After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 28

This is a face that Xie Zhengqing will never forget in his lifetime.

To be honest, Zhou Xun was indeed handsome. But the reason Xie Zhengqing could remember his face was not because of his appearance.

It was because of a chance encounter.

It was an extremely accidental encounter. Xie Zhengqing was drinking tea in a teahouse with friends when he heard people chatting downstairs, discussing border affairs.

Xie Zhengqing leaned over to listen, and seeing him like this, his friend continued to persuade him, saying, “Why do you need to go to the border? Throughout history, only those who have been banished from the capital go to the border to strive for success. Your father has already arranged a position for you in the court. Why do you need to seek afar?”

Xie Zhengqing felt annoyed by his words. A self-proclaimed scholar downstairs was also there, waving his fan and making judgments.

“However, in my opinion, the court spends so much money maintaining so many armies, which is really a waste! You see, Dalang has long surrendered to our dynasty, and Northern Wei is remote and not to be feared. The bandits of the northwest tribes are indeed a problem… but there’s no need to send armies to eliminate them!”

“What are your thoughts, Li Sheng?”

“These bandits disturb the border because they can’t eat enough or dress warmly. Our country is rich and abundant. We can donate some food and cloth to them every year. Maintaining an army, feeding tens of thousands of people, costs hundreds of thousands or millions of taels of silver, while providing food and cloth only costs tens of thousands of taels of silver. In this way, expenses are greatly reduced. Isn’t it beautiful?”

The scholar was still expressing his “insights” self-satisfiedly. Xie Zhengqing looked downstairs, and his friend took the opportunity to say, “You see, even the common people don’t yearn for war. They desire peace instead of armies. Zhengqing, you have a bright future ahead of you. Why do you want to be seen as someone who ‘feeds on the government’s salary’? Moreover, with the prosperity and stability of the country, it’s no longer the era of generals…”

Xie Zhengqing felt confused and troubled. At this moment, however, there came a sneer from another scholar downstairs.

“Why are you laughing?”

His laughter was clear. The scholar surnamed Li, upon hearing it, turned his head back in anger and shame, “What are you laughing at?”

“I’m laughing at some people who harbor tigers without knowing it. They speak shallowly and grandiosely!”

The man seemed reluctant to speak at first, but when it came to the matter at hand, he calmly began to speak. The scholar surnamed Li became angry, “Is there anything wrong with what I said?”

“The court spends millions of taels of silver each year on garrison troops, yet you don’t see the poor scholars and scholars who can’t even afford horses. In my opinion, the court should save this money and use it to build schools, allowing more scholars to teach inside…”

“If all the scholars in the school are like you, then it’s better not to build the school.”

“What?”

“Dajing is indeed prosperous and abundant, with stable livelihoods. You speak grandiosely here, but do you know what guarantees this stability?” The man in green said slowly, Xie Zhengqing couldn’t see his face, only a figure in green clothes, “There are Northern Wei eyeing us from the north, Dalang harboring evil intentions from the west, barbarians from the south, and pirates from the East China Sea… Do you think this guarantee comes from?”

“What…” Li Sheng became angry and embarrassed, “Of course, because they are barbarians, admiring the prosperous and prosperous culture of Dajing, longing to be civilized! Over there in Dalang, many envoys have been sent this year to study in Dajing… Isn’t this evidence? We can gain their sincere support through culture and art alone?”

“Then, have you heard of a phrase, ‘to use barbarians’ skills to control barbarians’?”

“You…”

“The soldiers sacrifice their lives to defend the border, deterring the ambitions of the Northern Wei and Dalang with their mighty strength. It’s because of this consideration that Northern Wei and Dalang always weigh their own strength and calculate the gains and losses of war before taking action, never daring to attack Dajing.” The man in green sneered, “Otherwise, in their eyes, Dajing is just a piece of fat meat! Even if you don’t protect and respect Dajing, you still expect respect from other countries?”

“You…”

“As for the bandits in the west, I think they haven’t been beaten enough yet, so they dare to continue harassing our country’s borders.” The man in green said, “These locusts should have been taught a lesson long ago!”

“This little brother, your words are biased. Regarding these tribes, they should be governed with benevolence.” Another scholar retorted, “We should give them cloth, gold, and silver, and send princesses to marry them. In less than twenty years…”

The man in green said slowly, “A group of men, real men, don’t think about protecting their homes and country, but let a woman fulfill all your duties for you. Do you know the average lifespan of a princess married off to the frontier? As men who can gain titles and ranks, you only know to use women as sacrifices. Isn’t it laughable?”

The man in green argued until these people were speechless. Xie Zhengqing had been listening to his voice all along, and even his friend stopped picking at the side dishes.

“Who is that person?” his friend asked.

Xie Zhengqing shook his head.

The man in green stood up and left, and at this moment, Xie Zhengqing also saw his face clearly.

He didn’t need to know this scholar, but he remembered the man’s face and his words.

“Someone has to do it,” his friend heard Xie Zhengqing’s voice, “I’ve made up my mind.”

His friend asked him, “Do you want to get to know that scholar? I can have someone inquire for you.”

