“Splash!” Somewhere in the distant Yiyang County.
A basin of cold water poured down, droplets pattering as they fell from the person’s body.
Although the current weather wouldn’t make contact with cold water unbearable, the young man curled up in the corner, wearing only thin cloth garments now thoroughly soaked, still felt somewhat uncomfortable. His hair was disheveled, hanging low as he bowed his head, appearing exceptionally wretched and pitiful.
“Advisor Qin, you need to clear your head properly!” The visitor lowered his voice threateningly, “Don’t think about investigating things you shouldn’t know or making any moves—where are your two pageboys?”
Qin Liusong raised his head, smiling as he moved his throbbing cheek. Surprisingly, his expression showed not a trace of fear but rather a measured composure: “Master Huai Liu of Shanjing Academy shares a profound friendship with me that transcends worldly status. Recently, I discovered new qin music scores and sent them to share with him by letter, so naturally I dispatched them to Master Huai Liu’s place—to await a reply.”
“…” The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
The guard looked back uncertainly toward the inner room, as if confirming some instruction, then forced a smile and came to support Qin Liusong: “Heh, they’ve been gone for several days now… Are they really just delivering music scores?”
Ahem. Qin Liusong coughed several times, unceremoniously leaning most of his body weight against the other person. He then allowed the maids to lead him into the room, where they attentively helped him change into clean clothes, wiped and arranged his damp hair, and served a steaming cup of rich tea along with a plate of exquisite Ghee Pastries.
Only after Qin Liusong had leisurely finished eating did he feel considerably better.
Looking at the guard who had long grown impatient, and sensing the presence of someone sitting just beyond the wall who absolutely refused to come out and confront him directly, he said sincerely: “Being ineligible for the imperial examinations, I can only devote myself to these refined pursuits. All correspondence between Master Huai Liu and myself concerns qin music exchange. If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to investigate yourself.”
He knew these words were wasted breath.
Ever since being confined earlier today, he had known that his previous private investigations and warnings to the villagers had been discovered. His residence would have been thoroughly searched, and those letters must have long been examined.
These colluding scoundrels were worried he would expose the matter. His careful concealment for several days hadn’t been in vain—it had only become unsustainable today. His two attendants had long since slipped away unnoticed.
“…” Some instruction seemed to come from next door. The guard turned and left immediately, likely going to carefully re-examine the letters. Qin Liusong wasn’t the least bit anxious; he took another sip of tea and waited calmly, as if he weren’t currently in a dangerous situation.
—If one could relive a lifetime and not learn from their previous life’s experiences, that would be utter foolishness.
Qin Liusong lowered his eyelids, a flickering light shining in his light brown eyes.
Back when the new emperor ascended the throne, he was merely an insignificant county magistrate. After accumulating seniority for years and exhausting every means to climb higher, by the time the new emperor passed away, he had only risen to the position of Associate Prefect of Ruzhou Prefecture—a mere fifth-rank official.
At such a young age and with such a position, anyone who saw him would praise him for achieving high status and power so early. Yet Qin Liusong’s heart burned with intense discontent—
The new emperor was skilled at recognizing talent and had promoted many capable officials, never lacking trusted confidants.
He too was highly capable, but he had always lacked an opportunity to catch the new emperor’s eye… In his entire life, he was only missing that tiny bit of luck. Why? He had exhausted every effort to showcase his excellence, but as neither a capital official nor a Zhifu, no matter how much he accomplished, it never stood out. Now, the new emperor had even passed away…
After being consumed by overwhelming emotions and resentment, Qin Liusong hazily realized he had experienced a miraculous encounter.
He had actually returned to… a time before he had taken the imperial examinations. Similarly, the new emperor was not yet the crown prince but merely the most overlooked prince, who hadn’t even set off for his fief in Liuzhou!
Qin Liusong acted decisively, withdrawing from the Provincial Examination he hadn’t finished. He hired a physician, took medicine for over half a month, and publicly claimed that the imperial exams had taken a toll on his health, requiring several years of recovery. Naturally, he failed the unfinished Provincial Examination. Remaining a mere Cultivated Talent, Qin Liusong packed his belongings, declared he would travel to refresh his mind, and immediately set off with his page and servant, heading straight for Yiyang in Ruzhou.
