After chatting with Lin Xiaoyue for half the night, Wen Wan started feeling drowsy and suggested taking her leave.
Lin Xiaoyue tried to retain her, "It’s already late, why go back now? I’ll have soone arrange a room for you, stay here for the night."
Before coming, Wen Wan had already promised Song Wei that she would just stop by briefly and then return, not wanting to worry her family. She shook her head and said, "Our carriage is just outside, it’s very convenient to go back."
"But it’s already past 9 p.m., and you are out there wandering around with my godson?"
These words made Wen Wan laugh, "Don’t worry, Mr. Song is so astute, how could he let his wife be in danger? There’s soone in the shadows protecting."
"Really?" Lin Xiaoyue was unaware that the Hidden Guards of the Song Mansion were left by the Eldest Princess and sowhat doubted their ability.
"Of course it’s true." Wen Wan, afraid Lin Xiaoyue would ask more questions, lied without blushing or missing a beat, "The Master hired them for just one night, and it’s terribly expensive. Even if I don’t go back, the money still gets deducted. Our family is poor, you know, we can’t afford such a hassle."
It wasn’t the first ti Lin Xiaoyue heard Wen Wan lanting poverty in front of her, but today’s situation was special. She initially wanted to ask Wen Wan how much she paid, thinking she would reimburse her, but before she could speak, Wen Wan said, "Though it’s said to aid ergencies rather than poverty, I wouldn’t mind you paying for ."
"Does money grow on trees at my house?" Lin Xiaoyue huffed, "Every ti you co, you fleece , aren’t you clever!"
Wen Wan was rely provoking and wasn’t surprised by Lin Xiaoyue’s reaction, smiling, "Then have an early rest, I’ll be leaving now."
"Hey, did Mr. Song really arrange for soone to protect you?" Lin Xiaoyue was still uneasy, feeling that Wen Wan was too feeble, and if she t with soone with ill intentions, she could hardly resist.
Wen Wan raised her eyebrows at her, "If there’s no arrangent, I’ll go back and scold him for you."
"Alright, quit teasing, hurry along now, if sothing goes wrong when it gets late, it’ll be troubleso."
...
When Wen Wan returned ho, Song Wei hadn’t gone to bed yet, and the light in the study was still on.
Seeing her, Yun Cai wanted to report, but Wen Wan stopped her, carrying the freshly brewed ginseng soup from the kitchen herself, she pushed open the study door.
Seeing her husband still busy, Wen Wan purposely lightened her footsteps.
Song Wei, not looking up, mistook her for Yun Cai and instructed directly, "Put it on the coffee table, then leave."
Obeying, Wen Wan placed the ginseng soup gently by the coffee table and then walked over in short steps.
Song Wei finally sensed sothing off and looked up to see Wen Wan, his gaze quickly softened, "How co you ca back without saying a word?"
"It’s no big deal, I was afraid to disturb you." Wen Wan moved an embroidered stool and sat beside him, her gaze falling on the tall stack of books before him, asking, "Not finished yet?"
"Just looking for so information." Song Wei said, pulling her hand over and feeling her slightly cool hand back, warming it with his palm, "Are you tired?"
Without the question, Wen Wan was managing, but as soon as he asked, she couldn’t help but yawn.
Song Wei helped her up, "Let’s go to bed."
Wen Wan pointed her chin at the ginseng soup on the coffee table, "You haven’t had it yet, it’s top-quality ginseng from the palace, it’s all money, such a waste to throw it away."
Song Wei chuckled lightly, "Wasting it is still better than over-toning."
Wen Wan heard the subtle implication in his words, her face warming slightly, "Then... not drink it?"
"Yes."
Wen Wan walked over and picked up the ginseng soup, feeling it was a pity, "If you don’t want to drink it, I’ll send so over to the Xie Family and second brother’s house so other day, to avoid leaving it wasted at ours."
Song Wei did not express a disagreent and took the bowl from her hand, stepping out to pour the ginseng soup into the flower terrace.
Before lying down, Song Wei spoke with Wen Wan again, ntioning his duty outdoors the next day, and asked if there was anything she wanted, he would bring it back for her.
Wen Wan shook her head, "Husband should focus on carrying out your duties, whatever I lack, the servants of our mansion will procure for , no need for you to worry."
Listening to her words, Song Wei thought of the lamp she didn’t keep that night and directly sent to the Governor Mansion, he asked softly, "Was the lamp beautiful?"
"Extrely beautiful." Wen Wan recalled the scene of watching the lantern with Lin Xiaoyue by the lake, her lips curving, "Even more magical than you described, I liked it very much."
"Glad you liked it."
As for what Wen Wan said or did when she t with Lin Xiaoyue, Song Wei hadn’t asked a word, he never stinted on providing her with the space and freedom she needed.
