Huo Xiao Di’s face finally returned to normal as he shook his head dramatically. “One Zhao Zhi’er is already enough of a headache for me—how could I possibly deal with someone like ‘The Bane of Ghosts’? I’ve heard their most infamous stunt was pulling one over on Chen Lao Kou from the Ji Shan Tang charity in the southern part of the city. In a single day, they tricked him into delivering fifteen sandalwood coffins to the Grand Tutor Pang’s estate!”
At this, a faint smile unknowingly appeared at the corners of Huo Xiao Di’s lips.
Hugging his knees, his eyes sparkled with amusement as well.
“When I first met Zhao Zhi’er, it was because of this very incident. He had been tied up by Little Zhao and beaten heavily with a wooden paddle, crying so hard it seemed the heavens might collapse. Grand Tutor Pang had come to demand justice and sat nearby, his face ashen with anger. They say that ever since Chen Lao Kou’s insolent servant stopped his sedan chair, demanding money for the coffins, his expression hadn’t improved the entire day.”
As he slowly recounted this unforgettable memory, another figure began to surface in Huo Xiao Di’s mind. Hesitant, he ultimately left unspoken the thought that had come to him—that day was also the first time he met Little Zhao.
“So, I saw Zhao Zhi’er then but not Ming Zhu’er. Later, I heard from Little Zhao that Ming Zhu’er had been confined to Zhan’s residence for over thirty days, forbidden from leaving. I can’t help but wonder if Grand Tutor Pang ever caused trouble for Zhan after that.”
Zhan Ri Fei smiled. “If he couldn’t first settle the score with Little Zhao’s side, why would he risk inviting disaster by confronting Zhan? I’d wager that, in the end, Grand Tutor Pang was probably tricked by Zhao Zhi’er, that little rascal.”
Huo Xiao Di raised an eyebrow. “How so?”
Zhan Ri Fei explained, “Zhao Zhi’er, nicknamed ‘The Terror of the Gods,’ was personally trained by Little Zhao. This whole scene was likely staged by the two of them to fool Grand Tutor Pang. All that wailing and sobbing? It’s said he rubbed pepper under his eyelids beforehand, so he could cry at will.”
Huo Xiao Di found this even more amusing and chuckled, cursing lightly, “That rascal! He even fooled me. So does this mean Zhan owes Little Zhao a favor now?”
Zhan Ri Fei shook his head. “Zhan has already owed him far too many favors.”
Huo Xiao Di tilted his head, studying him. “You seem to know Little Zhao very well. Otherwise, how could you be so familiar with Zhao Zhi’er’s little tricks? Why have I never heard Little Zhao mention you?”
Zhan Ri Fei gave a wry smile. “That’s because I know more about Ming Zhu’er than Zhao Zhi’er does. And anything Ming Zhu’er comes up with, Zhao Zhi’er is sure to learn as well.”
Huo Xiao Di leaned in curiously, his expression like that of Judge Bao interrogating a case in Kaifeng. Mischievously yet with a hint of hope, he asked, “And how do you know Ming Zhu’er?
—“Could it be that they’ve played a trick on you before?”
—“But how could they ever fool someone like you?”
Zhan Ri Fei chuckled. “Those two haven’t pulled any pranks on me, but they’ve certainly stirred up plenty of trouble. The children of Dong Jing City have even turned their escapades into nursery rhymes. That incident with the coffins? It’s not even their most infamous one.”
A faint sense of pride flickered across Huo Xiao Di’s face, as though hearing someone praise their antics was satisfaction enough. He murmured under his breath, “Even his servants are this impressive.” Glancing at the sleeping boy, he muttered to himself, “If we sent you to the Southern Qing Palace, wouldn’t you be bullied to death by him?”
It was unclear whether “him” referred to Little Zhao or the “Terror of the Gods” Zhao Zhi’er.
Zhan Ri Fei’s lips curved slightly, perhaps into a smile, though he seemed not to notice Huo Xiao Di’s thoughts. Changing the subject, he asked thoughtfully, “Brother Huo, have you considered where this child might have come from?”
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