Seeing that both the Xuan Emperor and Old General Chen were pleased, Ning Chen struck while the iron was hot.

“Uncle. Are you buying poems today? I can give you a discount.”

The Xuan Emperor laughed. “First tell me why you didn’t turn up for a month.”

Ning Chen’s smile went bitter. “I took a beating. Two broken ribs. A month flat on my back. The silver I made selling that last poem was taken from me, and so were the new clothes.”

The Xuan Emperor’s face darkened by degrees.

Old General Chen was furious outright. “Who did it? Broad daylight, right under the Son of Heaven’s nose, and somebody dares go that far?”

“Lan Xing. You tell me who did it. I’ll see it put right for you.”

Something moved in Ning Chen. A stranger treated him better than his own family did.

“Let it go. It’s my own body’s fault. Never enough to eat, never warm enough, and barely out of a serious illness on top of it. There’s nothing to me — a strong wind would knock me over.”

Ning Chen took the opportunity to play up his misery a little, hoping that when Tian Xuan got around to buying poems he’d take pity and pay well.

Old General Chen had standing, but he had stepped down.

Prince Fu was an idle prince, and the Xuan Emperor gave him no real authority at all.

And behind Ning Ziming stood the Left Chancellor — high rank, real power. There was no fighting that.

Besides, he had no wish to drag anyone else into it. Not even an honest magistrate can settle a family’s business.

Old General Chen’s anger hadn’t cooled. “How can you let it go? Tell me — who did it? I’ll see it put right.”

Ning Chen shook his head. “Old General Chen, if you really feel for me, buy a couple more of my poems. Same as Uncle — I’ll give you a discount.”

Old General Chen started to say something more, but a look from the Xuan Emperor stopped him.

If Ning Chen didn’t want to say, then he had something to fear, and pushing him was no use.

“Lan Xing. You just handed over three strategies. Here’s what I’ll do — a hundred taels of silver for each. How does that sound?”

Ning Chen’s eyes went wide.

“Are you… are you serious?”

“This emperor— ah. Truly.”

Ning Chen’s whole face lit up. He hadn’t expected this to be worth money too.

“Uncle, thank you!”

He meant it.

The Xuan Emperor smiled. “Lan Xing. Do you trust your uncle?”

Ning Chen nodded.

“Then here’s what we’ll do. I won’t give you the silver yet. I’ll hold it for you. Come and find me here when you need it.”

“I’m not trying to cheat you out of it. You have no way of protecting yourself right now. Do you understand what I mean?”

Ning Chen nodded slightly. It was true. If he went home carrying three hundred taels in notes, in the condition he was in, there was every chance it would be taken from him again.

Even leaving it in a money house against a receipt — if the receipt were found, it would still be taken.

“Then hold it for me, Uncle.”

Prince Fu didn’t look like a treacherous sort. Leaving it with him would do.

And he was betting Prince Fu wouldn’t cheat him. To a man of that rank, three hundred taels was a hair off an ox.

“Boy. You’re as scrawny as a hatchling. No wonder somebody took your silver from you.” Old General Chen looked him over. “If you’re willing, come to my house. I’ll teach you some fighting. At least you’ll be able to protect yourself.”

Ning Chen’s eyes lit up and he bowed at once. “I’m willing. Thank you, Old General Chen!”

“Then it’s settled. Come and find me when your injuries have healed.”

Ning Chen nodded hard and made a sound of agreement.

Getting himself attached to Old General Chen — the benefits went without saying. Only a fool would refuse.

And he genuinely did need to train. This body was far too weak.

Ning Chen looked at Prince Fu. “Uncle. Are you still buying poems?”

The Xuan Emperor glanced out the window. “It’s getting late. There’s business at home. Save the poems for next time.”

Ning Chen was a little disappointed and let out a small sound.

Then he thought about the three hundred taels he’d just made, and cheered right back up.

The Xuan Emperor stood and looked at Eunuch Quan. “Give Lan Xing five taels in loose silver, for everyday use.”

