Entering the study and closing the door, Xu Xinnian looked at his big brother with a strange expression.

His face was strange but not anxious, it wasn't urgent... Xu, the detective, made a judgment, sat down at the round table, poured a glass of water, relieved his thirst after eating too much MSG, and casually said, "Second Brother, a man can't beat around the bush. Just say what you have to say."

Xu Erlang walked to the desk and picked up an invitation. With a light "pat," it landed accurately in front of Xu Qi'an.

Xu Qi'an opened the invitation and glanced at it, knowing why Xu Erlang's expression was so strange.

The content of the invitation was an invitation for Xu Erlang to attend a literary meeting, with an interesting phrase: "Bring your sister along."

The inviter was the current prime minister, Wang Zhenwen.

"You are the top scholar of the Spring Examination, so it's reasonable for you to be invited to the literary meeting," Xu Qi'an analyzed.

Xu Xinnian only had two sisters. In this kind of literary meeting, it was natural not to invite young children. The Wang family, with such rules, wouldn't be ignorant of the etiquette, right?

As for women attending literary meetings, although The Great Feng still followed the traditional Confucian values, due to the existence of the cultivation system, there were also outstanding women. Therefore, although women's status was lower than men's, it wasn't that low. They didn't have to bind their feet, and they didn't have to wear veils when they went out. They could go out whenever they wanted.

For example, Aunt and Lingyue would take their attendants out to visit jewelry shops every now and then.

It wasn't unusual for women to attend literary meetings.

"Foolish!" Xu Xinnian sneered, "The officialdom is like a battlefield. Perhaps there are many fools who have risen to high positions, but the officials in the court are not among them. Prime Minister Wang is a leader among the officials. Every move, every word, and every expression of his is worth pondering and chewing over. Otherwise, we won't even know how we died."

"Big Brother is Wei Yuan's man. Wang Zhenwen and Wei Yuan are two fierce tigers in the court, and they are incompatible. If he invites me to the mansion to attend the literary meeting, it's definitely not as simple as it seems on the surface."

Xu Erlang paced around the room, thinking, "I, Xu Xinnian, am a top scholar with boundless prospects. Prime Minister Wang is wary of me and wants to strangle me before I grow up...

"No, even if I pass the imperial examination and rank high, it's easy for Prime Minister Wang to deal with me. The gap between our positions is huge. He doesn't need any tricks to deal with me.

"Then, is his invitation to me really just a simple literary meeting? If so, I'm thinking too simplistically about my opponent, too simplistically about Wang Zhenwen..."

Anxious, Xu Erlang looked at Xu Qi'an and frowned, "Big Brother, say something."

"I think your thoughts are gradually becoming muddled..." Xu Qi'an frowned. "In that case, go ask the other top scholars if they have received an invitation. If they have, then it's just a simple literary meeting. If not, and only you, a student of the Yunlu Academy, were invited, there must be something fishy going on."

"I've thought of that, but I don't have time." Xu Erlang was a little anxious and pointed to the invitation. "Look at the time, the literary meeting is tomorrow morning. I don't have time to verify... I understand."

"Understand what?" Xu Qi'an asked.

"Prime Minister Wang is not giving me a chance to react at all. If I don't go, he will spread rumors that I'm arrogant and conceited, tarnishing my reputation. If I go, there must be some conspiracy waiting for me at the literary meeting." Xu Erlang took a deep breath. "The old saying goes, 'The ginger is still hot.'"

After he said that, Xu Qi'an also became alert, thinking to himself that it was not easy for the Xu family to produce a seed of learning, and yet Wang Zhenwen treated him in such an undignified manner.

Then he realized that something was wrong and frowned, "You just said that Prime Minister Wang wants to deal with you, and he doesn't need any tricks. Even if you pass the imperial examination, you're just a newbie, while he's almost at the highest level."

Xu Xinnian looked puzzled, "What do you mean by 'newbie' and 'highest level'?"

"If you don't go, your reputation for being arrogant and conceited will spread. If you go, there may be some conspiracy waiting for you... Erlang, you decide for yourself." Xu Qi'an patted his shoulder and comforted him.

"When did Big Brother become so foolish?" Xu Erlang was displeased. "I've said so much, and you still don't understand what I mean? I want Big Brother to go with me."

"No, you can't go with me. You are my brother, but in the officialdom, you and I are not on the same path. Erlang, you must remember this." Xu Qi'an's face became serious, and he said in a deep voice, "You have your own path, your own direction. Don't have anything to do with me."

Xu Erlang was a smart person and fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay."

In fact, Big Brother was warning him not to have any dealings with Wei Yuan. If one day, even if Wei Yuan fell from power, Big Brother would inevitably be implicated.

