The next day, at the Hour of the Tiger, at the Prince of Zhenbei’s Estate.
Dawn had not yet broken, and beneath the dark night sky, the Prince of Zhenbei’s Estate was silent.
In the central courtyard of the Prince’s Residence, in Bai Zhao’s room.
Qiulan had already dressed and washed herself neatly. Her dark-patterned white cotton skirt made her waist look slim and her legs long.
At this moment, she was reaching out her small hand to gently push Bai Zhao, who was still sleeping soundly on the couch.
“Heir, wake up. Did you forget that His Majesty wants you to attend morning court today?”
Bai Zhao had returned from the palace yesterday and eaten his meal. After that, Lu Xinrou had dragged Bai Muran along and kept asking Bai Zhao about the things he saw while traveling the martial world.
Bai Zhao picked out the things he could talk about, along with some martial world anecdotes he had heard, and told them to his mother.
But Lu Xinrou kept making indirect inquiries, asking whether Bai Zhao had met any martial world women who took a liking to him.
Where was Bai Zhao supposed to find that?
You have to know, when he traveled the martial world under the alias Bai Yu, he wore a mask the whole time.
He did not even know what he himself looked like, so who could possibly have taken a fancy to him?
Besides, Bai Zhao had not even thought that far at the time. He simply had no such intentions.
Fortunately, Qiulan was a well-behaved child and rather quiet.
If Chuntao had been the one traveling with Bai Zhao, she would definitely have already been reporting everything to Lu Xinrou in a nonstop stream by now.
And then… one sentence might have blown everything up!
So Bai Zhao had slept quite late. Back home, he slept peacefully and did not let his guard down at all.
Qiulan watched Bai Zhao sleep like a pig, and even after being pushed a few times, he still would not wake up.
A flash of cunning crossed her cool eyes. Quietly, she slipped her slightly cold little hand into Bai Zhao’s neck.
“Hiss…”
Bai Zhao suddenly dreamed that a cold python had coiled around his neck, and he jolted awake.
When he opened his eyes, he saw Qiulan’s little face.
“Uh… Qiulan? Why aren’t you sleeping and why are you messing with your young master? What, are you acting like Chuntao now? Naughty~”
Bai Zhao’s tone was lazy and casual, carrying a hint of absentminded reproach.
“Heir, didn’t you say last night that His Majesty wanted you to attend morning court today? It’s time to get up.”
Qiulan’s lips curved upward. Her voice was still cool and clear, though she deliberately tried to make it sound gentle.
The Heir really would not blame her, hehe.
“Ah? So early? It feels like I only slept for a little while. This ancient morning court is way harder than getting up for eight o’clock morning class.”
Bai Zhao complained groggily.
“Eight o’clock morning class? What is that?”
“Uh, nothing. It’s a kind of greeting…”
“Heir, you keep saying strange things again.”
In the middle of this warm conversation, Bai Zhao got up, dressed, and washed up.
The dawn of March still carried the chill of early spring.
After washing up and eating the breakfast Qiulan had prepared, Bai Zhao exhaled a puff of white breath and strolled into the outer room.
At a glance, he saw Chuntao still sleeping soundly on the small couch in the outer room.
Her delicate, rosy lips were slightly parted, revealing teeth like rows of shells, and a thread of glistening saliva had run from the corner of her mouth onto the pillow.
Bai Zhao shook his head slightly and raised a hand to stop Qiulan from trying to wake Chuntao.
“Let this little girl sleep a bit longer. You can also rest a little longer. My mother probably won’t get up so early. Old Mo can take me later.”
Qiulan nodded silently. This girl had always been very obedient to Bai Zhao.
Whatever Bai Zhao said, she would do. She rarely argued or talked back.
In the Bai family, Qiulan and Chuntao held a very high status. Although they were servants in name, Bai Zhao’s father and mother actually treated them like daughters.
Bai Zhao smiled, patted Qiulan’s little head, took the lantern Qiulan had prepared, and walked out the door…
He got into the carriage, called out to Old Mo, and began analyzing today’s morning court situation.
Based on what his mother had said last night, and on his own analysis of the court.
Today, Wang Qianshan would definitely target him. Likewise, as the legitimate eldest son of Duke Dingguo’s Estate and the Minister of Rites, Wang Qianshan naturally had his own faction in court.
For example, Vice Minister of Revenue Du Ruhai, whose sister Du Mei was Wang Qianshan’s wife.
So naturally, he was also part of the Wang faction.
