Lieutenant Qin completely under his control. Relying on his old man’s authority over the Eight Prefectures, he toyed with County Lieutenant Qin until the man was utterly helpless.
Only after he had had his fill of fun did he slowly say, “Little Qin, who are you hosting this banquet for? This Constable and Little Yuan Ge?”
“Little Yuan Ge...”
County Lieutenant Qin gave Xiang Yuan a resentful look. Why hadn’t you said you had such powerful backing earlier? What a mess this had become. Later, he would punish himself with three cups, and he would definitely pay more Notice in the Future.
Little Constable, don’t force me to kneel and beg you!
Noticing County Lieutenant Qin’s gaze, Xiang Yuan was unwilling though he was, he could only accept Xiao He’s favor in resolving the matter. He slowly said, “Young Master Xiao, Old Liu and I worked hard investigating a case and achieved great merit. County Lieutenant Qin Specially arranged this banquet to reward the two of us.”
“Exactly, exactly.” County Lieutenant Qin nodded repeatedly, wiped away the Cold sweat on his forehead, and forced out a smile that looked almost like a sob.
Old Liu held little authority and had no qualification to speak, so he followed along by nodding, proving that County Lieutenant Qin had indeed invited them to dinner.
“I knew it. Little Yuan Ge has such a good temper; he couldn’t possibly Offend anyone...”
Xiao He came forward, hooked his arm around Xiang Yuan’s, and loudly babbled, “Why call me Young Master Xiao? You and I hit it off at first sight. We’re Like-minded, As if we were Brothers separated for many years. How about it? Shall we become Sworn Siblings Tonight?”
That is called sharing the same interests. If you don’t know how to use an idiom, then don’t use one.
Besides, who shares the same interests with you!
Xiao He continued babbling without pause. “My Dog Father is still short a few Adopted sons to make up the numbers, and there are still vacancies among my sworn brothers. You look very suitable. I’ll write him a letter. He hates me most of all, so to gain some peace and quiet, he’ll definitely agree on the spot. Then the two of us will truly become Brothers.”
The claim was too grand for Xiang Yuan to respond to, so he answered with silence.
Xiao He pressed his hot face against a cold Buttocks, but there was naturally someone else willing to press a hot face against his cold Buttocks. County Lieutenant Qin came forward, invited Xiao He to take the seat of honor, summoned the servers, and paid dearly for the feast.
Before taking his seat, Old Liu tugged at Xiang Yuan’s sleeve and said, “This is great fortune. Make good use of it. Don’t end up like me, no better than dust and weeds.”
Old Liu had already made up his mind. No matter how many sons Prince Zhao had, it could not change the fact that Xiao He was his own Flesh and Blood. If Xiang Yuan latched onto this thigh, he would surely rise to prominence in the Future. The five taels of Silver need not be repaid; all Old Liu wanted was a favor from Xiang Yuan. Once Xiang Yuan became an Important Figure, he could repay him then.
And if he did not repay him, that was fine too. It was only five taels. Old Liu could Gritted teeth and consider it a loss in the Gambling match.
It truly was a fortune, but...
Xiang Yuan glanced at Xiao He and County Lieutenant Qin, who were Clinking glasses and cups, and Secretly said that this fortune had come too suspiciously, as though the whole gathering had been arranged.
Suppose Xiao He and County Lieutenant Qin had known each other long ago, noticed that he was extraordinary, failed to return the Umbrella, and Specially blocked him at the Yamen Entrance. Then, when he came out, they called over two Family retainers... This and that, that and this, and thus the feast before him had come to be.
Thinking of this, Xiang Yuan amused himself so much that he laughed.
That was right. He had become the disciple of a renowned Master and learned a Divine Skill, but who knew about it?
With someone like Xiao He, who had learned nothing and could not even use idioms properly, could he really have calculated all this?
Forget it. Daoist Quexin had left no trace, wiping his Buttocks clean of every stain. Xiao He did not possess such Ability, much less such Scheming.
Xiang Yuan laughed at his own wild imagination. He had only just learned a little Ability, yet he had already become arrogant and conceited, assuming everyone had to accommodate him, circle around him, and flatter him. The truth was actually very simple: Xiao He was merely a Clown. A Clown’s way of thinking was strange, and everything today was nothing more than a Coincidence—they had simply happened to meet.
If he had to explain it, the Umbrella had created the connection. Xiang Yuan sheltering Xiao He from the rain was the cause, and Xiao He helping him resolve his predicament was the effect.
With that thought, Xiang Yuan’s thoughts instantly became Clear. Xiao He was indeed a Destined Person during his transitional period. The Umbrella had acted as a go-between, and through Xiao He, it had brought out the future Prince Zhao Xiao Yan.
This was the future situation Daoist Quexin had spoken of.
Master, your disciple has understood! I will now pass through countless troops and find a Method to acknowledge my Adoptive Father!
As it happened, there really was a small path through the middle of the gathering.
“Heh heh heh...”
After three rounds of wine, Xiao He clamored to find some girls. County Lieutenant Qin hurriedly scattered Silver, calling over several girls who could play music and sing.
Proper ones.
As a mere ninth-rank sesame official, he would not dare take the son of the Guanshan Dao Grand Secretariat to a Whorehouse even if he had ten times the courage. If word got out, not to mention Zhen Dian Prefecture, even Sima Changhui, who Represented the Interests of the Noble Families, would not let him off lightly.
Xiang Yuan had not drunk. At his age, sitting at the Child’s table would not have seemed out of place. He kept his head down and ate throughout the entire meal. No matter what Xiao He and County Lieutenant Qin said, he merely responded, “Yes, yes, exactly.”
“Little Qin, ever since I came to Fengxian County, Dezhou, I have been studying poetry and books diligently every day. I don’t even have a playmate in my spare time. It’s driving me mad.”
“What does Young Master Xiao mean?”
County Lieutenant Qin’s eyes lit up, and he flattered him. “Your status is Noble. The Yamen Should send someone to Protect you. Though older men understand the Rules, they are rigid and do not know how to adapt. They may inevitably displease you.”
“That makes sense.”
“I think Young Brother Xiang would be very good. He is quick-witted, eloquent, and highly skilled in Martial arts. He is also righteous and imposing. With him Protecting you, he could keep you company and relieve your boredom in your spare time.”
“Little Yuan Ge is a Constable and has official duties. It would Not be suitable... right?”
“Suitable, more than suitable. I’ll return immediately and issue an order assigning him to Close Protection for your safety.”
In just a few words, public office had been used for private purposes.