You are both talented and beautiful

No matter how hot Nian Songyu's temper flared, would he dare to openly strike him here?

The two stared each other down like fighting cocks for a long while. He Yue ignored them, but Sun Fuping finally spoke up to smooth things over: "How would Commandant Nian know about the affairs of servants? He will know once he returns to ask. How exactly was Young Master He injured? This is a matter of great importance; do not beat around the bush."

He Lingchuan sighed: "About fifty days ago, I went hunting at Gourd Mountain, but I was attacked by a Sand Leopard and fell off a cliff. I was carried back and remained unconscious for many days before waking up."

Nian Songyu's eyes nearly spat fire: "Why didn't you say so yesterday?" Was this brat playing dumb?

Sun Fuping, however, only asked the key question: "And that Sand Leopard?"

"Dead. It was carried back with me," He Lingchuan shrugged. "After I woke up, I ordered people to dismember the Sand Leopard. This thing nearly killed me, so I had to hack it to pieces. The parts have already been taken to the market and sold." He gestured vaguely to the east. "There are plenty of merchants here who are interested in monster fur, claws, teeth, tongues, eyeballs, and inner cores. They are willing to pay a high price."

"We understand what you two are thinking," He Yue interjected at the right moment. "When we learned yesterday that the Sand Leopard that ambushed my brother was wounded by you, Father, though he did not state his position, had already sent men to track down the whereabouts of the beast's carcass."

The barb in these words was sharp, yet it seemed to have no effect on the two men opposite them. Sun Fuping rolled his eyes: "Can Governor He really find it?"

He Yue smiled: "We will certainly give it our all."

Joking aside, such a guarantee could naturally not be made.

Sun Fuping remained silent for a moment before saying: "By the way, before we set out this time, the Grand Marshal mentioned in a letter that if the crisis in the capital could be resolved, Governor He's talents need not be wasted in such a desolate backwater."

The He brothers were both moved: "You mean... no, the Grand Marshal means...?"

"A transfer back to the capital, with a recommendation for promotion to Censor of the Imperial Secretariat!"

When had these old bureaucratic foxes ever been so direct? He Lingchuan stood up at once: "The Grand Marshal has a keen eye for talent; his word is gold!" As he spoke, he reached out toward Sun Fuping.

Sun Fuping handed over a letter, the wax seal still unbroken.

Clearly, this was something the Grand Marshal had prepared long ago, specifically to be delivered to He Chunhua.

Although promoting officials was not within the Grand Marshal's official purview, his prestige and influence in the court and among the public were immense; making this happen would not be difficult.

Sun Fuping said indifferently: "I hope Governor He will not disappoint the Grand Marshal's high expectations."

He Lingchuan beamed: "That goes without saying."

He Yue added: "We will do our utmost to track down clues regarding the Sand Leopard, and I believe we will have news soon."

The two men stood up: "Then we shall await Governor He's good news."

Just as Sun Fuping was about to walk out, Nian Songyu turned his head to look at He Yue: "Second Young Master He, how old are you this year?"

"Fourteen."

"I heard back in Wangjin that the second son of the Prefect of Qiansong was intelligent and steady. I did not expect such an elegant and refined bearing; truly, hearing of someone a hundred times is not as good as seeing them once."

Why was this guy suddenly critiquing his younger brother? He Lingchuan pointed at himself and took over the conversation: "What about me? Have outsiders discussed me?"

Nian Songyu laughed: "They have. 'Gold and jade on the outside'."

Everyone knew the implication of the unsaid second half of that idiom, but He Lingchuan was smug: "You have an eye for talent, truly an eye for talent."

He Yue coughed lightly: "Big Brother, see our guests out."

Before He Lingchuan could turn around, Nian Songyu suddenly said: "The inn where the State Preceptor and I are staying is cramped and low. I see that Governor He's residence has the style of the Great Capital, with spacious rooms and many quarters. I wonder if it could accommodate two more guests?"

The He brothers and Sun Fuping were all taken aback.

"That would naturally be..." possible.

The He Residence had plenty of empty rooms. He Yue quickly notified Madam Ying to arrange a guest wing for each of the two distinguished visitors.

Servants rushed to the inn to fetch their luggage, and with that, they had officially moved in.

After a flurry of activity, the two guests were settled.

Once the servants had dispersed, Nian Songyu looked at the tightly shut courtyard gate: "The leopard is indeed in their hands. There wasn't a word of truth from that He fellow; the carcass might still be in his house."

