Chapter 52: Refugees Part 8

A Huang and Xiao Kun locked eyes.

Xiao Kun reached out and ruffled the feathers on A Huang’s head, asking, “How did you get back? Where’s Xiang Xian?”

“He’s waiting outside the Imperial Study for results,” A Huang replied. “The Dog Emperor and the ministers are discussing how to resettle your clansmen. Zhao Gou told him to go ahead, but he wants to wait for a decision before coming home.”

Xiao Kun asked, “How did the talks go?”

“Couldn’t understand,” A Huang said. “Did you find the Demon Race? I came back for some water; still have things to do.”

“Go ahead,” Xiao Kun said casually as he hung up the Demon Shaking Bell. “If we can keep the clansmen from starving, perhaps it will shake off the Demon Race’s influence.”

A Huang clearly cared nothing for this and flew off again soon after. Everyone was busy today, making Xiao Kun feel out of place by comparison.

He sat down again, thinking that all the silver in the Exorcism Division belonged to Xiang Xian. After leaving Shangjing, Xiao Kun had carried only a bit over a hundred taels, which he had long spent. Though the Department Envoy had a monthly salary, he had only collected three months’ worth. What had been dug up earlier to buy a cart of grain and rice must have been his private money.

Xiao Kun thought to himself: Xiang Xian is quite well-off. Three thousand taels in banknotes—enough for a person to live happily for a lifetime.

At that moment, the two Stone Lions outside called out again.

“Visitors! Visitors!” the Stone Lions shouted.

Xiao Kun: “?”

“Let them in,” Xiao Kun said, very puzzled. These two decorations knew nearly every official in Kaifeng—why had they not announced the name today?

“Are you from the Xiang Family?” He heard one Stone Lion ask outside. The visitor apparently answered something, and Xiao Kun called out loudly, “Invite them in quickly!”

Someone from the Xiang Family had come; Xiao Kun took it very seriously and personally rose to greet them.

The arrival was travel-worn, a boy of about ten, skinny but with sharp, capable eyes. Clearly a household servant of the Xiang Family, dressed appropriately for one from a wealthy house.

“Master,” the boy said upon seeing him, “This lowly one is named Xiang Xing. You can call me Xing’er. I come by order of the Old Madam to see our family master.”

“He’s gone into the palace,” Xiao Kun said. “Sit in the side hall first and have some tea. The housekeeper will be back soon.”

Xiang Xing bowed and said, “This matter is extremely urgent. I came post-haste, changing horses but not riders.”

Hearing this, Xiao Kun sensed something serious and asked, “What’s wrong at home?”

That day at the shen hour, the ministers in the Imperial Study finally dispersed, evidently after a fierce debate.

Zhao Gou had kept Xiang Xian company outside the whole time. When Crown Prince Zhao Huan emerged first, he nodded to Xiang Xian, raised his hand to signal no need to worry, and instructed his attendants, “Summon Li Gang into the palace.”

With the issue resolved, Xiang Xian breathed a sigh of relief. He lingered a bit longer to hear Zhao Huan’s instructions and arrangements before leaving reassured.

“Thanks, Zhao Gou,” Xiang Xian said.

“It was the right thing to do,” Zhao Gou replied. “Big Brother, go rest for a bit.”

Xiang Xian had only slept one hour the night before writing the memorial. Guessing that Xiao Kun’s clansmen would be settled, he finally set down the weight on his heart. Exhaustion surged, unstoppable, so he said, “I need to go home and sleep.”

Zhao Gou and Xiang Xian parted outside the palace. Xiang Xian spurred his horse first to Gao Qiu’s residence. A Huang had already rescued the two captured White Falcons and flown out of the street, asking, “What now?”

“Take your friends back first, soothe them well, and give them something good to eat,” Xiang Xian instructed. He had prepared two paper-and-feather bird decoys the night before and placed them in Gao Qiu’s yard. To an exorcist, such trifles had no combat power, but to Gao Qiu, they wreaked havoc—flitting about, ripping off roof tiles, and screeching, “Hit birds, will you? Hit birds!” In moments, Gao Qiu’s mansion was in chaos with chickens and dogs scattering. He surely would not dare play with his slingshot anymore.

Xiang Xian then hurried nonstop back to the Exorcism Division to share the good news with Xiao Kun.

On the way back, he saw Xiao Kun sitting lost in thought in the main hall, with A Huang dozing on the bird perch. Hearing footsteps, Xiao Kun looked toward Xiang Xian, words on the tip of his tongue but held back.

“It’s settled,” Xiang Xian said. “Saved you an Imperial Jade Seal.”

Xiao Kun had been pondering how to broach the subject, but Xiang Xian returned excited like a child, eager to please him.

Xiang Xian sat on the couch, gesturing for Xiao Kun to scoot over. He grabbed the half-drunk cold tea and gulped it down, saying, “Before nightfall today, the Official Family will provide relief to the refugees outside the city and send troops to escort them in batches to Luoyang. Luoyang must accept them. Let them work there first, rebuilding the Tongtian Tower and Five Phoenix Tower—with labor as relief. After the projects end, gradually relocate them to the Two Lakes and Jiangnan regions.”

“How did you convince them?” Xiao Kun asked uneasily.

“Appealed to emotion, reasoned with logic,” Xiang Xian said. “I held back one trump card—if it failed, I’d smash them with the Imperial Jade Seal… What’s wrong?”

Xiang Xian studied Xiao Kun and saw his eyes red, thinking it was from emotion. He smiled and reached out to pinch his face.

“How will you thank me?” Xiang Xian affectionately hooked an arm around Xiao Kun’s neck, eyeing his lips with ill intent.

Xiao Kun looked into Xiang Xian’s eyes and said, “I have to tell you something. Someone came from the Kuaiji family home.”

Xiang Xian froze and asked, “Where are they?”

“Rode hard all the way, changing horses but not riders,” Xiao Kun said. “He looked exhausted, so I had him rest in the side hall first. He brought a letter from your mother.”

Only then did Xiang Xian notice the letter on the desk. He hastily opened it and asked, “What else did he say?”

“Your father passed away,” Xiao Kun said as calmly as he could. “He wants you to hurry home for the mourning.”