Chapter 136: There Is Always Someone Stronger Among the Strong...

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“Cui Ezhi is actually dead… he really is dead… hahahaha!”

In his study, Liu Ximing burst into uncontrollable laughter, tears streaming down his face, as he faced the household servant who had traveled all the way from the main mansion in Wenrou Lane of the Eastern Capital to deliver the news. After a long while, he realized he had lost his composure. He waved the servant away, then let out a long breath and leaned heavily on the table before him.

Back then, the Du family of Jingzhao, with its vast number of sons and grandsons, was powerful; Du Siwen held the high office of Prefect of Jingzhao and spared no effort in promoting the prodigy Du Shiyi, repeatedly overshadowing others at elite gatherings. But after the fire that devastated Du Shiyi’s family home, he was so traumatized that his poetic talent vanished, and he fell gravely ill, never to recover. To Liu, this was divine justice! Yet, unexpectedly, he encountered Du Shiyi again on Mount Song. Whether with Sima Chengzhen or Lu Hong, he faced repeated setbacks; at the night banquet in the residence of Duke Bi of Luoyang, there was that embarrassing incident; not to mention at the recent birthday feast for Concubine Doulu, all his painstaking preparations were utterly undone. How could he swallow such bitterness without avenging these repeated defeats?

Since hearing that Cui Ezhi’s condition was critical, Liu had ordered a vigorous campaign to spread the rumor that Du Shiyi was to become a son-in-law of the Cui family, hoping that news of Cui Ezhi’s grave illness would emerge days before the imperial examinations. True or false, if Du Shiyi ignored it, resentment would fester throughout the Cui household in Pingkang Lane of Chang’an. Instigating widespread criticism within the scholar community would be a mere trifle for him; if Du Shiyi were deceived into rushing back to the Eastern Capital, he would have no chance of competing in the Jingzhao prefectural exams this year! Then, next year when Du Shiyi sat for the imperial exams, he would gain a firm advantage. Why fear Du Shiyi, whose family had declined? But now, without his scheming, the situation had turned to fact—heaven itself was on his side!

He had loudly proclaimed that Du Shiyi was a disciple of Lu Hong to spread the rumor far and wide, hoping to remind the Emperor of Lu Hong’s past ingratitude. Along with the grudge held by the Wang family’s eldest son against Du Shiyi, it seemed Du Shiyi’s fortunes were truly blocked.

“Only Wang Wei remains, but he is hardly a threat… and perhaps it’s time to see if we can eradicate the root of the problem…” Liu Ximing narrowed his eyes and called out, “Come in!”

A middle-aged household servant entered promptly, bowing respectfully. “What are your orders, sir?”

“Come closer.” Liu whispered a few words. Seeing the servant nodding in understanding, he spoke clearly, “If you succeed, ten strings of cash as reward. But if even a hint leaks out, you won’t live to see another day.”

“Yes, sir. You can rest assured.”

After the servant left, Liu Ximing rose. Although Du Shiyi had rushed back to the Eastern Capital, if he rode day and night, he might still return in time for the Jingzhao prefectural exams. Recently, Liu had made considerable efforts with Wang Shouzheng—at the crucial moment, he would rely on this eldest son of the Marquis of Huo! After all, Wang Maozhong’s two wives had differing statuses, and it was unclear which son the Marquis would favor. From his dealings, Liu knew Wang harbored grievances at home. But Liu could use his aunt in the imperial harem to offer Wang significant promises. If he could kill two birds with one stone…

Smiling again at his cunning, he laughed heartily.

At the Danran Pavilion in the Wang residence of Guangde Lane, Cui Xiaopang was naturally puzzled when he saw Tian Mo. It would be understandable if Du Shiyi had sent a message, but it was Du Shisan’s wife who brought it—and not to Cui Qishiqi but to him. That was odd. Yet when he took the bamboo tube, quickly opened it, and pulled out the paper inscribed with only a few brief lines, his face instantly turned pale. He ignored Tian Mo entirely, running out barefoot, not even bothering with his shoes. Ignoring the attempts of several maidservants to stop him, he burst into his aunt’s chamber, shouting fiercely, “Everyone out! I have urgent news for my aunt!”

Though Cui Xiaopang had not been a likable nephew in the past, since moving into the Wang residence at Guangde Lane, he seemed more sensible and no longer prone to tantrums, so Madam Zheng was greatly puzzled by his sudden wildness. But seeing the fear on his pale face, she sternly ordered, “Didn’t you hear the twenty-fifth young master? Everyone out!”

Once the maidservants withdrew, Cui Xiaopang approached step by step and handed Madam Zheng the note. Upon reading the few words, she was shocked, standing up abruptly before sinking back into her seat. Seeing her plump nephew collapse as well, tears streaming down her face, she tried to comfort him: “Twenty-fifth young master, don’t grieve so much. Life and death are decreed by fate; you must look on it with acceptance…”

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Cui Xiaopang muttered to himself, then suddenly clenched his fist and pounded the floor, raising his eyes: “Aunt, I must return—I’m going to Luoyang! Brother Eleven has just lost both grandmother and father; surely he is in great pain. I must go immediately to see and comfort him!”

Madam Zheng, contemplating the impact of Cui Ezhi’s death on the Cui clan, felt a pang of pity at his childish words and urged gently, “Twenty-fifth young master, Du Shiyi has already rushed back. You need not be anxious. I will prepare horses and carriage for you; once your cousin returns, I will have him escort you to pay respects. There’s no need to rush…”

“The prefectural exam in Jingzhao is on the thirteenth day of the eighth month. Du Shiyi has gone back to the Eastern Capital for Brother Eleven’s sake, without regard for the exam. I am nothing here in Chang’an—just idle. I cannot fall behind him!” Cui Xiaopang said, standing resolutely. “If you refuse, Aunt, then I will take Cui Ting and leave now!”

