Xie Yi went to where the Ru brothers were staying.
Though only temporary lodging, Ru Juncel kept the place in perfect order.
After their parents died, the brothers depended on each other. With his younger brother Ru Xuezhou being weak, Ru Juncel had long learned to take on both parental roles while still studying diligently.
At this moment, he was mending his brother’s clothes while reciting classical texts to him.
He had a photographic memory and was deeply familiar with all texts, not even needing to look at books. He could detect even a single wrong character from Ru Xuezhou.
Lin Zhiji watched in awe.
No wonder Shen Xian said he had the talent of a top scholar.
But Lin Zhiji’s attention was inevitably drawn to Ru Xuezhou.
In the original story, the Prince of Qi had fallen in love at first sight with him and tried every means to abduct him.
Lin Zhiji hadn’t paid much attention before, but now that he saw him in person, he was stunned.
Ru Xuezhou was only fourteen or fifteen. Because of illness, his skin was pale and almost translucent, his features delicate and harmless, like a handful of fresh snow.
Xie Yi could sense where Lin Zhiji was looking.
It was not lustful—just pure appreciation, the same kind he once directed at Xie Yi himself.
A faint trace of irritation rose in Xie Yi’s heart.
Lin Zhiji was still watching intently when his vision suddenly shifted—Xie Yi had moved behind the house.
From that angle, only Ru Juncel could be seen; Ru Xuezhou was hidden from view.
Lin Zhiji: …?
If not for Qing Li entering shortly after, he might have thought Xie Yi had done it on purpose.
The Ru brothers were hiding here to avoid the Prince of Qi, and Qing Li had been delivering supplies and food, gradually becoming familiar with them.
Ru Juncel noticed her distracted expression and poured her a cup of water.
“Miss Qing Li, are you alright?”
She nearly spilled the cup, but he quickly steadied it.
Ru Juncel asked again, worried.
Qing Li shook her head: “I’m fine.”
Ru Juncel gently said she looked exhausted, that she could rely on them more, especially since the Prince of Qi was currently in trouble and distracted…
Qing Li shook her head repeatedly.
She had already been shaken by the recent “warnings” from the lord and feared doing anything wrong. These were the lord’s personally ordered guests—she could not be careless.
Ru Juncel seemed to understand something and tried to reassure her: “If you are worried about offending your benefactor, there is no need. He must be a kind person and will understand…”
Qing Li froze.
“…You’re talking about the lord?”
Ru Juncel nodded with admiration: “Yes. I know he appears cold, but he is truly warm-hearted underneath…”
Qing Li: “…”
Warm-hearted?
The lord?
Qing Li felt her mind going blank.
Lin Zhiji also vaguely understood what was going on and blurted out: 【This old geezer is not even human!!】
Xie Yi was already used to the strange expressions that occasionally popped out of Lin Zhiji’s mouth.
He knew that to Lin Zhiji, this world was just a book. But even if it was a book, it was still written by people, and everything in it more or less reflected the world of the “author.”
The words Lin Zhiji used weren’t much different from theirs; even the pastries here were things he accepted without difficulty.
He seemed similar to them, yet there was always an indescribable distance.
Xie Yi’s thoughts shifted slightly, and he said: 【A father is like the heaven above his child. Even if he wants me to die, it is still justified—this is filial duty.】
【What nonsense filial duty!! Everyone is an independent individual—what right does he have to decide your life or death?!】 Lin Zhiji couldn’t help but retort, then suspiciously added, 【Host, you don’t seem like someone who would be this blindly filial.】
Xie Yi looked at the flickering little round ball and slowly smiled: 【Yes.】
Shen Xian, meanwhile, was still regretting his loose tongue when he suddenly saw a fleeting smile on Xie Yi’s face.
Shen Xian: !!!
Then he heard Xie Yi turn to him and say, “You were a quarter of an hour late. What happened?”
Shen Xian didn’t know why he was suddenly being questioned about this, but carefully replied, “Some of the Prince of Qi’s advisers were jealous of me and caused trouble, so I was delayed dealing with them…”
“The situation in the Prince of Qi’s residence is complicated. It is not easy to navigate.” Xie Yi said calmly. “You’ve worked hard.”
