Chapter 72

Chapter 72

Luo Qiyan was taller than Xie Zhiwei but not as built as Pei Dinglan, so neither of their clothes fit him right.

Xie Zhiwei just marched him over to a ready-made clothing shop, grabbed an outfit right then and there, and had the tailor alter it to fit him on the spot.

The tailor was a woman in her fifties with excellent skill, her needle flying. She kept sneaking peeks at Luo Qiyan while she worked, muttering, "This customer's a real looker—are you from Luoqi? We got plenty of Luoqi folks here in Linyuan County, but not many who look like you."

Luo Qiyan sat there letting her do her thing, his face giving nothing away.

Xie Zhiwei leaned on the counter, waiting, while Pei Dinglan stood beside him, his eyes doing a quick once-over of Luo Qiyan before looking away. He lowered his voice and said, "Buying him new threads—aren't you generous."

"That jealous, huh?" Xie Zhiwei reached out to tickle Pei Dinglan's chin. "Then you better drink a lot of water today to wash out all that sourness."

Pei Dinglan soaked up Xie Zhiwei's touch and said no more.

The tailor finished the fitting, and Luo Qiyan changed and came out from behind the screen.

The outfit was navy, making Luo Qiyan's complexion look even fairer. The braid in back didn't quite go with the Great Zhou getup, but with that sharp face of his, it was somehow inexplicably good-looking.

Pei Dinglan shot him a look, his mouth twitching, but in the end he didn't say anything mean.

So what if he's good-looking? It might fool a kid like Xiao Yang, sure, but it wouldn't steal his Lord Xie away.

Xie Zhiwei nodded, satisfied, fished a silver coin out of his sleeve, and set it on the counter. "Thanks a lot."

The tailor took the silver, grinning so wide her eyes disappeared. "Take care now, come back anytime!"

Luo Qiyan's hair also had to be done up in the Great Zhou style, so they headed back to the inn first to sort out his hair.

So Luo Qiyan wouldn't run into Xiao Yang, Pei Dinglan had Xie Zhiwei go play with Xiao Yang while he did Luo Qiyan's hair himself.

Doing Luo Qiyan's hair was nothing like doing Xie Zhiwei's. Pei Dinglan knocked it out in no time, then tied it up tight with a ribbon.

The Holy Son of Luoqi wasn't gonna sweet-talk his kid either!

Once Luo Qiyan was all fixed up, it was getting late, and the three headed out to Hu Shoulian's place.

Hu Shoulian's place was on the east side of town, not far from the county office.

The front gate wasn't much to look at, but once you stepped inside, it was a whole different world—a three-section courtyard with rock gardens and a fish pond, the works. The lanterns under the eaves were made of fine silk, glowing bright and clear, and even the paint on the pillars was brighter than anywhere else.

For a county magistrate to have this kind of setup, even without checking his books, you could tell he'd been skimming plenty.

A servant showed the three of them to the dining room, where Hu Shoulian was already there waiting. When he saw his guests, he got up right away to welcome them.

"Master Xie, Master Pei, welcome, welcome." Hu Shoulian's eyes lingered for a second when he saw Luo Qiyan. "And who's this?"

"Oh, he's a friend of mine," Xie Zhiwei said casually. "His name's Luo, he's from out of town. He's tagging along with me to see what Linyuan County's all about."

"Ah, Master Luo." Hu Shoulian smiled and clasped his hands in greeting.

Luo Qiyan returned the gesture, though his unfamiliarity with Great Zhou etiquette made it look a bit awkward.

Fortunately, Hu Shoulian simply took Luo Qiyan for another arrogant type like Pei Dinglan and paid it no mind, ushering them to their seats.

The dining room was already set with a feast. The octagonal table was covered with a fresh tablecloth, the dishes were matching celadon porcelain, and the spread was even more lavish than the last time at the tavern—chicken, duck, fish, and meat in abundance, plus two dishes in Luoqi style, cooked with spices and medicinal herbs, their aromas rich and pungent.

A maidservant came around to pour wine. Xie Zhiwei stuck to tea as usual, Pei Dinglan drank a few cups alongside their host, and Luo Qiyan didn't touch a drop of alcohol, only tea.

After several rounds of drinks, Hu Shoulian grew more talkative, moving from local customs of Linyuan County to the ins and outs of the mining business, and from there to market conditions in Luoqi.

