Chapter 930: Eyes Wide Shut

Changxing and Go are both board games played in this world. The first two lines of the poem meant lighting candles and playing chess with her beloved.

The phrase "deep well" immediately made Bi Linglong think of the secret passage in her bedroom. She couldn't help but picture the two of them lighting candles and secretly meeting in the passage.

Given her literary background, she naturally caught the double meaning, as if the sender was admonishing her not to miss an appointment.

Although she wasn't sure what kind of appointment he was referring to, it was clearly an intimate arrangement between lovers.

"Is he hinting that I should wait for him in the secret passage tonight?" Her heart pounded at the thought.

What thrilled her even more were the last two lines. In this world, red beans are also known as "lovesick beans," and her given name was cleverly concealed within them. This showed that the sender had composed the poem specifically and thoughtfully for her.

"This guy is truly shameless! Who's lovesick for him?" Bi Linglong muttered, though her conviction wavered. Lately, she had been tossing and turning sleeplessly, her mind replaying every moment spent with him in the secret realm. Had she been too obvious, and he had seen right through her?

Oh, how utterly embarrassing!

"What's wrong, Crown Princess?" Rong Mo, standing nearby, saw Bi Linglong's face flush then pale after reading the note, a mix of shyness and annoyance. Having served her for so many years, Rong Mo had never seen such an expression from her. Curious, she instinctively tiptoed, trying to glimpse what was written on the paper.

Bi Linglong reacted quickly, folding the note discreetly. "I'm aware of what Lord Zu reported; I'll arrange for it to be handled shortly," she said.

As she spoke, she barely dared to meet his gaze.

Her heart pounded like a startled deer. She thought, "This man is truly audacious. How dare he hand me such a love letter right here in the Eastern Palace, in front of so many people?"

She knew that if it were exposed, it would be a capital crime, leading to the confiscation of property and the annihilation of one's entire family.

She instinctively reached to place the note in a nearby incense burner and burn it, but the thought was instantly dismissed. How could she bear to destroy a poem written exclusively for her? She decided to find a secret place to hide it when she was alone.

Seeing her reaction, Zu An knew she had gone from anger to delight, and he let out a long sigh of relief.

At the same time, he was somewhat bewildered, thinking, "What exactly did I report?"

However, he simply assumed she was speaking for the benefit of others and didn't give it much thought. "Then I'll leave it to the Crown Princess," he said.

Bi Linglong saw his smug grin and thought, "Is this fellow very pleased with himself? He clearly has me completely wrapped around my finger."

So she let out a soft snort, expressing her displeasure. "However, Lord Zu's handwriting is truly dreadful, like ants crawling across the page."

Rong Mo, standing nearby, let out a chuckle. She had always felt that since Zu An arrived, the Crown Princess didn't favor her as much as before. Seeing the Crown Princess reprimand Zu An, she felt a quiet satisfaction.

"The Crown Princess is right to reprimand me," Zu An replied, feeling a trickle of cold sweat. He was well aware of how poor his handwriting was.

Bi Linglong said calmly, "After all, you are the Crown Prince's Chief Administrator, and you are also responsible for setting an example for him. Your handwriting is truly too unsightly. Next, I will have the Grand Tutor teach you, so you can practice your calligraphy more here."

Zu An felt a headache coming on. He never expected that even after transmigrating, he couldn't escape the fate of continuing his studies.

He grumbled inwardly, "My title as Chief Administrator is just a name. What can I possibly teach the Crown Prince? Does teaching him how to enter the bridal chamber count?"

Seeing his sullen expression, Bi Linglong couldn't help but bite her lip. "What's with this scoundrel's unhappy look? Isn't this all so you'll have a reason to spend more time with me in the Eastern Palace during the day?"

Of course, she could never say these words aloud, so she could only stew in silent frustration.

At the court assembly, the major discussions were largely concluded. Eunuch Wen, with his sharp, high-pitched voice, called out, "Those with matters to present, step forward; otherwise, the court is adjourned."

Just then, an elderly man with bronzed skin stepped forward and announced, "Your subject has a matter to report."

The Emperor glanced at him, wondering what Murong Tong had to say at this moment, but nodded nonetheless. "Granted," he said.

Only then did Murong Tong speak: "Before court, your subject obtained a new *ci* poem, which I believe could be adapted into a battle song. I hope Your Majesty approves."

Hearing his words, the officials in the court began to whisper among themselves, perplexed as to why he would make such a request.

"Could it be that one of his nephews composed a *ci* and hopes to use it as a stepping stone for promotion?"

But the Murong family was a lineage of military commanders; everyone in their household was rough and unrefined. Even Miss Murong was a tomboy. No one had ever heard of anyone in their family possessing such literary talent.

