Chapter 132

Chapter 132

"The villagers all helped, so my elder brother's funeral arrangements were handled quickly. We followed the rites from *Love Between Human and Ghost*, and I promised to return every year to visit him. After staying with my brother for a while, I got worried about Youyang City, so I hurried back before the weather turned completely cold."

"I went home and met several potential matches, but none worked out. Later, no young women were willing to meet me, so I decided to return. As it happened, Liushu was also heading back, so we traveled together."

Shen Liushu and Xu Qingxuan explained their reasons for returning early. Shen Yuan felt Liushu's situation was understandable, but Qingxuan's case was puzzling. Even if Qingxuan's large build and serious demeanor made people intimidated, it shouldn't have resulted in not a single young woman being willing to meet him, ending with no one interested at all.

Shen Yuan patted Shen Liushu's shoulder. "I'm glad your brother's funeral was taken care of properly. In the future, if you wish to return home for memorial rites, just say the word."

Shen Liushu nodded. "Thank you, Brother Yuan."

"No need for thanks, Liushu." Then, Shen Yuan turned to Xu Qingxuan. "What happened with your matchmaking? Why did no young women want to meet you later on?"

Xu Qingxuan scratched his head, answering honestly. "I told the women I met about my past as a male concubine. After all, it happened, and it wouldn't be right to hide it. If they could accept it, that would be good. If not, at least I wouldn't be deceiving anyone into marrying me."

"My family agreed that I should be honest. My father said that only someone who can accept all of me can lead a harmonious life with me in the future."

Shen Yuan thought this made sense.

However, whether now or in the future, not many women could fully accept someone with Qingxuan's past experiences.

Shen Yuan suddenly thought of something. "Qingxuan, are you sure you prefer women?"

Xu Qingxuan's wheat-colored skin turned slightly red, and he nodded, somewhat embarrassed.

"I've always preferred women."

It was just that his family was poor when he was young, and his good looks led to his suffering.

"Then I'll also look out for you, Qingxuan." Shen Yuan could sense that Xu Qingxuan wanted to start a family. Seeing Qingxuan's embarrassment, he didn't tease him further.

The two were exhausted from the long journey back and needed proper rest.

He told them to go to their rooms to tidy up and rest, and to come out for meal time.

They were indeed exhausted, having pushed hard to return without many stops along the way.

Just after sending Shen Liushu and Xu Qingxuan to their rooms to rest, a servant came to report that someone claiming to be the son of Deputy Prime Minister Song was at the gate, requesting to see the master of the house.

Deputy Prime Minister Song...

Shen Yuan pondered for a moment. It seemed the official title he was given was quite high.

He didn't want to see Song Zijun, but Song Zijun hadn't come in a personal capacity. He had come under the title of Deputy Prime Minister, making it hard to turn him down.

If there were important matters missed due to his personal feelings, he might regret it when it was too late.

The Shen family had a dedicated guest reception courtyard, which was relatively small. Although the area wasn't large, the courtyard contained flowers, plants, trees, green bamboo, stone tables, stools, and lanterns. Inside the room, there was space for receiving guests and drinking tea, as well as for writing—everything you could need.

Shen Xi knew they had matters to discuss and didn't follow, continuing to watch ants in the courtyard.

When Song Zijun was led in, he saw Shen Xi squatting there like a mushroom.

He changed direction and walked over. "What have you observed from watching ants, disciple?"

Shen Xi didn't even look up. "Master, you're blocking the light."

Song Zijun moved aside but didn't leave. Shen Xi kept watching the ants and continued, "If Master is afraid to see my elder brother but must inform him of something, you can go to my study, write it down, and I'll deliver it to my brother for you."

"No need. Continue watching your ants." Song Zijun, having his thoughts seen through by a child, cleared his throat lightly to ease the awkwardness and continued walking forward.

Upon reaching the place, Song Zijun grew even more nervous.

He had imagined the scenario of meeting Shen Yuan again many times, but no amount of imagining could compare to the intensity of emotions when actually facing the meeting.

The servant leading the way stopped at the doorway and did not proceed further. He turned and respectfully said to Song Zijun, "The Master is waiting inside. Please proceed, Deputy Prime Minister."

Hearing this, Song Zijun held back his emotions, nodded, and stepped into the room.

Shen Yuan was fiddling with a teacup. Hearing the movement, he looked up and met Song Zijun's gaze.

Song Zijun's back stiffened. "It's been a long time, A-Yuan."

Song Zijun was struck by the direct emotion, the corner of his mouth twitching, unsure whether to smile or cry.

The current situation was his own choice.

He had no one to blame.

"A-Yuan, I came to thank you for helping my elder brother..."

