After Ding Dachui left, Chu Zhao kept reading through those ledgers. The officials who appeared at the Grand Tutor’s banquet—because she attended court every day and reviewed memorials, she recognized all the officials’ names, but she had never understood them in detail.

Where they came from, who was in their families, where they lived in the capital.

Not to mention what relationships existed among the officials—classmates, marriage relations, or neighbors.

Chu Zhao looked at the ledger. Among the officials who attended the banquet last night, two lived next door to each other, two reminisced about a common teacher while toasting, and two sat across from each other exchanging cold smiles and sarcasm, apparently having developed a grudge because a marriage arrangement between their children had fallen through.

Ding Dachui’s surveillance had been hasty, so the information wasn’t detailed, but even so, she could still learn about these officials from it.

There was even an official who kept dozens of dogs at home—

This seemingly refined and scholarly official had quite an unusual hobby.

Surveillance was indeed a powerful tool that allowed her to understand these people in court, rather than having the Grand Tutor completely control everything.

She didn’t want to be suspicious of Deng Yi like this, but the matter with Liang Qiang this time had really made her tense and uneasy.

In that previous life, Deng Yi had been Xiao Xun’s Grand Tutor.

In this life, Deng Yi had originally also chosen Xiao Xun. It was she who had acted first, and used Xiao Yu to knock open the palace gates.

Who knew if next, Deng Yi would suddenly open the palace gates for Xiao Xun?

Chu Zhao’s hand gripping the ledger clenched. She didn’t mind Deng Yi’s past, nor was she suspicious of Deng Yi. She just wanted to be prepared when facing disagreements with Deng Yi again, so she wouldn’t be caught off guard like this time.

Yes, it was only like this—

“Sister.”

Xiao Yu’s voice rang out.

Chu Zhao came back to herself and saw Xiao Yu standing not far away, looking at her with some nervousness.

“Is A’Yu done with lessons?” Chu Zhao quickly smiled.

Xiao Yu nodded. “I saw Sister was busy—I hope I didn’t disturb you.”

Chu Zhao was about to wave him over, but seeing the scattered ledgers on the desk, these matters of spying into private affairs—

“A’Yu has been sitting in lessons for half the day,” she stood up and walked toward Xiao Yu. “I’ve also been busy for half the day. Let’s go to the training grounds and practice archery.”

Xiao Yu nodded happily. “Good.” His gaze didn’t look at the desk even slightly.

…

…

Early summer was pleasant, the evening colors leisurely. The evening banquets had already become lively.

Fine wine and delicacies, singing girls and dancing in melodious harmony. Sitting in the best private room at Lotus Pond Tower, one could overlook the entire pond of jade-green water.

At this time the lotus flowers had not yet bloomed in full—only jade-green leaves dotted the surface, but it was still pleasing to the eye.

Liang Qiang sat by the window, staring at the pond water in a daze, until a young gentleman’s hand landed on his shoulder.

“A’Qiang, what are you looking at?” After a few cups of wine, the young gentleman’s eyes already showed intoxication. He followed Liang Qiang’s gaze outward.

Liang Qiang smiled. “Looking at the pond water. I haven’t seen such beautiful pond water in a long time.”

In a place like Yunzhong Commandery, even if there was pond water, a young master doing hard labor wouldn’t have the mood or opportunity to look at it. The young gentleman thought to himself, but when everyone was happy, there was no need to reopen old wounds. He patted Liang Qiang’s shoulder and smiled. “A’Qiang just loves this pond water. Back then you even jumped right in, and we got thrown out of the tavern by the proprietor.”

This made all the young gentlemen in the room laugh. Liang Qiang also laughed. Back then, they had been young and carefree, without a worry in the world.

“A’Qiang, jump in now,” someone shouted. “The proprietor definitely won’t dare throw us out.”

Others immediately joined in shouting too. “That’s right, A’Qiang is now a Guerrilla General.” “A Guerrilla General who’s had an audience with His Majesty.” “An honored guest at the Grand Tutor’s table.”

Even the tavern servants who came in carrying wine and delivering dishes smiled when they heard this.

“If General Liang has such refined interest, we’ll prepare clean clothes for you,” they said with smiles.

Hearing the room full of flattery, Liang Qiang didn’t jump into the pond water to wash away the dust and mud, but he also didn’t rebuke everyone’s fawning. He raised his wine cup.

“Come, come, let’s be fair and just. It can’t be just me enjoying myself. How about whoever can’t hold their liquor gets thrown into the pond?”

The private room immediately became even more clamorous. You pour for me, I pour for you. Fine wine flowed in like water. Liang Qiang didn’t know how much he’d drunk. He seemed drunk, yet also clear-headed. He seemed to have returned to his proud youth, but at this moment, receiving promotions and titles was even more gratifying. He seemed to be laughing heartily, yet also seemed to feel nothing at all.