Unfortunately, the Bai family never cultivated a clique. The people in court who could speak up for him were probably all military men.
Most of those military officers had been favored and promoted by the Bai family elder, Bai Zhancang.
Although they stood on his side, military men were military men… you know how it is. They were not exactly smooth-tongued, so he probably could not rely on them.
Still, it did not matter~
After all, Emperor Qian had already said yesterday that the punishment would be thirty strokes of the court rod. Bai Zhao had already prepared the cushion.
Of course, even without a cushion, he was not afraid with his current cultivation.
Although Bai Zhao no longer wanted to keep pretending to be a wastrel, he also did not want to cause trouble for the Prince of Zhenbei’s Estate.
He had broken that little brat’s legs, and Emperor Qian had given him a symbolic punishment to save face for everyone. Bai Zhao could accept that.
…
“Heir, we’ve reached the Palace City gate.”
Just as he was thinking, Old Mo’s hoarse voice came from outside.
“Mm, all right. Go back, Old Mo. No need to wait for me. It’s still pretty cold out. And tell my mother that after I finish morning court, I’ll take a stroll around Chang’an City.”
Old Mo had been assigned to him by his father. He was at the Lesser Circulation realm. It was said that he had once been the sect master of some sect.
His sect had been destroyed by enemies, and Bai Yuan had saved him and helped him avenge himself.
From that day on, he had followed Bai Yuan.
Later, when Bai Zhao went out traveling, Bai Yuan assigned Old Mo to him.
“Thank you, Heir. This old man will return to the estate first.”
Old Mo bowed, flicked his horsewhip, and turned back toward the Bai Estate.
Bai Zhao walked leisurely toward the palace gate.
Xiao Dezi, who had been waiting there for a long time, came forward. After bowing, he led Bai Zhao toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Bai Zhao hesitated slightly, then asked in a questioning tone, “Xiao… uh…”
“Xiao Dezi, Heir. This servant is called Xiao Dezi.”
The young eunuch answered with a flattering smile.
“Xiao Dezi, after I left yesterday, what did Jiang Mingzhu say?”
Bai Zhao asked curiously.
“This… the Third Princess ordered this servant to keep it secret. This servant would never dare discuss the imperial family. That is a capital crime.”
Xiao Dezi turned back in panic to look at Bai Zhao, his delicate face going pale with fear.
“Hey, if you don’t say anything and I don’t say anything, who would know that the two of us were discussing the imperial family? Right?
Besides, I call His Majesty uncle, so calling Jiang Mingzhu that little girl ‘little sister’ is not even a stretch. What harm is there in asking?”
Bai Zhao whispered temptingly.
Bai Zhao felt that the little girl was so proud and vindictive that she would definitely look for trouble with him.
It would be good to find out what she planned to do, so he could prepare in advance!
“Heir, please don’t tease this lowly one.”
Xiao Dezi shook his head in panic.
“Tsk, boring.” Bai Zhao clicked his tongue and stopped pressing the young eunuch.
“Are you that kid from the Bai family?”
At that moment, a doubtful voice mixed with a bit of scrutiny came from beside them.
Bai Zhao turned and looked. Beside him stood a middle-aged handsome man wearing a crimson brocade official robe embroidered with golden pheasants, the robe of a second-rank civil official. He looked at Bai Zhao with a dark face and a trace of scrutiny.
“Who are you, old man? What business do you have with this Heir?”
Bai Zhao already had a vague guess, and so his tone was not polite.
When Wang Qianshan heard Bai Zhao call him “old man,” he immediately sneered.
“So you’re the one who broke my son’s legs yesterday? I am the current Minister of Rites, Wang Qianshan.
You brat, you really are rude when you speak. No wonder you’re Bai Yuan’s son: the father is a brute, the son is a wastrel.”
Bai Zhao heard him call his father a brute and call himself a wastrel.
Although what he said was actually pretty accurate, he himself could call his father a brute, but nobody else could!
“Oh, I was wondering who it was. So it’s the father of that little beast from yesterday. Like father, like son. I just don’t know what kind of thing could give birth to a little beast.”
When Wang Qianshan heard Bai Zhao indirectly calling him an old beast, a flash of anger crossed his eyes.
“A sharp-tongued brat. That part is indeed better than your father.”
“Not at all, not at all. I can’t compare with you, Minister of Rites.
You were the one who started by being rude, so why is it not allowed when someone is rude back to you? Such double standards?”
Bai Zhao smiled lightly and cupped his hands.
