Chapter 29: Ups and Downs (7)

After the manager of the Gao family hurriedly left with his servants, the fortune-telling young Taoist smirked slightly and strode into a narrow alley. He took out a handkerchief to wipe away the white powder on his face, then removed his bulky dark blue Taoist robe. Shouting loudly, he said, “Come out!”
It turned out this young Taoist was none other than Li Kuo, the newly appointed military envoy of Shule.
“Brother Kuo, you really are something!”
Zhang Yanji stepped forward first, giving Li Kuo a thumbs up in admiration. Even from across the alley, he could clearly see that the manager of the Gao family, after being “guided” by Brother Kuo, had lost all sense of direction. After all, anyone who heard such incisive analysis of their fate would surely be intimidated.
“This is the first step toward success. Whether the subsequent plans can be carried out depends on whether that manager acts according to your predictions,” Zhou Wucui said slowly as he stepped out as well.
“Let’s leave this place first; staying too long might arouse suspicion,” Li Kuo suggested, glancing at the bustling crowd around them.
“Mm, I thought the same,” Zhang Yanji nodded in agreement.
Avoiding the crowded streets, Li Kuo and his group turned into an alley that led to a main road. Servants had already prepared a carriage there, likely waiting for them for some time. After bowing, the servant helped Zhang Yanji onto the carriage, whose roof was covered with furs. Li Kuo and Zhou Wucui, however, preferred to climb onto the shafts of the carriage themselves.
At first glance, this furred carriage didn’t seem different from ordinary carriages, but once inside, one would be amazed by its luxury. The spacious interior, about half the size of a regular room, was covered with carpets brought as tributes from Persia. Around the walls were bamboo and wood partitions for the master to rest on, padded with soft cushions that ensured complete comfort. In the center of the carpet lay a table made of fine ash wood, atop which were jade basins filled with various fruits for the master to enjoy. The most remarkable item was the hidden wooden box beneath the table—pulling it outward revealed a three-foot-square wooden box containing various fine wines. Beneath the box was ice harvested from the city’s only royal ice cellar, emitting a constant chill to keep the wines ice-cold.
Seeing this, Li Kuo couldn’t help but exclaim, “Yanji, they say noble families are extravagant, but today I’ve truly seen it. Just this one carriage could support a poor family for a lifetime—truly astonishing.”

Zhang Yanji gave a bitter smile and said, “Brother Kuo has wronged me. My grandfather was merely a vice minister—how could he afford such an expensive carriage? To be honest, this felt carriage belongs to Lady Guo of the Guo State.”
Li Kuo let out a soft “Oh” upon hearing this, but Zhou Wucui clapped his hands and exclaimed, “Everyone says that those without office positions are corrupt. At first, I didn’t believe it. But now it seems this saying isn’t entirely unfounded. Lady Guo is just a woman—how could she afford such a luxurious carriage with her salary alone?”
“Wucui!”
Li Kuo glared at Zhou Wucui and sharply silenced his friend’s complaints.
Zhang Yanji smiled bitterly again. “That fat fool was just angry for a moment. Kuo, you…”
“I know!”
Li Kuo sighed. “But Lady Guo has been kind to us. Please don’t say such things again.”
“Today, when I saw Brother Kuo dressed as a Taoist priest, I really realized that skills are invaluable. Even if Brother Kuo retires from official duties, he could make a living by fortune-telling—far better than us all.”
Not wanting the atmosphere to turn cold, Zhang Yanji tried to lighten the mood.
“You think being a Taoist priest is easy? If everyone were like this chief steward, the master’s wealth would probably be drained away.”
Zhang Yanji shrugged. “That’s true too. Having such a steward is indeed unfortunate.”
“What does Lady Guo want me to do at her mansion?”
Li Kuo lifted the curtain of the carriage to look outside, then turned to Zhang Yanji and asked.
“Well, she didn’t specify.”
Zhang Xiaolangjun lowered his head, fiddling with his hands, and sighed hesitantly. “Today, Lady Guo is accompanying the emperor and the imperial concubine to visit the Lotus Garden. She probably won’t return until nightfall. But she only asked me to bring you to her mansion and wait for her—no need to ask more.”
“Hmm.”
With a brief reply, Li Kuo fell silent, thinking about his next move.
Although Lady Guo wasn’t at the mansion, she had already instructed the stewards not to treat the young gentlemen poorly.
Plus, after several private interactions, Uncle Fu already had a good impression of them. Even if the master didn’t say anything, he wouldn’t let these young boys suffer.
When the carriage stopped, they got off one after another. After greeting Uncle Fu, they followed the servant guide toward the inner residence.
Since Lady Guo wouldn’t return until evening, they were taken directly to the central gathering hall in the back courtyard.
Pei Hui had been practicing calligraphy in his study when he heard the noise. He put down his brush, packed up his inkstone, and strode toward the central hall.
“Seventh Brother!”
When he encountered the young gentlemen in the covered corridor, Pei Hui called out excitedly.

“Brother Hui!” In fact, the two were only a few months apart in age, but after experiencing life at the border, Li Kuo appeared more mature and steady. Pei Hui, having grown up in a luxurious household, naturally seemed more delicate.
“Hurry, come inside and sit down.”
It was stuffy for Pei Hui to be alone inside, so how could he not be happy to see the other youths coming?
Once everyone was seated, Pei Hui began to talk: “Mother originally wanted me to participate in the javelin throwing competition today, but I refused. My skills are barely adequate; I really can’t handle such tasks.”
“Brother Hui, you’re wrong. Javelin throwing relies more on wrist skill than arm strength!”
Li Kuo was overjoyed at the important information he had just obtained from the high-ranking official. Seeing Pei Hui confined to the house all day, he felt pity for him and decided to help him develop an interest in javelin throwing.
“Oh?”
Pei Hui looked at Li Kuo in surprise and said, “At first, Mother said the same thing, but I didn’t believe her…”
“How could it be a lie? It was I who taught the Imperial Concubine how to throw javelins. If you’re willing, my seventh brother can teach you. How about that?”
Li Kuo smiled and made the promise.
“That’s great!”
Pei Hui clenched his fists in joy.
“Then let’s start right now. We can use the open space in front of the main hall.”
Without delay, Li Kuo decided to use this free time to teach Pei Hui the art of throwing.
“Uncle Fu, Uncle Fu, prepare ten lacquered jars! Brother Kuo wants to teach me how to throw! Uncle Fu, Uncle Fu!”
Pei Hui stood up excitedly, calling out loudly like a child.