Chapter 80: A Tsundere Little Temper
“In the fifteenth year of Great Qian, the Lan clan of the School of Names accepted Duke Wanshi’s invitation and settled in Great Qian’s capital. During that time, they diligently verified the teachings of the School of Names, traveling throughout Great Qian under the principles of debate, seeking truth, and discerning reality.”
“In the twenty-fifth year of Great Qian, on the tenth anniversary of the Lan clan’s arrival in Great Qian, the day Great Qian was to confer the title of Crown Prince, they debated the imperial bloodline in the marketplace. Because of their words, they incurred the King’s wrath. All twenty-eight members of the Lan clan were sentenced to execution.”
“The Lan clan were disciples of a sage. According to the conventions of the states, and according to Great Qian law, sage disciples who committed crimes through speech could be reprimanded or expelled. Only corporal punishment could not be imposed upon them…”
“But in a moment of anger, the King ignored everyone’s attempts to dissuade him and executed the entire Lan clan, causing the teachings of the School of Names to be buried in dust from then on, disappearing from the Hundred Schools. Their sacred Dao ceased to exist…”
“Now… now, Lan Ruoyun of the Lan clan, direct heir of the School of Names, has grown into adulthood. I beg… I beg the King to pass a sacred judgment on this case once more and clear the Lan clan’s long-buried grievance.”
Lan Ruoyun’s voice was actually choked with emotion, trembling severely. He had waited too long for this day. The Lan clan had remained in the darkness, never seeing daylight, for far too long.
Though so many years had passed, the scene of the imperial edict ordering the execution of the entire clan arriving at the Lan family estate seemed as if it had happened only yesterday.
Overnight, the School of Names, a prominent school renowned throughout the world, had been cut off just like that.
The King’s expression was deathly pale. The School of Names? The sacred Dao of the School of Names that he had destroyed—after all these years, it had actually stood before him again.
He had originally thought there was no longer any School of Names in the world. He had never expected that the other party had been right under his nose all along. How blind did he have to be not to see it?
The hidden pearl he thought he had discovered was actually the “vengeful spirit” under his own hands…
“Why?”
Why could someone who should have died still be alive all this time?
Lan Ruoyun’s voice continued. “Lan Ruoyun was raised by the Empress Dowager and grew into adulthood. I have remained by the King’s side and served Great Qian as one bearing guilt, hoping to atone for the careless words spoken by the School of Names during its verification of the Dao back then…”
The King’s eyes turned to Empress Dowager Zhaosheng. “Lan Ruoyun was raised by Mother?”
“How laughable. How laughable. Truly laughable!”
He had thought that, among ten thousand people, he had uniquely sharp eyes and discovered a talented man. Like the most primitive piece of uncut jade, he had polished him bit by bit into the most dazzling pearl, cultivating a useful person for Great Qian. He had never expected that this jade had already been the most dazzling existence in the world to begin with. It had merely been covered in dust—and he had been the one who scattered that dust.
He had scattered the dust himself, then brushed it off himself, and still felt smug about it. In other people’s eyes, what did that make him? A complete and utter joke from beginning to end?
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng’s voice rang out. “Back then, the Lan family had no way out. Lan Ruoyun, still only a child, stopped my carriage…”
“The King was determined to have his way then. You would not listen to anyone’s advice. In your capacity as King of Great Qian, you violated the conventions of the states and the laws of Great Qian. To make up for your mistake, the Lan family could not be killed. But to preserve the King’s dignity, the Lan family also could not continue to exist. So from that moment on, the direct Lan line of the School of Names vanished among the common people, and the teachings of the School of Names never saw daylight again…”
The King laughed, his laughter incomparably miserable. “So this was another matter Mother cleaned up after me?”
Just like all those achievements he had arrogantly believed belonged to him.
“I wonder, did Lan Ruoyun happen to stop Mother’s carriage, or was Mother deliberately waiting there for someone from the Lan family, having already prepared a way out for them?”
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng sighed. “To atone for the careless words spoken by the School of Names back then, the Lan family, dignified sage disciples and noble direct heirs of the School of Names, actually became Great Qian’s spy chief. They bore a body full of filthy reputation, and an identity that could never see the light…”
“The School of Names has also disappeared from the eyes of the world for so many years. No matter how great the fault, it has already been fully repaid. My King, it is time to give the Lan family justice for the grievance they suffered back then. It is also time to give the sage disciples of the world an explanation.”
