The Emperor, mocked for not enjoying the blessings of family, laughed heartily. Propping his head with one hand, he looked at the audacious Scholar Gu. The scholar, who didn't even have a wife to care for him, dared to mock him for having many children.
"Children are like disciples," Scholar Gu's calm voice was filled with pride and smugness. "It's not about quantity but quality. This old minister has only taken on one disciple, Xiao Yu, yet in less than three years of tutelage, she has already achieved the 'Little Triple Crown'."
What use were those scholars and great Confucian scholars who took on a string of disciples? As for children...
Scholar Gu cast a meaningful glance at the Emperor. "To dispatch fifty to sixty death warriors secretly, you are truly fearless."
Ordinary families wouldn't have so many death warriors, and even if they did, they wouldn't dare to deploy them all. This number of fifty to sixty indicated at least several families acting in concert.
To act so brazenly under the Emperor's rule, there must be a prince backing them. And it wasn't just one or two princes involved; it was likely all the princes, adult or not, had a hand in it. The law doesn't punish the masses.
"I shouldn't have kept you in the Hanlin Academy. Your mouth should be in the Censorate," the Emperor said through gritted teeth.
Eunuch Liu, standing by, kept his head bowed, but his heart was filled with admiration. In the entire Daqing Dynasty, only Scholar Gu dared to mock the Emperor so openly. Even the princes maintained the etiquette of ruler and subject, never daring to overstep.
When the incident in Huaian Prefecture occurred, the Imperial Dragon Guard immediately sent back news. The Emperor, enraged, smashed his cup. However, after calming down, he did not order the Imperial Dragon Guard to investigate.
In the end, it was all self-deception. If the unspoken truth wasn't revealed, peace could still be maintained.
If the investigation were to go all the way, and several princes were involved, it would not only be a royal scandal, but the Emperor would also have no explanation to offer Scholar Gu and the entire court.
"All the world bustles for profit; all the world rushes for gain. This is human nature, Your Majesty need not be so serious," Scholar Gu replied gently. Princes were also human. As long as the Emperor did not establish an heir apparent, the hearts of all the princes and the entire court would remain unsettled, and various schemes and tactics would emerge endlessly.
The Emperor was fifty-three years old, and by rights, he should have established an heir. But the thought of what happened in Huaian Prefecture immediately extinguished this idea.
They couldn't even tolerate a nine-year-old girl, and she had even presented the movable type printing technique to the court. With a little money, they wanted to send her to the border. If the crown prince had such a narrow mind, the Daqing Dynasty would not be far from ruin.
Thinking of this, the Emperor looked at Scholar Gu, who was leisurely drinking tea, and felt a pang of jealousy. "I have neglected the upbringing of the princes over the years, but Wu Yan was raised by my own hands."
Mentioning Yin Wu Yan, the Emperor's dejected mood vanished, and his tone became boastful. "In the entire Daqing Dynasty, I have yet to see anyone who can contend with Wu Yan. I heard that Wu Yan has been guiding your young disciple's studies recently."
"To be old at twenty is to be aged. Your Majesty, Commander Yin should get married," Scholar Gu said slowly, cutting in without hesitation. "People of the same age already have children crawling everywhere."
The Emperor's expression stiffened. He pointed a finger at Scholar Gu, who was seated below him. "My dear minister, shouldn't you reflect on yourself when you say such things?"
Yin Wu Yan was past his prime, but Scholar Gu was already over fifty and still unmarried, only having taken Zhan Feiyu as a young disciple. For him to so righteously urge Wu Yan to marry, the Emperor realized for the first time that his old friend, who was usually radiant and refined, also had a shameless side.
"What was once seen at sea is hard to be water; apart from Wushan, there is no cloud. This old minister's heart is now as still as water," Scholar Gu's face, with its unwrinkled elegance, was serene.
With a cold scoff, the Emperor dismissively curled his lips. "Your words can only fool those sheltered young ladies in the capital. I would rather believe in red rain falling from the sky!"
The Emperor and Yin Wu Yan had known each other for many years, being both ruler and subject, and close friends.
Back then, the Xie family's talented daughter's rendition of "Phoenix Seeking Phoenix" had shocked the capital. To outsiders, it seemed like a mutual affection between a man and a woman, but fate played its tricks, and the talented man and beautiful woman ultimately parted ways.
However, the Emperor knew that the Xie family's talented daughter was indeed smitten with Gu Qingzhou at first sight, but he was indifferent. Otherwise, with Gu Qingzhou's status as a member of the Southern Xuan Gu family and a top scholar in the imperial examinations, why would he worry about not marrying into the Xie family? In the end, it was simply a matter of not putting in the effort.
As if not wanting to spare Scholar Gu any embarrassment, the Emperor took a few sips of tea to moisten his throat and continued, "If you had put even one-tenth of the effort you put into your young disciple into your past relationships, you would surely be surrounded by children now."
The Emperor knew very well how well Scholar Gu treated Zhan Feiyu.