Wang Qianshan did not understand what “double standards” meant, but he knew it was not a good thing.
“Brat, you were so ruthless yesterday. Today I will definitely submit a memorial to His Majesty accusing you! You’ll be in deep trouble!”
Bai Zhao yawned and said lazily, “Oh~ this Heir understands. Suit yourself. Anything else?”
“Hmph, you will not cry until you see the coffin. Just wait and see.”
Seeing Bai Zhao’s unconcerned expression, Wang Qianshan, despite years of self-cultivation, still felt a surge of suppressed anger rise in his throat. He snorted coldly, threw out a harsh line, and swept away with his sleeves.
“Don’t be so angry. It’s just that your son’s legs got broken. So what? Calm down~
If a little tree is not pruned, it will not grow straight; if a person is not disciplined, they get stubborn. I helped you educate your son, and that was for his own good. No need to thank me.”
Bai Zhao threw in a nasty finishing blow from behind.
Damn it, this should piss you off to death!
Xiao Dezi stood nearby, not daring to breathe. Although he served beside Emperor Qian, he could not afford to offend either of these two.
“Let’s go, Xiao Dezi. Lead me into the hall. I still don’t know where I should stand.”
“Yes.”
Bai Zhao slowly followed Xiao Dezi into the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Under Xiao Dezi’s guidance, Bai Zhao stood in the second row in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
After Xiao Dezi withdrew, Bai Zhao yawned and looked around.
The people he saw were basically all middle-aged or elderly. The people around the second row were all first-rank and second-rank court officials. They could be said to be a tiny group standing at the very peak of Great Qian’s power.
“Seriously, these old guys have to get up so early to attend class at their age. Tsk tsk tsk.”
Looking at the gray-haired senior officials, Bai Zhao shook his head and sighed, clicking his tongue repeatedly.
Qin Ming, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review; Shi Changkong, Grand Censor; Cai Huai, Minister of Personnel: ???
What is this kid shaking his head at us for?
Is that the Bai family kid? I heard he just returned to Chang’an yesterday and beat up Wang Qianshan’s youngest son at the city gate! Looks like there’s going to be a good show today.
Bai Zhao paid no attention to the eyes sizing him up from around him. His own eyes darted everywhere.
“This Hall of Supreme Harmony really lives up to being the imperial family’s showcase. Tsk, are those pillars made of pure gold? How much would that cost? And the carvings and decorations on the dome… this is definitely top-tier imperial selection!”
As Bai Zhao marveled at the ancients’ exquisite craftsmanship, his eyes suddenly met a pair of round peach-blossom eyes behind the screen beside the dragon throne.
“!! That’s Jiang Mingzhu? Why is she here? Isn’t the inner court not allowed to interfere in government affairs?”
“Oh, I see. Emperor Qian must have told her that he was going to cane me today, so she came to watch the fun.
Mm… childish!”
The thought flashed through his mind, and he saw a trace of panic appear in those bright, proud peach-blossom eyes before they vanished behind the screen in a flash.
“This little girl is actually pretty cute. Forget it, let her watch. I’ll find a chance to talk to her properly later. It is not good to keep bullying a little girl.”
Bai Zhao’s lips lifted.
“His Majesty arrives~”
A shrill cry interrupted Bai Zhao’s thoughts.
“Long live His Majesty! May His Majesty live ten thousand years!”
Bai Zhao followed the people in the hall as they knelt and shouted.
“Rise, my ministers.”
Emperor Qian’s dignified voice rang out from above.
Bai Zhao stood up and looked at Emperor Qian sitting on the dragon throne.
Emperor Qian wore a blue round-collared, narrow-sleeved ceremonial robe embroidered in gold thread with vividly lifelike five-clawed golden dragons. He looked mighty and imposing.
On his head he wore the twelve-tassel imperial crown. His jet-black hair hung behind him, glossy and bright. On his ruddy face, a pair of bright eyes radiated an intimidating presence.
“Good grief, the man in class is really different from the man working from home!
Same face, but somehow he looks even handsomer today.”
Bai Zhao was thinking all sorts of random things.
“Those with business, speak; those without, the court is dismissed~”
Grand Seal Eunuch Yu, standing before the imperial desk, announced loudly.
As soon as his voice fell, Wang Qianshan, who was standing not far across from Bai Zhao, stepped out of the line holding his tablet, lowered his head, and bowed.
“Your Majesty, this minister has a memorial to present.”
“Oh? Minister Wang, what matter do you wish to report?”
