After throwing a huge metaphorical bucket of dirt on the innocent Empress Dowager Sun, Xiao Rong leisurely returned to his residence.

The meeting had taken less time than he had imagined, and when he returned, it was just around three-quarters past noon. Zhang Biezhi and the others were still wandering around outside.

Ten of the guards had stayed behind here. Xiao Rong asked them if anyone had come to see him that morning, and surprisingly, someone had.

Four noble families had sent invitations, inviting him to their estates for a conversation. These invitations were sent under the names of young family members, likely with the intention of forming friendly ties with him. They didn’t necessarily have any special purpose, probably just seeing that he held a high position and was a rare scholar from the Zhenbei Prince’s side, and so they thought it might be useful to befriend him for future opportunities.

Xiao Rong flipped through these invitations without showing any emotion. None of them were from truly prominent families— all of them ranked lower than third tier. This was to be expected, the real elite families wouldn’t be in a rush to send invitations on the first day. They would surely observe for a while, waiting to see Xiao Rong’s true intentions and how high officials like Sun Renluan would respond before deciding on their own course of action.

Xiao Rong had initially thought all of these were worthless pieces of paper, but as he kept flipping, he suddenly paused.

Most of the invitations were from certain family members, but this one was simply from an individual person.

Narrowing his eyes, Xiao Rong singled out this invitation and silently stared at the handwriting for a long while.

His serious expression was so intense that the guards nearby didn’t even dare to breathe too loudly. They thought the letter must contain something important. Otherwise, why would Mr. Xiao look so cautious?

Xiao Rong: “Actually, it’s because I can’t understand it.”

 

…

 

Luckily, after some time practicing, Xiao Rong no longer had much difficulty reading letters and articles written by scholars. The problem was that he needed to read them slowly. If he tried to read too quickly, it still felt like deciphering some ancient script.

The letter didn’t really contain anything too complicated. The person used many flowery words to praise Xiao Rong’s performance in court the previous day, which made Xiao Rong take quite a while just to translate those fancy phrases. The only useful part was the last two sentences: the person admired Xiao Rong’s charisma and invited him to visit his humble home, hoping he wouldn’t find it beneath him.

The sender’s name was Song Shuo.

Xiao Rong: “…”

Who was this? He had never heard of him.

But it seemed like he came from a poor background. He didn’t mention his family and said he lived in a humble home, which made him sound quite poor.

Interesting. Since Xiao Rong had nothing better to do that afternoon and wasn’t expecting another summons from the palace anytime soon, he thought it might be worth going out for a bit and meeting some officials from Jinling. The noble families had too many rules, and he didn’t want to be paraded around like a spectacle, so this Song Shuo at least caught his attention.

However, since Jinling was full of hidden traps, Xiao Rong decided to consult divination before making a decision.

The next moment, holding Song Shuo’s invitation, Xiao Rong firmly thought to himself: “I will go meet Song Shuo.”

Holding his breath, he waited a little while, then moved his limbs to see if there were any strange feelings. Finding none, he was delighted: “Prepare the horse, I’m going to meet this person.”

The guards: “…”

They had the feeling that something strange just happened, but they had no proof.

 

…

 

Song Shuo wasn’t joking—he really did live in what could only be called a humble dwelling. Xiao Rong, unfamiliar with the layout of Jinling, thought that since Song Shuo was a court official, he would surely live within the main city. However, after asking for directions along the way, Xiao Rong realized he was almost out of the city.

The farther they went, the more Xiao Rong regretted his decision. He considered turning back, but then thought about how far he had already come, and going back without accomplishing anything would be embarrassing.

Especially with his guards watching. How could he lose face in front of them?

Determined not to back down, Xiao Rong persevered. Even though he usually didn’t sweat easily, the scorching sun had caused a thin layer of sweat to form on his face. He wiped it off with a handkerchief, and finally, they arrived.

In the midst of a large cluster of straw-roofed houses, Xiao Rong and his men, riding their tall chestnut horses, looked incredibly out of place. To put it bluntly, they appeared as if they were there to rob the place. The women washing clothes by the river huddled together nervously, clearly afraid but still staying nearby to watch, wary of what these strangers might do.

Xiao Rong: “…”

He regretted it even more.

