Chapter 2248: Mei Meets the Moon

Obviously, Prime Minister Gong Zhiliang of Yue was not as composed as Wen Juanying had imagined.

Or, perhaps, Yue was in greater need of Bai Yuxia than imagined.

But as a country's prime minister, Gong Zhiliang naturally maintained proper etiquette.

He first sent a calling card, then visited the residence. He calmly walked into the Bai family home, waited for his subordinates to present the gifts, and then, from a distance, bowed to the Bai family matriarch, Wen Juanying, who had come out to greet him. "Recently, I've been inspecting the prefectures and happened to pass through Langya. Thinking of old friends, I came to visit Madam Sister-in-Law... It was a bit rushed, I hope for your understanding!"

He and Bai Pingfu had old ties. When Bai Pingfu was alive, he often visited, and even now he still addressed Wen Juanying as Madam Sister-in-Law.

Wen Juanying, being of Yue's royal family lineage, naturally did not lack in etiquette and exchanged pleasantries with Gong Zhiliang.

After a few sentences, Gong Zhiliang naturally shifted his gaze and saw Bai Yuxia accompanying Wen Juanying. He spoke with surprise, "Ah, what a joyous day this is, to actually meet the proud son of our Great Yue! Has he just returned home?"

Bai Yuxia smiled, "The Bai family has been in decline for a long time, with few carriages and horses in front of the gate. Today, we actually have a distinguished guest like you visiting, this is the greatest joyous day."

Wen Juanying discreetly pinched her son once, smiled, and led Gong Zhiliang to be seated. "Isn't it a coincidence? People, when old, fear loneliness. The second month of spring is the month of plum blossoms. I was thinking of seeing the plums, but hadn't seen my son Yuxia, so I wrote a letter to call him back—Prime Minister, please come this way. Langya is not like Wu Commandery; if there is any lack in hospitality, please understand."

"Madam first, please." Gong Zhiliang smiled and walked alongside, looking around left and right. He suddenly sighed, "The furnishings in the residence are already greatly unlike the old times, it makes this old man feel somewhat strange—Evidently, being busy with state affairs all these years, I have indeed neglected old friends."

He bowed to Wen Juanying, "I really should apologize to you."

"What are you saying, Prime Minister?" Wen Juanying quickly supported him. "Your residence and the Bai family, that is the friendship tied by my late husband. But state affairs and private matters, which is heavier and which is lighter, how could this old woman not know? The prime minister of our Yue country should focus on state affairs. You work hard for the country! Where is the fault?"

"Madam Sister-in-Law! You still call me Zhiliang. Now this 'Prime Minister' one after another, listening to it makes this old man feel really strange and uncomfortable." Gong Zhiliang said earnestly, "It seems our two families' friendship has become distant!"

"Why do you say this? This old woman can also call you 'Brother Gong,' but this 'Prime Minister,' this old woman should also honor it. You handle matters for Great Yue, laboring heart and strength. Public and private are already one body, how can they be separated?" Wen Juanying sighed, "The friendship is in our hearts, what we call each other is not important."

Wen Juanying, after Bai Pingfu's death and Bai Yuxia's departure, barely supported the Bai family, so she was certainly not a simple old woman. Speaking with a country's prime minister, she didn't reveal any weakness.

Bai Yuxia smiled throughout, strictly adhering to his duty as a junior, not speaking lightly.

Both sides sat down in the living room. Wen Juanying suddenly patted her forehead, "Today, I told the kitchen to stew tonic soup. I don't know how it is now, I have to go check—Prime Minister, you must stay for the meal. This noon meal cannot be missed."

Gong Zhiliang cupped his hands, "Then I'll have to trouble Madam Sister-in-Law. I won't be polite with family!"

For Wen Juanying, writing a letter to call her son back was the limit of what she was willing to do. She absolutely did not want to be present to influence her son's decision. Gong Zhiliang must have also understood this point.

Wen Juanying left, taking all the servants with her. The living room was empty for a time.

Bai Yuxia just sat there quietly, completely expressionless, as if he were the guest.

Gong Zhiliang sighed, "Yuxia ah, long time no see."

