You Are Talented and Handsome

Nian Songyu was furious, but would he dare attack him in public here?

The two glared at each other like fighting roosters for a long while. He Yue did nothing, so Sun Fuping stepped in to smooth things over. "How could Commandant Nian know what the servants were up to? He can ask them when he gets back. The important thing is how Young Master He was injured. This is serious; let's not change the subject."

He Lingchuan sighed. "About fifty days ago, I went hunting on Gourd Mountain and was attacked by a sand leopard. I fell off a cliff and was unconscious for several days after they carried me back."

Nian Songyu's eyes nearly spat fire. "Why didn't you say so yesterday?" What was this brat pretending for?

Sun Fuping only asked what mattered. "And the sand leopard?"

"It died. They carried it back with me." He Lingchuan shrugged. "Once I woke up, I ordered my men to butcher it. That thing nearly killed me, so I had to chop it into pieces. They've already taken the parts to market and sold them." He casually pointed east. "There are plenty of merchants here interested in monster hides, claws, fangs, tongues, eyeballs, inner cores, and the like. They'll pay handsomely."

"We understand what the two of you are getting at." He Yue spoke at the right moment. "Yesterday, when we learned that the sand leopard that ambushed my elder brother had been wounded by you, Father didn't comment, but he sent people to track down the carcass."

There was a hard barb in those words, but it seemed to prick neither of the two men across from him. Sun Fuping raised his brows. "Can Governor He really find it?"

He Yue smiled. "He'll certainly do everything he can."

As if. There was no way he could guarantee that.

Sun Fuping fell silent for a while, then said, "By the way, before we set out this time, the Grand Marshal wrote that if we can resolve the capital's troubles, Lord He's talents need no longer be wasted in these barren hills."

The He brothers were both visibly moved. "You mean... No, does the Grand Marshal mean...?"

"Transfer back to the capital and promotion to Censor of the Imperial Secretariat!"

When had these old officials ever been so straightforward? He Lingchuan sprang to his feet. "The Grand Marshal has a discerning eye and a golden tongue!" As he spoke, he leaned toward Sun Fuping and held out his hand.

Sun Fuping handed him a letter, its wax seal still intact.

Clearly, the Grand Marshal had prepared it long ago, specifically to pass on to He Chunhua.

Although promoting officials wasn't within the Grand Marshal's formal authority, he enjoyed great prestige at court and throughout the land. Making this happen wouldn't be difficult for him.

Sun Fuping said coolly, "I hope Governor He won't disappoint the Grand Marshal's high hopes."

He Lingchuan beamed. "Of course not."

He Yue added, "We'll do everything we can to track down the sand leopard. I'm sure we'll have news soon."

The two men stood. "Then we'll await good news from Governor He."

Sun Fuping was about to leave when Nian Songyu turned to look He Yue up and down. "Second Young Master He, how old are you this year?"

"Fourteen."

"I'd heard back in Wangjin that the second son of the Prefect of Qiansong was clever and steady. I didn't expect you to be so refined and handsome. Seeing you in person is better than hearing a hundred descriptions."

Why was this guy suddenly sizing up the second brother? What was he after? He Lingchuan pointed to himself and chimed in. "What about me? Have outsiders said anything about me?"

Nian Songyu smiled. "They have. 'All gold and jade on the outside...'"

Everyone knew what the unspoken second half meant, but He Lingchuan was pleased with himself. "Good eye, good eye."

He Yue coughed. "Elder 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-ceilinged. Governor He's residence has the grand style of the Great Capital, and plenty of rooms. I wonder if it could shelter two more guests?"

The He brothers and Sun Fuping were all taken aback.

"Of course..." They could.

There were plenty of empty rooms at the He Residence. He Yue quickly notified Madam Ying, who arranged a guesthouse for each of the two distinguished visitors.

Servants hurried to the inn to fetch their luggage. That settled it: the two men had officially moved in.

After all the bustle, the two guests were finally settled.

Once the servants had dispersed, Nian Songyu glanced at the courtyard's closed gate. "So the leopard really did end up in their hands. That He never says a true word. The carcass might still be in his home."

"Even if it is, it's been carefully hidden." Sun Fuping met his baleful gaze. "You're not thinking of climbing the wall to kill them and seize the prize, are you? That won't work. We need to consider the plans that come after. The Grand Marshal judged correctly: He Chunhua will use this opportunity to bargain and drive a hard deal."

