Chapter 20#

Dragon and Tiger#

“This is my boy, Shaque.” Yuan Bocheng turned sideways, gesturing for Shaque to bow. “Xueke, why haven’t you paid your respects to the Marquis?”

Shaque bowed with graceful ease. He straightened his posture slightly, revealing the gold branch on the other side. This gold branch was shaped like a small deer antler, studded with a few peach-shaped gold leaves. As Shaque bowed, it glinted and flickered amidst his raven-black hair.

“A fine-looking young gentleman,” Minjin returned the bow. “I’ve been in the old capital for months, and I’ve never seen anyone as refined as this young gentleman.”

“You flatter me.” Yuan Bocheng smiled immediately. “Ah, truth be told, I’ve been fortunate in this life — toiling for wealth, I always assumed that if I had a child, he’d turn out to be some coarse and vulgar fellow. Who would have heaven’s grace to bless me with such a precious one in the end. I’m truly ashamed.”

“Naga, look at Lord Jinxiu’s expression — where is there any shame? He’s plainly overjoyed.” Lu Guanjie laughed along. “Lord Jinxiu, forget Naga — even I have never seen a young gentleman as fine-looking as this. We’ve been friends for years. How could you not have leaked even a single word of news?”

“I wanted to,” Yuan Bocheng put on an elaborate air. “But this child’s mother has a terribly fiery temper. She insisted the child was frail and needed to be sent to someone else’s house to raise for a few years, as heaven willed. When I was drinking with His Highness, Xueke’s return date hadn’t even been settled yet. How could I have spoken of it?”

“Oh—” Minjin’s words were courteous, but his gaze was not. “No wonder the young gentleman’s childhood name is ‘Xueke’ — it turns out he’s been a guest at someone else’s house since he was little.”

“Indeed.” Yuan Bocheng raised a hand toward Shaque, his face beaming with delight. “When he was small, he was like a little figure carved from jade and snow. Dropped at someone’s doorstep, he clung to me and wouldn’t let go, tears streaming down as he kept crying out, ‘I don’t want to be a guest — I want to go home with Father!’”

His imitation was so lifelike that all three of them burst into laughter.

Shaque had no intention of engaging Minjin, but the man seemed to have him by the chin, his gaze never straying for even a moment. Shaque had no choice but to feign nonchalance, lifting his eyes with a smile: “This is also the first time I’ve met the Marquis. The young servant who attended you that night said the Marquis is handsome and dignified in bearing, and very kind to people.”

“I was drunk that night,” Minjin’s tone carried a note of concern. “I didn’t frighten anyone, did I?”

“How could anyone be ‘frightened’?” Shaque met his gaze. “He was afraid he hadn’t served you well enough and you’d leave disappointed.”

“No matter,” Minjin was magnanimous. “Next time he truly ruins my mood, it won’t be too late to have him accompany me again.”

Whether he meant accompany or compensate — the two sounded identical — only Shaque likely knew which one he intended.

“That night was indeed our oversight.” Yuan Bocheng withdrew his hand and turned to the attendants behind him. “Stop standing around — go fetch the wine at the door.”

Lu Guanjie asked eagerly: “Is it Yushan Dao or Buwen Zhao this time?”

“Since I’ve come to apologize to the Marquis,” Yuan Bocheng exchanged a glance with Lu Guanjie, both smiling, “naturally I must bring the finest Qian Ri Hong. Otherwise I wouldn’t dare cross the threshold.”

He was well-versed in worldly manners, and the wine he brought was fittingly impressive. Yushan Dao and Buwen Zhao were both excellent wines, but those two names, given Minjin’s current situation, were rather inauspicious. Qian Ri Hong was different — it was an exceedingly auspicious sign.

So thoughtful. Minjin smiled. He must be after something.

“Then I can’t wait.” Lu Guanjie immediately turned to Minjin. “Naga, you’re the master of Changdu Palace — Uncle is waiting for you to give the word to take your seats.”

