Chapter 650: The Rumored "White Moonlight" (Part 2) [Happy New Year]
"Why is Yuanliang here?"
In the blink of an eye, Xun Zhen regained his normal appearance.
"Of course, it's important business." The wind was a bit strong at the entrance of the government office, and Qi Shan coughed incessantly as he spoke, "A while ago, Qian Shuhe, under Zhang Yongqing, led troops to harass Nanyu County. It took several fierce battles to finally repel them..."
Xun Ding's clear eyes revealed a stupidity that even Xun Zhen found irritating. He said, "Father, this is not the place to talk. I see that Mr. Qi is weak and ill, as if he has not yet recovered from a serious injury. Let's go into the government office and discuss this in the council hall first."
Xun Zhen didn't speak, but his gaze towards his son was unfriendly. Small animals are keenly aware of this kind of aura, and Xun Ding was no exception. He felt puzzled—his recent behavior had been that of a well-behaved and obedient son, so why was his father displeased?
The three entered the government office one after the other.
Qi Shan coughed badly, and Xun Ding would turn to look at him from time to time, afraid that this frail scholar would cough until he couldn't breathe.
Seeing his worthless appearance, Xun Zhen's nameless anger grew even stronger, and the urge to kill Qi Yuanliang intensified. Upon arriving at the council hall, Xun Zhen and Qi Yuanliang took their seats. Xun Ding, thinking himself very perceptive, rose and offered to boil water for tea.
The elderly father was the first to make a move.
He said meaningfully, "Yong'an and Yuanliang know each other?"
Xun Ding enthusiastically recounted the scene of their first encounter.
The day was fine and sunny. Xun Ding had just finished robbing a group of wicked gentry and was returning home laden with spoils. He was having tea with his gang of lackeys at a secluded post station. Not long after, a thin, weak-looking young scholar arrived at the post station.
Speaking of this—
Xun Ding asked with concern, "Mr. Qi, do you have some kind of deficiency? Why do you look like you have blood deficiency and qi deficiency both times I've seen you?"
Qi Shan: "...No, I was just injured."
When Xun Ding saw him at the post station, the backlash from his scholarly ways hadn't subsided, and the burden was almost at his physical limit; in Xun Ding's eyes, he appeared sickly. This time was similar, but this time, his scholarly ways were helping his lord, Shen Tang, share the burden of his injuries. Judging from the severity of the injuries, his lord must have encountered a formidable enemy. Qi Shan came over and inquired, only to learn that he had fought Gongxi Chou.
My lord's constitution is such that he'll be lively and energetic again in just a few days.
Qi Shan did indeed take care of herself for a while.
Hearing that it wasn't a congenital deficiency, Xun Ding continued. The young scholar was naturally Qi Shan, who was preparing to stay at a remote post station. All the tables at the post station had been taken up by Xun Ding's lackeys. Seeing that Qi Shan looked refined, Xun Ding figured he probably wouldn't like sharing a table with those sycophantic lackeys, so he invited Qi Shan to sit at his table, and they started chatting.
The two had a very pleasant conversation.
It's a pity the time was too short, otherwise we could have chatted more.
Xun Ding had always regretted not asking the other person's name. Unexpectedly, after all the twists and turns, the other person turned out to be his father's colleague. What a coincidence!
He was engrossed in expressing his joy at meeting an old friend in a foreign land, but he didn't notice the several changes in the expressions of his elderly father and "old friend," the former's murderous glint in his eyes was completely undisguised. After a long while, Xun Ding, who had been chattering incessantly, finally stopped and realized the strange atmosphere.
[Smack!]
Xun Zhen had unfastened his sword at some point.
With a loud thud, it was slammed onto the table.
"Father?"
Xun Ding was startled and turned to look at Qi Shan again.
"Mr. Qi?"
Aren't these two colleagues?
Why does it look like a fight is about to break out?
Could it be—
Are they political enemies because they disagree on political views?
