Chapter 0074 Provocation

Chapter 0074 Provocation

When Zhang Biezhi arrived with a storm of anger, Xiao Rong wasn't in his room at all. He was sitting in the council hall talking with Yu Shaoxie.

After many days, Southern Yong finally responded, but their response was quite perfunctory. They sent a letter without mentioning Qu Yunmie's injuries or the shock Xiao Rong had endured. It was filled with pleasantries and ended with a veiled suggestion that they hoped someone would come to negotiate and clarify this misunderstanding... Essentially, they didn't intend to admit it but planned to bury the matter by buying silence.

This was understandable. For a grand chancellor to use such dirty tactics was common, but if it became public knowledge, it would be unprecedented. The people of Southern Yong were so concerned about their reputation that they couldn't possibly admit such a great humiliation.

When the messenger arrived, Xiao Rong and the others were excitedly watching a battle in the training field, so the letter was handed to Gao Xunzhi.

Yu Shaoxie and Gao Xunzhi lived together, and when Gao Xunzhi read the letter, Yu Shaoxie was there too, learning of Southern Yong's intentions. Immediately, he expressed his desire to make this trip.

Yu Shaocheng was still unaware of this, and Gao Xunzhi discussed it with Yu Shaoxie. Gao Xunzhi was hesitant to let Yu Shaoxie go, considering his brother's awkward relationship with Southern Yong. As a former resident of Chang'an, with all his teachers and classmates still there, Yu Shaoxie's position wasn't much better than his brother's.

However, Yu Shaoxie's words changed Gao Xunzhi's mind instantly.

"Currently, the only people who can represent the King in negotiations with Southern Yong are those in the council hall. Mr. Song is not suitable; he's impulsive and might offend others. Moreover, he was a witness to the Huaiyin City incident, which wouldn't please Southern Yong. The Buddhist monk is even less of an option due to his importance and cannot leave Chenliu. You, Master Gao, need to manage everything here, so you can't go either. Therefore, it's either me or Brother Xiao. If Brother Xiao hears about this, he might even volunteer, but would you dare let him step into Southern Yong's territory again?"

Gao Xunzhi: "...No."

After a moment of silence, Gao Xunzhi said to Yu Shaoxie, "We have the upper hand this time. When we arrive at Huaiyin City, we won't be guests but aggrieved parties. I'll give you three thousand troops before you leave, just to show them our strength."

Yu Shaoxie nodded with a smile, appreciating the silent support.

Before he left to pack, Gao Xunzhi added, "There's one more condition for this trip."

Yu Shaoxie turned to look at Gao Xunzhi, who continued, "You must get Ah Rong's agreement. Otherwise, if he finds out later, he'll hold a grudge against you forever."

Yu Shaoxie: "............"

That was why Yu Shaoxie called Xiao Rong aside.

Xiao Rong listened to Yu Shaoxie explain his reasons for wanting to go—his understanding of Southern Yong, his familiarity with the bureaucracy, his status as an outsider to the incident, making negotiations easier... In reality, Xiao Rong was uneasy about entrusting such an important task to Yu Shaoxie. After all, Yu Shaoxie had been handling trivial matters that Xiao Rong didn't want to delegate to his staff or do himself. During small meetings, Yu Shaoxie often participated, but his contributions seemed limited to passionate outbursts.

Yu Shaoxie was naturally inclined to speak up for injustice, but he was also biased towards those close to him. Who he was closer to determined whose side he took.

He was full of passion but lacked caution. Would he really not be swayed by the cunning officials of Southern Yong and end up agreeing to compensate them?

Seeing Xiao Rong's silence, Yu Shaoxie asked, "Does Brother Xiao think I'm incapable of handling this responsibility?"

Xiao Rong: "..."

Was he becoming like Qu Yunmie? Was his expression that readable?

Yu Shaoxie continued, "To be honest, I haven't accomplished much in the Northern Pacification Army. When you pointed out my shortcomings, I realized that my conflicts with the King weren't solely his fault but mine as well. You could make the King reflect, while I only provoked his anger."

