SEHE Chapter 113

Rebuttal 

Since Pei Yanci was willing to speak up, Gu Yueqian wanted to let the matter drop. She didn’t care whether he had knowledge or not; inviting Pei Yanci here today wasn’t for this matter anyway.

“Your Highness the Princess cannot be biased. Pei Daren’s perfunctory explanation completely fails to convince us.” Zhao Yuan looked around; the others shared the same sentiment. “Pei Daren, if you don’t explain yourself properly today, I’m afraid people in the court will suspect you don’t deserve your position.”

“Accuse me of not deserving my position, and then what?” Pei Yanci asked with amusement.

“Of course, we’ll submit memorials to His Majesty. What other method is there?” Across from him, Qi Lan crossed his arms, gazing up arrogantly at the person standing diagonally opposite, sneering coldly. “Perhaps I’m ignorant, but an eighth-rank Right Shiyi—who do you think you are?”

“You…” Zhao Yuan nearly blurted out “bastard,” but remembering this was the Princess’s Mansion, he took a deep breath, suppressed the trace of savagery on his face, and looked at Pei Yanci.

“Pei Daren, after today, I’m afraid unfavorable rumors will spread. The Imperial Academy’s reputation will surely be ruined by you.”

Pei Yanci seemed to think of someone, the nonchalance on his face slowly receding as he straightened his body sitting cross-legged behind the dining table.

“I completely agree with what you all said earlier,” he said. “Great Yu’s decisive victory over Great Xi at the beginning of the year was indeed inspiring. Year after year without drought, flood, or earthquakes, with favorable weather and good harvests, the people’s granaries are full, their food and clothing abundant—life is much better than thirty years ago. All this is because we have a wise sovereign on the throne, assisted by good ministers, allowing Great Yu to prosper in peace.”

“You’re just repeating what we said in a different way.” Someone scoffed.

“Great Yu will never be able to surpass Great Xi.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire venue fell silent.

The shock on their faces came too quickly to hide.

Even Gu Yueqian was stunned. “Pei Yanci, you know that even in this princess’s residence, today there are many people and…”

“This official knows,” Pei Yanci nodded to her, then looked at the men and women present, firmly stating, “This is my view.”

“The triennial imperial examinations bring the court nothing but a group of worthless people—yes, that means you.”

“Zhao Daren, this year’s new top scholar, you superficially praised Miss Sun as acceptable, but in reality you’re arrogant and conceited, not even daring to admit that a woman from the inner chambers writes poetry better than you. You should examine your conscience and ask yourself how you obtained your title of top scholar.”

“You…” Zhao Yuan’s finger trembled as he pointed at him.

“Wu Daren,” Pei Yanci unceremoniously pushed down his pointing finger, finding it an eyesore. “I’ve long heard of your reputation. If not for having a father who’s a second rank senior official, do you think with your impressive ten-year record at the Imperial Academy of incompetence worthy of thunderous applause, you could have graduated smoothly, passed the imperial examinations, and then entered court as a sixth-rank official?

“And Young Master Xin, you haven’t entered service yet, so your appearance at the Princess’s Mansion today—the purpose needs no explanation from me. I advise you: don’t be blinded by others’ power and wealth. Focus on studying the classics of the sages—that’s stronger than any connections.

“You all talk endlessly about the people of the realm, benevolence and righteousness, as if all the common people live well because of you. But do you know how many people in Great Yu actually have full granaries and abundant food and clothing? You shout these phrases every day—can you provide evidence?

“Great Yu has twenty-seven million people. Of these, fourteen million can barely maintain subsistence each day. If they encounter an unlucky year or excessive taxes, they’re the first batch to die.

“About nine million can live in brick and earth houses, with enough spare money to buy a few meals of meat and one set of clothes per year. But just two or three consecutive years of natural disasters or several military conscriptions can make them homeless and resort to eating their own children.

“Another three and a half million can occasionally buy meat to satisfy their cravings, add a few new sets of clothes per year, and eat at restaurants a few times—barely meeting your definition of ‘full granaries and abundant food and clothing.’

“Only about five hundred thousand people represent what you consider Great Yu’s most prosperous state.

“Four million people—in your mouths, the common people of the realm live without worry about food and clothing. You only count ten and a half percent of the entire nation, while the remaining eighty-five percent don’t count as people in your eyes? And this is just the registered population in the Ministry of Revenue records. Those displaced people—there are at least eight million across the country. If you include them, it probably doesn’t even reach ten and a half percent.

“You’re all people who can afford education. Even those with the worst family backgrounds are sons of wealthy merchants. Even if your status in Great Yu is low, your families never short you of food and drink. How much of this do you actually know?

“Wealth and privilege blind people. The Anjing you live in was built by mobilizing the entire nation’s resources to create such a prosperous capital. You assume everywhere within the four seas is just like Anjing. If you just strolled down Zhuque Avenue in your leisure time, heading toward the southern districts—you wouldn’t even need to reach the city gates before you’d realize how hollow, shallow, childish, and laughable your words today are.”

By the end, Pei Yanci looked at them as if viewing a group of disappointing juniors, his tone quite earnest.

He understood Qi Xiang’s words even better now.

Great Yu’s education had problems.

So did Great Tao, Great Xi, and even the former Great Wu—all had problems.