"Deputy Prime Minister Song." Shen Yuan couldn't be bothered to listen to Song Zijun say these things and cut straight to the point. "There's no need to dwell on this matter. Initially, it was Ji Shuang's kindness that prompted her to suggest I help hang the painting. Later, it was my third brother who recognized the bracelet pattern. I didn't do much. If thanks are due, there's no need to thank me. Besides, Deputy Prime Minister Song, you weren't unaware that Lu Shang was your elder brother, were you?"

Unless Song Zijun had lost his memory, given his extraordinary memory, intelligence, and subsequent abilities, it was impossible for him not to know where his family members were.

Song Zijun nodded, explaining, "I remembered my elder brother's appearance and had secretly investigated, knowing what he looked like as an adult, what he did, and how he lived. However, due to my identity, I feared my elder brother might come to harm because of me, so I never paid excessive attention, nor did I consider acknowledging our relationship. I thought my elder brother had forgotten me and had his own family."

"These are Deputy Prime Minister Song's family matters. There's really no need to tell me." Shen Yuan frowned. "I don't want to hear it. If Deputy Prime Minister Song came only to say these things, then I'll have to ask you to leave."

Shen Yuan's attitude was firm. Song Zijun looked at his face, sighed, and said, "About what happened back then, I did you wrong."

"You wronged many people." Shen Yuan frowned. "At that time, I was helping Liushu find his brother. You also knew Liushu and knew how he lived in the village. Did you know that Liushu's brother died in the iron mine at Cuiyun Mountain?"

"And that private salt mine was also yours. After investigating the private salt mine back then, you also saw the miserable state of those deceived into working there. Didn't your heart ever stir? When you set fire to Qingyun County, did you ever show any mercy?"

"A-Yuan, you don't know." Song Zijun urgently defended himself. "My family was poor since I was young. My father died early, and my mother struggled to raise my brother and me. My mother's back ached from exhaustion, keeping her awake all night, yet she still had to work in the fields the next day, or we would have nothing to eat. When officials collected taxes, they were so greedy they would have scraped a layer off the walls of people's homes. People went hungry with no food, fell ill with no medicine, and could only endure."

"Back then, after I was kidnapped, I escaped once. But when I went to report it to the authorities, I never imagined the officials were colluding with the traffickers. Not only were the traffickers not punished, but false charges were fabricated against me, and I was thrown into prison. And among those in that prison, nine in ten were poor and innocent."

"At that time, I thought, I must change this. I must change that kind of officialdom, change the lives of the common people. For that, I would stop at nothing."

Shen Yuan laughed bitterly. "Were the common people in the private salt and iron mines not poor and innocent? Were the people of Qingyun County, burned by your fire, not poor and innocent? Or are you only seeing the poor and innocent right in front of you?"

"If Brother Guo hadn't detected the smell of flammable oil hidden under the waste back then, how many people in Qingyun County would have died? Did they deserve to lose their lives for your grand ambitions? This isn't change; you are even more terrifying than those officials."

Song Zijun didn't want to see the disappointment and distance in Shen Yuan's eyes anymore. He lowered his head and said, "You are right. But A-Yuan, it's difficult to have everything in this world. To accomplish something, to gain something, one must inevitably sacrifice something."

"Given my position back then, to gain the trust of the Emperor of Xiyue, I had to be ruthless. In my view, even if it meant killing ninety-nine people to save a hundred, I would do it. As long as one more person could be saved, it was worth it."

Shen Yuan had no intention of arguing with Song Zijun. He hadn't experienced Song Zijun's life, so he couldn't relate to his feelings, much less agree with his views.

With different backgrounds, situations, and viewpoints, it was impossible to say who was right or wrong.

But he knew that in his previous world, those who succeeded did not think like Song Zijun.

"People have different experiences and different thoughts. Deputy Prime Minister Song has his own convictions, and I have mine. Our paths differ; we cannot work together. Deputy Prime Minister Song, from now on, please don't call me A-Yuan anymore. It's better if our relationship keeps a polite distance."

"However, Deputy Prime Minister Song, the kind of official you aspire to be is one who holds reverence for life."

Song Zijun remained silent for a long time.

"Alright, State Preceptor Shen."

It was unclear which of the two titles he was acknowledging.

Once the matter was spoken of openly, Song Zijun explained the other reason for his visit.

"Before Prime Minister Xie departed, he mentioned that Prince Rui would inevitably make a move. His Majesty wants to send someone to escort you and your family to a safe place for temporary refuge."

Upon learning this, he had taken on the task himself, hoping it would provide a reason to meet.

Unfortunately, while the meeting took place, it also made clear that they could not return to the past.

Shen Yuan thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"It's not that I don't want to go, but the more one side tries to protect me, the more the other side will try to find me. Moreover, if I hide in advance, it will tip them off, letting Prince Rui's side know you also have plans. That would ruin everything."

Song Zijun knew that Shen Yuan continuing his activities in Youyang City was the best course of action, but he selfishly wished for him to be hidden safely beforehand.

