NOVPUBAt first, he had interacted with them using his real appearance, but later he felt that his "infamy" and identity could easily implicate these poor people.
Therefore, after obtaining the disguise mask, Zhao Douan always donated in his spare time under the guise of "Mr. Lin."
And he claimed to be "Mr. Zhao's" good friend, saying that each donation of money and grain included Mr. Zhao's contribution.
"Here we are, it's been snowing for the past few days, and it's finally cleared up, I've brought some things for you," said Zhao Douan with a smile.
Dean Wu, a retired soldier from the southwestern border army, greeted them with a beaming smile. With his legs being not so swift, he called into the house loudly to summon others.
At the same time, he curiously glanced at the group of Western Regions people following them: "Who are these..."
Zhao Douan introduced them with a smile: "A friend, just passing by."
Then, he turned back and looked towards Princess Wen Zhu, who was wearing an expression of curiosity:
"This is Old Wu, the dean of this charitable institution, a retired old soldier from the wars."
Old Wu could immediately tell that this lady was of no ordinary status and cordially invited her:
"A friend of Mr. Lin must surely be a great philanthropist too, please come in."
Princess Wen Zhu, with an unusual look in her eyes, followed behind Zhao Douan quietly, opting to be the foliage to his bloom.
Once the group entered the charity's backyard, a swarm of orphans, boys and girls alike, of ages ranging from teenagers down to four or five, ran out to greet Zhao Douan. Their eyes brightened, calling him "brother" and the like, all of them beaming with smiles.
It was rare for them not to be shy around strangers.
Upon seeing Princess Wen Zhu and the others, they adopted a more reserved demeanor, their voices grew fainter, and they instinctively gathered around Zhao Douan who was carrying things.
Seeking protection.
Zhao Douan, chuckling, began to distribute clothes and food among the group of orphans right there and then, chatting with a few familiar kids, asking about recent events.
Old Wu occasionally joined in with a laugh from the side.
In the winter's day, inside the dilapidated charitable institution, under grey tiles and blue bricks.
There was "Yama Zhao," an individual of extremely high nobility, whom the officials of the Capital feared to discuss, mingling harmoniously and without a hint of pretense with a group of impoverished orphans, laughing and chatting.
The scene was extraordinarily harmonious.
Even Qian Kerou and Hou Renmeng occasionally zoned out, but fortunately, they had been briefed earlier, and as they were house servants, they didn't show any signs of surprise.
As for the group led by Princess Wen Zhu, their spirits had been greatly impacted.
The female warrior who had been under suspicion for deliberately approaching Zhao Douan just moments ago was somewhat bewildered.
She couldn't understand how, even in the Western Regions, where nobles treated commoners from an elevated position, let alone in the Great Yu Dynasty, where the class distinctions were even more stringent.
Her unwavering loyalty and respect for Princess Wen Zhu stemmed from the fact that the princess was the only noble she had ever seen who didn't put on airs with civilians.
And now, she had seen a second.
Princess Wen Zhu, with her gentle demeanor yet dignified presence, also had her eyes sparkling with admiration, the slight doubts she previously harbored dissipating like smoke.
If one were to say...
That this Mr. Lin, before their eyes, had ulterior motives in bonding with them, colluding with Dean Wu, and deliberately currying favor with her, it might be possible.
But this large group of orphans could not possibly possess such exquisite acting skills.
Simply impossible!
The only possibility was that this "Mr. Lin" had indeed been coming here to provide relief all along, and without the typical haughtiness of a great family's child towards the poor, could use time to dissolve these orphans' reverence and fear of nobility, and even engender a certain closeness.
Moreover, Princess Wen Zhu was completely convinced that Mr. Lin's current demeanor as he distributed clothing was utterly genuine!
The cunningness of a political veteran might be masterful but limited to the court.
It was impossible to look at the lowest strata of society with a truly equal gaze while completely contradicting one's inner self.
Even Princess Wen Zhu herself, when dealing with the poor, invariably carried the compassion of one in a high position.
Yet Mr. Lin showed not a trace of it!
Baffling indeed.
"Bring out some silver taels," Princess Wen Zhu suddenly said.
A guard beside immediately took out a silver note and silver ingots that could be used in Great Yu, as well as other valuables.