Before Madam Zheng could object or persuade, Cui Xiaopang bowed deeply and then dashed out. Only then did she notice he was barefoot, his socks badly worn. Clearly, he had hurried to deliver the news. Knowing she could not block him, she hastily summoned a trusted maid, ordering her to ready horses and select four capable servants to accompany him. After dispatching them, she sent word to her second son Wang Rongting, who was out that day, and also sent a message to her husband Wang Qinglan, who was still at the Ministry of Revenue. Having done all this, she sighed deeply.

With the passing of the Dowager Lady of Qi and Duke Zhao, the Cui clan had lost two pillars at once!

News of Duke Zhao Cui Ezhi’s death spread quickly among Chang’an’s officials and the elite by evening. The news that Du Shiyi had abandoned the Jingzhao exam to return to the Eastern Capital soon became a hot topic. When the brothers Wang Wei and Wang Jin, guests at the Prince of Qi’s night banquet, learned of this, Wang Jin exclaimed, “Du Shiyi could have waited until after the three rounds on August fifteenth and still made it back. Isn’t this a pity?”

Reflecting on Du Shiyi’s unpredictable nature but impeccable character, Wang Wei sighed after a long silence: “Du Shiyi values loyalty above all. His sudden return must be for a reason he cannot ignore!”

Still, recalling the exam papers from the county-level exam for Du Shiyi that the Prince of Qi had privately shown him, Wang Wei considered: the calligraphy was flawless, the second round essay on topic though not as elegant as his own long poem at the Chang’an county exam, but the third round of policy discussion was different. Unlike Wang Wei’s own polished and ornate essays, Du Shiyi’s arguments were substantive and logically sound, revealing insights Wang Wei had never heard before. With Du Shiyi’s growing fame, compared to Wang Wei’s established reputation, the outcome of this year’s Jingzhao exam was still uncertain.

Alas, now they could not compete!

At the Jade True Temple in Fuxing Lane, Princess Yuzhen, tasked by imperial edict to oversee the compilation of the Kaiyuan Taoist Canon, learned of Cui Ezhi’s death immediately upon returning. Thinking of Cui Jiuniang, with whom she had been quite close, she paused, then sighed: “The Dowager Lady of the Cui family was praised for her capable management, and the Cui brothers were all heroes of their generation. Who could have expected such misfortune to befall their house? Especially Duke Zhao, born of a noble family yet fearless and accomplished in both civil and military matters. My brother had planned to rely on him again, but now he has passed away in the prime of life.”

Huo Qing, who brought the news, did not interrupt Princess Yuzhen’s thoughts until she finished speaking. After a moment, she cautiously added, “The Du gentleman living in the Cui residence of Pingkang Lane left immediately upon hearing the news, rushing back to the Eastern Capital.”

“Oh?”

Princess Yuzhen raised an eyebrow but remained silent for a long time, then nodded thoughtfully: “No wonder Mr. Sima once praised him so highly. When great matters arise, he puts loyalty first.”

“But Your Highness…” Huo Qing noticed the princess suddenly stop as she entered the inner chamber. Cautiously, she said, “Following your orders, we inquired and learned that during the previous county exam at Wannian, apart from the Song King, Prince of Qi, and the families of Duke Chu and Duke Bi, who had agreed to let Du win, the Marquis of Huo, General Wang, and the Liu family of Jingzhao quietly conferred with Guo Quan, urging that Du be disqualified.”

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Princess Yuzhen did not turn her head but asked, “Who said this?”

Hearing no tone of anger or pleasure, the Taoist nun bowed quickly: “This information was leaked by someone close to Guo Quan.”

“No wonder Guo Quan forbade last-minute redemptions of exam papers, approving six out of ten submissions for the second round. It’s all clear now. He was caught between a rock and a hard place, so he feigned impartiality. And I haven’t even given any instructions yet—if I did, it would be even more complicated for him.”

Princess Yuzhen smiled slightly but said no more, entering the innermost quiet chamber where she usually meditated. She dismissed all attendants and, leaning on the table as she had in childhood, her eyes gleamed as she drifted into thought.

She had forsaken the imperial honor to cultivate the Dao because she had seen too much since childhood and had come to understand. Even if her marriage to the prince was perfect, if court politics drew her husband into deadly conflicts, how could her later years be peaceful? She did not wish to live a life like the late Princess Anle, burdened with the ignominious title of a rebellious commoner, nor like the once-glorious Princess Changning, whose grand palace now lay half abandoned, half converted to temples and meeting halls after she and her consort Yang Shen had left the capital in disgrace.

Such a life was not for her. Better to enter the Dao and live freely and joyfully, but to remain free and noble she must avoid politics and court intrigue. Yet, if she followed her sister the Golden Immortal Princess in her serene detachment, life would be too dull. Though she rarely mingled with powerful courtiers, many literary talents frequented her door—some proud, some noble, some cheerful and open, some lofty and aloof, some elegant and self-relishing. Among these, Du Shiyi was not especially remarkable, but she regarded him differently because of Sima Chengzhen. Unexpectedly, he truly acted in astonishing ways.

“Come in!”

Huo Qing responded immediately. “What orders does Your Highness have?”

After careful thought, Princess Yuzhen spoke deliberately: “Find out where the rumor started that Du Shiyi is about to marry into the Cui family!”

Before Huo Qing could leave, the princess called her back and added, “Spread the news that Du Shiyi abandoned the prefectural exam to rush back to the Eastern Capital due to Duke Zhao’s death. If he returns, his momentum will grow stronger; if not, he will surely take first place next year. Also, send a message to Miao Jinqing—he should be willing to assist.”

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