Chapter 97
Chapter 97
“The arithmetic you are so determined to promote lies in a field the Su family has never touched throughout all its generations. Once that discipline flourishes, new elite clans will inevitably rise. Any one of them that enters the Hanlin Academy will pose a considerable threat to the Su family’s standing.” Shen Yuan shook his head. “That is why he refused.”
Hearing this, Xie Chengze scrunched up his little face in disagreement. “The Su family may consider itself above others, but according to the histories of every dynasty, they truly deserve their reputation for scholarly integrity. They conduct themselves honorably, care for the nation and its people, and have never committed any great wrong. How could they refuse a policy that benefits the nation and its people merely because it might harm their own standing?”
He still believed Su Zhongyue had rejected him because the man looked down on the “Second Prince” and assumed anything a fool like him proposed must be wrong. Besides, Xie Chengze had failed to explain arithmetic’s benefits in a way that resonated with Su Zhongyue.
“Your Highness, even people cannot be divided neatly into black and white. How could a household formed by many people be wholly one or the other?” Seeing that Xie Chengze remained confused, Shen Yuan broke the matter apart and explained it piece by piece. “The Su family is indeed honorable and upright, but it became renowned through the ages precisely because it was honorable and upright. To preserve that lasting reputation, it must care about its name and avoid criminal acts. Yet who ever said that declining to promote certain beneficial policies means it is no longer honorable?”
At Xie Chengze’s blank little stare, Shen Yuan sighed and summarized, “To the Su family, preserving its honored position in the literary world is what matters most. They are unwilling to accept this risk. You must have pitched them the wrong reward at the time, assuming a fine reputation was what they desired. That is why they turned you away.”
Xie Chengze suddenly understood. “As expected of a powerful minister. You are the one who sees all the twists and turns clearly.”
At the words *powerful minister*, Shen Yuan gave Xie Chengze an unreadable look.
“Ahem.” Realizing he had misspoken, Xie Chengze hurriedly drank some tea to conceal his guilt and argued, “Father and my little Crown Prince both favor you so much now. Calling you a powerful minister hardly maligns you.”
Shen Yuan laughed and shook his head, then reached out and refilled Xie Chengze’s nearly empty cup.
“Then the rumors that Su Qinghe is deeply favored by Su Zhongyue are…?” Xie Chengze asked again.
At the mention of Su Qinghe, Shen Yuan’s face fell once more. He replied coldly, “Nothing but appearances. All you need to know is that in the Su family, even a mediocre member will be squeezed dry of every last bit of value.”
Xie Chengze tilted his head, puzzled. “Then what value does Qinghe have?”
“…” Shen Yuan cast him a displeased look.
“What?” Xie Chengze asked in confusion when he saw that expression.
“Are the two of you close?” Shen Yuan tapped lightly on the tea table, his face faintly overcast.
He was already calling the man Qinghe. It seemed they had secretly become involved while Shen Yuan knew nothing about it.
“Do not change the subject.” Xie Chengze turned and planted both hands on the tea table, staring at Shen Yuan as he pressed, “What exactly is his value to the Su family?”
Shen Yuan did not want to answer. Su Qinghe’s value to the family lay in a marriage alliance. Would that not play perfectly into Xie Chengze’s hands?
If Xie Chengze truly had feelings for Su Qinghe… No. The Su family looked down on the Second Prince and had set its sights on the Sheng family’s daughter long ago. They would never agree.
The only danger was Emperor Jian joining in the nonsense…
When Shen Yuan remained silent, Xie Chengze grew anxious. He caught Shen Yuan’s sleeve and shook it. “Hey, Shen Yuan, hurry up and tell me!”
“Why do you keep asking about this?” Shen Yuan pulled back his sleeve and demanded irritably, “You still have not answered me. Are the two of you close?”
“Hmph. If you will not tell me, then I will not tell you either.”
Since Shen Yuan refused to answer, Xie Chengze rose decisively and headed for the door, muttering as he walked, “I have already figured out how to make the Su family help me anyway. I will go find my little Crown Prince and ask for his help!”
The Crown Prince?!
Shen Yuan’s expression changed dramatically. He shot to his feet and seized Xie Chengze’s arm. “No! You cannot go to him!”
