Chapter 934: Opening Eyes to Speak Nonsense

"Long Journey" and "Go" are both board games in this world. The first two lines of the poem mean to light a candle and play a game with one's beloved.

The mention of "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.

With her literary background, she naturally caught the double meaning, as if the sender was reminding her not to break an appointment.

Although she didn't know what specific "date" he was referring to, it was clearly an understanding between lovers.

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

What moved her even more were the last two lines. In this world, the "red bean" is also known as the "love-sickness bean," and her personal name was cleverly hidden within them. This showed that the sender had specifically crafted the poem for her with great care.

"This guy is so shameless! Who's pining for him?!" Bi Linglong, however, felt a little insecure. Lately, she had been tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep, her mind filled with every little detail of their time together in the secret realm. Had she been too obvious, and he had noticed?

Oh, how embarrassing!

"Your Highness, what's wrong?" Rong Mo, who was not far away, saw her face flush red and then pale after reading the note, a mixture of shame and annoyance. Having served her for so many years, Rong Mo had never seen such an expression on her face. Out of curiosity, she instinctively stood on tiptoe, trying to peek at what was written on the note.

Bi Linglong reacted quickly, folding the note discreetly. "I've received Master Zu's report and will arrange for its handling shortly."

As she spoke, she barely dared to meet Rong Mo's eyes.

Her heart fluttered like a startled deer. She thought, *This guy is truly bold, daring to 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 offense, leading to the confiscation of property and extermination of the entire clan.

She instinctively wanted to put the note into a nearby incense burner and burn it, but the thought quickly vanished. How could she bear to destroy a poem written specifically for her? She decided to find a secret place to hide it when no one was around.

Seeing her expression, Zu An knew she had already turned from anger to joy and breathed a long sigh of relief.

At the same time, he was somewhat bewildered, wondering, *What report did I give?*

But he simply assumed she was speaking for others to hear and paid it no mind. "Then I'll leave it to Your Highness."

Bi Linglong saw his smiling face and wondered if he was feeling very smug, clearly having her completely wrapped around his finger.

So she gave a soft huff, expressing her displeasure. "However, Master Zu, your handwriting is really too ugly, like ants crawling on the page."

Rong Mo, standing nearby, let out a chuckle. She always felt that ever since Zu An arrived, the Crown Princess seemed less fond of her than before. Seeing the Crown Princess scold Zu An, she felt a secret delight.

"Your Highness is right to admonish me," Zu An replied, metaphorically sweating buckets. He was well aware of how bad his handwriting was.

Bi Linglong said coolly, "After all, you are the Crown Prince's Chief of Staff. You are also responsible for setting an example for him. Such ugly handwriting is truly an eyesore. I'll have Grand Tutor teach you from now on, so you can practice your calligraphy more often here."

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

He grumbled inwardly, *My position as Chief of Staff is just a title. What can I teach the Crown Prince? Does teaching him how to enter the bridal chamber count?*

Seeing his disgruntled expression, Bi Linglong couldn't help but bite her lip. *What does this scoundrel mean by looking so unhappy? Aren't I doing this so you'll have a reason to spend more time with me in the Eastern Palace on weekdays?*

Of course, she couldn't possibly say these words aloud and could only secretly fume.

At that moment, during the imperial court session, the major matters had largely been discussed. Eunuch Wen, with his sharp, high-pitched voice, called out, "Those with matters to report, step forward. Otherwise, the court is dismissed."

Just then, an elderly man with bronzed skin stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

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

Only then did Murong Tong speak. "Before court, your servant obtained a new ci poem, which I believe can be adapted into a battle song. I humbly request His Majesty's approval."

Hearing his words, the officials in the court began to whisper, unable to fathom why he would make such a request.

Could it be that one of his nephews or grand-nephews had composed a poem and he wanted to use it to secure a promotion?

But the Murong family was a military household; its members were mostly rough and unrefined, even the Murong daughters were tomboys. No one had ever heard of any of them possessing such literary talent.

