Back at the farmstead, Zhan Feiyu, who would normally take a half-hour nap, had already calmed her emotions and begun her studies, intending to make up for the lost morning time.
Although she didn't know, Zhan Feiyu could guess Liu Jian's anger and helplessness.
After leaving the county office, Liu Jian's expression was terrifyingly grim. He entered his study, waved his arm, and with a series of crashes, the teapot and teacups on the table all fell to the ground and shattered.
The young servant who had just come in with a basin of ice shivered, his grip loosened, and the copper basin along with the ice blocks clattered to the ground.
Liu Jian's gloomy gaze instantly swept over.
"My lord, spare me..." The young servant's knees buckled, and he knelt on the ground, kowtowing to beg for mercy.
"Drag him out!" Liu Jian's hoarse voice carried a terrifying chill. He sat in his chair, his expression growing more unpleasant the more he thought about it. Prince Yu's methods were too ruthless!
After a while, a young servant came in to clean up the study. The servant who had been dragged away thought he had escaped, but he was dragged to a secluded backyard and beaten with fifty planks, leaving his skin torn and flesh exposed.
A trembling young servant waiting outside the study spoke, "My lord, Vice-Magistrate Tong requests an audience."
"Let him in." Liu Jian had finally calmed down and began to consider how to wrap up the matter of Wan Yunhao's poisoning.
Upon seeing Liu Jian's expression, Vice-Magistrate Tong's heart tightened, and his demeanor became even more cautious. "My lord."
"Sit down." Liu Jian lifted his eyelids and glanced at him. "How well do you know the Qin family?"
Uh... Vice-Magistrate Tong was momentarily stunned, then he understood. Did Lord Liu ask this because he intended to win over the Qin family?
Although the Tong family and the Qin family were both prominent families in Nanxuan Prefecture, before Sun Fu beat the instructor and scholars, the Tong mansion had always suppressed the Qin family. To put it bluntly, the Tong family was an official family, and although the Qin family also had connections in the imperial court, they were merely a scholarly family, inferior to the Tong family.
If Wan Yunhao had not died, and the Qin family had cultivated this son-in-law, once he achieved success in the imperial examinations, he would absolutely be a pillar of the Qin family, possibly even surpassing the Tong family.
Liu Jian gently tapped his fingers on the table. After listening to Vice-Magistrate Tong's description of the Qin family, he pondered for a long time and then said, "In that case, the Qin family is not bad. You and the Qin family are like two tigers fighting; even if you win, it will be a pyrrhic victory. It would be better to turn enemies into friends."
Before this, Vice-Magistrate Tong had never considered cooperating with the Qin family. Two tigers cannot share one mountain. But now, both families were in trouble. Vice-Magistrate Tong was implicated by Sun Fu and almost lost his official position.
The Qin family, greatly emboldened, wanted to bring down the Tong family, but Wan Yunhao, their hoped-for son-in-law, was poisoned. They were somewhat in the same predicament as the Tong family.
"I will obey all your commands, my lord." Vice-Magistrate Tong stood up and cupped his hands in salute. It was better to join forces than to injure the enemy by a thousand and harm oneself by eight hundred. Nanxuan Prefecture would surely be theirs.
Liu Jian was very pleased with Vice-Magistrate Tong's pragmatism, and his grim expression softened. "This matter will be entrusted to you."
Half an hour later, Vice-Magistrate Tong left with a smile.
In the study, Liu Jian's expression turned grim again, his gaze terrifyingly fierce. The Qin family's affairs were easy to handle, but now he had a huge hidden danger by his side.
Zhou Wenquan was his advisor, and he had diligently offered him strategies over the years. If not for valuing Zhou Wenquan, Liu Jian would not have brought him along on this trip to Nanxuan Prefecture.
But now, with Zhou Wenquan's fingerprints on the inkstick, Prince Yu would surely guess that he was the mastermind. Once the Imperial Guards took action, Liu Jian knew that capturing Zhou Wenquan was only a matter of time.
However, if he had to kill Zhou Wenquan to eliminate future trouble, Liu Jian found it difficult to act.
It wasn't that he cherished talent, but rather that throughout the capital, officials knew that Liu Jian had a capable advisor. If Zhou Wenquan were secretly silenced, Prince Yu would surely publicize the matter.
