Early the next morning, when Li Nuo got out of bed, the bedding beside him had already been tidied away, and his wife was nowhere to be seen.
He had slept quite well overall. It was the soundest, most comfortable sleep he'd had since arriving here.
For one thing, Song Qian and her brawny husband hadn't been making a racket next door. For another, his wife had slept right beside him. He'd drifted off with a deep sense of security, sleeping peacefully.
He sat on the bed and stretched, then got up. His toiletries had already been set out on the table.
After washing up, Li Nuo went into the courtyard. His wife wasn't there, but Steward Wu was already waiting.
Steward Wu was nominally the head steward of Li Manor, but his main duty was actually to ensure Li Nuo's safety.
He followed Li Nuo wherever he went, and when they were outside, he never strayed more than three paces from him.
It was already getting late. Li Nuo asked a maid from Song Manor to pass a message to his wife, then left for Chang'an County Office.
As he stepped out of Song Manor, Li Nuo brushed past an elderly man with white hair.
The old man had a thick book in his arms. He had already walked more than ten paces into Song Manor when he stopped and glanced back.
The young man looked unfamiliar. He'd never seen him before and wondered which of the Song Family's relatives he might be.
But that didn't matter. Something else, far more important, was occupying his thoughts.
After half a month of testing, he was certain that the "Brother Li Nuo" Song Mu'er spoke of had profound knowledge of mathematics.
He not only knew the Nine Calculations, but could explain