Chapter 130

Emperor Bo held the “letter” from the Crown Prince of Qi, and suddenly, his entire demeanor became high-spirited and confident. Speaking with newfound assurance, he reasoned that since the esteemed Prince of Qi had entrusted him with the care of his dismissed daughter, hastily marrying her off would be a slight to the Crown Prince’s honor.

Thus, the proposal of a peace marriage with the Rong was immediately dismissed.

For once, he even showed a semblance of fatherly warmth, offering kind words to encourage Jiang Xiurun to take good care of herself.

At the same time, he mercilessly berated Shen Hua, who had tried to object.

Jiang Xiurun, however, had no particular interest in staying to watch her father any longer than necessary.

After a simple bow, she turned and left the court.

That very evening at the residence of the young lord, she, under the guise of her brother, invited several key ministers of the royal court to a banquet.

The feast was lavish, but Jiang Zhi spoke little—most of the conversations were led by Jiang Xiurun.

At first, some found her behavior ostentatious, believing it unseemly for a woman to be so outspoken.

However, the respectful attitude of Ji Wujiang and several senior ministers towards her puzzled them.

Moreover, as they listened carefully, they found that the Princess Royal spoke fluently and knowledgeably, offering many wise policies, some of which even seasoned officials might not have thought of.

Her proposals on the reclamation of barren lands and increasing agricultural production in Bo were particularly insightful.

Yet, given that women were often dismissed and overlooked in governance, the ministers, out of courtesy towards Ji Wujiang and the senior officials, begrudgingly granted her some measure of respect.

However, once they left the manor, a certain minister could not help but complain loudly:

“A mere woman, yet she dares to speak so recklessly of state affairs! Why didn’t Lord Jiang rebuke Princess Jiang for her audacity?”

At this, an elder minister who was well-informed of the situation scoffed coldly:

“Tell me, Lord Li, do you have a better insight than the Princess Royal? If so, why did you not challenge her during the banquet? Instead, you wait until now to grumble—who, then, is truly acting like a woman?”

Lord Li, stung by the rebuke, was about to retort when Ji Wujing interjected:

“Tell me, gentlemen, are you familiar with Jiang Herun, the Chief Minister of Agriculture in Qi?”

At his words, the group fell silent.

Though Qi was far away, as the central empire, it commanded their constant attention.

Most Bo officials had commercial ties with Qi, and the name “Jiang Herun” was widely known—a Bo hostage who had, out of nowhere, risen to prominence in Qi’s bureaucracy.

The origins of this young lord had long perplexed the court.

Many suspected he was an illegitimate son emperor Bo had secretly raised and then sent to Qi.

Yet, emperor Bo himself avoided discussing the matter and had even forbidden the ministers from speculating about it.

Now that Ji Wujiang had suddenly brought him up, curiosity surged among them.

Ji Wujing smiled and asked,

“Gentlemen, what do you think of this young lord who studied under the esteemed Master Mufeng and now serves as an aide to the Crown Prince of Qi?”

Everyone had heard of the scholar’s extraordinary wit at the renowned Mochi Literary Gathering, but they could not understand why Ji Wujiang had mentioned him now.

Still fuming, Lord Li huffed,

“That Lord Jiang of Qi is, of course, a talented man—peerless in his intellect. But what has he to do with our overambitious Princess Royal?”

At his words, some chuckled.

However, Ji Wujiang and the senior ministers remained impassive, their expressions unfathomable.

They neither denied nor confirmed anything.

At once, some of the more astute officials began to wonder—”Xiurun” and “Herun”—the names were strikingly similar.

If that lord was indeed the son of emperor Bo, why did his name align with the Princess Royal’s rather than stand on its own?”

Moreover, given Ji Wujiang’s cryptic reaction to Lord Li’s words, could it be that the minister had, in his irritation, unwittingly stumbled upon the truth?

If so, then recalling the Princess Royal’s astute remarks from earlier, it became clear that her insight was no accident—such wisdom was rarely found among the women of the royal harem.

But the notion that Qi had granted official status to a hostage princess seemed utterly preposterous.

Ji Wujiang offered no further explanations.

He simply boarded his carriage and departed.

The Princess Royal had instructed him not to reveal too much—such matters required a gradual unveiling.

After all, though Bo was far from the central empire, she had once altered an imperial edict, deceiving even the Emperor of Qi.

Even if Emperor Duanqing chose to let it slide, being too overt could still prove risky.

A veil of ambiguity was best, leaving them guessing.

And if word of this rumor eventually reached the court of Qi, Jiang Xiurun had little to fear.

After all, the Crown Prince was her accomplice—surely, he would have the tact and eloquence to smooth things over.

Besides, with the imperial family of Qi locked in their own vicious power struggles, who had the time to worry about a minor state like Bo?

For now, she had only one goal—to establish her authority within Bo’s court.

Without that, she would have no rightful claim to power.

Later, at the Bo Academy’s grand debate forum, Jiang Xiurun attended in male attire.

Since it was a scholarly gathering, many ministers also dressed in casual robes, returning to the identity of their former academy days.

The culture of the central empire had long captivated the minds of Bo’s intellectuals.

To cite the classics and debate eloquently on a public stage was, in this small state, a quick path to renown.

So when Jiang Xiurun arrived in flowing scholar’s robes, a silk headscarf tied elegantly around her head, many ministers who had previously doubted her were suddenly struck by realization—dressed as a man, the Princess Royal shed all traces of feminine seduction.

To the unknowing, she was no different from a refined young scholar.

Many of Bo’s students did not recognize her, but when she ascended the debate stage, she immediately caught everyone’s attention.

