A gust of wind blew the letter Mo Sigui had placed on the couch onto the floor.

An Jiu picked it up and glanced at it. It was a secret missive from Wei Yuzhi’s subordinate, detailing Liao’s clandestine training of martial arts experts. Tucked inside was also news about Lou Mingyue.

“There’s residual poison in your body. Take these medicines first,” Mo Sigui quickly wrote out a prescription. “The internal organ damage is interesting though. We’ll treat that after detoxification.”

Xue Sha was impressed that Mo Sigui had accurately identified all his ailments with just a glance. “Thank you, Divine Doctor,” he said respectfully.

Mo Sigui glanced at An Jiu. “Thank her instead.”

“Didn’t you say you’d cut all ties with Lou Mingyue?” An Jiu handed him the letter.

Mo Sigui didn’t take it. He stuffed more herbs into his pipe, lit it, and took a couple of puffs before responding, “Who’s Lou Mingyue?”

An Jiu shook the letter in her hand.

“It’s just news Yuzhi sent. I took a look out of boredom. Ning Yanli’s inner force-boosting drug has improved again. Looks like I’ll need to prepare an antidote!” Mo Sigui laughed, his peach blossom eyes curving slightly, like a hazy peach-colored mist.

An Jiu wasn’t one to meddle, but she felt his relationship with Lou Mingyue was a tangled mess that would end badly. Seeing he didn’t seem to take it seriously, she changed the subject. “Can’t you also make a drug to boost inner force?”

She thought that would be more useful.

Mo Sigui laughed, “Ha! How would making something others have already done showcase my skills?”

“So you’re saying you could make it?” An Jiu asked.

“Forget it,” Mo Sigui exhaled a stream of smoke that formed a lingzhi mushroom shape in the air. “That kind of drug that forcibly unleashes potential is lethal. The backlash is fatal – after the drug’s effects wear off, you’d either die or be crippled. Who were you planning to give it to?”

“When will the antidote be ready? We may face the Liao army after autumn,” An Jiu asked.

Seeing her serious expression, Mo Sigui chuckled, “Being so serious invites early aging. Just look at Chu Dingjiang!”

“You know General Chu?” Blood Sha couldn’t help interjecting.

“Talk about not recognizing Mount Tai,” Mo Sigui glanced sideways at An Jiu. “This lady here is General Chu’s mistress.”

“Mistress…” Blood Sha couldn’t help looking at An Jiu, who was undeniably beautiful.

“Mistress,” An Jiu mentally chanted “world peace” to suppress her rage. She said slowly, “It’s not so bad. Some people roll around begging to be someone’s mistress, while others avoid them like the plague.”

“Someone as dashing as me – whoever doesn’t want me must be blind!” Mo Sigui snorted.

Someone knocked on the door.

Then Sui Yunzhu’s voice came, “Magistrate Wu says he’s been busy with official duties since arriving in Hexi County. Today he has some free time and would like to invite everyone for a meal.”

Mo Sigui was always picky about food. After half a month of plain fare here, he was quite frustrated. Hearing this, he quickly got up and put on his shoes. “When are we eating?”

“The food is ready. We’re just waiting for everyone,” Sui Yunzhu replied.

An Jiu was too hungry to argue with him anymore and left first.

Sui Yunzhu peeked in and saw Wei Yuzhi meditating cross-legged. “Mr. Wei, the magistrate says if you’re free, please join us too.”

Wei Yuzhi didn’t move, only giving a faint “Mm” in response.

The banquet was laid out in the flower hall. Wu Lingyuan sat at the head wearing plain black robes. Seeing everyone enter, he stood to welcome them, but no one paid him any attention. They all stared at the dishes on the table.

Mo Sigui looked around, holding his pipe, and commented, “Passable.”

Hexi County didn’t have many delicacies, but fortunately, it was the transition between spring and summer. The mountains and wilderness had plenty of good ingredients. Wu Lingyuan had sent Li Qingzhi to hunt some game, managing to put together a decent spread.

“Little Sui, quickly go to my room and bring the good wine!” Mo Sigui said. “It’s by the bookshelf on the south wall.”

Sui Yunzhu was always obliging, but An Jiu objected, “No way, let him go get it himself!”

“An Dajiu, I slave away for you and this is how you treat me?” Mo Sigui sighed mournfully. “How times have changed.”

As they were talking, Wei Yuzhi entered carrying two wine jars.

“Ah, Yuzhi, how can you be so considerate!” Mo Sigui hurriedly got up to take the wine jars.

Wei Yuzhi’s sudden appearance made Blood Sha realize this place was full of hidden talents. He hadn’t sensed Wei Yuzhi’s approach at all!

“I knew you forgot to bring it, so I grabbed it on the way,” Wei Yuzhi said.

Mo Sigui had been trying to quit his medicinal smoke lately, so he’d personally concocted some wine to help him sleep when he had insomnia. It worked for the first couple of days, but now he was addicted to both alcohol and medicinal smoke. Wei Yuzhi had tried to persuade him, but Mo Sigui said: “If I’m going to indulge in vices, I might as well sink to rock bottom. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be in keeping with my usual pursuit of extremes.”