"Master Xie." Hu Shoulian set down his cup and leaned closer. "In a few days, Lord Luo, the prefect of Bazhou, will be coming to Linyuan for an inspection. When that happens, this official can put in a good word for you."

Xie Zhiwei's heart stirred, though his face showed only delight. "The prefect of Bazhou? That's wonderful. With Lord Hu's recommendation, my business is sure to reach new heights."

Hu Shoulian stroked his beard and chuckled. "You flatter me, Master Xie. This official only makes the introduction because I see you're sincere about doing business."

"Your kindness, Lord Hu, I will not forget." Xie Zhiwei smiled on the surface, but his mind was already racing through several possibilities.

The prefect of Bazhou—that name rang a faint bell. He vaguely recalled it was Luo Chonggao.

It wasn't unusual for a county magistrate like Hu Shoulian to have connections with a prefect, but the way he offered the introduction was too natural, as if he were certain Luo Chonggao would do him this favor.

Xie Zhiwei formed a suspicion: the prefect was likely entangled in the counterfeit money affair as well.

If this prefect was the ringleader of the counterfeit case, then the man was hardly "lofty" in character at all.

"Then I thank Lord Hu." Xie Zhiwei showed no sign of anything amiss, raising his teacup. "I'll toast you with tea in place of wine."

Hu Shoulian smiled and raised his cup, draining it in one go.

Pei Dinglan drank a cup as well, and as he set it down, his gaze casually swept over Luo Qiyan.

Luo Qiyan was looking down, picking up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and bringing it to his mouth. He chewed a couple of times, then set the chopsticks down again. His movements were slow, somewhat distracted, but Pei Dinglan noticed that from the moment they'd entered, Luo Qiyan's eyes had been subtly scanning Hu Shoulian without pause.

He probably wished he could strip Hu Shoulian bare to see if the gu worm was on him.

The banquet went on for about half an hour before Xie Zhiwei set down his chopsticks, dabbed the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief, and wore a look of satisfaction.

"Lord Hu, I've eaten a bit too much and need to walk it off." Xie Zhiwei smiled at Hu Shoulian, his tone casual. "Would you mind if I took a stroll through your courtyard?"

"Of course, of course." Hu Shoulian waved his hand genially. "Please, make yourself at home, Master Xie. My courtyard is small, but there are a few pleasant sights to see."

Xie Zhiwei rose, glancing at Pei Dinglan. "You keep Lord Hu company with a drink. I'll take a walk with Master Luo and be back shortly."

"Go on, go on." Pei Dinglan raised his cup toward Hu Shoulian. "Come, Lord Hu, let me toast you another."

Hu Shoulian, already flushed from Pei Dinglan's relentless toasts, laughed and raised his cup in response, too occupied to pay any mind to where Xie Zhiwei was going.

Xie Zhiwei shot Luo Qiyan a look, and the two slipped out of the dining hall one after the other.

Reaching a secluded corner, Xie Zhiwei stopped and asked in a low voice, "Well?"

"The scent of the gu worm is stronger than this afternoon," Luo Qiyan said, sniffing the air. "It should be somewhere in this residence."

Xie Zhiwei: "Can you pinpoint its exact location?"

"Not yet." Luo Qiyan frowned slightly. "The gu worm is dormant. I can sense it's nearby, but I can't determine the precise spot. If it were to wake, I could find it immediately."

Xie Zhiwei thought for a moment. "Is there a way to wake it?"

Luo Qiyan shook his head, then nodded. "Yes. I can stimulate the gu worm. If it isn't sleeping too deeply, it will wake when it senses the call."

"Then try it." Xie Zhiwei made the decision on the spot.

Luo Qiyan said no more. He pressed his hand to his chest and closed his eyes.

Xie Zhiwei couldn't tell what Luo Qiyan was doing, only that his brow furrowed slightly, as if he were exerting some effort. After a moment, his lashes trembled, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

After about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Luo Qiyan suddenly opened his eyes, turning toward the rear courtyard where the master of the house lived: "Over there."

"Remember the location." Xie Zhiwei withdrew his gaze. "Let's head back first. Don't tip them off."

Luo Qiyan nodded. Since he had already confirmed where the gu worm was, he wasn't in a hurry—he didn't want to mess up Xie Zhiwei's plans.

