Chapter 147 Mr. Qin Prepares for the Imperial Examinations…
That day, Qi Chengming had Xiao Chengzi fetch two jars of fine wine. He didn't invite anyone else, only Mr. Qin, to come and talk.
Aunt Fang brought out a steaming hot pot of two broths, the fragrant and spicy aroma wafting everywhere. As soon as Xiao Dezi closed the main courtyard door, Qin Liusong knew that His Highness wanted to speak with him.
Qi Chengming wasn't the type to keep things to himself, but he thought that if he brought it up, it was hard to say whether Mr. Qin would still have an appetite. So, he decided to treat Mr. Qin to a meal as a reward for his hard work traveling with him through wind and rain.
"Here, eat up, Mr. Qin, we have braised beef today."
Regardless of whether braised beef goes well with hot pot or not, it's a great dish to enjoy with drinks.
In his previous life, Qin Liusong was eager to study and possessed considerable shrewdness. However, in this life, he had served the new emperor early on and received much favor, so he wasn't as cautious or constantly maintaining a distance and respectful demeanor. After eating for a short while and filling his stomach, Qin Liusong began to ask with concern:
"If Your Highness has any difficulties, you can leave them to me to handle. Please don't trouble yourself with them."
"I can't hide it from you either." Qi Chengming watched as Xiao Chengzi poured wine for the two of them. The emerald green liquid gushed into the wine cups, and he didn't know how to start the conversation.
He had already gathered information before seeking out Mr. Qin.
When Mr. Qin's family was mentioned at the banquet, his expression was unusual. Qi Chengming secretly remembered this and only asked Xiao Dezi to ask his pageboy about his family situation.
What the servant said at the time was exactly the same as what Mr. Qin said.
His parents, who had died young, had arranged a marriage for him with a scholarly family of equal social standing. After passing the imperial examination and becoming a scholar, Qin Liusong fell seriously ill and injured his arm. He had no choice but to seek an official position to make a living, and he ended up working under Qi Chengming.
The servants behind him didn't know either. Only the page boy said that a letter had come from that family this year. After reading it, the master locked himself in his room for most of the day. When he came out, he asked the page boy to deliver a reply to the capital. That was all.
Even though the matter was unclear, Qi Chengming had already made a guess after hearing this.
With his scholarly background, he could have sought an official position and perhaps even arranged a marriage. However, Qin Liusong had always worked as an unofficial and nominal staff member in the royal court in Liuzhou.
When Qi Chengming first purged a group of corrupt officials in Liuzhou, he wanted to recommend one of his own people to serve as the local magistrate. The first person he thought of was Qin Liusong, but he was rejected at the time because Qin Liusong was physically disabled and could not serve as an official. He could only work by Qi Chengming's side. Qi Chengming's palace was indeed lacking such a person.
Then the problem becomes difficult...
It's unclear what the woman's family background is like. Qin Liusong is just a scholar, serving far away in Liuzhou, and not even an official, but working for the Second Prince. With such circumstances... this marriage is bound to encounter problems. It's understandable that Mr. Qin showed such a complex expression at the time.
Thinking this through, Qi Chengming made up his mind and, unable to hold back any longer, raised his wine glass and clinked it against Qin Liusong's: "Mr. Qin, I see that you are alone and not young anymore. I wonder what your plans are?"
He was asking a question he already knew the answer to.
Qin Liusong fell silent upon hearing this topic, momentarily lost in thought while holding his wine cup. He then downed the wine in one gulp, took a breath, and said, "To be honest, Your Highness, my family once had an arranged marriage, but it has now been... called off."
Qi Chengming's heart sank, but he wasn't surprised. He gestured to Xiao Chengzi to quickly refill Mr. Qin's cup, then pressed on, "Is it because of your current situation, Mr. Qin...?"
Qin Liusong gave a wry smile and acquiesced.
