Xu Zhengying

Biodata

Background / History

Xu Zhengying is one of the Ministry of Revenue’s two vice ministers and ranks third in authority within the ministry. Serving beneath Minister Hu Buwei, he oversees Great Kang’s currency minting and issuance, with the Coinage Hall and Treasure Spring Bureau under his supervision 15.

He frequently visits the Hu residence, ostensibly to discuss official business or seek advice, but chiefly to cultivate a closer relationship with his superior. These efforts do not earn Hu Buwei’s full confidence: the suspicious minister keeps him at a deliberate distance 15.

Appearance

• Build: Seven chi tall and slightly plump 15.
• Eyes: Described as small and narrowed when he examines Hu Xiaotian 16.
• Clothing at his introduction: Gray informal clothes, accompanied by a servant wearing blue-green clothing and a small cap 15.

Personality

Xu is ambitious, status-conscious, and highly practiced in flattery. He treats his superior’s son with conspicuous humility despite Hu Xiaotian initially holding no official appointment. His warm language often exceeds the closeness of the actual relationship, including claims that Hu Buwei is as dear to him as a brother 16.

His outward courtesy frequently conceals resentment or anxiety. He flatters Wu Jingshan while privately disliking him, swallows a public insult because Wu outranks him, and feels slighted when the gathering’s attention shifts to more powerful officials. Once Hu Xiaotian retaliates, Xu enthusiastically joins the mockery of the lower-ranking Su Qingkun 18 19.

Xu nevertheless prefers to limit political damage rather than prolong a victory. He leaves the literary gathering to avoid appearing to challenge Wu, then returns because he fears being held responsible for Hu Xiaotian’s safety. His initial reluctance to help an injured stranger contrasts with Hu’s compassion, though he ultimately arranges medical care 21 23 24 25.

Abilities & Skills

Political Networking and Mediation

Xu uses gifts, deference, and knowledge of official relationships to cultivate favor and contain disputes 15 16 23.

• Visits Hu Buwei regularly to strengthen their professional connection 15.
• Presents Hu Xiaotian with rare wild ginseng as a health-restoring gift 16.
• Warns the Qiu brothers about Hu Xiaotian’s powerful father and prospective father-in-law, hoping to persuade them to abandon their complaint 23.
• Publicly characterizes the resulting confrontation as a misunderstanding after the brothers withdraw their accusations 24.

Literary Scholarship

Xu is known for his scholarship and regularly attends literary gatherings. His learning is genuine rather than merely an accessory to his office 18 20.

• Answers Wu Jingshan’s character-component couplet with a matching line that earns the gathering’s praise 20.
• Identifies the Misty Waters Pavilion’s inscription as Emperor Taizong’s calligraphy 17.
• Initially underestimates Hu Xiaotian’s education, assuming his recent recovery leaves him poorly prepared for a scholarly gathering 16 17.

Equipment / Items

• Luxury carriage — An ornate two-horse carriage with carved panels, lattice windows, an extended canopy, bronze bells, tassels, and silk cords. Xu says it was a gift from his father-in-law. His rank permits no more than three horses 17.
• Thousand-year-old wild ginseng — A root he says a friend brought from the Yan Kingdom, presented to Hu Xiaotian in a brocade box. Hu’s inspection suggests it may be roughly twelve hundred years old 16.

Relationships

• Hu Buwei — Immediate superior and the main target of Xu’s networking efforts. Xu claims intimate friendship, but Hu Buwei does not admit him into his full confidence 15 16.
• Hu Xiaotian — His superior’s son, whom he addresses as his “dear nephew.” Xu’s attempt to cultivate favor leaves him responsible for an unpredictable companion whose literary talent and medical skill repeatedly overturn his expectations 16 19 23 25.
• Wu Jingshan — Higher-ranking Minister of Rites. Wu publicly insults Xu through wordplay; Hu Xiaotian’s retaliation turns the encounter into a political feud 18 19 21.
• Su Qingkun — Deputy Censor-in-Chief who leads the laughter at Xu’s expense. Xu later mocks him, and Su leaves the gathering directing his resentment toward Xu 19 21.
• Qiu Zhigao and Qiu Zhitang — Literary hosts with whom Xu has prior acquaintance. He resents their failure to tell him Wu would attend, but later intervenes after Hu Xiaotian beats them 18 23.
• Yuan Shiqing — Easy Origin Hall physician summoned by Xu to treat an injured elderly man. Yuan offers care without charge to cultivate Xu’s favor, then questions him about Hu Xiaotian’s apparent medical expertise 25.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Visit to the Hu Residence

• While Hu Buwei is away accompanying the emperor, Xu visits Hu Xiaotian and gives him valuable ginseng. Hu then asks to accompany him to a literary gathering at Misty Waters Pavilion, a request Xu accepts despite privately doubting his literacy 15 16.
• During the carriage journey, Xu asks Hu to conceal his identity, fearing embarrassment and blame from Hu Buwei. He likewise avoids identifying Hu to the gathering’s hosts 17 18.

Misty Waters Pavilion Gathering

• Xu expects to be the most senior attendee, but Wu Jingshan’s arrival displaces him from the center of attention. Wu subsequently uses Huo Xiaoru’s dog to deliver a public insult against him 18 19.
• Hu Xiaotian answers with retaliatory wordplay, giving Xu the confidence to mock Su Qingkun. Xu contributes successfully to the couplet exchange, but Hu’s performance dominates the gathering 19 20.
• After Wu and Su depart, Xu declines to preside over the remaining guests and leaves to avoid deepening the feud. Hu refuses to accompany him, choosing to remain with Huo Xiaoru 21.

Intervention and Roadside Rescue

• Concerned about his responsibility for Hu, Xu returns and finds the aftermath of Hu’s fight with the Qiu brothers. He intervenes on Hu’s behalf and takes him home once the accusations are withdrawn 23 24.
• On the return journey, Hu stops to rescue an elderly driver trapped beneath an overturned freight cart. Xu initially urges them to continue, but later shelters Hu with an umbrella and summons medical help 24 25.
• Xu arranges treatment through Easy Origin Hall. Having witnessed both Hu’s scholarly ability and precise fracture treatment, he is left unable to reconcile those talents with the young man’s former reputation 25.