If the King personally cleared the Lan family’s grievance, allowed the teachings of the School of Names to reappear in Great Qian, and let everyone in the world know that Great Qian had not truly destroyed the sacred Dao of the School of Names back then—
With the attitude shown by the King laying down such immense dignity and admitting his mistake, the disciples of every sacred Dao would naturally consider bringing their teachings back to Great Qian once more.
This was the path of remedy Empress Dowager Zhaosheng had left behind for the King’s actions. In the end, the time had come to use it.
And if sacred Dao teachings settled in Great Qian again, that would mean Qi Zheng had won the final round of the prince competition.
But for someone like the King to condemn himself—could he truly do it?
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng said, “My King, do not continue down the wrong path in stubborn ignorance.”
The King’s state of mind was somewhat collapsing now. Or rather, anyone would collapse if their whole life had been denied like this.
“My King, at least… at least this final matter can be completed by your own hand. You can personally welcome sage teachings back to Great Qian, enlighten the people of Great Qian, open their minds, and lead Great Qian onto the right path…”
This was the final chance for a man whose whole life had failed to redeem himself, though this decision was indeed somewhat difficult.
The King’s mind was dazed. The blow was far too great. Another person might not have been able to withstand it. He murmured to himself, “Finally… finally, there is one thing I can complete on my own?”
“Mother, if he had not died on the battlefield back then, he would surely have become Great Qian’s truly wise and enlightened king, wouldn’t he? Not a failure like me… all the brilliance was merely a beautiful garment used to deceive others. So many years have passed, yet I am still inferior to him. I am still so cowardly, without the slightest change. In the end, I have even reached the point where I dare not admit my own cowardice.”
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng said, “At least in the end, you still have one chance to prove that you are a ruler who dares to admit his mistakes. And he no longer even has the chance to prove himself…”
No one knew how long had passed before the King opened his mouth. “It seems I no longer have a choice. Mother has torn everything open today. With Mother’s temperament, I fear you have already made preparations for the worst possible outcome.”
“And I must either become a king who admits his mistake and still preserves a glorious outer appearance, or… I fear I will be written into history and bear the eternal name of a muddleheaded ruler.”
With his nature of cherishing reputation so dearly, in order to preserve that last pitiful bit of dignity, how could he have any other choice?
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng fell silent, suddenly not knowing what to say.
The entire sleeping palace was quiet. Only the King’s indescribable breathing could be heard. After an unknown amount of time, the King spoke as if he had grown feeble to the extreme. “Perhaps… perhaps if I can do one thing right in this life, that is good enough. At least when I meet him, I will not have nothing at all to mention before him.”
He had promised Mother that he would live for Great Qian and die for Great Qian. He had not been able to do it.
Then he would fulfill what he had once promised another person, though this had become his only choice.
The King’s mind was dazed. It was as if he saw that tall figure from years ago facing endless pursuers, hiding a cowardly young prince in the grass.
“Imperial younger brother, if… if I die, take care of my son for me. Treat him as if he were your own biological son. Great Qian does not have to be given to him, but please let him live safely and peacefully.”
At first, he had indeed done as promised, adopting him under his own name and treating him like his own son. Only, who knew when his eyes had been corroded by power? That original heart had vanished, and he had broken his promise to the person who had sacrificed his life to save him.
He had thought he could do it very well. He had even thought that even if that person had not died, he might not have done better than himself. But now it seemed that everything had been wrong.
At this time, Chen Bai was at Cloudtop Academy, eating the delicious food he had just made and drinking a little wine with Meng Huanchao.
Once wine was involved, it was inevitable that they would start chatting about everything under the sun. “Meng Jun, we’d better eat secretly. Don’t let those students see us, or they’ll make such a fuss that no one can have peace.”
Meng Huanchao nodded with a smile. “Those students… indeed eat a bit too much.”
“Exactly. Every day they’re like starving cubs who never get enough.”
As they talked, Chen Bai began rambling about the thing troubling him. “Meng Jun, actually, there’s something I’ve never understood. Why has the King always disliked Qi Zheng?”
“Mm, ‘dislike’ doesn’t even seem enough to describe it. It’s more like he targets him everywhere, as if he’s terrified Qi Zheng will become Crown Prince.”
“Look at the King’s other sons. Which one of them looks like he could amount to anything? But no matter what Qi Zheng does, the King seems not to see it at all. He even secretly helps other princes in private.”
“For the King to go this far—honestly, it is truly baffling. Unfortunately, I once asked Qi Zheng about it, intentionally or unintentionally, but that guy didn’t tell me the reason.”
