The Eunuch's Declaration of Loyalty

Chapter 44

A few days later, Liu Qingtang heard that her father had accepted this year's martial arts champion, the young man dressed in black, Xi Lan, as his disciple. (Updates will be available soon! Just search "Lewen" on Baidu!)

Then, at the Qionglin Banquet, Liu Qingrong seized the opportunity to slip up to Liu Qingtang and complain about the matter. Only this top scholar of the imperial examination dared to rely on his status as the emperor's brother-in-law to speak so directly to the Empress Dowager; everyone else had to avoid suspicion.

"Xi Lan is only eighteen years old, seven years younger than me, still a little kid who hasn't even grown up yet. He may look small, but he's quite petty. My father took him as a disciple, so I'm practically his senior brother, but he doesn't even greet me when he sees me. My father is the same; he says he's a good prospect for martial arts, both serious and quick to learn, and treats him better than his own son. I'm starting to wonder if Xi Lan is my father's biological son or I am his biological son."

Although Liu Qingrong kept complaining, he had to put on a gentle and whispering expression. If you didn't hear what he was saying, you would definitely think that he lived up to his name as a handsome young master.

Although Liu Qingtang was in the palace, she had regular sources of information from outside, and could occasionally hear interesting anecdotes to relieve her boredom. Of course, she also made sure to have people inquire about news about her family. Then she heard that her eldest brother, who couldn't find a wife, was actually the dream lover of many unmarried girls in Yujing.

This news surprised Liu Qingtang for a long time. Only then did she realize that her brother, who seemed easy to bully and loved to joke around, was, in the eyes of outsiders, such a steady, gentle, and talented gentleman. For a moment, she wondered if she had misheard, but then she thought about it and realized that it made some sense.

People aren't all like that; they always show a different side of themselves in front of those they feel safe with. Father is dignified and unsmiling in front of soldiers and civilians, but he often throws tantrums and acts awkwardly when showing concern for his children. It's understandable that brother acts all respectable in front of outsiders, but is shameless and brazen with family. Take her, for example; she's not acting like a dignified empress dowager in front of outsiders, but instead turns around and acts spoiled towards Qin Shu, bullies her brother, and shamelessly clings to her father.

Speaking of this, she thought of Qin Shu again. He had been busy taking over the affairs from Eunuch Ning for the past few months, and he was incredibly busy. Every night when she saw him, he looked exhausted but forced to keep a straight face. She told him to rest early, and indeed, for a while, he went to see her early. Liu Qingtang thought he would rest after seeing her, but unexpectedly, after reassuring her, he secretly went back to handle his affairs.

When Liu Qingtang found out, she went straight to where he was dealing with his business and cornered him there, giving him a thorough dressing-down. She forced him into a corner and made him stammer out a bunch of things that were hard to call pleasantries, and he promised to rest earlier in the future before she let him go.

However, Qin Shu could no longer secretly work at night, so he worked even harder during the day, as if he wanted to finish the night's work as well, spinning around like a top. Liu Qingtang knew his intentions and knew who he was working so hard for, so she couldn't bear to blame him. She could only try to catch him everywhere and have people bring him nourishing soup and medicine.

Having a lover who never says anything nice but always tries to do things for her is truly a headache. Lost in thought, Liu Qingtang completely forgot what her brother was nagging in her ear.

Liu Qingrong wore a very gentle face in the eyes of those around him, complaining about things that were quite out of character, yet he did it with practiced ease. But after he had said a lot, he saw his sister staring blankly, and then he sighed softly, "Qin Shu, that person, sigh."

Without even asking, Liu Qingrong knew who his younger sister was thinking about. A wave of bitterness washed over him. He was already disliked by his father, and now even his sister, who used to tease him, refused to tease him anymore and simply ignored him. Having just been promoted to the position of "a dragon among men, a handsome and talented son-in-law" in the eyes of the gentlemen and ladies of Yujing, Liu Qingrong was filled with unresolved melancholy. He called out softly, "Qingtang, pay attention to your brother."