Shen Xian: !!!
It’s over!!!
Xie Yi asked Lin Zhiji: 【Task completed?】
Lin Zhiji glanced sympathetically at Shen Xian, who was drenched in cold sweat.
Even though it was already summer, he was still wearing thick robes, yet he had been scared into sweating.
But Lin Zhiji only sympathized for a second before happily looking at the incoming points and nodding hard: 【Completed!!】
Shen Xian had initially panicked, but quickly calmed himself.
A few days earlier, when Song Lü came to deliver a secret message, Shen Xian had met him briefly. Even though Song Lü was disguised, he looked noticeably thinner.
When asked, Song Lü had sighed and said he had displeased the lord and had not been able to eat properly for days.
At the time Shen Xian didn’t think much of it, but now in hindsight, Song Lü’s expression had indeed been strange.
Thinking of this, Shen Xian quickly changed his tone: “It is this subordinate’s duty. I do not dare claim hardship.”
Xie Yi gave a soft “mm” and did not continue the topic.
Shen Xian finally relaxed and quickly changed the subject: “My lord, do you still remember the Ru family brothers?”
Lin Zhiji, who had been happily counting points, immediately perked up.
Xie Yi’s fingers paused slightly. His voice cooled a little: “What do you want to say?”
Shen Xian hurriedly explained, afraid of overstepping: “This subordinate does not mean to interfere. I only happened to see documents about those two brothers in the Prince of Qi’s residence, so I mentioned it.”
Previously, Qing Li had passed him a message saying the lord intended to use those two brothers as leverage against the Crown Prince, but the assassination incident had made that unnecessary.
While sorting documents in the Prince of Qi’s residence, Shen Xian had come across their records.
The Prince of Qi had intended to take Ru Xuezhou into his household, and his subordinates had already thoroughly investigated the brothers, producing a thick stack of documents.
Shen Xian had glanced at them out of curiosity—and then couldn’t stop.
“My lord, Ru Juncel is exceptionally talented, with the makings of a top scholar. His background is simple. If he enters officialdom in the future…”
He stopped with a bitter smile.
He himself was gifted, yet born into a merchant family and thus barred from the imperial examinations.
Though people called him “Master Shen,” he could only hide behind the scenes, never standing openly in court.
He quickly composed himself and continued, “Although my lord already has many capable people, your foundation in the court is still weak. Someone like Ru Juncel would be very useful…”
Lin Zhiji: !!!
He hadn’t expected Shen Xian to be thinking this way.
In the original story, Ru Juncel was one of the most important strategists under the protagonist Liu Muzhi. Many of Liu Muzhi’s strategies came from him.
One could even say Liu Muzhi’s smooth path to power was largely thanks to him—though in the end, he still failed to defeat Xie Yi.
But what if he were taken in by Xie Yi from the beginning?
Would Liu Muzhi’s rise be cut off before it even began?
Lin Zhiji wasn’t particularly concerned about the protagonist, but System 03 had warned him: do not alter major plotlines, or it could cause serious trouble.
He felt a headache coming on.
Earlier, he had only told Xie Yi about Ru Juncel’s talent to save the brothers.
Fortunately, Xie Yi didn’t care and only used it as a tool against the Crown Prince.
He had originally planned to suggest sending them back to Lingchuan once things settled.
Who would have thought Shen Xian would interfere now?
Not supposed to have scholars competing, huh?
Shen Xian, you’re way too selfless!!
Xie Yi didn’t actually need a strategist—but as Shen Xian said, he did need officials.
If Ru Juncel truly passed the exams—even if not top three, even just a jinshi—he could be cultivated from behind. And if he was competent, his future would be bright.
From him would extend networks of classmates, teachers, fellow examinees, hometown ties, and marriage alliances. If he rose high enough, that network would only expand.
The only concern was his ability and character.
Xie Yi tapped the table lightly. “I will consider it.”
Shen Xian said no more.
