Gu Moran turned off the control panel.
The Crown Prince asked about poetry today, as well as the six families related by marriage.
It was also a struggle for the throne.
If he answers even half a wrong sentence, the tea in the Eastern Palace will be more than just bitter.
But the crown prince won't overturn the table for now.
At this time, the Second Prince was at the height of his power, and Ye Qingyun suddenly appeared.
The bigger hidden danger lies over there.
The carriage turned two corners and stopped in front of the Second Prince's Residence's residence.
Just as noon arrived, three official sedan chairs were already parked at the gate.
Gu Moran straightened his collar and jumped off the carriage.
The main hall of the Second Prince's Residence was spacious, with tables laden with food and wine. The braised pork knuckle was glistening with oil, and the hot soup was steaming.
Zhou Wenyuan sat on the left, Xu Wenli on the right, and Feng Shouzheng at the end.
The Second Prince Gu Mochen, sat in the main seat. When he saw Gu Moran enter, he stood up and took two steps to greet her.
"Third brother is here, please have a seat."
Gu Moran looked around and then draped the fan over his shoulder.
"Second Brother, you've made quite a grand entrance; I thought it was a family banquet."
Gu Mochen said, "Since all the gentlemen are here, it's a good time to discuss literature over drinks."
Gu Moran sat down and first picked up a piece of braised pork knuckle with his chopsticks.
Zhou Wenyuan waited until he finished chewing before speaking.
" Your Prince Yi, I pondered this matter repeatedly yesterday, and it seems we should establish rules for the poetry competition's judging process."
Gu Moran picked up another piece of food with her chopsticks.
What charter?
"For example, contestants should recuse themselves if a judge with a family or teacher-student relationship is present."
"For example, should there be a review process for submitted poems that were written by someone else?"
Gu Moran chewed on a pork knuckle and mumbled, "Ghostwriting for review?"
Who will do the nuclear test?
Zhou Wenyuan cupped his hands in greeting.
"Naturally, it should be a consensus reached by all colleagues in the Hanlin Academy."
Gu Moran put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth.
He looked at the three officials present.
"Oh? Lord Zhou's words have reminded me."
Zhou Wenyuan, "Your Highness, please speak."
Gu Moran rested the fan on the edge of the table.
"I suspect that not all of the memorials you gentlemen submitted to the Emperor were written by yourselves."
Zhou Wenyuan's expression changed.
Gu Moran continued, "From now on, if you need to submit a memorial, enter the hall an hour early and write it on the spot."
Zhou Wenyuan opened his mouth.
"Your Highness, how can a poetry gathering be compared to submitting memorials to the emperor?"
Gu Moran looked at him.
Why not?
Zhou Wenyuan, "Memorials to the throne concern government affairs."
Gu Moran nodded.
"That's why we should investigate even more rigorously."
Zhou Wenyuan was blocked.
Gu Moran the wine glass, but didn't drink it; he just twirled it in his hand.
"While I was drinking and carousing, I heard that many of the memorials submitted by the Hanlin Academy's reading staff were drafted by their subordinates."
Zhou Wenyuan's face flushed red.
Gu Moran then looked at Feng Shouzheng.
"The annual rites report of the Ministry of Rites was also drafted with the help of officials."
Feng Shouzheng finally looked up.
Gu Moran said, "According to Lord Zhou's instructions, the poems must be investigated, and the memorials must be investigated even more thoroughly."
"After investigating who wrote it, we need to investigate who conveyed the message."
"After investigating the message, find out who took someone else's manuscript to the Emperor to curry favor."
The table fell silent for a few moments.
The second prince held his wine cup, but neither drank nor offered any assistance to anyone.
Zhou Wenyuan opened his mouth to argue.
Feng Shouzheng spoke first.
"Your Highness is right. Memorials and poetry gatherings are ultimately different. Let's discuss this matter again."
Gu Moran immediately smiled.
"You see, Lord Feng is truly insightful."
Zhou Wenyuan could only swallow his words.
Gu Mochen then spoke.
"Alright, let's enjoy the drinks today and not talk about anything unpleasant."
Gu Moran picked up a piece of pork knuckle.
"Second brother is right. If the adults talk less, I can eat a few more bites."
Gu Mochen said, "If Third Brother likes it, I'll have the kitchen send a portion to your residence later."
Gu Moran his hands in greeting.
"My second brother is righteous."
After two more rounds of banquet, Gu Mochen steered the conversation towards landscapes and classical poetry.
Gu Moran just ate, occasionally praising the food or music.
As the party ended, everyone took their leave.
Gu Mochen called out to him from under the eaves.
"Third brother, please wait."
