Chapter 74: What old friend, whose old friend. ...
The room was lit with warm yellow candlelight, and the flickering light cast the figures of the three of them on the ground, stretching them out for a long time.
Mu Tong stopped talking at the right time, standing silently aside like an upright lamp.
He had not been in office in Jiangyang Prefecture for long, but he had worked with Lord Jia for more than a year. Now, Lord Song's affairs were inextricably linked to Lord Jia, and it was really hard to explain.
When he had seen Xiyan's group earlier, he had known without needing to explain that some disaster had befallen them. So, after Mu Tong had arranged for their food and lodging and hired a doctor, he decided to go to the government office and report the matter to Lord Jia.
This matter concerns Lord Song and even involves the security of Jiangyang. It is understandable to tell Lord Jia about it.
After all, Lord Song came from Shangdu, so it is not an exaggeration to say that he is an imperial envoy. It is really bad that he caused such a big trouble just a few days after arriving in Jiangyang.
In addition, he knew from the beginning that Lord Song had a great background and was of high birth. If this matter were to be reported back to Shangdu and investigated by the higher-ups, he and Lord Jia would not be able to bear the responsibility even if they had ten heads.
But Xiyan was extremely reluctant and tried to stop him, saying that they would wait until Lord Song woke up before making a decision. However, he refused to explain the reason and only said that since the matter involved Lord Jia, they had to wait until his son woke up.
Mu Tong had worked with Xi Yan before, and they had searched for someone together some time ago. Suddenly, he realized that the "White Lady Zhi" whom he and Xi Yan had searched for all day and all night in the city was the same Lady Chen who had returned with Xi Yan today.
He knew Chen Mian's wife.
I couldn't find him that day, but today I'm with Master Song...
Mu Tong's expression remained unchanged, not even the tip of his brow twitching a bit, but a subtle ripple of emotion crept into his eyes, like a wild goose passing through the sky, the sound of wind entering an inlet, real yet swiftly dissipating. His emotion was fleeting, leaving no trace, making it difficult to detect.
Putting that aside, judging from his experience working with Xi Yan that day, he was definitely not a rigid or stubborn person. And the fact that he insisted on waiting for Lord Song to wake up today might... be due to something else.
In that case, he'd better not interrupt too much.
Mu Tong raised his eyes and glanced at Song Linsheng who was sitting on the couch, only to see that his eyelashes were drooping, making it difficult to see the expression in his eyes.
Feeling the gaze cast at him by Mu Jingli, Song Linsheng felt as if he was being roasted on the fire.
He should have gotten up and gone to the Jiangyang government office with Xi Yan a long time ago, but now that Mu Jingli asked about it, he couldn't just leave without saying a word.
After all, it was he who had asked Uncle Song to come to see Mu Jingli early in the morning. It was also with Mu Jingli's care that Xi Yan was able to ensure the safety of his group.
Song Linsheng's mind was full of confusion, but now he seemed to be stuck in the difficult problem of how to explain his experience to Mu.
The group of people today came from unknown places and suddenly attacked, which did not seem to be premeditated.
Starting from their origins might be useful, but it would be too slow.
Although they loudly claimed to capture "Chen Mian's wife," they easily changed their minds after repeated persuasion from him and Wen Yu's wife, and went after Wen Yu's wife instead. This showed that no matter who they captured, it had no impact on their true purpose, which was hidden beneath the guise of murder and robbery.
Since the victim does not have a specific nature or purpose, it is difficult to analyze the cause.
Layers of mist welled up in Song Linsheng's eyes. The long-accumulated emotions made his ink-black eyes look even deeper, like a thousand-year-old cold pond in a quiet and empty mountain, emitting a slightly cold ripple.
The only thing left is—
The only thing the scarred man said before he left was: Go back and tell the man surnamed Jia that...
Old friend, please come and see me.
Song Linsheng's brows sank. The man's purpose was not to commit evil with premeditated intentions, nor was it to seek revenge on Chen Mian's family, and it had nothing to do with any grudge against Madam Wen Yu.
He had only one goal, and that was the good Tongzhi of Jiangyang Prefecture - Jia Ren.
"Lord Song?"
Mu Jingli's soft question from the side interrupted Song Linsheng's momentary daze.
He raised his gaze until his eyes met Mu Jingli's.
Mu Tong's eyes were extremely gentle, and even when he had no expression, there was still a hint of smile in them, which made people unconsciously feel a bit of goodwill towards him.
At this moment, his eyes were clear and his pupils were light, as if he was waiting for Song Linsheng to reply.
This Mr. Mu has been in office in Jiangyang longer than he has. Could he know something about Lord Jia?
But even if he knew, would he be willing to tell the truth...
Song Linsheng's heart clenched. He felt that Jiangyang Mansion was no longer as clear and bright as it was when his father was here. At this moment, Jiangyang Mansion was like the calm Yuan River on the surface, but underneath were waves of unknown depth and a surging tide that would surge at an unknown time.
It is true that what is learned from books is always shallow. He read books, discussed philosophy, lectured on scriptures and learned calligraphy. He thought he had learned the books thoroughly, but he could not learn all the intricacies. He had to experience everything personally to find out the truth.
Song Linsheng exhaled lightly, as if the huge rock pressing on his chest had fallen, shattered, and disappeared in a gust of wind.
Trust people you employ; don't employ people you don't trust.
Since he chose to ask Uncle Song to report Mu's experience, and asked Xiyan to entrust Zhi Bai Niangzi and A Yuan's brothers and sisters to him, he should have planned to trust him a long time ago, otherwise he would not have made this decision.
