Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam Chapter 175

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Fraternal Duty and Compassion

T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!

The meaning in these words made Yu Lingxin increasingly bewildered inside. She thought it over again and again, confirming once more, “So, Qi Ke is trying to find out about Wei Wang’s schemes towards Ying’er, even secretly intervening and destroying their plans, thus would take the opportunity to accept Wu Wang’s attempts to rope in him?”

Xun Che sighed, “Possibly. Exactly what this young talented scholar is thinking inside, if he doesn’t say so himself, then I’m unable to entirely assert. But, regardless of the past life or this life, based on Qi Ke’s learning and talent, he doesn’t need to adhere to a prince in order to advance.”

“But…….but even if he learns about it, what can he do? Could it be passing us the news? If Wu Wang or Wei Wang were to find out, how can he still live?” Yu Lingxin continued down this line of thought, her brows also tightly furrowing.

Xun Che didn’t say more, just quietly embracing her, lightly stroking Yu Lingxin’s arm again and again.

Thinking it over, she actually understood too.

Unknown as to when the feelings started, it nevertheless continues to deepen.

Standing from Xun Che and Yu Lingxin’s current standpoint, they naturally knew to keep an eye on and guard against Wu Wang and Wei Wang in secret, going all out in preventing the tragedies of the past life from repeating.

——However, this was all under the premise of having the past life.

In the last lifetime, it’s not like Xun Che didn’t know about Wei Wang’s true nature and certain schemes of the two palaces. However, with just a moment of carelessness, Xun Ying just fell into the endless abyss.

If Qi Ke really did have feelings towards Xun Ying, and through Qi Jue, or Wu Wang, learned that Wei Wang might use some underhanded means against Xun Ying, then taking the opportunity to accept Wu Wang’s offer, entering the tiger’s den to pry for more information, it actually wasn’t too surprising.

“Shenzhi.” Yu Lingxin folded her two hands together to hold Xun Che’s hand, “It’s better to follow your original calculations and take it step by step. Based on Qi Ke’s talent and brain, presumably, he still has a way to protect himself for the time being. If we were to forcibly disrupt the pace on our side, it would instead be not good.”

Xun Che fell silent again, working up his spirit, “Yes, take it step by step. I reckon, the palace should have some movements in these next few days.”

“Are you talking about Changchun Palace or Zhaoyang Hall? Could it be that Li Consort can even beg his Majesty to let Ying’er become Wei Wang’s side consort?” When mentioning the palace, Yu Lingxin’s guard also rose a little.

“That won’t be likely.” Xun Che shook his head. His freezing cold expression also increasingly sharp, “Actually, although Wei Wang is shameless and lustful, his brain is still a bit cunning, unlike those wastrels that just know to mess around. Currently, the Inner Cabinet has brought up the matter of establishing the crown prince. The court officials and his Majesty are all performing taiji, pushing back and forth, mutually sounding out. Even though after sounding out for half a month, it appears as if there isn’t any definite conclusion, but in reality, the direction of the wind still shows. Setting aside those that were completely neutral, and those whose positions were too low, right now, there’s about sixty percent of the court officials that further lean towards his Highness Qin Wang. At least, on the surface, it more or less appears to be this way.”

Speaking to here, Yu Lingxin immediately understood, “So, Wei Wang selecting songstresses with similar appearance to Xun Ying at this time, it appears as if foolishly messing around, but in reality, it’s deliberately trying to give our family trouble?”

“This is the same trick Wei Wang used before in the last lifetime.” Xun Che coldly sneered, “At the time, the political undercurrents although were turbulent, on the surface, everyone still appeared modest. Wei Wang put on a look of being deeply infatuated with Xun Ying, having the stance of only wanting to marry her. Even his Majesty had vaguely asked father before. Wei Wang also let Ruiyang go seduce Cong’er, saying many good things. It appeared as if Wei Wang truly liked Ying’er too much, and perhaps this was also true, but I knew, Wei Wang’s various conduct was also for the sake of driving a wedge between Qin Wang and I, stirring up the state of affairs. If Ying’er or our family really were to sway, then naturally it will be undermining Qin Wang and Qin Wang Manor. Even if our family is unwilling, amidst the various involvements, they can still put out rumors saying that we are swaying between two sides, secretly colluding, and so on. Or perhaps, they can say to his Majesty how our family doesn’t recognize favor, not having him, this heavenly son, taken seriously, and so on. Causing trouble in a chaotic situation was originally just Changchun Palace’s forte.”

Yu Lingxin nodded her head, also adjusting her posture again, leaning even more comfortably in Xun Che’s arms. When lightly sighing, her eyes also gazed out the carriage window.

TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!

