Chapter 363: All Within My Net

“The Fourth Prince of Chu is governing as Regent without ascending the throne?”

“Yes, Crown Prince. According to intelligence sent back from Chu, that is indeed the case. The Chu state letter brought by their envoys is also signed in his capacity as Regent of Great Chu, not Emperor of Great Chu.”

The Crown Prince smiled and turned toward the Minister of Rites seated beside him.

“Elder Ning, what do you think that Fourth Prince of Chu is planning?”

The man had already defeated the other princes competing for the throne.

He had also secured the support of several great Chu aristocratic clans whose leaders held the title Pillar of State.

Yet instead of taking the throne while momentum favored him, he had declared himself Regent.

There was an old principle:

Take your opponent seriously in tactics.

Despise him strategically.

At the level of states, it was almost politically correct to regard rival rulers, princes, and ministers as men chasing fame and profit.

And Great Yan was now at the height of confidence.

Yes, it had suffered one defeat during the first clash at the Wang River.

But in the end, Yan had won the campaign.

For several consecutive years, Great Yan had achieved victory after victory abroad.

The common people’s national pride had swollen enormously.

The officials who genuinely held the reins of power at court were no different.

When discussing rulers, princes, and ministers of other states, they naturally carried the habitual perspective of men standing above and looking down.

Of course, analysis still had to be analysis.

Confidence did not mean stupidity.

No one in this room was naïve enough to believe their opponents were genuinely fools.

Elder Ning Fangsheng stroked his beard.

“Crown Prince, in this old minister’s view, it may be because the Azure Luan Army remains trapped inside Yupan City.

“Now that Great Yan’s iron cavalry has expelled the savages and united the entire land of the Three Jin beneath our rule, that Fourth Prince of Chu lost the breathing room he originally expected to possess after winning the succession struggle.

“Rather than ascend the throne immediately, he first named himself Regent.

“I suspect he wishes to unite and integrate the major powers within Chu before dealing with the pressure from Great Yan.”

The Crown Prince nodded.

That was also his judgment.

The throne stood right there.

Did the Fourth Prince not want to sit upon it?

Of course he did.

As Crown Prince of a state himself, Ji Chenglang understood better than almost anyone just how terrifying the attraction of that dragon throne truly was.

At that moment, Minister of Revenue Xu Guanghuai spoke.

“Truthfully, his refusal to ascend immediately may also be because the speed of our army’s advance and the scale of our victory exceeded his original expectations.

“Crown Prince. Elder Ning.

“I believe we should settle the state letter and the details of this treaty as quickly as possible.”

The state letter had been sent by Chu.

Whether the Fourth Prince called himself Emperor of Chu or Regent, he could not possibly stand by and watch forty thousand Azure Luan troops starve to death inside Yupan City.

But clearly he had no intention of sending another great army north and fighting another expedition.

Instead, he hoped to use negotiation to secure a conclusion with at least some dignity.

The conditions offered by Chu were extremely generous.

First—

Zhennan Pass, which had originally belonged to the Situ Clan, would be returned to Yan.

Second—

Chu would formally recognize Great Yan’s lawful sovereignty over the lands of the Three Jin.

Those were the first two major conditions.

They served as Chu’s formal accounting for the previous war.

After that came another two.

The first:

Yan and Chu would conclude an alliance.

In the state letter, the Regent of Chu recalled that eight centuries ago, the Ji Clan and Xiong Clan had been comrades serving the Son of Heaven of Great Xia—one holding the title Marquis of Yan, the other Marquis of Chu—both commanded to open frontier lands.

At the root, the two houses had once belonged to one family.

Therefore, from this point onward, Yan and Chu should watch over and assist one another.

If Great Yan faced a threat from the desert barbarians, Chu would come to its aid.

If Chu faced a threat from the Shanyue, Yan would assist Chu.

It was complete nonsense.

For the past century, Great Yan had already beaten the desert barbarians until they had practically lost all temper.

And the hundred Shanyue tribes in Chu had long since been driven into the truly barren mountains and poisonous valleys.

At this point, they were probably not far from extinction.

Neither side had any meaningful external enemy left in that direction.

So what exactly were they supposed to “assist” each other against?

And even if the Shanyue somehow suddenly rose again one day while the barbarians simultaneously revived, one stood at the farthest western edge of Great Yan and the other in the deepest south of Chu.

Would either side even arrive in time to help the other?

Naturally, the Yan officials knew this was nonsense.

The Chu officials certainly knew it as well.

And according to the normal habits of diplomacy after the meaningless ceremonial nonsense came the words that actually mattered.

The second real provision was this:

Yan and Chu would become **Brother States**.

Because the Regent of Chu had not yet taken the throne, he proposed avoiding any argument over seniority between the rulers entirely.

