Minister Hao expelled an exhausted sigh before setting his calligraphy brush on the ink bowl. It was obvious that Zi Siwei was lying. Although the young man said pushing the matter to the side was not the wise thing to do, the astute minister remembered that Zi Siwei had once told him, “my father can send me women from all reaches of the continent, I will ascend to the highest heavens before I shall meet any of them!”.

He chuckled, “The student will never surpass the master. He still has much to learn.”

Minister Hao stood up and walked to the window behind him. The sky was dotted with wispy clouds and the slight warm wind was blowing on his face. It was late summer but he could tell that the seasons have yet to change.

“Zheng Yao” He called out.

A young man in his late twenties or early thirties walked into the room and bowed to the minister.

“Minister.”

Without turning around, the thoughtful minister gave his order, “Send the first division to look for the Huayi princess, I believe she must be in the town centre. There’s a lot of interesting foods from various regions of the continent so I suggest you start there.”

Zheng Yao was shocked, “The princess is missing??”

Minister Hao turned around at Zheng Yao’s exclamation of surprise. His hardened stare caused Zheng Yao to flash a nervous look to the wooden floor beneath him.

“Y-yes sir, I will send the first division out to look for the princess.” He replied hastily before bowing and leaving the room.

Minister Hao smiled wryly. Dawa of the Taban tribe. You are one interesting woman. What will you accomplish within the four cardinal signs* of our lofty city?

Zheng Yao suddenly appeared again.

“Is something the matter?” Minister Hao asked.

“Bai Haoxia wishes to speak to you.” Zheng Yao replied.

“Allow him to enter.” Minister Hao called out so that the visitor just outside his door can hear.

Bai Haoxia entered the room and bowed to Minister Hao, “Bai Haoxia greets Minister Hao.”

“Ah, Young Master Bai. I’m afraid you’ll have to take tea with me alone as Young Master Zi has gone to his family home to see his father.” Minister Hao gestured to a small table and chairs in the room.

“This one will be happy to oblige.” Bai Haoxia replied and walked to the table.

Minister Hao called for a servant and requested he set up the tea and teacups before he and Bai Haoxia sat down and started drinking tea and snacking on shaobing.

“I heard the young princess is tired from the long weeks of travel so she’s asleep in her room.” The minister began.

“Indeed. We went over harsh winds in the deserts of the Western Plains which took a toll on all of us. Everyone in the entourage is taking a short break before we meet the Emperor.” Bao Haoxia drank his tea slowly while speaking.

“In that case, maybe I should check up on the young lady to make sure she is faring with the continent alright if the trip was exhausting.”

“There’s no need for that.” Bai Haoxia spoke quickly. She doesn’t want any visitors so I haven’t been able to see how she is doing.

“I see.”

Bai Haoxia put the cup to his lips and continued to drink very slowly.

Minister Hao knew the man was stalling. Bai Haoxia was also one of his students and although he never called the minister shifu* anymore, he still had much respect for the older gentlemen and had the habit of slowing down his movements when he was nervous.

He had to admit, Minister Hao wanted to laugh at the two young men’s silly attempts to keep the princess’ disappearance secret. However, being a bit of a jovial person himself, he wanted to keep up the charade.

“Oh, but I can just knock on her door and she’ll answer. The rooms are frightfully noisy at night so no doubt she will hear it and wake up.” Minister Hao suggested and began to rise.

Bai Haoxia shuddered slightly and nearly spat out his tea. “Minister is very astute but very rude as—” He stopped and turned pale. “I-I mean that—” He stuttered, “That is…this one believes that— “.

All of a sudden, Bai Haoxia kowtowed towards the minister. “This one apologises for his insubordination!”

Minister Hao worriedly replied to this odd display of piety to him as a former student, “Young Master Bai, the floor isn’t very clean. Do you want to get ill from putting your face there?”

Bai Haoxia shot his head up, “You mean you’re not going to punish me for my rudeness?”

“Do you want me to punish you?”

