"Where's Guo Yuanzhen?"
"He went out for an inspection yesterday and hasn't returned yet. He must be deliberately avoiding us."
"Who has a say in this Protectorate right now?"
"The chief historian whom you scolded at the dinner party."
"Scold?" Lou Yunchun looked puzzled. "When?"
Old Duan recounted the story of how he scolded the Chief Secretary while drunk that day with great enthusiasm, and Lou Yunchun felt like covering his face after hearing it.
"Tell someone to bring some water so I can bathe and change clothes."
"Yes," Old Duan asked again, "you've been drunk for the past two days. You vomit after eating. I'm sure you're hungry now. Why don't you have someone bring some soup over?"
"Good." A full meal would give him the strength to deal with these jackals. Then he added, "When you send people on errands, don't be polite to them. The more domineering they are, the better."
"Don't worry." Old Duan poured him another cup of tea and said with a smile, "These past two days, the brothers haven't been polite to them. They've been so angry that their teeth are itching, but they dare not neglect them."
Lou Yunchun smiled after hearing this, and then asked, "Has Ying been here?"
"Not yet. I asked the messenger, and he said there should be a letter tonight."
"Well." Lou Yunchun said, "You go."
"Okay." Old Duan turned around, held his head high and chest out, put on an expression that said 'I'm your grandfather', and walked out with his arms swinging.
After a while, he heard his shouting outside, "Where are these people? Are they all dead? Our superiors have woken up and need to bathe and eat."
Someone murmured in response, but he continued to shout, "These things should be ready at all times, and people should be on duty at all times, yet I, the deputy envoy, have to make all the arrangements and give all the orders. This is truly a poor and remote place, and they really don't understand the rules at all!"
After washing up and having his meal, Lou Yunchun asked Lao Duan to call the chief secretary and tell him that he would leave the next day.
The Chief Secretary's surname was Lu. After being scolded by Lou Yunchun for being foul-smelling that day, he went back to take a bath at night and changed three buckets of water. He also specially learned how to burn incense like the people in the capital, pouring the spices into the stove for free. The smoke almost permeated the roof.
Lu Changshi stepped forward and saluted, then said, "Your Excellency, since you have come to our Tingzhou, why not stay a few days and experience the customs and people of this northern land?"
"I have something important to attend to, so I won't delay you any longer. I called you here just to inform you out of courtesy, not to discuss anything with you." Lou Yunchun blew away the tea foam in the cup and didn't even look at him.
Lu Changshi was very upset, but he couldn't get angry. He just smiled and said, "Even if the envoy wants to leave, he should wait for the Grand Protector to come back and say hello to him before leaving. Otherwise, if this matter gets out, it will not look good for both the host and the guest."
"Host or guest?" Lou Yunchun raised his head and stared at him. "Who is the host? Who is the guest?"
Lu Changshi was stunned by his cold gaze and asked, "What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?"
Lou Yunchun sternly said, "All under heaven belongs to the king, and all the people are his subjects. I am an envoy carrying out the ceremonial duties of the Son of Heaven, inspecting the territory of Dasheng. Yet you call me a guest? What are your intentions?"
Lu Changshi was dumbfounded. He had just said it casually, but how could this person take it out of context and make a specious argument? It was simply unreasonable!
"This is my Dasheng territory. I have arrived and I can leave now. There is no need to ask anyone's questions." Lou Yunchun immediately ordered, "Hurry and prepare supplies. I will leave the city tomorrow morning."
After giving the order, Lou Yunchun added, "From now on, please stay away from me when you talk to me. Don't let the smell of smoked meat on you pollute my nose."
Lu Changshi retreated in grief and anger and ran away.
This damn playboy from Beijing!
After they left, Lao Duan stroked his chin and asked, "Sir, do you think we can leave tomorrow?"
Lou Yunchun curled his lips and said nothing.
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