Yet Shen Yuan's stance was firm. He wasn't reckless with his life or unafraid of death.

He simply feared unnecessary sacrifices that would increase the cost of bloodshed.

The residence had hidden guards, the servants were skilled in combat, and he, his brothers, Liushu, and Qing Xuan also knew martial arts.

Not to mention his uncle was there.

While they might not be able to protect many more, it was enough to safeguard his aunt, Xiao Bei, and Ji Shuang's family.

As for the employees of the Storytellers' Union and the theater, he would find a reasonable excuse to give them leave to return home. Some lived outside the city, and even those within were not in the eastern district.

Even if Prince Rui led troops in rebellion, those killed or captured would be high-ranking officials and nobles, not commoners.

Song Zijun said no more, giving Shen Yuan a deep look before taking his leave.

Shen Yuan stood and saw him to the door, maintaining his courtesy.

On the way out, Song Zijun asked, "May I see Shen Liushu?"

"I want to offer him an apology."

More than one person had died because of him, and how could a mere apology suffice for the dead?

Shen Yuan glanced toward Shen Liushu's room. Yet, having this apology or not having it still made a difference.

"After Liushu has rested, I'll ask if he's willing to see you. If he agrees, I'll have someone inform you of the time and place."

Hearing Shen Yuan's considerate words, always thinking of Shen Liushu, Song Zijun felt another pang of discomfort.

"Alright. My residence is at Fangshui Street, Sankou Alley."

Hearing the location, Shen Yuan was slightly taken aback.

Fangshui Street was the next street over from his, not far away—a brisk walk of about half an hour.

Song Zijun had only been in his post for a couple of days, yet his residence was already settled. That area couldn't have been a reward from Emperor Wu; he had no money. Even if he did, he wouldn't spend it there, preferring to allocate funds for military provisions and equipment.

Land in the eastern district was worth its weight in gold. For Song Zijun to settle on Fangshui Street suggested not just financial means but also some covert influence.

Shen Yuan couldn't help but ask, "Was becoming an official in Wu Country also part of your plan?"

Otherwise, how could you be so well-prepared?

"Yes," Song Zijun said, looking ahead. "I knew the Emperor of Xiyue was suspicious, and after things were exposed, Xie Yulin wouldn't let me off easily—he would surely sow discord. So I prepared an escape route early on. Wu Country and You Country were both my backup options. Originally, Wu Country was a bit uncertain; achieving my goals here would have required greater sacrifice."

"However, firstly, due to the situation with North Country, Wu Country faced internal and external troubles and was short on personnel. Secondly, by offering the Cuijun Mountain deed and the intelligence network I held in Xiyue as leverage, I attained this position faster than I imagined."

Song Zijun explained in detail, somewhat nervously awaiting Shen Yuan's response.

"Deputy Prime Minister Song, in truth, His Majesty and Xie Yulin both know how to employ people wisely. As long as one is loyal to Wu Country, dedicated to its development, and possesses talent, they will not be rejected. However, your caution is not misplaced."

Shen Yuan's voice was calm, without any fluctuation.

Yet Song Zijun frowned deeply.

He had thought Shen Yuan would hate him more, blame him, and disregard their past bond.

But Shen Yuan seemed utterly unmoved; his calm demeanor made Song Zijun even more uncomfortable.

He would rather Shen Yuan hated him or resented him. At least emotion would mean he still cared...

"May I continue teaching Shen Xi in the future?"

Shen Yuan had also considered this.

He paused before saying, "If you are willing, and if Xixi is willing, then it's fine."

Although he disliked Song Zijun's methods and felt chilled by his repeated deceptions, if Shen Xi wanted it, he wouldn't stand in the way.

Children must grow up eventually. This was not an era of peace and prosperity, but one of turmoil and unrest. It was an era where twelve- or thirteen-year-olds married, had children, and shouldered family responsibilities.

Shen Yuan would not stop Shen Xi from wanting to learn from Song Zijun, just as he hadn't stopped Shen Dong from going to the battlefield.

As for Song Zijun's belief in sacrificing ninety-nine to save a hundred, he believed Xixi would not think that way.

Because Xixi was growing up surrounded by love.

With Shen Yuan watching over him and his family guiding him, he would not fall into such a predicament.

Shen Yuan raised his eyes to look at Song Zijun's profile. Sensing the gaze, Song Zijun quickly turned to meet it.

Shen Yuan did not look away, nor did Song Zijun.

They gazed at each other in silence.

"Please go now, Deputy Prime Minister Song."

"Very well, State Preceptor Shen."

The next day, Shen Liushu returned from meeting Song Zijun, looking utterly despondent.

His eyes were slightly red; he had been crying.

Shen Yuan and Shen Xi had both offered to accompany him, but he had refused. Xu Qingxuan also offered, but he declined that too.

He wanted to go by himself.

Although Song Zijuan hadn’t killed his eldest brother, his death was his doing.

