They arrived at Zhili Prefecture at nightfall that day.
Shu Changyu had become sleepy from his illness during the journey, so he leaned against the carriage wall and kept dozing off. Later, somehow, he ended up leaning against Jing Mu’s shoulder and fell asleep.
After the carriage stopped, it was Jing Mu who woke him.
At that time, Shu Changyu was still half-asleep. He lifted his head from Jing Mu’s arms and saw, in the darkness, his sharply defined face—yet there was not a single trace of coldness toward him. Every part of it was gentle.
In his dazed state, Shu Changyu had the urge to kiss him for a brief moment.
Shu Changyu swore it was only for a moment.
“We’ve arrived at Zhili Prefecture?” he asked hoarsely.
Jing Mu lowered his voice.
“We have. We just reached the city gates of Zhili Prefecture. The Governor of Zhili and several officials are already waiting there.”
Shu Changyu cleared his throat.
“Then let’s get down.”
Jing Mu answered with an “okay” and was the first to lift the curtain and jump down from the carriage.
The officials waiting beside the carriage saw someone get out and immediately bowed in greeting.
However, halfway through the gesture, they realized that although this person was tall and slender, he was wearing a guard’s uniform.
What was going on?
The officials exchanged confused looks.
Then they saw the guard lift the carriage curtain with one hand and extend his other hand inside. He helped someone out, then carefully supported that person as he stepped down.
That person wore an official’s robe, with a crab-shell-green cloak draped over it. His expression was cold and indifferent, and his entire presence carried the unreachable authority of someone in a high position.
The officials froze for a moment before realizing—
This was Master Shu.
But…
Why was Master Shu sharing a carriage with a guard?
Guo Hanru glanced over. Seeing that neither of them had any intention of explaining, he wisely remained silent.
Shu Changyu glanced at the officials.
The man leading them was an old acquaintance from his previous life.
That person was still the Governor of Zhili now. His surname was Sun, and his given name was Dazhi.
In his previous life, he had also been one of Shu Changyu’s most useful subordinates.
Back then, when Shu Changyu chose people, he did not care about morality or integrity. He only cared about whether someone had the ability to accomplish tasks.
Sun Dazhi was exactly that kind of person—someone who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
However, this person was not completely rotten.
He did not commit crimes, murder people, or commit arson. But when it came to the unspoken rules of officialdom, he understood them better than anyone.
In his previous life, after Shu Changyu became Prime Minister, most local officials remained cautious and waited to see which way the wind would blow.
Only Sun Dazhi was the first to extend an olive branch.
Not only did he collect all kinds of rare antiques and treasures and send them to Shu Changyu’s residence under various excuses, but even the local officials’ customary gifts of charcoal during winter and ice during summer were increased several times over.
In his previous life, Shu Changyu had greatly appreciated people who understood how to adapt to circumstances.
He examined Sun Dazhi and smiled.
“Master Sun, hearing of you for a hundred times is not as good as meeting you once.”
“Master Shu flatters me.”
Sun Dazhi quickly bowed and smiled.
“This subordinate has been waiting here for you for quite some time. When I heard that you encountered bandits on the road, I truly worried for you. Seeing that Master Shu is unharmed now, this subordinate can finally relax.”
A master of flattery, Shu Changyu thought.
“Thank you for your concern, Master Sun.”
“Master Shu has not yet eaten on the road, has he?” Sun Dazhi said.
“This subordinate and several colleagues have prepared a humble feast at the residence to welcome Master Shu and wash away the dust of your journey.”
As he spoke, he gestured invitingly toward the sedan chair beside them.
Shu Changyu knew that welcoming and seeing off visiting central officials was a normal courtesy when officials from the capital inspected local regions.
There was no need for him to act special.
Hearing this, he coughed twice, but his smile remained unchanged.
“Then I shall accept your kindness.”
“Master Shu, please.”
Shu Changyu glanced at Jing Mu and gave a slight nod, indicating that he should follow along with the others.
Then he entered the sedan chair.
Although they called it a “humble feast,” the extravagance of the banquet still made people click their tongues.
On the surface, it looked like the local officials had put great effort into welcoming an inspection officer and were willing to spend generously.
But Shu Changyu immediately saw through it.
A person like Sun Dazhi never did anything without a purpose.
He wanted something from him.
After sitting down, the officials took turns showing concern for him.
They asked about everything—from General Shu, his elder brother and sister, all the way down to the repair projects he had recently handled.
They knew every little detail.
And before anything else, they poured several cups of wine for him.
Shu Changyu was used to handling such situations.
He drank generously without hesitation.
Whenever someone toasted him, he happily accepted.
The exchange of cups and wine flowed smoothly.
Then he raised his eyes and saw Jing Mu standing opposite him.
Those dark eyes were glaring at him like knives.
Shu Changyu thought:
What a fuss.
If Jing Mu had followed him to every social gathering in his previous life, he probably would have glared his eyes out.
Shu Changyu looked away, pretending he had not noticed.
After three rounds of wine and several courses of dishes, Sun Dazhi finally steered the conversation toward the real matter.
“Inspecting the river routes is truly a difficult task. Master Shu has worked hard.”
Sun Dazhi sighed.
“The Yan River embankment has not had any problems for over ten years. I fear that Master Shu may spend dozens of days exhausting yourself, only to find everything safe in the end. Then you would have made the journey for nothing, and suffered through that frightening encounter on the road for nothing as well. It would truly be unfortunate.”
His words clearly implied that Shu Changyu should find a way to gain some benefits from this place.
Shu Changyu pretended not to understand.