After more than ten years of careful cultivation, what they produced were all opportunistic wretches. Though full of classical learning, they didn’t work with their hands or distinguish the five grains, spending their days only displaying verbal cleverness, forming cliques everywhere, engaging in factional strife and internal consumption.

A group of ingrates who took from the people yet knew nothing of human suffering.

Governing a country couldn’t rely on expecting a wise ruler to emerge, because wise rulers were rare—not to mention they still made mistakes. A dynasty’s prosperity had to depend on the entire court working together from top to bottom.

So even though he considered himself a wise ruler capable of controlling people, it still wasn’t enough. He should consider what safeguards to implement to ensure this ideal court could actually function and operate.

Pei Yanci couldn’t help but gain additional insights and reflections.

When he finished speaking, the others hadn’t yet recovered from his words, staring at him in shock and suspicion.

Qi Lan’s eyes remained fixed on the person sitting upright across from him.

Before, he found everything about this person disagreeable. Recently, he’d managed to view him more favorably, and when he became aware of it, he realized his gaze had been lingering on him all along, following him.

Unable to look away at all.

When Pei Yanci spoke, he was neither humble nor arrogant, his tone alternating between urgency and ease, sometimes sharp and crisp, sometimes slow and lingering. Once his eyes and thoughts captured you, you could never escape or avoid them, subsequently marveling at his novel and unique perspectives.

Others were always won over by the vigorous and determined ambition revealed in his crescent-moon eyes.

That kind of ambition, non-aggressive, contained a vigorous vitality that could infect and summon others.

Looking more carefully, this person actually had thin bones and upright bearing, prominent brows and full nose, eyes like autumn water, skin white as the bright moon—a handsome man, one in ten thousand, rarely seen.

Yet his appearance became the last advantage others noticed, serving as mere embellishment to Pei Yanci, the least worth mentioning of his qualities.

Qi Lan’s hands resting on his legs gradually tightened, his amber pupils contracting reflexively.

He seemed to understand why Gu Jiuqing always wanted to entangle himself with Pei Yanci.

This was a man who could provoke masculine conquest desires while being impossible to abandon.

At the same time, he was also a very formidable enemy.

“You—this is seditious talk! Your Highness, this person should be arrested and sent to Elu Bureau for thorough interrogation. He’s very likely a Great Xi spy!” Someone excitedly shouted, rushing from his seat and reaching Pei Yanci’s table in a few strides, like a vicious dog that had found fresh meat, waiting to claim credit for his master.

Pei Yanci raised his hand to swat away the reaching hand, but someone was faster, leaping up and sending the person flying with a spinning kick.

“Ahh—” The young ladies and madams screamed.

“Outrageous!” Gu Yueqian slammed the table, her fox-like enchanting eyes suddenly shooting out terrifying killing intent.

The platform fell silent in unison.

Only the frightened gasps of the timid remained.

This shout wasn’t clear whether it was directed at her son or at that young master.

Princess Zhangping always presented herself as delicate and charming, and was courteous to scholars. Over time, they had forgotten this person’s true status.

That young master coughed up blood and collapsed, unconscious.

Gu Yueqian gave a light glance, admiring everyone’s compliance and fear with satisfaction, then resumed her usual seductive tone, laughing coquettishly. “Oh my, why is everyone making such long faces? Such a fine banquet, why discuss politics? It’s utterly boring. Are there any other young ladies who wish to display their talents? Come up.”

Several attendants around the terrace quickly dragged the person away, leaving a twisted, savage trail of blood on the ground—shocking to behold.

Those sheltered daughters no longer dared take the stage, all lowering their heads, afraid of catching this princess’s eye.

Qi Lan plopped down beside him, leaning close to ask quietly. “How are you? You weren’t hurt, were you?”

Pei Yanci said, “Meddling in others’ business. Now you’ve made the banquet atmosphere awkward.”

This person had one flaw—couldn’t his personality be a bit softer?

He’d stood up for him, yet would it kill him to lower his head, pretend to act coy, and say he was “scared”?

“Fine, I’m meddling in others’ business. Today’s seditious talk—Mother Consort and I don’t have the ability to suppress it for you. You’re on your own.”

Qi Lan spoke listlessly, getting up to return to his seat when a sudden resistance came from his hand. Before he could stand, he was pulled back down.

Falling back into his seat, he turned to see pale fingers grasping his own, forming a stark contrast with his sun-darkened wheat-colored rough skin.

He touched his nose, turning his head to the other side, while his hand at his side gently exerted force, grasping the other’s hand.

He could still manage this much.

Pei Yanci immediately withdrew his hand, saying, “No ability yet playing hero—I’d be doing you a favor letting you call me brother.”

“……”

Right, he was just asking for trouble.

“You believe it or not, your mother consort will protect me?”

“Now you’re scared, begging for protection everywhere. Why didn’t you think about the consequences when you said all that?”

Speaking, Qi Lan tilted his head to the side. “I still have some connections in Great Xi. Do you want to flee to Great Xi?”

“If you had anyone in Great Xi, you wouldn’t have fallen to this state.”

“How have I fallen?” Qi Lan was puzzled—he and Mother Consort were just making a tactical retreat.

“Forget it, I won’t argue with you. Later, pass word to your mother consort that I need to see her privately.”

“Not going.”

“Qi Lan, you want a failing grade on your year-end evaluation, is that it? If you can afford to lose face, fine.”

“You…” Qi Lan ground his teeth.

Was Gu Jiuqing blind? Couldn’t he like someone else!