Just as Sun Shaozong had expected, stories like "avenging a colleague in anger and cracking a bizarre case in half a day" were the easiest to spread among the common folk in ancient times.
Before the next day even arrived, he had barely seen the reluctant Ruan Rong home when he heard people in a roadside tavern discussing the matter. His title of "Captain Sun" was mentioned again and again.
The only somewhat inappropriate part was that Li Jiuming had apparently been cast as an ugly villain jealous of talent, there to highlight the greatness and righteousness of Sun Shaozong and the second male lead, Feng Xin. No need to ask—Feng Xin must have secretly written himself extra scenes. Otherwise, with that fellow's abilities, how could he possibly have become the second male lead?
This was precisely the time to unite every force that could be united and build momentum in Qinglin Prefecture. Needlessly offending a local power like Li Jiuming was no good thing, especially when the man had helped him before.
Thus, Sun Shaozong planned to visit him the next day to apologize, then take the opportunity to add fuel to the fire and stir up another round of publicity, earning himself a reputation for "heroes cherishing heroes."
Who would have thought that plans could not keep up with change?
Early the next morning, Sun Shaozong had only just climbed out of bed and had not even begun washing up when a court runner delivered a calling card, inviting him to speak at Chancellor Ruan Fuzhong's residence.
Ruan Fuzhong was truly second only to one and above all others in Qian Xiang Country. Not to mention a mere Captain like Sun Shaozong—even when Niu Yongxin was still alive, he would have had to apply through the Ministry of Rites and register in advance just to meet the man.
How could Sun Shaozong dare delay when such an important figure had sent him an invitation?
Besides, his plan to "raise a banner and borrow a tiger's hide" needed exactly such a great figure as a stepping stone. How could he miss such a heaven-sent opportunity?
So Sun Shaozong could only have Feng Xin visit Li Jiuming in his stead to apologize. After all, Feng Xin had caused this mess in the first place, so there was no one more suitable to clean it up.
Sun Shaozong hurried through dust and wind to the chancellor's residence. After host and guest took their seats in the reception hall, Ruan Fuzhong first offered condolences on behalf of the Qian Xiang Country Court to everyone at the embassy, praised the guards led by Sun Shaozong, reviewed the years of unity and friendship between the two countries, and looked ahead to an even brighter future.
Only at the very end did Ruan Fuzhong finally begin asking in detail about how Sun Shaozong and the others had tracked down the assassin's accomplices.
Up to that point, the meeting had felt like nothing more than a formality to Sun Shaozong, much like those model-worker commendation conferences he had attended in his modern life—all official platitudes, without a shred of substance.
The only difference was that Ruan Fuzhong's words were more elegant, and his manner better measured than those county- and city-level officials. Though he clearly carried an air of distance, he somehow still made one feel as if basking in a spring breeze.
Yet just as Sun Shaozong gradually lowered his guard, Ruan Fuzhong suddenly said, "Qian Xiang Country and Great Zhou are as close as brothers, while Zhen Country views Great Zhou as tigers, leopards, and wolves. Those assassins naturally came from Zhen Country—and they could only have come from Zhen Country!"
At those words alone, every hair on Sun Shaozong's body stood on end, and he nearly broke out in a cold sweat!
What did that mean?
Was Ruan Fuzhong testing whether he had noticed the flaw?
Or was he making it clear that Qian Xiang Country had been carrying out an Overt Plot and did not fear Great Zhou discovering the truth at all?
It was only a brief sentence, yet the more he thought about it, the more terrifying it became!
Fortunately, Sun Shaozong had spent several years honing himself in the modern bureaucracy and was no true greenhorn. He barely managed to steady himself and did not show weakness before Ruan Fuzhong.
After returning to the embassy.
On one hand, Sun Shaozong followed the original plan and sent people to spread the rumor, "Chancellor Ruan had a keen eye for talent, while Captain Sun loyally refused recruitment." They claimed that Ruan Fuzhong had tried to recruit him with the position of a third-rank general, only for him to refuse with great emotion.
On the other hand, stirred up by Ruan Fuzhong, Sun Shaozong crammed on Great Zhou's domestic and foreign situation. As a result, he discovered that the man surnamed Ruan might truly have been carrying out an Overt Plot!