Xie Zhengqing shook his head and said, “No need, a gentleman keeps his distance.”

In a sense, it was the words of the man in green that strengthened Xie Zhengqing’s determination. He never regretted not stopping that person that day. Sometimes, a person remembers someone’s words without needing to know the person.

However, he didn’t expect to see Zhou Xun in the palace.

But… Xie Zhengqing furrowed his brows slightly, how could he be here? Could he be a new official in the court?

Zhou Xun, who was dozing off, raised his head.

The handsome face of the young man confirmed his identity even more. A look of joy appeared on his face as if he had seen him somewhere before.

But Zhou Xun was somewhat confused. He didn’t remember ever meeting this person before. However, this person was dressed in purple official robes and looked like a high-ranking official in the court.

A high-ranking official in the court, yet unfamiliar, and so young… Zhou Xun’s mind flashed through several suspicious candidates.

He lowered his eyes and glanced at the exposed hands of the man, calculating in his heart.

Xie Zhengqing, seeing that Zhou Xun seemed to have no impression of him, cursed himself inwardly.

It was natural for him to remember Zhou Xun, but it was even more natural for Zhou Xun not to remember him. He could only say, “Sorry for the intrusion, I am…”

“But General Xie Zhengqing?”

Xie Zhengqing was stunned, and after a while, he said, “How did you know my name?”

Zhou Xun said, “There aren’t many people of your age in the court who can wear such high-grade official robes. The calluses on the hands of a person are obviously left by someone who frequently pulls a bow. General Xie is skilled in archery, and the incident of shooting a bandit leader from hundreds of meters away is well known in the capital. It’s not difficult to judge the general’s identity.”

Xie Zhengqing was dumbfounded. After a long time, he said, “Marquis Dingguo, Master Xu, and I are of similar age, and we can also wear similar-grade official robes, and we both enjoy archery… How did you know that I am General Xie and not Master Xu?”

In his surprised gaze, Zhou Xun said calmly, “Because of the official boots on the general’s feet.”

“Official boots?”

“Marquis Xu and his wife are newlyweds, deeply in love at the moment, while the general is stationed at the border all year round and has not yet married.” Xie Zhengqing looked down at his boots as Zhou Xun continued, “Madame Xu is virtuous. If the general were Marquis Xu, he would never wear worn-out boots when going out.”

Xie Zhengqing was stunned for a moment, then sighed and said, “Young Master has keen eyes! I admire you!”

After laying out this series of reasoning, Zhou Xun continued, “General’s expression just now seemed like you’ve seen me somewhere.”

Xie Zhengqing smiled. He didn’t intend to explain the matter in detail, just saying, “I once met Young Master in a teahouse. Your profound insights left a deep impression on me.”

Zhou Xun: …

Zhou Xun still couldn’t remember him. Just as Xie Zhengqing was about to speak, a voice came from behind.

“General Xie, there you are! I’ve been searching for you everywhere!” The little eunuch who came to fetch him stood behind him, wiping the sweat from his head and complaining, “You came out of the latrine, why didn’t you say anything? I searched the latrine three times and only found out you had already come out!”

Xie Zhengqing: …

Zhou Xun’s expression remained unchanged, but Xie Zhengqing inexplicably felt particularly embarrassed, as if a celestial being accidentally farted and had to quickly pretend to control the air currents like riding clouds and mist.

The little eunuch finally noticed Zhou Xun standing behind him and hastily bowed, saying, “Master Zhou.”

Zhou… Master Zhou?

His surname was Zhou?

Xie Zhengqing was taken aback, but he didn’t dwell on it. After all, Zhou Xun’s slender figure fundamentally didn’t match his imagination of “Zhou Xun.”

Unfortunately, today was too rushed, and there wasn’t time to chat with him again… Thinking of this, Xie Zhengqing felt somewhat helpless.

The little eunuch continued, “The Emperor is eager to see you, so you should hurry over.”

“Alright.” Xie Zhengqing nodded. Before leaving, he tried to say something to Zhou Xun, but before he could finish, he heard the voice of the little eunuch, “The Emperor?”

Xie Zhengqing turned back unexpectedly.

In the depths of the woods, the Emperor was wearing casual clothes and walking towards him with a warm smile.

His expression was so kind that it made Xie Zhengqing tremble slightly.

Xie Zhengqing had never received such a warm reception from the Emperor before. For a moment, he even felt a sense of being overwhelmed by favor.

Could it be that the Emperor, seeing that he hadn’t visited for a long time, came in person… to the latrine three times?

Xie Zhengqing felt a little moved.

However, upon seeing him, the smile on the Emperor’s face seemed to grow larger and larger, and even his steps quickened.

In the end, he almost ran towards him.

Xie Zhengqing: ??

…He couldn’t help but lower his head to confirm his own body. After realizing that he hadn’t become extremely muscular due to military life, he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

“Em…peror…”

He opened his mouth, but before he could say the next words, the Emperor swept past him like a gust of wind.

And stopped next to the young man, casually hooking his arm around the other’s shoulder.

Xie Zhengqing: …