Furthermore, the imperial court had suffered great losses due to the demon race's battle songs in the past. Consequently, upon returning, they had also begun researching their own battle songs, but unfortunately, the results were always unsatisfactory. Ultimately, in this world, cultivation was paramount, and truly talented individuals devoted themselves entirely to spiritual practice. Few people regarded poetry and lyrics as anything more than minor arts, which meant suitable lyrics had always been lacking.

However, there were many well-informed individuals in court, and many subtly guessed what he was about to say.

Yu Nan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, had an even gloomier expression. Last night had been the most humiliating moment of his life, and he had never wanted to recall it, yet here it was being brought up again.

"What poem?" The Emperor's expression remained calm, completely betraying no hint of his thoughts.

"The ci poem is titled 'Po Zhen Zi: A Valiant Verse for Duke Chengguo'," Murong Tong replied, then began to recite it aloud, "In drunken slumber, I trim the lamp to gaze at my sword; in dreams, I return to the bugle calls echoing across the camps..."

Upon hearing the title, the assembled civil and military officials in court already felt it was extraordinary. With Duke Chengguo embarking on this expedition, such a poem was surely a good omen.

After listening to the entire poem, everyone became excited.

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

"What a magnificent poem!"

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

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

Seeing their excited reactions, Murong Tong nodded in satisfaction. Earlier that morning, the Qin family brothers had delivered this poem. After reading it, he had felt goosebumps all over, wishing he could immediately grab a spear and return to the battlefield.

Although he hadn't written the poem himself, seeing so many people look at him with admiration still brought him a secret thrill.

"Master Murong, did you compose this poem?" An official couldn't help but ask.

Murong Tong's old face flushed, and he gave a light cough to cover it up. "How could a rough old man like me compose such a poem?"

"Who is the esteemed author? Could it be a teacher from the Imperial Academy? Or even the Chancellor himself?"

"To compose such an eternally great poem would vastly enhance our army's combat strength. This achievement alone would be enough to merit ennoblement as a marquis."

The officials discussed animatedly, one after another, and the entire court buzzed like a marketplace.

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

On the other side, Bi Zi'ang's expression also changed slightly. He had clearly enjoyed smooth sailing since childhood, and yesterday might have been his first true failure. Arrogant as he was, he was also extremely displeased.

"Master Murong, stop keeping us in suspense! Who is it?" At this point, the other officials were scratching their heads impatiently.

Murong Tong replied, "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 of Staff, precisely because he didn't want this matter to boost the Eastern Palace's prestige.

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

The once boisterous court suddenly fell silent.

Although Zu An's official rank wasn't high and he hadn't been in the capital for long, he was now practically a household name.

After all, quite a few influential figures had fallen at his hands lately, including the Murong family, the Cheng family, the Shi family... and even Prince Qi himself had suffered.

Secretly, everyone spread rumors that he was a bringer of misfortune; anyone associated with him would suffer bad luck.

Those aligned with Prince Qi loathed him, and even many from the Crown Prince's faction disliked him.

Many officials from Prince Qi's faction secretly resented Murong Tong, wondering why he would promote a fellow like Zu An.

Those from the Crown Prince's party were equally bewildered. Had 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, "Your Majesty, Zu An has just been granted new titles and promotions, and he is still young. If he receives continuous commendations in a short period, it could easily breed arrogance, which may not be a blessing for a subject."

This person was naturally from Prince Qi's faction. As soon as he spoke, many of his colleagues immediately echoed his sentiment.

Seeing their opposition, those from the Crown Prince's party were immediately relieved and instinctively spoke out in contradiction: "That's incorrect! Rewards for merit and punishment for faults—that is the best strategy to motivate subjects to serve the court. What's more, this timeless masterpiece can significantly enhance the army's combat strength; its merit will last for generations. It certainly deserves a reward."

Having engaged in verbal battles for years, those from Prince Qi's faction immediately retorted, "Zu An has already received excessive rewards after his achievements. As an imperial official, it is only proper for him to exert himself for the court. If such efforts warrant further rewards, then wouldn't every official in court deserve commendation?"

