Chapter 32: My Prince, Let Me Massage You; The Scholars Use Literature to Subvert the Law, Imprisoning the Will of the State

In this era, scholars use their writing to disrupt the law, while martial artists use their force to defy prohibitions. The verbal and written condemnations of the literati are formidable, acting as blades that kill without spilling a drop of blood.

Since the Imperial Examination replaced the Nine-Rank System, talent selection is no longer based on noble lineage, breaking the shackles that held that "no commoner holds high office, and no noble falls to the lower ranks." A man of humble origin, through ten years of diligent study, can now stand in the halls of power.

However, in this historical context, was the establishment of the Imperial Examination merely to break the monopoly of the aristocracy, appoint the virtuous, recruit talent for the nation, and cultivate the world? Clearly not. It is a tool used by the rulers of various states to counter the "scholars disrupting the law." It is a cage for the ambitious. The "cage" refers to the examination, and the "ambitious" refers to the scholars of the world. The exam is also known as the "Grace Examination," designed to bestow favor upon students and win the hearts of the literati. By using the sentiment that "a scholar who excels should enter officialdom" and the allure of fame and fortune, they buy the loyalty of scholars everywhere.

Thus, one can see the terrifying influence of the literati. If Ye Xun only possessed a head for business, it would not be enough to demonstrate his true potential, as the social hierarchy of scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant is strictly ingrained in this era. If he were solely focused on commerce, he would be criticized by the scholars. But if Ye Xun were brimming with talent, it would be a different story. If those four masterpieces were truly his, the power he could wield would be immense. He would not only accumulate vast wealth but also be revered by the scholars of the world. If Wei Wuji were to then rally political resources for him, Ye Xun’s rise would be unstoppable.

Although Wei Feng was not entirely certain of this, he could not help but ask. Hearing his words, Ye Xun nodded slightly and mused, "I will not hide it from you, cousin; they are indeed my work."

As these words fell, a buzz rang in Wei Feng's ears. He felt a tingling sensation in his scalp, as if struck by a bolt of lightning. He never expected that those four poems were truly written by Ye Xun, and that he would admit it so readily. Yet... he still found it hard to believe.

Wei Feng looked at Ye Xun and said slowly, "Your Highness, this is not a matter for joking. If you truly have such a talent in your manor..."

Before he could finish, Ye Xun spoke softly:
"Viewed from the side, a range; from the front, a peak,
Far and near, high and low, each aspect unique.
One does not know the true face of Mount Lu,
Only because one is within the mountain itself."

As the poem landed, Wei Feng stared at Ye Xun in shock. To recite such a timeless masterpiece so casually!

How much stimulation must Ye Xun have endured for the heavens to enlighten him to this extent? This poem clearly implied that Wei Feng’s own vision was not broad enough. Before Wei Feng could react, Ye Xun stood up and looked out into the hall:
"The crescent moon like a bow, not yet strung,
Clearly hangs at the edge of the azure sky.
Let not people say the Emei is small,
When it rounds out to illuminate the full sky."

*Hiss.* Wei Feng stood up, looking at Ye Xun in disbelief. "Your Highness, you..." Although he was not a scholar by trade, he possessed a solid academic foundation. "Emei is small," "Illuminate the full sky"—Ye Xun was clearly using poetry to express his ambitions. Wei Feng had asked a question, and Ye Xun had answered with a poem, both of which were timeless works. This left Wei Feng in awe, as if standing before a divine being. It seemed that the power Ye Xun possessed was beyond his imagination.

Seeing his stunned expression, Ye Xun remained calm and composed. "Cousin, I have made a fool of myself."

Made a fool of himself? Wei Feng shook his head with a wry smile. Today, Ye Xun had truly opened his eyes. He even began to suspect that Ye Xun’s previous reputation as a playboy had been a facade—how else could one explain all this?

Wei Feng continued, "Your Highness, since you truly possess such talent, you can no longer hide it. You must attend the Capital Poetry Gathering next month."

"Very well," Ye Xun agreed with a nod, then looked at Wei Feng with a serious expression. Wei Feng frowned slightly, puzzled. "Your Highness, do you have concerns?"

Ye Xun shook his head slightly and said solemnly, "Will Shangguan Yunqing be attending?"

Wei Feng was speechless. Why the sudden jump in topics? Even at a time like this, he was still thinking about Shangguan Yunqing? However, he understood; after all, regarding the marriage arrangement with Shangguan Yunqing, Ye Xun had lost all face. If he could win her back through his own ability, that in itself would be a sign of strength. It seemed Ye Xun had finally realized how to leverage his position.

Wei Feng replied, "As the greatest talent of the Great Xia, Shangguan Yunqing will certainly attend."

Ye Xun nodded, feeling a surge of joy. He didn't have as many complex thoughts as Wei Feng; he simply wanted to win back his beautiful bride. Damn it—if he didn't win her back, there was always the risk that Shangguan Yunqing would marry someone else. That was something Ye Xun absolutely could not tolerate.

Soon after, Wei Feng took his leave, leaving behind several physicians and taking only his steward back to the Duke of Zhen’s manor.

***

After settling Cao An, Zheng Qian, and Wang Cai, Ye Xun went to his chambers to rest. He felt physically and mentally exhausted; looking back on the day, it felt like a dream. But the outcome was good—he had finally secured the protection of the Duke of Zhen’s manor. It was laughable, really, that a prince of the Great Xia should require the protection of a Duke.

In the chambers, Ling’er helped Ye Xun bathe and brewed him a bowl of ginger soup. Having been caught in the rain, he needed to ward off the cold to avoid falling ill tomorrow. Ye Xun lay in the tub, filled with hot water and scattered flower petals, resting his arms on the rim. He closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth as his pores opened, feeling immensely comfortable.

Ling’er, dressed in a thin gauze robe, came behind him. Her jade-like fingers rested on his shoulders, tracing over his firm skin. Her cheeks flushed with shyness as she whispered, "Your Highness, let Ling’er give you a massage to help you relax..."

"Very well," Ye Xun replied softly, without opening his eyes. Ling’er’s touch was light and her technique soft, making Ye Xun feel incredibly at ease. However... while it was comfortable, there was a certain tension. With the steam rising and the mist swirling, alone together in the room...

***

Meanwhile, at the Prince of Wu’s manor, in the study, Ye Tao sat upright at his desk, his face grim and his brows deeply furrowed. Liu Mingyuan stood to the side, trembling with fear.

*Smash!*

Ye Tao grabbed a teacup from his side and hurled it to the ground, consumed by rage. "Liu Mingyuan! How did you promise me?! Zheng Qian is not dead! Cao An is not dead! That vicious dog is not dead! How did you handle this? Are you trying to drive me to my ruin?"

He was furious to the point of madness. Just moments ago, everything had been going according to his plan, but in the blink of an eye, it had all changed.

Liu Mingyuan wore a mournful expression, shaking uncontrollably. "Your Highness, this... this really isn't my fault. Zheng Qian should not have survived the night, and Cao An and that dog were both critically injured. Everything was going according to our plan. But who could have known... who could have known that the Prince of Qin would go to the Duke of Zhen’s manor and bring out the heir, Wei Feng? You know yourself that Wei Feng is the Junior Minister of the Supreme Court and in charge of the capital's magistrate office. Who would dare to block his path?"