Chen Bai had made many guesses himself. Was it because Qi Zheng’s mother was the daughter of a merchant?
But even so, no matter how much the King disliked him, Qi Zheng was still the King’s bloodline. It should not have reached the point of making things so difficult for him.
“In my eyes, they don’t seem like father and son. They seem more like enemies.”
Meng Huanchao paused. “Are you asking me for the answer?”
Chen Bai nodded. “But even Qi Zheng, the person involved, refuses to say it. How could you possibly know the reason?”
Meng Huanchao: “…”
“This is actually a forbidden matter. I’m afraid only some of the older people know the reason, but because they were afraid of causing trouble, they didn’t dare say much. Back then, for this matter, the King even dared to destroy a prominent sacred Dao. How would anyone else dare talk? So they buried it in their hearts, and now there aren’t many people left who know the truth.”
Chen Bai was stunned. “It’s related to the King destroying a sacred Dao back then?”
How was that possible? Qi Zheng had only been so young back then, yet he had already been involved in an incident where a sacred Dao was destroyed?
Meng Huanchao poured Chen Bai a cup of wine. “Since you also feel that the King’s attitude toward Qi Zheng is wrong, have you ever considered that perhaps Qi Zheng is not actually the King’s biological son?”
Chen Bai shuddered. His voice rose. “What?”
“No, if the King knew Qi Zheng wasn’t his biological son, would Qi Zheng still be alive now?”
If that was the case, then the King was actually merciful toward Qi Zheng. Who would willingly raise someone else’s son, and raise him this big?
Meng Huanchao shook his head. “It is not what you are thinking. Qi Zheng was later adopted under the King’s name. Of course the King knew perfectly well that Qi Zheng was not his biological son.”
“It’s just that Qi Zheng’s identity is somewhat special. He is the only legitimate son of the late Crown Prince Zhongyong, who died on the battlefield. He is Great Qian’s first imperial grandson.”
“According to ancestral law, even though Crown Prince Zhongyong died in battle, Qi Zheng, as the imperial grandson, should still have been made heir. But Great Qian’s situation was unstable at the time. How could a mere child stabilize Great Qian? So the late Crown Prince Zhongyong’s full younger brother, Prince Xiang—who is the current King—temporarily took the throne.”
“Only, this so-called temporary holding of the throne began to develop some problems later on.”
“Especially when Great Qian was choosing a Crown Prince, this conflict became extremely obvious. One faction of officials believed that the heir should be the first imperial grandson, Qi Zheng, because he was legitimate and proper. Another faction believed that since the current one on the throne was the King, then for the sake of Great Qian’s stability, the Crown Prince should naturally be the King’s eldest son, Prince Jiao.”
“At the time, everyone was merely discussing it among themselves. Even the School of Names, whose principles were debate, discerning truth, and seeking reality, inserted themselves into the matter under the pretext of verifying their Dao. The School of Names believed that since Qi Zheng had no obvious fault, he was the orthodox heir and ought to be made Crown Prince.”
“Well, these sage disciples—since the convention between the states was there, they could say whatever they wanted. People would just listen to their different thoughts and opinions. If one disliked it, one could simply expel them…”
“But in order to end this chaos, the King used thunderous methods and directly executed the entire Lan clan, who represented the School of Names. With such an unyielding attitude, he told everyone his choice…”
“The King even dared to wipe out an entire household of sage disciples. How would anyone else dare have any further opinion?”
“That same year, Qi Zheng was sent to Zhao as a hostage for eight years.”
“That same year, all sage disciples left Great Qian and were no longer willing to set foot here.”
“…”
Chen Bai opened his mouth. “…”
This matter actually involved so many old events. Qi Zheng’s identity was actually this complicated.
It was precisely because so many reasons were mixed together that what Chen Bai had seen came to be: no matter how outstanding Qi Zheng was, the King would still help the other princes suppress Qi Zheng at any cost.
Everything made sense now.
Chen Bai even understood the King a little. People all had selfish motives. The King wanted his own biological son to take the throne, not Qi Zheng, this adopted son. So he really would do anything.
Ever since the abdication system had become hereditary succession, who didn’t have such selfishness?
As for why the King had not simply slapped Qi Zheng to death, it was because, in name, Qi Zheng indeed had the qualification to become King of Great Qian.
Chen Bai grew even more troubled. If that was the case, didn’t that mean it would be even harder to help Qi Zheng take power?
How worrying.