“Lan Xing. I’ll have a table of food sent up. Look how thin you are — eat properly. Don’t worry about the money. I’ll settle the bill on my way out.”

Ning Chen beamed. “Thank you, Uncle!”

The Xuan Emperor smiled and nodded.

“Let’s go.”

He got as far as the door, then turned back, took the heavy cloak off his own shoulders, and held it out to Ning Chen.

A heavy cloak — shaped like a cape, only thicker.

Ning Chen waved both hands. “Uncle, I can’t take this. It’s far too valuable. And it’s cold out there. Don’t freeze on my account.”

One look at the fabric told him it was worth a great deal.

The Xuan Emperor laughed. “I’m giving it to you, so take it. I have a carriage. I won’t freeze.”

Ning Chen couldn’t hold out. He took the cloak, and it was all over his face. “Thank you, Uncle!”

The Xuan Emperor nodded and left with his men.

Ning Chen put the cloak around his shoulders. It wasn’t only his body that was warm.

Before long there was a knock at the door.

“Come in!”

The waiters filed in one after another, and in no time there was a table of good food.

Uncle really is a good man. Something warm ran through Ning Chen’s chest.

Meanwhile, the Xuan Emperor and Old General Chen were seated in the spacious carriage.

Eunuch Quan attended them at the side.

“Old General Chen. What do you make of this Lan Xing?”

Old General Chen said, “The young men of this capital look at me as though I were a wolf and can’t get out of my way fast enough. This one meets me without cringing and without swaggering. He has the bearing of a commander. That is rare and worth having.”

“And what matters most is that the boy has intelligence and strategy both. Cultivate him, and he will amount to something considerable.”

The Xuan Emperor laughed. “It isn’t every day this emperor hears Old General Chen rate a young man that highly. You don’t rate the crown prince that highly.”

“Your Majesty, the capital has been running to idleness for years now. Every one of those young men is soft and spineless. They ought to be driven out onto a battlefield and made to toughen up.”

“Set Lan Xing against them — a strong wind might knock him over, but there’s steel in his face, he neither cringes nor swaggers, he has poetry and books in him, and he understands the movement of armies. That is genuinely rare.”

The Xuan Emperor nodded. “The boy is exceptional.”

“Your Majesty, a pillar of the state like that must not be left to rot.”

The Xuan Emperor smiled. “This emperor understands.”

“Your Majesty is wise!”

After seeing Old General Chen home, on the way back to the palace, the Xuan Emperor’s face darkened.

He lifted the window curtain. “Nie Liang?”

Nie Liang, riding alongside the carriage, bent quickly and answered with respect. “What does Your Majesty command?”

“Go and find out what has happened to Ning Chen this past month.”

“Your subject receives the order!”

Eunuch Quan opened his mouth and closed it again.

The Xuan Emperor glanced at him. “You have something to say?”

Eunuch Quan lowered his head at once. “Your Majesty, Ning Chen said earlier that his injuries were the work of a vicious dog in the household. That vicious dog is very likely a person — and certainly someone of the Ning estate.”

“Obviously.” The Xuan Emperor laughed and swore at him, then said sourly, “Does that need saying? If an outsider had done it he’d have gone to the authorities long ago. Only someone of the Ning estate could make him seal his mouth and refuse to speak.”

“This Ning Ziming. It seems this emperor’s words went in one ear and out the other.”

Eunuch Quan’s body gave a small shiver. He knew that this time His Majesty was genuinely angry.

“Let Your Majesty’s anger cool. The dragon body must be protected. Whatever else, don’t make yourself ill over it.”

The Xuan Emperor snorted. “When we get back to the palace, send someone to the Ning estate. Ning Ziming is to come and see this emperor.”

“Yes!”

Ning Ziming, Ning Ziming. Have you learned nothing in ten years of office? His Majesty warned you once already, and you still dare do it knowing better, and ignore heaven’s own authority. Are you trying to get yourself killed? Eunuch Quan muttered it inwardly.

(End of Chapter 14)