Xiao Rong looked at the calm Yu Shaoxie.

You're really brave, still saying these things directly. Aren't you a native scholar? Can't you learn some tact?

Yu Shaoxie, unaware of Xiao Rong's thoughts, continued, "It's funny how when both the King and I made mistakes, we each held our ground. But as the King improved under your influence, the only one left making mistakes was me. Reflecting on this, I decided I needed to change. The King is my lord, the Chancellor is my respected elder, and you, Brother Xiao, are someone I admire. To be part of your group, I should do something substantial. Rest assured, I remember everyone's demands clearly. This time, I will ensure Southern Yong gives back what they owe."

He then joked, "Except for Badong and Jingling counties. The King is extraordinary, and his demands aren't ordinary. I can't guarantee those."

Feeling his words were convincing, Yu Shaoxie waited for Xiao Rong's response. However, Xiao Rong simply looked at him and said, "You didn't mention your brother." Yu Shaoxie was taken aback.

Xiao Rong counted on his fingers, "The King, the Chancellor, me, and now your brother is also part of the Northern Pacification Army. Why didn't you mention him?"

Yu Shaoxie: "...Forgot."

Embarrassed, Yu Shaoxie knew how much his younger brother admired him, but sometimes he found Yu Shaocheng a bit clingy. Spending too much time with him made him forget about him when they weren't together.

Not wanting to tease him further, Xiao Rong chuckled, "Alright, since you've said so, I'll support you. But if you fail, I'll report it to the King and let him scold you."

Yu Shaoxie smiled, "No need. If I fail, I'll take the punishment myself."

Twenty strokes with a military cane would hurt even the toughest soldiers, potentially crippling them. Even though Yu Shaoxie was stronger than Xiao Rong, he couldn't withstand such punishment.

It seemed he was truly confident about this mission. Good.

But Yu Shaocheng would likely be upset about this. He couldn't follow, as no one would agree to let him go to Huaiyin.

Recalling how Yu Shaocheng mocked him recently, Xiao Rong smiled and decided not to remind him. Let him figure it out himself tonight.

Picking up his teacup, Xiao Rong paused and brought up the previous topic again, "After returning that day, I reflected on our differences. Your teachers were all scholars, while mine weren't. I shouldn't have questioned you like that because we come from different backgrounds. That's good. The King needs people like me and people like you. Everyone looks at different aspects to ensure nothing is overlooked."

Hearing Xiao Rong's words, Yu Shaoxie lowered his gaze and smiled softly.

Even if Xiao Rong hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't have minded. But hearing it, he felt genuinely happy.

After a moment, Yu Shaoxie looked up and promised, "I will broaden my perspective and pay more attention to non-scholars."

Xiao Rong shook his head, "No need. Stay as you are, Brother Yu. Eventually, the world will become a scholars' domain, and the Northern Pacification Army needs a liaison between us and the scholars. You can be that person, leading and guiding them."

Yu Shaocheng was stunned, "Me?"

Neither his family background nor literary achievements made him exceptional.

Xiao Rong smiled, "Yes, you. The Chancellor can't do it; scholars will never accept his past as an exiled criminal. They might respect him but won't consider him one of their own. Song Shuo... maybe when he's older, but who knows when he'll learn to be diplomatic. Right now, he might die at the hands of an irritable man."

Taking a sip of tea, Xiao Rong added silently, "Many times, I'm that irritable man."

"As for me, I'm even less suited. I don't mind admitting to you that my literary skills are probably on par with the King's."

Yu Shaoxie frowned, "Brother Xiao, why belittle yourself?"

Xiao Rong opened his mouth to continue but was interrupted by Yu Shaoxie's comment, causing him to pause.

Honestly, can't you learn some tact?

