Chapter 50 Strolling around, I've run into acquaintances twice today.

After An He's harsh words, Zhao Liangxu felt that she had gained some prestige by borrowing An He's and Li Ying's reputations, but she secretly had a headache. If this kind of threat continued, she was afraid that the entire Bureau of Officials and Clerks would not dare to easily order her around, and then what difference would there be between her leisurely life and being at home?

Zhao Liangxu cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention: "I just hope that if there's anything even minor, I can be entrusted with it, so that I can also do my part for His Majesty. If it's related to the caravan, that would be even better."

Anhe couldn't help but scoff inwardly at Zhao Liangxu's polite and considerate words, thinking she was putting on an act like a well-bred lady.

But he said aloud, "Did you hear that, Manager Chen?"

He threatened Manager Chen and intended to take Zhao Liangxu to other places where he had met with the caravan to find out more. Just as he stepped out the door, a young eunuch came and whispered something to Anhe.

Anhe remained silent for a while. Just then, Qiu Cheng came out of the government office. Qiu Cheng volunteered to take Anhe's place and take Zhao Liangxu out for a stroll.

Anhe trusted Qiu Cheng, so she left in a hurry.

Qiu Cheng and Zhao Liangxu stood in front of the government office gate, watching An He get into the carriage.

"I noticed that His Excellency was in a bad mood today. It must have been difficult for you to be by his side. Fortunately, he was distracted by other matters." Qiu Cheng's attitude towards An He was the same as most people's: cautious and respectful, with a hint of disgust for the treacherous eunuch. Even her maternal grandfather didn't dare to be too arrogant in front of An He, and although Qiu Cheng was straightforward, she understood this principle.

However, she says whatever comes to mind when she's alone.

She never hesitated to assume the worst about a person. She knew that Anhe had personally sent people to Zhilan Hall to arrest her so that she could treat Zhao Liangxu. Apart from the Empress Dowager, Zhao Liangxu was the first person to receive such treatment.

Qiu Cheng didn't think An He was particularly kind or affectionate towards Zhao Liangxu. Who could expect a eunuch with blood on his hands to be gentle and kind to a woman?

She didn't know how the two got along, but examples of filth and depravity hidden beneath a calm exterior were most common in the imperial harem. Anhe also had a uniquely infamous reputation in Southern Zhou, so assuming the worst was the best way to minimize unnecessary harm.

"Aren't you afraid I'll tell him if you talk badly about him behind his back?" Zhao Liangxu joked.

Qiu Cheng scoffed and said, "Anyway, you've said just as many bad things as I have, and you're even more outrageous. At least I'm speaking frankly out of consideration for your mental and physical well-being. You're the one who's more blunt when you talk to me."

Zhao Liangxu shrugged helplessly, her eyes crinkling as she didn't refute Qiu Cheng's words: "Alright, alright, Anhe just said he wanted to go to the Siyi Pavilion. It seems to be managed by the Taichang Temple as well, so you should be more familiar with it?"

Zhao Liangxu was naturally very curious when she heard that the Siyiguan was an institution related to translation, which could be considered a semi-"diplomatic office" closely connected with diplomacy.

The Siyiguan (Four Barbarians' Inn) and the Zhukeqinglisi (Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs) were separated by only one bridge. Qiu Cheng led Zhao Liangxu to cross the bridge, but they were blocked in the middle by a young man wearing a red round-necked robe.

He wore a loose-fitting round-necked robe that hugged his skinny frame, and the clothes looked brand new. Zhao Liangxu noticed that the man's clothes also seemed to be an official's robe, somewhat similar to those worn by Qiu Cheng.

The skinny man with a slight kidney deficiency in front of her seemed strangely familiar to Zhao Liangxu, as if... she had seen him somewhere before.

She has a good memory, but even memories have their priorities. She had seen this kind of person before, but it was obvious that he was unimportant. Such memories had long been pushed to the back of her mind. After a moment of recollection, she suddenly remembered the person in front of her.

Qiu Cheng's voice rang out as well: "Zhang Changfei? What are you doing blocking the road? Do you want another one after being put in solitary confinement?"

He was the same guy who had spoken rudely to Qiu Cheng in the teahouse when they bumped into each other outside the palace that day.

As a student of the Imperial Academy, Zhao Liangxu was worried about the quality of this year's students.

Zhang Changfei was no longer the annoying, cheeky guy he used to be. Despite his awkward expression, he still managed to ask, "Are you two heading to the Four Barbarians Pavilion?"

Qiu Cheng sensed that Zhang Changfei had ill intentions, so she didn't hold back: "What? Now you're not spreading rumors and gossiping, but eavesdropping instead?"

Zhang Changfei's expression was unpleasant, clearly indicating that he couldn't hide anything, but he still said, "Sister Qiu said that I was not eavesdropping. I just heard from my grandfather that Princess Zhao was also coming to the Ministry of Rites. I came to apologize to Princess Zhao. I was wrong that day. I didn't keep my mouth shut."

Zhao Liangxu thought this person was really flexible, but he still looked reluctant, which meant that confinement hadn't made him truly repent.

"Don't call me 'Sister Qiu' for no reason. Don't try to get close to me!" Qiu Cheng was disgusted by the cloying address and her tone became even more unpleasant.

Zhang Changfei was also annoyed. How could he have truly repented? His old man had been humiliated at court, and when he returned and saw Zhang Changfei's nonchalant attitude, he was even more furious and locked him up in confinement.

Because the old man was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, he was furious when he heard that An and Li Ying had gone against the majority opinion to protect Zhao Liangxu and send her to serve as an official outside the capital, even though Zhao Liangxu was just going to the Ministry of Rites to coast along.

