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

Xu Qing's expression turned serious: "Then who leaked the information to the Chen family? The number of people who have seen the memorial about 'constricting water to attack sand' can be counted on one hand. The fact that the Chen family could make a move at this time means that they have spies around the emperor."

Upon hearing this, Chengping's smile vanished.

He was silent for a moment, then nodded, his voice low: "That's enough about it. Don't spread this around."

Li Jingyan's expression also darkened, and he glanced at Chengping.

Xu Qing stood up and bowed respectfully: "Xu Qing will remember this kindness."

Chengping waved his hand: "No need to thank us. If you want to thank someone, thank Song Huaiyuan for that memorial. That document is worth a good future for him."

He glanced at the sky outside, took out a small token, and tossed it over.

Xu Qing caught it instinctively; it felt quite heavy.

"If the Chen family dares to lay a finger on Miss Song again, take my token to the magistrate of Hengyang, and he will know what to do."

Li Jingyan pulled out a name card:

"I have several classmates from the Imperial Academy. If you go to the prefectural city or the capital to take the imperial examination in the future, it will be much more convenient for you to find them by showing them your name card."

Not to be outdone, Nian'an also pulled out a piece of paper and stuffed it into Xu Qing's hand, lowering her voice:

"There's an old doctor in the capital named Sun who specializes in treating tuberculosis and other debilitating illnesses. He cured my mother. Here's his address; keep it."

After she finished speaking, she turned and ran, her steps light and quick, as swift as a rabbit.

Xu Qing smiled wryly. This Nian An was just too interesting...

Chengping had already reached the courtyard gate and turned his head back:

"If your explanation of the water-binding-to-attack-the-sand technique wasn't something you came up with on the spot... then you're even more interesting than I thought."

Without waiting for Xu Qing's reply, he turned and walked into the night.

The footsteps gradually faded away, and the oppressive feeling on the courtyard wall suddenly disappeared.

The chirping of insects in the grass began again.

Xu Qing looked down at the three items in his hand: a token, a name card, and a piece of paper with an address written on it. He put the three items away, turned around, and went back into the house.

Song Yao was at a loss, her trembling hands wandering aimlessly before finally grabbing a teacup.

However, the tea had completely cooled down.

She looked up at Xu Qing, and tears, which she could no longer hold back, streamed down her face.

"Brother Qing...my father...he...he's really...really coming back?"

Xu Qing walked over and helped her sit on the stool.

Then, he knelt down in front of her, reached out and wiped away her tears, his voice soft and warm:

"Yes, he's coming back. Not only is he coming back, but he'll also be bringing back a wealth of skills. Your father wrote a memorial on river management that could save hundreds of millions of lives. The court wants him back in the capital to become an official, a high-ranking one."

Xu Qing said this.

Song Yao's tears did not decrease; instead, they flowed even more profusely.

But the corners of his mouth were forced to curve upwards.

She laughed, then cried, then laughed again, a cycle of crying and laughing...

She reached out to wipe the tears from her face, but the more she wiped, the more tears flowed.

Xu Qing spread the token, name card, and slip of paper she had just received on the table and gently pushed them in front of her: "Look."

Song Yao looked down at the things on the table.

Tokens, name cards, addresses...

She looked at it for a long time, and finally carefully touched the piece of paper with "Sun Zhongde" written on it with her finger, as if afraid of shattering her dream of the future.

Then she looked up at Xu Qing, her eyes still brimming with tears, but a smile appeared on her lips.

Seeing her like that, Xu Qing didn't say anything more, but simply reached out and gently took her hand that was wiping away her tears.

The calluses on her hands, worn down over the years, clung to Xu Qing's palms, rough yet warm to the touch.

Xu Qing took away the cold teacup, replaced it with a hot one, and placed it back in her hands. "Things will get better for your father; things will get better for you too."

Outside the window, the night was still dark, but there was a very faint ray of light on the distant horizon.

I don't know if the moon is about to rise, or if dawn is already on its way.

As Xu Qing held Song Yao's hand, she suddenly felt that the layer that had been pressing down on her for the past ten years was peeling away piece by piece.

Song Yao suddenly hugged Xu Qing, "Brother Qing, why don't you take me? Right now, I'm scared... I'm scared..."

Xu Qing smiled and said, "Silly girl, you'll be mine sooner or later, but now's not the right time..."

Song Yao's expression darkened: "Is...is it that you dislike me?"

Xu Qing shook her head: "No, that's not true. A good girl like you deserves to be entrusted with your life. It's just that your body can't withstand any more abuse right now."

Upon hearing this, Song Yao blushed and lowered her head shyly: "Oh... well, Brother Qing, you should go home early."

Without saying a word, she pushed Xu Qing out and then leaned against the door.

Her face alternated between tears and laughter. Finally, she smiled shyly and sweetly…

……

Xu Qing returned home, blew out the light, and lay down.

Moonlight streamed through the window paper, casting a silvery-white glow on the ground.

He closed his eyes, his mind still racing...

The line involving the Crown Prince of Zhao, the Crown Prince of Jin, Su Man's olive branch, and Li Yan's change of attitude. And then there's Chengping, Uncle Song…

With all these things put together, the game in Hengyang is getting bigger and bigger.

Xu Qing turned over and slowly fell asleep.

The next morning, before Xu Qing was even awake, she heard a loud banging on the door.

"Xu Qing, my dear brother, what are you doing? Why are you lazier than me today?"

Xu Qing got up, stretched, and walked out the door.

Fatty Xiao was squatting in the yard, clutching a stack of papers in his hand. When he saw Xu Qing push open the door and come out, he rushed over in three steps and shoved the stack of papers into Xu Qing's hand.

"Look!"