Peace Order

Chapter 1809 - 83: Prestige and Upheaval

Then he continued to complete the task as if nothing had happened.

Nan Hanwen was somewhat worried about the old man. Although the old fellow seemed serious, he actually had some schemes, often coming to eat many of his meals, yet possessed a degree of character and mental state.

He carried some things to visit Qu Hanxiu’s place.

After knocking on the door for a long time, the old man still did not respond.

Nan Hanwen felt the weight of a stone in his heart, just about to kick the door when suddenly it opened. A small bookboy from inside—a poor old Qu Hanxiu, despite often coming to eat, yet paid attention to certain things.

For example, the quality of the Four Treasures of the Study.

For example, the style of his clothing.

For example, how could a grand Confucian scholar not have a bookboy?

Nan Hanwen heaved a slight sigh of relief: "Where is Mr. Qu?"

The bookboy replied: "Mr. Qu has gone out to eat duck blood noodles soup."

Nan Hanwen exhaled, laughed, and cursed: "Old fellow, quite a good appetite, made me worry for nothing." With that, he attempted to pick up the gifts he had set down, planning to take them directly back.

It’s said that people tend to follow their superiors.

Prince Qin’s virtue of thrift seemed to be spreading like a virus throughout the Heavenly Strategy Mansion.

The bookboy was surprised, then asked: "Are you Nan Hanwen, Scholar Nan?"

Nan Hanwen asked in confusion: "Yes, I haven’t been here before, how do you know me?"

The bookboy answered: "Before Mr. Qu went out today, he told me if someone younger by a dozen years comes here after he’s gone, speaks with some disrespect, brings gifts, and then tries to take them back before leaving."

"That would be Mr. Nan Hanwen."

Nan Hanwen’s mouth twitched.

The bookboy only told Nan Hanwen to wait for a while, then returned to the temporarily rented house, shortly emerging again holding things: "This is a letter Mr. Qu left for you."

Nan Hanwen’s heart sank as he set the items down.

The bookboy took the opportunity.

Following Qu Hanxiu’s prior instructions whispered to him, he immediately grabbed Nan Hanwen’s gifts, quickly retreating to the courtyard, shutting the door, watching Nan Hanwen warily like a stray black cat.

However, Nan Hanwen, accustomed to thrift due to his experiences, did not mind. He opened the letter and only glanced at it briefly before his expression changed dramatically, with no concern for anything else, turning to sprint furiously toward that familiar place.

He fell once along the way, but unnoticed, he got up, staggering and running.

His hand tightly clenching the letter.

[Young Nan, you might have come looking for this old man, haha, you were always straightforward, yet rebellious inside, now it seems you care for this old man, haha, not bad, not bad, true etiquette should come from the heart]

[You are a person of etiquette]

[The Red Emperor has passed, do you think I would die for my country or be loyal to His Majesty? Truth is, I won’t. In my youth, I studied Confucian texts, walked Mr. Lu’s path, straight and courageous, following my own path]

[Later realized, many things are beyond our control]

[A truth discovered]

[The Martial World is perilous, if you can’t handle it, retreat]

[The decaying Red Emperor’s line is not worth dying for, a gentleman’s death should not be so simple]

[I have one question, do you remember when we first ate duck blood noodles soup, we were talking, I mentioned that day I was shaken by Prince Qin’s words, inviting all to die, and felt chaotic and lost]

[Because merely destroying would lead to chaotic disorder, people like straw dogs, completely devoid of peace, yet Prince Qin’s order was simultaneously expanding]

[Cut off the past, create peace, unify the world, that is the Righteous way]

[But...]

Nan Hanwen hurriedly, at this moment, regretting not being one of those skilled Martial Artists, without those movement techniques and methods, relying solely on his two legs. He rushed out into the streets, filled with people ahead.

Under Prince Qin’s rule, especially in Jiangnan, where policies were first implemented, it was truly prosperous.

There were Mongolian children leaving school, laughing and talking about today’s tasks; elderly people buying groceries, and men and women chatting as they entered the bustling city, like a long river blocking Nan Hanwen.

"Excuse me, excuse me!"

"Sorry, please let me through."

"Let me through..."

Ning Hanhua moved through the crowd, pushing against them to advance.

Yet the bustling city like a long river blocked his path, his heart anxious, unable to proceed.

In the small alley along the street, the same vendor, lively, the shopkeeper saw the old man come again, not necessarily due to good memory, though in such business one must remember returning customers, truth be told, poor memory won’t do.

But nowadays, with so many customers coming and going, it’s unrealistic to remember them all, yet he remembered this old man well.

He was truly special.

Partly because of his meticulous old-fashioned stubbornness.

Because of the scholarly aura from his literary knowledge.

Partly because he was extremely stubborn and conservative, always eating the same thing here, never changing.

And lastly, regardless of time, the old man would always wear a set of clothing that looked hot for this season, with these few traits, he ’stood out’, truth be told, hard to ignore.