Chapter 34

Xiao Letian’s face turned sour at that moment, thinking to himself, "How would I know about the Hundred Flowers Building? I didn’t arrange it." Just as Xiao Letian was puzzled, no one present knew that in the room next to their private room, a man named Lao Ying was pressing his ear against the wall, eavesdropping on Xiao Letian’s conversation, carefully memorizing every word.

The several bodyguards around Xiao Letian all had a background in the outlaw world, where observing and listening were basic skills. However, this man named Lao Ying was clearly much more skilled than them, as no one in the entire Taibai Building knew of his existence.

That night, in a low-key mansion in the western part of Beijing, Lao Ying was kneeling on the ground, reporting to his master, "Ninth Master, this is the detailed process of the entire event, including the secret talks between Xiao Letian and the others, which I have recorded." He then presented a thick document.

The man called Ninth Master did not even look at the text, as if he already knew everything. "Are you puzzled? Why did I force the Hundred Flowers Building to file a complaint with the Shuntian Prefecture? Ha, you don’t understand. In today’s Qing Dynasty, as long as I take action, those Manchu gentlemen will all pay attention. Marking this young man with our seal is also a good deed. Amitabha, truly a good deed!"

As he was speaking, a faint sound of footsteps came from the garden, and Lao Ying’s ears perked up. "It’s Mr. Zhao, the steward. Why would he come to the inner quarters at this time?" But Ninth Master waved his hand.

"Sir, Prince Gong’s mansion has just sent an invitation, inviting you to go to the mansion tomorrow to watch a play. They say they have a new troupe and want you to critique it..." The steward, Mr. Wang, stood outside the study, not daring to enter.

The room was silent, with only the sound of Ninth Master’s teacup touching the table. After a full quarter of an hour, Ninth Master finally spoke. "Hmm... How much gift do you think is appropriate?"

"Sir, with your status, it’s definitely not appropriate to go empty-handed. However, there’s no tradition of giving gifts for a new troupe, so giving money would be inappropriate. The best would be to give jewelry, jade, or paintings... Last month, we acquired a box of pearls from Fan Lian, which are of excellent quality and only cost over 30,000 taels of silver. Sending such a gift would be very appropriate..."

Ninth Master waved his hand. "Alright, that’s settled. Go and arrange it. I have to give Prince Gong’s face some respect." After the steward left, a glint of killing intent flashed in Lao Ying’s eyes. "Ninth Master, this old man is too much. You once said that no one should approach the study without being summoned, but he ignored the prince’s order... Also, that box of pearls only cost Fan Lian 25,000 taels of silver, and this guy embezzled 6,000 taels..."

Ninth Master laughed at Lao Ying’s angry expression. "Ha, you’re really devoted. This Mr. Zhao is Cixi’s subordinate, and he’s on the same side as Yixin. Do you think I don’t know? Do you think I’ve been fighting for nothing all these years..."

"Besides, 6,000 taels is nothing. One day, I will move the entire Qing Dynasty’s treasury into my home. Giving them a little sweetness now is just bait for fishing. Alright, continue to monitor Xiao Letian..."

Lao Ying left, but his target, Xiao Letian, had no secrets to uncover. Xiao Letian was in the back garden teasing his future little wife.

"Come on, little lady, give me a smile... Ow! You have a stubborn temper, I like that. Now, I’ll give you a smile... Ha ha ha, finally, you’re smiling..."

In the back garden of the Fan family’s mansion, which had become Xiao Letian’s private residence, it was no wonder people were gossiping. An outsider like Xiao Letian living in the inner quarters of the Fan family for several months, with Hu Niu and Xiao Letian not even bothering to be discreet, day or night, couldn’t help but cause talk.

But Xiao Letian and Hu Niu didn’t care. It was common for them to watch the stars and the moon together at midnight, and even Fan Lian turned a blind eye, eventually moving to the front courtyard to sleep, leaving the entire inner quarters to these two. At first, the servants were uncomfortable, but when they saw that even the master had no objections, they lost interest in gossiping.

However, for the various spies willing to pay to uncover Xiao Letian’s secrets, every move he made was valuable information, especially his disrespectful behavior, which was a target for the腐儒s (corrupt scholars) to investigate.

"Alright, alright, it’s been three days, and I’ve never seen you smile. Now, the clouds have finally cleared..." Xiao Letian stretched and took a big sip from the teapot on the stone table.

"Xiao... Xiao Big Brother, did you really punish that old scholar for my sake?" Hu Niu’s eyes suddenly became unusually gentle, with tears still in them as she looked at Xiao Letian.

"Of course. Anyone who makes my Hu Niu cry for three days will have their life ruined by me." Xiao Letian said firmly. He wasn’t just saying it to comfort Hu Niu; he meant it. In the current Qing Dynasty, finding a woman who met his aesthetic standards was not easy, and most importantly, Hu Niu’s cheerful personality suited him. Such a personality was rare in the late Qing.

However, there were still many such women among the Manchu. At the time, there was a nickname for these bold, fierce, and capable women: "Manchu Grandmothers." In Beijing, every leisurely Eight Banners gentleman had a capable grandmother managing the household, or they would have been begging on the streets long ago.

Wait, when Xiao Letian thought of the image of a "Manchu Grandmother," the face that came to mind was actually Fu Qing’s sister, Fu Hui, with her expressive eyes blinking at him.