...
There was a shift in Song Wei’s position, and originally, his chances of entering the palace had significantly decreased. However, because of the map, he was summoned by Emperor Guangxi every few days recently.
On the next day, January 16th, as soon as Song Wei arrived at the Hanlin Academy, a eunuch from Qianqing Palace ca to deliver a ssage.
Song Wei, accustod to it, didn’t ask much and directly followed the eunuch.
His colleagues gave him a thumbs up and whispered, "Scholar Song, when you get promoted, don’t forget to let us colleagues have a sip of the soup!"
A re Hanlin Official achieving such honor was sothing they couldn’t just envy; they might as well flatter him for so benefits.
Song Wei just smiled without making any response.
Arriving at Qianqing Palace, Emperor Guangxi asked him if he found the Master of Deinking.
Song Wei said he had a lead and planned to visit today.
After hearing Song Wei describe the actions of the drunken man at last night’s Lantern Festival, the Emperor’s frown gradually eased, readily agreeing to Song Wei’s request and granting his leave.
Song Wei left the Imperial City and boarded the carriage arranged by Emperor Guangxi. Following the address given by Wei Qian, he quickly found the ho of the drunkard Chu Xu, who lived at West City Xianyi Square Third Street Yong’an Lane.
Song Wei knocked on the door and was t with the stench of wine filling the house.
"Who are you two lads looking for?" Chu Xu, reeking of alcohol, saw double.
Song Wei cupped his hands, "May I co in to discuss in detail with the senior?"
Hearing a voice, Chu Xu then noticed Song Wei’s official uniform, frowning, "Are you a governnt official?"
Before Song Wei could speak, he continued, "Here to arrest or to silence ?"
Song Wei looked at him, "Why arrest you or silence you?"
Chu Xu was taken aback, scrutinizing him for a mont, "Why is an official visiting this wretched place of mine?"
Urgency leaving no room for pleasantries, Song Wei got straight to the point, "To be frank, I am here today to ask for your help in deinking a double-layered painting."
Chu Xu’s muddled mind was instantly sobered by this statent, "What did you just say?"
"Your deinking skill is astonishing. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would almost think the long-lost Illusion Technique had resurfaced."
"You’ve seen deink?" Chu Xu’s gaze beca sowhat indiscernible.
"You might have drunk too much last night, so you don’t rember. I was watching from upstairs while you deinked."
Chu Xu patted his head, faintly recalling that he had seemingly perford deinking publicly in a drunken state to appease a little girl last night.
Realizing it late, Chu Xu’s face suddenly tensed, snorting coldly, "I once vowed never to deink for others again. Even if you’ve co today, it’s useless. No matter what terms you offer, I won’t do it."
Song Wei said, "Last night, you already broke your vow. Moreover, if you were truly determined never to deink again, why carry the deinking tools with you?"
Chu Xu’s face darkened as he reached out to push him out.
Seeing his resolute stance, Song Wei suddenly said, "Being inexplicably removed from office, don’t you want to seek justice for yourself?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Xu’s action of pushing him halted, a fierce glint appeared in his eyes, as if he had a deep-seated grudge with the Ministry of Revenue.
Song Wei had just gambled on a whim and unexpectedly found the right direction. He scrutinized Chu Xu’s subtle expressions, "If you’re willing to act, I might be able to help you."
Chu Xu cald down entirely, asking him, "Who are you?"
"I am Song Wei."
"I an, your official position."
"Hanlin Scholar."
"A fifth-rank official." Chu Xu’s tone was mocking, "With your rank, you can’t fight them."
"Not necessarily," Song Wei smiled, "The crucial thing is whom you’re serving, not the rank."
Chu Xu sneered, "Such grand talk!"
"How can one close to the Emperor achieve anything without confidence?"
"You’re one of the Emperor’s n?" Chu Xu was indeed startled.
Song Wei smirked, "Now, do I qualify to make a deal with you?"
Chu Xu was silent for a while, then looked at him, "If you can help rescue my wife and son, who were kidnapped over ten years ago, I’ll assist you."
Song Wei understood, "Tell the reason, senior."
Recalling past events, Chu Xu clenched his fist, hatred welling up, "Twenty years ago, when I was working in the Ministry of Revenue, the Emperor was engaged in large-scale palace construction. The then Treasury Departnt Head manipulated the silver coin allocations, colluding with the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of the Ministry of Industry responsible for the palace construction, embezzling a large sum of public funds. I found evidence through deinking, but unfortunately, my position was too minor. Before I could deliver the evidence to the governnt, they found out. They joined forces to strip of my office and kidnapped my wife and child, threatening to kill them if I dared to leak any information about this incident."
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