Chapter 262 Feint to the East, Attack in the West
Xie Yanqing frowned as he looked at Pei Jinnian, who was clearly unfamiliar with social interactions.
Does someone like that deserve to be her opponent?
This banquet was clearly a setup for Pei Jinnian's school.
Even the social skills and etiquette for entering officialdom had to be taught by Qin Jinzhi.
He's dark-skinned and I don't know what it was about him that caught the princess's eye.
By the end of the banquet, Pei Jinnian was completely drunk.
Everyone else left, but Grand Tutor Xie and Xie Yanqing did not.
Qin Jinzhi stepped forward and said, "Grand Tutor Xie, you've been waiting for a long time. This way, please."
She invited the person into the study.
In fact, none of the people who came to the Prince's Mansion today were qualified to sit with Grand Tutor Xie.
Qin Jinzhi merely wanted to test Grand Tutor Xie's character.
If a person who falls from a great height retains the same character as before, then the Xie family is nothing but a name without substance.
Fortunately, Grand Tutor Xie was a man who had weathered many storms.
Surprisingly, he handled it with ease and showed no resentment whatsoever.
The three of them went to Qin Jinzhi's study.
"Grand Tutor Xie should have heard that Grand Tutor Pei has now returned to officialdom. I wonder if Grand Tutor Xie is interested?"
Grand Tutor Xie sat to the side with a faint smile on his lips. "Grand Tutor Pei returned to officialdom because he was the only one left in the Pei family to struggle, while my Xie family is full of talented people. This old man will not compete with the younger generation."
Upon hearing this, Qin Jinzhi smiled broadly. If anyone else had said these words, it would have been extremely arrogant, but coming from Grand Tutor Xie's mouth, Qin Jinzhi truly believed them.
"Does Grand Tutor Xie have any interest in becoming my advisor?"
For a moment, the entire space became very quiet.
The Xie family grandfather and grandson both looked at Qin Jinzhi with some shock.
Grand Tutor Xie's expression was somewhat solemn. "I wonder what the princess desires?"
Qin Jinzhi stood tall and straight, gazing at the moonlight.
"To clean up the officialdom and eradicate deep-rooted problems, the Xie family's decision to withdraw from the court back then was precisely because they saw through my grandfather's thoughts and feared that the Xie clan would be purged, so they withdrew from the court to avoid being slaughtered."
He found it incredible when he discovered that His Majesty intended to support new aristocratic families.
He knew perfectly well the resentment that the man on the dragon throne held towards the aristocratic families.
He didn't know what had made that person change their mind.
Only after extensive investigation did they discover that this spoiled and domineering princess was actually a new turning point in the situation in the capital.
This Princess Jinzhi's political maneuvering was the most sophisticated he had ever seen among all the royals.
Others may have been targeted by Qin Jinzhi.
Only the Xie family acted in accordance with the prevailing trend.
This marriage was not just Qin Jinzhi's idea.
This is also what the Xie family wanted.
So when the princess bluntly said she wanted him to be her advisor, he was quite surprised.
Grand Tutor Xie was shocked, yet it was also something he had expected.
"The princess is surrounded by many extraordinary people, like fish crossing a river. I, Xie, have been out of court for decades and I am afraid I am not up to the task."
This is not Grand Tutor Xie making excuses. Take Changfeng Daoren for example. He is a great Confucian scholar of our time and a pillar of the literary world in Jin. With such a teacher, he is actually not that important.
Qin Jinzhi said quite casually:
"In that case, I will not insist."
However, the things that the Xie family needs to do still need to be done. Now that Prime Minister Cui has been placed under house arrest, the biggest obstacle after Miss Xie's father takes office is Du Zhong.
The branch of the Hanlin Academy had already limited his power, and the Ministry of Personnel's crackdown was his biggest worry.
The Hanlin Academy is backed by His Majesty and the Pei family, so your Xie family will become a thorn in his side.
I've never liked to sit idly by and wait for my doom; I hope the Xie family won't disappoint me either.
After hearing this, Grand Tutor Xie said, "I understand."
