In the dim passage, outside the bars, Big Brother stood there in his night watchman’s uniform, scrutinizing him with narrowed eyes.
Xu Er Lang’s eyes immediately lit up. He rose from the straw mat, his shackles clanking as he moved.
“How did you get in here? Did Minister Sun allow you to enter?” Xu Xin Nian was both surprised and delighted.
Seeing this, Xu Qi An relaxed his scrutinizing gaze and let out a sigh of relief. “It seems it’s just superficial wounds.”
Then, he glanced at the jailer and said coldly, “Leave.”
The jailer wisely departed.
Xu Xin Nian spat and said, “These dogs, their whips hurt quite a bit.”
Is Second Brother complaining to me? … Xu Qi An nodded, “Don’t worry, Big Brother will find a way to get you out.”
He had barely finished speaking when Xu Xin Nian waved his hand, interrupting him, and emphasized, “Big Brother, you might not fully understand. This matter isn’t just about cheating in the imperial examinations, but a conflict between the Imperial Academy and Cloud Deer Academy.”
No, I understand it perfectly well… Xu Qi An thought to himself.
But Xu Er Lang didn’t give him a chance to speak, continuing to talk incessantly, his voice full of vigor, indeed showing he had only suffered minor injuries.
“I had a premonition. How could it be so simple and easy for a Cloud Deer Academy student to achieve the top score? But I’m not afraid. If the academy wants to return to court and expand its influence, they need someone to lead the charge, someone to pave the way for those who come after,” Xu Xin Nian said solemnly.
“And I am that person who will open the path.”
Second Brother, people don’t admire the first person to open the path, they truly admire those who expand it… Xu Qi An made a sound of acknowledgment, “Go on.”
“I’ve already thought of a solution while in prison. Heh, after all, I’m the most skilled at court intrigues in our family,” Xu Xin Nian proudly lifted his chin and continued, “The great scholars of the academy can’t interfere in court affairs as civilians. But Wei Yuan can. Go ask Wei Yuan for help. I’m not asking him to clear my name immediately, that’s too difficult and would certainly cause a stir, as it would be equivalent to waging war against all the civil officials.”
“My request is to revoke my scholarly title but retain the right to take the imperial examinations. Or, keep me imprisoned until after the palace examination, and I’ll take the metropolitan examination again in three years.”
“The civil officials from the Imperial Academy mainly aim to suppress Cloud Deer Academy, not me personally.”
After speaking, seeing his brother lost in thought, Xu Er Lang sighed, “Yes, this might be a bit difficult for Big Brother to understand. You just need to do as I say.”
“Even though I’m in prison, I can still strategize from within.”
Second Brother, you think you’re on the 18th level, but you’re just on the Earth’s surface… Xu Qi An coughed and said, “Big Brother has a different perspective on this.”
Xu Xin Nian was stunned, then nodded “humbly,” “Go ahead.”
At that, Xu Qi An relayed Wei Yuan’s analysis of the “three birds with one stone” strategy to Xu Er Lang. Then, a long silence fell over the prison cell.
“I see. So there are such complex undercurrents behind this case. I… I’m finished, aren’t I?” Xu Er Lang looked greatly dejected.
It wasn’t clear if this was because he saw no way out, or because his analysis had been too superficial, which didn’t match the kingly level he believed himself to be at.
“Don’t worry, Big Brother will try his best to get you out,” Xu Qi An reassured him.
This was the Department of Justice prison, not a suitable place to say too much.
Xu Xin Nian gave a bitter laugh.
…
After bidding farewell to Xu Xin Nian, Xu Qi An left the Department of Justice, planning to return home to comfort his sister and aunt. He had been rushing about outside for most of the day, and the two women at home were probably worried sick by now.
From afar, he could hear Aunt’s crying voice from the hall: “Why hasn’t Big Lang returned yet? Second Lang is locked up in the Department of Justice, who knows how much he’s suffering. We need some definite news…”
Xu Ling Yue consoled her, “Mother, Big Brother must be running around, trying to pull strings. Don’t worry, when the evening shift ends, Big Brother will come back and tell you everything.”
“But how much longer will that be? Every quarter hour that passes is torture for me,” Aunt began to cry again. “Didn’t you hear what your father said? Big Lang went to the Department of Justice to plead, but not only did he not see Second Lang, he was also humiliated.”
Then came Uncle Xu Ping Zhi’s sigh.
