Chapter 473 This is too much! (Third update)
Liu Quan turned to look at Xiao Heng and asked, "Sixth Brother, should we give way?"
In terms of official rank, Xiao Heng is now a fifth-rank attendant, but the other party is the Prince of An, whose background is not to be trifled with.
“No,” Xiao Heng said. “If anyone should give way, it should be him giving way to me.”
"Ha, what a boastful tone!"
The Prince of An's carriage arrived opposite Xiao Heng's carriage, but the voice coming from inside was not that of the Prince of An, but that of Grand Tutor Zhuang.
Someone in the crowd recognized the voice and exclaimed, "It's the Grand Tutor!"
No one expected that Grand Tutor Zhuang would be sitting in Prince An's carriage!
Those officials who made way for Prince An secretly rejoiced that they hadn't put on airs and had obediently yielded; otherwise, they would be the ones being humiliated by Grand Tutor Zhuang.
Who's this kid? He sounds pretty young. He's probably just hot-blooded and got himself into trouble!
If others can't recognize Xiao Heng's voice, how could Grand Tutor Zhuang not?
He was constantly at odds with him, stealing the Empress Dowager's favor and causing her to become distant and indifferent towards the Zhuang family. It was all this guy named Xiao Liulang who was causing trouble behind the scenes!
Grand Tutor Zhuang was warned by Empress Dowager Zhuang not to make things difficult for Xiao Liulang, but surely making things difficult for him wouldn't be in accordance with the rules?
Grand Tutor Zhuang simply had the coachman pull back the curtain. He sat in the spacious carriage, and the people could glimpse the luxurious interior of the Zhuang family's carriage from their respective angles.
It looks unassuming and unassuming, but who would have thought that a simple armchair is made of expensive Phoebe zhennan wood?
The curtain was only half-drawn, just enough to reveal the figure of Grand Tutor Zhuang. Beside him, a pair of spotless official boots could be vaguely seen, presumably belonging to his grandson, Prince An.
Grand Tutor Zhuang sneered at the carriage opposite him: "Isn't this Attendant Reader Xiao? Attendant Reader Xiao is blocking the way here. Does he expect me to make way for him? When did the officials of the Hanlin Academy become so arrogant? Even the Grand Tutor of the court has to make way for a mere Attendant Reader?"
These words truly showed no mercy to Xiao Liulang. No matter how outstanding Xiao Liulang was, no matter how he was the newly appointed top scholar by His Majesty, he was still just a minor Hanlin official. Unlike Grand Tutor Zhuang, who was already a first-rank official in the court.
By blocking Grand Tutor Zhuang's path, aren't you just inviting humiliation?
However, Grand Tutor Zhuang's attack was not limited to those words. He continued, "You wouldn't be so arrogant as to think you can disregard me just because you have someone in the palace backing you up, would you?"
He has powerful connections in the palace. Who is backing him up?
Since Grand Tutor Zhuang did not specify that it was the Empress Dowager, everyone naturally assumed that it was the current emperor.
His Majesty appoints talented people regardless of their background, yet this young boy has become arrogant and spoiled, showing that he is not worthy of His Majesty's favor at all.
“He’s from the countryside and has never seen the world.”
"No wonder, he probably doesn't know how unpredictable the Emperor's heart is. Without His Majesty's favor, he is nothing."
"You've already become arrogant because of this? Do you really think you're as proud as Prince An?"
"But Prince An is not arrogant! Prince An is humble and polite, knows how to behave properly, and never oversteps his bounds. That's what you call a great man!"
There's a saying: "A full bucket doesn't slosh, but a half-full bucket rattles around."
"Hahaha!"
The crowd was amused by the old man's teasing.
There is a strange psychology in people that is generally fond of watching people fall from heights and enjoys the thrill of that judgment.
Everyone was waiting to see Xiao Liulang make a fool of himself, but no one expected that a handsome man dressed in purple would stroll leisurely from the back of the crowd.
He exudes a powerful aura, and the originally tightly packed crowd almost involuntarily made way for him.
Grand Tutor Zhuang's expression froze upon seeing this man: "Marquis Xuanping?"
Marquis Xuanping stopped beside Xiao Heng's carriage and looked at Grand Tutor Zhuang with a half-smile: "Oh, isn't this Grand Tutor Zhuang? What a coincidence, you're going to court too?"
What time is it? Still holding court?
The court session has already ended!
No, he used the word "also".
Are you, Marquis Xuanping, really this shameless? You talk as if you're going to court today!
Grand Tutor Zhuang snorted coldly and said, "The Marquis of Xuanping has not attended court for a long time. He has probably even forgotten the time of the morning court session."
Marquis Xuanping smiled and said, "Indeed, His Majesty is benevolent and considerate of my old injuries, sparing me the trouble of attending court."
That's utter bullshit! The old wound hasn't healed yet!
You, Marquis Xuanping, have never properly attended court for even a single day!
