Seeing Yang En beckon him over, Han Qian steeled himself and ran over, asking, “Elder Lord Yang, what matter do you need Han Qian to handle?”
“I just encountered Grand Courtesan Su from Evening Red Building and saw Grand Courtesan Su using a type of rouge—truly exquisite, far more marvelous than the ancient formula I previously passed on to Grand Courtesan Su. Grand Courtesan Su said this rouge was formulated by your little servant. From which book did you find this formula?”
Yang En had an open and forthright temperament. He didn’t feel there was anything improper about asking Han Qian about cosmetics with Feng Wenlan and the others standing nearby. However, Feng Wenlan and the others could only stand obediently listening.
“So there are indeed matters Elder Lord Yang doesn’t know about in this world,” Han Qian said. Unable to explain the experimental principles behind the new rouge formulation, he could only speak evasively. “My purse is empty. I’m counting on formulating a few boxes of rouge and face powder to please the young ladies of Evening Red Building. If I tell Elder Lord Yang the formula, I’ll truly be at my wit’s end in the future.”
“Ha ha ha…”
Yang En laughed heartily. Others might feel Han Qian’s words were too frivolous, but he had always thought Han Qian was an interesting person. Now he felt Han Qian suited his temperament even more. He pointed at Feng Wenlan, Zhao Mingting, Wang Wenqian and others, introducing Han Qian.
“Han Qian is the son of Junior Supervisor of the Secretariat Han Daoxun, and the seventh grandson of old Vice Minister Han Wenhuan. Don’t think that just because he likes making rouge and face powder to please girls’ affections, he’s neglecting proper work and living dissolutely. In truth, his family’s inherited learning is broad and profound. Among the sons of all the civil and military officials in court, I dare say few can match him. No, I should say not a single one can match him. If you don’t believe me, ask Lord Shen—am I, Yang En, boasting?”
Although Shen Yang could guess that Han Qian would oversee the Secret Bureau for the Third Prince in the future and might not necessarily want to show himself before others, with Yang En speaking thus, he could only smile in agreement.
Seeing Zhao Mingting and Wang Wenqian both gazing over, Han Qian couldn’t very well cover Yang En’s mouth with his hand, so he could only stand to the side smiling in accompaniment.
“Han Qian, I heard others mention last time that you don’t seem to have a marriage engagement at present, correct?”
Yang En’s enthusiasm, once aroused, couldn’t be dampened for a while. After asking Han Qian this question, he smiled at Feng Wenlan and Wang Wenqian.
“Whichever of you has a daughter of suitable age and wants me, Yang En, to be matchmaker—you’d better compete to pour me a few more drinks!”
Seeing Yang En staring at her, Wang Jün embarrassedly lowered her head, avoiding Yang En’s overly obvious hint.
Han Qian thought that having already deflected with a few words, he cupped his hands and wanted to leave. Unexpectedly, Wang Wenqian narrowed his eyes slightly and called out to stop him: “We need to pay our respects to the Third Prince. Please, Young Master Han, help lead the way.”
As an imperial study companion and mansion attendant, Han Qian truly couldn’t refuse such a request from Wang Wenqian. But Shen Yang and Feng Yi, one being the Chief Clerk and the other also a mansion attendant, stood right there. With the awkward matter of the canceled betrothal between Wang Wenqian and his Han family, yet Wang Wenqian still insisted on having him lead the way—this truly made his scalp tingle.
Wang Wenqian now already knew the secret of the garrison military headquarters. It wasn’t clear whether he knew about the Personnel Ministry memorial, but Yang En’s praise would only deepen his suspicions!
Han Qian inwardly groaned but could only lead the way, accompanying Yang En, Feng Wenlan, Wang Wenqian, Zhao Mingting, Shen Yang and others toward the main hall. Only then did he see that Li Zhigao and Li Chong had been delayed halfway greeting others and were only now returning to the main hall to see the Third Prince.
