Xiao Zhuozi nodded along from the side.
Hu Xiaotian smiled without speaking. He had discovered that eunuchs really did think differently from ordinary people. They tended to have an exceptionally keen nose for danger, and most were fiercely vindictive. Although he had not been in the palace long, he already had a general understanding of their character. Neither his initial feud with Lin Bingqing nor his recent offense against Wang Desheng had involved anything serious, yet both men bore grudges. If they ever caught an opening, they would stop at nothing to retaliate. Xiao Dengzi had been right about one thing: he had to strike first to gain the upper hand.
Quan Dean had brought him into the palace so long ago without assigning him any specific task. Now it seemed that one reason was his failure to master Yin-Lifting Yang-Shrinking. Another important reason was to let him grow familiar with the treacherous hearts within the palace.
At noon, Hu Xiaotian met Cao Qianshan at the Jade Abyss Pavilion. Since their first frank discussion, his dealings with Fei Cuitang and the Peach and Plum Garden had continued as usual. Unlike Wang Desheng, however, Hu Xiaotian no longer kept in touch with a whole host of suppliers, instead sticking to Cao Qianshan alone. He did not care about the paltry benefits those fruit and vegetable merchants could offer. What mattered most now was handling procurement impeccably and earning Liu Yuzhang's complete trust.
Cao Qianshan was a clever man too. He could see that this newly appointed procurement eunuch had lofty ambitions. It was not that Hu Xiaotian wanted no benefits, but that the little Cao Qianshan could offer was beneath his notice. During this period, Cao Qianshan had also handled the produce supplies with great care. Hu Xiaotian's trust had undoubtedly