My Sims of the Eastern Jin Dynasty

During lunch break.

A black, flat-topped oxcart moved slowly along the bluestone road. The carriage was spacious, simply furnished, and filled with a calming fragrance.

Xie An sat in the main seat, with Xie Xuan and Zhang Xuanzhi on either side. The carriage was silent except for the rumbling of the wheels.

After a long silence, Xie An spoke.

"To gamble on celestial phenomena in court is too radical."

Upon hearing this, Xie Xuan was about to explain that Xiao Heng had been forced into a desperate situation.

However, Xie An did not give him a chance to speak. He turned to Xie Xuan and asked a seemingly unrelated question.

"You only learned about Deng Jing's matter today in court, didn't you?"

Xie Xuan felt a chill run down his spine. He met his uncle's gaze, which held no blame. He could not hide it, nor did he need to. He lowered his head slightly.

"Yes. My nephew only knew that Deng Jing was missing, but never thought of him..."

"I never imagined he would be so bold, so meticulous, and that his subordinates would be so tight-lipped."

Xie An finished speaking for him, his tone remaining calm.

"You've always had something on your mind, and your brow furrows before you even realize it. That kid is different."

Xie An leaned back slightly, thinking of Xiao Heng's calm and composed young figure in the Court of Justice.

"When he opens his mouth, nine out of ten sentences are carefully considered, or contain a hidden meaning. He seems frank and passionate, but in reality, every sentence has its purpose, either for self-preservation or for retaliation."

Xie An's voice was soft, yet every word struck Xie Xuan and Zhang Xuan's hearts.

"The story of Yuntai Temple and the old salt farmer sounds perfect and reasonable, completely clearing away any suspicion of being supernatural. It's very clever, but it's too complete, making it sound like a pre-prepared explanation."

Zhang Xuanzhi, listening from the side, was secretly alarmed. He prided himself on his intelligence and thought Xiao Heng's response was brilliant and well-reasoned, even secretly praising him. But now, after hearing Xie Gong's casual guidance, he realized that his impassioned speech might have been a carefully designed disguise. Xie Gong's ability to judge people and things was so profound.

Xie Xuan felt even more ashamed, and his face flushed.

"Xuan, I didn't get to see it too deeply. I only felt that he was eloquent and handled things properly, resolving the predicament. Now that I think about it, his prediction of the celestial phenomena was so certain, and he had already dealt with Deng Jing's matter so flawlessly, even deceiving me. His shrewdness and resourcefulness are indeed extraordinary. However, he has ultimately made a great contribution to the Northern Army..."

"Merit is merit, and mind is mind."

Xie An interrupted him and took a deep breath.

"Such meticulous planning makes this man usable; his talent is rare. However, his heart is unfathomable, and his ambitions are unclear. Today he dares to use celestial phenomena to intimidate the Court of Justice; tomorrow..."

He didn't continue, but simply shook his head slightly.

"If you want to use him, you can't just look at his talent; you must also see through his character. From today onward, the officials of the court, the Prince of Langya, and even His Majesty will pay more attention to him. Whether this is a blessing or a curse remains to be seen."

Just then, a very faint click came from outside the car, followed by a series of fine and clear clicks, which gradually became denser and eventually merged into a continuous sound.

It's raining.

Just as Xiao Heng had predicted, the autumn rain arrived as scheduled, nearly stopping half an hour later.

Raindrops struck the roof of the carport with a crisp sound.

Inside the carriage, Xie Xuan listened to the sound and was shocked by disbelief. He suddenly looked up at the window. The sky was not completely dark, but the rain had indeed started to fall, neither too early nor too late!

Zhang Xuanzhi also looked out the window in astonishment, then quickly glanced at Xie An, who still had a calm expression.

Xie An's heart was churning. He had really calculated it perfectly! Absolutely right! He simply closed his eyes again, as if resting or deep in thought.

As the rain intensified, the oxcart steadily made its way towards Wuyi Lane, the silence inside now completely different from when it arrived.

At the same time, in the same prison cell in the Court of Justice.

Xiao Heng sat alone at his desk, a sumptuous meal laid out before him. He closed his eyes and focused his mind, his consciousness sinking into the ancient book interface that was invisible to others.

[Deep Simulation Startup]

【...】

[Evaluation: Your survival rate has increased by 87%, Xie An's suspicion level has increased, and the unknown attention level has increased]

[Final Recommendation: Rather than trying to be the best, it's better to be inclusive and embrace diversity, and share beauty together]

[WARNING: Ignoring this timeline may lead to unforeseen changes for certain individuals and factions in the future!]

"Something feels off!"

Xiao Heng opened his eyes. The best solution he had chosen today had indeed allowed him to successfully resolve the accusations of being possessed by a demon and to share some of the pressure with Xie Xuan and the Northern Mansion. On the surface, he had won this round.

But the two variables that increased in the simulation results, as well as Xie An's several unpredictable glances in the hall today, made him feel vaguely uneasy.

"That old bastard!"

Xiao Heng muttered to himself, picked up his chopsticks, and ate a piece.

