Coming to Blows

"Thanks to Physician Li, recommended by you, Lord Zhang, Imperial Father's eye condition has improved considerably."

Qi Lingheng thanked Assistant Grand Secretary Zhang.

Seventh Master Li is indeed remarkable. Last time he entered the palace, he didn't even need to stand in front of the Imperial Father for the Imperial Father to see him clearly.

And I heard that Madam Lin's eyes are also improving.

"Your Prince, I dare not take credit; it is all thanks to the Physician. Moreover, this person was recommended by one of my subordinates, not someone I went to great lengths to find for you."

Assistant Grand Secretary Zhang was a very magnanimous man. He said, "If Your Prince wishes to reward them, then reward them."

Just listen to what I say and it's all there is to it.

Qi Lingheng smiled faintly, "I still want to thank you."

When the food and wine were served, they ordered a pot of Shaoxing wine and ate and talked while enjoying the first dishes, such as pickled goose feet and braised wood ear mushrooms.

Other specialty dishes will also be served gradually.

Speaking of rewards, we must mention the Xia family, specifically the husband of Old Madam Xia, Master Xia Liangyi.

He was a protégé of Assistant Grand Secretary Zhang.

This time, Assistant Grand Secretary Zhang intended to recommend Xia Liangyi to Qi Lingheng.

However, Qi Lingheng doesn't want just anyone.

Assistant Grand Secretary Zhang then spoke of Xia Liangyi's background, "When I was the Education Commissioner of Kaifeng, I took a liking to this student's talent and secretly gave him some pointers."

"He was also a very patient person. Presented Scholar the imperial examinations all the way through, and after being transferred to Kaifeng as a county magistrate, he never publicized that I was his teacher."

"It wasn't until he achieved some success in Runing this year that he was transferred to the Capital."

Qi Lingheng nodded slightly. "I've heard about it."

As he was in the Ministry of Personnel, he was naturally very familiar with the personnel changes in the Imperial Court. Xia Liangyi from Runing was one of the officials who had been transferred this year and had outstanding political achievements.

Qi Lingheng asked, "What does Lord Zhang think of this person's character?"

He was different from the Crown Prince liked officials to listen to him and do everything according to Crown Prince wishes.

He doesn't like dealing with people who are too obedient.

Perhaps it was prejudice, but he always felt that people who were too obedient couldn't do things well.

But those who are too disobedient are somewhat foolish.

Assistant Grand Secretary Zhang said, "Xia Langzhong looks very kind and honest, but he is actually very decisive in his actions." He smiled and said, "Your Prince, you will see for yourself when you observe his actions in the future."

Qi Lingheng had a general idea in his mind.

Assistant Grand Secretary Zhang suddenly added, "This Xia Liangyi does have one flaw."

Qi Lingheng put down his wine glass. "What's wrong with that?"

Assistant Grand Secretary Zhang shook his head and sighed, "The Xia family and the Wuding Marquis Residence are related by marriage, so the Wuding Marquis Residence..." Prince Huan definitely wouldn't like it. He didn't know if the Prince would be wary of using people from the Xia family because of this.

Qi Lingheng said, "It's alright to punish those who hire others without consequence."

A married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl; now that she's a member of the Xia family, she can't interfere in the Lu family's affairs.

Assistant Grand Secretary Zhang chuckled upon hearing this, and casually mentioned Grand Tutor Lin: "If Grand Tutor Lin were still alive, the Lin Family wouldn't have suffered such a terrible fate."

He actually had little contact with the Lin clan, and he only spoke these words of consideration for the Lin Family out of respect for Qi Lingheng.

Qi Lingheng had indeed thought that way; if his teacher were still alive, his daughter's divorce wouldn't have been so difficult.

I couldn't help but recall the conversation I had with Lin Yunwan at the Red Elephant Temple.

Geckos shed their tails in an attempt to survive.

And she also wanted a divorce.

Qi Lingheng gripped his wine glass tightly again, his gaze somewhat unfathomable.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside, with sounds of tables and chairs being smashed.