The late Emperor of Chu and the current Emperor of Yan could simply be treated as “brothers.”

Who had been older?

Who had ruled the stronger state?

It no longer mattered.

Skip the entire dispute.

Then the Regent of Chu could recognize the Emperor of Yan as his “Imperial Uncle.”

Those were the four principal terms.

Beneath them lay a large number of smaller clauses.

For example, Chu would compensate Great Yan with grain, silver, silk, and other property to soothe Yan’s anger.

Chu was also willing to imitate the State of Qian by delivering annual tribute payments to Yan.

The Chu chief envoy was named Jing Yang.

He came from the great aristocratic Jing Clan of Chu and was a trusted confidant of the Regent.

For this treaty, he possessed full authority to negotiate in the Regent’s name.

By the principle of equal status if a “nephew ruler” sent an envoy, then naturally the matter should be handled by the younger generation on Yan’s side as well.

So the Emperor of Yan had handed the negotiations to the Crown Prince.

Ji Chenglang would lead the relevant officials and bargain for the best possible result for Great Yan.

Minister of Revenue Xu Guanghuai attached enormous importance to these negotiations.

Great Yan needed rest.

The people needed recovery.

If Yan could secure an alliance with Chu, then regardless of whether the alliance was truly worth the paper it was written upon, surely it could preserve five years of peace.

Five years without major war would allow Yan proper to continue developing.

The Jin territories could recover some of their vitality.

And the state’s money and grain would finally have breathing room.

The Crown Prince set down the document in his hand and rubbed between his brows.

“Minister Mao.

“Do you believe Great Yan can continue fighting this war?”

The terms Chu had offered were rich.

But simply allowing nearly forty thousand Azure Luan troops to walk away alive still felt unsatisfying.

Even setting aside the chain of political and military consequences that might follow from the most primitive standpoint of personal preference alone it felt unpleasant.

Minister of War Mao Mingcai rose.

“Replying to Crown Prince:

“At present, the Prince of Jingnan has mobilized the military strength of the Three Jin almost completely.

“Strictly speaking, Great Yan has already prepared for full-scale war with Chu.

“But...”

The Crown Prince nodded.

“If we can avoid fighting, then it is still best not to fight?”

“That is indeed this minister’s opinion.

“The soldiers are exhausted.

“If this war continues, it will torment both the state and the army.

“The Prince of Jingnan has always preferred the principle of remaining immovable as a mountain, then striking like thunder once he chooses to act.

“At present, displaying such an enormous military posture simply to suppress Chu through momentum is not actually characteristic of the Prince’s normal style of command.

“I suspect the Prince of Jingnan also understands that stopping here is the most advantageous conclusion for Great Yan.”

“I understand.”

The Crown Prince turned toward Ning Fangsheng.

“Elder Ning, I’ll have to trouble you further with the exact format of the state letter and all the smaller matters.

“Do not allow any mistake in ritual or diplomatic form.

“And have the Court of State Ceremonial inform the Qian envoys— they are nearly three years behind on their annual payments.”

Then the Crown Prince looked toward Xu Guanghuai.

“Qian must not only make up the three years of arrears.

“The amount itself must also be revised.

“At the very least— it cannot be lower than what Chu will pay.

“Let us treat these two matters as one and settle them together.”

“We obey.”

“We obey.”

Even before the Three-State War began, the Yan–Qian frontier had already been extremely tense.

So Qian had never delivered the annual payment due that year.

Then war erupted.

Yan invaded Qian territory.

Qian scrambled desperately to respond.

After the Yan army withdrew, the two states quickly returned to something resembling their previous “peace.”

But strictly speaking the state of war had never formally ended.

Now, taking advantage of the negotiations with Chu, Great Yan could drag Qian into the room as well.

Everyone could talk.

And they could finally sign another formal peace agreement while they were at it.

Great Yan needed to recuperate.

Then use this opportunity.

If you were already knocking bamboo from one man, you might as well knock bamboo from two.

Free money was free money.

Why refuse it?

This was not the Emperor of Yan’s idea.

It belonged to the Crown Prince.

And from this alone, one could see Ji Chenglang’s decisiveness and ability.

“Oh, right.

“Minister Xu.

“How has Sixth Brother been doing lately at the Ministry of Revenue?”

Their Sixth Brother had been sent by Imperial Father to **Observe Affairs at the Ministry of Revenue**.

Nominally, “observing affairs” meant studying and learning about the ministry’s work.

But when the man holding that assignment was also an imperial prince the authority could expand or shrink enormously depending on circumstances.

And the Ministry of Revenue was Xu Guanghuai’s domain.

In the Crown Prince’s judgment, Minister Xu was not exactly “his man.”

But the two sides possessed considerable tacit understanding.

Especially regarding the need to halt major wars and allow the state to recover.

