After Wei Xu came back to his senses, the child had already disappeared. Before he could turn around, a voice sounded beside him. The arrival was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man wearing a gray cotton robe on a cold winter day. The cotton robe looked rather worn out, it was likely worn for many years.
"Mr. Wei seems to be in good spirits, chatting so long with a child. It seems you've been influenced by the Dean."
The atmosphere in the academy during these years had truly changed compared to the past. The original academy was a holy land for all scholars in the world. The teachers here were naturally highly knowledgeable, it was just that they were formal and rigid; like an old tree. However, after the current Dean took over the academy, it seemed like this old tree sprouted new shoots, bringing in a breath of fresh air.
The academy still maintained its scholarly excellence, but now there was a sense of vitality in every aspect without the obsolescence.
Wei Xu turned to look at the middle-aged man, not rushing to speak. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly opened his mouth to say, "You all are too impatient."
The middle-aged man remained indifferent as he said, "Some people have waited for many years and think, 'What's a few more days?' But others feel, 'I've waited for so many years; why should I wait any longer now?'"
Wei Xu naturally understood his meaning and said calmly, "Haste makes waste. Moreover, you all are aiming to eat the entire world. Acting recklessly once you get anxious isn't advisable."
The middle-aged man smiled and said, "Why worry, Mr. Wei? The situation has already unfolded, how can it turn around now? Moreover, I firmly believe that things will develop according to our plan."
Wei Xu shook his head and said calmly, "I want to wait a while more."
Hearing this, the middle-aged man could not help but furrow his brow, appearing somewhat displeased.
"You all may not be able to wait, but in reality, you still have to wait. So, I'll wait a little more. It doesn't count as delaying your matter. Besides, choosing not to act is the best scenario now. If we involve the academy and Teacher, how would he handle it? Can you guys really hold him back?"
Wei Xu looked at the middle-aged man, his meaning clear in his eyes.
"Someone of the Dean's caliber is unlikely to easily get involved in this situation."
The middle-aged man frowned and sighed softly, "But someone like the Dean, if possible, we really don't want to be at odds with him."
Wei Xu remained silent. He was actually still waiting for the middle-aged man to make his own judgment.
Seeing Wei Xu's silence, the middle-aged man furrowed his brows and said, "Mr. Wei, you can't influence the academy, but can't the Wei Family influence it?"
Wei Xu looked at him and retorted with a question, "Do you think the Wei Family is less complicated than the academy?"
In a dynasty, often the ones with the shortest lineage were the so-called imperial families. Besides the imperial family, whether was it the high-ranking families with a few hundred years of heritage or the academy with a millennium of history, their complexity far exceeded that of the imperial family.
The middle-aged man was somewhat angry, "You prominent families, always calculating and scheming. In the end, you just lack that tiny bit of resolve. Otherwise, can't you all seize reign over this world?!"
Wei Xu did not speak, but his emotions were evident in his eyes.
For those prominent families, what was the point of becoming the emperor?
There was really no point.
In this world, had there ever been a dynasty that had endured for centuries without changing?
But for the prominent families of the world, it was not too difficult to last a thousand years.
……
……
As night fell, the Divine Capital welcomed another blizzard. The accumulated snow from before had not melted, and the snow had never really stopped. Now, the snowfall was getting heavier, blanketing the Divine Capital in white.
At the Xie residence, lanterns hung under the eaves in front of the main gate, casting a faint glow on the white snow. It was brighter than usual, but it was still challenging to illuminate the entire world.
Tonight was the monthly gathering at the Xie residence, and with the approaching New Year, there were naturally more people than usual. All the branches of the Xie Family had finished their tasks early and rushed to the Xie residence for this small gathering.
As usual, the ancestor did not make an appearance at this gathering. Therefore, the most eye-catching aspect of this gathering was still the main branch, which had always been the center of attention. However, in recent years, the second branch had gradually risen, gaining more attention as well.
At a large round table, everyone with a seat was an important figure in the Xie Family. However, amid the toasts and conversations, individual emotions varied. During the feast, a steward approached a young girl and whispered something to her. She stood up and walked towards the deeper part of the Xie residence. Initially, those seemingly indifferent big shots now turned their heads, with different emotions in their gazes as they looked over there.
About the young girl from the White Deer's Xie Clan, many did not feel optimistic about her right in the beginning. Later, they had to admit their fondness, as well as their apprehension now, which was all within reason. As they watched the girl leave, countless people were likely thinking the same thing.
Xie Nandu walked alone towards the deeper part of the Xie residence. It was not her first time walking this path. But even now, she still did not like it.
The steward had left at some point, and she did not know when she had arrived at the ancestral shrine of the Xie Family.
That Xie Family ancestor was sitting in the chair today, but the old man who was originally in that chair was nowhere to be seen.
The Xie Family ancestor looked at the girl, who was as quiet as a pear blossom. There was some admiration in his eyes as he went straight to the point, saying, "Your Senior Brother Wei has been a bit restless lately."
The Divine Capital was too big and there were too many secrets. However, for existences like the Xie Family, most of these secrets were not considered secrets.