Liu Qingtang snapped out of her daze and subconsciously glanced at him sideways. "What are you doing? Talk normally."

Having been given a sidelong glance, Liu Qingrong perked up again, pulling her along as she continued, "That kid named Xi Lan is truly arrogant. After I told him I was a young master of the Liu family, he actually looked at me like I was some kind of weak scholar, like how could the Duke of Liu have such a pathetic son..."

Before Liu Qingrong could finish speaking, Liu Qingtang interrupted her, saying rudely, "Who told you to pretend like that? I think you're just bored and have nothing better to do than argue with a kid who's seven years younger than you. Instead of wasting your time, why don't you go find me a sister-in-law? Look at Wei Zheng, who's so much younger than you, and he's already getting married. And you? You're all show and no substance, and you can't even find a wife."

Liu Qingrong was speechless after her sister's words, her expression shifting before she quickly adopted a serious face and changed the subject: "I want to join the Ministry of Revenue, Qingtang, what do you think?"

As expected, when the topic turned to politics, Liu Qingtang immediately stopped what she was saying and asked, "Why?"

“Didn’t you talk to Father about what will happen a year from now? The Ministry of Revenue will be in charge of the money allocation. At that time, Father will be able to keep an eye on the grain and fodder supplies... I can feel more at ease. After all, I’m really worried about him since I can’t go with him.” Liu Qingrong whispered these words.

Liu Qingtang understood that he was referring to the war with the Zhou Kingdom a year later. In the eyes of the people of the Southern Dynasty, it seemed that there was no battle their fathers couldn't win, but children always have to worry, and even though Liu Qingtang knew the outcome beforehand, she was still worried. "There's no need to worry about that. Now, because of Wei Zheng and Miss Wu's matter, Minister of Revenue Wu Hansheng is already one of our men."

Liu Qingrong smiled with his hands behind his back, "Actually, I want to visit all six ministries, not just the Ministry of Revenue, but I shouldn't be impatient. I'll take it one step at a time. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will defeat your opponent and examine yourself. If one day you want to bring down the two chief ministers, someone will have to take their place. There aren't many people you can trust, and I'm fortunate to be one of them. I have to do something."

Once a long-standing situation is broken, it's not so easy to mend it. Both Liu Qingrong and her brother understood this, but before Liu Qingtang could decide whether to let her brother shoulder such a heavy burden, he had already made up his mind.

Liu Qingtang was silent for a moment, then said, "Brother, you should spend more time with the third-ranking scholar, Jing Chuyan." She had originally intended to groom Jing Chuyan so he could succeed the two chief ministers. Although that was her brother's current thought, if he didn't want to remain in court in the future, grooming Jing Chuyan would be a way out.

Moreover, although Jing Chuyan was courted by the two prime ministers in his previous life, Liu Qingtang had met him and felt that he was someone who valued gratitude greatly. She was willing to give him a chance, and she believed he would be grateful and fight for it. Speaking of which, it's quite interesting to use someone who was once the prime minister in one's previous life to deal with them in this life.

Liu Qingrong understood his sister's meaning, but smiled without speaking. The men of the Liu family were men of their word; having promised to secure the court for his sister, he wouldn't abandon the task halfway. Letting their daughter do so much alone was a dereliction of duty on their part as fathers and brothers, but also the helplessness of the Liu family, a family of military generals for generations. Clad in those shackles, they didn't know how to balance loyalty and filial piety.

Only then did Liu Qingrong admit that she was indeed not much like her father. Her father was still struggling internally, but he was solely focused on protecting his younger sister, not letting her bear such a heavy burden alone anymore. Whether it was to bring down the late emperor's trusted ministers, thoroughly cleanse the court, or… deal with his nephew, the emperor, it didn't matter.

His father was upright and honest throughout his life, but he grew up to be a cunning and treacherous man, a natural-born courtier.

