The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 385

The servant lifted the carriage curtain and said, "Master, we are still a day away from Tongguan. Why don't we get off and rest first?"

The guards have already set up the tent. Sir, come down and have some dry rations; the journey ahead is long.

Duan Lun nodded, then got out of the car and rested there for the night.

Early the next morning, when they were thirty miles from Tongguan, they sent someone to inform General Tuoba, the garrison commander of Tongguan.

General Tuoba stood on the city wall, watching the carriage rushing towards him from afar, and couldn't help but feel a little helpless.

"Duan Lun is already quite old, yet he still can't let go of these fame and fortune. It's truly frustrating."

The adjutant said from the side, "There are probably very few people in the entire court who are as single-minded as the general in guarding the border. I'm just afraid that this person will cause trouble for Master Xu."

General Tuoba nodded and said, "You've hit the nail on the head. Open the city gates quickly."

Let him go; out of sight, out of mind.

"Inform Master Xu that this old scoundrel is probably full of evil intentions; tell him to be on his guard."

The lieutenant simply clasped his hands in a fist salute, then went directly down from the city wall to write a letter.

Before Xu Tiangang and Princess Jinyang had eaten barbecue, they were surprised to find that guests had arrived just a few days later.

The steward said, "Master, you can't keep deceiving yourself like this. The person who came this time is the uncle of that general outside, Minister Duan of the Ministry of Works! If he catches you doing something wrong, he might impeach you in front of the Emperor again."

Xu Tian was playing with a ball of yarn on the side.

"There's really nothing interesting going on these days. The Yuezhi held a horse race a couple of days ago."

Xu Tian asked, "Butler, what entertainment activities are available lately?"

The steward thought for a moment and said, "The Western Turks are holding a ceremony of catching sheep with colorful ribbons. However, you, sir, cannot go; you can only watch from the border!"

And didn't you attend the bonfire party held by the Yuezhi people two months ago?

There shouldn't be any entertainment activities for the next few days.

Xu Tian was a little disappointed. He rolled up all the messy yarn and put it aside, just as Qin Xian walked in.

"Master, someone delivered a letter. It was a letter from the Minister of Works."

"Just read it aloud."

Xu Tian said, "Yesterday Jin Yang said he wanted to knit a sweater for him, but the little tabby cat in the manor messed up the yarn."

Xu Tian was patiently pulling out each strand of yarn, tidying them up, and then bundling them into a ball.

Qin Xian nodded and said directly, "The Minister of Works has arrived in the Pamir Mountains and is staying at the town's guesthouse. He said he wants you to come over for a meal."

Xu Tian immediately refused, angrily threw up the ball of yarn in his hand, and lay down on the bed without moving.

"I don't want to go."

Qin Xian and the butler exchanged a glance.

Qin Xian said, "Then I will go and report to him."

The steward said, "General Qin, this Minister is clearly here to cause trouble. If we leave him alone in the guesthouse, he might report our master to the Emperor when we get back."

However, based on my investigation over the past two days, I've discovered that this Minister of Works is actually a very interesting person.

He then recounted several interesting anecdotes about the Minister of Works.

Xu Tian then opened his eyes: "Why didn't you say so earlier?"