Chapter 17

Old butler Juan glared at him and said, "What nonsense are you talking? Young Master is out now. If you cause any trouble, you'll be the one to answer for it."

Liang Dazhuang protested indignantly, "Why blame me? It was Young Master who didn't let us go."

Juan pointed at Liang Dazhuang's chest and said, "Do you have a brain? Young Master didn't let you go, but he didn't say you couldn't follow. They went to the Yan Shui Pavilion for a literary gathering. You could have quietly followed them. If anything happened, you could have helped out." Ever since the incident of forcibly taking Tang Qingxuan, everyone in the Shangshu Mansion began to reassess this Young Master, recognizing his potential to cause trouble.

Xu Zhengying's carriage was outside. He was generous, giving Hu Xiaotian a thousand-year-old mountain ginseng, which was very valuable, indicating his good financial status. His carriage was also quite luxurious, with a rectangular body, intricate patterns carved along the edges, and elegant window frames carved on the upper half of the body. Sitting inside, one could see the scenery outside. The top of the carriage was in the shape of a hexagonal pavilion, large and extending beyond the body on all sides, providing excellent protection from wind and rain. The front extended far forward, protecting the privacy of the passengers and providing shelter for the driver. The edges of the carriage were draped with curtains, and the front had a long, soft curtain lifted onto the top. The curtains and soft curtains were decorated with copper bells and tassels. The yoke head was adorned with a majestic beast's head, further highlighting the owner's noble status.

Hu Xiaotian rarely rode in a carriage. Although his family had several, this was the first time he had seen such a luxurious one. He followed Xu Zhengying into the carriage, and the soft cushion under his buttocks felt just right, almost like a sofa. Although the carriage was very exquisite and luxurious, it was pulled by only two horses. Hu Xiaotian said, "Uncle Xu, why only two horses? If you had eight horses pulling your carriage, how impressive that would be!"

Xu Zhengying's face changed when he heard this. He looked around nervously and said, "Nephew, you can't say things like that. Only the current Emperor can use an eight-horse carriage. According to the rules of Dakan, the carriages I use cannot exceed three horses."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled inwardly. He had learned some about Dakan culture during this time and knew that only the Emperor could enjoy an eight-horse carriage, princes could enjoy a six-horse carriage, and princes and princesses could enjoy a four-horse carriage. As for ministers, most used two or three horses, and ordinary people could only ride in a one-horse carriage. If Xu Zhengying dared to have eight horses pull his carriage on the main streets of the capital, he would likely end up in the imperial prison. He deliberately provoked Xu Zhengying, saying, "Uncle Xu, you print money, after all. Our family has many carriages, but none as luxurious and impressive as this one."

Xu Zhengying was startled again. "Oh, you're trying to get me into trouble!" He hurriedly said, "Nephew, although I am responsible for minting Dakan currency, I always keep public and private matters separate. This carriage is a gift from my father-in-law. If you like it, I will give it to you."

Hu Xiaotian's next words almost made Xu Zhengying furious: "I don't want a used carriage!"

Xu Zhengying could only chuckle, inwardly cursing Hu Xiaotian's eighteen generations of ancestors. He secretly decided to have a new one made for this guy as soon as he returned. Today was a huge loss; how did he end up with such a greedy young man?

The carriage galloped on the main streets of the capital. The two fine horses moved in unison, their steps rhythmic. The bells on the carriage jingled in time with the horses' gallop, sounding very pleasant. The blue curtains and veils hung low, fluttering in the wind, and the wind chimes on them also rang melodiously. Xu Zhengying was clearly a man who enjoyed life. The fabrics inside the carriage were all scented with incense, and the spring breeze blowing through the veils filled the carriage with a subtle fragrance. It was truly a delightful experience, as if riding in a luxurious carriage filled the road with fragrance, making one feel refreshed and content, with a touch of bourgeois elegance.

Riding in a carriage was certainly not as comfortable as riding in a car, but the novelty and sense of superiority were unmatched by a car. After all, luxurious carriages were not common in this era, and passersby often stared as the carriage passed. This carriage was at least equivalent to a BMW 5 Series, no, with two horses, it should be a 2 Series. Two! Not auspicious. When I have my own carriage, it will at least be a 3 Series. The 8 Series is for the Emperor, and to ride in one, you'd have to be a prince first. Damn, in this era, having money doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. Hu Xiaotian's body swayed with the carriage, and his mind wandered.