Accompanied by Guo Rong and Chen De, the Third Prince Yang Yuanpu today was like a puppet. Under the direction of officials from the Palace Attendants Bureau and the Court of Imperial Clan, and in the company of Shen He, Guo Rong, Chen De and others, he had received far too many people. By this time he was quite exhausted.
Earlier, when the disturbance occurred on Fengxiang Street, Yang Yuanpu had been constantly accompanied by Guo Rong, Song Xin and others today without a moment’s separation. Li Zhigao hadn’t found it convenient to report upward, but seeing Li Zhigao, Chai Jian and others appearing hurried with grave expressions, Yang Yuanpu knew something very serious had happened—especially since Han Qian hadn’t appeared until now.
This made Yang Yuanpu’s thoughts even more anxious, like a wild beast trapped in a cage.
Now seeing Han Qian, Li Zhigao, Li Chong and others enter the main hall, Yang Yuanpu couldn’t help asking with both resentment and joy, “Han Qian, where did you run off to all day? Why am I only seeing you now?”
Han Qian smiled bitterly inwardly. The Third Prince had no guard against Wang Wenqian, and speaking this way would only deepen Wang Wenqian’s suspicions. He hurriedly introduced Yang En and the others to the Third Prince, hoping to divert these people’s attention.
Although Yang En was Yang Yuanpu’s clan uncle, Yang Yuanpu had lived deep within the palace since childhood and had no opportunity to meet clan members, so he didn’t recognize Yang En. But he had heard from Li Zhigao and others that Yang En, invited by Shen Yang, had contributed considerably to the construction of the garrison military headquarters.
“Yuanpu pays respects to Nineteenth Uncle!” Yang Yuanpu stood up and bowed to Yang En.
“Your Highness does Yang En too much honor.” Yang En returned the courtesy.
“Set up a dining table for Han Qian in this hall as well.” Yang Yuanpu instructed Guo Rong.
Guo Rong looked at Han Qian questioningly, then instructed someone nearby to handle it.
Logically speaking, Han Qian didn’t have the qualifications to feast in the main hall today, but the Third Prince was favoring Han Qian. On a day like today, who would deliberately go against Yang Yuanpu?
“Junior Supervisor Han has matters and cannot come. Han Qian can take Junior Supervisor Han’s dining table.” Li Zhigao stopped the person about to add an extra table and said, indicating that Han Qian was representing his father Han Daoxun in feasting at the main hall.
Although Li Zhigao helped cover, Han Qian saw Wang Wenqian’s sharp eyes staring at him. He truly didn’t know how many secrets Wang Wenqian’s keen eyes had already penetrated.
Watching Wang Wenqian intentionally or unintentionally walk toward Zhao Mingting, a chill ran up Han Qian’s spine. He thought that if Wang Wenqian pointed this out to Zhao Mingting, his father’s appointment to Xuzhou would very likely fall through.
His father had the precedent of creating a great disturbance at court remonstrating about driving away famine refugees. The Secretariat still had an excuse to reject even a Personnel Ministry memorial that Emperor Tianyou had already approved with vermilion, or the Censorate could cooperate by first impeaching his father. As long as the Palace of Tranquility’s side was determined, they could still ruin this matter.
“Your Highness, Han Qian truly wasn’t deliberately avoiding coming over today. I was actually formulating rouge at the residence and unknowingly lost track of time.” Han Qian said to the Third Prince.
The Third Prince was full of doubts, not understanding why Han Qian suddenly brought up this matter. But he guessed Han Qian must have deep meaning in doing so, and followed Han Qian’s tone: “Well then, I won’t blame you today. Handle this matter urgently, but sometimes you must also watch the timing.” As if he and Han Qian and the other study companions spent all their time together focusing on such frivolous pursuits.
“Today Han Qian hastily trial-formulated a box of rouge. I must first present it to Miss Wang, so I won’t offer it to Your Highness!” Han Qian pulled from his bosom a small copper box containing rouge, then took out a handkerchief, wrapped it, and directly pushed it into Wang Jün’s hands.