Their political views aligned closely.

“Replying to Crown Prince, Sixth Highness has been quite leisurely in the Ministry these past days.

“He spends most of his time inviting colleagues to drink and make merry.”

Hearing this, the Crown Prince shook his head.

“Sixth Brother is still young.

“And his temperament has always been idle and carefree.

“As his elder brother, I must ask Minister Xu to show him patience and offer more guidance.”

As he spoke the Crown Prince rose.

Then bowed deeply toward Xu Guanghuai.

Xu Guanghuai immediately stood and dropped to his knees in formal return.

Minister of Rites Ning Fangsheng stroked his long beard with a smile.

He was satisfied with the Crown Prince.

Ji Chenglang possessed the bearing of an heir.

And the potential bearing of a future sovereign.

Mao Mingcai remained motionless.

He simply reopened another document and lowered his gaze toward it.

Were the Crown Prince and Sixth Prince truly bound by such deep brotherly love?

Naturally, not entirely.

The First Prince had lost the war and would soon return.

Rumors already said he would marry a barbarian princess.

After that marriage, every remaining possibility would be severed.

The Third Prince spent spring feeling the wind in his pavilion on the lake.

Summer listening to thunder.

Autumn watching the leaves.

Winter admiring snow.

His life now contained only one pavilion and one endless cycle of spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

The Deng Clan had declined.

The Fourth Prince had lost his greatest source of support.

The Emperor’s military reforms had swept away the old structure dominated by regional commanders.

At present, the Fourth Prince was already like a kite whose wings had been broken.

The Fifth Prince disliked going out.

He preferred staying home and doing carpentry.

The Emperor had issued decrees reprimanding him several times over this habit.

He continued doing exactly as he pleased.

The Seventh Prince was too young.

Great Yan was not a state where a weak sovereign sat beneath overpowerful ministers.

That made it almost impossible for Little Seventh to touch the throne.

Count through all the possibilities and aside from the recently reemerged, formerly idle Sixth Prince now “observing affairs” at the Ministry of Revenue the Crown Prince effectively had no rival.

There was never any path of retreat in a succession struggle.

Even the smallest hint of ambition when final accounts were settled could become a crime worthy of death.

Anyone capable of climbing to the post of Minister in charge of one of the Six Ministries had survived countless political struggles.

Every one of them was an old fox.

Did anyone truly believe Minister Xu Guanghuai—the man who had just dropped to his knees in apparent emotion—failed to understand what the Crown Prince’s request to “take care of Sixth Brother” actually meant?

Of course he understood.

But this was what people called bearing.

This was what they called level.

Play with something false long enough and it could gradually become true.

The Crown Prince’s restrained but still unmistakably sharp manner was precisely the style old ministers appreciated most.

To have an heir of this quality was more than acceptable.

At their level, there was little need to “submit” personally to one prince or another or become someone’s dog.

Other than the Emperor himself, no one could casually grip men like these by the throat.

What mattered more was compatibility in political ideals.

If your policies resembled mine—

I support you.

And naturally, I will stand somewhat closer to your side.

Echo your words when needed.

And help press down the men opposing you.

Those who needed to understand the Crown Prince’s request to “look after” his Sixth Brother would understand.

Once everyone sat again, Ning Fangsheng said:

“Crown Prince, this minister heard that two days ago Your Highness hosted a banquet in the Eastern Palace for the successful candidates of last year’s imperial examination?”

The Crown Prince immediately became serious.

“Replying to Elder Ning— that is correct.”

Last year had been Great Yan’s first imperial examination.

At the time, Ji Chenglang had served as deputy organizer.

He had not yet become Crown Prince.

For this year’s spring metropolitan examination, however, the Emperor had issued a decree appointing the Crown Prince himself to preside.

Great Yan had practiced the examination system for only two years.

Yet the heir to the throne would now effectively become the acknowledged mentor of scholars across the realm.

One could say the Crown Prince had received the imperial mandate to raise the Dragon Gate itself, allowing poor scholars to leap over it and ascend the imperial steps.

Last year’s examination had been personally presided over by Ning Fangsheng, with the then-Second Prince serving as his deputy.

Ning Fangsheng was already old.

At this stage of his life, helping Great Yan’s poor scholars obtain opportunities through civil service had become one of his greatest remaining wishes.

Fortunately the Crown Prince’s thinking aligned almost perfectly with his own.

“Elder Ning,” the Crown Prince said, “Great Yan’s national strength rises by the day.

“Naturally, we need these scholars to fill our court and strengthen the bones of the state.

“I hosted them only to ask how they were doing and offer some encouragement.”

The Emperor of Yan possessed enough confidence that he did not care whether his Crown Prince socialized with civil officials or cultivated relationships among newly appointed young officers.

So the Crown Prince held his banquet openly.