At that time, regardless of whether there was evidence, Liu Jian's reputation would be ruined. His subordinates and colleagues in the court would no longer dare to confide in someone as ruthless as him. The First Prince would probably no longer dare to use him.
Liu Jian, caught in a dilemma, grew more resentful the more he thought about it. He slammed his fist on the table. If he had known that the Imperial Guards had such methods as extracting fingerprints, how could he have been so careless as to let Zhou Wenquan leave his fingerprints on the inkstick? This was irrefutable evidence!
...
Front courtyard.
Under the scorching sun, Prince Yu strode into the room, casting a contemptuous glance at Gu Qingzhou, who was lying on the couch. "Gu Qingzhou, Gu Qingzhou, I only realized today how ruthless you are. As soon as the little girl returned, you assigned her homework! You don't even let her rest!"
"When Heaven is about to bestow a great responsibility upon a person, it first tests their resolve, exhausts their sinews, and starves their body." Gu Qingzhou said lazily. For years, he had no intention of taking on disciples. It wasn't that those who wanted to be his disciples were not intelligent; in terms of talent, someone like Zhan Feiyu wouldn't even rank in the top ten.
But it was because the little girl pleased his eye, had a good personality, handled matters well, and even her unmarried status was the same as his as a teacher. This fate was simply marvelous.
Prince Yu pulled over a chair and sat down by the couch, his tone as calm as if he were discussing the weather. "I plan to keep Liu Jian in Shangsi County. Prince Yu's estate has been dormant for many years, and everyone has forgotten that my Crescent Moon Blade has beheaded countless people."
Gu Qingzhou glanced at Prince Yu, who exuded a murderous aura, and after a long pause, said, "That is for the best. As the princes grow older, their ambitions also grow. Prince Yu's estate should show its fangs."
As the saying goes, the kind are bullied by others, and the good horses are ridden by others! Prince Yu had acted as a recluse who paid no attention to court affairs for the sake of the Emperor's peace of mind. As a result, everyone treated Prince Yu's estate as a soft persimmon.
But look at Gu Qingzhou, look at Yin Wuyan. Both of them were solitary officials, but in the court, let alone the officials, even the princes and grandsons avoided their sharpness and dared not offend them. Wasn't it precisely because these two were skilled in their methods and absolutely unbearable for them?
"The little girl has a new method for salt production. She is your disciple, and the matter is of great importance. The Emperor will surely not feel at ease entrusting it to others." Prince Yu directly stated his intention. Gu Qingzhou could not personally go to the salt fields or the seaside to produce salt.
Prince Yu's estate was impartial and loyal only to the Emperor, making it the most suitable candidate.
After all, the new method of salt production, broadly speaking, concerned salt prices, which were closely related to every citizen of the Great Qing Dynasty. Narrowly speaking, it involved salt tax, and if done well, the national treasury would be enriched.
"Your Highness's foresight is admirable, Your subordinate is impressed." Gu Qingzhou replied insincerely, looking at Prince Yu with a meaningful smile.
"Enough. When it comes to cunning, the entire Prince Yu's estate combined cannot match you. Just say what you want directly!" Prince Yu said impatiently. This was a typical case of not showing the rabbit before releasing the hawk!
Only then did Gu Qingzhou sit up straight, his earlier laziness gone. "It's not a big deal. The little girl doesn't study well and is messing around, coming up with a recipe for scented soap. The workshop will be able to open soon, and we'll need to borrow Prince Yu's name."
Gu Qingzhou was not short of money. He had some businesses in the capital, but to sell scented soap to other parts of the Great Qing Dynasty, Gu Qingzhou's name was far less useful than Prince Yu's.
The First Prince might not take Prince Yu's estate seriously, but in other places, who would dare to offend the Emperor's uncle? Even with nine heads, it wouldn't be enough to be beheaded.
Prince Yu, who was prepared to bleed profusely, stared at Gu Qingzhou in disbelief, suspecting he was playing a trick on him. "Just this? Are you sure?"
"Your Highness, rest assured, I can handle anything concerning Xiao Yu. If not, there's always that boy Wu Yan." Gu Qingzhou laughed heartily, not at all surprised to see Prince Yu's furious expression.
"I agree." Prince Yu stood up abruptly, unwilling to bicker with Gu Qingzhou. His old bones wanted to live a few more years.