Just as Liu Qingrong was about to leave, Liu Qingtang called out to him again, "Brother, if Xi Lan is really too arrogant, just teach him a lesson if you're angry. Don't worry about anything."

The other party was just an outsider. Even if he was a disciple of their father, there was no reason for their brother to be mistreated. Although Liu Qingtang liked to tease her brother, she couldn't stand seeing outsiders bully or neglect him.

Liu Qingrong finally revealed a sly smile, her eyebrows relaxed and she said slowly and smugly, "We really are siblings. This morning, I already taught that kid a lesson under the guise of sparring."

Although she couldn't bear to see her brother being bullied, she also couldn't stand his smugness. Liu Qingtang was in that situation and couldn't help but want to tease him a bit more. "Oh, brother, you're so proud of beating that kid? Maybe you'll get a beating from Dad when you get back."

Thinking of her father, who always believed in raising Liu family boys with a lowly upbringing, Liu Qingrong's face fell. "It's unlikely he'd actually stand up for that Xi Lan brat," she said. "That kid seems quite sturdy, and his kung fu is pretty good too. We had a match, and I held back. He only took a punch to the chest, and his pectoral muscles look well-developed; he should be fine. Besides, how can a disciple of yours not suffer a little? Isn't it normal for boys to get hurt and take some hardship?"

Actually, Liu Qingrong just wanted that arrogant kid to call him "Senior Brother." Who knew that after beating him, not only did he not get the heartfelt "Senior Brother" he wanted, but the other guy also clutched his punched chest, gave him a cold look for a long time, and then turned and left. Really, young people, they just can't accept defeat.

As for Xi Lan, who had been used by Liu's brother as an excuse to act coquettishly with her sister for a long time, she was also at the Qionglin Banquet, feeling a dull pain in her chest and her face ashen. As the martial arts champion, she and Liu Qingrong were seated opposite each other, but she didn't even glance at Liu Qingrong once, clearly expressing her disdain.

In fact, if Liu Qingrong weren't the son of the former General Liu, now the Duke of Liu, whom she admired, Xi Lan would have stabbed him through the chest with a throwing knife hidden in her sleeve the moment he punched her.

When she returned to her room and untied the cloth strip binding her chest, she even wondered if one of her breasts had shrunk a little from the blow. She was a girl, even if she dressed as a man and loved martial arts. Being punched in the chest like that almost made her bend over and cry out in pain, but she managed to hold it in and avoid losing face.

While applying the medicine to herself, Xi Lan gritted her teeth and mentally contemplated using 108 throwing knives to stab countless bloody holes in Liu Qingrong's body. For so many years, she had lived like an iceberg, but now, Liu Qingrong's punch had provoked such intense anger, turning her into a volcano. It was hard to say whether Liu Qingrong was lucky or unlucky.

In short, without Liu Qingrong's knowledge, Xi Lan had already unilaterally regarded him as a mortal enemy. Poor Liu Qingrong was still thinking about how boys often become friends through conflict, and how to get that arrogant boy to obediently call him "senior brother."

Author's Note: Hip-Hop Dolphin threw a landmine! [Thanks for the landmine, Dolphin-kun~ Any new girls I've never met want to be my gay boyfriend? Hmm~]

A green-clad person threw a grenade.

A certain green character threw a grenade. [Coming to praise Xiao Cui's generosity, muah~ But girl, you're so silly! This won't do. Look, you've thrown three grenades already, and I'm only just now remembering you. If you had split those three grenades into fifteen landmines, your presence would have increased dramatically, and I would have remembered you much sooner. Besides, throwing one in a row doesn't change the total number, so it's worth it. I have experience with this; I often use alt accounts to do this, to gain attention from other authors (wait, what did I leak?). People always tell me that when they saw me doing this, they thought, "Wow, a rich guy has appeared!" But I used this to flirt with people.]

Oops, I've said too much... Anyway, thank you all for liking it~ Actually, it doesn't matter whether you throw in any bombshells or not, I'm happy as long as you leave comments from time to time to let me know you're still here~