“Beautiful scholar, you have profound understanding of the distant West. I wonder what views you have of our Great Tang? You may speak freely—there’s no need to hide your views before me. As they say, stones from other mountains can polish jade. I wish to hear the insights of a foreigner.”

Hypatia pondered briefly before answering, “When I entered the city called Shazhou from the wilderness, I stayed three months to strengthen my language abilities and gained a general understanding of this city. The deepest impression Tang people gave me was their consistent pride. Please forgive me for using beggars as an example. Beggars also exist in the Great Tang—such people exist in all cities worldwide. They all beg from everyone, but Great Tang beggars are strange—they only beg from Tang people. I saw a thin person begging by the roadside. When Tang people gave him half a flatbread, he was very grateful. Seeing his clothes were worn and tattered, I gave him several coins, but he didn’t even look at them and spat at me. At the time, I felt very wronged and couldn’t understand why this happened. It wasn’t until tonight’s conversation with this marquis that I found the reason.”

“I asked the marquis whether Tang people being so proud weren’t afraid of inviting others’ hatred. The marquis’s answer greatly surprised me. He said the Great Tang has never been meant to be liked—it’s meant to inspire awe. Coming from a small nation with few people, I’ve never had such pride. This is perhaps the mentality of a great nation, a strong nation—you don’t need to please anyone; you only need them to fear you.”

“These past days, many foreign envoys have come to Chang’an, especially fierce steppe peoples. But seeing them trembling under the rebukes of minor Chang’an officials, I knew I had arrived at an extremely powerful nation. Congratulations, great Majesty—you rule a powerful country.”

Li Er laughed heartily. The various generals laughed heartily as well. Even Zhangsun Wuji, who usually had no expression on his face, showed a pleased expression. Fang Xuanling stroked his beard and said, “Beautiful scholar, I believe you are now a professor at Yushan Academy. Out of respect for your erudite learning, this old man, representing His Majesty, invites you to attend a grand ceremony one month hence. At that time, all nations of this land will come to pay tribute. It will benefit your study of Great Tang’s culture, politics, and military affairs.”

Yun Ye quietly introduced Fang Xuanling’s identity to Hypatia. Hypatia bowed in delighted thanks and said to Fang Xuanling, “Thank you very much, Prime Minister. Such an invitation is my supreme honor.”

Watching Hypatia, under Fang Xuanling’s guidance, successively meet the Great Tang’s various bigwigs with proper etiquette and grace, seeming naturally born to deal with circles of power and nobility—this was completely different from the woman who had trembled under Yao Niang’s hairpin moments ago.

Nudging Li Chengqian with his shoulder, he said, “Learn from this! Don’t go weak in the knees when you see your father. Look at her—you’re at least the Great Tang’s Crown Prince. You must have the proper bearing.”

“Don’t talk about me—don’t you also hide when you see my father? If you have the ability, try putting on this attitude in front of him. He’d slap you silly ages ago. Being afraid of my father isn’t shameful—who in the Great Tang isn’t afraid? Find me an example!”

“Nonsense—anyone not afraid at all is buried in the ground already. I’d better continue hiding from him. Always threatening with a thousand strokes of the rod—tell me, have I really committed so many offenses? Do I need a thousand strokes?”

“According to Great Tang law, a thousand strokes isn’t excessive at all for you. Think about what you’ve done—how many things were reasonable and legal? Always exploiting legal loopholes. I estimate my father has long wanted to beat you severely. When the time comes, stay far from me—don’t implicate me.”

Zhangsun Chong came over and said, “This woman is good. I plan to take her home to keep. What do you think?”

“Bullshit—I also want to take her home! When the time comes, we’ll each use our own methods.”

Zhangsun Chong puffed out his chest proudly and said, “Huairen, when it comes to seducing women, you’re probably no match for me, your brother. I’ve been well-versed in the Five Classics since childhood and supplemented my knowledge of astronomy and geography at the academy. I have fatal attraction for this kind of foreign woman. You can’t just pull out a pile of silver to lure this woman home, can you?”

“What you know, I know too. Even if I’m a bit worse than you, my equestrian and archery skills are beyond your comparison. Beauty matches hero—this has been true since ancient times. This time on the plains, I pursued the Prince of Gaochang for a thousand li—such heroic vigor! You can’t tell a beauty you chopped off a huge pile of heads, can you? Tomorrow I’ll go to the academy to discuss learning with the beauty—get familiar first.”

Regarding these two fellows whose brains had moved to their groins, Yun Ye was completely speechless. Pulling Li Chengqian, he dove into the crowd to pay respects to his uncles. As for Hypatia never marrying—no need to tell these two idiots.

Having the emperor in a brothel sounded bad. Staying here longer, who knew how many of Swallow’s Arrival Tower’s clients would be impotent tomorrow. The crowd moved in great force to Intoxicated Wind Tower at the end of the street. The Yun family owned half the shares, but Yun Ye had never been there once.

Hypatia was arranged by the emperor into the guest house. As the emperor’s guest, she had this qualification. Happily seeing off the emperor, she only extended three pale fingers toward Yun Ye.

“That woman isn’t inviting you to her room at the third watch, is she?” Li Huairen and Zhangsun Chong, whose eyes had never left Hypatia, immediately asked Yun Ye suspiciously. Cheng Chumo and Li Chengqian also looked curious—no one had ever issued them such a romantic invitation.