"... This is the truth. What I have learned isn't about eloquence or literary meaning. If I sit with scholars and compose poems, they would see through my lack of knowledge within minutes. Moreover, I don't want to spend years dealing with them in this aspect. For them, it's a leisurely pursuit, but for me, it's like listening to demonic sounds."

Xiao Rong paused slightly and sighed. "I've had these thoughts for quite some time now. Brother Yu, do you know that I plan to pose three questions in the anthology?"

Yu Shaoxie nodded.

Xiao Rong: "The questions are mine, but I hope Brother Yu can take credit for them. From now on, tell everyone that these questions were posed by you."

Yu Shaoxie looked at him quietly. After two seconds, when he realized Xiao Rong was serious, he suddenly stood up. "Absolutely not!"

He shouted, "Xiao Rong, what do you take me for?!"

Xiao Rong was taken aback because this was the first time Yu Shaoxie had called him by his full name. Scholars never used each other's full names unless they were extremely angry.

Yu Shaoxie: "So what if you're not good with words or literary meanings? You managed to pose questions that stumped countless scholars, proving you're better than them! I don't understand why you always want to give away these benefits. Free medical care was your idea, yet you gave it to The King. The library was also your initiative, but you handed it over to Mr. Gao. Now, even the leadership role in the anthology, you want to pass to me. I don't know what you're thinking. Perhaps you naturally avoid attention, or perhaps you think these aren't benefits, but that's your perspective. I will never steal what belongs to you!"

Xiao Rong was stunned. He wanted to stand up and explain, but as soon as he lifted his buttocks, Yu Shaoxie pressed his shoulders back down. "Listen!"

Xiao Rong: "... You're so aggressive!"

Yu Shaoxie continued his furious rant: "Don't say it's your choice. Have you thought about how I feel? It has nothing to do with me, yet I'd have to listen to others praise me for something I didn't do. Living with such a guilty conscience, would you want that? If our positions were reversed, would you agree to such an absurd thing?"

Xiao Rong pursed his lips; he definitely wouldn't. If not for the system, he wouldn't involve himself in others' problems.

After a while, Xiao Rong said, "But I have no choice. I'm someone who knows a lot but also lacks in many areas. If I don't find someone to replace me, my shortcomings will eventually be exposed. I thought... I thought you would help me."

His voice grew softer towards the end because he hadn't considered the pressure it would put on Yu Shaoxie.

Initially, he hadn't planned to involve Yu Shaoxie. He had intended to ask Gao Xunzhi, given his position as Chancellor and his involvement with the library. But after seeing a different side of Yu Shaoxie, Xiao Rong couldn't analyze his own thoughts. He might have felt Yu Shaoxie was good at interacting with people, or that he wouldn't refuse his request. So, he made the decision without consulting anyone, leading to this explosive situation.

Usually, for matters requiring high-profile participation, he would discuss them with others. This time, he made an exception with Yu Shaoxie, only to stumble badly.

Xiao Rong lowered his head, avoiding Yu Shaoxie's gaze, feeling embarrassed, especially after admitting his lack of literary knowledge.

Even Qu Yunmie didn't know about this. He subconsciously assumed Yu Shaoxie wouldn't mind, so he told him.

But now, he regretted it. He shouldn't have said anything.

Across from him, Yu Shaoxie watched as Xiao Rong's voice grew softer and his head lowered. He was stunned.

When had Xiao Rong ever shown such weakness before others? Even if he wasn't arrogant, he was always composed.

Yu Shaoxie's heart trembled. He suddenly understood why Xiao Rong had entrusted this task to him. It wasn't that he thought others were incapable; there were other ways to solve this issue. He chose Yu Shaoxie simply because he wanted to. He knew it was a good opportunity, just like how he always tried to bring things to Qu Yunmie. Now, he wanted to do the same for Yu Shaoxie.

Yu Shaoxie felt an urge to groan. People were right; he really needed to change his straightforward nature!

Xiao Rong was regretting everything, silently vowing never to share his thoughts again. Look at the result—it was humiliating!

