Chapter 60

Chu Shao paid no attention to the stunned expression on Xiao Jin’s face. The smile remained on her lips.

“And whether man or woman, you are still you. Besides, this humble wife has always felt that you were originally meant to be a woman.”

“So when I learned you are actually a woman, this humble wife felt very happy, because it proves that I was right.”

Hearing Chu Shao’s words, Xiao Jin fell silent.

Snapping back to her senses, she could only ask, “What proves to be right?”

“It proves that this humble wife’s judgment was right.”

“Judgment?” Xiao Jin frowned slightly. She truly couldn’t understand what kind of judgment Chu Shao had been secretly carrying out again.

Chu Shao smiled. “Because this humble wife always felt that your eyebrows and eyes were too beautifully formed.”

“…”

“Beautiful eyebrows and eyes—what necessary connection does that have to whether this Prince is a man or a woman?”

Xiao Jin argued with a straight face. “There are men in this world with beautiful eyebrows and eyes too. Why does the Princess Consort single out this Prince as suspicious?”

Chu Shao took a step forward and gently took hold of Xiao Jin’s knuckles. She whispered with a smile, “A man’s fingers wouldn’t be as slender as Your Highness’s.”

Xiao Jin looked at her own fingers and suddenly thought, maybe that was true.

But hadn’t the system layered on an Intelligence Reduction?

What did this mean? It meant this knockoff system was probably malfunctioning, actually allowing Chu Shao’s intelligence to function normally, fully online.

At this point, Chu Shao moved her fingers downward, stroking Xiao Jin’s lips. “And a man’s lips wouldn’t be as soft as yours.”

Mentioning the word “soft,” the smile at the corner of Chu Shao’s lips was too dazzling, making Xiao Jin feel a chill.

She always felt Chu Shao was implying something, but it was only suspicion, without any concrete evidence.

Xiao Jin had wanted to push Chu Shao’s fingers away, but she felt such a reaction would be too weak, completely lacking in authority.

So she simply grasped the other’s fingers in return, staring into Chu Shao’s eyes. “But then again, even if this Prince is a woman, just where exactly is it ‘better’ for you?”

Chu Shao was slightly stunned at having her fingers grasped back by Xiao Jin.

But after hearing Xiao Jin’s words, her expression instantly shifted to surprise. “If Your Highness were a man, your eyes might not be this beautiful.”

“If you were a man, your knuckles wouldn’t be so slender, your lips wouldn’t be so soft. If you were a man, if you were like all the fickle men under heaven, then you wouldn’t be the you of now.”

“The world believes it’s normal for a man to be unfaithful, normal to have three wives and four concubines. If one day Your Highness also became an ordinary person, things would naturally become much duller.”

In reality, if Xiao Jin had been branded as dull by Chu Shao from the very beginning, she probably wouldn’t have survived to this day.

Although Chu Shao’s words held some logic, after thinking about it, Xiao Jin felt the meaning within was perhaps too absolute.

After mulling it over, Xiao Jin figured what Chu Shao was trying to express was probably: if she was a woman, things should become much more interesting.

That’s why Chu Shao thought it was better that she was a woman.

Xiao Jin reluctantly believed Chu Shao’s explanation.

Then she suddenly realized a problem: the front part was passable, but the latter part…

What did it benefit Chu Shao that her fingers and lips were softer?

She couldn’t understand.

When Xiao Jin came back to her senses, Chu Shao was no longer in front of her. Looking down, she found the clothes neatly folded and placed on her lap.

Chu Shao’s learning ability was very strong. She had already learned to tactfully withdraw.

But Chu Shao learning this skill instead made Xiao Jin slightly uncomfortable.

Why was that, too?

…

Even when seated in the elegant chamber of Jade Splendor Tower, drinking wine from her cup, Xiao Jin still hadn’t figured out what the source of her inner discomfort was.

Commandery Governor Xu raised his cup, and Xiao Jin followed suit, sipping and exchanging casual pleasantries. “The wine is good wine—mellow but not sharp, leaving a fragrant aftertaste.”

Of course, Xiao Jin herself was not skilled at wine tasting.

Her evaluations were basically copied from standard web novel phrases. Just praise whatever was good, and she wouldn’t go wrong.

Commandery Governor Xu mistakenly thought Xiao Jin was fond of this wine, so he smiled. “Your Highness overpraises. Speaking of this wine, I must beg forgiveness for my poor hospitality.”

Xiao Jin looked at Commandery Governor Xu. “Why?”

“Because this wine is Tusu Wine. It’s not some famous, expensive vintage, merely a medicinal wine brewed by common folk.”

