Elder Chen had truly stood in high position for far too long. He didn’t realize that even with favored disciples, if you didn’t properly cultivate those relationships, others could easily exploit the gaps. During the previous dynasty, it was popular to “pledge allegiance at the dock”—newly successful jinshi would acknowledge their chief examiners as their seat-teachers, making their future official careers run more smoothly. Later, after Emperor Jianzhang ascended, he had flown into rage several times over this very matter. Having just become emperor, with Prince Tai’s rebellion fresh behind him, he was very distrustful of court officials. And the court officials were indeed entangled in extremely delicate relationships—often one ring linked to another.
Over these years, Emperor Jianzhang had been exceptionally strict in appointing chief examiners precisely for this reason. The Yangzhou corruption case and Prince Duan’s affair coming to light had Emperor Jianzhang’s tacit approval—he desperately needed a court completely under his own control.
This time, Elder Chen had truly violated Emperor Jianzhang’s taboo, implicating even the Crown Prince and Prince Dongping in Emperor Jianzhang’s suspicions. Speaking of it, one couldn’t really blame the Crown Prince—he too was someone with an unusual craving for power. Unfortunately, he reached out at entirely the wrong time. How long had it been since Emperor Jianzhang had cleared out the previous dynasty’s forces and Prince Tai’s remnants? Yet already he couldn’t wait to reach out for power. How could an emperor’s possessions tolerate others reaching for them? He still hadn’t understood this principle.
Conversely, Fang Xiaoru was a shrewd person, very good at figuring out the ways within. This was also why Song Chuyi hadn’t needed much time to bring Fang Xiaoru aboard. When Elder Chen got into trouble, he would have Fang Xiaoru step forward as the scapegoat. When there was nothing wrong, he would have him strategize and plan, yet Fang Xiaoru himself couldn’t show his face before the Eastern Palace—he might as well forge a different path. Although when word spread later his reputation wouldn’t sound good—after all, the influence of teacher-student alliances wasn’t as deep as in the previous dynasty—but for a student to topple his teacher would still invite some contempt from others behind his back. But afterward there would be excellent prospects. The Song family surely wouldn’t “unload the donkey after grinding” and kill him.
Song Jue nodded. He returned to his room to play with little Ren’er for a while, read a few more letters, then picked up his brush to write another reply to Song Chuyi. This time he had someone deliver the letter personally, appointing his trusted attendant Wangyue.
Waiting until the sun set in the west, the last remnants of sunset glow fading from the sky’s edge, night gradually unfurling, he changed clothes and left with a small retinue, soon making his way around to Chongyin Ward.
Fang Xiaoru was already waiting for him. Seeing him, he cupped his hands, called out “Young Master,” then welcomed him to sit down and personally poured him a cup of tea.
Compared to a few days ago when matters first erupted and Elder Chen had flown into a rage at home, he was much more composed now. Song Jue glanced at him: “For Master Fang to have collected himself in such a short time truly commands admiration.”
A few days ago, Fang Xiaoru had been frightened to the extreme. That was when he’d just learned that Tao Dinghu had led the censors to impeach the examination fraud. Elder Chen had flown into a rage at home, with guests, advisors, and subordinate officials sitting in a packed room. Elder Chen found everyone displeasing to the eye. Later, when a Hanlin Academy lecturer asked if Elder Chen might have been set up by his own people, his courage had nearly been scared to pieces.
“Young Master, please don’t mock me.” Fang Xiaoru’s face carried a trace of bitter smile. He didn’t know how the Song family raised their children—the sons’ generation was raised honestly and reliably one after another, yet the grandchildren’s generation was each one cleverer and more cunning than the last. Young Master Song and Sixth Miss Song especially were slippery foxes that had become spirits. Even he, who considered himself a seasoned old hand accustomed to the official world, had suffered considerable losses at the hands of these two juniors. He looked toward Song Jue with worry in his eyes: “This matter clearly cannot be resolved peacefully. Although Elder Chen has already been detained by the Ministry of Justice, even Meng Jiming and Feng Yinglong claimed illness, terrified of being appointed to touch this case. Does Young Master truly believe we can pull down Master Chen?” It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the Song family’s capabilities or the trap that Song Jue and Song Chuyi had designed, but there was also a common saying that “a dead camel is larger than a horse.” Behind Elder Chen were entangled far too many people. Even if those people weren’t acting for Elder Chen’s sake, for their own interests they would have to preserve him. Even if in the end the charges were confirmed, there would probably be plenty petitioning on Elder Chen’s behalf. Emperor Jianzhang ultimately had to consider the feelings of these veteran ministers…
But this type of matter most feared an unsuccessful strike. Someone like Elder Chen—once given the opportunity to be restored, he would certainly have a day of comeback. The Crown Prince needed Elder Chen in the cabinet to help him, and the Eastern Palace needed the Chen family.
And if Elder Chen had a day of restoration, given his temperament, he would certainly first take action against himself who had sold him out. Fang Xiaoru understood this very clearly and feared it most. Therefore, when Meng Jiming and Feng Yinglong showed that attitude in court, his heart had nearly turned half cold.
“Master Fang, those words are off the mark.” Song Jue didn’t even furrow his brow, leisurely tapping the table with his finger to draw Fang Xiaoru’s attention: “Though Elder Chen certainly has many accomplices and helpers, could it be that Censor Tao is just a vegetarian? Moreover, His Majesty actually appointed Prince Dongping as supervisor—the deep meaning behind this, with Master Fang’s discernment, you surely can see it, can’t you? Since His Majesty already has the intention to deal with Elder Chen, could it be that among the full court of civil and military officials, he can’t appoint a few willing to try this case? You’re worrying needlessly.”
Fang Xiaoru couldn’t help but be speechless. Young Master Song was even more perceptive than he’d imagined, not giving him any opportunity to set conditions at all. He sighed, somewhat resigned to his fate, lowered his eyes to blow away the tea leaves floating on the surface of his cup, and asked Song Jue: “Then what does Young Master Song want me to do now?”
Song Jue stood with his hands behind his back, paced to the landscape screen displayed in the room, paused for a moment, then turned his head: “It’s time to expose Third Master Chen’s affairs. Does the Chen family still not know what Third Master Chen has been doing in private?”
Indeed not. Though the Chen family had exerted tremendous effort investigating connections below, no one at all thought to look toward Third Master Chen. This person was as if he weren’t surnamed Chen at all—even the clan members had been investigated, yet only Third Master Chen had been completely forgotten. Fang Xiaoru smiled bitterly. When he’d previously helped Elder Chen deal with the Song family and Cui family, the Cui family hadn’t let anyone catch such a handle. Cui Shaoting had completely controlled that Yangzhou courtesan in advance, and even turned things back on them. Compared to this, though Elder Chen himself was clever, his control over his household was truly inadequate. That old madam of his family only appeared shrewd on the surface…
He lowered his head, unable to distinguish for a moment which flavor dominated within his heart, sighing as he agreed with a “yes.”