21. What species of toad is this?

"This kid is quite interesting. That spirited, flamboyant demeanor of his really reminds me of the idiot you were back when we were traveling the mountains and rivers together."

Old Guo drained his small cup of wine in one gulp, his words causing Prince Teng, who sat on a small stool opposite him, to burst into laughter. The two had known each other for over thirty years; at eighteen, they had journeyed across the mountains together, and in the blink of an eye, here they were, silver-haired and past their prime.

"Come to think of it, time truly passes like a white horse galloping past a crack in a wall. In a trance, half a lifetime has been wasted. Sigh... it has been thirty-seven years since you and I were filled with such youthful vigor."

"Enough, let's not talk of that." Old Guo nibbled on some appetizers, listening to the insects chirping and birds calling outside. "Did you come all this way just to ask about some obscure brat? You rascal, you’ve been full of tricks since you were a boy. Tell me, what do you really want?"

"Do you know of the 'Spring Seedlings Reform'?"

As soon as Prince Teng spoke those words, the chopsticks in Old Guo's hand paused. He continued to eat, but his gaze sharpened. "The Prince of Qin's heir? I have heard of it, but I know not the details."

Prince Teng nodded. "The lad from today is one of the members of that Spring Seedlings Reform."

Old Guo straightened up. "Him? How so?"

"I really shouldn't be telling you this, but since Jing'er has already begun preparations, I need to gather some helpers. I don't have the influence to ask others, and if you, old dog, refuse to help me, I’ll burn your house down."

"Hahahaha... you dog. You were a dog in your youth, and now that you’re old, you’re nothing but an old, mangy cur. Fine, fine, speak your piece. But if you go too far, don't blame me for turning against you."

Prince Teng sipped his wine, fanning himself vigorously with a palm-leaf fan. After a moment of deliberation, he said, "The Spring Seedlings Reform is simple enough to explain. Jing'er's intention is to scour the country for talent, bypassing the imperial examinations, to cultivate a group of capable officers through a method of 'nurturing venomous insects.' Once he ascends the throne in a few years, these people will be the sharp blades he uses to counter the faction of the High Chancellor."

Hearing this, Old Guo pursed his lips. He knew full well that this path was fraught with difficulty. Although he himself came from a powerful family, he also knew that to consolidate power, the first thing one must do is clean out the great clans; otherwise, it would inevitably lead to a situation like the end of the Jin Dynasty, where warlords carved up the land and fought for supremacy.

The High Chancellor came from the newly risen Gao family of Jiangnan. Unlike the traditional five surnames and seven noble houses, the Gao family had existed for less than a century. Yet, by keenly seizing the economic lifeline of the entire South and gradually infiltrating the military and government, the Gao family had become a nail driven deep into the Great Wei. To pull it out by force would mean mutual destruction, but to let it grow would lead to the story of Sima usurping the Cao repeating itself with the Great Wei.

The scholar-officials were not worried, because they would work for whoever held power; the world could not function without them. But the imperial family of Great Wei was anxious. Once their lifeline was completely grasped, the best-case scenario would be "holding the Emperor to command the lords," and the worst would be being assassinated in the street.

"According to you, there are such youths in every region?"

"Yes," Prince Teng nodded. "He is just one of them. But I was stunned to hear that this boy could lead you, a stone in a latrine, by the nose."

"Him? That brat set a trap for me." Old Guo looked both annoyed and amused. "He played a game of overt strategy against me."

"Oh? Someone played an overt strategy on you? Tell me, what kind of interesting anecdote is this?"

Old Guo had been here for quite some years, and daily life was usually quite dull. This incident was something he had been ruminating on for a long time. Though the boy's calculations weren't exactly brilliant, he found himself unable to escape the three moves the boy had laid out.

The core of the issue was a matter of funding. The boy's primary demand was money. If he didn't give it, he would become a corrupt official who held a post without doing the work, indifferent to the people's livelihood. If he did give it, he would be playing right into the boy's hands. Then there was the matter of whether to punish him or not; punishing him would build the boy's reputation, while not punishing him would break his own rules and the laws of the dynasty.

Therefore, the optimal solution turned out to be exactly what the boy had planned, down to the last detail. It left Old Guo feeling stifled, yet he had no way to counter it.

It was like the "Nine-Turn Intestines"—if you don't eat it, you can't judge me; if you do eat it, it's exactly what I intended.

Though the matter was small, it was a top-tier overt strategy.

"Hiss..." Prince Teng gasped after hearing this. "Sixteen? Is this a sixteen-year-old?"

"Indeed. He is as slick and seasoned as Zhangsun Sheng," Old Guo sighed, looking up. "Speaking of which, it has been eleven years since Zhangsun Sheng left. Back then, he was the best among us at playing these games."

"Indeed. And speaking of him, didn't he have a son? Where is he now?"

"Zhangsun Wuji? In Chang'an, stationed in Longyou with Li Yuan's second son," Old Guo remarked with a touch of melancholy. "That useless old man Li Yuan produced several quite capable sons. It’s a pity my own son is just a glutton who only knows how to eat, eat, and eat."

