Chapter Eighty-Three: The Matter Made Clear

Using weapons is a sign of weakness—it means you can't win and have to rely on tools. Tang Tian shook her head, and though Cui Chengxiu's expression soured, he didn't intervene.

Instead, Feng Xiaobao remained vigilant. Since the opponent had drawn a weapon, in principle, so would he—weapon against weapon. If there's a weapon at hand, use it; trying to snatch a blade bare-handed is far too dangerous. He wasn't about to play such games unless absolutely necessary. Safety came first, always!

He rode back to fetch his Tang saber, let out a cold laugh, and stormed toward the officer like a whirlwind. In contrast, the officer moved sluggishly—the difference in skill was obvious at a glance.

Their weapons clashed loudly, exchanging a few swift blows. The officer was poor at unarmed combat, but his swordsmanship was competent enough. He knew his limits and didn't seek glory, focusing on a tight, conservative defense.

With his saber in hand, Feng Xiaobao felt reassured. Now relatively safe, he wanted to practice the sword techniques he'd learned, testing them against an unfamiliar opponent, so he wasn't in a rush to win.

Just as he was about to run through the motions, a voice suddenly shouted, "Stop!"

A squad of patrolmen, led by a squad leader, came charging over. This was serious—fighting with weapons in the capital's streets, what of the law?

The Tang Dynasty wasn't as strict as later times about weapon control; carrying was one thing, using them openly in the street another.

The patrolmen rushed up just as the combatants paused. Feng Xiaobao immediately pointed at the officer and Cui Chengxiu, declaring, "He started it! They're together!" (Meanwhile, the defeated bullies were already helping each other up.)

Oh, the city guards have arrived! Aren’t the guards just the lackeys of the aristocracy? Cui Chengxiu's spirits lifted; snapping his folding fan shut, he stepped forward, "I am of the Cui family—"

The squad leader cut him off impatiently. "I don't care if you're from the Blow family or the Dangle family; you started a fight in the city—you're coming with us!"

Wait, isn't this going off script? Cui Chengxiu's smile froze on his face.

The squad leader turned to Feng Xiaobao with solicitous concern. "Are you alright, Master Feng?"

Seeing Cui Chengxiu's darkened expression, Feng Xiaobao almost burst out laughing. "Heh, so even you have days like this!"

The squad leader, Sun Yue, had previously escorted Princess Qianjin out of the city to Feng Xiaobao’s little estate. He recognized Feng Xiaobao for who he was—a person favored by the powerful, practically the imperial consort. He had no idea who Cui Chengxiu was, so naturally, he sought to flatter Feng Xiaobao and showed no courtesy to the other.

Cui Chengxiu hadn’t even managed to state his name before being interrupted and treated like a suspect, face black as the bottom of a pot.

Tang Tian, kindhearted as ever, spoke up. "Enough, officer. There's really nothing serious here, just a little misunderstanding. Let’s all disperse, shall we?"

Hearing her, Feng Xiaobao instantly understood—she wanted to protect the well-meaning squad leader, realizing his opponent was a young master from the Cui family. The Cui family, again!

Fine, better to clarify things directly.

"Are you from the Cui family?" he asked.

"Of course! I am Cui Chengxiu, twenty-third son of the Cui family," Cui replied haughtily.

Without the Cui family, you’re nothing, Feng Xiaobao thought with a smile. "Then listen carefully, Young Master Cui. My name is Feng Xiaobao, and I’m the proprietor of the ‘Immortal Pavilion’ pharmacy in the southern market."

A pharmacy owner? Just a little pharmacist... Wait, Immortal Pavilion—that name sounds familiar.

Cui Chengxiu quickly remembered and burst out laughing. "So you’re the owner of that aphrodisiac shop! Your medicine’s not bad—" (He’d had plenty himself.) He turned to Tang Tian, "Was it his medicine that made you so satisfied?"

Feng Xiaobao ignored him and continued, "Some time ago, a pharmacy named Ren'an Hall tried to compete with mine, selling ‘Eight-Ingredient Rehmannia Pills.’ But for some reason, they abruptly stopped supplying the market. If you want to know why, ask your elders at home—they’ll explain what happened!"

The message was clear. Feng Xiaobao waved at Sun Yue, the squad leader. "You can go now."

Sun Yue wasn’t a fool. With Feng Xiaobao’s hint, he took a closer look at Cui Chengxiu, then broke out in a cold sweat.

He forced a smile. "Since the misunderstanding’s cleared up, that’s that," and promptly withdrew.

Feng Xiaobao and Tang Tian rode off together.

Watching them disappear into the distance, Cui Chengxiu’s face was a storm of shifting emotions.

"Do you think he’ll come again tomorrow?" Feng Xiaobao asked Tang Tian idly.

"No," she replied with certainty.

"I think so, too," Feng Xiaobao agreed. And sure enough, when he went to meet Tang Tian the next afternoon, Cui Chengxiu was nowhere to be seen.

Scions of noble houses bullied the weak and feared the strong—once they learned your background, they wisely kept their distance.

After that, there was no more trouble, because people from the Tang family had arrived.

Tang Tian’s cousin, Tang Zhiling, had always acted as her bodyguard but had already left Luoyang.

Now, two maidservants and eight household retainers from the Tang family arrived, all on horseback, bringing three camels as well.

They’d been left behind when Tang Tian had hurried to Xindu Mountain (Tang Tian and Tang Zhiling had taken the good horses). In ancient times, without modern communication, it had taken some effort to track her down.

One of the maids was named Rongrong, in her twenties, with a plump, attractive figure—a Han-Hu mix, pleasant enough to look at, but unfortunately, married.

The other was a teenage maid called Xiuxiu, unmarried but not particularly pretty.

So, Feng Xiaobao’s hopes of “eating the grass at the edge of the nest” were dashed, and he obediently spent time with Tang Tian instead.

Not everyone can get that kind of “grass”!

Wherever she went, Tang Tian was now accompanied by four household guards, even when out strolling with Feng Xiaobao. She said coolly, "If they see anything they shouldn't, have their eyes gouged out!"

Ah, the wickedness of feudal society! I love it!

...

Feng Xiaobao was kept so busy he nearly forgot what had happened months ago—until Princess Qianjin summoned him. "Tomorrow afternoon, Her Majesty the Empress will see the three of you."

"Ah!" Feng Xiaobao remembered at last and asked blankly, "Is there anything we should prepare?"

"Just wear something nice," Princess Qianjin replied lightly.

"What about etiquette?"

"When you see the Empress, refer to yourself as ‘your servant’ and address her as ‘Your Majesty.’ Since the meeting will be in a side hall, you don’t need elaborate ceremony—a single kowtow will suffice." (Kowtow: bowing with forehead to the ground.)

"OK!"

Feng Xiaobao relayed the news to Yang Chengxian and Cheng Boxi. The two were so excited their hands and feet shook. Feng Xiaobao was amazed—they weren’t afraid of ruthless bandits, yet meeting a woman left them like this.

They asked him, "Aren’t you excited?"

Feng Xiaobao replied, "I’m just a country bumpkin—I don’t know any better."

"Oh!" Yang Chengxian retorted quickly. "So you mean we’re even worse than peasants?"

"That’s your words, not mine," Feng Xiaobao said smugly.

"Look at you, so cocky—tomorrow we'll see how you behave when you meet Her Majesty," Cheng Boxi grumbled.

"We’ll see," Feng Xiaobao replied, unconcerned.