“My fault, I got carried away with talking and nearly forgot my manners.” Minjin raised an arm to invite them inside. “Uncle, please take the seat of honor. Lord Jinxiu, no need for formality — any guest is a guest. Please, come in as well.”

The eunuchs had already arranged the room, and Longshan hurriedly directed servants to add seats. Lu Guanjie and Yuan Bocheng sat down first, the attendants handing off to the eunuchs as wine and hot dishes were brought in one after another.

Shaque was in no hurry. On the corridor, he took off his wooden clogs. It was inconvenient to bend, so he could only nudge them off lightly with his foot — a small gesture that didn’t quite suit propriety.

“Your injury hasn’t fully healed, and you’re already out socializing like this.” Minjin stood behind Shaque; if he merely lowered his head, he could reach Shaque’s ear. “The young gentleman is so busy.”

“Those who play host are born to toil,” Shaque stepped on the wooden stair, about to kick off the other clog. “Hardly comparable to the Marquis, with a horde of servants attending to you inside and out.”

Minjin didn’t lower his head. He leaned forward instead — from behind, it looked as though he was pressing down on Shaque. Shaque assumed he was about to tease him, but Minjin slipped past his upper body, bent down, and cupped the sole of the clog with his hand.

“You call this acting?” Minjin, still in that posture, applied slight pressure with his hands and lifted the clog off Shaque’s foot. “Only your temper looks right — everything else, eight or nine times out of ten, will give you away.”

Today he wore a chestnut-brown wide-sleeved robe with subtle woven patterns, cloud-and-thunder motifs on the sleeve cuffs, and a jade pendant set at his waist, strung with ebony beads and glass fire beads. The ensemble was somewhat austere — but the man truly was handsome and dignified. When his eyes chased after Shaque, he appeared all the more commanding, at complete ease.

Shaque took advantage of Minjin’s not-yet-straightened posture — he was finally taller than him. The bad little sparrow planted both feet on the wooden stair and looked down at him like so: “And you? You don’t exactly look like a good Marquis.”

“How long have I been Marquis?” Minjin rose, watching Shaque step up the stair with that gaze — and how long have you been a good Crown Prince?

Shaque could only retreat, but Minjin truly wasn’t a good person: one step back from Shaque, one step forward from Minjin.

“Naga.” Shaque raised a hand, silently blocking him. “This is also against propriety.”

“Why are you called Xueke?” Minjin pressed his chest forward as though pressing against Shaque’s palm. “Is it really because—?”

“Then why are you called Naga?” Shaque tilted his head up slightly, his expression not of retreat but of pulling Minjin forward. “Is it because you’ve been a greedy snake-god since childhood?”

“Yes,” Minjin was entirely unruffled. “I’m an insatiable bad seed.”

The corridor was only so long — any more retreating and someone would see. Minjin pressed in. At the moment they passed each other, he murmured in Shaque’s ear: “Young master, mind your step.”

He supported him with impeccable courtesy — just for an instant, then let go at once. The jade pendant chimed lightly. In the courtyard, it seemed as though snow was falling. Minjin stepped back and smiled at Shaque; his expression had a hint of mischief, and after he turned around—

Shaque reached up to his hair, and sure enough, one of the feathers was gone.

Minjin went inside, took his seat, and didn’t forget to say to Longshan: “Give the young gentleman a bolster. I noticed he walks slowly — it seems he’s carrying an injury.”

“Good eye, Lord Marquis.” Yuan Bocheng opened the wine jar, took a ladle from an attendant, and personally poured wine into each cup. “Some days ago Xueke went autumn hunting with someone and took a frightful tumble from his horse. It terrified me as a father. I immediately summoned the best physicians within the capital to treat him, and he lay flat for a full three months before he could leave the house.”

“Autumn hunting,” Lu Guanjie rested one hand on his knee and caught the cup with the other. “I haven’t been autumn hunting since the wars began. Young gentleman, are your horsemanship skills good?”