Countless images of the two of them stabbing each other flashed through Xun Ding's mind, and he was in a dilemma when he heard Xun Zhen say in a sinister tone, "Yong'an, do you still remember that before you ran away from home, you once saved a girl surnamed 'Tan'?"
The smile on Hao Da's face gradually faded.
"Of course I remember."
That was a life he had taken on when he was young.
At the time, he only felt that his father was tyrannical, disregarding human life and harming the innocent in order to control him. Now, he thinks the greatest responsibility should lie with him. She was just an ordinary girl, and if it weren't for his involvement and incompetence, she shouldn't have suffered such a tragedy.
The son should pay for the father's debts; the fault lies with him.
Seeing Xun Ding's visibly depressed mood, Qi Shan was speechless, even his gaze towards Xun Zhen became somewhat subtle. How on earth did he raise his son? Xun Ding had been away from home for so many years; he deserved to be taught a lesson by society.
Still haven't figured it out?
Xun Zhen sneered, "Shall I speak, or shall I speak?"
Xun Ding asked, puzzled, "What did my son say?"
Xun Zhen: "I wasn't talking to you!"
Why are you interrupting when adults are talking?
Qi Shan: "..."
Under Xun Zhen's murderous gaze and Xun Ding's bewildered stare, he knew he wouldn't escape unscathed today.
Qi Shan: "Yong'an, do you know my surname?"
Xun Ding asked in bewilderment, "Isn't Mr. Qi's surname Qi?"
The other person had just given their self-introduction not long ago.
"That was then, when the surname was Tan."
Xun Ding was stunned. Hearing the familiar surname and recalling the strange atmosphere between his father and Mr. Qi, he seemed to know the truth: "Could it be that Mr. Qi is Ms. Tan's brother?" Is he here to settle a score for the loss of his sister?
Xun Ding immediately said, "One person does the deed and one person takes the blame. This matter has nothing to do with my father. If you want revenge, just come to me."
Qi Shan: "..."
Xun Zhen sighed softly, rubbing his forehead in exasperation.
"Xun Ding, what's wrong with your brain? The Lady Tan you're talking about is this Qi Yuanliang. He used the 'Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell' technique to escape back then, and you're the only one who's stupid enough to believe it!" The old father finally exploded, slamming his hand on the table and passionately speaking.
Rumble—
Rumble—
Xun Ding seemed to be completely numb from being struck by lightning.
He understood every single word his father spoke, so why couldn't he comprehend them when they were put together? What did it mean that Ms. Tan was Mr. Qi? These two were a man and a woman; even if he was blind, he shouldn't be unable to distinguish between them. Xun Ding's mind was in complete chaos, and he turned blankly to Qi Shan for confirmation.
Qi Shan knew she couldn't keep it a secret any longer.
He covered his face with one hand and nodded.
"That incident back then was part of a scheme. It was simply a matter of principle, not an intention to deceive Young Master Xun."
Xun, scorched, declared: "...I don't believe it!"
Helpless, Qi Shan could only activate the Scholar's Way [Miraculous Painting] under Xun Zhen's threatening and coercive gaze. A deep blue aura enveloped him from head to toe, and after a few breaths, the aura dissipated, revealing a pretty young girl.
The young woman opened her lips and sang: "Young Master Xun."
Xun Ding: "..."
At this moment, in this situation, the image of his deceased, beloved sister, whom he cherished, shattered completely in his heart.
Xun Ding...
He ran away!!!
They nearly bumped into Shen Tang, who was returning.
Shen Tang dodged, only managing to catch a glimpse of a familiar back before exclaiming, "Supermarket big sale? Why are you running so fast?"
Turning his head, he saw Qi Shan and Xun Zhen rushing over from one side and the other.
"Yuanliang, when did you arrive? Why do you look like this?"
Shen Tang almost didn't recognize that this gentle and pure-looking girl was Qi Shan. Is this guy addicted to cross-dressing?
Qi Shan removed her disguise: "Greetings, my lord."
Xun Zhen also bowed: "He solved a long-standing case."