Furthermore, the imperial court had suffered significant losses in the past due to the demon tribe's battle songs. Consequently, upon their return, they began researching their own battle songs. Unfortunately, their efforts consistently fell short. Ultimately, in this world, cultivation was paramount, and true talents devoted themselves entirely to it. Few people bothered with minor arts like poetry, which meant there had never been any truly suitable lyrics.

However, there were many well-informed individuals within the court, and many already had a vague idea of what he was about to say.

Grand Scholar Yu Nan's face was particularly grim. Last night had been the most humiliating moment of his life, a memory he had hoped never to revisit, yet here it was, unexpectedly brought up again.

"What *ci*?" the Emperor asked, his face calm, revealing none of his thoughts.

"This *ci* poem is titled 'Po Zhen Zi: A Martial Poem for Duke Chengguo,'" Murong Tong replied, and then began to recite it loudly: "Drunk, I trim the lamp to look at my sword; in dreams, I return to bugle calls from camp to camp..."

Upon hearing the title, all the civil and military officials in court sensed its extraordinary nature. With Duke Chengguo embarking on his campaign, such a *ci* poem was surely an auspicious sign.

After hearing the complete *ci* poem, everyone was stirred.

Especially some of the older officials who typically held civilian posts, nearly all of them were weeping profusely:

"What a magnificent *ci*!"

"After all these years, we finally have something that can rival the demon tribe's battle songs!"

"This is truly a blessing for Great Zhou, a blessing for our human race!"

Seeing their excited reactions, Murong Tong nodded with satisfaction. This morning, the Qin brothers had sent him this *ci*. After reading it, he had gotten goosebumps all over, wishing he could immediately take up a long spear and return to the battlefield.

Although he hadn't written the *ci*, being gazed upon with such admiration by so many people still gave him a secret thrill.

"Lord Murong, did you compose this *ci*?" an official couldn't help but ask.

Murong Tong's aged face flushed. He let out a light cough to conceal it. "This old man is but a rough fellow; how could I possibly compose such a *ci*?"

"We wonder which great master composed it? Could it be a teacher from the National Academy? Or even the Chancellor himself?"

"Composing such a timeless and excellent *ci* is a huge boost to our army's combat effectiveness. This achievement alone is enough to merit ennoblement as a marquis."

The officials engaged in a lively discussion, one after another, and the entire court became as noisy as a marketplace.

Hearing their words, Yu Nan's face twitched. Although no one was looking at him, he felt as if he was being publicly executed all over again.

On the other side, Bi Zi'ang's expression also changed slightly. Clearly, he had always enjoyed smooth sailing since childhood, and yesterday was almost certainly his first significant setback. Being arrogant, he was equally displeased.

"Lord Murong, stop keeping us in suspense, who is it?" At this point, the other officials were practically scratching their heads in impatience.

Murong Tong said, "It is the newly appointed Earl of the Green Hat, Zu An."

He deliberately omitted Zu An's official title as the Crown Prince's Chief Administrator, precisely because he didn't want this matter to create momentum for the Eastern Palace.

Hearing Zu An's name, the smiles on the faces of those who had been pressing him for information immediately froze.

The previously noisy court instantly fell silent.

Although Zu An's official position wasn't high and he hadn't been in the capital for long, by now almost everyone knew who he was.

After all, quite a few prominent figures had fallen into his hands recently: the Murong family, the Cheng family, the Shi family... even Prince Qi himself had suffered.

Secretly, everyone spread rumors that he was a jinx; whoever got involved with him would suffer misfortune.

Those loyal to Prince Qi hated him to the bone, and even many of the Crown Prince's supporters disliked him.

Many officials from Prince Qi's faction secretly blamed Murong Tong, wondering why he would advocate for that Zu An fellow.

The Crown Prince's faction was equally perplexed. "Has Zu An secretly defected to Prince Qi's side? Otherwise, why would Murong Tong speak up for him?"

At this point, an official stepped forward and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Zu An has recently received promotions and titles, and he is still young. If he receives continuous awards in a short period, it could easily breed arrogance, which may not be a blessing for a subject."

This person was, of course, from Prince Qi's faction. As soon as he spoke, he immediately received support from many colleagues.

Seeing their opposition, the Crown Prince's faction immediately felt relieved and instinctively jumped to argue. "That's wrong. Those who have erred must be punished, and those who have achieved merit must be rewarded. This is the best strategy to motivate subjects to serve the court. Moreover, this timeless *ci* poem can greatly enhance the army's combat effectiveness, and its merit will last for generations, so it naturally deserves reward."

