The letter from Zhan Feiyu had not yet reached its destination, but news about Stone Village had already spread back to the capital, and the Emperor was the first to know.
"This black pot, I will not carry it. If it weren't for the Emperor's request, this old minister would not have let that little girl travel such a long distance to Weizhou," Scholar Gu said slowly, casting a disdainful glance at the Emperor on the dragon throne.
Qiu Zongxi and General Yang guessed that Scholar Gu had an idea, wanting to gain merit from the dragon, and wanted to support a certain prince. Therefore, sending Zhan Feiyu to Weizhou was both a gesture of goodwill and a test.
But they did not know that the instigator of this matter was the current Emperor. Firstly, he genuinely intended to reinstate the Yang family, and secondly, he wanted to test the princes to see who was most eager to act.
The Emperor, feeling guilty, could only change the subject, "Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. When that girl returns to the capital, I will personally confer upon her the title of County Princess of the Great Qing Dynasty. Are you at ease, esteemed minister?"
"This old minister thanks Your Majesty," Scholar Gu stood up and bowed.
Although she had the merit of movable type printing, the title of County Princess was also well-deserved. However, if it had been conferred earlier, it would have been merely a nominal title.
But now it was different. The Emperor not only favored the little girl but also felt a sense of indebtedness. This title of County Princess was now truly fitting, and in the future, even princes and princesses would have to weigh their words in the capital.
"Your Majesty, do not forget, if Qiu Zongxi sends a letter, this trouble was caused by Your Majesty," Gu Qingzhou reminded him before leaving the hall.
Scholar Gu remembered the life-saving grace from years ago, and the Emperor also remembered it. However, Qiu Zongxi was accustomed to a carefree life, but this debt remained. Scholar Gu had no intention of selling his only young disciple to the Emperor to repay the life-saving grace from years ago.
After a moment of silence, the Emperor, with a wry smile, pointed at the departing Gu Qingzhou, "This person's skin gets thicker with age. He pushes all the troubles onto me, as if Qiu Zongxi didn't save him back then."
Eunuch Liu, who was serving nearby, chimed in, "Master Gu only has this one disciple. I heard that the scholar's mansion's storerooms are almost empty. Since Old Master Qiu is snatching a disciple, Master Gu naturally wouldn't be happy."
In Eunuch Liu's opinion, Zhan Feiyu was the truly lucky and blessed one, doted on by both Scholar Gu and the Emperor. Even Commander Yin treated the young girl with special regard, and now there was also Old Master Qiu.
Outsiders only knew that Old Master Qiu was skilled in calligraphy and painting and was widely learned, but they did not know that Old Master Qiu was from the Qiu family of Qianzhong. Lord Qiu of the Qianzhong Provincial Administration Secretariat now had to call Old Master Qiu his uncle, and the young Master Qiu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, was Old Master Qiu's nephew.
Of course, if one were to speak of teachers, Scholar Gu, who held great power in the court, was more influential. But Old Master Qiu was not bad either. Not to mention the scholars of the Great Qing Dynasty, even the scions of noble families in the capital would probably want to become disciples of Old Master Qiu and gain the strong support of the Qiu family of Qianzhong.
"That girl's calligraphy is just average," the Emperor said. He had seen Zhan Feiyu's calligraphy. Among peers, she might be considered above average, but in terms of talent and spirit, there was truly none.
The little girl was perceptive and intelligent, and she was better at current affairs and policy questions. As for poetry, it was merely passable.
As for painting, to use Scholar Gu's words: too much craftsmanship. To avoid angering himself, it was better not to teach her at all. Later, if anyone asked, he would have a plausible excuse.
Unable to paint? That was because she hadn't learned.
Eunuch Liu, looking at the Emperor, who was smiling whenever Zhan Feiyu was mentioned, also joined in the teasing, "Miss Zhan started her studies late, and her mind was focused on reading and the imperial examinations. It's normal for other areas to be weak."
Why was Scholar Gu revered by scholars all over the world? Besides his origin from the Gu clan of Nanling, it was also because he was the top scholar in the imperial examinations, and he was proficient in chess, music, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs. Only then did he become a model for scholars.
And a person like Scholar Gu, only one had appeared in the Great Qing Dynasty since its founding.
Although Zhan Feiyu had the title of "Little Top Scholar," she was still far from Scholar Gu. One could say she was the reincarnation of the God of Literature, while the other could only be said to be diligent and hardworking.
"Extreme intelligence leads to harm. It is good for the little girl to be like this," the Emperor smiled. The gentlemanly arts that scholars excelled at, the little girl could not be expected to master. However, the little girl was a capable minister and an able official who could accomplish practical matters in the future.
Poetry and songs, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting? They were merely for cultivating one's character. Could they govern a country or pacify the nation?
Putting down the memorial, the Emperor stopped speaking and pondered for a while, "That is why I am surprised that Qiu Zongxi wants to take a disciple."
Scholar Gu taking a disciple was understandable to the Emperor. Qiu Zongxi wanting to snatch a disciple, the Emperor truly couldn't figure it out.