And when the matter was mentioned, he spoke without the slightest concealment.

Under another emperor a Crown Prince would never dare behave so openly.

After the cavalry campaign against the great clans, Great Yan’s bureaucracy had suffered a serious shortage of officials.

Promoting clerks into formal posts had temporarily relieved some immediate pressure.

But it could never become a lasting solution.

Opening the imperial examinations and recruiting poor scholars into office was the true long-term answer to eliminating the old great clans.

That was why the successful candidates from last year’s examination had advanced so quickly.

Those sent outside the capital often became local magistrates or administrators almost immediately.

Those retained in Yanjing soon emerged conspicuously inside the Six Ministries.

Ability mattered.

But even more important supporting these men matched the current political direction of the state.

Ning Fangsheng smiled and nodded.

“Crown Prince is thoughtful.”

“Elder Ning overpraises me.

“It is simply what I ought to do.”

The Crown Prince shook out one wrist, then ordered Li Yinglian to go urge the imperial kitchens to prepare a late-night meal.

The alliance needed to be settled as quickly as possible.

That meant they would inevitably work through the night.

Tiring yes.

But there was also a sense of fulfillment in it.

The Crown Prince let his gaze drift slowly around the room.

*As long as I sit in this position—*

*as long as I make no mistake—*

*what can you possibly do to me?*

One scene still remained deeply carved into Ji Chenglang’s memory.

In that scene he and Eldest Brother had been kneeling on the ground while Imperial Father scolded them.

Young Sixth Brother, meanwhile, had been sitting in Imperial Father’s arms, perched directly upon his knee.

That day, Imperial Father had said one sentence.

Even now, it remained like a thorn driven deep into the Crown Prince’s heart:

“You two...

“Forget it.

“At least Little Sixth still resembles Us.”

*Ji Chengjue.*

*You have no chance.*

*Not even the slightest.*

...

“You think you still have a chance?”

The Commandery Princess leaned lazily against the steps of a pavilion, tossing small stones into the pond while asking Ji Chengjue, who stood before her.

“Sister, I only just walked in.

“You didn’t even prepare a cup of tea before opening with a question that attacks the heart this brutally.

“Isn’t that a little inappropriate?”

Ji Chengjue grinned and sat on the steps opposite her.

He deliberately avoided answering.

The Commandery Princess stretched out one leg and kicked Little Sixth.

She did not hold back much.

Ji Chengjue sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth.

“Stop pretending.

“Your face is already scarred.

“No matter how hard you act, it doesn’t look as natural as before.

“I’m genuinely curious.

“You spent so many years pretending to be an idle, useless prince.

“What happened?

“Why did you suddenly stop?”

“What have I ever pretended?”

“In front of me, behave yourself.

“I haven’t married your Second Brother yet.

“For now, you and I can still speak somewhat normally.”

“What?

“After you become my sister-in-law, shouldn’t we become even closer?”

“Closer, my ass.

“Believe it or not, the morning after the wedding, I’ll have the Zhenbei troops outside the city enter your residence and arrest you.”

“Sister.

“That sounds like rebellion.”

“Too extreme?”

“Very.”

“Fine.

“Then after I marry him, I’ll summon you to the Eastern Palace, accuse you of trying to molest me, and have Seventh Uncle cut you down on the spot.”

Seventh Uncle happened to walk over at that moment.

He handed Ji Chengjue a cup of hot tea.

Hearing the exchange, he merely smiled.

Ji Chengjue instinctively touched his own neck.

The woman before him was undeniably beautiful.

But if the situation required cruelty her heart could become genuinely vicious.

That bastard surnamed Zheng still remembered, even now, how this woman had nearly thrown him into the desert as animal fodder years ago.

“Chengjue believes he has always treated Sister with utmost respect since childhood.

“Every New Year and festival, I never failed to send proper gifts and stipends.

“Logically speaking...”

The Commandery Princess gave a dry laugh.

“Father once said you were the one who most resembled His Majesty.”

“...”

Ji Chengjue.

“What’s wrong?

“Once I marry your Second Brother, helping him casually eliminate one threat will simply be what a proper wife ought to do, won’t it?”

Husband and wife were one body.

You threaten my husband’s throne?

Then I remove you.

Ji Chengjue thought about it.

Then nodded.

“That actually makes sense.”

“Don’t blame this old lady for being heartless.

“Several years ago, when the Zhenbei Army’s agents discovered you had even arranged people outside my family’s Marquis Residence, I already knew you were different from Fifth Brother.

“If you wanted to keep pretending and simply pretended forever, fine.

“At worst, after the future succession I’d keep an extra eye on you.

“All those rare gifts you sent me over the years ought to be enough to buy your life, shouldn’t they?

“But for some reason, you suddenly lost your senses.

