Chapter 4 Frost Descent (Part Two)

  It wasn't just Sun the captain who was intimidated by Zhang's sudden display of authority. Wang Xun also found it hard to adapt. But he had seen so many strange and bizarre things in the past two days that this was nothing out of the ordinary. So he endured until Sun left the teahouse, hunching his back, before glancing at Zhang and frowning: "Brother Zhang, how can you be certain that Zi Da will be released from prison within seven days? If it's after seven days, Yang Guozhong and Li Linfu still won't have emerged victorious..."

  "I'm not sure!" Zhang Xun let out a long sigh, the aura of dominance on him replaced by desolation in an instant. "But you can't expect a small-time constable to have any real responsibility. I'll just have to use big talk to placate him for now and stall for time. If I can get him to help me drag things out past the seventh day, then maybe I can get him to help me drag things out past the next seventh day too. Yang Guozhong has already taken personal action, so I think that since the gods have already made their move, someone like Yuwen Zidao will soon be nobody's concern!"

  "Alright!" Wang Xun's mouth was agape. He never thought that Zhang Tanhua, who had always been upright and honest, would also lie to people. "Having a few more days is better than having fewer days. I'll think of another way to pull some strings, maybe I can find someone willing to vouch for Zida!"

  "The key is to look at Jia Chang. I hope he didn't just think of using Lao Lei last night!" Zhang Zhou shook his head and continued to sigh. "The others..." He thought for a moment, then deliberately closed his mouth. The officials in the court all lowered their heads, and those who could bring justice to the innocent were actually relying on the likes of fighting cocks and running dogs. What has happened to this great Tang Dynasty? If things continue like this, the prosperous foundation built by generations of wise rulers will eventually be exhausted. Don't the officials in the court worry at all?

  "Jia Chang is probably not worth counting on. He has a heart as cunning as seven holes, and I reckon he wouldn't even admit to seeing Old Lei last night if asked. Don't worry too much about it either. I'll keep thinking of ways to get someone to vouch for us." At this point, the younger Wang Xun seemed more calm than Zhang Xun, who was nearly twice his age, and smiled as he slowly stood up.

  Zhang Zhou knew that the other party was not worried about the same thing as himself, and did not force it. He nodded and whispered, "If the attention of the Jingzhao governor has already been diverted by last night's events, then Zida's confession will become unimportant. The pressure from above will be reduced, and there is no need for the Magistrate of Wannian to necessarily confront Zida. Try to bribe him, maybe it will work better than asking people everywhere!"

  "This is what I've been thinking about. Yesterday afternoon, I already sent someone to ask the Qin brothers to find out about County Magistrate Zhang's hobbies! Now all we need is someone who can strike up a conversation with him! But this isn't difficult either, it just takes some time. I think that although County Magistrate Zhang looks up to the Metropolitan Governor as his superior, if he doesn't offend his superiors and gets to make some small profit, he probably won't refuse." As soon as he started talking about how to invite guests and send gifts, and finding connections to get ahead, Wang Xun immediately became shrewd. In an instant, he analyzed the key points of the situation with great clarity.

  "Be careful yourself!" Zhang Xun thought for a moment, then nodded slightly again. "Don't just risk your life to save others, if you can find a big tree to hide under, don't be too proud. In extraordinary times, everything is permissible!"

  It can make Xiang Zhang, who is known for his integrity and uprightness, say such things, which shows how much this friend weighs in his heart. Wang Xuan smiled and cast a grateful glance at his friend, "I naturally understand! You should also be more careful with Lao Lei, if it's really not possible, then go to the outskirts of the city to avoid the storm for now. Anyway, the imperial court is currently in chaos, I estimate that the Ministry of Personnel won't have time to think about your job transfer."

  Both of them smiled wryly and bid each other farewell with a bow. They both had a bellyful of resentment, but couldn't find anywhere to vent it. Just as they were approaching their own doorstep, Wang Xun suddenly found the road ahead becoming congested, and he couldn't help but scowl, growling in a low voice: "Xiao Xiangzi, take a look at who's blocking the way! In this vast city of Chang'an, why must you come to Chongren Alley to show off your grandeur!"

  "Ah!" Little Wang Xiang was startled, hastily dismounted his horse, pushed through the crowd, and ran forward. Before long, he came back panting, grabbed hold of Wang Xun's reins, and reported in a low voice, "Young Master, it's not someone else, our family is blocking the way. It seems that an honored guest has arrived, with ceremonial guards lined up for half the street!"

  "Our home, when have we ever had such a distinguished guest!" Lately, Wang Yong has been frustrated with his work and has become somewhat apathetic. "Then I'd better hurry up and take a look, don't want to keep the noble guest waiting!"

  While speaking, he also jumped off his horse. He handed the reins to a young servant and pushed through the crowd of onlookers himself. "Excuse me, excuse me, my home is just ahead."

  "It's Young Master Wang!" Several servants from neighboring households turned their heads, saw Wang You, and immediately shouted loudly. "Young Master Wang, you're back! Everyone make way, the young master of the Wang family is back!"

