Guo Shaoxiong was about to explode, but Xie Jian had already taken over. "A gentleman's heart is open and at ease; a petty man is forever weighed down by worry. One glance tells me this gentleman is a man of discernment."
Zhuge Guanqi cupped his hands. "You must be Master Xie, known as the Literary Demon Star. Your great name has long thundered in my ears."
Thinking Zhuge Guanqi had heard of his fame as well, Xie Jian looked delighted. He smiled and asked, "May I ask your esteemed name, sir?"
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"I am a nobody, hardly worth mentioning! But I was present last night. Since you have misunderstood, let me explain on behalf of my lord and Great General Su. Great General Su hosted a private banquet for my lord at Guanlan Tower last night to thank him for the grain he provided years ago. When Great General Su first arrived in Yunyang, he was short of provisions and military funds. My lord brought him charcoal in the snow, allocating a hundred thousand shi of military grain to Lord Su. Returning a peach for the plum he received, Lord Su arranged this private banquet expressly to thank my lord for his assistance back then. Have I made myself sufficiently clear? Young Master Guo, Lord Yang, if you truly object, why not follow my lord's example?"
Guo Shaoxiong and Yang Daoyuan were immediately speechless. What Zhuge Guanqi said was true, though Hu Xiaotian had only given Su Yuchi those hundred thousand shi of grain for free because of pressure from the Imperial Court, not out of public spirit or charitable generosity. They knew it was merely an excuse, but it was an impeccably respectable one. What was a single meal in repayment for the kindness of a