“Old people always say a man who eats too much pig grease gets his heart wrapped in fat and starts doing stupid things.

“Oh— would you look at that.

“You really did marry a butcher’s daughter.

“Seems you’ve eaten quite a lot of pig grease lately.”

Ji Chengjue shook his head with a smile.

“It wasn’t because of a woman.”

“Don’t say the next sentence yet.

“I’m afraid it’ll make me vomit.”

“Uh...”

Ji Chengjue froze.

Then rubbed his nose and nodded.

“Actually— it really was because of a man.”

“Looks like after Great Yan conquered Jin, some of that Jin wind really did blow all the way back here.”

“Sister knows the man too.

“Zheng Fan.”

The moment the name **Zheng Fan** was spoken, the Commandery Princess flicked the stone in her hand harder.

It skipped several times across the pond.

“I don’t like hearing that name.

“Every time I hear it, my face feels hot with humiliation.”

She had known Zheng Fan before almost anyone.

At that time, he had not even held an official post.

He was merely a civilian laborer who had been conscripted.

She had once asked him whether he wanted to become a household retainer of the Li Clan.

Originally, she had assumed the fool simply did not understand what it meant to become a retainer of the Li Clan—of the Marquis of Zhenbei’s Residence—and therefore had stupidly chosen the temporary post of Lieutenant Commander of Merchant Protection instead.

But judging by everything Zheng Fan had accomplished afterward the man had never been stupid.

Which meant he had refused deliberately.

At the time, that had hardly mattered.

Why would the Commandery Princess of the mighty Marquis of Zhenbei’s Residence waste endless patience on a civilian laborer?

Unfortunately, Zheng Fan kept rising.

Step after step.

Then the Marquis of Jingnan took a liking to him.

After that, the man became almost impossible to stop.

How many years had passed?

He had risen from civilian laborer to Chief Commander of Snow Sea Pass.

His Majesty had even enfeoffed him as Count Pingye.

So it had never been that Zheng Fan failed to understand what becoming a retainer of the Marquis of Zhenbei’s Residence meant.

His ambitions had simply been too high.

He had no interest in using a status carrying the faint flavor of household slavery as his ladder upward.

And the more outstanding Zheng Fan became the higher his office the greater his military achievements the more frequently people brought up the story of the Commandery Princess “failing to recognize talent.”

Especially because Zheng Fan came from Beifeng Commandery.

Yet somehow he had risen to Chief Commander inside the Jingnan Army.

Naturally, everyone asked:

*Why?*

Then, the Commandery Princess knew she was about to be dragged out and “whipped as a corpse” again.

*Women have long hair and short judgment.*

*Blind despite having eyes.*

Every basin of filthy water imaginable could be dumped over her head.

The most frustrating part?

She could not really defend herself.

There was no defense available.

Even her own father had once wanted Zheng Fan later.

He had tried to dig the man out from beneath the Marquis of Jingnan.

He still failed.

But back then for her it really had only required one sentence.

“That bastard truly is formidable.

“This old lady genuinely misjudged him.”

Then the Commandery Princess looked back at Ji Chengjue and smiled.

“Everyone knows Zheng Fan belonged to you, Sixth Lord.

“You were the one who fed him up from nothing.

“So...

“Oh.

“I understand.

“You watched the little runner you once supported rise all the way to Chief Commander, and you finally became anxious.

“Afraid that if you kept pretending much longer, the chain tying him to you would snap.

“Is that it?”

“What chain?

“I never treated him like a dog.

“He’s a friend.

“Besides, with that bastard’s temperament, if he truly wanted to become someone’s dog, why did he refuse *you* back then?

“A capable man naturally has his own temper.

“As for this time— other people may not know, but surely Sister does.

“The national treasury is nearly empty.

“That is why Imperial Father finally remembered the son he had thrown into a forgotten corner and dragged me back out to help gather money and grain for him.”

“Enough.

“Let’s speak openly.

“I— don’t believe you.”

“Haaah.

“I really never expected Sister to think so highly of me.”

The Commandery Princess smiled.

“In ordinary households, they say the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother.

“In an imperial household?

“The sisters-in-law probably wish every younger brother of their husband would die early.”

Those words crossed enormous taboos.

But this was the Western Garden.

And with her identity, even if the sentence somehow reached the Emperor of Yan’s ears, he would probably only laugh.

“Sister is wrong there.

“There are certainly plenty of stories about elder sisters-in-law behaving like mothers.

“But among ordinary families, there are just as many cases of wives of brothers scheming against one another until they practically want each other dead.

“That’s closer to the normal state of affairs.”

“Fine, fine.

“Why did you come here today?”

“To borrow something.”

“What?”

“A sword.”

The Commandery Princess turned toward Seventh Uncle standing nearby.

