Chapter 394: Fellow Countryman

Prince Ying had summoned Yan Lao’er for an audience.

Yan Lao’er followed an attendant through the Prince’s Manor, his mind in a complete daze.

See him? For what!

Once they arrived, Yan Lao’er hurriedly pulled himself together. He knelt and performed the formal greetings. When he was told to rise, he didn’t even have time to look at Prince Ying, instead casting a quick glance toward his teacher’s face.

Magistrate Tian nodded slightly to his disciple, his eyes filled with reassurance.

Most of Yan Lao’er’s nervousness dissipated instantly.

Prince Ying’s attitude was quite gentle. He first asked a few questions about when they had registered their residency in Crouching Tiger, how the land reclamation^[1] was going, and whether they had adapted to life in Guanzhou. After that, he asked about the day Crouching Tiger City fell.

Yan Lao’er naturally told everything he knew, reporting the facts honestly.

He kept his head lowered, answering with bated breath.

He had a vague sensation that Prince Ying, sitting at the head of the room, seemed somewhat angry.

Upon hearing that Yan Lao’er had rescued Magistrate Tian and prevented him from dying at the city gate, Prince Ying sighed and said softly, “You did well.”

Yan Lao’er immediately sensed that the suppressed anger surrounding Prince Ying had faded slightly.

Only then did he dare to take a deep look and commit Prince Ying’s appearance to memory.

Afterward, he recounted everything he had experienced, and Prince Ying did not ask any further questions.

Once everything was explained, Magistrate Tian gave him a look.

Yan Lao’er understood the signal, performed a formal bow, and quickly withdrew.

As he walked out of the room, his whole body felt somewhat numb. He stood there for a while, but no one came to lead him back.

Looking around, there was no one else present, which was quite peaceful.

After thinking it over, he decided to wait on the spot for his teacher to come out so they could leave together.

The faint sound of his teacher’s voice drifted from the room. He seemed to be speaking rapidly with great emotion, yet also trying his best to keep his voice low, as if afraid of being overheard.

Prince Ying seemed to speak very little.

Later, his teacher’s voice grew even softer.

Bored, Yan Lao’er looked at the sky, the ground, and the courtyard where he stood.

This appeared to be a side courtyard, small and elegant. In the water vat in the yard floated round leaves as large as bowls. The lotuses had already withered and been cleared away, leaving only this last bit of greenery.

Melon vines climbed both sides of the courtyard walls, reaching all the way to the eaves. A few gourds remained unpicked, hanging there quietly.

The corridor was cleverly connected to a wooden pavilion, which contained a table and chairs. A teapot and cups sat upon the table.

Yan Lao’er could imagine the Prince sitting alone in this pavilion drinking tea; it seemed quite pleasant.

The door to the adjacent room suddenly opened, giving Yan Lao’er a start.

A middle-aged man with a pale, beardless face walked out quickly. He glanced at Yan Lao’er before entering the room Yan Lao’er had just left.

A short while later, he backed out and left, returning a moment later carrying a box.

He stood at the door, head lowered, waiting quietly.

Yan Lao’er felt a bit awkward and backed away slightly to put some distance between them.

After waiting a bit longer, his teacher finally came out.

The middle-aged man with the lowered head knew exactly who had stepped out the door without even looking up. He said in a pinched voice^[2], “Magistrate Tian, this is from the Prince for you.”

Eh? Why is his voice so pinched?

Yan Lao’er seemed to realize the middle-aged man’s identity and couldn’t help but steal another glance at him.

He saw the man lower his body even further, holding the wooden box high with both hands.

“Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch^[3],” Magistrate Tian said very politely, accepting it with both hands as well.

He said in a low voice, “Please thank the Prince on my behalf, Eunuch.”

The Eunuch hunched his shoulders and lowered his head, preparing to withdraw.

Yan Lao’er lunged forward and gave him a steadying hand. “Careful of your step, Eunuch.”

Feeling the extra something placed in his hand and looking at the steps that were still some distance away, the middle-aged man gave Yan Lao’er a meaningful look, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes.