It is the same now. Since I have chosen to trust Mu Tong, there is no need to hide anything from him.
"Mr. Mu...Mr. Mu..." Song Linsheng stared at Mu Tong with a blazing gaze, "I apologize for any offense I've caused before."
Mu Tong's eyes widened slightly when he heard this, and he seemed to startle Song Linsheng. "Sir Song, why is he saying this when he's fine?" Besides, when had Sir Song ever offended him?
It was he who was truly presumptuous because he had previously teased Lord Song and compared others with Yulan, but Lord Song had not yet pursued the matter.
However, he thought that Lord Song was a broad-minded and magnanimous person who would not bother with him, so he just laughed it off. But he did not expect that Lord Song would come to him first to "apologize".
Mu Tong was slow to speak and before he could say a few humble words, he heard the voice of Lord Song.
"Now that Madam Wenyu is suffering, I beg you..." Song Linsheng suddenly stood up, and the quilt that had just been covering his knees slid down again. "I beg you, Master Mu, to lend me a hand and help rescue Madam Wenyu together."
“Eh——”
Seeing the quilt slipping off, Mu Tong took a quick glance at it——
Lord Song saluted with his hands clasped together, his legs standing straight like a pine tree in the snow.
Mu Tong had no time to react. The first thing that came to his mind was that the heat from Lord Song had just been released, and he was afraid that it had all escaped.
He was sighing and bending down to pick up the brocade quilt. Only while doing so did he hear what Lord Song said.
Mu Tong paused, and the hand that was holding the corner of the quilt stiffened a little.
It turns out that Lord Song thought that he would only help when it came to matters involving Madam Wen?
But soon, he recovered as before, picked up the quilt with one hand and placed it on the couch beside him.
Mu Tong brushed off his sleeves to remove the non-existent dust. Unlike his usual joking and playful behavior, he returned the greeting in a very solemn manner.
"Sir Song, this humble official's experience is from the Jiangyang government office, so naturally it is also your experience."
Publicly, Lord Song is now the prefect of Jiangyang, and he should obey orders and arrangements.
Personally...
"If you need me anywhere, just let me know, and I'll be there with you."
Mu Tong paused, as if there was something he hadn't said clearly. He thought that Lord Song must have misunderstood something. If he didn't explain it more clearly...
"Today, let alone Madam Wen who is in trouble, even if it's Xiyan, Madam Chen, or anyone else whose name is unknown outside, we should all do our best to rescue them."
What he meant was that he was not doing this just for Madam Wen. If it were someone else, Mu Tong would also do his best to help.
Song Linsheng raised his eyes and looked at Mu Tong through their greeting hands, and saw affirmation in each other's eyes.
It turns out that Mu Jingli is not really interested in Madam Wenyu...
Is he... overthinking it?
"Master Song, feel free to say whatever you want. I promise you that it will never be spread outside this room."
Mu Tong glanced at the patient and saw that the doctor and his servant who had just seen him had already asked him to leave.
Now in this room, there are only him, Lord Song and Xiyan.
Mu Tong's words were the best response to Song Linsheng. There was no need to say anything more, nor to express any loyalty.
"good."
Song Linsheng walked towards the table in the room, and Mu Tong followed his movements and looked -
On the table were various fruit plates and a pot of hot tea, with wisps of white mist still rising from the spout of the pot.
"Is Lord Song thirsty? Let me do it." As he said that, Mu Tong quickly followed and wanted to pour him tea.
But Song Linsheng was faster. He protected his sleeve with one hand and turned the teacup over with the other, then picked up the pot and poured tea.
The tea gurgles into the cup, its water surging against the walls like a turbulent river. This tiny cup, so small and confined, can yet exude such grandeur, demonstrating that all things begin with subtle beginnings and ultimately unfold into grandeur.
Under the sound of water, Song Linsheng's voice, as clear as water and as calm as ice, rang out:
"I'm afraid Xiyan has already told you everything about what happened earlier, but there's still one thing left..."
Before Song Linsheng could finish his words, the teacup was full. He turned over a few more teacups, lined them up in a row, and poured tea into each one.
"Sir Song, you don't have to do this for me—"
Mu Tong opened his mouth to decline politely, but his words stopped abruptly when he saw Song Linsheng raise his hand to stop him.
"That man kidnapped Madam Wenyu, not for extortion, nor for murder, but only left behind a sentence—"
Mu Tong listened attentively. Song Linsheng stopped talking at the end of his words. The teacups were just about eighty to ninety percent full, with a little room left.
Song Linsheng pinched his sleeve with one hand, stretched out two fingers with the other hand, dipped them into one of the teacups, raised his hand and wrote a few words on the table -
old friend.
Mu Tong muttered to himself, "Old people," and his mind suddenly became clear. Those things that Xi Yan had never mentioned were like layers of fog, and now Lord Song's words cleared them up, revealing a crucial link.
Old friend, what old friend, whose old friend.
When Mu Tong saw Song Linsheng's actions, even if he was slow, he could understand it, not to mention that Mu Tong has always been extremely alert and handled things properly.
Like Song Linsheng, he also raised his hand to dip it in the tea and added after the word "old friend":
There are old ones.
Since they are old friends, they must have some old acquaintances.
Song Linsheng remained silent, then added a word before the half-dried "old friend, old friend":
Jia.
"In that case—"
"Master Mu, please accompany me to the Jiangyang government office."
Song Linsheng and Mu Tong spoke at the same time, and they seemed to be thinking the same thing.
Right and wrong, true and false, good and evil, reality and illusion, still need to be explored——
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