Simply Trading

The rest of the people left the corridor after the tempest subsided . Leaving Duke Li standing in the now deserted spot, glaring around himself . Only Butler Jin remained at his side, watching the n.o.bleman cool himself down . It was not the first time that he had seen his old friend lose his temper with his oldest child .

Duke Li pinched at the bridge of his nose and sighed with closed eyes, giving off the air of a tired of old man . Then the Duke of the Westlands shook his head with a despondent air . It was rather clear that this was just the sort of thing that he had been trying to avoid . Thankfully, Jin Yuhe thought, it had been between Changhai and his older sister, rather than his brother . Of course, Changtian would not have been so insulting . Nor would he had started relying on fisticuffs like her servant did .

Jin Yuhe had never liked that Zhou Jinhu . He was a crude fellow, who only knew how to settle things with his fists . And his martial arts were only so so, to tell the truth .

But he took the opportunity to smile at the Duke when the latter finally opened his eyes again, and relished how he had managed to surprise his old friend once more, when the latter started to see his expression . "Why are you . . . grinning like that? You don"t believe that this is a disaster?"

Butler Jin dipped into a shallow bow then, and continued to wear his smile . "How can it be a disaster, when your little tirade just now has given Changhai and his young friend the impression that your harsh att.i.tude during your meal earlier had been nothing more than a test? And dressing down your daughter with those words . . . "Sanlang is also my son!" That should make things more than clear enough for the two of them!"

Advertis.e.m.e.nt"Then . . . "

"You have tested them, and they have pa.s.sed your test . And now you should reward them for doing that . Your intention to increase the size of his troop, and how you are intending to transfer some strong and reputable veterans under Changhai"s command should be announced quickly . That should make it clear that you were only checking to see if he is worthy earlier .

"That is, you should hint that that was the case . And that you were only pushing to see if he has . . . begun to think for himself . "

The Duke"s eyes widened as he understood what his oldest friend was telling him . And a smile flashed on his lips as well as he saw how his harsh, unthinking, scolding of his eldest child had worked in his favor .

Then his expression turned a little sly . "You think word of this would reach Xueli"s ear? Without . . . any action on my part?" he asked quietly, leaning a little closer to Jin Yuhe .

Who grinned back at once . "Oh, I think the servants lurking in the corners who were listening to the exchange earlier would be quick to drip this into her personal handmaids" ears . We shouldn"t have to do anything in that regard . Just remember to praise Changhai tomorrow morning, for his defense of his friend . "

"And perhaps offer some good medicine for the young fellow? He actually dared to match his inner strength against Zhou Jinhu . He may have taken an injury from that . I can only hope that it isn"t too bad . "

Butler Jin scowled then, as he turned towards the direction of the departing younger men, who were already quite a distance away . Indeed, he had checked earlier, to make sure that his words to the Duke would not be overheard .

"I think you are underestimating the young fellow . That Qin Feng managed to block his blow, and that is not an easy task . And I feel that his technique earlier was . . . somewhat familiar . I just cannot put my finger on where I have seen something like that before," he admitted .

"His Grasping Hands Technique?"

Jin Yuhe shook his head at his oldest friend . "That was not a Grasping Hands Technique . At least, not entirely . It greatly resembled a soft-hands one, but there was a subtle power in that move, as though he was holding back . If I am not wrong, he had only used half of the move, and that was wholly defensive in nature . There should be a second half to the stroke . "

"So . . . he had a chance to strike back at little Zhou, but he did not take it?"

The Duke sounded surprised when he heard that, and looked at Jin Yuhe with wide eyes . "Is he playing a far more subtle game than what we had imagined? Or am I just being paranoid here? This wasn"t just a simple quarrel between young men then?" he asked softly, as a worried frown knitted his brow .

"I would think that it is the latter, rather than the former . He was truly off-balance earlier, and I could sense that the qi in his body was in turmoil after he accepted that strike . Perhaps he had not completely mastered that move of his yet, and so was not able to take advantage of the opportunity when it presented itself . "

Li Yuanqi breathed a little easier when he heard that . "You are better than I am with the martial arts . You always have been, so I shall definitely listen to you . And I have already "apologized" to him, as I am certain you will be willing to testify on my behalf . But let"s get Sanlang to come earlier for the breakfast tomorrow, so that I can prompt him to vouch for me, hmmm?"

Jin Yuhe chuckled softly, and shook his head at his oldest friend . "You want everyone to know that you are mending your fences with your son that you can get back into your wife"s good books? I am afraid that it will not be enough though . She is still going to blame you for what happened to Changhai on his way back here . And that is not something that you can just settle with a few sweet words into her ear . "

The Duke of the Westlands sighed and shook his head back at Butler Jin . "I know . I know . That is why I am going to tell Changhai about the changes to his small force and offer him a few likely candidates to join that escort of his . And maybe let him test them out on that adventure that he and his friends proposed last summer . That treasure hunt that he wanted to go on, with Du Yan and Lin Liushui? I suppose that it would be a good excuse to let him train and get used to his escort . "
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"And you are hoping that he would be able to drag Qin Feng along with him? That might work . The young have always enjoyed such adventures . But you should talk to your wife, and see what other demands she might have . After you have a word with Sanlang, of course .

"And I agree . If you do that after tomorrow"s breakfast, he might even have a few good words on your behalf, when you three eat together tomorrow night . That might be enough to get you back into her personal chambers . "

The Duke chuckled, as soon as he heard that . And nodded sagely as he smiled at his oldest friend . "Exactly what I intend to do, once he has settled that young friend of his . You will make all the arrangements for me then?"

Jin Yuhe laughed, as he pointed down the path that would lead to the Palace Kitchens . "I"ll even tell the cooks to make sure that we have a few of your wife"s favorite dishes, and Changhai"s as well, for dinner tomorrow . That should be enough to help you settle the issue, hmmm?"

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