If He Chunhua were obedient, Sun Fuping wouldn't have brought out the letter the Grand Marshal had prepared.

Nian Songyu sneered. "A mere border prefect, a piddling little official, and he dares make outrageous demands?"

"At a time like this, he might. The Grand Marshal has praised him several times; he's not like your run-of-the-mill incompetent official."

Nian Songyu grumbled, "What a pity this isn't Wangjin!"

Wangjin was the capital of Xun Prefecture, his territory.

Sun Fuping shook his head. "The main task comes first. All these minor officials want is a promotion and money. They're easy enough to handle."

"The Censor of the Imperial Secretariat is only a Subordinate Fifth Rank, but it's a lucrative post that lets you oversee officials—everyone's clamoring for it. In the past, I might have been envious." Nian Songyu gave a scornful smile. "But now..."

Sun Fuping's face darkened. "Watch your mouth!"

In the blink of an eye, night fell.

He Chunhua still hadn't come back. He was genuinely busy.

The Baling delegation had arrived in Blackwater City, and it was the local officials' responsibility to receive them.

In the meantime, He Lingchuan made a trip to the government office and personally delivered the Grand Marshal's letter to his father.

He Chunhua, who usually presented himself as gentle and composed, couldn't help slapping the table and laughing three times.

More than twenty years. He had weathered wind and sand on the frontier, and at last he was going back to the familiar Great Capital!

The city where he was born and raised, where the He family had once known its glory.

He Chunhua even brought out his hidden wine, picked two cups, and clinked them with his eldest son for three rounds. He felt lighter than air.

Only then did He Lingchuan discover that his father had secretly stashed fine wine in the official residence, better than any he had ever tasted.

He deliberately looked perplexed. "Father, life in Blackwater City isn't bad. Are you really in such a hurry to go back?"

That was something the original He Lingchuan would have asked.

He Chunhua looked at him, then suddenly stopped smiling.

Without his smile, his face seemed a little sinister.

"Foolish child, of course we can't stay here." His voice was soft and slow. "I've endured humiliation on the frontier for twenty years, waiting for this opportunity—to go back, to rise higher!"

An odd light shone in He Chunhua's eyes. He Lingchuan couldn't make sense of it, and it made him uneasy.

"The He family can't stay on the frontier, or generation after generation will be nothing but border folk." In an instant, He Chunhua was back to normal. "Only when we return to the capital will we have a chance."

He Lingchuan gave a vague "oh."

His cheap old man had said the word "opportunity" several times in a row.

What opportunity? What did he want to use it for?

He Chunhua seemed to regret letting his emotions show. After three cups, he sent his eldest son home.

There were remarkably few people on the road. He Lingchuan kicked away a pebble and considered his current situation.

How had a father with ambition and ability raised an arrogant, shameless playboy like the original He Lingchuan?

Thinking it over carefully, it seemed He Chunhua had deliberately indulged him.

That was a little strange.

But when it came to dealing with Nian Songyu and Sun Fuping, father and son should be united, without a doubt.

At that moment, his father seemed to need him to play just such a character.

If so, he'd keep being a wastrel. If the sky fell, He Chunhua could hold it up.

It was already very dark, well past dinnertime, and the He Residence was as quiet as ever.

He Lingchuan knew no one at home would be waiting for him to eat, so he planned to find some snacks in the kitchen to tide him over. The cook always hid a basin of good things in the low cupboard. Today it should be Apple Honey Pastry. He could sneak some and eat it; no one would complain.

He passed by his younger brother's residence.

At this hour, He Yue was either reading by candlelight or poring over exam papers by lamplight. He usually didn't wander around the He Residence.

Yet He Lingchuan heard two voices coming from the bamboo grove.

Two men.

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

Commandant Nian? He Lingchuan crept closer.

The other man was indeed Nian Songyu. His cheekbones were flushed; he had clearly had quite a bit to drink. "Why not? The Great Capital is full of noble families, and the powerful are lofty and hard to please. Even if your father is promoted and transferred back, he'll only be a Subordinate Fifth Rank. How long do you think it'll take you to get ahead?"

He leaned closer and smiled. "You're talented and handsome. If my father recommends you as well..."