The liveliness in this private room was because of him, yet sitting here he felt detached from it all. He stood up and swayed toward the door.

“Where is A’Qiang going?”

“To the privy? Everyone attend him—no, I’ll personally attend Young Master A’Qiang.”

Chaotic shouting filled the room. Liang Qiang ignored it all and walked out.

Outside the door stood over a dozen military guards. Their cold, stern aura indeed separated this area into another world.

A few young gentlemen stumbled out from inside the room.

“A’Qiang, we’ll accompany you—” they said, but upon looking up and seeing the severe military guards, they stopped in their tracks and laughed awkwardly. “A’Qiang is a general now, with so many military guards. You don’t need us to accompany you.”

Liang Qiang smiled at them and nodded calmly. “No need for you all. Go back and drink.”

The young gentlemen watched Liang Qiang walk slowly outward, with one military guard following behind him.

“A’Qiang really is different from before.”

“He’s killed many people. Did you notice? Even when A’Qiang is smiling, it’s frightening.”

“I’ve decided—I’ll have my father double the gifts for the Liang clan.”

They whispered among themselves, watching Liang Qiang turn the corner and disappear down the corridor. Looking again at the military guards standing outside the door made them feel even more overwhelmed by the martial aura. They quickly retreated back inside.

But Liang Qiang didn’t go to the privy. After turning the corner, he stopped on a pavilion platform, leaning against the railing to look at the pond water. This was also a good place to view the scenery.

The military guard stood behind him like stone or wood, neither hearing nor asking anything.

“For my return journey, are there any requirements?” Liang Qiang suddenly asked.

The soldier said, “None. The General may do as he pleases.”

Liang Qiang turned to look at him and said, “These past few days I’ve attended many banquets—those who promote me, those who court me, all kinds. But there’s one person I haven’t seen, which is truly regrettable. I wonder if I might see them?”

He had thought that coming to the capital, he would meet the person behind him, but until now, that person had not appeared.

The soldier looked at him and said, “When it’s time to meet, you’ll meet.”

When it’s time to meet? What constituted the right time? Forget it. He had already come to the capital. If that person wanted to see him, they naturally could. If they didn’t see him, it meant they didn’t want to, couldn’t be bothered to. Liang Qiang smiled self-deprecatingly. He was merely a tool. Who knew when he might die? He wasn’t worth that person’s meeting.

He was about to turn back when a tavern servant came hurrying from the opposite corridor, holding a cup of wine in his hands, calling from afar, “General Liang, please wait.”

Liang Qiang looked over. The tavern servant approached and smiled. “General Liang, this is a cup of wine that a guest wishes to offer you.”

Offering wine?

Liang Qiang frowned.

He was now the capital’s most sought-after figure, not because of military achievements, but because he had competed for credit with the Xie clan, been promoted by the Grand Tutor, and caused even the Empress to dispute with the Grand Tutor—it had been the talk of the entire city. Everyone wanted to make his acquaintance.

“If someone wants to offer wine,” Liang Qiang said coolly, “but the person doesn’t come—what kind of offering is that?”

He, Liang Qiang, wasn’t someone just anyone could toast. With that, he turned to leave.

“General.” The tavern servant quickly blocked his way, fawning and flattering. “This wine isn’t from our establishment—that person brewed it personally. That person isn’t being disrespectful to the General. They’re just worried that if they came in person, they would disturb the General’s drinking pleasure, and the fine wine wouldn’t be so fine anymore.”

What kind of person was this? So strange. Liang Qiang frowned.

Before he could ask, the tavern servant raised his hand and pointed across. “It’s that guest.”

That one? Liang Qiang instinctively looked in the direction he pointed. His gaze crossed over the railing, crossed over the jade-green pond water in the central hall, and saw the opposite side.

A gentleman in azure robes sat by the window, one hand resting on the window frame, the other holding a wine cup. Just as Liang Qiang looked over, he also turned his head, smiled slightly, and raised his wine cup.

The entire pond of water seemed to be stirred by wind, jade-green waves rippling.

Liang Qiang’s expression showed surprise. He blurted out, “Third Young Master Xie?!”

…

…

For many young men, they had all thought about becoming someone like Third Young Master Xie.

Liang Qiang was no exception. From the moment he learned of Third Young Master Xie of Dongyang, he had admired this young master.

It was just a pity that Xie Yanfang had always been in Dongyang. The young men of the capital only heard his name but could never meet him in person.