"You're twisting words!" Murong Tong, who had been listening for a while, finally couldn't hold back. "How can a timeless masterpiece like this be compared to the ordinary daily work of an official? It is well known that this old man and Zu An have had some past grievances, yet I'm stepping forward to recommend him now primarily because I value the assistance this poem offers to our imperial soldiers. With the addition of this poem to our battle songs, how many soldiers' sacrifices can be reduced, how much financial expenditure can be saved...? If such a great merit goes unrewarded, it will inevitably discourage our military and invite public criticism."

"Master Murong, you're exaggerating. How can a mere poem be elevated to such a level?" Those from Prince Qi's faction were also exasperated, thinking, *Whose side are you really on?*

"If you have the talent to compose poems of similar caliber, this old man would gladly request rewards for you too," Murong Tong huffed, his beard trembling with anger.

Who among the officials in this imperial court wasn't an old fox with a silver tongue? Soon, others cited classics and historical precedents to refute Murong Tong's words.

From his dragon throne, the Emperor watched the chaotic scene below and subtly smiled. He hadn't expected Zu An to be somewhat useful after all, managing to sow discord within Prince Qi's faction.

At this point, Bi Zi'ang, who had been observing coolly, stepped forward and said, "Master Zu's poem is undoubtedly an excellent masterpiece. However, its compatibility with battle songs and its actual effectiveness in combat are still unknown. How about we wait until the reports of its practical effects from the front lines return, and then discuss Master Zu's commendation based on the situation? What do you all think?"

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

The Crown Prince's faction, on the other hand, believed Bi Zi'ang was speaking up for Zu An. After all, if the debate continued, Prince Qi's faction's staunch opposition to Zu An might not yield any real benefits.

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

At that moment, the Emperor's majestic voice from the dragon throne rang out, "Since that is the case, let us consider this matter in the long term."

Bi Zi'ang's true intentions might have fooled others, but not him.

It was clear he intended to sabotage the matter through delay tactics. It seemed he genuinely disliked Zu An.

He wasn't displeased in the slightest by this. On the contrary, he felt a sense of satisfaction. As an emperor, it was optimal to see his subjects harboring their own intentions and scheming against each other. If they all loved each other, what purpose would he serve as emperor?

At this moment, Bi Zi'ang also secretly rejoiced. He keenly sensed that the Emperor seemed to dislike Zu An as well; otherwise, he wouldn't have ended the topic so easily.

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

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

Seeing him step forward, the court officials' hearts tightened. They recognized him as a censor from the Censorate, an office responsible for supervising all officials. Their reports almost always consisted of impeachment proposals against various ministers. No one knew who would be targeted today.

"Granted!" Eunuch Wen's sharp, high-pitched voice rang out again at the signal.

"Your servant just heard Master Murong mention this poem," the censor began. "Does everyone know under what circumstances this poem was composed?"

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

Seeing no one answer, the censor held his breath. Fortunately, he knew that the civil and military officials in court generally disliked dealing with people like him, so he answered his own question: "This poem circulated last night from Red Sleeves Manor, the largest brothel in the capital. It was created by certain individuals vying for the top courtesan's favor."

He took a deep breath before continuing, "Your servant impeaches Yu Nan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites! As a royal son-in-law, he frequented places of ill repute and competed with others for favor, which is a grave disgrace to the imperial family." His words were passionate, and many were stunned by what he said.

It was known that the Imperial Censor was Yi Chong, who was the elder brother of Yi Chun, the Governor of the Capital Prefecture. Yi Chun was aligned with Prince Qi's faction and had good relations with the Yu family. Furthermore, Yi Zhibing, Yi Chun's son, had accompanied Yu Nan to Red Sleeves Manor just yesterday.

Yet, someone from the Censorate actually stepped forward to impeach Yu Nan?

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

Those of higher status, however, frowned, knowing that it was not easy for the Crown Prince's faction to embed their people within the Censorate. If their leanings were exposed at this moment, they would certainly face repercussions later.

The fact that the opposition was willing to sacrifice such a crucial pawn to launch this attack surely indicated their determination to succeed.

As expected, Yu Nan had also considered this point, and his expression flickered repeatedly.

He quickly stepped forward and knelt, "Your servant is guilty!"

