Chapter 148: The Turmoil of the Commercial Street (Part Four)

Among the progress of several individuals, Luo Gan’s was undoubtedly the slowest. He first went to a pleasure house to enlist support, only to be thrown out directly. The reason was simple: everyone knew Luo Gan had a very close relationship with Juntao, and Juntao was currently staying at a rival establishment. Why would a competitor help you for no reason? It was obviously absurd.

Subsequently, Luo Gan found the owner of the steamed bun shop. There was deep resentment among the people against Lord Long and Huang Changjun for their unbridled tyranny on the streets. Along with the adjacent tailoring shop and straw sandal shop, they became Luo Gan’s allies. Yet, it was still far from enough. Without the backing of influential merchants, the matter could never grow into a significant force; they were merely a mob, incapable of posing any real threat to Huang Changjun.

As things stood, Luo Gan could only pin his hopes on Xiao Yu to see if he could offer any advice.

Stripped down to bare white plaster walls and ebony doors, the Duke of Song’s mansion appeared desolate, as if deliberately performing a ritual of carrying a birch rod to plead for mercy. Even the number of servants coming and going within the estate had drastically dwindled. To call him a prominent high-ranking official of the current dynasty was something even an old woman might not believe.

Luo Gan knocked on the door. The gatekeeper recognized Luo Gan at a glance, went inside to announce his arrival, and shortly after, admitted him.

Xiao Yu sat high in the main hall, his face weathered by vicissitudes.

"Why is the Duke of Song reduced to this?" Luo Gan asked with genuine concern, though the moment the words left his mouth, he deeply regretted them. After all, everyone knew the real reason all too well—the Duke of Song’s standing in the imperial court was growing increasingly precarious by the day.

Xiao Yu ordered all the servants to leave, keeping only Luo Gan in the room so they could discuss sensitive matters that could not be uttered aloud.

"Let’s skip the pleasantries. The game has progressed to this point, yet we haven't found a breakthrough, and we’ve suffered no end of misfortunes."

Luo Gan replied, "Great things take time. Although the situation is dire, it is not entirely a bad thing."

Xiao Yu asked, "How can this turn into a blessing in disguise?"

Luo Gan explained, "For now, the game is still unfolding along a fixed timeline. Since major historical figures have not deviated in their predetermined events, it means it will be very difficult for us to accomplish anything monumental within the imperial court."

Xiao Yu retorted, "Why is that? A starved camel is still bigger than a horse."

Luo Gan urged, "Wake up. Think about our opponents in the imperial court, figures like Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui. They are the Emperor's greatest favorites, and they will continue to hold immense power in the future. How could we possibly rival them?"

Xiao Yu smiled coldly, "Then we can simply eliminate them and be done with it! Let’s see how arrogant they can remain then!"

Luo Gan found it increasingly difficult to make himself understood. On the surface, Xiao Yu acted with utmost respect and unwavering loyalty to the Emperor, but his mind was consumed entirely by court factionalism and a desperate drive to fight his rivals to the death.

"If the fates of key historical figures change, the historical events will inevitably shift along with them. That is what we call tampering with history!"

Xiao Yu scoffed, "So what if we tamper with history? This is merely a game. Nothing here is genuinely real; it's all fake. Securing our bounty is the only thing that matters."

Luo Gan was stunned. The refined and cultured minister who was well-versed in political maneuvering had fallen into such a pathetic and desperate state, which was rather lamentable.

"If we tamper with history, we are likely to fail our clearance checkpoints. Most importantly, a storyline that tampers with history violates our modern core values. Such fabricated stories simply cannot stand."

The two men talked for a long time inside the room, yet achieved no resolution.