“But Meng Jun, these matters should all have been buried in people’s stomachs. How did you learn of them?”
Meng Huanchao smiled. “Of course, I heard it from someone.”
He had indeed heard it from someone. It was just that the person who told him did not exactly have an identity that could see the light.
Sitting in the carriage on the way back to the capital, Chen Bai was still sighing.
“Who would have thought? The dignified world’s confidant, Meng Huanchao, is actually this gossipy.”
Right. If Meng Huanchao were not gossipy, how could he possibly tell so many strange and curious anecdotes from different countries during class?
Chen Bai felt as if he had discovered some little secret. But that tiny secret was soon drowned out by his own sighing.
“What should be done now? He isn’t even the King’s biological son. The King will probably be even less willing to make Qi Zheng the Crown Prince.”
Only, when they arrived in the capital, the entire city seemed to be boiling over.
Chen Bai froze. “What happened?”
After listening carefully, Chen Bai was dumbfounded.
“The prominent School of Names has reappeared in Great Qian.”
“So Lan Jun, Lan Ruoyun, is actually the direct heir of the School of Names.”
“Back then, Great Qian did not destroy a sacred Dao, nor did it execute the entire Lan clan. It was only that the School of Names changed from a prominent school into a hidden school and no longer appeared before the world.”
“Now that the School of Names has appeared, Great Qian can finally give all the sage disciples under heaven an explanation.”
Chen Bai was shocked to the extreme. He even got off the carriage and ran into the surging crowd to ask, “Is that true?”
“Of course it is. The imperial notice has already been posted. How could something written personally by the King be false?”
Chen Bai’s mouth fell open into an O shape. Written personally by the King?
The King could not possibly be unaware of what the consequences would be once such news spread. In other words, the sage disciples no longer had any worries in their hearts, and they would very likely bring their sage teachings back to Great Qian.
Which meant the final winner of the prince competition would be Qi Zheng.
According to what the King had previously announced to the world, Qi Zheng would be made Crown Prince.
“This, this, this…”
Chen Bai swallowed, then hurried back into the carriage and rushed toward Qi Zheng’s residence.
“In the end, the King is actually willing to return that position to Qi Zheng? Then what was the point of everything he did before? This is practically like red rain falling from the sky.”
When Chen Bai arrived at Qi Zheng’s residence, Qi Zheng was actually sitting there quietly, practicing calligraphy.
“Are you excited?” Chen Bai could hardly suppress the expression on his own face.
Qi Zheng raised his head and gave a cold hum through his nose. “You should first think about how to make the sage disciples settle in Great Qian.”
Chen Bai thought to himself, This guy really can stay calm.
Now that the School of Names, which should have been destroyed, had reappeared, it proved that Great Qian had not destroyed a sacred Dao back then. The last concern in the hearts of the sage disciples had been removed. No matter how one looked at it, there was a high chance they would settle in Great Qian again.
After all, the various schools and factions each verified their own sacred Dao, and they would all choose a country. Generally, one country would have several sage factions, struggling against one another.
Now Great Qian had appeared as an existence that did not yet have any sage faction at all. Instead of fighting back and forth in other countries, would it not be better to come to Great Qian and pick up what others had missed?
Chen Bai looked at Qi Zheng’s icy face and thought, Forget it. In any case, he himself was so happy he was practically bubbling over.
He felt he was about to make it big. In the future, would he not be able to walk sideways through Great Qian? Tsk, tsk. Did they not know who stood behind him? He had supported Qi Zheng firmly and unwaveringly until the very end.
Only…
Chen Bai voiced the doubt in his heart. “But why did the King suddenly come around? You could even say that by personally admitting the School of Names was not destroyed, he is admitting that destroying a sacred Dao back then was the wrong decision.”
How could someone as stubborn as the King possibly do such a thing?
Moreover, from Meng Huanchao, he had learned that the reason the School of Names had been condemned was because they believed Qi Zheng should have been made Crown Prince back then.
By admitting his mistake now, wasn’t the King indirectly encouraging that view?
Qi Zheng’s expression still did not change. “Because the King has also reached a point where he has no choice.”
He had spent his entire life in error. The final opportunity placed before him to prove himself—this choice was extremely difficult, but in the end, at least he had still chosen this path…
Chen Bai was somewhat confused by his words. His eyes spun around. There was a story here. He said, “Want to drink?”
Wine was good. Once drunk, anything would come out.
Qi Zheng frowned slightly. Drink again?
Last time, who was it who got drunk after barely drinking anything and made an utter spectacle of himself?