“However, since Tusu Wine has the effects of invigorating qi, warming yang, dispelling wind, and dispersing cold, commoners often drink a few cups on the first day of the first lunar month. This humble official knew Your Highness stays in the palace where all meals are of the finest quality and thought you might not have tasted common medicinal wine. So I took the liberty of offering this.”

Xiao Jin knew very little about wine. Only when she heard the name “Tusu Wine” did she recall memories left by her compulsory education and casually complimented, “Tusu Wine… ‘The spring breeze sends warmth into the Tusu wine.’ A fine name.”

She had just spoken offhandedly. She never expected that hearing this line, both Chu Shao and Commandery Governor Xu would be momentarily stunned.

Fortunately, Chu Shao was no longer easily surprised by Xiao Jin doing unexpected things.

She quickly recovered, set down her wine cup, and smiled at her.

Commandery Governor Xu carefully savored this line of poetry, and his eyes lit up. With emotion, he said, “This line is exquisite! Your Highness is truly exceptionally talented! This humble official grows curious as to how the next line should follow.”

Xiao Jin thought: what’s there to be curious about? Not to mention the next line, nine years of compulsory education could let me recite the whole thing from memory.

Although Xiao Jin had no real cultural refinement, reciting Wang Anshi’s “Yuan Ri” was more than easy.

After all, it was taught in primary school textbooks.

If she couldn’t even recite this poem, then she truly would have no face to meet her primary school Chinese teacher.

So Xiao Jin calmly and composedly recited the original poem in its entirety.

She was very self-aware, knowing full well that with the original host’s level of cultural knowledge, she could never have composed such an eternal masterpiece.

So after reciting, Xiao Jin seriously explained, “This poem was written by a poet named Wang Anshi. This Prince merely heard it by chance and is simply reciting it now.”

Who knew that after hearing Lord Wang’s poem, Commandery Governor Xu, pondering the line “Thousands upon thousands of households, in the bright sun’s glow, always replace the old talismans with new,” would be deeply shaken inwardly.

He couldn’t help but feel solemn respect. “I wonder where this recluse is now. This humble official must visit and pay respects someday.”

“…”

Lord Wang has been dead for so many years. What are you thinking.

But seeing Commandery Governor Xu’s thirst for knowledge, Xiao Jin recalled that Wang Anshi was also called Mr. Linchuan. She casually brushed him off. “This person resides in Linchuan. The mountains are high and the roads far. I fear it would be difficult to find him.”

Chu Shao furrowed her brows slightly, because she had never heard of any place within the Nine Provinces called Linchuan.

Commandery Governor Xu was also stunned.

Then, a deeper meaning emerged in the gaze he directed at Xiao Jin.

There was no place called Linchuan among the various kingdoms, and he had never heard of anyone named Wang Anshi.

Prince Yan was truly unfathomable. Even composing such a marvelous poem, he had no intention of claiming fame for it; instead, he falsely attributed it to another.

There was a certain flavor of indifference to fame and fortune, the appearance of simplicity concealing great skill.

If this person’s mind was this meticulous and profound, were it not for the ailment in his legs and his birth mother being a foreigner, one might think the imperial throne could also be contested.

Xiao Jin completely had no idea that she had already established an unfathomably profound persona in Commandery Governor Xu’s heart.

She even felt a bit ashamed, thinking she shouldn’t have recited that poem just now. She simply changed the subject and chatted about matters within Qingzhou City for a while.

Drinking fine wine, enjoying delicious food, accompanied by the sound of the zither by her ear—it had a certain charm.

But sitting beside her was someone she wasn’t familiar with, plus another yandere. Xiao Jin ultimately couldn’t fully relax.

The food and wine settled in her stomach, barely half-full, and she stopped using her chopsticks.

Seeing Xiao Jin put down her chopsticks, Commandery Governor Xu knew the time had come. So he dismissed everyone else, raised his cup, and sighed. “Though Qingzhou is a fine place, this humble official’s aspirations ultimately don’t lie here.”

“A true man lives but one life. He should bear a three-foot sword and establish unparalleled merit. It’s just a pity that this humble official’s martial skills are lacking. I cannot campaign across the four directions like Your Highness, expanding the territories of Great Qi. Even if I hold policies in my heart to aid the people, I have no place to apply them, only adding to a chest full of melancholy.”

These words were spoken very directly and openly.

Xiao Jin watched Commandery Governor Xu’s deeply troubled expression and felt he was just a step away from writing the words “unappreciated talent” on his face.

She knew this was Commandery Governor Xu’s method of signaling allegiance and goodwill, but she pretended not to understand. Smiling, she said, “The Commandery Governor cherishes great ambitions. It’s only a pity that this Prince currently has limited mobility and fears the spirit is willing, but the strength is lacking.”

Limited mobility?

