Chapter 24 How do you want me to show you mercy?
Chen Yanqing, standing outside the pavilion, vaguely overheard some conversations about "the prince consort and the Pei family," and began to have some doubts.
Then he saw Pei Huaijin leave alone, and he secretly glanced into the pavilion.
Li Yuanzhao was still sitting in his seat, his fingertips lightly tapping the edge of the table.
His expression carried a habitual aloofness, revealing no trace of joy or anger.
What exactly did they talk about? How did they end up talking about the prince consort?
Just then, a series of footsteps approached from afar.
Chen Yanqing looked in the direction of the voice and recognized the person as Du Cong, who had offended Cui Jiulang at the banquet earlier that day.
Du Cong acted as if he hadn't seen him, staring intently at Li Yuanzhao in the pavilion, quickening his pace as he tried to go inside.
Chen Yanqing quickly reached out to stop him, his tone unfriendly: "Who are you? Did I let you in? You just walk in? Her Highness the Eldest Princess is inside. Do you think you can just barge in like that?"
Du Cong frowned slightly, cupped his hands and said, "My name is Du Cong. I wish to pay my respects to the Princess. Please inform her."
Chen Yanqing replied without any politeness, "Do you think you can just see the Eldest Princess whenever you want?"
He was just a newly appointed scholar, yet he dared to try and curry favor with the princess.
Du Cong looked at him with some confusion. When did the Princess have such an ill-mannered person by her side?
Just as the two were entangled, Li Yuanzhao's voice came from inside the pavilion, "Let him in."
Upon hearing this, Du Cong calmly straightened his clothes and walked in with his head held high in front of Chen Yanqing.
Chen Yanqing was furious, and his hands clenched tightly.
Why does she meet all sorts of people?
He was indignant, but all he could do was stand outside the pavilion and listen intently to what was happening inside.
Inside the pavilion, Du Cong bowed deeply to Li Yuanzhao, his tone carrying a hint of familiarity, "Your Highness, it's been a long time. How have you been?"
Everyone knows that Du Cong was the newly appointed third-ranked scholar by the emperor, and his literary talent and elegance made him famous throughout the capital.
Few people know that he was once a staff member in the princess's residence, where he spent three whole years.
When he was destitute and had nowhere else to turn, he became a disciple of the eldest princess.
It was Li Yuanzhao who disregarded his status, kept him in his residence, and sponsored his studies and examinations.
But the Princess's household has so many advisors, so many...
He could only see her once in a long while, and it was even more difficult for him to exchange a single word with her.
He studied desperately, hoping to get closer to her and have her look at him more often.
Unexpectedly, after he finally passed the imperial examination, the princess never summoned him.
Moreover, at today's banquet, he finally got to see her, only to find that she spoke more to another woman than she had to to him in the past three years. How could he not be jealous?
Li Yuanzhao looked up at him, his eyes expressionless. "Is something the matter?"
Du Cong straightened up and took out a scroll of plain paper from his sleeve.
"I am deeply grateful for Your Highness's gift today, and I have composed a poem entitled 'Ode to the Spring Banquet at Qujiang' which I wish to present to Your Highness for your perusal."
Li Yuanzhao took the roll of paper and casually flipped through it.
The handwriting on the note was neat and elegant, and it contained a short poem of four lines.
"The banquet at Qionglin has not yet ended, I halt my horse to gaze upon the immortal music. I wish I had a brush in the spring breeze to paint my eyebrows as I ascend to the purple heavens."
The phrase "仙韶" is used very cleverly, referring both to the palace banquet and subtly alluding to the princess herself.
The phrase "Spring Breeze Brush" even compares the scholar's red brush to a tool for drawing eyebrows, implying an unspoken sense of intimacy between the lines.
The poem is written in a cryptic manner, yet it is permeated with a plea for mercy.
Li Yuanzhao casually tossed the paper onto the stone table and said indifferently, "How do you want me to show you any pity?"
Du Cong smiled slightly, "I have no requests. I only ask that Your Highness will not forget me. What I fear most is that Your Highness will forget me once new people come to your side."
Chen Yanqing, who was eavesdropping outside the pavilion, was completely stunned.
A newcomer? Is that referring to him?
Could it be that Du Cong was once His Highness's bodyguard?
Li Yuanzhao glanced at him from head to toe. "You're quite bold to offend Cui Jiulang. Aren't you afraid he'll cause you trouble?"
Du Cong's gaze was intense. "Didn't Your Highness teach him a lesson for me? With Your Highness protecting me, I have nothing to fear."
"Protecting you?" She leaned back in her chair, coldly observing the person in front of her.
Du Cong was not afraid at all; instead, he took half a step forward and said, "I am His Highness's person. Won't His Highness protect me?"
What does "His Highness's people" mean?
These words were like a pebble thrown into Chen Yanqing's heart, stirring up a thousand waves.
What exactly is the relationship between Du Cong and the Eldest Princess?
No wonder he seemed so familiar when he came in; it turns out he was an old acquaintance!
The more he thought about it, the more confused he became, and the angrier he got.
How can this person be so good at currying favor? He's many times more shameless than Pei Huaijin.
Li Yuanzhao suddenly chuckled, "Since you still remember whose people you are, you should know what you should and shouldn't do."
Upon hearing this, Du Cong bowed and said, "Your subject understands."
Li Yuanzhao smiled and said, "I know what you want, and I will certainly not treat you unfairly."
Du Cong knew better than anyone that ordinary Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) had to wait for a vacancy in the Ministry of Personnel before they could be appointed to an official position, which could take anywhere from three months to several years.
During his ten years of arduous study, he witnessed too many scholars from poor families being worn down by the Ministry of Personnel's "waiting list for appointment" system. Some waited until their hair turned gray before finally obtaining a minor post, while others even died in poverty and illness while waiting in a foreign land.
Without the princess's arrangement, given his humble origins, he would most likely have been ostracized by the powerful families in the court and sent to a remote and desolate place as a low-ranking official, with little chance of advancement in his entire life.
But that's not all he wanted.
What he wanted was to stay by her side forever.
Instead of having to go to great lengths just to see her, as it is now.
He composed himself and bowed again, saying, "Your Highness, I thank you for your kindness and will certainly live up to your expectations."
Li Yuanzhao hummed in agreement, his gaze already drifting towards Qujiang Pool outside the pavilion.
Du Cong remained bowed until a soreness rose in the back of his neck before he dared to slowly straighten up.
He knew he should take his leave, but he couldn't help wanting to look at her one more time.
Li Yuanzhao was still pondering.
To her, Du Cong was nothing more than an insignificant nobody.
Give them small favors and promise them an attractive future, and they'll be fine.
And now, this useful piece can finally be put to good use.
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