Chu Shao completely disregarded the astonishment on Xiao Jin’s face. She smiled and said softly, “Besides, whether you are a man or a woman, you are still the prince. Moreover, I have always felt that you should have been a woman.”
“So when I found out that you were actually a woman, I was very happy because it meant that I was right.”
After listening to Chu Shao’s words, Xiao Jin was silent for a moment before slowly asking, “What does that mean, being right?”
“It means that my judgment was correct.”
“Judgment?” Xiao Jin furrowed her brows slightly. She really couldn’t figure out what kind of judgment Chu Shao had made in secret.
Chu Shao looked at Xiao Jin and smiled, “Because I always felt that your features were too beautiful.”
“…”
Xiao Jin asked, “Being beautiful has nothing to do with whether I am male or female, does it?”
Xiao Jin paused for a moment and then made a serious argument, “There are men in this world with beautiful features. Why does the princess think that there is a problem with this prince?”
Chu Shao’s lips curved into a gentle arc. She then gently took Xiao Jin’s fingers and said with a low laugh, “A man’s fingers wouldn’t be as slender as yours, your highness.”
Xiao Jin looked at her own fingers and suddenly felt that it was true.
But didn’t the system add a debuff to lower their intelligence?
However, it seemed that the system was malfunctioning because Chu Shao’s intelligence was still intact.
She let go of Xiao Jin’s fingers and stroked her lips, bending her eyebrows and eyes. “And a man’s lips… wouldn’t be as soft as yours.”
Mentioning the word “soft,” Chu Shao’s smile was too dazzling, which made Xiao Jin nervous.
She always felt that the other party had a hidden meaning, but it was just suspicion without any substantial evidence.
Xiao Jin originally wanted to remove Chu Shao’s fingers, but she felt that such a move was too weak and showed no power.
So she held the other’s fingers in return, gazing into Chu Shao’s eyes. “But then again, even if I were a woman… where exactly is it ‘better’ for a princess?”
Chu Shao was a little stunned when Xiao Jin held her fingers in return.
However, after hearing what Xiao Jin said, she became surprised in an instant. “If you were a man, your eyes may not be as beautiful.”
“You would not have such slender finger joints or such soft lips if you were a man. If you were a man, like all the unfortunate men in the world, then you would not be the person you are today.”
“People generally believe that men have three hearts and two intentions and having three or four wives and concubines is commonplace. If one day, you became a commonplace man, things would be much less interesting.”
In reality, if Xiao Jin were an uninteresting person from the beginning, she might not have survived until today.
Although Chu Shao’s words were somewhat reasonable, Xiao Jin thought for a moment and felt that the meaning behind her words was too absolute.
After thinking about it for a while, she thought that Chu Shao probably meant that things would be more interesting if she were a woman.
So Chu Shao thought it was better for her to be a woman.
Xiao Jin reluctantly believed Chu Shao’s words.
Then she suddenly realized a problem: the earlier statement made sense, but as for her fingers and lips being softer, what benefit did it have for Chu Shao?
She couldn’t figure it out.
However, when Xiao Jin raised her head, the smiling face was no longer there.
Her clothes were neatly placed on her lap.
Chu Shao was very good at learning and had learned to be tactful.
But the fact that the other party learned this skill made Xiao Jin slightly uncomfortable.
Why was that?
…
Until she sat in the elegant attic of the Yuhua Tower, Xiao Jin lowered her gaze and drank from the cup, still unable to figure out what was causing her discomfort.
Seeing Governor Xu raise his cup, she also raised hers and took a sip, casually chatting, “The wine here is excellent, mellow but not strong, leaving a fragrant aftertaste.”
Of course, Xiao Jin herself was not good at tasting wine.
The evaluation given was basically a commonly used sentence in online novel, anyway, no matter how good it was, praise it like that, it wouldn’t be wrong.
Governor Xu mistakenly thought that Xiao Jin liked this wine, so he smiled and said politely, “Your highness overpraises. Forgive me for not entertaining you well. This wine is only Tu Su wine, not some precious wine, just a medicinal wine brewed by the common people.”
“But because this wine has the effect of nourishing qi, warming yang, dispelling wind, and dispersing cold, the people often drink a few cups on the first day of the first lunar month. As an official, I know that your highness lives in the imperial palace and may not have tasted folk medicinal wine, so I took the liberty of presenting this wine.”
