C29. Deadly Mistake.

C29. Deadly Mistake.

Truly, if it wasn't for Jian Shaoning calling out to him, Yuan Li wouldn't have recognized that this was Jian Shaoning.

The group of people all looked dirty and tired, with their warhorses covered in dirt and mud. Everyone appeared exhausted, including Jian Shaoning, who had noticeably lost weight.

Yuan Li couldn't believe his eyes – how could he see Jian Shaoning in Youzhou?

Jian Shaoning rushed to the gates of the Prince Chu Estate, dismounting from his horse before it had even come to a stop. His heart was filled with excitement upon seeing an old friend, almost bringing tears to his eyes.

But as he took a few steps forward, Jian Shaoning suddenly stopped, feeling uneasy.

Yuan Li dressed in luxurious silk garments and he looked like a beggar compared to him, causing Jian Shaoning to hesitate from moving further.

He didn't know how Yuan Li would treat him.

"Yuan Li…" Jian Shaoning looked nervous, holding onto the reins tightly as if he was ready to flee at any moment.

His disheveled appearance, unkempt beard, and torn clothes reflected the hardships he had faced on the road. He looked at Yuan Li with a mix of pleading and cautious anticipation.

Behind him, the advisor Xiao Ce watched Yuan Li closely, ready with a sword at his waist.

Seeing Jian Shaoning so vulnerable, Yuan Li felt a pang of regret. He smiled and quickly approached Jian Shaoning, embracing him warmly. "Shaoning, it's been too long. I've been worried sick about you!"

Jian Shaoning's body odor was unpleasant, nearly nauseating in the sweltering heat. But Yuan Li showed no sign of disgust, hugging Jian Shaoning tightly and patting his back.

Jian Shaoning coughed a few times from the forceful pats, but felt a sense of calm wash over him. He sniffed, his eyes reddening with tears from the hardships he had endured on the journey. "Yuan Li… I-I want to seek refuge here. Would you be willing to take me in?"

"Of course!" Yuan Li released Jian Shaoning, his eyes sparkling with joy. He welcomed him warmly, leading him to the residence. "Take care of Shaoning's men and horses, let them rest and recover. Here, you don't have to be formal!"

He then turned to Jian Shaoning with a sly smile, teasing, "Shaoning, to chase after me all this way, you must have really wanted that map."

Jian Shaoning choked up, knowing Yuan Li was saving face for him. Such kindness was rare, making Jian Shaoning almost lose control of his emotions.

He composed himself before replying in a hoarse voice, "Yes, for that map, I would run to the ends of the earth to get it."

Yuan Li laughed heartily as the two young men walked away.

Meanwhile, Liu Jixin, who had been watching by the gate for some time, approached Xiao Ce with a smile. "Li Mou, it's been a while since we last met."

Xiao Ce was surprised to see Liu Jixin there. He greeted him with respect, "Changyue, I didn't expect to meet you here. So, you left our lord's side to follow a new master to Youzhou?"

Liu Jixin chuckled, "When I followed our lord, he hadn't come to Youzhou. Meeting here must be fate."

Xiao Ce was surprised – had Liu Jixin found a new master?

When Jian Qibo was around, Liu Jixin followed him closely but Xiao Ce had a feeling that Liu Jixin was not truly loyal to him. He couldn't quite figure him out, so he warned Jian Qibo not to trust him too much.

Jian Qibo heeded his advice and kept a polite distance from Liu Jixin, which ultimately led to Liu Jixin leaving him to search for another master.

Little did Xiao Ce know, the friend mentioned by Jian Shaoning was the master Liu Jixin had deemed worthy.

What abilities did this young man possess to earn Liu Jixin's loyalty before he even reached adulthood?

"Indeed, it is quite a coincidence," Xiao Ce mused, cautiously asking, "However, when Changyue first left our lord, did he foresee the current situation?"

Liu Jixin was taken aback, saying, "Li Mou, what do you mean by that? I am just a small strategist who rarely leaves home. How could I have any insight into such matters!"

His surprise seemed genuine, and he sighed with a touch of sadness, lamenting, "Who could have predicted the rise of the White Rice Rebels? And who could have imagined the emperor would be so ruthless? When I heard about it, I was shocked and couldn't sleep at night. The tragedy at the Jian residence saddened me deeply... Although Master Jian perished, Young Master Shaoning survived. By his side, Young Master Shaoning can find solace. Li Mou, this is a silver lining in a dark cloud. My lord is kind, and Young Master Shaoning can find peace and recuperate here."

