Chapter 203: Running Wild (1)

Chapter 203: Running Wild (1)

Zhang Kai had never come face-to-face with Le Wuya.

Last year, when the local bigwigs rushed to pay homage to the newly appointed prefect, Zhang Kai hadn't bothered with that circus.

He hadn't wagered on Wei Yixian, the Fifth-Rank Assistant Prefect, unlike the others who, feeling guilty as sin, tried to suck up to him.

Besides, the Zhang family was, after all, a family of refined pedigree.

Though Zhang Kai had never entered officialdom, his uncle Zhang Yue still served at court, holding a Third-Rank position and doing damn well for himself.

Zhang Kai had also pulled off plenty of major feats in Tongzhou, so it didn't sit right to cozy up to this newcomer of murky origins and tangled connections.

From where he stood, better to keep their distance and mind their own business.

Who'd have guessed the new big shot would just show up unannounced?

Zhang Kai hastily shrugged into an outer robe, smoothed down his gray-blue gown, and hurried out of the study.

In the drizzling spring rain, he saw Le Wuya.

The man was dressed in a crimson robe with a gold sash, his back to Zhang Kai, quietly taking in the white sand and flowing water of the courtyard.

Gold and red together would normally scream tacky, but the man before him alone, with his bearing, pulled it off.

Zhang Kai had spent years carousing in the world of romance, yet he'd never seen anyone so flawless. He was momentarily dumbstruck, until the steward beside him gave a soft cough, jerking him back to reality.

At the same time, Le Wuya, hearing the sound behind him, stirred as well.

He was brimming with youthful swagger, planting his hands on his hips as he spun around, his voice bright and teasing, with a laugh in it: "Master Zhang, since you wouldn't come to me, I figured I'd just drop by uninvited!"

In that split second, Zhang Kai got three shocks at once.

This man, standing in his beloved dry landscape garden, was a sight all his own.

The very essence of heaven and earth, distilled into one person; the grace of mountains and rivers, all rolled into one—this was exactly that.

His gaze, and his whole body, grew hot with desire: "...Prefect Wenren?"

Le Wuya tilted his head slightly: "Yes. Master Zhang, it's cold and rainy out here—aren't you going to invite me in?"

Only then did Zhang Kai notice the dampness at his temples. As if snapping out of a trance, he hurried out into the rain and eagerly grabbed his arm: "Yes, Meng'an was rude not to come out and greet you. Please, come inside and get warm."

Le Wuya was quite easygoing, neither dodging nor avoiding, and walked in arm-in-arm with him.

Zhang Kai, at close range, caught the faint, rain-damp scent of pine on him, his thoughts running wild, eyes gleaming, even the pimples on his face glowing red.

Once Le Wuya was inside, he had the steward brew the finest tea before turning to Le Wuya and giving him a careful once-over.

The more he looked, the happier he got.

Zhang Kai was famous for his taste in handsome men—just about everyone in Tongzhou's official and merchant circles knew it.

Luan Yuqiao had scoured the land for pretty actors and performers, exactly to cater to that taste.

Yet upon meeting this Prefect Wenren, the five-hundred-tael actor who'd once suited Zhang Kai's tastes so perfectly instantly turned to mud under his feet—dull, tasteless, and worthless.

Zhang Kai stared hard at Le Wuya's eyes, wishing he could sink his hook-like gaze right into his flesh.

His voice was thick with sticky-sweet delight and flattery: "I saw you stop to admire the view earlier—do you like my garden, Prefect?"

Le Wuya said frankly: "My Er Ya would certainly love it."

Zhang Kai's eyes burned: "I hear you've never taken a wife?"

"That's right."

"Then is Er Ya your sister?"

Le Wuya set down his teacup: "She's my dog."

A scenic little outhouse like that—she'd absolutely love it.

Zhang Kai was taken aback.

He was used to having his own way, and by all rights, hearing such an offensive remark, he should have flown into a rage.