They might not know who Wei Xu was plotting with or what, but at least they knew he was not quietly staying in the academy.
Before Xie Nandu could speak, the ancestor of the Xie family shook his head and said, "This kind of thing, I'm just informing you about it, you don't need to do anything. Right now, storm clouds are gathering over the Divine Capital, and those who can influence this major event are just a few families and the academy. You are in the Xie Family and also in the academy. Although it's not your turn to make decisions at the moment, it's good to keep an eye on things."
Xie Nandu had been focusing wholeheartedly on cultivation these days. She actually did not pay too much attention to the situation in the Divine Capital. However, since she was in the midst of the whirlpool, how could she stay aloof from it?
After a moment of silence, Xie Nandu finally opened her mouth to ask, "How will Ancestor choose?"
The Xie Family ancestor did not beat around the bush and said straightforwardly, "I won't choose anything."
Xie Nandu looked into the eyes of the Xie Family ancestor, and a trace of confusion appeared in his eyes.
The Xie Family ancestor continued, "The Xie Family and Wei Family are different. The Xie Family rose due to this dynasty. Therefore, the Wei Family may not care about whether the world is named Chen or something else. But the Xie Family still has to care for the time being. It's just that the current situation is uncertain, and everyone's choices are gambles. Gambling involves risks, regardless of the odds. So, the Xie Family won't join the gambling table; we'll just be spectators."
To avoid accidents, to not incur losses, to not lose money - it was not about mastering some high-level gambling techniques, it was about staying off the gambling table. As long as you did not play, you would not lose.
The logic was that simple.
Xie Nandu frowned and asked, "Is this the foundation of the Xie Family? Why is the Wei Family in such a hurry then?"
The Xie Family ancestor looked at this young girl who came from White Deer and said with a faint smile, "I don't know about that."
Actually, how could he not be aware? He just did not want to bring it up, nor was he willing to mention it. If he said too much, he himself would find it troublesome too.
Xie Nandu was fortunate not to be the type of woman who insists on getting to the bottom of the matter. Seeing that this ancestor stopped talking, she refrained from talking too.
An old person and a young one, separated by endless years, as if one stood at the beginning of the river of time, and the other has already reached its end.
The Xie Family ancestor remained silent for a long time, then suddenly spoke with interest and a smile, "Coming back from Cang Prefecture, that little fellow's future looks bright. But do you think he'll really make the Xie Family open our main entrance one day?"
Xie Nandu was silent.
The Xie Family ancestor smiled and said, "Outsiders always think that in prominent families, marriage should be based on matching status. But in reality, in the past two hundred years, the Xie Family has married many Xie descendants to ordinary men who were not special at the time. Later, they rose to fame, becoming a beautiful tale."
Xie Nandu murmured, "It's still a transaction."
The Xie Family ancestor chuckled and said, "You lass, born in the Xie Family, can't you accept it? I'm already letting you marry the man you like, not forcibly designating one for you. Speaking of which, if you're willing, you can actually choose one of the three princes of the Great Liang Dynasty. Of course, if you choose, the Xie Family will definitely join the gambling table today."
In the end, it all came down to the so-called interests.
Xie Nandu remained silent, not uttering a word.
She despised these things from the bottom of her heart.
The Xie Family ancestor naturally knew, saying softly, "I know you don't like it. You don't need to come back for the New Year's Eve dinner. Whenever you feel like coming back, we can talk again. As for those random gatherings, you can decline them. The next time you come back will be for the memorial of this old man?"
The half-joking words of the Xie Family ancestor did not prompt Xie Nandu to say anything. She just looked at this ancestor with a calm gaze.
The Xie Family ancestor waved his hand and lamented, "Those who come from White Deer have a scholarly demeanor on them. The little ones from the Divine Capital really can't compare. However..."
Before the Xie Family ancestor could finish, Xie Nandu already turned around and walked towards the distance. In the end, perhaps in the entire Xie Family, only Xie Nandu had the guts to disregard the Xie Family ancestor and leave on her own like this. Other people might not dare.
The Xie Family ancestor smiled faintly, watching the girl's back view without saying anything.
……
……
Xie Nandu left the Xie Family and soon arrived outside the Xie residence side gate. The carriage from the academy had been waiting here for a long time.
The roofs were already covered with a thick layer of accumulated snow.
In the Divine Capital, it was still snowing heavily tonight, and it was approaching the New Year.
Xie Nandu turned her head and glanced at the several lanterns hanging under the eaves.
After a few glances, she withdrew her gaze and turned back.
A black figure was exceptionally conspicuous in the heavy blizzard.
Xie Nandu frowned slightly.
When that black figure approached, she raised an eyebrow.
She had already seen clearly; it was a young man in black clothes, with a saber hanging from his waist, and snowflakes on the strands of hair on top of his head.
He seemed weary from the journey still.
The black-clad young man who braved the snowstorm stared with a pair of eyes that seemed to contain a myriad of stars. He smiled at the girl in front of him and took out two roasted sweet potatoes from his pocket like a magic trick, asking, "It's still warm, want to eat?"
