A day passed and not one word of this mystery man leaving his room had reached Xia Tao’s ears. He began to feel as though, he might’ve had to make his way to this man’s room and wrestle the child from his arms.

But no. Jushi told him to have patience. So he sat in his office and waited, waited with annoyance in his mind.

Xia Tao needed to verify, verify if he truly carried an Axsumite child with him. It’s not that he didn’t believe Wang Li, but at times he just wish she’d trip over her arrogance and allow him to run the Red Lantern Tavern as he pleased. Then, he would truly show his father that this was his business alone.

Xia Tao finished reading the book he had in hand. He then sauntered off to his book shelf, dusting off them off. I really should have a maid clean here, He mused, but then they would have access to sensitive information, information Wang Li herself doesn’t have.

He moved to the one windowsill, located in his cellar-office, which let in a little light the alley adsorbed.

He dabbed speckles of dust from it and stared outside for a shortwhile, then made his back up his chair, tapping his food incessantly for a further five minutes. “This is beyond infuriating” He whispered.

Tao snatched up his teapot, pouring himself a cup, watching the vapour wafted in the air.

He took a sip, tasting the spiced peppermint, then smacked his lips feeling as his chest and arms sizzled from the taste.

Tao hated peppermint tea, nor was he a fan of spices. However, he needed something to quell his raging mind and this was the best option for him. So he begrudgingly drank it. “This taste like piss!” Tao finally said, after finishing the first cup.

“How do you know how piss tastes Young Master?” Jushi asked, turning his head as he stood by the door.

Xia Tao snatched up the closest bamboo to his right, hurling it at the bodyguard, who simply snatched it out of the air, and then placed it on the ground right next to him.

“Well done!” Jushi said, “Your aim’s improving!”

“You won’t be saying that when I take your head.”

“I assure you Young Master Xia if that day ever comes. I would resign before it happens.” Jushi laughed.

If I was a true warrior like my ancestors, I wouldn’t need you now would I? Tao thought. He pursed his lips in annoyance and rocked back in his chair, feeling as though time would go no further.

After fifteen minutes of restlessness, Tao pushed himself up from his chair, groaning the chair beneath him.

He stomped himself across the room, then pushed the door only to be stopped by Jushi, who squeezed his hand. “Where are you off to Young Master Tao.” He said grimly.

“Since when you ask me where I’m going Jushi?”

“Since when you’re about to do something stupid Young Master. Have you forgotten what happened with Gu Clan?”

“Of course not, but it wasn’t me. They insulted my mother!”

“Everyone does that Young Master…but you maimed the heir of the Gu Clan. What else would you expect? Do you not know what Your father had to do to quell Master Gu’s anger?”

“I do not.” He said bitterly, nor do I care.

“Exactly. You do things without thought. Your father has instructed me to keep you in check, and now that you have a viable plan long-term for the Red Lantern Tavern. You should leave things to Wang Li.”

“Wang Li?” Tao hissed, incredulously. “Look around you Jushi. This. Is. MINE! I can do whatever I please.”

“It’s yours in name alone. Young Master Xia. The Red Lantern belongs to your father. His taels paid for the land, each pillar, silk and board that build this place was built on, was through his money. Hells fury Young Master, my wages come from him!”

“YOU’RE A SPY AREN’T YOU?!” Xia Tao hissed, pushing his face into Jushi’s own.

“Everyone’s a spy in your eyes Young Master Tao.” Jushi huffed, pushing Tao away from him. “But if you operated according to your father’s liking, you wouldn’t be in this predicament.”

“Predicament?”

“Yes.”

Xia Tao clenched his fist, feeling the calluses on his fingers from writing. He hated this, being reminded of how he was seen within the clan, especially by a bodyguard.

Yes, Xia Tao hired Jushi, but it was his father’s taels that paid him. He knew it, but he never thought that Jushi would be so outright in his fixation on performing his duties.

“I’m starting to wonder if you’re too much of a worry,” Tao said coldly. “That’s not up to you anymore Young Master Tao.”

“What do you mean?”

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The door groaned open with dust and grime puffing around the room, making it seem like an ocean of dust wafting in the air.

The dust wafts into Tao’s mouth, forcing water from his tongue, trying its best to alleviate the pungent taste from his mouth. He waved it off in a fury and snapped his head to the door, teeth gnarling in fury.

A man with a sweeping white beard appeared, with three men at his side. He wore gold and white robes, with embroidery-stitched into his belt, which held the Xia Clan’s insignia, the golden swan.

The old man snapped his piercing eyes towards Xia Tao, which made him quiver. The wrinkles around his mouth, made him seem like an old tiger, which bared fangs, fangs that were piercing Xia Tao’s heart.

He stepped towards Xia Tao, and the air around Xia Tao disappeared in an instant. He grabbed his chest, trying to massage his heart, hoping his lungs would at least consume a smidgen of oxygen, but that rarely came whenever he faced his father whenever he was in a foul mood.

A mood that was painted across his face.

“Father.” Xia Tao finally said, kneeling head pointed to the ground.

“Tao’er,” Xia Kung said coldly. Xia Kung walked up to his son, grabbing him by the shoulder. “Up lad, there’s no need for you to be on your knees. The amount of silver and gold taels we’ve melded from the coins you’ve brought us, even HEAVEN itself would be jealous of you!”