In the past, when any rewards were given, Scholar Gu would accept them casually, whatever the Emperor bestowed. But now, he would pick and choose. For jewelry or trinkets that the young lady liked, those were his top choices.
The storerooms of the Scholar's mansion were also a constant stream of items sent to the Southern Xuan Prefecture. Tsk, tsk, this fatherly affection, the Emperor couldn't bear to watch.
After Scholar Gu left the palace, with the accompanying eunuchs still carrying the gifts bestowed by the Emperor, this news spread, causing envy and jealousy among the various families in the capital.
Study.
"Zhan Feiyu is so arrogant that she almost poked a hole in the sky of Huaian Prefecture, yet not only is the Emperor not pursuing the matter, he even bestowed gifts!" The indignant man, who looked no older than twenty, spoke with a tone full of sourness and unwillingness. "Fortunately, she's a girl. If she were a boy, I would have thought she was the future heir..."
Before he could finish the word "heir," receiving stern warnings from both his grandfather and father, the youth stopped speaking, his face filled with frustration.
"You truly are stupid when I call you stupid!" The middle-aged man glared at his younger son, filled with anger and annoyance at his lack of progress. He was of the same age as Scholar Gu, yet now one was a first-rank Grand Scholar and a trusted minister of the Emperor, while he was only a third-rank侍郎 (attendant official).
He had initially thought, even if Scholar Gu's career was prosperous, what of it? He was alone, while he had three sons and two daughters. His youngest son had passed the provincial examination this year and, with a few more years of study, would surely become a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination).
But now, thinking of Scholar Gu's disciple, and then of his own proud youngest son, the man sighed. Truly, comparing oneself to others leads to death!
The youth, who was being scolded, looked displeased at his strict father, then turned to his grandfather, who was seated in the main seat. "Grandfather, my father can't compete with Scholar Gu, so he finds fault with me everywhere and takes his anger out on me."
He recalled that he had merely gotten into a fight after drinking, and his father had whipped him with a cane, leaving him bedridden for half a month. If he were like Zhan Feiyu, his father would have beaten him to death.
Stroking his white beard, the elder smiled, his face kind and without any trace of sternness or reprimand. "Forty-eight corpses hanging on the city wall. Even if this was the act of a prince, it's likely they wouldn't escape the principle that a prince's crime is the same as a commoner's. Do you think Zhan Feiyu is more noble than a prince?"
Uh... the youth was stunned for a moment. Even if the Emperor favored her out of affection, Zhan Feiyu, an outsider, wouldn't be placed above the princes and princesses in the palace.
Looking at his foolish son, the middle-aged man sneered. "The Censorate hasn't even submitted a memorial. Do you think Scholar Gu can cover the sky with one hand? That's because Zhan Feiyu is not at fault in this matter in Huaian Prefecture!"
As for who was at fault, the Censorate dared not submit a memorial, and the Emperor was whitewashing the situation. Anyone with a brain could guess that the Emperor bestowing gifts upon Scholar Gu was not to shield or indulge Zhan Feiyu, but to compensate and clean up after a group of princes.
After being stunned for a long time and digesting this insider information, the youth smiled obsequiously. "Father, why would those few in the palace have nothing better to do than to pick on a young girl?"
Although Zhan Feiyu was Scholar Gu's disciple and the "Little Triple Crown" of the Southern Xuan Prefecture, no one among the noble families and official families in the capital truly envied her. Who cared if she was a girl? It was dishonorable to compete with a young girl and win.
Looking at his grandson, who was humbly seeking knowledge, the elder smiled and enlightened him. "Scholar Gu is a solitary minister, but Zhan Feiyu is not. Although she is young, she will reach adulthood in a few years. Whether it's the princes in the palace or the eligible young men in the capital, do you think they would stand by and watch Zhan Feiyu marry into a rival family?"
Marrying Zhan Feiyu would mean gaining Scholar Gu's support, instantly consolidating half of the civil officials in the court. And Zhan Feiyu had repeatedly sent money to the military. Even if the military officials wouldn't be as supportive as Scholar Gu, they would still offer protection, at least not becoming enemies.
The youth, who had been indignant just moments ago, turned pale. After a long silence, he murmured, "So, if they can't have it, they'd rather destroy it. This is a life."
Rather than allowing Zhan Feiyu to grow up and marry someone else, it was better to nip the danger in the bud. Moreover, with several princes acting together, Scholar Gu would have no way to retaliate even if he wanted to.
And once Scholar Gu made a move, it would inevitably incur the Emperor's displeasure, as he would be targeting princes, the Emperor's own offspring. Without the Emperor's favor, Scholar Gu would be no threat.
The princes could then place their own people in the position of Grand Scholar of the Hanlin Academy and cultivate their own factions. Whether it was Zhan Feiyu or Scholar Gu, they were obstacles on the princes' path to becoming the crown prince, to be removed swiftly!
The outcome depended on individual ability! Otherwise, with the Emperor holding military power and Scholar Gu leading the civil officials, even if the princes exhausted all their efforts, they couldn't win over capable ministers to serve them. As for those minor officials, recruiting them was useless.