Their conversation began to drift into absurdity, complaining about their own sons' lack of ambition. Then, the subject suddenly shifted back to Xia Lin. Prince Teng sighed without warning. "You know my daughter, right? She looks at everyone with disdain, but when she talks about this slick boy you mentioned, her eyes brighten and her gaze turns affectionate. I think we’re in trouble."

"Hmm... if you put it that way, indeed. That boy is glib-tongued and, more importantly, handsome—even more refined than you were in your youth."

"Damn, then it's over." Prince Teng slapped his thigh. "No, I cannot let Qian'er see him again."

"Don't worry. In a few days, I'll have him sent back to his hometown. This youthful puppy love will fade in a couple of years."

"Splendid, splendid. Come, let's drink." Prince Teng's gloom lifted, and he raised his cup to drink. "I will give you a hundred thousand taels of silver. Give it to that boy and make sure he stays in his hometown, far away from my daughter."

"Is a hundred thousand a bit too much?"

"I'm afraid if he uses it all up, he'll come back asking for more."

From this hundred thousand taels, it was clear that Prince Teng was truly terrified of his daughter getting involved with this shady boy. However, he likely didn't realize that his hundred thousand taels were probably like a meat bun thrown at a dog—never to be seen again.

Because at this very moment, his heart's treasure, Tuoba Qian, had already snuck out while her father was drinking with Old Guo and had found the inn where Xia Lin was staying.

As for Xia Lin, having taken two solid thrashes of the rod, he was now lying prone by the bed, feigning death. The doctor said he was fine, but he insisted he was on the verge of dying and even asked Old Zhang to get him some good food so he could eat his fill before "departing."

When a knock came at the door, Old Zhang, who was feeding him water, teased, "Guess if it's the White Impermanence or the Black Impermanence."

"Black your grandmother's chicken leg, it must be the little princess," Xia Lin glanced over. "Look at that height."

Sure enough, the light outside cast a shadow through the lattice of the door, revealing the silhouette of a girl. Given that height, the only person Xia Lin knew of that size was the little princess.

Old Zhang gave a playful smile. "Then I'll go for a stroll and leave the room to you two. And be gentle with your movements; don't hurt your backside."

"Can you talk like a human for once? She's still a child. Get out and open the door."

As Old Zhang opened the door, the little princess rushed in carrying a basket. But when she was about a meter from Xia Lin's bed, she tripped over her own feet in her haste and tumbled, basket and all, right onto Xia Lin's backside.

"Ah! Mother..."

Xia Lin let out a miserable shriek, his hand slapping the bed frame rhythmically. Seeing his wretched state, the little princess, who had been quite worried, couldn't help but laugh.

By now, Xia Lin had ceased his howling and lay limp, motionless. Aside from his fingers, he felt as if he couldn't move a single part of his body.

"Don't you feel sorry for him, he's faking it," Old Zhang said, walking back to sit on a stool. "Look at how he's acting like he's dying after just those two hits."

"Let me check."

The little princess made a move to pull down Xia Lin's trousers, but Xia Lin sat up with a start, grabbing her wrist. "Don't look... if you look, my innocence is gone!"

"Who wants your innocence? You bad thing, you didn't even come to see me when you arrived. Liar!"

The little princess grew tearful as she spoke. "You promised to find me when you arrived! If I hadn't seen you taking the rod, I wouldn't even have known you were here. Liar, liar, liar!"

Though she complained, her eyes were filled with concern. She was young and didn't know what love was; to her, Xia Lin was more like a close friend and playmate, a rare variable and surprise in a life she could already see to the end. That was why she cherished him so much. Seeing him beaten made her cry, and the thought of his injuries made her sneak out in the middle of the night. Her thoughts were entirely on him, without any impure motives.

"It's not that I didn't want to find you, I was really busy. I only arrived last night; I couldn't come looking for you in the middle of the night, could I? And then I got beaten up today. Look at me, how could I go see you?"

Hearing Xia Lin's pitiful explanation, the little princess asked, half-doubting, "Really?"

"Would I lie to you? Look at my big brother here, Zhang Zhongchun. If I’ve spoken a single lie, may Zhang Zhongchun suffer a thousand arrows through his heart and die without a burial place."

"Huh?" Old Zhang looked up at Xia Lin, bewildered. "If you're sick, go see a doctor."

The little princess just giggled, the same way they did when they bickered on the road. After laughing, she hurriedly picked up the basket. "I brought you some herbal ointment from the manor, and... and the silver I asked my mother for. There's two hundred taels here. Take it first, and if it's not enough, I'll go back and trick my second brother out of more money."

Xia Lin watched as she pulled items out of the basket, feeling both amused and touched by the silly girl. He sighed and said, "No need, keep the money. Governor Guo has already approved the funds. This beating was worth it."

The little princess persisted, stuffing the silver into Xia Lin's collar. "Just take it! What if you need money for something else? You can't keep getting beaten every time you need to ask for funds!"