Misty Rain of the Old Times

"Congratulations, Young Master Gao, Young Master, Prefect..." People around offered their heartfelt congratulations at the opportune moment.

Having never experienced anything like this before, Xiao Gao was overjoyed and lost all his usual intelligence and composure, becoming no different from any other ordinary person who had just received good news.

After a moment of processing the good news, he beamed and bowed to those around him, saying, "Thank you so much! I'm so happy, please don't laugh at me."

Everyone expressed their understanding. No matter how talented or powerful he was, he was just a young man about to become a father, and he even seemed a little at a loss.

He quickly realized what was happening and, disregarding everything else, rushed forward to help Lü Qingrong, saying cautiously, "Madam, I heard you. We're going to be parents. Thank you, Madam. You've worked so hard."

"It is my blessing to bear children for my husband," said Lü Qingrong, her expression moved. She subconsciously touched her lower abdomen and suddenly seemed like a different person. Her gentle and graceful appearance was now filled with a maternal glow.

Seeing Xiao Gao looking somewhat lost, Chen Xuan felt happy for him, but also a little amused. Was this still the same shrewd and resourceful top scholar? He had never been this out of control, not even when he debated with a group of scholars in the imperial palace or when the villains plotted against the Lü family to ruin his future.

In his excitement, Gao Jingming carefully helped Lü Qingrong, saying, "Let me help you back to your room to rest, Madam. Please be careful; you are pregnant now and need to take care of your health."

As he spoke, his clever mind instantly conjured up many ideas. He looked up and shouted, "Guards, listen to my orders! From now on, never let Madam do any strenuous work. At least two maids should serve her at all times, and four guards should accompany her. She must not set foot in any dangerous places. Also, put away all sharp-edged items in the house. Furthermore, hire an experienced cook to be in charge of Madam's meals, and hire a skilled doctor to consult her at any time..."

Listening to his endless series of arrangements, Chen Xuan wanted to cover his face. "Xiao Gao, that's enough. You're going too far if you keep going."

While feeling happy, Lü Qingrong also had a bit of a wry smile and said, "My husband's tenderness towards me is a blessing I've accumulated over ten lifetimes, but this is only the beginning. Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?"

"No, it's not an exaggeration at all. There are still many things I haven't thought of yet. I'll arrange them one by one later. My wife, listen to me. This is our first child. We absolutely cannot afford any mistakes. Moreover, I've read in books that the early stages of pregnancy are the most critical. We can't be too careful," Xiao Gao said righteously. At this moment, if anyone dared to harm Lü Qingrong, this gentle and refined scholar could instantly transform into a thug.

Seeing her husband treat her so well, Lü Qingrong felt her heart melt. What good deeds had she done in her past life to marry such a wonderful husband? She said gently, "I will leave everything to my husband."

"That's right, come inside and rest with me," Xiao Gao said with a smile. At this moment, his eyes and heart were full of his wife and the little life growing in her belly. He even ignored his good buddy who he had grown up with.

Chen Xuan was completely understanding, but somewhat speechless. He had come to visit his good friend, which should have been a happy occasion, but before he even entered the house, he was greeted with a mouthful of dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection). "Xiao Gao, is this how you entertain me?"

"Ah Xuan, what are you all standing there for? Come in quickly! Come here and feel at home. Please don't be shy. I'm sorry I neglected you because I was in such a good mood. I hope you don't mind," Lü Qingrong said apologetically in time.

Chen Xuan laughed and said, "Young Madam, you don't need to be so polite. I've never been one to stand on ceremony. You can't say that. You're more precious than anyone else now. If I dared to displease you, the young master would probably be chopping me up with a knife for three days and three nights."

"Ah Xuan is joking. My husband would never do that," Lü Qingrong said with a smile, covering her mouth. She hadn't had much contact with Chen Xuan, and they weren't even close. She had only heard a lot about their relationship from Xiao Gao, and now that she had met him, she fully understood. Being with him made her happy with just a few words.