Seeing Han Qian crudely push the rouge box directly at her, Wang Jün wanted to refuse, but Han Qian grasped her hand and wouldn’t let go. Her small face flushed bright red, and she could only take the rouge box and stiffly pull her hand back.
Wang Jün was both shocked and annoyed. She looked uncertainly at her father and saw his face suddenly darken, his brows knitting together, his sharp eyes fixed on Han Qian’s actions. But he didn’t directly stop Han Qian’s presumptuous behavior, so she confirmed that the beggar she had encountered today was actually Han Qian in disguise.
And Han Qian’s actions at this moment were absolutely not some sudden loss of composure or rude presumption.
“Han Qian was impolite,” Han Qian said after sending out the rouge box, then turned to Wang Wenqian. “That the Wang family and my family cannot form a marriage alliance—the fault lies with the Han family. I present this small gift. This nephew merely wishes to express some apology. I hope Uncle will not take offense.”
Everyone suddenly understood. They hadn’t expected that Han Qian and Wang Wenqian’s daughter had previously had a betrothal that was broken off. No wonder he harbored such resentment that he would be so presumptuously rude.
“Of course, of course!” Wang Wenqian said with a dark face, stepping aside, unwilling to pay Han Qian any more attention. He never expected that while testing this fellow, he would be the one to draw first blood.
Wang Jün was so angry her entire face turned red, tears about to fall uncontrollably. Clearly it was the Han family who first broke the marriage agreement, but with Han Qian saying it full of resentment like this, it seemed as if it was her Wang family who first broke the engagement. However, Han Qian’s false accusations and public humiliation of her was secondary—the deeper intention was to threaten her father not to speak further.
Regardless of whether others misunderstood that the Wang family broke the engagement first, they would all feel Han Qian’s behavior of humiliating the Wang father and daughter on this day was excessively rude and presumptuous.
Even Yang En felt quite astonished, feeling Han Qian’s action lacked grace. But seeing that even Wang Wenqian could swallow his anger, other people naturally couldn’t possibly stand up for the Wang father and daughter to criticize Han Qian’s wrongs.
Li Zhigao saw that when Zhao Mingting looked at Han Qian again, the suspicion in his eyes had completely disappeared, replaced by contemptuous disdain tinged with schadenfreude. He inwardly marveled that Han Qian possessed such quick wit and ruthless decisiveness—truly not easy. He thought the Han residence shooting the evil servant and the break with Han Jun should also have been Han Qian’s decisions!
After this commotion, Han Qian found an opportunity to quietly exit the great hall. As long as the Third Prince Yang Yuanpu didn’t mention it, others would act as if they hadn’t seen. Li Zhigao also took advantage of the gap while Yang Yuanpu was performing the grand ceremony with his new bride to explain to Yang Yuanpu the complications that had arisen today.
Wang Wenqian first sent someone to escort his daughter Wang Jün back to the courier station, then after the Third Prince Yang Yuanpu completed the grand ceremony with his new bride, having witnessed the ceremony on behalf of Chuzhou, he took his leave and departed. Others only thought he had been angered today by Han Daoxun’s son.
Shen Yang sat before his dining table, looking at the gloomy night sky above the palace, his eyes full of worry.
Before nightfall, Chai Jian had found him with the Third Prince’s seal, requiring him to sign orders to seal off the garrison military headquarters and enforce curfew. After that, Chai Jian hurriedly departed with two of Han Qian’s men.
During this period, perhaps others still harbored various misunderstandings about Han Qian. If not for being ordered to establish the Left Division of the Secret Bureau, Han Qian and the Autumn Lake Mountain villa would appear very calm and peaceful. But what Shen Yang could see was far more than others.
Although Shen Yang didn’t know what had happened to make Han Qian publicly humiliate Wang Wenqian and his daughter, he knew the matter was absolutely far from as simple as it appeared on the surface.