Chen Bai’s face reddened. “Last time was an accident.”
This time, he could control himself.
Qi Zheng gave a disdainful hum, but still had someone bring wine over.
Chen Bai was extremely attentive, pouring wine for Qi Zheng again and again.
Only, as they drank…
“I want to be a favored minister. Will you agree or not? In the future, I want to walk sideways through this capital like a crab.”
Qi Zheng: “…”
Who said right to his face that he wanted to be some favored minister?
“Favored minister” was not exactly a good term. It was usually used for those treacherous flatterers who used sweet words and clever tricks to please those above them.
However, the corners of Qi Zheng’s mouth quietly lifted, though even he himself did not notice.
Now Qi Zheng was the one pouring Chen Bai cup after cup. Looking at the dazed Chen Bai, he suddenly asked, “Chen Zixiu, who is your best friend?”
Chen Zixiu’s face was flushed with wine. “Best friend? There are many. For example, Crown Prince Dan of Zhao, Zuo Qiu of Lu, Meng Huanchao, and…”
Qi Zheng looked at Chen Bai. “Anyone else?”
Chen Bai thought about it, then shook his head. “No. My former classmates were all the kind to kick a man when he was down. I disdain making friends with them.”
Qi Zheng’s voice sounded a little gloomy. “Truly no one else? Chen Zixiu, are you sure you don’t want to think again?”
Chen Bai counted on his fingers again and again, then finally shook his head.
Then, when Chen Bai woke up, he was already back in his own courtyard at the Court Commandant’s estate.
Chen Xiaobu was holding a handkerchief and pressing it to his face. Seeing Chen Bai wake up, he hurriedly said, “Brother, did you offend Prince Zheng?”
Chen Bai froze. “What?”
“Brother, I heard the servants of our estate say that you were thrown out of Prince Zheng’s residence yesterday. Prince Zheng’s face was terribly dark then, and he even had someone pass on a message, saying that once you sobered up, you should reflect on yourself properly. ‘You ungrateful thing’—those were Prince Zheng’s exact words.”
“Brother, Father said Prince Zheng’s status is extraordinary now. You absolutely mustn’t offend him. Maybe you even need to curry favor with him.”
Chen Bai muttered, “My relationship with Qi Zheng is pretty good, though?”
Could it be that he had annoyed Qi Zheng while drinking with him yesterday?
Impossible. No matter how he thought about it, there should not have been anything that could offend the other party. Strange.
“Did Prince Zheng really tell me to reflect on myself properly?”
Chen Xiaobu’s little head nodded repeatedly. “If you don’t believe me, ask the servants. At the time, they were waiting at the gate with the carriage. Prince Zheng carried you like a little cat and threw you into the carriage. The servants said Prince Zheng’s face was darker than the bottom of our cooking pot.”
Chen Bai rubbed his head. “…”
What should he do?
He could not remember anything at all.
The key was that today, he still had to go with Qi Zheng to persuade those sage disciples to settle in Great Qian, end the prince competition as soon as possible, and let the matter be settled once and for all.
After washing his face and drinking a little millet porridge, Chen Bai went out. First, he headed to Qi Zheng’s residence.
Only, Qi Zheng’s icy face made it impossible to tell what mood he was in.
That was the bad thing about an icy face. You could not read his expression.
Chen Bai spoke first. “If I said anything I shouldn’t have yesterday, just treat it as drunken nonsense.”
Qi Zheng gave a cold laugh. “You didn’t say what you should have said, and said a whole pile of things you shouldn’t have.”
Chen Bai: “…”
What did that mean?
It seemed Qi Zheng had expected him to say something, but he had not said it?
Qi Zheng had already stepped into the carriage first. Expressionless, he said, “Get in.”
After Chen Bai got into the carriage, Qi Zheng fell silent again. Chen Bai felt that the atmosphere was terribly awkward.
Why?
“Well, I had been drinking, so it’s only natural that I might have forgotten many things. If you asked me something and I didn’t answer, that is perfectly normal.”
Qi Zheng said, “I don’t think so. You spoke very clearly.”
To think he had regarded Shanjun as his one and only best friend. Yet after Chen Zixiu answered for so long, he alone had been left out.
He was so angry his liver still hurt.
Looking at this Chen Zixiu, he wanted to press him to the ground and rub him against it while asking: Was your conscience eaten by a dog?
Chen Bai was also sighing. Just what question had he failed to answer yesterday? How had he provoked Qi Zheng’s proud little temper again?
