Qiu Bingde, usually calm, was startled by the words of Lord Qiu. Zhan Feiyu, despite her talent in reading, was just a ten-year-old girl.
Though heroes are not judged by their origins, Zhan Feiyu was born into a rural farming family and had only been studying for two years. Her teacher, Scholar Gu, was in the capital, and their interactions were limited to letters. Asking such a young girl to discuss the situation in Qianzhong Dao, Qiu Bingde felt it was asking too much.
He picked up the cup he had just put down and took two sips. Zhan Feiyu’s eyes instantly narrowed in satisfaction, her brows and eyes filled with a childlike smile.
Lord Qiu had prepared plum juice for Zhan Feiyu, a drink that young girls loved. It was also chilled, emitting white mist, as if one could smell its sweet and sour fragrance.
Zhan Feiyu was only three years older than Bo'er. Bo'er began his studies at five and was now only starting to read the Four Books. With only two years difference, Qiu Bingde felt that even if his son were exceptionally gifted, two years would at most allow him to read the Four Books cursorily and memorize them.
“My lord, forgive my humble opinion,” Zhan Feiyu straightened her body. Since Lord Qiu dared to ask, she dared to answer. Her clear, small voice still carried a hint of soft childishness. “Xiang Zhuang dances with his sword, but his intention is towards Pei Gong. May I ask where your intentions lie?”
Lord Qiu smiled at her words. Despite his refined scholarly demeanor, his eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence. “Tell me, where might my intentions lie?”
Zhan Feiyu glanced at the properly seated Qiu Bingde. “If you intend to return to the capital, my lord, you could seize this opportunity. If you are planning for your eldest son, then there is no need to rush.”
Lord Qiu was the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Qianzhong Dao, a second-rank official of the imperial court, and a trusted frontier governor. Yet, Lord Qiu wished to go to the capital. However, given the current situation in the capital, it was estimated that few officials would welcome Lord Qiu’s return.
Firstly, a return to the capital would undoubtedly mean a promotion, at the very least to a minister in one of the Six Ministries. But as the saying goes, every position has its occupant, and if Lord Qiu took a position, he would displace other officials.
Secondly, the situation in the capital depended on the palace. As the princes grew older, their ambitions also grew.
The Emperor had not yet established an heir. An old fox like Lord Qiu would certainly not take sides before the situation became clear. His loyalty was only to the Emperor. This was not good news for the princes, as the greater the Emperor’s power, the less power the princes could wield.
Lord Qiu stroked his beard and smiled, not answering Zhan Feiyu’s question. Instead, he suddenly turned to his eldest son and asked, “Bingde, what do you think? Where should the Qiu family make its next move?”
Qiu Bingde had just been marveling at Zhan Feiyu’s worldly wisdom and intelligence, and he hadn’t expected the topic to turn to him.
Zhan Feiyu immediately became happy. “May my comrades die, but not me!” Joy should be built upon the suffering of others. She held her cup with both hands and slowly drank her plum juice.
Since Zhan Feiyu dared to speak, Qiu Bingde pondered for a moment before replying earnestly, “The affairs of the third branch were only settled at the beginning of the year. The Qiu family suffered considerable losses, and the situation in the palace is unclear. It is better to remain still than to act rashly at this time.”
The Qiu family’s third branch had colluded with the barbarians. After receiving the news, Lord Qiu acted with righteousness and eliminated his own kin, swiftly dealing with the third branch and submitting a memorial of self-reproach to the Emperor. Therefore, this matter did not cripple the Qiu family.
On the contrary, Lord Qiu had seized the third branch, which had long harbored ill intentions. After removing the rot, the Qiu family could unite and seek greater development in the future.
Qiu Bingde’s greatest concern was to rashly take sides. Although it could earn him merit for assisting the dragon, failure would mean a dire fate for the Qiu family upon the ascension of the new emperor.
Rather than taking such a risk, it was better to lie low. The Qiu family’s influence in Qianzhong Dao was deeply rooted. No matter which prince ascended the throne, he would not trouble, nor dare to trouble, the Qiu family.
Moreover, Qiu Bingde had seen a secret report from the Qiu family’s spies in the capital five days ago. The Emperor was in good health and might remain on the throne for another ten or twenty years. In that case, the Qiu family had even less reason to be aggressive and seek undue credit.
Lord Qiu was not surprised by his eldest son’s conservative answer. Bingde had been steady since childhood, lacking the sharpness of youth. And he would have to support the Qiu family in the future, his every move being subject to restraint.
Lord Qiu picked up the white glazed three-handled bamboo-jointed pot and poured Zhan Feiyu another cup of plum juice. “What do you think, Miss Zhan?”
There was certainly no mistake in his reasoning. Zhan Feiyu took the cup and thanked Lord Qiu, then said, “I once met a scholar while traveling.”
“Oh, what did this scholar say?” Lord Qiu became interested. Although reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles, he was not as ambitious as Scholar Gu, sending a young girl to travel from Jiangnan Dao to Longyou Dao by carriage and horse, and now returning to Qianzhong Dao. Not to mention the hardships of the journey, Zhan Feiyu had encountered dangers that could have cost her life several times.