But upon honest reflection, facing this audacious and unrestrained beauty of a prefect, he found he couldn't muster even a hint of anger.

Zhang Kai clapped his hands and laughed: "Then what kind of scenery does Your Honor prefer?"

"I'm a man of vulgar tastes—I like great rivers and vast seas, open skies and wide lands." Le Wuya replied, holding his teacup with a smile, "As for backyard scenery, the best would be a 'world within a pot'—jade beams, golden rafters, a great lake with painted boats, and a stone bridge half a li long."

Zhang Kai: "Your Honor is truly refreshingly candid. But this dry landscape garden has its own charm..."

Before Zhang Kai could elaborate, Le Wuya cut him off without ceremony: "A fist-sized mountain and a spoonful of water—what charm is there in that?"

Zhang Kai still wasn't angry.

Such a beauty must have been doted on since birth; speaking a bit arrogantly was only natural.

His tone carried a smile: "Did Your Honor come to my humble abode only to criticize my taste?"

Le Wuya cast him a natural glance from over his cup: "Now look at you. It wasn't me who started this topic—it was you, Brother Zhang, who brought it up first."

Zhang Kai's heart tightened, and he silently cursed.

He was well-versed in the arts of romance, with a keen eye that could see through a person's skin and bones at a glance.

Such phoenix eyes paired with deep sockets were naturally seductive—a single sideways glance sent ripples of light and watery charm.

With that thought, Zhang Kai steadied his mind, forcing his heated head to cool quickly.

Luan Yuqiao had just left, and now the Prefect had arrived in person.

Zhang Kai didn't believe in coincidences.

Regardless of how much he knew, since he had come of his own accord, it meant he harbored some intention of yielding and currying favor.

Zhang Kai probed: "Though I may be a few years older than you, how could I deserve the title of 'Brother Zhang' from the Prefect? You flatter me too much."

Le Wuya: "Then I'll call you Brother Meng'an."

...First Master Zhang, then Brother Zhang, and after a few exchanges, it became Brother Meng'an.

Zhang Kai had once speculated about this young official's character, but now that they were conversing, he found it all easy and relaxed—not only lacking that annoying purist air, but also carrying a bit of the familiar charm he knew well.

His heart was pleased, though his words remained courteous, and he shook his head as he quoted literary phrases: "I dare not presume, I dare not presume. I merely bask in the legacy of my ancestors. In my grandfather's generation, there was still a First-Rank Official at court, but by my generation, the family fortunes have declined—truly, it is my own unworthiness, Meng'an's."

Le Wuya also put on a coy tone: "Brother Meng'an, don't sell yourself short. From the moment Brother Meng'an started, the hopes of scholars everywhere were already fulfilled. Besides, the Zhang family need not cease its lineage—who's to say another first-rank minister cannot emerge?"

This flattery made Zhang Kai feel great all over.

With sweet words in his ears and a beauty before his eyes, Zhang Kai made a silent decision in his heart.

He only held a thirty-percent stake in Luan Yuqiao's venture.

If he could win the beauty's favor, even if he refused to write that letter of complaint for Luan Yuqiao, what could the man do?

Even if, worst case scenario, Luan Yuqiao were truly brought down by Qi Hongzhuang and ruined, he would still have to cough up his principal before he could die.

Prefect Wenren was so young, with a complexion like lotus blossoms in spring—surely he'd climbed up by tugging on other people's coattails.

Seeing how skillfully he used his own good looks, Zhang Kai understood everything. He leaned in, his tone suggestive: "Since the Prefect says so, then I'll take the liberty and accept being called 'brother.'"

Le Wuya said lightly: "Brother Meng'an, since we're calling each other brothers now, there are some things I'll speak of plainly."

"Don't rush me—let me guess. ...It's about County Princess Qi's business, right?" Zhang Kai narrowed his eyes and said in a soft voice, "If the Prefect wants to do business, I have plenty of connections here. Why go looking for that boring widow, the County Princess?"