Feeling slightly awkward, Xiao Rong dismounted and nodded at one of the guards, who walked ahead to knock on the door made of tree branches tied together.

The door, known as a “chaifei,” was a typical feature of poor households. It offered no privacy, even the straightest branches would leave gaps, making it easy to see inside.

Xiao Rong found it odd. Song Shuo received a salary—how could he still live in such a house? Even if he wanted to, would the court allow it? The court, being far stricter than himself, would never permit an official to lower his own status like this.

Just as Xiao Rong was pondering, a young servant, no more than eleven or twelve, came out of the thatched house. He hadn’t even reached the age for his voice to break, so he spoke in a child’s tone.

“Here you are!”

As he spoke, he untied the rope on the chaifei, opened the door, and politely greeted Xiao Rong: “Lord Xiao, please follow me. My master has been expecting you.”

Xiao Rong looked at the servant, then at the courtyard inside. After a brief silence, he smiled and said: “Thank you, young one.”

The courtyard wasn’t large. After just a few steps, Xiao Rong entered the thatched house. As soon as he stepped inside, he smelled a faint scent of medicine. Soon after, a heavy cough came from the inner room. The young servant immediately ran over, lifted the curtain separating the two rooms, and helped the person inside to walk out.

Xiao Rong had seen this person the day before. Among the group of people who either enjoyed listening to him or didn’t, this man stood out, but Xiao Rong hadn’t paid him much attention. The whole time, the man’s gaze had been fixed on Xiao Rong’s face with great interest, which made Xiao Rong think he was some sort of pervert. So, after one look, Xiao Rong had dismissed him.

Seeing him again today, Xiao Rong realized that this “pervert” was actually quite young. He was frail and sickly, but his face was delicate, and his aloof demeanor had a touch of cynicism.

Xiao Rong felt something odd but couldn’t quite figure out what. So, he simply cupped his hands in greeting: “Master Song. You didn’t mention your official position in your letter, so I can only address you as Master Song.”

Song Shuo pushed aside the servant helping him and leaned against the wall with a smile: “Despite not knowing my official position, Lord Xiao still braved the heat to accept my invitation. I am humbled.”

With that, he coughed again, covering his mouth with his sleeve. Once he had finished, he smiled lightly and said: “My current position is that of Court Secretary.”

Not all official titles with the word “Shangshu” were prestigious. In fact, the position of Court Secretary wasn’t even as high-ranking as the Master of Palace, the official who had escorted Xiao Rong into the city a few days ago. Although it sounded impressive, the role mainly involved clerical work, sometimes not even that. Many merely stayed around to pass the time.

What had been suspicion earlier was now confirmed for Xiao Rong. He pressed his lips together and, after a moment, gave a knowing smile: “The weather is stifling, and there’s nothing entertaining to do in Jinling. It’s understandable that a Court Secretary might seek some form of amusement.”

“I just never expected that I would be that amusement.”

Song Shuo continued leaning against the wall, but his gaze was no longer as casual and relaxed as before. His face still wore the same unchanging smile as he asked: “Oh? Why does Lord Xiao say this?”

Xiao Rong looked at him: “If I were to answer that question, I really would become your amusement.”

First, Song Shuo had written a letter to lure him over, then deliberately showed a flaw, waiting for him to ask about it. If Xiao Rong had smugly answered how he had figured it out, Song Shuo would probably have been laughing his head off.

As expected, when Song Shuo saw that Xiao Rong hadn’t fallen for his trick, the smile on his face became a bit more genuine. He apologized: “Forgive me, Lord Xiao. There are too many fools and mediocrities in this world. I observed that Lord Xiao’s appearance is rather extraordinary, but I wasn’t sure if his intellect was as impressive. I, Song Shuo, believe myself to be somewhat clever, and I would never treat someone with honesty unless they were my equal.”

Xiao Rong: “…”

He looked at Song Shuo with a complicated expression: “You probably don’t have any friends, do you?”

Song Shuo smiled slightly, his pride evident as he said: “Indeed, I do not.”

Xiao Rong: “…….…”

Actually, Xiao Rong had always felt that he had crossed into a parallel world, but he couldn’t find any proof of it—until now.

This must be a parallel world, and the defining characteristic of this world was—everyone had zero emotional intelligence!