The gentle breeze blew through the courtyard, and Zhan Feiyu’s clear, small voice rang out, “Old people often think of the past, and young people often think of the future. Thinking of the past breeds attachment; thinking of the future breeds hope. Attachment breeds conservatism; hope breeds progress. Conservatism preserves; progress renews.”
Qiu Bingde was conservative in nature and believed that the Qiu family should also seek stability in the future. However, Zhan Feiyu’s words were the opposite, advocating for sharp progress.
“Zhan Feiyu, you are deliberately confusing the issue!” Suddenly, a displeased voice came from outside the left wall. Qiu San Gongzi, who had left earlier, returned.
Qiu Huaixin leaped over the wall with a graceful movement, landing steadily in the courtyard. His upturned phoenix eyes stared at Zhan Feiyu with mockery and sarcasm.
“Huaixin!” Qiu Bingde stood up, casting a warning glance at the unruly Qiu Huaixin. “Come here quickly.”
“My son is unaccomplished.” Lord Qiu was accustomed to his third son’s waywardness and smiled gently. “In the past, Yan Yuan and Ji Lu served Confucius. The Master said, ‘Why not each speak of your aspirations?’ Today, let us emulate the ancient sages and each speak of our aspirations and express our opinions.”
He walked over in a few steps. Qiu Huaixin washed his hands with the help of a maid before sitting down at the table. He then poured himself a cup of iced plum juice and drank it down in one go, saying, “I heard that Miss Zhan is good friends with General Yang’s only son, Yang Jiao, and that you even risked your life last year to rescue him from Ao Zi Kou.”
After Zhan Feiyu’s identity was revealed, most of the prominent families in Qianzhong Prefecture had thoroughly investigated her affairs in Longyou Dao. Naturally, they all knew of her relationship with the Yang family of the General’s Mansion. There were even rumors that Scholar Gu and Old General Yang intended to form an alliance, with the two families becoming one.
However, the rumor suddenly disappeared without a trace before it could gain traction, and no one spoke of it again. Some people privately said that because the General’s Mansion held military power, and Scholar Gu was the head of the court officials, the Emperor absolutely would not allow Zhan Feiyu to marry Yang Xu, thus no one dared to mention the rumor.
Qiu Huaixin’s gaze was filled with sharp hostility. “Miss Zhan is trying to persuade my elder brother to abandon the path of conservatism. Are you then trying to get our Qiu family to ally with the General’s Mansion?”
If Lord Qiu were not present, and considering that Qiu Huaixin, despite his rebellious nature, was still a scion of a noble family and would not lose his composure, his hostility towards Zhan Feiyu was present, but his words were somewhat restrained and considerate.
Qiu Bingde did not stop Qiu Huaixin from speaking, as he had also considered this point after Zhan Feiyu spoke.
Scholar Gu was a solitary official who had broken ties with the Gu family in his early years. Therefore, Scholar Gu’s power stemmed solely from the Emperor. Once the Emperor suspected or abandoned him, Scholar Gu would be in a precarious position.
As Scholar Gu’s only disciple, it was not surprising that Zhan Feiyu was friendly with the General’s Mansion, which held military power, and it was normal for her to try to win over the Qiu family for an alliance. However, as Qiu Bingde had considered earlier, it was better for the Qiu family to remain still than to act rashly at this time. After all, the Qiu family had centuries of heritage, and there was no need to risk so much for the merit of assisting the dragon.
Accused, Zhan Feiyu remained unperturbed, maintaining a calm demeanor of attentive listening, her composure far surpassing that of her peers.
“Would you like to debate?” Lord Qiu asked with a smile.
“You are being unfair, my lord!” Zhan Feiyu replied. Lord Qiu was clearly using her as a whetstone by pulling her into the discussion when he could have discussed the situation privately with his three sons.
Seeing Lord Qiu’s attitude towards Zhan Feiyu, Qiu Huaixin’s face fell. “Father!”
Lord Qiu was not a strict or stern person, but he was a Provincial Administration Commissioner with a busy official schedule. Moreover, Qiu Huaixin had a rebellious nature, so Lord Qiu rarely had time to converse with his youngest son, let alone discuss official matters.
Yet today, he was so solemnly receiving a young girl like Zhan Feiyu. At least half of Qiu Huaixin’s hostility stemmed from jealousy.
Unfortunately, Lord Qiu ignored his clamoring youngest son, and Zhan Feiyu had no habit of seeking favor with someone who was indifferent. “My lord, if Li Li’s backer is involved with the barbarians, the sooner the better. But if it is internal strife, then it does not matter.”
Where there are people, there is struggle. If the old master was merely a faction, aiming for power and influence, then even if his men were all captured, there would be a second and a third old master in the future.
But if barbarians were involved, the nature of the situation would be different. If it were not investigated and clarified quickly, it would surely breed a tiger that would become a threat. Once a war broke out, it would inevitably lead to widespread suffering and devastation.