"Your Majesty, I am the postal litigation clerk from Linyi in Qi... Since none of the officials were present, I was specially ordered to deliver the litigation reports from the counties to Luoyang..."
Cao Mao nodded, then glanced at the ugly boy beside him.
"Is this your son? Must you bring your son along even when submitting a memorial?"
The petty clerk hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, I brought him here to seek a teacher. There are many great worthies in Luoyang, so I hoped he might find someone to take him as a student..."
"No need to explain."
Cao Mao motioned for him to follow, and the two began walking along the road.
"How did you recognize me?"
"Your Majesty may not know this, but I have never heard of sons of the great clans having their food tested for poison before a meal. The person I heard had such a habit was our King of Qi... Seeing how you ate brought those things to mind."
"Besides, these armored guards are all powerfully built, clearly men from the ranks, and they are especially afraid of you. Yet you do not look like a cruel man, and you are too young to hold an important office or title, so I ventured a guess..."
Understanding dawned on Cao Mao. "It seems I will have to change things next time."
"Then why did you risk losing your head to approach me?"
The man hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, this is what happened."
"I did not bring much money on this journey. When I went to the Censorate, I never expected to be stopped at the entrance and refused entry... I have been here for several days now, and no one has paid me any heed. I cannot finish the business entrusted to me, nor