A life of two souls traveling through time

Chapter 500: Political Discussion

It is said that after the scholar Liu Yin left his visiting card at Prince Zhao's mansion, he was looking forward to a reply from Prince Zhao. However, he waited for three days in the academy without eating or drinking, but still received no news. He became discouraged and laughed at himself for being a fool. How could a poor student be remembered by the almighty Prince Zhao?

It was not until the ninth day of the first lunar month that Gong Liangzhao gradually had fewer social engagements. On this day, he went to the palace to visit his biological mother, Concubine Wen, and then returned home. In his spare time, he asked the housekeeper to take out the gift list, wanting to see who had come to Prince Zhao's mansion to pay New Year's greetings in the past few days.

Looking at the thick gift list in his hand, Gong Liangzhao couldn't help but sigh again that he had gone from being ignored to becoming a new noble in the capital. It was like a dream. He quickly looked through the names on the gift list and found that nearly half of them were new officials he didn't know. He glanced at the end and was about to close the gift list when he suddenly paused:

"Liu Yin?"

Gong Liangzhao muttered it to himself before quickly calling the butler into the study to ask him questions.

"Then...that poor scholar, does Your Majesty know him?" Hearing the prince asking about the poor scholar whom he had despised in the past, the butler's heart skipped a beat. He blinked his old eyes nervously and asked carefully.

"I remember he was a student of Nanling Academy. Did he send a visiting card?" Gong Liangzhao naturally could not forget that the scholar Liu Yin had spoken frankly to him about the bandit problem in a teahouse by the lake on the outskirts of the city. This man's sincerity, talent and foresight were impressive.

"This... there were so many guests visiting that day that I was unable to..." The old butler was even more at a loss when he heard this. He trembled with his right hand and stammered, not daring to speak out clearly. Because he looked down on the poor scholar and seeing that the prince had not mentioned the visitors for many days, he took the initiative to have Liu Yin's gift and the visiting card thrown away.

"You wouldn't look down on him just because he's a poor scholar, would you?" Seeing that the housekeeper looked obviously guilty, Gong Liangzhao's face immediately darkened.

"Your Highness! I...I made a mistake in a moment of confusion..." The old butler was so frightened that he knelt down on his knees, choking with sobs.

"You are really old and confused!" Gong Liangzhao was furious, but he was always good at forbearance, and he had to be careful even in his own home. He gritted his teeth and scolded the housekeeper who was kneeling in front of him. Seeing the old man crying, he felt sympathy and sighed: "As the saying goes, don't despise the young and poor. Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west. How do you know that Liu Yin will not be honored by the emperor one day? After all, you are an old man who has been with me since my youth. Looking at Liu Yin today, have you forgotten that we have also experienced poverty and humiliation? Why do you despise those who are forced to be poor after you gain power?"

Gong Liangzhao was naturally not angry because the old housekeeper treated a poor scholar badly. In his opinion, Liu Yin was no ordinary person and would definitely achieve something in the future. Since such a person had come to him for help, he had to lend a hand, as he might even be able to use him in the future.

"Your Highness, please calm down. It is me who was blinded by greed and became confused. I deserve to be punished!" Hearing the prince's sigh, the old butler recalled the days when he was looked down upon and humiliated, and he began to cry even harder.

"Forget it, forget it. Considering your old age and loyalty, I will waive the punishment. However, I want you to go to Nanling Academy in person tomorrow to apologize to Liu Yin, and then sincerely invite him to your house." The only sound that could be heard in the quiet study was the sobbing of the old butler. Gong Liangzhao was annoyed for a long time before he bent down to help him up and continued to give instructions.

Seeing the prince say this, the old housekeeper was relieved and responded respectfully repeatedly, saying that he was really blind and stupid! He thought that he was just an ordinary poor scholar who followed those officials to curry favor with the prince's mansion, but he didn't realize that he had misjudged the guest appreciated by the prince as a beggar who came to ask for food.

The next day, the old butler took a carriage to Nanling Academy, but unfortunately he arrived too late. Liu Yin had to stay in the academy during the New Year and had to use the holiday to earn some living expenses for himself.

Knowing that the scholar had gone to work in the outer city and might not be back until the evening, the butler wanted to go back to the palace first, but then he thought that if he couldn't even wait for half a day and went back, he would definitely be scolded by the prince for being insincere, so he had to send someone back to report, and he found a nearby teahouse to rest and warm himself.

It was almost past the 3:00 p.m. when Liu Yin dragged his tired body back to the academy. However, before he entered the academy, he was surprised to see the steward of Prince Zhao's mansion. He could not help but be overjoyed.

"I was blind and neglected Mr. Liu that day. I hope Mr. Liu will forgive me and not blame me." When the old butler saw Liu Yin, the first thing he did was to bow to him sincerely and apologize.

"You are too polite, butler. It is just a trivial matter, not worth mentioning. I have already forgotten about it, I hope you can relax." Seeing the butler of the palace suddenly coming to apologize, Liu Yin guessed seven or eight things in his heart and became even more ecstatic, and hurriedly returned the greeting.

"My prince has been very busy lately, and he just got some free time today, so he asked me to invite Mr. Liu to his mansion for a chat. But Mr. Liu took half a day to come back, leaving me waiting. I wonder if Mr. Liu is free to go to the prince's mansion with me now? The prince is still waiting for you!" The old butler felt relieved after hearing this, and then said.

Liu Yin was ecstatic when he heard this, but he was worried for a moment as he had just finished his work and was covered in dirt and had not yet washed off. However, he thought again that this was a rare opportunity and he did not dare to keep King Zhao waiting for long. The old butler beside him was also urging him, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and get on the carriage.

After returning to Prince Zhao's mansion, the old housekeeper wanted to change Liu Yin's dirty clothes first. However, when Liu Yin looked at the silk that didn't fit him well, he couldn't help feeling a little melancholy. So he changed back into his own shabby jacket and felt at ease. He completely ignored the old housekeeper's puzzled look and started to wash the dirt off his body.

But when the old butler continued to take Liu Yin to the study, he learned from the servant that King Zhao was suddenly summoned into the palace half an incense stick of time ago, leaving only one question: What should Jing Song do in the current situation?

Although Liu Yin did not meet King Zhao today, he was already satisfied that he could catch King Zhao's eye.

As night fell, Gong Liangzhao returned to the mansion. The old housekeeper hurriedly came forward and said:

"Your Majesty, Mr. Liu has returned to the academy."

"It's a shame that he made such a wasted trip." Gong Liangzhao just nodded tiredly and sighed.

"Mr. Liu has answered the questions left by the prince." The butler continued.

When Gong Liangzhao heard this, he remembered something and turned to go to the study.

Xiyue's ambitions are insatiable, and he is afraid that a northern expedition is imminent. Jingsong can unite with the Yuhai countries and form an alliance with Xuanmeng to launch a southern expedition to the southern border.

The strategy Liu Yin left behind was similar to Gong Liangzhao's. Although Jingsong's initiative to attack southern Xinjiang was a response to Xiyue's northern expedition to rescue Xuanmeng, he also knew that his father would definitely not agree.