Shaque had just sat down and was called by name. By etiquette, he should first shift to the edge of the mat, then bow to Lu Guanjie before answering. The moment he moved, Lu Guanjie said: “Your father and I are old acquaintances — no need for such formality. Just answer from where you are.”

Minjin leaned sideways to receive his cup. Yuan Bocheng eyed him with an unreadable expression.

This fellow had brought up Shaque’s injury not out of idle thought, but because he knew Lu Guanjie occupied the seat of honor. Every word and action of Shaque’s had to conform to ritual propriety. With this reason now in hand, Shaque could be excused from many unnecessary formalities.

Minjin also looked at Yuan Bocheng. He raised his cup slightly — a meaningful gesture.

“To answer Your Highness,” Shaque said with complete confidence, “my horsemanship is terrible.”

Minjin had just taken a sip and nearly choked. He forced it down.

“Tradesmen often say, ‘Practice your trade often, and handle your abacus often.’ That’s precisely why I thought of going autumn hunting.” Shaque turned his head slightly and gave Lu Guanjie a small smile. “The old capital teems with people, and riding horses through every street is forbidden. What else could be better suited to practicing horsemanship than autumn hunting?”

Shaque could ride — but only to the degree of being able to ride. He couldn’t tell Lu Guanjie his horsemanship was good, because Lu Guanjie commanded the Zhonggu cavalry. He knew horses and riding techniques in thorough detail — lying here would be easily seen through.

“Indeed, Senluo has many rules now. Without the Sovereign’s special permission, reckless horse-riding lands you in prison.” Lu Guanjie’s voice was warm. “But why not go to your father’s horse farm? He has plenty of ground within the capital for you to ride.”

Shaque looked deflated. He glanced at Yuan Bocheng as though nursing a grievance.

“Your Highness, you’ve forgotten — this child was frail since he was little.” Yuan Bocheng had just finished pouring. He spoke at an unhurried pace. “His mother wouldn’t even let him lift heavy objects. How could I dare let him go to a horse farm? If not for that, how would he have sneaked off to hunt with others?”

“I was wondering about that too,” Lu Guanjie said, coming to a realization. “He has you, Lord Jinxiu, treasuring him like a pearl — how could he fall from a horse during a hunt? If you had been watching, those attendants would have swarmed him in an instant.”

“Children grow and leave their father’s hands.” Yuan Bocheng’s temperament was open and hearty. He raised his cup to Lu Guanjie. “This one precious treasure is all I have. In the future, when he’s in Senluo, I hope Your Highness will look after him well.”

Lu Guanjie drank with him. First he said, “Fine wine,” then immediately followed: “If I were stationed in the old capital, I’d naturally help you watch over the young gentleman. But I must lead troops — in half a month, I’ll be off again.”

‘A general is the state’s fangs and claws[1]." Minjin also raised his cup to Lu Guanjie. “Uncle’s reputation abroad is illustrious, and back home you show such care for me. The other night I lost my composure drinking and accidentally wounded General Yuchi — truly inexcusable.”

He drained his cup, then offered it to Yuan Bocheng: “Since Lord Jinxiu is Uncle’s friend, he is also my elder. Regarding the matter of looking after the young gentleman, I will certainly honor that while in the old capital.”

“If you’d be willing to say that to Yuchi Liang, Uncle’s troubles would be halved.” Lu Guanjie drank with both of them. After setting down his cup, he spoke slowly: “To tell the truth, without fearing Lord Jinxiu’s amusement — Naga’s horses stabled in Ayou City were mistakenly confiscated by Yuchi Liang. In itself, it wasn’t a major matter. But it’s now the season of fiscal review, and Lord Du has already uncovered the missing horse count. Even if Naga wants to settle things amicably, the Sovereign won’t allow it.”

Yuan Bocheng poured wine for Lu Guanjie again, not rushing to speak.

