Shen Hexuan was not in Chen Yi's house. After the guards led Yan Sikong out of the house, they turned through the crooked alleys and finally stopped in front of an extremely simple and dilapidated thatched cottage. It looked like no one had lived in the house for a long time. In the winter, the wind leaked from all sides. If the snow on the roof was thicker, it would probably collapse.

Yan Sikong frowned: "What do you mean? Let me live here?"

The guard hurriedly bowed and said, "I dare not. You are the distinguished guest of the King of Chu, and we have to entertain you with the etiquette of honor. Here... it is Master Shen who wants to see you here."

Yan Sikong couldn't guess what kind of medicine Shen Hexuan was selling, but there were not many guards here. If they wanted to harm him, this group of people might not be his match. Moreover, this was Chen Yi's territory after all. With a little peace of mind, he walked in confidently.

There was only a low tea table in the room with wine on it. Shen Hexuan knelt in front of the table, staring at him quietly.

The light in the room was dim, and Shen Hexuan's silhouette blended into the shadows, mysterious and deep.

Yan Sikong was about to speak when Shen Hexuan suddenly chanted, "A crooked house."

Yan Sikong thought for a moment and said, "Two people with different accents."

Shen Hexuan paused and burst into laughter.

Yan Sikong realized that Shen Hexuan had changed. He was no longer the same person as before. He sat down and looked around: "Master Shen chose to meet me in such a humble room. Could it be that he just wanted to compose a poem with me to suit the occasion?"

"Of course not, it was just a spur of the moment decision, but Lord Yan's response was really wonderful." Shen Hexuan stared into Yan Sikong's eyes.

Yan Sikong curled his lips and smiled: "Master Shen has changed a lot. In the past, when you saw me, you either scolded me or brought troops to question me. Today you are so calm. Is it because you think you have won me?"

"Not entirely, but that's one of the reasons." Shen Hexuan slowly poured wine for the two of them, "But you're right, I have indeed changed a lot. The changes I've encountered in the past two years are greater than all the changes I've encountered in my first half of my life, and this is all thanks to you."

Putting down the wine pot, Shen Hexuan picked up the wine glass: "Please."

Yan Sikong picked up the wine glass with his hand and glanced at Shen Hexuan.

"Why, are you afraid it's poisonous?" After saying that, Shen Hexuan drank the wine in the glass.

Only then did Yan Sikong feel at ease to drink it.

"The reason I chose to meet here is because you and I have both lived a life of luxury and have inevitably forgotten who we are. Wouldn't it be nice to use this humble room to remind us?"

"I have never forgotten who I am, and I believe that Lord Shen is not someone who forgets his roots. This is unnecessary."

"Really? Then I'll have to reflect on myself. After all, I'm not as versatile as Lord Yan, who can completely erase his past background and forge a completely new identity." Shen Hexuan's eyes became sharp.

"I have no choice but to do this." Yan Sikong said with a smile, "I wonder what Lord Shen felt when he learned my true identity?"

Shen Hexuan blinked, was silent for a moment, and said, "To be honest, I'm very surprised. I didn't expect that some of the things you said to me before were true. You really wanted revenge and endured humiliation for many years just to overthrow the eunuch party. I thought that those were just excuses you made up for your greed. It turns out that everything you did back then was really not for glory and wealth."

Yan Sikong raised his eyebrows: "These words really don't seem like something Lord Shen would say."

"Yeah, I never thought that one day I would admire you." Shen Hexuan laughed mockingly, "Although you have done a lot of despicable things, you can go that far to repay your gratitude. It is really beyond the reach of ordinary people. I am really shocked."

Yan Sikong said with a fake smile: "I am deeply moved that Lord Shen can understand what I did."

"I can understand, but I don't agree with most of it." Shen Hexuan poured a second glass of wine, "But, understanding is also a big improvement for me. From the fall of Qianzhou, to my imprisonment, to my displacement, to Yunnan, the capital, Taiyuan, many things that I once believed in are now shaking. What I have learned in the past two years may exceed everything I have learned in the past." His eyes became empty and blank, "There was a moment when I realized that I had read books thoroughly before, but I didn't understand people."

Yan Sikong's heart was also in turmoil, he knew that every word Shen Hexuan said came from the bottom of his heart, he doubted his faith and his character changed drastically because of the heavy blow he suffered, he had experienced all of this when he was thirteen years old, if a person experiences such a change in his life once, he will never be able to go back to the past.

He suddenly thought, did the young prince Feng Ye, who lost everything overnight and fled with Emperor Cang, also experience painful destruction and rebirth?

Shen Hexuan seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. He said to himself, "So I often think of you. You and I have been at odds with each other, and have committed so many sinful and perverse things. You have also done many things that I want to do but cannot do. I keep thinking why, why I am well versed in the ways of saints and sages, and I have been self-disciplined and righteous, but I have been repeatedly frustrated and hit a wall everywhere, and why you can achieve your wishes with your eloquence and unscrupulous means."

Yan Sikong listened expressionlessly.

Shen Hexuan chuckled: "Later, I figured it out. The way of a gentleman is to respect gentlemen, but villains are in power in this world. My teacher always taught me to be flexible. Now that I am almost forty years old, I finally understand these two words."

"Mr. Shen, I am very happy for your enlightenment. Here, I will drink this cup to toast Mr. Shen's enlightenment."

