Chapter 146: How to Lend a Helping Hand (IV)

Normally, a person that was so disloyal, hopped to different jobs so much, and always took advantage of their old boss would be cast aside by the people. Yet, Qiguan Rang was highly valued by the current emperor.

Gu Min had said before that Qiguan Rang was widely despised in history regardless of if it was military matters or as the current emperor’s advisor. His relationship with other people was terrible and his rise in the ranks was all due to the current emperor’s protection.

Liu She studied Qiguan Rang carefully, as though he was trying to look for something on his face.

Gu Min had created a mystery about the future emperor before her death. The Great Ancestor of the future emperor never had an empress, and the harem was empty as well. History had also stated that the emperor did not have a male consort, and yet, they had a daughter. The imperial mausoleum had an unknown male body.

This begged the question of who Jiang emperor’s father was.

Based on what Gu Min had said, it seemed that the later ages had made all sorts of guesses and theories about the man by the emperor’s side.

Qiguan Rang was among the top ten. The reason was that the current emperor trusted and protected him. It would have given him many benefits. He ended up dying a natural death, despite all the things he had done.

As long as one was disloyal once, they would never be able to break that image of themselves.

Many people found Qiguan Rang unloyal and would have tried to backstab him; yet, the current emperor had ordered everyone to shut up about it and it was written into history.

“The world is a big place. Other than me, who is worthy to be called the lord of justice?”

Qiguan Rang had once said that “only a worthy lord deserved to rule,” and the emperor had said that only she was worthy to be a lord.

In other words, who would Qiguan Rang be loyal to other than her?

Liu She ran that thought through his mind a few times and found nothing out of the ordinary. He calmly replied, “Wenzheng? That’s a good name.”

Good… his a**!

Qiguan Rang did not live up to his courtesy name (based on what Gu Min had said). Where was the worthiness, compliance, remonstrate with one’s superior, or even the upright reputation?

Qiguan Rang had no idea about the turmoil going through Liu She’s mind.

“Be at ease. Gongcao and I are of the same rank, so you are my junior…” Liu She changed the topic. “Lanting had mentioned to me that Gongcao’s residence has a wonderful, younger man. I guess he meant Wenzheng.”

Even though the man Qiguan Rang idolized seemed to be amiable and approachable, he felt like something was amiss.

He had some knowledge on things but Liu She had not tested or instructed him. The moment he met him, it was like Liu She had already seen through him. Liu She’s actions were sincere; it had not seemed as though he was feigning civility.

Before Qiguan Rang could analyze things further, Liu She called the housekeeper over and asked what Jiang Pengji was doing.

Wei Yuan was very pleased and quickly said, “I still have some things to discuss with Zhongqing. Wenzheng, visit Lanting on my behalf.”

As for what the discussion was about, only Wei Yuan and Liu She knew.

The current Dongqing was on the verge of collapse and there were still people leading befuddled lives. Wei Yuan was anxious and could only come to Liu She for some information. He had also wanted to check on Liu She’s connection to the Mengs. He still wanted revenge on Meng Liang.

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“You’ve met my father?”

Qiguan Rang followed the housekeeper to Jiang Pengji’s study room. The moment he took a step in, he was floored by her lazy posture. She was leaning against a small desk and her hair was pulled back behind her head. She looked like she had just woken up. Beside her were stacks of books and bamboo scrolls haphazardly piled together.

“Yes.”

Qiguan Rang walked forward and sat near her. The two had met only twice, but they felt at ease with one another.

Jiang Pengji straightened up and smiled. “How was it?”

Qiguan Rang deliberately considered his words.

“Officer Liu is amiable. It doesn’t feel as hard to approach him about what rumors have gone around. I heard about how he had changed Xu County, so I thought he would be invasive, obstinate, or have some bold visions, but he’s actually very benevolent.”

“And then?” Jiang Pengji asked.

Qiguan Rang smiled. “I think he should have some aides who are swift and ruthless in their actions. Based on my observations, officer Liu is too kind-hearted to be able to change Xu County. He would need some ruthless aides to take charge.”

Both Qiguan Rang and Jiang Pengji were able to deduce how a person would react to a situation based on their temperament.

Xu County was a tough place. It needed a ruthless governor to weed out the bad seeds for life to grow.

Based on Liu She’s temperament, if he did not have any aides helping him, Jiang Pengji thought he would have chosen the more peaceful approach.

“Maybe. But I never heard about any aides from father, and he doesn’t talk about work at home. Tell me, what did he talk to you about? What was his expression?” Jiang Pengji made friends based on her instincts and judgement. Qiguan Rang was the same as her and thus, the two felt very at ease with each other. Because of that, Qiguan Rang’s impression of Jiang Pengji was much better.

He was quiet for awhile before he began to describe everything that had happened.

“That means that father was very satisfied and interested in you?”

Qiguan Rang’s expression turned self-deprecating.

He was very aware of his status. If Wei Yuan was not interested in having him as his son-in-law, he was just a regular folk from the border. Half of his blood was from the north of Xinjiang, which made his position in society awkward. When he was younger, he was ridiculed and despised for being a mixed blood.

He did not see himself as a lower class citizen, so would not accept it if others saw him that way.

“Lanting, you overestimate me. I’m just a regular folk, how could I get officer Liu to regard me favorably?”

“Then do you mean to say that you think you aren’t worthy of anything?” Jiang Pengji quickly replied.

Qiguan Rang choked on her words and wanted to reach for his fan before he realized he did not bring it.

“Even if those words I said are supposed to be humble, I would not really think of myself as worthless.”

“Then what are you worried about? You’re worthy, so why can’t my father regard you favorably?”

Qiguan Rang was speechless.