Of course, the emperor did say those words, but it wasn't out of genuine sympathy for Marquis Xuanping. It was because Marquis Xuanping was too outrageous that the emperor feared he would disgrace the officials of Zhao, so he simply came up with a reason for him.
"Is there a seat available?" Marquis Xuanping asked Liu Quan seemingly casually.
"Ah, yes."
"No."
Liu Quan and Xiao Heng spoke in unison, with Xiao Heng saying the second sentence.
Everyone's eyes widened in surprise.
Did they hear that right? This Hanlin scholar actually refused Marquis Xuanping in the street! He probably wants Marquis Xuanping to beat him to death!
Grand Tutor Zhuang chuckled as well.
Yes, that's great!
Marquis Xuanping ignored Xiao Heng's refusal and sat in Xiao Heng's carriage with a smile, his movements natural and fluid!
Xiao Heng: "..."
Grand Tutor Zhuang: "..."
Everyone: "..."
After he sat down, he seemed completely unaware that Xiao Heng's carriage was blocking Grand Tutor Zhuang's path.
In terms of official rank, he was a first-rank military marquis, while Grand Tutor Zhuang was one of the Three Dukes, and he was also a first-rank official.
In terms of status, he is the current emperor's brother-in-law, while Grand Tutor Zhuang was the former emperor's brother-in-law.
In terms of power, he held military power, while Grand Tutor Zhuang secretly controlled the government.
In terms of family heritage, the Xiao family is far less profound than the Zhuang family, a family with a history of officialdom for centuries. However, Marquis Xuanping also has another identity: he is the imperial son-in-law of the current emperor.
A prince consort with real power.
Since ancient times, those who marry princesses have been barred from holding official positions in the court; Marquis Xuanping was the first to do so.
Marquis Xuanping didn't care what others thought. He sat down casually and looked at Grand Tutor Zhuang opposite him with an expression that seemed to say, "I'm not going to give way to you. We might as well not walk at all!"
Marquis Xuanping is just that arrogant! That shameless!
Grand Tutor Zhuang was so angry he wanted to grind his teeth.
Marquis Xuanping leaned lazily against the carriage wall, raised an eyebrow, and said, "I am not worried about being late. I wonder if Grand Tutor Zhuang and your grandson are not worried about being late either?"
What a joke! How could Prince An be late on his first day in the cabinet!
Grand Tutor Zhuang was so angry that his head ached. Was Marquis Xuanping here to bring him down? How could there be such a shameless and scoundrel as Marquis Xuanping in the world!
However, he didn't stay angry for long before he realized something and his expression relaxed: "We're late, but does that mean Xiao Shidu isn't late either?"
If he remembered correctly, this was also Xiao Liulang's first day of promotion!
Marquis Xuanping, aren't you going to stand up for Xiao Liulang?
Okay, you made him late and got a demerit, let's see if he still appreciates your kindness!
Marquis Xuanping's handsome face indeed darkened.
Hold!
Forget about it!
He squinted at the old fox Zhuang across from him, then looked at the expressionless Xiao Heng beside him, and leaned over to coax him gently as if he were a child, saying, "Don't worry, I won't let you be late."
After saying that, he straightened up, his voice turned cold, and said indifferently, "Chang Jing, move the obstacle away."
Chang Jing darted to the front of the Zhuang family's carriage. Before the Zhuang family's guards could react, Chang Jing had already lifted the entire carriage up!
"Handle with care and be polite," Marquis Xuanping reminded him.
"Oh." Chang Jing indeed placed the carriage aside very gently.
Grand Tutor Zhuang was so angry he almost exploded, and he cursed in his mind.
You fucking moved my carriage right in the street, and you still have the nerve to be polite!
How dare you say such a thing!
Grand Tutor Zhuang was furious, trembling all over: "Marquis Xuanping! Don't push your luck!"
If word got out that his carriage had been moved in the street by the Marquis of Xuanping's men, where would he put his face? Where would the Zhuang family put their face?
Marquis Xuanping was about to leave when he was suddenly interrupted by a loud shout from Grand Tutor Zhuang. He lifted the curtain and signaled Liu Quan to stop the carriage.
Liu Quan dared not disobey, and he obediently stopped the carriage.
Marquis Xuanping casually stepped down from his carriage and walked to the carriage of Grand Tutor Zhuang.
A sense of foreboding suddenly rose in Prince An's heart. He was about to dissuade his grandfather, but it was too late.
Marquis Xuanping shattered the carriage with a single palm strike, the carriage walls cracked and it crashed to the ground, exposing Prince An and Grand Tutor Zhuang to everyone without warning.
The carriage was destroyed, leaving only a bench. The two sat on the bench, feeling as if they had been suddenly stripped naked, their faces flushed with embarrassment.
Marquis Xuanping looked at Grand Tutor Zhuang and arrogantly curled the corners of his lips: "This is truly going too far."
Grand Tutor Zhuang: "...!!"
(End of this chapter)
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