The rain gradually subsided.
The meeting in the Prime Minister's study had been going on for over half an hour, and it was gradually moving away from formal matters and becoming more casual.

For the staff in the Prime Minister's residence, each had their own areas of responsibility. At this stage, most of the problems were not conceptual but rather the promotion and integration of specific matters. The main reason for this morning meeting was Ning Yi's return. Everyone was sharing their recent activities and seeing if there were any matters for communication and cooperation.

Ning Yi currently manages funds, the budding stages of public opinion promotion, and a large number of commercial relationships within the Prime Minister's residence. Although the funds are considered private property of the residence, the budding stages of public opinion are not the main focus, and the commercial relationships can only be described as private interactions, none of these things can be brought to the public arena. However, the advancement of many official matters within the Prime Minister's residence really requires this kind of private involvement. Ning Yi's cooperation with everyone is also quite skilled.

Of course, before his return, there were no problems with the cooperation between everyone and Ning Yi. Now that he has returned to Bianliang, these things are just a greeting, to keep him informed. In fact, recently, the results of the martial arts examination are about to be released, and everyone is openly and secretly snatching people, trying to push suitable candidates into suitable positions. Those who can be won over are won over, and those who cannot be won over are analyzed for possible coercion and utilization. Each and every trivial matter, both overt and covert, can only be done according to the existing situation, because not doing so would only make things worse.

After the necessary matters were discussed, everyone sat down to drink tea and chat. When the situation in the Jin Kingdom was mentioned, everyone felt it was a bit confusing.

"...After Aguda's death, Wu Qimai ascended the throne and put down the conquests to stabilize the court. This is what can be seen now. Nowadays, there are various opinions in the court. Some believe that Wu Qimai will launch an attack on our Wu Dynasty after stabilizing the court, insisting on taking advantage of the Jin Kingdom's unstable foundation to recruit a large number of Liao remnants. Others believe that the Jin Kingdom lacks core military and political members and is unable to invade southward, but if we do too much, it will force the Jin Kingdom to have no choice. Therefore, now that the conquest of Liao is over, both sides should begin doing business with sincerity. Tang Qinshou, Geng Xidao, and others all hold this view, which can influence several major forces inside and outside the court. They are also advocating that the coming year will be a crucial moment in determining the future attitude of both sides, which is actually reasonable."

After Yao Zunian finished speaking, he took a sip of tea. Qin Si Yuan, behind the desk, continued to speak.

"After all, it is difficult for us to see clearly how the Jin Kingdom will proceed. Regarding many previous matters, Li Xiang and I have reflected, and now we are somewhat disgusted with these petty fights. If your power is sufficient, those who originally wanted to attack you will come to do business. If your power is insufficient, even if you jump around, those with good intentions will feel that they must attack you. However, in today's court, there are many such thoughts, and the Emperor is somewhat inclined..."

The old man paused, picked up his teacup, "After Aguda's death, the successor was not the eldest son, but the younger brother succeeding the elder brother. This is almost a abdication, not a normal succession. We have also learned that the power of the Taizu lineage in the Jin Kingdom is still very strong, including Zong Han and Xi Yin, who are the most capable and important figures in the Jin Kingdom. Some people took the opportunity to submit memorials, requesting the Emperor to use this as an excuse to attack the Jin Kingdom at this time. These opportunists are the most hateful..."

Ning Yi was eating pastries, "In any case, regardless of whether there is a possibility of fighting in the future, we must always have the strength to fight a decisive battle across a thousand miles."

"Everyone should have it, but looking at the past battles, there is no confidence. I don't know to what extent we should prepare..."

From the Jin's destruction of the Liao to Aguda's death, the entire situation seems somewhat illusory. Whether the other side will attack is a strange question. Because no matter how you look at it, the six prefectures of Yanyun outside Yanmen Pass, tens of thousands of troops, plus the constantly expanding Changsheng Army of Guo Yaoshi, are enough to withstand a large-scale war. And on the distance from Yanmen Pass to the capital, including the regular army, including those who were recruited like Dong Pang'er, and the military formations pressed on thousands of miles of land after Tan Zhen's recruitment order, the number of hundreds of thousands. Such a huge formation, at first thought, most people have a kind of illusion - they simply do not know what they are preventing.

However, on the other hand, the Liao Dynasty collapsed rapidly, and the many shortcomings within the Wu Dynasty itself, the various reasons that can be said and cannot be said, if added together, no one can generate too much confidence in the proposition of "opposing the Jin Kingdom".

Everything was too fast. The Jin Kingdom overthrew the Liao Dynasty in a few years and became the real opponent of the Wu Dynasty. And in any proposition: attack you, not attack you, can win, cannot win - each conclusion has too many reasons and too many flaws, because there are too many factors, but no idea can be calculated, and even seems absurd.

Just like this time, after the martial arts examination ended, everyone began to operate and layout. The Prime Minister's residence is trying to consolidate a defense line in the north in this chaotic situation. But on the one hand, is it really necessary to do so much? Starting from Yanmen Pass, this huge defense line, no matter who it defends against, should be enough. And on the other hand, is there any meaning in doing so? Because it seems that the entire thousand-mile defense line does not seem very reliable. You consolidate a bubble that is too strong, and in the end it is just a bubble.

Once you start considering this problem, everyone will feel that they are standing on a violently fluctuating line, and it is possible to go in any direction. Going in any direction will rush to the end with an overwhelming force. Everyone is making illusory efforts for an illusory thing, and waiting for the moment when it condenses into reality.

And if you really want to think rationally to the end, everything stems from one reason: the bayonet is about to see blood, no matter what the verdict that descends, there is probably not much that can be done next, and it cannot play a decisive role.

