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Dodging and Weaving
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!
On the fourteenth of the eighth month, the day before the mid-autumn palace banquet, the eldest prince Qin Wang got summoned to Ganxi Hall’s study for questioning by Xuan Emperor. Immediately after, he got ordered to study for a hundred days behind shut doors, banquets and court meetings, all not allowed to attend.
And at the same time this news came out, as Qin Wang’s study companion, Wen’an Marquis Manor’s heir, Xun Che, asked for a sick leave, claiming that he got reproached by his father, needing to recuperate for half a month, temporarily unable to enter the palace to serve.
On the surface, these two matters didn’t have any direct connections, just both were extremely sudden.
Qin Wang, as the son of a low-ranking imperial concubine, due to his birth mother dying early, has been continuously raised by the empress’s side. In the years prior to the true di son, the fourth prince, Zhao Wang’s birth, the empress’s care and upbringing towards Qin Wang was just like fostering a true eldest di son, meticulous in every possible way.
And Qin Wang didn’t let down the empress’s expectations either, very diligent since childhood, skilled in both literary and military talents, outstanding in all kinds of ways. Even if afterwards, the empress gave birth to the fourth prince, Zhao Wang, Qin Wang was still who she mainly relied on to compete against Noble Consort Zhu in secret.
At present, the princes were all gradually growing up, the atmosphere in the palace increasingly subtle and sensitive. Qin Wang, who previously had always been dependable in handling matters, suddenly getting reprimanded and confined by Xuan Emperor, never mind the entire court being very shocked upon hearing, their thoughts taking a hundred turns, even Yu old madam, this kind of official family womenfolk, when hearing Yu Bocheng mentioning, all very quickly thought of whether or not this meant that Xuan Emperor’s heart further leaned towards Noble Consort Zhu’s side?
After all, the empress’s own son, the fourth prince Zhao Wang, at present, had just turned eleven, even very weak and sickly since birth. But, Noble Consort Zhu’s second prince, Wu Wang, and third prince, Wei Wang, were both already grown, even each having a bit of a virtuous and talented reputation.
If the exceedingly talented eldest prince, Qin Wang, were to lose Xuan Emperor’s love, the young and sickly fourth prince afraid won’t be able to contend against Noble Consort Zhu’s two sons.
This reasoning, since even the official family womenfolk in the capital can all understand, then how can the empress and Qin Wang not understand? Then, what exactly did Qin Wang do to suddenly anger the usually lenient Xuan Emperor at this time?
That probably just fell on the second strange news——-Xun Che claiming to have gotten reproached by his father, sustaining injuries and needing to recuperate, asking for a sick leave, temporarily unable to enter the palace.
Throughout history, noble families requesting to confer a heir, it was always after the eldest di son came of age or even after marrying, the imperial court examine that the character and reputation have no damage, having upright moral conduct. Only then would the conferment be given.
Like Xun Che’s situation, immediately receiving the official heir position after turning fifteen, it was both the Xun family’s honor, and also an acknowledgement towards Xun Che’s talent and moral conduct.
Moreover, Wen’an Marquis, Xun Nanheng, and his madam, Ming Huayue, ever since marrying, have always been very loving and affectionate, not having concubines and shu children. Below them, there were two sons and a daughter, all di-born, the father benevolent, the children filial, the brothers respectful towards one another. They can be considered a well-known harmonious family in the capital, so how could Xun Che suddenly anger his father, to the extent of asking for a leave from the palace?
Placing these two matters together, in addition to anonymous ‘wise men’ sowing seeds and spreading, it very quickly just penetrated with a certain meaning, and that was that his Highness Qin Wang wasn’t really that deferential and cautious like he appeared on the surface. That modest and strict appearance was all just an act for outsiders to see.
In private, Qin Wang was actually harsh and merciless, having a violent temper, someone that would easily fly into an intense rage, even whipping the people by his side. It was only because of the empress constantly shielding Qin Wang, thus able to be covered up all this time.
Speaking to here, whether it’s the officials and nobles of the court, or the official family womenfolk that heard of this matter, they probably all can come up with an answer inside. Since Qin Wang’s moral conduct in private wasn’t good, then who knows how much the Wen’an Marquis heir, as his study companion, has suffered. This time, it was probably having gotten beaten too ruthlessly by Qin Wang, thus ending up before Xuan Emperor.
As for having gotten punished by his father to the extent of needing to rest at home, it was merely just an excuse to preserve Qin Wang’s face, else if it really was having gotten injured at home, then just pass on a memorandum into the palace to ask for a leave, where would he still need to carry his injuries into the palace to ask for a leave?
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
All in all, Qin Wang sure enough wasn’t enough for the big role. Afraid, in the future, the one that can preside over the world will need to come from Noble Consort Zhu’s Changchun Palace.
Just when everyone in the palace all believed to have solved the case, clearly seeing through the state of affairs, Yu Lingxin sat holding the teacup in hand, listening to her grandmother and father talk, just slightly lowering her eyes, staring at the lightly scented tea in a daze.
This kind of rumor, bringing out this kind of conjecture, sure enough, it was Xun Che’s usual method.
A half real, half fake vine just had Qin Wang pushed from the frontlines of the heated battle for the throne to the rear.
Just, don’t know whether Empress Wen at this time was kneeling before Xuan Emperor begging for forgiveness, saying that she wasn’t strict in educating the son, or flying into a thundering rage in Qin Wang’s Jingning Palace?
Regardless of which, it was all to no avail. It’s precisely because Xuan Emperor was benevolent, and Xun Che’s reputation at present was also good, seeing that body full of horrible whip scars, Qin Wang getting reproached this time was unavoidable. It’s about time Empress Wen come down from the watching the fire burn across the river from atop the mountain.