Having listened quietly, Xiao Ce didn't sense anything amiss and nodded in gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Changyue and Lord Yuan, for your kindness."

Yuan Li had prepared water and clothing for Jian Shaoning, who then bathed, shaved his beard, and emerged from the bathing room feeling rejuvenated. Yuan Li had a meal ready for him.

Jian Shaoning barely spoke, finishing three bowls of rice before sighing in contentment, "I haven't enjoyed a meal this comfortably in a long time."

Yuan Li comforted him and inquired about his journey.

It turned out that after fleeing the capital with his men, Jian Shaoning sought refuge with Yuan Li in Youzhou. However, they faced numerous challenges on the way due to the White Rice Rebels' violence.

They had evaded bandits and faced hardships, resulting in only fifty of his original two hundred men surviving by the time they reached Youzhou.

Jian Shaoning recounted these struggles with a numb expression, "I am now a fugitive from the court, always moving cautiously to avoid being detected by local officials. Yuan Li, I had nowhere else to turn, so I came to seek refuge here."

Yuan Li silently patted his shoulder, offering silent support.

Jian Shaoning forced a smile at Yuanli, "I was scared when I heard that the demon Chu Hechao had abducted you to Youzhou. Did he mistreat you? Were you bullied by him?"

Yuan Li's expression shifted subtly.

Bullied?

He had ignored Chao even more.

He shook his head and briefly explained what had occurred in Youzhou to Jian Shaoning.

Upon hearing that the Yu family in Yizhou had sent two beautiful women to Yuanli, Jian Shaoning joked, "That makes sense. It has been five months since your husband passing, and the mourning period has already passed."

"You were married for only a few days, so both of you didn't feel familiar with each other. Besides, being young and full of vitality, it's not uncommon for households to exchange beautiful women. Even if they weren't pleased, you would accept them. Worst case, you could keep them in the backyard as extra mouths to feed. The Yu family in Yizhou must have been stingy, as they never imagined their offer would be refused outright."

Yuan Li raised an eyebrow, "You are familiar with the Yu family in Yizhou?"

"Yes, I am," Jian Shaoning nodded, recalling, "The Yu family in Yizhou is a prominent merchant in Northern Zhou. When they used to visit Luoyang, I had met them through my father. In my father's courtyard, there was a Lady Yu they had sent over – a delicate and beautiful woman."

Pausing, Jian Shaoning was reminded of the grim scene of his family being slaughtered. Seeing him falter, Yuan Li shifted the conversation with a change of tone, "Shaoning, do you know about the Zhang family in Youzhou?"

"I do. The Zhang family in Youzhou is influential and wealthy," Jian Shaoning refocused, continuing, "They are well-connected and talented, with various resources such as salt, tea, cloth, and horses. However, they lack a powerful backing and often have to pay hefty sums to appease officials at all levels."

Jian Shaoning pondered, chin in hand, "Now that they are stationed in Youzhou, they are eager to establish connections. Their decision to purchase horses seems appropriate, and I believe they will handle this matter well. However, Yuan Li, if they aim to accumulate wealth, why not sell soap in Yangzhou and Xuzhou? The Jiangdong region is much richer, especially places like Chenwang and Chenliu, where the accumulated wealth could potentially overwhelm me."

Yuan Li couldn't help but chuckle, "Your thoughts mirror mine. Today, I will write a letter to my teacher and send soap to Xuzhou. I will ask my teacher to arrange business dealings with wealthy merchants in Xuzhou and Yangzhou."

Jian Shaoning sighed, "Lord Ouyang, how is he faring in Xuzhou?"

Before departing from Luoyang, Yuan Li had sent a letter to Ouyang Ting, receiving a reply even before reaching Youzhou. In the letter, Ouyang Ting berated Chu Hechao shamelessly, then advised Yuan Li to stay focused and handle matters diligently in Youzhou.

He assured Yuan Li that if there were any shortcomings or needs, he would dispatch assistance from Xuzhou.

Yuan Li felt relieved that Ouyang Ting was unaware of Chu Hechao's wrongdoing, as Ouyang Ting's anger would have halted the letter mid-writing.

