Chapter 252 - 109: He Could Tell She Wasn’t That Kind of Frivolous Woman

He then straightened his lapels, took his leave of Duke Wei, and headed out of the courtyard.

Duke Wei saw this but, seemingly accustomed to it, did not inquire further.

During this time, Qi Qingxuan would head out punctually for his appointment every day in the late morning.

At a literary gathering a few days prior, he had befriended someone with whom he felt an instant connection. They exchanged views on calligraphy, painting, and literature, and discussed matters of state, feeling a sense of regret that they hadn’t met sooner.

Since ancient times, Great Xia had a tradition of literary gatherings and leisurely banquets. As the saying went, "a meeting every ten days, or an assembly once a month." People would gather to bond over literature, admire the landscape, and compose verses in harmony.

Although Qi Qingxuan was not a cultivator, he had been immersed in the classics since childhood. His perspective and eloquence were extraordinary, making him a figure of some renown among the scholars of Yangchun City.

He left through the back gate of the Qi Mansion and headed for West Street. Following the road, he soon arrived at his destination: West Garden.

The scenery within was serene, featuring pines, cypresses, parasol trees, and bamboo. Small bridges arched over flowing streams—the very picture of a perfect garden.

A figure was already waiting for him in a pavilion.

It was a young noble with a fair, handsome face, dressed in a loose, moon-white robe. With features as fine as a painting, their hair was bound neatly in a crown. The page and maidservant standing behind them were cultured and carried themselves with grace.

"Shang, I’ve kept you waiting."

After arriving, Qi Qingxuan first offered a polite bow before taking a seat opposite them.

The person before him was Shang Mingyu. Though dressed as a man, their figure and features clearly revealed them to be a woman. Still, they addressed each other as brothers, and Qi Qingxuan said nothing of it.

"Greetings, Qi." Shang Mingyu smiled faintly, her lips ruby-red and her teeth pearly-white.

The page behind her stepped forward at the opportune moment, presenting Qi Qingxuan with a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone.

"Today, I have come to ask you, Qi, about the way of the sovereign..." Shang Mingyu said directly, making no effort to disguise the fact that she was a woman. Her voice was soft and alluring, yet possessed a certain crisp clarity.

Qi Qingxuan’s expression remained unchanged. Generally, scholars avoided such topics of sovereigns and statecraft, fearing it could bring disaster upon them. Yet Shang Mingyu, the person before him, was keenly interested and had bluntly raised the subject many times.

He could tell that her origins were anything but ordinary and that she had studied this subject in great depth.

For some time now, she had been probing his insights on the matter from various angles.

Qi Qingxuan did not hesitate to impart his knowledge. He was keen to display his learning, not wanting his many years of arduous study to go to waste.

It was clear Shang Mingyu also held him in high regard.

"The way of the sovereign? In my view, it lies in benefiting the people. He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world. From the ancient Shang Dynasty to the Great Xia of today, it has always been so..." Qi Qingxuan explained.

When he mentioned the Shang Dynasty, he noticed a flicker of keen interest on Shang Mingyu’s face, but he paid it no mind.

’The predecessor to the Great Xia was, in fact, the Shang Dynasty. It’s said that in an even more ancient era, there was a nation called the Yu Dynasty...’

Their discussion continued until the sun was high in the sky.

Shang Mingyu never interrupted Qi Qingxuan. She simply nodded in approval at his various insights, her gaze filled with undisguised admiration.

"Qi, though you may reside in a quiet corner of the world, you have a grand vision, like a dragon stranded in shallow water. I believe the day will come when you, like a Soaring Dragon, will burst forth from the abyss..." Shang Mingyu praised.

Qi Qingxuan shook his head. "You flatter me, Shang."

"Shang, you’ve been testing me with different questions every day for some time now. Surely there’s a reason for it. Why not just state your true intentions?"

At his words, Shang Mingyu smiled. "You truly are clever, Qi. In that case, I’ll stop beating around the bush. I come from the Overseas Kingdoms. I have long heard of the divine might of the Great Xia, and my heart is filled with reverence and admiration."

"On this trip to the Great Xia, I wish not only to travel and appreciate the local cultures, but also to meet its many renowned and talented individuals..."

"Are you trying to recruit me?" Qi Qingxuan asked, slightly taken aback. "But I have no cultivation whatsoever."

"Not to recruit you, no."

Shang Mingyu shook her head. "I feel you possess an extraordinary destiny, Qi, like a hidden dragon in the abyss. Therefore, I wish to throw in my lot with you. I want to help you achieve great and historic deeds."

"That is precisely the reason for my tests these past few days."

Hearing this, Qi Qingxuan froze. Then, his expression changed dramatically. He stared at Shang Mingyu in disbelief, as if trying to determine whether she was joking.

But her expression was utterly serious. There was no hint of jest in it.

Her limpid eyes held an expression of profound calm.

"I am just an ordinary person. What virtue or ability do I possess that would warrant your assistance, Shang?"

But Qi Qingxuan’s mental fortitude was far beyond that of an ordinary person. He quickly composed himself and spoke in a low voice.

Shang Mingyu looked at him. "You are no ordinary man, Qi. When common people discuss matters of the state, they are so crushed by the weight of convention and doctrine that they can barely breathe. How could they ever dare to speak so boldly on the subject?"

"Let alone speak with such confidence and composure as you do. It’s clear to me that you, too, harbor great ambitions in your heart and are unwilling to remain constrained by your current situation..."

Qi Qingxuan’s expression shifted several times. He turned to look around, only then realizing that West Garden had fallen silent.

The other scholars had all departed.

Only he, Shang Mingyu, and her attendants remained. ’Otherwise, how could she have dared to say such things?’

’This talk of achieving great deeds... it’s no different from... treason.’

Shang Mingyu seemed to sense his inner turmoil and said no more, merely giving him a few days to consider her offer.

If Qi Qingxuan agreed, she would do everything in her power to assist him, hoping to earn the glory that comes from aiding a future sovereign.

His mind reeling with complex, shaken emotions, Qi Qingxuan hardly knew how he left West Garden and returned to his remote courtyard in the Qi Mansion.

’The Great Xia’s Dragon Fortune is dimming. Mars is in chaos, a sign of a baleful star’s descent...’