Noble Consort Zhu was Cihui[1] Empress Dowager’s niece, and because Xuan Emperor was filial, after the empress dowager passed away, not only did he continue preserving the Zhu family, Cheng’en Duke Manor’s glory, towards Noble Consort Zhu, he also favored even more.
In comparison, Empress Wen’s maiden family, Yiyang Marquis Manor, have been away from the center of politics for many years. Even if having the intention to return, it also wasn’t that easy. As for the Zhu family, how was it not necessarily wanting to produce another empress or empress dowager?
In the contest between the imperial consorts, Empress Wen’s most powerful weapon, in the end, was still Qin Wang and Zhao Wang, these two sons.
Qin Wang was the eldest, intelligent and capable, while Zhao Wang was the di son, his benevolence and filial piety like his father. When unable to compete against the Zhu family in terms of family influence, Empress Wen can only put more effort into her sons.
Just, humans ultimately all have selfishness. No matter how the empress scheme and plot, it ultimately wasn’t for the sake of benefiting others. In Tianxu year 17 of the last lifetime, when the third prince Wei Wang got sentenced to death, and the second prince Wu Wang’s position was also in imminent danger, the empress who has been silently enduring for many years finally set her hands on Qin Wang.
And it was also at that time, Xun Che, whose family had already fallen apart, and deeply suffering from poison, using a swift and unyielding stance, directly flattened Yiyang Marquis Manor. The entire manor from top to bottom, over three hundred people, whether male or female, young or old, good or bad, not a single one was spared.
That was also the start of Xun Che’s infamy, the corrupted and vile name that he was unable to escape from all the way until death.
Of course, now, it probably won’t be like this.
Yu Lingxin lightly took a sip of tea. She knew, Xun Che won’t wait until that time.
Through this matter, Qin Wang’s image in Xuan Emperor’s heart certainly will be greatly damaged. If Empress Wen wants to continue maintaining the previous balance, and not let Noble Consort Zhu take advantage of the opportunity to climb up, then she must have her own son, the fourth prince, pushed forward a little.
And the Xun family will also dismantle the close relationship with Qin Wang on the surface, leaving even more room for Xun Che’s next moves.
This guy, sure enough, after suffering a beating, just needed to earn back ten to a hundred times the benefit.
Don’t know whether he has gotten better or not.
Yu Lingxin recalled the sweat on Xun Che’s forehead and neck that day. He really was very much in pain………
“Ling’er?” Seeing her not say a single word this whole time, Yu Bocheng called out to her, “Are you tired?”
Yu Lingxin smilingly shook her head, “Not really, listening to grandmother and father speak is quite nice.”
Yu old madam and Yu Bocheng looked at one another. It was still Yu Bocheng that somewhat hesitantly asked, “Then———do you have any thoughts?”
Yu Lingxin glanced at her grandmother’s questioning gaze, finally understanding that her father was actually asking her thoughts on Qin Wang’s matter this time, blanking for a moment. Actually, right now, her truest thought was just wanting to ask Bai Guo about Xun Che’s condition.
Seeing Yu Lingxin seemingly a bit astonished, Yu Bocheng inwardly thought to himself that he was also muddled this time. His daughter was merely just a thirteen year old young lady of the boudoir. Even if previously on the matter of the Zhu family private school, she had a bit more thoughts, how much insight can she have? How could he really listen to his mother, even asking her.
Just when he was about to let her go back to rest, he saw Yu Lingxin casually have the teacup placed down, “Actually, since father has taken on the imperial tomb’s assignment, then just focus on the project. His Majesty is at the prime of his life. At present, it’s still not the time where even the slightest movement can shake the mountains and rivers. It’s true that the noble consort is the empress dowager’s niece, but her Highness the Empress is modest and benevolent, having no wrongs as a wife, so his Majesty won’t because of Qin Wang blame the central palace. We still can’t get involved with the Zhu family.”
Once these words came out, Yu old madam’s gaze became increasingly complicated, and Yu Bocheng further blanked, “T-this, where did you hear this from?”
Yu Lingxin casually responded, “Last time, at the Xun family poetry gathering, heard the Ming family miss and Xun family miss mention. Qin Wang and the empress’s situation, they are the most clear.”
These words were actually very reasonable. Xun Che was Qin Wang’s study companion, the true cause of this matter, and Ming Jincheng’s fiancee was Empress Wen’s niece. Their younger sisters knowing some inside information, it was also normal.
However, Yu Lingxin also made out her grandmother and father’s shocking expression, responding with a smile, “Actually, wasn’t this what father said before? As a subject, one should be loyal and steady. Father’s words are the most reasonable.”
This kind of vague words, Yu Bocheng for a moment also didn’t know whether he’d said or not, but presumably, based on his personality, he might have said but forgotten, immediately just smiling, “Ling’er is right.”
Yu Lingxin just smiled, no longer saying anything. How was her father really a steady-tempered person. She was merely using these words to urge him. On one hand, it was hoping that her father can steadily focus on the imperial tomb’s project, and more importantly, on the other hand, it was hoping that he won’t because of the current state of affairs, just really consider siding with the Zhu family.
However, in reality, there were plenty of people that were even more restless than Yu Bocheng.
For instance, the day after mid-autumn, Madam Su just visited once again. This time, she even brought along that daughter of hers that was enthralled in poetry, Su Hanwei.
As for the purpose of her visit, it was also very simple and direct. After exchanging the usual greetings, she just took out a pair of pearl hair ornaments as gift, and at the same time, asked Yu Lingxin when attending the Jin Duke Manor poetry gathering next time, whether or not she can have Su Hanwei, this younger cousin, brought along as well to gain some experience.
[1] Cihui is her title, meaning kind and benevolent.
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