Ji Chengjue immediately raised one hand.

“Not that sword.”

The Commandery Princess currently had two “swords” beside her.

One was Seventh Uncle, who had accompanied and protected her since childhood.

The other stood in the military camp outside the capital.

One of the Four Great Swordsmen—

Li Liangshen.

“That sword is not mine.

“And even if it were, I would have no authority to lend it to you.”

Ji Chengjue stood.

He brushed the dust from his trousers.

“Which is why I only came to give Sister advance notice.”

The Commandery Princess’s eyes immediately narrowed.

“Such arrogance.”

Ji Chengjue nodded.

He accepted the judgment calmly.

Then said:

“Sister— you still haven’t married Second Brother yet.

“For now, at least— we’re still friends, aren’t we?”

“The war is over.

“I’ll be marrying into the Eastern Palace soon.”

Ji Chengjue smacked his lips.

Then nodded thoughtfully.

“Then Little Sixth will take his leave first?”

“I won’t see you out.”

Ji Chengjue left the Western Garden.

At the entrance, he turned and looked once at the plaque above the gate.

“Heh...”

Eunuch Zhang’s carriage was already waiting outside.

Ji Chengjue climbed in.

The carriage began moving.

The compartment swayed gently.

Ji Chengjue’s body swayed with it.

“She says once she becomes my sister-in-law, she’ll kill me.”

He shook his head helplessly.

Then murmured to himself:

“No matter how clever she is, she’s still a girl spoiled too much by her family.”

To borrow something Zheng Fan had once said their family environments while growing up had been completely different.

“Tsk, tsk...”

Ji Chengjue savored the thought.

He had gradually discovered that many things Zheng Fan had said in the past developed completely different flavors when remembered later.

From the driver’s seat, Eunuch Zhang asked:

“Master, are we going directly there?”

“Straight there.

“From now on— we should carry ourselves with a little more backbone too.”

Eunuch Zhang immediately replied:

“Master is joking.

“This slave would love to become hard, but this slave genuinely can’t.”

“Hahahaha!”

“Master, I heard Crown Prince has been working himself half to death with the ministers lately over the state letter submitted by the Chu envoys.”

“Let him tire himself out over it.”

The carriage stopped before a restaurant.

It was one of Yanjing’s more prestigious establishments.

Its name was **Top Scholar Restaurant**.

It had opened six years earlier.

At that time, Great Yan had still been filled with great aristocratic clans.

There had been no imperial examination system.

Naturally, there had been no “Top Scholar.”

So in the eyes of Yanjing’s residents, the restaurant had simply been imitating the customs of the State of Qian.

Business had always been mediocre.

One might even say the place had been burning money merely to keep its signboard alive.

But after Great Yan established imperial examinations, and last year finally produced its own Top Scholar, Second Place Scholar, and Third Place Scholar—

Top Scholar Restaurant, which had already survived for years, suddenly became one of the most fashionable establishments in the capital.

Its tables remained full.

Guests came constantly.

Ji Chengjue stepped down from the carriage and entered.

“Welcome, honored guest! Will you be staying or dining?”

“My friends are upstairs.

“Go on with your work.

“No need to attend me.”

After dismissing the waiter, Ji Chengjue walked upstairs by himself.

The upper floor consisted entirely of private rooms.

Three rooms in the most central and prestigious positions had displayed the same sign ever since the restaurant opened:

**No gathering may be held here unless the host is a Presented Scholar.**

Back when the restaurant’s business had been poor, this rule became something of a joke throughout Yanjing.

Plenty of people said the owner had lost his mind and existed solely to create ridiculous stories.

But once the imperial examinations began and Great Yan’s first successful Presented Scholars emerged, those three private rooms had barely stood empty.

During the first two months after the results were posted, the new scholars themselves frequently gathered here.

Later, whenever merchants or nobles wanted to cultivate ties with those scholars, they deliberately chose Top Scholar Restaurant for their banquets.

Ji Chengjue stopped outside the Grade-A private room.

He did not enter immediately.

Instead he listened to the voices inside.

Perhaps because he remained outside for too long, several men who appeared to be servants waiting in one corner of the second floor began walking over.

Eunuch Zhang, who had followed Ji Chengjue upstairs, immediately stepped toward them.

He lowered his voice.

“This eunuch would like to see which blind bastard dares ruin my Master’s mood.”

Inside Yanjing what sort of people had eunuchs attending them personally?

The servants exchanged glances.

Not one dared approach again.

Inside the private room, meanwhile, an argument had already begun.

“Hu Zhengfang!

“Weren’t *you* the one who sent me the invitation?

“You said today was your thirtieth-birthday banquet and specifically invited me.”

“Not me!

“Besides, my thirtieth birthday was two months ago.

“The situation at the front was still unclear then. How would I have dared hold a banquet?