Shen Liushu seethed with hatred.

But he also knew that beyond hating this man, there was nothing he could do.

It wasn't because Song Zijuan held a high position and great power.

Out of regard for his bond with Shen Yuan and Shen Xi, he understood that if he was set on killing him, he could at least wound the man, even if he couldn't finish the job.

Precisely because of this, he restrained himself.

He didn’t want Shen Yuan and Shen Xi to be indebted to this man any further.

On the way back, Shen Liushu’s mind was full of thoughts, yet he couldn't remember a single one.

Shen Yuan had left earlier due to matters at the opera stage, and Shen Xi was waiting for Shen Liushu in the courtyard.

Seeing him return, Shen Xi dashed over.

It was only last night, when Shen Yuan informed Shen Liushu that Song Zijuan was the mastermind behind everything in Qingyun County, that Shen Xi learned Song Zijuan was not only behind the arson but also controlled salt and iron mines.

Shen Yuan had also asked Shen Xi whether he still wanted to continue learning from Song Zijuan, assuring him that he would support his choice no matter what.

Shen Xi said he’d have to think about it.

Now, he looked up at Shen Liushu.

“Brother Liushu, don’t worry. If you’re unhappy, I definitely won’t learn anything from Song Zijuan ever again, and I’ll never call him master.”

Shen Liushu looked down at Shen Xi.

Back in Dashu Village, they hadn't started off on the right foot. Out of jealousy, Shen Liushu had once harmed the three Shen brothers.

Hearing Shen Xi’s assurance, the dejected Shen Liushu thought of the past, his heart aching with regret yet touched, sorrowful yet joyful.

He couldn’t help but hug Shen Xi and sob. It was the first time Shen Xi had heard Shen Liushu wail so heartbrokenly.

After a while, Shen Liushu finally calmed down. His eyes were red and his voice thick and nasal as he spoke seriously to Shen Xi: “Xixi, hating Song Zijuan is my own burden to bear. Don’t let my feelings hold you back. Learning from him is good for you. You don’t need to consider me. I want you to learn more and become a real big shot in the future.”

Shen Xi gave a firm nod.

“I will definitely become a truly great and capable person. I’ll make sure such tragedies never happen again!”

Shen Liushu smiled through his tears. “Good!”

…

Youyang City was as peaceful as ever.

The hawkers' cries were incessant, mingled with the sound of customers haggling, idle chatter, and the clopping of horses, oxen, and donkeys…

Outside, it was a hive of activity, while Shen Yuan sat in the writing room of the Storytellers’ Union, composing a story.

Shen Nan sat beside him.

Now, Shen Dong was following his master to the battlefield, Shen Xi ran to Song Zijuan’s place every day to learn new things, and Shen Nan accompanied Shen Yuan in writing stories. Shen Bei played with his friends and got up early every day to practice his horse stance.

The child was strangely obsessed with martial arts.

Shen Anniang was learning how to manage a household from the ladies she was friendly with.

The ladies wouldn’t teach her directly; Shen Anniang observed carefully and memorized everything in her heart.

While Youyang City was peaceful, the border had already descended into utter chaos.

As the autumn harvest approached, the North Country conducted small-scale probes but were driven back.

Once the harvest ended, they launched a large-scale campaign, dropping all pretense of peace.

Fortunately, Wu Country was well-prepared and had used the art of papermaking to seek assistance from other nations.

No one answered the call; they simply didn’t believe Wu Country could win.

No matter how chaotic the North Country was, it had been the dominant power for a long time. There had been joint attacks before, yet they had never succeeded in bringing it down.

However, they did covet the papermaking technique, so they agreed that while they wouldn’t send troops, they would provide grain, horses, weapons, and gear. They also promised to find excuses to refuse helping the North Country.

That’s what they said, but the various countries were hedging their bets.

In war, things are fought to a conclusion.

If Wu Country ended up weakened, they would all attack it. That would count as sending troops without offending the North Country.

If the North Country ended up weakened, they would mobilize to attack it. If they truly captured it, Wu Country’s military wouldn't be able to hold such a vast territory, allowing them to carve out a large share.

In short, they intended to sit back and reap the spoils.

Wu Country had fought several battles at the border, and it was proving difficult. The enemy’s equipment was superior and they had more horses.

Although other countries provided some support, it wasn't enough. Still, having something was better than nothing, and Wu Country had indeed never fought a "richer" war than this.

After a minor battle ended, Xie Yulin removed his heavy armor and picked up a brush to write home.

It was his first time writing a letter home, and he was at a loss for what to say.

Talking about the battlefield might worry Shen Yuan, and he had little else to discuss.

After much thought, the letter was brief, just reporting that he was safe. He mentioned that Shen Dong was at Chang Linyan’s side and performing well, then spent the rest asking how Shen Yuan was doing.

