Chapter 27: Who Exactly Is He? A Difficult Riddle to Solve Part 2

Dong Danyu didn’t beat around the bush. “Shaoling, the Chancellor was the one who personally selected me as the Third Scholar.”

The clicking of Xie Shaoling’s fan stopped. He turned his head slowly, his face etched with shock and disbelief. “He picked you?”

Dong Danyu gave a self-deprecating smile. “His Majesty was reluctant to choose me. It was the Lord Chancellor who insisted.”

Xie Shaoling scrutinized him, feeling as if he had fallen into a thick fog of confusion.

If it were the disaster relief, one could argue Gu Huaiyu was merely cleaning up a mess caused by his own corruption—hardly a noble act. But this was different.

Appointing the son of Grand Preceptor Dong as the Third Scholar?

Everyone knew the Grand Preceptor couldn’t open his mouth without calling Gu Huaiyu a “traitorous official” or “sycophant.” The man spent every waking moment dreaming of pulling Gu Huaiyu down to “purify” the court. To appoint the son of such a man? It was practically inviting trouble.

Xie Shaoling felt a sudden, hysterical urge to laugh, but the laughter died in his throat.

A flash of clarity struck him, like a bolt of lightning tearing through a clouded sky.

There was only one explanation. This powerful man—the one who effectively ruled the Great Chen empire—did not see things in terms of personal grudges, factional strife, or who insulted him.

He saw the entire realm. He saw a chessboard that had yet to be played.

Like a true master, he would never discard a piece simply because he disliked it. Gu Huaiyu used Dong Danyu simply because Dong Danyu was the most suitable candidate for the position in this year’s examinations.

That was all.

It had nothing to do with private enmity, political stance, or personal likes and dislikes.

Xie Shaoling suddenly found it difficult to breathe, as if a hand were tightening around his throat. This conclusion was too absurd, and yet… it was the only thing that made sense.

Unaware of Xie’s internal turmoil, Dong Danyu frowned and lowered his voice. “I haven’t told my father yet. He views the Chancellor as a monstrous plague. If he knew I only made the top three because the Chancellor fought for me… I’m afraid he’d faint in his study.”

Xie Shaoling was about to respond when he heard footsteps behind the screen.

Creak—

The door to the adjacent room opened. Qin Zijin’s refined voice carried his usual composure. “My apologies, gentlemen. I was delayed at the Grand Xiangguo Temple. The refugees have filled the halls; there wasn’t even room to kneel and pray.”

He sighed with a touch of regret. “A place of Buddhist tranquility has become little more than a bustling marketplace.”

“You were lucky, Zijin,” Lord Liang remarked, his hot temper flaring as he let out a cold snort. “My silk shops are surrounded by seamstresses from Jiangzhou. They’re selling embroidered handkerchiefs for three copper coins a piece. How am I supposed to do business?”

The ever-sarcastic Lord Guan was also there, smiling broadly. “The ‘Cat’ is certainly merciful. He carves the meat from our bones to feed his own hawks.”

“Providing relief to the people is the natural duty of an official,” a deep, aged voice resonated. Grand Preceptor Dong picked up his teacup, speaking with unhurried gravity. “But that thief Gu Yu knows the ways of the harem far too well. He treats affairs of state like concubines competing for favor—applying rouge and powder to buy people’s hearts.”

“Do such womanly tactics even deserve to be called statesmanship?”

Lord Guan laughed. “The Grand Preceptor is right. Is this not identical to the fox-like charms of his sister?”

Qin Zijin was the last to sit, moving with graceful ease. “Why be angry, gentlemen? The pure remain pure, and the muddy remain muddy.”

Lord Guan, who was older than Qin Zijin, patted the younger man’s shoulder. “My friend, you don’t understand. If the ‘Cat’ wins the people’s hearts, it will be even harder to shake him in court.”

“Lord Guan worries too much.” Qin Zijin picked up the teapot, pouring tea for everyone with a steady hand. “In my view, Gu Yu will play with fire and burn himself within a few days.”

Qin Zijin presented the final cup to Grand Preceptor Dong. Master and disciple shared a look of tacit understanding. Amidst the curling steam of the tea, his movements were elegant and scholarly. “Gu Yu’s move to buy hearts was indeed clever.”

“But his mistake—lies precisely in the hearts of the people.”

Lord Liang didn’t understand. “Friend, stop speaking in riddles!”

Qin Zijin chuckled softly. He dipped his finger in the tea and slowly wrote two words on the table: The People.

“The ‘people’ I speak of are not the refugees. I speak of the citizens of the capital.”

Lord Liang remained confused. “The capital? What about them?”

Lord Guan gave a chilling smile. “The city is now full of desperate ruffians. They have never seen the beauty of the capital. If a few of them cannot restrain themselves and commit some… scandalous acts…”

Lord Liang’s eyes lit up. He slapped his thigh. “Brilliant! The citizens of the capital will be incensed. They’ll say, ‘It’s all because of that Cat letting these disasters into our city!'”

Grand Preceptor Dong nodded slowly. “Public resentment is like fire. Once lit, it is not easily extinguished.” He looked at the group with a meaningful gaze. “And if, at that moment, someone presents a well-documented memorial of impeachment…”

Qin Zijin understood his mentor’s intent. “Then it becomes the will of Heaven and the desire of the people.”

“Attacked from within and without, even if the Cat doesn’t die, he’ll lose a layer of skin,” Lord Guan added, his tone light.

Qin Zijin wasn’t quite as optimistic. He saw that the Emperor was obedient to Gu Huaiyu; public anger and memorials might not be enough to topple him. But it would be enough to disgust him.

Lord Liang finally processed the plan, but hesitated. “But the Cat has the refugees under lock and key. If no one commits a crime, do we wait until the end of time?”

Lord Guan looked at him with a mix of pity and amusement before laughing out loud. Qin Zijin also tilted his head and smiled at his colleague’s “innocence.”