Step Down, Let Me Come!

Chapter 24: Xiao city

“Know, naturally know”. Qi Shan wasn’t surprised by the imperial censor’s deputy's reaction. He still wore a shallow smile, “But, regretfully, we met only once. Master Tian may not remember. Eight years ago, during the special examination in Xin country, master Tian happened to be there as a judging official at that time”.

Eight years ago?

Judging official?

The two prompts reminded him of something.

He had a slight impression.

The so-called “special examination” besides being a normal selection of talents, was also a special trial with assessment. The judging official was the chief examiner. The scholars could use this opportunity to start their official careers.

Three things were being assessed: family background, a character with the capability and most important the grade of wenxin.

The first two determined the lowest line or the threshold of officialdom. The last one determined what height the official could get to in his career.

The imperial official’s deputy had a good memory.

The scholars selected at that time left an impression on him. However, he didn’t remember Qi Shan. Then, was he unsuccessful?

As soon as this guess popped up in his mind, the man’s face appeared a little unnatural – he was the judging official, so it was his fault that he had missed such a big fish.

But after thinking about it, Xin country no longer existed now. Numerous old officials of Xin have been liquidated and poisoned by Zheng Qiao.   

In just a few months, countless people died unjustly. 

It was a good thing to not be selected as an official for Qi Shan.

He patted his son's arm lightly. His son understood and helped him to stand up. The father and son bowed solemnly to Qi Shan,    

“We ask for the name of our benefactor”.

Qi Shan – returned the greeting. 

“Surname Qi, name Shan, courtesy name Yuanliang”.

The imperial censor’s deputy muttered: “Qi Yuanliang… Qi?”

Qi Shan's family name was too rare, so he had a vague impression that there was indeed a young scholar named “Qi Shan” on the enrollment. He was only sixteen years old at the time, and he was the youngest among the group of scholars.

But - 

The imperial censor’s deputy lowered his eyelids and glanced at the wenxin stamp on Qi Shan’s waist indiscriminately – If he remembered correctly, the grade of that wenxin scholar was - 

Before he could recall that memory, Qi Shan had already seen through his little tricks and opened his mouth. 

“It is 6-grade lower-middle”. 

The man pursed his lips and remained silent. As the clues increased, he gradually remembered some dusty details.

This time, his son looked at Qi Shan, before looking at his father. He interjected: “The 6-grade lower-middle wenxin? Why wasn’t he accepted by officials?”

Even though the 6-grade lower-middle wenxin belonged to the lower-middle grade, if there was no accident, he had no possibility of climbing to the position of the three lords and nine ministers under the emperor, but with good materials he could become a small official without a hitch. 

A few years before, the destroyed country of Xin was really in lack of talents. Their standards weren’t high, so it was impossible that they didn’t hire Qi Shan.

The imperial censor’s deputy didn’t say anything. He glanced sideways, he warned his son to keep silent without uttering a word. His son trembled, closing and opening his mouth without a sound. 

When his son calmed down, he faced Qi Shan to seek confirmation.

“Did the benefactor offend someone at that time?”

Qi Shan was banned, and couldn’t even become a minor official in the remote area. It was natural that it wasn’t merely because of his grade of wenxin.

“Yes, indeed, I offended someone”. 

Qi Shan’s eyes curved like a crescent moons. He admitted it straightforwardly. 

“Dad. Who set up our benefactor?”

The man’s son has the same temperament as his father, or even more straightforward and simple. After finding out that Qi Shan was punished because he offended someone and missed his opportunity to start the official career, he immediately became angry. Unexpectedly, his dad not only didn’t answer, but secretly pinched his arm.

“Dad - “

“Keep silent!” The imperial censor’s deputy glared at him.

Son: “…”

“This person can’t be considered framed, but it was because of some information. At that time, it was better for him to not be chosen, than to be threatened by others after becoming an official”. Qi Shan appeared to be very open-minded. There were no obvious emotional ups and downs in his eyes, as if they were discussing some unrelated to him trifles. 

“Information?” The foolish son was still upright.

Qi Shan suddenly smiled: “Yes, fake family background”.

The man’s son: “…”

The imperial censor’s deputy who knew part of the truth: “…”

“Fake family background” was nothing compared to the real information. However, the Xin country was destroyed, the “great issue” at that time, was nothing now. Merely, their lives as well as several relatives and friends' lives were saved by them. Was there a need to expose other's faults?

Qi Shan asked: “Master Tian, do you know where that person is now?”

The man remembered something and his face became dark and gloomy.

“In the Xiao city…”

“Xiao city?”

“He is now the governor of Sibao County, and his county is in Xiao city. Geng's soldiers are suppressing the border, and he secretly colluded with Zheng Qiao. They are cooperating. They took down numerous fortresses in Xin country… If it wasn't for this, Xin country would have survived at least five more months, and maybe wait for a turning point…”

Qi Shan said: “He is a notorious villain, so there is no surprise”. 

“Are you asking for his whereabouts for… revenge?” 

At his time, young master Shen’s voice with a hint of unkindness sounded in his ears: “I was just fearlessly facing the enemy, when you were chatting and reminiscing here?”

Shen Tang’s body was wholly soaked in blood. She came over carrying the loving mother sword to handle the corpses – destroy them and eliminate traces, to avoid other twists and turns—but she saw Qi Shan chatting with someone from a distance, so her hand formed into a fist.

She thought that the one who needed her sword the most were not the corpses of filial sons, but Qi Yuanliang, who stood on the edge, like an onlooker all along.

Seeing that Shen Tang came back, Qi Shan's eyes flashed with surprise—he knew that Shen Tang could deal with those ten soldiers, but he didn't expect her to move so fast even without the blessing of magic words.

“Naturally, I trust young master Shen’s ability. Aren’t they your enemy?” Facing the accusation, he dismissed it perfunctorily without any sincerity. He looked past Shen Tang behind her, “Are they all dead?”

She snorted coldly: “All dead”.

She cut the weeds and got rid of the roots, leaving no future troubles.

With a flick of Shen Tang's wrist, the blood on the sword was thrown onto the grass. It left little red dots on the ground.

“What about the poisoned ones?”   

“A kind-hearted person like me would naturally not let them continue to be tortured – their throats and hearts were cut”    

They were guaranteed to die. 

While Qi Shan and Shen Tang talked, Qi Shan also paid attention to the rescued prisoners from the corner of the eye—— the imperial censor’s deputy, as the official of imperial censor rank, had to have a lot of contact with the Gong family of the Xin country. If young master Shen was “Gong Cheng”, he should recognize him.

However, the man didn't have the reaction that an acquaintance should have when seeing Shen Tang's face, instead he was a little curious and surprised.

A young man wearing wenxin symbol fought more fiercely than a reckless man with wudan tiger tally. It was indeed worthy of his curiosity.  

Qi Shan reflected on himself.   

Was Shen Tang really not “Gong Cheng”?   

As soon as he frowned, Shen Tang guessed what the hell was going on in his heart, and resisted the urge to roll her eyes—she knew that Qi Shan's previous “I understand”, concerned the silence.

If he had time to think about it, why couldn’t he help her with burying the bodies. 

Who knew - 

Qi Shan decisively refused. 

The reason was also nonsense.

“I'm cowardly, so I don't want to see bloody corpses”.   

Shen Tang: “…”   

She could only roll up her sleeves and work on her own. There was no hope for the help of Qi Shan, and even more so for the prisoners who were half-alive with the help of her pancakes, green plums, and maltose. While she was working, Qi Shan leaned against the tree trunk and hid in the shade to ask her.

“Young master Shen, are you interested in going to the Xiao city?”