Song Zhi followed the path the young boy indicated, winding around several corridors. Then as he passed through a small doorway and just lifted his foot to step through, he collided face-to-face with someone.

That person had a thin frame, even more frail than Song Zhi. With this collision, his entire body staggered back several steps.

Seeing this, Song Zhi immediately grabbed hold of him.

Only then did that person steady himself!

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” Song Zhi apologized.

But that person flung off his sleeve and retreated two steps backward.

Song Zhi’s hands fell empty, feeling awkward.

He looked more carefully.

This person before him… wasn’t this the one who said those strange words to him at Tongyu Pavilion?

“It’s you.”

That person heard the voice and raised his head, meeting Song Zhi’s eyes.

Song Zhi trembled slightly!

That person’s eyes were deeply sunken and melancholic, with heavy bags and dark circles, like a patient whose life was nearly spent.

He looked gloomy and sinister.

Making one shudder with fear!

That person spoke in a deep voice: “What are you doing here?”

Song Zhi: “I’ve come to find Fang Tong.”

At the mention of Fang Tong, that person’s gaze deepened further, saying: “Didn’t I remind you not to get too close to him?”

Song Zhi couldn’t understand at all and asked: “Why?”

“There is no why.”

“Well…”

“Move aside.” The man lowered his head and pushed him aside with one hand.

And left.

Without looking back!

Song Zhi watched his retreating figure, his thoughts in turmoil.

What deep grudge did Fang Tong have with this person?

He shook his head, shivering from the cold wind, and hugged his arms, stepping through the doorway.

Fang Tong was in the room writing something.

“Knock knock knock…”

Song Zhi stood at the door and knocked several times.

Fang Tong heard the sound and looked over, very surprised: “Brother Fang? Why have you come? Come in quickly.”

“I came to find you.”

Fang Tong immediately put down the brush in his hand, welcomed him in to sit down, and then poured him a cup of hot water: “Come, have some hot water first.”

“Thank you.”

“No need to be polite.” Fang Tong also moved the room’s only brazier beside Song Zhi, extremely enthusiastic, wishing he could bring out all his best things to entertain him.

Song Zhi looked around the room. The room was very clean with a total of four beds, all neatly made. Inside were four large cabinets and four tables. Though there were few things and it was very simple, everything was arranged neatly and orderly. On those windowsills were also several pots of hollow bamboo, blooming beautifully amid the snowflakes, making one feel comfortable. This place was indeed suitable for studying.

Fang Tong said embarrassedly: “My humble dwelling is simple. Brother Song, please don’t take offense.”

“How could I? This place is even better than where I’m staying.”

“If Brother Song likes it here, you can move here to live. I can share half my bed with you.”

“How could I trouble you like that?”

“No trouble at all! Brother Song, you’re brilliantly talented. If I could share a bed with you, that would be my good fortune.”

This…

Why did saying this sound so awkward?

Song Zhi smiled embarrassedly, not knowing how to continue this conversation.

He simply changed the topic—

He said: “By the way, Brother Fang, I came today to deliver a few books to you.”

“Books?”

Song Zhi handed him the books. “I saw these books were well-written, so I bought two extra copies to bring to you.”

“How could I let you spend money like this?”

“Last time if you hadn’t taken me to the poetry gathering, I wouldn’t have had the chance to win those twenty taels of silver. They’re just two books—they don’t cost much. I only fear Brother Fang will disdain them.”

“I don’t disdain them, not at all!” Fang Tong picked up those two books, delighted. “Brother Song truly understands me. I’ve been longing for these two books for a long time.”

“As long as Brother Fang likes them.”

“I like them, of course I like them.” Fang Tong truly liked them, but his silver was limited and he really couldn’t afford them.

Just as he finished speaking—

A voice came from the doorway: “Fang Tong.”

The one entering was Jiang Wen!

He came in carrying two steaming hot buns, saying as he entered: “I brought you some buns. Hurry and…”

Suddenly he saw someone in the room!

His words halted!

“Eh? Isn’t this… Brother Song?”

Very pleasantly surprised.

Song Zhi immediately stood up and cupped his hands toward him: “Coming suddenly like this, Brother Jiang, please don’t take offense.”

“No offense, of course not! Come, sit quickly.” Jiang Wen urged him to sit down, then placed the buns he’d brought on the table, saying: “Brother Song, have you eaten? I happen to have a few hot buns here. Let’s make do and eat together.”

Song Zhi waved his hand: “You’re too kind. I’ve already eaten.”

He hadn’t actually eaten, but there were only four buns—probably Fang Tong and Jiang Wen’s lunch. How could he eat them?

Jiang Wen asked: “Could it be Brother Song disdains them?”

“Of course not!”

Awkward!

Fang Tong quickly said: “Jiang Wen, Brother Song isn’t someone who despises the poor and loves the rich. Look at what you’re saying.”

“Yes yes yes!” Jiang Wen laughed, then suddenly noticed the books on the table. He picked them up and looked. “Aren’t these the two books we had our eye on before?”

Fang Tong: “Brother Song gave them.”

Hearing this, Song Zhi immediately took out the two he’d bought and handed them over: “Actually, I also bought two for you.”

Jiang Wen was very happy and accepted them.

“Young Master Song, you’re such a good person.”

“Not at all, not at all.”

He smiled.

Suddenly—

A rush of hurried footsteps came from outside.

A group of guards rushed to the doorway.

Frightening everyone in the room to stand up.

“This…”

Common people always feared officials!

The lead guard asked: “Who is Fang Tong?”

Fang Tong didn’t understand why but still responded: “That’s me.”

“Who is Jiang Wen?”

“Me.” Jiang Wen responded.

That guard didn’t ask Song Zhi at all and only said: “Then you must be Bingzheng?”

“Me?” Song Zhi was confused.

I’m not!

The guard instructed the guards beside him: “Bring them all back.”

“Yes.”

Several guards then pulled the three of them out the door.

Song Zhi looked completely bewildered, saying: “Honorable officers, I’m not…” Bingzheng.

Before he finished speaking, the guard said: “Alright, hurry up. You’ll have your chance to speak later.”

“I…”

“Don’t waste time. The lord is waiting for you.”

And so—

Song Zhi was inexplicably taken away just like that.

Soon, the three were brought to the City Administration Department.

“My lord, we’ve brought all three people.”

Ji Yunshu and Jingrong looked and discovered Song Zhi was among them.

This…

“Young Master Song, why are you here?”

Song Zhi sighed. “Young Master Ji, Young Master Jing, so you’re here too.”

“What’s going on?”

“These officers made a mistake and thought I was Bingzheng, so they brought me here.”

What a huge blunder!

Truly ridiculous.

Li Cheng immediately blamed those guards: “How did you handle this? A bunch of useless fools.”

“My lord, please forgive us.”

“Hurry and go find Bingzheng!”

“Yes!”

The guards hurried off again.

Then Li Cheng looked at the other two people who had been brought, asking: “Which of you is Fang Tong? Which is Jiang Wen?”

Fang Tong: “Replying to my lord, I am Fang Tong.”

Jiang Wen: “I am Jiang Wen.”

“Do you recognize Du Mubai?”