After everyone was seated, Wu Lingyuan raised his cup and said, “Great kindness needs no thanks. Allow me to drink first in your honor.”

Everyone raised their cups and drank.

Mo Sigui tasted each dish, then only ate the ones he liked, ignoring the rest.

After wolfing down the meal, Wu Lingyuan set down his bowl, rinsed his mouth, and sat up straight. “I’m sure you all know the situation in Hexi County. There’s much to be done, but we’re currently too poor. If we rely solely on agriculture, we won’t even be able to set up city defenses. So I’ve thought of a plan, but I’ll need everyone’s help.”

With that, he stood and bowed deeply to everyone.

Sui Yunzhu hurriedly made a gesture of support. “We came here for this purpose. Whatever you need, we’ll do our utmost.”

Wu Lingyuan smiled gratefully and looked around. “Compared to nearby counties, Hexi has no real advantages, except for more rivers and lakes. With summer approaching, I’ve ordered people to catch fish and shrimp to make preserves for sale. But we lack distribution channels, and court officials are forbidden from engaging in commerce directly. So I must trouble you all to spread the word in surrounding counties.”

“You want us to hawk goods on the streets?” Li Qingzhi asked nervously.

They were all used to concealing their movements and operating alone. Asking them to shout in the streets was rather unreasonable.

“No,” Wu Lingyuan smiled slightly. “I want you to first rent some shops in various counties, hire a few honest shopkeepers and assistants, and start small businesses. We’ll only produce in large quantities if sales are good since these are perishable goods.”

“I knew this was a trap,” Mo Sigui leaned back in his chair and lazily lit his pipe. “I’m not going.”

“The Divine Doctor doesn’t need to go,” Wu Lingyuan paused, then said hesitantly, “But the county office is in dire straits right now. If the Divine Doctor has time, could he perhaps see a few patients…”

Mo Sigui was silent for a moment, then finally nodded. “I won’t see patients for less than 5,000 taels, and I won’t travel beyond 20 li.”

A hint of a smile appeared in Wu Lingyuan’s clear eyes. He took a paper from his sleeve and handed it to Mo Sigui. “Would the Divine Doctor please take a look and see if these few families are suitable?”

Mo Sigui’s mouth fell open as he looked at the neat yet forceful handwriting on the paper.

It wasn’t just a few families – there were over a dozen! He lived right here in this compound, yet he had no idea when Wu Lingyuan had contacted all these people!

“The Divine Doctor’s reputation precedes him. They wouldn’t dare make you travel back and forth. I plan to prepare some courtyards for them to stay in when they visit,” Wu Lingyuan said respectfully. “What does the Divine Doctor think?”

“Damn it!” Mo Sigui couldn’t help slamming the table. “They’re all emergency cases. Are you trying to work me to death?”

“The capable shoulder more responsibility. Ha ha,” Wu Lingyuan laughed nervously.

Seeing Mo Sigui staring at the paper without speaking, Wu Lingyuan turned to Sui Yunzhu and Li Qingzhi. “An escort agency in Hejian Prefecture recently took on a big job escorting goods to Xijin Prefecture. But they’re short on skilled escorts, so they’re offering high pay for two people…”

Sui Yunzhu’s heart sank. “You’ve already agreed?”

She would have found it easier to accept an assassination mission in Liao. Being an escort was fine if nothing went wrong, but if something happened, they’d be sitting ducks!

“Haha, I thought you two were capable people from the Konghe Army. This little task…” Wu Lingyuan trailed off.

Li Qingzhi couldn’t sit still either. “You already agreed?!”

Wu Lingyuan pressed his lips together and said nothing, his clear gaze slightly apologetic.

“Fine. It’s not that far, and I was thinking of taking a trip to Liao anyway!” Li Qingzhi said.

Sui Yunzhu could only nod in agreement.

Wu Lingyuan breathed a sigh of relief. “Then I’ll send word right away that you’ve agreed.”

“…”

“…”

“Blood Sha…” Wu Lingyuan looked over at him.

Blood Sha immediately said, “I’ll follow Miss An, in life or death.”

Everyone looked at An Jiu.

An Jiu glanced at Blood Sha, then stood up and ran!

Blood Sha’s figure blurred as he chased after her.

“Ah, to think there was such a roguish method!” Mo Sigui blew out a puff of smoke. “What nonsense is this!”

They had all followed An Jiu to Hexi, yet now everyone was being exploited by Wu Lingyuan while she ran away!

Wu Lingyuan hadn’t expected his seemingly stern benefactor to have such a side. Helpless, his gaze fell on Wei Yuzhi, who had been sitting quietly the whole time.

Wei Yuzhi sat with his sleeves gathered, slightly raising his eyes to meet Wu Lingyuan’s gaze with a faint smile. He looked gentle, his gray-brown eyes clear yet somehow unfathomably deep.

Under that calm gaze, Wu Lingyuan felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him. But Wu Lingyuan had always been steady, so he withstood the pressure and said seriously, “Sir, Hexi County lacks a county deputy. Would you be willing to take on the position?”

