Blood Flower Fragrance
"The swift cavalry suffered a crushing defeat?! Useless!"
"Your Majesty, please calm down. This defeat was due to the lack of experience of the Sa Ta cavalry. The priority now is to replenish our forces and prepare for the next battle," Tang Yao said, hooking her arm around the emperor's gold-embroidered belt as she turned to the side.
“No.” Fu Qinxiang stood up. “At this time, Zhao Peiming is missing and the spirit of the dashing knights has greatly diminished. Blindly recruiting soldiers will not only fail to guarantee their elite status, but will also cause panic and chaos in the army.”
Tang Yao stopped talking after hearing this and listlessly fiddled with her hairpins.
"Whether Zhao Peiming is missing or out of fear of punishment remains to be seen. If things continue like this, when will the army be able to be reorganized?" the emperor asked rhetorically.
"Although His Majesty is in a fit of rage, Zhao Peiming must not be killed under any circumstances," Yue Fengren said, cupping his hands in greeting.
"Did I say I wanted to execute him? You're actually thinking of me." The emperor embraced Tang Yao and drank the imperial wine.
The expressions of the people in the audience had eased somewhat, but Yue Fengren was a little tense.
Fu Qinxiang noticed the emperor's gaze and bowed, saying, "Your subject has a plan that can temporarily alleviate the urgent situation of the sand barrier."
"The Great Zhao has always given away treasures; now it's time to give away beauties instead."
These words caused a stir both on and off the stage. The Great Zhao had previously insisted on "selling goods" but not "selling people," and people of all social status were forbidden from being given away; now, this rule was about to be broken.
"What do you mean?" the emperor asked, intrigued.
“I have a best candidate,” Fu Qinxiang said, glancing at Guo Zheng with a slight smile. Guo Zheng’s hat brim was damp with sweat, his brows furrowed as he stared intently at her. Fu Qinxiang looked away. “There is a beautiful young lady, sixteen years old, still in the palace.” As she said this, Guo Zheng tried to rise several times, but Liu Guanhua, seeing his expression, chuckled softly, “She just failed to be chosen.” Guo Zheng suddenly looked puzzled, his body stiffening, while Liu Guanhua tensed up abruptly. “This person is none other than Liu’s younger sister, Liu Chunhua.”
Liu Guanhua hurriedly rose from his seat and knelt down, saying, "If I have done anything wrong, Your Majesty, please punish me. Why involve my younger sister in this!" He spoke in such a hurry that he called the Imperial Preceptor "Your Majesty," which disrupted his train of thought.
"Hahaha, what a brilliant idea!" the Emperor laughed. He could see that Liu Guanhua indeed harbored treacherous intentions, and that shouting out such a title in public was tantamount to publicly announcing their affair.
Fu Qinxiang tensed up, inwardly blaming Liu Guanhua for being so foolish. She had only intended to scare him, but unexpectedly, she had gotten herself involved as well. She scolded, "Disregarding the law, you are truly audacious! Disrespecting the emperor, you deserve to be executed!" Unexpectedly, her voice trembled slightly.
The Emperor found it even more amusing to see her nervous for the first time, so he pulled Tang Yao aside and pointed her out, and the two whispered to each other.
Seeing this, Fu Qinxiang knelt before the emperor, head bowed, and remained silent. Those below the stage, witnessing this scene, were filled with glee. They were either Fu Qinxiang's adversaries or had long been oppressed and controlled by her; for Fu Qinxiang to have a traitor among her ranks was a laughingstock.
"I suppose the Director is also so infatuated with the Imperial Advisor that he spoke so rudely," Tang Yao said with a smile.
Liu Guanhua quickly replied, "The Imperial Preceptor is so beautiful that I can only secretly admire him. I dare not, I dare not..."
Fu Qinxiang felt utterly disgusted upon hearing this. She thought it best to get rid of this person as soon as possible.
"You secretly harbor these thoughts, isn't that bold?" The emperor's face was full of mockery, but he felt a sense of balance—even a high-ranking official had designs on him, so what was wrong with indulging himself a little? He turned to Fu Qinxiang, "The Imperial Preceptor is not at fault, rise."
