Amid the bustling voices, firelight illuminated the Su mansion after nightfall—blue tiles and flying eaves, carved corridors and painted beams where snowflakes fell only to be pushed away by the heat in the air or melted away.

Today's banquet had just begun, extending from a side hall of the Su mansion—with twenty-six tables of various round and square shapes and over two hundred people, this was just an ordinary winter banquet for the Su family. Other seasons had fewer, but as the year-end approached, such banquets became more frequent.

The Su family's main three branches, various cousins and relatives, some veterans who worked for the Su family, plus managers gathered from various regions this time had all taken their seats, and at the central round table naturally sat Old Master Su, Song Mao, and several elders of the same generation as Old Master Su, plus the family heads like Su Boyong and Su Zhongkan. The arrangement of surrounding tables basically followed protocol—only those who'd truly contributed to the Su family could sit there, for instance, Yushan Academy's headmaster Su Chonghua, regional business manager Su Yunsong, and other managers. Even direct descendants of the three branches had to be actual managers with such status to sit nearby, and if Xi Junyu had been invited, he would probably have sat here too.

As for Su Tan'er, though she now managed many matters for the first branch, she was still a woman without official recognition, so she sat one table further away with Ning Yi—there wasn't much conversation between them, but they appeared normal. Of course, what each was actually thinking was hard to say.

From this table onward, the seating rules became much more relaxed, and at a square table slightly behind, Su Wenxing and Su Wengui gathered together, occasionally glancing over with ulterior motives.

At this time, Su Tan'er and Ning Yi could never have imagined that at such an ordinary banquet, several people would spend the whole time watching them with emotions swinging high and low, unable to find any relief until the very end.

"Later Provincial Governor Song will definitely come over and praise that Ning Yi. Once the Provincial Governor speaks up, everyone pay attention—the show's about to start."

Su Wengui believed he'd seen through this matter completely, especially after Song Mao mentioned Ning Yi once in the initial conversations at that table, pointing out his teaching abilities—this conviction grew even stronger. About fifteen minutes after the banquet began, people had already started moving between tables, and after another fifteen minutes, Song Mao finally picked up his wine cup and walked around nearby with Su Zhongkan.

With Song Mao's status as Provincial Governor, it would have been fine to remain seated at the head table throughout, but he'd always been thorough—this walking around wasn't putting on airs with his governor status, but rather placing himself as always in the position of Su family friend and relative. After greeting the surrounding tables this way, he'd already given considerable face, but then, indeed with a casual manner, he headed toward Su Tan'er and Ning Yi, apparently saying a few words: "With Tan'er and Liheng in the Su family..."

"I'll go over..." Su Wenxing picked up a wine cup and approached, but just as he got close, Song Mao and Su Zhongkan turned and left. He froze slightly, then turned back.

"What happened..."

"Don't know, Uncle just said a few casual words..."

"With the Provincial Governor's status, he shouldn't say too much anyway. Perhaps the Governor feels the timing isn't right yet." Su Wengui thought with a dark expression. "Maybe he's waiting for Second Sister and Ning Yi to come toast before saying something to test him."

Amid the surrounding firelight, the banquet continued noisily. Figures moved about, children played, wine cups clinked at the tables. The few with their schemes had no mood for eating, drinking, or merrymaking. Before long, Su Tan'er and Ning Yi stood up. They also grabbed wine cups and stood, mixing into the crowd heading toward the main table. Su Tan'er and Ning Yi finished their toast and returned. Su Wenxing and Su Wengui also returned puzzled, looking at Ning Yi then at Song Mao, blinking, then discussing again. Not long after, the couple Su Tan'er and Ning Yi stood again, conversing with Song Mao not far away. Su Wengui nudged Su Wenxing, who followed over... and returned with his wine cup...

The banquet gradually dispersed.

Following stricter protocol, others could only leave after Old Master departed. But Old Master liked staying here chatting with his old brothers in the lively atmosphere. Seeing the time was about right, he smiled and waved: "Those with business, those who've eaten and drunk their fill, go ahead and disperse, disperse, hehe..."

Some children who'd played enough were already nodding off. Some people had drunk until they vomited, slumped over tables. After Old Master's words, the atmosphere became more relaxed. Some people left while others came to this table to pay respects to Old Master and chat about interesting matters. Su Wengui and the others' faces were terribly dark. Su Wenxing had bragged for days about Song Mao coming over—now he felt his face had fallen and shattered into eight pieces, impossible to piece back together.

"What the hell, nothing happened at all..."

"Your uncle never planned to test him from the start..."

"If you can't convince your uncle to help, just say so directly. When we left you said tonight for sure..."

In their line of sight, Song Mao had already stood up, seeming to smile and say something: "Can't hold my liquor..." Probably taking his leave too, while Su Tan'er and Ning Yi had also gone to greet Old Master. When Song Mao was almost at the door, Su Tan'er and Ning Yi also began turning to leave. Su Wenxing, his face black, suddenly stood up: "Wait!"