Although Aunt can be petty and still thinks she’s cute at her age, she doesn’t take this opportunity to berate Second Uncle for being useless and unable to save his son. This must be why Second Uncle dotes on Aunt so much… Xu Qi An suddenly noticed this detail he hadn’t paid attention to before.
“Ahem! Ahem!”
Xu Qi An coughed as he entered the inner court, drawing his family’s attention.
Xu Ling Yue, who had been calm just moments ago, suddenly had tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at Xu Qi An, speechless with emotion.
Seeing this, Xu Qi An had to comfort her first, patting her fragrant shoulder, “Don’t worry.”
Xu Ling Yue called out softly, “Big Brother…”
But her voice was immediately drowned out by Aunt’s high-pitched cry. Aunt’s eyes suddenly brightened as she grabbed Xu Qi An’s sleeve, looking at him with a mix of hope and anxiety. She cried, “Ning Yan, how is Second Lang? You must find a way to save him. You’re the only one in the family who can save him.”
Xu Ping Zhi sighed heavily, “The Minister of Justice is determined to seek revenge. What can you expect Big Lang to do? Get humiliated again?”
The light in Aunt’s eyes immediately dimmed, and tears streamed down her face. Xu Qi An patted Aunt’s small hand, then his sister’s, consoling them, “I’ve seen Second Brother. He’s fine, hasn’t been hurt much.”
Aunt didn’t believe him. Her beautiful eyes fixed on her nephew as she sniffled, “Big Lang, you’re not lying to me, are you?”
Xu Ling Yue looked at her big brother with both hope and apprehension. It was the look of a sister’s faith in her admired big brother.
Xu Qi An glanced at his family members and said, “I’ve asked Lord Wei and the Princess to pressure Minister Sun. He wouldn’t dare to torture Second Brother. Don’t worry.”
If Lord Wei and the Princess intervene, then Second Lang indeed won’t suffer great torment in prison… It’s not surprising that Big Lang is Lord Wei’s confidant, but to think he could even get the Princess involved in this case… I never imagined Big Lang would have such deep connections with the Princess… Xu Ping Zhi marveled inwardly, realizing that without him noticing, his nephew’s network of relationships had grown to a level he could only look up to.
It’s so good to have Ning Yan here, he always makes people feel at ease… Aunt felt the weight lifting from her heart.
Xu Ling Yue pursed her lips, her eyes shining brightly. Big Brother had never disappointed her.
I kidnapped Minister Sun’s son, but he has no proof. He can’t do anything to me. I just made sure he wouldn’t torture Second Brother. For Minister Sun, this is a small favor he can grant. Compared to mutual destruction, he cares more about his eldest son’s life.
Although it breaks the rules, if handled well, the impact can be minimized.
Moreover, Minister Sun has no evidence, and it wasn’t Xu Qi An who captured the person. The Sky Watching Bureau’s technique for reading auras isn’t something to worry about either.
In the case of Princess Ping Yang, Prince Yu had no evidence. His daughter disappeared without a trace, and he didn’t even know who his enemy was.
Of course, after the incident, the price paid by the Liang faction was the execution of their entire clan.
As long as the results are good, even rules written in Great Shang’s laws can be brazenly broken, let alone unwritten rules!
With these thoughts, Xu Qi An looked at Li Na and Xu Ling Yin, who were carefreely eating pastries nearby and said, “Don’t go out today. Li Na, during the day, the safety of the women in the mansion depends on you.”
“Okay!” Li Na agreed readily.
This little dark-skinned girl might not be very smart, but she can fight… Xu Qi An felt quite at ease with her.
As for being isolated in official circles, let alone whether Minister Sun would spread this matter, even if he did, Xu Qi An wasn’t afraid. As Wei Yuan’s confidant, he had too many enemies already.
Was he afraid of being isolated?
Xu Qi An wasn’t a scholar pursuing an official career; he was a night watchman. The two were different. The former needed reputation and recognition from official circles.
But a night watchman didn’t need these. As long as Wei Yuan was there, he would be there. If Wei Yuan fell, he would fall too.
Xu Ping Zhi opened his mouth but didn’t voice his opinion. Inwardly, he felt both melancholic and proud. Proud that his nephew had grown up, no longer the boy whose head he could casually pat.
Melancholic because he could no longer pat this kid’s head.