Having engaged in verbal battles for so many years, Prince Qi's faction immediately retorted, "Zu An was already excessively rewarded after his achievements. He is an imperial official, and it is his duty to serve the court. If such actions warrant rewards, then wouldn't every official in the court deserve one?"

"You're twisting facts!" Murong Tong, who had been listening for a while, finally couldn't hold back. "How can such a timeless masterpiece be compared to the ordinary daily work of an official? As everyone knows, this old man has some grievances with Zu An, yet I'm coming forward to recommend him this time, mainly because I value the help this *ci* will provide to our army's soldiers. With the addition of this *ci* to battle songs, consider how many fewer soldiers will sacrifice their lives, how much fiscal expenditure will be saved... If such a great contribution goes unrewarded, it would surely discourage the soldiers and invite criticism from the common people."

"Lord Murong, you're exaggerating. How can a mere *ci* poem be elevated to this level?" Those from Prince Qi's faction were also exasperated, wondering, "Whose side are you on, anyway?"

"If you have the ability to write poems of similar quality, this old man would also be willing to request rewards for you," Murong Tong snorted, his beard trembling with anger.

Who in this court wasn't an eloquent old fox? Soon, others began citing classics and historical events to refute Murong Tong's words.

The Emperor on the dragon throne watched the chaos below with a faint smile. "Who would have thought that Zu An fellow would actually be somewhat useful? He's managed to cause internal strife among Prince Qi's faction."

At this point, Bi Zi'ang, who had been observing with cold eyes, stepped forward and said, "Lord Zu's *ci* poem is undoubtedly an unparalleled masterpiece. However, its suitability as a battle song and its actual effectiveness in combat are still unknown. How about we wait until the real combat results from the front lines are reported back, and then discuss Lord Zu's rewards according to the situation? What do you all think?"

Hearing his words, those from Prince Qi's faction felt that at least the matter had been stalled for now, and this outcome was acceptable.

The Crown Prince's faction, however, thought Bi Zi'ang was speaking up for Zu An. After all, if the argument continued like this, Prince Qi's faction, even with fierce opposition, might not gain any significant advantage regarding Zu An.

Even Murong Tong found this proposal acceptable. After all, as someone from a military background, he had absolute confidence in this *ci* poem.

At this moment, the Emperor's majestic voice from the dragon throne rang out: "Since that is the case, let us deliberate on this matter at a later date."

Bi Zi'ang's true intentions could deceive others, but not him.

It was clear he intended to sabotage this matter through delay. "It seems he doesn't like Zu An deep down," the Emperor mused.

He wasn't displeased about this at all; on the contrary, he felt a sense of satisfaction. As an Emperor, it was ideal to see his subjects harboring their own intentions and plotting against each other. If they all lived in perfect harmony, would he even need to be Emperor?

At this moment, Bi Zi'ang also secretly rejoiced. He keenly perceived that the Emperor also seemed to dislike Zu An; otherwise, he would never have ended the topic so easily.

Knowing this, his previously gloomy mood, caused by yesterday's setback, finally eased.

Then, he subtly winked at an official not far away. The man understood and immediately stepped forward, saying, "Your subject also has a report!"

Seeing him step forward, the officials in court felt a chill. They recognized him as a member of the Censorate, whose members were responsible for supervising all officials. The matters they reported were basically impeachments of various officials. No one knew who would be in trouble today.

"Granted!" Receiving the signal, Eunuch Wen's sharp voice rang out again.

"Your subject just heard Lord Murong mention this *ci* poem. Do all of you know under what circumstances this *ci* was written?" the Censor asked.

The expressions of many insiders subtly changed; they roughly guessed what he was about to say.

Seeing no one answer, the Censor was somewhat exasperated. Fortunately, he knew that the civil and military officials generally disliked dealing with people like him. So, he answered his own question: "This *ci* poem originated last night from the Red Sleeves Pavilion, the largest brothel in the capital. It was created when some people were competing for the courtesan queen."

At this point, he took a deep breath. "Your subject impeaches Grand Scholar Yu Nan. As an imperial son-in-law, he frequents pleasure quarters and even competes with others for women, which is a grave loss of royal dignity." His words were passionate, and what he said caused many people to turn pale with shock.

It should be known that the Imperial Censor-in-Chief was Yi Chong, the brother of the Capital Prefect Yi Chun. Yi Chun was from Prince Qi's faction and had good relations with the Yu family. Furthermore, yesterday, Yi Zhibing, Yi Chun's son, had accompanied Yu Nan to the Red Sleeves Pavilion.

As a result, someone from the Censorate actually stepped out to impeach Yu Nan?

Many began to suspect that the Yi family might be playing both sides and hedging their bets.

Those of higher status secretly frowned, as they knew it wasn't easy for the Crown Prince's faction to plant people in the Censorate. If they exposed their allegiances at this moment, they would definitely face repercussions later.

