At the first-morning court assembly after returning to South City, Duan Xu encountered Fang Xian Ye in the waiting hall before the court session began.

The officials who had been chatting animatedly with Duan Xu noticed Fang Xian Ye’s arrival and, observing the atmosphere between the two men, tempered their laughter somewhat.

Both men wore vermilion official robes—Fang Xian Ye’s adorned with the cloud and wild goose pattern of civil officials, a silverfish pouch at his waist, while Duan Xu’s displayed the tiger pattern of military officials. Among the group of middle-aged men in vermilion robes, their youth was conspicuous.

They were the top two graduates from the same year’s imperial examinations—the most sought-after young talents in court. Unfortunately, they belonged to different factions and fought bitterly against each other. If they could set aside their differences, they would be the future twin pillars of the Great Liang Dynasty.

Minister Lu from the Ministry of Justice, who had just been conversing with Duan Xu, secretly lamented that these two factions had been feuding for so many years with an apparent fight-to-the-death momentum. It seemed there would never be a day of reconciliation.

Duan Xu bowed politely and smiled, “Official Fang, it’s been a long time. I hear you’ve risen swiftly to become a fourth-rank Deputy Minister of Revenue. Congratulations, congratulations.”

Fang Xian Ye returned the bow modestly, saying, “General Duan is too kind. I’ve heard in South City about your recent battle, how you turned the tide and led your troops across the river border first. His Majesty has summoned you back to report your achievements, surely intending to bestow rewards. Allow me to offer my congratulations in advance.”

After cordially flattering each other, they took their seats, observing the six-character mantra of “out of sight, out of mind”—one sitting at the far left, the other at the far right. The civil officials on the left were mostly from Minister Du’s faction, with Fang Xian Ye joining them; while the military officers on the right were primarily from Duke Pei’s faction, yet Duan Xu sat among them.

The atmosphere in the waiting hall became quite peculiar. Even the protocol officer from the Court of State Ceremonial nervously wiped his sweat seeing this arrangement.

During the morning court, the Emperor indeed first lavishly praised the generals returning from north of the river border, bestowing countless gold, silver, treasures, and silks. Each received promotions—General Qin Huan Da was elevated to Duke of Wei, and Duan Xu was appointed as the Loyal and Martial General. Then the Emperor commended the Ministry of Revenue for successfully raising funds and provisions, also giving rewards, and maintaining perfect balance. By the end of the court session, both Minister Du and Duke Pei had been given due recognition.

Now that the border was somewhat stabilized, from the Emperor’s meaning, he did not intend to send Qin Huan Da and Duan Xu back to guard duty in the coming years. Duan Xu thought this must be the arrangement of Duan Cheng Zhang and Minister Du, keeping him in South City, the center of power. With this experience, he might enter the Privy Council to oversee military affairs in the future.

What many people dreamed of as a smooth path ahead only drew a sigh from Duan Xu. Being away from South City for most of the year had made him somewhat unfamiliar with the court situation, so after the morning assembly, Duan Xu headed straight for Jade Algae Tower.

Jade Algae Tower was the most prosperous and elegant tavern among South City’s seventy-two towers, famous for its three excellences: fine wine, delicious food, and beautiful women. It attracted South City’s high officials and nobles for entertainment, and even the Emperor had visited for pleasure. The noble youths of South City were regular patrons, and Duan Xu had been no exception before leaving South City.

As soon as he entered Jade Algae Tower, he was warmly welcomed by the attendants. He waved his hand and asked, “Where is Miss Luo Xian?”

While Miss Luo Xian might not be the most beautiful courtesan at Jade Algae Tower, she was a talented woman renowned throughout South City. Her poetry and prose rivaled those of men, she excelled in all the arts—zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting—and she sold her artistic talents, not her body. Before Duan Xu left, they had been quite close, and he once spent a fortune to book her time for an entire month.

Before the attendant could answer with an apologetic smile, someone said, “Isn’t this Third Young Master Duan? It’s been a long time indeed. During your absence, that top graduate has stolen your beauty!”

