Chapter 103 |
Xu Residence.
Xue Letian was happily writing characters on a piece of cloth.
"This is great. This wave of hype was perfectly caught. The milk tea shop is going to make a lot more money."
Qu Dubian was also writing, using artistic, curvy, and rounded fonts that looked very playful, with a little animal drawn at the top, mainly to attract children.
"Of course. Everyone wants to taste milk tea that's even better than the Guanglu Temple's official meals."
In a past life, this would be called riding a trending topic—though not exactly.
They had simply placed an advertisement for their new milk tea variety on that [Idle Chat] sheet of paper, a convenient move.
After all, the public opinion was for the court to see. The common folk below might pay some attention but would forget soon after; what they worried about were still the basics of food, clothing, shelter, and travel.
Having thrown away the [Idle Chat] flyer, the commoners might go buy a cup of milk tea, head to a teahouse or tavern to listen to scholars analyze the matter, and then mindlessly join in the gossip and echo the sentiments.
Xu Tingfeng laughed heartily: "Indeed."
"The east wind has arrived, the storm has begun. Let's see if the First Prince's faction can seize the opportunity."
Qu Dubian wrote the last character and put down his brush: "All done!"
-
The First Prince was so excited he skipped lunch.
After the Ministry of Revenue offices closed for the day, he went directly to the Shu residence to see his father-in-law.
The Vice Minister of Revenue had been waiting for him.
"Your Highness, please sit."
First Prince: "Father-in-law must have heard as well."
Vice Minister of Revenue: "Indeed. Although it's just unsubstantiated rumor, it's enough for the Censorate to impeach for a while. The Minister of Rites will have to explain, which is also troublesome."
First Prince: "How about I have someone propose in court that the Minister of Rites be excluded from overseeing this military examination? That way, Third Brother won't have the chance to recruit those young military talents."
"These are just rumors. After explaining clearly, it won't be a big deal. To stir up a bigger storm, we need concrete charges."
First Prince: "Concrete charges?"
The Vice Minister of Revenue smiled and nodded, taking out a list and an account book from his sleeve.
"The Ministry of Revenue has records of the monthly and annual expenditures for all ministries and courts. There are also some privately investigated instances of bribery and corruption recorded in this account book."
As soon as he heard about the capital's rumors, he began compiling this. He had just finished after office hours.
The First Prince frowned: "But the Guanglu Temple is a lucrative post anyway. Skimming some silver or precious ingredients... it's an unspoken rule everyone knows about..."
Vice Minister of Revenue: "Over the years, Xu Jianyan has spent a lot of silver running around for his disappointing descendants. What he embezzled has long exceeded the limit. Moreover, Your Highness, the reason 'unspoken rules' are unspoken is precisely because they are originally not permitted—they are violations."
"As long as we confirm that Xu Jianyan and the Minister of Rites had monetary dealings—bribery and corruption—coupled with the public opinion, this matter becomes completely different."
First Prince: "Did they have any?"
The Vice Minister of Revenue tapped the account book and smiled slightly, "The account book says they did, so they did."
-
The next day.
Morning court.
The Vice Minister of Revenue impeached the Chief Minister of the Guanglu Temple and the Minister of Rites for having improper financial dealings, on grounds of bribery.
The Censorate impeached the Minister of Rites for allegedly leaking questions for the written test of the military examination, requesting Emperor Chongzhao to reselect the questions before the official start of the military examination's written test.
The First Prince's faction launched an offensive against the Third Prince's faction. Impeachment memorials flew onto Emperor Chongzhao's dragon desk like snowflakes.
The two sides argued fiercely in court, neither yielding.
The conflict between the First Prince and the Third Prince erupted overnight, becoming increasingly hostile and irreconcilable.
Chief Minister of the Guanglu Temple Xu Jianyan trembled with fear. Everyone could see he was just a pawn used to ignite the fire, but no one cared about his fate.
Emperor Chongzhao hadn't slept well for two full days and was furious from reading the memorials.
Either this minister sought an audience, or that minister had private words to say. He had barely closed his eyes for two days, gulping down cup after cup of cold or strong tea, making Chief Eunuch Yu hesitate to speak.
Emperor Chongzhao: "The eldest and the third won't give an inch to each other. If they keep cursing like this, they'll come to blows! The court is in utter chaos."
Chief Eunuch Yu: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
Emperor Chongzhao said coldly: "This court ultimately still belongs to me. The military examination is no child's play. The two of them fighting over it, do they truly think I'm old and lacking in strength?"
"However, the third one's ambition is a bit too great."
