Spring arrives and the land smiles

The most talked-about topic in Shengjing recently is the dramatic changes in officialdom, and even the Qinshe Tavern, which has always focused on romance, has changed its theme.

Under the melody of "Gu Xiangsi," the literati and scholars discussed current affairs.

"I thought that the crime of dereliction of duty had already shaken the earth by confiscating the property and beheading Li Chengyi, the vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue. I never expected that it would also implicate Guan Yan, the vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel, in the case of embezzlement. Dereliction of duty is punishable by death, but embezzlement will surely lead to the extermination of his entire family."

"That's right. I heard that not only the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, but even the Minister of Works has been dismissed and is awaiting investigation. I'm afraid he won't have a good end."

"More than that, my cousin's friend's nephew is a servant in the household of the Minister of Justice. I heard that the Ministry of Justice will be making a big fuss this time. Officials below the third rank will first reflect on their mistakes, then correct them, and finally be investigated. It is said that some who are just going through the motions will be severely punished by the Minister himself."

Prince Rui, Shen Qinghuan, slowly drove into Mianyuelou, the largest restaurant in Shengjing. When his personal attendant helped him out of the car, the restaurant manager was already standing outside to greet him. As soon as he saw him, he led him through a special passage to a private room in the backyard.

There was someone waiting inside the room. When Qing Huan entered, he quickly got up to greet him.

"Your Highness Prince Rui." Qi Zhang, the Minister of Works, quickly bowed and greeted him.

"Lord Qi, how have you been?" Qing Huan was helped to sit down by his personal attendant. Qi Zhang hesitated for a moment before sitting down opposite Qing Huan.

"Your Highness is joking. I am a dismissed official awaiting punishment. How could I be unharmed?" Qi Zhang respectfully poured tea for Qing Huan.

Hearing the sound of water, Qing Huan smiled and waved for the servants to leave.

After watching everyone leave the room and close the door, Qi Zhang picked up a teacup and placed it in front of Qing Huan. He paused for a moment, then felt that it wasn't close enough, so he simply brought it directly to Qing Huan's nose: "Come on, smell it. This is a first-spring Baihao Yinzhen tea that has been stored for three years. I personally went to Langqiu Mountain to pick it in the middle of the night. My hands were frozen."

"Why didn't you fill the cup a little longer? I think not only are your hands frozen stiff, but you're probably frozen senseless too." Qing Huan took the teacup from Qi Zhang's hand, took a sip, and indeed found it to be sweet and fragrant.

"Isn't this because we're afraid of being overheard?" Qi Zhang said, pursing his lips.

"I think you're afraid He Zhong and He Shun will laugh at you," Qing Huan said with a smile.

Today is a private meeting, and those who can be brought along are naturally trusted confidants; any claim that someone has overheard is obviously nonsense.

Qi Zhang glanced at the doorway, thought for a moment, and realized that the two of them did indeed seem to have a slight smile on their faces when they left.

"Ah, Qinghuan understands me best." Qi Zhang moved closer to Qinghuan with a grin and asked in a low voice, "Do you know why the Emperor dismissed me from my post?"

The only person who dared to so openly inquire about the Emperor's intentions from Prince Rui was Qi Zhang, Prince Rui's close friend and Minister of Works.

All the weapons needed for Qinghuan's Listening Wind Pavilion, whether conventional or unconventional, were secretly manufactured by the Ministry of Works, with Qi Zhang directly in charge, bypassing the Ordnance Bureau for secrecy. Therefore, the two, sharing the same secret, were destined to have many intersections. Moreover, they had many similar hobbies, so they naturally smiled at each other, understood each other perfectly, and became friends.

"Besides your Ministry of Works, which of the other five ministries, nine temples, five offices, and one department isn't in turmoil? Father's intention is that it's simply unacceptable not to target you, Minister of Works. You'll rest for three months and dedicate yourself to helping me research new types of sabers. As for the Ministry of Works, I'll hand it over to the Left Vice Minister Tian Run. He can also take care of the Right Vice Minister Wu Chuanheng for you without bloodshed. When you return to the Ministry of Works, it will save you a lot of trouble." Qing Huan sipped the fragrant tea in his cup, thinking that Qi Zhang had this skill. If he ever stopped being the Minister of Works, he could open a teahouse, and making a living would definitely not be a problem. He might even become rich.

