"That ginseng we bought last time... then there's the calligraphy I asked Lin Fu and Master Lin to write... Mm, put the ginseng in the middle, less conspicuous. Old Qin likes calligraphy and paintings most—he should like this piece..."

Song Kai had been by Song Mao's side for many years now, cautious and reliable, and these matters had long been arranged and couldn't possibly go wrong—Song Mao only confirmed them because he had nothing else to do. He really did feel somewhat emotional about that conversation with Su Wenxing just now. His nephew's lack of ability and narrow perspective truly made him sigh, though currently there was really nothing to be done about it.

Of course, speaking of kinship, though Song Mao was close to the Su family, to say he had some flesh-and-blood connection with this sister and nephew was impossible—back home he hadn't had much contact with his cousin who became the Su mansion's Second Madam. Later when he gained some success, the Su family invested large sums of money in him. He remembered this timely help¹in his heart, though basically this was directed at Old Master Su and the Su family.

Time passed, and now he'd risen to Provincial Governor—while the Su mansion had once been a major force behind him, now it was merely icing on the cake. If the Su family's second branch could control the entire Su family in the future, it would naturally bring him some benefits, but the relationship actually wasn't that significant. Su Wenxing was after all a closer relative—if he could control the Su family, their interests would be more closely tied, but with this nephew's qualifications, whether he could manage the Su family well was actually uncertain, and in the future he might instead become a burden.

And if that Su Tan'er controlled the Su family—that girl had ability and better understood the times, and with his status as Provincial Governor, she would definitely curry favor. Actually this force of support wouldn't change. And because of his existence, even if his sister and nephew's branch didn't get the Su family's management rights, they would still retain their status as Su family members with some minor authority, food and clothing secured—this way they could become a link between himself and the Su family, and perhaps for the less capable Wenxing, it might not be a bad thing.

He hesitated in his mind about whether to make this choice—of course, with Old Master Su still alive, he naturally still considered family relations and was closer to his sister and nephew. He'd heard about that Water Melody Prelude's fame before. Of course, recently after making inquiries, the information he'd gotten was somewhat strange—if he truly sought fame through deception, considering his nephew's request, he would casually expose him. This was something to consider tonight, and he looked at the gifts, shook his head, and put it out of his mind.

Seeing his expression at this time, the manager Song Kai handed over the gift list from the side, then smiled: "Master, Lord Qin resigned several years ago, but recently hearing that the northern situation is complex with frequent conflicts between Jin and Liao, there are voices in court calling for Lord Qin's return—does Master think Lord Qin will come back?"

Song Mao shook his head, pausing a moment before speaking: "I'm afraid it's very difficult—when Old Qin left that day, the situation was complex. For the Black Water Alliance², Old Qin shouldered all responsibility alone—he was actually taking the fall for others. If it were ordinary matters that would be one thing, but given the situation these past few years, I'm afraid his return would be difficult..."

The Wu Dynasty had accumulated weakness over nearly a hundred years, and the Liao people constantly invaded the borders—the Wu Dynasty had twice sought peace, and the treaties signed were both criticized by people. The Tanyuan Alliance³sixty-five years ago humiliated the country, almost severing the Wu Dynasty's will and possibility of recovering the Sixteen Prefectures of You and Yun⁴. By the Black Water Alliance six years ago, the annual tribute that needed to be paid had almost doubled, cutting deeply into the hearts of many patriots.

At that time when the Liao army came south, Qin Siyuan, then Minister of Personnel, strongly advocated resistance and even personally went to the front lines to supervise the battle, but later after several defeats at the front, the peace faction gained the upper hand. After deciding to negotiate peace, the reportedly somewhat disheartened Qin Siyuan rushed back from the front lines traveling day and night and took on the mission of negotiating peace.

It was said that when he walked into the Golden Imperial Hall that day, his battle robes hadn't been removed, his hair and beard were all disheveled, his armor broken in several places, smoke-blackened, with injuries on his hands—looking extremely tragic. Everyone thought he would remonstrate unto death, and the Emperor, who had only been on the throne for a year, hurriedly had people hold him back. Who knew he wasn't opposing but actually wanted to shoulder alone this thankless task of negotiating peace.

At that time there were naturally various opposing voices in court, saying he'd failed in supervising the battle at the front—how could he still take responsibility for peace negotiations? He clearly wanted to interfere and sabotage the peace talks, but those who understood a bit generally knew those defeats weren't the responsibility of this minister who'd always been a civil official. After two days of discussion, the higher-ups actually gave him responsibility for the peace negotiations.

Then came the Black Water Alliance—adding everything up, the annual tribute almost doubled. However, considering the Wu Dynasty's situation, the Liao people agreed that where money and cloth were insufficient, they could be offset with ceramics, curiosities, and various other items. By this time the Tanyuan Alliance had passed a full sixty-year cycle. The Liao Kingdom had developed and their demand for these items had increased. After the peace talks were concluded, though the Emperor at the time had no intention of punishing him, Qin Siyuan was disheartened—he forcefully took on multiple responsibilities for the military failures and peace negotiations. After a month in the imperial prison, though released, he still dejectedly hung up his cap and left. Later he didn't even return to his hometown, only saying: "This brings eternal infamy—I have no face to see my hometown elders." He then lived in seclusion in Jiangning. Until now, he hadn't been reinstated.

"...I'm afraid even if the higher-ups really let Old Qin return, given Old Qin's state of mind, these few years... he still won't come out of retirement." Song Mao thought this and shook his head, and the carriage was quiet for a moment, then Song Kai on the other side remembered something and lowered his voice.

