Night fell.
Jiang Suzhou was busy at the Ministry of Rites. He didn't return to the prince's mansion until the sky was completely dark.
He didn't forget about Xu Du's matter. As soon as he returned, he went to Xu Du's courtyard.
Because he didn't inform the meeting beforehand, Gu Changyun didn't come. This was also the reason why Jiang Suzhou didn't know about the meeting. There were some things that he needed to discuss with Xu Du in private.
Xu Du's courtyard had just finished preparing dinner. Seeing Jiang Suzhou come, Xu Du was exceptionally calm. He had the maids serving him add a set of bowls and chopsticks and then sent them out.
After the servants left, only the two of them were left.
Xu Du's residence was rather quiet. The bamboo outside the window swayed and the smell of ink lingered in the room. There was a chess game on the table in front of the window. On top of it was an unsolved chess game.
Jiang Suzhou sat down at the table and looked at Xu Du. He saw Xu Du smile faintly.
"Master actually knows that you have matters to hand over to this subordinate on the fifteenth of every month," he said. "This subordinate isn't as clever as Changyun. I was thinking that if master didn't know, what method should I use to meet you."
He said it very straightforwardly. It was clear that he put Jiang Suzhou's identity on the table.
Jiang Suzhou didn't feign civility. Relying on the fact that there weren't any recording devices in ancient times, he said bluntly, "There are many books in the study. I can find some clues from them and know that I have something to do with you today."
Xu Du was stunned. He didn't seem to think that he could be so straightforward.
"This subordinate has only read about this kind of soul possession in books since childhood. I didn't think that this guess was actually true," he said slowly.
Jiang Suzhou laughed faintly, "I didn't want to come either. It was a coincidence. I really had no choice."
Xu Du laughed.
"It's interesting. To be able to see such a strange story, I didn't come to this world in vain," he said.
He appeared extremely open-minded and natural. Jiang Suizhou sized him up for a moment and said, "So, I still don't know what you're after."
Upon hearing this, Xu Du asked, "What is the plot that my lord is talking about?"
Jiang Suizhou said, "You already know that although I've become Prince Jing, I'm not him. Since you are his subordinates, you naturally have your own goals. Now that I know that Gu Changyun's family was threatened, what about you? "
Xu Du's face showed some surprise.
"Master, you even found out about this?" he asked.
Jiang Suizhou looked at him quietly.
After a while, Xu Du laughed and nodded.
"That is indeed the case. His parents died early, and he lived with his grandmother and younger sister. At that time, the Lord took a fancy to him, but he didn't want to get involved in the disputes of the Imperial Court, so the Lord used some tricks, "he said. "Never would I have expected you to be so intelligent, to even be able to see through this."
"What about you?" Jiang Suizhou asked him.
Xu Du paused and looked at him, his eyes bright.
"I was born a merchant and had no way to become an official," he said. "But my ambition was to serve the country, and my life's goal was nothing more than fame and fortune."
Jiang Suizhou knew that the Jing Dynasty had just started the imperial examinations not long ago, and they had strict requirements for those who wanted to become an official.Within the five ranks, as long as they were merchants, singers, or prostitutes, they couldn't participate in the imperial examinations.
Jiang Suizhou paused and asked, "So, you became a subordinate of Prince Jing?"
Xu Du laughed.
"I'm a nobody. Now, other than His Highness Prince Jing, who is in a difficult situation, I can't find any other way," he said.
"Moreover, although I seek fame and fortune, I'm not unscrupulous. If I entered Pang Shao's sect, wouldn't I go down in history in infamy? "
His words were frank.
Seeing his state, Jiang Suizhou believed eighty percent of his words. He pondered for a moment and asked, "So, what do you do with the money I give you on the fifteenth of every month?"
He knew that whether a person's words could be trusted depended on how he did it.
Whether or not Xu Du was honest with him depended on these important matters.
He quietly looked at Xu Du. He saw him turn around and take out an account book from a hidden compartment on the bookshelf. He returned to the table and handed it to Jiang Suizhou.
"Prince Jing has saved up money over the past few years to raise a group of suicide soldiers," he said. "There aren't many of them, only about ten in total. Because the suicide soldiers need to be personally trained for many years before they can be used without worry, my lord asked me to come here and gave me the task of raising and training the suicide soldiers. "
Jiang Suizhou was a bit surprised, but his expression didn't change as he took the account book and looked at it carefully.
Every suicide soldier's serial number and expenses were clearly recorded. Even the dates were recorded. There was actually a large book of details every month.
Jiang Suizhou paused and said, "So, you always go out to play every month, and you always go out to buy pen and paper, but I never let you report it?"