The opposing side was willing to expend such an important piece to cause trouble. Didn't this prove their absolute determination to win?

Sure enough, Yu Nan also considered this, and his expression changed several times.

He hastily stepped forward and knelt, saying, "Your subject is guilty!"

Having been involved in politics for many years, he knew that admitting guilt at this very moment would suffice; he just needed to express an attitude.

As for other matters, someone would naturally handle them for him.

Sure enough, an official from Prince Qi's faction soon stepped forward to retort: "Our dynasty has no explicit regulations prohibiting officials from visiting pleasure quarters. It is inherently an elegant affair; why raise it to such a serious level?"

"As a high-ranking court official, one should naturally set an example for the subjects. Furthermore, Yu Nan, as an imperial son-in-law married to a royal princess, lingering in such establishments truly disgraces the royal name. I request Your Majesty to dismiss Yu Nan from his post as Grand Scholar and hand him over to the Imperial Clan Court for disposition," the Censor said righteously.

This was an old trick of the censors; they would immediately propose the heaviest punishment. Everyone would bargain later, of course. And what if, by chance, the Emperor disliked that person and immediately approved it? Such things had happened before.

Prince Qi's faction also became enraged and said, "Lord Yu wasn't the only one who went to the Red Sleeves Pavilion last night. Lord Bi Zi'ang, Qin Guangyuan, Qin Yongde, Gao Ying, Pei You... these people also went. Do you intend to punish all of them as well?"

He listed many people in succession, all either influential court nobles or or renowned figures from prominent families. Those he named came forward to defend themselves, and those not qualified to attend court had their elders speak on their behalf.

This involved almost half the court. Both sides exchanged heated words, arguing until their faces turned red. Eventually, it even escalated to verbally insulting each other's ancestors and female relatives, albeit without using explicit vulgarities.

The Emperor frowned. Eunuch Wen, standing nearby, understood. He picked up his whisk and tapped a small bell beside him. "Silence!" he commanded.

Hearing the crisp bell, all the civil and military officials in court finally came to their senses, lowering their gazes and bowing respectfully to the Emperor.

"What kind of behavior is this..." The Emperor angrily admonished everyone, pointing at them. Finally, he ordered, "All individuals involved with Red Sleeves Pavilion last night are to have their salaries docked for one year and return home for self-reflection. Court is adjourned!"

Having spoken, he turned and left immediately.

It wasn't that he didn't want to punish Yu Nan, but the Yu family's influence was extraordinary. Coupled with the support from Prince Qi's faction, both sides had just been evenly matched in their argument. To fully incriminate Yu Nan, the time was not yet ripe.

However, today was merely about setting the stage; the real show was yet to come.

Eunuch Wen had already received instructions and secretly sent a trusted eunuch with a sound-and-image mirror to find Bi Zi'ang.

How could such a matter of threatening a subject involve the Emperor himself? Even Eunuch Wen himself couldn't conveniently step forward, as to some extent, he represented the Emperor. So, he sent a trustworthy young eunuch to play the 'bad guy.'

Bi Zi'ang was a smart man; after seeing the sound-and-image mirror, he would naturally know what to do.

Meanwhile, at the Qin residence, Chu Youzhao was throwing a tantrum, secretly muttering, "That wretched brother-in-law! He said he was just going to investigate a case, but he ended up in the courtesan queen's bed!"

The events at Red Sleeves Pavilion last night had gradually spread. Moreover, she had been quite concerned about the matter to begin with. Naturally, she knew that Zu An had ultimately won the courtesan queen and stayed there overnight.

The maids in the room were all terrified, not knowing why the young master was unhappy. Just a moment ago, one of them had been severely reprimanded for stepping into the room with her left foot first.

Just then, a maid came running over, holding a piece of calligraphy. "Young Master, the Eldest Master asked this servant to bring this *ci* poem to you. He said it's a timeless masterpiece and wants you to thoroughly appreciate its artistic conception."

Chu Youzhao was annoyed. She casually glanced at it. "What a lousy *ci*!" she scoffed.

Then she crumpled it into a ball and threw it aside.

The maid was startled and stood there, at a loss.

Chu Youzhao frowned. "Why did Big Brother suddenly think of sending me a *ci* poem? Did he write it?"

"Big Brother is truly something. He knows I don't usually read much, yet he still sends me this."

The maid stammered in reply, "It wasn't written by the Eldest Master. It seems to have been written by someone named Zu An."

As soon as the words fell, Chu Youzhao was startled and darted over, picking up the crumpled paper from the corner. "Why didn't you say so earlier! You know I love poetry and *ci* poems the most!"

The maids stared blankly.