The fourth month’s early summer in the capital was already filled with green trees and fragrant flowers, a luxuriant scene. In the streets and market, there were pedestrians and carriages, prosperous and peaceful. However, for the inside and outside of the imperial city, the imperial court from top to bottom, the brewing storm that has amassed was probably right before their eyes.

In reality, just as Xun Che had said, on the eighteenth of the fourth month, two days before the start of this year’s spring exam, the palace sure enough passed on a news that made the court officials endlessly discuss even further. Just, it didn’t come from Changchun Palace, but rather, Zhaoyang Hall———The fourth prince Zhao Wang’s illness, under the circumstances of already turning better, once again worsened. In fact, there was even an imperial physician that said ominous words. Under Xuan Emperor’s shock and fury, all the physicians of the Imperial Physicians Court entered the palace that very night, once again examining.

The next morning, Empress Wen also issued a decree from Zhaoyang Hall, summoning the monks, priests, nuns, and such. All the renowned buddhist masters and daoist priests in the capital, either in the palace, or in their respective monastery or temple, all pray for the fourth prince Zhao Wang.

Actually, given that Zhao Wang has been weak and sickly since childhood, whether it’d be the court officials or nobles, there were still very many that felt that Zhao Wang very likely won’t be able to successfully grow to adulthood. After all, no matter how experienced the doctors were, and how rare and valuable the medicinal ingredients were, mortals ultimately were unable to oppose fate. For dynasties and generations, there have always been many imperial princes and princesses that have died prematurely. More than half among them actually weren’t because of the conflicts in the imperial harem. Majority of the times, it was just the heavens not blessing with a long life, most likely having some illness that didn’t get cured, thus dying of an illness.

However, the situation this time was somewhat peculiar, because Empress Wen’s actions already exhibited a mother’s anxiety that was nearing despair, and Xuan Emperor’s emotions also got led along completely. On one hand, it was the love of a father towards one’s youngest son, and on the other hand, perhaps it was also because for many years in the past, Xuan Emperor has always favored Changchun Palace, as well as the second prince and third prince, thus somewhat neglecting his youngest son the fourth prince, so in this moment of life and death, he produced a bit of guilt.

In any case, under this kind of emotion, during the court meeting on the nineteenth of the fourth month, Xuan Emperor was in an extremely rare irritable mood, even lashing out at Qin Wang and Wu Wang who have currently started listening in on the court meetings in front of everyone, criticizing his two older sons, as the older brother, they weren’t the least bit concerned towards their younger brother, not having benevolence and brotherly feelings.

Although the court officials all knew that Xuan Emperor was irritated inside, merely taking his anger out on the two princes, but in this moment, the two princes could only kneel and humbly apologize.

Just, Qin Wang’s and Wu Wang’s temperament ultimately differed greatly. In this moment of humbly apologizing, their words and attitude were also completely different.

Qin Wang for the most part can be said to be clearly showing a formal attitude. After kneeling down, his words were also extremely simple, “Imperial father, please quell your anger, this son was wrong. In the future, certainly will care more for fourth younger brother.”

However, on Wu Wang’s side, unknown as to whether he’d already predicted, or really had this kind of eloquence, in merely a few breaths after kneeling down, he unexpectedly was already somewhat choking with emotions, “Imperial father is extremely right to lecture. This son truly is very despicable, very rarely visiting fourth brother these days. But, ever since this son heard that fourth brother fell ill, this son has actually been very worried the whole time. This son’s consort mother has also been praying day and night because of this, eating a vegetarian diet and copying sutras——” Speaking to here, his tears just fell.

Afterward, it was further a flowing lengthy speech. Not only expressing that he and his mother Li Consort, younger brother Wei Wang, as well as his wives and concubines in the manor, were all piously praying for Zhao Wang, he even took the opportunity to vaguely express that the reason he didn’t go visit previously was somewhat because of avoiding suspicions, but now, he naturally will correct his past mistakes and will definitely go to take care of Zhao Wang personally, letting the ill Zhao Wang know that his older brother also loves him, cares for him, and so on.

Although, after he completely finished talking, it made certain officials, such as the Prime Minister Ying Duke, Marshal Yan of the Central Secretariat, and them, all twitch in the face, but there were naturally also quite a few officials that took the opportunity to follow along, praising the second prince for being compassionate and having fraternal duty, similar to Xuan Emperor in temperament, as well as how the fourth prince certainly will be blessed by the heavens, averting disaster, and so on.

Xuan Emperor naturally was also somewhat moved. Although he didn’t say anything about Qin Wang, but when court ended, he was much more amiable towards Wu Wang.

Amidst this kind of restlessness, the spring exam of Tianxu year 15 carried out in a rather low profile. After all, after the three rounds of examination^[1], all the passing candidates still need to go upon the imperial hall where Xuan Emperor will personally issue the exam question, only then will the successful candidates be picked for the top three. But, given Zhao Wang’s condition, in addition to Xuan Emperor being irritable lately, even the exam candidates were all very apprehensive towards this year’s spring exam as well as the palace exam.

