Dongshan Prefecture office.

Back hall.

The weather is too hot, and the office also has a noon break. Pei Jian woke up from a nap and was just about to have some afternoon tea when a familiar figure suddenly flashed before his eyes.

"Pei Rui!"

"Dad, how did you know it was me?" Pei Rui already thought he was being careful enough. He didn’t want Pei Jian to know about his return this time; he just wanted to come back to get some personal belongings and then find a place outside to stay.

At least for the next few days, he would be quite free as long as his cheap master Fahai doesn’t return.

"Your sneaky silhouette, your dad has been seeing it for so many years. How could I be wrong?" Pei Jian snorted angrily, "Aren’t you supposed to be practicing martial arts at Shanglin Temple? What are you doing back here?"

Pei Rui giggled: "Dad, practicing martial arts also requires a balance of relaxation and tension. Practicing blindly isn’t effective."

"Don’t give me excuses. Did you secretly sneak back without telling your master Fahai?" Pei Jian scolded.

"No, Master Fahai went out and told me to go home and rest for two days. I’m just a secular disciple, not a real monk."

"Are you telling the truth, not lying to Dad?"

"Dad, why would I lie to you? You can send someone to Shanglin Temple to check, and you’ll know everything." Pei Rui declared, protesting loudly.

"Fine, I’ll arrange for someone to inquire at Shanglin Temple. Since you’re back, stay in the house and don’t go anywhere!" Pei Jian ordered.

"No, tomorrow I still have to practice boxing with Mr. Lin!" Pei Rui said, and compared to freedom, recognizing a cheap uncle was nothing to him.

Pei, the second son, is destined to be a great hero, and before rising to greatness, he can endure and adapt; a little grievance is nothing.

"Mr. Lin? When did you get another uncle, Mr. Lin?" Pei Jian asked in surprise.

"Mr. Lin is Lin Miao. Master Fahai asked me to call him that." Pei Jian explained.

"Lin Miao has ties with Fahai? Isn’t his relationship with Shanglin Temple supposed to be not very harmonious?" Pei Jian was a bit surprised, wondering if there was something he hadn’t grasped.

"Who said that? Mr. Lin donated quite a bit of incense money to Shanglin Temple, and he has a very good relationship with my master Fahai. They are very familiar with each other." Pei Rui said.

Pei Jian frowned slightly; this was indeed something he hadn’t grasped, but it wasn’t too late to know now. Lin Miao and Fahai unexpectedly have deep ties; no wonder there’s been no movement from Shanglin Temple after getting involved in Xue’s matter.

Of course, Shanglin Temple also severely punished the various personnel involved and didn’t protect them; reportedly, those punished suffered greatly, and a batch of monks with improper conduct was cleaned out.

Shanglin Temple, having taken drastic measures, managed to kill potential threats in the bud.

Lin Miao hasn’t visited Dongshan Prefecture since returning, but thanks to him that success was achieved this time.

Moreover, since he is not a court official, being a low-level technical officer of the Medical Bureau hasn’t much to do with court politics.

In the world of officials, he presumably doesn’t understand much.

Besides, they are just in a cooperative relationship; they don’t have a subordinate relationship, making it reasonable for him not to come and see him.

However, there were some messages sent back from Li Jing that he couldn’t help but communicate to Lin Miao. After all, on the surface, they are on the same boat.

He asked Lin Miao for credit in the official document, since both are in Dongshan. Naturally, the court will regard them as being in the same faction.

Also, it’s especially hard to hide from the Marquis Lingyang and the faction around the fifth prince when he asks for credit for Lin Miao. He came from the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace, meaning he doesn’t need to lean on the fifth prince, and getting closer to the Marquis Lingyang would only risk the Crown Prince having prejudices, and many people being unwilling to associate with him.

In the world of officialdom, once you stand in line, the biggest taboo is to switch allegiances; fence-sitters are despised and hated by everyone.

In the event of war, those who sit on the fence are often the first to die.

"When are you going to see Lin Miao?"

"Tomorrow, he told me to meet him at the Xiuyue Square clinic." Pei Rui said.

"Take Dad along, Dad also wants to go!" Pei Jian gave the order.

...

Lin Residence, Liuli’s room.

Shi Yin, who was helping pack luggage, suddenly bent over and asked: "Liuli, are you really going to Lanzhou?"

"Hmm, it’s the Lanzhou branch plan that was set long ago. Of course, I’m going." Liuli smiled, knowing Shi Yin didn’t want her to leave.

In the Lin residence, their relationship was the closest. Once she left, although nobody would bully her, there would be one less person to share intimate conversations with.

Many things, Shi Yin could only say to Liuli, not to anyone else.

"Liuli, once you leave, I’ll be the only one left at home. If I wanted to find someone to drink with, there’d be no one to accompany me."

"The house is so big yet no one can accompany you for a drink? Isn’t the mistress treating you well? If anything’s wrong, you can talk directly to her. We’re all family; our lord never treated us as outsiders." Liuli chuckled.

