Begging in the Street

After the Danyang Mountain incident, rumors had been circulating among the city's people that "Prince Jing had bought off students and made them ruin the reputations of His Highness the Crown Prince and the Chancellor in literary circles." The rumors grew more and more outrageous, greatly damaging Prince Jing's and Xie the Grand Secretary's reputations.

To the ambitious Prince Jing, this was simply intolerable.

Xiao Jinhong had never expected Zhang Mao to be so foolish. He could not even badmouth someone without being overheard by the person himself, and had even dragged Xiao Jinhong and his maternal grandfather into it.

To clear his name, Xiao Jinhong deliberately stopped the Crown Prince in the street. Before the watching townspeople, he delivered a pitiful, innocent-sounding speech, claiming that he was blameless and a victim as well. His words were heartfelt and deeply moving.

Some of the townspeople believed him as they listened. They continued to trust Prince Jing's virtuous reputation and even pitied him a little. He had clearly meant well by funding students, yet had ended up being implicated by them instead. Alas.

Xiao Hanye stared at his fourth brother's nauseatingly affected manner and found it more revolting the longer he looked. He truly wanted to slap him straight into the river and drown him.

They were both pretending to be innocent, yet the little dark guard was still rather pleasing to look at.

Xiao Hanye curled his lips and gave Prince Jing a smile that was not quite a smile. Then, as though swatting away a fly, he shoved him aside. He said not a word and left without looking back.

Xiao Jinhong knew him very well.

Whenever Xiao Hanye smiled like that, it meant he understood everything but was deliberately keeping silent. On the surface, he looked as if he could not be bothered to argue or say more, but in private, he would certainly find every possible way to retaliate—the sort that would take your life when you least expected it.

Xiao Jinhong pulled his cloak tighter around himself, feeling that he ought to get a protective talisman to carry with him, to ward off disaster and evil.

Yu Gao had followed Wang Zhonggui for many years and knew all his dirty secrets. He held ample evidence of Wang Zhonggui's embezzlement and bribery. On the very day Wang Zhonggui was thrown into prison, Yu Gao presented before the Emperor evidence that the Baoquan Bureau had colluded with officials and merchants to privately sell copper coins, along with the real account books from the Twilight Cloud Pass affair years ago.

With those two charges alone, Wang Zhonggui knew he could not escape disaster. If the investigation continued, it might implicate Xie the Grand Secretary. To repay his teacher's kindness, he voluntarily took all the blame and killed himself in prison, bringing Zhan Lingxiang's case to an end as well.

Under orders, Wen Jingkong led the Imperial Guard in raiding the Wang residence. They practically confiscated a mountain of gold, along with countless jade artifacts and treasures. It was clear just how obscenely corrupt Wang Zhonggui had been all these years.

The Chenghuan Emperor gave half the confiscated money to Shen Tingjue to build an academy. To give the academy a greater air of heritage, he ordered people to collect rare editions and even took many books from the Hanlin Academy's library.

The people heard that Young Marquis Shen intended to build an academy where students from across the realm could read books for free. There would be no restrictions based on gender or age; anyone interested in reading could go.

Such thoughtfulness was truly rare and precious.

For a time, Shen Tingjue gained a great reputation for virtue, his fame directly eclipsing Prince Jing's. Not only did he win over the hearts of impoverished students across the realm, but he also earned the people's praise.

When Xiao Jinhong heard the news, he was so angry his lungs hurt. He was certain Shen Tingjue was deliberately opposing him. The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became, and he could not help running to complain to his maternal grandfather.

Xie the Grand Secretary had already been in a foul mood lately because of the Minister of Revenue affair. Xiao Jinhong's endless whining before him made him even more agitated. He pressed his fingers to his brow and said nothing.

Deep down, he actually looked down on his own grandson. If not for their blood relation, he would never have supported such a fool.

Knowledge had always been monopolized by the great aristocratic clans. Though the Hanlin Academy and those Pure-Stream Faction officials under the Chancellor had donated books from their collections, it was still far from enough.