Princess Wen Zhu hesitated for a moment, remembering what Zhao Douan had said earlier. She did not take the easily troublesome silver note but rather took out twenty Silver Taels and handed them to Dean Wu, conveying her intent to donate.
The old soldier with a broken leg thanked her right away and, as usual, took out the book for donors to record their names. Princess Wen Zhu smiled and waved her hand:
"No need."
Wu chuckled, "Mr. Lin's friends truly are the kind who do good deeds without seeking recognition."
Princess Wen Zhu asked curiously, "He... has brought other friends here as well?"
Wu, without any attempts to conceal it, said:
"Mr. Lin was also introduced here by another gentleman. They are all good people who refuse to leave their names."
"Cough cough, Wu, why don't you take the children to try on the clothes?" Zhao Douan came over in time, interrupting the retired old soldier's prattle.
The latter nodded and took the orphans inside.
...
The courtyard finally fell quiet, and Zhao Douan made a "please" gesture, sitting next to Princess Wen Zhu at the table and chairs in the courtyard.
Princess Wen Zhu's face was slightly reddened by the cold wind, her eyes revealing a look of admiration:
"Mr. Lin's acts of kindness truly command respect. I've been in the Capital for several days and have seen some remarkable individuals, yet none compare to Mr. Lin. May I boldly inquire if Mr. Lin currently holds an official position? And which notable minister's family does he hail from?"
She even started to doubt the authenticity of the name Lin Ke.
Zhao Douan smiled and said, "Madam is really digging deep."
At his side, a tall female warrior suddenly spoke in Yu Country's official language:
"Asking you is a good thing. Do you know the identity of... my lady..."
As a confidant, she had noticed that the princess harbored intentions of forming connections and supporting this young man.
Zhao Douan smiled faintly, poised and serene, and said leisurely:
"The great name of Princess Wen Zhu is, of course, familiar to me like thunder."
The warrior was taken aback and instinctively reached for the hilt of her knife under her clothes at her waist.
Princess Wen Zhu asked curiously, "You know my identity?"
Zhao Douan laughed heartily, pointing to the group of formidable warriors from the Western Regions behind her, and said:
"Although I am not a scion of any grand family, I am still aware that Princess Wen Zhu has recently entered the city. With such an extraordinary presence, and willing to stoop to help the needy in the East City, accompanied by warriors from the Western Regions, if I could not guess your identity, that would indeed be strange."
Princess Wen Zhu paused for a moment, then smiled wryly:
"True, it's not hard to guess. However, I cannot think of any Lin family in the Capital that possesses such a talented youth."
I'm from Hyrule Continent, you'd be surprised if you guessed that... Zhao Douan silently retorted to himself, his demeanor unaffected:
"Why should Your Highness care about a name? After all, it's just a minor household."
A minor household... a military general risen through the ranks? A scholarly family from humble beginnings? Or a small local family... Princess Wen Zhu pondered in her heart and let out a relieved smile:
"Mr. Lin is right; given my status, becoming too closely associated with you may not be in your best interest after all."
No, you just don't need to badmouth me to Zhenbao, and I don't particularly need any deep relationships... Zhao Douan grumbled internally.
I had intended to simply probe this princess from the Western Regions, but an accidental twist seems to have led to an unlikely friendship.
What to do next? I should find a way to steer the conversation towards serious matters, so that I can use this identity to subtly discern the purpose of her visit to the Capital...
Zhao Douan was pondering his next plan of action.
Then Princess Wen Zhu sighed softly, seemingly with deep emotion:
"Returning to the Capital after a few years, all I hear and see are cunning and power-hungry figures in the court... especially that Zhao Douan, with a background even humbler than yours, no, far more so. Yet he's an insidious and vile scoundrel, currying favor with those above and trampling on those below, swiftly rising to enjoy the heights of the temple halls...
"While someone like Mr. Lin, who is compassionate and brave, with brains and courage, remains inconspicuous. It pains my heart to see this. If not for my unique status, I would truly intend to introduce you to His Majesty. Wouldn't His Majesty prefer as worthy a partner as you, a million times over the likes of Zhao Douan?"
Zhao Douan: ??
No, Aunt... Are you serious? You shouldn't make careless remarks.