"Your Majesty is wise." Qi Zhang bowed respectfully, a smile appearing on his face. He felt a great weight lifted from his heart upon receiving Qing Huan's affirmative answer.

"By the way, what new type of saber?" Qi Zhang helped Qing Huan make all kinds of weapons, but he had never made a saber, because the guards of Lingfeng Pavilion were specializing in protection and assassination, and sabers, as a battlefield weapon, were not really useful.

Qing Huan put down his teacup, took out a drawing from his waist, and handed it over.

Qi Zhang quickly took it and unfolded it to read.

Although he was a minister, Qi Zhang was originally an engineering student, and he quickly understood the tempering and steel clamping techniques on the blueprints.

"Truly marvelous!" Qi Zhang exclaimed in admiration. "Who created this? Such talent is certainly worth meeting."

“In a few days, the Ordnance Bureau will deal with a group of craftsmen under the pretext of spies. Among them is a young man named Hulu. You should rescue him secretly.” Qing Huan thought for a moment and then added, “Don’t even think about snatching him. The Princess has already given him the name Shen Ye.”

"I want to see just how capable this kid who was granted the imperial surname really is." Qi Zhang's technical instincts, as an engineering student, were piqued.

"Take your time to think it over, I'm leaving now." Qing Huan got up to leave.

"Hey, hey, why did you leave so soon? This tea..." Qi Zhang looked at Qing Huan with hopeful eyes.

Qing Huan's lips curled slightly, and he sighed softly: "Send someone to my residence tomorrow to pick up that tea set."

Upon hearing this, Qi Zhang immediately beamed with joy: "Thank you, Your Highness Prince Rui." He then summoned Qing Huan's personal attendant.

Qing Huan was helped to the door by a eunuch, but then stopped and turned back to Qi Zhang, who was overjoyed, and said indifferently, "Remember to return it after you're done."

"Ah—" Qi Zhang opened his mouth wide, looking dejected, and watched Qing Huan leave.

"Alas, this is the only set of Ru Tianqing from the early years of the previous dynasty. It's good enough if we can use it," Qi Zhang comforted himself.

Prince Rui Qinghuan's carriage drove out of Mianyue Tower and turned directly into a small alley to the east. At the end of the alley was the back gate of the Ningguo Duke's Mansion.

As Prince Rui's carriage approached, the back door opened halfway, and a figure darted out and quickly slipped into the carriage.

"Your Highness Prince Rui." Xue Yanran gave Qing Huan a simple bow.

"Miss Xue, please have a seat." Qing Huan gestured to the eunuch beside him to patrol outside the carriage.

Only the two of them remained inside the carriage. Xue Yanran hesitated for a moment before looking up at the prince in front of her.

Xue Yanran's memories of Prince Rui were still from her childhood. At that time, her father had been ordered to return to the capital from the border with General Ning. Emperor Longqing held a banquet in the palace to reward the two, and the whole family benefited from her father's honor, having the privilege of attending such a grand banquet. Her father, renowned for his military achievements, had been granted the title of First-Class Marquis. During the banquet, Prince Rui personally poured wine for her father. She was very curious at the time; how could a blind prince do something as precise as pouring wine? So, she leaned closer to her father, craning her neck to watch. Unexpectedly, with the eunuch's quiet reminder, the blind boy did it perfectly. Her curiosity only grew stronger, so she boldly picked up a wine cup from the side and handed it over: "I want one too."

Children speak without thinking. The presumptuous act was defused by a loud laugh from the Longqing Emperor, who praised her as a brave and resourceful daughter of a military family and said that there was no need to be so formal. The matter was thus considered closed.

Years later, the man before me has transformed from a dashing young man into a refined gentleman. Though his eyes have lost some of their luster due to blindness, he exudes an imposing aura that commands respect and inspires a sense of oppression.

