I was living in the Five Dynasties period, just after crossing the Zhongdu Bridge.

In the end, the word "lie" can be broken down into two parts: "speech absurdity" and "absurdity."

As for making absurd statements, it's nothing more than an attempt to deceive others.

They're either after the gold and silver, or the fleeting pleasure.

Or perhaps it's to deceive oneself, to find peace of mind, or to have something to hold onto.

The lie Shen Lie told the blind old man belonged to the latter category.

Won?

Where did the victory come from?

If the two thousand wronged souls beneath Zhongdu Bridge knew this in the afterlife, they would probably weep so much that even the River of Oblivion would stop flowing.

But Shen Lie had to tell this lie.

If he didn't breathe, the old man's last breath would dissipate.

He didn't dare stay in that house any longer. He left behind the rice and grain that Yang Ting had just bought, stuffed all the loose silver in his pocket under the chipped table leg, and fled the alley as if he were escaping.

This was the first time he had ever felt so embarrassed.

It was even more disastrous than when he charged into the Khitan formation alone.

Upon returning to Li Congxi's residence, Commander Li was already as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

Upon seeing Shen Lie return, they didn't bother with pleasantries and hurriedly urged the servants to help Shen Lie change his clothes.

He took off his armor and put on a brand new scarlet official robe.

He wore an eleven-pronged gold belt around his waist and a two-beamed scholar's cap on his head.

However, the sleeves were too wide, which was difficult to get used to. Shen Lie originally wanted to stick to his usual civil and military sleeves, but Li Congxi stopped him.

Because this Great Liang has its own rules.

Even if you are a killer at heart, once you are under the emperor's nose, you have to put on a skin called propriety.

"Let's go, don't keep the Emperor waiting."

Li Congxi looked Shen Lie up and down, nodded with satisfaction, and then led him into the carriage, heading straight for the imperial city.

At this time, Xuande Gate was already packed with carriages and horses.

Although Liu Zhiyuan had only been in power in Daliang for a short time, the framework of this new court had already been set up in Taiyuan.

Civil and military officials, as well as envoys from various regions, all eagerly sought to squeeze through the palace gates, hoping to make an appearance before the new emperor and bring him good fortune.

Shen Lie got out of the car and was about to hand over his waist token when he heard a laughing and cursing sound.

"Damn it! You little brat, I almost didn't recognize you in that outfit!"

Looking in the direction of the sound, one could see that not far to the left of Xuande's men, stood the high-ranking official who had succeeded to the throne, dressed in a purple robe.

The leader, with an imposing presence and a broad back and thick waist, was none other than the Commander of the Imperial Guards, who now held immense power in the court.

Shi Hongzhao.

Shen Lie dared not delay and quickly stepped forward to perform the proper etiquette.

"Shen Lie pays his respects to Commander Shi."

"This is Deputy Privy Councilor Guo."

Shi Hongzhao introduced it to Shen Lie.

Shen Lie then stole a glance at this person.

He looked to be in his forties, with dark brown skin, a neat short beard, and a dark-colored tattoo on his neck, though it was mostly covered by his collar.

"Shen Lie pays his respects to Privy Councilor Guo."

Shen Lie bowed again.

"Alright, alright, stop with all this academic nonsense."

Shi Hongzhao pulled Shen Lie up and patted him twice.

"He did a great job in Yaozhou, he didn't embarrass me!"

Shi Hongzhao grinned, his face full of smugness. He then turned to Guo Wei beside him and boasted, "Guo Que'er, look! This is Shen Lie, whom I mentioned to you. He dared to go to Yaozhou with only a few hundred men. What do you think? My judgment of people is no worse than yours, is it?"

This call of Guo Que'er was extremely rude, but it also highlighted the deep friendship between the two.

Guo Wei was not annoyed by what he heard. He just smiled gently and looked Shen Lie up and down.

"The person you recommend is naturally excellent."

Guo Wei's voice was mellow and warm, which gave Shen Lie a feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze.

"Commander Shen is a young prodigy. He was able to pacify Yaozhou with a single army, truly a rare and excellent general. Now that the Emperor is in need of capable men, Commander Shen's return will surely be of great importance!"

These are just polite words, and they set the tone.

However, just as Shen Lie was about to say a few humble words, his mind was diverted by another person.

A young man in a blue robe emerged from behind Guo Wei, holding a stack of documents in his hands, and smiling as he looked at him.

Those features and figure were those of the benefactor who had just helped the mother and child out of their predicament on the street.

Their eyes met, and they smiled at each other.

This city of Daliang is ridiculously small.

"What? You two know each other?" Shi Hongzhao was a man of both roughness and keen observation, and he immediately noticed the unusual relationship between the two.

The young man stepped forward and bowed to Shi Hongzhao.

"Reporting to Commander Shi, I had a brief encounter with Commander Shen on the way here."

The young man smiled, not mentioning the quarrel at the mutton stall, and simply said, "Commander Shen is chivalrous and courageous, I admire him."

"Oh?" Shi Hongzhao became interested. "There aren't many people you can admire."

After saying that, Shi Hongzhao pointed to the young man and introduced him to Shen Lie: "Shen Lie, you should get to know him too. This is Guo Shumi's adopted son, named Guo Rong. He is currently helping Guo Shumi manage some administrative affairs."

Guo Rong, or Chai Rong.

Emperor Shizong of Zhou was the first wise ruler of the Five Dynasties, who spent ten years expanding the empire, ten years nurturing the people, and ten years bringing peace and prosperity to the land.

Shen Lie took a deep breath and returned Guo Rong's greeting.

"So it's Young Master Guo. Thank you for what happened earlier."

This expression of gratitude was not only for the silver, but also for upholding the last shred of dignity and respect that remained for the sons of the Han people.

Guo Rong shook his head and replied in unison, "Commander Shen, you are too kind. Compared to the peace and safety that Commander Shen has protected in Guanzhong, my little act is nothing."

The two exchanged words, each with hidden meanings.

To outsiders it may sound like polite formalities, but only they themselves know that it is a mutual affirmation among their kind.

These days, there are very few people who would stop for a complete stranger.

"Alright, stop flattering each other."

Shi Hongzhao waved his hand impatiently, "It's almost time, Shen Lie. You stay behind me and answer whatever the Emperor asks. Don't try anything fancy."

"promise."

Shen Lie respectfully accepted the order.

As the palace gates slowly opened, the imperial road leading to the pinnacle of power was finally revealed.

Shi Hongzhao naturally walked in front, Guo Wei and his son Guo Rong followed a little behind, and Shen Lie followed closely behind.

As they walked, Guo Wei suddenly slowed his pace, walking alongside Shen Lie, and asked in a low voice:

"Commander Shen, have the mother and child been settled in?"

Shen Lie was taken aback, then understood.

Since Guo Rong was Guo Wei's adopted son, there were naturally no secrets between the father and son. Presumably, Guo Rong had already informed the Privy Councilor about what happened on the street.

"Reporting to the Privy Councilor, the rice and provisions have been delivered, but..."

Shen Lie paused, remembering the blind old man, and felt a pang of sadness. "But when the old man in that house asked about the Battle of Zhongdu Bridge, I... told a lie."

"Lying?" Guo Wei's eyes flickered slightly.

"I told him that Zhongdu Bridge won."

Upon hearing this, Guo Wei paused in his tracks.

He turned his head, gave Shen Lie a deep look, and then sighed softly.

"That's a good lie."