 

…

He just didn’t understand. How could everyone he knew be like this? Having to socialize with such a group of people every day, he was really exhausted.

Once Xiao Rong confirmed he wasn’t dealing with a fool, Song Shuo became more enthusiastic. He had the young servant bring out the ice basin and tea soup. The ice melted quickly, while the tea soup was still bubbling with steam.

Xiao Rong didn’t leave purely because it was too hot outside, but once the weather cooled down, he planned to leave this troublesome place immediately. He already had a person like Qu Yunmie’s beside him, and didn’t need another emotional intelligence desert to torture him.

Song Shuo brewed tea for Xiao Rong. Xiao Rong didn’t speak, and Song Shuo acted as if he hadn’t noticed. He then went on to explain why he had concealed his identity, saying that he wanted Xiao Rong to come because of who he was, not because of his status.

Xiao Rong: “………”

You keep saying you don’t want to see fools, but you’re the fool yourself.

I don’t even know you. How could I come because of who you are? It’s definitely your position that attracted me. That’s why I traveled all this way.

Do you really think that after writing all those flattering words, I’d be so awestruck that I’d cry and beg to be your friend?

To be honest, Song Shuo really did think like that.

 

…

 

He believed that first came physical connection, then conversation, and finally, spiritual connection.

What he meant was that when choosing friends, he would first assess their appearance. He firmly believed that a person’s greatness could be seen in their looks. For example, someone like him—a handsome man—was bound to achieve great things. Xiao Rong was even more handsome than he was, so he must be no ordinary person. That was why he wrote that letter to Xiao Rong, hoping for a private meeting. Then came conversation: once he confirmed that Xiao Rong’s intelligence was up to par, he would talk with him about various topics to see if they got along. Only if they did would they reach the final step—spiritual connection.

This “spiritual connection” didn’t mean being friends without meeting, but rather, a true meeting of minds, where one’s thoughts and ambitions were aligned. When they reached this level, they would become friends like Bo Ya and Zhi Yan, who understood each other deeply. Unfortunately, he hadn’t yet encountered a friend worthy of such a connection in this lifetime.

Xiao Rong thought, Not just that. You probably haven’t even met a friend worthy of physical connection either. Which handsome guy would be so deluded to want to be friends with someone like you?

 

…

 

Song Shuo had already noticed that Xiao Rong wasn’t interested in him, but the more Xiao Rong acted this way, the more determined Song Shuo became. The reason? Well, it was simple—he had no friends.

He was very demanding, the person had to have a similar or even better appearance than his own for him to favor them. There were indeed quite a few handsome men in Jinling, but half of them were kept in the backyards of various families as concubines, and the other half were simply naive, either being used as pawns or lingering in literary circles, basking in the praises of others.

In Song Shuo’s eyes, temperament was also part of one’s appearance. The moment those men opened their eyes, he could tell exactly what kind of people they were, which was why he never bothered to approach them.

But Xiao Rong was different. When he entered the court, every movement of his exuded the air of a man of great stature. Song Shuo couldn’t even describe it, in any case, the foolishness he saw in the handsome young men of Jinling was nowhere to be found in Xiao Rong. When Song Shuo looked at those young men, he could almost tell at a glance how their future would unfold. But with Xiao Rong, he couldn’t figure out where he was headed or how far he could go.

In fact, this was the charm of someone filled with confidence and freedom. Xiao Rong had countless choices for the future, he could do whatever he wanted. But the people of Jinling? They were born in Jinling, would die in Jinling, raised by their families, and would spend their lives paying back their families. It wasn’t that they were pitiful or that their futures would be miserable, but no matter how luxurious a birdcage was, it was nothing compared to the vastness of the sky outside.

Once you had flown, you would know the difference between the two. But the people of Jinling would never get the chance to fly.

 

…

 

Song Shuo hoped that Xiao Rong didn’t care about his identity, and likewise, he didn’t care about Xiao Rong’s. His position as a small official in the court was just a way to pass the time. As for the north-south rivalry and the people in the court who wanted to return to Chenliu, Song Shuo didn’t care about that at all.

Xiao Rong hadn’t really paid him much attention at first, but Song Shuo kept talking. After taking the tea that Song Shuo had brewed, Xiao Rong took a small sip, and the more he listened, the more he felt something was off.