Gu Moran stopped, pressing the fan ribs against his palm. There was no one under the eaves, but the wind from the courtyard carried the smell of leftover wine and braised meat. He stopped laughing from the banquet.
Gu Mochen looked at him.
"Third brother, don't push Ye Qingyun too far."
Gu Moran looked up, first going over the pros and cons in her mind.
Pretending to be stupid will put my second brother at ease.
If we push back, it will let Second Brother know that the Prince Yi's Residence is protecting its own.
We can't lose either side.
"When did Second Brother start caring about a scholar?"
Gu Mochen said, "A talented person should be cherished by everyone."
Gu Moran patted the fan, the fan ribs tapping against his palm with a very soft sound.
"I must learn from my second brother's magnanimity."
Gu Mochen did not respond.
Gu Moran paused for a moment, then added another sentence.
"Unfortunately, my brother is petty. If anyone uses my wife as a stepping stone, I'll want to rip their shoes off."
Gu Mochen smiled.
You really need to change your temper.
Gu Moran his hands in greeting.
"Second brother is right."
Gu Mochen raised his hand and patted his shoulder.
"Third brother, get some rest. We'll get together another day."
Gu Moran left the Second Prince's Residence and boarded the carriage.
As the curtain fell, the nonchalant look on his face also disappeared.
The system panel displays red text.
[Anomaly Monitoring: Ye Qingyun, the Son of Destiny, checked out of Azure Cloud Inn this morning.]
[The pageboy, Shuhe, was spotted by an undercover agent in front of the abandoned martial arts school in the south of the city. He lingered for about fifteen minutes before leaving.]
[ Ye Qingyun's Bamboo Scroll Technique has advanced to the third level: Initial Qi Sensation has been formed within his body; he is expected to break through to the fourth level in seven days.]
[Martial Arts Assessment: Currently, Ye Qingyun is roughly equivalent to a mid-level seventh-grade martial artist. If he breaks through to the fourth level, he will approach the Sixth Rank.]
Gu Moran stared at the last line. The carriage wheels rolled over the stone slabs, the carriage swayed, and he pressed his palms on his knees, his Sixth Rank qi and blood still surging wildly in his bones.
The image in my mind is very straightforward.
Ye Qingyun shattered a brick with a single punch.
He was swinging the fan around aimlessly.
If you really run into trouble, you can make up for losing face, but you can't make up for losing your life.
He was also Sixth Rank.
But these Sixth Rank were forcibly added by the system.
powerful.
There's nothing we can do.
No strategy or method.
It's enough to deal with the guards, but against Ye Qingyun who practices ancient scrolls, the chances of winning are slim.
The carriage stopped in front of Prince Yi's Residence. Gu Moran didn't go back to the backyard, but went straight into the study.
He had just sat down when footsteps approached from outside the door.
Your Highness.
Gu Moran pushed the teacup away.
"Enter."
Uncle Fu pushed open the door and handed over a note.
" Boss Zhao has replied."
Gu Moran took the note, but didn't rush to read it; instead, she asked a question first.
Where did Ye Qingyun go?
Uncle Fu said, "I rented a small courtyard in Shun'an Lane in the south of the city for three taels of silver a month."
Gu Moran unfolded the note.
Uncle Fu continued, "There's a small open space behind the courtyard, suitable for practicing boxing, but not for developing movement skills. We're looking for a martial arts school."
Gu Moran looked at the three characters "Shun'an Lane" and pressed his fingertip against the edge of the paper.
How much silver is left?
"It won't last a month."
Gu Moran held the note to the candlelight, the corner of the paper curled up, and the flame climbed up his fingertips.
The ash fell into the bronze cup.
I'm short of money.
People who are short of money are better off being handed a knife.
Uncle Fu looked at the ash in the bronze cup.
"Your Highness, should we stop them?"
Gu Moran brushed away the dust.
"Why are you stopping me?"
Uncle Fu said, "If he joins a martial arts school, he'll learn even faster."
Gu Moran up.
"He practices even if he doesn't go to a martial arts school."
Uncle Fu paused.
"Your Highness intends to leave it there?"
Gu Moran picked up the folding fan and tapped it on his palm, this time being very careful with the force.
"Keep an eye on Shun'an Lane."
"Check all the martial arts schools in the south of the city as well."
"Investigate everyone: who's short of money, who's had tea with the Second Prince's Residence's people, and who recently changed managers."
Uncle Fu nodded.
"This old servant will go immediately."
Gu Moran called out to him.
"Etc."
Uncle Fu turned around.
Gu Moran looked out the window. The leaves in the courtyard rustled in the wind, and the sound of spatulas from the kitchen in the distance mingled with the soft rustling.
He can now avoid Ye Qingyun.
But you can't keep avoiding it.
"Investigate the Grand Commandant's Residence again."