Chapter 100: Qian Qianyi

Before Zhu Xu's words even faded, the group in the courtyard froze, all turning to look over.

At the same time, Qian Qianyi had already taken the card sent over by his disciple, his expression shifting slightly as he stood up in some panic.

Zhu Xu stood at the courtyard entrance, wearing a thin white single-layer robe trimmed with gold, waving his fan as he smiled at him.

"It's Prince Hui!" someone in the courtyard muttered in a low voice.

Everyone present's faces changed dramatically, shifting uneasily, unsure whether to stand and bow or pretend not to recognize him.

Especially the several chief examiners Zhu Xu had just named—their hearts filled with dread. This young lord had ransacked the Six Ministries' offices without even blinking; if he set his sights on them, their entire offices would be turned upside down!

Qian Qianyi heard it too, his body trembling slightly, but he forced himself to stay calm, walking over with neither humility nor arrogance, bowing slightly and saying, "Your subordinate pays respects to His Highness Prince Hui."

Qian Qianyi was a tall, stout middle-aged man whose every move carried a scholarly air—or rather, an elegant refinement—giving one the feeling of a generous and magnanimous elder.

Following Qian Qianyi's lead, everyone in the courtyard immediately stood up and bowed, voices calling out in succession, "Your subordinate pays respects to His Highness," and "This commoner pays respects to His Highness."

Zhu Xu smiled slightly, waving his hand and saying, "All exempt from ceremony." With that, he walked past Qian Qianyi toward the raised platform at the front of the courtyard.

Qian Qianyi had been impeached last year and, in worry and fear, had returned home; seeing hope because of Wei Zhongxian's downfall, he had come to the capital under the pretext of giving lectures to network.

The card in his hand was from **, and watching Zhu Xu's small retreating figure, he grew even more cautious, following along and saying with restrained reserve, "Your Highness, have you come to hear your subordinate lecture on the classics?"

When Zhu Xu had ransacked the Six Ministries' treasuries earlier, he had collected quite a few visiting cards; this time he had simply grabbed one at random.

He sat down in Qian Qianyi's original seat, adjusted his clothes, and beckoned, saying, "This damn weather is hot enough to kill a person. Pour me two cups of tea."

Although Zhu Xu had sat down, the others dared not move recklessly; they all gathered not far from Zhu Xu, faces uneasy, minds in turmoil, guessing what this little demon king who stirred up trouble was here for on such a hot day.

Fu Tao stood behind Zhu Xu, his gaze occasionally sizing up Qian Qianyi.

Of this Lord Qian, he naturally knew—a top-ranked jinshi by examination, a Hanlin compiler, currently the most renowned figure of the Donglin Faction, subtly bearing the momentum of a Donglin leader.

Fu Tao's eyes flickered as he muttered to himself, "Could it be that His Highness has his eye on this man?"

Qian Qianyi looked at Zhu Xu, unable to fathom his intentions, but he knew the various rumors circulating about this Prince Hui that had been spreading throughout the capital recently.

He was only briefly stunned, then turned and announced loudly, "Someone! Bring tea for His Highness."

Naturally, servants acknowledged and hurried off to pour tea.

The people gathered around were all sizing up Zhu Xu, and Zhu Xu was naturally looking at them as well.

In their eyes, Zhu Xu was a hungry wolf wearing a tiger's skin—they dared not meet his gaze, their hearts filled with extreme vigilance.

In Zhu Xu's eyes, this group was a mountain of gold and silver.

Just the three chief examiners Zhu Xu had named earlier each had assets exceeding a million; and there were a full several dozen people here. Not to mention, this Lord Qian beside him was also a man of means—reportedly worth no less than ten million, owning tens of thousands of mu of fertile farmland in Jiangnan!

Zhu Xu looked at them, his heart quite stirred, and only when the tea arrived did he turn to Qian Qianyi and ask, "Lord Qian, what are you lecturing on today?"

Zhu Xu was naturally short of stature, and seated as he was, Qian Qianyi had to bend nearly halfway over to address him: "Reporting to Your Highness, your subordinate was just lecturing on the Great Learning."

