Chapter 294.2: Ten Thousand Miles of Blizzard - Part 2

After Wei Xu came back to his senses, the child had already disappeared. Before he could turn around, a voice sounded beside him. The arrival was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man wearing a gray cotton robe on a cold winter day. The cotton robe looked rather worn out, it was likely worn for many years.

"Mr. Wei seems to be in good spirits, chatting so long with a child. It seems you've been influenced by the Dean."

The atmosphere in the academy during these years had truly changed compared to the past. The original academy was a holy land for all scholars in the world. The teachers here were naturally highly knowledgeable, it was just that they were formal and rigid; like an old tree. However, after the current Dean took over the academy, it seemed like this old tree sprouted new shoots, bringing in a breath of fresh air.

The academy still maintained its scholarly excellence, but now there was a sense of vitality in every aspect without the obsolescence.

Wei Xu turned to look at the middle-aged man, not rushing to speak. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly opened his mouth to say, "You all are too impatient."

The middle-aged man remained indifferent as he said, "Some people have waited for many years and think, 'What's a few more days?' But others feel, 'I've waited for so many years; why should I wait any longer now?'"

Wei Xu naturally understood his meaning and said calmly, "Haste makes waste. Moreover, you all are aiming to eat the entire world. Acting recklessly once you get anxious isn't advisable."

The middle-aged man smiled and said, "Why worry, Mr. Wei? The situation has already unfolded, how can it turn around now? Moreover, I firmly believe that things will develop according to our plan."

Wei Xu shook his head and said calmly, "I want to wait a while more."

Hearing this, the middle-aged man could not help but furrow his brow, appearing somewhat displeased.

"You all may not be able to wait, but in reality, you still have to wait. So, I'll wait a little more. It doesn't count as delaying your matter. Besides, choosing not to act is the best scenario now. If we involve the academy and Teacher, how would he handle it? Can you guys really hold him back?"

Wei Xu looked at the middle-aged man, his meaning clear in his eyes.

"Someone of the Dean's caliber is unlikely to easily get involved in this situation."

The middle-aged man frowned and sighed softly, "But someone like the Dean, if possible, we really don't want to be at odds with him."

Wei Xu remained silent. He was actually still waiting for the middle-aged man to make his own judgment.

Seeing Wei Xu's silence, the middle-aged man furrowed his brows and said, "Mr. Wei, you can't influence the academy, but can't the Wei Family influence it?"

Wei Xu looked at him and retorted with a question, "Do you think the Wei Family is less complicated than the academy?"

In a dynasty, often the ones with the shortest lineage were the so-called imperial families. Besides the imperial family, whether was it the high-ranking families with a few hundred years of heritage or the academy with a millennium of history, their complexity far exceeded that of the imperial family.

The middle-aged man was somewhat angry, "You prominent families, always calculating and scheming. In the end, you just lack that tiny bit of resolve. Otherwise, can't you all seize reign over this world?!"

Wei Xu did not speak, but his emotions were evident in his eyes.

For those prominent families, what was the point of becoming the emperor?

There was really no point.

In this world, had there ever been a dynasty that had endured for centuries without changing?

But for the prominent families of the world, it was not too difficult to last a thousand years.

......

The Xie Family ancestor remained silent for a long time, then suddenly spoke with interest and a smile, "Coming back from Cang Prefecture, that little fellow's future looks bright. But do you think he'll really make the Xie Family open our main entrance one day?"

Xie Nandu was silent.

The Xie Family ancestor smiled and said, "Outsiders always think that in prominent families, marriage should be based on matching status. But in reality, in the past two hundred years, the Xie Family has married many Xie descendants to ordinary men who were not special at the time. Later, they rose to fame, becoming a beautiful tale."

Xie Nandu murmured, "It's still a transaction."

The Xie Family ancestor chuckled and said, "You lass, born in the Xie Family, can't you accept it? I'm already letting you marry the man you like, not forcibly designating one for you. Speaking of which, if you're willing, you can actually choose one of the three princes of the Great Liang Dynasty. Of course, if you choose, the Xie Family will definitely join the gambling table today."

In the end, it all came down to the so-called interests.

Xie Nandu remained silent, not uttering a word.

She despised these things from the bottom of her heart.

The Xie Family ancestor naturally knew, saying softly, "I know you don't like it. You don't need to come back for the New Year's Eve dinner. Whenever you feel like coming back, we can talk again. As for those random gatherings, you can decline them. The next time you come back will be for the memorial of this old man?"

The half-joking words of the Xie Family ancestor did not prompt Xie Nandu to say anything. She just looked at this ancestor with a calm gaze.

The Xie Family ancestor waved his hand and lamented, "Those who come from White Deer have a scholarly demeanor on them. The little ones from the Divine Capital really can't compare. However..."

Before the Xie Family ancestor could finish, Xie Nandu already turned around and walked towards the distance. In the end, perhaps in the entire Xie Family, only Xie Nandu had the guts to disregard the Xie Family ancestor and leave on her own like this. Other people might not dare.

The Xie Family ancestor smiled faintly, watching the girl's back view without saying anything.

......

......

Xie Nandu left the Xie Family and soon arrived outside the Xie residence side gate. The carriage from the academy had been waiting here for a long time.

The roofs were already covered with a thick layer of accumulated snow.

In the Divine Capital, it was still snowing heavily tonight, and it was approaching the New Year.

Xie Nandu turned her head and glanced at the several lanterns hanging under the eaves.

After a few glances, she withdrew her gaze and turned back.

A black figure was exceptionally conspicuous in the heavy blizzard.

Xie Nandu frowned slightly.

When that black figure approached, she raised an eyebrow.

She had already seen clearly; it was a young man in black clothes, with a saber hanging from his waist, and snowflakes on the strands of hair on top of his head.

He seemed weary from the journey still.

The black-clad young man who braved the snowstorm stared with a pair of eyes that seemed to contain a myriad of stars. He smiled at the girl in front of him and took out two roasted sweet potatoes from his pocket like a magic trick, asking, "It's still warm, want to eat?"