Chapter 321: Chapter 317: The New Female Student at the Academy

On the second day of August, the Crown Prince submitted a request, proposing the Duke Yan Mansion’s second daughter as the Crown Prince Consort.

That day, His Majesty summoned Duke Yan for an inquiry, to which the latter straightforwardly replied, “My daughter is spoiled and headstrong, not a suitable match for the Crown Prince.”

The term “spoiled” might be derogatory to others, but to Duke Yan, it wasn’t even a modest understatement.

The refusal was given without sparing any face for the Crown Prince, without even glancing at the Crown Prince standing beside the Emperor’s throne.

“Rumors are circulating that the Crown Prince wants to marry Xiao Bai to keep her by his side, to exact revenge for the humiliation he suffered in the past,” Tang Ziqian shook his head with amusement, “Which of them ever saw Xiao Bai humiliate and abuse Li Mu?”

His little sister was clearly kinder to Li Mu than to him!

“But now, it seems we’ve torn faces with the Eastern Palace,” Tang Ziqian remarked.

“Was this the true intent behind the Crown Prince’s request to marry Xiao Bai?” Gu Ning pondered.

Keeping her head down submissively and saying nothing, Tang Xiaobai smirked secretly.

That wasn’t his real purpose at all.

He just wanted to get engaged.

Tang Shigong glanced at his seemingly obedient younger daughter and smiled slightly, saying, “After His Majesty rejected the Crown Prince’s proposal for the Crown Princess Consort, he approved the memorial for Qin Xiao’s military achievements and ennoblement.”

Qin Rong had already resumed his male identity and his original name.

Pretending to be a woman should have been a crime of deceiving the sovereign.

But the Imperial Censors hadn’t yet had a chance to impeach,

Initially set for the crime of deceiving the sovereign, this turn of events implied the Emperor tacitly forgave Qin Xiao.

Tang Ziqian discerned the deeper meaning within his father’s words, glanced at Tang Xiaobai, then elongated his “Oh” and said, “So it was laying the groundwork for this matter!”

Having vetoed one intense request, it would be hard to reject the next.

It’s a clever scheme, but Tang Xiaobai knew that wasn’t the case.

Nonetheless, there was no need to dispute with his father and brothers, so Tang Xiaobai redirected the conversation, “What about Prince Li?”

After Li Mu resumed his status as the Crown Prince, his visible right-hand men were Li Xingyuan and Qin Xiao, who assisted him in pacifying Mosen and sweeping the Northern Desert.

Yet, both Li Xingyuan and Qin Xiao were constrained by their identities.

Qin Xiao, disguised as a woman, was saddled with the crime of deceiving the sovereign.

Now that this hurdle was cleared, it was time to reward his merits.

As for Li Xingyuan, that posed… a bit of a problem…

Simply put, two years ago, he was accused by Miss Tang of secretly entering the capital, abducting the Duke Mansion’s young lady, and other charges.

A delegation was dispatched for accountability at that time, but due to the passing of Prince Changshan, the matter was left unresolved.

Yet, because of this, the court continuously obstructed Li Xingyuan from inheriting his title.

Now with Li Xingyuan triumphantly returning alongside Li Mu, it was appropriate both to propose the inheritance and revisit the old charges.

“Today, His Majesty also inquired about Prince Li inheriting his title,” Tang Shigong said with a smile, “We have no reason not to renew the charges against him.”

Tang Xiaobai snorted lightly.

Asking Tang Shigong about Li Xingyuan was clearly a reminder that issues could be stirred up.

“He’s good at asking Father about this and that, why not just appoint Father as the Prime Minister?” Tang Xiaobai muttered.

After speaking, a thought struck his heart.

He looked up to see Gu Ning and Tang Ziqian’s eyes also lit with a gleam.

In this dynasty, three positions could be referred to as Prime Minister, namely Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, Assistant Minister, and Chief of Staff.

The post of Chief of Staff, bearing too much power, remained vacant, leaving only two Prime Ministers, Secretary Wang Maozhao and Assistant Minister Zheng Shidao.