Having been active in politics for many years, he knew that at this moment, simply admitting guilt was enough; he only needed to convey an attitude.

As for the rest, others would naturally handle it for him.

Sure enough, an official from Prince Qi's faction quickly stepped forward to refute: "Our dynasty has no explicit regulations prohibiting officials from visiting pleasure quarters. It is, in fact, a matter of refined taste. Why blow it so out of proportion?"

"As a high-ranking court official, one should naturally set an example for the subjects. Furthermore, as a royal son-in-law married to an imperial princess, Yu Nan frequenting such establishments truly disgraces the imperial family's reputation. I request His Majesty to dismiss Yu Nan from his position as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites and hand him over to the Imperial Clan Court for disposition," the censor declared righteously.

This was an old tactic of censorial officials: immediately proposing the harshest penalty. They knew that negotiations would follow, and perhaps, if luck favored them and the Emperor happened to dislike the person, he might approve the severe punishment outright. Such things had happened before.

Prince Qi's side also grew angry and spoke up one after another: "Master Yu wasn't the only one who visited Red Sleeves Manor last night! Master Bi Zi'ang, Qin Guangyuan, Qin Yongde, Gao Ying, Pei You... these individuals also went. Are you suggesting you want to punish them all?"

He listed many people in succession—all either influential court dignitaries or renowned members of aristocratic families. Those he named stepped forward to defend themselves, and those not qualified to attend court had their family elders speak on their behalf.

Consequently, almost half the court became implicated. Both sides traded sharp words, arguing until their faces were red with anger, eventually even resorting to insulting each other's ancestors and female relatives without using explicit vulgarities.

The Emperor frowned. Eunuch Wen, understanding the cue, picked up his whisk and tapped a small bell nearby. "Silence!"

Hearing the crisp sound of the bell, the civil and military officials throughout the court finally collected themselves and respectfully bowed to the Emperor.

"What a disgrace, all of you..." The Emperor angrily admonished them, pointing at the crowd. Finally, he ordered, "Those involved in Red Sleeves Manor last night are to forfeit one year's salary and reflect on their conduct in seclusion. Court dismissed!"

With that, he turned and swept out.

It wasn't that he didn't want to punish Yu Nan, but the Yu family's influence was extraordinary, and with Prince Qi's faction supporting them, the two sides had just contended to a stalemate. To thoroughly punish Yu Nan, the timing wasn't quite right yet.

However, today's events were merely to set the stage; the real show was yet to come.

Eunuch Wen had already received instructions and quietly dispatched a trusted eunuch with an 'audio-visual mirror' to find Bi Zi'ang.

How could such a matter of threatening an official involve the Emperor himself? Even Eunuch Wen found it inconvenient to intervene directly, as he, to some extent, represented the Emperor. Thus, he sent a trustworthy young eunuch to play the part of the villain.

Bi Zi'ang was a clever man; upon seeing the audio-visual mirror, he naturally knew what to do.

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

News of the Red Sleeves Manor incident from last night had gradually spread. Moreover, she had been quite concerned about the matter, so she naturally learned that Zu An had ultimately won the courtesan's favor and even stayed the night there.

The maids in the room were all silent as cicadas in winter, unsure why the young master was displeased. Just moments ago, one of them had been severely scolded for stepping through the doorway with her left foot first.

Just then, a maid suddenly ran over, carrying a framed piece of calligraphy. "Young Master, the eldest young master asked this servant to deliver this poem. He said it's a timeless masterpiece and wants you to thoroughly appreciate its artistic conception."

Chu Youzhao, feeling irritated, glanced at it dismissively. "What rubbish poem!"

He then crumpled it into a ball and tossed it aside.

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

Chu Youzhao frowned. "Why did my elder brother suddenly think of sending me a poem? Did he write it?"

*My elder brother is really something. He knows I don't usually read much, yet he sends me this stuff.*

The maid timidly replied, "No, the eldest young master didn't write it. It seems to have been written by someone named Zu An."

No sooner had she spoken than Chu Youzhao, startled, darted over to the corner and picked up the crumpled paper. "Why didn't you say so earlier! You know I love poetry the most!"

The maids were speechless.