"I never imagined that, after we parted, twenty years would pass before we met again."
Jiang Zhizhou spoke to Sun Yonghai, who stood before him.
He saw a flicker of astonishment in the other man's eyes, swiftly replaced by anger.
"Enough. I know you have much to say, and so do I, but this is clearly no time to share wine and conversation. I need an Archive Access Order. His Majesty's safety hangs on this, so please help me!"
As Jiang Zhizhou spoke, he could already hear the approaching footsteps of the guards he had sent away. He hurriedly added, "Tomorrow, I will await your arrival at the One Sea Residence in Tong City."
With that, he sprang onto the palace wall beside him. He turned to give Sun Yonghai a long, searching look, then leaped down the other side.
Jiang Zhizhou hurried out of the palace without stopping and headed straight for the Rare Treasures Pavilion.
Only when he stood before Yang Qing again did he let out a soft breath of relief.
His sudden decision to seek out Sun Yonghai today had been a considerable gamble.
They had not seen each other for nearly twenty years. Though both had heard something of the other's circumstances, a man's heart lay hidden behind his ribs. Who could truly say how he might have changed?
But when Jiang Zhizhou found him still serving outside the Library Tower after all these years, he knew that, like himself, Sun Yonghai still held fast to certain convictions, whatever happened.
Still, to be safe, he had not revealed his true purpose in advance.
Tomorrow would show what Sun Yonghai intended to do.
"In all these years, I have never heard you mention this man."
Yang Qing sounded somewhat surprised as he listened to Jiang Zhizhou