When Xu Qing visited the workshop, he noticed that Wang Family's Little Sister had undergone some sort of transformation. She seemed more poised and spoke to him like an old friend, free from any past restraint.
Upon leaving the workshop, Xu Qing's Mountain and River Map was enriched with tens of thousands of incense candles, and the various offerings consumed by the Dark River were replenished.
"This girl is indeed capable. Even if her brother doesn't come to find her, she would still manage just fine."
Looking at what had become the largest incense and paper workshop in the Jin Sect, Xu Qing felt deeply moved. Wang Yue'e could now be rightfully called a female powerhouse.
"Fourth Master, I've been loyal to you for ten years. How could you bear to send me away? Remember, when Feng Dehai rounded me up back then, it was you who saved me with a word... You've been a benefactor to me, and for the rest of my life, I'll follow you. If you insist on expelling me, I'll jump into the Whitesand River!"
A strange yet familiar raspy voice rang out, catching Xu Qing's attention. He saw a servant dressed like an ordinary person arguing with his master.
"Brother Zhang, what's this about?"
Although the man before him was nearly in his fifties, with gray in his hair, Xu Qing still recognized him as Zhang Jun, the Government Official who once futilely sought the affection of Shuyu at the Book Phoenix Pavilion.
Shuyu later joined the Celestial Heart Sect and was involved in the assassination of King Changting. Zhang Jun had discovered and tried to dissuade her, but Shuyu regarded him as an enemy. Fortunately, Zhang Jun realized his error and painfully killed Shuyu.
However, due to the trauma, he completely abandoned any thoughts of romance and followed Crown Prince Zhao You, becoming his attending eunuch.
After the crown prince's untimely death, Zhang Jun was adopted by the old eunuch Li Zhong who was by the prince's side and became a seal officer in the Mirror Reflection Bureau.
At that time when Xu Qing met Zhang Jun in the Jin Sect, Zhang Jun was still ambitious and wanted to bring Xu Qing to the palace to become a eunuch; Xu Qing refused.
Afterward, Xu Qing lost contact with Zhang Jun.
Yet he could guess that after the death of the old Crown Prince Zhao You and the new Crown Prince Zhao Rong's ascendance, there would definitely be a purge of the people around the former prince.
Though Zhang Jun appeared prosperous, he was actually on the brink of disaster, ready to fall into an inescapable abyss at any moment.
Xu Qing had no intention of advising him, but when Zhang Jun gifted him those two gold koi, he gave a few pointers.
Now, many years later, they met again, but the regime had changed...
At first glance, Zhang Jun was dumbfounded upon seeing Xu Qing again.
"Xu... Younger Brother Xu?"
Xu Qing cupped his hands with a smile and said, "Brother Zhang, I hope you have been well."
Zhang Jun forced a smile and said, "I never thought I'd encounter Brother Xu here. Are you still running the funeral shop on Underground Street?"
Xu Qing nodded and said, "I don't have many skills, just doing small business to make ends meet."
After a brief exchange, Xu Qing turned his attention to the master of Zhang Jun, the man known as Fourth Master.
Xu Qing hadn't seen this man in the Jin Sect, but he had seen him many times in the shadow-play lamps of Zhao You and Emperor Jingxing.
He was the Fourth Prince of Dayong, later known as Prince Hui Zhi, Zhao Qi.
When Zhao Qi was about ten years old, he became intellectually disabled, unable to grasp even simple arithmetic when he came of age. However, it was this condition that allowed him to survive the power struggles for the throne among several brothers.
Yet, despite his survival, the old Crown Prince Faction and the few Fourth Master Faction supporters of the mentally challenged Fourth Prince faced different levels of purges.
Looking at Zhao Qi in front of him, though aged, his eyes remained bright and sharp, and there was no sign of his past incompetency.
"And who might you be?"
Zhang Jun tensed up inside and quickly explained, "This is the master I followed after leaving the Capital City, surnamed Shao..."
Shao?
"Brother Zhao, I am Xu, running small businesses in Linjiang County. I'm somewhat well-known. If Brother Zhao has the time, you're welcome to visit frequently."
Xu Qing smiled and cupped his hands toward Zhao Qi, deliberately or not changing 'Shao' to 'Zhao'.
The walnut in Zhao Qi's hand paused as he focused on the middle-aged man before him.
"You misheard, my surname is Shao, with a 'knife edge', not Zhao."
"Oh—" Xu Qing seemed to understand suddenly, "So it's Brother Zhao, apologies!"
"..."
Zhao Qi's eyes narrowed; he now realized this person had identified him and was teasing him!
"Have we met before?"
Zhao Qi grew wary. After the current Emperor attacked the Capital City, he fled with his only loyal follower Zhang Jun, hiding among ordinary families in Linjiang County for a decade.
He chose Linjiang County because this was Zhang Jun's hometown, and having someone familiar with the local customs and geography was certainly better than moving to an unfamiliar place.
In these ten years, Zhao Qi had changed significantly. He opened a calligraphy and painting studio, mingling with the leisurely gentry of Flower and Bird Street, blending entirely into the Jin Sect's community.
Still, he hadn't expected to be recognized someday.
Looking at Zhao Qi, who had escaped the Imperial City and was living a much more comfortable life, Xu Qing smiled and said:
"Brother Shao, would you prefer I recognize you or not?"
Without waiting for a response, Xu Qing continued, "Zhang Jun and I are old acquaintances. He may have his flaws, but as a person, he's loyal and true. Since he has chosen to follow you, I hope you won't let him down."
Seeing Zhao Qi, Xu Qing faintly recalled the past Shuyu. For some reason, everyone Zhang Jun followed seemed to be fickle associates.