Li Xia's words paused, and after a moment, she continued: "One year-end, one year-head, actually only one year apart. Su Guifei was extremely favored by the emperor, and her brother Su Guangyuan had been the Minister of the Ministry of Rites for five years. The Su family was powerful. Apart from these two parties, there was also Yao Xianfei. Yao Xianfei's reputation was not prominent, she was low-key, and she had no children. She was almost ignored by everyone. However, her uncle was the current commander of the Imperial Guard, and her three younger brothers were all in the military. Although they were still young, they were already accomplished young generals with outstanding military achievements."

  Li Wenshan listened intently, "I've heard Gu Liu mention this Yao Xianfei before, but she didn't have any children..."

  "No children, no ideas." Li Xia interrupted Li Wen's words, "The harem is full of beauties, and new ones are added every year. Now, there are already six princes."

  Li Wenshan took a light breath, he had heard of this before, but now that Ah Xia was saying it, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

  "Besides these, there is also the Empress Dowager." Li Xia's words paused, with a hint of confusion. At that time, she was still very foolish and it wasn't until two years after taking power that she realized that during that chaotic period, the Empress Dowager's faction had always been the strongest.

  "Brother Wu, the Empress Dowager, and Prince Wang must have their own ideas. They are all born to be in this situation, and if they don't move forward, they will die. It's an unavoidable fact."

  Li Xia said the next two sentences extremely lightly and faintly. She was like that back then, if you didn't advance, you'd die; if you didn't kill others, you'd be killed by others...

  Li Wenshan took a cold breath and didn't warm up, then he took another cold breath. "A Xia, now that you mention it... I also feel it, alas! If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have entered the Wan Song Academy, shouldn't have come in..."

  "The capital city's Bo Mansion, and also Big Brother, should have already joined the Crown Prince Party. If you get a chance, ask Mr. Qin again. Otherwise, we can't let Third Brother follow Ming Shaoping on this trip, and Big Brother wouldn't spread such rumors either. Fifth Brother, whether or not you enter Wansong Academy, our whole family can't escape this party struggle."

  Li Wenshan's scalp was numb with fear. "Then we... Ah Xia, isn't this... Isn't this having a foot in two boats?"

  Li Wenshan's mind was a jumble of thoughts, one moment thinking of this, the next moment thinking of that.

  "Old Five!" Li Xia looked at him with a few parts of speechlessness, "I'm telling you these things just to let you have an idea in your mind. As for the matter of stepping on several boats, don't even think about it, it's not our turn to think about it yet. You're now following Qin Wang, if not at the very center, then almost there. For these matters, you must have a sense of proportion in your heart, know what's important... Now thinking is useless, better not to think."

  "Brother Five, don't think too much about it. These things are in the hands of fate. As ordinary people, all we can do is try our best to protect ourselves and our families, but that's just doing what we can as individuals. If it's really meant to be... Brother Five, let's just do our part and leave the rest to fate."

  "I think so too!" Li Wenshan squeezed out from the chaos, took off his jacket and raised his hand, making a decisive gesture forward. "A Xia, don't be afraid! I'm here for you, Fifth Brother! When we reach the mountain, there will be a way! When things come to a head, they can be solved! We'll take it one step at a time, no need to worry!"

  Li Xia looked up at her fifth brother and smiled. That's just what he was like - extremely optimistic, charging forward bravely, even if he didn't think things through very much...

  ………………

  Li Wenshan took Li Xia away before dawn and didn't return until after dark, leaving Mrs. Xu worried sick all day.

  Magistrate Li needn't be mentioned, from the county office to the city gate and back again, he ran back and forth so many times that his neck grew long with anxiety.

  Li Dong and Hong Auntie were also worried sick.

  It was Li Wenlan, everyone else was worried, he was sulking, pouting all day, big brother took A Xia out, must have gone to play and eat delicious food, but they didn't take him!

  Before Li Wenshan brought back Li Xia, County Magistrate Li was already furious, and before Li Wenshan returned, he gritted his teeth, determined to give him a good scolding after he got back, and make him kneel down as punishment!

  As soon as Li Wenshan entered the door, County Magistrate Li's anger was like boiling water poured on snow, disappearing in an instant. He hastily instructed Xu TaiTai, Li Dong and everyone else: "Where have you been? How can you be so late... Look, it's already so late, quickly bring a basin of hot water to let your brother wash up first. Have you eaten dinner? First bring a cup of tea, riding horseback all day? Take off your clothes, let me see if the skin on your legs is scraped..."

  Li Dong was busy running around while occasionally glancing at her father, earlier he had gotten so angry that she was scared out of her wits... where did his anger go now?

  ………………

  The next afternoon, Li Wenshan set off to return to Hangzhou City. Life in the county government's back house returned to normal. Classes for Li Wenlan and Li Xia continued as usual.

  Guo Sheng attended classes for nearly half a month, and Li Xia remained consistent, listening attentively, taking notes, and hardly speaking or asking questions. The burning sensation in Guo Sheng's heart gradually subsided, and she slowly calmed down. She was very patient, and he also needed to be patient.

  Guo Sheng read a page of the book to Li Wenlan, and Li Wenlan stood under the silver apricot tree outside, reciting the book with a wow, jumping up and down on a low bluestone slab.

  Li Xia finished writing a word, glanced up at her, and saw Guo Sheng sitting upright at the desk, lowering his head to write with his wrist suspended. He pulled over a piece of paper, continued writing, and slightly raised his voice: "Zixi Salt Field."

  Kuang Sheng's whole body shook, the pen in his hand stabbed into the paper, and the ink splattered everywhere. He raised his head, staring straight at Li Xia, almost not daring to believe his own ears.

  "There's a place called Xikou Town." Li Xia lowered her head and slowly drew on.

  Guo Shenghe stood up, took two steps to Li Xia's side, sat down halfway, and then stood up again. He glanced at Li Wenlan, who was reciting a book while jumping up and down outside, smoothed his clothes, and then sat back down, holding his breath and concentrating on what Li Xia had to say.

  "In Xigou Town, there is a family with the surname Zhao, who are merchants. The head of the household is Zhao Huqing, and his wife's surname is Meng. Go and investigate this family, the more detailed the better."

  Li Xia glanced at the words and instructed in a toneless voice.

  "Yes." Guo Sheng suppressed the excitement that was almost unbearable, sat for a while, then used both hands to push against the table and stood up. His legs stiffly walked back to his seat, stiffly sat down, picked up his pen again, but his hand trembled so much that he couldn't write.

  He has lived a life of contentment...

  Li Xia never lifted her head, but focused on writing characters.

  Guo Sheng stared blankly at Li Xia, simply looking, without any thoughts.

  He is now too agitated, in the decades he has wasted, for the first time, his emotions are turbulent and chaotic, to the point of being unable to think, and indescribable...

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