The steward understood Tang Changsheng's meaning at once. No wonder he had called Tang Changsheng suspicious!
But since he had no intention of harming Tang Changsheng, he gladly accepted the request.
Perhaps, in the steward's eyes, only someone as cautious as Tang Changsheng could live long. A reckless hothead might lose his life before there was ever a chance to lend him a hand...
The two of them left the residence. Nothing went wrong along the way, which showed that, quiet though the steward was, he held no low position there.
After escorting Tang Changsheng to a secluded courtyard, the steward said, "Mage, please rest for now. I'll return this evening to ask for your help with the ritual..."
Tang Changsheng nodded. Zhang Bancheng's household had plenty of rules, but compared with the Marquis's Residence, they were nothing worth mentioning.
As soon as he settled in, beautiful maids came to attend him. They brought hot water and towels, helped him out of his clothes and boots, then dressed him in a loose outer robe and many-toothed wooden clogs.
Only then did they bring out food and wine, waiting on him throughout the meal.
These customs had supposedly come from Emperor Xian'an's palace.
Back then, Emperor Xian'an had made his third son King Wu and built King Wu's Palace here...
But times had changed. The realm had fallen into ruin, and regional lords had risen on every side. Though they still honored Emperor Xian'an as the rightful sovereign, each territory had effectively become an independent state.
King Wu's Palace, meanwhile, had been seized over a century ago by Marquis Wu, who ruled this region. It had become Marquis Wu's Residence.
The former palace servants and others had stayed, however. The customs of Emperor Xian'an's palace had been passed down to this