To put it bluntly, since he chose to follow the new emperor and gamble on wealth and glory, what face did he have to make someone else's daughter wait for him? He knew that the new emperor would surely succeed, so what was she gaining by wasting her youth and taking the risk of marrying him?
Qi Chengming carefully observed Mr. Qin's expression, his mind racing. He decided to be direct: "Mr. Qin, I don't know what your plans are now. If you still have reservations, I naturally want to help you. If you are not destined to be together, I also have a good match waiting for you here."
Qi Chengming said these polite words to test the waters.
He saw that Mr. Qin's face was full of melancholy, clearly indicating that he hadn't let go.
It's unclear what exactly the woman is unhappy about—Qi Chengming can find solutions for everything else, but if she minds that Qin Liusong is too much of a threat by following him, the second prince, then he's helpless and should honestly advise Mr. Qin to give up.
Qin Liusong was in a state of turmoil and did not speak immediately. Instead, he drank two more cups of wine. He drank too much and felt dizzy. He could only hold his forehead to calm down.
Seeing that he was wavering, Qi Chengming threw out another bombshell: "I think you've taken good care of yourself these past two years. I'll ask the physician from the prefecture to come and take a look at you later. Maybe your condition has improved a lot? As long as you can still take the exam, Mr. Qin... it shouldn't be a big problem."
The young prince sighed and confided in his confidant, "I know you only want to guard our heartland in Liuzhou, Mr. Qin, but I estimate that's only for the next two years. If you can help me in the officialdom... that would be a solution."
Qin Liusong suddenly looked up, and the effects of the alcohol instantly wore off.
This is from being frightened.
His face was pale, and he opened his mouth, almost unable to say anything. He dared not stammer and reveal any further flaws; his right hand, reaching out to hold the wine cup, trembled, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. "Your Highness, I..."
Qin Liusong broke out in a cold sweat as he recalled that the excuse he used when he first came to work for His Highness was that he had fallen ill and damaged his arm, making it impossible for him to take the imperial examinations, so he could only work as a secretary. Now it seemed that His Highness knew!
Not only did they know, they also covered it up for him.
Normally, when these people are sick, the new emperor would rush to have Doctor Bian examine them. But, upon careful consideration, Qin Liusong realized that the new emperor had never had Doctor Bian examine his arm. Now, he was sending the imperial physician instead.
Qin Liusong's legs went weak, and he wanted to put down his wine cup and kneel down beside the new emperor.
But he cannot kneel.
Since the new emperor is covering up the truth for him, even if he is to be blamed, he will still need to do something for him.
Qin Liusong held on to his last breath and said somewhat shakily, "Yes... I haven't given up those studies, I can pass the exam again."
The more uneasy he felt, the sharper his mind became, and he quickly realized the meaning behind the Second Prince's words: "...!!"
Based on the development of the previous life, they would have to endure at least another three or four years before things improved, and after returning to the capital, they would have to endure several more years before they could see His Highness go from the perilous position of Crown Prince to ascending the throne.
It seems hopeless; it's only wasting people's time. But what if it could happen in the next two years...?!
Qin Liusong's eyes lit up again.
If he could, he would certainly prefer to obtain an official position and marry his wife in style.
Thinking of this, Qin Liusong, in his excitement, did not forget to answer: "It was because my family had fallen on hard times and my status was not commensurate with hers. Now she is far away in Liuzhou. She is the apple of her parents' eye and has been pampered since childhood. She cannot bear the hardship of being far away from her homeland... That is why the marriage contract was broken off in our early years."
He subtly addressed the new emperor's concerns.
"If Your Highness is willing to help, whether it succeeds or not, I, Qin, will die without regret!" This time, Qin Liusong was able to leave his seat and kneel down sincerely to express his gratitude.
He trusted the new emperor, and even if he couldn't bring this to fruition, he would rather break his promise than resort to those underhanded tactics.
The new emperor was never a mean-spirited or ungrateful person, nor was he the type to use his power to oppress others, make them swallow their bitterness, or be content as long as things got done, regardless of their willingness.