His words now had a clear suggestive edge: "Could it be that the County Princess is the Prefect's lover?"

"Prefect, you're selling me short." Le Wuya mimicked his tone, softening his voice to a delicate whisper, "I made this trip purely for the sake of Brother Meng'an's family's rise."

Zhang Kai's heart was stirred, his voice trailing off: "How so?"

He didn't really care what the young prefect said.

He toyed with the letter hidden in his sleeve, addressed to Feng Long, and began scheming about what benefits he could extract from this prefect.

This kind of rare prize didn't need to be sampled in a hurry.

This time, if he could merely steal a kiss, he'd let this one slide for now.

Afterward, he had plenty of ways to slowly toy with him and wear him down.

But while Zhang Kai's mind wandered, he heard Le Wuya bring up an unrelated matter: "Your uncle, Zhang Yue—also called Zhang Wuzhi—currently serves as Minister of the Imperial Ancestral Temple. When the current Emperor was still the Crown Prince, your uncle was serving as Assistant Prefect in Huangzhou—right?"

Zhang Kai raised an eyebrow: "...The Prefect is well-informed."

Le Wuya flashed a brilliant smile: "And I know more than that."

"Back then, when the Crown Prince was getting married, fine silks, gold ornaments, and treasures were needed, and every region had to offer tributes. Our Assistant Prefect Zhang, eager to win favor with the Crown Prince, first spent a fortune purchasing fifty thousand taels' worth of gold ornaments, pearls, and spices from local merchants. The very next day, he flipped, brought in local soldiers, and on the charge of selling fakes to the imperial house, arrested twenty-eight shopkeepers from the jewelry and spice trades, along with two hundred and thirty members of their families. He tortured and interrogated them, confiscated their property. Fifty-three men and women were beaten to death in prison, five elderly starved to death, and three children died of illness. Many families were bankrupted just to buy their way out alive. Through this affair, the shops and the fifty thousand taels all went into Assistant Prefect Zhang's pockets, and he won the Eastern Palace's favor, was promoted to the capital, and thus obtained his current third-rank office..."

Le Wuya paused here, looking at Zhang Kai's drastically changed expression, and said leisurely: "If this matter were to come to light, Brother Meng'an's family wanting to produce another first-rank minister would truly be difficult indeed."

All the romantic fantasies in Zhang Kai's chest vanished in an instant.

He drew back from Le Wuya, wearing a fake smile, forcing himself to laugh: "The Prefect sure loves his jokes. Such a grave matter—surely you shouldn't be tossing around words like that so carelessly?"

But Le Wuya didn't back off—he stood up, leaned in, and smiled: "Brother Meng'an, you don't believe me?"

Zhang Kai watched him warily, his hot blood turning to cold sweat that trickled down his temples.

Le Wuya pressed a hand to his chest, wearing a wounded expression: "Wasn't the Prefect going to report me over the treasury matter? Yet I came to your door to tell you of old affairs, to warn you against rash action. I am such a kind-hearted man, and Brother Meng'an doubts me—how chilling."

After his show of grievance, he rose and made for the door.

Zhang Kai started, his face darkening as he reached out and seized his arm: "Prefect—"

His following words became a scream.

Le Wuya twisted his wrist, wrenching the bones with a crackling sound, all while his eyes still shimmered with misty allure: "Brother Meng'an, since your scholarship is lacking, I'll skip the roundabout ways and speak plainly."

"Don't oppose me. And don't lay your hands on me."

"Even if I were to be touched, I have someone else in mind. What do you even think you are?"

Author's note:

From the *History of Yu: Biographies of Treacherous Officials—Le Wuya*... Wuya, in the court, feigned deference while secretly observing the movements of all officials. He would dispatch trusted agents to lurk in the markets, or bribe eunuchs to spy on the inner palace. Whatever private matters of the hundred officials or secrets of court politics—nothing escaped his knowledge. With such intelligence, he either used it for blackmail or traded it for gain. The upright men of the court all looked askance at him.