As the two exchanged scholarly courtesies, an inexplicable breeze rustled through the main hall, its doors and windows sealed shut.

Inside the gauze-covered lamps by the wall, the candle flames flickered gently.

The swaying, dim yellow candlelight stretched everyone’s shadows long.

Chen Yi watched the Liu Family’s Sixth Young Master, who was still laughing uncontrollably. His own expression slowly returned to a state of calm as he asked,

"I wonder if Brother Liu could tell me why you’ve sought me out tonight?"

Though he could deduce the general reason, he still wanted to hear Liu Jing’s own explanation.

The Jing State Liu Family’s scheme involving Linglan Pavilion had clearly failed, and the shopkeepers, including Qian Kuan, had already been executed.

Even Liu Hong, the Left Envoy of the Shu State Governor’s Office, had shown no intention of intervening on the Liu Family’s behalf, instead moving swiftly to give the Xiao Family a resolution, as if cutting a tangled knot with one clean strike.

’Why isn’t this Liu Jing thinking about returning to Jing State? Why take this unnecessary step of tracking me down?’

’Could it really be just to kill me and vent his frustration?’

’If that’s really the case, then this Sixth Young Master from the Jing State Liu Family is more witless than I thought.’

Liu Jing’s laughter died down. He looked Chen Yi up and down, a vicious glint slowly appearing in his eyes.

And yet, his face still held the trace of a smile. "Naturally, I’ve come to invite Brother Chen to join me... to ascend to a high place and gaze into the distance!"

Chen Yi paused, looked up, and then glanced in the direction of the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion.

He understood. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

’The "ascend" part meant climbing to the top of this wooden building.’

’And "gaze into the distance" didn’t just mean looking at the horizon. It also meant looking over at the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion.’

’Such a malicious method of revenge... truly not something an ordinary person would conceive.’

"Brother Liu, your particular brand of ingenuity... truly leaves me somewhat... impressed."

Liu Jing replied with a humorless smile, "And you as well, Brother Chen. Your scholarly backbone is quite admirable, I must say."

"It’s just that what I hate most in my life are scholars. They think a little talent and learning gives them the right to look down on others. It’s just absurd."

"I have status, I have wealth, I have men under my command. Why should I compete in scholarly talent with those bookworms who know nothing of the world?"

"Don’t you agree, Brother Chen?"

Chen Yi looked at him, thought seriously for a moment, then nodded and shook his head.

"What you’ve said, Brother Liu, is correct, but also incorrect."

Liu Jing uttered a soft "Oh?", the smile completely vanishing from his face.

"Explain. In what way am I incorrect?"

"A scholar’s integrity may seem worthless, but that’s only because there is no scale to weigh it."

"If it could be weighed, everything you just mentioned, Brother Liu, would probably be lighter than a feather in its presence."

After hearing Chen Yi’s words, Liu Jing was silent for a long while before gesturing toward the stairs.

"Why don’t we continue this on the roof, Brother Chen? We can ascend to a high place and gaze into the distance. The view is much better from up there."

After giving him a long, searching look, Chen Yi readily complied and followed him upstairs.

The four other men in the main hall followed suit.

The top floor housed an exquisitely furnished study.

It was far more luxurious than Chen Yi’s own study, with signs of meticulous care visible everywhere.

The large, flat-topped desk was made of golden sandalwood, and the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were all rare works from famous masters.

On the eastern and western walls hung a zither and a sword, symbolizing a mastery of both the scholarly and the martial.

In the main room hung a landscape painting by a famous master. It depicted a scene of Wumeng Mountain and the Chishui River, evoking a profound atmosphere.

A green gauze screen served as a partition, creating a separate tea room. Beside it was an opening leading to an octagonal veranda.

Chen Yi scanned the room and praised it generously, "The decor here is truly inspired."

"Was this your own design, Brother Liu?"

Liu Jing shook his head repeatedly. "You flatter me, Brother Chen. This is merely a temporary residence for me. I had no hand in its decoration."

"What a pity."

Chen Yi crossed the gallery and stood behind the railing, looking out at the distant, partially lit Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion.

The night obscured most of the view.

He could still vaguely make out the wooden buildings of Spring Lotus Garden and Jiaxing Garden.

’It was certainly a view worthy of the phrase "ascend to a high place and gaze into the distance."’

Liu Jing came to his side, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, and also looked at the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion as he asked with a smile, "What do you think of the view, Brother Chen?"

Chen Yi nodded, his tone even. "It’s passable. You’ve gone to some trouble, Brother Liu."

He paused briefly before continuing, "But inviting me here just to ’ascend and gaze’ seems like a bit of a waste."

"You should be well aware, Brother Liu. I’m just a live-in son-in-law of the Xiao Family. My life or death won’t affect the Xiao Family in the slightest."

Upon hearing this, Liu Jing began to laugh again.

"You’re not wrong, Brother Chen. You’re just an insignificant and disposable figure in the Xiao Family. Killing you wouldn’t be enough to shake them to their core."

"But that is precisely why I’ve resorted to this... cruder strategy of targeting you."

Liu Jing paused, then asked with a smile, "Do you know why I came here this time, Brother Chen? Do you know how much I staked on this?"

Chen Yi turned his head to look at him. "I’m listening."

"I volunteered for this assignment in Shu State, to lay the groundwork with Linglan Pavilion. And while crushing the Xiao Family Medicine Hall was part of it, that was only incidental."

"The fundamental reason was for my own sake."

"If everything had gone smoothly, I would have had the chance to change all the signs of Linglan Pavilion to ’Xinglin Hall’."

A look of venomous resentment crossed Liu Jing’s face. "Do you have any idea what that would have meant for me?"

After a moment’s thought, Chen Yi understood. "It would have allowed you to gain a firm foothold in the Jing State Liu Family and secure certain inheritance rights."

"Exactly!"

"There are six of us—legitimate sons from the main branch."

"If I don’t fight for it, I’ll never have a day in the sun."

"I didn’t just make a military pledge to my father for this opportunity; I bet everything on it."

At this point, Liu Jing was practically seething, his words ground out through clenched teeth. "And now it’s all ruined!"

"The Xiao Family could have just given in and closed their Medicine Halls! They didn’t have to fight back! Why did they insist on working against me?"

"And Hundred Herbs Hall! Those filthy, lowlife bastards! If they hadn’t stepped in to help, the Xiao Family Medicine Hall would’ve been finished ages ago!"