An Unintended Willow Takes Root

The setting sun hung low.

As Sun Shaozong stepped out through the small eastern gate of Dali Temple, a crisp, damp breeze washed over his face, easing more than half his fatigue at once.

Yesterday had merely been his first day reporting in; today was his first official day on duty. Handover procedures and documents of every sort had naturally come pouring in, leaving him no moment's leisure throughout the day.

Having finally escaped his cage, he was in no hurry to leave. He stretched mightily by the lake, intending to drive the last trace of weariness from his body, when he suddenly heard Liu Xianglian stammer behind him, "Second Brother, I... I..."

Perhaps yesterday's events had rattled him, for he had changed back into his Hero Cloak. He looked somewhat less effeminate now—though his complexion was even worse than yesterday's.

The Liu family had fallen on hard times in those days, but with his aunt's support, he had never truly suffered much from childhood to adulthood. Thus, confronted suddenly with mountain-like heaps of mundane affairs, he inevitably aimed too high and found himself unable to cope.

Over the course of the day, Sun Shaozong had helped shoulder nearly half of his duties.

A shameless person might have simply accepted it, but Liu Xianglian was the sort to take things seriously. Naturally, he felt deeply guilty.

Seeing his conflicted expression, Sun Shaozong shot him a glare. "Did you think I hired you as an adviser because I expected you to be seasoned and experienced? As long as you can grow into the role, your trip to this yamen will not have been in vain."

After a pause, he smacked his lips and added, "Still, you really can't manage it alone right now. How about this? Tomorrow, I'll find you an