TPATTHU Chapter 20

Chapter 20 That is Shen Zhejiang’s Handwriting

Yang, the governor, led Xiao Zhinian all the way into the Zhao residence, bowing and scraping, “Your Majesty, this way please! This way please!”

Xiao Zhinian nodded. Huai Wu followed behind him. Reaching the dining table, he naturally sat in the main seat.

The Zhao family’s master bustled about, ordering the servants to bring up the dishes, loudly announcing, “Your Majesty, please be seated! The dishes will be served soon! Someone, dig out the twenty-year-old strong liquor hidden under the tree in the backyard! Quickly!”

Even in a borderland like Luo City, where resources were scarce, the Zhao residence lacked neither clothing nor food. The dishes brought out to entertain guests were no different from those in the Capital City.

No need to elaborate on the delicacies from land and sea, there were even mutton and beef, rare delicacies even in the Capital, indicating that a great price had been paid.

Unfortunately, Xiao Zhinian had tasted all the delicacies of the world, so he seemed to lack interest. He glanced at Huai Wu beside him, whose eyes were gleaming at the table full of delicious food, and waved his hand, “You come and sit too, add a pair of chopsticks.”

Along the way, Huai Wu finally changed to a happy expression. He sat down on the stool next to Xiao Zhinian without any reservations, and said in a cheerful tone, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Seeing this, Governor Yang and the Zhao family’s master exchanged glances. Although the two of them usually competed openly and secretly, at critical moments they were still tied to the same boat. They each read shock in the other’s eyes.

The dignified emperor actually allowed his bodyguard to eat at the same table?

Moreover, judging from the emperor’s words and the bodyguard’s skilled and unrestrained manners, this didn’t seem to be the first time this had happened. It was heard that the ministers in the court had repeatedly advised the emperor to select consorts and establish an empress as soon as possible, to produce offspring for the royal family, but they were all rejected one by one, and given fifty strokes of the board as a reward. After this incident, no one dared to make a sound again.

Thinking of this, the two villains smiled knowingly and meaningfully. The bodyguard looked young; it turned out that the emperor liked to keep male concubines, and even wanted to keep them by his side at all times, quite the player.

“Master, the wine is here.” The servant respectfully brought in three or four wine pots, and placed them separately on the table.

The Zhao family’s master enthusiastically picked up a wine pot and poured wine for Xiao Zhinian, flattering him with a smile, “Your Majesty, please try this wine. It’s Luo City turbid wine, which I have stored for many years, specially taken out to entertain distinguished guests like Your Majesty. You probably haven’t tasted it in the Capital City.”

Xiao Zhinian did not refuse, took the wine glass and drank it in one gulp, saying, “Luo City turbid wine, I’ve heard of it for a long time. It really has a unique border flavor, truly a good wine.”

“If Your Majesty likes it, I have two more jars in the backyard. I will order someone to move them here and take them back to the Capital City together in the future, as a token of my respect to Your Majesty!” The Zhao family’s master was overjoyed, unexpectedly winning the emperor’s favor with two jars of wine. It seemed that the matter in his heart was hopeful. He happily poured another cup for Xiao Zhinian, and then poured a cup for Huai Wu, “Come, come, little brother, don’t just eat the dishes, drink wine, drink wine!”

“Ah?”

Huai Wu was busy dealing with the crispy-skinned chicken roasted golden in the plate, eating with his mouth full of oil, and wiped it casually.

Just as he was about to reach for it, he was glared at by Xiao Zhinian, and reluctantly withdrew his hand, continuing to bury his head in solving his chicken.

Drinking alcohol while on duty was not allowed; this was the rule.

Xiao Zhinian said in a low voice, “Don’t mind him, eat your dishes.”

The Zhao family’s master thought that this little emperor was quite protective of his own, it seemed that he could start from this aspect, and hurriedly responded, “Yes, yes!”

Seeing the Zhao family’s master so obsequious and flattering, Governor Yang couldn’t help but ridicule in his heart, afraid that he wanted to find a new master. At the same time, he felt that the time was right, so he folded his sleeves, raised his glass, and stood up, “It’s rare for Your Majesty to come, and I failed to set the table in advance, it’s my fault, I only hope that Your Majesty will not blame me.”

After speaking, he drank three cups as a penalty.

Xiao Zhinian hummed, the calmness in his eyes was like a bay of lake water, “Minister Yang, please sit down, no need to be so polite. I came to the northern border this time to appreciate the scenery of the northern territory, and to understand the feelings and opinions of the people. Formal procedures are unnecessary.”

A cunning glint flashed in Governor Yang’s eyes. He seemed not to have expected Xiao Zhinian to speak out the purpose of his trip so directly, and solemnly cupped his hands, “Your Majesty’s love for the people can be seen by the heavens and the sun. I thank Your Majesty on behalf of the people of Luo City! Long live Your Majesty, long live, long long live!”

