From Joy of Life, the Tian Gang is reversed

Chapter 49 Another year of farewell

Another year of heavy snow

The blizzard had just stopped, and tiny snowflakes were still falling from the sky.

Covered by heavy fog, the capital of Qing Kingdom was covered in white.

Kyoto, Zuixianlou
The cold wind blew the remaining snow into the air, and it fell in through the window, only to be driven back by the heat inside the house.

In the huge private room, a huge table was set up not far from the window. Five pots were placed in the middle of the table. The soup in the pots was boiling and steam was rising.

The table was surrounded by finely chopped meats: beef, mutton, fish...

What's available on the market, what's not, what's heard of, what's not, from all over the world, from home and abroad...

You can see them all on this table.

What you can't see on the table is placed on another large table in the room and can be continued at any time.

"Come on, big brother, second brother, don't be polite. This hot pot is only authentic in this weather." Li Chengqian sat in a wheelchair, picked up a vegetable, and started to dip it in the soup pot in front of him.

The eldest prince was dressed in a black robe and looked as if he had lost all hope in life.

Same season, same restaurant, similar private room, same location...

More than a year ago, he was beaten half to death by his younger brother at this location upstairs.

It took more than half a year to heal it.

However, things did not end after the injury healed.

He was going to join the army.

Although Concubine Ning has been released from confinement now, the imperial decree for the eldest prince to join the army at the border has already been issued.

Before, he was injured and unable to travel. As his injury healed, Emperor Qing did not say anything, nor did he show any intention of revoking his previous order. He understood what Emperor Qing meant. In addition, as he grew older, the atmosphere in Kyoto and the surrounding environment gradually became less friendly. He also wanted to take this opportunity to jump out of the whirlpool of Kyoto.

Although Concubine Ning was reluctant to let him go, she was not an ordinary woman after all. What he could think of, Concubine Ning could naturally think of as well. So, just half a month ago, he asked for permission to go to the northwest border army again. This time, there were obviously more people seeing him off than the last time, especially his second brother, who brought a lot of officials and had already held a farewell banquet at the Shili Pavilion outside the city. Who would have thought that he was stopped at Zuixian Tower before leaving the city.

Looking at Li Chengqian's attentive look,

"Second brother, I didn't expect you to come and join in the fun."

As if he hadn't noticed the eldest prince's expression of despair, Li Chengqian chuckled and picked up the teapot, pouring a cup of hot tea for the second prince wearing a smiling mask. He said with a smile, "I didn't see you so enthusiastic last time. People really are so fickle!!"

The smile on the Second Prince's face froze. As the saying goes, when you scold someone, don't expose their weaknesses, and when you hit someone, don't hit them in the face. This kid is not very old, but he just came up and hit them in the face!

However, the Second Prince had also gained experience over the past few years and kept a smile on his face. “Last time, I didn’t have a chance.”

"Yes, I was reckless last time."

Mentioning the last incident, Li Chengqian showed an embarrassed expression on his face. He smiled and picked up a piece of meat and put it in Li Chengze's bowl. "Okay, second brother, let's not talk about unhappy things. I heard that you've been hanging out with those clean people these days, eating less and less meat, and your reputation is getting better and better. Come on, don't be polite here, it's my treat, plenty of meat."

The Second Prince's mouth twitched, and he turned away, ignoring him. The First Prince smiled wryly, raised his cup, and said to the two men, "The journey to the northwest is long, and it will be difficult to return to the capital. My mother is in the capital, and I am deeply concerned. I beg you two brothers to take good care of her while I am gone."

Li Chengqian and Li Chengze quickly agreed.

After chatting for a few more words, Li Chengze took out a box and handed it to the eldest prince, "Brother, you are leaving Beijing. This is a little gift for me."

"This..." The eldest prince did not open the box, and looked at Li Chengze with some embarrassment, "Second brother, you and I are brothers, there is no need to do this."

"Brother, don't be polite with us brothers. This is my copy." Li Chengqian smiled and took out a book with a yellow cover from his arms and handed it to the eldest prince. There were no words on the cover of the book, and the paper was very new. You could even faintly smell the scent of undried ink.

