063 [The Little Tyrant]

"By the crumbling bridge outside the post station, alone and neglected she blooms in desolation. Already the twilight brings sorrow unshared, and now come the wind and the rain..."

In a courtyard just one street away from the Viewing Snow Pavilion, Princess Yun'an, Jiang Li, curled up on a recliner. Gazing at the piece of paper in her hand, she could not help but continue reciting: "Without a thought of vying for spring, she yields to the jealousy of all flowers. Trampled into mud, reduced to dust, only her fragrance remains as it was."

"People often say that poetry expresses intent and song vents emotion, but I sense a different meaning altogether in this *ci* poem of yours."

"Perhaps outsiders think you are merely borrowing verse to express your feelings and ease the pent-up frustrations in your chest—that would make sense. Yet why do I feel that this poem is more like a chronicle of your late father's life?"

"Your late father... truly deserved to be called a gentleman."

"However, in the treacherous and deceitful imperial court, good men rarely live long."

"I hope this is just my imagination."

She stopped speaking to herself and folded the paper. Although this was not Xue Huai's original manuscript, Jiang Li felt it was equally memorable.

At that moment, Su Erniang walked briskly into the warm chamber, approached closely, and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, Qin Zhang from the Marquis of Zhenyuan's estate has brought a group of bad company into the Viewing Snow Pavilion."

To her surprise, Jiang Li only responded with a calm murmur, showing no trace of tension whatsoever.

This left Su Erniang feeling baffled.

Ever since the princess's guards had rescued Xue Huai that day, she had watched with her own eyes as Jiang Li and Xue Huai grew increasingly close. Because of their cooperation, Jiang Li cared deeply about Xue Huai's safety, so why did she appear so indifferent now?

Leaning against the couch, Jiang Li chuckled lightly. "Erniang, Xue Huai is not a child. Must I follow behind him to protect him every time he is sent out to serve as an official elsewhere in the future?"

Su Erniang hesitated. "That may be so, but after all, that man belongs to the Qin family."

"And what of the Qin family?"

Jiang Li sneered, then shook her head. "You still haven't figured it out. On the surface, Xue Huai is a frail scholar with no strength to truss a chicken, but beneath that, he is thick-skinned, cold-hearted, and ruthlessly clever. When it is time to fight for his life, he never retreats. Back then, Xue Minglun underestimated his distant nephew—and what was the outcome? No doubt that in the carriage returning to Hedong, Minglun regretted more than once that he had presumed to control Xue Huai's mind."

Su Erniang weighed her words. "What Your Highness says is very true, but I am simply worried that Qin Zhang will throw a reckless tantrum and lose all sense of proportion."

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

Jiang Li said calmly, "Today, the newly minted imperial scholars of the Gengchen cohort have gathered together. Whoever starts trouble on an occasion like this is trampling upon the face of the imperial court. Although Qin Zhang is unruly and lawless, he is not stupid enough to go to that extreme. I have thought it carefully through, and it seems only the Fifth Imperial Brother would dare do such a thing, but he is currently confined to his manor, and the Jing'an Division will not let him leave."

Only then did Su Erniang feel at ease. Actually, she was not really worried about Xue Huai; she was merely afraid that if things became too chaotic over there, Jiang Li would end up having to exhaust herself planning and managing the aftermath.

Jiang Li fell silent for a brief moment, then said softly, "Besides, on an occasion like today, it is not very convenient for me to show my face. It would be bad for both Xue Huai and me, easily provoking unnecessary gossip."

Su Erniang understood, yet another doubt arose in her mind.

Since Xue Huai would be in no danger today, why had the Princess specifically come to the vicinity of the Viewing Snow Pavilion?

She looked at the folded paper Jiang Li had placed on the desk and asked curiously, "Your Highness, is this poem by Reader Xue truly extraordinary?"

"More than just extraordinary."

Jiang Li smiled faintly, a gleam of light appearing in her eyes. "Within two or three days at the latest, the entire capital will know of Xue Huai's talent. Had I known earlier, I should have kept him locked away in the Verdant Retreat and made him write a few more fine poems."