Xiao Gao slapped his forehead and turned around, saying, "Ah Xuan, I'm so happy, I almost forgot about you! Don't worry about it!"

"Don't worry, young master, I don't mind at all. Even a top scholar like you, now the prefect, has such a flustered and out-of-control moment. I'll just laugh at you for the rest of my life," Chen Xuan waved his hand dismissively and followed.

With a twitch at the corner of his mouth, Xiao Gao pointed at Chen Xuan and gritted his teeth, saying, "You're ruthless. Just you wait, don't let me catch you in a similar situation, or I'll write you a letter every other day to mock you, even if we're worlds apart."

"Don't worry, I'm not afraid of you. I won't give you that chance," Chen Xuan said smugly.

They smiled at each other and entered the courtyard. Xiao Gao helped Lü Qingrong to the backyard to settle in. Even if Chen Xuan and Gao Jingming had a good relationship, it was inconvenient for them to set foot in the backyard now that they were older.

It seemed they wouldn't be getting to taste Lü Qingrong's cooking. After they went to the backyard, Chen Xuan said to the little maid, "Roujia, go ask where the kitchen is and make some snacks to go with the drinks. Don't be shy here, or the young master will be unhappy."

"Yes, sir, I'll go right away," the little maid replied and went to ask where the kitchen was.

Du Juan put down the box and said, "Master, I'll go help out too."

“Alright, by the way, Sister Juan, I remember that among the many materials given by the Tai Xuan Sect, there was jade, right? Give me a piece,” Chen Xuan nodded and said.

Du Juan immediately opened the box, took out a fist-sized piece of beautiful jade, handed it to Chen Xuan, and then went to help the little girl without asking what it was for.

Holding the snow-white jade, Chen Xuan pondered for a moment, then began to work with his true essence. Fragments flew everywhere, and soon it turned into a jade pendant covered with cloud patterns. It was not decorated much, and a true essence was sealed inside. He was now very familiar with this task.

After settling Lü Qingrong over, Xiao Gao had already finished the jade pendant in his hand and tossed it over without waiting for her to say anything.

Taking the gift instinctively, Xiao Gao asked, speechless, "What does Ah Xuan mean by this? Although Qingrong is pregnant, isn't this a bit too early for a meeting?"

"Young Master, you're dreaming. Even if it were a gift for your nephew or niece, it wouldn't be for you. Besides, this is nothing special. This is for the young mistress. I see she's healthy, but she's still in the early stages of pregnancy, so she needs to be careful. This jade pendant will be something she carries with her. It will quietly nourish her body and help with the pregnancy, and it will also ensure her safety in critical moments," Chen Xuan said irritably. He wouldn't care about others, but he would naturally take good care of Xiao Gao's family.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Gao didn't stand on ceremony with Chen Xuan and accepted the jade pendant, saying, "Xuan, you're too kind. I won't bother with formalities. I originally wanted to ask you about Qing Rong's health, but I didn't expect you to be so prepared. Your understanding is impeccable. With this jade pendant, I feel much more at ease."

"Well, young master, if you're feeling embarrassed, you should thank me. Otherwise, how can I make demands and take advantage of you?" Chen Xuan said, feigning seriousness.

Gao Jingming turned and left, saying, "I'll take the jade pendant to Qingrong first. You want me to thank you? Fine, take whatever you want from this house, except for Qingrong, Xiaocai, and Xiaoye. I'd even give you the whole house; I'll just move somewhere else."

"Now that you have a wife and kids, you don't care about your brothers anymore?" Chen Xuan yelled at his retreating back. "What do I need your house for? You've got no sincerity. Why don't you handwrite a hundred or so classic novels for me sometime, so I can keep them as family heirlooms?"

“Ah Xuan, if you want to work yourself to death, just say so. You said a hundred or so books, but there isn’t a single one. The study is over there. Apart from official documents, take whatever you like.” Gao Jingming waved his hand, indicating that you could do as you please.

