Chapter 10, The So-Called Creation

Since ancient times, it has been said that one should not strike a smiling face; however, this shaman boy from the southern border specializes in striking those who smile.

Jing Qi remained calm, believing that relationships between people are based on fate. He felt that he and this straightforward child were likely not very compatible, so he did not want to disturb the other party too much. However, he would occasionally be caught by Helian Yi to go out for a stroll. Whenever he acquired something new and interesting, he would always have Ping An send a portion over to Wu Xi, regardless of whether it was a wolf cub or a rabbit cub, it was best to nurture them first before deciding.

Jing Qi observed him growing up with a cold gaze, suppressing the anger that easily surfaced, burying it deep within his heart. His face displayed sharp lines reminiscent of a past life, gradually merging with the image of the man from his memories

In this life, he was unwilling to manage anything, unwilling to think about anything. He would only occasionally sit silently with Helian Yi when he came, sometimes spending an entire afternoon without exchanging a single word. Helian Yi would be lost in thought while Jing Qi read his leisure books. When the lanterns were lit and Helian Yi came back to his senses, he would take his leave. Sometimes he would stay for a simple dinner, which made Helian Yi subtly regard him as a confidant.

These matters are unknown to Wu Xi, who lives in seclusion, but Jing Qi, who also lives in seclusion, is well aware of them

Jing Qi came to a halt, turning back to glare at Ping An with an unfriendly expression

You can handle it as you see fit

Those barriers that were as solid as rock in previous lives seem to have never existed

"Peace," Jing Qi suddenly turned around and said, "From now on, if you can keep your mouth shut for an hour every day, I will give you a raise in your allowance."

With a flick of the sleeve, they departed

Although the court is filled with turmoil, for the children who are still free from such worries, their days pass by particularly quickly, much like in a picture book. The youths are growing taller like bamboo shoots, and they manage to both study and daydream without conflict.

Jing Qi did not bother with him; if the matter was ruined, so be it. There are gains and losses, and he was well aware of it in his heart, yet he did not point it out. As for material possessions, he did not feel distressed. He understood that this child had gone through experiences and could rise again. He allowed Ping An to explore on his own, only occasionally offering a few words of guidance.

Ping An was furious: "Master, you are raising a white-eyed wolf." The old steward officially stepped down at the end of last year, requested a favor, and returned to his hometown to enjoy retirement. Currently, all matters, big and small, in the Nanning Wangfu are being handled by Ping An. At first, it was a bumpy start, with a pile of troubles, leaving the young man overwhelmed, sporting two huge dark circles under his eyes, looking like a dead dog

It feels as if the face of the person who has been remembered for seven lifetimes has suddenly become blurred

"After the New Year, the master will begin attending court to hear state affairs. In the future, during festivals and holidays, who can do without spending money on social connections?" The late autumn air was slightly dry, and Jing Qi was too lazy to listen to his rambling. He turned to enter the study, but Ping An relentlessly followed him, chattering on, "Why bother? Is this going to earn you favor with the Second Prince, or will those southern barbarians be grateful to you in the future? Being a good person is not done this way..."

The servant is present

This move is indeed the most effective, and Ping An has truly kept quiet.

It is also said to be a talent. Ping An is a child of great wisdom disguised as a fool. Although he appears simple-minded, once he took charge of the steward's duties, he truly became quite skilled at it. In a short period of time, he managed family affairs, farm operations, financial transactions, and dealings with various parties, all with a considerable degree of competence. He even developed some trusted confidants who proved to be quite useful.

The young prince was overly cautious and exhausted himself in his early years, with suspicion having become ingrained in his very being. Jing Qi thought that the little cleverness he had back then, filled with schemes and calculations, must have left him secretly alarmed.

As time went on, pouting and following Jing Qi all day long, he murmured: "Master, the family has wealth, but it should not be squandered. With a solid foundation, it is even more important to manage it well. Have you not heard of anyone who spends money like water all day long..."

There are those who have been suppressing the successor of the Jian dynasty, scrutinizing his lifestyle and extending their scrutiny to his clandestine associations with dangerous individuals, indicating that his ambitions are not small. Of course, everyone is well aware of who these "dangerous individuals" are. As the situation escalates further, it transforms into accusations against a certain individual of plotting rebellion without a father or sovereign, with memorials from the faction of the Crown Prince piling up like snowflakes.

Although Wu Xi lives close to Jing Qi, they do not interact much

Jing Qi secretly asked Ping An to find a reliable person, who helped Wu Xi with quite a few matters. His family background is quite wealthy, and with the numerous rewards given by Helian Pei, he does not care much about this amount of money. However, Ping An expresses considerable resentment each time.

Jing Qi's expression instantly collapsed, and he shook his head helplessly: "Ping An, how..."

The shamanic children have quieted down, yet there are still many who take the opportunity to stir up trouble. This group of people, who thrive on chaos, could circle around the entire capital several times.

He has not had much contact with the people of the Central Plains and does not know what they should truly be like. He only feels that the grand prince, who was clamoring to kill his own people in the court that day, the somewhat nonsensical emperor, or Chen Dahe, the scholar who always seems to be shrouded in mystery and leaves people unsure of his thoughts, are all not as terrifying as this Prince of Nanning.