"Things have been changing lately, how is Miss Xue?" Qing Huan asked.

"Thanks to His Highness's protection, the Duke's mansion is safe and sound," Xue Yanran replied.

"The political situation is currently unstable. Both General Ning and Ning Yuan are not in the mansion. It is Miss Xue who is managing everything inside and outside. Ning Yuan brought you here to protect you, but he did not expect that you would suffer from the situation. General Xue Mingyi is a great man of the country. If I cannot even protect his daughter, how can I face General Ning?"

"Your Highness is so kind, I thank you with my deepest gratitude." Xue Yanran bowed with delight.

“Miss Xue, you flatter me.” Qing Huan reached out to help her up. “The situation is currently chaotic. Please come back to the palace with me first. I will make proper arrangements for the rest of the Duke’s family.”

Xue Yanran shook her head: "Your Highness also said that the situation is urgent. Although my entry into the palace may bring temporary peace, it will not be conducive to breaking the deadlock. It would be better for me to stay outside the palace and provide support for Your Highness."

"Absolutely not." Qing Huan immediately objected, "General Xue only has the young lady's bloodline left. If anything happens to you, how will Ning Yuan and I face the consequences!"

"Your Highness, the reason I accompanied General Ning back to the capital was to avenge my father. Now that I am cowardly before even fighting, how can I have the face to call upon General Ning? There are no cowards in the Ning family army." Xue Yanran became agitated.

With such words, Qing Huan could no longer persuade him.

"In that case, Miss Xue should prioritize her own safety and not be careless. I will send two guards to protect you, and they can also act as messengers between us."

"Thank you, Your Highness. However, I have another request."

"Please speak, Miss Xue."

Xue Yanran paused, pondered for a moment, and then spoke: "I beg Your Highness to take care of my husband, daughter, and sister."

“That’s natural,” Qing Huan promised, “but there is one thing I don’t understand.”

"Your Majesty, please speak."

"Ning Yuan, tell me that although I have only met your husband a few times, he seems to be a little abnormal. Does he have any hidden illness? Perhaps I can help you."

"This..." Xue Yanran hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, "Actually, Brother Du is not my husband. He was a hunter my adoptive father saved three years ago. He injured his head while hunting and lost his memory, becoming somewhat mentally impaired, though not severely. My sister is my adoptive father's daughter. She developed dementia five years ago after her husband passed away. Lian'er is my sister's daughter. My sister was unable to raise the child, so I raised her under my own name. To prevent the child from being discriminated against by the villagers, Brother Du and I addressed each other as husband and wife. My adoptive father passed away two years ago, leaving him with only this bloodline. I must repay his life-saving and nurturing kindness at Qingxia Pass ten years ago."

"I see. Miss Xue is a woman of great loyalty and righteousness. General Xue would be proud of you if he knew in the afterlife." Although Qing Huan had sent people to investigate Xue Yanran, he was still shocked to hear the person involved explain the whole story so clearly. Xue Yanran was willing to risk her reputation and lifelong happiness to repay a debt of gratitude. She was truly a gentleman.

"Your Highness is too kind. They will be entrusted to Your Highness." Xue Yanran bowed deeply.

"Rest assured, with me here, I will not allow those villains to harm them in the slightest," Qing Huan solemnly promised.

Xue Yanran thanked him again, said goodbye to Qing Huan, and nimbly slipped into the Duke's mansion.

Qing Huan then instructed his servants to move the people Xue Yanran mentioned to a safe place and settle them in, with special caregivers to ensure Xue Yanran had no worries.

After Qing Huan returned to the palace, Ning Yuan immediately sent someone to inquire about Xue Yanran. Upon learning that Xue Yanran had not returned to the palace with Qing Huan, she secretly went to Minglan Palace that night.

Minglan Palace was the residence of Prince Rui. According to ancestral rules, adult princes should leave the palace to establish their own residences. However, Prince Rui was blind and deeply favored by the emperor, so he was kept in the palace. Emperor Longqing renovated Qingyan Hall, which was far from the inner palace in the previous dynasty, and named it Minglan Palace, giving it to Prince Rui as his residence. Prince Rui's residence outside the palace was practically non-existent because its owner did not live there often.