What use are your lousy manuscripts to me? I want works made with heart. Well, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Just get him drunk and he'll have as many genuine works of the top scholar as he wants. Not only will he need to stamp them, but he'll also need to put his fingerprint on them. They'll definitely be worth a fortune in a few years. You're so thoughtful, I can even think of that.

Soon, Xiao Gao rushed back in a hurry. Knowing that nothing had happened, Chen Xuan said speechlessly, "Young Master, you are a top scholar and now a prefect. Can't you be a little more composed?"

"There are no outsiders here, why worry so much? Ah Xuan, quickly prepare a pen, ink, paper and inkstone for me," Gao Jingming said casually, giving orders with perfect ease.

Wei Song, standing at the door, hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped himself. "This is all my job."

Even though he was new to the place, Chen Xuan found the writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone just by the faint smell in the air. He naturally beckoned them to lay out the paper and grind the ink. Just like when the two of them were together, he didn't say anything like "I haven't done this kind of work for a long time, why are you still ordering me around?" Instead, he asked curiously, "Young Master, what are you doing?"

Gao Jingming picked up his brush and wrote, "Of course, I want to share the good news with my family. Oh, and my sister too, and my father-in-law's family as well. They'll be so happy to hear the good news."

“Indeed, we should share the good news, but young master, aren’t you being a little too hasty? Besides, I think if Madam receives the news, she might come here immediately to take care of you personally,” Chen Xuan said, both amused and exasperated.

Xiao Gao paused, then continued writing, hesitatingly saying, "It's still necessary to share the good news, but surely Mother won't come in person?"

"Are you really that clueless or just pretending? With the eldest grandson in her arms, Madam is overjoyed. How could she not come? What else could she possibly want at her age?" Chen Xuan said speechlessly.

"Then I'll tell Mother in the letter not to bother with all this travel; the message still needs to be sent back."

"It's up to you."

Xiao Gao quickly wrote a few letters, packed them up, and instructed Wei Song to send them out urgently. Turning back, he suddenly sighed, "Ah Xuan, in the blink of an eye, I'm almost a father myself, but my mother and the others have grown old."

Time flies, and time is the most merciless thing; there's nothing we can do about it. Chen Xuan patted his shoulder and said, "Whether it's Miss or you, Young Master, Madam is so fortunate to have you two children; your life is so complete and you should be happy. Why are you so melancholy, Young Master? You've never been one to wallow in self-pity."

"Haha, Ah Xuan is right. I'm sorry you had to laugh at me. We should have a good drink later," Gao Jingming said cheerfully.

"I'm not afraid of you. With your alcohol tolerance, I'm not saying this to be mean, but don't go on a drunken rampage. Oh, by the way, I also brought a jar of fine wine, a gift from Gui Yao of the Tai Xuan Sect. I haven't even drunk it yet."

"Since there are no elders here today, let's just be happy. Even if we tear the house down, people will still scold us." Thinking of the trouble the two of them caused when they got drunk in the capital and were scolded by Madam Gao, Xiao Gao shrank his neck as he spoke, then asked curiously, "Gui Yao from the Tai Xuan Sect? It sounds like a girl's name, right? What do you think? Is she pretty? When did you two get involved?"

Rolling his eyes, Chen Xuan said, "What are you thinking, young master? Do you think I'm such a lecherous person? I'm not familiar with her. I just happened to meet her at the Tai Xuan Sect and gave her junior brother some pointers. She gave me a jar of wine as a token of her gratitude."

"We grew up like brothers, do you think I don't know whether Ah Xuan is a lecher or not? Don't pretend to be virtuous in front of me. What I admire about Ah Xuan is that he's lecherous but not obscene, which is truly rare."

"Young Master, do you think I'm like you, who at eighteen years old, with Madam's permission, ate Xiao Cai and Xiao Ye..."

Xiao Gao immediately interrupted, "Alright, alright, let's not undermine each other. We all know each other. It's rare for you to come all this way. My mother said you're incredibly idle at home. Why don't you stay a few more days?" If it were anyone else, Chen Xuan would have declined the invitation to stay, but Xiao Gao naturally wouldn't stand on ceremony, saying with a wry smile, "Fine, I can also take a look around Zhoushan County. By the way, young master, don't you have work? I hope this won't bother you."