Through his words, Song Shuo hinted that his family background was actually quite good. This thatched house had been purchased by him a few years ago, and whenever he had time, he would stay here for a while. But it wasn’t because he wanted to emulate the famous literary figures of the past by living in a humble dwelling, he simply thought the thatched house allowed for good ventilation and was cool in the summer.

His behavior was unconventional and free-spirited, very much like a hermit. He even told Xiao Rong that he planned to resign from his official position soon. Staying in the polluted court was a waste of his life, so he might as well go back to his hometown in Xiangdong and live as a carefree recluse.

Xiao Rong: “…Xiangdong?”

Finally, he heard a response. Song Shuo was a bit slow to react, but he opened his mouth to speak, only to cough twice: “Y-yes, my family is from Xiangdong.”

Xiao Rong couldn’t help but confirm again: “You’re from the Song family of Xiangdong?”

Song Shuo nodded.

Xiao Rong stared at him, his eyes widening. He completely stopped trying to hide his surprise. He no longer had the disdainful look he had earlier and now gulped a couple of times before asking again: “Your childhood name… it wouldn’t be Song Qianzheng, would it?”

Song Shuo widened his eyes: “How do you know that?”

Xiao Rong: “…”

It really was him!!

Song Qianzheng, Song Qianzheng, retired at the age of ten, then didn’t officially serve in the government until he was forty-six. However, in his first year of service, he became the prime minister, holding the position until he died at the age of sixty-six. After his death, the emperor declared national mourning, and the people mourned without a single person being reluctant.

Song Qianzheng was different from most ministers, he was kind to everyone, from high officials to common folk, treating them all with warmth and respect. As a result, he was very well-liked in the Han family dynasty. He helped the emperor push through many policies, and whenever there was a tough decision, Song Qianzheng would mediate, and people accepted it. When he passed away, it wasn’t his family who mourned the most, it was the Han family emperor, who had been served by him for ten years. Even if his own father, Han Liangru, had died, it was unlikely the emperor would have cried as much.

Later generations highly praised Song Qianzheng, calling him the first prime minister in history who loved the people like a son, and a rare genius. He knew the world would be in turmoil, so he retired early. Even after the world became peaceful, he didn’t serve under the wrong ruler but waited until the Han family took power, when he finally stepped forward to serve the emperor he believed in.

 

…

 

Such a talented, magnanimous person, with a brilliant mind and a kind heart, how could he be the same as the clumsy fool in front of Xiao Rong?!

Xiao Rong couldn’t accept it. He stared at Song Shuo, feeling embarrassed: “My mother gave birth to me too early, so when I was born, I was weak. My grandmother was afraid I would die young, so she gave me that childhood name. But when I left home, no one called me that anymore. How did you, Sir Xiao, know about my childhood name? Did we meet before?”

Xiao Rong swallowed hard and quietly suppressed the strange expression on his face. He lowered his gaze, and in an instant, his attitude toward Song Shuo completely changed.

He gave a faint smile, slowly lifting his eyelids in a mysterious way, causing Song Shuo to freeze for a moment.

“Someone as outstanding as Mr. Song, if we had met before, I would definitely recognize you at first glance. Unfortunately, our fate lies in the present, not the past. There are some rumors about me outside, I wonder if you’ve heard of them?”

Song Shuo furrowed his brow: “You mean… divination?”

Xiao Rong smiled: “Exactly. Otherwise, how would I know such intimate details?”

Song Shuo remained half-convinced, still staring at him suspiciously. He honestly thought those rumors were spread by Xiao Rong himself, to boost the reputation of the Northern Army. But the way Xiao Rong spoke, it almost sounded like he was admitting he could perform divination.

Song Shuo didn’t understand what Xiao Rong meant, but Xiao Rong smiled at him gently. However, beneath the table, his hand quietly clenched into a fist.

Today, Xiao Rong was still a fool, but tomorrow, he might turn into a sharp-witted genius. It didn’t matter—he was patient, and he could wait!

Even if he couldn’t make contact with the young emperor this time, bringing Song Shuo back was still a good deal. Oh, great king, enjoy yourself quietly!

 

Edited by: Antiope

 

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