The Qiu family couldn't even get Qiu Zongxi to participate in the imperial examinations back then. They could only give him money and let him travel the world. This eccentric and reclusive personality actually wanted to snatch a disciple. The Emperor even wanted to meet Zhan Feiyu to see what was so special about this girl.
...
Night fell, and they were at the scholar's mansion.
Not surprisingly, there were uninvited guests. Putting down his brush, Gu Qingzhou, dressed in casual clothes, stood up, "Sit. What is the situation in Weizhou?"
"Just a test," Yin Wuyan still had that cold and indifferent expression. Even though he was young, the aura of killing and malevolence made people forget his age.
Gu Qingzhou poured a cup and pushed it over, then picked up his own teacup and took two sips, smiling leisurely, "Back then, the Emperor wanted to consolidate military power and allowed General Yang to be slandered. Now, with the salt tax reform imminent, the Emperor is uneasy about the court officials and the princes in the palace, and he remembers to reinstate the Yang family."
The Great Qing Dynasty's tax revenue was mainly used for the military. The Emperor was not a warlike person, but he still wanted to annex barbarian and foreign races, so the more money, the better.
The salt tax accounted for one-fifth of the Great Qing Dynasty's commercial tax, reaching fifty million strings of cash annually. The salt tax in Lianghuai accounted for seven-tenths of the total salt tax. Three of the four major salt merchants were in Jiangnan Province, and the last one was in Longyou Province, which produced a lot of salt.
When the princes in the palace were mentioned, Yin Wuyan thought of Zhan Feiyu's peril in Huaian Prefecture. His originally clear phoenix eyes became even colder, "The Emperor has not established a crown prince, so they are naturally anxious. To win over officials, the most indispensable thing is money."
But where would the money come from?
Although each prince had no shortage of money to spend, besides the Emperor's rewards, the princes' maternal relatives and the officials they had won over would offer gifts and tributes every year. The princes also had industries in the capital and other places.
But this money was not even a drop in the bucket compared to the money from the salt tax, and it was not enough for the princes to form factions.
Moreover, the Emperor was wise. In addition to the Censorate that supervised officials, there was also the Imperial Dragon Guard in secret. No prince dared to openly instruct their subordinates to embezzle. Naturally, they all set their sights on the salt tax.
Gu Qingzhou looked at Yin Wuyan, whose eyes were filled with killing intent, and couldn't help but smile, "They are also forced by the Emperor. The salt fields have been entrusted to Prince Yu by the Emperor. No matter how anxious they are, they can't find a place to start."
Prince Yu, being the Emperor's own uncle and having led troops on the frontier for many years, could only be defeated by these princes. Therefore, their attention shifted to the army in Longyou Province.
Recalling the actions of the Jin family, the salt merchant, in Huaian Prefecture that day, Gu Qingzhou continued, "In the past, salt merchants sold salt in Jiangnan. Once the salt tax is reformed, the salt fields will replace the former Jiangnan Province and become the largest salt trading center. The focus of the salt tax will also shift from Jiangnan to Longyou Province."
Although there was a Salt Transportation Department in the court, as the saying goes, a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake. The customs of the entire Longyou Province were fierce, and the true overlords here were the Northwest Seven Guards. Therefore, if one wanted to make money from the salt tax, one naturally had to control the Northwest Seven Guards.
After General Yang was falsely accused of colluding with the enemy and treason, the Emperor personally appointed generals to control the Northwest Seven Guards. However, after several years, these generals had already formed intricate connections with the court and the inner palace. Yet, the salt tax was about to be reformed, and there was no room for the slightest oversight.
"The Censorate impeached the Marquis of Zhenbian. Does Your Excellency intend to stir up the waters?" Yin Wuyan looked up, his clear phoenix eyes fixed on Scholar Gu.
Under the bright candlelight, Scholar Gu wore a jade crown and a crane cloak, with a gentle smile, exuding the refined demeanor of a true scholar. To be the head of the Grand Secretariat and the Emperor's most trusted minister, Scholar Gu's depth of mind was something Yin Wuyan could not probe.
But he knew that every move Scholar Gu made was calculated ten steps ahead, with hidden meanings that might only be revealed years later.
Even his kindness towards Zhan Feiyu, Yin Wuyan could not truly judge whether it was genuine or not. Although they had reached certain cooperation in secret, Yin Wuyan would not fully trust Gu Qingzhou until the last day, and he believed the same was true for the other party.
"It's better to stir up muddy waters to catch fish." Gu Qingzhou knew Yin Wuyan was observing him and did not feel any anger. As the Commander of the Imperial Dragon Guard, if he trusted someone so easily, it would be suspicious.
Thinking of his young disciple in Xiangwu County, Gu Qingzhou put down his teacup, "Although the Emperor always trusts his subordinates and doesn't doubt those he uses, when it involves the salt tax, money, and the Northwest Seven Guards, the Emperor cannot help but be cautious. Instead of guessing and suspecting others, it is better to reinstate General Yang and use a stratagem to draw the firewood from under the cauldron."