"This reflects a lack of self-confidence, or rather, a deeper sense of curiosity and vigilance."

The sound of rain outside the window gradually became clearer. Xiao Heng turned his head and looked around. He had won the gamble on timing, but the situation of people's hearts, especially the hearts of people like Xie An, seemed to be even more unpredictable than he had calculated in his simulation!

"It seems that simply simulating the optimal solution is not enough."

"I'll have to change my approach when dealing with Xie An next time."

The rain fell softly, washing away the dust from the courtyard, but it couldn't wash away the doubts and schemes that were growing in the hearts of various forces. Above Jiankang City, the raindrops were like a net, seemingly becoming even denser with this autumn rain.

The afternoon autumn rain had just stopped, and the Court of Justice reopened.

The atmosphere inside the hall was completely different from the thunderous atmosphere of the morning.

A tacit sense of relief permeated the air.

Everyone understood that the battle between the supernatural and fate was over, and what remained was merely a routine procedure. Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on the clean floor. The air after the rain was exceptionally fresh, yet also exceptionally stuffy.

The freshness was an illusion created by the light rain, and the coolness was only momentary. The moisture, carrying the lingering summer heat, clung to the skin like a half-dry silk garment, absorbing light and trapping heat.

The leaves on the leaves in the Court of Justice's courtyard were still dripping water, pattering slowly.

Wang Ya sat in the main seat, relaxed. He knew that the focus of the next discussion was no longer on how much evidence his interrogation could uncover, but on the unspoken understanding and exchange among the people in the courtroom.

Sima Daozi maintained a composed demeanor despite his youthful appearance, his lips tightly pressed together. He remained silent, occasionally glancing at Xie An with a gloomy and unfathomable look, but he did not exert any further pressure. This silence itself implied that some dissatisfaction had been temporarily suppressed, or that some deal had been reached in secret.

Xie An remained calmly seated in the first seat on the left, even more detached than in the morning, as if everything was under his control.

Xiao Heng, sitting below, keenly sensed the subtle shift in the atmosphere. The tension in his heart gradually eased. The deep simulation he had previously learned that it was better to be inclusive than to fight alone, which quickly shifted his mindset from all-out resistance to calm observation and cooperation. He knew that he was no longer the main character in the rest of the show; he only needed to play the role assigned to him.

"Bring witness Cui Lin!"

Wang Ya's voice regained the rigidity of Ting Weizheng, but lacked the penetrating power and the malice it had before.

Zhou Laosi was brought in as a witness. After bowing to the officials in the hall and Xiao Heng, he stood with his hands at his sides.

"Zhou Laosi, during Xiao Heng's time in Donghai, did he engage in any private transactions with the Cui family of Qingzhou to profit from salt?"

Wang Ya's question was both direct and vague, like reading lines from a case file.

"Reporting to the Chief Justice, a transaction did indeed take place."

Zhou Laosi readily admitted it.

"However, it was not for private profit. At that time, the transport of grain and fodder was not fast enough, so Lord Xiao traded sea salt with the Cui family. All the profits were used to purchase grain and fodder and medicine for wounds. Every transaction was recorded and accounted for."

As he spoke, he presented a copy of a booklet.

"This is a partial summary of the accounts; please have the Court of Justice review it."

The clerk took it and handed it to Wang Ya, who glanced at it casually and then put it aside; it was clearly not the point.

At this moment, Zhou Laosi added something.

"In addition, part of the proceeds from the transaction was used to settle some of the northern youths who had migrated south with the Cui family. Their ancestral home was in Qing and Ji, and they admired the rule of the king. They braved hardships to cross the sea to the south, but they were unfamiliar with the land and people in Jiangzuo and struggled to make a living. Lord Xiao was grateful for the wanderers who came from the north, so he allocated some of the profits to help them rent houses so that they could study in peace and wait for the court to select them."

Upon hearing this, many officials in the hall who came from the north or had connections with the northern gentry showed slight changes in their expressions.

Xie An, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them. This was the first time he had spoken about the specific details of the case that afternoon, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Xie An's gaze fell on Zhou Laosi.

"Approximately how many northerners migrated south? What is their current situation?"

Zhou Laosi respectfully replied, "In response to Lord Xie, there are a total of 237 people. Most of them are distant relatives of the Cui family or descendants of their former students and friends. They are currently living temporarily in Guangling. Although their lives are simple, they can still make ends meet. They study diligently day and night, hoping that one day they can serve the court and restore their homeland."

Xie An nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the many northern faces in the hall, finally glancing almost imperceptibly at Wang Guobao, whose expression was somewhat complicated, before speaking loudly.

"The virtuous men of the North, with their hearts set on the Jin Dynasty, braved dangers and crossed the border with their entire families to the South. This is an act of loyalty and righteousness, how could the court refuse to accept or show them compassion? This is not merely a matter for one family or household, but a blessing for the nation to unite its people and attract heroes. Their recent collaboration with the Northern Army to attack the pseudo-Qin navy has already demonstrated their loyalty. Maoda (Wang Ya's courtesy name), such details should be carefully recorded and reported to the relevant authorities for proper handling."

