Chapter Sixteen: The Outside World Is Too Dangerous

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Previously, Bai Yu had discovered a weakness of the AI assistant: it was often ineffective when dealing with non-celebrities. Today, Bai Yu noticed another flaw—it lacked initiative and would not proactively offer reminders. He always had to first sense something amiss, then conduct a search to uncover relevant information.

Both these weaknesses were fully exposed in Bai Yisa’s case.

At this moment, seeing Bai Yu’s ambiguous attitude, Bai Yisa impatiently demanded, “What exactly are you thinking? Give me a clear answer!”

Bai Yu replied, “I need to prepare for next month’s county exam; I really can’t afford distractions.”

This was Bai Yu’s true feeling. For now, he just wanted a steady exam and to earn his rank as soon as possible, without getting involved in any messy affairs.

Bai Yisa, well aware of the situation, said, “Thousands take the county exam in the capital, but only a few dozen pass—it’s mostly luck. You don’t really think good fortune alone will guarantee your success, do you? Of course, if you have a patron, passing is certain; for example, I could help you.”

Bai Yu understood this reasoning. Otherwise, why would he have cautiously aligned himself with Shi Jilu and Lu Bing?

But faced with Bai Yisa’s enthusiastic overtures, Bai Yu’s suspicions flared, mainly because he’d been burned recently.

He couldn’t help but ask, “I have no wealth, no influence, no power, no courage—almost nothing to offer. Why would you look upon me differently?”

He could understand why Marshal Lu Bing was interested in him—after all, he had shown some writing skill. But what did Bai Yisa want?

“Of course, it’s you I want,” Bai Yisa suddenly smiled slyly.

Bai Yu involuntarily shivered and instinctively stepped back two paces.

If Bai Yisa were a woman disguised as a man, that might be one thing. But if he were a eunuch, that would be utterly repulsive.

Bai Yisa continued, “Do you think that just because you’ve managed to talk to Shi Jilu, you’ve gained connections? You lowly folk often fool yourselves into thinking that exchanging a few words with someone important is the same as forming ties. You couldn’t be more wrong!”

Bai Yu hated this condescending tone but couldn’t afford to offend the person before him, so he replied, “Ah, yes, yes, you’re absolutely right.”

Bai Yisa confidently said, “I’ll give you a better option. Go find out who I am. I believe that within three days, you’ll willingly fall at my feet!”

Although Bai Yu still didn’t know who Bai Yisa really was, his confident aura felt like a tangible force, imposing immense pressure out of nowhere.

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Bai Yu couldn’t help but sigh, “A true man should be like this.”

He longed to become such a person—one who could command respect without even uttering his name.

Bai Yisa: “...”

What do you mean by that? Is the next line going to be, “And take your place”?

Before leaving, Bai Yisa warned, “That’s all for now. Take care of yourself! If Yan Hu causes you trouble within three days, you can give my name. After three days, I’m done.”

Bai Yu didn’t go straight home but instead went to the Elephant Training Office to ask Zhang Qianhu for news.

People at the bottom rung might have limited information, but Zhang Qianhu was a middle-ranking officer in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so he might know some inside stories.

“I often see a young figure dressed all in white—Bai Yisa, it seems—very powerful, even Shi Jilu treats them with respect. Do you know who they are?” Bai Yu asked.

Zhang Qianhu indeed knew of this person. “You definitely don’t want to mess with them, nor with Shi Jilu! She’s a woman, the niece of the Marshal, once betrothed to the son of General Qiu Luan. But about eight or nine years ago, the Marshal exposed Qiu Luan’s unlawful deeds, causing Qiu Luan to die in fear. Subsequently, the Qiu family’s male heirs were executed for Qiu Luan’s crimes. At that time, the Marshal’s niece was only ten years old and witnessed her fiancé die before her eyes. Since then, her temperament changed drastically. She has always worn white male clothing and goes by the name Lu Baiyi, with the alias ‘The Unvanished.’ Such a striking public persona even the Marshal cannot control her.”

These old secrets left Bai Yu dumbfounded. Indeed, behind the vague surface, there were stories too painful to recall.

First, she was used as a pawn in a political marriage, then her fiancé’s entire family was killed by her own uncle. Losing her fiancé at ten and becoming a widow in name alone—who wouldn’t break under such circumstances?

He couldn’t help but marvel again at the brutal political struggles of the Jiajing era. They were truly deadly; even family ties could be severed by a single command to kill.

Unfortunately, his AI assistant’s usage limit had been reached today, or he would have looked up what exactly happened with Qiu Luan.

After some thought, Zhang Qianhu decided to give Bai Yu another nugget of information and continued:

“If you think she’s relying solely on the Marshal, you’re wrong. Her true background lies elsewhere. She is also the goddaughter of Huang Jin, the Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.”

Hearing the title “Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial,” Bai Yu’s mind went blank again.

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No wonder Lu Baiyi was so confident. She believed Bai Yu would willingly throw himself at her feet.

In recent days, the names of these awe-inspiring figures kept ringing in his ears one after another.

He had just encountered the illegitimate son of Yan Shifan and now another figure appeared—the goddaughter of Huang Jin.

Bai Yu began to wonder if the system was intentionally trying to toughen his mental resilience.

Also, the niece of the Marshal and the goddaughter of the Directorate’s Chief Eunuch—what did they want from him? Why were they so eager to recruit him?

This kind of unknown, which even the AI couldn’t answer, made it hard to feel at ease. Surely, they weren’t trying to pass some burden onto him?

Bai Yu wandered home in a daze, recalling the morning he first went to the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters.

If he hadn’t gone in then, or hadn’t performed so diligently, would none of these things have happened?

Returning to the crowded courtyard, the neighbors he once regarded as mere flies suddenly seemed more familiar.

At worst, they schemed over money and who should serve, but they wouldn’t risk life and property in such a harrowing way.

The next day, Bai Yu went nowhere and stayed quietly at home.

Firstly, with ink, brush, paper, and inkstone, he could practice calligraphy at home; secondly, there was no one else to look after his father, so as his son, he couldn’t leave.

Most importantly, the outside world was too dangerous.

Either it was the illegitimate son of the little Grand Secretary, or the goddaughter of the Directorate’s Chief Eunuch—home was relatively safe.

If possible, Bai Yu wished this peace would last until his exam.

Unfortunately, this calm was shattered in less than two days.

Four Embroidered Uniform Guard officers, bristling with authority, appeared in the crowded courtyard. After flashing their badges, they barked at Bai Yu:

“By order of our superiors, you are to come with us for questioning! Come now!”

Under the watchful eyes of the neighbors, Bai Yu was taken away like a criminal by the officers.

Bai Yu roughly guessed who had summoned him, but what did this spectacle mean?