Suddenly, both his shoulders were held firmly. Xiao Rong instinctively looked at his shoulders and then heard Yu Shaoxie's commanding tone: "Rong'er, look at me."

Xiao Rong did look up, but his expression was shocked.

What did you call me?!

Not even the Chancellor calls me that!

But Yu Shaoxie clearly felt differently, believing he could use such terms.

"Rong'er, I know you mean well, but you must understand that I also mean well. You want to elevate my reputation, and I'm grateful. But your importance to me far outweighs any fame. If you don't want to bear the burden of literary renown, I'll help you. Whatever you need, come to me, and I'll assist you. Even if it means risking my life, I won't hesitate. But not by taking away what belongs to you. Do you understand, Rong'er? Do you understand my intentions?"

Xiao Rong: "…………"

He stared at Yu Shaoxie, wanting to scream and run out of the meeting hall.

Even if I understand... your overly sentimental words confuse me! Let go, you pervert!

Being straightforward wasn't just a flaw; in moments of misunderstanding, it was a significant advantage. Under Yu Shaoxie's watchful eye, he wouldn't let any misunderstanding linger overnight.

Xiao Rong was numb, unable to move, fearing any physical contact with Yu Shaoxie. Having made his promise, Yu Shaoxie didn't delay and immediately started brainstorming solutions for Xiao Rong.

And indeed, he came up with one.

"How about this: we create a fictional genius for the anthology?"

Xiao Rong, still resisting the urge to shower, felt dirty for some reason.

He looked at Yu Shaoxie skeptically. "What do you mean?"

Yu Shaoxie smiled. "You don't want people to know these questions are yours, so let's make it seem like they're not from anyone specific. We won't reveal the person publicly, leaving scholars to guess who this genius is. If similar situations arise in the future, we can do the same. Better yet, this identity can be flexible. It could be one of us, a recluse, or even someone from another faction. Who could tell the difference?"

Xiao Rong looked at Yu Shaoxie in surprise. This was probably the best idea he had since joining the Northern Pacification Army.

Yu Shaoxie asked, "Is this plan feasible?"

Xiao Rong nodded. "Feasible."

Xiao Rong began contemplating the character they should create. While Yu Shaoxie favored flexibility, Xiao Rong believed it was best to establish a clear persona from the start to avoid future misunderstandings.

Midway through his thoughts, he felt something was off. Looking up, he saw Yu Shaoxie watching him intently. That gaze... how to describe it? It was intensely affectionate, making him shiver.

Xiao Rong: "... Brother Yu?"

Yu Shaoxie chuckled softly. "In private, don't be so formal. You can call me 'Brother' like Cheng'er does."

Xiao Rong: "…………"

Yu Shaocheng would definitely freak out. *

Back at his residence, Xiao Rong lay on his bed, feeling utterly exhausted today.

He emptied his thoughts, turning himself into a fool, staring blankly at the bed canopy as he slowly recovered his energy.

However, before Xiao Rong could truly relax, Ashu's angry voice came from outside: "I already told you it's not possible!"

Zhang Biezhi: "Why not? Mr. Xiao has seen so many people today; why can't he see me?!"

Xiao Rong: "......"

Sadly, Xiao Rong didn't even have the energy to get angry. After lying quietly for a while, he numbly sat up, waiting for Zhang Biezhi to burst in.

Sure enough, Ashu couldn't stop him. Zhang Biezhi ran in and saw Xiao Rong just sitting on the bed. He couldn't help but glare at Ashu, You were indeed lying to me!

Ashu: "......"

Aaaaaah!

Just wait, I'll be taller than The King one day!

Zhang Biezhi was like a firecracker outside, but once inside, he knew to restrain himself. He explained his intentions, growing more aggrieved as he spoke, but he knew he couldn't annoy Xiao Rong, or this matter would really be hopeless.

Xiao Rong listened expressionlessly for a long time. Once he understood, he raised his hand to stop Zhang Biezhi: "You want to learn how to be human?"

