The delight also seemed to contain a little pride…

When Duke Fang asked out of curiosity, Childe Wushuang snapped closed his fan, “Anyone would be pleased if he can push into trap the First Military Advisor of Liaomeng.”

The thought of Qi Wuyou being man-hunted by the Liaomeng King made Xiao Qingyu even happier—as if this summer wasn"t that hot either…

“Duke Fang. It seems soon, we"ll have one new member for our think tank.”

Duke Fang was surprised, “Do you mean Liaomeng"s first advisor Qi Wuyou?”

Xiao Qingyu, “Exactly.” He suddenly stared at Fang Junqian in the eye, “Duke, please answer this question seriously. Would you completely tolerate his past and trust him entirely if advisor Qi joins Bafang?”

Fang Junqian pondered, “Qi Wuyou is far-sighted and resourceful. Countless Daqing soldiers have died because of him. His hands are stained with the blood of our Daqing people.”

For a moment, thoughts welled up in his mind, messy and intertwined beyond description. Fang Junqian"s expression was complicated.

But soon, he looked firm and resolute!

“But since Qingyu strongly recommend him, then I dare to hire him!”

Because I would trust the person you trusted.

Xiao Qingyu was touched, his tone still calm, “Qi Wuyou is the best advisor. With his sincere a.s.sistant, Duke can rest leisurely in the future. Even if the generals don"t understand for a moment, their families, and the whole of Daqing will thank you later.”

“Not for Bafang or Daqing,” Behind Xiao Qingyu, Duke Fang"s voice was as low as murmuring to himself, “Everything I do is only for you! Qingyu, when you recommend someone, I simply can"t turn you down…”

Why? Because he believed everything Qingyu did was for him; he believed the one in his heart wouldn"t harm him. Therefore, he gave an answer that fast.

Not for the country! Just…for him.

Xiao Qingyu was silent. He really couldn"t face Fang Junqian"s hurtful soft eyes. He knew the reason why Fang Junqian almost readily agreed was due to his deep affection for him.

At Sishui Pa.s.s, in Daqing.

Qi Wuyou was sitting under a pergola and enjoying tea. He didn"t at all display the discomfiture of being hunted thousands of miles away. He remained the same leisurely at ease.

He sighed to himself: Half a year ago when he reached here, he was still Liaomeng"s advisor. Now he became the first object of the wanted. Life really is full of ups and downs…

As he took pity on himself, a shy crisp child voice came in his ear, “Excuse me…are you Qi Wuyou?”

“Yes. Little girl. Do you know me?” He smiled mildly, soft as spring breeze, instantly giving out a charm that was amiable and eager.

The little girl blushed and hurriedly handed him an envelope, “Your friend asked me to give you this letter!”

“Oh? Thank you.” He took over the letter, doubtful. He lived here in seclusion and was barely known to anyone. How did the letter-writer know it?

What an omnipotent person!!

In the belief that “Be it a blessing or curse, neither of which is avoidable”, Qi Wuyou opened the envelope.

“Safe upon Reading”— The first three words made him laugh from anger. He was really “safe” being hunted for thousands of miles!

Then—“I heard brother was suspected by your king and now on the run, not able to settle down. I care about you so much. Do you still remember our agreement which was made six months ago?”

Just a few lines of words. No name.

Finis.h.i.+ng reading it, Qi Wuyou had a mixture of feelings.

Wasn"t it that man that had put him in such a miserable situation? This despicable rat set him up against the king!

Qi Wuyou was indignant!

Yet, as he was indignant, he found he could do nothing with it. Besides, much as he didn"t want to admit, he couldn"t fool himself about the fact that he admired and was touched by him…

That man appreciated him, trusted him, and dared to hire him against all risks of the world"s objection. Clever as Qi Wuyou, he certainly understood how much suspicion and pressure Xiao Qingyu would endure for him!

But— “He is really cunning…”

He was exclaiming when— “A good man shouldn"t curse behind the back. I heard you.” The light sound rang suddenly and took Qi Wuyou aback.

He turned around and saw Xiao Qingyu was being pushed into the pergola by Zhang Jinya.