Xu Du smiled and nodded, "My lord is really smart."
Jiang Suizhou quietly looked through the account book. Xu Du waited at the side and didn't rush him. After a long time, Jiang Suizhou put down the account book and took out the money he had prepared beforehand. He handed it to Xu Du according to the amount on the account book.
He was using his actions to tell him that he trusted him.
Xu Du smiled and reached out to take the money.
"You did very well," Jiang Suizhou said. "There will be many places where I can use you in the future."
Xu Du smiled faintly, "My lord, please give me your orders."
Jiang Suizhou paused and looked up at him, "But, have you thought about the future?"
Xu Du didn't say anything. He tilted his head and motioned for him to continue.
Jiang Suizhou slowly opened his mouth.
"The rise and fall of a dynasty is the law of nature," he said. "If one dynasty's destiny is exhausted and another sun rises, how will you obtain the fame and fortune you want?"
Xu Du heard this and didn't speak for a long time.
After a long time, he laughed. His laughter was clear and clean.
"Everyone believes that the Northern and Southern dynasties are governed by rivers. This is a foregone conclusion and will continue for a hundred years. Even if Beiliang still has Huo Wujiu, this situation can't be changed. Why does my lord think that the Southern dynasty's destiny is exhausted?"
Jiang Suizhou asked, "Why was Huo Wujiu captured?"
Xu Du answered, "The lone army entered the enemy's territory. Their reinforcements were cut off."
Jiang Suizhou continued, "Then, how is Nanjing's imperial court now?"
Xu Du paused and smiled, "My lord, are you saying that Huo Wujiu's defeat this time was due to the horse's front hooves, and Nanjing's defeat was due to the decay of their foundation?"
Jiang Suizhou didn't say anything. He tacitly agreed.
The two silently looked at each other for a while. Xu Du stood up and bowed deeply to Jiang Suizhou.
"This is a difficult situation. I didn't have much hope at first, but as I go, every step I take is because I have no other choice," he said. "But today, it is my good fortune to have met a wise lord. I presume that my lord already has plans for the future. I will listen to your orders and be your right-hand man. "
Jiang Suizhou paused and was speechless for a while.
Xu Du spoke to him and was willing to believe him. Naturally, it was good. However, Xu Du's praise for him was too high, which made him feel uncertain for a moment.
What plans did he have for the future?
He only knew that in the near future, they would be wiped out by Huo Wujiu.
— —
Anyin Hall was silent.
It was already past dinner time, but his master still hadn't returned.
Meng Qianshan was so anxious that he kept walking in circles. Every time he turned, he would sneak a glance at Huo Wujiu.
He saw Huo Wujiu sitting at the table quietly reading a book. But he didn't know if it was Meng Qianshan's imagination, but he felt that Madame Huo hadn't turned a single page in the book in her hand for almost an hour.
Meng Qianshan had already sent someone to ask.
After a while, a manservant ran back into the main room and ran to Meng Qianshan, panting.
"Reporting to Eunuch Qianshan, His Highness went to Madame Xu's room," he said. "A servant girl in Madame Xu's courtyard just reported that His Highness didn't say anything in advance and went straight to the residence when he returned."
Oh my! What should he do?
The manservant reported in the room. Madame Huo was sitting next to him and heard everything clearly. Now, Meng Qianshan couldn't make up a lie to coax Madame Huo.
He hurriedly waved his hand and chased the manservant out.
After the manservant left, Meng Qianshan put on a fawning smile and walked to Huo Wujiu's side. He said to the servant girl next to him, "Why are you so insensible? The dishes are cold. Hurry up and heat them up … "
He swallowed the rest of his words.
Madame Huo, who was sitting there, put down her book and picked up her chopsticks without looking up. She picked up the cold vegetables with her chopsticks.
He began to eat alone.
Meng Qianshan suddenly had a strange feeling.
It was as if … it wasn't just the servants who were waiting for His Highness to come back for dinner. Madame Huo, who usually ignored His Highness, was also waiting to eat with His Highness.
At this moment, Madame Huo was obviously … unhappy.
If that was really the case, Meng Qianshan knew that the one who started the trouble should end it. Madame Huo was a little angry at this moment. It wasn't something that the servants could handle. He could only wait for His Highness to come back from dinner and coax this ancestor himself.
With this thought, Meng Qianshan served Huo Wujiu with trepidation.
Unexpectedly, His Highness didn't come back after dinner.
After a long time … Madame Xu's servant girl came.
"Eunuch Qianshan, His Highness is resting at Madame Xu's place today."
The servant girl said.