Chapter 377: Enemies Meet [Part 2]
Shen Tang revealed an undisguised, chilling murderous intent towards Jiang Sheng, and the faint smile on her lips vanished in his response.
This person cannot be allowed to live!
He felt a murderous intent but did not immediately act on it.
Shen Tang also had her own concerns.
A man like Jiang Sheng, who dared to come to see her and then so readily revealed that she possessed the Imperial Seal, couldn't possibly have been unprepared. If she rashly tried to kill him, she feared she might not only fail to silence him but also unleash a tiger back into the mountains, causing endless harm.
Various thoughts raced through my mind.
She shook her head and gave a self-deprecating laugh: "You must be mistaken. What a treasure the Imperial Seal is! All the feudal lords in the world covet it, and the bloodshed caused for it is countless. What merit do I have? How could it possibly be in my hands?"
Does this person have concrete evidence, or is it just empty talk, a mere suspicion used to trick her into saying something?
Unless there is irrefutable evidence, one should not readily admit it.
Shen Tang's concerns were not without merit.
But she didn't expect that Jiang Sheng wasn't making things up.
Jiang Sheng said, "I can observe qi (vital energy)."
The implication is that there's no need to hide it anymore.
Shen Tang: "..."
Observe, observe the air?
Shen Tang's expression was numb.
Could this world get any more outrageous?
Shen Tang tentatively asked, "The way of the scholar?"
Jiang Sheng: "That's right. When observing aura, there is the aura of a great general, the aura of a junior general, the aura of departure, the aura of arrival, and the aura of defeat... Naturally, the aura of the person who possesses the Imperial Seal is also different from that of others."
Suddenly, Shen Tang seemed to remember something, her thoughts wandering elsewhere. With a meaningful look in her eyes, she said, "I know a friend whose way of life as a scholar is through 'Eight-Day Divination,' a form of divination. It's a real shame you two can't get to know each other..."
The friend Shen Tang mentioned was not herself, but Zhai Huan, Zhai Yuewen, the cousin of Zhai Xiaofang, whom she had met last year.
She learned of this fellow's scholarly ways by chance. At the time, she thought he was a good candidate for a street fortune teller.
One performed divination, the other observed the qi (vital energy).
If these two teamed up to tell fortunes on the street, they'd be living saints, their professional skills would be off the charts, and none of their peers could compete with them.
Complaints aside, it's genuinely a tricky situation.
Jiang Sheng's existence served as a reminder to Shen Tang.
Next time you encounter a literary figure like Jiang Sheng, you won't even know how your true identity was revealed—the Imperial Seal, what a temptation! Not to mention enemies, even allies can't resist its allure.
Jiang Sheng didn't show much interest in the friends Shen Tang mentioned, and simply waited quietly for Shen Tang's choice.
He wanted to see how this Mr. Shen would choose: a capable assistant or a potential threat?
Should we choose to use it, or should we choose to kill it?
Shen Tang was filled with anxiety.
To be honest, she didn't really want to use Jiang Sheng.
But let her kill—
Who knows if the Jiang Sheng in front of me is the real person? If he's just a figment of my imagination like Yan An, then I'll have gained another formidable enemy for nothing.
After some deliberation, Shen Tang asked a question that she cared about deeply: "Xian Deng, there's something I want to ask you."
This change in address caught Jiang Sheng off guard.
"Please ask, Mr. Shen."
Shen Tang asked earnestly, "You—Lord Fei?"
She is currently severely understaffed.
Use whichever one you find.
As long as their professional skills are up to par, they can be used as long as their character isn't too bad. If their character is truly terrible, at worst you can just exploit their talents without giving them genuine trust, and then discard them after you've served your purpose. Like the proverbial dog being cooked after the rabbit dies.
After careful consideration, Shen Tang decided to give it a try.
She used this person first, partly to appease Jiang Sheng.
We're all in the same boat, all in the same boat; he couldn't possibly betray himself at a time like this.