Shen Dong also had a letter, and Xie Yulin sent it along with his own.

The situation at the border was critical; fighting could erupt at any time, day or night.

Shen Dong also said little about his environment, fearing his family would worry. After assuring them of his safety, he mostly asked if his loved ones were well.

The war didn't affect the daily lives of Youyang City’s residents, but it was the talk of the town.

Before the letters arrived, news from the front arrived first.

Shen Yuan heard there had been both victories and defeats, with heavy casualties on both sides. Overall, Wu Country hadn’t suffered major losses, but details were scarce.

He worried about those on the front lines. Every day, he still went to the Storytellers’ Union and the opera house, but he was somewhat preoccupied.

Feeling stifled, the room seemed to close in on him. Shen Yuan stood by the window looking down at the busy street. Although the war hadn’t reached here, with news of the fighting spreading, there were noticeably fewer smiles on people's faces than usual.

Shen Yuan glimpsed the black robes in the crowd—the attire of the Younan people really stood out.

Previously, Xie Yulin had finally met with Grand Elder Mu Yan under the pretext of discussing the paper trade. He inquired about the types of Gu worms in Younan, and the Grand Elder did not conceal anything; even if outsiders knew about certain Gu worms, they wouldn’t know how to raise them.

Xie Yulin listened attentively, mentally comparing them to Little Black. Among the Gu worms mentioned by the Grand Elder, Younan’s most formidable Golden Leaf Gu was somewhat on par.

Thus, he said to the Grand Elder, “I have a relative who acquired a Gu. This Gu is experiencing breeding urges but cannot mate, putting my relative through great distress. I wish to seek a Gu from Younan that can pair with it, to ease its breeding urges and prevent harm to my relative’s body.”

Upon hearing this, the Grand Elder waved his hand. “It’s not that I refuse Prime Minister Xie, but those without Younan blood face many limitations once bound to a Gu. One of these is that the Gu worm goes into heat but cannot mate. To be precise, for those without Younan heritage, binding with a Gu only allows control of the Gu, and nothing more. They can only wait for the Gu worm to die due to various reasons, while their body is damaged by the Gu. Moreover, without Younan blood, one can only bind with a single Gu in their lifetime.”

However, the Younan people had never sold bindable Gu worms to outsiders; what they sold were only non-bindable ones.

Compared to bindable Gu worms, these are undoubtedly far weaker, but they were still quite useful.

Mu Yan asked curiously how Xie Yulin’s relative had obtained the Gu worm.

Xie Yulin detected something off and only mentioned the approximate time it was acquired, saying nothing else.

Mu Yan did not press further, figuring in his head that it lined up with the period of national turmoil. Many citizens had fled at that time, likely selling things off in desperation to stay alive.

They paid money for what they thought was a good item, only to end up with something that threatens their life.

To safeguard the reputation of Younan’s Gu worms and avoid future sales issues, the Grand Elder explained to Xie Yulin, “The person who gave the Gu worm to Prime Minister Xie’s relative must have been a Younan fugitive. Otherwise, given the strict ban, our Younan people would not sell bindable Gu worms. Moreover, making a bindable Gu is incredibly hard; creating even one is a major achievement, and half of our people spend their entire lives unable to create one. Even without the ban, very few would sell them.”

As he spoke, the Grand Elder gave a sheepish, somewhat embarrassed smile. “Younan depends on Gu worms for its livelihood. The situation of Prime Minister Xie’s relative is truly exceptional. It’s just… could you please not spread word of this, Prime Minister Xie? After I return, I’ll implement even stricter rules to prohibit the sale of bindable Gu worms to outsiders.”

Xie Yulin nodded in agreement. This intel hadn't been dug up by the scouts he had sent earlier, so he questioned the Grand Elder further.

The Grand Elder guessed that scouts had indeed been sent to Younan but failed to resolve the issue.

In return for keeping it quiet, the Grand Elder only said, “Because commoners aren't permitted to reveal anything related to bindable Gu worms.”

This was also for the safety of the people.

Although such Gu worms cause physical harm once bound, under normal circumstances, the host can still pull through.

Their benefits are immense, but they’re extremely tough to make. With so many outsiders, many of whom have death warriors, the risks are high.

If one wishes to avoid personal harm, they can just have a death warrior bind with the Gu instead.

High demand and scarce supply inevitably lead to conflict.

Years ago, there were incidents of people killed for their Gu worms, making everyone even warier of speaking about the distinctions between Gu types.

Xie Yulin got the picture.

However, only the dead can truly keep secrets. Even if everyone remains silent, it’s only a matter of time before it’s discovered.

The spies he had sent earlier hadn’t uncovered this information, but in the past two days, they’d finally gotten it and sent word back.

Shen Yuan had already learned from Xie Yulin before, but this just confirmed further that his uncle would be harmed and Little Black would die.

He watched the black-robed Younan people moving about below.

