“Oh?” After hearing Jiang Wang speak, the old lady held his hand and said, “Have you encountered any difficulties? It’s alright, this old one will handle it for you.”

She turned her head and instructed, “Go and invite the Eldest Master here.”

Although Marquis Cuicheng, Li Zhengyan, was the head of the family, Li Zhengshu was older and his strength and status were also considerable. Thus, within the Marquis Cuicheng manor, when they referred to the Eldest Master, they meant Li Zhengshu.

Furthermore, although Li Zhengshu was the eldest illegitimate son and not born of the Old Madam, he was raised by her and their relationship was extremely close.

He had never moved out of the Marquis manor to live independently.

Even though he often rotated on duty in the Donghua Pavilion and was privately referred to as the foremost “Donghua Scholar” by many, he had no intention of establishing his own manor and branch.

A warmth spread through Jiang Wang’s heart.

Whether it was the old lady’s love for her grandson extending to his friends, or her support for Li Longchuan’s companion, this concern was genuine.

It was hard not to be moved.

“No, Old Madam, I have no difficulties at the moment. I am doing well! If I have difficulties, I will definitely tell you,” Jiang Wang said, “It’s just that there is indeed one matter I need to discuss with Longchuan’s uncle…”

Having lived to such an age, the Old Madam of the Li family knew at a glance from Jiang Wang’s demeanor that this matter might not be suitable for too many ears.

So she said softly, “You may all withdraw.”

The living room immediately emptied, leaving only a close maidservant attending at the side.

The Old Madam of the Li family held Jiang Wang’s hand: “Come, Qingyang, sit and talk.”

“Please be seated first.”

Jiang Wang quickly helped the old lady sit down before taking a seat beside her, but only perched on the edge.

The old and young chatted for a few moments – mostly the old lady’s complaints about Li Longchuan and her praise for Jiang Wang… when Li Zhengshu stepped into the living room.

He had reached the Divine临 realm in his middle years, appearing to be in his early forties.

There was a saying that he deliberately suppressed his progress to avoid competing with his brothers and to prevent gossip. Only after Li Zhengyan had advanced to the Divine临 realm first and solidified his position as head of the family did he choose to break through.

However, Li Zhengshu himself dismissed this as groundless speculation.

Although his face showed traces of time, unlike the youthful and ageless appearance of those who reached Divine临 at a young age like Yin Guan, these apparent marks of time also lent him a unique charm.

And his cultivation, his bearing, his erudition, made him even more extraordinary.

The title of “Jade Gentleman” was by no means false; he was indeed one of the foremost handsome men in Linzi.

That Eldest Master of the Chongxuan family, although blessed with a handsome appearance and well-preserved due to his carefree life, could still be considered “quite handsome” in his sixties, but compared to the Jade Gentleman, the difference was more than just a little.

After entering the living room, Li Zhengshu first bowed to the Old Madam in greeting before smiling at Jiang Wang: “A national prodigy should be diligently cultivating and advancing. How do you find the leisure to visit me?”

The title “Donghua Scholar” had never been an official post, merely a colloquial term used to refer to those scholars who served on duty in the Donghua Pavilion.

Before holding court, the Emperor would sit in the Donghua Pavilion and occasionally inquire about various matters. Their task was to resolve the Emperor’s doubts.

This was undoubtedly an honor.

They might not be court officials, but they could discuss state affairs; they might not hold high positions, but they could influence the Son of Heaven.

Serving in the Donghua Pavilion was not limited by official rank or cultivation, but only by knowledge and insight.

In the beginning, candidates were nominated by the Council of State, but now, the Qi Emperor himself selected the names.

In recent years, Li Zhengshu had served in the Donghua Pavilion the most frequently, which showed how deeply he was favored by the Emperor.

Li Zhengshu himself came from a top noble family in the State of Qi, but after reaching adulthood, he chose to travel and study abroad. Later, he entered the Qingya Academy, one of the four great academies under heaven, and became a renowned Confucian scholar.

He did not stay at the Qingya Academy to teach but returned to the State of Qi. In this regard, the four great academies under heaven and the Three Penal Palace were the same; they did not forbid their disciples from going to any state.

Whether it was a deliberate concealment of his talents or a lack of desire for fame, Li Zhengshu held no official position in the State of Qi to this day.

But with the unofficial title of “Donghua Scholar,” no one dared to underestimate his influence on state affairs.

Since Li Zhengshu’s arrival, the Old Madam’s close maidservant had also left, and Li Zhengshu personally stood beside her to serve.

With only Li Zhengshu and the Old Madam of the Li family present, Jiang Wang had no need for subtlety and went straight to the point: “I went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices today and encountered something…”

After speaking of the blood poem left by “Zhang Yong” on the Ninefold Return Marquis’s statue, Jiang Wang said, “I once heard Xu Xiangqian say that you and Mr. Moyue are close friends, so I came to remind you.”

The friendship between Li Zhengshu and Moyue was beyond question. When Moyue’s direct disciple traveled the world and came to Linzi, wanting to try the Heavenly Mansion Secret Realm, it was Li Zhengshu who personally arranged the spot.

The good relationship between Li Longchuan and Xu Xiangqian was because, long before this, Li Zhengshu had taken Li Longchuan to visit friends many times, and these two young men had known each other for a long time.

It was unlikely that the Qi Emperor would hold Li Zhengshu accountable for this matter, but it was only human nature to feel a bit displeased, which was highly probable. If Li Zhengshu was completely unaware, he could easily run into trouble.

Li Zhengshu listened quietly to these words, then smiled warmly: “Your uncle knows, thank you for making this trip.”

In the Donghua Pavilion, he had helped convey a message. He had approved of Li Longchuan’s association with Chongxuan Sheng and Jiang Wang.

Of course, as of today, befriending Jiang Qingyang was the most correct choice.

But back then, he was merely a retainer of the Chongxuan family, and a retainer of Chongxuan Sheng, who had little hope.

The friendship forged at that time was naturally incomparable to later times.

The current Jiang Wang was sought out by the Lord of Tianfu City, repeatedly shown favor by the son of the Northern Patrol Captain, and when he went to the Capital Patrol Office to inquire about something, the Deputy Patrol Commander smiled throughout.

It wasn’t that these people were bad. But to a greater or lesser extent, it was also related to the future Jiang Wang had displayed.

In the letter he wrote to Jiang An’an, he said that the people here were very kind, which was merely a comforting remark to his sister. Since coming to Qi, he had suffered countless cold glances and faced endless hostility, but having come this far, looking around with his sword in hand, people had indeed become “kind.”

Li Zhengshu now referred to himself as “uncle,” clearly treating Jiang Wang as one of his own nephews.

This was the Li family of Shimen! A top noble family in the State of Qi, whose ancestors’ statues stood in the foremost row of the Hall of National Protection.

And two years ago, there was no such person as Jiang Wang in the State of Qi, let alone any family background or foundation.

He didn’t say anything about gratitude, just a casual remark about the effort, which was precisely a gesture of intimacy.

Jiang Wang simply said, “It was my duty.”

The Old Madam of the Li family, of course, knew what a stir the matter Jiang Wang had just mentioned would cause in Linzi, but that was something for her two sons to worry about. She did not interfere, nor did she feel she should interfere.

She simply took Jiang Wang’s hand again and said kindly, “Good boy.”

One second to remember: m.173kxs