Shen Tang didn't know what "old case" meant, assuming it was just a case file from the government office, and casually asked, "Resolved?"
Xun Zhen said with a gentle breeze, "It's resolved. The victim suffered too much trauma and will need some time to recover."
Shen Tang, without suspecting anything, immediately noticed Qi Shan's expression and said with concern, "Don't run around while your injuries are still healed. Resting is more important than anything else. Can't we send someone else over?"
Qi Shan: "I will only feel at ease if I see my lord with my own eyes."
Knowing Qi Shan's stubborn temperament, Shen Tang said no more: "How much did we suffer when Uncle Qian led his troops to attack Longwu County?"
"Qian Yong suffered a crushing defeat. Nanyu County only lost a few city gates, while our side suffered over a thousand casualties. As for the military officers, Wen Shi was seriously injured but his life is not in danger, and the old physician Dong is personally taking care of him." Xu Quan was also unlucky, running right into General Qian Yong, who was at the height of his anger.
At only eighteen, despite his talent, he was constantly being beaten down.
Qi Shan spoke of it lightly, but there were many hardships involved.
Regarding scholars?
He was the only wounded soldier.
During the siege, he was suddenly covered in blood and nearly fell off the city wall, but fortunately, Nanyu County held. Qian Yong cursed and led his troops away. First, they suffered losses in the night raid, their supplies were burned, and their logistics couldn't keep up. Then, after two days of siege without success, the soldiers on the city wall would casually recite the names of dishes, undermining the morale of Qian Yong's troops. The feud between the two sides was now firmly established.
Shen Tang was finally relieved to hear this.
With the superhuman recovery ability of martial artists, even a serious injury would only require ten days to half a month of bed rest before they were back to their old selves. If Xu Quan were to die, it would be difficult to explain to Xu Jie. She smiled and said, "Once Wen Shi recovers, I will give him a big gift that he has always dreamed of."
What gift?
It's definitely an idol gift package!
Xu Quan is a die-hard fan of Gong Xiqiu.
Similarly—
Qi Shan was also Xun Ding's "white moonlight".
The so-called "white moonlight" won't easily turn into a grain of rice. After a brainstorming session, Xun Ding realized that he didn't need to run away like this at all. His mentor, "Ms. Tan," who encouraged him to pursue the wider world, was still alive, as was Mr. Qi, with whom he had enjoyed many conversations. He had also shed the psychological burdens of his youth. Wasn't this double the happiness?
That evening, Qi Shan stayed at the government office's guesthouse. Just as he was about to turn off the light and go to sleep, a figure outside the window suddenly pushed the window open and said excitedly, "Mr. Qi, since we are so destined to meet, why don't we become sworn brothers under the moon!"
Qi Shan: "...???"
Sworn brotherhood was impossible, it would never happen. Xun Ding not only didn't gain another sworn brother, but instead faced his father's righteous iron fist. If Shen Tang hadn't found it too noisy, Xun Ding, this troublesome eldest son, would have continued to howl for half the night.
With Qi Shan's arrival, the construction of Xiaocheng got back on track.
Shen Tang needs to hurry and get everything sorted out before the big battle in the spring, so as to avoid a fire breaking out in the rear while the front is fighting. Although Sibao County has experienced several wars, it has also ushered in a relatively stable period of development under Qiu Cheng's leadership. The situation is much better than that of the impoverished Heyin County and the devastated Longwu County. As for Minfeng County, the specific information is still incomplete.
During this period, they received "redemption money" in installments.
The most unexpected stroke came from the Qiu family.
Looking at the boxes of gold and silver jewelry, Shen Tang was surprised and almost thought she was hallucinating: "You're saying this was sent by the Qiu family? To redeem the family of that old rookie lecher? Didn't they say he offended the clan leader to death? This Qiu Dalang is quite magnanimous."
_(:з」∠)_
Hehehe, did anyone receive a call from Shiitake Mushroom tonight?
(End of this chapter)
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