Prime Minister

Chapter 63 [Little Tyrant]

"Beside the broken bridge outside the post station, a lonely flower blooms, ownerless and forlorn. Already dusk, alone in sorrow, further burdened by wind and rain..."

In a courtyard house just across the street from Zhanxue Pavilion, Princess Jiang Li of Yun'an curled up on a recliner, looking at the paper in her hand, and couldn't help but continue reading: "I have no intention of vying for spring's favor, let all the flowers be jealous. Fallen into mud and crushed into dust, only the fragrance remains."

"People often say that poetry expresses one's aspirations and songs express one's feelings, but I feel a different meaning in your poem."

"Perhaps others think you are using poetry to express your feelings and vent your pent-up emotions, which is understandable. But why do I feel that your poem is more like a record of your father's life?"

“Your father… was a true gentleman.”

"However, in the treacherous court, good people often do not live long."

"I hope this is just my imagination."

She stopped talking to herself and folded the paper. Although it wasn't Xue Huai's original manuscript, Jiang Li felt it was still very meaningful.

Just then, Su Erniang strode into the warm pavilion and whispered as she approached, "Your Highness, Qin Zhang from the Zhenyuan Marquis's residence has entered Zhanxue Pavilion with a group of cronies."

To her surprise, Jiang Li simply responded with a light nod, showing no sign of nervousness.

This left Su Erniang puzzled.

Ever since the day the princess's guards rescued Xue Huai, she has watched Jiang Li and Xue Huai grow closer and closer. Because of their cooperation, Jiang Li cares a lot about Xue Huai's safety, so why does she seem indifferent now?

Jiang Li leaned back on the couch and chuckled, "Second Madam, Xue Huai isn't a child. Does that mean I have to follow him around and protect him when he's appointed to an official post in the future?"

Su Erniang hesitated and said, "That's true, but they are, after all, members of the Qin family."

"So what about the Qin family?"

Jiang Li chuckled, then shook her head and said, "You still don't understand. On the surface, Xue Huai is just a scholar who can't even kill a chicken, but in reality, he's thick-skinned, ruthless, and cunning. He will never back down when it's time to fight. Back then, Xue Minglun underestimated his distant nephew. What happened? I bet he regretted more than once on the carriage back to Hedong that he thought he had Xue Huai's mind under his control."

Su Erniang said carefully, "Your Highness is absolutely right. I'm just worried that Qin Zhang will act recklessly if he has a fit of rage."

"If Qin Zhang dares to lay a finger on Xue Huai today, Qin Wanli will break his leg tomorrow."

Jiang Li said calmly, "Today, all the successful candidates of the Gengchen imperial examination have gathered. Anyone who makes a move in this setting would be disrespecting the court. Although Qin Zhang is reckless, he wouldn't be so stupid as to do that. I've thought about it carefully, and it seems that only my fifth brother would dare to do such a thing, but he is currently under house arrest in the Prince's residence, and the Jing'an Division will not let him leave."

Su Erniang was relieved. Actually, she wasn't worried about Xue Huai, but she was afraid that if things got out of hand, Jiang Li would have to rack her brains to calm things down.

Jiang Li paused for a moment, then said softly, "Besides, it's not convenient for me to show up on occasions like today. It's not good for either Xue Huai or me, and it could easily cause unnecessary controversy."

Su Erniang understood, but then doubts arose in her heart.

Since Xue Huai is not in danger today, why did Your Highness make a special trip to the vicinity of Zhanxue Pavilion?

She looked at the folded paper Jiang Li had placed on the table and asked curiously, "Your Highness, is Xue Shidu's poem truly extraordinary?"

"More than extraordinary"

Jiang Li smiled faintly, a glint of light appearing in her eyes: "Within two or three days at the latest, the entire capital will know of Xue Huai's talent. If I had known this would happen, I should have locked him up in the Green Green Villa and made him write more good poems."

Su Erniang originally wanted to make a few teasing remarks, but Jiang Li's next words made her fall into complete silence.

“I remember my second aunt saying that my father and mother loved poetry the most, and that they fell in love over a poem.”

"Anyway, Xue Huai still owes me a debt of gratitude for saving my life. I think he won't mind if I use his poems to comfort my parents."

"In this way, I can say that I have done my part to show my filial piety."

……

Inside the main hall of Zhanxue Pavilion.

Amidst the frowning gazes of a group of young civil officials, several sons of powerful and wealthy families, dressed in fine fur coats and luxurious robes, swaggered in.

The leader was tall and broad-shouldered; he was Qin Zhang, the youngest son of Marquis Zhenyuan, Qin Wanli.

He grabbed the head steward of Zhanxue Pavilion by the collar and dragged him into the hall. He glanced around and said disdainfully, "I thought some big shot had booked Zhanxue Pavilion, but it turns out to be a bunch of poor pedants who only know how to nitpick over words! Aren't you afraid they can't even afford the drinks?"

Before the manager could answer, he released his grip, raised his foot, and kicked the man to the ground.

The kick wasn't very forceful. The steward struggled to his feet and said anxiously, "Young Master, this is the master's decision. How dare I say anything more?"

"Get lost, I'll settle the score with you later." Qin Zhang sneered twice, then walked forward as if no one else was there, going straight to Gao Tingbi's side. Cao Xuan, who was following behind, quickly pulled over a chair, and then stood behind Qin Zhang with the other people.

Seeing such appalling behavior, all the civil officials present were filled with rage.

