Inside the room, candle flames flickered, casting long shadows over the grim faces of the assembled officials.
“Zijin is here.” Grand Preceptor Dong’s expression was heavy, his brow etched with deep worry. “Xie Shaoling was just here. He said he will no longer impeach Gu Yu at the Qionglin Banquet.”
Qin Zijin took a handkerchief from a servant to wipe the rainwater from his face. His fingertips trembled, though the movement was almost imperceptible. “Why the sudden change of heart?”
Lord Liang let out a cold snort. “He claims he met some new friend who advised him to ‘take a long-term view of the world’s affairs!'”
He mimicked Xie Shaoling’s tone with a face full of mockery. “In my opinion, he’s been bewitched by some heretic!”
Qin Zijin paused his movements, his brow furrowing in confusion. “A friend?”
“He called him a Transcendental Immortal descended from the heavens!” Lord Guan jeered. “More like a fox-spirit if you ask me!”
Qin Zijin lowered his head and offered a light, comforting smile. “Gentlemen, why be so angry? It is common for the young to be indiscreet in their choice of companions.”
Grand Preceptor Dong’s searching gaze swept over him. “Zijin, have you found a new way to deal with Gu the Cat?”
As his most prized pupil, the Grand Preceptor understood Qin Zijin’s temperament. He wouldn’t be this composed unless he had a plan already in motion.
Qin Zijin scanned the room, then smilingly withdrew a Golden Fish Pouch from his sleeve. It shimmered brilliantly under the candlelight.
“His Majesty bestowed the Golden Fish Pouch upon me today, along with the title of Hanlin Academician Reader.”
He spoke softly, but the smile at the corner of his lips deepened, unable to hide his high spirits. “He even gave special instructions that I am to enter the palace every three days to lecture him on the Treatise on Statecraft.”
A sharp light flashed in Grand Preceptor Dong’s squinted eyes, and even his beard trembled with excitement. “Excellent!”
Lord Liang stood up abruptly, his face flushed with triumph. “Gu Yu must have finally pushed His Majesty too far with his many crimes!”
“More than just ‘too far’!”
Lord Cao laughed, clapping his hands together. “It is obvious His Majesty intends to support Zijin to suppress the Gu Faction!”
Lord Guan stroked his beard, swaying his head in approval. “Zijin, oh Zijin! You were already destined to be remembered in history for the Treatise on Statecraft. Now that you have the Emperor’s favor, your future is limitless!”
Qin Zijin’s gaze lingered on Lord Guan for a moment, but he only smiled without speaking.
Grand Preceptor Dong, now in a magnificent mood, took a deep sip of his tea. “Since His Majesty wishes to bolster our side, we must strike while the iron is hot and give Gu the Cat a taste of suffering.”
The laughter in the room died instantly. The officials looked at one another, none of them daring to pick up the thread of the Grand Preceptor’s suggestion.
An awkward silence filled the air, broken only by the rhythmic dripping of rain against the bluestone outside the eaves.
Grand Preceptor Dong slammed his teacup down, his eyes flashing with humiliated rage. “What is this? Weren’t you all high-spirited just a moment ago?”
Lord Liang’s old face turned red, his previous air of righteousness completely vanished. “Grand Preceptor! That Gu the Cat is ruthless and cold-blooded. A few years ago, Registrar Zhang said only a few bad words about him, and Gu had men hang him under the overpass to be flayed alive! I saw the corpse with my own eyes!”
“Indeed,” Lord Guan whispered, lowering his head to avoid the Grand Preceptor’s gaze. “Minister Chen of the Ministry of Revenue had his entire family exterminated by Gu the Cat. He is a petty, narrow-minded man. If we truly stand against him in the open, wouldn’t we meet a violent end?”
Lord Cao, breaking out in a cold sweat, added cautiously, “Xie Shaoling had a point. To deal with Gu the Cat, we must plan for the long term…”
Grand Preceptor Dong’s expression grew darker by the second. Just as he was about to erupt, he heard a light chuckle.
“Gentlemen, why worry?”
Qin Zijin stepped slowly toward the lamp, lifted the translucent cover, and picked up a pair of scissors to trim the wick. “The stone from another mountain can be used to polish one’s own jade. To deal with Gu Yu, we don’t necessarily have to be the ones to strike.”
The officials remained anxious. Everyone in the imperial court knew Gu Huaiyu’s cruelty; who would risk certain death to oppose him?
Grand Preceptor Dong couldn’t think of a suitable candidate, but since Qin Zijin spoke this way, he must have an answer. “Zijin, do you have someone in mind?”
Qin Zijin’s gaze swept across them, the corners of his mouth curving slightly. “Nie Jin, Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review.”
The officials’ eyes lit up instantly, their faces turning to joy.
