Chapter 262: Scholars Naturally Have Factions

The Grand Tutor was kidnapped, his life or death unknown.

Zhao Mingqiao was filled with inner anguish and anxiety, his lips blistered from stress, and every day he asked Chen Guanlou for the latest news.

"No news."

Zhao Mingqiao grew so angry his cheeks sank in.

"Why are you so worked up? The Crown Prince's palace isn't even worried. Besides, you know the Grand Tutor, but the Grand Tutor doesn't know you." Chen Guanlou couldn't help but snap back.

Zhao Mingqiao didn't want to explain; he simply said, "You don't understand."

"I don't understand your grand righteousness or your so-called bigger picture. But I know that without the Grand Tutor, the sky hasn't fallen."

"But without the Grand Tutor, the Crown Prince's sky has collapsed."

"The Crown Prince remains the Crown Prince."

"It's all temporary," Zhao Mingqiao snapped, pacing the cell. "Without the Grand Tutor's support, the Crown Prince finds every step harder. I can't imagine what the future will hold."

"Worst case? He's deposed as Crown Prince. What's so terrifying?" Chen Guanlou spoke those three words—"deposed Crown Prince"—casually. Zhao Mingqiao stared at him, eyes wide, fixed with blazing fury.

Chen Guanlou cursed himself for his careless tongue—he knew it would provoke the man, yet he said it anyway.

"If you're upset, just yell at me."

Zhao Mingqiao suddenly deflated, slumping down. "You're right. Worst case, he's deposed as Crown Prince. A year ago, when I first entered officialdom, I never believed the Crown Prince could ever be deposed. But now, it seems closer than ever. The Grand Tutor's been thrown in prison, kidnapped, his fate unknown—what's impossible anymore? Right now, I feel anything could happen."

Chen Guanlou felt deeply relieved—the stubborn fool had finally opened his eyes.

He pressed on, continuing to persuade: "That's the right way to think. You should learn from Yu Zhaoan—I mean, Yu Zhaoan after his release. He spent years in the Heavenly Prison, and he saw the truth clearly. Fighting the old Emperor is useless. Daily memorials denouncing this one or that one are useless. If you want to get things done, first win the old Emperor's favor."

Look at Yu Zhaoan—he's been out for only half a year, and now he's Governor of the Northwestern Province, overseeing civil affairs. From prisoner to regional governor—it's all a matter of mindset."

"You're smart. Adjust your views slightly, learn to accept the official system, and learn to use it. I believe your future won't be worse than Yu Zhaoan's—maybe even better."

Zhao Mingqiao gave a bitter laugh. "Impossible. I don't have Yu's family background."

"You're wrong! Precisely because you lack Yu Zhaoan's background, you're more likely to earn the old Emperor's trust." Chen Guanlou spoke seriously: "Why does the old Emperor favor Jiang Tu? Is it just because he's good at raising revenue and kissing up?"

"There are countless officials in court who understand finance and flattery—why don't they catch the old Emperor's eye? Because Jiang Tu is a commoner with no family ties, unconnected to any faction. His life or death rests entirely on the old Emperor's whim. With your intelligence, you have every chance to replace Jiang Tu."

"You want me to become a favor-seeking sycophant?" Zhao Mingqiao laughed bitterly. "You really think big."

"Do you want to get things done?" Chen Guanlou ignored the mockery and shot back. "Do you want power? Do you want to do real good for the people? If you do, then drop your meaningless pride and rigid morals. Rather than letting scoundrels like Jiang Tu run rampant in court, why not do it yourself? At least you carry the people in your heart, at least you're not that greedy."

Zhao Mingqiao was speechless. After a long pause, he regained his train of thought, resisting being led astray: "According to you, I belong to a faction. Scholars naturally have factions."

Chen Guanlou: …

Now it was his turn to be silenced.

He scratched his head and whispered, "What faction is your teacher from? The Crown Prince's camp?"

"He's not technically part of the Crown Prince's faction, but he will unswervingly support the Crown Prince's legitimate status."

In other words, support whoever is legitimate. Whether it's the Crown Prince doesn't matter—what matters is the status of the eldest son. More broadly, it doesn't matter who sits on the throne—support whoever does. It's not about supporting a person, but the legitimacy of the throne, the legitimacy of the lineage.

Even if the throne were occupied by a cat or a dog, you'd still support it.

Chen Guanlou pondered. "Actually, your teacher's position is easy to handle! Just wholeheartedly support the old Emperor, kiss his ass—don't oppose him. You can't win."

Zhao Mingqiao sneered coldly. "After years of study, am I to become a shameless sycophant, speaking lies, becoming a hypocrite, doing a pile of rotten deeds? I cannot do it!"

Fine!

The literary snob's pretentiousness had flared up again.

Chen Guanlou sighed. "Honestly, I admire you—especially your persistence. If I were you, I might not manage it. I'm like cotton—I shrink back under pressure, preferring to hide than to stand out as the first target."

"Someone has to be the first target," Zhao Mingqiao declared firmly. He had never regretted his fate, not once.

Chen Guanlou couldn't help asking, "Then isn't the Great Ming Prince a first target? Isn't Guo Dachun one too?"

"Don't mention those traitors. They're rebels—how can they be compared to us, court officials?"

"They only wanted fairness and justice, a peaceful world."

"If you have grievances, you should petition the authorities."

"Are you asking, 'Your Honor, who is this person making a complaint?'"

"You?" Zhao Mingqiao's eyes turned red with rage.

"You're an official—you have access to real information. You know full well that in Jinzhou, the entire system is corrupt from top to bottom. Do you really think commoners can petition officials? 'No money, no entry' isn't a joke—it's the truth."

Zhao Mingqiao fell silent. He couldn't refute Chen Guanlou—he even felt a pang of guilt. But he refused to admit it, refused to agree. To agree would mean the collapse of his twenty-odd years of values. He couldn't bear it. He dared not face the brutal consequences.

Seeing this, Chen Guanlou sighed inwardly. "The world is like this. Even if someone else sat on that throne, the environment wouldn't change much. It's not your fault—it's the age's fault."

"The age is made of people. Since we see the problem, it's our duty to change it." These words were meant for Chen Guanlou—and for himself. Zhao Mingqiao clenched his fists, his resolve hardening further.

Chen Guanlou gave a light laugh. "Your method is top-down—hard, too hard, nearly impossible. Guo Dachun's method is bottom-up—undoubtedly destructive. But compared to systemic evil, their destruction is nothing. At least the people of Jinzhou still have a way to survive—the people of Dongzhou have no way at all."