The last time Hao Long had tried to make things difficult for Chen Caozhi, he had suffered a setback instead and lost considerable face. With Zhu Yingtai's arrival, he had originally had no intention of invoking any military headquarters tradition to challenge her. Zhu Yingtai was a junior of the younger generation, less renowned than Chen Caozhi; defeating her would bring no honor, and losing would be even more humiliating. Though Hao Long was a Madcap Scholar and served as Military Adviser at the Man Headquarters, he did not simply blunder recklessly ahead; he knew how to judge the circumstances. Today, he had intended only to drink at the banquet. Yet peace eluded him: Zhu Yingtai had challenged him first, and everyone present was looking at him. If he could swallow this, what could he not swallow?
Hao Long thumped his wine cup down on the low table and glared at Xie Daoyun. "Clerk Zhu, do you wish to observe the tradition?"
Xie Daoyun resented Hao Long for having mocked her Third Uncle. Her Third Uncle possessed extraordinary magnanimity and would not stoop to quarrel with such a man, but she had no need to show humility before him. "Having joined the Military Command, I should naturally comply."
"Good," Hao Long said. "Today I shall pose just one question. If you can answer it, I shall take a detour whenever I see you from now on. If you cannot, whether you take a detour when you see me is up to you; a penalty of three sheng of wine will suffice. I am a man of great magnanimity. I shall not hold it against you."
Huan Wen and his staff all laughed inwardly at Hao Long's claim to great magnanimity. Still, since he had said as much, he was clearly