If I were born again, I would marry a strong but short-lived husband.

The winters in the Southern Dynasties were particularly long.

It's already past the New Year, but it's still snowing.

If we were in Kyoto, the spring scenery would be so charming everywhere, so how could it be so cold that it makes people shiver?

Lu Heng walked in the cold wind. He was wearing a thick cotton coat made of coarse cloth. This low-quality clothing was not as warm as a leather coat.

As dusk fell, the aroma of wine wafted from somewhere on the street.

In a trance, Lu Heng remembered that he had once been in a carriage on a snowy evening. When he passed through the street, he smelled the aroma of wine.

For some unknown reason, he asked Liu Mo to stop the car, walked into an inconspicuous wine stand on the corner of the street, and drank a pot of wine.

Later it gradually became his habit.

I am used to watching Song Xiuzhi's busy figure, watching her small figure cooking wine in the cold wind for a living, with her pretty and bright smile.

He once felt sorry for her difficult life, but she was still able to maintain such an optimistic attitude.

She is different from a noble lady like Shen Suian who grew up in luxury.

Now that he is in the same miserable state, he realizes that his sympathy at that time was really...ridiculous.

There are too many people having difficulties in this world, not just Song Xiuzhi.

He regretted it day and night.

If he had not met Song Xiuzhi, he and Shen Suian would have had a different ending.

Lu Heng took a deep breath and glanced coldly at the bartender. He turned into a narrow alley and suddenly seemed to have entered another world.

Aunt Chen was boiling water at the door, while Aunt Liu was holding a stick and beating her naughty son.

Several families live in one house, and even a fart can be heard by the neighbors next door.

"Mr. Lu, you're back."

The smile on Lu Heng's face was polite and distant, and he kept nodding in response to their greetings.

Entering the last house, he rented a room in this house, which was completely in line with his status as a poor scholar.

Ever since he entered the Imperial College, Bai Shaojie told him not to contact the Bai family anymore.

They have finally seized an opportunity to move up, and they don't want to ruin it.

When I opened the door, a warm feeling hit me.

Lu Heng frowned. There was no heater in his room. How could...

"I'm back." Bai Shaojie's figure was hidden in the darkness.

There was still silver charcoal burning in the stove.

"I was afraid you would be cold, so I brought you some charcoal," said Bai Shaojie.

Lu Heng sat down on another chair and poured a cup of tea. "Aren't you afraid of being seen here?"

"No one will find out." Bai Shaojie said.

"He Zhiyuan is finally willing to meet us. He promised to give us a job at Jianghe Weaving Factory. We can't be associated with aristocratic families. We can only be imperial merchants in the Southern Dynasty."

"You are different. If you can be reused by the Second Prince, you will have a chance to make a comeback in the future."

Lu Heng said calmly, "I've been in the Imperial College for so long, and I've never even seen He Zhiyuan, let alone the Second Prince."

"No rush. Prince Chen has been too popular recently. You'd better not be discovered by him." Bai Shaojie said.

Although they all looked down on Lu Yuan, they had to admit that Lu Yuan's current status and position were beyond their reach.

Lu Heng clenched his hands suddenly.

He is in such a miserable state now that even if he meets Lu Yuan, he will avoid him.

In his previous life, he was able to become the all-powerful Prime Minister, and he could also become the Prime Minister in the Southern Dynasty.

By that time, he would definitely ask Shen Sui'an if he regretted the choice he made in this life.

"Lu Heng, you can only rely on Lord He to gain a foothold in the Southern Dynasty, and the same goes for us." Bai Shaojie said in a low voice.

He was worried that his cousin was still too arrogant and couldn't see clearly his current situation.

"I know." Lu Heng nodded lightly.

Bai Shaojie said, "He Zhiyuan has always wanted to obtain shipping. If I can develop shipping in the Southern Dynasty, I will have a chance to negotiate with He Zhiyuan."

"We can't go back to the Yong Dynasty. Although the emperor has passed away, Concubine Yao is still alive. As long as she is alive, she will blame you for Princess Guangning's death."

Lu Heng raised his head suddenly, "The emperor passed away?"

Bai Shaojie nodded.

"Heh." In his previous life, he had already been highly valued by the new emperor, who was helping him eliminate dissidents.

Soon after, he became the respected Prime Minister Lu.

Everything is different.

Just because Shen Sui'an made a different choice from his previous life, it changed so many things.

Bai Shaojie saw that it was getting dark outside and said, "I should go now."

"It's not that the Southern Dynasty was incapable of developing maritime transportation. It's just that for so many years, the imperial court has never supported water transport. If the inland rivers were dredged, the river channels were expanded, and river transportation was developed first, it would naturally be able to connect to the open sea," said Lu Heng.

"Do you know where the only seaport is?" Bai Shaojie asked.

Lu Heng looked up in confusion.

"In Suzhou, that is Lu Yuan's fiefdom."

"..." A gloomy look flashed across Lu Heng's eyes.

Bai Shaojie patted his shoulder and said, "When I have a new identity in the Southern Dynasty, I will go to the Yong Dynasty to take over the shipyard. By then, there will be large ships and caravans going out to sea. I hope you will have made a name for yourself by then."

Lu Heng lowered his head and said nothing, his whole body emitting a cold aura.

When Bai Shaojie saw that his cousin, who was once full of vigor and vitality, was now so sinister, he could only sigh in his heart and leave in the night.

Lu Heng stood up numbly and lit a candle. The dim light illuminated his handsome outline.

He took out the cold, hard steamed bun and took a big bite with the bitter tea.

"Ying Zhen, so you are at home." Hu Chengcai bent over and pushed the door open and came in.

"I cooked dumplings today and brought you a bowl."

"I knew you didn't eat well again, don't have a stomachache again tomorrow."

The steamed bread in Lu Heng's hand was taken away, and in front of him was a bowl of steaming dumplings.

"Brother Hu, why are you here?" Lu Heng asked in a low voice.

"I have found a job and came to tell you that I will have a salary in the future." Hu Chengcai grinned.

Hu Chengcai failed to pass the entrance exam to the Imperial College, so he found a place to stay in the royal capital and made a living by selling calligraphy and paintings.

"Congratulations, Brother Hu. The Imperial College is not the only way to become an official. You will definitely pass the imperial examination in autumn." Lu Heng said.

Lu Heng was still willing to make friends with Hu Chengcai, who showed him kindness.

Hu Chengcai smiled and said, "Then I will accept Zhen's good wishes."

"Even the Crown Prince of Kang and the dude from the Du family can follow the Prince of Chen to make contributions. Nothing is impossible."

The news that Prince Chen led a group of playboys to wipe out the Thirteen Villages has spread throughout the royal capital.

Lu Heng naturally heard about it as well.

"That's because the Ruan family is behind it. Prince Chen can't possibly have that ability." Lu Heng said coldly.

Hu Chengcai felt that Lu Heng's tone was not right when he mentioned Prince Chen.

Perhaps it was because Lu Heng was now valued by Lord He, so he had already leaned towards Lord He.

He has found a job in the Pacification Office, so I’ll tell Lu Heng about it later.

"You have a good rest, I'll go back first." Hu Chengcai said with a smile.

Lu Heng nodded, "Okay."