Song Qingshu had an idea and chuckled. "What could this man possibly have to do with me? I merely heard that his surname is Wu and couldn't help thinking of that King Pingxi who rebelled at Shanhaiguan Pass. He has truly given both our countries a headache."
At the mention of this matter, Suo'etu wore a troubled expression as well. "Indeed. To suppress the Rebellion of the Three Feudatories, we spent untold sums of money and provisions and mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops. That was why we had no choice but to make peace with the Golden Snake Camp, and let Li Kexiu... Ahem."
The moment he said that, he realized he had misspoken. He hastily laughed it off and changed the subject.
How could the Yangzhou officials below dare pick up that thread? One after another, they looked at their noses and contemplated their hearts.
Wu Zhirong hurriedly distanced himself from the matter. "Your Excellencies, please see clearly: although my surname is also Wu, I have not the slightest connection to that rebel Wu Sangui."
Song Qingshu gave him a half-smile. "Is that so? But I hear Wu Sangui was from Gaoyou in Yangzhou. Does that not make him a fellow townsman of Prefect Wu?"
"No, no, absolutely not." Wu Zhirong shook his head like a rattle drum. "Though I serve as Prefect of Yangzhou, I am not a native of Yangzhou. The Ministry of Personnel has records of this."
"Then it seems I wronged Prefect Wu." Song Qingshu neither confirmed nor denied it, merely sipping his tea and leaving him kneeling there.
"I would not dare." Cold sweat streamed down Wu Zhirong's face. He had no idea how he had offended this Jin Dynasty man, who kept targeting him at every turn.
Suo'etu finally stepped in to