Otherwise, how could Gu Qingzhou have sent Zhan Feiyu to Xiangwu County? In the future, when the Yang family was reinstated, outsiders would only think it was Scholar Gu's doing. Even if the princes resented it, the target of their hatred would be the master and disciple, Scholar Gu and Zhan Feiyu.
The Emperor had been guarding against the princes from the beginning, but he was reluctant to damage their father-son relationship, hence this situation.
Upon hearing this, Yin Wuyan's face was covered with frost, and his voice suddenly turned cold, filled with anger and indifference, "Does Your Excellency not worry about Xiao Yu venturing into danger? That day in Huaian Prefecture, Xiao Yu's life hung by a thread!"
Regarding the incident in Huaian Prefecture that day, although Yin Wuyan had hung forty-eight corpses on the city wall, it involved the salt tax, money, and even the establishment of the crown prince. This deterrence was useless. If pushed too far, the princes in the palace would dare to rebel and even commit patricide and fratricide.
The waters of the Northwest Seven Guards were too deep. The military was controlled by the Emperor, and the princes dared not act rashly. Once the Emperor discovered their attempt to seize military power, no prince could afford the consequences.
Similarly, whether it was Scholar Gu or Yin Wuyan, although they had planted informants in the Northwest Seven Guards, their role was minimal. If Zhan Feiyu encountered danger here, even with Yin Wuyan and the Imperial Dragon Guard's excellent martial arts skills, facing the well-trained Northwest Seven Guards, Yin Wuyan had no chance of winning.
"You underestimate the young girl's prestige in the army. Moreover, with Prince Yu there, although the Emperor only made a symbolic gesture regarding the Huaian Prefecture incident and did not investigate deeply, those few in the palace would definitely not dare to repeat it," Gu Qingzhou said. Since he dared to send Zhan Feiyu to Xiangwu County, he naturally ensured her safety.
"If the Yang family is to be reinstated, the Marquis of Zhenbian's mansion should be finished. General Yang will not owe this favor to the Emperor, nor to me. The ultimate beneficiary will be Xiao Yu. Fortune favors the bold," Gu Qingzhou said with a gentle smile. From the moment he took her as a disciple, the little girl could not stay out of it.
Moreover, the trip to Longyou Province was the Emperor's intention. Gu Qingzhou could not refuse, and Zhan Feiyu certainly could not. Since that was the case, it was better to make this trip, and Zhan Feiyu would gain even more benefits.
What was the title of County Princess? The Marquis of Zhenbian's wife was also a County Princess back then, and her surname was Yin. In the end, she still died. Zhan Feiyu's title of County Princess was merely nominal; real power was the most important.
Gu Qingzhou glanced at the handsome and cold-looking Yin Wuyan. He was already in his sixtieth year, and Xiao Yu was still so young. In the future, the only one who could protect Xiao Yu would be Yin Wuyan. However, as the Commander of the Imperial Dragon Guard, he was a blade in the Emperor's hand. Although he appeared glorious now, who knew what the future held?
Especially once the Emperor established a crown prince, when the heir ascended the throne, Yin Wuyan would likely be the first to be sacrificed. Therefore, Gu Qingzhou had to consider Zhan Feiyu's future. The Northwest Seven Guards were just the first step. With the Yang family's favor, even if Yin Wuyan died in the end, the new emperor would have to reconsider before dealing with Xiao Yu.
At this moment, Gu Qingzhou was extremely grateful that Zhan Feiyu was a girl. Otherwise, the current Emperor would probably be unable to tolerate Xiao Yu first.
Precisely because she was a woman and posed no threat to the empire, the Emperor would not be wary or defensive when she donated money to the army. Even a princess would not dare to have such a good reputation.
After exchanging some information and finishing their business, Scholar Gu suddenly said, "General Yang's grandson is one year younger than Xiao Yu. The Yang family intends to arrange a marriage between him and Xiao Yu. I wonder, Wu Yan, you..."
Scholar Gu wanted to ask if Yin Wuyan had also seen Yang Xu in Stone Village. This child was already eight years old, and with Yin Wuyan's sharp eyes, he would surely be able to discern something about his character.
But as soon as he asked, seeing Yin Wuyan's suddenly cold phoenix eyes, Gu Qingzhou smiled and shook his head, "Never mind. Anyway, Xiao Yu is still young. But given Xiao Yu's personality, when she gets married in the future, I plan to choose from military families. Royal relatives are also acceptable."
As for scholars from literary families, Gu Qingzhou did not consider them. Scholars valued rules. Gu Qingzhou had some understanding of Xiao Yu's personality. Although the little girl studied diligently and painstakingly, it was because she was forced to. If she could truly live a leisurely life, the little girl would definitely not choose hardship.
Military families had fewer rules, and the little girl could live more freely. Royal relatives were also acceptable. Royal descendants were pampered from a young age and did not have so many ulterior motives.
Yin Wuyan suddenly stood up but could not discern from Scholar Gu's expression whether he was testing him or informing him in advance.