Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Wu Wang Manor.

Lord Wu was carefully reading a letter, with Luo Ningxin standing beside him, bearing dark circles under her eyes and appearing somewhat listless.

After a long while, Lord Wu finished reading the letter and chuckled, casually placing it on the table.

"Ningxin, how are things progressing between you and Fang Zheng Yi?"

Luo Ningxin was taken aback for a moment, a look of hesitation on her face.

Fang Zheng Yi had indeed visited her a few times recently, as she couldn't always refuse guests.

However, every time she refused to see him, Fang Zheng Yi would write her letters, which she couldn't ignore.

Each time she finished reading them, she felt disgusted and couldn't sleep well for days.

Now, as soon as she closed her eyes, she could imagine Fang Zheng Yi pinching her chin, putting on a greasy expression, and saying those disgusting things.

"There's no cow in milk, right? There's no water in crystal..."

Luo Ningxin forced a smile, barely managing to say, "Reporting to the Lord, my relationship with Lord Fang is... passable..."

Lord Wu didn't pay attention to her strange expression, saying blandly, "That's good... This man is of great use to me, so you must pay close attention to him."

"Yes."

As the two were talking, the steward barged in, and upon seeing Luo Ningxin, he whispered something to Lord Wu.

Lord Wu nodded repeatedly, "Good, I understand. There's another task for the fleet this time."

"Go overseas and find a man named Galileo for me. This man is knowledgeable in astronomy and geography, and you must not get the wrong person!"

The steward was stunned, his expression appearing somewhat unnatural, as he hesitantly asked, "Lord, the Galileo you're talking about is... the one from the 'Three Trials' being performed in the city recently...?"

"Correct."

The steward's expression became even more bewildered: "But... isn't that just a play...?"

"Well... the things said in plays are not necessarily entirely groundless. Make the arrangements."

The steward didn't say much, leaving with a head full of questions.

Upon hearing this, Luo Ningxin also perked up. She had heard others mention this play at Cangxiang Pavilion... something about a foreign barbarian named Galileo seeing big holes in the moon, and a 'Maria iron ball' killing someone. She didn't expect the Lord to believe such things.

After hesitating for a moment, she still asked, "Lord, are the people and events in the play real?"

Lord Wu put his hands behind his back, looking towards the courtyard, where there were two pits in the ground.

He slowly said, "That's right, most of the content in the plays is true, and it's absolutely not groundless... I personally went to see a performance, and when I returned, I found two iron balls and dropped them from a height at the same time."

"Unexpectedly, one large and one small landed at the same time."

"How is that possible!" Luo Ningxin blurted out.

"Heh, the world is foolish. If one only imagines it, of course, they would think it impossible, but one would know as soon as they try. Yet, no one is willing to do this one simple test."

"Also, the so-called big holes on the moon are likely real. Perhaps those dark areas on the moon are the pits? I have already ordered people to find the best crystal to start rebuilding a telescope, and perhaps we can see the moon with one glance... then we will know!"

Luo Ningxin awkwardly smiled, "Shouldn't there be a celestial palace on the moon...?"

Lord Wu smiled disdainfully, "Foolish, talk of ghosts and gods is not worth mentioning. Rumors of ghosts and monsters have always been widespread. I have also sent people to inquire, and there are more ghosts in the outer city than in the inner city, but there are fewer people in the outer city than in the inner city."

"This makes no sense. If there is only one explanation, it must be that most of the ignorant fools live in the outer city and are more willing to believe these ghost stories, so they spread widely..."

Then, Lord Wu waved his hand, "Enough! You wouldn't understand even if I told you."

Afterward, he muttered to himself, "It seems I can only discuss metaphysics with Fang Zheng Yi. But how does he know about the foreign barbarians... could there really be someone born with knowledge?"

Seeing that Lord Wu was not speaking, Luo Ningxin softly said, "Lord, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

"Wait a moment. Recently, Fang Zheng Yi and Yan Guoan have been competing. If Fang Zheng Yi asks for your help, be sure to fully support him, understand?"

"Understood."

Luo Ningxin blinked, appearing somewhat puzzled.

Although she said she understood, she didn't really understand. She completely didn't understand why the Lord admired Fang Zheng Yi so much.

She couldn't even understand the Lord.

It felt like a mental patient meeting another mental patient...

"Lord, do you think Fang Zheng Yi will lose?"

Lord Wu scoffed, "Lose? Yan Guoan isn't even fit to carry Fang Zheng Yi's shoes. What can he use to fight him?"

"Empty talk harms the country. What decent things can a bunch of armchair strategists accomplish... It's truly incomprehensible that they would propose such a foolish bet after already visiting Taoyuan County."

Luo Ningxin hesitated, "Then, since the Lord is already certain that Fang Zheng Yi will win, why would you ask me...."

"What Fang Zheng Yi cares about isn't Yan Guoan, he cares about Banshan Ward!"

"With his temperament, he will use everything that can be used, and he will use you sooner or later. When that time comes, just cooperate as much as possible, and don't ask too many questions!"

"This man... must be used by me!"

....................

Dengjin Ward Office.

Yan Guoan looked grimly at a group of well-dressed scholars below.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, he said loudly, "Everyone, you should have all heard about the new play in Banshan Ward recently."

"This play corrupts customs and slanders scholars for no reason. Now, many of our colleagues in the ward have already turned to Banshan Ward. Everyone, please speak up and tell me what countermeasures we should take."

Someone below raised his hand and said, "Why don't we also arrange for a theater troupe to perform a play...."

"Forget it! What should we perform? Who will perform? Now is the time for an unprepared battle against a prepared one. We need to come up with a surprising trick to win!"

"Then, what brilliant ideas do you have?"

"None..."

Su Rongxuan smiled slightly in the crowd, walking up while waving his folding fan.

"Reporting, Lord, it's not difficult to solve this matter. There are many scholars in the capital who are dissatisfied with this matter. If we unite with other scholars to make a commotion and attract the attention of the government, it will be possible."

"When Lord Yan attends court, he can report this matter, and it shouldn't be difficult to ban just one play."

Yan Guoan looked at him expressionlessly: "Oh? Then who will unite those dissatisfied scholars?"

Su Rongxuan smiled smugly, cupping his fist and saying, "I have quite a network of contacts and am willing to serve the Lord."

Yan Guoan smiled: "Good, then this matter..."

"I disagree!!" Shen Yi jumped out with an indignant expression.

"What's wrong with this play? If our scholars are stung by it, we should reflect on ourselves. If we have faults, we should correct them; if we don't, we should be encouraged! There is no reason to ban this play, this is a fabricated charge!"

"When you encounter something you think is wrong, you want to cover it up and bury it! If we continue to do things this way, will future generations dare to speak the truth!"

"Brother Su, I didn't expect you to be..."

"Throw him out."

Before Shen Yi could finish speaking, he was dragged away. Several people with good relationships with him turned around and followed him out with gloomy faces.

Yan Guoan's expression appeared somewhat unsightly, but seeing that those who should leave had left, he stared at Su Rongxuan and said, "What's your name...?"

"I am Su Rongxuan!"

"Good! Go ahead and handle it...."