Chapter 177: Yu Min Arrives in the Capital

Chapter 177: Yu Min Arrives in the Capital

Yu Min stood by the chilly riverbank, dressed in a light blue robe and a dark blue cloak with white fur trim. Two years had passed, and he seemed to have matured significantly, his face calm as he conversed with Qi Yazhi. His hair was unadorned, and if it weren’t for his unmistakable face, Qiu Huanian would hardly have recognized him as the once flamboyant youth from Qingfeng Academy in Xiangping Prefecture.

Du Yunse frowned slightly, and Qiu Huanian gestured for him to follow her, using the crowd as cover to get closer.

...

Compared to Yu Min’s calm demeanor and faint melancholy, Qi Yazhi's smile was much more pronounced, his every movement exuding a warm and inviting aura.

"I am a fellow townsman from Liaozhou and have long admired your reputation for talent. In the future, when there are poetry gatherings or banquets in the capital, I hope you will grace us with your presence."

Yu Min smiled, though his expression remained tinged with sorrow. "The capital is filled with talented scholars. I am but a newcomer and dare not overestimate myself. I’ll trouble Brother Qi to show me around and broaden my horizons."

"I dare not claim to guide you, but I know many of the famous scholars in the capital and their temperaments. I can certainly introduce you to them. Today, I am accompanying my wife and cannot stay long. Perhaps another day, I will visit the residence of the Minister of the Imperial Banquet Office. How does that sound?"

"My elder brother loves talent and will surely be delighted to welcome you."

...

After Qi Yazhi left, Yu Min tightened his cloak, feeling the cold creep up from his fingertips, numbing half his body.

His personal attendant, Shi Yin, approached and handed him a hand warmer. "Young Master, you’ve just recovered from a serious illness. Don’t stand in the wind. Let’s return to the carriage."

"That Qi Yazhi, such audacity! Recognizing you, he came over directly to talk, and you couldn’t refuse."

Yu Min shook his head gently and chided, "Minister Qi is an imperial examination scholar, a second-rank graduate. I am not even a provincial graduate, just a mere scholar. How can I act superior in front of him?"

Shi Yin pouted. "You are the eldest son of the Yu Clan of Liaozhou, the younger brother of the Minister of the Imperial Banquet Office. Qi Yazhi’s family isn’t even considered a scholarly clan. How can he compare to you?"

Yu Min remained silent and quietly walked toward the nearby carriage.

A few years ago, Shi Yin’s words would have reflected his true thoughts. He would have looked down on Qi Yazhi, believing himself to be of noble birth and feeling proud. However...

Two summers ago, he had ruined his marriage, been harshly rebuked by his mentor, and forcibly taken back to his family's ancestral home. After returning to the family school in a daze, he tried to adjust his mindset and prepare for the upcoming provincial examination, but he still failed.

Yu Min had expected his family and clan to be disappointed in him. He had prepared himself for scolding and discipline, but to his surprise, no one showed any sign of distress—as if they had never expected anything from him in the first place.

Having grown somewhat, Yu Min spent two years testing and verifying, finally understanding what he meant to his family.

Every family's resources are limited, especially in prominent clans. The more they have, the more cautious they are in allocating them to the younger generation, to avoid causing conflicts among siblings.

This allocation is primarily determined by lineage and age, with talent being a secondary consideration.

Yu Min was fortunate to be born into the main lineage, but he was not the eldest son. As long as his elder brother was not a fool and met the standard of mediocrity, he would inevitably be the primary inheritor of the Yu clan's resources, responsible for supporting the entire family. Yu Min, on the other hand, was merely a decorative flower on the tree.

The Yu clan needed a “talented scholar,” a member with a reputation for talent to adorn their name, but they did not need someone who could potentially threaten the elder brother's position.

Thus, from a young age, he had been pampered, indulged, and guided to love poetry, song, and the company of women, while remaining ignorant of worldly affairs and the economy. His intelligence had earned him the reputation of a talented scholar, but that was all he was.

Headmaster Min Taikang had indeed intended to guide him, but Yu Min had mistreated the headmaster's beloved son, betraying that earnest guidance.

Finally realizing this, Yu Min fell seriously ill, suffering for over half a year and shedding his former arrogance. In early spring this year, as his health slightly improved, he was sent to the capital by his family, with no room for refusal.

The Yu clan had sided with Prince Jin in the struggle for the throne. Prince Jin, known for his love of scholars and quick wit, needed someone to boost his reputation as the competition for the throne intensified. However, his maternal relative, Jie Tanguang, had been compromised by the Azure Phoenix Lord, forcing him to seek out new top talents.

Yu Min was the Yu clan's contribution to Prince Jin. His reputation for talent was partly due to his own abilities and partly due to the Yu clan's years of cultivation and promotion. When presented, it still carried some weight.

Yu Min felt a bitter smile within, wondering if he should feel lucky to be at least a direct descendant of the Yu family. Everything he wrote was truly "his own," and his fame was entirely attributed to "Yu Min" himself, unlike those branch family members who could only be obscure ghostwriters.

—How could aristocratic families ensure that every generation had a dazzlingly talented direct descendant to maintain their prestige?

It was simple: if there was someone like Yu Min who indeed had talent, they would be heavily cultivated in that direction; if an entire generation of direct descendants lacked anyone noteworthy, they could also resort to grafting and fabricating reputations.

This realization completely shattered the last shred of pride in Yu Min. It turned out that in the eyes of his relatives, he held no greater value; he was merely a mere ornament that could easily be replicated and replaced.

"Master, if you’re done wandering, perhaps we should head back. Your health isn’t fully recovered yet, and if the eldest master and madam find out, they’ll surely worry," Shi Yin caught up to Yu Min and urged him.