"Going to work doesn't mean you never leave work; I'm not worried about not having time to play with you."

"Forget it, you should spend more time with the young mistress. Who cares about a grown man like you?"

"Then I'll arrange two beautiful women for you, Ah Xuan. There's a brothel in the city called Yi Hong Courtyard, how about the top courtesan? There are no outsiders around, and let me tell you, don't be fooled by those so-called top courtesans who only sell their art and not their bodies. They can really do whatever they want with just a word."

"Young Master, you've gone astray. You're abusing your power like this?"

"Ahem, I've heard, I've heard, do you understand? What abuse of power? This is a refined and interesting affair, a sincere invitation..."

Time may change, but their relationship remains the same. They are as carefree as ever, saying whatever comes to mind without needing to wear a mask, living a relaxed and comfortable life.

The little boy who dared to steal the imperial edict from his family to show off back then is now a grown man, holding a high position and power, and about to become a father.

Flowers may bloom again, but youth never returns. Only when two people are together can they find a glimpse of their youthful days.

As night fell, the young girl and her companion prepared a table of snacks to accompany their drinks. Although it was still chilly in the spring, both of them possessed cultivation, so they decided to drink and chat in the courtyard. Surprisingly, there was a winter plum tree in the courtyard, with buds about to bloom. They enjoyed their drinks under the blossoms.

Slightly tipsy, Chen Xuan asked, "Young Master, how have you been lately? Has everything gone smoothly?"

At this point, Xiao Gao began to complain, shaking his head and saying wistfully, "Ah Xuan, don't even mention it. The officialdom is a huge pit, far from being as glamorous as it seems. Once you step in, you'll be stuck in the mud and unable to get out if you're not careful. Some things are really upsetting to think about."

Can't you say something nicer? Like being surrounded by admirers, acting recklessly, or having countless lackeys running themselves ragged with just a word. That's what I want to hear.

However, Chen Xuan said, "Oh ho, that doesn't sound so good. Tell me something to cheer me up, young master."

He was a genuine Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) with the added prestige of being the top scholar, and he had studied at the Hanlin Academy. Everyone knew that he had a bright future, so how bad could things get? His so-called complaints were simply a result of his real experience in officialdom and his exposure to another side of things.

"Ah Xuan, do you want to hear what you're saying?" Gao Jingming shook his head speechlessly, then said, "What else could it be? It's just officials protecting each other and exchanging power for money. It's neither black nor white, it's laughable to think about."

Opening his mouth, Chen Xuan said dejectedly, "Young Master, you know I'm not very bright, so please don't give me these high-sounding words. Just thinking about them gives me a headache. I shouldn't have asked that question; now I can't even get a reply."

“Ah Xuan, are you just not smart enough? You're just lazy. Don't think I don't know. Actually, you see things much more clearly than I do,” Xiao Gao shook his head, then continued, “Let me put it this way, officialdom is a big dye vat. Once you step into it, don't expect to stay pure. It's all about choosing sides. They're all a bunch of rats, each one scheming against each other for their own benefit. How many of them really care about the lives of ordinary people? Do the hardships of the common people affect their enjoyment of life?”

"It's human nature to crave money and power, no one can deny that. But beyond that, how about doing something practical? Looking around, most of them are just a bunch of people who hold positions without doing anything. Many of them are just sitting in the toilet without doing anything, while those who can and are willing to get things done are squeezed into the corners. Of course, these people often end up in power and will likely end up colluding with the corrupt, or even worse!"

"In short, you only understand when you're in the thick of it. If you behead them all, some might be innocent, but if you drag every other one out and chop off their heads, most of them definitely deserve it."

"So what are you talking about, young master?" Chen Xuan blinked and said with interest, "So you're about to be corrupted too, huh? Tell me, how much did you embezzle? How about you give me half? Don't worry, we're on the same side, I'll keep your mouth shut."