"You mean, is your lord in any danger?"
Jiang Sheng: "..."
He thought of every possible problem.
I never expected Shen Tang to ask that question.
When promoting talent, shouldn't one first consider the candidate's abilities, character, and background? Shen Tang's question was beyond the scope of the task, so Jiang Sheng had to prepare on the spot. As a scholar, Jiang Sheng was known for his subtle and tactful manner, and he didn't directly answer Shen Tang's question.
"If the ruler does not doubt his subjects, the subjects will not betray their ruler."
Shen Tang: "..."
If it weren't for the inappropriate occasion, she would have applauded him—he answered, but it was as if he didn't answer at all, yet upon closer inspection, she felt there was a big catch in his answer.
The premise of "a subject will not betray his ruler" is that "the ruler does not doubt his subject." In other words, "if the ruler doubts him," "the subject will surely betray him," which is comparable to Qi Yuanliang's regicide. But you can't say anything bad about him because it was the "ruler" who betrayed him first.
Shen Tang was not satisfied with the answer.
But this indirectly proves that this fellow doesn't trouble his lord.
This was an unexpected surprise for her.
Shen Tang said, "I will not betray you, so you can rest assured."
Having mentally reviewed the basic process of recruiting talent, Shen Tang felt she needed to make a gesture, so she stood up with a broad smile, shook Jiang Sheng's hand, and nodded emphatically in agreement. As for how much sincerity was in her words, she knew for sure.
Jiang Sheng felt the hands that looked slender but were incredibly strong, his expression stiffened slightly, and his smile became forced.
Once Chen Tang loosened her grip, the fingerprints were clearly visible.
She said awkwardly, "I couldn't control myself for a moment."
Jiang Sheng secretly loosened his fingers and readily changed his form of address: "My lord, it's alright."
He truly possesses superhuman strength!
This strength is comparable to that of those brave martial artists.
He removed the disguised power of words and reverted to his true self.
Shen Tang was dumbfounded when she saw it.
Jiang Sheng seemed to guess what surprised her.
Question: "Why does the lord look at Sheng like this?"
"This...is this you in person?"
Jiang Sheng said, "Yes."
Upon hearing this, Shen Tang nearly coughed up blood.
But words spoken are like water spilled; they cannot be taken back. He couldn't accept someone one minute and then turn around and kill them the next. On the bright side, bringing back a capable young administrator could help Wu Hui and the others share the burden.
Shen Tang comforted herself in this way.
She was now most worried about something else and wanted to hear Jiang Sheng's opinion: "If there are other literary talents in the world with similar abilities to you, wouldn't I be in great danger?"
Jiang Sheng said, "They can't tell."
Shen Tang didn't understand why he was so confident.
What does this mean?
Nothing in this world is absolute.
How could Jiang Sheng guarantee that his "qi observation" was the strongest in the world? Little did he know that there are always people more capable than him, and there is always something beyond his understanding.
Unexpectedly—
"Because the lord's 'qi' is very special."
What makes it special?
“The special thing is that you may not have ‘qi’.”
Shen Tang: "..."
For a moment, she couldn't tell whether Jiang Sheng was fooling her or indirectly insulting her. What did he mean by saying she had no "qi"? If she had no "qi," wasn't she dead?
Jiang Sheng previously claimed that he discovered her secret by observing her aura, but now he says she has no "aura" at all!
This is truly unfair to Jiang Sheng.
Jiang Sheng wasn't lying—he didn't lie from beginning to end, but he wasn't entirely honest either. He had only used a little subtlety to avoid the main point and mislead Shen Tang—Shen Tang's "qi" was the most unique he had ever seen.
Whether dead or alive, male or female, old or young, human or animal or plant, ordinary person or person with both literary and martial talents, without exception, they are all surrounded by different "qi" (energy), all of which Jiang Sheng can see.
They are different colors.
They have different meanings.
Jiang Sheng could discern fortune and even life and death based on these things, but Shen Tang was the only exception; he couldn't see them!
