My Lady Always Lacks Ambition

Chapter 1269 - 1195: Pillar, Don’t Chicken Out

The sky was just starting to get light.

Qin Liuxi and Feng Xiu stood in midair, watching a group of scholars sitting cross-legged in front of the palace gate, along with the people behind them, fervently shouting about the Demon Path endangering the country and calling for its eradication to bring clarity and peace to the nation.

"Have they grown foolish from reading? Demonstrating in such cold weather?" Feng Xiu chuckled angrily and said, "With this kind of energy and spirit, they should be at the Holy Altar helping with disaster relief. Do they think that by just blowing hot air they can bring peace to the world? These stupid scholars, their studies have gone to the dogs."

Qin Liuxi said, "Whenever there’s a natural disaster or man-made calamity, people just need a scapegoat like the State Preceptor. Add in some instigation, and they pin all the blame on him, just to ease their own minds."

Sitting in demonstration at the palace gate wasn’t anything new. In history, whenever a favored concubine caused trouble for the nation, they’d chant ’Devil Concubine endangers the country’ and demonstrate. If a State Preceptor was involved, and expectations of a prosperous era weren’t met, it’d be ’Demon Path endangers the country’ all over again.

"It seems like being a State Preceptor isn’t feasible; the risks are just too high!" Qin Liuxi clicked his tongue. "Luckily, I told the old Emperor that our fate was over, and made an early escape. I truly had foresight."

Feng Xiu: "..."

Really wonder how Chi Yuan taught you all those years.

He looked at the scholars below, his eyes blazing, and said, "Should we do something?"

"No need, someone from the palace is coming."

Feng Xiu looked over. Indeed, someone was coming, and it was a familiar face, Qian Chuanzi Cui Shixue from the Ministry of Revenue.

Cui Shixue brought a Holy Edict, stating that the State Preceptor was gravely injured when he saved the Saint during the earthquake, and has already passed away.

Qin Liuxi: "..."

Feng Xiu burst into laughter, "Oh, you’ve been declared dead!"

Interesting, this finally brought some amusement amidst the recent frustrations.

Qin Liuxi coldly stared at him, "Do you want to die?"

There was a brief silence below, then someone said that who knows if the State Preceptor’s death is true or false; maybe it’s just a lie to pacify them.

"How dare you claim the Holy Edict is false? Are conspiracies all you have in your mind?" Cui Shixue sternly said, "The country is in crisis, and as scholars, not only do you not relieve the nation’s worries, but you also lead demonstrations and create disturbances. Who taught you this? With this free time, why not help carry bricks at the Holy Altar, clear the mud, or move the corpses? That would be immeasurable merit, rather than sitting here shouting nonsense that won’t make Da Feng better."

The scholars’ faces turned hot; how could they do such things? They only wield pens.

Feng Xiu raised an eyebrow and said, "This Cui guy is good, very sharp-tongued."

"Born of a powerful family, who knows how many resources were spent to nurture him. Without some skill, he wouldn’t have reached this position at this age." Qin Liuxi said with some appreciation.

Someone, undaunted, argued back that they are the future pillars of the country and are not causing trouble but seeking the Saint to discern right from wrong and clear the monarch’s side.

"Oh, this future pillar of the country, may I ask you, how old are you? What is your academic achievement? Judging by your scholar’s clothes, you haven’t even passed the scholar examinations, yet you dare call yourself a pillar? Come, come, come, come over here, I will take you to face the Saint, in front of him, and ask him yourself to discern right from wrong. Hey, why are you retreating? Come with me to face the Saint!"

Cui Shixue watched as that person retreated sullenly and then looked at everyone else: "You too, if you have anything you want to say, memorize it well now, or else when you’re in front of the Saint, you might just stutter and forget your own surname."

Silence reigned.

Feng Xiu burst into laughter, poisonous, too poisonous!

Qin Liuxi also had a smile in his eyes.

"Anyone else want to ask the Saint to discern right from wrong? Feel free to register with me. Now the ground in Shengjing quakes, many people are homeless, the nation is in distress, it’s time for you country’s pillars to contribute. If you can’t physically contribute, then contribute money. Ten thousand taels of silver, not twenty or thirty thousand, just ten thousand per person. I can take you to face the Saint, give you the chance to show your talents before the holy presence! Miss this chance, and it’s gone, hurry up."

Cui Shixue even signaled to a minor official beside him, who immediately took a notebook and pen, walked over to a bench that was somehow brought out, sat down, and yelled, "This is a one-time opportunity, if you want to register, do it quickly."

The entire scene fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The scholars looked at Cui Shixue like he was a Ghost, terrifying, utterly terrifying.

Who taught him such a refreshingly unique extortion method?

"Brilliant!" Feng Xiu laughed so hard he rolled on the ground, slapping his thigh, "Qian Chuanzi of the Ministry of Revenue, he deserves his title, he’s mastered extortion to the point of essence, even Monks passing by would lose a strand of hair to him!"

Qin Liuxi said, "It seems the Ministry of Revenue has truly hit bottom."

Forcing Cui Shixue to seize any chance to extort money, the treasury must be completely empty.

Cui Shixue saw no one stepping forward, sneered and said, "What’s the matter, no one’s registering? Are you cowardly, or just broke? Can’t contribute money, can’t contribute effort, and you dare call yourselves the country’s pillars? You can only sit here and pretend to be loyal to the country."

As he stepped forward, hands behind his back, he continued, "There are three paths to show loyalty. First, contribute physically, wherever there’s a disaster, go there to help with relief. Second, go to the battlefield, even if you can’t fight, you can nurse the wounded or do logistics. Third, contribute money, lots of silver, our Ministry of Revenue will take as much as you give. If you can’t choose any of these paths, then just leave, stop causing trouble here. We, who serve the court, are busy and don’t have time for your nonsense."

Cui Shixue continued, "Whoever disagrees with me can register and vent your grievances to me."

Once this name is taken down, your future will be dark! "By the way, this area has just been appropriated by the Ministry of Revenue for official use, meaning the piece of land under your butts is Ministry territory. Sitting here is not impossible, but you’ll have to pay. Ten taels of silver per person, sit quietly for one day, you can reflect and meditate." Cui Shixue calmly said, "Now giving you half a quarter of an hour, either leave or pay up!"

The silence was as if a chicken had been struck mute.

Caw, caw, caw.

Suddenly a crow flew low over everyone’s heads, making a cawing sound.

Qin Liuxi glanced at Feng Xiu, "Stirring up trouble."

Feng Xiu grinned, "I’m giving him a little more drama."

Among them, a middle-aged scholar stood up, with an air of straightforwardness, and loudly proclaimed, "No need for your Excellency to drive us away, we shall go to the Holy Altar for disaster relief."

Dammit, this Cui Qian Chuanzi from the Ministry of Revenue is just a proper rogue, if not leaving now, then when? Pay up, with ten taels of silver, he might as well buy a thick coat for winter.

"Brother Lin, wait for me."

Someone followed him.

One person leaving, many followed, soon the area in front of the palace gate was empty.

Cui Shixue sighed with disappointment, "I can’t even get ten taels of silver out of them, truly regrettable!"

Qin Liuxi took a small bag of gold from the Qiankun Bag and tossed it to Cui Shixue, After enjoying a good show, some reward silver was warranted.

Cui Shixue looked at the gold that suddenly appeared in his hand, froze for a moment, then his eyes lit up, "Master, is that you?"