“Stop lying and get back to work.” The man didn’t believe him at all, dismissing it as a mistake. Without waiting for further explanation, he opened the door and walked out.
Left alone, the young attendant scratched the back of his head, his eyes filled with resentment. “But I really saw it…”
The senior female teacher who had invited Tang Zhiwu to join the research project had just sent the topic details to her phone.
Coincidentally, when she opened it, the title “The Tumultuous History of the First Year of Jiayi” lay quietly before her.
It had to be admitted that “First Year of Jiayi” had appeared with unusual frequency in Tang Zhiwu’s life lately.
After changing her clothes and tidying up, Tang Zhiwu hailed a taxi and headed straight for the university.
As the perennial top student in the history department, she adhered to the principle of doing things well and gave her all to this research project.
Not only she, a sophomore, had been invited, but also outstanding seniors from the freshman, junior, and senior classes.
Since she had taken on this task, it would be a shame not to bring back the best research project.
Her personal understanding of the First Year of Jiayi was not deep, as she had only just encountered this dynasty in the official historical accounts.
Although she had skimmed through The Strategic Collection of the First Year of Jiayi, she still felt like an outsider.
Gazing out the window at the bustling, awakened city of Shu, Tang Zhiwu felt a sudden stir in her heart.
“Was the imperial capital during the First Year of Jiayi as lively and prosperous as this?”
Entering through the main gate, Tang Zhiwu ignored the curious glances from passersby and made her way directly to the library.
The history department was the flagship program of University A, and the university had dedicated an entire floor to housing historical books from various dynasties, covering both official and unofficial histories.
Choosing a secluded corner, Tang Zhiwu opened her laptop and spread out the stack of books she had gathered.
Focused and serious, her demeanor shifted from its usual playfulness to one of intense concentration.
Her small hands flipped through a thick book, but she paused the next moment, her eyes lighting up.
Her fingers slowly moved across the page, pointing to a line of text, and she couldn’t help but whisper it aloud:
“First Year of Jiayi, Commander of the Imperial Guards, Xu Ge, styled Jin Zhi.”
She clearly remembered that the man she had messaged on WeChat this morning also used the style name Jin Zhi.
Recalling the “Judgment Document” he had sent earlier to sanction Yan Kaiji, Tang Zhiwu finally understood.
It seemed this Jin Zhi on WeChat was also a fan of Xu Ge, the Commander of the Imperial Guards!
The historical, richly detailed text he had sent flashed through her mind again, and Tang Zhiwu felt an inexplicable excitement.
“Then I can ask him anything I want to know!”
With an unexpected helper at her disposal, Tang Zhiwu immediately pulled out her phone and eagerly sent a message to Jin Zhi to confirm:
Tie Jun Sister: [Jin Zhi, are you well-versed in the First Year of Jiayi?]
The familiar “The other party is typing…” appeared. Tang Zhiwu’s eyes sparkled as she placed her phone on the table, propped her chin on her hands, and waited quietly.
In the Frost Chill Pavilion, the small gem-encrusted box containing all their chat letters sat on the upper left corner of the desk.
Xu Ge sat in a chair, and across from him sat another man.
This man was dressed in dark cyan Cloud Soaring Bat Pattern Martial Attire, with a Rhinoceros Horn and Jade Brocade Belt tied around his waist, and several jade pendants and sachets hanging at his side.
His hair was disheveled, giving him a rather travel-worn appearance.
Yet he possessed strikingly handsome features—sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes—which made people overlook the weariness and fatigue at the corners of his eyes at that moment.
When Wei Zijing was stopped by the Embroidered Uniform Guards under Xu Ge’s command, his heart tightened, realizing that the action to expose Wei Zichen and the evils of the Shi family would become exceptionally difficult.
Looking at the well-trained Embroidered Uniform Guards surrounding them on all sides, Wei Zijing ultimately relented and followed Ashu to Xu Manor.
From the moment they entered the Frost Pavilion until now, neither of them had spoken.
Wei Zijing clasped his hands together, his fingers constantly rubbing the Jade Thumb Ring on his thumb, his gaze fixed on Xu Ge as he scrutinized him intently.
However, the anticipated threat from Xu Ge did not materialize. This Cold-Faced King of Hell seemed almost indifferent to the matter, his attention entirely focused on the open small gemstone box.
Unable to bear it any longer, Wei Zijing broke the prolonged silence first after enduring another stretch of dead stillness.
“Commander, are you planning to shield the third prince and take his side?”
His words struck directly at the heart of the matter, sharp and incisive.
Yet after uttering this sentence, Wei Zijing clearly saw the change in expression on Xu Ge’s face.
On his cold, impassive countenance—like a stagnant pool revealing nothing—a ripple of fluctuation appeared.
Thinking that Xu Ge had admitted to siding with Wei Zichen, the calm facade Wei Zijing had struggled to maintain finally cracked.
He slammed the armrest of his chair fiercely, abruptly stood up, his eyebrows raised high and his eyes wide open.
“Do you know how many heinous deeds that dog Wei Zichen has committed? The Shi family, that malignant tumor, colludes with him, acting arrogantly and without regard in the court! But I never imagined…”
Wei Zijing’s legs weakened, he staggered, and finally braced himself against the armrest, breathing heavily.
After calming the breath stuck in his chest, he slowly lifted his trembling eyelashes. “I never imagined that the Commander, whom Father Emperor trusts the most, would also join forces with them, plunging the entire Great Wei into fire and water!”
His tone was mournful and sorrowful.
Wei Zijing was truly afraid.
Anyone siding with Wei Zichen was not frightening; he feared nothing and could handle them all one by one.
But only Xu Ge alone left him helpless, unsure of how to respond.
On the other side of the desk, Xu Ge showed no reaction upon hearing his stirring, furious words.
He simply went about his own business, taking a piece of paper from the open small box.
Xu Ge unfolded it, looked at the contents, and immediately prepared to lift his brush to write, “Know a little.”
But as the brush hovered mid-air, Xu Ge paused, pondered for a moment, and ultimately, expressionlessly, changed these four characters to, “Know everything thoroughly.”
Truly, utterly shameless.
Only after folding the paper and placing it on the jade pendant in the box did he finally respond to Wei Zijing, “Then can you guarantee that you yourself will not be implicated in the slightest?”
His long eyelashes lowered, making it impossible to discern his current expression.
The jade pendant flashed, the letter disappeared within it, and all unusual movements and light were concealed inside that exquisite small gemstone box.
Satisfied with a nod, Xu Ge finally lifted his head, looking directly at Wei Zijing across from him, whose face was flushed red and trembling with anger.
His gaze was icy, and the question he asked carried a chilling indifference.