This alone was enough to pique Jiang Sheng's curiosity. But he wasn't a fox spirit; he wouldn't take risks just because of curiosity.
"Then how did you discover the Imperial Seal?"
That's simple.
Jiang Sheng claimed to be able to "observe qi," but that didn't mean his scholarly skills had only this one use. It was through this skill that he discovered Shen Tang's secret. As for how it was done, Shen Tang didn't press him, and he didn't want to say more.
Shen Tang: "..."
I feel like I've been scammed.
Bai Su and her companion were surprised to find that after waiting outside, a new teacher appeared, a familiar face.
She had a good memory and recognized the man from last night at a glance. Curious and puzzled, she knew this man was clearly not a good person.
It's too dangerous for our lord to keep him by his side.
Shen Tang waved his hand: "If you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them. Treat him with the same respect you would show to Yuan Liang and the others."
Bai Su and Lü Jue clasped their hands in greeting.
He greeted Jiang Sheng and got to know his new colleague.
Jiang Sheng was a beat slower to react, not on purpose, but because he seemed to have heard an unpleasant word: "The Yuanliang mentioned by the lord, is he a subordinate under his command?"
Shen Tang: "Yes, that's right. Is there something wrong with it?"
Jiang Sheng explained simply: "There's nothing wrong with it, it's just that I had a feud with a scholar named 'Yuanliang' many years ago. At first glance, I might think it's the same person, but there are millions of people on the mainland, and many people share the same name, so it's not uncommon for them to happen to have the same name..."
He has encountered many "good men" over the years.
Shen Tang didn't think much of it.
Although Qi Yuanliang has a lot of enemies, he doesn't have them everywhere. There are quite a few people in this world with the same name, surname, and character. What a coincidence!
I didn't think much of it at the time.
The most important task at present is to clean up the mess in Luxia County. The government offices are practically empty shells, government affairs have come to a standstill, the granaries and treasuries are almost empty, and if the affected common people are not settled in time, they may cause unrest. We also have to be wary of displaced people and bandits.
After much deliberation, Shen Tang resorted to his old tricks and sent men to confiscate the property of the brother-in-law of the Prefect of Lu. He also didn't spare the few scoundrels who colluded with the brother-in-law, scraping a thick layer of wealth from them, leaving onlookers speechless.
"...So rich! Lord Lu, learn your lesson in your next life. No matter how much you love your wife, you should be wary of her brother-in-law. Consider this life as a collection of mistakes, and try not to fall into the same trap again in the next life..." The mourning hall for the entire Lu family was set up in his mansion. The servants and maids dispersed, leaving only an elderly steward, Lu's wife's wet nurse, and her personal maid.
Four elderly and frail people guarded the large, desolate mourning hall.
When Lady Lu woke up and learned what had happened, and saw the bodies of her father and brothers, which had been cleaned but were still incomplete, she was heartbroken and wept bitterly. In the mourning hall, she fainted three times, almost breathing her last.
He caught his breath thanks to the strong medicine and ginseng soup from the mansion.
Shen Tang and representatives from the other three families came to offer their condolences and incense, making the funeral of Prefect Lu not seem so somber.
As the sole person in charge, Lady Lu repeatedly bowed to the group. In just three days, she lost a lot of weight, and her clothes, which used to fit her perfectly, now looked loose.
As an outsider, Shen Tang could only comfort her by saying, "Please accept my condolences."
"After your blood relatives are buried, would you be willing to move with me to He Yin Changju?" The mourning hall was solemn and cold, and it was somewhat uncomfortable to stay there for a long time. Looking at the girl whose face was slightly pale, Shen Tang made an excuse to call Lu Xiao Niangzi out and have a private talk with her.
Lu Xiaoniangzi's expression finally showed some emotion.
Admittedly, she was very tempted.
But after thinking it over, he shook his head and politely declined.