Now Wang Maozhao was dead, leaving only one Prime Minister, necessitating a replacement.

Considering today’s court, none had greater prestige than Tang Shigong.

A Prime Minister stands as truly the highest-ranking minister beneath the sovereign.

Tang Shigong merely smiled slightly, “Wang Maozhao has just passed, there’s no rush to appoint a Prime Minister.”

“How are things? Have we caught anyone?” Tang Xiaobai asked.

Tang Shigong shook his head, offering no further information.

Yesterday too many events unfolded.

The Empress Dowager fell ill.

The Prime Minister was killed.

The Crown Prince took residence in the Eastern Palace.

And the disputes between the Eastern Palace and the Duke Yan Mansion.

With the Empress Dowager’s illness, aside from slow treatment by the Imperial Physician, nothing more could be done.

After the Crown Prince assumed residence in the Eastern Palace, the surface also calmed down.

As for the Eastern Palace and Duke Yan Mansion disputes, they merely enriched the street gossips.

The matter now out in the open remains the Prime Minister’s assassination case.

A state Prime Minister, ambushed and killed at his own doorstep, was enough to put everyone at court on edge.

Standing on court, who wouldn’t have several formidable political adversaries?

The Emperor personally ordered, designating several government offices to cooperate in the investigation, making substantial movements.

With substantial movements, there’s a lot of operational ground.

When Gu Hui visited Tang Xiaobai, he also mentioned this matter, “… His Majesty has dispatched two squads of the Imperial Guard to assist with the search… the Ministry of Justice is given seven days to solve the case…”

If unsolved, then those who should step down will, and those who should rise will.

Tang Xiaobai couldn’t manage these matters, so he decisively turned his attention to Gu Hui, “Cousin Hui, will you still go to the Academy?”

Gu Hui shook his head, “Neither Zhu Qi nor I will be going.”

Zhu Qi, a relative of the Gu family’s fifth house, belonged to the same clan as the previously rebellious Shanzhou General, Zhu Juyuan.

The Gu family and Zhu family shared deep roots, not turning against each other over one Zhu Juyuan.

Thus, Zhu Qi also participated in this dropout incident.

Tang Xiaobai mused sentimentally, “Doesn’t that leave only Brother Tao in the top class?”

The academy initially had five top-class prodigies, one being Gongsun Yi who left, followed by Qin Rong joining.

Then Pei Xuan dropped out to work as an official, Qin Rong went to Hedong as well.

With Gu Hui and Zhu Qi dropping out, only one remains.

How desolate.

Gu Hui smiled and said, “Ah Qi and I have to prepare for next year’s provincial exam, leaving the academy was inevitable, especially since new students came in last August and this year—” upon these words, an odd expression crossed his face.

Tang Xiaobai didn’t watch him closely, so he only noticed his words, “There are new entrants to the top class too?”

Huntian Academy clearly belonged to the Eastern Palace’s talent training initiative.

Since the Crown Prince was involved, Tang Xiaobai paid close attention to this training program.

“Four new entrants over last year and this year.” As Gu Hui spoke, his complexion again turned peculiar.

Tang Xiaobai noticed this time and asked, “What? Is there something unusual about these four entrants?”

Gu Hui shook his head, continued, “One was promoted from the second class last year—”

“Is it Zuo Yanhui?” Tang Xiaobai asked.

She was previously in the second class, naturally knowing who among them excelled academically.

Besides her and the Crown Prince, Zuo Yanhui was the most diligent and talented, a promising Eastern Palace reserve talent!

Indeed, Gu Hui nodded, continued, “This year, two joined from the second class, one from outside.”

Tang Xiaobai’s eyes lit up.

For those internally promoted, she could mostly guess who they were. The external entrant was the real surprise, “Where are they from? Do I know them? Male or female?”

Gu Hui’s expression was far from pleasant, “It is… Sixth Sister.”

Tang Xiaobai was taken aback.

Gu Yulan?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep