My Love Rivals Have All Reborn - Chapter 20

Did the teaching go to the kitchen?

The Guanzhi Study Hall was filled with a rich scholarly atmosphere, and the side hall, Xie Yu’s private space, was imbued everywhere with her unique scent of books and ink.

The students were tugging at each other in the hall while Xie Yu was speaking with someone from the Ministry of Rites.

Qi Shanbai, the Minister of Rites, wore a goatee. He had been in the Ministry of Rites for more than twenty years and was only promoted to the head of the ministry under Zhao Mian. Xie Yu acted impartially, mediated during discussions, and was a woman, so initially, others didn’t take her seriously. Female officials were rare. It was only over time that ministers gradually became convinced as Xie Yu consistently managed to solve problems at the most crucial moments.

Qi Shanbai had come about the matter of the late Emperor. The late Emperor’s actions were slightly unethical. Under the guise of repairing the mausoleum of a former dynasty’s emperor, he took the precious nanmu wood from the Emperor’s coffin.

Nanmu was extremely rare. It would be a laughingstock if it were known that he had stolen from a former emperor’s tomb for the sake of construction. Therefore, the matter had been kept secret.

The trouble was that there was still some nanmu left, and Zhao Mian wanted to use it, but there wasn’t enough. Where could he find more?

An Emperor would start building his mausoleum upon ascending the throne. With Zhao Mian’s order, Qi Shanbai could not gather enough wood even with manpower and resources.

When he had nothing else to do, he would come to Xie Yu to vent. Xie Yu sat in front of the bookcase. The shelves behind her were filled with books, all of which looked old.

Xie Yu was holding a copy of The Thirty-Six Stratagems. Being disturbed for no reason, she didn’t get annoyed. She seriously analyzed the situation for Minister Qi: “Your Majesty is young. You can take your time. It wouldn’t be too late to search after you step down from your heavy responsibilities.”

Qi Shanbai was over fifty, with one foot in the grave. How many more years could he serve in the Ministry of Revenue?

No matter how long he lived, he would not outlive the twenty-something Zhao Mian.

Qi Shanbai was first bewildered, thinking Xie Yu was cursing him. But upon reflection, it was the honest truth; he would definitely not outlive Zhao Mian.

Thinking this way, the problem was solved. He stood up to thank her. The hall door was suddenly pushed open. He looked over and saw two lavishly dressed young girls pulling at each other by the entrance.

Since all of them were Xie Yu’s students in the Guanzhi Study Hall, he politely took his leave with a smile.

Xie Yu leaned against the back of her chair and slowly lifted her eyes. She saw Zhao Can pulling Xiao Kuning, one hand around her slender waist. Zhao Can was fair, lovely, and cute, while Xiao Kuning’s face was filled with worry.

Zhao Can was quick-witted. She pushed Xiao Kuning forward and said excitedly, “Sister Xiao has something to ask you.”

Xiao Kuning almost wanted to hit her head. For the sake of a single meal, is she really going to abandon her friend? This friend is not to be deeply trusted.

Xie Yu straightened her back. A coldness emanated from her delicate features. Her silence alone was oppressive. Zhao Can had always been good at reading expressions. Seeing this, she quickly regretted pulling Xiao Kuning and tried to leave: “Sister Xiao, I won’t eat it anymore.”

Xiao Kuning, a reborn person who had witnessed Xie Yu’s bloodthirsty side, wanted to avoid her the most in this life. She followed Zhao Can: “The Master is busy. Your student will come back another day.”

The Xie Yu opposite them fell silent. Upon seeing Xiao Kuning push Zhao Can’s hand away, the misty, watery quality hidden in her eyes emerged, interwoven with the lingering softness of a drizzle.

Coldness and gentleness—seemingly contradictory, yet perfectly integrated in Xie Yu.

She put down the military strategy book and picked up a copy of the Political Essentials. She raised her eyes and motioned for the two to enter: “I assume the two of you are not here for schoolwork.”

When Master Xie adopted a gentle demeanor, Zhao Can happily stepped over the threshold: “Master, we want to learn how to make white pastry from you. With your instruction and clarification, you can certainly teach your student.”

Xiao Kuning: “…” Teaching and clarification in the kitchen?

Xie Yu was calm as water. She handed the Political Essentials to Xiao Kuning: “Master this book, and I will clarify your doubts.”

Zhao Can stood on her toes to peek at it. Seeing the words ‘Political Essentials,’ she suddenly realized: “This was written by the Grand Ancestor when he founded the Great Zhou.” My father also has a copy of this book and often holds it to read. She had been forced to read some of it too.

The book Political Essentials advocates governing the world with ‘benevolence’, similar to Xunzi’s idea that the ruler is the boat and the people are the water—water can carry the boat, but it can also overturn it.

However, during the late Emperor’s reign, few people read this book. Xiao Kuning had seen it on Zhao Ji’s imperial desk. Zhao Ji believed that governing with ‘benevolence’ contradicted Zhao Mian’s philosophy of ‘the Emperor is supreme, and the common people must only obey.’

If an ordinary person produced such a book, it would be somewhat believable, but for the devil Xie Yu to believe in this book was baffling.

Hypocrisy is no more than this.

The enemy was strong, and she was weak. Xiao Kuning took a deep breath, smiling as she accepted the book: “Your student has learned a lot.”

Zhao Can cheered and leaned close to her ear: “I understand these things. You can ask me if you don’t understand.”

Zhao Can loved sweet and soft pastries. Her breath carried a sweet fragrance, and combined with her sweet smile, she was truly adorable.

Xiao Kuning was relieved to hear she knew the book. She quickly nodded and agreed: “I’ll come to you tonight.”

Tonight? Xie Yu lifted her head when she heard this and crooked her finger at Xiao Kuning: “Do you still want to learn how to make white pastry?”

Xiao Kuning frowned. She didn’t want to, but Zhao Can agreed quickly: “Learn, learn. Sister Xiao will learn. I won’t.”

Doesn’t that mean I’ll be alone with Xie Yu? Xiao Kuning’s face paled. She didn’t even look at Xie Yu and spoke to Zhao Can: “Why won’t you learn? I don’t even eat white pastry.”

Zhao Can giggled: “You can make it for me to eat!”

Xie Yu’s eyes deepened. She tapped the table with her slender finger, remembering something: “How is the Prince of Gaoyang’s health these days? He spoke to me last time about wanting the County Princess to return to the residence.”

Zhao Can was not chosen by Xie Yu; the Prince of Gaoyang felt she had nothing to do daily and forcibly sent her here.

It was already against ancestral regulations for female officials to serve in court, a rule Zhao Mian changed to keep Xie Yu. Now, the first batch of female officials must be selected from the Guanzhi Study Hall and passed by Xie Yu’s assessment.

Zhao Can was the Prince of Gaoyang’s daughter. Based on this fact alone, it was impossible for her to serve in court.

Zhao Can frowned, unwilling to go home: “I still want to learn a few things from the Master and I also can’t bear to leave the Sisters in the hall.”

Life in the residence was boring. It was nowhere near as lively as with the young ladies in the hall.

Xiao Kuning, however, was not surprised. The Prince of Gaoyang had competed with the late Emperor for the throne, and the late Emperor had almost abdicated to him. Zhao Mian had long resented this uncle. It was better for Zhao Can to stay away from the court.

Xie Yu said no more, still focusing on Xiao Kuning: “I will clarify your doubts once you have mastered the Political Essentials.”

Xiao Kuning didn’t understand why she was fixated on the Political Essentials. This book was even less important than Sun Tzu’s Art of War on the table. What was there to read?

But she didn’t dare to refute Xie Yu. After thanking the Master, she left with Zhao Can.

The two slowly walked back together. Zhao Can opened up the topic: “Perhaps Sister doesn’t know, but my father often reads this book. He says that reading it a few times not only broadens your thoughts and insights, but it also calms your mind. Unfortunately, I don’t have great wisdom. I can’t grasp that essence. I read the beginning but then lost interest in the rest.”

The Prince of Gaoyang’s nature was the most open and tolerant. Unfortunately, he became a monk after the Prince of Zhennan was killed. Without her father’s protection, Zhao Can fell in love with a woman and followed her, disappearing without a trace.

Xiao Kuning remained silent. Zhao Can hugged her arm and continued to mumble: “Sister, let me teach you.”

Xiao Kuning wasn’t thinking much about that. She had other things to do now. She had to meet Shen Rui.

The Empress Dowager’s birthday was also Elder Princess Leyang’s birthday. Most old officials knew about this but dared not mention it. Elder Princess Jingyang was collecting treasures to present to the Empress Dowager.

After Zhao Can visited Xiao Kuning’s room a few times, she was inexplicably summoned back to the Prince of Gaoyang’s residence.

During this time, Yan Ruyu requested leave to return to her residence for the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration. Zhou Wenqing followed suit, and a few others left one after another. Finally, Xie Yu looked at the half-empty classroom and announced a few days of holidays.

The Yan family sent their daughter to the Guanzhi Study Hall not with the intention of her entering officialdom, but simply to bask in Xie Yu’s prestige and add glory to herself, preparing for the Prince of Yanping’s consort selection.

After the holiday was announced, Xiao Kuning did not return to her residence immediately. Instead, she sent a message for Xue Fang to meet her.

The Court of the Imperial Clan managed the affairs of the Imperial Family and was difficult to enter easily. Xue Fang was placed there by Xie Yu and later rose to the position of Minister of the Imperial Clan.

How did he achieve that rank? He was inexplicably promoted after the Prince of Zhennan was killed. Since the Prince of Zhennan’s case was related to the Court of the Imperial Clan, Xue Fang was a key figure.

Xue Fang was probably a blind spot for Xie Yu, as he ultimately died at Shen Rui’s hands.

Xue Fang died because of his greed for money. He was a compulsive gambler, and even after being promoted, he didn’t change. Instead, he gambled more and more, eventually losing everything.

He was greedy for money, so she would use money to buy information from him. These methods were taught to her by Zhao Xiran: money makes the world go round.

After sending the message, she returned to the residence.

As soon as she returned, she saw Madam Luo waiting in the main hall. It was already a known fact that the mother and daughter did not get along. No matter how much they tried to reconcile, it was futile. Their personalities clashed, and they were destined not to speak well to each other.

Madam Luo was resentful that Xiao Kuning was half a day late in returning. She contained her anger for the sake of appearances and said, “The Prince of Yanping’s consort selection is imminent. Don’t wander around outside.”

Don’t go out and disgrace the family.

Xiao Kuning smiled calmly: “Mother, don’t worry. I won’t compete with her.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Luo didn’t feel reassured. She vaguely felt something was wrong. Xiao Kuning had the same temperament as Zhao Xiran, both liked to snatch things from others. If she said she didn’t want it now, there must be a follow-up plan. Just like how she left Xiao Mingwang and then claimed later that the child was swapped during her childbirth. Saying she doesn’t want something doesn’t mean she really doesn’t want it.

She didn’t believe her but didn’t show it on her face. She instructed, “That’s good. Go back and rest.”

Xiao Kuning turned and left, not lingering at all.

The more Madam Luo thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. The Prince of Yanping would select his consort on the Empress Dowager’s birthday. Master Xie had hinted that he favored Xiao Wenxue.

Master Xie’s words would not be false. If that were the case, Xiao Kuning would definitely cause trouble.

She called for the butler and gave an order: “Announce externally that the Second Miss is ill. She is not allowed to leave the residence.”

The butler dared not agree. That ancestor, the Second Miss, would cause a scene, and no one could handle it. He replied, “If the Second Miss causes a scene, we can’t control her.”

Madam Luo sneered: “If she refuses, are your hands broken? Lock the room.”

Let her out after the Empress Dowager’s birthday is over. No matter how much she throws a tantrum, it won’t make a splash.