The Grand Elder had stayed behind on the pretext of wanting to see more of Youyang City, heading out daily with his men, leaving early and returning late, or sometimes not returning at all.

The hidden guards following them kept watch, confirming they were only searching for something and wouldn’t leave until they found it.

Over these days, they had turned the entire Youyang City upside down.

Even Shen Ye mentioned over a meal that he’d seen them in the Ghost Market continuously for a period, and every nook and cranny of the Ghost Market had been scoured.

Little Black had caught several Gu worms in his room. To avoid raising suspicion, Shen Ye instructed Little Black not to let them see anything important; otherwise, they could roam freely as long as no harm came to them.

Little Black complied, leading the Gu worms around, only showing them accessible areas. After the tour, the Gu worms lined up and went back the way they came.

Shen Ye wondered what those people were searching for, investigating so meticulously.

In the dead of winter, except for the eastern city, the streets had fewer pedestrians compared to the other three seasons.

Not every household had sufficient winter clothing for outings.

Most people worked hard for three seasons just to survive the winter smoothly.

The eastern city, however, was not only as lively as ever but seemed even more crowded than before.

The Rui Prince’s Residence, breaking from its usual quietness of previous years, was planning a grand birthday banquet this year.

A fortieth birthday, a milestone, indeed deserved a lavish celebration.

Compared to Li Xing, the noble families actually preferred someone like Prince Rui.

He acted on whims, never considering the noble families.

Previously, Prince Rui had sent signals, and the noble families watched cautiously. Now, with another signal released, the families responded.

They wanted the person on the throne to know that only with the support of the noble families could his position remain secure.

Otherwise, he was nothing.

The noble families invited to Prince Rui’s birthday banquet had mixed motives; not all were aligned with Prince Rui, but without exception, they all wanted Li Xing to understand that he should stop opposing the noble families.

Some families politely declined the invitation, sending only gifts.

The Xie Family’s Second Branch attended, while the other branches only sent gifts without showing up.

Many observed this, noting that the Xie family still seemed divided.

An invitation from the Rui Prince’s Residence did not reach Shen Yuan. The title of State Preceptor sounded prestigious but held no real power.

If not for Shen Yuan’s storytelling skills, papermaking technique, and ability to design beautiful clothing and jewelry, his situation would have been even more awkward.

Song Zijuan was invited and attended.

Since Song Zijuan began maneuvering in official circles, the noble families had shown him respect.

To be precise, they respected the intelligence he held.

Any banquet that could invite him did so, and Song Zijuan took Shen Xi along whenever possible—not for any particular reason, but to broaden his horizons.

Attending such a place where status was everything, Shen Xi, given his background, would be lying if he said he didn’t face disadvantages or humiliation.

But this child could endure. He didn’t stand out or draw attention, pretending not to understand the sarcastic remarks, wearing a gentle, somewhat naive smile.

Among the noble families, there were both wastrels and gentlemen.

His demeanor earned the appreciation of those children groomed as key successors in their families, who couldn’t bear to see him bullied.

Those singled out for special nurturing at home were all individuals of high standing.

Shen Xi associated with these gentlemen, emulating Shen Yuan’s example.

He treated others with sincerity.

The little trinkets and snacks he gave away weren't valuable.

But he managed to offer a pair of soft gloves exactly when someone’s hands were cold.

His sense of timing was perfect.

His "sincerity" was tinged with calculation, yet it achieved his desired effect, allowing him to accomplish twice the result with half the effort.

In no time at all, Shen Xi befriended the cream of the crop among the aristocratic families, from both the main and branch lines.

And he earned their goodwill.

The spoiled young masters were mostly younger family members; they wouldn't dare misbehave in front of their elder brothers' friend, no matter how young he was, and they were on their best behavior when they saw Shen Xi.

Those shrewd little fellows were so cunning, somehow charming their elder brothers into liking them so much.

Shen Xi knew that if not for the contrast with these ne'er-do-well younger brothers, he wouldn't be made to look so good by comparison.

Obedient and well-behaved, clever and studious, thoughtful and sincere, and good-looking to boot—with big eyes looking at you, smiling and calling you "brother"—who could resist ruffling his hair and answering, "Good brother"?

Song Zijuan, as his master, had known long ago that Shen Xi had an old head on young shoulders, a sly little fox full of schemes.

He had encountered Shen Xi interacting with those young masters from noble families several times.

One incident stood out in his memory: his disciple was enjoying the plum blossoms and writing poetry with a group of good friends in the courtyard.

After getting off duty, he wandered over to the courtyard and saw Shen Xi sliding a cup of steaming hot water across to the person opposite him.

Marquis Huo's seventeenth son was known throughout Youyang City as a carbon copy of Xie Yulin.

It was said that he shunned close contact with others and was unsmiling and stern, his face a permanent mask of indifference.

