Chapter 58: Sleeping Side by Side (Please add to favorites and keep reading)

"The prefectural city is already under curfew. If you and I go out and run into the patrol officers, it won't end well."

"Why don't we stay the night at Xuanhe Tower instead?"

After the banquet, Kou Liang glanced at the sky, estimating it was already the second watch, and thus offered his suggestion.

The four of them had sworn brotherhood; while it wasn't exactly a secret, it wouldn't necessarily be a good thing if too many people found out.

"Third Brother mentioned earlier that he wanted to consult me about the provincial martial examinations after the banquet. Tonight, I'll share a room with Third Brother," Fu Zhizhou said, his eyes brightening slightly as he chimed in.

Although Xuanhe Tower had multi-person rooms, those were merely low-end dormitories or large communal beds. For martial officers like them, staying there would inevitably damage their status.

In the premium rooms, there were only double rooms available.

"Sharing a room with Wei Tu?" Hearing Fu Zhizhou's words, Wei Fei's brow twitched slightly, feeling a hint of displeasure in his heart.

—He worried that as Wei Tu grew closer to Fu Zhizhou, he might distance himself from the lowest-ranking member among the four brothers.

"Then I'll share a room with Second Brother."

Kou Liang did not catch Wei Fei's underlying thoughts. He nodded and arranged the rooms according to Fu Zhizhou's distribution.

Kou Liang was the eldest sworn brother.

This arrangement was considered appropriate.

The four of them had no objections.

***

In the evening.

Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou shared a room, sleeping side by side.

During their stay.

The two of them discussed the provincial martial examinations and the method of entering the state of "sensing Qi" from the outside in.

Regarding the former, Fu Zhizhou helped Wei Tu formulate an examination strategy.

Regarding the latter, Wei Tu helped Fu Zhizhou by imparting his martial arts experience.

Both gained something from the exchange.

"Fourth Brother's fist and leg stance training has long since reached mastery; all that is lacking now is grasping that elusive sense of Qi..."

"When I first developed a sense of Qi, I first performed several sets of boxing, and once my mind was emptied..."

Wei Tu taught him patiently.

The fact that Fu Zhizhou could secure ninth place in the previous provincial martial examinations spoke volumes of his martial prowess; he had long since honed his fist and leg techniques to perfection.

Now, compared to Wei Tu, the only thing Fu Zhizhou lacked was the realization of that mysterious sense of Qi and the generation of internal strength within his body.

"Thank you for the guidance, Third Brother." Fu Zhizhou picked up a brush and wrote down every word Wei Tu had just said onto paper.

Seeing this, Wei Tu felt a silent sense of admiration. It was no wonder Fu Zhizhou could pass the martial examinations at the age of eighteen; beyond his extraordinary martial talent, it was inseparable from his diligence and meticulousness.

"Please, Fourth Brother, explain the matters regarding the provincial martial examinations once more. I wish to record them as well," Wei Tu said sincerely, following Fu Zhizhou's example.

As the words fell.

Fu Zhizhou couldn't help but smile faintly and handed the paper and brush to Wei Tu.

At this moment, his evaluation of Wei Tu rose another notch in his heart.

He had seen very few people who could set aside their pride to learn from those below them.

Of those who adopted his habit of learning from others, he had only ever seen Wei Tu in all these years.

***

The next day.

The four of them bid their farewells.

As usual, Wei Tu made a trip to the Shan residence in the prefectural city to visit Shan Yangu and Lady Shan Min. After taking the letters they had entrusted to him for Candidate Shan, he set off with Wei Fei on horseback back to Qingshan County.

Upon returning to Qingshan County.

Ten days later.

The rewards for the martial officers involved in the suppression of the Wuyun Tower branch finally trickled down from the Xiang Army Yamen.

Because Wei Tu had achieved two great merits, his official rank was raised by two levels and his position by one. He was promoted from "Commander" to "Registrar" within the Xiang Army Yamen.

The position of Registrar was a civil post within the Yamen, primarily responsible for handling case files and secretarial work.

Although his official rank remained a miscellaneous grade, his status within the Xiang Army Yamen was much higher than that of a "Commander."

