No one knew how word had spread so quickly. From the city gates to the mansion serving as the guesthouse, everyone knew that the Shang envoys had crawled through a dog hole.
King Zhou never bothered with rumors and gossip. No commoner would be arrested for mocking an official. Even the controversial New Law, so often criticized, could be discussed freely. Cursing King Zhou was no crime, let alone here in Yue Territory, a thousand miles from Chaoge and the emperor's feet.
The people felt not the slightest hesitation as they openly mocked Zhang Youren and his attendants.
The attendants' faces darkened, their spirits sinking to freezing point.
They had thought that visiting a vassal state as envoys of Great Shang would at least earn them the treatment due superior officials. Fine wine, good meat, beauties, and treasures went without saying; they could even swagger about and indulge themselves under the shadow of Great Shang's might.
Instead, they had been forced to crawl through a dog hole upon entering the city and reduced to laughingstocks, while their chief envoy did nothing.
Once they reached the mansion, the attendants could no longer sit still.
"Lord Zhang, we represent Great Shang. Our own humiliation is a small matter, but where does that leave Great Shang's dignity?"
"We are Great Shang's envoys. Humiliating us means humiliating His Majesty!"
"If word of this reaches Chaoge, we might be punished!"
"The Imperial Preceptor served as an envoy, quelled the Pingling rebellion, and displayed Great Shang's formidable might, but we..."
The attendants chattered like sparrows outside a window.
Zhang Youren said nothing, pretending not to hear.
Of course he was angry too. He had yet to wipe all the dirt from his hands, and that foul stench still seemed to linger beneath his nose. But what