bullyxtreme Chapter 41 Shifting the Blame to the Jia Family
Chapter 41 Shifting the Blame to the Jia Family
According to palace custom, after the dragon boat races in the Western Garden, the emperor would accompany the empress dowager to the Southern Terrace to watch a play and have dinner. However, the emperor was unhappy and went straight back to the Qianqing Palace.
Emperor Yankang did not review the memorials, but stood by the window, gazing at the setting sun in a daze.
Footsteps sounded, and Dai Quan entered, saying softly, "Your Majesty, the investigation in Jinling has been completed. The Jinling Prefect, Zhao Chongjian, is law-abiding and has done nothing wrong, except for his regular visits to the Shuyu Academy to listen to music and learn opera."
Emperor Yankang regained his senses, turned around and walked to the dragon throne, sitting down. He lightly tapped his fingers on the imperial desk: "Since some people want to transfer him to the capital, I will grant their wish. I approve the Ministry of Personnel's request to transfer Zhao Chongjian to the capital and appoint him as the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture."
He picked up his teacup and took a sip. "Still no leads from the canal boatmen?"
Dai Quan bowed and replied, "We can't find even the slightest clue; this is even more suspicious."
Emperor Yankang nodded: "If we can't find anything in the south, then we'll start the investigation from the capital. Understand?"
Dai Quan nodded in agreement, then whispered, "News has come from the Rongguo Mansion that Zhen Yingjia has come to pay his respects to the Grand Madam, expressing his intention to form a marriage alliance with the Prince of Nan'an's Mansion."
"The Prince of Nan'an's Residence..."
Emperor Yankang slowly stroked the armrest of the dragon throne with his fingertips. "The Prince of Nan'an has indeed raised a fine son. He is skilled in horseback riding and archery, and is also knowledgeable in military strategy. He has a worthy successor!"
Dai Quan understood the emperor's unspoken meaning: if the descendants of the Prince of Nan'an's family were outstanding, the court would be unable to reclaim military power in the southern borderlands. If the Prince of Nan'an's family were allowed to govern and manage the region for generations, in a few decades, the people of the southern borderlands would likely only know of the Prince of Nan'an's family and not recognize the court.
Furthermore, the fact that the heir of the Prince of Nan'an intends to marry the second daughter of the Zhen family is far more complex than it appears on the surface.
"How is Prince Bei Jing?" Emperor Yan Kang suddenly asked.
Dai Quan was slightly taken aback, but immediately understood: "The Prince of Bei Jing is good, a scholar."
Emperor Yankang remained silent for a moment: "As the saying goes, it is better to tear down ten temples than to ruin one marriage."
Having served as master and servant for decades, Dai Quan naturally understood the emperor's thoughts.
The emperor did not want to gain a bad reputation for forcibly breaking up a marriage, nor did he want to discourage the Prince of Nan'an's family because of this matter, causing a rift between the emperor and his ministers.
Dai Quan thought for a moment and said, "How can the Crown Prince's wife compare to the Princess Consort's nobility? Prince Bei Jing is gentle and refined, with excellent learning and character. It's a rare and good match, and Lord Zhen will surely be happy with this marriage. Today is the Dragon Boat Festival, so the Jia family certainly won't be going to the Prince of Nan'an's residence... This old servant will personally go tonight to convey the message to the Imperial Physician..."
"Someone will go to the Prince of Bei Jing's residence tomorrow to act as a matchmaker."
Emperor Yankang nodded and added, "I will reward him handsomely after this matter is over."
......................
When the Imperial Guard Martial Arts Academy was first established, it was specifically for training the sons of noble and military families, so the academy was located directly in the western part of the city.
Liu Feng lived in the eastern part of the city, separated from the Forbidden City. He hadn't managed his time well and arrived late. He had expected to be punished by the teacher for being late to school, just like in his previous life. Unexpectedly, when he arrived, he was the first one there besides the teachers.
In the huge school, Liu Feng was the only student, and three old teachers were sitting around his desk. How pitiful he looked!
Liu Feng's mind was buzzing, and his forehead was covered in sweat. He was afraid that his teacher's bad habits would also lead him through this time.
The bell finally rang, signaling the end of get out of class.
As soon as the three old gentlemen left, Liu Feng grabbed his books and fled as if he were running away. He ran all the way until he burst out of the alley and stopped to catch his breath. It was too damn scary!
Liu Feng squatted down against the old locust tree, and only then did he hear the old man talk about the current state of martial arts in the capital, realizing that martial arts had long been a mere formality.
