Chapter 287 - 285: Cui Ji, You Seem Very Confident

Words : 1531 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

Shen Yinning and Lu Ying were accustomed to their banter, so she didn’t mind his words. She even casually set an extra set of chopsticks and bowl for him. Cui Ji listened, but his heart felt heavy. His mother had passed away early, and he grew up eating meals given by various households. In his youth, he lacked understanding of social etiquette and focused solely on studying, unaware that visiting someone’s home as a guest required bringing a gift. Later, he encountered Shen Yinning, who taught him the rules and etiquette of interacting with people, making him appear like someone properly cultivated. Thus, although his family was poor, every time he visited Elder Yu, he would bring some fruit and pastries. He glanced at the set of calligraphy tools Lu Ying had brought as a gift. The exquisite silk box was embroidered with the three small clerical-script characters "藏墨阁" (The Ink Repository). He had heard colleagues discuss that Jiangnan’s Ink Repository was renowned for its calligraphy tools. Even the simplest set would cost over a thousand taels of patterned silver. For Lu Ying to travel such distances to gift Elder Yu with the tools from the Ink Repository, it surely cost no less than ten thousand taels of snowflake-patterned silver. Ten thousand taels of snowflake-patterned silver... With his current salary, it would take at least ten years to save that amount. Cui Ji’s lips tightened into a line, his eyelashes lowered as he fell silent. Yu Qingheng coughed lightly and said, "You shouldn’t say that. I am not a man obsessed with wealth. I’m already very pleased whenever students visit. As the saying goes, ’The worth of the gift lies in the sentiment.’ The thoughtfulness of students holds more value than treasures and riches. Alright, alright, Jingwei, you’ve come all the way from the palace—it couldn’t have been easy. Hurry, try the soup dumplings Zhaozhao made before they go cold!" The old man deliberately diverted the conversation, and Lu Ying mockingly smirked. Although he didn’t mind the teacher favoring Shen Zhaozhao, the teacher had no right to favor Cui Ji over him. The teacher’s tone was subtly more cordial toward Cui Ji, but significantly more polite towards Lu Ying. The more polite, the more distant. Lu Ying understood this dynamic and decided not to press the issue. During the meal, Yu Qingheng asked, "I’ve heard that there’s been renewed conflict at the Northern Border?" Lu Ying nodded. "It happened last month." He had returned to the Capital yesterday and worked overnight to address two months’ worth of accumulated governmental affairs. This all began with Shen Xinglei’s reckless slaughter of civilians, which led many nomadic villages at the border to defect to the northern Yan Country and some smaller nations in the Western Regions. Even though Shen Xinglei is now dead, the aftermath is hard to remedy. These foreign nations have seized upon this as an excuse to criticize Zhou Country, claiming to seek justice for the civilians. Consequently, several small-scale border skirmishes erupted in recent months, resulting in the loss of several parcels of land. Yu Qingheng’s brows furrowed deeply. "I also heard that the various nations along the border seem to be forming an alliance, intending to move southward into the Central Plains and carve up Great Zhou. In court, the factions advocating war and peace are fiercely divided. Your Majesty appears inclined toward seeking peace with the northern nations." Shen Yinning ate her dumplings in small bites, her lowered eyelashes veiling the shadow in her gaze. The Shen Family guarded the nation’s borders. If her father and elder brother were still alive, how would the northern nations dare to act so brazenly? With her father and brother’s capabilities, as long as the Emperor authorized their actions, they could have marched directly to the Yan Country’s capital. Recalling the current chaotic and corrupt court, Shen Yinning’s heart chilled further. She couldn’t help but glance quietly at Lu Ying. Lu Ying...? Was he an advocate for peace, or for war? Lu Ying didn’t explicitly state his stance, but instead spoke slowly, "In the two months I spent in Jiangnan, Father has been steadily appointing his confidants to key positions in court, squeezing my people out. These officials, under the leadership of Lu Zhengliu, are all part of the peace faction. According to reports from palace spies, Father and Yan Country have already exchanged correspondence, and they’re planning to send envoys to the Capital next month for peace