Ink Burns

Chapter 219 He Shuiguang

"Speaking of which, the Liu family is your wife's 'maternal family'." Xu Quyan said calmly, then changed the subject with a teasing tone: "If I remember correctly, Han Chengrang and Zhao Tingguang, whom Liu Huan implicated, were your 'officials at the wedding'."

Xue Xiao smiled and said, "At the time, we were just putting on an act, so we let the Zhu family arrange everything as they pleased—we didn't think that far ahead."

Xu Quyan also smiled: "Back then? It seems that his thoughts on the book have changed somewhat?"

Xue Xiao's thin lips curled up almost imperceptibly, and he avoided looking at her even more completely: "Water flows slowly on a flat road and becomes turbulent when it encounters a boulder. Even mountains and rivers change, let alone ordinary people like us."

Xu Quyan's smile widened, and a sincere smile appeared on his bloodless face: "The book is written by an ordinary person, and it is only natural for an ordinary person to be moved by ordinary thoughts—you said that everything depends on 'fate,' but who could have predicted that the 'Qingfeng' you risked everything to marry would be your 'fate'?"

No.

A connection requires mutual agreement and a joyful commitment from both parties.

The mountain moon was not his "fate," but his "desire."

Driven to the extremes of desire, he sought the "desire" she left behind.

Xue Xiao offered tea again, but remained silent.

Meanwhile, the "Lady Xue" mentioned by the young emperor was walking along the veranda outside the waterside. Seeing that the flower room was locked but a bright light shone from the inner room, Shan Yue asked Ji Feng, who was guarding the doorway, in a low voice, "Does Your Excellency have a guest?"

The wind stretched its neck: "We have a guest." It emphasized, "A distinguished guest!"

Shan Yue immediately noticed the remaining ice cups used for cooling off in the corner of the corridor. She nodded slightly, lowered her gaze, and asked again, "Is it the Sage?"

The gale was stunned.

That's fucking amazing!
Shan Yue laughed and kindly pointed to the ice cup: "Sir, you are a martial arts practitioner who doesn't use charcoal in winter or ice in summer. If you weren't a saint, why would you use an ice cup that costs fifty coins a piece in the market to entertain your guests?"

Shan Yue paused, her tone calm, and slowly walked to the east side of the corridor, telling Ji Feng, "I'll wait here."

The sounds in the corridor were very faint. Xue Xiao's right ear twitched slightly, accurately catching the sound coming from the east. His gaze followed the sound, settling on the indistinct, blurry silhouette on the window lattice paper.

Emperor Yongping, amidst the flowers, posed another question: "If we investigate the Liu family too harshly, wouldn't that make it difficult for Madam to live in 'Qingfeng'? You should point out to Censor Xiong that since Liu Huan has already revealed everything, keep an eye on Zhao Tingguang and Han Chengrang. They are veteran officials from Southern Zhili and surely know more than Liu Huan."

There should be a gentle breeze outside the window.

A refreshing summer breeze.

The wind softened and quieted that silhouette.

Xue Xiao, unable to look away, replied calmly, "Yes. Xiong Laowu isn't particularly clever at solving cases, but he's straightforward and impulsive. Being a native of the capital and a son of an official with powerful ancestors, he doesn't understand the intricacies of complex relationships. Sometimes, using him to deal with shrewd and cunning old foxes can be surprisingly effective—"

Just like at the last court assembly, Xiong Laowu's words left Yuan Wenying speechless.

It's not the scheming of bad people that's scary, it's the sudden inspiration of a fool.

Xiong Laowu's impulsive moves sometimes hit the nail on the head, perfectly complementing Xiao Po's meticulous and cautious nature. Add to that the ruthless and solitary Fan Yi, and they can be said to be invincible in solving cases at the Censorate.

Xue Xiao's report was quite good.

But Xu Quyan still felt that this guy's attitude wasn't as serious as it had been just now.

Xu Quyan sat up straight and followed Xue Xiao's gaze. He saw a dark, swirling shadow on the window, and wondered what it was.

"What's so interesting about this?" Xu Quyan frowned. "The book—"

Xue Xiaofang came to his senses, turned his head, stood up slightly, and bowed to Emperor Yongping: "I hope Your Majesty will allow my wife to wait in the outer wing of the flower room—it is raining tonight, the corridor is hot and humid, and there are many moths. My wife is not in good health, and the heat and excitement may make her sick."

Xu Quyan: Oh, I see.

That dark, shadowy figure turned out to be your wife.

Even though it was a blurry mess, with no clear nose or eyes, Xue Qishu was still captivated by it.

It's really hopeless.

Xu Quyan aspired to be a great emperor whose name would be remembered in history.

Good emperors generally have little interest in disturbing the harmony of important ministers' marriages.

Xu Quyan glanced at the water clock, then stood up, leaning on the armrest: "This long night is for you two to have a quiet chat. I'm going back to the palace now."

Xue Xiao bowed and escorted Xu Quyan from the riverside to the Qingshou Palace in the east of the city. As Xu Quyan dismounted to change, Xue Xiao quietly stopped Wu, the Grand Eunuch beside Emperor Yongping, remembering his wife's concern, and carefully inquired about his wife's younger sister's situation: "Wei, the clerk of Xinglin Hall at Qiushui Ferry, is currently hiding in the South Palace. She said a Grand Eunuch is going to rescue her."

I accidentally started using "watery language".

Xue Xiao changed his tune: "They say that two high-ranking eunuchs from the Six Departments have taken a liking to her medical skills and want to bring her into the palace—to be honest, Clerk Wei is my wife's only surviving family member. If Eunuch Wu has the time, I would appreciate it if you could inquire about this matter. First, is this true? Second, do those high-ranking eunuchs have any ulterior motives?"

When Wu Da heard the phrase "two chief eunuchs," his face turned almost green.

He certainly counts as one.

The other one, without a doubt, is the reigning emperor changing his clothes in the corridor.

The emperor and his ministers have been talking for so long? Did they not discuss this matter at all?
Imperial Censor Xue didn't talk about it because he had no right to.

The sage didn't want a fourth person to know about this. Wu Dajian's eyes darted around, clearly indicating that the sage didn't want anyone else to know.

Also.

Sages do not like others to know everything about their physical condition.

“This matter... I happen to know about it.” Wu Dajian replied humbly, “It is indeed so. Wei Sibu’s medical skills are quite excellent and he has a great reputation. The Director of the Medical Department wanted to transfer him to the palace to make great achievements. However, now that His Majesty—oh no, the Director of the Medical Department is busy treating His Majesty’s health, the matter has been put on hold. Censor Xue, rest assured, I will personally handle this matter properly.”

He blushed as he said it.

What has a long-standing reputation and great ambitions?
That little girl was just lucky; she happened to heal the emperor who was traveling incognito!

This brat is being pampered by him like this, doesn't she fear shortening her lifespan?!
Upon hearing this, Xue Xiao bowed deeply to Grand Eunuch Wu, a high-ranking official in the court, showing great humility: "In that case, my wife can rest assured."

He paused slightly, then said, "If it is convenient for you, Eunuch, to simply move your fingers and quietly transfer Wei Sibu into the palace under a different name would be the best course of action."

Wu Dajian understood and chuckled as he flicked his whisk: "That's right. Everyone says that Wei Sibu of Qiushui Ferry died long ago at the hands of that troublemaker Chang family, so there's no Wei Sibu left—Your Excellency, what kind of person do you think would be suitable to transfer to the Department of Medicine?"

"He Shuiguang".

Xue Xiao also smiled: "He Shuiguang—Eunuch Wu, what do you think of this person and this name?"

(End of this chapter)