Did he want to swallow up most of the promising young men from the military examination?
"Prepare the decree."
Chief Eunuch Yu: "Yes."
-
Soon.
Emperor Chongzhao's decree was issued.
Whether the Minister of Rites was involved in leaking questions required further investigation. The questions for the written test of the military examination would be reselected from the backup set, with the exam officially commencing in ten days.
But the evidence of the Guanglu Temple Chief Minister's corruption was solid.
Xu Jianyan was stripped of his official position, and Emperor Chongzhao ordered him to return to his hometown in retirement.
On the day he was dismissed, he saw Emperor Chongzhao for the last time.
Still unwilling to give up, Xu Jianyan pleaded: "Your Majesty, if I have no merit, I at least have toil. I have managed the Guanglu Temple diligently for you all these years... The conflict between His Highness the First Prince and His Highness the Third Prince has implicated me. I am merely collateral damage, Your Majesty!"
Emperor Chongzhao: "The evidence is laid out plainly. How can I protect you?"
"Considering you helped bring me and Yueqing together back then, I've turned a blind eye all these years to the silver you skimmed. But matters have come to this. You are old now. It's better to return home and enjoy your remaining years in peace. I haven't even demanded you return the embezzled funds."
"Among your lineage, there aren't many outstanding descendants. I will select a better one and appoint him as the county magistrate of your hometown. Afterward, focus on farming and studying for ten or twenty years. If a few who can seriously pursue scholarship emerge, returning to the capital then won't be too late."
His words could even be considered well-intentioned.
It was almost entirely for the sake of Xu Jianyan's past efforts in strategizing to help him and Yueqing unite forever.
But Xu Jianyan could not accept it.
Their Xu family, relying on Xu Jin, had fought their way up step by step from a small place. Finally, after two generations, they had put down roots in the capital. Were they supposed to return to some remote, backwater place now?
The gap was too great, utterly unbearable.
Xu Jianyan wept: "Your Majesty, let this servant stay in the capital to accompany you! I don't seek high office or great wealth, only to remain by your side! I respect and love you!"
"..." Emperor Chongzhao: "If I let you stay in the capital, I cannot justify it to the court officials. One act of favoritism will make a hundred future judgments difficult."
Xu Jianyan crawled forward on his knees: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
"Enough!"
Emperor Chongzhao's voice and gaze turned cold, his expression instantly becoming detached and indifferent.
"Xu Jianyan, I do not wish to withdraw even this bit of sentiment."
Seeing his face, Xu Jianyan felt a chill run through him.
His Majesty had utterly abandoned him to preserve the Minister of Rites.
Although the Minister of Rites was also old and caught in the turmoil, he was the Third Prince's father-in-law.
If he fell, the First Prince's faction would dominate the court, breaking the balance. With the crown prince undecided, His Majesty did not wish to see such a situation.
Therefore, the Minister of Rites could not fall. The one who had to fall was him. He was the concession His Majesty offered.
-
Third Prince's Residence.
"Elder Brother truly has good methods. I knew his straightforward, brainless appearance was an act!" the Third Prince said bitterly. "With one move, he blocked my path to cultivating influence through the military examinations."
The Third Princess Consort analyzed, "The Vice Minister of Revenue has been in the court for many years; perhaps he advised the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince's estate has many retainers. That advisor of his named Dou Shun is also quite talented. The Crown Princess Consort is also an asset. I heard of her literary talent even before we were married..."
"I'm not inferior to him in the first two aspects."
The Third Prince let out a sigh. "As for Eldest Sister-in-law... she's too overbearing. After all these years in the estate, she's only given birth to a daughter and still won't allow Elder Brother to take more concubines. She is far less virtuous than you. Don't think you are inferior to her."
He comfortingly patted the Third Princess Consort's hand and pulled her closer. "Why stand so far away? Don't worry, Father won't do anything to your father. At most, he'll just be cold-shouldered for a while. Once this blows over, he'll still be the Minister of Rites."
The Third Princess Consort said, "Mm, I'm not worried."
The Third Prince placed his palm on her stomach.
"Are you drinking the medicine to regulate your body? Your most important task now is to give birth to Father's grandson, the Imperial Grandson. We must seize the time."
The Third Princess Consort had grown silent and looked much more haggard.
"I know."
The Third Prince narrowed his eyes. "It's just one setback. Let Elder Brother watch and see."
-
Ten days later.
The written exams for the military examinations began.
Qu Dubian and Xi Zixing together saw Xia Fuyang off to the examination grounds.
