Chapter 238: Huangfu

Chapter 238: Huangfu

Zhao Changhe gazed at Young Master Dai with a meaningful look for a long moment, uncertain whether the man's shout was pure foolishness or carried some deeper intent. He hadn't given much thought to where he would stay—any inn would do, since no one knew he had entered the city. What difference did it make?

But unfortunately, Young Master Dai had announced it to the whole world... An inn, a place under everyone's gaze, no longer seemed suitable.

Yet if he stayed at Dai's home, wouldn't everything he did be under the watchful eyes of the Dai family?

He certainly couldn't stay at Tang Wanzhuang's place—that would send a far too bizarre signal, and Tang Wanzhuang's pride would likely not bear it; the chances of her throwing him out were considerable...

Zhao Changhe pondered for a moment, then smiled faintly: "Brother Dai is too kind. Zhao has his own lodgings."

Young Master Dai asked in surprise: "Brother Zhao has old acquaintances in the capital too? Hmm, could it be the Cui family? I feel that wouldn't be suitable for you, Brother Zhao—you might even be thrown out."

"..." Both the Tang and Cui families might indeed throw him out. Zhao Changhe realized he was far less welcome than he had thought.

But he did have a place to go: "Since Brother Dai is familiar with the capital, could you tell me the way to the Marquis of Jingyuan's residence?"

Young Master Dai was taken aback: "Brother Zhao has ties with the Marquis of Jingyuan?"

"No, but I have military intelligence to report." Zhao Changhe ignored him and directly asked the city gate guards: "I have military intelligence. Can someone escort me to the Marquis's residence?"

At such a time, nothing outweighed military intelligence. The gate commander immediately assigned a man to lead Zhao Changhe straight to the Marquis of Jingyuan's mansion.

Young Master Dai stood frozen in place, and after a long while said to his attendant: "This Zhao Changhe—I meant well. Why does he avoid me like a snake or scorpion? I was even planning to invite him to the Yihong Pavilion tonight for some fun..."

The attendant sighed and said nothing.

What times were these? Did he think everyone was like those rich young masters who only thought about pleasure? Shouting Zhao Changhe's entry to the city in public—it was already fortunate that Zhao didn't suspect him of ulterior motives.

In the coming chaos, who knew if these young masters would adapt? They were called hidden dragons, but how many could truly emerge from the abyss?

Meanwhile, Zhao Changhe arrived at the Marquis of Jingyuan's mansion and announced openly: "Zhao Changhe has urgent Hu matters to report. Who is in charge here?"

The central doors creaked open, and a bearded man hurried out to greet him: "I am Huangfu Shaozong. Hu military intelligence is of utmost importance. Brother Zhao, please come in."

Zhao Changhe was surprised: "You're not afraid I've come to harm you, welcoming me like this?"

Huangfu Shaozong laughed heartily: "Even if Brother Zhao wished me ill, it might not be so easy."

Huangfu Shaozong, number eleven on the Hidden Dragon List. Despite his thick beard making him look older, he was the same age as Zhao Changhe—twenty.

The Langya Sword Debate had claimed to invite all hidden dragons, but that was far from true. Many had "business" and did not come, including this Huangfu Shaozong.

There was a peculiar quality to the Hidden Dragon List: being on it seemed to create a natural bond, as if they were already brothers before meeting. Or perhaps it was that those on the list naturally held each other in higher regard.

As Zhao Changhe followed Huangfu Shaozong inside, he asked casually with a smile: "Brother Huangfu, why didn't you join your father on the campaign? It would have been good experience."

"Because I'm the only son left in the Huangfu family. When conscription comes, for a single heir like this, they only take the father, not the son..."

"Ah..." Zhao Changhe thought to himself that most families he had seen had many branches and leaves; such a single-heir military clan was truly rare.

Then Huangfu Shaozong continued: "I originally had three brothers... but over the years, they all died on the battlefield. Only I remain, along with an elder sister."

Zhao Changhe was startled, then filled with solemn respect. He bowed: "Zhao was presumptuous."

"It's nothing." As they spoke, they reached the main hall. Huangfu Shaozong waved for tea to be served and asked directly: "What military intelligence?"

"Is He Lei the leader of some grassland tribe?"

"Yes, the War Lion Tribe. They are part of the Yanmen battle now. He Lei's disciple Batu leads ten thousand men under the Great Khan's command."

"He Lei is severely wounded... If we kill him, will that tribe fall into chaos? Or will the Great Khan simply absorb it without a ripple?"

"Chaos is certain... If we can kill him, whether chaos follows or not, it removes a great threat."

"Mm."

Huangfu Shaozong said: "According to intelligence from the Demon Suppression Bureau, about twenty days ago, He Lei was pierced through the shoulder blade by Han Wubing at Jianhu City. Combined with an earlier unhealed injury from Master Guichen, his wounds have compounded. He is at his weakest now. We've also sent people to search for him, but so far no trace. Does Brother Zhao have a clue?"

Zhao Changhe stroked his chin and muttered: "It seems Wei Zicai didn't dare hide too much... Or perhaps this counts as his merit?"

Huangfu Shaozong: "..."

