Help?

Or not help?

This truly was a question rich in “philosophical” implications.

Gong Shilin hesitated.

He held a position as the youngest academician at the Hanlin Academy, specifically responsible for recording classics and documents. Therefore, he had special authority to issue imperial decrees without requesting permission from anyone. However, he had always adhered to his principles, never careless in official matters, following departmental regulations precisely in every detail.

Now Li Cheng was blatantly asking to use connections, wanting him to issue an imperial decree for personal affairs.

For him, this was essentially choosing between principles and personal favors.

Previously, he wouldn’t have hesitated for even a moment—he would have decisively refused this absurd request.

But—

This was the first time Li Cheng had “asked” him for something.

And it was also the first time since they’d grown up that they had “amicably” discussed something without coming to blows.

Seeing him hesitate for so long, Li Cheng bumped his arm.

Anxiously saying, “Hey, it’s just one or two words, isn’t it? ‘Help’—one word! ‘Won’t help’—two words! Is it necessary to hesitate this long?”

“…”

“Just give me a straight answer.”

“…”

“Have you gone mute?”

“…” Gong Shilin couldn’t catch his breath. After holding it in for a long time, he finally squeezed out a sentence: “You’re putting me in a difficult position.”

He used the words “difficult position.”

Which meant there was room for negotiation!

Li Cheng’s eyes lit up. The corners of his mouth curved upward as he moved closer, asking tentatively, “You mean… you’re willing to help me?”

“I didn’t say that. It’s just… I need to think about it.”

“Fine, I’ll give you time to think.” Li Cheng didn’t continue pressing him. He raised his hand and patted his thigh. “Gong Shilin, if you help me with this big favor, I won’t make things difficult for you anymore. I won’t pursue what happened when we were young either—we’ll wipe the slate clean.”

Bah!

Gong Shilin glared at him fiercely. “Then I suppose I should thank you?”

“That depends on the result of your consideration.”

“…”

Li Cheng added, “However, you must promise me—you can’t tell anyone about me asking you for an imperial decree. Don’t even tell your father. Otherwise, everyone will know about it.”

“With something this significant, if I told others, wouldn’t I just be causing trouble for myself?” After finishing, Gong Shilin quickly added, “But I haven’t agreed to your request. I still need to consider it.”

“Consider it, consider it—you think it over carefully!” Li Cheng smiled cheerfully.

Gong Shilin remained sullenly silent.

And because he was sitting too close to Li Cheng, he had to shift over to the side.

Then he sat upright and proper.

Before, he had thought being an academician at the Hanlin Academy was quite nice—writing every day, reading books, leisurely and carefree. Now he couldn’t wait to resign from this position, so Li Cheng wouldn’t have this leverage over him.

It seemed that in this lifetime, he was destined to fall into that fellow’s hands!

The carriage continued forward and soon arrived at Minister Gong’s residence.

Gong Shilin got off the carriage and walked into the manor without looking back.

Li Cheng leaned out the carriage window, shouting at his back, “Shilin, I’m asking you, think it over carefully. Whether we can coexist peacefully in the future depends on you!”

The last syllable drawn out very long…

Gong Shilin quickened his pace and disappeared into the manor.

The two young servants at the entrance were dumbfounded.

They looked at each other.

“What’s going on today?”

“Right, what’s happening? Young Master Cheng… escorted the young master home? The sun must be about to rise from the west!”

“Hehe…”

Strange!

…

The people from the City Department took the portrait Ji Yinshu had painted to have the city gate artists make many copies.

They spread throughout the city.

Near dusk, Song Zhi was still browsing the bookshop.

There were less than two months until the metropolitan examination. Whether he could achieve top honors would be critically important!

So these past days, he was either reading in his room or braving the cold wind to run to the bookshop to read.

Not because it was stylish, but because he was poor!

After all, there were too many books to read and too many books he liked. If he bought every one to take home, he truly couldn’t afford them all!

And the silver that Troupe Master Tao had supplemented him with, he had to spend sparingly. Otherwise, he feared he wouldn’t last two months.

So he could only immerse himself in the bookshop to read.

Free of charge!

He could sit like this for an entire day.

Before he knew it, the sky was growing dark.

He closed the book in his hands, returned it to the shelf, and prepared to leave.

Suddenly he heard whispered conversation behind him.

“Did you hear? Something happened at the Scholar’s Lodge yesterday.” A deep male voice came through.

Someone responded, “Not that kind of thing again?”

“Exactly that!”

“So who encountered it this time?”

“Seems to be a scholar from Funan. He just arrived in Gaoding yesterday, and on his first night staying at the Scholar’s Lodge, he saw it. This morning he fell ill, lying in bed trembling all over, constantly saying he saw a ghost. The doctor went to see him and said he was fine—just frightened.”

“Could there really be a ghost at the Scholar’s Lodge?”

“How would I know? I haven’t seen it. But many people staying in that Scholar’s Lodge have seen it.”

“You’d think if it’s that frightening, why don’t they move out?”

“Are you stupid? Everyone knows the Scholar’s Lodge is specifically for hosting scholars coming to Gaoding for the examinations, and lodging is free with three meals provided. With such a great deal, who would want to leave? Besides, although those people were frightened, nothing actually happened to them. So at worst, they just don’t go out at night and stay obediently in their rooms.”

The listener understood, nodded, and asked again, “So no one’s doing anything about this?”

“Government officials came to investigate before, but they found nothing! And since no one died, naturally it was dropped!”

“Strange, truly strange.”

…

Song Zhi listened to their entire conversation with pricked ears.

The Scholar’s Lodge ghost incident again!

Last time at the teahouse, he had heard about it.

He hadn’t expected that after just a few days, someone had seen it again.

He couldn’t help but feel a chill down his back.

He stood in place for a while before recovering.

Taking a deep breath, he had just rounded the large bookshelf in front of him when a figure came crashing toward him head-on.

The person had a slight build. With this collision, they fell backward.

Landing seated on the ground!

“Ah!”

Song Zhi quickly pulled him up, apologizing as he did, “Sorry, sorry. Are you alright, sir?”

“I’m fine.” The man stood up and dusted off his clothes. “I was the one who bumped into you. I should be apologizing to you.”

This person had a forthright nature and ordinary appearance.

He looked like an honest man though!

Song Zhi smiled. “You’re quite interesting!”

Interesting?

How so?

Song Zhi’s ability to make awkward small talk was probably unmatched.

Even that man didn’t know how to respond to his comment.

He paused slightly.

Then—

He smiled politely.

As a response.

The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

The man asked, “By the way, are you also here to take the civil examinations?”

Song Zhi nodded. “Yes!”

“Me too. What a coincidence.”

“Oh.”

“My name is Fang Tong. I’m from Zhaotong. And you?” This person beamed with a smile.

Song Zhi said, “I am Song Zhi, from Yiwu.”