The two walked back along the covered corridor. Just as they reached the dining hall entrance, they heard Pei Dinglan's voice from inside: "Lord Hu, you can't handle your drink."

Hu Shoulian's laughter drifted out, slurred and muddled: "Young Master Pei can really hold his liquor. I'm no match for you, no match at all..."

Xie Zhiwei pushed the door open and saw Pei Dinglan swirling his wine cup, while Hu Shoulian leaned back in his chair, his face red as a lobster—clearly done for the night.

Pei Dinglan gave the slightest tilt of his head, and Xie Zhiwei shot him a wink. Pei Dinglan immediately set down his cup and stopped pushing Hu Shoulian to drink.

Xie Zhiwei walked in with a smile: "Lord Hu, it's getting late. We should be heading back. Thank you for your hospitality."

Hu Shoulian: "Young Master Xie, Young Master Pei, please don't—"

Before he could finish, a man in a gray round-collar robe hurried over—the Hu family's steward. Not caring that guests were there, he leaned in and whispered something into Hu Shoulian's ear.

Hu Shoulian's expression changed instantly, and the wine buzz faded by seventy or eighty percent.

He shot up from his chair, clasped his hands toward Xie Zhiwei, and spoke with some urgency: "Young Master Xie, my apologies, but there's an urgent matter at the residence that requires my immediate attention. I wasn't a good host today—I'll have you over another day to make up for it."

Xie Zhiwei responded smoothly: "You're too generous, Lord Hu. We're the ones who barged in. Take care."

The three left the dining hall and walked along the corridor toward the exit, with Hu Shoulian having a servant walk them out.

Once they were through the main gate of the Hu residence, they got into the carriage while the servants watched and set off back to the inn.

Xie Zhiwei filled Pei Dinglan in on the whole situation: "I had Luo Qiyan stir the gu worm. It's in Hu Shoulian's residence."

Pei Dinglan: "No wonder the old man sobered up so fast."

"How about we circle back?" Xie Zhiwei was itching to go.

The three traded looks and decided right then to hop out of the carriage. Zhao Wuwei would find a spot to wait for them while they climbed over the wall into Hu Shoulian's residence to take a look.

Pei Dinglan led Xie Zhiwei and Luo Qiyan around to the back wall of the Hu residence like he'd done it a hundred times. He paused to listen for a moment, confirming there was no movement inside, then reached out to Xie Zhiwei.

Xie Zhiwei deftly wrapped an arm around his waist, and Pei Dinglan pushed off with the tips of his toes—the two slipped over the wall without a sound. Luo Qiyan followed behind, floating over as light as a feather.

The three hugged the wall, creeping along the shadows of the corridor. Pei Dinglan took the lead, Xie Zhiwei in the middle, and Luo Qiyan bringing up the rear, as they made their way to the main quarters where Hu Shoulian lived.

Pei Dinglan crouched by the window, signaling Xie Zhiwei and Luo Qiyan to stay quiet, then peered inside.

The room was lit. Hu Shoulian sat at the table, clutching a small wooden box in his hand—it was unclear whether anything was inside.

The steward's voice came from within: "Master, why did this thing suddenly stir? Could it be that those people have found us?"

Hu Shoulian's voice remained fairly composed: "What's there to panic about? The gu worm just woke briefly—it's already asleep again."

The steward swallowed hard: "But, but Master, if that thing truly wakes up, wouldn't Luoqi be able to find this place?"

"I said stop panicking!" Hu Shoulian snapped the box shut, locked it, and set it down on the table with a thud. "Once Lord Luo arrives in Linyuan, I'll hand the gu worm over to him and everything will be fine. What's there to worry about?"

The steward started to speak again but was cut off by Hu Shoulian's raised hand: "Enough. Go on, get out."

The steward acknowledged and bowed out of the room.

Only Hu Shoulian remained in the room. He sat at the table, staring at the wooden box for a long while, then let out a strange laugh. When he was done, he rose and hid the box in a hidden compartment in the corner of the wall.

Pei Dinglan gestured to Xie Zhiwei and Luo Qiyan, signaling that they should discuss it back at the inn.

He'd also have to figure out how to explain the fact that a Great Zhou official had stolen the Holy Son of Luoqi's gu worm.