After Shen Xian left, Lin Zhiji couldn’t help but ask cautiously: 【Host, are you really going to recruit Ru Juncel?】
Xie Yi: 【You don’t want that?】
【Uh…】 Lin Zhiji hesitated. 【It’s not that, but he’s too upright. He might not be suitable for officialdom under your methods. He’s also different from you in temperament. I’m afraid you’ll expend a lot of effort and get nothing in return…】
【Is that so?】 Xie Yi raised an eyebrow. 【Then I should take a look even more.】
—
Xie Yi went to where the Ru brothers were staying.
Although it was only temporary lodging, Ru Juncel kept everything orderly.
After their parents died, the brothers relied on each other. With his younger brother Ru Xuezhou being weak, Ru Juncel had long learned to act as both guardian and student, never neglecting his studies.
At that moment, he was mending his brother’s clothes while reciting classical texts, even testing him on passages.
He had an exceptional memory and knew the classics thoroughly, not even needing to look at books. He could immediately detect a single wrong character from Ru Xuezhou.
Lin Zhiji watched in awe.
No wonder Shen Xian called him a top scholar.
But Lin Zhiji’s attention was inevitably drawn to Ru Xuezhou.
In the original story, the Prince of Qi had fallen for him at first sight and tried every means to abduct him.
Lin Zhiji hadn’t paid much attention before, but now that he saw him properly, he was stunned.
Ru Xuezhou was only fourteen or fifteen. Because of illness, his skin was pale and almost translucent, his chin delicate, his beauty soft and harmless like fresh snow.
Xie Yi could sense where Lin Zhiji was looking.
It was not lust—just pure appreciation, the same kind he had once received.
A faint trace of irritation rose in Xie Yi’s heart.
Lin Zhiji was still looking when his view suddenly shifted—Xie Yi had moved behind the house.
From there, only Ru Juncel was visible; Ru Xuezhou was blocked from sight.
Lin Zhiji: …?
If not for Qing Li entering shortly after, he might have thought Xie Yi did it on purpose.
The Ru brothers were hiding here to avoid the Prince of Qi, and Qing Li had been delivering supplies and supplies, gradually becoming familiar with them.
Ru Juncel noticed her distracted state and poured her a cup of water.
“Miss Qing Li, are you alright?”
She nearly spilled it, but he steadied the cup in time.
Ru Juncel asked again, worried.
Qing Li shook her head: “I’m fine.”
Ru Juncel gently said she looked exhausted, that she could rely on them more, especially since the Prince of Qi was currently in trouble…
Qing Li shook her head repeatedly.
She had already been shaken by the lord’s recent “warnings” and feared making mistakes. These were personally assigned by the lord—she could not be careless.
Ru Juncel seemed to understand and reassured her: “If you are worried about offending your benefactor, there is no need. He must be a kind-hearted person and will understand…”
Qing Li froze.
“…You’re talking about the lord?”
Ru Juncel nodded with admiration: “Yes. I know he seems cold, but he is actually warm-hearted underneath…”
Qing Li: “…”
Warm-hearted?
The lord?
Qing Li’s mind went completely blank.
【Main storyline mission one: Please help the antagonist enter the clan genealogy.】
Lin ZhiJi: ???
What kind of trash mission is this!
Are you messing with me!!
However, since the main storyline mission concerned whether he could return, he could only pinch his nose and say: 【…But putting it another way, emotion is emotion, reason is reason, toilet paper… ah no, the clan genealogy thing is just a name anyway, getting written in it isn’t that big of a deal…】
Xie Yi naturally heard the stiff turn in his words, and the curve of his lips faded slightly.
【Is that what you think?】
Lin ZhiJi really wanted to refute, but for the sake of the mission, he could only force himself to say: 【Yes. Isn’t this the time when people care most about these things? Besides, it can also make the old man more at ease with you, which would be beneficial to your plan, right?】
As Lin ZhiJi spoke more, he grew increasingly guilty, and then suddenly heard Xie Yi let out a light laugh.
Xie PingYue also heard it and said unhappily: “What are you laughing at?”
The corner of Xie Yi’s mouth carried a mocking curve, his tone relaxed.
“When my mother died, I heard she was wrapped in a straw mat and sent to a mass grave. By your meaning, are you planning to move the entire mass grave into the Xie family ancestral tomb?”