"Master, I heard Lord Qin was extremely capable in handling affairs back then. He seemed casual about many things, yet no one dared criticize him for it. In recent years with the ongoing Jin-Liao conflicts, I've also heard some sayings that back then for the Black Water Alliance, considering the Jin Kingdom was growing stronger and had repeatedly requested trading rights from Liao without success, they designed to use large quantities of luxury goods as bait to provoke conflict between the two countries. In the years before the Black Water Alliance, there was already black market trade between Wu and Jin. After the Black Water Alliance was signed six years ago, the court not only paid tribute to Liao but even secretly shipped out large quantities of porcelain and curiosities, even rouge and powder, flowing into the Jin Kingdom—there are also sayings that the Emperor selected a batch of items from the palace to send out. And the second year, half of..."

Song Mao frowned: "Who did you hear this from?"

"The family's Fourth Young Master discussed this with someone—it seems to be Fourth Young Master's own speculation..."

"Fourth Brother," Song Mao sighed. "Using a nation's strength as chips for provocation—such thinking is really too fanciful. Ah Hui doesn't attend to proper business, only knows wild speculation all day... But whether true or false, don't mention it to others."

"This servant understands."

While talking, the carriage had already reached its destination—speaking of it, Song Mao and Qin Siyuan weren't truly master and disciple, just that Qin Siyuan had managed the Ministry of Personnel back then and Song Mao later built some connections. After the other left office, though many people no longer associated with Qin Siyuan because of the Black Water Alliance, whenever he came to Jiangning, the always thorough Song Mao would come pay respects as a disciple.

In his life motto, adding flowers to brocade wasn't as good as sending charcoal in snowy weather—Qin Siyuan's two sons were also in government now, and though currently still below the fourth rank, Qin Siyuan had taken the fall for a large group of people back then. With his background, they might very well be given important positions by the Emperor in the future, and especially looking at the recent situation, the possibility of Qin Siyuan being reinstated in a few years wasn't nonexistent.

After living in seclusion in Jiangning, Qin Siyuan's residence wasn't luxurious—just a simple scholarly courtyard. Song Mao presented his name card with disciple's courtesy and was soon invited in, only then discovering there was already another guest here. Song Mao hadn't seen this richly dressed elderly man before, but his status must be extraordinary, and after Old Qin made introductions, Song Mao understood the other's identity.

Princess Cheng's Imperial Son-in-law Kang Xian, courtesy name Mingyun—though this old man didn't involve himself in court, he was the current Emperor's uncle by marriage with an excellent reputation in literary circles. Being able to make his acquaintance would naturally be a great benefit for himself as an official, so he hurriedly paid respects with disciple's courtesy.

Old Qin didn't have much connection with this disciple normally, but he'd come every year these past few years, so of course he acted friendly now—he'd been appreciating calligraphy and paintings with Kang Xian, and now pulled the coincidentally present Song Mao to join them. Song Mao was overwhelmed by the favor for a moment—though he had talent, compared to these two he fell far short. He didn't dare speak randomly, only standing respectfully to the side, listening to the two discuss and converse, and occasionally when they asked him, he would answer, thinking he could visit Princess Cheng's mansion in a few days.

It was in this atmosphere that footsteps came from outside, followed by Lord Qin's concubine Yun'niang's voice: "They're in the study appreciating paintings. Young Master can just go in... Uh, this is..." Old Qin and Kang Xian were studying a long scroll. Kang Xian looked carefully while casually saying: "So he's arrived. I really don't know what items could surprise this old man..." Old Qin laughed. Then someone pushed open the ajar door and walked in.

This person must have been very familiar with Kang and Qin—he wore green robes but carried a jar in his hand, and what surprised Song Mao was that the newcomer appeared only in his early twenties. The person entered, originally smiling and about to speak, but seeing Song Mao, he also paused slightly. Song Mao thought this was probably a younger generation relative of Kang or Qin and was about to introduce himself when Old Qin already spoke.

"Haha, Liheng, you've come! Come meet, come meet—this is my former disciple, Song Mao, Song Yufan..."

That young man smiled and cupped his hands: "Brother Song, pleased to meet you."

Then Song Mao heard Old Qin say: "Yufan, this is my and Lord Ming's young friend..." He said, "Ning Yi, Ning Liheng."

Song Mao's pupils changed slightly, then he showed a simple smile: "Master Ning... could you be that Ning Yi, Ning Liheng of 'When Will the Bright Moon Appear'? Haha, I've long admired you."

After some pleasantries, Kang Xian spoke casually with that Ning Yi: "Didn't you say you had something good to bring—could it be in this jar?"

"Haha, naturally." Ning Yi casually placed the jar on the table. "Brother Song is here too—perfect. Today everyone can taste these century eggs together..."

Kang Xian paused slightly, then seemed to shake his head with mixed feelings: "And here this old man was just thinking what novel items they might be—turns out it's just food. Young Ning Yi, this isn't bragging, but in today's world, there really aren't many snacks or dishes this old man hasn't eaten or seen. I'm afraid you'll embarrass yourself today... Oh, these look like salted duck eggs, though different in appearance—pickled like this, they're still just salted duck eggs. Could you pickle flowers into them?"

Ning Yi laughed: "I've pickled flowers into them for you to see..."

Song Mao had no great interest in sweet eggs or salted eggs, and as Provincial Governor now, he'd been reserved before these two all along. At this time watching them chat and laugh, then that concubine Yun'niang brought in a basin of clean water from outside with several sets of bowls and chopsticks—she also seemed quite familiar with Ning Yi. Thinking of what he'd seen at the library pavilion today, his heart still couldn't stop shaking...

(End of Chapter)