"It's been a few years," Bai Yuxia smiled.

Gong Zhiliang said very sentimentally, "You are someone I watched grow up, and now you are so promising. I am truly happy for you."

It was evident he very much wanted to play the emotional card, but he was also very clear-headed and dared not mention Bai Pingfu.

But how could Bai Yuxia forget that back then in the Yue court, he wore mourning to question the emperor, wanting the state to give the Bai family an account? It was precisely Gong Zhiliang who stepped forward to say, "I also watched you grow up."

The elder who watched you grow up, after your father died, also could not support you.

State affairs are heavy, the state is heavy.

Sensible people, how could they not understand?

How could Bai Pingfu's son not be sensible?

Bai Yuxia smiled, "Thank you, Prime Minister, for your concern. I am just a tavern manager now, honestly operating the tavern, honestly doing business, just making a living. It doesn't count as promising."

"No, no." Gong Zhiliang shook his head, "I always knew you were a pillar of the state, a world-class talent. Back then at the Yellow River meeting, I also strongly advocated for you to go to battle. You indeed displayed brilliance and brought glory to the state."

Bai Yuxia smiled and looked at him as he spoke.

"A great Peng one day with wind rises, soaring straight up ninety thousand li!" Gong Zhiliang continued, "You just lack a world stage now to let you display the brilliance you have accumulated over these years. Once the light fully releases, the world should know your name."

"Candlelight, once fully released, is gone, leaving only candle tears to mourn," Bai Yuxia smiled, "Better to save some and release."

"Life in the world, who is not a tear candle? All burn to death in a lifetime, drop by drop into the long night." Gong Zhiliang said eagerly, "Your light is different from others. You can illuminate this sky."

"Hiss, how dare I listen? Let's still talk about the world stage," Bai Yuxia said, "You said this world stage, refers to?"

Gong Zhiliang said, "This Langya is the city of jade and stone, Yue is at the key of the world. It is a land of dragons, soil of heroes. It is precisely the phoenix tree standing tall waiting for the phoenix to fly, which can also be called a world stage."

Bai Yuxia said 'oh', "I thought you said the world stage referred to Star Moon Plain. In Bai Yu Jing tavern, I also fully display my talents, the boss doesn't even check the accounts."

Gong Zhiliang sighed deeply and put forward his conditions, "In the past, because of the Ge family's exclusion, our talented one abandoned the country. This is a hateful matter for the state and this old man's sleepless regret!"

He looked at Bai Yuxia, "Why not return today? Yuxia is already grown and should wash away the humiliation."

Ge family's exclusion... right?

Back then, Jiang Wang warned him early. Yue was already prepared, the great protective array was still there, yet a head of a prominent Yue family, a high-ranking official among the Nine Ministers, was killed in his own fief.

Is this matter only known today?

Ge Fei back then drove the tiger to swallow the wolf and watched Bai Pingfu's death. This is the truth obvious to all!

But back then, Bai Yuxia wanted to speak but couldn't.

Today, Bai Yuxia didn't say a word, yet Gong Zhiliang actively said, "should wash away the humiliation."

World affairs, how many twists and turns!

Bai Yuxia very much wanted to laugh out loud, but being such a smart person, of course, he wouldn't laugh out loud.

He could leave the country. His mother's surname was Wen, it was impossible for her to go. The Bai family had been rooted here for how many years, it was impossible to leave Langya.

Gong Zhiliang's request was within the conditions.

Who to find to wash away the humiliation? Go kill a madman?

Gong Zhiliang knew that a madman certainly could not resolve the hate, so he said "Ge family."

This was the prime minister's meaning, and of course, even more the king's meaning.

The state could support the Bai family to go snake swallow elephant.

But for today's Bai family to swallow the Ge family, Bai Yuxia must return to the country, otherwise, this matter would be impossible to complete.

"Prime Minister truly flatters too much. What do I, Bai Yuxia, count as grown?" Bai Yuxia smiled, "That truly grown person, revenge doesn't look at background, draws a sword to Heaven Capital."

Gong Zhiliang's eyes suddenly became much more serious, he said softly, "Of course, this old man is just suggesting. I know you've been decisive since you were little."