"Autumn is about to pass, and I feel like I have done everything I can." After walking out of the room, under the eaves, Monk Jueming chatted with Ning Yi for a while, smiling slightly. Ning Yi also smiled, and Yao Zunian walked over from the side and stood under the eaves with them, laughing, "This monk is not very clever."

Everyone chatted for a few more words.

On the way back home, the rain had just stopped, and the surrounding air was humid. Water was still dripping from the eaves and leaves. Ning Yi was a little surprised to see Shishi waiting here, but when she saw him coming back, Tan'er then led Ning Xi away, leaving space for the two of them.

"I originally thought Liheng would not come back." Shishi smiled at him, "I came to look for you several times, but I couldn't find you."

"I had some things to do in the north, which delayed a lot of time, but how could I not come back? After all, home is here."

The reception hall faced the small garden. Ning Yi poured tea for her. Shishi lowered her head and fell silent, covering her mouth with her sleeve and taking a sip. She raised her head and looked at Ning Yi for a while before whispering, "The disaster is over."

"Ah." Ning Yi nodded, "As you can see, the autumn harvest is over, and the matter is over."

"I sometimes go out of the city to see those beggars and give them some food." In front of the window with its gentle scenery, the words of the two people also seemed calm. Shishi thought as she spoke, "The disaster is over, but they will not be able to return in the end."

Ning Yi thought for a while, "Such is the way of the world."

Shishi's eyes looked at him, "Is Liheng just thinking that way?"

"Thinking too much is not happiness. The meaning of life, I think, is best to stay between three or five people, and also stay in three or five years. Except for the closest people, don't think about thirty or fifty years." Ning Yi's answer was also plain, "This way, it should be happier, otherwise, no matter how you think about it, it will not make people feel at ease."

Shishi lowered her head and drank her tea. After a long time, she looked at the small garden outside the window before saying, "Is what Liheng is doing in the Prime Minister's residence also staying between three or five people?"

Ning Yi laughed, "Most of the three or five people I care about are behind this yard."

"...Sister-in-law Tan'er and the others are really happy." Shishi smiled sincerely.

She was silent for a long time, and then thought of other emotions, sighing, "But I shouldn't think about it, but I thought about it after all."

"I heard that you rejected Zhou Meicheng's marriage proposal."

"Does Liheng think I should have agreed?" Shishi's eyes looked at him again, and then said, "Not only his, but also many others have been rejected. I also know that this is not good. But from this year on, I always feel that some things are about to change. I am at the age to get married, and I used to think it was just that, but now when I think about it, I always feel empty. I moved into the Fanlou courtyard at the age of fourteen, and I felt that there were people everywhere. I lived there, and I always felt that I was there. As long as I am there, the yard is full. Others come to chat with me, complain to me, listen to me play the piano and sing songs, and spend money on me. When there is no one, I am there alone, and I am also living there, but suddenly, it seems that everything has changed. What I could understand clearly in the past..."

She clenched her hands and placed them on the edge of the table. Her words gradually became faster, and her eyes also looked dazed.

"Now when I am alone in the yard, it is as if that yard is no longer mine. Mother Li is very good to me. She is also considerate of me in persuading me to marry. When others look at me, they always have a feeling that they will not see me in a few months or half a year. It is as if in a month or a few months, I will no longer be in that yard, I don't know where, maybe in a house I am not familiar with, on a bed I am not familiar with, spending my whole life with a man who is actually not familiar with me..."

Shishi closed her eyes, and a few tears oozed out from there. She bit her lip, and then smiled as if cheering herself up.

"That's why I go to see those beggars and do some...good deeds. I used to do these things before. If I continue to do them in the future, it seems that things have not changed much." The room was quiet, only her words, silent for a moment, she took a breath, "Actually, Liheng doesn't care much about these things, right? But I think you must understand... Others may not understand."

Ning Yi poured tea for her, "There should still be many people who understand. I got married a long time ago, and I have forgotten the things before I got married. But even if I haven't forgotten, I was a bookworm back then, and I didn't have any family, so it shouldn't be very important."

Shishi looked at him, "Liheng is now...doing a lot of very important things, right?"

"They are all messy things, and it's not easy for me to say."

"Are you still fighting with those grain merchants?"

"Heh, how can we keep fighting."

"But they will still make trouble, right?"

Ning Yi laughed, "...Occasionally...that will."

Shishi also laughed. The distance between the two was ultimately not far, nor close. Although Shishi's expression was smiling, she also looked somewhat lonely. After drinking this cup of tea, she stood up.

"I have had some strange thoughts recently, and I don't know who to talk to. Today's words were a bit presumptuous..."

Ning Yi shook his head, "I can still understand."

"I said some words to sister-in-law in front earlier. If Liheng stays in Bianliang recently, you might as well go to Fanlou for business. Little sister...has been turning down invitations recently, but if it is Liheng's matter, I will definitely not turn it down."

"Heh, I know. You also come to my house for a walk and sit, of course, Tan'er is a clever person, be careful not to be sold by her."

He sent Shishi to the door. As they spoke, Shishi smiled brightly and bowed to him, and then left somewhat lonely. Ning Yi smiled under the eaves. He probably understood what his "childhood friend" was troubled by, but he really couldn't solve these things.

And on his side, things were piling up like a mountain.

But it didn't matter, everything would be done step by step, after all, the real big things were not here.

He returned all the way, passed through the eaves, the courtyard gate, and when he entered the backyard, he reunited with his long-lost wife and children. Winter was about to arrive, and next, they would have a long period of togetherness.

And he just like that, does not plan to go out...