Zhong Hui walked into Yang Hu's home with a broad smile.
"Greetings, Minister Zhong!"
Yang Hu hurriedly bowed in greeting.
Zhong Hui, however, acted as though they were old friends. He shook his head. "Why be so distant? Just call me Shiji."
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."
Yang Hu seemed somewhat constrained in Zhong Hui's presence. Though he was much older than Zhong Hui, he now adopted the bearing of a junior.
Zhong Hui found nothing unusual about this. His peers were all children before him; those ten years older were juniors, and only those twenty years older could be friends.
"It's fine. If I say you may, then you may."
As he spoke, Zhong Hui swaggered over and sat in the seat Xin Bi had occupied earlier, then looked up to study Yang Hu.
"What, did your chat with the Commandant of the Guards not go very well?"
Yang Hu pressed his lips together and did not answer.
"Shuzi, come, sit down."
Zhong Hui acted every inch the host. Yang Hu dared say little and sat beside him.
Zhong Hui shook his head. "You're quite talented, intelligent too, with excellent judgment and all that. But I don't like you. Do you know why?"
"How could a mediocre man like me earn your affection, Lord Zhong?"
Yang Hu answered quietly.
"That isn't it."
"It's simply that you're indecisive. You have talent, but you can't accomplish anything great. Ever since we met, you've been afraid of me, shrinking back at every turn and dodging me whenever you spot me in the distance. Look at Du Yu. He dislikes me too, but he dares say it to my face. What about you?"
"You and I are both people just the same. Why should you fear me?!"
Zhong Hui demanded.
At that