Chapter 57

First Volume, Chapter 57: Defeat Is Certain

If Qin Feng insists on challenging Ning Hu just to save face, it's no great matter—youth is impulsive. But the contest should play to one's strengths and avoid one's weaknesses. Qin Feng is a scholar who can't carry a load or lift a weight; to challenge Ning Hu to a test of strength is sheer madness.

Now even the Liang Emperor has been stirred—this isn't stupidity anymore, it's suicide!

Qin Tianhu grew angrier by the moment, fearing Qin Feng would drag the entire Qin Family into ruin; he rose abruptly and stormed toward the tripod, kicking Qin Feng squarely in the buttocks.

Caught utterly off guard by the sudden attack, Qin Feng nearly toppled headfirst into the tripod.

Qin Feng thought Ning Hu had snuck up behind him and shouted: "Damn it! You dare lay hands on me before the Emperor? I'll kill you!"

But when he turned around and saw Qin Tianhu's pitch-black face, Qin Feng's bravado vanished instantly; he plastered on a forced smile: "Father, why did you kick me? In front of everyone, give me some dignity!"

The guests, who had come solely to watch the Qin Family's humiliation, erupted in roaring laughter at Qin Feng's words.

Even the Liang Emperor couldn't help shaking his head, thinking Qin Feng was the Liang Dynasty's number one clown.

Qin Tianhu wanted to strangle Qin Feng on the spot—he'd served as an official for decades and had never been so humiliated.

But for the sake of the Qin Family, Qin Tianhu forced down his rage, turned to the Liang Emperor, and bowed deeply: "My unworthy son is unruly and ignorant of heaven's height and earth's depth—he dares challenge the Little Marquis to a test of strength, bringing shame upon us all. I shall punish him severely upon returning home. I beg Your Majesty to rescind the decree and cancel this contest."

The Liang Emperor would not pressure Qin Tianhu—after all, if the Qin Family fell into disgrace, it would benefit the Liang Emperor not at all.

Yet before the Liang Emperor could decide, the ministers present refused to let it pass.

The Hubei Party officials reacted most fiercely.

The Vice Minister of Revenue stood abruptly, bowed to the Liang Emperor, and spoke with fierce intensity: "A sovereign's word is sacred. Since Your Majesty has issued an Imperial Decree, how can it be revoked so casually? Minister Qin, are you trying to cast the Emperor into dishonor?! From small matters, one sees the great—if decrees are reversed at will, how can the realm be governed? Where is the Emperor's authority?"

The Director of the Hubei Bureau quickly chimed in: "Today is Ji Wang's birthday banquet. Since Qin Feng has volunteered to challenge Ning Hu for Ji Wang's amusement, it shows the younger generation's respect. But if we cancel it now, the court officials who came in full attendance will be made fools of—what punishment awaits those who mock Ji Wang and the Emperor?"

The Minister of Revenue did not join in throwing stones at one who has fallen, but his expression betrayed gleeful delight.

Though Qin Tianhu was no master schemer, he was cautious to a fault, having committed almost no missteps in his career; toppling him in the Imperial Court was exceedingly difficult.

In the world's power struggles, nothing outweighs "reputation."

Once Qin Tianhu's reputation is shattered, it won't merely mean public mockery—his political allies will swiftly reassess their positions, and his faction's power will suffer devastating blows.

The Minister of Revenue grew fonder of Qin Feng with every glance, secretly praising him: "I was at a loss how to bring down Qin Tianhu—and now his own son has handed me the knife. Hah!"

The Liang Emperor said nothing, watching the scene unfold.

At that moment, a low voice rang out; all turned to see it was Marquis Ning Qingquan!

"Minister Qin, remember your station!"

"How can a Minister of War be so untrustworthy? Are you trying to make Heaven laugh?"

As the saying goes, a tiger does not sire a dog—Ning Hu's fiery temper was inherited from Ning Qingquan. Though Qin Tianhu held the rank of First-Rank Official, Ning Qingquan cared nothing for protocol and launched his rebuke on the spot.

Ning Qingquan was a member of the Pro-Peace Faction, closely allied with the Hubei Party; for days he had heard how Qin Feng recklessly harmed Noble Youths, and he loathed him intensely. Yet the Marquis Family had long had no ties with the Qin Family, so even had he wished to punish Qin Feng, he had no opportunity.

Now that the Qin Family had walked right into his lap, how could Ning Qingquan let this chance slip?

"Hmph! I've always been blunt—I don't dance around. Minister Qin, have you heard the saying, 'If the top beam is crooked, the bottom beam will be too'? I won't dredge up Qin Feng's past crimes against Noble Youths. But since he has publicly boasted he will challenge my Quan Lang to a test of strength, he must see it through."

Ning Qingquan glanced at Qin Tianhu, his eyes filled with contempt: "Or perhaps Minister Qin fears defeat and is already trembling before the match? If you lack even this much courage, how can you command troops? Didn't you, in your days leading the border armies against the Di, suffer defeat after defeat—was that also because you were already half-defeated before the battle?"

Qin Tianhu wanted to distance Qin Feng from this, but the ministers blocked him at every turn; though furious, he had no recourse.

Yet Qin Feng himself looked relaxed—he knew these court officials were all seasoned veterans; their ability to escalate matters was flawless, and once they seized an opening, they would crush the Qin Family to death.

Qin Feng intended to publicly humiliate these so-called "National Pillars," to demonstrate the Qin Family's stance and make them understand the Qin Family was not to be trifled with. Of course, these were surface motives—deeper still, he meant to show loyalty to the Liang Emperor: even under such resistance, the Qin Family stood firmly with him.

Facing the mockery and scolding, Qin Feng smiled with careless ease, slapped the tripod, and said calmly: "Just lifting a tripod? Easy and pleasant! Besides, aside from respecting the elderly and caring for the young, I have no other virtues. I'm a few years older than Ning Hu; to avoid accusations of bullying a child, how about I use only one hand?"

The hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted in deafening laughter.

The younger guests couldn't help shouting out their taunts.

"Qin Feng, are you trying to kill me with laughter? Let Ning Hu use one hand? Hah! Did you not wake up today?"

"Hmph! Don't blow your own ego until it bursts!"

"Since the Young Master Qin is so confident, why wait? Let's begin!"

Hearing the laughter from all sides, Qin Tianhu trembled with rage, raised his hand to strike Qin Feng and shake some sense into him—only to find Qin Feng had already retreated far away.

Watching his furious father, Qin Feng winked and whispered: "Father, don't worry—I won't lose. Just trust me once."

Whether Qin Tianhu believed him or not—what did it matter? The arrow was on the string; it had to be fired!

At the same moment, word reached the side pavilion of the Wangye Fu.

The ladies of every household and palace had gathered there, for propriety demanded male and female guests be separated.

Liu Hongyan, representing the Qin Family, learned Qin Feng intended to challenge Ning Hu to a test of strength; she cursed inwardly: "That damned brat—does he intend to drive his father to death?"