The Emperor's failure to establish an heir unsettled the princes, and their attempt to kill Zhan Feiyu could be seen as a test and an inevitability.
"Zhan Feiyu is quite innocent," the youth said sheepishly. He suddenly understood the meaning of "The tallest tree in the forest will be destroyed by the wind."
The elder nodded in agreement and smiled, asking, "Do you now understand the Emperor's intention in heavily rewarding Scholar Gu? He is compensating and also warning those in the palace."
"Grandfather, the Emperor holds supreme power. Even if those in the palace are anxious, they shouldn't resort to killing innocent people. This is too..." The youth remembered the words "speak with caution." As a subject, he couldn't comment on princes, but his young face was full of disdain and contempt.
"Lack of virtue for their position, that's why the Emperor won't establish an heir," the elder chuckled again.
Perhaps it was a case of the bystander seeing clearly what the participant could not. The princes in the palace were anxious but didn't consider whether they themselves were worthy of the position of crown prince. Their joint attempt to kill Zhan Feiyu was their worst move.
As night fell, the Scholar's mansion was quiet. The lanterns hanging under the eaves and eaves cast a warm and bright glow on the vast residence.
The old housekeeper trimmed the candle wicks, and the study became brighter. "Master, are we not letting the young lady return to the capital?"
"Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. Why stay in this obscure corner?" Without lifting his head, Scholar Gu continued to dip his brush and write.
Throughout the Daqing Dynasty, perhaps only the master dared to call the capital an obscure corner.
Knowing that the old housekeeper was worried about Zhan Feiyu's safety, Scholar Gu put down his brush, placed the letter aside, and pressed it down with a paperweight, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. "Rest assured, those in the palace dared to test us once, but they won't dare a second time, and the Emperor will not allow it."
If they dared to attempt to kill the young girl today, they would surely attempt to harm the Emperor tomorrow. Scholar Gu pondered, recalling the moments he had spent with the Emperor over the years. This one truly deserved to be called a benevolent and wise ruler, but alas, the son did not resemble the father.
After a while, Scholar Gu seemed to have made a decision and picked up his brush again. However, he waited for a full quarter of an hour before writing. The paper contained only one sentence. "Send it to Huaian Prefecture and give it to Yin Wu Yan."
"Yes." A figure emerged from the shadows, took the letter, put it away, and left the study. The dark figure instantly merged with the night.
...
Although ordinary people in Huaian Prefecture were unaware of Yin Geng's status as the eldest son of Emperor Yin, those who needed to know were naturally aware.
Zhan Feiyu's ability to subdue the enemy without fighting scared Yin Geng away, which also led to the small courtyard of Xinglong Inn becoming a forbidden area, with no one daring to visit again.
"The tenth month's wind is clear, the autumn moon is bright; yellow leaves curl on the ground, startling the crows." Beneath the tree, Zhan Feiyu faltered. She looked up at the fallen leaves blown by the wind, her brow furrowed as she continued to ponder the next two lines.
"Alright, fatty, you've been muttering these two lines all morning. My ears are getting calloused," Chong Guang said mockingly, looking at the distressed Zhan Feiyu. "Do you want me to catch a few white cranes and let them fly for you?"
She turned her head abruptly, Zhan Feiyu glared fiercely at Chong Guang, who was sitting on a stone stool. The biggest reason she couldn't write poetry was that Uncle Chong Guang was too noisy.
"I'm going out for a walk. I won't disturb you," Chong Guang said, walking slowly towards the courtyard gate with his hands behind his back. He pretended to chant, "A single crane soars through the clouds in the clear sky, then leads poetic sentiment to the blue heavens. Poetic sentiment, what poetic sentiment..."
Frustrated! Zhan Feiyu raised her hand and plucked the fallen leaves from her hair, then stomped back into the house. "Big Brother, I still don't quite understand the policy question from this morning..."
Inside the room, Yin Wu Yan looked at the little girl who ran in. The tips of her hair, hanging down to her shoulders, swayed, making her fair and tender little face look delicate and cute. She still had a childish air, but Yin Wu Yan knew that in a few more years, she would be graceful and elegant, like a budding flower.
"Ah!" Seeing the letter Yin Wu Yan had put away, Zhan Feiyu stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening instantly. "If I see something I shouldn't, will I be silenced?"
Yin Wu Yan looked helplessly at the little girl, her face full of fear, but her eyes hiding a mischievous smile. He directly handed her the letter he had just put away.
"Hey, are you really going to let me see it?" Zhan Feiyu tilted her head and smiled. She opened the letter and glanced at it. The handwriting was unfamiliar, but it was clearly from a master calligrapher. "To humble oneself and pacify the people is also the Emperor's grace?"
The entire letter contained only this one sentence, seven characters, with no beginning or closing. Zhan Feiyu folded the letter and put it back into Yin Wu Yan's hand. No wonder Big Brother showed it to her; it was completely incomprehensible without any context.