Chapter 173: A Turn of Events

In the rain, a carriage slowly stopped outside the Xiao Mansion. A man holding an umbrella quickly climbed the steps and knocked on the door of the Xiao Mansion.

The heavy wooden door was opened a crack from the inside. When the servant inside saw the token in the visitor's hand, his face changed immediately. He did not dare to delay for a moment and immediately turned around to report.

"What did you say? A token from the palace?" Master Xiao was shocked, "Quick, go and greet it!

He called his wife and hurried out the door, feeling uneasy but also a glimmer of hope rising in his heart.

Could it be that his career has taken a turn for the better?

The person outside the door was holding a whisk. As soon as he opened his mouth, it was clear that he was a eunuch. He looked coldly at the respectful Master Xiao in front of him and flicked the whisk in his hand.

"Is Miss Xiao Wan in the mansion?"

The Xiao couple looked at each other, and a huge wave of doubt arose in their nervousness, and they nodded cautiously.

The two men personally led the eunuch through the inner courtyard and came to the outside of the ancestral hall.

Seeing Xiao Wan still kneeling in the rain, the eunuch's face darkened and he glared at the two of them unhappily. Master Xiao immediately lowered his head.

The eunuch swung the whisk in his hand again, and a shrill voice rang out in the heavy rain.

"We have been ordered to ask Miss Xiao Wan to return to Longchang Academy immediately because of an important matter."

Mr. Xiao wondered if he had heard it wrong. The person who came from the palace was actually looking for his daughter?

The eunuch walked up to Xiao Wan holding an umbrella, and personally helped her up, speaking in a gentle tone.

"Miss Xiao Wan, please get up quickly."

Then he turned around and said coldly: "Why don't you go and prepare some clean clothes and ginger soup? If Miss Xiao Wan gets sick and delays important matters, how can you bear the consequences?"

After Xiao Wan was helped back to her room and drank ginger soup, Mr. Xiao finally had the opportunity to ask what had happened and who had suddenly summoned Xiao Wan.

The eunuch didn't even look at him and snorted through his nose.

"Even our family is not qualified to ask about the above matters, but you are quite curious."

Mr. Xiao quickly lowered his head and said he dared not, but his heart was full of doubts.

Wan'er is just an ordinary student. Although she passed the imperial examination, she is still young. How could she be involved in "matters above"?

Is it to let her fill the vacancy? That's not right.

Not to mention that he, an old scholar, has not been an official for decades. Even if he really wants to be an official, it shouldn't be a eunuch who notifies him.

Mr. Xiao stood by and seemed to be hesitant to speak for a long time, but in the end he didn't dare to ask anything.

"Well, if you are worried, you can follow me for a while. But once we get to the gate of Longchang Academy, you are not allowed to go in."

Xiao Wan's legs were numb from kneeling in the rain for a long time. Finally, she was helped by her parents to get on the carriage outside the door.

"Gee--!" The wheels splashed water and sped towards the direction of Longchang Academy.

…

Zhao Sicheng opened his eyes groggily and found himself lying on the bed. There were candles lit in the room and many people were around.

Ouyang Ye, Song Mian, and other classmates were all here.

Seeing him wake up, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Wanwan..." Zhao Sicheng called out subconsciously, and it took him a few seconds to realize that Xiao Wan was not here at all.

Liang Zhou and Zhou Da quickly helped him sit up, and asked him how he felt.

Zhao Sicheng raised his hand and touched his head, hissing in pain.

Apart from a big bump on his head, everything else seems to be fine.

When he recovered, he saw that everyone was still dripping with water. He knew that he had been unconscious for a short time, so he asked, "What's the situation outside?"

Song Mian patted his shoulder, with undisguised admiration on his face, and said with a smile:

"Don't worry, the relief supplies from the East Palace have been delivered in time, and the puddle outside has been fenced off according to your method. Don't tell me, this is the first time I've heard of this method. How did you come up with it at such a young age?"

Zhao Sicheng thought about how to explain the principle of the connecting vessel to him, and then he heard Ouyang Ye say:

"Master Song, the child has just woken up. Please let him take a rest first."

"Ah, hahaha, I was impatient." Song Mian laughed with some embarrassment, suppressed his curiosity, and then said to Zhao Sicheng:

"You should have a good rest. This disaster relief operation went smoothly, and you have made an invaluable contribution. I will write a memorial to the court and will definitely commend you!"

Zhao Sicheng's eyes lit up immediately, and he seized the opportunity to say, "Sir Song, I have also written an essay on flood control..."

He got out of bed, took out an article and handed it to Song Mian. This was something he had written after coming to Long'an County. It not only contained some more advanced water conservancy project plans, but also included content such as city construction and palace building.

The more Song Mian read, the more shocked he became. He couldn't help but look at Zhao Sicheng in surprise again.

Song Mian asked everyone else to leave first. Only himself and Zhao Sicheng were left in the room. He then asked:

"You are so young, why are you studying these things?"

Zhao Sicheng looked at Song Mian with burning eyes, but did not answer the question directly.

"I am willing to present this article to you. From now on, I am willing to serve you."

Song Mian's eyes flashed with surprise, and then he smiled: "You are young, but you know a lot about the ways of the world. But it is useless for me to ask you for this article. There are many things mentioned in it that even I can't understand. If others ask about it, it will be exposed.

However, I can help you submit this article, and perhaps I can give you a chance to join the Ministry of Industry and work under me, what do you think?"

Zhao Sicheng said happily: "Thank you, Lord Song!"

"Don't thank me yet." Song Mian smiled again, "I have inquired before. Although you have made achievements, you are only a scholar. Even if you enter the official career because of your meritorious service in disaster relief and offering advice, you can only start as an eighth-rank official at most.

Of course, this is much better than those scholars who never get a job vacancy in their whole life."

Song Mian looked at Zhao Sicheng, "How about it, are you willing?"

Zhao Sicheng did not hesitate at all. "I am willing. I will always remember your kindness in helping me!"

Now that I finally have a position, I can finally marry Wanwan!

As they were talking, there was a knock on the door. After Song Mian answered, Liang Zhou pushed the door open and walked in, saying excitedly:

"Brother, look who's here!"

Xu Shiming walked in behind Liang Zhou, followed by Zhu Lan and Qiao Youyou.

Song Mian smiled and let them chat while he went to find Ouyang Ye.

As soon as the outsiders left, Xu Shiming's true colors were revealed. He reached out to touch the bump on Zhao Sicheng's head with a look of heartache.

"Oh my, what happened, my dear son? Come here and let your father take a look!"

"Go to hell!" Zhao Sicheng sat on the bed, smiled and kicked Xu Shiming.

Old friends reunited and everyone laughed.

Zhu Lan and Qiao Youyou also seized the opportunity to ask Xu Shiming about Qin Yuwei's recent situation in the East Palace. Only then did they learn that the money for purchasing disaster relief supplies this time was actually paid by Yuwei.

"I didn't expect that Yu Wei's move would make the prince owe her such a big favor." Zhu Lan said with relief.