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“The elders’ offers flatter and surprise but I am a martial artist. I studied little when I was young,” Xu Qian said gingerly, wary of the unknown.

“It doesn’t matter. Learning is a life-long endeavor, it’s never too late to start,” Li Mubai said as he stroked his beard.

Xu Qian was truly baffled by the elders’ recruitment.

He had to figure out what was happening. A glance at his cousin gave him an idea. “That is true. Perhaps I do have some scholarly talent to get your attention. Maybe I’ll even surpass Cijiu.”

At that, Xu Xinnian let out an arrogant huff. “My mentor and Elder Mubai have their eyes on your poetry skills, like Yang Gong’s Farewell To Qingzhou At The Sheep’s Pavilion.”

The outburst took Xu Xinnian by surprise and he averted his gaze in embarrassment.

‘Yang Gong’s Farewell To Qingzhou At The Sheep’s Pavilion? Yang Gong? Ah, I think I understand.’ The information divulged by Xu Xinnian was exactly what Xu Qian needed to complete the puzzle.

He knew what the two established Confucian scholars wanted from him.

A poem was useful to spread one’s name and leave one’s legacy. For example, Wang Lun—a good friend of the great poet, Li Bai—had his name immortalized in Li Bai’s poem which was passed down the centuries.

Evidently, kissing *ss was a useful skill to have.

The ancient people had it down to an art—the man went down in history.

In the modern day, people kissed their dogs and girlfriends, and what did they get in return?

The ancient people knew their priorities.

The White Deer Academy was losing ground in the courts. Reduced court appointments meant there was a low chance the scholars would be written into the history books. Hence, Xu Qian’s poetry was more vital than ever.

‘These elders…’ Xu Qian pursed his lips. He was not happy to learn that the elders only wanted him for the poems and not his stellar character.

The eager smiles on their faces did not falter.

Xu Qian said after a moment’s thought, “Thank you for the offer. I am committed to learning and it would be impolite for me to refuse. Recently, inspiration visited me and I wrote a few good poems. I’ll drop by the White Deer Academy to visit both of you once I’ve settled the matter at hand.”

‘Both of you…’ Xu Qian was definitely a more tactful person than Xu Xinnian. Li Mubai breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

Zhang Zhen had the advantage of having Xu Xinnian as his student. Li Mubai was worried he would not stand a chance in recruiting Xu Qian.

Xu Qian’s response was beautifully phrased.

“If that is so, we shall retire to the White Deer Academy and wait for your visit,” Zhang Zhen said. Then, he turned to Xu Xinnian.

“Cijiu, you should do some mental cultivation. You have spent a year in enlightenment and it’s about time for your breakthrough. Copy the sage’s quotes three hundred times and hand them to me ten days later.”

Xu Xinnian was crestfallen.

“A step, a mile,” Zhang Zhen intoned. He turned around and disappeared.

Li Mubai showed off his skill. He drew a circle around himself with his toes and shot Xu Qian a smile. “Within the circle is the entrance of the gates.”

Li Mubai vanished when the sentence ended.

Xu Qian was amazed.

“Cijiu, what ranks are the two elders at?”

Xu Xinnian was still trapped in his despair so Xu Pingzhi answered instead, “I believe Little Nian said it’s the fifth-ranked Confucianism, virtue.”

Xu Pingzhi happily shared the scene he witnessed outside the city gates with his nephew.

‘As long as I believe the things I said, the world will bend to my will?’ Xu Qian was shocked.

Finally, Xu Xinnian escaped his gloomy thoughts and glowered at Xu Qian who had set him up. “The virtue state allows one to dictate rules that govern others through verbal expressions. The core skill is to influence the world with one’s words, hence the skill is also known as literary chaos. Of course, not any fifth-ranked Confucian can achieve the results shown by the two elders.”

The two martial artists listened attentively. Xu Pingzhi lamented, “Every discipline has mystical powers. Only martial arts rely on brute strength and courage.”

‘Which is why it’s a crude discipline.’ The Confucian scholar kept his judgment to himself, knowing the two older men could easily beat him up.

Xu Xinnian felt the burning gaze of his cousin.

“Brother…” Xu Qian said.

“What?”

“I’ve always been good to you.”

“Before you say that, you should look into your heart.”

“I have but one wish.”

“Go on.”

“In the future, when you achieve the virtue rank, promise me this.”

“What is it?”