Zhang Biezhi: "To be an official, Mr. Xiao. I don't want to kill with my hands anymore. I want to kill with my words, like you."

Xiao Rong: "............"

Nonsense! When did he ever kill with his words!

If it were any other day, Xiao Rong would have burst out laughing. Zhang Biezhi wanting to learn strategy was no different from him wanting to learn acrobatics—it was impossible.

But he had no energy to laugh. Sitting on the bed, he stared at Zhang Biezhi quietly, suddenly recalling a question.

Which was more impossible: Zhang Biezhi learning strategy, or Zhang Biezhi having the idea to learn strategy?

Xiao Rong thought the latter was more unlikely. From the moment he had this idea, he was no longer the Zhang Biezhi that Xiao Rong read about in history books—a man who lived loudly and died quietly.

Like Yu Shaoxie, a person who should have been dead long ago, now not only alive and kicking but also capable of saying sweet things. ...

Xiao Rong lowered his eyes but slightly lifted his chin. People's destinies had already changed; he shouldn't view them with old eyes. Moreover, what Zhang Biezhi wanted to do was his own business. Xiao Rong shouldn't stop him. Who knows, maybe Zhang Biezhi wasn't just talented in warfare; after a twist of fate, he might become the first scholar-warrior genius in the Northern Pacification Army. ... Though that image was hard to imagine.

With a hum, under Zhang Biezhi's nervous gaze, Xiao Rong spoke: "If you don't mind running errands, handling private matters, and staying up late with me, then come to me. But you can't be the commander of the guards; you'll be the deputy commander instead."

Zhang Biezhi: "......"

To be a deputy to Di Fazeng, that mercenary! Fine, he'd endure it for now and settle accounts with Di Fazeng later! ...

Thus, Xiao Rong gained two more powerful men around him.

Zhang Biezhi was quite noisy, but he had one good point—he respected Xiao Rong and wouldn't disturb him. He only bothered Di Fazeng and Ashu.

Ashu, needless to say, these two were almost mortal enemies. As for Di Fazeng, though he was Zhang Biezhi's superior, he didn't take him seriously because his brother-in-law was Jian Qiao. Di Fazeng was the type who wouldn't care unless something major happened. Even when Zhang Biezhi acted arrogantly in front of him, he merely raised an eyebrow and continued staring at the ground half-heartedly.

Zhang Biezhi was nearly driven mad by this indifference.

Regardless of the commotion below, Xiao Rong ignored it all. He was the Prefect of Chenliu, not a kindergarten teacher responsible for children fighting. *

As summer drew to a close and autumn approached, the entire Chenliu became busy.

Treasure Street officially opened, with activities for the first three days. Customers spending a certain amount could receive a gift voucher from the shopkeeper, which they could exchange for corresponding gifts at the management office—things everyone needed, such as fabric, fresh meat, spices, etc.

No grain was given away, as the Northern Pacification Army was collecting autumn harvests, and not a single grain could be spared.

The management office was manned by soldiers and military personnel, and among the permanent staff, two were foreigners.

Though lone foreigners didn't cause panic, they still made people uneasy. After explaining until their throats were dry, the Chinese managers hired two eleven- or twelve-year-old children to repeat their words, saying these two foreigners were prepared for future foreign merchant caravans. Have you heard of Kucha, Shule, Yutian, and Heavenly India? They are all Buddhist countries. Their caravans will bring fragrant spices and foods we've never seen before. These two foreign managers will handle the exchanges, and we'll just buy what we need.

The people listening seriously doubted if they could afford goods from these Western Regions' countries, but it didn't matter as long as they knew these foreigners wouldn't suddenly turn violent.

Among the four classes—scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—though Xiao Rong wanted to make money, he couldn't overly elevate commerce. Therefore, no one from the royal family attended the opening of Treasure Street except for representatives from wealthy clans who congratulated each other.

