Seeing that she seemed a little slow to react, Song Yue added, "Next time you run into trouble, just come to me as fast as you can. You're my student, who else would you turn to if not me?"
His words were gentle and steady, each syllable flowing like a slowly unfolding chapter of night. Hearing this, Shen Qingchen felt a warmth and a surge of emotion within her. The turmoil she had felt because of Zhou Shiping was instantly soothed by his words.
During the struggle, Zhou Shiping said, "Even if he's a Grand Secretary, he wouldn't dare do anything to me." Qingchen didn't know how much of his statement was exaggerated, but she had a vague feeling that Zhou Shiping was a wicked person, and it was anyone's guess what he might do.
She thought about it and decided not to tell Song Yue about it. Her teacher held a high position, was busy with official duties, and cared about the people of the whole country. In the blink of an eye or the time it took others to raise their hands, he might have already written words that would benefit the people of his region. Tonight, she still had to trouble him with Ming Xiang's matter, so she decided not to mention the grievances she had suffered.
Song Yue led her to a round table and sat her down, rolled up his sleeves, and poured her some hot tea. Under his watchful gaze, Qingchen quickly recounted what had happened.
After listening, he simply said, "Mingxiang is fine, don't worry."
Qingchen looked at him with some confusion, but her tense mood eased because of his words, and she trusted him.
"Why do you say that, teacher?"
Do you think there's anything wrong with this?
Qingchen nodded. "I have thought about it, and there are indeed some things I don't understand. If they wanted to threaten me, why didn't they take my father away, but instead took away a girl who has no relation to me?"
At this point, she suddenly realized something, lowered her head, and added softly, "Teacher... Mingxiang and I have nothing... We are innocent."
The Jinshi (进士) were the elite among scholars, with bright futures ahead, while the Shujishi (庶吉士) were the elite among the Jinshi, known as "future prime ministers," with even more limitless prospects. Therefore, after each imperial examination, many families sought to associate themselves with the newly appointed Jinshi, and the Shujishi were especially sought after, with fierce competition. Offering their own daughters was a common tactic in this bidding war. Since good sons-in-law were limited, some families even tacitly agreed that the Jinshi could be used as concubines later.
When the results were first released, many people came to Shen Qingchen, offering money and their daughters as if they were worthless. Qingchen refused them all.
Looking at his student's face, which was flushed with embarrassment because of the indescribable thing, Song Yue thought to himself, "Even if you wanted to, you wouldn't be able to enjoy it."
"When someone does something illogical, there are usually only two possibilities: either they are deceiving themselves or they are deceiving others," he said seriously, taking a sip of tea.
"Deceive others' hearts?" Qingchen frowned and thought for a moment. "Teacher, are you saying that the commander took Mingxiang away to put on a show for others?"
“That’s right.” Song Yue nodded. “He didn’t take your father away, so his purpose wasn’t the letter, and he also knew you didn’t have the letter. Your matter should be related to the land encroachment case a few days ago. The one who encroached on the land was the Director of the Arsenal Department of the Ministry of War, a distant relative of Xu Yan. I guess you just happened to save his life, and he just used you to put on a show.”
Song Yue continued, "Lu Shenyun comes from a family of military generals. He became the top martial arts scholar at the age of eighteen. He is aloof and cold, and acts decisively and ruthlessly. It's not surprising that he's using you as a pawn."
Acting? Listening to her teacher's words, Qingchen thought of the person she had once saved—a man of resolute character, brooding, with a scar below his right eyebrow, whose gaze was icy cold, capable of sending chills down one's spine with just a glance. She hadn't actually asked for his gratitude; she simply hadn't expected him to turn around and use her.
"In today's court, there are few things done for oneself, but quite a few things done for others. You'll get used to it."
Qingchen pondered the meaning behind his words and roughly understood what he meant.
Emperor Zhu Rui neglected state affairs, leaving almost all matters of state to the Grand Secretariat and the Directorate of Ceremonial. The Grand Secretariat drafted proposals, the Directorate of Ceremonial approved them, and national policies were issued in this way, with the cooperation being relatively pleasant. However, the Grand Secretariat and the Directorate of Ceremonial were not under Zhu's control, and no matter how close they were, they were still outsiders. Outsiders would always have their own interests at heart. In addition, there were so many members of the Xu faction among the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers, so it was conceivable that there would be no shortage of deception and cover-ups.
