Chapter 2.1: Chariot is Efficient

"Master An, the guest apartments have been cleaned," noted Chariot.

"Even the western tower?"

"Even the She-was-Made-of-Iron winter mansion, sir."

Yan An was suitably impressed by that. Here in the state of Jin, winter came once in five years, if one accounted winters generously, so the dank She-was-Made-of-Iron mansion was rarely cleaned and seldom occupied. Its thick walls and rich tapestries were beautiful and warm, but it was far from the tended parts of the gardens and the air did not move there in summertime, making it oppressive and attracting monkeys.

"Sir?"

"Then you have removed the monkeys?"

"Yes, sir." Chariot was very efficient.

"Very well. Be sure that Xian Gongming and his family are housed in the Persian Horse Flute wing. Gongming would be terribly offended if he were lodged very far from the library."

"Very good."

"And perhaps he knows a suitable martial artist for my daughter! Paradise Mirror was always known for his good taste in people. Why, when we were both young—"

"Sir, is this about Gongming and your wife?"

"When—"

"Sir?"

"Yes? Yes. Oh, yes."

"Yes, that's right, sir, we had agreed not to discuss that. For the good of the family."

"Put my son in the winter mansion, Chariot."

"Sir,"

"He will arrive, no doubt, but it will be long after all the guest apartments are filled, and his are occupied by some ogress!" He flipped a book to a random page, and read aloud: "Kuâi requires the exhibition of the culprit's guilt in royal court, and a sincere and earnest appeal for sympathy." He nodded firmly.

Chariot schooled himself not to roll his eyes, and nodded.