“If the river remains stable and the people live peacefully, then this journey of mine is worthwhile.”
The atmosphere froze for a moment.
“Master Shu’s righteousness is admirable. Let us raise a cup to you!”
A nearby official immediately stepped in to smooth things over.
Everyone at the table quickly lifted their cups.
Guo Hanru, sitting nearby, had already suffered through endless rounds of drinking.
His head was dizzy, and he was barely holding on.
Seeing everyone raise their cups again, his heart sank. But he could only pick up his cup once more in a daze.
Shu Changyu watched him and smiled calmly.
Then, without changing expression, he drank together with everyone else.
This trick—getting someone drunk before discussing serious matters—was something he had seen far too often in his previous life.
However, when he raised his head to drink, he once again met Jing Mu’s gaze.
From far away, Jing Mu looked as if his eyes were about to split from anger.
He looked like he wanted nothing more than to rush over and snatch the wine cup from Shu Changyu’s hand.
Seeing this expression, Shu Changyu suddenly found it amusing.
He slowly closed his eyes and finished the wine, deliberately showing a slightly tipsy expression.
“However, Master Shu…”
Sun Dazhi continued with a smile.
“This subordinate does not understand river management, but I do understand ordinary principles.”
“Please continue, Master Sun.”
“If problems are discovered in the embankment, then naturally it must be repaired.”
Sun Dazhi smiled.
“But if there are no problems, spending some money to reinforce it would also make everyone feel more at ease.”
Shu Changyu raised his eyebrows but did not answer.
Seeing that he had not objected, Sun Dazhi became even more confident.
“Right now, the imperial court has no external wars and no internal disasters. The national treasury is naturally abundant.”
“Since that is the case, allocating some funds to strengthen the embankment would only bring peace of mind.”
Shu Changyu naturally knew exactly what he intended.
River embankment construction had always been an important government project. The imperial court allocated huge amounts of money for such projects.
And whenever money passed through many hands, everyone took their share.
If the funds passed through Shu Changyu’s hands and Sun Dazhi’s hands, both sides would benefit.
Moreover, repairing the embankment during Sun Dazhi’s term would add achievements to his record and might even help him climb into the central government.
His calculations were precise indeed.
Shu Changyu knew that if he continued pretending to cooperate, Sun Dazhi would think there was room for negotiation.
Rather than creating trouble for himself over the next few days, it was better to reject him immediately.
“Master Sun’s words are truly rather uninformed.”
Shu Changyu smiled.
“The imperial court having money does not mean it should be spent carelessly.”
“If the embankment needs repairing, it must not be delayed.”
“But if it does not need repair, why waste manpower and resources?”
“No matter how much money the national treasury has, every coin has its proper use.”
“Master Shu works tirelessly for the court. Would it not be reasonable for some silver to flow your way?”
Sun Dazhi refused to give up.
Hearing him speak so openly, Shu Changyu’s smile gradually cooled.
He rubbed his temple.
“Perhaps I am somewhat drunk. I did not quite hear what Master Sun said.”
Then he raised his head.
His cold eyes stared directly at him.
“Master Sun, surely you are also speaking drunken nonsense?”
Sun Dazhi froze.
Then he forced a smile and nodded.
Shu Changyu narrowed his eyes and smiled.
“After traveling all this way, I am somewhat unable to handle my liquor. I see that Master Guo is also drunk.”
“Let us end the banquet here today. Thank you for your hospitality, Master Sun.”
After saying this, he raised his hand.
Two attendants immediately came over and helped the heavily drunk Guo Hanru up.
Just as Shu Changyu was about to stand, someone approached and grabbed his arm to support him.
Shu Changyu thought:
I am not drunk. Where did this person with no sense of timing come from?
He turned around, ready to scold them.
Then he saw Jing Mu’s face.
Forget it.
I’ll lecture him after we return.
He bowed toward the officials and allowed Jing Mu to support him out.
The officials exchanged looks.
For a moment, no one spoke.
“Master Sun…”
After a while, one official frowned.
“This official from the capital this time… he is not easy to deal with.”
Sun Dazhi’s brows knitted tightly.
Repairing river embankments was the best way to make money.
He had guarded the Yan River for years, waiting for a flood.
But the river stubbornly remained perfectly fine.
This year, after finally encountering a season with heavy rainfall, he thought his opportunity had arrived.
Zhili bordered Zhaojing, and the Yan River flowed all the way to the north of the capital.
If the Yan River flooded, Zhaojing would surely be threatened.
Therefore, if the embankment needed repairs, the court would allocate a huge amount of money.
At that time, they only needed to spend a little to make things look proper.
The rest could all go into their own pockets.
But now…
A difficult person had appeared.
“No matter.”
After a moment, Sun Dazhi spoke.
“He will be here for half a month or more.”
“We have plenty of time.”
“I do not believe we cannot make him open his mouth.”
Outside, as soon as Shu Changyu stepped out, he quietly said to Jing Mu:
“I am not drunk. You do not need to support me.”
Unexpectedly, Jing Mu used a subtle bit of force.
Without anyone noticing, he shifted his arm around Shu Changyu’s waist, making him stumble and lean against him.
From the outside, it truly looked as if Master Shu had drunk too much and could barely stand.
Jing Mu held his waist tightly, keeping him pressed against himself.
“You…”
Shu Changyu pursed his lips, about to lose his temper.
But then he heard Jing Mu whisper beside his ear, gritting his teeth:
“What kind of person is Sun Dazhi that you need to drink yourself sick accompanying him?”
“You already have a cold.”
“Do you not want your health anymore?”