At the Sheng'an Magistrate's office, Song Jing was handling official business at his desk.
Because the examinations had just concluded, the common juren would report for duty tomorrow, and there was still a large batch of examination candidates lingering in the capital. As the chief administrative officer of the capital city, his workload had been quite substantial these past few days.
However, he sensed that the other officials all seemed somewhat 'distracted.'
There were even several people who had stolen glances at him multiple times.
"What's wrong with all of you?" With a stern face, Song Jing said solemnly, "You're all being careless."
Hearing this, everyone lowered their heads and obediently accepted the scolding.
But this behavior was still strange.
Previously, when he reprimanded them, his subordinates would more or less offer some explanation while admitting their mistakes.
But now, not a single word.
"What exactly is going on?"
Song Jing was getting somewhat impatient.
"Laoye, you still don't know about that matter?" At this moment, a chief clerk asked cautiously.
Everyone looked toward the chief clerk, their reactions synchronized.
This made Song Jing increasingly displeased.
It was as if there was something that everyone knew about except him.
"What matter?" Song Jing furrowed his brow and asked in confusion.
After thinking for a moment, the chief clerk stood up from his seat and waved his hand: "Everyone, please step out for a moment."
With that, the others rose and left.
"Why are you making them leave?" Song Jing was even more confused, even somewhat angry.
"Laoye, please don't be angry. Just hear me out first."
The chief clerk forced an awkward smile.
"Go ahead then."
What matter required such secrecy? Song Jing didn't believe that anything he had done in the office was improper enough to warrant such disdain from everyone.
Just as the chief clerk was about to speak, he hesitated again.
"Ah. Just say it, I won't get angry no matter what you tell me."
After sighing, Song Jing directly urged him on.
Hearing this, the chief clerk told him everything he knew, down to the last detail.
"Outrageous!"
Slamming his fist on the desk in anger, Song Jing shot up with a bang, then gritted his teeth in fury.
"Laoye, please calm down, calm down!" The chief clerk hastily tried to soothe him.
"Is this really true?" Looking up at him, Song Jing sought confirmation.
"Of course it's true. Everyone knows about it."
"Then why didn't I know?"
"Aiya, my dear laoye, who would dare tell you such things?" The chief clerk felt he was getting a bit too worked up.
"This damned... that brat, how could he!"
Raising his finger, Song Jing wanted to curse, but the words stuck in his throat. Lowering his finger, after pacing left and right, he suddenly raised it again: "He's going to be the death of me sooner or later!"
"Has Shi'an still not returned home?"
The chief clerk knew some of the situation. After all, as a senior subordinate of the Sheng'an Magistrate, he'd heard his superior complain quite a bit and had chatted about it several times.
"He told me he was going to gather with his juren friends. Who knew he went to do such a big thing!" Song Jing was so angry that even the corners of his mouth were trembling.
Fearing he might faint if he got any angrier, the chief clerk quickly helped him sit down.
Then, sitting beside him and lowering his voice, he said: "In this matter, you really can't blame Shi'an entirely. Minister Sun setting up a small seat was deliberately humiliating in the first place—this was just striking back."
"Then he should have just left. Why did he continue to stay there?"
If Song Shi'an had been humiliated and simply walked away, Song Jing not only wouldn't blame him, but would also sever ties with Minister Sun.
Even if the other party didn't care about the Song clan of Huai Commandery, he still needed to show his stance.
Song Shi'an was indeed an illegitimate son, but when he was humiliated in public, it was equivalent to humiliating Song Jing.
That was impossible to tolerate.
But you deliberately stayed there instead of leaving, and in the end infuriated that old bastard—was that really necessary?
And a gift of one wen—how did he even think of that!
Where's the golden crouching tiger I gave you!
"Laoye." Turning to face Song Jing fully, the chief clerk said seriously, "Shi'an's actions may not necessarily be a bad thing."
Song Jing didn't respond, still sulking.
Continuing, the chief clerk said: "After this incident, he's become quite 'renowned' in the capital. Combined with being the jieyuan, if the military farming matter succeeds, he'll be taking big strides into the court."
This was the Sheng'an Magistrate's office—some things couldn't be stated explicitly.
But at this level, even without being explicit, the meaning was understood.
He was referring to serving as the Emperor's sword.
Song Jing was also very clear about this.
But there was one point he couldn't accept: "But why didn't he consult with me before making such a decision?"
Song Shi'an didn't represent just himself.
Even though his relationship with his father was extremely poor, whatever he did outside, Song Jing would ultimately have to bear responsibility for it.
Whether good or bad.
"We need to get Shi'an to come home quickly and make proper plans," the chief clerk suggested.
At the very least, they needed to align their objectives.
At the same time, everyone needed to know what was what.
This matter—the family's opinion, the family's vulnerabilities, and how much support the family could provide.