“I received an invitation from Liu Chucai.

“It said he’d taken a concubine two days ago and invited me here to celebrate.”

“You’re the one who took a concubine!

“With that Lioness of Hedong in my house, how could I possibly dare bring home another woman?

“I received Old Qin’s invitation.

“He said he’d obtained some excellent wine and wanted us to come taste it.”

Every man in that room was a Presented Scholar from Great Yan’s first examination last year.

Because they were the first cohort and because most came from poor common backgrounds their relationships were unusually close.

Those assigned outside the capital could be set aside.

Among those who remained in Yanjing and now worked across the various ministries and yamen, sticking together instinctively was natural.

The literati and scholar-officials of Qian had already spent a century developing their networks and collective political identity.

Here in Yan, these men had only just begun.

Especially while they remained weak within the bureaucracy unity was even more important.

“So what the hell is happening?

“Not you.

“Not you.

“Not you either.

“Then who invited all of us here?”

“Exactly.

“Who?”

Ji Chengjue had listened long enough.

He pushed open the door.

More than ten Presented Scholars turned toward him.

Without exception none recognized him.

There were two reasons.

First, the Sixth Prince had always possessed a ridiculous reputation. He rarely involved himself in government and never handled military affairs.

Second, for more than half a year, he had been living in Nan’an County.

Even if he had wanted to make his face familiar there had been nowhere to show it.

Ji Chengjue did not treat himself like an outsider.

He pointed toward the prepared dishes on the table.

“The food is here.

“The wine is warm.

“What’s wrong?

“No one plans to eat?”

He walked toward the seat of honor.

He did not sit immediately.

Instead, one hand lightly patted the back of the chair.

“May we ask where this gentleman comes from?”

“Was it you who deceived all of us into coming here?”

“Sir, what exactly is the meaning of this?”

Questions crashed toward him one after another.

Everyone had understood.

Clearly, the young nobleman before them was the one who had tricked them into coming.

They were not especially afraid.

Every one of them held official status now.

In daily life, they had encountered their share of nobles and powerful families.

Ji Chengjue did not answer immediately.

Instead, he pointed toward the tall, thin man standing opposite him.

“You’re Liu Chucai, correct?

“Has your wife’s illness improved?

“That condition requires careful nursing.

“She absolutely must not be exposed to cold.

“Do not become careless merely because winter has ended.

“The transition between winter and spring is precisely when that illness is most likely to flare up again.”

Liu Chucai froze.

Then his eyes widened.

Disbelief appeared across his face.

His wife’s illness had been left behind by years of overwork while supporting his studies.

At one point, she had nearly died.

Back then he possessed no money for medicine.

He had been preparing to sell several books from his house just so he could afford a physician and medicine.

Unexpectedly the owner of the bookshop had refused to buy his books.

Instead, the man gave him a sum of silver and even arranged for the best physician in the county to treat his wife.

Liu Chucai had never told anyone about this.

Last year, after passing the imperial examination, he returned home and tried to visit his old benefactor in person.

The bookshop had already closed.

The owner had disappeared without a trace.

That was why his friends often mocked him for fearing his wife.

The truth was different.

He had always felt guilt and gratitude toward the woman who nearly worked herself to death so he could study.

Even after becoming successful he had never been willing to take a concubine.

Ji Chengjue pointed next toward a somewhat short and plump man.

“Hu Zhengfang.

“How many years has it been?

“You’ve gotten this fat already.

“Back when you were falsely accused and thrown into prison, weren’t you so thin you looked like a skeleton wrapped in skin?”

Shock spread across Hu Zhengfang’s face as well.

“Qin Xiaosheng.

“Is your father well now?

“The local officials haven’t troubled him again, have they?

“Your branch had already separated from the main clan for several generations.

“Yet just because the household had some good farmland and an injured elder, those local bastards decided to treat you as descendants of the Qin great clan and squeeze you along with everyone else.

“They truly knew how to eat men without spitting out the bones.”

Qin Xiaosheng stared at him in horror.

“You...”

“Oh, right.

“And you...”

“Ah— you’re...”

“Hahahaha!

“You brat.

“Back then...”

Ji Chengjue went around the room.

Pointing at one man.

Then another.

Greeting each personally.

Mentioning one matter after another.

The atmosphere inside the private room gradually became heavy.

No one shouted anymore.

No one dared question him.

He finished the entire circle.

Every man had been named.

Every man had been spoken to.

Ji Chengjue reached out and poured himself a cup of wine.

He took a small sip.

“I heard the Crown Prince invited every Presented Scholar from last year who remains in Yanjing into the Eastern Palace for a banquet two days ago.

“Well?

“Was the Eastern Palace wine good?”

No one answered.

Partly because the subject involved the Crown Prince.

