A few nights later.

Dong dong dong—

"Brother Wang, Brother Wang!"

Xu Yun, who was about to sleep fully clothed, had just lain down when he was woken by the knocking on the door outside.

What also made his heart tighten was the voice of the person knocking:

It was neither Zhang San nor Yongzhu, but...

Mr. Xie, the Old Chief Steward!

"Coming, coming, just a moment!"

Guessing some matters, Xu Yun quickly dressed and walked to the door, opening it with a somewhat surprised expression:

"Old Chief Steward? Why are you here?"

Mr. Xie lowered his eyebrows, holding a lantern in one hand, and said:

"Brother Wang, the master has requested you in the study. It's best you come with me quickly."

Xu Yun took a deep breath, composed himself, and nodded:

"Then I'll trouble the Old Chief Steward to lead the way."

Mr. Xie nodded slightly and made a gesture inviting him.

The two proceeded under the night light and soon arrived outside Old Su's study.

Mr. Xie went to the half-closed door and said inside:

"Master, Brother Wang has been brought."

"Let him in."

Mr. Xie retreated a step, making way, and said to Xu Yun:

"Brother Wang, the master is waiting for you inside. I won't disturb you."

Xu Yun nodded in acknowledgment and walked to the door.

After hesitating for a few seconds, he finally pushed the door open and went inside.

This study was where Old Jia and others previously calculated the curvature function, but now only Old Su was inside, with kerosene lamps lit all around, making it fairly bright.

Seeing Xu Yun enter.

Old Su opened his eyes, which had been closed, and rubbed his temples wearily, gesturing for him to sit down closer.

Xu Yun obediently complied.

"Wang Lin."

After seating Xu Yun, Old Su gave him a deep look and asked:

"You've been at my residence for nearly half a year, haven't you?"

Xu Yun nodded:

"In ten days, it will be a full six months."

He had reached this world at the end of June, spending half a month treating Wang Yue, almost a month on lens calculations and telescopes, and another ten days waiting for the right time for observations.

Factoring in the three weeks for preparing the Horse Iron Hoof and the three months since Empress Dowager Xiang's death, it had been quite close to half a year.

Old Su then picked up a teacup, sipped the tea, and asked again:

"Then may I ask how have I treated you in these past days?"

Xu Yun was silent for a moment, then uttered four words:

"Grace as heavy as a mountain."

"And Prince Jian and Qingzhao?"

"They didn't look down upon my low status and befriended me beneath their rank."

"Ha, such grace as heavy as a mountain, befriending beneath their rank! Truly well-spoken!"

Old Su slapped the table heavily, angrily and painfully saying:

"Is this how you repay us?"

"Uncle Wen, Qingzhao, and the officials of the Yuanyou Faction imprisoned, Prince Jian confined. Wang Lin, are you pushing them to a dead end?!"

Old Su looked at him again, his tension visibly greater:

"At first, when I heard about the Reflector, I thought it was just a coincidence of nomenclature, not greatly related to you?"

"I thought my remaining network might still help exonerate Uncle Wen, just like Su Dongpo back then."

"But later I learned, under the base of the Microscope, there was a secret compartment engraved with the Emperor's name and birth date."

"I then fetched Ge Fei, and from his mouth, I learned that the secret compartment was part of the design you provided in the blueprints. During inspection, you went alone into the room for a moment..."

Looking at the furious Old Su, Xu Yun was silent for a few seconds and asked:

"Master, could it not be Master Qi, feeling resentment from past encounters, added these steps during the making of the Mirror Device, trying to frame me?"

...

Seeing his nonchalant expression, Old Su couldn't help but smile in anger:

"Wang Lin, do you really think I don't know?"

"Let's not mention Ge Fei's happy family, three generations living together, even if he wanted to trap you, he wouldn't have the means to reach such a high level of people."

"Because the source of this turmoil is the Master by the Emperor's side now!"

"And he was the one back then..."

"The individual you used my letter of introduction to visit!"

Speaking at this point.

A trace of regret appeared on Old Su's face.

Although he had heard the Master's reputation early on, a few months ago, this person's fame was limited to the public at that time.

Indeed.

Every day, many high officials and nobles visited his mansion, but reaching the level of 'ascending to Heaven's ears' was still quite distant.

Therefore, when Xu Yun proposed wanting to visit this person, Old Su assumed he just wanted to broaden his horizons.

After all, in this era, the belief in spirits and demons was prevalent, and even Old Su was somewhat indecisive about them.

But unexpectedly.

In just a few months passing.

This person's 'mana greatly increased', and more than that, he somehow connected with the officials.

Later, this person seemed to pull off some strange operations, making the officials impressed and appointing him as Master, reaching a high ministerial position.

If not for the absence of the 'National Preceptor' position in Northern Song, this person might have become the quickest rising oddity in history.

While inquiring about matters from friends, Old Su did not fail to express doubts about this person's swift rise.

But they told him that this person's cultivation had reached a sky-piercing level, demonstrating many divine means, commanding respect.

And in this incident.

Precisely this Master deduced through the stars, discovering the inscription under Lord Li's Microscope.

He also spent ten years of his lifespan in divination, pinpointing several Yuanyou Faction officials, and the Imperial City Department did find many contradicting letters in these officials' studies.

Thus, this led to the great upheaval in the capital.

To speak honestly.

If he had known today, Old Su would never have connected Xu Yun to that thread.

Thinking to this end.

Old Su glanced at Xu Yun, still a tinge of heartache in his eyes:

"At first, I wondered why with the exposure of Uncle Wen's matter, you, the designer of the Microscope, were not imprisoned. It turns out someone long ago obscured your track, truly a wonderfully played move."

He paused, ready to say more.

Before he could speak, voices came from outside between Zong Ze and Mr. Xie:

"Old Chief Steward, is the mentor inside? Something big has happened!"

"County Magistrate Zong, the master is with Wang....."

Old Su heard this and raised an eyebrow, giving Xu Yun a gentle glance, saying outwardly:

"Ru Lin, you may come in."

The voices outside instantly silenced.

Soon, the door was pushed open again.

Zong Ze hurried into the room, slightly stunned to see Xu Yun, but still said:

"Master, it's bad. The officials believe the Master's slander, blaming the comet months ago and the earthquake on the Yuanyou Festival on Prince Jian, citing his immorality in spying on Heavens' secrets. They have confined him and arrested Advisor Deng Duo at the mansion. The Prince... is in danger!"

Old Su, upon hearing this, his pupils contracted abruptly.

His chest heaved heavily a few times, and he closed his eyes, coldly looking at Xu Yun, saying:

"Wang Lin, is there anything you want to say?"

Seeing Old Su near the peak of anger, Xu Yun was silent for a bit and then said:

"Master, although Lord Li is imprisoned, and Prince Jian is confined, rest assured, they will remain unharmed, they will suffer no harm—at least in the short term this is so."

"Unharmed?"

Hearing this, Old Su was again amused yet angered:

"Just relying on you, a whistleblower who used my introduction to connect with the Master? You can guarantee these?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Yun shook his head, seriously staring at him, said:

"Master, for us academics, the utmost priority is rigor."

"Could there be another possibility besides my role as a whistleblower?"

"For instance..."

"The Master... is actually my person?"

...

Note:

Not into gaming, rarely takes photos, mainly listens to music and watches videos, which is better, Xiaomi 10S or K50?

Actually wanted to buy the mate30, but it seems all available ones are refurbished…

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