With a smirk, Xiao Gao pointed to his nose and said, "Me, a top scholar in the imperial examinations, not to brag, but becoming a high-ranking official or general in the future won't be too difficult for me. Besides, what kind of family do we have? Would we care about mere money? I just can't stand it, and I'm only telling you, Ah Xuan. I won't acknowledge you outside this door."

"You've probably had a few drinks and started getting cocky," Chen Xuan said disdainfully. "Judging from your tone, young master, you've been here for over ten days and haven't even gotten a single penny?"

Scratching his head, Gao Jingming said embarrassedly, "Well, Ah Xuan, don't laugh at me. My meager salary isn't even enough to cover the household expenses. In fact, I'm spending a lot of money out of my own pocket. I'm too embarrassed to ask my family for money. I'm so poor that I'm even thinking of selling my calligraphy and paintings on the street."

Chen Xuan almost spat out his wine and quickly clutched his purse, saying warily, "You're supposed to be a prefect, and you don't even know how to make money when I give you the chance? Don't even think about messing with me. Young Master knows I'm a penniless wretch, so don't try to fool me. Then I wondered, no matter how honest and upright you are, with your intelligence, making money shouldn't be too difficult for you?"

"Hey, Xuan, you've gone too far! Are you still distinguishing between us?" Xiao Gao had a look on his face that said, "It's no use trying to cover it up."

Knowing he was joking, Chen Xuan still said, "Anyway, you're not getting a single penny out of me. Young Master, you're a high-ranking official now, and I haven't gotten a single benefit from you yet."

He waved his hand and said, "That's not how it is. Money is a minor issue. I can't possibly use my own money for official business. It's not that we're short of funds. The problem is that after checking the accounts, we found that the money in the yamen's accounts is simply not enough. There are holes everywhere that need to be filled, and we can't get anything done at all. We can't even pay the salaries of some people below us. Ah Xuan, where do you think the money went?"

"Where else could they go? They'll end up in someone's pocket, of course," Chen Xuan asked curiously. "So, young master, what are you planning to do? If you ask me, we should just cut through the competition like lightning, find some legitimate excuse, just like you said before, it's human nature to be greedy for money and power, but on that basis, we should cut down a batch and replace them with a new batch. I don't believe we can't find a few capable people to get things done."

“Ah Xuan hit the nail on the head. That’s what I was thinking too. But the time isn’t right yet. How about next month? After the spring harvest, when it’s busy with farming and there’s a shortage of food, those bandits and bullies will start to stir. I’ll use that as an excuse to teach them a lesson. Do they really think I’m too young to use a knife?” Xiao Gao sneered.

Having spent years together, Chen Xuan naturally understood his meaning. Suppressing bandits wasn't the goal; the goal was to use this as a pretext to frame those corrupt officials so he could take action. For example, if those in charge of military power failed in their bandit suppression efforts, he could use it as an excuse to investigate and execute them. Furthermore, some local officials were also corrupt; did they have no connection with bandits? Even if they didn't, they did. With 'evidence,' how could they justify harboring bandits for their own benefit? If not them, who would they execute?
In short, Gao's three major initiatives upon taking office, as he said, will be launched next month and will kill many people!

These are things the two brothers only talk about behind closed doors. Xiao Gao would never reveal a word of them to outsiders. In everyone's eyes, he is a successful, promising, naive, and easily fooled high-ranking official and top scholar.

Xiao Gao wanted to get some serious business done, but first he needed to get his subordinates in order.

Having understood his intentions, Chen Xuan didn't care about those things. Chen Xuan was a professional at killing people, but Xiao Gao was the expert at killing people in officialdom. He turned around and asked, "So what do you plan to do after this, young master?"

Influenced by Mr. Yushan since childhood, Xiao Gao has always wanted to do something for the people. Back then, he enthusiastically produced cassava and reported it to the authorities, but it was met with a complete rejection. That incident was a huge blow to him. Now, he finally has the opportunity and the means to do so.