The corners of his clothes fluttering a little, hair tied by a jade ring, the cinnabar sadly pretty, brows neat as in a painting, he looked like a fairy beyond this secular world.

Sitting in the wheelchair, he bowed gracefully, “Long time no see, Advisor Qi.”

Qi Wuyou was self-possessed too, “Long time no see, Childe.”

Childe Wushuang carried a smile in his brows and eyes, “I"ve been missing you so much since we last met at Sishui Pa.s.s. Now, I guess, I win the bet that we made six months ago.”

Qi Wuyou got angry as he mentioned it, sneering, “I thought you were an upright man. I didn"t expect you to utilize the king"s concubines to destroy me.”

Xiao Qingyu joked, “Isn"t it a proof that you"re too charming? Besides, the three concubines had been admiring you for a long time. I just let the king "accidentally" discover the love letters the beauties wrote for you.”

He seemed to have done a mere trifle and rid himself of it with only a few words.

Qi Wuyou"s anger turned into laughing, “But in this way, the king suspected I had an affair with his concubines. In a rage, he"s determined to kill me.”

Xiao Qingyu was insightful into human nature and far-sighted as well, “Advisor Qi, no man can bear the shame of being cuckolded. Besides, he didn"t seem to even give you a chance to explain.”

Right hit the nail!

Qi Wuyou"s face turned bleak. Yes. He didn"t blame on Xiao Qingyu. They had been in opposite stances. He viewed it as justifiable even if he had used a more despicable method against him.

If the king really trusted him, then the scheme would be nothing more than a joke.

Xiao Qingyu"s scheme betted exactly on the king"s trust towards him!

The result was he didn"t even get a chance to explain! But for his friend"s secret notice, he would have died in Liao, the capital city.

He lost the game, completely.

Qi Wuyou had to admit that Xiao Qingyu had a better insight into people than him…

Xiao Qingyu"s smile was lonely, “Brother Qi, I know you have concerns. You don"t want to live the life full of schemes and fears anymore.”

The words were out of earnest sympathy, “I feel sorry for you being an advisor…”

Qi Wuyou felt his face was wet and believed it was the moist air, but when he touched his face, he found himself already tearful.

His bitterness over the years was spelled out by his words! Military advisor, a member of think tank appeared to be glorious but was in fact lonely. If he achieved high, then the king felt jealous; if he was useless, the king dismissed him. The king feared usurping, while his colleagues distrusted him.

He had lived in schemes and conspiracies, fearing every second that his one single slip would result in death! The deeper an advisor being involved, the sooner he died.

Xiao Qingyu sat upright, like a new moon by riverside, clear and delicate to the extreme. Between his brows was autumn chill which made him somehow feeble.

“I know I"m kind of forcing you, but besides you, I don"t know who else is capable to be Bafang"s military advisor…”

He solemnly bowed, “I have difficulty in walking, but I"ve traveled hundreds of miles to invite you to be our military advisor. I may not be able to guarantee you a life-long wealth and glory, but I can promise you—you"ll end well, even if it may cost my life.”

As he heard this, his eyes, usually full of calculations and schemes, able to see through the fugitive, should begin to blur.

“Brother Qi, I sincerely invite you to be Bafang"s military advisor.”

Xiao Qingyu, his white clothes flapping in breeze, resembled a quietly blossoming lotus flower, light and faint, as if secular affairs were nothing but vanis.h.i.+ng clouds in his eyes.

Qi Wuyou peered at him, feeling that he should look up to him…

Childe, how could you know me so well? How could I say no to a man like you?!

One of the founders of Dayu, ranked top among all founding fathers of Cangling Cabinet, Prime Minister Wuyou was most grateful not towards Fang Junqian, Emperor Huanyu whom he praised as a “wise emperor”, but towards Xiao Qingyu, Childe Wushuang who was known later to the world as “peerless Qingyu”.

He was Fang Junqian"s right-hand man, as well as Xiao Qingyu"s bosom friend. It was him who revealed the long-sealed history to the public. It was also him that recorded in detail the unparalleled romance that touched the whole world and composed it into the enduring book QingQian Memoirs.