"Your humble servant dares not harbor any disloyal intentions or collusion. I only wish to serve the Great Zhao with my meager strength to demonstrate Your Majesty's benevolence." After saying this, Fu Qinxiang slowly rose and stepped aside.
"Yes, I know. Please continue to tell me about this excellent opportunity."
"Liu Chunhua is naturally beautiful and well-educated. She shall be granted the title of princess. This will not only enhance our great power and prestige but also temporarily ease the situation and prepare for the next campaign."
"Your Majesty, please reconsider! My younger sister is already engaged and will be married on an auspicious day. She is truly unworthy of a marriage alliance!" Liu Guanhua cried, tears streaming down his face.
"Your Majesty, Liu Chunhua is not engaged and is currently still in her residence," Fu Qinxiang said with an air of authority. Liu Guanhua looked up, his anger turning into pleading eyes, begging for mercy.
"My dear minister, do not be sad. Being made a princess is a joyous occasion. Not only will you be bestowed with gold and silver and a generous salary, but you will also be promoted." The emperor said casually, "Immediately ask the eunuch to draft the title, and then present it to me for review later."
Chen Zhusheng responded and led the others out of the court.
Liu Guanhua then collapsed, exhausted, drawing gasps from those around him. Guo Zheng glanced at Fu Qinxiang, his expression meaningful.
After the court session, Fu Qinxiang walked up to Liu Guanhua, straightened his official hat, and said, "If Zhao Peiming hadn't been defeated, Chunhua could have continued to enjoy her life in her boudoir. Think about it carefully, who should we really hate?"
Liu Guanhua was trembling with anger when he was enveloped by the fragrant breeze from Fu Qinxiang's sleeves. He was momentarily dazed and nodded blankly.
"The Emperor discovered your embezzlement of public funds a while ago, didn't I cover for you? Besides, your sister isn't entirely without a chance of getting her money back, so don't underestimate me." Fu Qinxiang stopped there, withdrawing her hand and turning her back. "If you were any more clever, you would have already risen to prominence. It's just a pity that you tried to harm me, I..." At this point, Fu Qinxiang covered her face with her sleeve and wept uncontrollably.
Liu Guanhua was so anxious that he wanted to wipe away her tears, but he was afraid of overstepping his bounds again and angering her. He felt so ashamed that he could only say, "Grand Preceptor, please don't be angry. I was just confused for a moment. I will be much more careful in the future..."
Fu Qinxiang turned back, her eyes brimming with tears, and said, "Weren't you calling me 'Your Majesty' just now? Why aren't you calling me that anymore? Are you becoming distant from me..."
"No, no, I... since Your Majesty likes it, I'll call you that in private..." Liu Guanhua hurriedly said. No one else could possibly see how the usually aloof Grand Preceptor treated him in private; the Grand Preceptor's tears were like trophies, making them highly coveted.
"No need!" Fu Qinxiang gestured for her guards to follow, then hurried away. Liu Guanhua was left utterly bewildered, completely confused. The lingering fragrance filled his nostrils, his mind already reeling.
After walking away, Fu Qinxiang wiped away her tears, pushed away the handkerchief handed to her by the guard, and sneered: "Food and sex are human desires."
Konoe said, "It seems that Shimotsuki will have to suffer this time."
"Hmph, what grievances could there be in a great empire? What Golden Venerable Body will eventually turn to dust? When I compile the history books, will these things still exist?" Fu Qinxiang continued to laugh, completely unconcerned.
"Should Liu Guanhua be killed or not?"
“Haha, if I wanted his life, I would have asked the Emperor to do it for me just now, and done it in one go,” Fu Qinxiang glanced at the guard, “of course, I would have just left a dog to work for me.”
After a moment of silence, Konoe said, "Am I also the Grand Tutor's dog?"
Fu Qinxiang's smile faded, and she replied, "I don't see you that way."
Konoe simply lowered his head and smiled faintly, without saying anything more.
A breeze ruffled their sleeves, and a fragrant scent of flowers wafted over them.
—————
"In my opinion, he's not acting out of kindness; he's determined to kill Jiang Heng no matter what." Tang Yao held a candied fruit and slowly chewed it.