Su Erniang had originally intended to make a lighthearted tease, but Jiang Li's next words plunged her into complete silence.

"I remember Erniang saying that Father and Mother loved poetry above all else, and that they pledged their hearts to each other over a single poem back then."

"In any case, Xue Huai still owes me a debt of gratitude for saving his life. Using his verse to comfort the souls of my parents, I imagine he wouldn't mind."

"In that way, it can also be considered fulfilling a fraction of my filial duty."

...

Inside the main hall of the Viewing Snow Pavilion.

Amidst the frowning gazes of a crowd of young civil officials, several young aristocrats dressed in light furs and luxurious robes swaggered insolently in.

The leader, broad-shouldered and tall, was none other than Qin Zhang, the youngest son of the Marquis of Zhenyuan, Qin Wanli.

With one hand, he grabbed the collar of the chief steward of the Viewing Snow Pavilion, dragging the man into the center of the hall. Glancing around disdainfully, he sneered, "I wondered what grand personage had booked the entire Viewing Snow Pavilion, only to find a bunch of penniless scholars who only know how to bicker over words! Aren't you afraid they can't even afford their wine bill?"

Before the steward could reply, Qin Zhang released his grip and kicked the man to the ground.

The kick lacked brute force, and the steward struggled to his feet, saying with utmost anxiety, "Young Marquis, this was the master's decision. How could this humble one dare to talk back?"

"Get lost. I'll settle accounts with you later."

Qin Zhang sneered twice, then strode forward as if no one else was present, walking straight toward Gao Tingbi. Cao Xuan, following closely behind with sharp eyes and quick hands, pulled over a chair, while several others stood guard behind Qin Zhang.

Witnessing such boorish and arrogant behavior, every civil official present felt anger rise from the depths of their hearts.

They had all heard tales of Qin Zhang's notorious reputation to varying degrees, yet they had never expected him to be arrogant and despotic to this extent.

Although everyone gathered here today consisted of newcomers to officialdom—the highest ranking being only a proper sixth rank—they stood backed by the Ministry of Rites, the Hanlin Academy, and the Imperial Academy. Over the past century of the dynasty, countless cabinet ministers had emerged from these three offices. Even during the Taizong era when martial officials were heavily favored, the nobility never dared to bully these offices, let alone now, when the status of the military aristocracy had long fallen far below what it used to be.

Before everyone's watchful eyes, Gao Tingbi braced himself and said, "Third Young Master Qin, what is the meaning of this?"

Without even raising his eyes to look at him, Qin Zhang crossed one leg over the other and drawled, "Compiler Gao, rest easy. Today I am not here to find trouble with you, but with her."

He raised a single finger and pointed across the room at Qu Zhaoyun, who stood frowning.

Before Gao Tingbi could continue smoothing things over, Qin Zhang looked at Qu Zhaoyun and said, "Head Courtesan Qu, this young master has treated you with the utmost forbearance these past few months. The silver I've spent at the Viewing Snow Pavilion could be used to cast a silver statue shaped exactly like you! And yet, how do you repay me? Every single time, you either make excuses about feeling unwell or put on a mysterious facade, playing your wretched zither behind a curtain so this young master can't even see your face! If you treated everyone else this way, it would be one thing, but today, when this rabble of destitute scholars puts on airs, you eagerly rush out and even volunteer to sing for them! Do you take this young master for a fool? Eh?"

These words left the crowd of civil officials astonished.

To be honest, they had also been baffled as to why Qin Zhang had suddenly barged in with hostile intent. Normally, the two sides had virtually no interaction, making Qin Zhang's animosity completely inexplicable.

Only now did they understand that it was related to Qu Zhaoyun.

Gao Tingbi's head instantly pounded; disputes over romantic affections among aristocratic scions were the most troublesome to handle. He had no choice but to explain, "Third Young Master Qin, actually this matter—"

"Shut your mouth, Fourth Gao. Out of respect for Grand Academician Sun, I am sparing you. Don't force me to turn hostile on the spot."