Going to the Crown Prince would be no different from a lamb walking into a tiger’s den!
But Shen Yuan pulled too hard. Xie Chengze toppled backward and fell diagonally into his arms, the back of his head striking Shen Yuan’s chest.
“Ow.” He blinked. From this angle, he could see Shen Yuan’s sharply cut jaw and the slight bob of his Adam’s apple. “Why did you pull me? Have you changed your mind? Are you going to tell me the answer?”
Shen Yuan spread his enormous hand over Xie Chengze’s little head and pried him away from his chest. “You should see the Crown Prince less often from now on. If you have something to tell him, ask me to pass it along.”
“Why?” Xie Chengze asked, baffled.
Shen Yuan choked briefly. “In the past, you never visited the Crown Prince privately at the Eastern Palace. If you suddenly begin doing so, people may grow suspicious.”
Xie Chengze thought that made sense, but chose not to listen. In fact, he suggested eagerly, “Then I will have Wuhen carry me in secretly in the middle of the night. That way no one will know I – mmph, mmph, mmph – ”
Shen Yuan opened his thumb and forefinger and clamped them around Xie Chengze’s chin and lips, cutting him off. He laughed in exasperation. “Xie Chengze, can you do one normal thing in your life?”
Sneak into the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace in the middle of the night? Was Xie Chengze afraid he might lose his chastity too slowly?!
Xie Chengze pulled Shen Yuan’s hand away and complained, “You refuse to tell me this and forbid me from doing that. What exactly do you want from me? If you do not want me going to the Eastern Palace, then tell me what value Su Qinghe holds for the Su family.”
Shen Yuan rubbed his brow wearily and finally compromised. “Marriage and the continuation of the family line.”
Compared with the Crown Prince, Su Qinghe was plainly much less dangerous. Besides, though Xie Chengze acted however he pleased, whenever the two had disagreed in Yizhou, he had usually listened after Shen Yuan laid out the advantages and dangers. Rather than risk letting Xie Chengze draw close to the Crown Prince, Shen Yuan might as well spend a little more time persuading him later and make him abandon any thoughts of Su Qinghe.
He continued, “Su Qinghe has no gift for letters, and the Su family disdains taking shortcuts, so he has gone a long time without receiving any official appointment in the capital. His only remaining use is to marry one of the capital’s talented women and produce descendants for the Su family. But without an official post to his name, how could he win the favor of a talented woman? That is why Su Zhong – *ahem* – that is why the head of the Su family built up his reputation and led outsiders to believe he was deeply favored, so that he could use that appearance to marry a talented woman of the capital.”
“Insane…” Xie Chengze frowned fiercely in disgust. “How is that any different from shoving a princess into a marriage alliance because you cannot defeat the enemy?”
“You feel sorry for him?” Shen Yuan asked in a strange tone, seeing how indignant he looked.
“Of course!” Xie Chengze gave him a suspicious look, as if unable to understand why he would ask. “Aren’t you his friend? Do you not feel sorry for him?”
Shen Yuan shook his head. “He is too cowardly and will not resist. I tried to persuade him many times when we were young, but he never dared do anything.”
It was probably even harder now.
“That is still the Su family’s fault. They do not know how to raise a child.” Xie Chengze said angrily, “He has been treated like this since childhood. After enough time, naturally he would struggle to resist. Besides, telling him to rebel against the Su family merely treats the symptoms, not the cause. What he lacks is not the courage to resist, but confidence! He needs affirmation from other people!”
Only a confident person could shine! Only then would he dare fight for his own rights!
Watching Xie Chengze defend Su Qinghe so passionately made Shen Yuan uncomfortable. He raised the teacup to his lips and asked with an unreadable gaze, “How long have you even known each other, to care so much about him already?”
“Stop trying to trick me. I will not tell you.” Xie Chengze had no intention of revealing that he had already broken into Shen Yuan’s little circle of childhood friends. He lifted his chin proudly. “Qinghe and I took to each other at first sight. I am absolutely certain he will be my dearest friend for the rest of my life!”
Shen Yuan: …
So it really was love at first sight?!