"Wait for news first. If your arm is alright, remember to prepare well for next year's imperial examination." Qi Chengming instructed, asking for some information in detail before writing to Shen Shuzhi later.
Shen Shuzhi is now one of the few civil officials in the capital under his command, and he is currently being given important responsibilities. He asked his wife to help him find out more about the situation.
Qi Chengming is mainly worried about next year's draft.
It would be better if Emperor Hongren didn't remember. If he really wanted to add people to the princes or the palace at this time, the girl that Mr. Qin was engaged to would probably have to rush to arrange a marriage this year.
She was the daughter of an official, and was also among those listed.
To be honest, if the situation hadn't changed so drastically this year... and they hadn't been caught off guard and swept up in this development to where they are now, with some signs of returning to Beijing, Qi Chengming wouldn't have offered to help. Back then, he probably would have had to honestly advise Mr. Qin to give up.
...
In any case, now that things were out in the open, Qin Liusong was radiant and full of hope. He sat down with Qi Chengming in front of the boiling soup and ate and drank heartily.
The next day, when he went to work at the county government office, he was even more diligent. He no longer had any rest time and began to study hard with his books in his hands.
Qin Liusong's servant ran errands to bring lunch, and asked with some confusion, "What's wrong with our master? He doesn't even have time to eat a meal?"
Even if adults are diligent, they would usually at least go out for a good meal after finishing their work. Now they're so busy they don't even leave the house?
The pageboy was literate and was being groomed to become a steward. He guessed even more, and quickly pulled the servant aside, telling him to be quiet: "Just do what the master says."
This is what he looked like when he was studying hard at home with his master, who was still a young master!
The pageboy was overwhelmed with emotion and dared not be careless. He dared not tell anyone his guesses, and could only secretly pick up the books he had neglected for the past few years and study them silently.
Qi Chengming was busy as a bee, while the pigeons, exhausted in the dead of winter, flew to the capital, carrying letters he had written to several people.
She was thinking of Mr. Qin, inquiring about things for herself, and also sending New Year's greetings to her maternal grandparents and cousin.
Then all that was left was to eagerly await a reply.
Qi Chengming estimated that he would not receive the letter until at least after the New Year. In such a busy time, who would have time to find out the truth for him?
However, not three to five days later, pigeons from afar landed at the village on the mountain, and Uncle Huang came down the mountain to deliver the message.
"Your Highness, it's a letter from our old master." Uncle Huang recognized the hidden mark on the seal at a glance.
Qi Chengming calculated the time; this letter must have arrived before he even sent it.
Just then, Song Gu calmly announced from outside the door: "Your Highness, the Prefect has come to see you."
"Prefect Lu?" Qi Chengming clutched the small secret letter, glancing thoughtfully at the doorway.
Unlike Prefect Mu, who was wholeheartedly devoted to the people, Lu Yu was the type who only visited when he had a reason, and almost every meeting was with him secretly delivering messages. Qi Chengming also tacitly accepted that Prefect Lu was an informant in the capital, corroborating each other's intelligence, just like Li Banhui.
However, Li Banhui didn't have any secret agents. Every time, he had to send his men with the escort team to Liuzhou, which was slow and delayed, unlike Prefect Lu who was well-informed and quick.
Qi Chengming looked down at the unopened letter in his hand and felt reassured: "Have the prefect wait a moment in the main hall. I'll change my clothes and then go to the front."
Uncle Huang sensibly looked away and moved to the side. Qi Chengming quickly opened the letter and read: "..."
Surprisingly, the follow-up to the Jizhou case has been released.
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Author's Note: Wow, I went to bed early last night, but I didn't expect such a huge scandal from Jinjiang to trend on social media. Good job, Lao Liu! Everyone's on Jinjiang's side, it's rare to see this. This morning, I woke up to a flood of messages from friends, with likes galore.
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