Hu Xiaotian thought to himself, You're Qin Yutong's martial uncle. Surely she's already told you about my circumstances. Anyone with eyes could tell just from these clothes. I'm a eunuch now, damn it. Isn't this asking a question you already know the answer to? Still, he smiled broadly and said, "So-so. At least I'm still alive in this world."
Meng Zizai nodded and looked Hu Xiaotian up and down. "Where are you serving now, Lord Hu?"
"Hardly anywhere distinguished," Hu Xiaotian said. "I'm currently a eunuch in the palace. I'm no lord anymore, either. If you think well of me, Mister Meng, just call me Eunuch Hu." There was displeasure in his words. This old fellow really has no decency. Even a blind man could tell I'm a eunuch, and you're still asking when you already know.
Meng Zizai lightly stroked the silver beard beneath his chin and said quietly, "That's not bad, either!"
Hu Xiaotian nearly keeled over with anger. Shit, so you invited me here just to laugh at me and throw in a few jabs for good measure? I never offended you back in Azure Cloud. Do you have to be so vicious? At your age, as a respected physician, you can still bring yourself to rub salt into someone's wounds? No decency. You really have no damn decency.
Meng Zizai seemed utterly unaware of this. He sighed and said, "In these troubled times, merely staying alive is no easy feat."
"You seem to be doing quite well, Mister Meng," Hu Xiaotian said. "But Azure Cloud has beautiful mountains and clear waters, and its people are simple and honest. Hadn't you already retired when I last saw you? Why have you returned to the capital? Can you still not let go of this mortal world?"
"It isn't