"Hmm, Liuli, when can you come back?"

"I don’t know, it depends on the branch’s progress over there. If it’s quick, I may come back once before winter." Liuli thought for a moment.

"Alright then." Shi Yin nodded.

"Okay, don’t bother helping me pack. You’re in charge of Huaye Tower now, and it should be the busiest time. Hurry along." Liuli urged.

"Oh..."

...

The sky gradually darkened.

Lin Miao specially arranged for the kitchen to prepare a simple farewell feast for Liuli. Liuli’s mood was somewhat complicated, so she drank a few more cups.

Unavoidably, she became a bit drunk.

Returning to her room, she looked around and couldn’t help feeling a trace of melancholy. Now she was free and had a career of her own.

She probably wouldn’t lack anything in the future, but her heart felt empty. Just as she silently lamented, a silhouette suddenly appeared at the door.

"Liuli, the gentleman is waiting for you at the bath." Upon opening the door, she found it was Lianxin. Liuli was very surprised but her heart skipped when she heard the word "bath."

"Lianxin, is it at the bath?"

"Yes, I just came from there, it’s indeed the bath." Lianxin confirmed.

"Wait for me a moment." Liuli quickly replied, turned around, and tidied herself slightly in front of the mirror before going to the bath with Lianxin.

The bath was a place Lin Miao had specially built for medicinal baths, but it wasn’t exclusively for that purpose, as one could also take a regular bath.

This was for his personal use, although there were others, they were smaller in scale.

With his current financial and material resources, this wasn’t considered a particularly luxurious indulgence; those wealthy and noble families built more luxurious and extravagant ones than his.

"Shall I go in?"

"Yes." Liuli reached out and pushed the door, stepping inside to find that Lianxin hadn’t followed her but instead closed the door.

Liuli hesitated for a moment. This was Lin’s residence, and even though she was familiar with Lianxin, it wasn’t like they joked around like that.

Under the draped canopy, the bath revealed a familiar figure sitting with his back turned. Liuli knew so well that countless times in her midnight dreams, it was that back figure that haunted her thoughts.

She knew she shouldn’t have such improper thoughts, but she couldn’t suppress them. Every time she woke, she’d secretly wash her undergarments several times.

Luckily, no one knew about this, otherwise she wouldn’t have the face to see anyone.

"Since you’re here, come down." Lin Miao naturally knew Liuli had come behind him, he didn’t turn his head, only spoke softly.

"My lord, I..." At this moment, Liuli hesitated. She knew that if she agreed, tonight would be the most significant moment of her life.

But, right before this easily attainable thing, she hesitated. She wanted all of this, but she didn’t want it to be a kind of "charity," which would be too pitiful. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have persisted for so many years. With her beauty and talent, getting married would be very easy.

"Liuli, I really appreciate your personality: you are determined, understand when to advance and retreat, know your boundaries, and are both talented and artistic. Now, finding a good family surely wouldn’t be difficult, right?" Lin Miao also wanted to take this opportunity to have a serious talk with Liuli.

Putting it in the bath, he also wanted to push her a bit, giving her a chance to choose. Liuli wasn’t young anymore, if she continued to stay with him, it would inevitably mean giving her a title; he couldn’t be the sort who’s irresponsible.

Women who stayed with him longer, with intimate relationships, would find it really hard to marry off. Wasn’t there already rumors that Liuli was free, yet still living in Lin’s residence? What more could be said? Though Sun Youwei was the lady of the house, Lin Miao would certainly not have just one woman in the future; marrying a concubine should be someone familiar and known well.

Liuli stayed at Lin’s residence and clearly occupied a spot.

What if someone at that age has already...?

Lin Miao appreciated Liuli more than he liked her, such women with thoughts of their own were rare in this world.

She could persist in being herself, untarnished by filth, calmly and wisely planning her future, such a woman was truly a good match.

He sincerely hoped she would find someone good, but sometimes emotions were uncontrollable, Liuli’s thoughts towards him weren’t unnoticed.

However, he already had several women by his side; one shouldn’t be too selfish, seeing someone you like and wanting to pull them into your home. Of course, if there was true mutual affection, he wouldn’t reject it; as a man, with ability, he should care for more people.

He could afford it, he could maintain it.

Humans are inherently selfish; who doesn’t want a harem?

Being utterly devoted is a good quality, but if devotion leads to more people’s suffering and even tragic outcomes, it’s a sin.

The thing is, everyone has traveled through time, still being utterly devoted, what a fool!

Liuli panicked; she didn’t know how to choose, this question was too big, affecting her destiny.

For a moment, she wanted to turn and flee, yet her legs were firmly planted, not moving an inch.

Perhaps due to the water’s warmth and the alcohol she drank earlier, Liuli’s face was flushed reflected in the water, extremely enticing.

Her dress was wet, clinging to her body, her curvaceous figure, with proportions elegant as a master dancer of Huaye Tower, was toned and beautiful.

Liuli lifted her foot, intending to take another step forward but whether from nerves or slipping, her body suddenly lost control, tumbling forward.