Emperor Qian looked at Wang Qianshan and deliberately acted surprised.
“I wish to impeach the Heir of the Prince of Zhenbei. Yesterday, at Mingde Gate, he ordered his servants to commit violence, breaking both legs of my son Wang Li and knocking out all his teeth.”
“My son merely had a verbal dispute with the Bai Heir, yet the Bai Heir relied on the power of the Prince of Zhenbei’s Estate to beat my son into such a state. This old minister refuses to accept it! I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for me!”
As Wang Qianshan said this, he was already in tears. He knelt on the ground and cried out toward Emperor Qian.
“Damn, this old bastard is really good at acting!”
Bai Zhao cursed inwardly.
Hiding behind the screen, Jiang Mingzhu ground her teeth when she heard Wang Qianshan’s words, glaring secretly at Bai Zhao.
“This princess saw you yesterday and thought you had grown up and become polite. I didn’t expect you to still be as arrogant and overbearing as you were when you were a child!
Someone just argued with you, and you had your servant break both of his legs and knock out all his teeth. That’s too much! You’re such a bad guy!”
Unlike Jiang Wushuang, Jiang Mingzhu rarely left the palace, so she did not know Wang Li.
With Wang Li’s status, he would not even be able to enter Jiang Mingzhu’s circle of friends. So at this moment, Jiang Mingzhu simply felt that Bai Zhao was utterly rotten!
Emperor Qian looked at Wang Qianshan, who was still kneeling and crying in the hall, and the corner of his mouth twitched. Watching these officials perform, one could only be speechless at times.
“I understand this matter. Then let the Heir of the Prince of Zhenbei be punished with thirty strokes of the court rod. What do you think, Minister Wang?”
Emperor Qian spoke lightly, just as he had told Bai Zhao last night.
Usually, when an emperor asks a minister how to deal with something, the hidden meaning is: I have already made my decision. You had better understand what I mean! Do not be shameless and refuse my face.
When Wang Qianshan heard Emperor Qian’s words, a flash of “just as I expected” crossed his lowered eyes.
He knew Emperor Qian would favor Bai Zhao, so his real purpose was never to seek justice for his son. His real killing move was still to come.
“Your Majesty, you know only one side of the matter and not the other. If the Bai Heir had only bullied my son, this minister could have swallowed it. What I just mentioned was only the first matter. Yesterday, the guard commander of Mingde Gate, Commandant of the Left Brave Guard Gu Chuan, was also forced by him to kneel, kowtow, and slap himself. That is the second matter!”
“Your Majesty, under heaven, who does not know that the Left Brave Guard is the Imperial City guard and represents the imperial family’s face? The Bai Heir acting this way is clearly showing contempt for royal authority. Such a man, who shows no respect for his sovereign or his father, I beg Your Majesty to strip him of his Heir status and protect the dignity of the imperial family.”
Wang Qianshan said with righteous fervor.
As soon as his words fell, before Emperor Qian could speak, four or five figures from the civil official ranks behind him also knelt down and spoke in unison to second the motion. Vice Minister of Revenue Du Ruhai was clearly among them.
These were all core members of the Wang faction. They had clearly already coordinated.
Emperor Qian’s expression suddenly darkened. These fellows really were one plan failing only to come up with another!
It looked like this was their real goal today.
Jiang Mingzhu’s peach-blossom eyes widened slightly.
“This guy even made Gu Chuan kneel and kowtow to him? Yesterday he was still saying that a man’s knees are worth gold, yet he forced someone else to kneel himself. Serves him right! Now he’s in huge trouble, bastard! Once you lose your Heir status, this princess will bully you however I want!”
Jiang Mingzhu, hiding behind the screen, thought this in smug, naive delight. She even wanted to clap her hands, completely unaware of the political struggle behind it all.
Emperor Qian silently looked at the few people kneeling before the hall, and a surge of anger rose in his heart.
“Strip Bai Zhao of his Heir status? Bai Yuan only has this one son. If his status is stripped, would that not mean the Prince of Zhenbei’s Estate loses its inheritance?”
“Would that not force Bai Yuan and me to become enemies? These people only care about their own interests. They would even use a child to strike so viciously!
“This is not just stripping his status. The next step is probably to kill Bai Zhao and completely eliminate the trouble, right?”
“Hmph, this damn brat barely arrived in the capital and already caused me trouble. He really deserves a beating. And he has handed them leverage. How am I supposed to get this kid out of trouble?”
Emperor Qian silently pondered.