"This is……"

"Don't look at it now. Read it on the way to kill some lonely time." Li Chengqian said with a smile, "Maybe there will be a surprise."

"You!" Seeing Li Chengqian's mysterious look, the eldest prince couldn't help but laugh. He stuffed the book into his arms, glanced at Li Chengze again, took the box he handed over, and put it aside without opening it. He raised his teacup and said, "Thank you."

Li Chengqian and Li Chengze raised their glasses at the same time, and they seemed to be in a good mood.

"It's getting late, I should leave too. If I'm any later, I might not be able to make it to the hotel today."

Look at the sky, said the eldest prince.

Li Chengqian escorted the eldest prince out of the restaurant, while Li Chengze accompanied the eldest prince all the way out of the city. There was a small banquet at the Shili Pavilion outside the city. This small banquet was Li Chengze's home game.

Watching the eldest prince and his men leave with Li Chengze, Mao Qiwu quietly came up behind Li Chengqian and whispered, "Your Highness, Dai Zhonglin, who died in the Liujing River last night, has been exterminated."

"Destroy the entire family!" Li Chengqian shook his head helplessly. "So, the Qin family has already confirmed that Dai Zhonglin was involved in the assassination?"

"He must have been the one in direct contact with the killer."

"How can a minor official of the seventh rank in the Ministry of Justice be so bold?"

"Dai Zhonglin was born in Guangnan Road. His family was poor when he was young, and he relied on his father's labor as a servant to pay for his private schooling. After passing the county examination, he was married to a wealthy family in town, allowing him to enter Baiyun Academy. Five years ago, he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi. Although his rank was not high, he was quite prestigious among officials from Baiyun Academy."

Baiyun Academy?

Li Chengqian frowned. The four major academies in Nanqing had their own characteristics. Qishan Academy attached great importance to the art of governing. The students in the academy often commented on current affairs, and were critical of the current dynasty. They claimed that it was their responsibility to make the emperor Yao and Shun. Jiangnan Academy was good at poetry and prose, and many talented and romantic men came out of it, as well as unfaithful men. Baiyun Academy was located in Lingnan, a place where culture and education were not well developed, so it was committed to education. Many officials who entered the court started out as teachers. As for Hongxia Academy, it was located in the north and often dealt with Northern Qi and some surrounding vassal states. It was good at communication, saying one thing in front of people and another behind their backs. It was well-versed in both internal and external affairs. There were many officials from Hongxia Academy in the Honglu Temple.

In the court, the four major academies hold an extremely important position in the Nanqing court. Sixty percent of the civil officials in the court are from the four major academies. Among them, Qishan Academy has the greatest influence in the court. In addition to several well-known university scholars and important officials, there are also many officials from Qishan Academy in local states and counties. There is also the Censorate, which is the gathering place for the low-level officials of Qishan Academy. Relatively speaking, the people from the other three academies are weaker in the court, but it is only relative.

In a sense, since the previous dynasty, or even earlier, the four major academies have achieved a certain monopoly on the court.

That is to say, the warriors in this world are full of martial ethics, otherwise, this world would have been dominated by academies long ago.

But Baiyun Academy, always dedicated to the lower classes, had suddenly become involved in Eastern Palace affairs? Or perhaps, this wretch called Dai Zhongming had defected to another faction. It wasn't certain. The four major academies didn't have distinct positions; rather, they were interconnected, forming a vast web. No one knew what other background Dai Zhongming had beyond Baiyun Academy.

Thinking of this, he simply stopped thinking about it. Even if he didn't want to, someone else would still investigate. The Supervisory Office, the Qin family, and even the person in the palace were no pushovers!

That night
In a post station eighty miles away from Kyoto, the eldest prince drove away the others and took out the small yellow-covered book given to him by Li Chengqian. Under the light, he turned a page and fourteen large, flamboyantly written characters jumped into his eyes. Suddenly, he almost spit out a mouthful of salt soda.

If Heaven had not given birth to me, Li Chengqian, the martial arts world would have been in darkness forever!
(End of this chapter)