"Your Highness Prince Rui." Ning Yuan greeted Qing Huan with a simple bow.

"Ning Yuan has arrived." Qing Huan gestured for the eunuch to receive him.

"Miss Xue..."

Ning Yuan was about to ask a question when Qing Huan interrupted him.

"Don't worry, Miss Xue is perfectly fine." Then she told Ning Yuan about Xue Yanran's thoughts and praised her for her righteousness.

"In that case, there's no point in me saying anything more," Ning Yuan said helplessly. "I beg Your Highness to take good care of Miss Xue."

"I will certainly protect her," Qing Huan promised. "Besides, Miss Xue is clever, and her activities outside the palace will also be our protection."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Ning Yuan bowed and sneaked back to Xuanhua Palace under the cover of night.

Inside the study of the Prince of Jin's residence.

Shan Jiuzhou respectfully presented a document to the King of Jin.

The Prince of Jin unfolded the document and examined it closely, his brows furrowing and relaxing intermittently. It took him quite a while before he finally spoke.

"Mr. Shan's trip to Qiu Rong has indeed not disappointed me."

“Your Highness, Kunnur’s words should not be disbelieved, nor should they be believed entirely. But as for Borbosong…” Shan Jiuzhou paused for a moment, took out a letter from his bosom, and presented it to the Prince of Jin.

The letter contained only four simple lines, which the Prince of Jin read in a short time.

"This is Borboson's own handwriting?" The Prince of Jin was clearly shocked.

“Exactly.” Shan Jiuzhou’s voice rose, seemingly with some pride.

"Excellent!" Prince Jin laughed, his brows relaxing. "Mr. Shan has rendered a great service, and I will remember it."

The study was dimly lit, and the ten characters on Borboson's letter were particularly chilling: "I am willing to lead the Heavenly Wolf Cavalry to serve Your Highness."

The Sirius Riders are the royal guard directly under Borbosson, numbering two thousand men. They are extremely strong in individual combat, comparable to the Black Eagle Riders of the Sea Chart.

With various forces poised to act, Shengjing is becoming increasingly unstable.

At this moment, Qingyan, who was far away in Yushan, also sensed the unpredictable and turbulent atmosphere.

Inside the rear hall of the Yushan Council Hall.

Si Chengzheng reported the unusual events in Shengjing to Qingyan without missing a single word.

"Such a major change has occurred in the Ministry of Works." Qingyan remembered that Minister of Works Qi Zhang had a close personal relationship with his brother Qing Huan, so he paid special attention to this person. "As a result, three of the six ministries have undergone major changes, and the other three ministries and the Nine Temples and Five Directorates have also had a lot of personnel replaced."

"No wonder Father Emperor intended to hold an additional imperial examination last year; it turns out he had been preparing for this all along," Qingyan murmured to herself. The provincial examination was held the year before last, and last year Emperor Longqing added another one. Many scholars, unwilling to settle for mediocrity, tried again after failing the exam.

Now that the Longqing Emperor is making trouble for the Prince of Jin, he will probably have to make room for these reserve cadres.

Therefore, Shengjing today is like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.

"Sicheng, tell your brother that I am fine. If he asks about my injuries, just say that with Young Master Luo here, they are fully healed." Ning Yuan and Yun Xuan are under house arrest, and Qing Huan must be too busy to attend to anything else. We can't let him be distracted any further.

"Yes," Si promised.

"Anything else?"

"Qin Mian is here."

"Let him in." Qingyan gestured for her to lower the bed curtains.

Soon, Qin Mian came to court and took out a letter from his waistband, presenting it to Qingyan: "This is a letter from Lord Fu to the princess."

"Did you send a message?" Qingyan asked as she unfolded the letter.

"Lord Fu said the princess understood after reading the letter."

Qingyan quickly glanced through the letter, which contained many words of advice, but the last eight words made her blush to the roots of her ears: "Its warmth is gentle, its color is delicate."