“My thanks to this gentleman.”

“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. I have no official rank yet. You can just call me Yan Er; I’m the second-born in my family,” Yan Lao’er said quickly.

“So it is Young Master Yan Er,” the Eunuch smiled. “Magistrate Tian, allow me to see you out. Please.”

“Thank you, Eunuch.”

…

“Eunuch Wang, you really don’t look like someone in his fifties at all. You don’t show your age. You look forty at the most.”

“Oh, Young Master Yan Er, stop teasing me. How could I be that young? I was alright a few years ago, but these last few years I’ve really started to age.”

“Is that so? Then it’s probably related to the weather in Guanzhou. Look at my face, it’s been blown by the wind until it’s unbearable to look at, all dry and parched. My daughter specifically brought me some ointment. If you don’t mind, you should try some. It’s nothing expensive, just cheap stuff used by us country folk.”

“How can I do that, taking your things?”

“I’d be too embarrassed to give it to most people, but I saw that you have a kind face. One thing led to another in our conversation, and I just happen to have it, and you just happen to be able to use it. Heh heh!”

“Then I shall accept it.” Eunuch Wang said with a smile, speaking very naturally. “In the future, when Young Master Yan Er comes with Magistrate Tian again, send word to me first. I attend to the Prince’s daily life and know his schedule best. Come after you get a reply, so Magistrate Tian won’t have to wait so long…”

Yan Lao’er’s eyes lit up.

“That would be far too much trouble for you!” He asked hesitantly, “Hearing Eunuch Wang’s accent, could your hometown be in Qishan Prefecture? If I’ve heard wrong, please don’t take offense…”

“I am indeed from Qishan Prefecture,” Eunuch Wang said.

“What a coincidence!” The joy erupting from Yan Lao’er’s eyes was almost tangible. “Our hometown is also in Qishan Prefecture!”

Eunuch Wang had been smiling before, but his smile at this moment became significantly more sincere.

“Truly? Where in Qizhou is Young Master Yan Er from?”

…

Magistrate Tian listened as his disciple went from trying to get close to the Prince’s personal eunuch to identifying him as a fellow countryman…

He thought to himself: I have been to the Prince’s Manor several times and never knew this Eunuch’s surname was Wang.

Nor did I know he was from Qizhou.

He had a bit of an accent, but serving at the Prince’s side, it had become very faint. If Tianyou hadn’t pointed it out, he really wouldn’t have noticed it at all.

When it came to social interactions, Magistrate Tian felt he had nothing left to teach this disciple of his.

Tianyou seemed to be born knowing how to deal with people.

Take this Eunuch Wang, for instance; he was usually cold and aloof, loyal only to the Prince and never forming deep connections with outside officials.

He was especially annoyed by someone like himself who took a wooden box away every time he visited the manor, and usually didn’t show much of a pleasant face…

“Grandmaster! Dad!” Yan Yu was crouching at the entrance, waiting expectantly.

As soon as she saw their silhouettes, she sprang up. If she hadn’t been mindful of being in the Prince’s Manor, she would have bolted over long ago.

“Xiao Er, come here. Meet Eunuch Wang. The Eunuch’s hometown is in Qizhou; he’s a fellow countryman.”

“Hello, Eunuch Wang.” As soon as Yan Yu heard he was a eunuch and a fellow countryman, her eyes lit up just like her father’s.

After she performed a proper greeting, she heard her father exposing her secret.

“Eunuch Wang, this is my Xiao Er. Please don’t take offense, she’s a girl. She only dressed as a boy to make it easier to travel outside.”

Whether one was male or female might be hidden from others, but it wouldn’t necessarily stay hidden from these “middle-men.”

Yan Lao’er chose to tell the truth.

Eunuch Wang smiled and said, “The child is quite handsome. Dressing like this is fine. She’s still young now and can gain some experience in the world. Once she’s older, she won’t have the chance.”

“Alright, I’ll stop here. It’s a deal then; when your family makes those pancakes, send some over to me.”

Yan Lao’er: “Most certainly, don’t you worry.”

(End of Chapter)