Hu Xiaotian could not help feeling rather pleased with himself. Quick-witted? That hardly covers it. I've lived two lives. If I really set out to scheme against someone, even you, my father, probably wouldn't be a match for me.
Hu Buwei said, "Have you considered what would happen if someone turned your own methods against you and accused us, father and son, of privately setting up a thatched pavilion at home? Wouldn't that constitute high treason?"
Hu Xiaotian truly had not considered that possibility. Hu Buwei's warning was like a basin of cold water dumped over his head, and cold sweat instantly covered his back. Fortunately, he had faced the rather dim-witted Tang Family brothers today. Against a wily old fox, he might have failed to steal the chicken and lost his handful of rice besides—caught inside the very circle he had drawn himself.
Hu Buwei patted his son's shoulder and said meaningfully, "The might of Heaven is unfathomable. Here beneath the emperor's feet, there are things you absolutely must not say carelessly."
Hu Xiaotian replied respectfully, "I will remember your teachings, Father!"
Hu Buwei said, "Although I didn't witness today's events myself, your accounts have given me a fairly good understanding. After rescuing the young lady of the Tang Family, you could have walked away unscathed. Why did you insist on making such a fuss that you left yourself at a disadvantage?"
"I didn't want to, either. The circumstances forced my hand. It wasn't up to me!"
Hu Buwei sighed. "Although things have settled down for now, the Tang Family left filled with resentment. I doubt they'll let the matter rest. What do you think we should do?" This was the first time in his life that Hu Buwei had asked his son's opinion. He did not truly want to hear his views; rather, he was using this incident to test his son's intelligence.
Hu Xiaotian had not thought that far ahead. He said quietly, "I won't offend others unless they offend me. If their well water keeps clear of our river water from now on, we can live in peace. But if they dare cause trouble, I won't let them off!"
Hu Buwei slowly shook his head. "You must understand that even a tiny nail can pierce the sole of your foot. Once you've spotted that nail, you must pull it out before it punctures your foot, rather than waiting until you're hurt to decide what to do. That is what it means to prepare before the rain comes. If you want to go far and live long, you must remove anything that might cause you trouble as early as possible."
Hu Xiaotian stared at his father with wide eyes, thinking to himself, This father of mine is cunning and ruthless enough. Chances are he's a treacherous minister!
Hu Buwei patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "Although today's affair appears to have been resolved, we have no control over what consequences it might bring later. I've just arranged your betrothal to the young lady of the Li Family. If word of this gets out, what will they think?" Hu Buwei remained rather worried about that. His prospective in-law was Li Tianheng, Military Commissioner of Jiannan Xichuan and founding Duke of Xichuan, with a fief of three thousand households. He was a powerful regional governor in every sense, as well as a favorite of Crown Prince Long Yeqing. A marriage between their families would unite two formidable powers, and Hu Buwei attached enormous importance to it. He had no idea that Hu Xiaotian was not afraid of the affair escalating or of gaining a bad reputation. In Hu Xiaotian's mind, nothing could be better than the Li Family breaking off the engagement over this. It would spare him a lifetime spent with a paralyzed invalid.
Hu Xiaotian said, "Father, I heard that the Li Family girl is disabled, paralyzed from the waist down, and hideously ugly!"
Hu Buwei said, "I haven't met the Li Family girl myself. I've heard she does have some difficulty with her legs, but she's been raised in the seclusion of her inner chambers. What outsider has ever seen what she really looks like? The claim that she's hideously ugly must be a rumor distorted in the telling." Wind did not necessarily blow from an empty cave without cause. Hu Buwei knew the rumors were probably true, but he still tried his best to reassure his son.
Hu Xiaotian thought, So the paralysis is already a fact. Are you kidding me? You're my father. How can you shove your own son into a pit of fire? Looks like this father of mine is pretty cold-blooded, too. He said, "Father, I don't want to spend my whole life with a paralyzed invalid. Why don't we break off this engagement..."
Hu Buwei flew into a rage at those words. "You little bastard!" he thundered. "A true man's promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold! The whole world knows that Lord Li and I have agreed to this marriage. You want me to go back on my word? How could I face His Majesty, the court officials, or the people of this realm?"
Hu Xiaotian said, "Oh, give me a break. Marriage is between two people. What does it have to do with anyone else? I haven't even seen what the Li Family girl looks like, and you're going to force us together. Isn't that ridiculous? You're my father! Have you thought about how I feel?"
Hu Buwei said, "Marriage is a serious matter, not child's play! It is governed by the parents' command and the matchmaker's word. Neither the Hu Family nor the Li Family is an ordinary household. Countless eyes watch our every move. I have settled this matter on your behalf, and it cannot be changed!"
Hu Xiaotian sighed inwardly. All this talk of the parents' command and the matchmaker's word—you've simply put me up as a stake in your political gamble. You don't care about my happiness or my love life at all. The little goodwill he had felt toward Hu Buwei vanished completely in an instant. He said coldly, "Since you've arranged it on my behalf, why not marry the Li Family girl on my behalf, too? You can even enter the bridal chamber for me while you're at it. How does that sound?"
