Chapter 456: Tour Guide Xie Tu

The couplet at the city gate had become a heartache for Qingxu; he started going to the gate to ask when it would be changed, and the guards told him it had already been reported, so he should wait a bit longer. Later, when he went again, they told him the couplet was the Northern Border King's idea—if he wanted to petition, he could wait for the Northern Border King to return to You Prefecture.

By then he had given up, no longer going to the city gate, and began to think "out of sight, out of mind".

Their Daoist lineage rarely dealt with the imperial court, but when the Northern Border King returned, he sent an invitation for them to come to his residence to discuss the Dao.

Qingxu really pondered whether to answer the summons; his sect lazed about on the mountains like idle clouds and wild cranes, not even dealing with local officials, let alone the imperial family—having no desires, they feared nothing.

But lately he's been hanging out with Zhang Tonghe, and the divine doctor told him, when the King summons him, it's best to act swiftly, because if the King wants to see you, you'll definitely see him—adding extra steps will only offend the King for nothing.

Thinking of the Northern Border King's abundant martial virtue, Qingxu decided to comply.

In the afternoon, the first to arrive at the Northern Border King's residence was not this protagonist or several senior ministers, but Xie Tu.

Upon seeing the invitation list, he felt he stood out glaringly; he asked his uncle but got no answer, so he came to the residence early in the afternoon, and the King told him to come early.

Coincidentally, the King was napping and soaking in a bath, so he saw him directly.

At that moment the King was fishing for koi with his bear under the tree shade, and upon seeing him, he only told him to bring brush and ink and prepare the banquet record for the evening.

"After all, we're discussing the Dao; I've heard Qingxu has quite a background, so you'll be responsible for the record—if any classic saying emerges from the discussion, it can be passed down."

Xie Tu let out a sigh of relief; "Just handling documents— that's fine."

Only after setting aside his major concern did he notice the King fishing for koi? What's going on? Is it over?

He thought that and asked it; the King sighed, "Now I realize the southern side is truly in a slump—the koi in this lake have gone unsold. The money of the southern gentry may all be going to stockpile grain and support relief homes, so the market for this kind of luxury that can't be eaten, drunk, or even preserve life is just no good." It's a sad story; lately another source of income has dried up.

Xie Tu wanted to change the subject… "So what do you intend to do with the fish you catch?" Eat it or not?

The King lifted the fishing rod, and Xie Tu discovered there was no hook at all……

This thing gave Xie Tu a glance, then swiftly flung itself into the water, giving a glance to the side… "The King promised Weini he'd give it anything he catches—the child is waiting!"

Xie Tu: ……You're good at bluffing.

Weini stared motionlessly at the water, unblinking, waiting for the King to display his divine might and let it taste something fresh……

It's almost autumn, yet the Northern Border remains unusually hot—only the king's residence seems to have its own barrier, especially lakeside, where it's very comfortable.

Xie Tu sat honestly behind the King, watching the scenery; Weini leaned against the King, staring at the water, and Xie Tu's whole person suddenly calmed down.

The lakeside stayed quiet for a while, then the King suddenly spoke: "Life at the king's residence is peaceful, but outside, winds rise and clouds surge. Even Ailao has rebelled, harassing the borders of Great Jin—are other vassal states still far? … Now all conflicts are at the borders; you say when will the warfare in the Central Plains ignite?"

Xie Tu: ……"I, a commoner, don't know."

The King: "Just guess, anyway it's just the two of us."

Xie Tu glanced at Ling Yin beside him, then at the guards and little eunuchs under the tree shade behind—how many people?

"I, a commoner, don't understand warfare, but I've heard that this year's drought is even worse in the south than in the Northern Border, so this winter's situation will surely be especially dire, likely to cause chaos."

"Yeah, I'm afraid many commoners won't survive the winter. Then it'll also be a good opportunity for several forces to take advantage—can we win over the people's hearts?"

Xie Tu was shocked again, feeling a bit numb.

When the King gets serious, it makes him imagine his father and uncle chatting.

Later, upon hearing that Qingxu and Zhang Tonghe had arrived, the King ordered Xie Tu to receive them.

"You and Zhao Ba go to the Southern Magnificent Gate to meet them, take them to a scenic spot to stroll, explain our garden's compositional aesthetics—what framed scenery, borrowed scenery, leaked scenery—His Majesty gave you that painting manual, didn't he? Give the old Daoist more insight!"

Xie Tu: ……

Tonight might not be a Hongmen banquet.