I just wrote a love poem, how did that make me so powerful?

"It's a long story..."

Xu Qing began by recounting the events of a few days prior, when Song Yao's aunt, Madam Qian, brought people to disrupt the wedding...

She showed how she brought people to try and take Song Yao away, and how she used the fact that the marriage certificate was incomplete to exert pressure.

The subsequent investigation revealed that Chen Shijin was the mastermind behind it all.

After Xu Qing finished speaking, he added a sentence.

"At the time, I was just wondering why the Chen family would go to such lengths to snatch a country girl's marriage. Aren't there enough well-bred young ladies in the city? Now it seems..."

They probably already know. If Chen Shijin marries Yaoyao, he'll be essentially climbing the Song family's line. Once Yaoyao's father is reinstated, they'll be son-in-law and father-in-law, allowing Chen to fully benefit from the relationship.

Li Jingyan's face darkened.

He glanced at Chengping, whose smile vanished, replaced by a cold expression.

Nian'an clenched her fist and pursed her lips tightly, as if she wanted to speak, but she held back.

"Unexpectedly..." Li Jingyan lowered his voice, "It's fortunate we came today, otherwise we wouldn't know what the Chen family was secretly plotting. Mr. Xu, your speculation is very reasonable. How do you plan to deal with it?"

Xu Qing thought for a moment and said frankly:

"The Chen family hasn't completely broken ties yet; they just sent people to cause trouble, which I turned them away. But knowing the Chen family's nature, they won't just have one plan. I suspect they'll come up with other tricks later. However..."

He glanced at Chengping and Li Jingyan, "Now that the three of you have arrived in Hengyang, even if they are bold, they won't dare to act recklessly in front of you."

Chengping was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke, his tone quite mature.

"Mr. Xu, you just mentioned that you want to take the imperial examination. If you're willing, you can come with us to the capital now, without having to take that long and winding road."

The implication is that once Xu Qing has a certain status and position, the Chen family will naturally not dare to act recklessly; others who covet Song Yao will also not dare to act recklessly.

Upon hearing this, Song Yao tensed up abruptly, and unconsciously tightened her grip on Xu Qing's arm.

Xu Qing didn't break free, but just looked down at her, then looked up at Chengping and smiled.

"Thank you for your kind offer. But for scholars of my Great Liang Dynasty... those who are called out by name outside Jinhua Gate are the true heroes. If I take a shortcut into the capital, people will only say that I was promoted by the Prince of Zhao, not... that I am Xu Qing. When I reach a higher position in the future, this path will actually be narrower."

He paused, then added, "I want to pass the exam honestly and fairly."

"When you are riding high in the spring breeze, do not forget the cold moon shining on your thin clothes by the cold window."

Song Yao's hand slowly loosened, but the light in her eyes brightened again.

This isn't Xu Qing showing off. Historically, in dynasties that valued the imperial examination system, officials without a background in the examinations were often ostracized after entering high-ranking positions.

Back then, Di Qing served as the Privy Councilor, the highest-ranking military and political official in the Song Dynasty, yet he was still openly ridiculed by those literati.

Xu Qing didn't want to repeat the same mistake.

After listening, Chengping remained silent for a long while before laughing out loud with genuine appreciation.

He reached out and tapped the table twice.

"What a hero he is, calling out names outside Jinhua Gate! He has ambition, a true man!"

Li Jingyan gave a thumbs-up and exclaimed, "What a wonderful line! 'When the spring breeze blows and the horse gallops swiftly, do not forget the cold moon shining on your thin clothes by the cold window.' A casual remark, yet it's a first-rate masterpiece!"

After they finished praising him, Xu Qing continued to ask questions.

"Although it can be confirmed that you have come for Uncle Song, I still have one question. Even if Uncle is reinstated, he cannot rise to the top overnight. After all, he has been in the frontier for many years and is still just a minor official."

He didn't even write a letter, just to avoid suspicion from his family. Why do the court and the Chen family value my uncle's reinstatement so much?

Xu Qing truly didn't understand.

Does the imperial court simply want Song Yao's father to become a mere pawn in a scheme to buy horse bones?

If that were the case, it would likely put him in direct opposition to the Prince of Jin.

This is tantamount to making Song's father a target, which is definitely not a good thing.

Chengping seemed to have anticipated Xu Qing's question, and stood up, pacing a few steps to weigh the pros and cons.

A moment later, Chengping opened his mouth.

His tone was more solemn than before, more solemn than ever before.

"Mr. Xu, do you know what the most difficult problem has been in the history of our Great Liang Dynasty for the past hundred years?"

Xu Qing thought for a moment: "Border troubles? Poor governance? Or...right, it's floods!"

"Yes, it was a flood," Chengping continued.

"The great river breaches its banks every year, flooding every year. In the downstream prefectures, it is submerged for seven or eight out of ten years. The imperial court allocates hundreds of thousands to millions of taels of silver for river management every year, but the river works are getting worse and worse, the dikes are being built higher and higher, and the water level is rising every year. We have been trying to control the river for a hundred years, but it is getting worse and worse."

As he spoke, he tapped his fingers twice on the table, clearly indicating that he was in a heavy mood.

Nian'an, who was sitting next to him, also darkened up and lowered her eyes.

Xu Qing retraced his steps based on the original owner's memories...

The original owner had indeed heard the saying "the river breaches its banks every year" when he was studying, but as a poor scholar from a county town, he did not have a deep feeling about this matter.

But he came from another time and space, and knew what the flooding of a great river meant to a dynasty.

For example, the Yellow River in the original timeline would fairly create every incompetent ruler...

Do not……

The same applies to wise rulers.

Chengping continued, "Over the years, the court has been trying various methods to control the river, but neither approach—whether it's blocking or dredging—has proven effective in the long run. Until recently..."

He paused, looked at Xu Qing, and his words carried a deeper meaning.

"We received a memorial that was sent from a thousand miles away."

Xu Qing already had a guess in his mind, but he didn't rush to speak.

Chengping continued, "The person who wrote this memorial was surnamed Song, named Huaiyuan... He was Miss Song's father, Song Huaiyuan."

Xu Qing unconsciously straightened his posture. He looked at Chengping, waiting for him to finish speaking.

"Song Huaiyuan served as a minor official in the border region for more than ten years, but he never gave up the idea of ​​managing the river. Over the years, he has been studying the habits of the great river and repeatedly deducing the relationship between water flow and silt. Recently, he finally wrote a strategy for managing the river and entrusted someone to deliver it to the capital."

Chengping picked up his teacup and took a sip, seemingly considering his next words.

As he put down his teacup, his tone became even more serious: "He proposed a method in his strategy called... 'Constricting water to attack sand'."

"What?"

Xu Qing suddenly stood up.

All three people looked at him at the same time.

"Mr. Xu... do you know this method?" Li Jingyan asked tentatively.