Chapter 378 Provocation
Uncle Qingshan's words were laced with barbs, and Grand Tutor Yan, an old fox, naturally understood that he was being threatened. However, an old fox is an old fox after all; although he was unhappy inside, he still wore a smile on his face.
"What are you saying, Uncle Qingshan?" Grand Tutor Yan raised his hand and stroked the scroll on the table, his smile gentle and calm. "I'm just thinking that I'm getting old and my energy is no longer up to par, so I'm thinking of retiring to rest. As for the winds of the capital, they've been blowing for decades, and I've long been used to going with the flow and taking a break."
He paused, tapped the edge of the scroll lightly with his fingertips, and then changed the subject lightly: "The children's affairs are their own fate. This old man is content as long as he can keep his family fed and clothed; how dare he get involved in those big storms?"
"I appreciate Uncle Qingshan's kindness, but this painting... I really dare not accept it. Another day when I have time, I would like to invite Uncle Qingshan to taste my newly brewed plum wine, as a way of thanking you for your hospitality today."
Uncle Qingshan: "..."
What else could he say? He could only curse the old fox in his heart, then chatted idly for a few more minutes before getting up to take his leave. Grand Tutor Yan escorted him to the courtyard gate, watching his figure gradually disappear before wiping the smile from his face and turning back to his study.
Having navigated the treacherous waters of officialdom for decades, he could roughly guess who the Crown Prince's faction consisted of. He hadn't known before, but the Prime Minister's recent actions suggested he was also part of the Crown Prince's faction, and quite possibly the leader.
If the Crown Prince's faction didn't have a prime minister, Grand Tutor Yan wouldn't have taken them too seriously, since everyone knew the Crown Prince was a target set up by the Yellow Emperor. But because of the prime minister, Grand Tutor Yan had to be wary of them.
He just didn't quite understand why the Prime Minister, such a shrewd and calculating man, would side with the Crown Prince. But now wasn't the time to think about that; he had to come up with a plan. He believed that the Prime Minister had instructed the Earl of Qingshan to come today, and even the things the Earl of Qingshan had said were.
He paced back and forth in his study when the door opened and his eldest son, Yan Shuyang, walked in. "Son, I heard that Lord Qingshan has come to visit?"
Grand Tutor Yan nodded solemnly, and Yan Shuyang immediately asked, "Does he want Fengxi to become the Crown Princess?"
"He didn't say it explicitly, he just tested the waters." Grand Tutor Yan walked to the tea table and sat down, with Yan Shuyang sitting opposite him. "What was Father's response?"
Grand Tutor Yan glanced at him but said nothing. He poured himself a cup of tea and slowly began to drink it. He had just taken a sip when the door was pushed open forcefully, and Yan Fengxi rushed in, his face filled with anxiety. "Grandfather, did you agree to his request?"
Grand Tutor Yan frowned, and Yan Shuyang immediately scolded Yan Fengxi, "Have you forgotten all your manners?"
Yan Fengxi was scolded and looked aggrieved. She bowed respectfully to Grand Tutor Yan and said, "I was flustered and lost my manners. Please forgive me, Grandfather."
Grand Tutor Yan gave her a deep look, then waved his hand and said, "No need for formalities."
In the past, he might have taught this granddaughter a lesson, but now, firstly, he wasn't in the mood, and secondly, this granddaughter had been spoiled beyond repair.
At this moment, Yan Fengxi began to shed tears, looking wronged and pitiful. Grand Tutor Yan frowned even more deeply upon seeing this, "Why are you crying?"
His voice deepened, tinged with obvious impatience. "From the time you can remember, I've had you learn manners and cultivate your character from the old woman. I've taught you how to manage a household and how to deal with the world, hoping that you would one day be able to shoulder the responsibility of the family, stand firm, and become a dignified matriarch. But look at you now! You panic at the slightest thing, crying and losing your composure. How will you ever be able to handle things in the future?"
Yan Fengxi was always favored, so such a reprimand was undeniably severe for her. After a moment of stunned silence, she felt even more wronged, and tears welled up in her eyes. However, she also knew that she couldn't indulge her temper in front of her grandfather.
She wiped away her tears forcefully and knelt on the ground, saying, "Granddaughter knows she was wrong...Granddaughter lost control..."
Yan Fengxi choked back tears as she kowtowed, her forehead pressed against the cold ground. Her voice, though trembling with sobs, was steadied as she tried to remain calm. "But Grandfather, I'm so afraid... Who in the capital doesn't know that although His Highness the Crown Prince is the heir apparent, he's a target set up by His Majesty and could be deposed at any moment? If I were to marry into that family, I fear I wouldn't even have a peaceful life, let alone be the mistress of the household..."
She sniffed, her voice filled with fear: "Granddaughter knows that marriage should be decided by Grandfather and Father, but this concerns my entire life. I beg Grandfather to have mercy and please don't agree to this marriage..."
"The matter is still undecided, yet you're already crying and making wild guesses. Where is the demeanor of the eldest daughter of the Yan family?"
Grand Tutor Yan slammed his teacup down, spilling some tea. "When did I ever say I would agree to this marriage? You haven't even figured out the cause and effect, yet you dare to cry and make a scene here. It's clear that the 'calmness' and 'situational awareness' I've taught you have all gone in one ear and out the other! The eldest daughter should have the demeanor of an eldest daughter, not let you disrupt the peace with your own delusions!"
These words relieved Yan Fengxi, but also made her resent Grand Tutor Yan. How could she not care about a marriage that concerned her lifelong happiness? It was only natural to lose her composure in a moment of panic, but her grandfather spoke so harshly, as if her worries were all unreasonable.
Thinking about it carefully, her grandfather's change in attitude towards her began after Yan Fengju joined the Heavenly Crafts Bureau. It was all because of Yan Fengju; if it weren't for Yan Fengju, she wouldn't have been reprimanded like that.
"Grandfather, why are you angry? I'm only thinking of the family." Yan Fengxi raised her head, tears still clinging to her eyelashes, but her tone carried a hint of resentment and provocation:
“Sister Fengju is currently working in the Imperial Workshop, a proper official position. Her knowledge and demeanor are not necessarily inferior to mine. If we’re talking about who is more suitable for His Highness the Crown Prince, she is probably more suitable than me.”
She paused, lowering her voice even further, as if offering a caring suggestion: "Besides, Sister Fengju is born of a concubine. If she were to become the Crown Prince's secondary consort, it would neither wrong the Crown Prince nor diminish the reputation of our Yan family. The Crown Prince's faction would naturally have no grounds for complaint. In this way, we would neither offend them nor have to get me involved in that mess. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
After speaking, she fixed her gaze on Grand Tutor Yan, seeking his confirmation. If Yan Fengju became the Crown Prince's concubine, the day the Crown Prince was deposed would be Yan Fengju's death. Thinking of this, a fierce glint appeared in her eyes. However, she immediately lowered her head, and no one saw her expression.
Yan Shuyang seemed to be swayed by her words, and looked at Grand Tutor Yan, saying, "Father, I think Fengxi's idea is good, Fengju..."
"Nonsense!" Grand Tutor Yan slammed his hand heavily on the tea table, causing the teacup to tip over and spill scalding tea all over the table, dripping down the edge and onto the ground, leaving dark watermarks on the blue bricks.
Yan Shuyang swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, her face turning pale instantly; Yan Fengxi trembled with fright, the tears she had just suppressed almost welling up again, she buried her head even lower, not daring to breathe loudly. But her hands were clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh painfully.
She hadn't expected her grandfather to value Yan Fengju so much.
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