Hu Xiaotian returned to Liu Yuzhang's side. By now, Liu Yuzhang's pain had eased a little, and he asked quietly, "Little Hu... what happened outside?"
Hu Xiaotian replied respectfully, "Wang Decai, a eunuch from Xinning Palace, came looking for his younger brother. He lost his footing and took a tumble, making quite a spectacle of himself. That's why everyone laughed."
"Did he break his leg?" Liu Yuzhang asked. This old eunuch certainly wasn't wishing anyone well.
Hu Xiaotian shook his head.
Liu Yuzhang sighed. "Youth really does make a difference. One fall, and half my life was knocked out of me."
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "Heaven watches over good men like you, Eunuch Liu. You'll make a full recovery before long."
"Injured sinews and broken bones take a hundred days to heal," Liu Yuzhang said. "That's true even for young men, let alone an old fellow like me with one foot in the grave. Now that I'm injured, I'm afraid I won't be able to manage the Palace Gardens Bureau."
"Rest assured, Eunuch Liu," Hu Xiaotian said. "I'll do everything in my power to handle matters properly for you."
Liu Yuzhang nodded. "Of course I trust you to get things done. Speaking of which... you said Wang Decai came looking for his younger brother. I don't think I've seen Wang Desheng these past two days either."
"Eunuch Liu, I have no dealings with that man," Hu Xiaotian said. "Naturally, I wouldn't pay attention to his affairs."
"Send someone to fetch him," Liu Yuzhang said. "There are a few things I want to tell him face-to-face."
Wang Desheng has already gone to meet the King of Hell. Where am I supposed to find him? If you want to speak to him face-to-face, you'll probably have to wait until you pass on yourself.