"Even if it is, it has been well hidden," Sun Fuping said, meeting his gloomy gaze. "Do not tell me you intend to climb the wall to kill them and seize the treasure? That won't work; we must consider the subsequent plan. The Grand Marshal was right—He Chunhua will seize this opportunity to leverage and haggle."

If He Chunhua had been one to bow and obey, he would not have produced the letter the Grand Marshal had prepared.

Nian Songyu sneered: "A mere frontier governor, a small-time official, and he dares to open his mouth like a lion?"

"At this critical juncture, he might just dare. The Grand Marshal has praised him several times; this man is different from the average mediocre official."

Nian Songyu said bitterly: "What a pity this isn't Wangjin City!"

Wangjin was the capital of Xun Prefecture, his own territory.

Sun Fuping shook his head: "Focus on the task at hand. What these small officials want is nothing more than promotion and wealth; it won't be hard to handle."

"Although the Censor of the Imperial Secretariat is only a Subordinate Fifth Rank, it has the power to oversee officials—a lucrative position everyone covets. In the past, I might have been envious," Nian Songyu said with a mocking smile. "But now..."

Sun Fuping's face darkened: "Watch your tongue!"

In the blink of an eye, night fell.

He Chunhua had not yet returned; he was truly busy.

The Baling delegation had arrived at Blackwater City, and the local officials were responsible for receiving them.

During this time, He Lingchuan made a trip to the government office to personally deliver the Grand Marshal's letter into his father's hands.

He Chunhua, who always presented a gentle and steady demeanor, could not help but slam his hand on the table and laugh out loud three times.

Twenty-plus years. After enduring the wind and sand of the frontier, he was finally returning to the familiar Great Capital.

That place where he was born and raised, the site of the He family's former glory.

He Chunhua even brought out his hidden stash of wine, picked out two cups, and downed three rounds with his eldest son, looking indescribably refreshed.

Only then did He Lingchuan realize that his old man had been secretly hiding fine wine in the official residence, better than any he had ever tasted.

He deliberately put on a puzzled expression: "Father, our life in Blackwater City isn't bad. Why are you in such a rush to go back?"

This was something the original owner would have asked.

He Chunhua looked at him, his smile suddenly vanishing.

When he wasn't smiling, his face looked rather grim.

"Silly child, we certainly cannot stay here," he said, his voice slow and soft. "I have endured humiliation and carried the burden for twenty years at the border, waiting for this very opportunity—the chance to go back, the chance to climb higher!"

A strange light flickered in He Chunhua's eyes, something indescribable and unclear that made He Lingchuan feel a bit uneasy.

"The He family cannot remain in the borderlands, or else our descendants will be nothing more than frontier folk." In the blink of an eye, He Chunhua returned to his normal self. "Only by returning to the capital will we have a chance."

He Lingchuan gave an "oh," appearing to understand only half of it.

His cheap old man had repeated the word "chance" several times.

What kind of chance? What did he intend to do with it?

He Chunhua seemed to regret his lapse in composure; after the three cups, he sent his eldest son home.

The streets were unusually empty. He Lingchuan kicked a pebble away, contemplating his current situation.

How could an ambitious and capable father raise the original owner to be such an arrogant, reckless second-generation heir?

Thinking back carefully, it seemed as if it had been He Chunhua's deliberate indulgence.

That was a bit strange.

But when it came to dealing with Nian Songyu and Sun Fuping, there was no doubt that father and son should work together.

At this very moment, his father seemed to really need him to play that kind of character.

Since that was the case, he would continue to play the playboy; after all, if the sky fell, He Chunhua would be there to hold it up.

It was already very dark, well past dinner time, and the He Residence was as quiet as usual.

He Lingchuan knew no one at home would be waiting for him to eat, so he planned to head to the kitchen to find some snacks to tide him over. The cook always hid a bowl of good things in the low cabinet; today it should be Apple Honey Pastry. If he stole some to eat, she wouldn't protest.

He walked past his second brother's quarters.

At this hour, He Yue was usually either reading by candlelight or reviewing scrolls; he generally didn't wander around the He Residence.

However, He Lingchuan happened to hear the voices of two people coming from the bamboo grove.

Two men.

One was He Yue: "...I don't think that's necessary, Commandant Nian!"

Commandant Nian? He Lingchuan tiptoed closer.

Sure enough, the other person was Nian Songyu. He Lingchuan saw that his cheekbones were flushed, clearly having had plenty to drink: "Why not? The Great Capital is full of powerful families, and the nobles there look down on everyone. Even if your father gets promoted and returns, he'll only be a Subordinate Fifth Rank. How long will you have to wait to get ahead?"

He leaned in and laughed: "You are talented and handsome; if you get my father's recommendation..."