Three months later, as the scented soap became popular, Prince Yu, watching Gu Qingzhou make a fortune while he himself gained fame, wished he had refused so readily! He was a fool who was sold by Gu Qingzhou and still counted money for him!
...
In the study, Zhan Feiyu watched Yin Wuyan checking her homework, her small face tense and serious, her body standing straight. Her proper attitude made Chong Guang, who was beside her, stifle his laughter. The plump girl truly treated Seventh Master as a strict tutor.
"Your essay is well-written, and your calligraphy has also improved." Yin Wuyan's voice remained cold, but his phoenix eyes held admiration and pride. Such a diligent and hardworking girl deserved to be famous throughout the world.
Zhan Feiyu's eyes lit up, and a smile bloomed on her small face. "I will continue to work hard!"
"Plump girl, the county examination and prefectural examination are fine, but the academy examination will be dangerous for you. Lord Chen, the academic official of Jiangnan Circuit, is the First Prince's maternal uncle. You have thoroughly offended the First Prince's faction. This scholar title is likely out of reach." Chong Guang, gloating, poured a basin of cold water.
The county examination was held in the county, the prefectural examination in Nanxuan Prefecture, and the academy examination was generally presided over by the academic official. Local officials were not as powerful as current ones, and it was too easy for the academic official to deal with a mere civilian like Zhan Feiyu.
Zhan Feiyu rolled her eyes at him and grinned, revealing a row of sharp little white teeth. "With Teacher here, if anyone dares to tamper with the imperial examinations, Teacher will surely make them lose their official positions!"
Zhan Feiyu was easy to bully, but Gu Qingzhou was not to be trifled with!
As for his only disciple, whoever dared to come at her would be met with fierce resistance! If Gu Qingzhou couldn't deal with Academic Official Chen, Zhan Feiyu would write her name backward!
What a fierce plump girl, full of killing intent! But thinking of Gu Qingzhou's influential position in the court, Chong Guang sighed. Well, he was truly worrying about nothing.
Yin Wuyan looked at the aggressive Zhan Feiyu. The little girl showed no fear, proudly raising her chubby chin, wild and smug like a little beast baring its fangs. It was evident that she trusted and relied on Gu Qingzhou.
For some reason, Yin Wuyan felt a bit displeased, his expression becoming even colder.
Why did his back feel a bit tingly? Chong Guang glanced at his Seventh Master and met his sharp phoenix eyes. Chong Guang immediately sat up straight. He shouldn't have spoken and disturbed the plump girl's studies. The Prince's gaze seemed to be about to flay him alive.
Zhan Feiyu, who was also sensitive, felt a prickle on her scalp. It was most important to avoid distractions while studying, and she had gotten carried away!
"Big Brother, when I was finishing my strokes, I felt..." Zhan Feiyu immediately returned to her studies, pointing at a few characters she was copying. She always struggled with the final stroke.
Watching the two, one teaching and one learning, Chong Guang, who had narrowly escaped death, breathed a sigh of relief. He no longer dared to disturb Zhan Feiyu's studies. Ji Chaocai had been wrong; Seventh Master was not raising a little wife, but cultivating a future top scholar!
It was only after half an hour of rest that the atmosphere in the study finally relaxed.
Zhan Feiyu took a sip of sour plum soup and glanced at Yin Wuyan, who was leaving. She always felt that Big Brother was a bit unhappy, but after thinking about it carefully, nothing had happened.
"Plump girl." Chong Guang suddenly swooped over and leaned next to Zhan Feiyu. Seeing his Seventh Master's figure receding, he asked, "Did your essay write too poorly, making Seventh Master angry?"
"Big Brother praised my essay and said my calligraphy had improved at first." Zhan Feiyu glared at Chong Guang impatiently, narrowing her eyes and looking at him suspiciously. "It must have been you talking nonsense just now and disturbing my studies!"
"You're framing me!" Chong Guang was not pleased and even rubbed Zhan Feiyu's head in annoyance. The force was so great that it messed up her neatly done hair into a bird's nest.
She rubbed her hair with both hands, and the messy hair made Zhan Feiyu fly into a rage. With a roar, she pounced on him.
