Hu Xiaotian laughed. "The officials in the Azure Cloud County Yamen are a nest of snakes and rats to begin with. Xu Qinglian, Guo Shouguang, Liu Baoju, Xing Shan-not one of that bunch is any good. They all see me as a thorn in their eyes and a splinter in their flesh, and every last one of them wants me gone before he can rest easy."
Murong Feiyan said, "I told you long ago to keep a low profile when you came here, but you wouldn't listen. Now look how many people you've offended."
Hu Xiaotian said, "I don't know how to live with my tail tucked between my legs."
"But you usually seem quite good at handling people. Aren't you always saying a real man knows when to bend and when to stand tall?"
Hu Xiaotian said, "I said a real man can be hard or soft."
Murong Feiyan's face flushed crimson with embarrassment, and she had no idea how to answer.
Hu Xiaotian said, "Even if I do know when to bend, these flies aren't worth bending for. Feiyan, are we on the same side or not?"
Murong Feiyan said, "I'd be ashamed to keep company with someone like you."
"A woman who knows how to blush has feminine charm. You've finally learned how to be more like a woman."
"Pah!"
Hu Xiaotian said, "Xu Qinglian and his lot are all corrupt officials, and the people they're bleeding dry are the common folk. I got in their way, so those bastards want to get rid of me."
"What evidence do you have?"
Hu Xiaotian said, "I have an idea. I just don't know whether you'll agree."
Murong Feiyan said, "Don't ask me to do anything wicked. I will never do anything that goes against my conscience."
Hu Xiaotian