She wanted to stay and observe mourning for her father and brother, and raise her eldest brother's only son, who was still an infant. The thought of her eldest brother lying quietly in the coffin, his body torn apart and his death tragically while protecting her, overwhelmed Lu Xiaoniangzi with grief, and her eyes reddened.
Not long ago, the family was enjoying a happy reunion.
Today, only she and her nephew, who was hidden inside the stove, remained. Her heart ached once again, and her face gradually turned pale.
But she managed to suppress her tears.
Shen Tang wasn't surprised by this answer, but—
“Before your father passed away, I promised him that I would take good care of you. The world is getting more and more chaotic. These refugees and bandits are the first wave, but they won’t be the last. Lu Xia County has lost your father, and the royal court is busy with war and can’t take care of itself. They won’t be sending a new leader anytime soon… It’s very dangerous for you to stay here…”
Lady Lu looked at Shen Tang in astonishment.
This was the first time she had learned of this.
“Mourning can be observed anywhere. As long as your heart is there, there’s no need to be bound by formalities. Your father loved you so much, and he was still thinking of you on his deathbed…” He only managed to catch his breath after hearing Bai Su’s feigned voice. “I think he wouldn’t care about these things. He thought you were the only survivor in the entire household, and now you have an infant nephew. Even if he doesn’t think about himself, he should think about his nephew. If you stay in Luxia County, can you take care of him?”
Basic safety couldn't be provided, let alone the material support for her upbringing. The elderly steward, her wet nurse, and her young personal maid, along with Lu Xiaoniangzi and her niece, made them a group that would be bullied anywhere.
Shen Tang's suggestion was undoubtedly the best option.
Lady Lu was undoubtedly persuaded.
She originally planned to leave after her mourning period ended and seek refuge with her father's relatives and friends. She thought that out of consideration for her deceased father's past friendships, someone would be willing to give her a small place to live. Even if she was living under someone else's roof, at least she would have a roof over her head to shelter her from the wind and rain and be able to survive.
But--
Faced with the young man's enthusiastic invitation...
She couldn't be so tactless again and again.
She nodded in agreement, but asked for a few days' grace. If Shen Jun was busy, he could take his troops back first, and she would go to the River Governor's residence once she was ready. Lady Lu was raised by the Prefect of Lu, and had played in the camp since childhood, practicing swordsmanship and spear fighting, earning her the nickname "Rouge Tiger." She could naturally tell that the reinforcements coming to aid Lu Xia County had not brought enough provisions for more than a few days.
They could not stay in Luxia County for more than a few days.
But she was only half right.
To save a person, one must see them through to the end; to see a Buddha through to the Western Paradise, one must see him through to the Western Paradise.
The governor of Lu Commandery is gone, but the lower commandery of Lu still exists.
Shen Tang sent a letter back, ordered grain to be delivered, and planned to discuss with the other three families the possibility of taking turns sending troops to guard Luxia County. He wondered who the person who came this time was…
Turning his head, he saw Jiang Sheng under the eaves not far away.
The latter had a half-smile on his face, looking on with amusement.
"Congratulations, my lord, good things are coming soon."
Shen Tang was dumbfounded: "What good news?"
Jiang Sheng: "Didn't Duke Lu entrust his son to you?"
"Is this a happy occasion?" she asked, puzzled.
"On his deathbed, Lord Lu entrusted his affairs to us. Once Lady Lu's mourning period is over, my lord will be able to marry his beloved. How could that not be a joyous occasion?"
Shen Tang: "..."
Jiang Sheng: "Does my lord have no interest in Lady Lu?"
Was he simply taking care of an orphan girl out of pure kindness?
Shen Tang patted Jiang Sheng on the shoulder and said in a low voice, "Xian Deng, do you know? For a scholar to be without a horse is like—your lord without a spear!"
Jiang Sheng: "???"
Jiang Sheng: "!!!"
(_)
In the last chapter, I guessed the treasure that could "observe qi". Sigh, this is really difficult for me.
(End of this chapter)
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