"Xiao Big Brother!" Hu Niu, as if gathering all her courage, suddenly threw herself into his arms. "Xiao Big Brother, marry me. I’ll be your concubine..."

Huh! Concubine? Shouldn’t she call herself a wife or a bride? But then Xiao Letian realized that this was an ancient term for a concubine, and even a concubine could be called this.

Xiao Letian was stunned. He sensed an indescribable emotion emanating from Hu Niu. He didn’t know that as his fame grew, Hu Niu and Mr. Fan had met secretly many times.

In their hearts, perhaps at the beginning in Yixian County, they had the idea of making Hu Niu Xiao Letian’s main wife, but everything changed after Xiao Letian came to Beijing.

"Daughter, one must accept one’s fate. When Mr. Xiao was in trouble, I did consider marrying you to him, but since he came to Beijing, he’s no longer someone we can aspire to."

"A man who can command so many martial heroes, a master of Western learning who wrote 'Journey to the West' and shocked Beijing, and who can devise a clever plan to ruin Wang Laohulin... And, and the fire at Taoling, do you think Xiao Letian had nothing to do with it?"

"Daughter, even if our family has some money, compared to Mr. Xiao, we are like earth and sky. Think carefully, if you are determined to follow Mr. Xiao, you will likely only be a concubine."

Mr. Fan, who had traveled far and wide all his life, spoke from the heart. Although Hu Niu was a bit rebellious, she wasn’t stupid. She understood everything immediately.

For the past few days, Hu Niu had been crying and feeling depressed. It wasn’t just because of Wang Shizheng, but more because of Xiao Letian. When a girl realizes that the man she loves is rising higher and higher, her feelings of inferiority become more severe.

Xiao Letian finally understood the root of the problem. He scratched his head in frustration. "Hu Niu, you were worried about this? If so, I’ll give you a straightforward answer. You’re still young. Wait until you’re eighteen, and I’ll marry you with a grand procession and make you my main wife, okay?"

Before he could finish, Hu Niu jumped out of his arms. "Really? You’re not joking with me?" But then her eyes dimmed again. "Don’t lie to me. I’m just a country girl, I don’t know the rules, and I have natural feet. I’m not even qualified to be a concubine..." She started crying again.

Xiao Letian was both amused and exasperated. He grabbed her hand. "Come on, let’s go see your father. I’ll formally propose to him. If you need a matchmaker and gifts, I’ll have Uncle Qing prepare them tomorrow. Is that okay?"

This finally dispelled Hu Niu’s doubts. She was so overwhelmed with happiness that she blushed and ran back to her room. Just as Xiao Letian was about to chase after her, three cuckoo calls came from the roof, followed by a black shadow, which was Wang Huaiyuan on night patrol.

"Advisor, I just returned from Wang Shizheng’s house. That old man had a stroke and can’t even speak... But on my way back, I had a strange feeling, as if there was someone unfamiliar in the Fan residence, and I couldn’t even pinpoint their location..."

Xiao Letian’s face changed. Wang Huaiyuan and Sima Yun had the best lightness skills among the guards, both from reputable martial arts families. If he said there was a stranger in the Fan residence, there must be one.

"Come inside. Damn, someone is already on my tail? Could it be the Tartars?"

"I don’t think so. Most of the martial heroes the Qing Dynasty has gathered are from the north. Apart from the Yanzi Gate in Cangzhou, which is skilled in lightness and concealment, there are no outstanding lightness experts in the northern outlaw world. Besides, if the Qing Dynasty had us in their sights, they would have arrested you for the Wang Shizheng incident..."

As they were discussing the strange atmosphere, the steward from the front courtyard suddenly ran over, crying, "Great news, truly great news, wu wu wu..."

"The Prince Gong’s mansion has sent an invitation, the Prince Gong’s mansion has actually sent an invitation!" The steward’s loud cry woke up everyone in the Fan residence, and the mansion was lit up brighter than daytime. Amidst the commotion, a black shadow resembling an eagle suddenly flew off the roof of a house in the back garden, heading north.

"Protect Mr. Xiao, I’ll go after him..." With a loud shout, Wang Huaiyuan broke through the window, leaped onto the roof, and disappeared in a flash.

"Sima Yun, go support Wang Huaiyuan. Xiao He Xin and Thirteen Lady are enough to protect here!" Xiao Letian pulled out his fully loaded revolver. "Do they really think I’m a weak scholar? If I catch you, I’ll shoot three holes through you..."

The steward, who had just entered the back garden, was so scared that he knelt down. He never expected to be greeted with a gun. "Sir, don’t be angry, it’s good news, the Prince Gong’s mansion has sent an invitation, inviting you to watch a play tomorrow, they have a new troupe!"

Seeing the steward’s frightened state, Xiao Letian felt embarrassed and helped him up. "Steward, don’t be upset, this isn’t aimed at you... Tell me the details. Do I need to bring a gift to such a banquet?"

"Oh, Mr. Xiao, that’s Prince Gong, the emperor’s uncle. How can you go empty-handed? You should prepare at least 20,000 to 30,000 taels of silver, that’s the minimum..."

"Bullshit! Give him 30,000 taels of silver? My silver doesn’t grow on trees. I’ll go empty-handed and see if he sees me..."