Chapter 118: Taking Up the Post

Lu Liao sat motionless like a clay figurine on the steps outside Lu Manman’s chamber. The cold moonlight seemed to seep into his body, chilling his heart to stiffness.

When Master Weng regained consciousness, he grabbed a wooden pillow and hurled it at Lu Liao, who was standing by the bedside, shouting for him to get out. Afraid to leave, Lu Liao remained seated on the steps for several hours.

Wang Liuli emerged from Lu Manman’s room and sat down slowly beside him.

“How is Master Weng?” Lu Liao’s voice was hoarse.

“Xiao Qi sister brewed some ginseng soup and is feeding it to Master Weng. After a night of rest, he should be fine,” Wang Liuli said, leaning against Lu Liao wearily.

“Haha! The Lady of Guo Country’s first words were two hundred thousand coins. Master Weng has never seen so much money in his life—no wonder he was so shocked he couldn’t catch his breath.”

Lu Liao smiled, a laugh colder than the moonlight itself.

Wang Liuli patted his shoulder reassuringly. “Lady Guo was really after me. Ever since our Wang family earned the reputation as the richest in the Tang Dynasty, many have come to mooch off us. But only Lady Guo dares to ask for such an exorbitant sum—she’s insatiably greedy.”

“Did you pay her all?” Lu Liao, occupied with attending to the unconscious Master Weng, was unaware of the following events.

“You think I had a choice? She’s no simple woman. My sister is the most favored consort in the Daming Palace and is entangled with the emperor in unclear ways. If we didn’t pay, could we have fought her?” Wang Liuli frowned.

“Liuli, you’ve only been married here a short while, and money is just flowing out like water. I, Lu Liao…” His voice choked, unable to continue.

Wang Liuli tapped his head lightly. “Who told you I, Wang Liuli, liked your worthless self and did everything to marry you? Don’t think too much about it. In three days, you’ll report for duty. Have you arranged your personal guards?”

“I have two candidates: Boss Hu and Ning Jiao. Zhou Liuzi broke his hand and can’t come. Besides, he’s at home, so I feel easier. Wang Shiyi wants to be your bodyguard. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the Qingyun Society and recruit a few more.”

Lu Liao glanced toward the old master’s chamber and sighed deeply.

“That’s good. I’ve thought more about your horse racing idea; it’s still feasible. I wanted to bear it alone, but I’m short on capital now,” Wang Liuli said regretfully.

“What are you thinking? The more people contributing to the ginseng fund, the better. You can’t handle it all yourself. Lady Guo’s fuss today isn’t entirely bad. I bet all of Chang’an will be talking about my riding contest with Wang Zhun.”

Lu Liao brushed dust off his trousers and pulled Wang Liuli to her feet.

During the last two days before taking office, Master Weng Lu Manman placed Lu Liao under house arrest. Unexpectedly, Uncle Hu came dressed and ready to see him.

In the Lu family’s main hall, Hu Xiaoyun and the Jiao brothers, Jiao Kun and Jiao Sheng from the Grain Transport Guild, knelt in a row, their hands bound.

“These three scoundrels are getting more and more unruly. Drinking in brothels and fighting—do they think Chang’an belongs to them?” Hu Yun glared at the burly young men, fuming.

“Uncle Hu, this has nothing to do with me,” Lu Liao quickly distanced himself.

“I know it doesn’t. You’ve married and hold an official post now; naturally, you wouldn’t behave recklessly. As a seventh-rank official in the Armory Bureau, you need bodyguards. I plan to have these three follow you to keep them out of trouble.”

Hu Yun revealed his intention, then shot another fierce look at the three.

“Father! I, Hu Xiaoyun, the young leader of Qingyun Society, and the Jiao brothers, vice-leaders of the Grain Transport Guild, how can you make us mere foot soldiers?” Hu Xiaoyun squirmed in defiance.

“Heh!” Hu Yun sneered, “Young leader of Qingyun Society, you’re so mighty! I can still swing thousands of iron hammers a day and manage affairs without your command.”

“Heh heh! Uncle Hu, untie us first. My brothers and I are willing to be your elder brother’s bodyguards. The Grain Transport Guild is thriving with the Jin Huazi and the support of the Four Seas Merchants. We’re more a burden than help. Better to follow you, maybe we’ll make a name for ourselves.”

Jiao Kun grinned at Hu Yun, who sighed inwardly. Compared to his son, Hu Xiaoyun, Jiao Kun seemed much more sensible.

“Uncle Hu, if you don’t come, I was going to find you. Even with these three, I still need three bodyguards. I want to recruit some well-born young men from Qingyun Society.”

Lu Liao’s face brightened; it was like someone bringing a pillow when sleep overtook him.

“No need to pick three. I’ll tell Er Mengzi; he’ll definitely come,” Jiao Sheng looked up, eager.

“Good! It’s settled,” Lu Liao was overjoyed, unaware Wang Liuli had approached.