Zhu Xu's eyes lit up. Hugging his teacup, he swayed his head and said, "The instructor taught us: only after calm can one be settled; only after settled can one be calm; only after calm can one be tranquil; only after tranquil can one stop..."

The group listened to the sentences coming out of Zhu Xu's mouth, all of them dumbfounded.

Qian Qianyi also privately pondered what "instructor" referred to, while watching Zhu Xu's utterly carefree demeanor, growing more and more puzzled, unable to fathom what intention this Prince Hui had in coming here today.

He did not dwell on Zhu Xu's "scripture recitation," but asked with a respectfully smiling tone, "Your Highness, might I ask what business brings you here today?"

Zhu Xu finished looking at the people, then surveyed the courtyard—it truly was simple and unadorned, with not a trace of extravagance, everywhere carrying that Confucian-advocated feeling of detachment from fame and wealth, of investigating things to extend knowledge.

"Oh, just taking a stroll." Zhu Xu said casually, his gaze still roaming about.

Qian Qianyi's face twitched slightly, his thoughts briefly condensing.

It wasn't just Qian Qianyi who didn't believe it, his heart full of doubt. The group below were also speculating endlessly—the person before them was not one to wander about aimlessly. Before he had ransacked the Six Ministries, almost everyone had forgotten that there was even such a Prince Hui in the current dynasty!

Truly, three years without a call, and one cry startles the world!

Qian Qianyi also glanced at the crowd below, a magnanimous smile on his face, and said, "Since Your Highness has come, why not listen to your subordinate lecture on the classics?"

Zhu Xu snapped his fan shut and said, "Sure." Then he looked at him with an expectant expression.

Qian Qianyi's facial muscles twitched again. He glanced at the cushion-like object beneath Zhu Xu, his expression quite peculiar.

At this moment, a young man who looked twenty-six or twenty-seven stepped forward from below, bowing and saying, "Your Highness, Master Mu Zhai is lecturing for us. If Your Highness enjoys it, you are welcome to sit and listen together. If Your Highness does not, perhaps you might go elsewhere for a stroll."

As this man's words fell, everyone's hearts jumped simultaneously—his words were a blatant expulsion, leaving no face at all, utterly discourteous!

Zhu Xu's eyes narrowed, his expression flat as he looked at this man.

Fu Tao's face turned abruptly cold. The Great Ming placed the utmost importance on propriety—that is, the hierarchy of superior and inferior, noble and base. This young man had clearly shown not the slightest regard for Zhu Xu as Prince Hui—utterly presumptuous!

Qian Qianyi glanced at Zhu Xu, his small eyes flickering, then turned and berated the young man: "Nonsense! Li Jinyan, how are you speaking to His Highness? Apologize to His Highness at once!"

Before Qian Qianyi's words even finished, Zhu Xu waved his hand, looking at this Li Jinyan with a smile and saying, "You're still a stipend student, aren't you?"

Li Jinyan had a fair, clean face with somewhat elongated features, dressed in fine silk—appearing quite wealthy and resplendent.

He looked at Zhu Xu, sneering inwardly: just a brat relying on the emperor to wield power—watch how I deal with you!

Li Jinyan waited for Zhu Xu's words to finish, deliberately letting a pause hang in the air before saying, "Reporting to Your Highness, not only am I a stipend student, I have three elder brothers who are tribute students. Additionally, ** of my clan brothers have entered the Imperial Academy, and many of my uncles serve in court, contributing to the government with countless achievements too numerous to list."

After Li Jinyan finished speaking, the others were visibly moved.

Li Jinyan's family—his ancestors, that is, Li Sancai—had settled in Shuntian Prefecture, but the family later divided, and Li Jinyan's branch moved to Fengyang Prefecture.

Not long after, Li Sancai was appointed Governor-General of Grain Transport and Governor of Fengyang, so in Fengyang, the Li family flourished. Li Sancai served as Governor-General of Grain Transport for over a decade. Now in Fengyang, never mind this powerless Prince Hui—even an imperial edict from the emperor himself might not carry as much weight as a word from the Li family!

This was a man who feared no power or influence!

Everyone, especially Qian Qianyi, was also watching Zhu Xu, wanting to see how he would respond.