The noisy voices were suppressed for an instant by these words, then resumed. Many people noticed him but naturally didn't think the words were directed at them. Song Mao at the door glanced over. Su Tan'er and Ning Yi looked over puzzled, glanced around, then turned to continue walking. Old Master tilted his head, looking at Su Wenxing, blinking several times: "Oh, Wenxing, what are you all saying over there? Something wrong?"

"I... I... Um... no, nothing..."

After finishing these words, he sat down dejectedly.

A moment later, he stood up again and chased after Song Mao's departing direction.

Leaving the banquet and returning to his room, Song Mao drank a sip of the sobering tea Song Kai had already prepared, then washed his face.

He hadn't drunk much—for him, just enough to rinse his mouth. His head remained clear. He sat down at the table, took out a letter and placed it aside, then ground some ink and laid out several sheets of rice paper, prepared his brush, assumed a writing posture, and deliberated in his mind.

Today's harvest was quite rich.

Originally visiting Old Qin was just routine, with little expected gain. In his way of being an official, important figures all needed frequent visits—you never knew when specific effects would manifest. Building good relationships normally was never wrong. Regarding the master-disciple relationship with Qin Siyuan, he hadn't held great expectations. This matter was simply a chip placed here—if Qin Siyuan returned to power in the future, he'd naturally remember him somewhat. If he lost the chance for reinstatement, he could still maintain some connection with his two sons. This level of interaction wasn't deep. Even he hadn't expected it would advance somewhat today.

At the Qin mansion today, that Ning Yi's casual manner with the two elders had indeed startled him. It appeared natural, yet wasn't the interaction between younger generation relatives. No wonder Old Qin introduced him as "young friend of Lord Ming and myself." Shock aside, the matter wasn't bad. After he frankly revealed his family relationship with the Su family and the other party, Master Qin's attitude toward him clearly changed somewhat, no longer purely polite exchanges between ordinary disciple and teacher. He was very satisfied with this deepening of relationship.

On the other hand, he'd also met Kang Xian, Kang Mingyun.

Song Mao thought about these things, first writing several characters on the rice paper: "Lord Kang Mingyun, for your esteemed perusal¹." Then he stopped again. He would visit Lord Ming in a few days and was considering the letter's wording. Then he crossed out the character "bestow" under "esteemed perusal" and wrote "dao" beside it. "Dao jian"²—this was appropriate usage for moral exemplars and respected scholars.

These wordings were minor details, but these were indeed what he was thinking about now. As for testing whether Ning Yi sought fame through deception, he'd completely dismissed it after greeting Ning Yi at the Qin mansion. To be fair, with his current position, he wasn't afraid of Qin Siyuan or Kang Mingyun. As for Ning Yi who associated with these two merely as a commoner, he had even less to fear or dread. If he really wanted to do something, Ning Yi was just a small figure to him.

But why bother?

Whether the second branch took over the Su family or that girl called Su Tan'er took over, what he could gain had no real difference. Why bother? From that moment, the decision he could make was crystal clear. Whether Ning Yi truly sought fame through deception or not, he had no need to expose him, so naturally no need to test anything either.

As for that nephew who wholeheartedly wanted to embarrass the other... this was just a small matter. With the decision made, he no longer kept it in mind.

A moment later, Song Kai entered to report: "Young Master Wenxing requests an audience." He nodded: "Let him in." His gaze remained focused on the rice paper before him, beginning to write the subsequent text...

Snow wind brushed past. The snowy night scene held some loneliness and desolation. From afar came the sound of temple bells.

The distant banquet had basically dispersed. Looking over from the second-floor railing, the firelight seemed to have faded considerably. Ning Yi leaned there casually watching the Su family compound with its swaying lamp shadows. In the snow curtain, the lights in each room and pavilion shimmered with great atmosphere.

Footsteps came from the stairway. Without looking, he knew who it was. These footsteps differed from Xiao Chan who usually loved coming up to drag him down. Xiao Chan's steps were much livelier. These footsteps were graceful and quiet—perhaps composed and quiet would be more apt.

Tilting his head, that silver-white figure was coming from that side of his vision. He only saw a corner of the fox fur because there was a pillar beside him. The figure walked to the other side of the pillar and stopped, similarly leaning on the railing looking out at the courtyard.

The two silently looked together for a while. Tilting his head, he could see the woman's beautiful yet still somewhat youthful profile. After a while, Su Tan'er finally spoke: "Husband really likes watching the scenery here."

"It's very beautiful, isn't it?"

Ning Yi smiled. He knew for the two of them, the time for cards on the table had arrived.

......

"Husband is a strange person."

"Hmm?"

(End of Chapter)