sjar Chapter 90 The Wise Man
Chapter 90 The Wise Man
News that Jiang Luan had been punished according to family law had reached the emperor's ears.
Gu Yuan, inside the imperial study, lowered his head and dared not speak.
Outside the Imperial Study, Qin Qi, dressed in loose robes and with a smile on his lips, walked gracefully towards the room.
The eunuch guarding the door saw him and hurried forward, "Your Highness, please wait with me in the side hall for a moment. His Majesty is currently..."
Before the words had even finished, the sound of an inkstone being smashed on the floor came from the imperial study, followed by the emperor's angry rebuke, "You unfilial son!"
The eunuch shrugged and looked up at Qin Qi.
Qin Qi lowered his eyes. "I'll go wait in the side hall first. If His Majesty summons me later, then call me."
The eunuch smiled and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will take you there right away."
Once the two reached a secluded spot, Qin Qi finally spoke, asking, "What happened?"
The eunuch whispered, "Yesterday, His Highness Prince Jing and Miss Jiang were caught in the act at Princess Zhaoyang's residence..."
"Caught in the act?" Qin Qi turned his head curiously. "Isn't Miss Jiang Er engaged? How could she be with His Highness Prince Jing..."
"Your Highness, you are unaware of this."
Knowing that Qin Qi never inquired about such matters, the eunuch whispered, "Some say it was Miss Jiang who bewitched His Highness Prince Jing, while others say it was mutual affection."
Qin Qi frowned. "Then how is Miss Jiang now?"
"This servant isn't quite sure either, but I suppose everything should be alright." The eunuch had only overheard a few words.
Qin Qi smiled helplessly, "That's because I came at an inopportune time today."
The eunuch glanced at him and said, "When I call you later, I'll give you a meaningful look. If it doesn't go well, then you can keep it short."
"Thank you, Eunuch Zhang."
Qin Qi slipped a silver ingot into his hand.
"That's very kind of you."
The eunuch skillfully tucked it into his sleeve. "We all know that there are many officials in the palace, but you are the kindest one."
Qin Qi clasped his hands in a fist and bowed his head, smiling as he said, "It is all thanks to the care of you gentlemen."
The eunuch led him into a side hall, served him tea, and then left.
About half an hour later, Qin Qi finally heard the summons from the Imperial Study.
The eunuch at the door winked at him and secretly waved his hand.
Qin Qi nodded slightly to him and stepped into the imperial study. Gu Yuan passed by him, looking dazed.
The atmosphere inside the Imperial Study was terribly oppressive.
Upon seeing Qin Qi, he composed himself and spoke in a deep voice, "I heard that the Prince Consort has some good news to report to me?"
Qin Qi bowed deeply and stepped forward, saying, "The Empress Dowager's birthday banquet is at the end of the month. The Dean asked me to ask His Majesty if we could lead the outstanding disciples of Bailu Academy to offer our birthday wishes to the Empress Dowager."
Upon hearing this, the emperor's eyes flashed with surprise. "The old dean doesn't like such things, so why is he having such thoughts this time?"
Qin Qi smiled and said, "This matter has to start with His Highness Prince Jing."
"Zilan?"
The emperor sat up, his tone revealing no displeasure, and asked indifferently, "What has he done now?"
Qin Qi raised an eyebrow. "Has His Highness Prince Jing angered His Highness again?"
The emperor snorted coldly.
"He had an affair with a woman he was already engaged to, and it happened in Princess Zhaoyang's residence. He was really audacious."
Qin Qi gasped, paused for a moment, and then said, "Your Highness Prince Jing is young and impetuous, and is certainly not yet enlightened about matters of the heart. I beg Your Majesty to calm down and not let this matter harm your health."
The emperor's eyes turned cold for a moment. "Do you know who he's having an affair with?"
Qin Qi hesitated and said, "This humble subject does not know."
"Jiang Luan, the second daughter of the Marquis of Zhenyuan, has now been punished according to family law."
"Miss Jiang the Second?" Qin Qi looked up in surprise. "Miss Jiang the Second has already been punished according to family rules?"
The emperor's face darkened. "Naturally, it's because of a matter of reputation. This Zilan is even trying to argue. Sigh."
Qin Qi took a breath and said, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, Prince Jing must be tired from working lately and wants to share Your Majesty's burdens. Your Majesty's health should naturally be taken care of."
The emperor said coldly, "You certainly know how to pick the good things to say."
"Your Majesty, I am merely stating the facts." Qin Qi smiled. "Has Your Majesty not heard that good things often come with difficulties? It is precisely because of such misfortune that one can look up and see joy."
"Tell me, what does the birthday celebration at Bailu Academy have to do with Zilan?"
Qin Qi said, "Bailu Academy is borrowing the name this time because it actually wants to write a book for His Majesty and also to enhance the Empress Dowager's reputation."
The emperor paused, then asked, "Hmm?"
"Although the palace has its own daily records and the court has historians to write them down, folk tales are just unofficial historical records and are not worthy of serious consideration. Bailu Academy is certainly not lacking in talented people. If we could gather such people and use the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet as a starting point to record His Majesty's achievements over the years, wouldn't that be an unprecedented event in Yanjing, given the Empress Dowager's virtuous nature?"
Qin Qi spoke eloquently, and the emperor listened attentively, his expression subtly changing.
"Was it Zilan who came up with this idea?" the emperor asked.
He always felt that Gu Yuan was smart, but perhaps a little too smart.
If this was just his own idea, he would hesitate to approach Gu Yuan.
Qin Qi said calmly, "A few days ago, Minister Wen invited me to enjoy the scenery and mentioned that he wanted Bailu Academy to take charge of this matter. I really couldn't refuse, so I discussed it with the dean."
"Did the old dean agree?"
"I dare not deceive Your Majesty," Qin Qi said. "At first, he refused, but I persuaded him many times before he finally agreed."
"What did you say?" the emperor asked again.
Qin Qi's lips curled down, and he sighed softly, "Your Majesty also knows that although Bailu Academy is the top academy, its students have never known the hardships of the world, and they have never even understood the truth of the world. Over time, everyone has become somewhat arrogant. In recent years, most of the disciples who have entered officialdom have found it difficult to achieve good results, and the reputation of the academy has been declining day by day."
"So Bailu Academy wants to take advantage of this?" the emperor asked.
"Of course I wouldn't dare," Qin Qi said. "This matter stems from His Highness Prince Jing's filial piety, and Bailu Academy is merely following the trend."
"It was only through His Highness Prince Jing's sincerity and filial piety that this matter was accomplished."
The emperor glanced at him and asked, "How much did Wen Xiangyu pay you to act as an intermediary for the Dean?"
Qin Qi waved his hands repeatedly, "Your Majesty is joking. I only accepted one tael of Xueya from Minister Wen. I really dare not accept more."
He made a gesture as if to kneel, saying, "Your Majesty knows me. If this matter were not in Your Majesty's interest, I would not dare to interrupt."
"Alright," the emperor called to him.
"Of course I know you, and I understand Zilan as well."
His face remained expressionless as he calmly said, "A scholar's pen, when used well, can be a sword; when used poorly, it can ruin a person's reputation."
Qin Qi lowered his eyes and listened attentively to the reprimand.
The emperor's gaze was complex, and his tone carried a hint of wistfulness. "Zilan is clever, more clever than Zhifu, but compared to Jiyou, she lacks some ruthlessness. I really don't know whether she should be more clever, or..."