Elder Jiang's tiger skin is really good to use.

Bai Yuxia smiled playfully in his heart, but on his face, he only said, "I'm still very young, too naive. Many things need the guidance of elders, otherwise, the road ahead is really difficult."

Gong Zhiliang looked at him, very gratified, "Worthy nephew is so excellent, yet still so clear-headed. The revival of the Bai family is at hand!"

At a moment when the state was shaky, if Bai Yuxia was willing to return to the country, the revival of the Bai family would indeed be no problem.

But today's Yue country, is there still a need for the Bai family to revive?

Gao Zheng is dead, Ge Fei is also mad.

Bai Yuxia did not think he had the ability to confront Chu.

He was not unwilling to sacrifice for the country. At Guan He Platform, he also fought to the death, beaten to near death by Xiang Bei. He also once set ambitious goals for the country, willing, like successive ancestors, to exhaust a lifetime to seek the possibility of Yue moving forward.

But after wearing mourning and abandoning the country, he no longer had the obligation to fight to the death for the country.

He also did not think he was a Yue person.

Back then, following Marquis Wu An's subordinates, he was a Qi person. Now, as a manager in Bai Yu Jing tavern, he was a person with no country, no faction.

"Prime Minister, shall we go eat?" Bai Yuxia smiled.

Gong Zhiliang also knew that the state had hurt the Bai family too deeply, this matter could not be rushed. So, he only smiled gently, "Good."

"Right, with such big changes in Zhuang, does Jiang Wang know?" Enlightening Dragon Song Qingyue walked along the tree-lined path. "When we discussed the new policies, he was also there."

"If he knew, he would have surely come over directly," Enlightening Tiger said, "Still in the demon realm."

"Again went to the demon realm?" Song Qingyue looked up, "Last time wasn't it said in Yu Abyss?"

"Still hasn't killed enough. Wants eighteen real ones." Du Ye Hu wiped a handful of his stubbly face, held the wine jar and took a big gulp, sighing contentedly.

With so many burdens no longer pressing down on him, he could finally drink!

This alcohol addiction, suppressed for so many years, was alright. Once released, it was simply like a mountain flood bursting, unstoppable.

Now, whether walking, sitting, or lying down, he couldn't be without wine, wishing he could soak in the wine jar.

Li Jianqiu sighed softly, "Sounds like killing real ones is also a bit difficult for him. This way, I, this senior brother, am slightly comforted."

Du Ye Hu thought and said, "Zhu Shixiong might know the news and come."

"You contacted Zhu Weiwu?" Song Qingyue asked.

"How to contact?"

"Taixu Illusion Realm."

"I don't know what he's called in Taixu Illusion Realm."

"In Taixu Illusion Realm, someone named Zhu who isn't familiar is obviously him."

"Is that right?" Du Ye Hu scratched his head, looking at Li Jianqiu, "So obvious?"

Li Jianqiu nodded slightly.

Du Ye Hu tried to enter Taixu Illusion Realm and wrote a letter, then exited after a while, "He refuses to be contacted by any stranger traveler."

"That's his style," Li Jianqiu said.

"Forget it," Du Ye Hu said again, "We'll meet eventually."

The three continued north.

Their plan was to first go to Li country, wanting to see how Hong Junyan, this legendary king, governed. How to balance the relationship between the past and present people, how to balance the relationship between the original people of the Northwest Five Countries and the people of Xue.

The knowledge in this was enough for them to study for a long time.

A large part of the reason for the failure of the Enlightening New Policies was the opposition between the core area and the non-core area. In their original planning, these two should have been complementary relations.

Song Qingyue also entered Taixu Illusion Realm and received some messages about the Qingjiang water race. She suddenly lifted her head, surprised, "Fu Baosong is dead!"

A coup ended.

The prime minister was fine, the great general was fine, the water monarch was fine.

In the end, it was the one who always disagreed with them politically, Fu Baosong, who was killed.

Du Ye Hu was stunned on the spot.

Li Jianqiu looked back melancholically. At this moment, he finally understood the meaning of Zhang Ren's sentence "no need."

How could a coup not shed blood?