Aunt cried tears of joy, holding onto Xu Qi An’s hand, “Big Lang, you’re still the most promising in the family. Aunt’s efforts in raising you weren’t in vain.”
Wait, Aunt, don’t you feel any guilt saying that? Xu Qi An wondered.
With her mood suddenly brightened, Aunt had the leisure to vent her frustration on Xu Ling Yin. She forcefully poked the girl’s forehead with her slender jade-like finger, angrily saying, “All you do is eat, eat, eat. What’s the use of having you? We might as well have given birth to a mouse.”
“Mother, I’m hungry,” Xu Ling Yin said, looking up with her small face, feeling wronged.
“When has your stomach ever been full?” Aunt scolded, exasperated. “Your brother is in grave danger, and you’re still eating here. You heartless thing.”
Xu Ling Yin glanced at Xu Qi An, “But Big Pot is fine. Mother just doesn’t want to give me food, so she can hide it and eat it all herself.”
Aunt swayed, infuriated.
Xu Qi An, Xu Ling Yue, and Xu Ping Zhi felt somewhat awkward.
Li Na nudged her eating companion’s waist and whispered, “You have another brother, you know.”
Xu Ling Yin thought for a moment and realized she indeed had another brother. She immediately burst into tears, crying “Waaah,” as pastry fell from her mouth.
She picked up the pieces that had fallen on her clothes and legs, stuffing them back into her mouth while crying, “Is Second Brother dead too? I don’t want Second Brother to die, waaah…”
At this moment, Old Zhang, the doorkeeper, came in and said, “There’s a young lady outside asking to see Miss Ling Yue.”
The family immediately looked at Xu Ling Yue.
She frowned slightly, “Which family’s young lady? What business does she have with me?”
Old Zhang shook his head.
“Please invite her in,” Xu Ling Yue said.
Shortly after, Old Zhang led in a pretty young lady wearing a pink jacket and skirt. She had her hair styled in a maid’s bun, but her clothes were of better quality than those of ordinary wealthy young ladies.
“It’s you?” Xu Ling Yue recognized her, looking surprised.
“This servant is called Lan Er. My young miss wishes to visit Miss Ling Yue today. Is Miss Ling Yue available?” The charming maid named Lan Er curtsied.
“This is the maid of Prime Minister Wang’s daughter, Miss Wang Si Mu,” Xu Ling Yue explained.
She believed that with her big brother’s wisdom, he would understand the hidden meaning.
The maid of Wang Zhen Wen’s daughter? Why did she send someone to our mansion? To mock us? Influenced by Second Brother’s perspective, Xu Qi An also thought Wang Si Mu had come to gloat and kick them while they were down.
He immediately felt annoyed.
How dare a mere woman be so arrogant… I’m a modern person who firmly upholds gender equality, I won’t go easy on tearing down a green tea bitch… Xu Qi An inwardly sneered.
“I have matters to attend to today. I will surely visit another day,” Xu Ling Yue said coolly, her gaze suddenly sharp: “Please relay to Elder Sister Wang that I’ve grown quite fond of her, and I look forward to having a good chat with her then.”
But in the next moment, the sharpness in her gaze receded, and she became the weak little sister again, saying tearfully, “Big Brother, if you have other matters to attend to, please go ahead. I entrust Second Brother’s affairs to you.”
Xu Qi An was about to nod when he heard Lan Er ask anxiously, “What happened to Top Scholar Xu?”
The siblings both ignored her, maintaining cold expressions. Suddenly, Aunt spoke up:
“Your young miss is Prime Minister Wang’s daughter? That’s wonderful! My Second Lang has been falsely accused of cheating in the imperial examinations by some godforsaken scoundrel and is now locked up in the Department of Justice prison.”
“Miss, could you please ask your young miss to help Second Lang?”
Xu Qi An and Xu Ling Yue looked at Aunt with stiff expressions.
Is this mother (aunt) so brainless?
Even if you’re desperately seeking help, you shouldn’t turn to the enemy. Isn’t dying once enough? Do you want to give others a chance to stab us again?
Xu Qi An’s face darkened as he said coldly, “Miss Lan Er, please see yourself out.”
Lan Er left, full of confusion and looking anxious.
…
Wang Si Mu sat on the soft couch in her spacious carriage, occasionally lifting the window curtain to peek outside, and sometimes checking on the teapot being licked by the orange-red charcoal fire beneath.