Upon stepping outside, Luo Gan was engulfed in a deep sense of bewilderment. Could his alliance with Xiao Yu and the others be considered a forced move out of desperation? At present, Luo Gan strongly suspected that individuals connected to Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui had a very high probability of being fellow competitors. Xiao Yu's identity as an NPC had likely been exposed nine times out of ten; otherwise, he wouldn't have been besieged to this extent. For an ordinary commoner to assist a high-ranking minister was highly unusual. Luo Gan had taken a calculated risk to rescue the Duke of Song, but it had also exposed his own identity. Could the sudden provocation by Lord Long and Huang Changjun also be intricately linked to the competition?

Another heavy stone hung in Luo Gan’s heart, refusing to settle for a long time.

Inside the Hongwen Academy, the work of restoring ancient texts was still in full swing. Liu Chengyu’s erudition and formidable memory were on full display; not only did he swiftly complete the restoration of the Anping County Chronicles, but he also assisted in restoring records from other regions, significantly easing the burden on his colleagues.

Seeing Liu Chengyu work with such dedication, Chu Suiliang seized a quiet moment to pull him aside for a private chat.

"Master Liu has truly been of immense help. 'A scholar with a cartload of books' perfectly describes you!"

"I am unworthy of such high praise! I have merely contributed a meager effort, hardly worth mentioning."

The customary polite banter between scholars was never absent. Chu Suiliang looked at Liu Chengyu, and the scene he had witnessed at the House of All Things flashed in his mind.

"I heard that Master Liu has a son who is participating in the imperial selection of officials this time?"

"Indeed! My worthless son failed to achieve scholarly honor through examinations for many years, and now he places his hopes on such a fine opportunity as the imperial selection. It is truly shameful!"

Liu Chengyu did not say this without reason. Whether among nobles or scholars, a certain level of arrogance was inevitable. Appropriately showing humility was beneficial for befriending those of higher status and rank, making the other person perceive one as modest and easily sparking favorable impressions.

"I don't think he is entirely without merit. I have met Young Master Liu; he is handsome, talented, and possessed a refined, elegant demeanor when he brewed tea at the House of All Things that day."

Liu Chengyu sighed, "If only he applied the effort he wastes on tinkering with such trivialities to his studies, he would have attained an official post long ago!"

"To hold office, one must first learn virtue, and tea brewing is of great help in cultivating the mind. Since Master Liu has rendered such great service by repairing the classics in the Hongwen Academy, what arrangements do you have for Young Master Liu's official career in the future?"

Having spent many years navigating officialdom, Liu Chengyu was naturally sharp. Chu Suiliang’s words clearly indicated an intention to help him.

Back at the House of All Things, Liu Buwen and Luo Gan were brewing tea while discussing their next steps.

"Brother Luo, our House of All Things has been running for some time now. Looking ahead, our biggest problem is certainly overcoming the harassment of local ruffians and high-ranking officials. But there is one thing I still don't quite understand... Why must we constantly lock horns with high-ranking officials? Sometimes it's like throwing an egg against a rock. Wouldn't it be better to just quietly run our business?"

Luo Gan found himself in a difficult position. Those close to him naturally could not understand his aggressive moves. For the past few days, he had been debating whether he should reveal to Liu Buwen, Xiaozhi, and the others the true purpose behind his journey into the Great Tang world. After all, his identity was already semi-public; other competitors could easily piece together the clues to figure out who he was.

"What I am doing is not to alter some earth-shattering event, but rather, as I said before, to create a world where everyone is equal, starting right here with us."

Liu Buwen replied, "I understand the concept of universal harmony, but that is something only an enlightened monarch standing above millions can accomplish. There is very little ordinary people like us can actually do."

Luo Gan insisted, "Ridding the world of evil, protecting the innocent, and upholding justice—surely we can achieve at least a little bit of that."

Liu Buwen countered, "Yet right now, it feels like we are walking on the edge of a cliff. If we hadn't managed to turn misfortune into fortune every single time, the consequences would have been utterly catastrophic."

Luo Gan was similarly filled with melancholy. Just at that moment, a long-awaited golden glow appeared within Luo Gan's field of vision, bringing a bright smile to his face.