After arriving in the capital, Wu Xi, who stirred up countless waves, has not committed any outrageous acts since that astonishing day. He has almost no presence, staying in his inn, waiting for the Proton Office of the shaman boy to be ready, which will take another six months. Whether by intention or coincidence, the Proton Office is located on a street behind the Nanning Prince's residence.

Just say you are sick. Jing Qi's head was buzzing, how come he never realized before that this kid Ping An was so annoying

Setting aside the background of the southern border shaman, the way he played tricks on Jian Sizong in front of the court's many eyes back then was enough for Helian Qi to regard him as a treasure

Your Highness, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also means that you should personally make a trip, to show respect, to cultivate more connections, which will be beneficial for your entry to court next year

In this world, many desires go unfulfilled, which is essentially due to people's lack of understanding of the principle of retreating to advance, merely attributing it to the whims of fate

Wu Xi seemed to have an instinctive aversion to this handsome and elegant young man, always feeling that there was something else mixed behind his smile

He once thought that the person who was so scheming in his youth was actually just a young man struggling in the cracks, desperately suppressing himself. Sometimes, when Jing Qi looked at him, he suddenly understood why he and this person had reached a point of no return—perhaps it was because he had never truly understood this individual

The only drawback is probably the feeling of having earned little and lost much when first taking charge, which has created some psychological barriers. Over the past year, he has been completely focused on money, with a narrow view, and the thing he finds most intolerable is the careless and extravagant behavior of his own spendthrift master.

Speaking of Helian Yi, he is another disturbing nuisance that disrupts the peace

Unfortunately, this Wuxi belongs to the donkey, and his household is filled with the same ilk. The guards and caretakers from the southern border all have the temperament of donkeys; if they take a disliking to you, they couldn't care less. When the main gate closes, they simply declare, "The master does not receive guests," and leave you to your own devices.

There were also those who sought to vindicate Jian Sizong, using this opportunity to denounce witchcraft and sorcery. The discussion, which began with witchcraft, expanded to the topic of high-ranking officials in the court who employed Taoist priests and heeded slanderous words about cultivating immortality and alchemy. Everyone knew that Helian Qi's most trusted advisor was a Taoist priest with the surname Li. In no time, words like 'demonic,' 'sorcery,' and 'treachery' filled the air, leading to a lively exchange of accusations, causing the dragon throne to nearly sway under the overwhelming burden.

Unfortunately, Ping An has always been aware of his temperament, understanding that his angry demeanor is merely for show and not necessarily taken to heart. She is not afraid of him and continues to speak in a loud and rough manner, with a straight face and a blunt expression, saying: "My lord, do you think what I said is correct?"

Finally, at the birthday banquet of the esteemed Confucian scholar Lord Lu Renqing, Jing Qi still attended, as Helian Yi personally left the court early in the morning to come to Jing Qi's residence to recruit him

Perhaps because I was a child at that time, I could only see his sophistication, yet I could not perceive his forbearance; I could see his ability to manage vast affairs, yet I was unaware of the obsession and suffering within his heart

Children in the southern frontier, at the age of four or five, begin to learn the basic skills of hunting in the forest and guarding against various poisons alongside adult men. By the age of seven or eight, they are already able to accompany adults on outings. By the time they reach their early teens, they can live independently. They can discern from a gust of wind whether it is a small animal that can be hunted or a fierce and cruel beast. They can see through the cunning disguise of the sly fox and instinctively know where danger lies.

Jing Qi, holding a book of anecdotes from the previous dynasty, did not raise his head upon hearing the words and softly hummed a question: "Did you hear the sound?"

Originally not in accordance with the law, yet no one paid attention to this matter, as the one who usually loves to use the phrase "what kind of order is this" as a catchphrase, Lord Jian Sizong, was currently in a state of distress due to being accused of a crime that lacked any semblance of order

Jing Beiyuan was like a mist hanging over the face in the southern forest, no matter how close one got, it remained indistinct. Wu Xi felt that this Prince of Nanning did not resemble a peer, but rather an enigmatic spirit who had lived for an unknown number of years, akin to a great sorcerer, or perhaps even older than the great sorcerer. Through that layer of mist and the eyes of the youth, no one could discern whether his intentions were benevolent or malevolent.

Now, instinctively tell Wuxi not to approach this young man named Jing Beiyuan

Master, I am here to inform you that Lord Lu is a great scholar of our time, with countless disciples across the land. The autumn examination has just concluded, and all the future elites of the court are eager to pay their respects. The invitation has been graciously delivered to us...

Peace was taken lightly, and following that, he opened his thick lips and continued to chatter: "Master, the third day of the next month is Lord Lu's birthday, and the invitation for the birthday banquet has been delivered. You need to..."

In this life, he appears to be nothing more than a child

Jing Qi stared at his honest and straightforward face, taking a deep breath only to let it out again. Unwilling to give up, he took another breath, then released it, feeling extremely uncomfortable. He could only curse, "If you ever get married, you must marry a deaf person!"

In the blink of an eye, three to four years have passed. During these years, Jing Qi is well aware of where the people who come and go to Wu Tong's place are from