Furthermore, Ouyang Ting was deeply saddened by the beheading of Jian Qibo's family in the Capital, firmly believing that Jian Qibo was not embezzling disaster relief funds. Ouyang Ting regretted not being in Luoyang to intercede with the emperor alongside Zhang Liangdong.

However, Yuan Li chose not to mention these details to Jian Shaoning, as they would only reopen old wounds.

Yuan Li sighed and shook his head, "Although my teacher is concerned, I don't share the same sentiment. Prince Chen has already started recruiting troops and purchasing horses obediently to suppress rebellions as per government orders. My teacher believes this could potentially backfire."

Jian Shaoning scoffed, "The emperor's vision is short-sighted and fails to see the consequences."

After a few exchanges, Yuan Li noticed the fatigue on Jian Shaoning's face. Leading him to the bedchamber, Yuan Li gently said, "Rest now. Once you are here, just focus on recuperating and don't worry about anything else. It's time to get some badly needed rest."

Jian Shaoning remained silent, nodding heavily in agreement.

Night fell.

Jian Shaoning lay on the clean, tidy cot, surrounded by the soothing scent of incense on the bedding. He buried his face in the sheets, inhaling deeply.

With the window wide open, a cool breeze drifted in, the gentle tinkling of the bells on the bed canopy harmonizing with the nocturnal sounds of cicadas and frogs, lulling him to sleep.

Unconsciously, tears moistened the sheets beneath him. He lay still, forcing himself to drift into slumber.

He didn't make a mistake...

Yuan Li was willing to offer him shelter.

In the vast world, this would be his sanctuary.

Finally, Jian Shaoning's long-tense nerves relaxed abruptly, soon succumbing to a deep sleep.

That night, due to the abundance of mosquitoes, Yuan Li brought a basin of water into the room to create a soap solution for warding off the pests. It was then that Liu Jixin, wearing a look of concern, entered the room, exclaiming, "My lord, what are you up to?"

"..."

Yuanli glanced at the way he crouched like a child playing with mud, swiftly finding a plausible excuse. Calmly, he said, "I'm washing my hands."

Liu Jixin didn't dwell on it and instead asked directly, "My lord, how long do we plan to stay in Jixian?"

"About ten days," replied Yuanli.

Liu Jixin continued, "My lord, how do you intend to accommodate Jian Shaoning and Xiao Ce?"

Yuan Li set the soap aside, washed his hands, and stood up, saying, "Shaoning comes from a prominent family and is adept at navigating various factions. I plan to have him assist me in the subsequent soap sales."

In essence, Yuan Li believed that Jian Shaoning's character and background in a noble family made him suitable for the role of Minister of Foreign Affairs.

During their first meeting, Jian Shaoning would proactively seek acquaintance with Yuan Li. During their time at the Imperial Academy, Jian Shaoning had thrived, possessing extensive knowledge of various powerful families and clans, making him a rare talent in diplomacy.

Frowning, Liu Jixin said, "My lord, do you intend to have them stay in Jixian?"

Perplexed, Yuan Li nodded, sensing something amiss with Liu Jixin, he humbly asked, "Do you think this arrangement is inappropriate?"

Pausing for a moment, Liu Jixin didn't respond immediately to Yuanli's question but continued, "My lord, Wang Er is also a talented warrior, why did you choose to bring only Wu Kai and not Wang Er to Shanggu County this time?"

"Indeed, Wang Er is talented," Yuanli chuckled, "But why don't you try to guess my intentions for bringing only Wu Kai?"

With a resigned smile, Liu Jixin said, "My lord, by not bringing Wang Er and Guo Lin along to Shanggu County, you are expressing your lack of concern for Jixian. By leaving these trusted individuals behind and taking only me and Wu Kai, both military and civilian aspects will be represented on the battlefield. Those left behind are not overlooked, and those brought along do not necessarily imply complete trust in us."

Yuan Li laughed heartily, "Your words resonate with me."

Liu Jixin shook his head, "If I can't even see through these details, how can I be considered your advisor? When we leave Jixian next time, will you leave them behind?"

Yuanli nodded slightly, "Indeed."

Liu Jixin took a deep breath, his expression changing, suddenly bowing deeply.

"My lord, if you wish for stability in Jixian, Jian Shaoning can stay, but without a doubt, Xiao Ce by his side must be eliminated!"