Chapter 116.1 : The Concerns Held in Grand Tutor Liu’s Heart
Although the Crown Prince had been called ‘the prince with no talent’, he was not such a moron that he was unable to hear the meaning in Jiang Ruan’s words. Frowning, he said, “What are you saying? How could there be any connection between Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother?”
Jiang Ruan swept an eye across their surroundings and said, “Your Highness, I am on my way to Bi Yun Pavilion to look for some books. If Your Highness is free, you and I can go together.”
Bi Yun Pavilion was a repository for many different works. On ordinary days, Empress Dowager and the imperial concubines would send their maidservants there to look for books. The Crown Prince thought for a moment before saying, “All right. It just so happens that bengong is thinking of going there to look around.”
The junior eunuch by the side of the Crown Prince was utterly astounded, as it was common knowledge that the Crown Prince hated reading. If the Crown Prince were to walk with Jiang Ruan to Bi Yun Pavilion today, then this would usher in a huge wave of gossip in the palace by the next day. However, the Crown Prince had always been someone who did as he pleased, and would not care one whit about such things. In addition, Jiang Ruan had the support of Empress Dowager Yi De, and thus had no qualms. And so, the two of them headed for Bi Yun Pavilion.
At this time of day, the place was deserted. As the Crown Prince kept Jiang Ruan company while she selected books from the shelves in the upper storey of the pavilion, he said, “What did you mean by what you said just now?”
Jiang Ruan continued perusing the shelves carefully as she said, “Is it possible that Your Highness does not understand?”
The Crown Prince did not say anything further. Even though Jiang Ruan still would not tell him, he had a discomforting feeling in his heart. Once the seeds of doubt are planted, they will germinate and grow uncontrollably. Xuan Lang wanted to win the trust of the Crown Prince as he had done in the past, but this was nigh impossible. If the Crown Prince wanted to investigate, it would not be difficult to find out the connection between Xuan Lang and Eighth Prince.
“Why do you hate Eighth Brother so much?” the Crown Prince asked. He truly did not understand why, as everyone in the palace loved Xuan Li. He treated people in a kindly manner and was multi-talented and virtuous. Yet, Jiang Ruan regarded him as if he were a venomous serpent or wild beast.
Jiang Ruan said, “Eighth Prince is excellent, but he has always made me feel that he is uncannily similar to my Second Sister, and I utterly detest people who are like her.”
The Crown Prince looked at her, his interest piqued, and said, “What kind of person is your Second Sister?”
“She’s vicious and merciless, with words of honey in her mouth, she’ll thrust a sword into your belly. She thinks herself clever, but is no more than a stupid fool.”
The Crown Prince could not help but be taken aback by this string of unrestrained criticism. He appraised Jiang Ruan carefully before shaking his head and saying, “I initially believed that Xiao Shao took a fancy to you because you are a natural beauty, but from what I’ve seen today, you’ve also got guts.” He laughed mischievously as he said, “I must say that now I’m more than a little interested in making you my consort.”
“If Crown Prince has this kind of ability, then I would naturally have no complaints.” Jiang Ruan finished selecting the books she wanted and walked to the lower level. In the main hall was a big rosewood table, upon which were a writing brush, ink, an inkstone, and paper. Jiang Ruan walked over for a look, and when she found that the ink was top quality peach blossom ink, she could not help pausing.
Upon seeing this, the Crown Prince said teasingly, “I heard He Yi say that you were sent to the rural residence at a young age, and your birth mother was from a long-standing military family. Thus, your writing is not elegant, and you can only sing and dance like a seductive songstress.” He was deliberately vulgar to test Jiang Ruan’s reaction, but Jiang Ruan turned a deaf ear to his words, and her expression changed nary a whit.
Princess He Yi’s hatred for her was bone-deep, and she went all-out to smear Jiang Ruan’s name outside the palace. However, Jiang Ruan did not regard it worth her while to bother with Princess He Yi. Only, this peach blossom ink in the palace reminded her of her previous life, and of that time when Xuan Li patiently and meticulously personally guided her in practising writing characters. The situation now and back then was completely different; the person she had been in love with had become her enemy, but this peach blossom ink was still as fragrant as before.
She slowly lifted the brush, with the Crown Prince looking on curiously. Jiang Ruan had too much mystery about her; it was hardly surprising that the usually cold and reserved Xiao Shao would regard her differently, Even he, the Crown Prince, felt himself somewhat intrigued by her.
Jiang Ruan moistened the tip of the brush with the ink and, adhering to the style of writing she had learned in her previous life, slowly moved the brush to form characters. The brush moved over the paper soundlessly, with only a faint scent lingering. The brushstrokes were confident and unrestrained, yet seemed to conceal a dangerous edge. Every stroke held an indescribable spirit and natural charm.
“Virtue is like a pine tree, while evil is like a flower; the pine tree is cold and indifferent, unlike the flower. Yet, one day, when the thick frost falls, the pine tree remains while the flower disappears.”
From his vantage point to one side, the Crown Prince read the characters on the paper aloud. In a voice tinged with surprise, he said, “Your style of calligraphy bears some similarity to that of Eighth Brother’s.” Even though they were similar, it was also clear that the sentiments were entirely different. He looked at the words on the paper and said, smilingly, “I truly could not see that Hong’an is a virtuous person[1].”
[1] 向善之人易得福 (xiang shan zhi ren yi de fu) – This is a common saying – ‘those who are good will receive blessings easily’.
A virtuous person? Jiang Ruan smiled coldly. In her previous life, she had indeed thought this way, that is, a virtuous person would receive blessings easily. However, sincerity and virtue . . . what had the ending been for her? In this lifetime, she would absolutely not, once again, follow the path that had led to failure in her previous life. It would be far better to become an evil person in everyone’s eyes. So what if she embodied the ‘demoness of national calamity’ in doing so? At the very least, she could keep her eyes open and protect the people she wanted to protect.