Duan Xu turned to look—it was the fourth son of Minister Wang from the Ministry of Revenue, who happened to be drinking at Jade Algae Tower. Though handsome, he was rotten within—a notorious playboy of South City. Previously, Duan Xu had maintained superficial friendships with these young masters, so he smiled and said, “Young Master Wang, are you referring to Fang Xian Ye?”

Young Master Wang was uneducated and consequently extremely sarcastic toward these scholars who had passed the imperial examinations. He always called Fang Xian Ye “top graduate” with a sour tone, and after Duan Xu placed second in the examinations, he began to resent Duan Xu as well, as if thinking: we used to eat, drink, and enjoy life together, so how did you manage not to neglect your studies?

But after all, Duan Xu was of noble birth like himself, quite different from the humble-born Fang Xian Ye. Young Master Wang snorted contemptuously, “That top graduate is truly inexperienced. Having finally gained some status and wealth, he was completely dazzled by Miss Luo Xian, pursuing her daily. Unfortunately, no amount of silver can wash away his air of poverty. I think Miss Luo Xian is in a difficult position, just waiting for your return! I just saw the top graduate come in, surely he’s gone to find Luo Xian again!”

Hearing this, Duan Xu cooperatively expressed anger, “It’s one thing to oppose me in court, but to compete with me for Miss Luo Xian? This is truly intolerable!”

He swept his sleeve and headed upstairs, calling Luo Xian’s name. Young Master Wang wore an expression of anticipating a good show, while the attendant anxiously tried but failed to stop him.

Duan Xu went upstairs and pushed open Luo Xian’s door directly. Through the gauze curtains and pearl strings, he saw that Fang Xian Ye was indeed sitting inside. Both looked at this abrupt, uninvited guest with surprise. The attendant apologized beside him, “Young Master Duan! You see, Official Fang arrived first… Jade Algae Tower has its rules…”

Duan Xu threw a gold ingot at him, “Aren’t Jade Algae Tower’s rules all about money? Today I insist on seeing Miss Luo Xian right now. Official Fang doesn’t mind, does he?”

The surprise on Fang Xian Ye’s face faded, and he gave an inscrutable slight smile, “General Duan has just been promoted and is already so domineering?”

“If not for Official Fang, I might not be so overbearing.”

As the two confronted each other, Luo Xian spoke from behind the pearl curtain. She was a gentle, graceful beauty who coaxed softly, “Why must the two gentlemen be at odds? Enjoying refined music together is also a pleasure. I am willing to play and sing for both gentlemen.”

Neither willing to yield, they both sat down to listen to the music. The attendant, holding the gold ingot, was both happy and worried, fearing the two might clash. After cautioning Luo Xian, he left, and she closed the door with a smile.

She stood by the door for a moment, ensuring the attendant had gone far enough, then quietly returned behind the pearl curtain. Taking up her pipa, she began to play a rapid, storm-like melody.

The music was loud and fast, capable of covering most sounds. Deputy Minister Fang sat with his back straight as a pine tree. He held his teacup, tapped the lid a few times, then turned to look at Duan Xu, saying, “Duan Shun Xi.”

“Official Fang.”

The two looked at each other for a moment, as the pipa sounded like pearls, large and small, falling on a jade plate. Fang Xian Ye frowned and said, “That you could act so recklessly and still return alive is truly a miracle.”

His words contained much dissatisfaction, but Duan Xu simply smiled brightly and said, “It’s not so serious. My fate is to turn danger into safety—how can I turn danger into safety without facing danger first?”

“One day you’ll perish this way. If you wish to seek death, you needn’t trouble me to send you there.”

Everyone spoke of the unfortunate Third Young Master Duan—properly serving as a Supervising Secretary but reassigned to a military position, then reported and sent to the border camp before his new position was even warm, then thrown to the north bank of the river as bait after leading the Whitestep Army. His path had been extremely bumpy.

But only Duan Xu and Fang Xian Ye across from him knew that, except for the Dan Zhi surprise attack, all other difficulties had been arranged by himself.

At the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, discussing military tactics led to his transfer to a military position; to protect his sister, Xia Qing Sheng, he fought with the son of the Minister of War in the street and was impeached by Fang Xian Ye, resulting in his dispatch to the border camp.