However, fortunately, in the following few days, unknown as to whether it was Changchun Palace’s vegetarian diet and sutras that Wu Wang mentioned really having an effect, or the prayers from the terrified friends and relatives of all the imperial physicians in the Imperial Physicians Court finally reaching the heavens, Zhao Wang ultimately got through the most dangerous period, his life not being in any danger for the time being. Just, he still would cough up blood and also extremely weak, still needing to continue recuperating in bed.

Xuan Emperor also finally relaxed a breath. After praising and rewarding Wu Wang who’d watched over in Zhao Wang’s Jiasi Hall for several days in a row together with him, Xuan Emperor finally ordered the cabinet ministers to draft the exam questions, managing to complete the palace exam despite being unbearably exhausted.

And facing the vigilant exam candidates, Xuan Emperor didn’t even have the interest to ask a few more words, merely just sitting for a while, and afterwards, ordered the cabinet ministers to discuss the rankings, picking out this year’s top three, and then rewarding as per usual practice. Afterwards, it was handed to the Ministry of Appointments to arrange the posts and so on.

Very soon, it was the end of the fourth month. While the weather was becoming blistering hot more and more, the bedridden Zhao Wang got inflicted with a few more new symptoms. Even Empress Wen practically fell ill due to anxiety and worry. Inside Zhaoyang Hall and Jiasi Hall, aside from the dense medicinal scent filling the air, the spiraling incense smoke from the various rituals were also unending.

Xuan Emperor naturally also became haggard and thin along with, as well as the second prince Wu Wang, who has increasingly exhibited his ‘compassion and fraternal duty’ in this half month. Upon the court, the father and son pair even similarly carried dark circles under their eyes.

And not at all surprising for the court officials, during the court meeting on the thirtieth of the fourth month, Qin Wang once again got reprimanded by Xuan Emperor, because in the past half month, he’d only entered the palace to visit Zhao Wang twice. And Qin Wangfei Ming Jinrou further had only went once, far from Wu Wangfei Qi Pei who practically went everyday, as well as Wei Wangfei Wen Ruoqiong who although immediately fell ill after going once, still insisted on going again.

Just, in this moment, Qin Wang’s apology was even more brief than last time. At the same time, he also handed up a memorandum, “As stated in the fourth month’s military report, the army provisions and supplies sent to the Chen province from the northwest region all have rot and damage. And as Chief Secretary Xun reported previously, it also mentioned the northwest’s hollow defense and slacking in training the soldiers. Afraid, there’s the suspicion of failing their duty. The Yan province and Liang province’s northwest border is the shared border between North Rong and West Di. Yan province’s military horses, and the Liang province’s army provisions and ironware, all affects the Chen province army and Yu province army, these two garrisons’ backup reserve and power. This son isn’t talented, but willing to head to the northwest to investigate clearly, purging Great Sheng’s northwest of future dangers, asking your Majesty to please permit.”

While Xuan Emperor was irresolutely muttering to himself, Xun Che also went forward a step, “This subject believes that your Majesty’s family affairs admittedly is a matter of the country, but the military needs of the northwest and the stability of the Chen province are also your Majesty’s affairs. Since your Majesty’s domestic affairs in the capital have his Highness the virtuous and compassionate Second Prince carrying out the duties of an older brother, then for the military affairs of the country, please let his Highness Qin Wang share the burdens for your Majesty.”

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[1] The spring exam, aka the metropolitan civil service exam, is carried out over 9days, with three rounds of examination lasting three days each, and the examinees have to stay inside their respective testing shack for all 9days. There’s a reason why a lot of candidates end up passing out or even dying during the exam.

Although the imperial exam differed from dynasty to dynasty, the spring exam was the system started during the Tang dynasty. Afterwards, the autumn exam and spring exam system became the standard and continued to be used in later dynasties. This system that started in the Tang dynasty didn’t abolish until 1905, lasting over 1300 years.

Another point to mention is that the spring exam is usually held in the second month, then the passing candidates can wait to take the palace exam two months later in the fourth month, although a lot of novels tend to squeeze these two exams together back to back within days of each other, which honestly is quite stressful to think about. The palace exam final results is where the top scorer (zhuangyuan), eye of notice (bangyan), and flower snatcher (tanhua) titles come from. The first place of the metropolitan exam is actually called the huiyuan. There’s a famous title called the ‘three board first place’ aka 3 yuan, which refers to a candidate that has scored first place in the regional exam (autumn exam), metropolitan exam (spring exam), and palace exam, because the title for first place of these three exams is respectively jieyuan, huiyuan, and zhuangyuan.

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