Upon sitting down in the great hall, Han Qian spoke of what he had seen and heard along his journey, then presented the preliminarily verified maps of Jing-Xiang and the travel journal he had written during this month-long tour of Jing-Xiang and other places.
Compared to the tradition of contemporary Confucian scholars who pursued conciseness and brevity when writing and expounding theories, Han Qian wrote his travel journal more like a chatterbox.
Over the past half year, Han Qian had continuously studied the situation in Jing-Xiang. He was quite familiar with local customs, geographical features, products, population, astronomy, and water conservancy. This month-long journey was mainly to conduct field surveys and verification of his previous studies, correct erroneous information, and conduct more detailed investigations and understanding.
The travel journal Han Qian wrote recorded every detail, transcribing all relevant information—seventy to eighty thousand characters, a thick stack of nearly two hundred pages, almost equivalent to a scholar’s lifetime work.
To this, Wang Lin and others were dismissive.
The “Zuo Zhuan” says: “The highest achievement is establishing virtue, next is establishing merit, and next is establishing words.”
Writing and expounding theories was viewed by many Confucian scholars as one of the three great immortal achievements to pursue in life. Every word written required long deliberation. How could they imagine that Han Qian would hastily write seventy to eighty thousand words in a month, a thick stack of nearly two hundred pages, and dare to present it before His Highness?
What puzzled and even displeased them even more was that the Third Prince treated Han Qian’s submitted travel journal as a treasure. Despite everyone sitting in the hall below, he began to carefully peruse it.
“After Yuanpu returned to the capital with Father Emperor, I heard Father Emperor speak of many matters regarding Jing-Xiang along the way. There were quite a few things I couldn’t comprehend. Having received Teacher Han’s book, Yuanpu has become enlightened in many areas,” Yang Yuanpu said, raising his head.
Han Qian merely smiled faintly and said, “In the presence of Master Shen Yang and Minister Wang, Han Qian is merely showing off before experts. If Your Highness wishes to know of affairs under heaven, you should consult Master Shen Yang and Minister Wang more often.”
As they were chatting, a palace maid walked in and said, “Her Ladyship has learned that Marquis Li, Master Shen Yang, Minister Zheng, and Minister Han are all at the manor today. She wishes His Highness to invite all the ministers over for an audience.”
Han Qian was slightly startled. Over the past two years, whenever the Third Prince left the palace for his manor, apart from being able to return to the palace to visit the Imperial Consort during festivals, the Imperial Consort had never once been granted permission to leave the palace and come to the marquis’s manor. He hadn’t expected the Imperial Consort to be at the Prince’s Manor today. He thought this was perhaps one benefit of a rising tide lifting all boats—the mother being honored through her son.
In the dozen or so years since Great Chu’s founding, all systems emulated the previous dynasty. Palace consorts wishing to see external ministers were subject to strict restrictions.
Han Qian looked at Guo Rong and Zhang Ping sitting nearby. Their faces showed no unusual expressions. He thought that the Imperial Consort requesting to see them at the inner residence must have already received special permission from Emperor Tianyou.
“Teacher Han, Mother Consort has been constantly talking about wanting to see you. These past few days, Mother Consort specially left the palace to stay briefly, and it happens you’ve returned to Jinling,” Yang Yuanpu said happily, standing up. He then invited Han Qian, Shen Yang, Zheng Hui, and his father-in-law, Marquis of Xinchang Li Pu, to go to the inner residence together. The others could only wait where they were.
Though it was called an audience, the restrictions were even more stringent than seeing Emperor Tianyou.
Han Qian entered Xiaoxiang Pavilion, where the Third Prince had previously resided, and stood in the courtyard under the sun. Just now he had thought he might personally see what the Imperial Consort looked like, but at this moment, seeing the corridor filled with palace maids and eunuch attendants, and with a curtain between them, he couldn’t even tell whether the Imperial Consort sitting in the hall speaking was short or tall, fat or thin. He couldn’t help feeling a small disappointment inside.
After the Third Prince lifted the curtain and entered, a voice that was somewhat cold and lonely soon came from behind the curtain:
“Minister Han possesses heaven-sent talent. This time Yuanpu was able to hold Xichuan, and you have rendered great merit. Master Shen, Minister Zheng, and Marquis Li have all received rewards from His Majesty. Your share should not be lacking either. This palace had an estate at the foot of Baojiao Mountain in earlier years, maintaining over ten households of servants and slaves. This time, it shall be bestowed upon Minister Han!”
