Chapter 11: New Master
“Chick, still staring.”
The four people in the room confronted each other. A guard with a crooked gaze sneered, “Listen up, I’m Liu San, I’ve been with Captain Xie for five years, and I specialize in teaching newcomers their manners.”
Another burly guard patted his chest and said, “Zhao Chong, I’ve chopped off the heads of rebels with the captain.”
“Xiao Yi.” Xiao Yi smiled politely and cupped his fists, “Please guide me.”
Liu San’s eyes widened, and he spat, “I’ve been in the mansion for so long, and I’ve never seen someone as clueless as you. You haven’t paid respects to the captain, are you waiting to be whipped?!”
Xiao Yi, accustomed to all sorts of people, immediately saw that they were bullies who preyed on the weak. He knew that showing them leniency would only make them worse, so he simply stopped smiling.
“I didn’t kowtow before the Marshal, is Captain Xie even more awe-inspiring than the Marshal?”
“Go to hell!”
Liu San was enraged by this remark and punched straight at Xiao Yi’s chest.
Xiao Yi had anticipated this and calmly responded, using his left hand to grab Liu San’s wrist and pull him to his side, while simultaneously tripping him with his right foot.
“Ouch!”
Liu San lost his balance and fell to the ground with a thud, his face covered in dirt.
“You bastard!”
Zhao Chong cursed angrily and lunged at Xiao Yi, intending to grapple him with brute force.
Xiao Yi retreated half a step, dodged the rush by turning his body, and at the moment they brushed past each other, he slammed his elbow into Zhao Chong’s ribs.
With a cry of pain, Zhao Chong’s sturdy body slammed into the edge of the nearby bed, making it creak.
Realizing these two guards had underestimated him, and were knocked down in the first encounter, they were filled with shame and anger, losing their reason. They roared and drew their sabres.
“I’ll kill you!”
Seeing this, Xiao Yi glanced at Xie Hui, who was sitting there, and decided to capture the leader first, using the injured and unarmed captain as a human shield.
“Enough!”
Xie Hui shouted, his face displeased, his triangular eyes coldly sweeping over Liu San and Zhao Chong.
“What are you doing? Put away your sabres. We’re all working for the Young Master. Drawing weapons, do you want others to laugh at me?”
The two guards reluctantly sheathed their sabres, but their gazes towards Xiao Yi were even more malicious.
Xie Hui turned to Xiao Yi, a smile that revealed neither joy nor anger appearing on his face, and said, “Good skills. Why don’t you become a child soldier for the Marshal?”
Xiao Yi did not mention the two times he had encountered unexpected trouble while working for Shi Hongzhao. He only said, “The Marshal has already reached the highest echelons of officialdom. Naturally, following the Young Master will provide more experience.”
“That actually makes some sense.” Xie Hui raised the hand that was not wrapped in cloth, lifted a cup of wine, and said, “No wonder the Young Master favors you. This is for you.”
“Thank you, Captain. I don’t drink, so I won’t waste your wine.”
Xiao Yi did not intend to make things difficult for himself just to please him. He knew there would be many more opportunities for these people to trouble him in the future.
Xie Hui’s smile stiffened. He sneered, “You’re quite thoughtful. But remember, being able to fight isn’t enough here. You need to understand the rules and know when to advance and when to retreat.”
“Okay, I’m very well-behaved.” Xiao Yi finally smiled.
Seeing him smile, Xie Hui nodded and drank the wine Xiao Yi refused to take in one gulp, saying, “Very good. Those two idiots were just playing with you. This matter is over.”
“Okay.”
“Liu San, Zhao Chong, clean up your mess and make him a bunk.”
“I can do it myself.”
The conflict ended there, but they all knew clearly that they were not of the same kind.
Xiao Yi remained wary, tidying up the messy bunk while listening to the conversation behind him.
Gradually, as the three of them got drunk, they treated him as if he didn’t exist.
Zhao Chong said, “I heard the Young Master was granted the titles of Imperial Inspector and Prefect of Zhongzhou. I wonder if they are honorary or substantive posts.”
“Even if he takes office, it won’t be until spring.” Liu San mused, “They say Yang Yi went to Suiyang, and he gives the Marshal tens of thousands of guan each month. Who knows how much he’s pocketed privately?”
Xiao Yi now understood that Shi Deyu was preparing for his official career, which explained why he was recruiting people everywhere.
“To leave like this, I’m not content.” Xie Hui said in a deep voice, “I haven’t even gotten Qiu Shuang as a reward from the Marshal yet.”
“Captain, I don’t understand. There are girls everywhere, why is she so special? Is her chest this big? Or this big? Haha!”
“You wouldn’t understand. Chun Tao is pretty, right? Qiu Shuang is much younger than her, and much more vivacious.” Xie Hui slapped his knee and said, “Besides, Qiu Shuang is the legitimate daughter of a Prime Minister!”
“The Prime Minister’s daughter? Why is she working as a servant in the mansion?”
“You guys don’t know this. Two or three years ago, Prime Minister Li Song colluded with the Khitans, and the Marshal killed his entire family. Li Song’s youngest daughter was a beauty from a young age, so she was kept as a maid. Do you know what the funniest part is?”
“What?”
Xie Hui said proudly, “Li Song was framed. I was the one who interrogated him. He confessed under duress, but I know Su Niupi framed him.”
Zhao Chong asked, “Did you tell the Marshal about this?”
“Hahaha, what was the relationship between the Marshal and Su Fengji back then? Do you think the Marshal doesn’t know?” Xie Hui said, “That year was so chaotic. If he didn’t kill people to establish his authority, could he have kept control?”