Noticing Huo Seventeen reach for his tea, Shen Xi said, "Seventeenth Brother, have some hot water instead; don't drink the tea."

"Why?" Huo Seventeen said coldly.

While pouring the hot water and pushing it over, Shen Xi said, "I just saw you press a hand to your stomach a moment ago, so I guessed your stomach was bothering you. Tea isn't good for an upset stomach. The hot water is just the right temperature, Seventeenth Brother, drink it."

One of the other young masters exclaimed, "Seventeen, your stomach hurts? I completely missed that. What’s wrong?"

Another said, "I remember now, you do have stomach troubles. Little Xi is very observant. Good thing he stopped you from drinking tea. Seventeen, why don't you look after yourself better?"

"It's nothing serious, I'm fine," Huo Seventeen said, but he still accepted the hot water from Shen Xi.

From then on, whenever Huo Seventeen was with Shen Xi, among the dishes set before him, there was always one that was good for the stomach. Beside him was also a separate pot of hot water, set apart from the others'.

Shen Xi not only remembered Huo Seventeen's needs but also remembered what each of his friends lacked or needed most.

Some craved attention, others needed validation, some wanted to feel cared for, others to feel indispensable...

Shen Xi tailored his approach to each of them.

All these young nobles came to see Shen Xi as a true friend, and Huo Seventeen reserved his pleasant demeanor for Shen Xi alone.

It left Song Zijuan flabbergasted.

A worthy brother to Shen Yuan, indeed.

However, Shen Yuan was different. When Shen Yuan befriended people, he acted with pure sincerity, without any ulterior motive.

So if someone truly hurt him, there wouldn't be a second chance.

Song Zijuan took Shen Xi with him wherever possible, but he didn't bring him to Prince Rui's birthday banquet.

Shen Xi was at home practicing making human skin masks for theatrical use.

It required using lard and beeswax, which left his hands greasy and gave off an unpleasant smell.

But he didn't seem to care; instead, he applied himself diligently to the task.

Seeing Shen Xi making human skin masks reminded Shen Yuan of the monsters' disguises in *Journey to the West*.

If this technique could be applied, stage makeup and costumes could be made even more lifelike.

After hearing Shen Yuan’s idea, Shen Xi threw himself into the work with even greater diligence, wanting to master it quickly so he could be of help to his elder brother.

Li Xing attended Prince Rui's birthday banquet as well. He presented his gift, stayed only briefly, and then returned to the palace.

The gift was reputed to be an Imperial Bow.

What's an Imperial Bow? It's a bow personally made by Emperor Wu. Since Prince Rui had a passion for archery, the Emperor had personally made and gifted it to him.

The materials weren't precious—just common, ordinary stuff.

But since it was personally made by the Emperor, no one could call the bow worthless...

But whether the Emperor had truly made it himself, no one but him could say for sure.

Gripping the cheaply-made bow, Prince Rui gritted his teeth until his molars ached.

He had never suffered such humiliation in his life. A piece of junk like this had no place in his hands!

Yet he was forced to accept it and thank the Emperor.

Li Xing was well aware that sending such a bow would cause talk, but those words wouldn't reach his ears. People could talk all they wanted; he wouldn't hear it anyway.

He was practically broke; where was the money for gifts supposed to come from?

If his position didn't compel him to give a gift, he would have kept the bow for himself.

Sent to the front, it could have equipped another archer.

Prince Rui's birthday banquet wrapped up without a hitch.

However, after the banquet, the number of people going out in the East City—which the winter had barely touched and already had sparse street traffic—continued to dwindle.

In the past, many menservants, maids, and older serving women from various households went out. The ladies and young women of households were even more frequent, seen arriving by carriage at various shops.

These days, you still saw people out and about, but their numbers had clearly plummeted.

Shops throughout the East City saw a considerable drop in business.

Shen Yuan, at his theater, was acutely aware of the decline.

The theater, which had always been packed to capacity, was actually starting to have empty seats.

On his way home, Shen Yuan took a careful look around.

Every household had its doors and windows tightly shut; not a single servant was standing outside.

Where there is something strange, there is trouble. Shen Yuan warned his family not to go out unless necessary.

Taking the opportunity of the New Year holiday, he gave everyone at the Storytellers' Union and the theater time off.

He also purchased a large amount of rice, flour, and meat as New Year's gifts for the staff. He took the opportunity to stock up for his own family as well, enough to last through the winter.

As the New Year approached, on the very eve of the holiday, grim news arrived from the border.

Wu Country had failed to hold its defense and lost a city. Chancellor Xie, who had been leading the troops, was missing and feared captured by North Country.

Soon after the news reached Youyang City, the few people who had still been on the streets of the East District vanished completely.

Upon hearing the news, Shen Yuan was stunned for quite some time. Afraid of worrying his family, he forced himself not to dwell on it.

"Xiao Yuan, the dumpling wrappers are only so big. Aren't you adding too much filling?"