"Tomorrow, Madam has arranged for you to meet the second-place examinee from the Jiangnan Chi family. If you catch a chill today and delay such an important matter, what then?"

Yu Min gave a disinterested grunt, thinking of the series of social engagements already arranged for him. He felt displeased but had no choice but to force a smile and attend.

When Le Yi was being mistreated by that nanny back then, she must have felt even worse than he did now... Why had he thought at the time that it was nothing, that as long as he pretended not to know and endured it, it would pass?

Le Yi, as well as Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse, were all in the capital...

Old friends gathered in the capital, but it was no longer the carefree days of youth.

...

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse stood in a hidden spot not far away, watching Qi Yazhi take his leave and then Yu Min depart before they reappeared in a more visible location.

"When did Qi Yazhi become so close to Yu Min? Inviting him to poetry gatherings and banquets, and even planning to visit the Minister of the Imperial Banquet Office’s residence."

Du Yunse said, "Qi Yazhi has ambitions to rise above his origins and has always sought to align himself with the powerful. It seems now that he has accepted Prince Jin’s olive branch."

"Yu Min is likely sent by the Yu family to assist Prince Jin. By befriending him, Qi Yazhi can more easily establish himself under Prince Jin’s banner."

Qiu Huanian unconsciously furrowed his brow. "Aligning with Prince Jin? Then when his wife repeatedly invited Jiu Jiu out during your birthday banquet, it wasn’t as simple as it seemed, was it?"

Du Yunse nodded. "I have a speculation, though not entirely confirmed, but it’s probably close to the truth."

"What is it?"

Du Yunse took Qiu Huanian’s hand and spoke in a low voice as they walked. "Originally, Jie Tanguang, as the eldest son of Prince Jin’s maternal family, was exceptionally talented and had been groomed for years, making him the undisputed leader among Prince Jin’s younger generation. But now that Jie Tanguang is confined in Qing Lord’s residence, Prince Jin has had to seek other talents."

"The Jiangnan Chi family had already been colluding with Prince Jin. Seizing this opportunity, Chi Zihuai has fully pledged his allegiance to Prince Jin, taking Jie Tanguang’s place."

Chi Zihuai was a direct descendant of the Jiangnan Chi family and the second-place examinee in Du Yunse’s Palace Examination cohort, ranking one spot above Jie Tanguang. Of course, this didn’t necessarily mean he was more capable than Jie Tanguang—perhaps it was simply because Jie Tanguang was younger and more handsome, making him a better candidate for the third-place scholar.

"Chi Zihuai is in his thirties, with his eldest son being thirteen years old, around the same age as Jiu Jiu. He excels in painting and calligraphy and often visits art galleries to appreciate works, earning him some renown."

When Qi Yazhi’s wife invited Jiu Jiu out, the meeting place was set at an art gallery.

"What are they trying to do?" Qiu Huanian was furious.

"They’re likely trying to recruit us. After all, both of us are significant to the Crown Prince, yet we have no inherent obligation to remain loyal to him."

Those who supported the Second Prince were mostly disciples and protégés personally promoted over the years by his grandfather, Bi Yongshi. Those who supported Prince Jin were mostly from the Xie family of Jinzhou and their allied aristocratic families. These people had natural allegiances, and any move would affect the whole, making it difficult for them to easily switch sides.

Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian, however, had no such relationship with the Crown Prince. Both came from humble backgrounds and had risen to their current positions through their own efforts. Their only connection to the Crown Prince was that Du Yunse’s mentor, Wen Huiyang, had once been tasked with instructing the Crown Prince.

To outsiders, this was not an unbreakable bond, especially since Wen Huiyang had been confined under house arrest for several years due to the Crown Prince, and Du Yunse had missed his mother’s funeral because he had to flee the capital hastily.

They didn’t know Du Yunse’s ambitions or his views on the various princes, nor did they understand the strong contempt Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian held for the Second Prince and Prince Jin’s ruthless exploitation of the people. Arrogantly, they believed Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian were targets they could recruit.

Even after understanding the underlying intent behind Qi Yazhi’s wife’s actions, Qiu Huanian was not entirely at ease.

If everything went according to Prince Jin's plan, Jiu Jiu would go to the painting pavilion to meet Chi Zihuai's eldest son, and under his calculated charm, she would develop a crush, leading to a betrothal, thereby achieving the goal of drawing Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian into their camp. For Prince Jin's side, this would naturally be a cause for celebration, requiring little effort.

But if things got stuck at the first step, and Jiu Jiu simply didn't develop feelings for Chi Zihuai's eldest son, who knows what they might do to push forward this calculated marriage?

Qiu Huanian had no faith in the so-called "noble families" and their supposed integrity.

A few days ago, Jiu Jiu mentioned wanting to help Qiu Huanian manage Qiu's Six Staples Business and even create some jewelry and cosmetics to sell in the shop. Qiu Huanian had already agreed, and he didn't want these messy affairs to keep Jiu Jiu cooped up at home.

Qiu Huanian looked at Du Yunse, who returned a reassuring glance. "It's just the thrashing of a cornered animal—it won't last."

Qiu Huanian sighed and shook his head with a bitter smile. "Such a good mood has been spoiled. Do we need to inform anyone about Yu Min and Qi Yazhi's meeting? Where should we go next?"

Du Yunse thought for a moment, then smiled lightly as he straightened the peony flower that was about to fall from Qiu Huanian's hair bun.

"You mentioned earlier that you wanted to visit Azure Phoenix Lord's Residence, right? There's no time like the present. Let's go now. I also want to take the opportunity to see Jie Tanguang."