Hu Yun acted as if not seeing Wang Liuli, clearing his throat.

“Follow your brother Lu as bodyguards; no worries about food or clothing—he’ll even get you wives.”

Lu Liao stared at Hu Yun in surprise. Had he said that?

“Heh!” Wang Liuli smiled softly behind them. “Uncle Hu is teasing his nephew’s wife. Since I promised Brother Xiao Yun, I won’t go back on my word. I’ll find him a wife who’s both beautiful and capable.”

“Sis-in-law, what about us?” The Jiao brothers looked eagerly at Wang Liuli.

“All right, as long as you guard my husband well, the wives are on me,” Wang Liuli smiled and agreed readily.

Men in armor transformed their entire bearing. Not only the tall and straight Lu Liao, but even the usually sly Boss Hu looked somewhat heroic.

Two beautiful women, each with their personal maids, circled Lu Liao, occasionally touching and inspecting him with bright smiles.

Lu Liao felt a bit awkward, glancing at Boss Hu, chest puffed out, and then at the crookedly standing others outside the hall.

“Boss Hu, you’ll be captain of the bodyguards.”

The overwhelming happiness stunned not only Boss Hu but also Tang Xiao Qi’s maid, Ping’er.

Zhou Liuzi looked at his iron prosthetic hand and sighed, casting a worried glance at Ning Jiao, admiring his red cape.

“From now on, your safety depends on you,” Lu Liao said.

Ning Jiao shrugged. “Lu brother’s swordsmanship is supreme; it’s not easy to harm him. Besides, my swordsmanship isn’t as good as his. If we fought one-on-one, Brother Zhou might not beat me.”

Zhou Liuzi shook his head. “Open attacks are easy to dodge; hidden arrows are hard to defend against. Our master is so formidable, yet he was taken down by a little beggar. You used to be an assassin, now a bodyguard; you have a lot to learn to protect him well.”

At the Jing’an Ward Armory, four fully armed soldiers stood on either side of the gate. Seeing Lu Liao’s group approach, they aimed crossbows at them.

“New Armory Deputy Director Lu Liao is here to assume office! Go report immediately!” Boss Hu, who had faced life-and-death trials, ignored the gleaming crossbows and loudly announced, holding Lu Liao’s appointment papers and official badge.

The four soldiers exchanged glances. One lowered his crossbow and ran inside; the other three kept their weapons raised.

Lu Liao nodded in approval. It seemed the Armory’s chief officer was competent and hadn’t neglected training the soldiers despite this relatively idle post.

Emerging from the armory, Cheng Changmu, dressed in official robes, greeted Lu Liao with a broad smile and a bow. “I am Cheng Changmu, Armory Assistant Director, respectfully welcoming Armory Deputy Director Lu Liao to assume office.”

Lu Liao paused but said nothing, following Cheng Changmu into the armory.

When Cheng led him to his office, Lu Liao saw Qin Ruocheng and Yin Feng waiting at the door and couldn’t help but smile faintly. “What a coincidence. I was wondering how to deal with the subordinates here, and it turns out I know them all.”

“Subordinate Qin Ruocheng pays respects to Deputy Director Lu Liao.”

“Subordinate Yin Feng pays respects to Deputy Director Lu Liao.”

Both bowed deeply.

“Fatty Cheng, tell me, what’s going on? Why are you and your brothers all flocking to my territory to work?”

Lu Liao sat behind his desk, asking Cheng Changmu after Qin Ruocheng and Yin Feng left.

“Heh heh, we nobles’ sons all have connections. It’s impossible to get into prestigious departments, but minor posts in the Guards Ministry are easier. When we heard you were coming as Deputy Director of the Armory, we were overjoyed and planned a welcome banquet for you at Zui Xian Inn. That’s when we met Brother Wang Zhun, the Deputy Minister of the Guards Ministry and our top boss whom none dare provoke.”

Cheng Changmu’s round face bloomed with a smile. With Lu Liao as a familiar superior, life would be easier.

“Good. Let’s have a banquet together for our boss Wang Zhun soon,” Lu Liao said with a faint smile, thinking ahead.

“All right! I’ll tell the brothers right away,” Cheng Changmu said and dashed out.

Glancing at the eight unruly bodyguards, Lu Liao sighed and looked at Boss Hu.

“Boss Hu, if you can’t whip them into shape in ten days, you can go back to being a doorman.”

Boss Hu nervously eyed the others, their burly and fierce appearances daunting. He asked quietly, “Master, these men are big and fierce—why am I captain of the bodyguards?”

“Heh heh!” Lu Liao sneered coldly. “Boss Hu, you’ve been in Chang’an less than two years but seem to have forgotten your origins. You could intimidate river bandits before; can’t you handle these fools? Don’t think I don’t know Ping’er, that clever little maid, has you eavesdropping on my military strategy lessons. Even if you’re a pig, you should have learned something by now.”