Liang Qiang was luckier than others. Because of the Crown Prince, the Xie clan and Liang clan were to arrange a marriage alliance. He actually had the opportunity to become brothers with Third Young Master Xie—

Of course, the joy hadn’t yet become wild when the Liang clan’s fate suddenly reversed because of this matter.

First the marriage was refused, then came harsh words, followed by retaliation—though it might not count as retaliation, just casually sweeping away unneeded idlers, confiscating some family property, making room, that’s all.

With the elegant young master’s light movement of a finger, the Liang clan, which had enjoyed glory in the capital for three generations, fell.

Now, though he had exchanged his life for a chance to rise again, he knew that before Xie Yanfang, he was nothing, utterly vulnerable. If it weren’t for the Grand Tutor’s forceful pressure and the Xie clan’s concern for their reputation, he might not be standing here now.

Of course, he had no intention of opposing Xie Yanfang—at least not now.

He knew his own capabilities, so he never mentioned the Xie clan in his words and avoided the Xie clan’s gates.

He hadn’t expected Xie Yanfang to appear before him and even offer him wine?

What was this about? What did it mean?

Liang Qiang felt like he was on a battlefield for the first time—shocked, at a loss, panicked. If the friends from the private room came out now to see, they would definitely think General Liang had no general’s bearing at all.

The gentleman across drained his wine in one gulp, made a gesture of tilting the empty cup toward him, then smiled.

“General Liang,” the tavern servant’s voice sounded by Liang Qiang’s ear. “Please.”

Liang Qiang didn’t look at the tavern servant. Instinctively, he looked at the military guard beside him. The guard’s expression was wooden, as if he saw nothing.

Liang Qiang looked at the wine cup held before him, reached out to take it, tilted his head back and drained it in one gulp. Spicy sweetness rolled down his throat, making his whole body feel like it was burning. He exhaled in one breath and looked across again—

The window across was closed.

That gentleman was as if he had never appeared.

Liang Qiang looked at the empty wine cup. The lingering wine fragrance in his mouth—had his eyes deceived him?

“Who did you say gave me this wine?” He couldn’t help but ask the tavern servant again.

The tavern servant smiled. “Third Young Master Xie.” As if afraid he wouldn’t be clear, he added, “Of the Xie clan of Dongyang, His Majesty’s uncle, Vice Censor-in-Chief Xie Yanfang.”

A string of titles rang by his ear. It wasn’t his eyes deceiving him. Liang Qiang took a deep breath and asked again, “Why would Third Young Master Xie—”

“This is a tavern,” the tavern servant smiled, taking the wine cup and also taking over his words. “If Young Master Liang can come here for a banquet, Third Young Master Xie can also come here to host guests.”

With that, he walked away carrying the wine cup.

Liang Qiang looked at his empty hand, then glanced at the tightly closed window across. This—

He didn’t know what he was thinking, felt he should be thinking something, and there was even a strange thought, but how could that be possible?

His gaze couldn’t help but look at the military guard.

The guard looked at him and said, “General, the wine has been drunk. It’s time to go back.”

Liang Qiang stared at the guard for a moment. He wanted to say something but ultimately opened and closed his mouth, then slowly walked back. Outside the private room door, several young men were poking their heads out, seemingly looking for him. Seeing him, they immediately called out happily.

“Why were you gone so long?” “A’Qiang, did you fall into the privy?” “You didn’t even drink that much.”

Liang Qiang ignored their teasing and walked past them into the hall.

The young men exchanged glances. “Why does he look so lost?” “Did he see some beauty?” They went in laughing, closing the door, separating inside from out.

…

…

The private room door was gently pulled open. Steward Cai walked in, followed by a man wearing a robe with circular floral patterns.

“Young Master,” Steward Cai said. “The person has arrived.”

Xie Yanfang, who was sitting by the window playing with a wine cup in his hand, nodded, set down the wine cup, and looked at the man who entered.

The man didn’t raise his head but knelt directly. “Qiebo pays respects to Third Young Master.”

Xie Yanfang said, “Don’t you have a Da Xia name?”

The man quickly said again, “Yu Shang pays respects to Third Young Master.”

Xie Yanfang smiled. “Have you finished all your business?”

The man raised his head, his expression respectful and grateful. “All the grain has been sold. Thank you, Young Master.”

Xie Yanfang said to Steward Cai, “Go fetch good wine. We’ll welcome and toast Yu Shang.”

Steward Cai looked at the empty wine pot before him and scolded fondly, “Young Master, you’ve finished what you brought. You’re not allowed to drink any more after this.”

With that, he pulled open the door and walked out. He heard Xie Yanfang laughing behind him, saying to Yu Shang, “I’m good at everything except holding my liquor.”

Steward Cai smiled and pulled the door closed, separating inside from out.