“Honestly, I’d also like to climb into her room at the third watch to taste how foreign women are different. But those three fingers don’t mean that! To save you four bastards, I was forced to sign a humiliating treaty. Her salary increased by thirty percent, and I must give her an independent small building with its own courtyard. Just now, she was reminding me not to forget about the raise.”

Slapping away two fingers almost at his nose, Yun Ye explained irritably. People whose brains had moved to their groins had little rationality.

The four half-believing people scrutinized Yun Ye once over before following the procession into Intoxicated Wind Tower.

Drinking with old fellows was the most boring thing under heaven. They drank while you had to stand aside serving them. The reason was that today’s drinking didn’t distinguish between ruler and subject or official rank—only age!

By official rank, Yun Ye still had a seat. But once they ranked by age, he was finished. In the whole room, he and Li Chengqian were youngest. Thus, one held the wine jar and one wielded the wooden ladle, pouring wine for the old fellows. Zhangsun Chong was sent to beat the drum, Li Huairen to catch flowers. As for Cheng Chumo, he squatted by a porcelain vase calculating scores for the old fellows tossing arrows into the bottle.

The weather remained hot. The wind curtains on the roof constantly swayed. The two people hiding outside the room pulling the curtains worked hard. Yuchi Gong always had a domineering manner. Seeing Yun Ye only put one ice fish in his wine bowl, he was very dissatisfied. He grabbed a handful from the basin, stuffed them in his mouth, and crunched loudly, while loudly asking Yun Ye why he hadn’t called his foolish son when soliciting prostitutes.

“Uncle Yuchi is about to travel far. Of course there will be a farewell banquet then, but this time isn’t suitable. You’ve just returned from guarding Yanzhou. Father and son haven’t had much time together. How could I call him out to make trouble at this time?”

One sentence left Yuchi Gong somewhat dazed. He doted on Yuchi Baolin. This time his son was going to serve as an official in the provinces—he was indeed somewhat worried.

“Baolin has a straightforward nature. You all help him more. This child is unhappy about not being able to become a general, but it’s nothing really. I’ve been a general my whole life and acquired a body full of ailments. If not for you watching Old Qin, he probably wouldn’t have many years left. Li Jing’s legs have reportedly developed problems. The sun sets in the west—we’re all going downhill. I only hope you brothers will support each other in the future and finish your own paths. This old man thanks you in advance.”

The old fellow had been stubborn all his life, never submitting to anyone. Now, for his descendants, he had to bow his head and ask people for help. Even the strongest person has vulnerabilities.

“Uncle underestimates Baolin. Do you think Baolin does nothing all day at the academy? His coursework is more complex than you can imagine—agricultural affairs, calendars, commercial matters, law, plus response strategies for various disasters. There aren’t just one or two people who’ve served as local officials at the academy. Official documents, memorials, social relations—which doesn’t he need to study? Though Baolin isn’t clever, his perseverance is famous at the academy. Where others need to recite three times to memorize an article, he needs six or ten times. Paying out more, he also gains more. Many times when your nephew patrols the dormitories at midnight, he’s still studying hard.”

“Do you think Teacher Li Gang’s fondness for Baolin is baseless doting? So, Uncle, Baolin is far stronger than you imagine. Building bridges and roads in the capital is also his coursework. He even led a Yun family merchant caravan to trade with merchants beyond the frontier. No one helped him—didn’t he still earn great wealth and return? I’m still counting on him to dig a canal in Hebei so my fleet can enter the capital directly from Hebei.”

Yuchi Gong’s eyes shone frighteningly bright as he grasped Yun Ye’s hand and asked, “Baolin can do these things?”

“Besides him, I can’t think of a second choice. Zhangsun Chong is clever but can’t endure hardship. Li Huairen isn’t bad either, but when his temper flares, he acts recklessly. Chumo can’t do anything but soldiering. This is what Uncle Cheng begged His Majesty many times before he agreed. Now Baolin and the others are hastening to construct models—they’ve probably completed eighty percent. When you have leisure, go to the academy to see their results and you’ll be reassured. With you in court, your nephew doesn’t believe anyone can prevent Baolin from achieving this merit.”

Yuchi Gong raised his wine bowl and drained it in one gulp, saying word by word, “Whoever dares obstruct my son from achieving merit is this old man’s mortal enemy. Boy, after Baolin succeeds, this old man will take him to your academy to bow in thanks to Teacher Li Gang. My father and son will bow together in great gratitude!”

Having set down his worries, Yuchi Gong immediately became happy, loudly shouting and competing in drinking with his old brothers, refusing no one, not even sparing Li Er. Seeing his joyful appearance, Li Er couldn’t help but look twice more. He understood too well this surrendered general he’d personally brought back—this was genuine happiness.

He knew what Yuchi Gong was troubled about. Now seeing him think it through, he also had less trouble himself. His interest in drinking grew even higher, keeping the busy Yun Ye unable to pour wine fast enough.

Several civil officials couldn’t withstand this drinking method. Old Wang Gui slapped his hand on the table and said loudly, “This bullies people too much! This old man proposes we now begin composing poetry while drinking!”