Qi Zhen knew Qi Yuan’s temperament. After thinking about it, he still decided to speak frankly with her: “Most people outside attribute the Crown Prince still securely holding the Eastern Palace to the Imperial Grandson’s merits, but in truth, the Crown Prince himself is also capable.”
Afraid that Qi Yuan would not believe him, Qi Zhen deliberately gave several examples: “In the twenty-third year of Yongchang, when His Majesty went to Zhongdu to worship the ancestors, they encountered a mountain flood during the journey, and His Majesty’s life and death were unknown… It was the Crown Prince who ordered the Grand Secretaries remaining in the capital to hold down the city, while he himself led the Yulin Guards and several thousand soldiers from the capital camp to Zhongdu for the rescue.”
It was just that these matters were too long ago.
And later, Noble Consort Xiao Liu became more and more favored, while Qi Wang also began to distinguish himself, so gradually no one mentioned these things anymore.
When people mentioned the Crown Prince, what they remembered were usually things like how the Crown Prince received His Majesty disrespectfully and was scolded bloody, or how lustful the Crown Prince was, accepting in full the dozen or so beauties presented by the Jiangsu Provincial Governor.
Qi Zhen knew his daughter was formidable.
Being able to consecutively kill two imperial princes and bring down two Duke manors, anywhere, one would have to say she was someone extraordinary.
But one thing was one thing.
Dealing with the Crown Prince was far more difficult than all those previous people combined.
Qi Zhen’s tone was calm, but his mood was extremely heavy: “Yuan Jie’er, I know your skills are exceptional and your courage is great, but if you kill the Crown Prince, matters will only slide into an even more unpredictable abyss.”
He was not joking.
Old Marquis Qi felt this topic was too heavy and looked at Qi Yuan as he said: “Yuan Jie’er, what your father says also makes sense. Right now, His Majesty has already ordered His Highness to investigate the Lu family’s case thoroughly, so why not wait a little longer?”
Qi Yuan did not refute him. She nodded and said: “Indeed, we can wait a little.”
For some reason, the moment she said those words, the other three people in the room all simultaneously let out sighs of relief.
Old Madam Qi held Qi Yuan’s hand and gently patted it: “Yuan Jie’er, it’s wonderful that you can think this way. The tree desires calm but the wind will not cease. Seeing all these people jumping out like this, you must be exhausted too.”
Killing people was exhausting too.
She felt that Qi Yuan’s daggers and such had probably chipped countless times already.
Qi Yuan instead suddenly found this baffling, and she smiled: “Grandmother is mistaken. How could it be exhausting? Do ordinary people not also have worries? For ordinary people, the seven necessities upon opening the door, every single one is a major matter.”
“Moreover, ordinary people also have to face local hooligans, village heads and ward chiefs, and even those greedy officials.” Qi Yuan saw things very openly: “As long as one lives, one must face countless troubles. The most important thing is that the blade must remain in one’s own hands, and one must always retain the ability to resist.”
As long as one was capable of responding, then even if these vermin jumped around as joyfully as possible, what did it matter?
Just crush them one by one as they came.
To contend against heaven and contend against people was joy without end.
She was always prepared to answer any challenge.
Old Marquis Qi could not help slapping the table in admiration: “Good! Yuan Jie’er is right. Isn’t the reason people live precisely because of that one breath of spirit?! One wears as large a hat as one’s abilities can bear.”
He burst into loud laughter, all his previous worries swept away: “No matter what, Yuan Jie’er won this time, and that’s enough.”
Qi Zhen felt his old father truly was one thing before people and another behind them.
If he himself had constantly caused trouble in the past, his father would long ago have beaten him to death and sent him to meet the ancestors.
Now that it was Qi Yuan instead, she even had thoughts of killing the Crown Prince, yet Old Marquis Qi was still here smoothing things over and acting as though it were no great matter.
What else could he say? He could only cough a few times.
Qi Yuan, meanwhile, first went to the rear courtyard to visit Shen Jialang.
Divine Doctor Xue had already examined Shen Jialang. Seeing Qi Yuan arrive, he said: “The wounds have already all been treated. Bite wounds and tearing injuries are different from bruises and cuts, they’re difficult to handle. I tried stitching him up. As long as he doesn’t develop a fever afterward, logically there should not be any problems.”
Ever since Qi Yuan had previously gifted him the Jinkui Yaolue, Divine Doctor Xue’s attitude toward her had improved considerably.
Qi Yuan also nodded in thanks, stepped forward to sit at Shen Jialang’s bedside, and reached out to touch his forehead.
Shen Jialang immediately opened his eyes, his bright eyes looking at her: “Elder Sister!”
Qi Yuan smiled gently: “Are you feeling a little better?”
“Much better.” Shen Jialang nodded nonstop like a little puppy, then sat upright and suddenly said to Qi Yuan: “Elder Sister, I want to go study.”
Qi Yuan immediately laughed: “Then you’ll have to wait until your injuries heal after a few more days.”
“No!” Shen Jialang shook his head firmly: “Elder Sister, I want to leave the capital and go study in Shuzhong!”
Qi Yuan was momentarily stunned.
She did not know why Shen Jialang would suddenly say such a thing.
Shen Jialang had only just turned six after the New Year. How could such a young child suddenly think of going all the way to Shuzhong to study?
She immediately swept a glance over the servants attending in Shen Jialang’s room.
But Shen Jialang grabbed her hand: “Elder Sister, no one taught me this. I thought of it myself. The big brother who teaches me riding and archery said that in Shuzhong they have a great scholar, Scholar Fan. I want to study under Scholar Fan! When I grow up, I’ll become Elder Sister’s support!”
Qi Yuan froze slightly, then finally understood why Shen Jialang had specifically mentioned Scholar Fan.
Scholar Fan was both a renowned scholar and a wandering hero. It was said that in his younger years he had even been a wandering swordsman and personally engraved famous lines onto his sword such as “Kill one man in ten steps, leave no trace in a thousand li.”
She touched Shen Jialang’s hair: “Shuzhong is thousands of li away. If you go there, I’m afraid you’ll only be able to return once a year. Do you truly want to go?”
Shen Jialang’s gaze was firm.
He did not want to become Qi Yuan’s burden anymore.
Nor did he want to wait for Elder Sister to save him every single time.
He wanted to become stronger and better, to become Elder Sister’s helper and support instead of dead weight.
Before that, he would put forth one hundred times, one thousand times the effort.
Qi Yuan seriously listened to Shen Jialang’s words. After a moment of silence, she said: “Then I’ll first have people inquire and see under what conditions Scholar Fan would be willing to accept you as a disciple. Besides, even if you’re leaving, you’ll have to wait until after the New Year, right?”
The moment Shen Jialang heard Qi Yuan agree, he was already beside himself with joy. Hearing her say this, he hurriedly nodded.
Qi Yuan also did not brush him off. The moment she turned back, she brought up the matter with Old Marquis Qi.
Old Marquis Qi was somewhat shocked: “At his age, he’s really still far too young.”
But Qi Yuan said: “He was never an ordinary child to begin with. Since childhood, he’s been more mature and sensible than ordinary children. If he wants to go, then it’s the result of careful consideration.”
She would not think Shen Jialang was still too young and that all the decisions he made were immature.
People ultimately had to walk their own paths. If they walked wrongly, then they could simply correct themselves afterward.
The paths one stumbled and groped one’s way into were often the best and most suitable ones for oneself.
Seeing her say this, Old Marquis Qi nodded: “Then I’ll first ask around through some contacts.”
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