They drank together again.

Yan Sikong smiled and said, "It seems that since Lord Shen's sudden realization, he has shown his strengths in strategy and has become good at calculating others."

Shen Hexuan smiled and said, "I already know how to calculate, but I just didn't care about it before. But I need to learn from Lord Yan, otherwise how can I protect my country and fulfill my duty as a minister?"

Yan Sikong shook his head in disapproval: "It seems that Lord Shen has not fully understood. Why is he still so blindly loyal?"

"I'm not blindly loyal. As I said, I understand you, but I don't agree with you." Shen Hexuan's eyes became clear. "Let me ask you, you think you can restore the country by getting rid of the tyrant and supporting the wise ruler, but is the son of a tyrant necessarily a tyrant? Is the son of a wise ruler necessarily a wise ruler? Dynasties have always been a cycle of order and chaos. No matter how wise a monarch is, once he dies, there is no guarantee that his regime will not end. Governing a big country is like cooking a small fish. What you seek is the word 'stability' to make the country prosper. If you cause chaos in the world like this, it will only lead to the collapse of etiquette and music, and the people will suffer!"

Yan Sikong's eyes widened. "What's the difference between what you said and what those corrupt officials do for free? When you and I first entered the officialdom, no, all the scholars in the world entered the officialdom, who didn't have a passion and ambition, but in the end, all their ambitions were worn away by the decadent officialdom? You said that a wise ruler may not be succeeded by a wise ruler. I tell you, each generation has its own affairs. If the current emperor is incompetent, a wise and virtuous ruler will be supported to replace him. When the next emperor is incompetent, the next generation will take over. If we all stand aside and watch, we will just watch the rotten parts continue to rot until the whole body is rotten and there is no hope!"

The two of them stared at each other from a distance, their eyes were both extremely fierce, neither of them would give in. They knew in their hearts that no one could convince the other, because the persistence in their hearts was as unshakable as the Five Mountains.

They sighed at the same time.

Shen Hexuan said calmly: "I already knew that there are indeed differences between you and me."

Yan Sikong smiled bitterly: "Yes, but I am very pleased that Lord Shen can understand me. Perhaps we are the ones who understand each other the best. But it is precisely because of this understanding that you and I cannot even achieve 'harmony but difference', and we are destined... to be enemies."

Shen Hexuan poured them a third glass of wine: "What a shame, what a shame. I once regarded you as my confidant, and I thought you had deceived me. Now, after going through so many twists and turns, I finally found that you and I are indeed confidants."

They clinked their glasses solemnly and drank up the wine in their glasses.

Yan Sikong wiped the corner of his mouth with his sleeve: "The word 'confidant' makes me feel flattered."

"In fact, you and I don't necessarily have to be enemies." Shen Hexuan stared at Yan Sikong, "Isn't it your wish to help the King of Chu ascend the throne? Now, as long as we let him recapture the rebels, return to the capital in triumph, become the crown prince, and then persuade Your Majesty to let the virtuous one pass as soon as possible, everything will follow the etiquette and be in order."

Yan Sikong curled his lips and smiled: "Feng Ye is unkind, but I am not necessarily unjust, especially since you are the ones who framed me."

"A soldier is not afraid of deception. You don't bear a grudge against me, do you?" Shen Hexuan said, "Besides, you have framed and alienated me many times."

"When two armies are at war, you and I are all doing our jobs. Why should we bear grudges? Lord Shen is too kind."

"Lord Yan is a vengeful person. Even if you don't hate me, you..." Shen Hexuan sneered, "Don't you hate Feng Ye?"

Yan Sikong leaned forward slightly and said with a smile: "He and I have been childhood sweethearts and we were once in love. It would be a lie to say that I don't hate him. But... if you want me to help the King of Chu deal with him, how much benefit does the King of Chu need to give me?"

"The King of Chu thinks highly of you. He will probably give you whatever you want."

"Then what should I ask for?" Yan Sikong smiled grimly, "Lord Shen is testing me like this, just to know whether I really want to stay. Lord Shen wants to use me to get rid of Feng Ye, but he is also afraid that I will seek personal gain and threaten your position. There is no such thing as the best of both worlds in the world. If I were here, Lord Shen would have to be on guard against me all the time. If I were you..." Yan Sikong stretched out his hand and gently touched his neck, "You should kill me."

A trace of murderous intent flashed in Shen Hexuan's eyes: "Lord Yan spared my life, I am grateful in my heart, but I don't want to kill you. It would be great if you could just disappear and not be found by anyone."

"I have decided to retire, but they won't let me go. Lord Shen, please help me and send me away."

Shen Hexuan shook his head: "It's too late. The King of Chu will definitely send someone to keep an eye on you all the time."

Yan Sikong smiled sarcastically and said nothing.

"So I want to advise you to make up for your sins with your merits. When you return to the capital someday, the King of Chu and I will plead for you in front of His Majesty so that you can be reunited with your wife and daughter. This may be the best way out for you in this life."

Yan Sikong grabbed the wine bottle and poured the wine directly into his mouth. He drank half of the wine. He wiped the corners of his lips and grinned: "I have walked out of my own way in this life." He stood up and said, "Yan will not accompany Lord Shen to freeze here. Goodbye, goodbye."