Han Qian secretly pondered what a woman with such a voice would look like. He hesitated, about to step forward to accept the gift with thanks, but looking up he saw Shen Yang’s brow slightly furrowed as he looked over at him.
Seeing Shen Yang’s expression indicating he should refuse, Han Qian’s head grew as large as a barrel. Though he was dissatisfied that Shen Yang was sometimes too upright and rule-abiding, he also didn’t want to create conflict with Shen Yang. Steeling himself, he put on an appearance of being terrified and anxiously declined: “Han Qian misjudged the enemy’s intentions and placed His Highness in danger. Though I was fortunate enough to render some minor merit, compared to Han Qian’s crimes, this is truly insufficient to make up even one ten-thousandth. That the Imperial Consort does not behead Han Qian—Han Qian is already terrified and grateful for the Imperial Consort’s grace. I absolutely dare not receive further rewards.”
At this moment, Shen Yang also stepped forward to remonstrate: “Regarding the Jing-Xiang campaign, rewards and punishments have already been decided. The Imperial Consort should not grant private rewards beyond His Majesty.”
The Imperial Consort obviously hadn’t expected Han Qian to decline or that Shen Yang would remonstrate against it. Behind the curtain, she fell silent for quite a while without any sound.
Marquis of Xinchang Li Pu and Zheng Hui stood there somewhat at a loss. They hadn’t expected that Shen Yang, who had devoted himself these past days to assisting the Third Prince in organizing various affairs, would now remonstrate against the Imperial Consort privately rewarding Han Qian. Moreover, the implication in his words was so obvious and blunt—he had almost publicly pointed at the Imperial Consort’s nose to say that Han Qian was a subject of Great Chu, not the private property of the Imperial Consort and the Third Prince.
Sometimes Marquis of Xinchang Li Pu couldn’t tell whether Shen Yang was truly or falsely confused. Wasn’t His Majesty’s not rewarding Han Qian precisely to leave it for the Third Prince or the Imperial Consort to privately bestow?
Li Pu glanced at Han Qian and saw him standing there as if nothing had happened, as if this matter had nothing to do with him at all.
Though he had a bellyful of opinions about Han Qian, at this moment he quite admired Han Qian’s composure. He couldn’t help but wonder in his heart—was this fellow really only twenty years old this year?
As Prince’s Manor Administrator, Zhang Ping assisted the Third Prince in managing inner residence affairs. According to regulations, when the Imperial Consort met external ministers at the Prince’s Manor, he had to be present to supervise.
At this moment, Zhang Ping looked thoughtfully at Han Qian and Shen Yang, then lifted the curtain and walked into the hall.
After another moment of silence, no one knew how Zhang Ping persuaded the Imperial Consort, then the cold, lonely voice became somewhat stiffer and came out again:
“In the battle of Xichuan, Minister Han’s merits and faults offset each other, so additional rewards are indeed inappropriate. This palace’s consideration was lacking. However, Minister Han and Master Shen have merit in teaching and assisting Pu’er. The estate and servants shall be counted as this palace’s reward for Minister Han’s teaching and assistance. Master Shen, I’ve heard that after your wife Lady Xu passed away, you have never remarried. You don’t even have a careful person by your side to attend to matters. Mingxiu has attended me for many years. She’s getting on in years and it’s time for her to leave the palace. This palace will have her attend you at your side. Please do not refuse, Master Shen.”
At this moment, a female attendant about twenty-three or twenty-four years old lifted the curtain and walked out. She stood somewhat helplessly under the corridor, head lowered looking at her shoe tips, her face tense. She probably hadn’t expected to be directly bestowed by the Imperial Consort to this decrepit old man Shen Yang at this moment.
As the Prince’s Mentor appointed by Emperor Tianyou, Shen Yang had the right to remonstrate against the Third Prince’s every action. But the Imperial Consort’s temperament seemed to be stronger than imagined. Han Qian kept his head lowered and glanced sideways at Shen Yang, wondering how he would respond.