Song Shuo wandered in after setting off some firecrackers, buying a pair of shoes and a set of inkstones. Xiao Rong visited on the third day to check the situation.

So far, there had been no troublemakers, as the crowd wasn't large yet. Once foreign merchant caravans arrived, conflicts would be inevitable.

Everything went as Xiao Rong expected, except for the two children helping explain at the management office. After watching them for a while, Xiao Rong turned back to the royal garden.

As soon as he entered the central garden, Song Shuo rushed out from a door: "Finally caught you!"

Xiao Rong: "......Are you itching for a beating again? I'm your superior!"

Song Shuo pouted, "Got it, got it. There's no one else here. I have something important to discuss. The literary gathering starts in two days. Should we also start a debate for the Buddha Son?"

Xiao Rong looked at him: "The summer retreat hasn't ended yet. Monks aren't allowed to leave. If the Buddha Son goes out, he'll be criticized by the Buddhist community."

Song Shuo clicked his tongue: "Monks have too many rules."

Xiao Rong: "......"

He couldn't help defending Mi Jing: "The Buddha Son is simply following the rules of his faith. He doesn't eat meat or drink alcohol, so naturally, he won't leave during the summer retreat."

Song Shuo almost rolled his eyes: "If I remember correctly, in ancient times, monks had to stay in caves during the summer retreat, doing everything within those tiny cliff walls. The cliffs must be barren so that no other creatures enter the dug-out caves. That's the true summer retreat. Now it's just a show. Staying in temples without going out is considered a summer retreat? Staying in the royal palace without moving much is considered following the rules? Since the rules are already broken, why bother keeping half and breaking half? Isn't that hypocritical?"

Xiao Rong remained silent for a long time. Just as Song Shuo thought he had no response and was about to gloat, he heard Xiao Rong say softly: "The summer retreat is indeed a show. No one can avoid killing to live; all food comes from another life. But that doesn't mean all Buddhists are hypocrites. They try their best within the impossible. Their compassion may not cover the whole world, but if it helps one or two people, it still has meaning. Besides, everyone deceives themselves sometimes. If everyone lived transparently, how could someone like the Buddha Son maintain his unwavering compassion for all beings?"

Song Shuo: "............"

He straightened up, looking at Xiao Rong with a somewhat weak expression: "I was just joking. Why are you taking it so seriously?"

Xiao Rong looked at him speechlessly: "Was that just a joke? It was a spontaneous outburst. I know you dislike Buddhism and Taoism, but since they haven't criticized you, you shouldn't criticize them either. After all, they haven't done anything harmful, so it's none of our business."

Song Shuo was not convinced. After all, he was someone who loved to criticize others and point out how foolish they were; he believed that there were few people in this world worthy of conversing with him. In other words, he looked down on the vast majority of people in this world.

Song Shuo was不服气. After all, he was someone who loved to criticize others and point out how foolish they were. He believed that there were very few people in this world worthy of conversing with him. In other words, he looked down on the vast majority of people.

Song Shuo was quite well-behaved with the Chen family, but when he first met the Buddha’s Son, he directly went to fiddle with his prayer beads. Although the Buddha’s Son didn’t hold it against him, Xiao Rong still kept this incident in mind.

If he had behaved himself, Xiao Rong wouldn't have brought up the matter again. However, Song Shuo could only be well-behaved for a few days. Given his talkative nature and strong personality, it was only a matter of time before his attitude would be known to the Buddha's Son.

It's truly challenging for the Buddha's child... Despite having such a fine reputation outside, he is unfortunately not well-received within the royal mansion.

Xiao Rong didn’t understand the principle behind this either. Qu Yunmie was being unreasonably capricious, while Gao Xunzhi refrained from forming a close friendship with the Buddha’s son due to his beliefs. Yu Shaoxie, who had turned to Qu Yunmie at the time when his reputation was at its worst, certainly wouldn’t adhere to the Buddhist tenet of non-violence. Song Shuo was even more outrageous; he was actually an atheist in a feudal era.