Shen Ye, who had brought Little Black home for the New Year, couldn't bear to watch any longer and caught Shen Yuan’s hand, which kept piling filling onto the wrapper.

The filling was already overflowing his palm and spilling over, yet Shen Yuan hadn't noticed at all.

Reminded, Shen Yuan gave a tight-lipped smile. "I was distracted."

"What's wrong with Xiao Yuan?" Shen Anniang asked worriedly.

Afraid his sister would notice something, Shen Ye covered for him, saying, "This kid is probably just tired from writing."

Thinking of how busy her nephew was every day, Shen Anniang found this reasonable and told Shen Yuan to rest if he was tired.

Shen Yuan's mind was in turmoil, so he just did whatever he was told.

Shen Ye watched helplessly as his nephew failed to lift his foot over the threshold and took a fall.

Everyone in the kitchen rushed over, alarmed, but Shen Yuan had already gotten up before they reached him. He smiled sheepishly, rubbing his head. "I was distracted again."

Shen Ye couldn't bear to watch. Now, he was the only one in the family who knew why his nephew was like this. Before his sister could ask anything more, he said he would take his nephew to rest.

Once Shen Yuan was safely in bed, Shen Ye didn't stay long or say much.

No words could compare to news of Xie Yulin's safety.

He poured a cup of water for Shen Yuan, told Little Black to keep watch and ensure nothing happened, then closed the door and left.

Shen Yuan buried his face in the pillow, his back arched as he curled up, one hand tightly clutching the warm jade rabbit pendant hanging around his neck.

That was a piece Xie Yulin had separated from his own life jade.

As dusk fell and every household kept their doors tightly shut, the Shen family unexpectedly received many visitors.

They were all the personal servants of the noble sons Shen Xi was close to, each bringing three to five guards.

Not only them, but Ji Ping'an also arrived with a team from the Imperial Guard. However, they weren't wearing their armor, only dark robes and swords, seemingly afraid of being identified.

"Third Young Master Shen, my master sent me to ensure your safety and that of your family." Huo Shiqi's personal servant brought the most people, a full ten.

"What are you all doing here? Why talk of protection?" Shen Xi knew something was about to happen, but he didn't know exactly what.

Some time ago, the elder brothers he had acknowledged had hinted that he should be extra careful and not panic if trouble arose, as they would find ways to help.

It was Huo Shiqi's servant who explained, "Youyang City is likely to fall into chaos in the coming days, so extra caution is needed. Third Young Master Shen, rest assured, no matter what, we will protect you and your family. We all know some martial arts and can be of assistance."

The other servants, who hadn't gotten a chance to speak, also nodded in agreement.

Understanding dawned on Shen Xi. He blinked and addressed the servants and guards in the courtyard, "Your safety is also very important. You must all be extra careful."

Everyone was taken aback for a moment, then smiled at Shen Xi and nodded in response.

Meanwhile, Ji Ping'an asked where Shen Yuan was. Learning he was resting, he proceeded to explain to Shen Ye and Shen Anniang the general reason for his arrival.

Prince Rui was about to cause trouble.

He had come under Emperor Wu's orders to protect the Shen family. Fearing Prince Rui would notice their preparations, they had changed clothes and come under cover of darkness.

There seemed to be movement outside the gate. Everyone became alert, watching the tightly shut main door.

Those in the courtyard could sense that people had surrounded the house, but the other side remained silent. Not knowing their intentions, they could only stand ready.

Shen Yuan, half-asleep, suddenly heard the commotion. With so many people arriving in groups, it was impossible not to notice.

Getting up, he glanced through the window and saw Ji Ping'an. He knew then that Prince Rui had begun to move.

Carefully placing the jade rabbit back inside his clothes, Shen Yuan turned and retrieved the sword Xie Yulin had given him. Carrying the sword, he walked out.

"Little Black, follow me. Find Uncle."

Little Black shot out, so fast he was only a blur.

Shen Yuan appeared carrying his sword, and Little Black settled on Shen Ye's shoulder.

Ji Ping'an and Shen Yuan exchanged a glance, with no time for pleasantries.

Shen Yuan had Ji Shuang's family, along with Shen Xi, Shen Nan, Shen Bei, and Shen Anniang, go inside the house, with guards stationed at the door.

Shen Xi and Shen Nan initially didn't want to go, but Shen Yuan said they knew martial arts and could closely protect their sister and aunt, so they finally entered.

The two boys weren't empty-handed either; both carried swords suitable for their size.

The people outside who had remained silent finally spoke.

"His Highness Prince Rui has sent us to protect the safety of State Preceptor Shen. It is too chaotic outside, so it would be best for the State Preceptor and his family not to come out."

Claiming to protect their safety, they were actually there to keep watch.

The peace of Youyang City had not lasted long before it, too, welcomed its calamity.