This fully demonstrated Miss Wang’s inner anxiety.
More than half an hour had passed, and that dead girl Lan Er still hadn’t returned. Waiting was truly the most unbearable.
If the Xu family’s young lady refused her visit, it would likely represent the Xu family’s stance, and by extension, Xu Xin Nian’s attitude.
Should she still proceed with the visit? Or should she give up?
The latter didn’t sit well with her, but as for the former… she was, after all, an unmarried woman and the Prime Minister’s daughter. She had to consider her reputation and couldn’t shamelessly continue to visit.
As these thoughts flashed through her mind, she lifted the curtain for a look and was delighted to see Lan Er’s small carriage.
The small carriage slowly approached. Maid Lan Er nimbly jumped down and ran over, climbing into the large carriage and pushing open the door to enter.
“You dead girl, why are you back so late? Do you know what time it is?” Wang Si Mu, irritated and restless, vented her anger.
She took a deep breath and asked, “What did the Xu family’s young lady say?”
Lan Er shook her head.
Wang Si Mu’s face immediately fell, the light in her eyes instantly dimming.
At this moment, she saw Lan Er swallow hard, catch her breath, and say, “Young Miss, something terrible has happened. Top Scholar Xu has been arrested by the Department of Justice for cheating in the imperial examinations.”
“What?”
Upon hearing this news, Wang Si Mu felt a mix of emotions. The first to surge was shock and worry – worry for Xu Xin Nian’s future and safety.
Then, surprisingly, came a hint of joy.
So he didn’t stand me up because he wasn’t interested, but because he was arrested by the Department of Justice and couldn’t get away.
I’ve wronged him.
Lan Er then recounted everything she had seen and heard at the Xu residence to Miss Wang, including Xu Qi An’s cold attitude and Xu Ling Yue’s distant demeanor.
Minister Sun of the Department of Justice is my father’s ally. Do they think my father is behind this? If it was Father secretly pushing this… then, then wouldn’t I… Wang Si Mu felt a wave of bitterness in her heart.
Lan Er said angrily, “Hmph, with such a terrible attitude, they still want you to save Top Scholar Xu. The Xu family is truly shameless.”
Wang Si Mu frowned, “Mind your words.” After a pause, her expression turned serious, “Was it Xu Qi An’s request?”
That’s not right. I’ve only met Xu Xin Nian once and exchanged just a few words. How could that Xu Qi An, being a smart person, possibly ask me, the Prime Minister’s daughter, for help?
He couldn’t possibly know my feelings. Even Father doesn’t know.
The clever Miss Wang immediately sensed something amiss.
Lan Er shook her head, “It was the Xu family’s matriarch who said it, that very beautiful woman we saw that day.”
The Xu family matriarch’s request…
Wang Si Mu’s expression turned serious once again as she actively engaged her mind, pondering and analyzing…
She’s Xu Xin Nian’s mother. Encountering such a situation, her impression of me and the Wang family must be extremely poor. So why would she ask for my help?
A woman capable of raising a daughter with deep schemes, a nephew with unparalleled spirit, and a son with outstanding talent cannot be an ordinary person.
I need to think carefully, think it through, I can’t be careless…
“Lan Er, did that matriarch… did she curse me or my father? What was her attitude?” Wang Si Mu asked.
“Her attitude was the best in the whole family. When she made the request, she was particularly sincere,” Lan Er said.
This… Wang Si Mu’s eyes widened as she formed a corresponding guess in her mind.
The first time I invited Xu Xin Nian to the literary gathering in my father’s name, there was nothing wrong with that. But then I invited him to go boating in such a short time… While a careless man might not think much of boating, as a woman, and an intelligent one at that, she couldn’t possibly have failed to notice something.
Even if she’s not certain of my intentions, she must have some guesses… So, is this a test and an opportunity?
Her attitude towards me is not one of aversion. She’s not hostile or disdainful just because I’m the Wang family’s daughter.
She’s expressing her attitude, showing it to me.
Then, the Xu family matriarch made this request through Lan Er.
She’s hinting at me.
Indeed, this Xu family matriarch is a woman of great wisdom… She’s the only one in the family who saw through my intentions… Wang Si Mu clenched her delicate fists, her body trembling slightly.
At the same time, she felt excited about meeting a worthy opponent.
“Lan Er, let’s go to the imperial city. I want to find my father at his office,” Wang Si Mu said word by word.