Shen Yang wasn’t stupid. Of course he could hear that the Imperial Consort was displeased with his remonstrating against Han Qian receiving the reward. She had merely changed her wording but still insisted on rewarding Han Qian, and additionally forced a woman on him. This truly made him cry out in misery. At the moment, he could only accept the reward with a bitter face.
“Pu’er is dull-witted. You must all assist him well and not disappoint this palace,” the Imperial Consort’s voice came out stiffly from behind the curtain again.
“Your humble servants understand and dare not be the slightest bit negligent,” Han Qian, Shen Yang, and others said.
At this moment, Yang Yuanpu lifted the curtain and walked out, saying to everyone, “You may all withdraw. Mother Consort is somewhat tired. When she next leaves the palace, she will summon you to speak of matters.”
Shen Yang knew the Imperial Consort had the Prince come out to dismiss them. He saw the Third Prince’s face showed displeasure—he should also be dissatisfied with how Shen Yang had just resisted the Imperial Consort.
Shen Yang didn’t think much about explaining anything and walked out with Han Qian and the others first.
Walking out of Xiaoxiang Pavilion, ignoring that Marquis of Xinchang Li Pu and Zheng Hui were nearby, Shen Yang lowered his voice to admonish Han Qian:
“Han Qian, you must remember—you are a subject of Great Chu, not the private property of His Highness and the Imperial Consort!”
Han Qian smiled bitterly. He couldn’t help but want to snap back at this stubborn old man: You have the guts to go say this to Emperor Tianyou!
Seeing that Han Qian didn’t value his admonition, Shen Yang’s expression grew desolate. He said, “I still have matters to attend to with Minister Zheng at Taowu. I won’t be staying at the Prince’s Manor for the midday banquet with you.”
Han Qian cupped his hands and saw Shen Yang and Zheng Hui off first. He and the Marquis of Xinchang remained here to wait for the Third Prince to come out from inside.
“Shen Yang has no desire to assist the Third Prince in ascending the throne. Why would His Majesty appoint him as Prince’s Mentor?” Marquis of Xinchang Li Pu asked Han Qian with a trace of incomprehension on his face.
Emperor Tianyou’s current inclination was already quite obvious. Li Pu believed Shen Yang wasn’t stupid. He couldn’t understand why Shen Yang would quibble over these minor details, nor could he understand why Emperor Tianyou, who should be very clear about Shen Yang’s difficult temperament, would still appoint Shen Yang as Prince’s Mentor—the position with the most power in the Prince’s Manor.
Given the current power structure of the Prince’s Manor, Li Pu couldn’t sideline Shen Yang even if he wanted to.
Han Qian glanced at Marquis of Xinchang Li Pu, not knowing whether he truly couldn’t figure it out or was testing him. But thinking of how dangerous the situation remained ahead, he didn’t want to talk in circles with Li Pu. He said, “Whether you or I, all those who wholeheartedly assist His Highness in competing for the succession—in His Majesty’s eyes, we all harbor selfish motives and ambitions, and even conceal the calamitous intent of hoarding rare goods. Speaking this way, does Marquis Li still resent me for encouraging Brother Zhigao to dissolve the guard battalion’s control over His Highness in Xiangzhou?”
Seeing Marquis of Xinchang Li Pu purse his lips without saying anything more, Han Qian thought they should have done some reflection during this period.
At this moment, Zhang Ping walked out and said, “His Highness wants us to go to the eastern courtyard first. His Highness will speak with the Imperial Consort a while longer, then the Imperial Consort will return to the palace.”
As Han Qian, Marquis of Xinchang Li Pu, and Zhang Ping were about to cross the western courtyard and walk toward the eastern courtyard’s public hall, they saw a figure approaching from the corridor ahead. But when the person saw them, without offering a greeting, she turned and walked into a side passage.
Though it was only a brief glimpse, Han Qian clearly saw the person’s appearance. It was clearly Song Xin, the female palace official for records that Anning Palace had assigned to the Third Prince’s side. However, today Song Xin’s cheeks were highly swollen, with over ten bloody marks crisscrossing them. The left corner of her mouth was torn open in a large gash. She looked exceptionally ferocious and ugly—clearly someone had viciously slapped her face with a plank over ten times. Her rather pretty and attractive appearance was probably ruined for good.
Han Qian involuntarily glanced back at Xiaoxiang Pavilion.
If the Third Prince wanted to deal with Song Xin, would he happen to do it these past few days?