“You must say this to me, ‘Where is the legendary beauty? The legendary beauty is around Brother’s waist!\'”

“You pervert!” Xu Xinnian stomped away furiously.

The words by his nephew made Xu Pingzhi sink into contemplation.

…

Xu Qian had to swing by the Observatory while Xu Pingzhi had to return to the Changle County Courts. His daughters were still waiting there.

It was Xu Qian’s first visit to the Observatory. He clucked his tongue as he assessed the tallest building in Jingzhao City.

Song Qing asked, “Have you been to the Observatory?”

“Nope. It’s my first time.”

“You don’t seem amazed.” From Xu Qian’s expression, Song Qing could tell the feat of engineering had no effect on the man.

To feast one’s eyes on the Observatory for the first time was to be stunned by the brilliance of human engineering.

...

The base of the Observatory was double the height of a normal house. The pillars were many times thicker than the ones in the Imperial Palace. The bricks stood taller than a human.

The Observatory consumed manpower, material, and money—its annual expenditure was one-third of Dafeng’s tax collection. The Imperial Astronomers took pride in the building’s staggering height as they believed no one else could emulate their success.

The Observatory was a joint venture by the Imperial Astronomers alchemists and the Ministry of Works—the planning, design, and construction took 12 years in total.

‘Skyscrapers are common in my world,’ Xu Qian thought and smiled. “My uncle said I was born with a calm disposition, unfazed by disasters. Maybe it’s an innate ability.”

A glint of excitement appeared in Song Qing’s eyes as he said, “I admire that. I think we’ll work well together.”

Xu Qian noted the dark circles around the man’s eyes and wondered if he should have toned down his boasts.

On the seventh floor of the Observatory, Chu Caiwei sat before a table filled with a variety of dishes. She was dressed in a robe of the same shade of yellow as when she first met Xu Qian.

‘Steamed lamb, steamed bear paw, steamed deer tail, roast duck, roast chicken, roast goose…’ The tongue twister appeared in Xu Qian’s mind.

Chu Caiwei glanced at the constable whom she had met once before and mumbled, “Did you get into trouble again?” Her stuffed cheeks ballooned comically.

“You weren’t here to receive my message?” Xu Qian had learned about the events that transpired from Song Qing.

“I had an appointment with the princess.”

...

Xu Qian was hungry. He took a seat at Chu Caiwei’s table and leaned forward to grab a drumstick.

Smack!

Chu Caiwei slapped his hand away. Her large, almond-shaped eyes were pointed as she asked, “Hungry?”

“Yes.”

“Brother Song, why don’t you take him for a meal? You guys can come back when you’re done.”

‘Is this a glimpse into Xu Lingyin’s future?’ Xu Qian felt something lodged in his throat and he coughed.

Chu Caiwei ate her food. Suddenly, she asked, “How did you end up in a fight with that Zhou guy?”

“I was shopping with my sisters and he was attracted to my first sister.”

“Is your sister pretty?”

“The two of you are neck and neck.”

“Then she must be out of this world.”

Xu Qian met Chu Caiwei’s eyes. The sunlight illuminated the woman’s profile and her skin radiated a healthy shine. Her oval-shaped face was unblemished while her almond-shaped eyes sparkled like the stars. Xu Qian rarely saw eyes as mesmerizing as hers.

‘She would be a good match for my past self.’

Chu Caiwei licked her fingers and said, “The case of the missing tax silvers is officially closed. Do you know who’s responsible for switching out the real silver taels?”

Xu Qian shook her head. “I’m just a lowly constable.”

Chu Caiwei met his eyes and bit down on a piece of roast duck. “Lu Changzhi of the Armed Guards and Principal Zheng Xin of the Ministry of Revenue.”

“And?” Xu Qian raised an eyebrow.

“I heard they were supported by the Assistant Minister of Revenue, Zhou Xianping.”

‘F*cking hell!’ Xu Qian cursed in his heart.

That minor detail allowed him to connect the dots.

‘After I revealed my name, his son was adamant about my death sentence as I was the one who solved the missing tax money case and spoiled his father’s plot.’

It was all for revenge.

‘No, perhaps today’s incident was premeditated. Assistant Minister Zhou’s residence is within the Inner Wall. Why would his son be loitering around the markets near the Xu manor? Unless he had a purpose. If they had looked into the Xu family, harassing Lingyue was possibly a bait to get me arrested, then they could do as they please to me.”

A chill ran down Xu Qian’s spine as he thought of what could have happened.