Chapter 15

Hu Tianxiong said, "Sir, Xichuan is over three thousand miles away from the capital. This matter may not reach there."

Hu Buwei replied, "If you don't want others to know, you must not do it yourself. This world is never short of people who stir up trouble and kick others when they are down." Thinking of Tang Wenzheng's angry and depressed look when he left, Hu Buwei realized that the Tang family would not easily let this go. In the future, if they had the opportunity, they might seek revenge. Hu Buwei had been an official for many years and had offended countless people in the capital alone. It was easy to imagine that his political enemies would be overjoyed to hear this news and would not miss the chance to defame and take revenge on him.

The purpose of the marriage alliance between the Hu and Li families was clear to everyone. If this marriage went smoothly, both Hu Buwei and Li Tianheng would benefit greatly. One was the Minister of Revenue, who controlled the financial power of Dakan, and the other was a powerful regional governor with troops in the southwest. The union of the two families would undoubtedly enhance their political influence. Many people would envy their alliance.

Seeing his son's recent outburst, Hu Buwei understood that his son was dissatisfied with the marriage. No one wanted to marry an extremely ugly and paralyzed woman, which was indeed cruel to his son. However, marriage is not a game; it requires rationality and realism. It's not just about the other person's personal qualities but also about their family background. Even if Li Tianheng's daughter was ugly, she would not have trouble finding a husband. It was said that their doorstep had been worn down by matchmakers.

Hu Tianxiong said, "Sir, the young master's condition is gradually improving. Why not give him a position?"

Hu Buwei's eyes brightened at the reminder, but then they dimmed again. He was still unsure if his son was fully recovered. The joy came too quickly and was hard to digest. However, his son's performance today had greatly surprised him. Although Hu Buwei was delighted, he remained rational. Perhaps today's performance was just a flash of brilliance. He said softly, "He has just recovered from a serious illness. Let him rest for now!"

Hu Xiaotian was not sick. Over the past six months, he had transitioned from a fool to a normal person. No one knew what had happened except himself. When he first arrived in this land, he was quite satisfied with his life. His father was the Minister of Revenue, powerful and influential, with a large house, many servants, and a life of luxury. He could sleep until he naturally woke up, and if he wanted to, he could count money until his hands cramped as the only son of the Minister of Revenue.

After the incident at Cuilin Lake, Hu Buwei clearly strengthened the security around his son. In addition to the original four servants, he assigned two new guards, one named Li Jinhao and the other named Shao Yijiao. They were said to be excellent fighters.

After Hu Xiaotian proposed breaking off the engagement and was refused by his father, he did not bring it up again. His master's degree in psychology was not for nothing. From Hu Buwei's behavior, he could see that Hu Buwei was a determined and stubborn person who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, with political interests above all. His son, a fool, was just a tool on his path forward. Any family ties would have to give way to his political future. Since he could not change it, why add to his troubles?

He decided to enjoy life more. Hu Xiaotian spent most of his time on fitness and learning. He was not a natural study enthusiast. After his rebirth, he did not even want to recall his busy work from his previous life. He just wanted to be a carefree rich man. However, he eventually realized that everyone has worries, even in this life.

The things he learned were very important in this era, such as the etiquette of Dakan, the history and geography of this new land. Even horseback riding and archery, which he had to learn, were related to his future life. To live well, one must first learn to protect oneself. Learning archery was to improve his combat skills, and learning to ride was for easy escape.

Hu Buwei had too many political matters to handle, leaving early and returning late every day. Hu Xiaotian rarely saw him, and their communication was minimal. The days passed one by one.

The back door of the Minister's residence was repaired, and the garden was renovated. The traces of the previous destruction were no longer visible. However, the grass pavilion in the garden was not rebuilt because it was where Hu Xiaotian had used to confuse and accuse Tang Ticheng of treason. Hu Buwei realized that this unassuming pavilion could become a huge trouble. Setting up a private court was a capital offense.

Hu Xiaotian wanted to learn acrobatic moves like somersaults and 720-degree spins, but unfortunately, Hu Tianxiong, who was the best at lightness skills in the Hu family, was on a mission to Xichuan, which was somehow related to him.