One morning, after the snow had cleared, the wind was bitterly cold. Having finished court, Xie the Grand Secretary rode in his carriage back to his residence to retrieve documents he had left in his study the night before. He was leaning against the carriage wall with his eyes closed, feigning sleep, when he suddenly heard the horses neigh. The carriage came to an abrupt stop, and he pitched forward uncontrollably, nearly tumbling out.

The coachman hurriedly apologized. "Please forgive me, Grand Secretary. It is... it is Young Marquis Shen blocking the carriage."

The words ill intentions immediately surfaced in Xie the Grand Secretary's mind. Yet they were on a public street, and he could not simply ignore him. He could only take a deep breath, straighten his robes, lift the curtain, and step out. "What business does Young Marquis Shen have with me?"

Shen Tingjue's robe sash fluttered lightly as he smiled. "I have a favor to ask."

With his eyes curved like that, he looked exactly like a little fox harboring ill intent.

Xie the Grand Secretary warily replied, "Young Marquis Shen must be joking. You currently enjoy His Majesty's favor and have everything you desire. What could you possibly need to ask of this old man?"

Shen Tingjue blinked. "There is. It is just..."

"The wind is cold outside." Xie the Grand Secretary cut him off at once. "Why not come into the carriage, Young Marquis Shen? We can find a private room and talk."

Shen Tingjue smiled. "There is no need. I only have a few words to say. Besides, Your Excellency is busy with official duties, so I would not dare take up too much of your time."

This was a bustling stretch of street, crowded with all manner of onlookers. There was even a teahouse nearby, filled with people who loved gossip, and they were all looking this way.

Xie the Grand Secretary was certain that Shen Tingjue had deliberately chosen this place to stop him.

Shen Tingjue had learned this move from Xiao Jinhong. If Xiao Jinhong could stop the Crown Prince in the street and pretend to be a white lotus, then Shen Tingjue could stop his maternal grandfather in the street. They would see who was whiter.

Shen Tingjue asked, "Has Xie the Grand Secretary heard about my construction of an academy?"

Xie the Grand Secretary answered cautiously, "I have heard a little."

"Oh? I thought you did not know. Over the past two days, my father and some of his colleagues and friends have donated books from their homes. But compared with the libraries of the great clans, the books in my academy are hardly worth mentioning. Since Your Excellency already knows, might you lend me some of your collection for the time being? Once I have new copies printed, I will return them to you. What do you think?"

Xie the Grand Secretary had not expected him to dare set his sights on the great clans' book collections. He nearly laughed coldly on the spot.

Shen Tingjue did not give him a chance to speak and seized the initiative. "Only when the people read more can our dynasty produce talents in abundance. I know the great clans are unwilling to share their collections, but good books should not be left to gather dust. They ought to be read thoroughly by students throughout the realm, so they may apply what they learn. I hope Xie the Grand Secretary can grant my request."

At the height of his emotion, he seized Xie the Grand Secretary's hand. Tears glimmered in his eyes, and his expression was earnest. "I do not know how much longer I have to live, so I only wish to do something useful with what remains of my life. If Your Excellency has any conditions, please name them. For the students of the realm, I am willing to do anything."

Xie the Grand Secretary: "..."

You.

You truly are sick in the head.

The surrounding townspeople were so moved by Shen Tingjue's words that tears came before they could speak. A dignified young marquis, born into wealth and honor, had actually lowered himself and cast aside his pride to beg the Grand Secretary in the street for the benefit of students throughout the realm.

It was simply too moving!

No wonder he was so blessed—it was because he was too kind. Good people received good rewards.

Xie the Grand Secretary yanked his hand back forcefully, his chest aching with rage.

If Shen Tingjue had started by saying something like, "A good official like Your Excellency would surely be willing to share books with students," forcibly placing the hat of a "good person" upon him, he might have felt a little less suffocated.

But Shen Tingjue had opened by asking for a favor, which changed everything.

If he gave up his books, it would not be because he was willing to share them with students throughout the realm. It would be because Young Marquis Shen had begged without regard for his dignity. In the end, all the good reputation would be snatched away by Shen Tingjue alone.

A master.

He had underestimated this sick-in-the-head young master of the Chancellor's Residence.