Liu San agreed, “You have to kill to establish authority. Last year someone offended a guard, and the Marshal executed him on the spot. Guess what? A few days ago, someone stepped on Zhao Chong’s foot, and they were terrified, offering two guan in compensation.”
“Pathetic. What kind of success is that? Among the clever ones under my command, which one doesn’t extort money from people? It’s not hard to find an excuse.”
Xie Hui said, imitating Shi Hongzhao, he held up three fingers and waved them heavily.
“Once the Marshal gives an order, whether the crime is light or heavy, real or fabricated, all are to be killed!”
“Hahahaha…”
Xiao Yi thought to himself, they were boasting about their wicked deeds so carelessly while he was in the same room, not out of trust, but out of habit.
This atmosphere.
That night, they bickered and drank until past midnight.
Xiao Yi, worried about being ambushed, dared not sleep deeply. He only relaxed slightly when he heard their thunderous snores.
When he woke up the next day, the three were still fast asleep.
He pushed open the door and went out alone. The air in the courtyard was bone-chilling. His groggy mind, still recovering from a night of light sleep, was instantly invigorated.
He couldn’t afford to be lazy and quickly began his training. Gradually, sweat soaked his inner shirt and turned into white steam in the cold morning air.
As there was a weapon rack and an archery target in the corner of the courtyard, after practicing his basic skills and swordplay, Xiao Yi also practiced archery that day.
In his past life, he had also learned archery while riding, but it was merely for show, and his accuracy was not very good.
One arrow, two arrows… At first, the arrows were a bit erratic. He adjusted his breathing, calmed his mind, and his progress became visible. More and more arrows hit the target steadily.
As he was engrossed, he suddenly heard an arrogant call from behind him.
“Xiao Yi, aren’t you going to serve the Young Master yet?!”
“Swish.”
Xiao Yi shot his last arrow, put away his bow, and turned to reply, “Thank you for leading the way.”
After walking a few steps, he had the chance to wipe the sweat from his face and look back.
An arrow was embedded precisely in the bullseye.
————————
Even after transmigrating, I have to get to work.
Today’s task is to accompany Shi Deyu to the Ministry of Personnel to collect official documents, to lend support to this Young Master who has just entered officialdom and holds a high rank.
Shi Deyu was clearly more difficult to deal with than Shi Deyuan.
“Xiao Yi, how do you feel about working by my side?”
“I feel there is still much to learn.”
“I like that answer. It shows you have insight.” Shi Deyu nodded and said, “Don’t think the guards are superior to you. Precisely because you are a servant, you are even more my confidant. Your future is bright, do you understand?”
“I understand. ‘A seventh-rank official before the Prime Minister’s door.’”
“What insightful words.” Shi Deyu exclaimed, patting the saddle, and laughing heartily, “Interesting, interesting. How did you come up with that?”
“I heard others say it.”
“Even I, the Prime Minister’s son, haven’t heard that. Who knows, I might even bestow a seventh-rank official position upon you.”
It sounded like a joke, at least the tone was jocular.
But as Xiao Yi turned his head, he saw a different look in Shi Deyu’s eyes.
Their eyes met, and it was Shi Deyu who first avoided Xiao Yi’s gaze, gave a faint smile, and changed the subject.
“That is the Ministry of Personnel. You don’t need to be constrained inside. Currently, the Bureau of Military Affairs controls military and political affairs, the Three Judicial Offices control finances, and all state affairs are handled at my father’s private residence. The officials of the Six Ministries merely execute documents according to the will of the Minister of State. For me to personally receive my official status is already showing them respect…”
Xiao Yi looked up and saw that the Ministry of Personnel government office had a grand layout, with high platforms and hip roofs, still exuding the majesty of the nation’s central government.
Only upon entering did he see that the vermillion lacquer was somewhat faded, and moss grew in the corners of the stone steps, revealing a hint of decay that ordinary people would not easily notice.
The current center of power was in the Shi Residence.
Shi Deyu gracefully entered the official’s office in the Ministry of Personnel, while Xiao Yi and a group of attendants and guards waited in the side rooms along the corridor.
Xiao Yi, filled with curiosity, walked to the door and looked out. The main hall was vast and extremely deep. The officials coming and going had cautious expressions, and their demeanor revealed a hint of apprehension brought about by a martial man ruling the country.
After watching for a while, he heard an official speaking solicitously behind him and footsteps approaching.
“Safe travels, my lord. I will not see you off.”
Xiao Yi thought Shi Deyu had come out, but when he turned his head, his gaze froze.
He had actually encountered someone he knew at the Ministry of Personnel.
It was the man who had tried to recruit him by the window yesterday after he had calmed the startled horse. He was not wearing that luxurious white fur cloak, but a purple official robe that was not in keeping with his age.
“Oh, you kid.”
“Greetings, Mister.”
Xiao Yi’s attitude did not change due to the other person’s status.
The man seemed equally surprised and smiled slightly, walking forward.
Xiao Yi looked at him and felt that this person was nonchalant, lacking the composure of a high official. Gradually, he detected a hint of playful manipulation in that smile.
Between his squinting eyes and a smile, there was clearly a sense of condescending, mocking control.
“Let me tell you something.” The man suddenly leaned close to Xiao Yi’s ear and whispered, “If the Shi family sees us speaking privately, they’ll kill you. Do you believe me?”
Xiao Yi found it absurd. He turned his gaze and happened to see Shi Deyu approaching, his brow furrowed, his eyes full of suspicion.
