Blossom in Adversity

C191. Joyful Conversation.

Chapter 191 Joyful Conversation

Within the Moonlight Hall, a pin drop could be heard.

The Emperor lay on the dragon bed with his eyes tightly closed, his clothes open, and his upper body, including his head, adorned with golden needles. His feet, however, were bare.

Shao Yao stood at his feet, holding a small knife, while Lai Fu anxiously watched, afraid that the knife might pierce the wrong spot.

Old Yu nodded at Shao Yao, who solemnly stared at her master's hand. As the golden needles were removed, she swiftly cut a slit on the sole of his foot. A dark liquid splattered out, landing on the ground thick and sticky, resembling blood yet not quite.

Shao Yao focused on the incision, only tending to it when the blackness of the blood gradually faded away. Meanwhile, Old Yu had already removed all the golden needles and sat resting on the side. "How is he?" he inquired.

"At least three more bloodlettings are needed to purge all the toxins."

"As long as it works." They had tried several methods to rid the body of these toxins, each one riskier than the last, but they had finally found the right path.

Gu Yanxi set aside some of her concerns, observing the aging uncle Emperor, and softly asked, "When will the Emperor awaken?"

"He has been in a coma for three days; he must wake today. Otherwise, he may never wake again." The master and disciple exchanged a glance, swallowing the unspoken implications. Their gains this time were significant, and if the patient weren't the Emperor, they might have considered other actions.

Gu Yanxi nodded. Rumors of the Emperor's deteriorating health had been deliberately spread, and to pacify the court officials, the uncle Emperor needed to make an appearance. The Seven Stars Bureau wasn't suppressing the situation; it simply wasn't necessary at this point.

Exiting the Moonlight Hall, Fu Gang reported, "The Third Prince and Fourth Prince request an audience with the Emperor."

"Couldn't stop them?"

"No."

"Let them in tomorrow."

"Understood." Fu Gang relaxed.

As the head of the Seven Stars Bureau, Gu Yanxi couldn't restrain these arrogant princes any longer. Holding back for three days was already pushing his limits.

Guan Yanxi's masked face bore a hint of mockery. The Third and Fourth Princes were too impatient, and the culprit behind the rumors might not be able to maintain his position for long either.

In the study, Guan Yanxi commanded, "Tang Qingyuan, guilty of corruption, dismiss him from his position as Minister of Rites, and send the Second Prince to reprimand him."

The Tang family was the Second Prince's maternal relatives, and Tang Qingyuan was his own grandfather. Everyone knew what was happening when the Seven Stars Bureau targeted the Tang family at this critical time. What's more surprising was sending the Second Prince to reprimand him, a move he couldn't refuse. The move was cunning and ruthless.

The Second Prince flew into a rage, smashing everything in sight. Though the Ministry of Rites may not hold as much power as other ministries, it was still his most significant asset. Now, he had lost it. After his anger subsided, a sense of dread crept in. He knew this was a warning from the Seven stars Bureau, an indication that they were aware of his actions.

When the Second Prince thought of the fate of the eldest brother, a sense of unease gripped him. He immediately called off all the arrangements for the next move. He knew he didn't have the capital to confront the Seven Stars Bureau at the moment, nor did his other brothers.

Someday, someday, he vowed to rid the Great Daqing Dynasty of the Seven Stars Bureau's influence. The Second Prince harbored such ruthless thoughts in his heart.

Guan Yanxi had no time to entertain his thoughts. Upon receiving news of the arrival of new face in the Hua family, he put aside his current tasks and went to visit them.

Meanwhile, Hua Zhi and Zheng Zhi were engrossed in a lively conversation.

Initially, Hua Zhi wasn't fond of reading, but with a reluctance to venture outdoors and an extensive collection of books at home, she gradually found pleasure in reading. Skipping a day without reading made her feel uncomfortable.

She mostly read miscellaneous books as she couldn't bear more serious and cumbersome texts.

"If Mr. Zheng were to quiz me on the Four Books and the Thirteen Classics, I may not be able to answer."

"Why do I need to test you on those things when you don't need to take the imperial examination?" Zheng Zhi sneered. "Those who only bury themselves in books are no better than those without any books. Once the books are gone, what do they have left? Do they know the price of salt or grain? Nothing. Becoming an official is just being a clueless official."

Having lived in this world for sixteen years, it was the first time Hua Zhi had witnessed someone look down upon scholars. The ironic part was that Zheng Zhi was a scholar himself, making the situation quite amusing.

"I hope Mr. Zheng can teach the children of the Hua family about things like the price of salt or grain that are not found in books."

"Aren't you afraid I'll teach them inaccurately?" Zheng Zhi chuckled. "I also don't want them to become bookish scholars who only bury their heads in books."

Hua Zhi replied, "The Hua family won't be like that. Even if you don't often go out, you should know that scholars all over the world recognize the standing of the Hua family. Even if they fall now, it won't affect their reputation built over a hundred years. They are no ordinary family."

Hua Zhi toyed with the edge of her teacup and questioned, "I've never quite understood why, even though the Hua family was once highly esteemed by scholars, now that they have fallen from grace, those scholars seem indifferent. Don't they think the Hua family's reputation has been irreparably damaged?"

"Are you saying that Mr. Hua was involved in political strife, forming factions and acting selfishly?" Zheng Zhi's tone was tinged with mockery. "Among the civil and military officials in the court, who isn't involved in such activities? Who can claim to be a loyal and isolated official? Mr. Hua merely spoke up for a vulnerable prince, but that sentence alone has seemingly wiped out over a hundred years of the Hua family's efforts to stabilize the country. Scholars across the realm feel disheartened. I remember thinking at that moment, if I were a member of the Hua family, I would have a hard time understanding it."

Hua Zhi felt a lump in her throat, a painful tightness. Yet, she maintained a composed smile. "I’m not sure if I should advise Mr. Zheng to be more careful with his words, but besides you, I doubt I’d hear such sentiments from anyone else. Thank you."

“It’s simply what I think,” Zheng Zhi waved his hand dismissively, as if to say this was the moment for a drink and some peanuts. “Mu Qing is a fine man.”

“Before the Hua family's academy fell into disrepair, we had nearly twenty tutors. Only Mr. Mu returned without hesitation. Naturally, he's an admirable man. The sons of the Hua family should strive to be like him."

With a satisfying colleague, a congenial host, and a group of eager students, Zheng Zhi felt he ought to have a drink. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that way. Rising from his seat, he headed for the door. "I'll come by again tomorrow morning."

Hua Zhi quickly followed him, and they left the study together. Standing in the corridor was Gu Yanxi.

The two men, meeting for the first time, sized each other up.

Zheng Zhi thought, 'He doesn’t look like a mere figurehead; he must be quite strong. A martial arts family, perhaps? '

Gu Yanxi thought, 'I’ll have to have his ancestry investigated!'

They nodded to each other and passed by.

Hua Zhi escorted him to the gate, asking Steward Xu to see him off. She then instructed Suyun Mama to remind the servants to be respectful to the new tutor, and as an added precaution, she had a burly woman stationed at the second gate.