It was a perfectly staged play from beginning to end.

When Duan Xu was stationed in Liang Prefecture and wrote a secret letter to Fang Xian Ye, asking him to find a way to have him sent to attack the north bank, including a battle plan, Fang Xian Ye replied with only three words—”You’re insane.” Not long after, Duan Xu received military orders from General Qin to attack Dan Zhi’s territory and cut off the reinforcement route on the north bank.

Though Fang Xian Ye cursed, he rarely refused Duan Xu’s requests, no matter how outrageous.

Later, after successfully breaking the siege, Fang Xian Ye exposed the corruption in the horse administration in South City through others, and Duan Xu timed a memorial perfectly, their cooperation causing the Emperor to turn his attention to attacking Yu and Luo Prefectures.

“Qin Huan Da told the Duke that you previously intentionally concealed your brilliance, but this time in the army, you were crafty, specialized in military affairs, valiant, and good at winning people’s hearts. In the future, whether in the army or at court, you will surely become a great threat,” said Fang Xian Ye.

“I’ve never received a single word of praise from General Qin, yet it turns out he compliments me behind my back. One should praise people to their face—how can one know about praise given behind one’s back?”

Fang Xian Ye still couldn’t get used to Duan Xu’s joking manner of speaking and coldly said, “Be serious.”

Duan Xu dropped his previously joking expression and said, “The Minister of Revenue recently gave you tax accounts with traps laid within—several places that don’t match up. If you don’t notice, he’ll seize on your dereliction of duty; if you investigate further, it will involve Duke Pei’s son’s family’s land encroachment. Be extra careful.”

“I recently uncovered several significant shortfalls and used them to threaten him, so naturally he harbors resentment toward me.”

“You even threatened him?”

Fang Xian Ye raised his eyes to glance at Duan Xu, seemingly at a loss for words. He pointed in the direction of the military camp, “Do you know how much money and provisions this campaign burned through? With the Ministry of Revenue in Minister Du’s hands, they’ve been shouting about empty treasury, no money, no food. If I hadn’t caught the Minister of Revenue’s weakness and forced him to make those wealthy Jiangnan merchants under his protection donate rice and provisions, you would have been drinking the northwest wind in the north.”

This usually proud and gentle Fang Xian Ye, who could make criticism sound like praise, seemed like a different person whenever he met Duan Xu, consistently cold in speech. Duan Xu often wondered whether Fang Xian Ye’s brilliant arguments against him in court were acting or from the heart.

Duan Xu clinked his teacup with his and said, “Your position in the Ministry of Revenue is not easy. Thank you for your hard work.”

“If you’d write to me less often, perhaps I would have less hard work,” Fang Xian Ye wasn’t swayed by this approach.

Everything Duan Xu did was unorthodox, with the slightest mistake potentially leading to irreversible disaster and death. Even while pretending to be at odds, they didn’t need to make it so convincing. Fang Xian Ye was almost certain that Duan Xu simply enjoyed the thrill of dancing on the edge of a knife.

Sure enough, Duan Xu smiled and said, “This is just how I fight battles. Isn’t winning what matters? You’ll get used to it.”

His unwillingness to change left Fang Xian Ye speechless.

The two exchanged much information about the military and court situations. As they sorted through everything, Duan Xu somehow thought of He Si Mu and suddenly experienced a moment of disorientation, as if stepping outside himself to view them from an outsider’s perspective.

From the viewpoint of immortal beings like He Si Mu with their thousand-year lifespans, the careful planning and scheming of mortals with merely decades of life might seem ridiculous, much like how they viewed crickets jumping about in a jar.

He found nothing wrong with spending his life in strategic planning, but he also couldn’t prevent He Si Mu from feeling that such a life had no meaning.

Duan Xu’s distraction was immediately noticed by Fang Xian Ye, who knocked on the table, “Are you lost in thought?”

“I was wondering… did you meet Jing Yuan a few days ago?”

“Yes, we met by chance while sheltering from rain at Jin’an Temple.”

“Do you like her?”

Fang Xian Ye choked on his hot tea and couldn’t stop coughing.