Mortal Mage

In the central hall of the Jiaosifang, on the high platform, there was a woman. She was wearing a red gauze skirt, revealing half of her chest and two white arms. A pair of breasts like small steamed buns were hidden in the red skirt, and a small part of them were exposed at the top of the red gauze skirt, which stretched out half an inch of the red skirt and was stretched tightly.

She knelt and played a guqin.

The woman glanced sideways from time to time and saw Zhang Mingxuan, who was dressed in official uniform, sitting down with several feather guards.

Zhang Mingxuan looked around at the many beautiful ladies in the Jiaosifang, but his eyes met with the woman playing the piano. The woman quickly looked away and continued playing the piano.

Jiaosifang is a vegetarian place where people can only listen to music, drink tea, eat and drink. It is under the management of the Attendant Bureau.

Chunyue Tower is a place of brazenness where people can do whatever they want.

Zhang Mingxuan was amazed at the woman's beauty, but he only looked at her twice and stopped paying attention to her because there were too many beauties in the church and he was dazzled.

After sitting down, Wang Han gave a brief introduction.

The chief flagman is called Guo Zhuoran, and together with his seven small flags, there are eight people in total. This is the configuration of a flag of the Feather Guard.

There is one centurion for each of the ten flags of the Feathered Feather Guard, and one thousand centurions for each of the hundred flags.

Zhang Mingxuan took a look at the other six flag bearers, all of whom were in their thirties, and looked like veterans who had served in the army for many years.

After a round of politeness, they began to eat and drink. After three rounds of wine, everyone was a little drunk.

"Master Zhang, I'm afraid it's not just as simple as drinking, right?"

Guo Zhuoran patted Zhang Mingxuan beside him, and a serious expression appeared on his drunken face.

Although Zhang Mingxuan wanted to find out something about Taihe City, there were so many people in the Jiaosifang that it was difficult for him to open his mouth. Anything he wanted to know was repeatedly forbidden by the imperial court and discussed among the people.

So, he just drank and chatted and didn't respond to Guo Zhuoran's words.

When it was time to settle the bill, the waiter brought over a thick account book and said in a somewhat flattering tone, "General Guo, we have owed you for three years, and it is difficult for us to report this to the palace."

"Our Lingyu Guards have been owed wages for three years. What can I give you? If you have the guts, go ask the Ministry of Revenue for it!"

Guo Zhuoran flicked his sleeves and was about to leave, and the waiter seemed to have no idea what to do.

"Wait!"

A heavy drake voice came out; "General Guo! You should at least pay some money to the store today, otherwise we won't be able to explain to the palace. The Ministry of Revenue owes you money, that's the Ministry of Revenue's business, and you owe me wine money, that's our business, we can't control the Ministry of Revenue!"

Everyone looked for the source of the fame, and saw a middle-aged fat man in a brocade blue shirt. The fat man's face was so fat that only some loose and helpless black skin was left. The black skin on one side of his temple was spotted with spots, like the marks of a cupping jar, and his body was as fat as a pig.

The fat man's tone and brows revealed that he was a eunuch.

"Brother, this is Eunuch Chang who is in charge of the Jiaosifang." A small flag man among the group said in a low voice.

"Nonsense, I know."

There was some anger between Guo Zhuoran's brows, but these strong men of the Lingyu Guards with knives seemed to be a little afraid of this unarmed "Eunuch Chang".

"Take out all the money you have. If this gets reported to the higher-ups, we might lose our jobs!"

Guo Zhuoran shouted to the row of small flags behind him, all of whom looked embarrassed.

Zhang Mingxuan just came here with Wang Han to make friends because he had nothing to do. He had intended to pay for the meal, but he didn't expect that these Lingyu Guards actually owed the Jiaosifang three years' worth of wine. He felt a headache and didn't know whether to respond or not.

When the fat eunuch heard that Guo Zhuoran was going to settle part of the bill, his expression was somewhat relieved, but when he saw the embarrassed faces of Guo Zhuoran's subordinates behind him, his face gradually showed anger; "General Guo, how about I report to the chief steward tomorrow and see how the chief steward communicates with you thousand households? Or should we let your wives and daughters stay here for a few months first?"

"you!"

Wang Han gritted his teeth and spat out a word. He originally wanted to get close to Zhang Mingxuan, but he didn't expect that the debt was not pressed last month, nor next month, but this month. This made him feel very embarrassed.

"How much."

Seeing that Eunuch Chang could not defraud any money from his Lingyu Guards and was about to leave, Zhang Mingxuan asked.

If this eunuch Chang really reported this matter to the chief steward of their Bureau of Attendants, the Bureau of Attendants would just make some moves in the palace and this team of small flags would definitely lose their jobs. Then the Bureau of Attendants would capture their wives and daughters and take them to the Red Mansion to pay off their debts, and the lives of this team of small flags would be ruined.

"Oh, three years, once a month, just for drinking and listening to music, a total of one hundred and sixty taels."

The waiter responded quickly.

Eunuch Chang shook the fat on his belly, did not respond but glanced at the fifth-rank official.

He doesn't care who pays the bill, he only cares whether the bill is paid or not.

Zhang Mingxuan took out three fifty-liang silver notes from his pocket and handed them to the waiter along with ten liang of silver.

"In this case, I have just enough with me."

After coming to Taihe City, he had more than one hundred taels of silver saved over the years, and also received two hundred taels of silver from the court for settling down, and twenty taels of silver for travel expenses.

But in the past month, he had already spent a lot on building a new house and courtyard, buying two maids, and some daily expenses. Now he had helped this banner of the Feathered Guards to pay off their debts, and he only had seven taels of silver left on his body.

"Oh~ When did General Guo get listed as the acting doctor of the Ministry of War? Congratulations!"

Eunuch Chang narrowed his eyes, laughed sarcastically, and motioned the waiter to take the banknotes and silver. "The Jiaosifang is always open to Lord Guo, haha."

The group left the teaching office. Wang Han's dark face turned red without saying a word. Halfway through the journey, Guo Zhuoran said, "Master Zhang, you helped us out today. We will never forget it! We will pay you back as soon as possible if we owe you money!"

"Don't worry about it, Mr. Guo. I still need to ask you something. How about we go to my house and continue?"

Zhang Mingxuan asked in response.

You can earn money again if you lose it, but it’s hard to maintain a lost relationship.

"Master Zhang has shown me great kindness, so I will tell you everything I know."

Guo Zhuoran called on the other six Lingyu Guard flag bearers behind him to go home, and then the three of them quickly walked towards Zhang Mingxuan's home.