Chapter 702: Just a Pond Fish
Chapter 702: Chapter 702: Just a Pond Fish
Qin Siyuan did not know what to say.
The affairs of the world are completely different from those in books, full of unexpected twists that surpass imagination. In the end, he could only cast a pleading gaze towards Qin Yuan.
Perhaps, his younger sister could resolve this predicament.
Qin Yuan took a deep breath and asked, "Lin Ziqi, even at this point, will you not tell the truth?"
"...The truth?"
Lin Ziqi slowly lifted his head and let out a few deranged laughs, sounding quite mad.
"What is the truth?"
No one replied, so he paused, pounded his chest heavily with his right hand, and raised his voice, "The truth is that everyone is scheming against me, Lin Ziqi. I thought I was the mantis, only to find out there’s a bird catching me from behind.
Go ahead, fight among yourselves. At the end of the day, I am just a fish caught in the crossfire."
Everyone was taken aback.
Wu Junren realized and laughed heartily, complacently adding, "Brother Ziqi is right. What are we? Just lowly candidates, merely fish and meat on the chopping board for the nobles, shaped as they please. Once you understand that, why struggle further!"
Lin Ziqi did not reply, only folded his arms and snorted coldly, standing like a wooden statue.
Mr. Songshan was greatly puzzled and quietly asked Qin Yuan, "Why is this?"
Qin Yuan said, "He now believes that everything started because of the Qin Family, and even if he copied this poem, he blames the Qin Family."
"He dares to say such things out loud!"
Mr. Songshan shook his head.
Mumbling words about his poor character and the impudence of youth.
Qin Siyuan, in a fit of anger, exclaimed, "So it’s my fault for not daring to easily convict you. Fine, very well, my uncle has truly found a great son-in-law."
Lin Ziqi responded coldly, "Who knows what your Qin Family is up to? If it weren’t for Qin Wan, how would I have ended up like this?"
"...You’re something else... To think Lin Ziqi would be such a person, today I truly had my eyes opened."
Qin Siyuan was so anxious and angry that he was at a loss for words, unable to say anything harsh.
Lin Ziqi retorted with, "The Qin Family is the same."
Which made Qin Siyuan tremble with rage.
The Ninth Princess sneered from the side, "You two stop performing here, even if this Wu is no good, how better are the Lin and Qin families?
This Princess doesn’t care what schemes you’re plotting, all of you should have your ranks stripped to prevent you from entering the court as officials in the future, committing fraud and misdeeds.
As for you..."
She glanced at Qin Yuan and continued, "Since you, Young Master Nantang, want to be a hermit, then just go and be a proper hermit."
The Ninth Princess felt she had dealt with the matter swiftly and decisively, deserving of the words ’decisive and resolute’, she swayed her head proudly, making the pair of green jadeite earrings on her earlobes swing noticeably.
Mr. Xu, standing among the crowd, shook his head gently, "How could it come to this?"
The Commander of the Five Cities Military Department beside him said, "Commander Xu’s in-laws seem to have gotten into trouble."
Mr. Xu hurriedly said, "Your Honor perceives correctly, considering the Xu family and the Qin family have some indirect relations, it’s truly inappropriate for this official to step in. Moreover, with Prince Qi and the two Princesses present, this official dares not act rashly."
Vice Commander Fu gave him an odd look and chuckled a few times, "One wonders what Commander Gu is up to."
The implication being that if Gu Jingcheng were here, he wouldn’t simply stand by.
However, Mr. Xu said, "Didn’t Commander Gu just get promoted? How could he dare act rashly against orders? Today is the Empress Dowager’s birthday, what if something goes wrong?"
Previously having a minor position in the Five Cities Military Department, Gu Jingcheng quickly rose to be Commander after earning Marquis Gu’s favor, standing on equal footing with Mr. Xu, which made him quite displeased.
He couldn’t resist putting a bug in the ear of the Commander-in-Chief.
But Vice Commander Fu, with a cheerful expression, said, "He got early news to make some arrangements... If he accomplishes something, our Five Cities Military Department could earn some prestige in front of the Holy Emperor."
The Ministry of War, Capital Governor Mansion, and Imperial Examination Bureau always left the mess for the Five Cities Military Department, with no benefits but unable to escape blame.
Managing the Five Cities Military sounds grand, but it’s only the Standard Sixth Rank, truly embarrassing in the Capital.
Vice Commander Fu, long dissatisfied, was trying every means to shine before the Holy Emperor,
Mr. Xu, hearing this, felt a leap in his heart and quickly asked, "What’s this, has Commander Gu received some big news?"
Vice Commander Fu smiled and said, "After the Dingbei Marquis returned to the Capital, the Gu Family is different from before, even when Old Marquis Gu was around, his focus was more on the Northern Border."
The recent changes in those low-rank officers of the Five Cities Military Department have not gone unnoticed by him.
Now that the Dingbei Marquis Mansion is operating in the Capital, their information is naturally more than before, and the Gu Family relatives are benefiting too.
If Commander Xu were more astute, he could also gain more benefits.
But unfortunately, Mr. Xu did not take this to heart, after all, he had more trust in his own family’s nephews and children.
Mr. Xu muttered to himself, "Why hasn’t Prince Jin shown up, yet Prince Qi is here, I wonder..."
As he was muttering, a loud shout was heard from afar, "Wu, what is your intention of dumping the blame on the Qin and Gu families? What benefits did Prince Jin promise you?"
Before the words had completely fallen, a person was spun around and thrown into the crowd, landing heavily with a loud thud.
The surrounding crowd couldn’t help but scream.
Before the screams subsided, another person was thrown in, likewise spinning and landing atop the first person.
The two were stacked like an acrobat’s tower.
Vice Commander Fu widened his eyes and murmured, "Who is this fierce person? Daring to challenge Prince Jin, tired of living?"
He didn’t see clearly who was thrown first into the crowd, but the second person he recognized clearly—it was the old eunuch serving closely near Prince Jin, deeply trusted, often handling private matters outside.
But at this moment, Mr. Xu didn’t care to reply.
His eyes, mostly white, nearly popped out of their sockets, grasping tightly at the hilt of his belt knife, veins bulging, his muscles quivering all over, using all his might to barely restrain from rushing in to chop someone.
Because the first person thrown into the crowd was Xu Tang—the most promising young member of the Xu family at present.
Who is so audacious?!
"Who? Who did this?!"
The Ninth Princess let out a shriek.
"Protect the Imperial carriage, protect the Imperial carriage!"
Princess Fuyun was also quite shocked, her eyes wide and distinct, looking towards Marquis Gu in panic, only to see that Marquis Gu had already moved to shield Young Master Nantang behind him, with no intention of protecting the Royal Family.
Princess Fuyun: ...
However, Prince Qi was very calm, sharply tapping the folding fan in his hand and scolding, "Gu Baoshu, oh Gu Baoshu, you truly are..."
"Gu Baoshu?" Princess Fuyun also regained her senses.
No wonder it’s been such chaos for so long, without her coming out to say a word, indeed not her temperament.
"Hiss..."
Princess Fuyun drew a sharp breath.
What was Gu Baoshu shouting earlier?