“So the Sovereign reprimanded Yuchi Liang on the floor of court. Since the matter concerned horse administration, the Sovereign was actually understanding — he simply ordered Yuchi Liang to return the miscollected horses in full.” This time Lu Guanjie didn’t drink immediately, but continued: “My drinking with those two at your place that night was meant to mediate this matter. Bocheng, you know it too — those clerks under Lord Du are incorruptible. Even if Yuchi Liang sought their favors, they might not oblige. But he’s probably sold quite a few of those horses, so he can’t make up the numbers. The matter with Naga has grown very ugly, and things are at a standstill.”

“Mm—” Yuan Bocheng nodded repeatedly. “General Yuchi truly doesn’t know how to behave.”

“He has his difficulties. He’s stationed in the old capital year-round on a fixed salary, and Naga is hot-tempered — they simply can’t get along.” Lu Guanjie held up his cup with both hands and offered it to Yuan Bocheng. “Bocheng, you have the most horse farms in the capital. Take a look — can you help Yuchi Liang gather the horses?”

This was the most formidable one. Every sentence seemed to be for the sake of someone else — but why should he worry about Yuchi Liang’s blunder? Because Mi Linan had pressed the task of mediation onto him.

Lu Guanjie was unlike anyone else. His position was sensitive. This “Great General” could be called the state’s fangs and claws in the best light, or, in the worst, a chestnut on the mountaintop. Over the years, the more his star rose, the more humble he became. If Mi Linan were a feckless tyrant, it wouldn’t matter — but Mi Linan was a formidable and vigorous ruler. After Mi Luo, he had many ways to balance the external military forces.

The reason Lu Guanjie had survived this long was precisely because he was cautious and meticulous in all things. He never overstepped even a single step. Mi Linan ordered him to send someone to retrieve Minjin — and he saw it clearly: this was bait. What would happen if someone else touched Minjin, he didn’t know, but if he touched Minjin, it would mean disloyal intentions. So he sent Jin Mingshi.

Jin Mingshi being foolish was one matter; Jin Mingshi’s origins were another. Since the Jin clan was Mi Linan’s iron-blooded loyalists, Lu Guanjie sending Jin Mingshi was in itself a gesture of transparency and self-inspection. He had to be open at every stage.

Today Minjin had invited Lu Guanjie to dinner, and Lu Guanjie had sought out Yuan Bocheng — say nothing else, he needed to settle this matter with dignity as soon as possible. In any case, the one who owed money was still Yuchi Liang.

But—

Shaque’s lips shifted ever so slightly. The truly formidable one was the fake father.

“Your Highness, several hundred horses won’t be easy to gather.” Yuan Bocheng also received the cup with both hands, looking at Lu Guanjie. “But Your Highness may rest assured — since I dared to come today, it means this matter has already been settled. Last night I had people deliver the horses to General Yuchi’s residence. As for right now…”

He glanced at the sky, then looked back, flashing Lu Guanjie a bold smile: “Lord Du should have finished counting those horses by now.”

The reason Lu Guanjie brought up Yuchi Liang was precisely because he didn’t want to owe Yuan Bocheng a favor. As mediator between both parties, and having volunteered to act as Yuchi Liang’s advocate, once the matter was resolved both Minjin and Yuchi Liang would thank him. But Yuan Bocheng had accomplished it before Lu Guanjie even opened his mouth — now he, just like Yuchi Liang, owed Lord Jinxiu a massive favor.

Ho. Minjin was awestruck. Good thing he hadn’t yet had a chance to tell Lu Guanjie about this — otherwise how could he have witnessed this contest between dragon and tiger?

“How wonderful,” Minjin played the fool to the very end. He raised his cup and offered a toast to each of them. “I understand nothing of the world’s ways. Going forward, please, both my uncles, guide me in the ways of human affairs.”

After speaking, he turned to Shaque, his gaze laden with meaning: “The young gentleman shouldn’t stand on ceremony either. Let us visit often.”