Xiao Jin knew very little about wine, but she heard the name of Tu Su wine and praised it casually, “Tu Su wine… ‘The spring breeze warms the Tu Su’, it’s a good name.”
She just said it casually, but she didn’t expect Chu Shao and Governor Xu to be stunned after hearing this sentence.
Chu Shao was no longer surprised by Xiao Jin’s unexpected actions.
She quickly regained her senses, put down her wine glass, and smiled at the other party.
However, Governor Xu carefully tasted this sentence of poetry, and his eyes lit up. He bowed and sighed, “This sentence is wonderful, your highness is really talented! I am very curious, what will be the next sentence.”
Xiao Jin thought there was nothing to be curious about. Even if it was the next sentence, she could recite the whole poem.
Although Xiao Jin didn’t have much cultural background, she could still easily recite Wang Wengong’s “New Year’s Day” if she had to.
After all, she learned it in elementary school.
If she couldn’t even recite this, she would really be ashamed to face her elementary school Chinese teacher.
So after reciting the original poem calmly, Xiao Jin explained seriously, “This poem was written by a poet named Wang Wengong. This prince has only heard of it by chance and recited it now.”
Unexpectedly, after Governor Xu listened to Wang Wengong’s poem, he pondered the sentence “The sun shines on every door and window on this day, and the old charms are exchanged for new peaches”, and was greatly shocked in his heart.
He couldn’t help but show respect, “I don’t know where this scholar is now, but I will definitely visit him someday.”
“…”
Wang Wengong has been dead for so many years, what is he thinking.
However, seeing the eager-to-learn expression of the Governor Xu, Xiao Jin thought of Wang Wengong, who was also known as the Linchuan Master. So she casually said, “This person is in Linchuan, with high mountains and long roads. It may not be easy to visit him.”
Chu Shao slightly furrowed her brows. She had never heard of any place called Linchuan in the Nine Provinces.
Governor Xu was also taken aback.
Later, when he looked at Xiao Jin, his eyes had a deeper meaning.
There was no place called Linchuan in the various countries, and he had never heard of Wang Wengong.
The Prince of Yan was truly mysterious. Even this wonderful poem was not intended to be widely circulated and instead falsely attributed to others. It had a sense of detachment from fame and a cleverness that seemed clumsy.
His mind was so meticulous and profound that if it weren’t for his leg injury and his mother being a foreigner, he could have fought for the throne.
Xiao Jin had no idea that in Governor Xu’s heart, she had established a profound and mysterious persona. She even felt a little embarrassed and felt that she shouldn’t have recited that poem just now. So she changed the subject and casually talked about the things inside Qingzhou City.
Drinking fine wine and enjoying delicious food, accompanied by the sound of the zither, there was some interest.
However, with an unfamiliar person sitting beside her, plus a yandere, Xiao Jin still couldn’t completely relax.
After eating and drinking, and just half-full, she stopped using her chopsticks.
Seeing Xiao Jin put down her chopsticks, Governor Xu knew that the time had come. He dismissed the others and raised his cup, saying, “Although Qingzhou is a good place, I, as an official, do not aspire to stay here.”
“A great man should carry a three-foot sword and achieve immortal deeds. Unfortunately, I am not skilled in martial arts like the prince, and cannot fight and expand the territory of Qi Country. Even if I have strategies for benefiting the people, I have nowhere to use them, only adding to my sadness.”
He spoke directly and plainly.
Looking at the sorrowful expression of Governor Xu, Xiao Jin felt that she was just one step away from having the four words “talent not appreciated” written on his face.
She knew that this was the Governor Xu’s way of showing his allegiance, but pretended not to understand and smiled, “Governor Xu, you have the heart to envy the fish, but unfortunately, I am not currently able to act. I am afraid that…my heart is willing, but my strength is lacking.”
“Not able to act?”
Although Governor Xu didn’t know whether Xiao Jin’s words were referring to genuine difficulty in taking action or suggesting an alliance while implying that she was constrained by others, he had no other choice now. Even if he risked being misunderstood, he had to show his sincerity.
So Governor Xu took a ledger out of his pocket and respectfully handed it over to Xiao Jin, claiming it was a small token of his appreciation. The intricacies only required a brief explanation, and those who understood would naturally understand.
Xiao Jin was delighted inside, but remained composed on the surface, calmly accepting the ledger containing evidence of Prime Minister Mu’s corruption.