Even Qu Yunmie couldn’t be so avant-garde. Although Qu Yunmie is not interested in Buddhism or Taoism, he still has some superstitions that occasionally show in his daily life.

So, sometimes it’s not that Xiao Rong always protects the Buddha’s Son, but rather if he doesn’t, the Buddha’s Son would be too lonely. ...

Shaking his head, Xiao Rong continued walking forward. Song Shuo, who appeared to be ignoring him, was actually watching his movements out of the corner of his eye. Upon seeing that Xiao Rong was leaving just like that, Song Shuo could no longer maintain his act. "Where are you going?"

Xiao Rong glances at him: "Go to the study of The King and find the official documents I left there the day before yesterday."

Song Shuo immediately came to his side and stood shoulder to shoulder with him: "I'll go with you."

Xiao Rong：“……”

Move over, you’re crowding me.

A moment later, the two arrived at Qu Yunmie's study. Qu Yunmie was not there; his injuries had healed sufficiently, and he had gone back to the military camp. Xiao Rong had placed the prepared official documents here when he reported what needed to be done to Qu Yunmie a couple of days ago. Since Qu Yunmie had already reviewed them, it was fine for him to take them now.

This was a place Xiao Rong often visited, but it was Song Shuo's first time here. As soon as he entered, he started looking around curiously. Coincidentally, Qu Yunmie wasn't someone who put things back immediately after using them, so a sheet of paper spread out on the table immediately caught his eye.

This is the letter written by Yuan Baifu. The first two pages have disappeared; only the last page, crooked and slanted, remains on the table.

Song Shuo's reading speed was much faster than Xiao Rong's; with just one glance, he finished reading everything and then chuckled on the spot. "Who is this? Do you have some grudge against him?"

Hearing this, Xiao Rong turned around and saw that Song Shuo had already picked up the letter on the table. He immediately shouted, "Song Shuo! Reading The King's correspondence earns you a flogging!"

Song Shuo: "Alright, alright, alright. Just beat me to death later. Take a look at this first."

Xiao Rong：“……”

The anger still lingered on his face, but he followed Song Shuo's hand and looked over. "This is a letter from General Yuan to the King. I've read it long ago. You should be thankful it's not a military dispatch."

Song Shuo shrugged: "It's not a military report, but it says more than one. Haven't you noticed that this person is trying to drive a wedge between you and The King?"

Xiao Rong was taken aback; he didn’t understand what Song Shuo meant.

Seeing his reaction, Song Shuo felt the urge to gloat, but recalling Xiao Rong's previous achievements, he held back the impulse and said quietly, "This is a master. He's provoking you, yet you can't even tell where he's provoking you. With The King's head—"

Clearing his throat, he rephrased his question: "Think about it this way: if you were to advise The King to avoid conflict with me, what would you say?"

Xiao Rong followed Song Shuo’s line of thinking. He would tell Qu Yunmie not to act impulsively and to tolerate Song Shuo in everything. After all, he looked like someone who wouldn’t live long—what was the point in arguing with him? ...

However, he somewhat understood Song Shuo's intention. Even if it were Gao Xunzhi, he would focus on offering advice rather than adding that relationships often don't break in an instant. They both knew that Qu Yunmie was prone to offending others and had almost no subordinates he hadn't offended. If they said that, Qu Yunmie would likely think that there was no hope of salvaging the situation.

Although they hadn’t thought about it in such detail, they subconsciously avoided this point and instead desperately urged him not to do it anymore.

Song Shuo observed Xiao Rong's expression and, with a half-smile, said, "Do you understand now?"

Xiao Rong pulled the letter from Song Shuo's hand and placed it back on the table. Then, with a composed expression, she said to Song Shuo, "Let's go. I've found the document."

Song Shuo：“…………”

No, how can you be so calm?

Also, I’ve discovered such a significant matter, shouldn’t you praise me at all?