  Wang Xun was just a fallen viscount, in the Chongren Fang area, his reputation and status were not worth mentioning. The servants of the neighbors would usually shout "Second Master" when they saw him, but behind his back, they called him "Wang Da Chong". They had never been so polite as today. Wang Xun heard it in his ears and felt more curious, quickly walking a few steps through the gap opened by the crowd, raising his head to look around, just in time to see thirty or so fully armed warriors standing sternly at his own door.

  "What a grand lineup! They actually use such elite troops as their personal guards!" Upon seeing this, Wang Xun couldn't help but secretly praise them in his heart. He was indeed someone who knew how to appreciate good things, and at a glance, he could tell that these personal guards were completely different from those silver-plated wax guns that swaggered around the capital. The imperial guards in the capital, whether they belonged to the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace Six Regiments or the Emperor's Flying Dragon Imperial Guards, all had an air of decadence about them, no matter how well-groomed they were. In contrast, the thirty-odd armored soldiers standing guard at his own gate were all towering figures from Longxi, each one radiating a sharp aura that seemed to emanate from their very bones, without even needing to draw their swords.

  Just then, Wang Ji, who had been looking around the door, saw him and rushed up to grab him, "Young Master Hou, you're back! Cloud Niang has urged several times. If you don't come back, everyone will have to search the whole street!"

  "Who's here? Must I personally come out to greet them?" Wang Xuan smiled slightly, intentionally putting on an air of nonchalance.

  "Didn't you see that whole set of ceremonial objects?" Wang Ji looked at him with some incredulity, "Over there..."

  Wang Xun's gaze finally returned from the warriors, turning to the carriage and ceremonial instruments parked at the entrance of the house. He saw that closest to him were two scarlet flags fluttering in the wind, one with a dragon flying and a phoenix dancing, inscribed with two large characters "Anxi", while the other had only one character, "Feng"!

  A few days ago, I just saw the generals and soldiers of the Anxi Army boasting along the street in Jinhu Building. How could Wang Xun not guess the meaning contained in these words? He was slightly stunned, and his question came out, "General Taizhen! How did he come to our house? When did our family get acquainted with him?"

  "I don't know either!" Wang Ji pulled on Wang Xun's sleeve, taking three steps in two strides towards the side door. "It just past noon today, and General Feng's carriage arrived. Those neighbors of ours, who usually follow me around in groups of five or six, today they saw General Feng's carriage rushing straight to our house, their eyes were all wide with wonder!"

  Perhaps intentionally, he spoke with a full tone. The onlookers nearby didn't refute him either, and instead burst into silly laughter. Those Anxi military guards apparently also heard it, but still stood upright, their eyes not even slanting this way, as if the commotion outside had nothing to do with them.

  Upon seeing this scene, Wang Xuan felt even more emotional. He was pulled by Wang Ji to hurry to his room, changed into the clothes he usually wore when meeting noble guests, and carefully walked towards the main hall. When he was still a dozen steps away from the door, he heard a loud and clear laughter coming from inside, "Yun Sao, what are you talking about? If it wasn't for Zi Shu's righteousness back then, I might have already become a starving corpse on the side of the road! Don't worry, Wang family matters are also Fang Mou's matters. Whoever wants to take Young Master away must first ask if the knife in Fang Mou's hand agrees or not!"

  "With Brother Feng around, I can finally put my mind at ease. You don't know, these past few days, my heart has been hanging by a thread!" Cloud Aunt still spoke in a soft and gentle tone, but her words had already completely tied down Feng Changqing like a big tree. It was as if without him to take care of them, the Wang family would immediately be bullied at their doorstep.

  "You can rest assured! I'm currently in the western camp helping General Rong to train the Imperial Guards. For a while, I won't be returning to Anxi again. As for Young Master's matter, I've got it under control. If you're still feeling uneasy, let him follow me to the Imperial Army for some training. Firstly, to avoid the recent strange occurrences in the capital. Secondly, it'll also be good for him to gain some experience and find a way to advance!"

  "That's good. Sorry to trouble Uncle Feng!" Cloud Aunt stood up and bowed solemnly. A short but sharp-edged brocade general rushed forward half a step, making a courtesy call, "Sister, you mustn't be polite again. Otherwise, Feng will be ashamed to death!"

  The people in the house were talking interestingly, Wang Xuan coughed lightly and slowly stepped over the threshold, "Auntie, I heard that there are noble guests coming..."

  "Hurry up, I've been waiting for you!" Yuniang interrupted his greeting, stepped forward and grabbed his wrist, pulling him towards the short general. "This is your father's old friend General Feng, hurry up and pay respects to Fourth Uncle Feng!"

  "Fourth Uncle!" Wang Xuan understood and hurriedly stepped forward, bowing his head in respect.

  The dwarf general stared at him with wide eyes, a faint hint of sadness in his gaze, as if recalling something extremely distant. Until Wang Xun finished the ritual and took half a step forward, grabbing his arm with both hands, "Get up, get up, let Fourth Uncle take a look. Let's see what kind of tree this is that has fallen from the great tree of Zi Zhu! You little one, compared to your grandfather, you are far too inferior!"