Mostly because none of them had recovered from the shock.

“What’s wrong?

“You gentlemen are supposed to be the finest men of Great Yan.

“The future of Great Yan.

“The pillars of Great Yan.

“You can write magnificent essays— yet none of you knows how to speak?”

At last, Liu Chucai wet his lips and cupped his hands toward Ji Chengjue.

“May I dare ask... who exactly is Your Excellency?”

Ji Chengjue seemed to consider the question.

Then smiled.

While pouring himself another cup of wine, he spoke slowly.

“His present Majesty is an enlightened sovereign without equal.

“He sent cavalry to trample the great clans.

“He opened a road for the state to select talent.

“He created a ladder of advancement for poor scholars.

“His Majesty’s wish is that Great Yan’s talented men should not be restricted by family background, nor trapped by bloodline.

“Those with ability should serve the state in the court.

“They should govern local people with benevolence.

“You gentlemen were the first group.

“Once this year’s spring examination begins— there will soon be a second.

“You— are Great Yan’s future.”

Ji Chengjue lifted the cup.

“I—

Ji Chengjue—

Sixth Son of the present Emperor offer everyone here a toast!”

Sixth Prince?

He was the Sixth Prince?

Ji Chengjue did not wait for the stunned Presented Scholars to react.

He drank the entire cup by himself.

At that moment, his mind returned to the words the Commandery Princess had spoken earlier in the Western Garden.

She had said once she became Crown Princess she would certainly remove him.

Ji Chengjue sighed.

Then raised his head.

At that moment, he truly had wanted to answer her with one sentence:

*If Imperial Father had not deliberately kept me outside the board all these years—*

*do you truly think there would ever have been room for you?*

*For your husband?*

*For any of you?*

All everyone saw was Imperial Father deliberately suppressing him.

Suppressing him until he could barely breathe.

Leaving him humiliated and miserable.

But they never truly stopped to think.

Imperial Father was such a proud man.

If he genuinely disliked one son would he really need to spend so much effort tormenting him?

Cutting away his power.

Suppressing him.

Beating him down.

Reprimanding him.

Exiling him.

Over and over.

*Heh.*

If Ji Chengjue had not carried the Emperor’s own blood perhaps he would have died long ago.

But who made him resemble his father?

Who made the old man himself understand perfectly well that Little Sixth truly resembled him?

A succession struggle.

A contest for the throne.

Let the old man himself think about it.

If Ji Runhao personally entered the game did the rest of them really still possess a chance?

*Ji Chenglang.*

*You think that because you served as deputy organizer for one examination—*

*because you personally preside over another spring examination—*

*you become the teacher of these new Presented Scholars?*

*You think that means you can gather cohort after cohort of young officials beneath you?*

Yes.

You worked hard.

You stood beside the Dragon Gate.

You helped hold it upright while watching schools of fish leap through.

And because of that you genuinely believe every talented man under Heaven has entered your net?

Have you never wondered before those fish ever reached the Dragon Gate who exactly had been feeding them?

Once descendants of the great aristocratic clans were excluded, there were not actually that many educated poor scholars in Great Yan.

Find the ones with decent character.

Help them early.

The cost was trivial compared with the eventual return.

Of course, you could not sponsor everyone indiscriminately.

There would always be ungrateful wolves.

But you merely had to ensure there were not too many.

Otherwise you would waste your investment.

Ji Chengjue never made business deals that lost money.

It was a pity Count Zheng was not present.

Otherwise, even Zheng Fan would have been forced to admire the arrangement.

In the history familiar to Zheng Fan, the Shanxi merchant factions of the Ming era and the financial oligarchies of certain later states had often laid foundations in exactly this way until their networks eventually became capable of influencing national politics.

Once capital reached a sufficient scale, it instinctively penetrated outward and expanded.

It never remained limited to trade alone.

Ji Chengjue sat in the seat of honor.

At present everyone believed he, Ji Chengjue, had supported only one man into prominence:

Count Pingye.

No one knew once his businesses had spread completely across Great Yan in earlier years just how many people he had actually supported.

The thought settled in his mind.

Ji Chengjue’s gaze sharpened.

He swept his eyes across the men standing before him.

The corner of his mouth curved upward.

“Gentlemen.

“You are scholars.

“The finest readers and writers in Great Yan.

“Chengjue is untalented.

“But I have one question I would like to ask all of you.

“In your judgment— between the grace of giving birth and the grace of raising and nurturing which is heavier?

Which is lighter?”

Silence.

Silence.

Silence...

At last, no one could tell who moved first.

It seemed almost spontaneous.

The more than ten Presented Scholars and current officials inside the room lowered themselves together before Ji Chengjue seated at the head of the table.

Their voices rang out as one.

“We pay our respects— to our Benefactor.”

[End of Chapter 363]