After the Hoongui clan was wiped out by the retired emperor, it wasn't until a few years ago when the emperor issued an edict ordering all Hoongui's sons to attend martial arts schools to study and practice martial arts that the clan regained some popularity, but no one really paid attention to it.
These young men were all just going through the motions, never coming in the mornings, only coming in the afternoons to casually practice riding, archery, swordsmanship, and spear fighting, treating it as a form of leisure and exercise.
In short, the nobles were disheartened and afraid.
As for military examination candidates, the emperor needed to rely on civil officials after ascending the throne, so he stopped the military examinations long ago.
Liu Feng felt a headache whenever he thought of what the old gentlemen had said.
The original owner of this body was literate, but not very literate; he could barely understand vernacular Chinese. However, military books were all written in difficult parallel prose and ancient sentences, mostly in traditional characters, which Liu Feng couldn't understand at all.
The old man said that either you should come to the school to learn to read and write from scratch, or you should hire a tutor at home.
Coming to the school is out of the question, I'd rather die than come. There are several old teachers surrounding me every day, it's terrifying!
After resting for a while, Liu Feng got up and packed his books, planning to go home and have Xiangling sew him a schoolbag. At sixteen, he was of school age.
Holy crap, the horse wasn't led!
Liu Feng, clutching his books, walked back, grumbling and cursing.
From afar, I could see several young men in brocade robes chatting idly by the hitching post.
Liu Feng tiptoed over and hid in the corner to eavesdrop.
"...Were you also forced to come by your fathers?"
"That's right! I was still sleeping with my little maid when the old man dragged me out of bed, saying that shooting willow branches yesterday was embarrassing..."
"Same to me. My old man threatened that if I fail to hit the target within a month, he'll break my legs."
Liu Feng curled his lip. What shooting willows? It was clearly just a preemptive move to curry favor with the emperor, who had figured out that the emperor intended to reinstate meritorious officials.
Hey, aren't you scared now?
Another group of people arrived.
"Oh, Brother Liu is here too!"
"Second Brother Chen! Second Brother Wang..."
Liu Feng almost burst out laughing. They're all number two!
"Brother, you got a mediocre result yesterday. If you manage to win the heart of your sweetheart, you'll have to treat us to drinks!"
"fart!"
"What's wrong?"
"I just heard that the Dowager Lady of Rongguo Mansion personally went to the Prince of Beijing's residence to act as matchmaker."
"The Prince of Bei Jing's residence? Wasn't it supposed to be the heir of the Prince of Nan'an..."
"This is going to be interesting!"
"That's right. The Jia family and both families are old friends. They knew that the Prince of Nan'an's mansion had designs on them, yet they still insisted on interfering and stirring things up... Hmph~ Hmph~~"
Liu Feng frowned, not because he was worried about the Jia family getting into trouble, but because Shui Rong had married the second daughter of the Zhen family, giving him a significant advantage. If the enemy was indeed him, things would be even more difficult to deal with in the future.
"Brother Liu, I'm hosting a banquet in a few days. I'd like to trouble you to come on stage and sing a couple of songs."
"No problem, no problem."
His surname is Liu, he is the second son, and he can also sing opera. Could he be Leng Erlang?
Liu Feng peeked out and thought, "Holy crap, is there no justice in this world? This guy is nothing like a man!"
After the group of young masters entered the courtyard, Liu Feng went forward to lead his horse home.
......................
It was so hot that Liu Feng was covered in sweat when he got home.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, Liu Quan came over and handed him two gift lists: "Second Master, the Ning and Rong mansions sent people early this morning to deliver congratulatory gifts."
Liu Feng tucked the book under his sleeve, took it, and glanced at it. There was nothing special about it; it was just some local products and fabrics from the capital.
Liu Quan added, "The steward of Rongguo Mansion also brought a message that his Second Master Lian will personally come to invite you in a few days."
Liu Feng nodded and walked straight into the hanging flower gate.
The cicadas were chirping loudly in the tree. Liu Feng kicked one of them, and it immediately fell silent.
After lifting the bamboo curtain and entering the main room, it immediately felt much cooler.
A basin full of ice blocks was placed on the ground, with wisps of white steam rising from it.
"Xiangling?"
Liu Feng put the book on the coffee table, took off his coat, and walked into the bedroom.
"Oh! Second Master is back." Xiangling came out just in time and almost bumped into his arms.
"Go fetch some water, I want to take a bath."
"Why!"
Now that I have money, I'm definitely going to enjoy it.
Xiangling slept with Liu Feng. The east room was unused, so a large screen was used to separate it, creating a simple gauze-covered wardrobe. Inside, there was a large wooden tub for bathing, and outside, a small bed was placed.