Truth be told, back at Luo’an Academy, Jiang Xiurun had been nothing more than a mediocre student.

Even when she advanced to Tiangan branch, her success was not solely built on scholarly prowess.

But she had studied under Master Mufeng, and his teachings had granted her unique insights into the classics.

The half-baked knowledge she had gained from Mufeng’s Academy was more than sufficient to dominate the intellectual stage of Bo.

Thus, when Jiang Xiurun took her seat at the incense-scented dais, an entire hour passed without her leaving the stage.

Scholars continuously posed questions, eager to challenge this mysterious newcomer.

Eventually, even ministers joined the fray, testing the limits of the “young scholar’s” knowledge.

But Jiang Xiurun’s sharp tongue had been honed in the court of Qi.

Even when confronted with aggressive ministers laced with mockery, she remained composed, her tone ever calm and pleasant.

Yet her words were like daggers—swift, precise, and ruthless.

Such an unparalleled display of wit left an indelible mark on all present.

As whispers of curiosity spread, more and more people inquired about the identity of this talented scholar.

Only when she finally stepped down from the stage did someone reveal the truth—that this “young scholar” was, in fact, none other than the Princess Royal of Bo, Jiang Xiurun, who had recently returned from Qi.

Amused by the gathering, she had chosen to attend in disguise.

As soon as the news spread, the people were in an uproar.

How could such a talented woman exist in Bo, and yet no one had noticed before?

While the crowd was still in shock and discussion, Jiang Xiurun had already returned to her residence.

Engaging in such eloquent debates had been mentally exhausting, but she had no choice—establishing her reputation and influence was necessary.

With the experiences of two lifetimes, Jiang Xiurun had long since mastered the art of self-promotion and gaining fame.

Next, she planned to use her own money to establish numerous charity halls.

Firstly, this would provide relief to the impoverished people of Bo.

Secondly, there was no better way to win public favor than through acts of charity.

Furthermore, Ji Wujiang had recently overseen the restoration of the temples dedicated to Saintess Adaishan across various regions.

In truth, the current Emperor Jiang was nothing more than a usurper.

The true heirs of the royal bloodline of the Saintess were the two children born to the deceased queen.

Jiang Xiurun was the rightful descendant of the Saintess.

As Ji Wujiang restored the temples, he also spread the tale that when the Royal Princess was born, divine signs appeared.

It was said that when the late empress had fallen asleep while offering sacrifices at the Saintess Adaishan’s temple, multiple priests witnessed the sacred snake coiled around the statue’s wrist come to life and slither into the empress’s womb.

Thus, the rumor that the Royal Princess was the reincarnation of Saintess Adaishan spread far and wide, growing ever more mystical.

The legend even made its way to Great Qi.

The guards whom Feng Liwu had sent to track Jiang Xiurun had been diligent in their duty.

Despite the frozen roads, they paid a hefty sum to local fishermen and managed to send one scout on a specially crafted iceboard.

Taking a long and treacherous detour, the scout endured countless hardships before finally making it back to Luo’an City to deliver the news.

However, by the time the informant returned to Luo’an, it was already early spring—five months after Jiang Xiurun had left for Bo.

When the scout was finally summoned before the Crown Prince to report on Bo’s situation, he was shocked upon seeing the prince.

In just a few months, His Highness seemed like an entirely different person.

The once handsome and noble young man had shed all traces of youthful gentleness.

His face had grown gaunter, making his features appear even sharper and more severe.

Though still strikingly handsome, he now carried an unmistakable air of gloom and authority—a presence befitting a future ruler.

On the way to the capital, the scout had heard many rumors about the Crown Prince—he had established the Personal Investigation Bureau to expand his network, recruited a vast number of followers, and promoted talented commoners while driving out most noble-born officers from the military.

Even the great general of the Qin family had been stripped of his command.

As for the Second Prince, though he had seized control of three counties, he was now trapped in those barbaric lands.

It was said that the Crown Prince had coldly remarked, “Since the Second Prince is so fond of those three counties, he may as well remain there for life, teaching and governing its people.”

Rumors even suggested that the Crown Prince was no longer willing to wait and was preparing to force the Emperor to abdicate.

Although the senior ministers frequently advised him against committing an act of disloyalty and betrayal, His Highness had become completely unapproachable since his return from the Northern Hu.

The once kind and humble heir to the throne had seemingly been erased, replaced by an iron-willed ruler.

Despite his busy schedule, the Crown Prince had personally returned to his study to summon the scout for a private audience.

The scout did not dare to withhold anything and reported everything he had learned about the concubine’s affairs in Bo.

From beginning to end, Feng Liwu listened in silence, as if he were a lifeless statue, without the slightest ripple of emotion.

Even when he heard how she had forged his decree to reject the marriage alliance with Rong, his expression remained unmoved.

It was only when the scout recounted the rumors of Bo establishing temples and proclaiming Jiang Xiurun to be the reincarnation of the Saintess that a cold, mocking smile finally appeared on Feng Liwu’s face—his first reaction throughout the entire report.

He had always known she had great ambition, but he had not expected her to be aiming this high.

By the looks of it, she intended to reshape Bo and become its revered saint-empress!

He had hesitated for a long time before finally writing that letter to her, thinking that she would at least show some gratitude.

But now, not only had she failed to reply, she had even used the letter as a stepping stone for her grand ambitions—falsifying his words and issuing a decree in his name.

He had underestimated her.

A woman with such an insatiable hunger for power and a heart set on the throne—how could she ever care about being his concubine?

Compared to her, he was the one who had been too entangled in emotions.

Beauty and power—neither would surrender to mere sentimental affection.

If he did not reach the pinnacle of power, he would have nothing at all.