After completing the outdoor tests like mounted archery and combat, this fellow had tanned a whole shade darker, but he was in high spirits, his eyes shining with a unique brilliance.
At the entrance to the examination compound.
Guards were posted in a large circle, and officials from the Ministry of War patrolled in groups of three.
The level of strictness and formality was no less than that of the imperial civil examinations, though the duration wasn't as long; the military written exams lasted only a day and a half.
Due to the recent public controversy, far fewer dared to make a move during this round of military exams.
Qu Dubian said with a smile, "Do your best. It's the final exam. When you come out tomorrow at noon to rest, we'll celebrate for you in the evening."
Xia Fuyang knew about Xu Cheng inciting the Sixth Prince to cause trouble for him during the military exams. Qu Dubian hadn't hidden it from him.
Because he wasn't sure if anyone would give him trouble during the martial tests besides the written ones, he had informed Xia Fuyang in advance so he could be careful, lest all his years of effort go to waste.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly.
Xia Fuyang also knew about what Qu Dubian had done in collaboration with Xu Tingfeng, but some things couldn't be said now because he considered Xi Zixing, who might later choose to follow another prince, an outsider.
So he just patted Qu Dubian's shoulder and said succinctly, "Thanks, brother."
Qu Dubian said cheerfully, "Save all talk for after the exam. Keep your mind calm."
Xi Zixing added, "Right, don't be nervous at all. When you sleep at night, remember to cover your answer sheets with rain cloth or oiled paper, in case it suddenly rains."
Xia Fuyang said, "Alright, alright, relax. Why are you two acting like my mother?"
Someone at the entrance to the examination compound was shouting:
"Line up to enter for the strip search! Unrelated persons, please leave the vicinity of the examination compound!"
Qu Dubian said, "Alright, we're leaving. You should go in now."
He and Xi Zixing didn't go far after leaving the vicinity of the compound. They watched until Xia Fuyang's figure disappeared inside before turning away.
Qu Dubian sighed, "I'm confident about his martial tests, but the written exam... I don't usually see him read many serious texts. He's read plenty of storybooks though."
Xi Zixing agreed.
Otherwise, the two of them wouldn't have given such detailed reminders.
Xi Zixing said, "A place in the top three is assured."
"However, besides Xia Fuyang's military exams, I've been thinking about another matter recently," he said with a smile, looking at Qu Dubian. "Almost everyone believes the news about the Minister of Rites and Xu Jianyan's casual conversation leaking the military exam questions was spread by the Crown Prince's faction."
"But if it were the Crown Prince's faction's doing, the timing of its release seems rather late. Moreover, they didn't actually gain any advantage from this struggle."
Qu Dubian said, "Seems so. Your analysis is really good."
Xi Zixing stopped walking and looked at him. "I've seen the initial '[Casual Talk]' papers circulated in the streets and alleys. They all came from major bookshops. Others in the capital might not know, but I do—the person who controls the most bookshops has the surname Xue."
Qu Dubian asked curiously, "Oh? Really? What's the connection between the two?"
Xi Zixing stared at him for a few seconds. The Seventh Prince's expression truly showed no flaw.
He wasn't clear about the relationship between Xue Letian and Xu Tingfeng, having only met them a few times during the initial bookshop collaboration to sell storybooks, with no contact afterwards.
But everything seemed a bit too coincidental. All the people the Seventh Prince disliked ended up badly, like the second branch of the Xu family. And the people he valued gained fairer results, like Xia Fuyang.
Xi Zixing started keeping a little notebook on the Seventh Prince because of the heart to protect the common people he displayed during his confrontation with the Duke of Lu.
It's just that the Seventh Prince's poor health and mediocre academic performance were always points deducted in his notebook.
But after spending more time with the Seventh Prince, Xi Zixing always felt a subtle sense of incongruity between that mediocre performance and the prince himself.
This recent public uproar made him suspect something even stranger.
Once the seed of doubt was planted and began to sprout, Xi Zixing hid all his suspicions thoroughly.
He smiled slightly. "It's nothing, just idle talk. Let's head back first. Tomorrow, we can think about what dishes to have when we celebrate for Xia Fuyang."
Qu Dubian walked beside him, secretly wiping a bit of sweat.
Honestly, this guy was quite sharp too.
He shared Xia Fuyang's view: regardless of which prince from his notebook Xi Zixing might later pledge allegiance to, it was better he didn't know about this matter, lest it become a handle against them in the future.
Qu Dubian thought to himself.
Thankfully, he was quick-witted and reacted fast.
Thanks to the acting skills honed over the years dealing with that old fogey.