As for Wei Fei, due to his merits, he filled the vacancy left by Wei Tu's former position as "Commander."

Seeing this arrangement from the Yamen, Wei Tu and Wei Fei could not help but shake their heads.

Two years had passed, and only after achieving these merits could the two of them finally offset Prefect He's initial suppression and "return to their original status."

Had it not been for Prefect He, they would have been holding their current ranks at the time of their initial appointment.

"If it weren't for the suppression of the chaos at Siyang Town and the merits we earned, I fear the two of us would have wasted our lives in our original positions."

On the afternoon they received their appointment letters, Wei Tu and Wei Fei went to Cuiyun Tower. They ordered a table of fine food and sat drinking and chatting.

As they spoke, both were filled with profound emotion.

If not for Fu Zhizhou's "reminder" two years ago, how could the two of them have prepared fine armor and secretly practiced their martial arts in advance, thereby earning the merits during the Siyang Town chaos to secure their promotions?

It could be said.

If not for Fu Zhizhou acting as a "variable," Prefect He's suppression might have kept them stagnant in their original posts for the rest of their lives.

This went to show just how "heavy" Prefect He's retaliation against the four of them had been.

Of course.

This premise ignored Wei Tu's martial progress over the subsequent two years.

Looking strictly at normal development.

"Many of the soldiers under my command were quite tempted after hearing about your promotion, Third Brother. They want to propose marriage to Sister Caixia..."

Wei Fei teased.

Two years ago, Wei Tu had made arrangements for Caixia's marriage within the Xiang Army Yamen, wanting to find a decent man to marry her off.

However, the soldiers of the Xiang Army were extremely pragmatic. Knowing that Wei Tu and Wei Fei might have offended a superior and suffered demotions, not a single one agreed when Wei Tu tried to broker the marriage, fearing they would be implicated.

Of course, there were soldiers who wanted to marry Caixia, but those who did were either too old or too poor to be suitable.

Thus, Caixia's marriage had been delayed for two years.

"Is there anyone suitable?" Hearing Wei Fei bring this up, Wei Tu quickly followed up with a question.

Caixia had done him a kindness.

He and Caixia had entered the Li residence in the same year and shared a good relationship.

Naturally, he hoped she would marry into a good family.

"There are two suitable candidates." Seeing Wei Tu's concern, Wei Fei pondered for a moment before choosing his words carefully. "One is named Quan Shun; he has a clean background and runs a tea business. You patronized his tea shop last time."

"The other is named Yue Jing. He runs errands for the Xiang Army Yamen and is a clever fellow."

"You have dealt with this man before, Third Brother."

Wei Tu trusted Wei Fei's judgment. He nodded and said, "I will discuss these two with Caixia and let her see which one she prefers."

—Wei Fei was a former drill instructor; he understood the character of the soldiers under him well enough that there wouldn't be a significant error in judgment.

Five days later.

Caixia met with "Quan Shun" and "Yue Jing" respectively. She chose "Yue Jing," who did not have a particularly wealthy background but had a promising future.

Soon, the two were only one step away from finalizing the marriage; the matchmaker had made the formal proposal.

Seeing this, Wei Tu thought for a moment. Within the Xiang Army Yamen, he called Yue Jing into his private room and said, "My sister has a good character. She cherished her virtue in the Li residence and never served the masters."

"But later, she was defiled by the masters..."

Wei Tu briefly explained Caixia's past.

However, he did not specify which master in the Li residence had defiled her, leaving the Li family some face.

"What Registrar Wei says... we common folk don't place such heavy importance on chastity."

"When a maid is released from a wealthy household and is quite pretty, anyone can guess with their big toe that she must have had relations with the masters."

"But these maids, once released, are highly sought after..."

Seeing Wei Tu's honesty regarding Caixia's past, Yue Jing hesitated for a moment before speaking his mind without reservation.

Regarding Caixia's situation, people could look to Pan Jinlian, who married Wu Dalang. Pan Jinlian was a maid from a wealthy house who had lost her virtue, yet Wu Dalang did not care about her past at all. Everyone knew that when a maid from a great house lost her virtue, people didn't dwell on it too much. Therefore, Wei Tu wasn't looking for a simpleton to marry Caixia.