Wang Ya readily agreed and ignored the look Sima Daozi was giving him.

"What Lord Xie said is very true. I have noted this down. Although the salt profit trade is understandable, the procedures may be incomplete and need to be completed later."

Xiao Heng frowned as he listened. He looked at Zhou Laosi beside him, feeling uneasy. He had a feeling that Zhou Laosi must have made some kind of deal with the Xie family.

"One last thing!"

Wang Ya cleared her throat and read out the last charge.

"Xiao Heng, on the banks of the Guabu River, recklessly beat war drums, the sound of which shook the capital, causing the imperial carriage to be startled and the people to be bewildered. Do you know your crime for this offense of frightening the imperial carriage on the riverbank?"

This time, before Xiao Heng could answer, Xie Xuan stepped forward and spoke in a deep voice.

"Reporting to the Court of Justice, this matter arose from the military situation at the time. Commander Xiao's troops pursued the fleeing Murong Xianbei army without stopping for a day and a night, and were exhausted. When they reached the riverbank, they saw that the smoke signals on the opposite bank were unclear. Commander Xiao was worried that there might be remnants of the enemy army lying in ambush, or spies from the north of the river providing support. The act of beating the drums was primarily to warn his exhausted soldiers to quickly assemble and be on guard, and secondly, to alert the patrolling water forces along the riverbank that there might be unforeseen circumstances. Although the method seemed reckless and hasty, and disturbed the capital, his original intention was still to consider the defense of the river and to be vigilant for the country."

Xiao Heng understood immediately, and the moment Xie Xuan finished speaking, he bowed without hesitation, his voice very sincere.

"What Governor Xie said is all true. However, whatever the reason, the beating of the drums disturbed His Majesty's presence and caused unrest in the capital. This is my inescapable fault. I acted rashly and did not consider things carefully. I am willing to accept any punishment from the court."

The confession was swift and decisive, a stark contrast to his demeanor that morning, prompting whispers and discussions among those inside and outside the hall.

However, Xiao Heng believed that the initiative to admit punishment at this moment had a significant effect. Xie Xuan, representing the Northern Army, clarified that this was a normal military operation, and Xiao Heng, representing himself, took responsibility for the wrong method. This not only maintained the legitimacy of the Northern Army's actions but also gave the court, especially Sima Daozi, who needed to save face, a way out.

Most importantly, it suited Xie An's wishes. Xiao Heng knew that Xie An wanted balance, and he couldn't stand out too much.

In particular, Zhou Laosi even brought out the account book, which made him abandon his plan to fight the Wang family of Taiyuan to the bitter end.

Seeing that Sima Daozi only snorted coldly and did not refute, Wang Ya knew it was time to end the matter, so he quickly summarized.

"In summary, while Xiao Heng's salt trade with the Cui family of Qingzhou was understandable as it was for the purpose of raising military funds, the procedures were incomplete. He is ordered to submit a supplementary report to the relevant authorities afterward for verification and settlement. The beating of drums on the riverbank caused disturbance, which is true. However, considering his eagerness to pursue the enemy, his initial intention of acting for the public good, his confession of his crimes, and his previous merit in defeating the enemy, I will submit a detailed report to the court for a final decision on how to handle this matter. Today, Xiao Heng will be temporarily detained to await the court's final judgment."

This procedural conclusion, which neither released the defendant in court nor increased the punishment, left the final decision-making power to the imperial court, thus leaving ample room and dignity for subsequent operations.

"Court adjourned!"

The gavel fell, its deep sound bringing the dramatic interrogation by the Court of Justice to a somewhat abrupt end.

Sima Daozi abruptly stood up, his face grim, and quickly left amidst a group of subordinates, without speaking to anyone.

Xie An also calmly stood up, dusted off his sleeves which were not dusty, nodded slightly to Wang Xun and the others who had also stood up, and walked out with a calm gaze and steady steps.

The composure of having everything under control, compared to the low-key and reserved manner when they arrived, now carries an added sense of calm after everything has settled down.

Before leaving with his uncle, Xie Xuan paused slightly, turned back and gave Xiao Heng, who was being led away by the clerk below, a deep look. His gaze was extremely complex, showing admiration for Xiao Heng's handling of the day, concern for his future situation, and many unspoken words.

The aristocratic youths watching began to whisper among themselves, the topic quickly shifting from whether Xiao Heng was guilty to what official position the court would give him as a form of appeasement and restraint.

"He's probably a powerful prefect, but he's definitely not in the capital region."

"Perhaps we'll send him to the outskirts of Jiangzhou or Jingzhou, to both utilize his abilities and guard against his influence."

Some with a keen sense of smell have already begun to speculate on Xie An's subsequent arrangements.

Xiao Heng followed the clerk out of the still subtly tense hall.

The afternoon sun was a bit too bright, so he squinted slightly.

He survived the court hearing, but he knew he was being manipulated and couldn't fight back.

He gently moved his wrists, and the shackles were removed.

The sky over Jiankang is never something that can be cleaned up by a single rain shower.