Chapter 1613 – Conquering Nan Sheng, Killing An Huan (Twenty-Seven)
For this simple reason, Fang Zhi appeared before Lü Zheng.
“Confucius once said: ‘The past is like this! It does not stop day or night.'” Fang Zhi initiated the topic aimed at their destination, sighing, “Back in the day as classmates, now even a meeting feels lavish. Just recently, I saw Liu Lanting who has changed a lot.”
Lü Zheng sneered; how could that person not have changed?
If anyone was unrecognizable, it was her sole self from the Langya Academy.
Not only had she transformed from a raucous, spoiled noble youth into a sovereign of the world, but she even changed her gender. Seeing that Lü Zheng wasn’t responding, Fang Zhi brought up amusing anecdotes from their youth, but it turned into an awkward solo performance as Lü Zheng could hardly be bothered to move a muscle.
After a moment, Fang Zhi asked, “Is Shaoyin intending to follow An Huan down a path of no return?”
Lü Zheng retorted, “What makes you so sure my lord cannot defeat Liu Xi?”
Fang Zhi said, “Regarding Liu Xi and An Huan, whether An Huan wins or loses, when Shaoyin reflects, do you think there’s a good ending for you? Although you’ve lived in the countryside, seldom hearing of noble affairs, you’ve picked up quite a bit on the way here. Speaking of An Huan’s behavior, it wouldn’t win over Shaoyin. Given your nature, how could you wholeheartedly assist a cruel tyrant lacking compassion? The four tribes of Nan Man have deep-seated enmity with An Huan, but his actions seem less about revenge and more like venting inner cruelty. You have many conflicts with him, and now there’s Hua Yuan becoming even more prominent in An Huan’s sight—your situation…”
Lü Zheng raised a hand, signaling Fang Zhi to shut up; he truly didn’t want to hear this.
“Are you here to act as a mediator for Liu Xi?”
Fang Zhi forced a wry smile and said, “I, a humble citizen of mediocre talent and clumsy words, have no right to be a mediator for Liu Xi.”
Lü Zheng scoffed, “Clumsy? I can’t tell; you make sense.”
“Why not ponder this carefully, Shaoyin?” Fang Zhi suggested. “Watching An Huan coldly, he is certainly not a good ruler.”
What kind of conflicts between subjects and leaders are hardest to reconcile?
Of course, it’s their political positions and ideological differences.
Lü Zheng was not without his own opinions; he was quite stubborn.
Unless one side yields, there would be an irreconcilable conflict arising from political views, and Lü Zheng’s fate would be bleak.
Fang Zhi didn’t want to see Lü Zheng perish at Jiang Pengji’s hands, but he also didn’t want him to lose his life to a man unworthy of the title of a wise ruler.
Lü Zheng shook his head; this issue couldn’t be solved merely with careful consideration.
True, he disliked An Huan, but he wouldn’t blindly switch sides based on that alone.
His cold background was already a point of criticism, and to behave shiftily would invite scorn.
Not to mention, it would likely lead to bloodline issues, like the base-born son lacking the demeanor of a scholar, subservient, and losing the face of Langya Academy…
Fang Zhi sighed, “I knew you’d reject it; I had no hope, just hoping you’d think thoroughly and not regret it later.”
This was the advantage of knowing someone well; once Lü Zheng declined, Fang Zhi wouldn’t persist since it was unnecessary.
Lü Zheng was steadfast; his position wouldn’t change over a few words.
If forced to accept Fang Zhi’s unsolicited advice, it would backfire.
Lü Zheng appreciated his good intentions, nodding in acknowledgment.
“I will think it over.”
Unbeknownst to him, Fang Zhi hadn’t given up; he decided to approach the issue from another angle.
“To be honest, Shaoyin, an old friend asked me to come collect a debt from you.”
Lü Zheng blinked, confused about when he had owed any debts that would cause Fang Zhi to come personally as a debt collector.
“What debt?”
Fang Zhi replied, “Do you remember that you owe someone a promise? A gentleman’s word is worth a thousand gold; you are a person who values promises, after all.”
Lü Zheng thought for a moment and quickly deduced who the debt collector was.
He rarely made promises, and what he owed Jiang Pengji was not a promise but a gambling debt.
After some thought, Fang Zhi was likely here on Jiang Pengji’s behalf to collect.
“Of course, I wouldn’t break a promise,” Lü Zheng stated. “What message did the creditor convey?”
Fang Zhi replied, “She said you must accept the outcome of the wager.”
Ah, women!
Lü Zheng mocked internally.
“Tell Bu Qu to ask her what she said back then.”
She had claimed her demands wouldn’t involve collaborating to kill while he handed her the knife.
If Lü Zheng truly did offer his assistance to her for world conquest, how did that differ from being an accomplice to murder?
It was merely “aiding the wicked.”
Moreover…
Just as Lü Zheng intended to say more, his expression suddenly froze, his eyes wide as saucers, and he shouted.
“This is bad!”
“Bad?” Fang Zhi was startled, his heart racing, quickly inquiring, “What’s bad?”
Lü Zheng had a look as if he wanted to speak but held back.
He had a premise in his gambling agreement with Jiang Pengji!
[If in the future, Zixiao becomes mine, under the condition of not violating gentlemanly conduct, you will promise me one request.]
Connecting the context, this “becoming mine” absolutely did not mean standing in Jiang Pengji’s camp; for it to occur, an unspeakable relationship must develop! In other words, had the flower of Langya Academy already been through the wringer?
“Well, well, Liu Lanting—if only I had known she couldn’t stop her habits…”
Lü Zheng’s face darkened as he barely held back the last word.
Zixiao was not trash, but Jiang Pengji certainly was a dog.
As a ruler, courting her subordinate, did she have no shame?
How could she lack shame!
Even a rabbit wouldn’t consume food near its burrow; after Zixiao laboring for her all these years, only to have her own lord take him for herself?
Fang Zhi looked perplexed, feeling the gravity of the situation.
After staying with Lü Zheng for two days, he didn’t know where news had leaked, prompting Hua Yuan to come personally.
Fang Zhi furrowed his brow. “This Hua Yuan is not on good terms with you, coming over… could it be…”
Lü Zheng interjected, “Don’t think too much; this person is easy to deal with.”
If it were someone else, Fang Zhi might be detained, but with Hua Yuan, a madman, that was another story.
“Liu Xi,” though a dog, was still quite righteous; without solid proof, he wouldn’t harm a fellow student, let alone a good friend. Hua Yuan’s appearance was less about testing Lü Zheng and more about visiting a “classmate.”
“What brings you here?”
Lü Zheng clasped his hands in his sleeves, his eyes toward Hua Yuan were somewhat hostile.
Hua Yuan chuckled, “I heard there was a distinguished guest at Shaoyin’s residence?”
Lü Zheng responded, “How novel! Aren’t you supposed to be busy seducing that pretty thing you’ve just acquired? Why concern yourself with whether I have distinguished guests?”
Hua Yuan replied, “I once shared the same classroom with Bu Qu; hearing he’s come under your roof, I just wanted to take a look, no need to be so irate.”
Lü Zheng shot back, “With such a show, those who know will realize you’re here to see your friend, while those who don’t might think you’re here to accuse me or take my life. I’m rather curious about what makes my humble abode worthy of your attention. With all the rumors floating around, why are you so eager to come? Ha! I’ve never had anyone named ‘Bu Qu’ here!”
