[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-12":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Restoring the Mountains and Rivers",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2364281,4623,"Chapter 12: The Marquis","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-12",12,"\u003Cp>“Master Mu, the Lady requests your presence for a chat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sudden invitation left Li Mu momentarily stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This aunt of his valued ritual propriety above all, especially avoiding any hint of impropriety; every meeting had always taken place when the Marquis of Zhenyuan was at home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On ordinary days, even when he came to pay his respects, there were always maids and servants everywhere—let alone receiving a personal invitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Cui, do you know why the Lady wants to see me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the question, the maid’s face flushed red, and after a pause she said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The three young masters have returned from the academy. The Lady wishes for you brothers to gather together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this answer, Li Mu smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In dealing with illegitimate sons and daughters, his own aunt truly displayed the grace of a great family: all proper treatment was fully provided, and no one could find fault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, my three cousins have returned? Then I must see them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Cui, lead the way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After passing through more than a dozen gates, they arrived at the rear garden, where three youths and four young girls stood on either side, respectfully listening to the Lady of the Hou Fu’s instructions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If nothing unexpected occurred, these three youths were his cousins; among the four girls, two he had met on their first day, and the other two were likely illegitimate daughters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps due to the presence of a legitimate daughter, the Marquis of Zhenyuan and the Lady of the Hou Fu did not value these two illegitimate cousins much, and had never introduced them to him individually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cousin Mu, come over here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl who called out was the second daughter of the Lady of the Hou Fu, and also the youngest daughter of the Marquis of Zhenyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At four years old, she was at the most lively and restless age; relying on the Marquis’s doting affection, household rules meant nothing to her—mere wind in her ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Yu, mind your manners!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lady of the Hou Fu could not help rebuking her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among so many children in the household, each one behaved properly before her—except her youngest daughter, who had become the black mark of her parenting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Auntie, it’s no trouble. Everyone here is family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yu’s just a bit lively—that’s no vice in a military household like ours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu said with a cheerful smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder his uncle favored her; who could resist a plump, lively little bundle like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re too kind. Yu’s temperament has always been just like her father’s.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough standing around—go greet your cousin Mu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the Lady of the Hou Fu understood the art of language: mischievousness became paternal heritage, instantly shifting blame to the Marquis of Zhenyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But such blame, his own uncle would gladly accept; to him, a daughter resembling her father was surely praise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Greetings, Cousin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After brief pleasantries, the Lady and the women departed, leaving the four brothers alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling the ancestral glory, Li Mu quickly grew familiar with his three cousins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conversation shifted from the family’s history, to odd tales from the capital, and finally to court politics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even the academy students are urging petitions? Has the court struggle reached this point?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu asked in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conflict between the Pure Stream faction and the eunuch party had begun since the current emperor’s ascension—it was nothing new.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But their battleground had always been the court; now even academy students were being drawn in, clearly someone’s attempt to expand the conflict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cousin Mu, you’ve been in Hanzhong so long you don’t know—academy petitions aren’t new at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the succession struggle a hundred years ago, academy students have participated in several major upheavals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those who enjoy stirring things up are mostly sons of poor families, seeking to impress and catch the attention of high officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sons of officials don’t lack opportunities; they rarely join such commotion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Sen explained calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone carried a hint of pride—he clearly looked down on such opportunism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big brother, stop flattering them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s behind all this? Always those scholar-official sons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They push classmates into the frontlines as cannon fodder while hiding behind to reap the rewards—total cowards!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second brother Li Lai cut straight to the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second brother, say such things at home if you must—but not outside!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Sen hurriedly warned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew the truth—even the poor students being manipulated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those without connections who entered the academy solely by merit weren’t fools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew the risks, yet still jumped in—driven by profit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial examination path was too narrow: only one session every three years, with barely a hundred or two hundred admitted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even reaching that stage, without connections or background, securing a good position was nearly impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond bloodline inheritance, there were regional alliances and mentor networks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To thrive in court, one needed at least one of these three relationships.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For poor students, the best choice was to become a disciple of a high official, sailing smoothly through the examinations into office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this clarity, Li Mu instantly understood why the capital, brimming with political resources, had never produced a top-tier academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Political opportunism came at a price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Win, and you gain a ticket to office; lose, and you’re lucky to survive unscathed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, climbing through opportunism was never welcomed in officialdom—even if the excuse seemed noble, it bred suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m no fool—I wouldn’t foolishly make enemies for nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lai sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it weren’t for his close friend being dragged into it, he wouldn’t be this angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But anger was useless; it was mutual consent—what right did outsiders have to interfere?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless you could offer a better path, the wisest choice was to abandon the urge to help and accept reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis of Zhenyuan’s household did have political resources, but they were concentrated in the military.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for connections among scholar-officials, even the three brothers might not have enough to share—let alone outsiders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough, Big Brother, Second Brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You two, stop bickering all the time—can’t you give me even a little peace of mind!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment third brother Li Long spoke, both others snapped back in unison; Li Mu nearly laughed out loud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The relationship among these three brothers was truly complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eldest was proud, the second blunt, the third skilled at provoking resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Put together like this, and they hadn’t come to blows yet—that was already a triumph of Hou Fu discipline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three cousins, your uncle will return soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’ll likely test your studies—use the time to prepare. Let’s call it a day for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ultimate tactic deployed—the three, moments ago bickering, instantly wilted like withered eggplants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From their pained expressions, it was clear their academy grades were poor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this fit the usual standard of noble-born sons; after years of military families turning to literature, few had passed the imperial exams, and even fewer had become juren.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiring famous tutors made no difference—talent couldn’t be forced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, no great Confucian scholar would accept noble-born students—it was simply too humiliating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, no great Confucian scholar is willing to take noble scions as students—it's simply too shameful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1190,"2026-06-21T08:09:02.410Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","701de50b1a73f88be0178ae98b50730a254a3fc6d6446cc649442e394e1bcc72","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-13","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-11",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]