“Indeed, it’s just a pity we didn’t kill him then.” Fu Qinxiang said thoughtfully, “He’s probably already at Zhao Chen’s palace by now.”
Tang Yao asked in confusion, "But didn't the Imperial Preceptor already arrange for someone to detain him?"
Fu Qinxiang sneered, "They're too stupid. Do you really think they can stop us? They'll just try to find some leverage to gather information."
“Since Jiang Heng is not dead, he will surely be of use to me. Let him go for now, and when the time comes, he won’t be able to stay even if he wants to.” Fu Qinxiang’s eyes showed a hint of ruthlessness, yet she spoke casually.
"Actually, we met on the day of the ceremony," Tang Yao said quietly.
Fu Qinxiang raised her eyebrows, somewhat surprised.
"Based on my interactions with him, I don't think he's the type to stop at nothing for fame and fortune. In terms of temperament, he's no different from the young master I associate with."
Fu Qinxiang listened and only smiled.
"If I may be so bold as to ask, why are you so concerned about that Jiang Heng? As it stands, he is already at the end of his rope." Tang Yao had never studied books, but was naturally very interested in writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Now, she held a pen and paper in her hand and vaguely scribbled on Fu Qinxiang's notebook.
“This person has a special status, and his talent is indeed useful. There is much discussion in the hall. With so many people vying for him, even a cheap item can fetch a good price.” Fu Qinxiang indulged her, “Didn’t the Imperial Uncle also become an important minister after being recommended by the Imperial Concubine? In a place where the Emperor has the final say, everything can change in an instant.”
Tang Yao nodded.
“So it is with you and me.” Fu Qinxiang moved closer. Her simple beaded jewelry did not sway, giving her a cold and aloof air.
Despite being deeply favored, Tang Yao knew firsthand how it felt to serve a ruler as if walking on thin ice, and she couldn't help but feel sorrow.
"My palace is built far away from others and high up, so I feel very stifled every day because no one goesssips. Now that I can have a chat with the Imperial Advisor, it is a comfort." Tang Yao accidentally spilled ink on the paper and quickly covered it to secretly observe Fu Qinxiang's expression.
Fu Qinxiang shook her head and smiled, "It's alright. Once the Imperial Concubine sits down, I will no longer need to look forward to Xun Ling."
Tang Yao was puzzled, but she didn't show it. She just silently made a note of it, thinking that she would ask the servants about it after the event.
Tang Yao suddenly looked at Fu Qinxiang seriously, her eyes somewhat hesitant, and said, "Grand Preceptor, please tell me, why are you teaching me politics and law, and so on?"
"You know perfectly well why I'm asking this." Fu Qinxiang stood up, walked to the side, picked up her pen, and said, "My sister is a favored concubine, how could I dare to risk my life to provoke her?"
Tang Yao smiled: "So that means you like me?"
Fu Qinxiang was taken aback. She hadn't expected Tang Yao to actually believe it.
Tang Yao's hairpins swayed brightly, dazzling and eye-catching, but still paled in comparison to her smile.
Of course, the two could look into each other's eyes in private. Fu Qinxiang looked at Tang Yao, her heart filled with a rare moment of inner turmoil. She smiled faintly as well.
Fu Qinxiang had a clever look and a beautiful appearance, but her eyes were clouded. Tang Yao didn't really believe her. After all, she had been learning the zither in the brothel for a long time and was used to reading people.
Half an hour later, Fu and Tang finished their political discussion. Fu Qinxiang removed the gold bracelet from her wrist and casually tossed it to a palace maid, watching Tang Yao's sedan chair disappear into the green shade.
"Frostmoon." The guard followed closely, his eyes full of scrutiny. "You've never seen any carriage off before. What are you thinking about today?"
Fu Qinxiang closed her eyes and turned around, saying, "You're overthinking it. Tang Yao will definitely peek back at me from the carriage. If I don't act very attentive, she'll probably be disappointed in me."
Konoe laughed, "The Grand Preceptor has to go to such lengths to answer my question. It seems you were right." She leaned slightly forward, "You see something in her that you don't have."
Fu Qinxiang smiled: "Perhaps, but I'm about to get it too."
"We'll see." The guard relaxed.
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