Xia Tao slowly pushed himself up, looking at his father’s cold dim eyes, which seemed like the night sky, despite them being brown. He smiled shyly, then give a another reverend bow. “All in the Xia Clan’s name, father,” Tao said.

Xia Kung harrumphed and walked towards the desk, which stood at the highest point of the room. He flapped his robes and the candles that were lit flickered.

He sat down, eyes tracing Xia Tao’s desk nodding as if he approved of his son’s work. Xia Tao knew better though, knew how his father was a gentleman to anyone, anyone that was his family.

He was fine with that, but with his father now appearing here…it could mean one thing, something he possibly dreaded. Just wait Xia Tao…wait till see what your father has to say.

The clicking of the abacus went on for a while, five, ten, fifteen, then it finally stopped at forty-five minutes.

When Xia Kung finished inspecting his son’s work, Xia Tao felt annoyed. It wasn’t like he was a poor accountant, but for his father to come here himself? It was like a slap in the face.

A slap he would give Jushi, once his father left.

“It seems, I’ve misjudged you, Xiao Tao.”

“Pardon?” Tao answered confused.

“I received word, that you were spending money lackadaisically. But everything seems about right. However, the trouble you’ve caused me with the Gu family has left our treasury dry. My expectations for you are still low, because running a brothel is not meant for my Clan… However, I see the short gains it has done for our clan.”

“Than——“

“Don’t thank me yet,” Xia Kung said coldly, cutting Tao off.

The old man sat in Tao’s chair, nodding his head back and forth. He poured himself a cup of tea and smacked his lips, wrinkling his nose from the abnormal taste of the spice and peppermint.

“Son,” He finally said after five minutes of silence. “I don’t blame you for what happened with the Gu Clan, that is my fault for spoiling you and your brother to a certain degree. However, as the treasury has been drained…there’s much to be accessed.”

Xia Tao approached his father, feeling as his robes drag against the ground, he clasped his hands behind his back and straightened them as well, keeping his head high.

“Father.” He said, cupping his hands, but his father raised his hands, silencing him from speaking further.

And there it is, Tao bemoaned.

“Based on my calculations. The profits we missed out should be at least be eighty gold taels. if we didn’t have to resort to purchasing wine and mead from outside sources.”

Xia Kung placed the abacus in front of himself, blocking Xia Tao’s view, which infuriated him. He hated when his father would block his view of him, it was like an invisible wall, letting him know that he still had much to learn.

“You’re two hundred taels short Xiao Tao. Two hundred Taels in which you could’ve bought all the wine and mead, and re-sell at a high cost don’t you think?”

“Father.”

“Don’t ‘father’ me Tao’er,” Kung said gently. Xiao Kung harrumphed, beard wafting beneath his chin and pushed himself up. He walked towards the door, not saying a word.

Jushi pulled the door open with a groan, and Xia Tao watched as his father stopped, and then turned to him. “Fix the problem Gu Clan. You need to get on their good side again. I don’t care how you get it done, but get it done. The sooner, the better, you’re spending way too much on wine and mead. I understand the women are the prize here for our customers, but lower-cost wine and mead will cement the Red Lantern Tavern within Shaanxi. This little operation have assist me with the Governor and other provinces. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

“Yes, father,” Tao answered.

“Good.”

“Fix The Gu Clan problem,”

“As we wish father,” Tao answered with a bow.

Xia Kung walked back down the incline of stairs and then bypassed his son as though he was nothing but a fly in the room.

He headed towards the door, not saying another word whilst his two bodyguards followed. Jushi bowed to him and the bodyguards whilst holding the door, then groaned it shut.

Xia Tao stood in the middle of his room, eyes staring at the ceiling, contemplating what his father’s visit meant.

Unlike everyone, he knew what his father’s sweet words could mean, there was always a hidden agenda behind those words.

An agenda that would mentally cripple him, for years to come. This visit was unexpected, unwelcome and completely stifling to his mental faculties.

As far as Xia Tao was concerned, his father hated this endeavor into the Shaanxi underworld, but he couldn’t disregard its result

The Xia Clan had been on a slight decline as of recently, not one that would make them sour in people’s eyes, but one where rivals could avoid joining hands in a common union of families.

My reputation with women didn’t help either Tao thought, but I don’t care! I want to live. Live my life to the fullest.

From the time Xia Tao was born, his life was controlled by his family and familial duties. He had to study, work hard and not shame the family.

He did as he was told until he turned eighteen years old, that’s when he began caring less, less became more, and more and became unfashionably uncaring.

Not that he disrespected the family name, but because, after being in the Xia Clan’s cage for so long. It was only for so long he could take it.

The Red Lantern Tavern was his way to get away from such, and also increase the family’s treasury. He did so within a year, but now with his father showing up, it meant one thing.

The Red Lantern would close its doors, or the doors of the Red Lantern would be closed to him, forever.

Xia Tao finally allowed his eyes to drift towards Jushi, who stood at the door, like the sentinel he was. “Were you aware of my father’s planned visit?” He finally asked.

“No Young Master Tao.”

But I’m sure you know many things Xia Tao thought, he walked up his incline, take a further seat and closed his eyes.

He didn’t know what would happen next, but he certainly wouldn’t allow his father to remove him, especially with word of an Axsumite child within his grasp.

Xia Tao didn’t want to be patient but with his father’s unknown motives circling him. Now’s not the best time He thought, fiddling with the abacus, but maybe…just maybe, I can make money elsewhere.