Qin Zhang cut Gao Tingbi off bluntly, then glared coldly at Qu Zhaoyun. "Aren't you quite eloquent, Head Courtesan Qu? Why have you been struck dumb now?"

"Young Marquis Qin, this humble woman has never made any promises to you."

Qu Zhaoyun's posture was respectful, yet her tone remained calm and steady. "A woman of the dust and mire like me has long had her spine broken by the ways of the world; how could I ever be worthy of Young Marquis Qin's appreciation? All your past expenses at the Viewing Snow Pavilion were not charged a single penny by this humble woman. I sincerely hope the Young Marquis will calm his anger."

"Ha."

Qin Zhang rubbed his hands together and said in a deep voice, "You look down upon my silver, and even more upon the person I am. What a lofty and arrogant Head Courtesan Qu, maintaining such airs even after falling into a pleasure quarter. Just now, your chief steward said that someone wrote a pretentious poem today, and the moment you heard it, you lost your soul and begged that person to gift it to you."

With that, he slowly stood up and walked toward Xue Huai step by step.

Seeing this, Qu Zhaoyun inwardly cursed and instinctively stepped into Qin Zhang's path.

Qin Zhang halted, his gaze passing over Qu Zhaoyun to land on Xue Huai's face as he sneered, "You must be Xue Huai?"

Xue Huai rose calmly and replied evenly, "Head Courtesan Qu, you are blocking Third Young Master Qin's way."

Qu Zhaoyun's shoulders stiffened. She turned back to look at him, her face full of apology.

Judging by her expression, clearly even she had not anticipated that Qin Zhang would suddenly appear at the Viewing Snow Pavilion and implicate Xue Huai.

The moment she stepped forward, she had already prepared herself for the worst. After all, Qin Zhang's notorious cruelty was well known; when angered, how could he possibly care about the life or death of a courtesan?

Seeing Xue Huai's composure, Qu Zhaoyun had no choice but to step aside.

As Qin Zhang and his retinue of military scions closed in on Xue Huai, the atmosphere in the hall grew heavily oppressive.

At that moment, Xue Huai faintly sensed a premonition: on the surface, Qin Zhang was merely fighting over a woman, but in reality, he might have been targeting him from the very beginning.

He recalled Shen Wang's pointers from a few days ago, then looked at the aggressive group of military scions before him. Suddenly, he felt as though someone had handed him a pillow just as he grew drowsy.

Regardless of whether Qin Zhang had deliberately come to pick a fight with him today, Xue Huai had already made up his mind.

Qin Zhang stopped three feet away from Xue Huai. Glancing at the sheet of Xuan paper on the nearby table, where Xue Huai's elegant handwriting was faintly visible, he smiled a cold, mirthless smile and said, "Reader Xue, is it? I heard you wrote a fine poem today. Name your price."

At that, someone finally lost control. Yang Sixiu, an assistant professor at the Imperial Academy, raged, "Qin Zhang! How dare you be so insolent! You utterly disgrace scholarship!"

Yet Qin Zhang ignored him completely. His small eyes, inherited from Qin Wanli, stared fixedly at Xue Huai as he continued, "Reader Xue, I am a man who dislikes beating around the bush. Today, I am here to buy this poem from you on behalf of Head Courtesan Qu. I assume you won't make me lose face, will you?"

"Third Young Master Qin jests. Is there anyone present who could possibly make the most beloved youngest grandson of the Marquis of Zhenyuan's esteemed matriarch lose face?"

Xue Huai calmly picked up the original manuscript of the plum blossom poem and slowly continued, "As for this poem... since Third Young Master Qin has spoken with such candor, I cannot afford to be secretive either. The Marquis of Zhenyuan's estate is certainly not short of silver, and the Third Young Master is a man of extravagant wealth. However, please forgive my bluntness—if you wish to buy this poem—"

He raised his eyes to meet Qin Zhang's gaze and smiled faintly, "You are not worthy."