Xu Zhengying looked at the young man beside him, puzzled. They all said Hu Buwei's son was a fool for sixteen years and only regained his senses half a year ago. Even if he started reading after waking up, he could have only read for half a year, and he was probably still illiterate. Why would an illiterate person join in the fun? Today's literary gathering at the Yan Shui Pavilion was attended by many learned scholars of Dakan. If this young man started talking nonsense, not only would he embarrass himself, but Xu Zhengying would also lose face. Xu Zhengying thought, this is Hu Buwei's son. If others knew his true identity, they would laugh at Hu Buwei for failing to educate his son. He took a deep breath, realizing that his true purpose in giving the thousand-year-old ginseng was to curry favor with Hu Buwei. If he embarrassed Hu Buwei at the literary gathering, it would be like praising the horse's hooves instead of its tail. Hu Buwei would likely think Xu Zhengying was deliberately taking his son out to embarrass him while he was away.

Xu Zhengying regretted his decision so much that he wanted to slap himself. Why did he have to mention the literary gathering?

Hu Xiaotian didn't care about his thoughts, leaning out the window to enjoy the scenery, feeling as free as a bird out of its cage, his mood excellent.

Xu Zhengying cleared his throat and said, "Nephew, when we get there, it's best not to reveal your identity easily."

Hu Xiaotian asked, "Why?"

Xu Zhengying originally wanted to tell him not to talk much, but he was afraid of offending Hu Xiaotian, so he tried to be tactful. He said with a gentle smile, "Many high-ranking officials are attending the literary gathering today. If they know you are Mr. Hu's son, they will try to curry favor with you, which will cause you a lot of trouble. It wouldn't be good if this got out, and Mr. Hu would certainly blame me for being meddlesome."

Hu Xiaotian inwardly chuckled. Old man, you're afraid I'll embarrass you because I'm uneducated, so you don't want me to talk. If I make a fool of myself, others will not only laugh at me but also at my father. Then my father will definitely hold you accountable. Seeing Xu Zhengying's forced smile and awkward expression, Hu Xiaotian almost burst out laughing. You want to flatter me, but my flattery isn't that easy to get. Hu Xiaotian said, "Uncle Xu, don't worry. I'm just going to watch and learn. When we get there, I'll act like a mute and won't say a word."

Xu Zhengying was somewhat relieved to hear his quick agreement.

The Yan Shui Pavilion was located on the banks of the Cangshui River in the southeast of the capital. The Cangshui River meandered through the north and south of the capital, connecting with the canal at Tian Shui Bay in the southeast. This area had the widest water surface, and from the Yan Shui Pavilion, one could see the confluence of the two water systems, a magnificent and vast scene. The Yan Shui Pavilion was a five-story wooden building with a history of over three hundred years. It had been destroyed by fire three times and rebuilt multiple times. The most recent renovation was three years ago, when the eaves and roof tiles were replaced with red glazed tiles, shining brilliantly in the sunlight, making it very eye-catching.

Due to its unique location, the Yan Shui Pavilion had become a place where literati and scholars of successive generations competed to visit, enjoying the views of the capital. Many famous works had been left here. Outside the Yan Shui Pavilion, more than ten carriages were already parked, and from their decorations, it was clear that their owners were of high status.

After the carriage stopped, Hu Xiaotian was the first to jump down, hands behind his back, and closely observed the building. In this era, buildings rarely exceeded three stories, and the five-story Yan Shui Pavilion stood out among the many buildings in the capital. Above the main door hung a black plaque with golden characters, "Yan Shui Pavilion," shining brightly, with a grand and majestic style. Hu Xiaotian's hard pen calligraphy was decent, but his brush calligraphy was only average. Even so, he could see that these three characters were a master's work. He looked at the signature, which read "Long Yinkong." He knew Long Yinkong, who was called the "Emperor of the Ages" in Dakan, known for his great talent and strategy, unifying the six directions, driving out the northern barbarians, and unifying the country. His great achievements have been celebrated to this day.

Unfortunately, the world follows the principle of unity and division. After Dakan was unified under Long Yinkong, it experienced a century of prosperity but gradually declined. Later, favored ministers and corrupt officials dominated, and by the time of Emperor Mingzong Long Yuan, the country faced internal and external threats, nearly leading to its downfall. Long Yuan worked hard to restore the country, reviving the nation on the brink of collapse. After Emperor Mingzong, the Dakan Dynasty's fortunes gradually declined, and the country fell into chaos again. The Southern Da Yong was growing stronger, stationing troops in the south and working hard to gradually erode Dakan's southern territory. In the north, the Chihu also frequently harassed Dakan's borders, making life difficult for the Dakan Emperor.

Hu Xiaotian stared at the three characters "Yan Shui Pavilion" and said after a while, "Good calligraphy!"

Xu Zhengying thought, "What do you know about good and bad? You're probably just pretending," but he flattered him, saying, "Nephew, you have a good eye. These three characters were personally inscribed by Emperor Taizong, the 'Emperor of the Ages' of Dakan."

Hu Xiaotian said, "When I have time, I'll write a few characters and hang them up."

Xu Zhengying inwardly laughed at the boy's arrogance, thinking he could compare himself to Emperor Taizong.