For the old servants of the Yinguo Duke’s residence, this was no secret. Yan Xiaohan, a third-rank Right Divine Martial Army General and Chief Inspector of the Flying Dragon Guard, was the most powerful court official in recent years, a hawkish agent of the emperor whom everyone avoided. Most critically, he and Jingning Marquis Fu Shen were natural enemies, long at odds, and known to clash even in the emperor’s presence.
Just three months ago during an early court session, they had verbally sparred for half an hour over the deployment of military supervisors, nearly coming to blows.
Now that Fu Shen had returned in decline while Yan Xiaohan remained powerful, the old servants feared he might seek personal revenge.
The old servant said: “This humble servant does not dare. But my master cannot endure disturbance… I beg the sir to be considerate.”
Yan Xiaohan surveyed the Jingning Marquis’s residence, noting its clean but desolate courtyard. He subtly sighed and relented: “I’m not here to cause trouble… Very well, you need not announce me. I’ll just take a quick look and leave.”
Unable to resist, the old servant reluctantly led the way, lighting a lantern. Yan Xiaohan left his Flying Dragon Guard escorts in the front courtyard, bringing only a slim, gentle, scholarly-looking young man into the inner courtyard.
The vast marquis’s residence was empty, with a few trees in the yard, fallen leaves quickly covering the steps. The dim light and silent, dark surrounding buildings made the thin yellow light from the main house’s window seem particularly bleak.
The old servant and young Feilong guard who hurried in immediately heard this cold, harsh interrogation, instantly stopping in their tracks, thinking to themselves that the rumors were indeed true – these two were not to be trifled with.
Yan Xiaohan closed his eyes and focused his qi, not wanting to argue with him, and said stiffly: “You have a fever. Get up and drink some water. I’ll have someone take your pulse and prescribe medicine.”
Fu Shen closed his eyes, responding neither coldly nor warmly: “No need for your trouble. What brings Sir Yan to my humble residence so late at night?”
