None of Them Were Fools
"But how should I proceed?" Xiao Yuyue was quite troubled by this thought.
The biggest obstacle now is the Emperor's approval of Zhao Ruxi.
Regardless of how they claim Kang Shilin and his associates cheated, as long as the Emperor approves, Zhao Ruxi's first-place finish in the competition is entirely deserved.
After all, although the Emperor's painting skills were not particularly outstanding, his discerning eye for art was highly regarded by the court officials of the Great Jin Dynasty. This was genuine recognition, not empty boasting from the court officials.
After all, the Emperor had studied painting under Kang Shilin. Although he lacked talent and could not become a great painter, if he didn't even have the eye for art appreciation, it would be a disgrace to Kang Shilin.
To avoid tarnishing his reputation, Kang Shilin once held Xiao Ge, who was then the crown prince, hostage and gave him numerous lessons in painting appreciation until Xiao Ge's appreciation skills reached a very high level before he let Xiao Ge go.
If Xiao Ge hadn't been uninterested in everything else and hadn't been so deeply in love with painting, and if Kang Shilin Xiao Ge hadn't let him off the hook when he was about to give up, he would definitely have changed his hobby because of Kang Shilin's cramming-style teaching and would never have dared to claim that he liked painting again.
Now that the Emperor has given his approval, it's almost impossible for the Crown Prince and the Jia Family to say that Zhao Ruxi's painting skills are not good enough to deserve the title of first. Neither the Crown Prince nor the Jia Family father and son are fools.
Seeing Xiao Yuyue's distress, the nanny offered a suggestion. "Neither the Crown Prince nor the Jia Family know that the painting the Emperor auctioned was painted by Fifth Miss Zhao, do they?"
"Yes." Xiao Yuyue's eyes lit up.
She had forgotten about that.
When the Empress passed away, the Emperor favored Consort Jin. The Crown Consort Jin, instigated by others, thought that "having a stepmother means having a stepfather," and that the Emperor would inevitably dislike him and favor his younger brother.
And that is indeed the case.
The Emperor, out of affection for the Crown Prince, naturally favored the Third Prince as well; however, because the Crown Prince was not intelligent enough and could not meet his expectations in either learning or performing duties, the Emperor was frustrated and found fault with him in every way.
At the time, the crown prince was also going through a rebellious phase, so he did everything against the emperor. In addition, some people with ulterior motives stirred things up from both sides, and the already not-so-close relationship between father and son became even more estranged.
At the last auction, the Crown Prince was sent on a mission to another region; even after his return, given his relationship with the Emperor, it was impossible for him to see the painting with the Emperor. The Jia Family didn't even qualify to attend the auction.
Aside from the five judges and a few people from the Imperial Academy who organized the competition, no one else would see the painting Zhao Ruxi submitted to the art competition.
Therefore, neither the Crown Prince nor the Jia Family knew that the painting that the Emperor had auctioned off was painted by Zhao Ruxi.
In that case, Xiao Yuyue didn't need to do anything; she only needed to spread the news that "Zhao Ruxi also participated in the painting competition, and the judges were Kang Shilin, Peng Guoan, and other close associates" to the Crown Prince and the Jia Family family.
What they do is none of her business.
Having made up her mind, Xiao Yuyue dared not act on her own initiative, so she immediately went to the palace and told Consort Jin about her idea.
Consort Jin didn't harbor much ill will towards Zhao Ruxi. Although Zhao Ruxi sided with Grand Princess Shangde, embarrassing her, she didn't take it too seriously. The most important thing was that the Emperor had warned her that going against Zhao Ruxi would bring more harm than good, and she wouldn't do something so foolish.
But she was still happy to use this opportunity to annoy the Crown Prince.
Zhao Ruxi's painting caught the Emperor's eye. Kang Shilin was still someone the Emperor respected. If the Crown Prince were to accuse Zhao Ruxi of cheating in winning first place, the Emperor would be furious, and the Crown Prince would have no chance of escaping punishment. At that point, the Emperor's disappointment and dislike for the Crown Prince would only increase.
She cautioned, "Be careful, take a few detours, and don't let anyone trace it back to you."
"Your Majesty, rest assured, I understand." Xiao Yuyue Gao Xing to see that Consort Jin had agreed.
After leaving the palace, she sent someone to handle this matter.
In fact, given Consort Jin's and the Third Prince's abilities, it would have been easier and more discreet for them to carry out this matter. They only needed to instruct the Crown Prince's spies to spread rumors.
Xiao Yuyue was far inferior to them in both ability and manpower. But Consort Jin still let her do it.
When the investigation comes to light, Consort Jin can simply claim it's a private feud between Xiao Yuyue and Zhao Ruxi, and that what Xiao Yuyue's management of the Women's Academy.
She was favored by the emperor and had plenty of people at her beck and call.
When Zhao Ruxi's painting won first place in the semi-finals and she entered the finals, the rumors spread by Xiao Yuyue through several channels finally reached the ears of the Crown Prince and the Jia Family father and son.
"Father, this is something that old man Kang and that damned girl from the Zhao Family have to say, isn't it? Do you think you can have your friend pass this on to the Emperor's ears, so that old man Kang and his apprentice will be in deep trouble?" Jia Junze rushed over to find his father as soon as he heard this.
These words, though circulating among the common people, had no effect. Only the Emperor knew that Jia Junze felt this was the only way to get revenge on Kang Shilin and his apprentice, whom he had grown tired of.
Jia Songlin glared at him. "What if the Emperor doesn't believe it? His relationship with Old Man Kang is quite special. If Old Man Kang goes to the palace, sheds a few drops of cat urine, and pleads his case, maybe this matter will be dropped. If it's found out that we were the ones spreading rumors to get into the palace, how will the Emperor deal with us? Do you want to be unable to even stay in the capital?"
At this point, his face darkened further. "Besides, who would help us pass on a message, needlessly offending Old Man Kang?"
When he was in power, many friends flattered and fawned over him. But ever since he lost his title and his post, those friends have disappeared.
Now that he says he wants to take revenge on Kang Shilin, not only will no one do anything for him, but they might even betray him and go to Wu Huaisi to claim credit.
Offending a disgraced man like him, yet in doing the Minister of Ministry of Personnel a favor in return, is a very profitable deal.
Upon hearing this, Jia Junze's face turned extremely ugly, and he muttered, "Is there really nothing we can do about her?"
"Xiao Ze, if you want to stay in the capital and hang out with your bunch of cronies, and don't want to go to the bitterly cold north or the malaria-ridden south, then you'd better not do anything. Otherwise, you won't be able to live that kind of life even if you want to," Jia Songlin warned.
Jia Junze's expression changed twice before he finally lowered his head and said dejectedly, "Father, I understand."
Although Jia Songlin lost his official position and title, his wife's family still held power and wealth. Apart from losing a few friends who flattered him and his parents becoming stricter with him, Jia Junze's life did not change much.
Thinking that he couldn't live such a life and would have to go to the bitterly cold north or the south where there were barbarians, Jia Junze put aside his thoughts of making underhanded moves.
He should just eat, drink, and live his life peacefully. Leave the revenge to his father.