What happened?

Qi Lingheng asked the servant at the door, who went out to look and said, "Your Prince, there are guests fighting outside."

Even Assistant Grand Secretary Zhang was shocked. "A fight has broken out?"

Although Jialing Tower was a tavern run by merchants, it was supervised by the Imperial Court and had officials behind it. Ordinary people would not dare to make a move here.

Qi Lingheng calmly instructed, "Make it quiet outside."

The servant went out again, but when he returned, things were still turbulent outside.

"Your Prince... it's the eldest son of the Wuding Marquis Residence who's fighting with a group of people."

Both sides were of high status and outnumbered, so the fight was fierce. The manager of Jialing Tower couldn't stop them and, fearing he would be beaten himself, went to call the soldiers patrolling the streets to break up the fight.

Qi Lingheng went out to take a look.

As soon as the door opened, they heard the shopkeeper outside yelling, "If you don't stop now! They'll all be taken to the Prefect of Shuntian, and we'll all lose face!"

Lu Zhengliu was momentarily distracted when he was punched.

He returned it quickly.

The group that beat him were all scholars from wealthy families, and they were physically weak.

Lu Zhengliu was drunk and didn't hold back, beating two or three of them until they screamed in pain.

Scholars may not be good at hitting people, but they are good at cursing. A few people didn't care about anything else. While cursing Lu Zhengliu favoring his concubine and destroying his wife, they also cursed his mother and his ancestors.

"I did not kill my wife!"

Lu Zhengliu smashed a table with his fist, then drunkenly grabbed a man by the collar, saying, "Tell me, which man in the world doesn't take a concubine? I... I just made a mistake that all men make..."

He simply couldn't let go of his childhood sweetheart, and he just wanted to break free from the control of his elders.

That's why I did something wrong.

Is it really that impossible to forgive?

Lin Yunwan refused to forgive him, and these scholars then came to provoke him!

Fueled by alcohol, he roared, "I mean it! I mean it to her!"

He already knows... he didn't do well in the past, and he wants to start over.

"Let me go!"

Who wants to hear your sincerity or your insincerity!

To allow Concubine to rise above the Principal Wife is to disrupt the established moral order!

The scholar shoved Lu Zhengliu, wiped the blood from his nose, and, with utter contempt for Lu Zhengliu, cursed, "A disgrace to scholarship!"

I don't want to get entangled with Lu Zhengliu anymore.

A servant from the Wuding Marquis Residence rushed over, helped Lu Zhengliu, and whispered, "Master, let's... let's go back."

Lu Zhengliu was still muttering to himself, "I'll be with her from now on..."

The shopkeeper, his face dark, came over and said, "You broke my things, sir! You think you can just leave like that? Pay for it before you go!"

The servant retorted angrily, "My master treated us to a meal at your shop, got beaten up for nothing, and you still have the nerve to ask for money!"

When the patrolling soldiers arrived, everyone on both sides of the street, including the shopkeepers, became obedient.

Several more people arrived at Qi Lingheng and Assistant Grand Secretary Zhang's private room one after another, and it took them more than an hour to go back to their respective rooms.

"A Fu."

Back at the Prince's residence, Qi Lingheng was slightly drunk.

A Fu came over and asked, "Your Prince, would you like some hangover soup? The Kitchen is simmering it; it'll be ready soon."

Qi Lingheng pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "Return the Jade Pendant from the Duke Xingguo's Residence to the pawnshop manager."

A Fu was confused. "Send it back?"

Qi Lingheng, with his eyes closed, said, "Send it to the Wuding Marquis Residence."

Didn't Lu Zhengliu say he was sincere? Did he still want to be with Lin Yunwan?

Once he obtains the Jade Pendant belonging to the Di Daughter of the Duke Xingguo's Residence, will he take a Concubine living far away on his estate, or will he use his status as the Di Daughter the Duke Xingguo's Residence to curry favor with the Duke Xingguo's Residence?

Lin Yunwan so clever; she knows how to use this Jade Pendant.