But if Wei Yuan fell from power, it had nothing to do with Xu Xinnian. His identity was only Xu Qi'an's brother, not Wei Yuan's subordinate.

Xu Xinnian agreed with this idea.

Among the powerful families in history, the children of the families were not united and belonged to different factions. The advantage of this was that even if one faction was defeated, the family would only suffer a setback, not destruction.

The next day, Xu Qi'an rode his beloved mare and hurried to the Nightwatcher's yamen in the dim light of dawn.

After the roll call, Song Tingfeng and a few familiar colleagues came to find him. They sat together, drank tea, ate peanuts, and chatted for a while before urging Xu Qi'an to treat them to the Official Brothel Sector.

"Get lost..." Xu Qi'an scolded them, "All you think about is going to the Official Brothel Sector. Haven't you all seen me perform? What did the old monk under the Bodhi tree say? Beauty is like a knife, it's harmful. You spend your days whoring around, and you're still wearing your official robes? You guys can whore around all you want, but don't drag me into it, damn it!"

Everyone knew what kind of person he was and wasn't afraid at all. They scolded him, "Who in our yamen whored around more than you?"

Xu Qi'an confidently said, "I don't pay, so how can I be whoring around? We're all familiar with each other. If you talk nonsense like this, I'll report you to Lord Wei for slander."

"Damn!" Everyone spat at him.However, everyone still admired Xu Qi'an. He didn't refuse to pay the courtesan, but rather, the courtesan wanted to spend money to sleep with him.

"Ning Yan, I heard from Old Song that when you were still a Nightwatcher, just after joining the organization, you were already involved with Miss Fu Xiang. Besides a poem, do you have any other exceptional skills?" A humble Nightwatcher asked for advice.

The eyes of the other Nightwatchers lit up. Who wouldn't want to be favored by the courtesans of the Official Brothel Sector?

"It's indeed a skill." Xu Qi'an replied affirmatively.

"What skill is it?" The Nightwatchers asked eagerly.

At this moment, a stern voice came from the door, "Are you all chatting during your shift? Do you still have any discipline?"

Everyone turned to look, and at the entrance of the hall stood a Nightwatcher with a sharp gaze and faint crow's feet at the corners of his eyes. It was none other than Jiang Lvzhong.

"Jiang Jinluo..."

The group of Nightwatchers quickly straightened up and respectfully explained, "Xu Ningyan is teaching us how to sleep with courtesans without spending money."

"?"

Jiang Lvzhong's sharp gaze swept over the group, sneering, "You all just know how to dream. Well, you can continue your discussion, but don't gather for too long."

With that, he turned and left, going to lean against the wall to eavesdrop with the hearing of a fourth-grade warrior.

Inside the hall, the others nudged Xu Qi'an, "Ning Yan, continue."

Xu Qi'an coughed, "I'm a little thirsty."

Song Tingfeng brought him a cup of tea.

After taking a sip to moisten his throat, Xu Qi'an spoke confidently, "Indeed, Miss Fu Xiang was attracted to me because of a poem, but what truly made her unable to leave me was not the poem."

"What was it?" The others asked eagerly.

"Do you know what women hate most about men?" Xu Qi'an asked in return.

The Nightwatchers gave various answers, such as "lack of money" or "lack of ambition."

Xu Qi'an shook his head, looked around at his colleagues, and said in a serious tone, "It's shallow words and deep feelings."

What's the meaning of this? The Nightwatchers fell into contemplation upon hearing this.

"What does this have to do with Miss Fu Xiang not being able to leave you?" Zhu Guangxiao frowned.

"When we first met, she locked the door and asked me..." Xu Qi'an put down his cup, his expression becoming serious and steady, and said word by word, "In the end, can you do it?"

"Later, I did it, and that's why she couldn't leave me."

In the silence, Song Tingfeng questioned, "I suspect you're lying to us, but we have no evidence."

"It's normal. This is not something an ordinary person can comprehend, especially men who lack the ability." Xu Qi'an patted his shoulder and said to the others, "I've told you the skill. Whether you can comprehend it or not, well, it's up to the individual."

"Shallow words and deep feelings, can you do it..." Jiang Lvzhong left thoughtfully. At first glance, these two phrases seemed easy to understand, but there seemed to be unimaginable depth hidden behind them.

Perhaps it would be better to ask Wei Yuan. With Wei Yuan's intelligence, he should be able to instantly comprehend this small skill.

.............

After sending away his colleagues, not long after, a clerk came in and said, "Xu Yinluo, Jiang Jinluo sent me to ask if you need to prepare any medicinal herbs for cooking. Your cultivation has reached a level where you can attempt body tempering."

