Chapter 059: Take Action

Xiao Dingfei was known for his loose tongue. Since returning to the capital, he had become the most notorious playboy in the city. He engaged in cockfighting, dog racing, horse riding, and gambling, excelling in all these activities. This behavior drove Duke Xiao Yuan to distraction. Even when he met his sister Xiao Shu, who was a noble consort in the palace, he would deliberately assert his superiority as her “elder brother.” He often hung around Jiang Xuening, the arch-enemy of the Xiao family, which led the elders of the family to scold him for his rebelliousness, but they were powerless to stop him.

The entire court and the common people believed that his survival was a miracle. Growing up in the streets, how could they expect him to achieve greatness?

As a result, the civil and military officials showed him rare tolerance, and the royal family, feeling guilty, did not dare to make things difficult for him, which only made him more reckless.

However, Jiang Xuening sometimes felt that she shared a similar temperament with him. Despite his frivolous and wanton behavior, he seemed more agreeable than the hypocritical officials at court. She inexplicably found herself able to get along with him.

People joked that the Empress favored Xiao Dingfei because they shared a common plight. After all, although they were both born into noble families, they had both fallen into difficult circumstances. How could they not sympathize with each other?

Even Jiang Xuening could not deny that, at first, when she did not know the truth, she had such thoughts. Later, she simply found it comfortable to be around someone who did not hide their true self.

Seeing someone’s writing is like seeing the person.

Even if the writing is not good, it reveals some of their true nature.

What was her true nature?

Had Shen Jie already seen it back then? But she had not even understood herself at that time…

The newly written cursive script lay before her. Jiang Xuening looked up at Wang Jiu, who stood solemnly in front of her desk. She wanted to argue that she simply liked cursive script and that personal preference should dictate what style of calligraphy one practiced.

But then she thought, she would only be in the palace for half a year.

Learning regular script could be a way to cultivate her character. Why make things difficult with the teacher and create trouble for herself?

Once she left the palace, she could write whatever she wanted. Who would care then?

So she quickly calmed down.

She bowed her head to Wang Jiu and said, “Teacher, your lesson is well taken. I will remember it.”

Wang Jiu nodded in satisfaction and said, “You finally look like a proper student.”

He then turned and walked to the front of the hall, instructing everyone to open to the first page of “The Eighteen Model Letters.” He began to explain and then had everyone try to copy the letters. Despite his strict rules and intolerance for any questions or challenges from students during class, he was a good teacher who followed the rules.

When the lesson ended at the hour of Chen, Wang Jiu packed up his things and left.

As soon as he left, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Fang Miao couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Xuening, still shaken. “I was so scared! I thought Miss Jiang was going to confront Master Wang like she did with Master Zhao the other day. Master Wang is also strict and not easy to deal with. Thankfully, she didn’t. Thankfully!”

Jiang Xuening thought to herself that all she did yesterday was ask Zhao Yanhong what the character “d” meant. It had nothing to do with defiance. Zhao was just someone who judged people by their status and acted arrogantly as a teacher.

Putting aside personal agendas—

Xie Wei’s knowledge and vision far surpassed Zhao’s, yet he was humble and never turned hostile when questioned. His level of cultivation was evident.

Feeling a bit displeased, she just smiled politely at Fang Miao without responding.

Chen Shuyi, who had been at odds with Jiang Xuening since the start of school, still remembered their argument in Xie Wei’s class. Seeing Jiang Xuening being reprimanded these past two days, she felt a sense of satisfaction.

After all, people like Xie Wei were rare.

Most other teachers followed strict rules and adhered to propriety.

Chen Shuyi picked up where Fang Miao left off, laughing, “Master Wang from the Hanlin Academy is not just any scholar. His ancestors were famous salt merchants in Yangzhou. After making enough money, the family switched to officialdom. By Master Wang’s generation, there were already three successful candidates in the imperial examinations. His cousin, Wang Xian, is now the Salt Transport Commissioner of the Two Huai regions. He’s not some isolated, struggling scholar who needs to flatter everyone. Even the Assistant Minister of Revenue wouldn’t intimidate him!”

Among those present, only Jiang Xuening’s father was the Assistant Minister of Revenue.

Everyone knew this was a jab at her.

All eyes turned to Jiang Xuening.

But You Yue, hearing the word “salt” in “Salt Transport Commissioner,” was reminded of something she had instructed her people to investigate before entering the palace. She became thoughtful and forgot to join in mocking Jiang Xuening.

Jiang Xuening, not paying attention to the others, just sneered, “If you don’t like me, just say so. Being indirect only makes you look worse. Those who know you are the cherished daughter of Grand Scholar Chen. Those who don’t might think Wang Jiu is your father!”

Chen Shuyi’s face changed, “You—”

Jiang Xuening, having grown up in the countryside, was sharp-tongued and had never lost an argument. She chose not to argue with people out of magnanimity.

But sometimes, if she didn’t argue, people really thought she was easy to bully.

She laughed, “Miss Chen, if you have the time, why not look through the records of the Salt Transport Commissioners of the Two Huai regions and see how many ended their terms well? It’s a coveted position, involving both official and private salt trade. It’s either confiscation of property or execution, at the very least, dismissal and exile. If you’re going to praise someone, at least pick a good example. Don’t act like you know so much!”

Chen Shuyi, having grown up in a strict household and never mingled with the common folk, had never heard such sharp sarcasm. Now, being hit with it all at once by Jiang Xuening, she was almost ready to explode!

She wanted to retort but couldn’t find the words.

Her face turned red and white with embarrassment. Unable to bear it any longer, she finally stood up abruptly, glaring at Jiang Xuening. Her delicate hand raised high, fingers tense, she was so angry she was about to strike Jiang Xuening!

Zhou Baoying, who was quietly snacking nearby, didn’t understand what the argument was about. When she saw the usually composed Chen Shuyi about to hit someone, she was so shocked that she choked on her candied fruit.

The more timid ones, like Yao Rongrong, gasped in surprise.

Jiang Xuening remained unmoved, raising an eyebrow mockingly.

Just as Chen Shuyi’s slap was about to land, a voice from outside called out, “Greetings to the Princess. We pay our respects to Her Highness.”

Shen Zhiyi had arrived!

Chen Shuyi’s raised hand froze in mid-air. She couldn’t bring it down, nor could she retract it in time. She saw Shen Zhiyi’s rare, serious figure appear at the door, and her mind went blank.

Shen Zhiyi had just come from Kunning Palace. Having grown up in the palace, she could already sense the brewing storm, so she was not in a good mood.

She walked in and saw Chen Shuyi’s raised hand aimed at Jiang Xuening.

Momentarily stunned, she asked, “What’s going on here?”

Chen Shuyi quickly lowered her hand and tried to explain, “Your Highness, I was just…”

Jiang Xuening sighed inwardly. Shen Zhiyi had arrived too early; the slap hadn’t even landed yet, so the effect was much diminished. It wouldn’t be as convincing for her to play the victim now. Otherwise, she would have made Chen Shuyi kneel.

She thought to herself, but her demeanor was impeccable. She let her lips droop, her eyes lowered, and tears began to fall. She cried pitifully to Shen Zhiyi, “Your Highness, it’s one thing for Chen Shuyi to insult me, but she even wanted to hit me!”

Shen Zhiyi’s face instantly turned cold. She frowned at Chen Shuyi, “What do you mean by this?!”

Chen Shuyi: ???

Everyone else: ????

Who said she couldn’t talk back? What kind of tactic is this, crying and playing the victim at the slightest disagreement?!

Previous

Next