Hu Buwei had never imagined that this little brat would utter such outrageous, filthy words. His eyes rolled with fury, and the right hand he pointed at Hu Xiaotian shook like chaff in a sieve. Only after a long while did he manage to curse, "Unfilial wretch! You'll be the death of me..."
Hu Xiaotian was not at all afraid of him dying of anger. He turned and went back to his room.
Hu Xiaotian returned to his room seething, only for Liang Dazhuang to approach at that very moment with a fawning expression. "Young master, you were truly brilliant and mighty just now, blessed with both wisdom and courage! Your kingly presence swept all before you! Those cowardly rats could only cover their heads and scurry away before you. Do you know that you've become the idol of every servant in the household? My admiration for you flows as endlessly as the waters of the Yangtze! I pledge you my wholehearted loyalty, and I'll bend my back to your service until my dying breath!"
Liang Dazhuang's skill at flattery was certainly impressive. Otherwise, he would never have stood out among the many servants in the minister's residence and been chosen by Hu Buwei as Hu Xiaotian's personal attendant. Unfortunately, he had picked the wrong target. Hu Xiaotian was unlike anyone else in this age, and the flattery Liang Dazhuang believed worked everywhere under heaven happened to have no effect on him.
Hu Xiaotian chuckled, his smile plainly perfunctory. Liang Dazhuang laughed along, naturally looking awkward.
Looking at the fellow's piglike face, Hu Xiaotian chuckled and said, "Dazhuang, I'm neither blind nor deaf. I can see your loyalty."
Liang Dazhuang secretly rejoiced. The young master must be about to reward me. Damn it, all that bowing and scraping and shameless flattery wasn't wasted after all. Effort always brings a return. He bowed deeply. "I will bend my back to your service until my dying breath, young master!"
Hu Xiaotian said, "When that Tang Family girl was chasing me with her sword, those heartless dogs ran faster than the last, desperate to get away. You were the only one who rushed forward to block her sword for me. I was deeply touched!"
Liang Dazhuang blinked. Only an idiot would willingly block a sword for you. You were the one who shoved me out there! He lowered his head and bowed. "All I thought about at the time was keeping you safe, young master. Nothing else entered my mind. As long as you were safe, what would it matter if I gave my life?" The fellow was so moved by his own words that his little eyes reddened, and he all but shed tears.
Hu Xiaotian shook his head. "You may have forgotten, but I haven't!"
Liang Dazhuang froze, his face full of confusion. "What do you mean, young master?" Then he saw a fist growing larger before his eyes. Thump! It slammed into his right eye, making him see stars. Then he heard Hu Xiaotian say unhurriedly, "Fuck your uncle!"
Under Hu Xiaotian's furious beating, Liang Dazhuang covered his head and scurried away, howling as he fled, "Spare me, young master! Spare me... I was cursing Tang Qingxuan..."
After beating Liang Dazhuang out the door, Hu Xiaotian felt much better. Still, he sensed that his anger had not been fully vented, so he went into the courtyard and punched and kicked several sandbags until he was drenched in sweat. Only then did he go to the swimming pool dug in the rear courtyard according to his design, strip naked, and jump in with a splash.
Standing atop Boxuan Tower, Hu Buwei watched his son's every move from afar, his expression rather helpless. Hu Tianxiong quietly approached him and said respectfully, "My lord!"
Hu Buwei grunted in acknowledgment without turning around, still watching his son cleave through the waves in the pool. He was genuinely puzzled. His son had been an idiot for sixteen years, yet after regaining his senses, he had suddenly learned not only to speak but also to swim. Such strange developments truly defied reason. Strange though they were, Hu Buwei had never doubted that this was his own son. The boy had grown up under his very eyes from infancy. Those features and that mind-he was unquestionably his own flesh and blood.
Hu Tianxiong did not dare disturb him and stood quietly beside him.
After a long while, Hu Buwei finally asked, "What did your inquiries uncover?"
Hu Tianxiong said, "The young master did indeed save Tang Qingxuan. However, he also did seize her and bring her into the residence in full view of everyone."
Hu Buwei slowly nodded. "A graceful maiden is a gentleman's worthy mate. Once a son grows up, his father can no longer govern him. At his age, he really should be marrying and having children."
Hu Tianxiong said, "My lord, although this matter has been resolved, there are many rumors circulating outside. They all say the young master used your power to forcibly abduct the Tang Family's daughter." He enjoyed Hu Buwei's considerable trust, so there were certain things he could say freely in his presence.
Hu Buwei sighed. "A multitude of tongues can melt metal, and accumulated slander can dissolve bones. People's words are fearsome indeed. I'll write a letter shortly. Take it to Western Sichuan yourself and deliver it to Lord Li." What worried Hu Buwei most was these rumors reaching the Li Family in Western Sichuan. Although their daughter was paralyzed in both legs, she still came from a distinguished family. A man of Li Tianheng's standing attached great importance to his reputation. Who knew how he would react if he heard that his future son-in-law had forcibly abducted a commoner's daughter in the Capital City? Hu Buwei placed immense importance on this marriage alliance. Its success or failure could be said to determine the future political lifeblood of the Hu Family. Nothing could be allowed to go wrong.
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