After several days of interaction, Song YanShi grew increasingly fond of the young man. He possessed both literary talent and military knowledge, with a resilient character. Through various tests, Song YanShi glimpsed a hint of ruthlessness hidden deep within him, a trait that further endeared him to Song YanShi.
Moreover...
The girl liked him.
However, he also seemed qualified to be my son-in-law, Song YanShi thought.
In those days, Song YanShi was indeed in high spirits. He even thought about Bai ShiXuan, his once formidable opponent in court. Interestingly, both of them shared a similarity—they had no sons but each had a lone daughter.
Bai ShiXuan detested scholars, but if he were to meet this young man, perhaps he might find him likable, just like me, Song YanShi pondered.
For some reason, Song YanShi thought this way.
However, things took a turn when Song YanShi revealed his true identity to the young man...
"Left Prime Minister of Dawu Country, Song YanShi!"
Once the young man learned this name, he suddenly froze in place.
Song YanShi thought to himself: My daughter still understands the importance of discretion; she didn't reveal my identity to this scholar due to personal matters. This had been a rule Song YanShi established for his family over the years—no plaques in the mansion and no discussion of his matters when outside.
But then, in the next moment...
The look in the young man's eyes made a lasting impression on Song YanShi.
An intuition arose within Song YanShi, making him inexplicably want to abandon the idea of making him his son-in-law.
Even to the extent of...
The saying, "If not for my use, then for my destruction."
At that moment, Song YanShi, for some unknown reason, felt a sense of murderous intent.
However, in the end, due to the appearance of his daughter, the conversation between the two men that day didn't continue. For some time afterward, they did not speak.
It wasn't until several months later that the daughter suddenly announced her intention to marry him.
Song YanShi least wanted a rift between his daughter and himself.
Since Song YanShi valued talent and harbored a lingering fear, he devised a plan to make the young man withdraw, even though the method was not particularly admirable.
First, the daughter couldn't marry him, but the young man could choose to marry into the family.
Second, a name change.
The name "Qingming" was good, but Song YanShi chose 'GaoSheng.'
GaoSheng, rising step by step.
For ordinary people, this was surely an auspicious name, but for Confucian scholars, it was too explicit.
Like those powerful figures in history who ascended to the throne, they always went through elaborate processes of three refusals and three resignations.
For scholars, unless their parents chose their names, no one liked their name to reveal a blatant meaning of 'I just want to become a high-ranking official' or 'I study just to become a high-ranking official.'
Both matters carried a sense of humiliation.
...
...
In the capital city, under the night sky, a storm was brewing.
Leaning against the railing, Song YanShi lightly tapped the border guard's railing with his fingertips.
Why did Lu Gaosheng want to deal with him?
Over the years, aside from the slightly humiliating act of changing his name and making him a county magistrate, had he mistreated him in any way? The top scholar's title, luxurious lifestyle, and grand estate—everything was at his disposal.
No.
Now was not the time to think about these things.
After eliminating all possibilities, what remained was the truth.
Lu Gaosheng...
"Six years ago, when I sent him to become a county magistrate, I only intended to temper the aggression in him, but I never expected..."
Nurturing a tiger invites calamity!
The Prefect of Tian Ge isn't beholden to him, nor is he to Tang Li. Perhaps the Prefect of Tian Ge, being wary of his status as the Left Chancellor, wouldn't dare to suppress Lu Gaosheng, but he certainly wouldn't go out of his way to protect him either.
According to the information gathered by Song YanShi in the past few months, in these short six years, Lu Gaosheng has risen solely based on his own abilities, steadily climbing up the ranks. Even the position of the next Prefect is almost within his grasp.
After careful consideration...
Song YanShi ultimately issued a decisive order.
"Spread my command: Have Flowing Fox disperse the remaining men to every township in Tian Ruo Prefecture. As for Lu Gaosheng himself, select a few skilled individuals and immediately enter Tian Ruo City to blockade his mansion. Keep a close eye on him; as I suspected, the grain and provisions are likely in his hands!"
"If he knows what's good for him, there's no need for conflict. But if he insists on being my enemy..."
Song YanShi remained silent, but made a sliding motion at his neck.
The figure in black immediately understood and nodded, replying, "Yes, Chancellor Song! As for Miss's side..."
Song YanShi suddenly hesitated, caught off guard by a moment of uncertainty.
Just a bit.
Song YanShi calmly stated, "As I said earlier, if Lu Gaosheng doesn't know his place, kill him and be done with it. My orders are not to be questioned!"
Then, Song YanShi turned and asked, "Where is the squad from the Zhennan Army now?"
The figure in black answered, "After receiving the secret order, the Grand General has already selected a group of elites. However, the journey is long, and as you know, the Right Chancellor's side has been keeping an eye on the Grand General, so they have not yet entered Tian Ge Prefecture. But from what we know, they're close! It will only take a day or two."
Song YanShi nodded.
His final move would certainly not rely on Flowing Fox and the hastily assembled mercenaries.
The elite soldiers under the Grand General of Zhennan Army, that's the real ace up his sleeve!!
Originally, it was anticipated that they would catch up after the grain and provisions were transported to the Northern Land, but now, an unexpected event, which might not all be bad, seemed to be unfolding.
As the figure in black rose to relay the orders, Song YanShi casually added, "Use Red Eagle for the message."
The figure in black widened his eyes, thinking it was rather imprudent, and advised, "Chancellor Song, Red Eagle is for urgent military matters. It shouldn't be used unless it's absolutely necessary. Every time it's used, it leaves a record in the military department, and this..."
"Do you think I need your reminders?"
Song YanShi's icy tone made the figure in black silently lower his head.