talks. Lu Zhengliu will be the leading representative for these negotiations." Shen Yinning served herself a bowl of ham and tofu soup. The savory broth was hot, but her heart felt as though it were submerged in a frigid ocean, unyieldingly cold. Speaking of it, her family and Yan Country had intertwined fates. When her father and brother were still alive, her brother had marched as far south as Yan Country, reclaiming eight cities in just one year. If not for being urgently summoned back to the Capital by the Emperor, they might have been able to recover even more territory. Now, with peace negotiations between the two countries, she had an uncanny feeling that those cities would all be returned to Yan Country. Yu Qingheng stroked his beard, his expression grave. "Our Zhou Dynasty has always been a grand nation. How can we bow our heads to barbarian states? Jingwei, you must monitor this closely to ensure our Central Plains doesn’t lose its land and people, or become a laughingstock to the world. If we must fight..." "If we must fight, this student would gladly give his life to defend every inch of our territory," Lu Ying stated resolutely. Cui Ji cast a deep glance at Lu Ying, his gaze tinged with complex emotions. After a moment, he spoke solemnly, "A few days ago, I entered the palace and overheard His Majesty in the Imperial Study mention that he plans to marry Luo Yang’s daughter from the Wen Family to Prince Rui as a concubine." The Wen Family of Luoyang, the wealthiest in the North, maintained numerous business connections with the nations of the Western Regions. For the past two years, Lu Zhengliu’s choice as his primary wife had yet to be determined. The Emperor and Noble Consort Zhang have been cautious to the point of indecision, evaluating potential matches meticulously—this one for being too slow-witted, that one for not being beautiful enough. It was as though they sought an unparalleled, stunningly intelligent, and supremely noble bride worthy of shaking the heavens. Now, the Emperor’s decision to arrange for Lu Zhengliu to take this concubine was clearly aimed at consolidating ties with the Wen Family and establishing a foundation of support for Lu Zhengliu. Lu Ying ate a few more soup dumplings and served himself a bowl of soup. Even he hadn’t heard of Lu Zhengliu’s concubine arrangement beforehand, proving it to be a closely guarded palace secret. Cui Ji had earned Father’s deep trust. It was rare for him to divulge such matters. Yu Qingheng shook his head and sighed while patting Lu Ying’s arm. "These are words I should perhaps not say, but your father’s thorough plans for Prince Rui blatantly reveal his bias. Even in ordinary households, favoritism among parents often leads to strife, much less within the Imperial Family? Once the Crown Prince is established, an Emperor’s favoritism toward his younger son can only breed disaster!" Lu Ying’s eyes displayed no ripples. He had learned of his father’s favoritism deeply since childhood. Over the years, his heart had been tempered countless times, making him impervious to all afflictions. He didn’t care about his father’s favoritism. Among the elders, there was the teacher standing behind him, unwavering, and that was enough. The sky grew dark. Yu Qingheng suggested they stay overnight at his residence, ordering maids to prepare guest rooms. The old man, short on sleep, found long nights tedious. He invited Lu Ying and Cui Ji to join him in the study for chess and conversation. Yet, not even two games later, drowsiness overtook him, and he dismissed the two to retire to their rooms. As the two traversed the corridors, Lu Ying remarked without looking aside, "Regarding the matter of the Wen Family’s daughter, I owe you a favor." Cui Ji answered earnestly, "I’ve traveled from the North and witnessed the years of war, starvation, and infernal landscapes there. I do not care who takes the throne; I only care about who can truly end this war." Lu Ying: "It seems you believe I would be a wise ruler." "To the common people, you may be wise. To Lady Shen, however, perhaps not." "You have affection for Shen Zhaozhao." "Yes, I am fond of her," Cui Ji admitted without hesitation. "I also know that the Crown Prince is fond of her. But as long as you sit on that throne, you and she are destined for no happy ending." Lu Ying paused. Dangerous shadows flickered in his narrowed eyes, his gaze locked onto Cui Ji’s. His refined and flawless face was colder than the moonlight: "Are you declaring war? Cui Ji, it seems you are confident."

Chapter 287 - 285: Cui Ji, You Seem Very Confident

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