Generally speaking, feudal dynasties emphasized that heaven could not have two suns, nor could the people have two rulers. Yet the Great Zhou court happened to have two suns: the Retired Emperor who had abdicated and the emperor who had succeeded him.
Before imperial authority, even fathers and sons could hardly avoid suspecting and restraining one another. Thus, Great Zhou's policies in recent years had often changed overnight and contradicted each other, greatly dragging down the efficiency of local governments and diminishing the court's prestige.
For that very reason, dissenting voices that had once been suppressed were gradually rising again. For example, the Mongol Tribes in the northwest had nearly been exterminated by Great Zhou over fifty years ago. For decades afterward, they had only dared call themselves servants, yet now they had colluded with the Black Water Mohe in the northeast and seemed eager to make a move.
Along the southeastern coast, the Japanese Pirates and Yellow-Haired Foreigners were also causing ever greater trouble, repeatedly coming ashore to plunder and leaving the coastal people in unbearable misery.
With internal troubles and external threats like these, how could Great Zhou still have the strength to concern itself with the Six Southern Border Countries?
Therefore, while Qian Xiang Country's middle and lower classes still maintained their reverence for Great Zhou, different thoughts had already arisen among its upper ranks. That was why they had secretly employed such methods, hoping to test Great Zhou's response.
After all, their primary target was still Zhen Country, while both court and commoners showed Great Zhou the utmost obedience, practically presenting themselves as Great Zhou's loyal hounds. Even if someone in the Great Zhou court saw through the scheme, how could they deal with it? Could they really force this only somewhat "respectful and humble" little brother into rebellion over a single Niu Yongxin?!
Having understood these connections, Sun Shaozong felt more and more that these muddy waters were unfathomably deep. A small fish like him was better off staying far away.
Thus, on one hand, he instructed Feng Xin and the others to keep a low profile and avoid attracting more trouble. On the other, he took the lead in raising five hundred taels of fine silver to bribe the soldiers and officials escorting the assassins, so they would spread the story of "Captain Sun cracked a bizarre case in half a day, Chancellor Ruan had a keen eye for talent" all the way to Shuntian Prefecture.
Four or five peaceful days passed like this. Just as the escort party carrying the assassins finally set out, the embassy suddenly received an "uninvited guest"—Ruan Rong's father, the Qinglin Prefecture Governor, Ruan Liangshun.
Ruan Liangshun had come under the pretext of offering thanks, but Sun Shaozong truly could not see any gratitude in him. Instead, the old man's face was drawn tight, as if someone owed him a great deal of money.
At first, Sun Shaozong found this utterly baffling. He only refrained from arguing with the old man for Ruan Rong's sake—until Ruan Liangshun spoke, and Sun Shaozong finally understood where that inexplicable hostility came from.
"Captain Sun."
With a smile that did not reach his eyes, Ruan Liangshun cupped his hands and said, "That day, my daughter was worried for this old man's safety, so she could not help saying things she did not mean. Captain Sun, please do not take it to heart. As it happens, in a few days, my daughter will become engaged to the eldest son of Ministry of Revenue, Minister Pan. When the time comes, this official will hold a celebratory banquet at home. I hope Captain Sun will honor us with your presence despite your busy schedule."
How clever was Sun Shaozong?
He immediately understood that Ruan Liangshun's words carried another meaning. His true intent was to warn him: my daughter will soon be married, so you had best not have any further dealings with her, much less entertain any improper thoughts!
The invitation to the engagement banquet was probably no more than something casually said, not to be taken seriously at all.
Though Sun Shaozong did have some fondness for Ruan Rong, it had not reached the level of romantic affection. Besides, barring any surprises, he would soon return to Great Zhou, and he would likely never have another chance to see Ruan Rong in this lifetime.
Therefore, though the warning left him somewhat displeased, after seeing Ruan Liangshun off, he put the matter out of his mind.
After that, nearly a hundred days passed. The engagement banquet at Ruan Residence arrived as scheduled. Most friends, relatives, and old acquaintances received invitations, but Sun Shaozong was indeed left out. Still, even if he had received an invitation, he probably would not have had time to attend, because just as Ruan Residence was sending out its wedding invitations, the new Da Zhou Special Envoy finally arrived in Qinglin Prefecture!
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