"Lu Gaosheng is not Tang Li, let alone a worthless Prefect of Tian Ge! Dealing with him requires speed! It requires ruthlessness! What I'm competing with him now is time!"
...
...
This dream has been recurring for a long time.
When did it start?
Actually, I know.
My naturally keen ears always seem to pick up on various truths in this world, like...
That year, beneath the towers of the brothel.
These ears overheard a conversation:
"Hehe, studying? Brother Li, in this day and age, who needs to study for the imperial examinations?"
"Brother Lin, you topped the provincial exam three years ago, so naturally, you wouldn't understand the struggles us common folks face."
"Well... it's no secret. Actually, these exams are just a formality. You slip some money, get the examiners to pick a few papers, swap the names, and there you go!"
"What? You can do that?"
"Hehe, I'll be honest with you. Three years ago, that's exactly what I did. The nobleman at the time even chose a top-notch paper for me. As for the original name... uh, I forgot, seemed to be surnamed Lu, anyway, I ended up at the top of the list."
"But... isn't that unethical? The scholars who earn the top spot legitimately would lose out if their names are swapped."
"Hey! I treat you as a brother, invite you for drinks, and this is how you talk?"
"Uh, sorry, my apologies."
In the end, that dandy surnamed Lin muttered:
"The books I'm supposed to read? My old man finished them for me when he toiled away back then! Why did he work so hard? Wasn't it all for our Lin family to have officials for generations to come? So, now that I want to become an official, do I still need to study?"
Study?
What a load of crap.
Just like what Zhang San said on the first day he entered Tianruo City, and what Lu Gaosheng heard upstairs:
"Why should the efforts of generations in our family lose to your ten years of studying?"
orn and Humiliation】【Forced Love】 In his past life, Lin Ran was betrayed and murdered by his girlfriend and family, while the yandere female aristocrat, who had treated him as a mere plaything, avenged him by doing in his enemies. Upon seeing the yandere female aristocrat lying in the same coffin, ready to die with him, Lin Ran realized how profoundly mistaken he had been. Reborn, he abandoned the fickle campus beauty and wholeheartedly embraced the yandere female aristocrat's arms. "Ran! If I dig out your eyes and turn them into a specimen, you'll only be able to look at me!" Lin Ran: "Darling, kiss me!" "Ran! If I break your legs, you won't run away anymore, right?" Lin Ran: "Love, hold me tight!" "Ran! If..." Lin Ran: "Hush now! Love me more!" Luo Yao: ... Seeing his scumbag dad: "Take him out!" Seeing his stepmother: "Get rid of her!" Seeing his brother: "Eliminate him!" Seeing his white moonlight: "Send that to Southeast Asia!"
agon king storylines. At the start, I obtained the "Ultimate Lackey System" - the more I act as a lackey, the stronger I become. What else could I do? I chose to become the personal henchman of the ultimate villain, Su Muwan. I provoke all sorts of chosen ones, snatch away their opportunities, and commit every evil deed imaginable. You ask who's behind me? Hmph! You're not worthy of knowing my lady's name! ...... ....... I am Su Muwan, the eldest daughter of the Su family. Since childhood, I've possessed extraordinary talent in martial arts, which led to my arrogant and domineering personality in my past life. I was even foolish enough to repeatedly challenge those favored by heaven, ultimately resulting in a tragic death. In this life, I must behave and absolutely cannot walk the same path again!! However... SLAP!! "So you're the Dragon King, huh?!" When I saw my little lackey swagger over and viciously slap the Dragon King who was hiding his identity, I felt my heart sink. Su Muwan's suspended heart finally died as she watched Qin Luo, her utterly loyal lackey, standing before her. She fainted on the spot from shock. Heaven is determined to destroy me!! (Pure love 1v1, light-hearted, no angst, single female lead, villain, reincarnation, lackey)
u serious?" Chen Feng watched helplessly as his painstakingly trained disciple, fresh off a championship victory, publicly abandoned him. "You had your chance, but you didn’t appreciate it. Now, face the consequences of your choice!" Chen Feng possessed the "Master System," a treasure trove of supreme martial arts techniques, capable of molding ordinary individuals into peerless prodigies. "Legs like yours? A shame not to train in the Crippling Kick." "Ever heard of a palm strike that descends from the heavens?" "Auntie! I see extraordinary bone structure in you—a martial arts prodigy, one in ten thousand." The once-defiant senior disciple, now watching her juniors rise to fame one after another, dominating the internet, was consumed by endless regret.
Explosive Plot Song Gua crossed over into another world, bringing along a whole crew of his doppelgangers—all of them mischief-makers. This was a world where everyone could choose a class. Song Gua became a "Bondweaver," capable of borrowing power, while his doppelgangers took on a wide variety of classes, covering just about everything. The number of doppelgangers grew day by day, each one a talented individual with a charming way of speaking. Under Song Gua's brilliant leadership, they would "greet" each other daily and engage in friendly "sparring," pulling off one major scheme after another on Earth. Sometimes they were bandits—stealing bosses, plundering mines, snatching resources. Sometimes they were saviors—descending like divine warriors to face world bosses threatening to massacre cities. Sometimes they even went undercover, infiltrating various major factions to stir up trouble from within, keeping their enemies constantly on edge. To prevent their doppelganger abilities from being exposed, Song Gua made them wear masks with mahjong tile patterns and don Taoist robes in various colors. "Remember, in front of outsiders, call me 'The Dice.'" "Got it! Boss!" "Not 'Boss'—it's 'The Dice.' Think about the vibe, pay attention to the vibe." "Yes! Boss!" "For crying out loud..." From then on, whenever they appeared, they would have their own theme song playing: ~Hey~ paying respects at the mountain stronghold at night~ whose arm is draped over whose shoulder~ gather your courage and follow along...
