Hu Xiaotian nodded. "Learn what?"
Quan Dean said, "The imperial palace is the most dangerous place under heaven. If I personally send you inside, everyone will know you are one of mine. I have always served at the Crown Prince's side, and he has treated me well. But the closer I am to him, the more people regard me as an enemy. Some never stop wishing me dead. Only once I am dead will they have a chance to take my place. In sending you into the palace, I need you to be not only my eyes but also my ears-and, at crucial moments, my mouth. So you must learn to read expressions and weigh people's words, distinguish right from wrong, and know what you should and should not say, what you should and should not do. Don't imagine that being a good county magistrate in some little frontier town qualifies you for a position in the imperial palace. And don't look down on people like us. Without desire, one stands unyielding. When it comes to hard hearts, who in this world can compare with us?"
Hu Xiaotian knew Quan Dean spoke the truth, but he wondered why Quan Dean had chosen him in particular. What exactly was his purpose in having him infiltrate the palace?
Quan Dean said, "Since injuring my right leg, I have been unable to advance any further in my martial arts. I made countless enemies in the past, and sooner or later they will come seeking revenge. By teaching you my martial arts, I can give you the means to protect yourself in the palace and ensure that the skills I have spent my life mastering will have a successor."
Hu Xiaotian broke into a cold sweat inwardly. *He sounds so solemn. Surely he isn't