They had all heard of Qin Zhang's bad reputation, but they never expected him to be so arrogant and domineering.

Although everyone present today is a newcomer to officialdom, with the highest rank being only the sixth grade, they have the Ministry of Rites, the Hanlin Academy, and the Imperial Academy standing behind them. Over the past hundred years of the dynasty, countless high-ranking officials in the cabinet have come from these three departments. Even when Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty heavily relied on military men, the nobles would not dare to bully these departments. Moreover, the status of military merit is no longer what it used to be.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Gao Tingbi forced himself to say, "Young Master Qin, what are you trying to do?"

Qin Zhang didn't even look up at him, and said with his legs crossed, "Don't worry, Gao Xiuzhuan, I'm not here to cause you trouble today, but to see her."

He raised a finger and pointed at Qu Zhaoyun, who stood opposite him with a furrowed brow.

Before Gao Tingbi could continue to smooth things over, Qin Zhang looked at Qu Zhaoyun and said, "Chief Qu, I've been more than kind to you these past few months. The money I've spent at Zhanxue Pavilion could have been used to make a silver figurine of your size! And you, every time, you either make excuses about being unwell or act all mysterious, playing a broken zither behind a curtain, and I can't even see your face! If you treated everyone like this, it would be one thing, but today, with this group of poor scholars putting on airs, you eagerly came out and even offered to sing for them! Do you think I'm a sucker? Huh?"

These words left the civil officials puzzled.

To be honest, they didn't understand why Qin Zhang had suddenly barged in. The two sides rarely interacted, so Qin Zhang's hostility seemed inexplicable.

Only then did they realize that it was related to Qu Zhaoyun.

Gao Tingbi was immediately at a loss. These kinds of jealous rivalries among the sons of powerful families were the most troublesome. He could only explain, "Third Young Master Qin, actually, this matter—"

"Hey Gao, shut up. I'm letting you off the hook for the sake of that Grand Secretary Sun. Don't push me to the point of losing my temper right here."

Qin Zhang directly shut Gao Tingbi down, then looked coldly at Qu Zhaoyun and said, "Isn't Chief Qu supposed to be eloquent? Why is he mute now?"

"Young Master Qin, I have never promised you anything."

Qu Zhaoyun was respectful, but her tone was calm and steady: "A woman of the world like me has long been broken by the ways of the world. How can I be worthy of the appreciation of Young Marquis Qin? I did not take a penny of your expenses at Zhanxue Pavilion in the past. I hope that Young Marquis will forgive me."

"Ah."

Qin Zhang rubbed his hands together and said in a deep voice, "You look down on my money, and you look down on me even more. What a proud and arrogant courtesan you are, still putting on such airs even after falling to the level of a brothel. Just now your head steward said that someone wrote a sentimental poem today, and you lost your soul as soon as you heard it, begging that person to give you the poem."

After he finished speaking, he slowly stood up and walked step by step toward Xue Huai.

Seeing this, Qu Zhaoyun knew something was wrong and without thinking, she stood in front of Qin Zhang.

Qin Zhang stopped, his gaze passing over Qu Zhaoyun and landing on Xue Huai's face. He sneered, "So you're Xue Huai?"

Xue Huai calmly stood up and said indifferently, "Qu Xingshou, you're blocking Qin Sanshao's way."

Qu Zhaoyun's shoulders stiffened, and she turned around, her face full of apology.

Judging from her expression, she clearly did not expect Qin Zhang to suddenly come to Zhanxue Pavilion and involve Xue Huai.

The moment she stepped forward, she had already prepared for the worst. After all, Qin Zhang had a bad reputation, and in his anger, how could he really care about the life or death of a woman of the night?

Seeing Xue Huai's calm demeanor, Qu Zhaoyun could only step aside.

As Qin Zhang led the sons of military families toward Xue Huai, the atmosphere in the hall became extremely oppressive.

At this moment, Xue Huai had a vague premonition that Qin Zhang was ostensibly jealous, but in reality, he might have been targeting him from the very beginning.

The words of advice Shen Wang had given him that day flashed through his mind. Looking at the menacing scions of military families opposite him, he suddenly felt as if someone had brought him a pillow when he was about to fall asleep.

Regardless of whether Qin Zhang came specifically to cause him trouble today, Xue Huai had already made his decision.

Qin Zhang stopped three feet in front of Xue Huai, glanced at the Xuan paper on the table beside him, on which Xue Huai's elegant handwriting was faintly visible, and said with a forced smile, "Xue Shidu, is it? I heard you wrote a good poem today, name your price."

At this moment, someone finally couldn't hold back any longer. Yang Sixiu, the assistant instructor of the Imperial Academy, angrily said, "Qin Zhang, how can you be so insolent! This is an insult to scholarship!"

However, Qin Zhang ignored him completely, staring straight at Xue Huai with his small eyes inherited from Qin Wanli, and continued, "Xue Shidu, I have never liked beating around the bush. Today I am going to buy your poem for Qu Xingshou. I'm sure you won't make me lose face, will you?"

"Young Master Qin is joking. Is there anyone here who could embarrass the youngest grandson of the old lady of the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion?"

Xue Huai calmly picked up the original manuscript of the poem about plum blossoms and slowly said, "As for this poem... since Young Master Qin has been so frank, I won't hide anything. The Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion certainly doesn't lack money, and Young Master Qin is a generous man, but if you're so bold, if you want to buy this poem—"

He looked up at Qin Zhang and smiled, "You're not worthy."

(End of this chapter)