These days, Hu Buwei was appointed by the emperor to accompany him to the Eastern Capital for a break, and Hu's wife went to her hometown in Jinling. The Minister's residence was left with only Hu Xiaotian. Without his parents' constraints, Hu Xiaotian lived a carefree life, either exercising at home or touring the capital with a group of servants. He did not have to work and had no shortage of money. The greatest advantage of being a second-generation official was that he did not have to worry about paying for anything. With the Hu family's status and wealth, he could live a carefree life for the rest of his days.

Seeing the old steward Hu An and the servants carrying fresh bamboo leaves, Hu Xiaotian suddenly realized that it was almost the fifth day of the fifth month. Dakan also had the Dragon Boat Festival. A few days ago, he had read about the history and learned that this land had also produced great works like "Chuci" and "Lisao," and had a great patriotic poet Qu Yuan, who was born in Chu and ultimately drowned himself in the Miluo River out of frustration.

Hu Xiaotian did not want to think about the connections and differences between the two histories. He just wanted to live comfortably and enjoy several more Dragon Boat Festivals.

Hu An, seeing this peculiar young master, approached respectfully, "Young master, you're up so early today!" In fact, everyone in the Minister's residence thought the young master had become very peculiar since he regained consciousness, but no one dared to say it openly.

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "The sun is already high. It's not early!"

Hu An smiled, "Young master, where are you going to play today?" Idle and aimless, with a strange and unpredictable personality, this was how the people in the Hu family viewed Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian yawned, "I haven't decided yet. I've been to all the fun places in the capital, except the palace. I wonder if there's an entrance fee?"

"Entrance fee?" Hu An was puzzled.

Hu Xiaotian realized he had misspoken. In this era, there was no concept of entrance fees. People could enter any scenic spot without paying.

However, the people in the Hu family were already used to the young master's strange behavior. Hu An smiled, "Young master, the palace is not a place to enter casually. If you want to go, you can enter the palace to meet the emperor when you have a position."

Hu Xiaotian said lazily, "The palace is not much to see. It's dark and gloomy, and I don't think the Dakan palace is much bigger than the Forbidden City."

"Forbidden City?" Hu An was clearly confused.

At this moment, a servant came to report, "Young master, the Deputy Minister of Revenue, Xu Zhengying, is here."

Hu Xiaotian had met Xu Zhengying a couple of times. Xu Zhengying was his father's deputy, and the Minister of Revenue was his father, Hu Buwei. There were two Deputy Ministers, and Xu Zhengying was one of them. He was responsible for the minting and issuance of currency, overseeing the Qianfating and Baoquan Bureau. Xu Zhengying was also skilled at maneuvering and would often visit the Hu residence, ostensibly to discuss matters but actually to build a closer relationship with the Minister. However, despite his frequent visits, his relationship with Hu Buwei never became intimate. Hu Buwei was very suspicious and always kept his distance from his subordinates.

Although Hu Xiaotian knew Xu Zhengying, they had never really talked. He told the servant, "Tell him my father is accompanying the emperor to the Eastern Capital."

The servant said, "Sir, Xu Minister is here to see you."

Hu Xiaotian was slightly surprised. He and Xu Zhengying had no particular relationship. He thought that as a Deputy Minister, Xu Zhengying must know where Hu Buwei was. His visit might be to avoid Hu Buwei. Could he be trying to get something done through him? If he needed something, he would surely bring some benefits. He thought for a moment and said, "Ask him to come to the Lotus Pavilion."

The Lotus Pavilion was an octagonal pavilion built by the pond in the back garden of the Minister's residence. The surroundings were lush with green grass, willows, and chirping birds. The lotus leaves were still tender and not fully spread out, curling in the breeze. The fragrance of the lotus leaves and the cool air were refreshing and invigorating. The back garden alone was much larger than the public garden of his old neighborhood.

Xu Zhengying was forty-three years old, a fourth-rank official. He was seven feet tall, slightly overweight, and dressed in gray today, with a servant in a blue cap following behind. In this era, it was embarrassing to go out without a few attendants.

Seeing Xu Zhengying approach, Hu Xiaotian stood up to greet him, bowing from a distance. After all, Xu Zhengying was his father's colleague, and basic etiquette had to be observed. "Uncle Xu, I'm sorry for not welcoming you properly. Please forgive me." He was quite polite in his demeanor.