At these words, even Mo Sigui, who was nearly asleep, couldn’t help but be startled.

Wei Yuzhi smiled, suddenly seeming a bit shy. “I’m afraid I’ll never have the chance to be an official of the Great Song in this lifetime.”

Wu Lingyuan had keen insight. He knew that this seemingly harmless man before him was the most formidable. Asking him to be his deputy was already presumptuous. If the man was unwilling, Wu Lingyuan didn’t dare try to coerce or entice him as he had with Mo Sigui and the others.

Just as Wu Lingyuan was about to give up persuading him, Wei Yuzhi unexpectedly threw him a choice: “I’m willing to be your strategist and help you dominate the court. Are you willing to be a puppet for five years?”

Anyone in Wu Lingyuan’s position would be displeased to hear such words, but the temptation of dominating the court was too great – it was just one step away from usurping the throne.

Everyone thought Wu Lingyuan would say he’d consider it, but to their surprise, he laughed openly and said, “If you truly have the ability, why not follow you?”

Though the conversation seemed playful, both men were completely serious.

“Tsk tsk, you two find a quiet place for your power play. I’m leaving,” Mo Sigui stood up and sauntered out.

Sui Yunzhu and Li Qingzhi followed suit.

Only the two of them remained, sitting across from each other.

Wu Lingyuan said, “I don’t yet know your full name, sir.”

“Wei Yuzhi.”

Wu Lingyuan was slightly shocked. “The Second Master of Miaomiao Mountain Villa!”

He didn’t know the inner workings of Miaomiao Mountain Villa, but Wei Yuzhi was renowned for his wisdom. Living in the diverse Jiangkou region, Wu Lingyuan had heard of him. But he didn’t know exactly what Wei Yuzhi had done to earn his reputation.

The years of blindness had given Wu Lingyuan an open-minded nature. He could accept that if someone was more capable than him, there was nothing wrong with being a minor county official. But he was puzzled. “With your abilities, sir, passing the imperial examinations and becoming an official wouldn’t be difficult. Why insist on lowering yourself to be my strategist?”

“I left the monastic life. Moreover, I don’t have much time left to live. If I wait to pass through layers of selection, I may not have time to accomplish anything before I leave this world.” Wei Yuzhi had been thinking a lot lately. When he saw Wu Lingyuan, he felt it was an opportunity sent by heaven. Perhaps there was an invisible hand guiding his path forward.

Wu Lingyuan sighed inwardly. “I don’t seek to dominate the court. I only wish to do something for the Great Song.”

“No. That is my condition for being your strategist,” Wei Yuzhi said, his tone gentle but firm. “I can help you do anything you cannot or dare not do, but you must stand at the peak of power and clear away the centuries of corruption in the Great Song, fearing nothing, not even imperial power.”

Seeing Wu Lingyuan’s shocked expression, he continued, “The so-called ‘puppet’ was just a test. I’m willing to be at your disposal, as long as you swear before me to fulfill the conditions I’ve stated.”

“Seize power?!” Wu Lingyuan’s throat went dry. He had never considered such a crazy idea, only wanting to do something for the country and the people.

Wei Yuzhi’s lips curved slightly. “If the emperor is weak and foolish, deceive him and wield power behind the throne. If the emperor is strong and capable, serve him loyally, regardless of one’s reputation in this life or the next.”

If the emperor was incompetent like previous ones, they would manipulate him and wield power behind the scenes. If the emperor was capable, they could devote themselves to him, willing to do anything to rectify the government and eliminate abuses, not caring about their reputation.

But Wu Lingyuan had always wanted to be a loyal official…

Wei Yuzhi had already seen through his thoughts. “This world is not the plaything of any one person. The emperor bears the heavy responsibility of the mandate of heaven. If he cannot bring prosperity to the realm, why should we aspiring men serve him like dogs and horses!”

“You speak truly, sir,” Wu Lingyuan said. His original intention wasn’t to slavishly serve the emperor either, but influenced by the concept of “loyalty to the monarch,” he hadn’t developed such bold ideas as Wei Yuzhi’s.

Wei Yuzhi’s expression remained unchanged. “Since we’ve come this far, I’m not afraid to be completely honest with you. I previously worked for Liao.”

“Why?” Wu Lingyuan instinctively felt he must have had compelling reasons.

Wei Yuzhi was silent for a moment, then briefly explained his background. “My family had been loyal officials for generations, yet they were unjustly executed. So I wanted to destroy this corruption with my own hands. Recently, though, I’ve realized there are other ways to achieve my goals. It’s just that destruction is more satisfying than change, so I instinctively chose that path first.”

Most people, faced with the unjust extermination of their family, would think of seeking justice and revenge. However, Wèi Yǔzhī had long seen through the decay beneath the flourishing façade of the Song Dynasty. The path to redress was hopeless; his family wasn’t destroyed by a single person but by the entire corrupt system.

Now that he had killed the mastermind behind the case, he had come to understand many things.