Cao Qi watched coldly as the other man left, then turned and walked over to Guo Ping.
Guo Ping pursed his lips and spoke reluctantly.
"Second Father."
Although Cao Qi was considerably older than Guo Ping... they had once studied together under Wang Su and had been good friends, chasing one another about and having the time of their lives.
Yet once they grew a little older, they discovered that although only a few years separated their ages, an entire generation separated their seniority.
Cao Qi was Cao Mao's younger brother, while Guo Ping was Cao Mao's adopted son.
According to ritual law, they could no longer associate as they had before.
Cao Qi laughed. "Rise. Don't look so reluctant. I just helped you!"
"I think Lord Wang wouldn't have dared lay a hand on us anyway..."
"Don't think that just because Father backs you, they won't dare act against you. If they want to make trouble for you, they have plenty of ways to do it, and I guarantee even His Majesty would have nothing to say."
"Be more careful from now on. Every last member of that family is petty."
After grumbling a little, Cao Qi called the people beside him over and introduced them.
"This is Shu Jinen, a close friend of mine from Liangzhou."
Guo Ping could not help taking another look at the man.
His name was quite strange.
It sounded Xianbei.
Yet his appearance and clothing were no different from those of someone from the Central Plains. Shu Jinen smiled and greeted Guo Ping with a bow, speaking fluent Elegant Speech.
Cao Qi pointed to another man. "This is Liu Hong, son of Lord Liu, the former General Who Guards the North."
Guo Ping studied the two men.
Both were tall and powerfully built,