To show her trust in Governor Xu, she didn’t look at it and merely nodded slightly, exchanging a glance with him.
Chu Shao watched all this happen and saw through the two’s secret dealings. Although Xiao Jin seemed to have won over Governor Xu, there was still one more step to go.
If Xiao Jin couldn’t come up with a concrete plan to transfer Governor Xu back to the capital, then this move would be in vain and useless.
Xiao Jin understood this too. She had thoroughly investigated Governor Xu’s background in recent days.
After getting to know his situation, she realized that it was truly difficult to get Governor Xu back into the Emperor’s good graces under the pressure of the Mu family.
At this moment, Xiao Jin sat by the window, watching the bustling streets and people, looking like she was in a great mood.
She already had a clear plan in her mind, and she had a strange feeling that it was highly feasible.
Xiao Jin lightly tapped the cover of the ledger with her fingertips and slowly said to Governor Xu, “Governor Xu, sometimes it’s not just about using force to change the situation. Although you and I have both encountered setbacks recently and it seems like there’s no way out, in reality… there is still a way.”
Governor Xu was intrigued and respectfully asked to know more.
At this point, Xiao Jin spoke frankly, “Prime Minister Mu holds a high position in the court, and many ministers follow him. If he wants to make someone unhappy, he can easily use his power to suppress them.Â
However, there are only three people he fears when it comes to court politics: Princess Zhao Yang, the Crown Prince, and the Emperor.”
“Since it’s impossible to surpass him in the court, we have to find another way. Therefore, Governor Xu can… use words to defeat him.”
Governor Xu was confused. “Words?”
“Yes, words,” Xiao Jin said calmly. “But not like the Grand Censorate arguing on the Xuanzheng Palace. We can use the voice of the people to direct public opinion to the capital, so that the emperor can hear it.”
Governor Xu was still unclear.
Xiao Jin smiled mysteriously and explained based on a classic case, “If Governor Xu builds a tall building, inscribes poems and essays by contemporary scholars on it, and then invites another scholar to write an essay. If the opponent’s article is good enough, your reputation and achievements will be spread throughout the states and counties. Even if someone tries to obstruct, they cannot resist the direction of public opinion.”
“Moreover, Prime Minister Mu is currently on the rise in the court, and the emperor needs someone to counterbalance him. If this plan succeeds, Governor Xu’s reputation will flourish, and he will be sent back to the capital for further use, which is a reasonable thing.”
Chu Shao immediately understood Xiao Jin’s idea.
However, she still raised a question with a smile, “I wonder what kind of scholar your highness wants to invite to write an essay that can spread throughout Qi country?”
This is a good question.
Governor Xu was also curious. After all, if there is such a scholar, he is probably not willing to come forward easily.
Xiao Jin was already planning to copy “Yueyang Tower” in her mind.
There is a sentence in it that says, “First, worry about the world’s troubles, and then enjoy the world’s pleasures.” With a slight modification, she didn’t believe that Governor Xu’s reputation couldn’t be spread to the capital.
So Xiao Jin smiled slightly and said, “I happen to know a great scholar who can write an essay for the Governor.”
Governor Xu tried to conceal his excitement and asked tentatively, “That’s great… I just don’t know if that scholar is currently in Qingzhou?”
The implication is that he hopes Xiao Jin can introduce him.
Xiao Jin shook her head.
Fan Zhongyan is not in Qingzhou, he is in the must-know ancient poetry and literature, on the other side of the dimensional wall, in the hearts of countless students.
In other words, you have the right not to believe Prince Xiao Jin.
But you can always believe in Fan Zhongyan.
At this point, a maid had already presented paper, ink, brush, and inkstone.
Xiao Jin calmly raised her eyes, then picked up the wolf hair brush, changed the year and place name, and wrote a version of “Yueyang Tower” in a grand and elegant manner.
After putting down the brush, ignoring Governor Xu’s shocked gaze, she let Chu Shao push her out of the Yuhua Tower and left gracefully.
Xiao Jin did not feel much guilt in her heart for the shameful act of copying poetry by time travel.
After all, as a time traveler, if she doesn’t memorize poetry, what’s the point of time travel?
Books are dead, people are alive.
Promoting excellent traditional culture is a great thing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author’s note: Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated nutrient solution for me between 2022-03-17 23:59:24 ~ 2022-03-18 23:59:34.
Translator’s note: I got a headache from this chapter! There were so many complex details to translate.
TO BE CONTINUE…
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