My wife, Wei Gui, was 1.9 meters tall and fought against the Tang dynasty for the throne.

Li Ju's heart stirred, and he carefully put the package away.

"Please thank your elder sister for me."

"I know, I know." Wei Nizi then took out a small note from his sleeve and handed it to him. "And this too."

Li Ju accepted it.

The note contained only one line of text, written in delicate handwriting—

"Autumn is deep and the dew is heavy, please take good care of yourself."

He folded the note and put it in his pocket.

"Let's go back, it's getting dark."

Wei Nizi nodded, turned and ran a few steps, then turned back: "Li Huairun!"

"Um?"

"Next time you come, bring a few more milk crisps! Last time, my sister ate the whole box by herself!"

Li Ju smiled and said, "Okay."

Wei Nizi nodded in satisfaction, ran into the Wei residence, and disappeared inside.

Li Ju stood at the entrance of the Wei residence, took out the small note from his pocket again, and glanced at it.

"Autumn is deep and the dew is heavy, please take good care of yourself."

He folded the note and put it in his pocket.

Then he mounted his horse and headed home.

A night breeze blows, and the lanterns along the street light up one by one.

The clatter of horses' hooves echoed through the empty streets and alleys.

The moon was very white, hanging in the sky.

He looked up and glanced at it.

Is that person also looking at the same moon right now?

The news of the Wei family banquet somehow got out.

In the aristocratic circles of Luoyang, news spread faster than the wind.

In less than three days, everyone who needed to know knew—the illegitimate son of the Li family of Longxi had been invited to a family banquet by the Wei family.

In the Li family mansion, the first thing to change was the butler's mouth.

When Li Fu came to deliver the message again, the smile on his face was no longer measured by a ruler.

The curve deepened, and there was a hint of warmth in her eyes. Although that warmth might not be genuine, at least it was no longer blatantly fake.

"Sixth Brother, Ah Lang said you've been working hard lately, so he asked the kitchen to prepare two extra dishes for you."

Li Ju glanced at him and nodded: "Understood."

Li Fu bowed slightly and left with lighter steps than usual.

The stepmother's side has also quieted down. In the past, during the family banquet on the first and fifteenth of each month, the stepmother would always find some excuse to make him stand in the proper order, either complaining that his manners were lacking or that his clothes were unkempt. These past few days, all those excuses have suddenly disappeared.

When his elder brother Li Xun met him in the corridor, he actually took the initiative to cup his hands and call him "Sixth Brother".

Li Ju returned the greeting, his expression unchanged.

Back in his courtyard, he closed the door and a slight smile curved his lips.

It wasn't because his elder brother called him "Sixth Brother," but because he knew—this wasn't respect, it was fear. Fear of the Wei family standing behind him.

The biggest change was in the father, Li Xiaochang's, attitude.

In the past, calling him to the study was a form of reprimand. Now, calling him to the study is a form of discussion.

"Huai Run," Li Xiaochang said, sitting behind his desk, his tone much gentler than before, "how busy is the Water Conservancy Bureau lately?"

"It's alright," Li Ju said. "After winter came, the river froze over, and the canal transport was temporarily suspended, so it's a bit quieter than before."

Li Xiaochang nodded, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "How did you get to know the Wei family?"

Li Ju had anticipated this question.

"In the Liyang incident, Wei Feng was the grain transport officer. My son worked with him when dealing with the emergency, so we have some relationship."

"Just colleagues?"

"We were just colleagues."

Li Xiaochang looked at him, his gaze filled with scrutiny and calculation.

He didn't press further, but simply said, "The Wei family has deep roots in Luoyang, and it's a good thing that you're getting close to them. But you should also be careful not to let them think you're trying to curry favor."

"My son understands."

Li Xiaochang nodded in satisfaction.

Li Ju left the study, understanding the situation perfectly. His father was being polite to him, but that only made him more eager to use him.

Previously, he used his official position to benefit his family; now, he wants to use his relationship with the Wei family to benefit his family even more.

He was still a seventh-rank official. But his status had changed.

Dushuijian.

When Li Ju entered the yamen, he ran into several colleagues.

In the past, we would just nod when we met, but today someone took the initiative to stop and exchange pleasantries.

"Good morning, Li Cheng."

"Li Cheng, I delivered yesterday's documents to your duty room. Please take a look."

"Li Cheng, are you free after your shift? I'd like to buy you a drink."

Li Ju responded to each question with a neutral tone, neither too warm nor too cold, neither too distant nor too distant.

Upon entering the duty room, Du Chen was already doing the accounts. Wang Yu leaned against the window, holding an apple and crunching it down.

"Li Cheng," Wang Yu tossed the apple core out the window, "why are so many people greeting you today?"

"I don't know." Li Ju sat down and picked up the documents on the table.

"Pretending." Wang Yu chuckled. "The news about the Wei family has spread."

Du Chen didn't even look up: "Li Cheng, people are afraid of becoming famous, just like pigs are afraid of getting fat. You'd better be careful."

Li Ju glanced at him: "I know."

Wang Yu said, "What's there to be afraid of? With the Wei family backing us up, who in Luoyang would dare to touch Li Cheng?"

Du Chen finally raised his head and glanced at Wang Yu: "Li Zixiong."

Wang Yu's smile froze for a moment, then slowly faded.

"Du Shoucheng, your mouth is truly—"

"To tell you the truth." Du Chen lowered his head and continued calculating.

The duty room fell silent.

Li Ju opened the document, his gaze falling on the paper, but he didn't actually read it.

Li Zixiong.

He will treat him like a member of the Wei faction.

Three days later, at dusk, Li Ju had just come out of the Water Conservancy Bureau when a minor official in blue robes approached him, cupped his hands, and said, "Lord Li, Supervisor Su has prepared a simple banquet at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion and would like to invite you to join us."

Su Huai'an.

Li Zixiong's people.

Li Ju looked at the man, his expression unchanged.

"Since Supervisor Su has invited me, I, Li, will certainly go."

"As Su Shaojian said, it was just a small gathering of colleagues, and there were no outsiders present."

Li Ju remained silent for a moment.

Not going would be disrespectful to one's direct superior; going would inevitably lead to another test.

He nodded slowly: "In that case, I'll go and have a drink with you."

Zuixianlou is located in the south of Luoyang. It is a three-story building with carved beams and painted rafters, and is one of the best restaurants in the city.

Su Huai'an had already booked a private room on the second floor. When Li Ju arrived, he was already sitting and waiting.

"Li Cheng, please sit down." Su Huai'an's smile was gentle, yet carried a hint of the composure of someone in a superior position.

Li Ju bowed and sat down: "I wonder what orders the Junior Supervisor has summoned me for?"

"It's not really an order." Su Huai'an poured him a glass of wine. "You are the youngest head of the Water Conservancy Bureau. You handled the Liyang Granary situation well, and everyone has seen it. I've always valued capable young people."

Li Ju accepted the wine cup with both hands but did not drink it: "You flatter me, Junior Supervisor. I was merely doing my duty."

"Doing one's duty well is a talent." Su Huai'an took a sip, his gaze slightly darkening. "I heard that you are quite close to the Wei family? Wei Feng is arrogant and doesn't think much of ordinary people. You are quite remarkable."