Qin Jinzhi looked at Xie Yanqing and said, "Now that Grand Tutor Xie has come to the capital, we should finalize the marriage with the Lu family as soon as possible. Don't worry, I will ask His Majesty for a favor for Miss Xie."
After hearing this, the Xie family grandfather and grandson replied, "Yes."
Although Grand Tutor Xie understood that Qin Jinzhi represented the Emperor.
But the oppressive feeling was unmistakably that of someone in a superior position.
Hopefully, what this princess thinks is the same as what she says.
If she harbors any disloyalty, it will surely be the cause of chaos in the world.
After seeing off the Xie family grandfather and grandson.
Qin Jinzhi stood in the center of the courtyard when Yun Que led a man in black inside.
The person who arrived was Zhao Wuji.
"Princess, news of the Crown Prince's cooperation with Prime Minister Cui has already reached Du Zhong's ears."
Qin Jinzhi looked at Zhao Wuji and said, "The key point is not that the Crown Prince is cooperating with Prime Minister Cui, but who they are trying to target."
Zhao Wuji understood. "Your Highness, I have clearly conveyed to Minister Du the news that the Crown Prince is cooperating with Prime Minister Cui to bring Minister Du down."
Qin Jinzhi nodded in satisfaction, "Not too much, just a little bit every day, and that old scoundrel Du Zhong will soon make a move against the Cui family."
Zhao Wuji was somewhat puzzled. "Didn't the princess promise the crown prince that she wouldn't take action against the Cui family? If the crown prince asks about it, how should we explain it?"
Qin Jinzhi raised an eyebrow. "I only promised not to take action. What business is it of mine if others do?"
Zhao Wuji found this to be very reasonable.
The Crown Prince wanted to win over Prime Minister Cui, so he promoted the people associated with Prime Minister Cui.
In this way, Du Zhong would be prevented from reaching out.
Once a rumor starts circulating, even if Du Zhong doesn't believe it, he'll believe it to some extent.
Take advantage of Du Zhong's predicament to deal a heavy blow to the Du family.
Who would have thought that she was using a diversionary tactic from behind the scenes?
Autumn was in full swing, and it was time for the royal hunting season.
Given the precedent set by Qin Jinzhi and Cui Ying.
There were quite a few more women at the hunting grounds this year.
Everyone looked dashing and spirited.
This year was particularly lively, with almost all the adult princes participating in the hunt.
Even the crown prince participated in the hunt.
Qin Jinzhi summoned the Dragon Feather Guards, "You will secretly follow the Crown Prince and immediately warn him if there is any danger."
Now that the Crown Prince has entered the court, he no longer pretends.
A capable crown prince is a thorn in the side of many.
This hunting ground may seem peaceful, but who knows how many dangers lurk within?
Before the hunt began, Qin Jinzhi carried the Qiankun Bow and walked up to the Emperor and Empress.
"Grandmother, wait for me to hunt a tiger to make a tiger-skin chair for you!"
The Empress laughed and said, "Alright, Grandmother, just you wait!"
Upon hearing this, the emperor coughed violently!
He looked at Qin Jinzhi with resentment in his eyes.
Qin Jinzhi smiled brightly, "Of course, I also have to hunt a black bear for my imperial grandfather to make a bearskin hat."
The emperor's expression softened, and he said smugly, "Don't boast. Everyone here is a skilled hunter. If you come back crying when you catch nothing."
The people at the hunting grounds looked at the emperor with disdain.
Your Majesty, do you have some kind of cognitive impairment?
Is Qin Jinzhi crying?
Who is crying?
?
The Crown Prince rode up to Qin Jinzhi's side and said, "Our Jinzhi's archery skills were personally taught by the Emperor. Why don't we have a competition with your uncle today and let him witness Jinzhi's prowess!"
Qin Jinzhi laughed and said, "Uncle, there's no point in winning or losing if there's no prize involved."
The prince laughed and said, "With your clever and resourceful nature, tell me, what do you want?"
Qin Jinzhi thought for a moment, "I'll tell Uncle after I win."
The crown prince laughed heartily, "Good!"
Just as everyone was getting ready, Qin Jinzhi caught a glimpse of several figures in the woods.
The whistle blew, and the prince headed straight for the figure!
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