Whether he felt that the Southern Zhou's etiquette had been overturned and that his dignity as a civil official who upheld the dignity of etiquette had been challenged, or whether he felt that he had angered An He more and had left a bad impression on An He, in any case, the old man released him from confinement, grabbed his ear, and ordered him to apologize to Zhao Liangxu.

He thought, how could a mere woman make him lower his head?

Just as he was standing idly in the middle of the bridge, leaning against the railing and looking around, he saw An He and Zhao Liangxu walk into the Ministry of Rites together.

He was afraid of the old man but knew he wouldn't punish him severely. He also felt that Zhao Liangxu didn't deserve his apology. When he was pointing out the flaws in the country in the teahouse, he kept calling people eunuchs and thieves, but that didn't mean he wasn't afraid of An He!

When he actually saw the Grand Eunuch, dressed in a dark python robe, stride into the Ministry of Rites, and the people in the office fawning over him, he remembered that even the old man had to carefully consider his words in front of Anhe.

Anhe had no beard and his eyes were narrow, which made him look more effeminate and sinister than the officials he usually encountered.

As he watched the commotion from the bridge, for a fleeting moment, he felt as if An He, who had turned to look at him, was staring at him with eyes that seemed to flick a snake's tongue, his gaze menacing and entwining around him.

The people in the government office were all obsequious, which made his classmates point and curse, "The integrity of scholars has been completely lost." But Zhao Liangxu stood straight next to An He, completely unlike the Zhao Liangxu that everyone used to talk to, who could say whatever they wanted to everyone. She was actually led into the Ministry of Rites by An He himself.

Does this mean that Zhao Liangxu really holds some status with An He? At least she's not someone who's been played with and then discarded. What if Zhao Liangxu were to whisper sweet nothings in An He's ear?

Zhang Changfei felt cold sweat dripping down his face.

He could only wait for the two of them to come over, hoping that after he apologized, Zhao Liangxu wouldn't say anything bad about him to Anhe.

Zhao Liangxu found it laughable that Zhang Changfei was pretending to be in pain and suffering, and that he was trying to endure it.

Therefore, she said, "Oh, I heard from Eunuch An that the Vice Minister of the Zhang family is here. The Zhang family asked about our itinerary. Do you have any plans?"

"Not at all, not at all. I'll be staying at the Siyi Pavilion for a few days. How about I show Princess Zhao and Lady Qiu around? It would be a small way of expressing my apology." Zhang Changfei changed his form of address; continuing to call her "Sister Qiu" would only invite trouble!

Zhao Liangxu and Qiu Cheng exchanged a glance and said, "Alright, then we'll trouble Young Master Zhang." She also wanted to see what Zhang Changfei was up to. Seeing his uncomfortable appearance, it was really strange that he insisted on showing them around the Siyi Pavilion.

Zhang Changfei smiled, turned around and led them into the Siyi Pavilion. As they walked, he rambled on, "As you two know, I am a student of the Imperial Academy. It just so happens that a merchant caravan is coming in a few months, so the Imperial Academy selected some students to come to the Siyi Pavilion to learn some foreign languages. Someone has to be able to talk to those barbarians, right? I am not very talented, but I was also selected to be a translator in preparation."

As for whether it was his own skill or the old man's skill, let's not worry about that.

As Zhao Liangxu listened to Zhang Changfei's arrogant words, she realized that Southern Zhou considered itself a great power and always looked down on merchant caravans coming to the court, thinking they were just small merchants from remote little countries.

Zhang Changfei had only been at the Siyi Pavilion for a short time, and was explaining things in a confused and half-understood manner when a young man with his head down reading a book approached from the front. Without looking up, the young man said, "Brother Zhang, I heard your voice from afar. Who are you talking to...?"

He raised his head, but his words trailed off.

Zhao Liangxu also laughed. What day is it today? Why are all the people here familiar faces?

The person in front of her was none other than someone she knew well, someone she recognized, who was none other than another student from the Imperial Academy at the teahouse that day.

At the time, this person was at least able to distinguish right from wrong, knowing who was right and who was wrong in Zhang Changfei's words, and also knew to apologize to Qiu Cheng and her. However, it's hard to say what kind of good people are those who hang out with Zhang Changfei.

Chen Qinglie was taking the scrolls and books he had sorted to another room. He valued the position of translator very much. He was already hanging out with Zhang Changfei, so he was not considered a top student at the Imperial Academy. He could probably only be ranked in the middle to upper range among his classmates. Chen Qinglie came from a poor family and could only make up for his shortcomings with more effort. However, he was still not as good as Zhang Changfei, who could easily obtain an official position by virtue of his family's influence, nor was he as knowledgeable as the top talents, for whom passing the imperial examination was as easy as taking candy from a baby.

He might be considered somewhat clever, and his teachers might praise him as a hardworking child, but ultimately he lacked any great talent or ambition. If he were to enter officialdom like an ordinary student of the Imperial Academy, he probably wouldn't achieve much. It would be better for him to look for opportunities at the Four Barbarian Institute.

But when he looked up, he saw the person he had been longing for.

"Princess Zhao, Princess Zhao." He blurted out her name without thinking.

Zhao Liangxu dressed simply today, wearing only a light blue cross-collar jacket and skirt without much embellishment. She did this to dress plainly and avoid giving her colleagues the bad impression of being down on her luck but insisting on looking expensive.

In Chen Qinglie's eyes, however, she appeared to be a woman of refined elegance and otherworldly beauty.

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Author's Note: This is a few transitional chapters. The relationship between the characters and Eunuch An needs to be handled with a balance of tension and relaxation; it's best to savor it slowly.

P.S.: I've been busy with my internship these past few days, which has left me with almost no drafts, and I also got on a bad ranking list, which was quite worrying. But yesterday's chapter had so many lovely comments that I was completely captivated, and that's why I'm so happy again.