Jiang Jinluo came to ask about this? He didn't need to come in person... It should be for the Unbreakable Diamond Body, but he felt embarrassed... Xu Qi'an responded, "No need."

"Alright." The clerk left.

Not long after, the two phrases "shallow words and deep feelings" and "can you do it" spread throughout the Nightwatcher's office. It was said that as long as one comprehended the essence of these two phrases, they could enjoy the courtesans of the Official Brothel Sector for free.

Don't doubt it, because Xu Yinluo said it himself.

At this moment, the various halls were engaged in heated discussions.

At this moment, the troublemaker Xu Qi'an's hall welcomed the guards from the Shao Yin Garden.

The guard said, "The Second Princess invites Mr. Xu for a chat."

"I know, I still have something to do, I'll go later." Xu Qi'an sat at his desk, looking through the files without moving.

The guard bowed and left.

About a quarter of an hour later, Xu Qi'an put down the files and breathed a sigh of relief.

More and more people from the martial arts world were pouring into the capital. Once the news of the battle spread, more warriors would come to the capital for excitement... Although it greatly promoted the economy of the capital, cases of fraud, kidnapping, and even home robbery continued to occur.

To solve these issues, they needed to start from two aspects...

Xu Qi'an beckoned for a clerk and instructed, "Write a report..."

Each hall of the Nightwatchers had at least three clerks acting as secretaries. After all, while the Nightwatchers could handle physical tasks, writing was another matter... Xu Yinluo was of average skill in this area.

Xu Qi'an gave Wei Yuan three suggestions: first, draw forces from the thirteen counties under the jurisdiction of the capital to maintain public order in the outer city; second, petition the Emperor to have the Imperial Army participate in patrolling the inner city; third, during this period, those who commit home theft will be executed! Those who commit robbery on the streets will be executed! Those who cause trouble on the streets, resulting in injuries to passersby and damage to the property of vendors, will be executed!

The first two points were to lay the groundwork for the third. Under severe punishment, the thieves would undoubtedly resort to extreme measures, so a large number of forces and skilled individuals were needed to suppress them.

This might lead to the criminals taking desperate measures and committing murder, but if they wanted to quickly eliminate the bad influences and restore public order, they had to use severe punishment to deter them.

After writing the report, another guard came in, this time from the De Xin Garden.

"Princess Huai Qing requests Mr. Xu's presence at the palace."

............

Xu Mansion.

Xu Erlang was dressed in a refined light-colored robe, with his hair tied up with a jade crown and a jade belt around his waist, with pieces of jade belonging to himself, his father, and his elder brother... In short, he had put on the most valuable waist ornaments of the men in the family.

"Big brother and father are warriors, they don't usually wear these. I think it's a waste to leave them lying around." Xu Erlang said this to his aunt and Xu Lingyue.At the literary gathering hosted by Prime Minister Wang, talents would surely abound, considered one of the most elite assemblies of the era. Xu Xinnian felt he must dress more presentably for the occasion.

His aunt examined him from head to toe and was quite satisfied, believing her son would undoubtedly be the most dashing lad at the gathering.

"Why are you taking Lingyue with you to the literary gathering?" his aunt asked.

Upon hearing "literary gathering," Xu Lingyin immediately perked up.

"The invitation was written this way, so I thought I might as well take Lingyue to broaden her horizons," Xu Xinnian explained.

His aunt immediately turned to her daughter, excitedly saying:

"When you're at the gathering, take a good look around. If you fancy any gentleman, you must tell your mother. With the Xu family's current reputation, marrying you into a wealthy household will be no problem at all."

"Mother, what are you talking about? I'm not going," Xu Lingyue said, turning away unhappily.

Seizing the opportunity, Xu Lingyin pounced towards Xu Xinnian, "If sister won't go, I will. Take me with you, Second Brother, please take me."

As she spoke, she clung to Xu Xinnian's leg.

Xu Xinnian shook his leg a few times but couldn't shake her off; the little girl's strength was frightening.

"Alright, but you need to change into a pretty dress, otherwise I won't take you," Xu Xinnian said.

"Mhm!" Xu Lingyin nodded happily.

Then, under her mother's guidance, she returned to her room. Minutes later, the little tyke had her hair combed like an adult's and was dressed in a handsome suit... but Second Brother and sister had already left.

"Ow ow ow ow..."

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Her cries, like those of a slaughtered pig, echoed through the courtyard.

...

In the warm spring sunshine, the carriage arrived at the Wang residence.

...

PS: Finally managed to get this out, remember to help catch any bugs, thanks to all the tool people, muah. I'll give you extra updates later.