Chapter 1291:Words
“Daoist Qi Xuansu, please sit.” Sage Qingwei said, using a very formal form of address that made Qi Xuansu somewhat nervous.
As one of Qi Xuansu’s former superiors, Sage Qingwei was perfectly entitled to address Qi Xuansu by his full name. Most people had experienced something similar. When parents called out their full name, it usually meant something unpleasant was about to happen.
Qi Xuansu replied solemnly, “Yes, Sage Qingwei.”
Then, he took a seat in the chair opposite the Omniscient Sage.
Sage Qingwei was itself an honorific, though it was used so often that people sometimes mistook it for a personal name. Qi Xuansu certainly could not address him as Li Wugou or Brother Zhi Qing, as that would be far too presumptuous.
Sage Qingwei did not exchange pleasantries and went straight to the point. “You don’t quite understand why I asked you to come today, do you?”
Qi Xuansu replied, “I have some guesses, Sage Qingwei.”
Sage Qingwei asked, “Have you heard some rumors?”
Qi Xuansu fell silent. Sage Qingwei did not urge him, allowing him to think about how to answer.
In the brief silence, only the sounds of turning pages and brush touching the paper could be heard as Sage Qingwei continued reviewing official documents.
Qi Xuansu finally decided to answer honestly, “Sage Qingwei, I have indeed heard some rumors, though I cannot confirm whether they are true.”
“Tell me exactly what you’ve heard. You don’t need to say who told you,” Sage Qingwei said, his gaze still fixed on the documents before him.