Qin Liusong was a native of Ruzhou.
He calculated the route: when the Second Prince would later travel to Liuzhou to establish his fief, he would inevitably pass through Ruzhou. Though unsure of the exact path, Qin Liusong planned to inquire and catch up to offer his services as a retainer—a confidant who had followed the future emperor from humble beginnings. This time, he would surely be noticed, wouldn’t he?
But then came the most critical question.
With nearly half a year until the Second Prince was enfeoffed as a feudal lord, should he boldly approach and offer his services without any preparation? No matter how down-and-out the Second Prince might be, he was still a prince—would he value the self-recommendation of a mere Cultivated Talent?
Qin Liusong needed to present an achievement or demonstrate his abilities to prove his worth.
Finding the right master to serve was an art in itself.
…That was why, after his rebirth, he had rushed to Yiyang and secured a position as a private advisor. In his previous life, while serving as Associate Prefect in Ruzhou Prefecture, he had witnessed a local case of “collusion between officials and bandits, falsifying merits,” which the new emperor later uncovered and punished. That very place was Yiyang County.
Now, Qin Liusong was threading carefully within the county office, investigating the matter while discreetly warning villagers and gathering evidence. He aimed to uproot the corruption entirely through his own efforts.
Qin Liusong had confidence in his plan.
—He had once been an old friend of Huai Liu from Shanjing Academy. After his rebirth, he quickly rekindled their friendship, bonding over music and exchanging letters. By now, Qin Liusong had collected ample evidence of the crimes committed by Yiyang County officials. Moreover, Huai Liu’s son was a Supervising Censor loyal only to the emperor, with no other allegiances.
What would happen if he sent the letter?
The people of Yiyang County and passing travelers would regain peaceful lives; Huai Liu’s son would earn prestige and rewards; the guilty would be imprisoned awaiting trial. And Qin Liusong, a mere Cultivated Talent without rank or office, would take the intelligence he had gathered—such as the location of the bandit camp—and present himself to the Second Prince…
His Highness would gain unclaimed wealth, and Qin Liusong would gain a wise lord.
At this thought, the corners of Qin Liusong’s lips twitched upward before flattening again with anxiety.
Now he could only wait for Huai Liu to bring help and put a definitive end to this matter.
After all…
He had recently heard the news of the Second Prince being granted a fiefdom… estimating that the procession would soon pass through Ruzhou. He needed to quickly resolve this mess and catch up to offer his services.
He hoped there was still time… time enough for the book boy and others to return and help him investigate the procession’s route.
It had been hard on them—traveling dozens of miles to notify villagers and then seeking out Huai Liu. For days there had been no news, leaving him wondering if they had succeeded…
Qin Liusong’s thoughts drifted to his two attendants.
He had sent them to deliver evidence of crimes to Huai Liu while also informing the villagers one last time. But since Qin Liusong’s information was vague—only knowing which general area the bandits might target, without specifics about villages or mountains—the two attendants had to risk traveling everywhere, warning each village and mountain community to stay vigilant…
He hoped everything would go smoothly.
No matter how hard he searched his memories, Qin Liusong couldn’t recall which route the Second Prince’s procession had taken in his previous life… Remembering that it passed through Ruzhou was already remarkable, given that the prince had been an unpopular feudal lord back then.
Only one thing could be deduced with certainty:
…Because the Ruzhou county town the Second Prince’s procession passed through wasn’t Yiyang.
Confidently, Qin Liusong took another sip of tea.
Author’s Note:
Mini Theater—
Qin Liusong: Anyway, they’re not coming to Yiyang.
The next day.
Advisor Qin jolting awake from his deathbed dream: What?!
The Second Prince came to Yiyang??!!!
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(Due to his cousin Wang Shuo’s rebirth, Grandmaster Huang was introduced to the male lead earlier. Since Huang’s hometown is Yiyang County, the male lead altered his route to Yiyang this time, leading to tonight’s events.)
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