The Crown Prince instinctively felt that Jiang Ruan’s eyes had become chilly, and he wanted to speak, but before he could do so, Jiang Ruan had already gathered all her selected books and said to him, “If Your Highness is still inclined to select some books, please take your time to do so. I need to return to Ci Ning Palace, and will not wait for Your Highness.”
After Jiang Ruan left, the Crown Prince dropped his gaze to the set of characters on the sheet of paper on the table. The characters were well written, such that even he, who had no liking for practising calligraphy, could see that they were full of vigour and strength of character. Clearly, Jiang Ruan had not meant to take the paper with her. The Crown Prince thought for a moment, then ordered the junior eunuch by his side to collect the paper before turning and leaving Bi Yun Pavilion.
* * *
When Imperial Consort Chen heard that the Crown Prince and Jiang Ruan had gone to Bi Yun Pavilion together, she found that a little peculiar, and said, “When did she and the Crown Prince become so friendly?”
Her personal palace maid said, “To answer Imperial Consort, it seems that the two of them only went to select books, and went their separate ways after a short time.”
Imperial Consort Chen muttered softly to herself. By now, she no longer underestimated Jiang Ruan. At that time, she had thought that Jiang Ruan was merely a di daughter with some measure of luck, or limited cleverness. But now, she saw that Jiang Ruan’s scheming could not be considered anything but profound. At that time, with one move, she had pulled the rug out from under Imperial Consort Chen’s feet and rendered her offer of a marital arrangement useless. Then, she had shifted gears and gained the title of Hong’an Junzhu, a privilege personally conferred on her by the Empress Dowager. This was not something an ordinary young lady from a government official’s family could do. She had also not forgotten that Jiang Xin Zhi and Jiang Ruan had contradicted her to her face in front of the civil and military officials at the palace feast.
“Jiang Ruan is definitely no ordinary person,” said Imperial Consort Chen as she stretched lazily, looking for all the world like a dainty Persian cat. “Continue to look into it.”
“Yes.” The palace maid received her command and left.
* * *
Speaking of which, after the Crown Prince had taken possession of Jiang Ruan’s calligraphy, he had gone to Kun Ning Palace to converse with the Empress for a while, before immediately returning to the Eastern Palace. He spread out Jiang Ruan’s sheet of paper; the more he looked at it, the more he felt that the characters had been excellently written, and he could not figure out where he should hang it up. If he had the paper mounted and hung on the wall, it would seem like he was making a big fuss over a trivial item, yet if he just stored it without further thought, it would truly be a pity.
It just so happened that someone outside was walking closer. His green robes, worn with a jade belt, fluttered around him in the breeze. His expression was haughty and aloof. The instant the Crown Prince saw this figure, his eyes lit up and he called out, “Grand Tutor.”
It was indeed Liu Min. Although he was the Grand Tutor in name, in reality, he regularly assisted the Emperor in managing various political affairs. However, by virtue of his title, he still had to teach the Crown Prince. This student was so stubborn and mischievous, and regarded his books as objects to be thrown away, that Liu Min was totally helpless. That the Crown Prince should call out to him in such a seldom-heard warm voice caused Liu Min to frown. Nevertheless, he still walked over and said, “Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince felt that he had found an excellent piece of calligraphy and naturally wanted to show it to this Great Jin’s zhuangyuan. Hence, he said, “Bengong has obtained a work of calligraphy today. Grand Tutor, do come and have a look.”
Liu Min sighed inwardly, thinking that the Crown Prince was simply pulling his leg. At a previous time, the Crown Prince had also said that he had obtained a good piece of calligraphy. Liu Min never imagined that he would spread out the paper to find an erotic drawing; this upright and honest zhuangyuan had fled in defeat.
The set of characters was gradually revealed, and even before the characters could be clearly seen, a refreshing fragrance could be discerned – peach blossom ink of the finest quality. Rumour had it that those of the noble classes liked the peach blossom[2], and this peach blossom ink was especially favoured by many who liked to flaunt themselves as persons of lofty and impeccable character. However, when Liu Min was able to take a proper look at the calligraphy, he stood rooted to the spot, as if struck by lightning.
[2] T/N – This could be a hidden sarcasm here as ‘peach blossom’ is a metaphor for ‘love affair’.
The brushstrokes snaked across the paper, vivid and vigorous, yet had a delicate touch and a faint hint of brilliance, managing somehow to combine both talent and humility. These were the characters and brushstrokes that Liu Min was very familiar with, for he had reflected on them almost daily. Liu Min would never, in his entire life, be able to forget that style of calligraphy, for these were the brushstrokes of the mysterious entity who had helped him to seize victory three years ago, and become the zhuangyuan, the ‘Master of Letters’.
In reality, as soon as he had become the zhuangyuan, that person had completely vanished from Liu Min’s life, and it was as if he had never existed in the first place. From the time Liu Min entered the imperial court and gained the Emperor’s deep trust, countless people had tried to entice him, and countless people had also tried to entrap him. The morals of the time were in such chaos, that he was utterly perplexed at times. During such times, he had thought about the mysterious person numerous times. That person’s perspective was so discerning that it was as if they knew all of his thoughts, and seemed worthy to be called a ‘confidant’. Life was so busy that it was hard to find a confidant. Liu Min had felt, on occasion, that this so-called mysterious person and confidant was nothing more than a dream. Now, today, those characters had appeared before his eyes again. Liu Min could not help but stand transfixed for a period of time, not daring to trust his own eyes.