She had learned in class that in this era, many officials were corrupt, and a complete corruption network had long been established within the imperial court. Salt, iron, tea, silk, porcelain... nothing was spared. The amount embezzled, even if it became small black characters in the annals of history years later, was still shocking. The Ming Dynasty, where capitalism was just beginning to sprout, was being eroded little by little.
"What are you thinking about?" He glanced at her when she didn't speak.
"It's nothing." Qingchen shook his head. History, wiped clean of dust and laid bare before one's eyes, always evokes a sense of melancholy.
"Teacher, I have a question."
"Speak."
"If it's all an act, why take Mingxiang away? Wouldn't taking Father away have been the same?"
He tapped the table with his long, slender fingers. “The difference between Mingxiang and your father is that one can speak, while the other cannot speak properly.”
Qingchen frowned slightly. "...Teacher, are you saying that they took Mingxiang away because they wanted her to talk? But what could she say?"
“You.” Song Yue looked at her, his gaze sharp. “You are no ordinary person. You are a junior official, a future prime minister. Not only did you pretend to be a doctor to save him, but when you were being followed, I, as the second prime minister, also came to your rescue. It’s not surprising that Lu Shenyun, a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and naturally suspicious, is curious about you and wants to understand you.”
Was that cold, gloomy person curious about her and wanted to understand her?
As Shen Qingchen pondered this, she felt an indescribable unease coursing through her body. Instinctively, she wanted to back away, not wanting to get involved with such a scheming person. She already had many extraordinary people around her, and she carried a secret on her shoulders; she probably couldn't afford to take on the additional responsibility of being the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
"When you saved him, did you accidentally say anything, or... let him see anything?" Song Yue asked, the image of her changing clothes that day flashing through her mind.
Qingchen didn't realize the deeper meaning behind those words. After thinking about it carefully, she shook her head and said, "No."
Her greatest rudeness to that man was cutting his flesh with a knife; she couldn't think of anything else she had done to attract his attention. These sudden events had completely thrown her into disarray.
"Um."
"...Teacher, there's one last thing I don't understand." Qingchen raised his head, his handsome and refined face illuminated by the lamplight, seemingly glowing with light. His eyes held confusion and a hint of weariness. "Since Lord Lu was just putting on an act for others, why didn't he just take Mingxiang away? Why did he leave me a letter, asking me to use it to exchange for her?"
"Because he knew you would come looking for me." The soft voice echoed in the cool night.
Qingchen was taken aback.
“I intervened when you were being followed, so I know about your situation. That’s why he guessed you would come looking for me again. He was just putting on a show for others; he didn’t intend to get any letters from you. Once I stepped in to ask him for your release, he would naturally release you, and the matter would be over. He achieved his goal and did me a favor, so there’s nothing wrong with that.”
No wonder he said from the beginning that Mingxiang was unharmed; it turns out he had already figured out the cause and effect of everything. Qingchen felt a tightness in her chest after hearing this. The imperial court was a murky place; that commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was truly no ordinary person, even guessing what she would do. She suddenly felt a chill run down her spine; this feeling of being manipulated was unpleasant.
With a barely audible sigh, Qingchen looked up at Song Yue, who was just taking a sip of tea.
The rising steam from the tea leaves enveloped his face. When the steam dissipated, a thin layer of light lingered on his skin, and fine downy hairs were visible near his ears. Mature and reserved, refined and dignified, his wisdom bordering on the supernatural… He truly lived up to his reputation as a prodigiously talented young scholar, entering the highest ranks of the imperial examinations at the age of seventeen, and becoming the second-highest-ranking official in the cabinet, a seasoned veteran of the political arena. From the moment she entered the study and uttered her first sentence, he seemed to have already seen through the entire situation.
"Come with me to the Northern Garrison Command tomorrow, and Mingxiang will be released."
"Thank you, teacher... I feel ashamed of myself." As a student, I haven't had a chance to repay your kindness in teaching me, and instead, I've had to ask you to do me a favor.
"Don't feel guilty. You are my student, and it is only right that I, as your teacher, help you bear all the difficulties."
Qingchen's heart stirred slightly.
At this moment, the evening drum, marking the first watch of the night, struck three times.
"There's a curfew," Song Yue said calmly. "You can stay here for the night."
Shen Qingchen glanced at the night outside the window; it was quiet and serene, with a pale moon and a few stars.
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