"Haha, you little cripple are quite fierce!" Seeing Zhan Feiyu hopping on one foot, Chong Guang, who dodged her, laughed mockingly. "Come on, I'll stand here and wait for you!"
Uncle can bear it, but Aunt cannot! Zhan Feiyu was so angry her teeth itched. She ignored the wound on her leg, which had not yet healed, and roared as she lunged at him.
A moment later.
"Plump girl, as the saying goes, everyone has their specialty! You should remain a scholar with no strength to even tie up a chicken. You want to hit me? Tsk tsk, you'll have to be reborn in the next life to have a chance!" Chong Guang pressed her face down onto the chair, mocking her with his mouth, while his left hand kept ruffling her head. Her original bird's nest hair had become disheveled.
Defeated by someone more skilled, Zhan Feiyu was furious. Fine, whether it was a sneak attack or a frontal assault, her small body was indeed no match for Uncle Chong Guang!
"Heh heh, what a display of might!" Suddenly, a voice sounded from outside the door. Gu Qingzhou looked at the scene in the study and burst into laughter. He had only taken a half-hour nap, and his little disciple was being bullied.
Prince Yu could not bear to watch. His eyes shot daggers at Chong Guang, and he roared angrily, "You're actually proud of bullying an eight-year-old girl! Let go, are you trying to crush her to death?"
Chong Guang, caught red-handed, was stunned. He turned around blankly and looked at the three people outside the door. Chong Guang, feeling as if the sky had fallen, wished he could die. Lord Gu and Prince Yu were one thing, but crucially, Seventh Master was also here.
"Teacher, Uncle Chong Guang is bullying me!" Zhan Feiyu, finally free, got up and complained.
Her hair was disheveled, her right cheek was still a little red from being held down by Chong Guang, and her puffed-up cheeks made Zhan Feiyu look rather pitiful.
"Uncle Chong Guang also called me a little cripple!" Zhan Feiyu added another blow, her smug little eyes glancing at the dejected Chong Guang, letting him bully her and mock her. He deserved it!
"With Teacher here, anyone who bullies you will surely suffer more than you." Gu Qingzhou strode into the study, gently stroking Zhan Feiyu's small head to comfort her, his icy gaze fixed on Chong Guang. "Wu Yan, this is your subordinate, so I won't overstep my bounds."
No! Chong Guang pleaded with Gu Qingzhou and the master-disciple pair of Zhan Feiyu. He would rather be punished by Lord Gu than by Seventh Master!
Yin Wuyan had not expected Chong Guang to cause trouble in such a short time after he left. The little girl had been bullied quite a bit, her eyes were a little red, and her hair was disheveled. He secretly glanced at her, and her timid appearance looked very pitiable, making one want to hide her in their heart and protect her well.
"Does the wound on your leg still hurt?" Yin Wuyan ignored Chong Guang and looked at Zhan Feiyu with concern. He knelt on one knee and rolled up Zhan Feiyu's trouser leg. Fortunately, the wound at the bend of her leg had been treated with the best medicine and had already scabbed over.
"I'm fine, it doesn't hurt anymore." Zhan Feiyu said softly, feeling a little embarrassed as she tucked her scattered hair behind her ear.
Thinking of her cowardly appearance just now, like a little turtle pinned on its shell and unable to flip over, Zhan Feiyu's cheeks flushed. It was too embarrassing.
After checking the wound, Yin Wuyan stood up and looked at the embarrassed and ashamed little girl. The stifled emotions he had felt earlier suddenly improved. He gently stroked Zhan Feiyu's head. "I'll have Chong Guang accompany you to the county examination. He can return to the Imperial Guards when he finishes."
"Seventh Master?" Chong Guang almost thought he had misheard, and looked at Yin Wuyan dumbfounded.
But looking at his Seventh Master's cold and unfeeling face, the rest of his words were swallowed. Seventh Master always kept his word, so he was going to participate in the imperial examinations?
Gu Qingzhou and Prince Yu knew that Yin Wuyan treated Zhan Feiyu well, but they truly did not expect the proud Yin Wuyan to kneel on one knee to check Zhan Feiyu's wound. Throughout the Great Qing Dynasty, perhaps only those few in the palace could make him kneel.
Therefore, when they heard Yin Wuyan's punishment for Chong Guang, Gu Qingzhou and Prince Yu were not as surprised.