Zhao Changhe said: "I do have a clue. He Lei is about to reach the Beimang area where I once stayed. If he goes further north into the mountains, he'll be very hard to find."

Huangfu Shaozong was startled: "Is the information certain?"

"I wouldn't say one hundred percent certain, but eighty or ninety percent is likely."

Zhao Changhe indeed knew He Lei's whereabouts.

Because on this journey, he had passed through several branch altars of the Four Symbols Sect with Sister Yihuo Snake, watching her issue orders for the sect's followers to search widely for He Lei.

He Lei had tried to kill Sister Yihuo Snake. Though she said nothing on the surface, she harbored a grudge deep inside.

The Four Symbols Sect had vast hidden influence in the north. The orders of the Twenty-Eight Mansions were serious matters. The enormous underground machinery ran at full capacity. A wounded Hu man with such distinctive features was not too hard to find. The information had reached Yihuo Snake yesterday evening.

Saying eighty or ninety percent was just being cautious. In truth, Zhao Changhe was one hundred percent certain. He also had an inexplicable trust in the Four Symbols Sect—after all, it was his wife's family.

It seemed Yihuo Snake had hesitated between pursuing He Lei and returning to the capital, but ultimately chose to return first. After all, staying in the capital for a day or two to handle some matters would still leave time for the pursuit. If she went after He Lei first, she would be away from the capital far too long, which was highly inadvisable.

It seemed Yihuo Snake was truly eager to return to the capital, so much so that she couldn't even be bothered with a lead on her enemy... He wondered what her true identity really was.

Seeing Zhao Changhe's certainty, Huangfu Shaozong wasted no words. He immediately ordered his attendants: "Go quickly and inform Chief Tang. Have the Demon Suppression Bureau coordinate with our people to launch a search around Beimang. We must not let He Lei return to the grassland alive!"

Before he even finished speaking, a gate guard rushed in to report: "Yang Yaowu of the Demon Suppression Bureau is here. He says Chief Tang requests Zhao Changhe for questioning."

Zhao Changhe took a sip of tea and said leisurely: "She wants me to come, so I should come? If she has something to say, let her come and talk in person."

Huangfu Shaozong's mouth twitched.

Then Zhao Changhe looked at him expectantly: "Brother Huangfu..."

"Mm?"

"Considering this military intelligence I've provided, could I stay here while I'm in the capital?"

Huangfu Shaozong was not particularly eager to host Zhao Changhe.

The blade on Zhao Changhe's back—others might not recognize it, but the Huangfu family knew it all too well. As a typical military clan, they wanted nothing to do with such matters. He was the only heir now...

But since Zhao Changhe had openly made the request, refusing would seem rather unseemly. Huangfu Shaozong's mind raced as he searched for an excuse to decline, when another urgent report came from outside: "The Imperial Consort has arrived!"

Zhao Changhe was stunned.

Huangfu Shaozong's face lit up as he hurried out to greet her: "Sister, you've had no news for so long. I was worried something had gone wrong. And now you've come out of the palace—truly, blood ties create a bond of heart and mind."

Zhao Changhe: "?"

So much for political stances—it turned out the Huangfu family were also relatives of the imperial clan.

And that matter of the Crown Prince's death... suddenly became quite intriguing.

From outside came a cascade of respectful greetings: "Greetings, Your Highness."

"May Your Highness be blessed."

"Sister, what brings you out of the palace today?"

"Mind your own business. What's that ugly beard you've grown? Shave it off. It's hideous."

Zhao Changhe: "?"

Why did that voice sound so familiar?

Then he heard Huangfu Shaozong say with a placating laugh: "This beard gives me a masculine look."

"Masculinity is shown by this? Why don't you just carve a scar on your face?"

"What a coincidence, there really is a man with a scar on his face and stubble dark as indigo visiting as a guest."

"Oh?" The female voice seemed to smile without smiling: "Let me see, what sort of disreputable friends and worthless riffraff have you taken up with now."

"Bah, not this time, I swear!"

With these words, a palace-robed beauty drifted languidly into the hall.

Zhao Changhe's mouth hung half-open. Damn it all...

Sister Yi Huo She, no wonder you were always in such a hurry to return to the capital. If you'd stayed missing any longer, the imperial city would have exploded, wouldn't it? No wonder you only dared to call General Huangfu the Marquis of Jingyuan—that's your own father.

Uh, no, why are you an Imperial Consort?

If the art of discerning women inherited from the Maitreya sect's Extreme Bliss Technique is correct, you're clearly a virgin, aren't you?

The Imperial Consort looked Zhao Changhe up and down with a half-smile, then said after a long moment: "Who is this, daring to sit high in a chair so rudely? And you say he's not a disreputable friend? Guards, throw him out!"

Before Zhao Changhe could figure out what attitude he should take, another female voice came from outside the door: "Since the Imperial Consort doesn't welcome him, you might as well come with me to the Demon Suppression Bureau. What are you hanging around here for?"

With these words, Tang Wanzhuang drifted in.

The Imperial Consort yawned and said lazily: "Who said I don't welcome him? I've changed my mind. Shao Zong, treat this... whatever young hero properly. Lest others say our Huangfu family lacks manners."

Zhao Changhe's jaw slowly dislocated.