"Everything shall be as Chief Steward Wang wishes," Jiang Ang said with a nod.
"Xiao Linzi, take these four gentlemen to the Imperial Garden," Chief Steward Wang instructed a young eunuch behind him.
"The four of you go ahead and wait for His Majesty to summon you," Jiang Ang said.
Huang Xiao and the other three naturally dared not say anything more and followed the young eunuch, Xiao Linzi, away.
Jiang Ang did not accompany Huang Xiao and the others to the Imperial Garden, but left with Chief Steward Wang instead.
"Official Jiang, I never expected such a young lad among this batch of Retainers. Which school's disciple might he be?"
"A disciple of Poison God Valley, named Huang Xiao..."
Huang Xiao faintly heard their conversation, but as they were heading in opposite directions, their voices soon faded out of earshot.
He had not expected Jiang Ang to be so respectful toward Chief Steward Wang. It seemed this Chief Steward Wang was probably the head eunuch in the Imperial Palace, someone close to the emperor.
It was precisely this special relationship that made everyone afraid to underestimate the chief steward. Even the consorts of the imperial harem had to curry favor with him.
However, Huang Xiao could also sense that Chief Steward Wang knew martial arts, and his cultivation was unfathomably deep. Even Huang Xiao could detect only the faintest trace of it.
It seemed Jiang Ang's great respect for him probably stemmed not merely from his position as chief steward, but also from his martial prowess.
"Gentlemen, this is the Imperial Garden. You may rest in this pavilion," Xiao Linzi said, leading Huang Xiao and the others into a pavilion.
Huang Xiao surveyed the surrounding lakes and rockeries, stone stools and stone pagodas, and all manner of rare flowers