The Zhao family’s master naturally couldn’t be left behind, so he immediately stood up and knelt down to Xiao Zhinian, forcing himself to be moved to tears, “Your Majesty loves the people like his own children, it is a blessing that I have cultivated for three lifetimes to have such an enlightened ruler! Long live Your Majesty, long live, long long live!”

“……”

Xiao Zhinian was somewhat speechless.

He didn’t know how many times he had heard such complimentary words during the meal, more annoying than those verbose ministers in the court, making his ears want to grow calluses.

It was endless, wasn’t it?

He didn’t know where this person came from, so lacking in tact.

Just as Xiao Zhinian was about to lose his patience, a child’s noisy voice floated in from outside the courtyard.

“I want to go find Father! Why are you stopping me? Let go! Let go of me! I want to tell Father that the teacher praised me for making progress in my calligraphy today, I have to let him see it!”

“Young master, please don’t shout, be careful of offending the distinguished guests. The master is entertaining distinguished guests in the house!”

“Father! Come out quickly! These people are going to rebel… um…”

Xiao Zhinian looked towards the open wooden door, the impatience from just now still remaining between his eyebrows, his face looking gloomy, “What’s going on?”

The Zhao family’s master really didn’t know how that little ancestor, who was usually nowhere to be found, had returned to the mansion at this moment. Fearing that he would upset Xiao Zhinian, he was flustered and sweating, repeatedly saying, “It’s my son, a lawless thing. I will send him back to his room to be taken care of. He runs around the city all day, not learning anything good, please Your Majesty not to bother with him.”

Governor Yang watched coldly, not saying a word of good or bad.

“Go.”

Xiao Zhinian gave an order, granting permission.

The Zhao family’s master secretly breathed a sigh of relief, luckily Xiao Zhinian didn’t blame him. Without hesitation, he got up on his own, looking quite embarrassed.

He originally wanted to teach that kid a lesson, to make him remember, but after walking two steps, he was suddenly knocked over by Zhao Xiao Si, who rushed in from outside.

When Zhao Xiao Si saw the situation inside, especially Xiao Zhinian sitting in the main seat, the words he was preparing to tell his father about how he was going to report him were all stuck in his throat. He stared straight at Xiao Zhinian and said in surprise, pointing at Xiao Zhinian, “You, you, you! It’s you!”

Huai Wu reacted extremely quickly and stood in front of Xiao Zhinian, ready for battle.

Xiao Zhinian had grown up so big, no one had ever dared to point at him in person. He looked at the little brat who had barged in, slightly displeased, “What do you mean ‘your mine’?”

“I’ve seen you,” Zhao Xiao Si said decisively. After a moment, he frowned and thought hard, “I can’t remember where, but I’ve definitely seen you!”

“……”

Xiao Zhinian became somewhat curious. This was his first time coming to Luo City, so logically this kid shouldn’t be familiar with him, but he had frequently traveled out of the palace in recent years, so it wasn’t impossible for them to have passed each other on the road.

“Stinky brat!” The Zhao family’s master, who had finally been helped up by the servants, took a breath and slapped Zhao Xiao Si on the head, “What nonsense are you talking about? You haven’t even stepped out of Luo City! I think you’ve gone crazy from playing, why don’t you quickly go back to your room and reflect!”

Zhao Xiao Si was not convinced. He unfolded the folded rice paper with both hands, holding it like a treasure, as if afraid that people wouldn’t see it. He tiptoed and moved closer to the Zhao family’s master’s face, arguing with a red face, “I didn’t go crazy playing! Look! These are the characters I learned in the school today, the teacher said they were good, you can’t wrong me!”

The Zhao family’s master’s temper flared up, and he said angrily, “You’ve even learned to talk back? It seems that I’ve been too busy with business and haven’t had time to discipline you properly! Okay! Someone, bring me the rattan!”

If it were the former Xiao Zhinian, he would definitely grab a handful of peanuts, pair it with a pot of fine wine, and happily watch the good show of “rattan-braised pork”.

But the current Xiao Zhinian had long lost interest in these mundane affairs, and only felt extremely noisy.

“All of you give me…”

Xiao Zhinian suddenly froze.

The characters on the rice paper, along with Zhao Xiao Si’s movements, flew into his eyes like dancing butterflies. They were clearly light and weightless, but they were like a thousand-ton rock smashing into his heart, rumbling, stirring up thousands of feet of waves, completely submerging him.

His fingers loosened, and the porcelain cup fell to the floor.

“Bang!”

The surrounding sounds seemed to disappear in an instant, leaving only a buzzing sound constantly echoing in his head, deafening.

That was…

Shen Zhejiang’s handwriting.