Upon hearing this question, Xiao Gao's eyebrows immediately lit up with pride. He had been planning this for many years, and now he finally had the opportunity to put it into practice.

He said, "Ah Xuan, my official position is neither high nor low, and there are still some things that I cannot change, so I cannot take too big a step; I must proceed quietly and subtly."

"You know, Ah Xuan, the chili peppers you brought back from the grasslands inspired me. Back then, you were just trying to satisfy your own appetite, and then it just naturally spread. Now it has spread to neighboring countries and is radiating all over the world. There's no need for so-called policy promotion or to confront certain groups. The common people don't understand those things. As long as they see the benefits, they will naturally follow suit."

"Therefore, some things only need to be piloted on a small scale. Once an example is set and people around see the tangible benefits, they will imitate it on their own. There is no need for a big fuss; it can spread silently. A single spark can start a prairie fire, and by then, it will be too late for certain levels to stop it!"

Xiao Gao has big ambitions. Once the people are fed, they will want more. Once some high-ranking groups can no longer suppress them, they will have to compromise. Otherwise, they can't just overthrow all the people.

With a flicker of thought, Chen Xuan felt that Xiao Gao should invite Mr. Yushan to be his advisor, and asked curiously, "What are the specifics? Could you tell me, young master?"

After a moment's thought, Xiao Gao said, "Does Ah Xuan still remember the cassava from back then? I plan to use it again. I'll find a small place in my jurisdiction to conduct a pilot project. Zhoushan County has many mountains and rivers, but not much arable land. However, it's suitable for cassava cultivation. We just need to use waterwheels to haul water to higher wastelands, and we can utilize the wastelands for large-scale cultivation. Although it's not as good as grains, it's edible. The people's first priority is to fill their stomachs; whether it tastes good or not is secondary. Only then will they consider other things."

“Given what happened back then, this has to be done discreetly. Once a small-scale pilot program is implemented and the people in that area can feed themselves, the surrounding communities aren't blind; they'll find ways to imitate it.”

"Ensuring that ordinary people have enough to eat is a huge issue. If the entire nation were truly fed, many people would be restless. So before this spreads, I need to do something else to confuse the public."

"Tell me quickly," Chen Xuan said, becoming more and more interested as he listened. Xiao Gao's pent-up anger, which had been building up for years, was about to ignite.

Narrowing his eyes, Xiao Gao said, "My real goal is to ensure the people have enough to eat, but that shouldn't be publicized. Cassava is just one aspect. Over the years, I've secretly collected information on some high-yield crops suitable for different regions. It's infuriating! These things aren't nonexistent, nor are there no ways to increase food production. It's just that some people don't want the people to be well-fed. What are they afraid of? I'm getting off-topic..."

"So I need to do something that others might see as me being eager for political achievements, so that their focus will shift to this aspect instead of focusing on the small grain pilot project. Zhoushan County has good conditions for aquaculture, but transportation is difficult. Also, Ah Xuan, you once told me that it's possible to get grain transported up the mountain. So isn't this just nonsense?"

By acting recklessly and hastily to achieve quick results, he has confused the public and concealed his true purpose. So how many meticulous plans has Xiao Gao quietly formulated over the years?

And what have I said to you all these years? Why don't you remember?

Mr. Yushan, you should really put a stop to your apprentice! The way he's doing things is terrifying. The very idea of ​​letting ordinary people have enough to eat is chilling.

With people well-fed, it's unimaginable what can be accomplished in this era!

These are probably just the first steps for Xiao Gao.

Chen Xuan clicked his tongue inwardly, not wanting to miss out on something bigger, and pressed on, "I support you, and then what?"

"That's it. It's hard to say whether this step can be implemented. If we can't even take this step, then there's no point in talking about anything else," Xiao Gao said, shaking his head. He was a man of principle. The current environment did not allow for rapid progress; otherwise, it would only backfire.

He was hoping to hear about his grand plans for the future, but nothing came of it, leaving Chen Xuan feeling extremely uneasy and conflicted… (End of Chapter)