“No, no, no. If shifu does not believe I have offended him than I’m forever grateful to his teachings.”

Shifu?? This boy is just incorrigible!! How long has it been since we were master and student?!

“I am not you shifu. It has been three years since you left my tutelage.” Minister Hao sighed.

“That may be true but this one will always think of Minister Hao as shifu. The one who taught me all manner of martial arts and graciousness to women.” Bai Haoxia replied enthusiastically.

Minister Hao sharply turned towards Bai Haoxia who is still grovelling on the floor, “What graciousness to women!! What master taught you that nonsense?! I have never—”

“The ten rules of earning a woman’s affections. The best way to make sure she will be faithful to only you. Shifu told me this around five years ago.”

Five years ago? I told Young Master Bai about graciousness to women??

Wait…

Could it be?

Five years ago, Minister Hao was just appointed the Minister of the Municipality Court of Guxi City by the first Xiafeng Emperor. There was a banquet to celebrate the occasion as it was the first time a non-cultivator was promoted to such a high office in judiciary and security.

The new minister was planning not to drink but all his colleagues in the army were so ecstatic that one of their own was in such a high position in court that they continued to fill his cup over and over again.

As a result, the new Minister Hao was so plastered that he started to flirt unabashedly with the attending women.

That night, Bai Haoxia was told by Minister Hao or Hao Junji as he was known as back then, to practice his 24 sword forms 100 times as punishment for fighting with other male cultivators and causing injury and damage to people’s houses.

His master staggered back home and as soon as he saw Bai Haoxia, he grabbed the poor boy by the shoulders and began talking about the ten rules of earning a woman’s affection and the best way to make sure she will be faithful to only you.”

“Always compliment her skin and say how white like porcelain it is.” Hao Junji drunkenly explained.

“Having that kind of skin is trending so women will be pleased that you noticed. They will throw themselves at you and want to marry you.” He continued.

“Don’t forget Haoxia!! Women will only be faithful to you if they always feel beautiful.”

The fact that Hao Junji called Bai Haoxia, ‘Haoxia’ was odd enough but the weirdest thing that happened after that evening was that Bai Haoxia’s behaviour changed.

He no longer got into fights with other boys but now the newly appointed Minister Hao had to deal with harassment cases from young gentlewomen who were, put it mildly, ‘freaked out’ by Bai Haoxia’s attention to their skin, hair and body shape.

After a stern talking-to by Minister Hao, the harassment cases stopped but Bai Haoxia was still quite the flirt albeit less creepy.

The feeling of dread upon the fact that HE, the righteous Minister Hao was responsible for making him the way he is today was unimaginable.

And Bai Haoxia was still on the floor.

Minister Hao covered his eyes with his palm and sighed in defeat. “Young Master Bai, you may rise.”

Bai Haoxia’s eyes lit up, “Shifu, does this mean that—”

“Stop calling me shifu. I’m no longer you master, now stand up.” Minister Hao snapped.

Bai Haoxia stood up and Minister Hao gestured for him to sit down at the table.

“This one apologises for his rudeness earlier.” Bai Haoxia spoke.

Minister Hao handwaved him, “Forget it. I regret asking you about the graciousness to women.” He drank his teacup in one gulp and poured more out.

Zheng Yao entered the room, “Minister, the princess wishes to see you in her rooms.”

Minister Hao looked at Bai Haoxia, his face was unreadable, “Alright, I will go and see her.”

Zheng Yao left the room to tell Dawa about Minister Hao’s visit.

“Young Master Bai, my apologies for not being able to chat with you properly but as you can see, I am needed elsewhere.”

“It is of no worry Minister; I will be remaining on the property until the princess is received by the court.”

Both men bowed to one another before Minister Hao left the room to go to Dawa’s ones.

As Minister Hao walked down the numerous hallways that made up The Court building, he couldn’t help but think about the absurd conversation he had with Bai Haoxia earlier.

Bai Haoxia, you have grown.