CHAPTER 1110: CHAPTER 607: XU JIANWEN’S STORY (PART 2)

Zhao Douan interrupted, "Wait a moment, who is this Song Zhi?"

Mo Chou paused, then spoke disdainfully, "You don’t even know who Song Zhi is? Oh, I almost forgot, you only emerged a few years ago as a small-time imperial guard. It’s quite reasonable that you wouldn’t know about things that happened ten or twenty years ago."

Zhao Douan: "..."

Can the sons of dukes and marquises be made of different stuff?

After slighting Zhao Douan, Mo Chou was in a great mood and continued, "This Song Zhi is indeed a remarkable figure; he was once the top scholar, chosen by the Hanlin Academy. His knowledge was vast, and it’s said he had the ability to retain what he saw and to draw inferences about other cases from one instance. Well... if compared, he’s supposedly much stronger than current-day Han Zhou, and Han Scholar. At the age of slightly over thirty, he already possessed the demeanor of a Great Scholar. If he hadn’t disappeared later, that Mr. Zhengyang might not have even risen, possibly remaining under Song Zhi. Moreover, he even had dealings with Heavenly Master Zhang back then, considered a friend despite the age gap."

This impressive? Why have I never heard of him... Zhao Douan was astonished.

Mo Chou said, "It’s because of his exceptional talent that the late Emperor promoted him to be the Crown Prince’s Horse Washer, following the Crown Prince in the Chamberlain’s Mansion as part of the future backbone. Ah... I digressed. Where was I?"

Zhao Douan reminded, "Song Zhi contradicted Jian Wen, saying his knowledge was insufficient."

"Oh, right," Mo Chou said, "As a result, after that banquet, Jian Wen, though not showing it externally, started visiting the library more frequently. A year later, when the Crown Prince hosted another gathering for his siblings, Jian Wen dragged Song Zhi to the academic library, pointing at the vast collection, asking Song Zhi to pick any book he could recite that Jian Wen could not."

Goodness, this is someone who holds grudges... Zhao Douan exclaimed internally.

Such temper... But without divine sense assistance, for a mortal to memorize an entire library in a year is indeed extraordinary.

Mo Chou reminisced about the past, "Interestingly, this incident led to Song Zhi and Jian Wen becoming friends since sometimes not knowing each other through a fight leads to friendship. Good at academics was just one of Jian Wen’s merits; his skills in horseback archery, making friends, eloquence, and even martial arts cultivation were exceptional among all the princes. Compared to him, the Crown Prince looked dull, only surpassing Jian Wen when it came to benevolence."

Zhao Douan frowned, "This might not be a good thing."

Mo Chou nodded and sighed, "Indeed. But, despite everything, the late Emperor was particularly fond of and relied heavily on Jian Wen, constantly arranging for him to handle court affairs outside the capital as he grew older. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince rarely left the capital. Gradually, rumors spread within the court that the late Emperor intended to change the heir, leading some courtiers to gather around Jian Wen. Jian Wen’s retinue was also formed during this period."

Was the old Emperor digging his own grave, or did he really intend to change the crown? Zhao Douan wondered.

Though he had been dealing with the remnants of Jian Wen’s faction since his arrival, it was the first time he learned so much detail about the deceased Second Prince.

Zhao Douan asked in confusion, "Could the late Emperor really have planned to...?"

Mo Chou shook her head, "Who can truly understand the mind of an Emperor? However, after Jian Wen’s rise, on one occasion, the late Emperor flew into a rage because Jian Wen’s followers broke the law and severely punished Jian Wen. This move was interpreted as the late Emperor’s continued favor towards the Crown Prince. From then on, Jian Wen became much more restrained, yet even after the Emperor’s anger subsided, he didn’t stop Jian Wen from associating with courtiers... In summary, it was all very confusing. Then later, when the late Emperor passed away, the Xuanmen Coup took place, which you know of."

There seems to be something more behind all this... Zhao Douan mused internally.

He asked more questions, but unfortunately, Mo Chou, who was just a maid at the time, remembered Jian Wen’s personal life details but was unclear about the court politics.

"By the way, what about Song Zhi? Such a famous person, why haven’t I heard of him?" Zhao Douan inquired.

He had read the dossiers of the Xuanmen Coup but didn’t recall seeing this name.

Mo Chou sighed softly, "Due to his close relationship with Jian Wen, yet being the Crown Prince’s Horse Washer, his position was inappropriate. Initially, it was fine, but as Jian Wen gained momentum and gathered followers... Song Zhi found it difficult to navigate, so he resigned early, left the capital, and wandered the Martial World. His whereabouts have been unknown ever since."

So that’s why he disappeared... No wonder I didn’t know... Zhao Douan mused, "Since Song Zhi was close with Jian Wen, could it be that..."

Mo Chou gave him a glance and said, "Aren’t you the one responsible for investigating the Kuangfu Society? If such a person were involved, wouldn’t you know?"

Alright, there’s indeed no such person as Song Zhi in the Kuangfu Society...

Zhao Douan shook his head and joked to himself, "Seems like I’m overthinking it."

Mo Chou picked up the military report and stood up, "I’m going to find Shi Meng."

"Yeah." Zhao Douan watched her sway her hips as she left, and after a long while, he stood up, opened the door, and walked into the main hall.

The door opened.

And there stood Jin Jian, arms akimbo, on a stool, with a fierce demeanor as she slammed the last two cards on the table, "I win! Pay up!"

The Young Priestess stood there, palm open, like an old general who had fought and triumphed on the battlefield.

...

...

"Achoo!"

Feng Ju awoke from his curled-up position, opening his eyes to see a dim ceiling.

The room was freezing, with no firewood, a proper bedroom where the floor was almost covered with frost.

Feng Ju groggily sat up, tightened his cotton clothes, and "gurgle gurgle"... his stomach growled with hunger.

Feng Ju struggled to stand, supporting his weak body, and staggered towards the door, pushing it open with both hands, only to be greeted by the whistling cold wind that made him shiver violently.