#104 - New house, widow, governor

The next morning, after breakfast and sending off the four letters, Wei Changtian finally saw what his new home looked like.

A three-courtyard residence, including the courtyards, should be over a thousand square meters. There were four large rooms, east and west wing rooms, the main room, and the back room, as well as several small rooms for servants.

The location of the new home was excellent, just a few hundred steps diagonally across from the Commander-in-chief's mansion. Not only could he quickly run for reinforcements in case of trouble, but no petty thieves would dare to patronize it on ordinary days.

Before the group arrived in Shu Prefecture, Liang Zhen had already sent people to thoroughly clean it inside and out, and had also purchased all the furniture, which was of high quality and must have cost a lot of money.

"Changtian, take a look at this furniture, is it alright? If you don't like it, I'll send someone to buy new ones."

Yuan'er, Zhang San, and others were directing Liang's family servants to unload the belongings brought from the capital from the carriages, while Liang Zhen accompanied Wei Changtian on a leisurely stroll through the residence.

The antique courtyard was full of greenery, with red flowers and green grass filling the view.

"These are fine."

Wei Changtian had no requirements for furniture. Anyway, even if he wanted a sofa, he couldn't get one.

"Uncle Liang, I wonder how much money was spent on these items in total? I'll give you the silver..."

"Nephew, what's all this talk about money? Why would we haggle over such things between our two families?"

"This... one thing is one thing, I can't take advantage of you for nothing."

"If anyone's taking advantage, it's me taking advantage of you."

Liang Zhen smiled and said, "Just the demon spirit pill you gave Qin'er is enough to buy several such residences in Shu Prefecture."

"Ahem, Qin'er and I grew up together since childhood, a demon spirit pill is nothing."

Wei Changtian touched his nose and didn't mention paying for the furniture anymore. Instead, he casually asked, "Uncle Liang, I wonder who lives in the house next door?"

This residence was located at the end of the alley, with only one neighbor.

The people who could live here were definitely not ordinary commoners, but they probably weren't the kind of famous and wealthy families either.

Sure enough, Liang Zhen immediately introduced, "I've already sent someone to investigate. It's a widow with her son."

"Her husband was originally a quite famous镖师 (镖师 -镖局 escort) in Shu Prefecture City, but he disappeared a few years ago while escorting goods. It is said that he encountered bandits."

"Fortunately, he had saved a lot of money from escorting goods before, and left behind the residence next door, which is enough for the mother and son to live on."

"A widow..."

Wei Changtian glanced at the courtyard wall adjacent to the next door, thinking that such a neighbor was both good and bad.

After all, the ancients said, 'There is much gossip in front of a widow's door.'

"Uncle Liang, let's go take a look over there."

"Alright..."

...

Everyone had lunch at Wei Changtian's house, which was considered the first meal cooked there.

The chef and several servants were temporarily borrowed from the Liang family. They would be used for a period of time, and then returned after Wei Changtian found suitable candidates himself.

After lunch, Yang Liushi said that she wanted to go to the wood shop to look at some women's dressing tables and other items.

Because Liang Zhen didn't know that Wei Changtian would bring a woman, Liang Zhen didn't prepare these things. In the end, he asked Liang Qin to accompany her, so as to prevent Yang Liushi from encountering any accidents due to being unfamiliar with the place.

Although Liang Qin was a little unwilling, she still pouted and agreed. Soon, she took Yang Liushi and A Chun and left in a carriage.

Not long after they left, Liang Zhen led Wei Changtian to the Prefecture Office, preparing to meet the Prefect of Shu Prefecture first.

Unlike other州刺史 (zhōu cìshǐ - provincial inspectors) who controlled both military and political power, the military and political powers of Shu Prefecture were separate.

The Prefect had the final say in political affairs, and the Commander-in-chief had the final say in military affairs.

The two were of equal rank. In the absence of war, it was difficult to distinguish who was in charge, and they basically managed their own affairs without interfering with each other.

He had stepped from a poor scholar to his current position, which could be said to be very inspiring.

"Junior Wei Changtian, greetings, Master Shao."

Looking at the old man with a kind face and a strong scholarly atmosphere, Wei Changtian politely cupped his hands and greeted him.

Shao Ying'an quickly stood up and returned the greeting, "I have long heard of Young Master Wei's literary reputation. Seeing you today, you are indeed a talented person!"

"'Clouds think of clothes, flowers think of faces,' 'Standing with a knife across twelve prefectures,' this old man admires the two poems of the Young Master very much!"

It had to be said that Shao Ying'an's words were indeed impeccable.

He didn't mention the matter of killing the Prime Minister, but only praised Wei Changtian for writing good poems.

No wonder he could become a Prefect.

"Thank you for your praise, Master Shao. I am terrified."

Wei Changtian smiled and sat down with Shao Ying'an. Liang Zhen said in a timely manner, "Master Shao, if Changtian encounters any problems in Shu Prefecture in the future, please do not hesitate to give him guidance."

"That is natural."

Shao Ying'an smiled and said, "Master Liang, please rest assured."

Everyone was an old fox, and they all knew how to say polite words.

As for whether he would actually help if Wei Changtian came to him one day, it was hard to say.

The room was filled with the fragrance of tea, and the sun was shining brightly outside.

The three of them chatted for a while while drinking tea, until Liang Zhen asked:

"By the way, Master Shao, did anything happen during the two months I was returning to the capital?"

"Everything is as usual."

Shao Ying'an nodded, but then seemed to suddenly remember something and frowned, "There is only one thing that is a little strange."

"What is it?" Liang Zhen asked.

"I just received the news."

Shao Ying'an said in confusion, "A merchant team returned from An Prefecture yesterday, but when they reached the border between the two prefectures, they found that half of the boundary stone of our Shu Prefecture was missing."

"Cough!"

Liang Zhen coughed out a mouthful of tea and interrupted, "This... there is nothing strange about it, right?"

"Ordinary boundary stones are nothing strange, but that one happens to be the Immortal Locking Stone inscribed by the late Emperor."

Shao Ying'an asked in confusion, "Master Liang, didn't you say that no one can split the Immortal Locking Stone three inches deep? How can half of it be missing now?"

"This..."

Liang Zhen and Wei Changtian looked at each other, and the scene of the two of them taking turns to hack the three-zhang-high stone in half with a knife flashed in their minds.

"Master Shao, perhaps this matter is not man-made."

Wei Changtian analyzed in a serious manner, "Although the Immortal Locking Stone can shield the true energy of heaven and earth, it cannot block brute force, and the power of demons is far greater than that of humans, so... maybe it was done by a demon?"

"A demon..."

Shao Ying'an nodded in agreement: "Young Master Wei's words make sense. I will order someone to notify the Willow Leaf Division and ask them to send someone to investigate."

"Yes."

Wei Changtian suppressed his smile and volunteered, "Master Shao, it just so happens that I am going to the Shu Prefecture Branch of the Xuanjing Division later, so I might as well inform them of this matter by the way."

"That would be even better. Thank you, Young Master Wei."

"You are welcome."