"But if he's 'unwilling' to come back, laoye, don't get angry," the chief clerk said preemptively. "Perhaps he's afraid of implicating you."
"Foolish! If he can't even understand this much, then he's a complete idiot!"
As Song Jing scolded, his anxiety became increasingly obvious: "If his brain is that simple, he won't even know how he died."
………
"Still not going home?"
Standing with Song Shi'an on the inn's balcony, Wang Shuishan looked at him: "Oh, are you worried about implicating your family?"
No.
As long as he still bore the surname Song and hadn't been adopted by someone else, whatever he did would implicate the family.
Song Shi'an looked at him and smiled: "I just want to spend more time with you before your duty report."
Hearing this, Wang Shuishan immediately broke into a wide grin: "Good, good, good! I'm deeply moved that Jieyuan-daren cares so much."
"So Shuishan, what are your plans for tomorrow's duty report?" Song Shi'an asked.
"Naturally I'll accept whatever assignment the court gives me. My father is merely a county magistrate—he can't pave much of a path for me." After thinking, Wang Shuishan said, "I still need to become an official. At worst, I'll work as a clerk while preparing for next year's jinshi examination."
Only the top ten—the jieyuan and sub-yuan—had opportunities to become officials.
Then there were those with family connections.
Everyone else would start as clerks and grind away for ten-odd years before perhaps having a chance at promotion to Rank 9.
But jinshi were different.
Each examination produced about thirty spots, and every one of them enjoyed the same status as jieyuan—direct appointment to Rank 7, no waiting period required.
"Jingxiu-xiong."
Thinking of something, Wang Shuishan said warningly: "Minister Sun's former students and subordinates are spread throughout the realm. Even in the Secretariat, there are former disciples of his family. That Minister of the Secretariat, though high-ranking and powerful, ranked first among the Nine Ministers, still has to show him some face."
"You mean the Minister will play tricks?"
"He can't do it directly—that would provoke you." Wang Shuishan said, "Your 'Marquis of Ten Thousand Households' was too arrogant. When you report for duty and he asks what position you'd like, just say you're willing to serve as magistrate of some poor county in Huai Prefecture."
Huai Prefecture—a very poor place with mountain bandits, but relatively safe.
Not like Yi Prefecture, where there had been rebellions of hundreds of thousands.
Even now there were still places crazily killing county magistrates.
That county of death—Cangxia.
"If I say that, he won't make things difficult for me?" Song Shi'an asked.
"As long as xiong doesn't act too arrogant... just report for duty normally, there naturally won't be any major problems."
"What if I am arrogant?"
"I'm begging you, xiong, please don't be arrogant."
Wang Shuishan was getting a bit scared—his friend's boldness was somewhat unreasonable.
"Got it, got it."
After laughing heartily, Song Shi'an waved his hand and prepared to leave.
"Where are you going, xiong?" Wang Shuishan asked.
"Downstairs to buy books."
Song Shi'an had completely taken Wang Shuishan's words to heart.
But he had no choice.
The Emperor would definitely promote him.
A Rank 7 county magistrate couldn't accomplish anything.
Even though Tian Wenjing was above Rank 7, he still got reported on constantly by the Rank 2 Deputy General Ma Guocheng.
Official rank was very important.
But if he only relied on gilding his resume through promotions, advancement would never be fast enough.
He needed to play on Hard mode.
But what if he died?
If death comes, so be it!
Song Shi'an was getting fed up with worrying about it.
Clutching his money, he prepared to go to the Reading Pavilion to buy books.
The night market at this time was still quite lively and bustling because many scholars were still lingering in the capital.
Already a major celebrity, Song Shi'an didn't want to cause trouble and decided to handle things quickly.
Just as he was walking briskly, a money pouch suddenly dropped in front of him.
After picking it up, Song Shi'an raised his head and saw a somewhat slender figure ahead.
Then he quickly walked forward, tapped their shoulder, and said: "Ren-xiong, you dropped your money pouch."
The shoulder-tapped Xinyue turned around. Upon seeing Song Shi'an, she quickly adopted a deep voice and said: "Thank you, gongzi, thank you."
This was a young person with delicate features, wearing formal attire and sporting a small mustache.
Though Song Shi'an didn't understand why she was cross-dressing as a man, he still chose to respect personal preferences.
"You're welcome."
Song Shi'an returned the money pouch to her.
"Gongzi is truly a righteous and kindhearted good person."
Hastily, Xinyue put on a grateful smile, then looking into his eyes, said warmly: "May I ask gongzi's name?"
"Wang Shuishan."
"So you're the famous..."
Just as Xinyue began speaking with excitement, her passionate tone gradually descended, and her expression turned bewildered. But she still forced herself to finish the sentence slowly and awkwardly: "Wang... Shuishan."