There were those who shed blood.

The head that could be chopped and had enough weight was just that one.

Zhu Weiwu left Zhuang and didn't go to find Du Ye Hu and the others again. Confirming their safety was enough; everyone had their own life, not everyone was willing to stay in the tavern every day.

He subconsciously flew north but remembered that Bu Shu city no longer existed.

He really wanted to fly south. Giant City just stopped in some place in the southern domain. But now, he was still not qualified.

With empty hands, he walked alone in the forest, every step forward felt too slow.

"Walk faster, walk faster, Giant City's open days are not many!"

Such voices flew past his ears in the distance.

There was a long caravan, winding like a dragon or snake, always heading south.

Zhu Weiwu couldn't help but concentrate and listen carefully.

Originally, Giant City had already convened the Thousand Mechanisms Meeting several hundred years ago. Strictly speaking, since the previous generation Giant Rao Xunsun died in battle at Yu Abyss, achieving the fierce name of Shura King Shantan, the Thousand Mechanisms Meeting had been suspended until now.

Giant City is the headquarters of the Mohist school. It is a city of steel, also a city of divine works. It has no fixed position, but usually docks at Tianjue Peak when the Thousand Mechanisms Meeting is held.

And the so-called "Thousand Mechanisms Meeting" is considered a tradition of the Mohist school. It is a grand event where the Mohists display their latest mechanical achievements to the entire world. It generally lasts for nine days.

At that moment, the gates of Giant City are wide open. Often, clouds gather from the four seas, and surging crowds come from the eight directions.

The Mohists are very willing to show the most advanced mechanical techniques and are not stingy with sharing. So, the previous "Thousand Mechanisms Meeting" also had a private name, called the "Steal Master Grand Meeting."

Anyone could go and learn things, whatever they learned counted as ability.

But that was obviously a thing of the past.

The contemporary Giant Qian Jinhua very obviously wanted to turn it into an "Investment Grand Meeting."

This time, the grand event held at Tianjue Peak almost invited all the chambers of commerce in the world with sufficient strength to participate. The Mohist Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion had also already distributed images of many goods to various forces in advance, their intention very obvious—they wanted to raise money.

Coincidentally, this passing caravan was exactly a caravan from Yun. Leading them was a Lingxiao Pavilion disciple named Xie Ruixuan.

Zhu Weiwu had no impression of this name. Seeing that particularly square face, he then remembered meeting him once in Yun.

Yes, in the end, he still couldn't resist and blended into the caravan.

Under Xie Ruixuan's cover, he disguised himself as a caravan manager, responsible for managing three carts of goods.

"Aren't you all going to Giant City to buy goods? Why are you still loading so many goods?" Sitting in the shaking horse cart, Zhu Weiwu asked.

Xie Ruixuan smiled, "Zhu Da... Manager Zhu, at first glance, is someone who has never traveled with a caravan. Caravans going south and north, where is the reason for empty carts? Although we are going to buy goods from Giant City, we also have to sell some goods to Giant City. Not entirely Giant City, we have to sell and buy as we go."

Zhu Weiwu somewhat understood, "No wonder you didn't stop much the whole way, constantly calculating with the account book."

"Running a business like this really tests the leader's foresight," Xie Ruixuan smiled, "My cultivation talent is not good, fortunately, I have some talent in this area."

Zhu Weiwu looked at him, "Then you can consider cultivating the Merchant Dao."

Xie Ruixuan smiled even brighter, "Senior sister has already prepared the technique for me. This time back, I can almost enter the door—I know you all these heavenly prides are not willing to waste time, I won't disturb you. You cultivate in the horse cart; when we're almost there, I'll call you out."

Saying that, he lifted the curtain and went out, running to the front again to check on the goods.

Zhu Weiwu no longer spoke, sitting quietly in the cart.

Since the day Bu Shu city was destroyed and he folded his spear and left, Huang Jinmo was captured by the Mohists and taken back to Giant City. It had already been eight years now...

Time like passing water!

Thanks to book friend 20210301105379101420 for becoming the alliance leader of this book! This is the 729th alliance for Red Heart Patrolling Heaven!