Though Commandery Governor Xu didn’t know if Xiao Jin was speaking of literal limited mobility, or metaphorically hinting that she was constrained by others and signaling alliance intentions—

But he now had no other choice. Even at the risk of misinterpreting her meaning, he could only steel himself and express his sincerity.

So he took an account book from his bosom, presented it respectfully, and declared it a small token of his regard for Prince Yan.

The intricacies within only needed a brief explanation; those who understood would naturally understand.

Xiao Jin was inwardly delighted, but outwardly remained impassive. She accepted the ledger containing evidence of Chancellor Mu’s corruption.

To show her trust in Commandery Governor Xu, she didn’t even flip through it. She merely nodded slightly and exchanged a glance with him.

Chu Shao observed all of this from the side. Actually, she saw through it clearly and knew the two had maneuvered back and forth several times.

It seemed Xiao Jin had already won over Commandery Governor Xu, but one link was still missing.

If Xiao Jin ultimately couldn’t present a viable plan to transfer Commandery Governor Xu back to the capital, this chess move would still be useless, of no value.

Xiao Jin understood this point as well.

These past days, she had investigated Commandery Governor Xu’s background thoroughly.

Only after fully grasping his background did she realize that, under the Mu family’s suppression, allowing this man to regain the Qi Emperor’s favor was indeed harder than reaching the heavens.

Xiao Jin sat by the window, looking at the bustling streets and surging crowds outside—a scene of harmonious joy.

A clear plan had already formed in her mind, and she mysteriously felt it was very feasible.

Thinking of this, Xiao Jin lightly tapped the cover of the account book with her knuckles and said to Commandery Governor Xu, “Sir Xu, in truth, sometimes it’s not only fists that can change a situation.”

Commandery Governor Xu’s heart stirred. He immediately responded, “What else does Your Highness think there is?”

Xiao Jin said calmly, “Although you and I each have our discontents now, seemingly at a dead end with no further hope—in reality… there is still a way.”

Commandery Governor Xu said respectfully, “This humble official is eager to hear the details.”

Having reached this point, Xiao Jin simply threw open the skylight and spoke plainly. “Chancellor Mu holds high status at court. Many ministers follow him like stars clustering around the moon. If he wants to make someone miserable, he can blot out the sky with one hand using his power alone. And if it’s a contest of fist size in the imperial court, there are probably only three people he fears.”

These were, naturally, the Eldest Princess Zhaoyang, the Crown Prince, and the Qi Emperor seated on the dragon throne.

“Since we cannot best him in the imperial court, we can only switch methods. Perhaps Sir Xu can… use words to defeat him.”

Commandery Governor Xu was somewhat puzzled. “Words?”

“Yes, words.”

Xiao Jin continued unhurriedly, “However, not like the Censor-in-Chief, starting a war of insults in the Hall of Proclaimed Governance. Instead, borrowing the mouths of the common people to guide the voice toward the capital, letting His Majesty hear it.”

Commandery Governor Xu was utterly baffled.

Xiao Jin smiled and, basing her explanation on a certain classic case, elaborated. “If Sir Xu were to construct a tall tower, carve the poetry and prose of Great Qi’s contemporary figures upon it, and then invite a renowned scholar to compose a rhapsody for it—if the other party’s composition is well done and spreads your name and achievements across the various commanderies, then even if someone deliberately tries to obstruct you, they likely couldn’t withstand the will of the people.”

“Moreover, with Chancellor Mu at the height of his power in court, Imperial Father currently needs someone to counterbalance him. If this plan succeeds, by then, Commandery Governor’s great name will resound far and wide. Being dispatched back to the capital for important use would be a matter of course.”

Chu Shao instantly understood Xiao Jin’s idea.

Still, she smiled and raised a question. “I wonder just what renowned scholar Your Highness intends to invite from seclusion, capable of writing a composition that spreads throughout Great Qi.”

This was a good question.

Commandery Governor Xu was also somewhat curious. After all, if such a renowned scholar truly existed, he probably wouldn’t easily agree to compose a rhapsody.

At this moment, Xiao Jin was already setting her sights on “Record of Yueyang Tower” in her mind.

With that line, “Be the first to bear the world’s troubles, and the last to enjoy its pleasures,” she only needed to adapt it slightly. Did she still have to worry that Commandery Governor Xu’s name wouldn’t reach the capital?

So she smiled faintly. “This Prince happens to know an eminent scholar who could write a rhapsody for the Commandery Governor.”

Commandery Governor Xu suppressed his inner excitement and probed cautiously, “That would be excellent. But may I ask if that eminent scholar is currently in Qingzhou?”

The implied meaning was naturally hoping Xiao Jin could make an introduction.

Xiao Jin shook her head.

Lord Fan Wenzheng is not in Qingzhou. He’s in the mandatory recitations of ancient poetry, on the other side of the dimensional wall, shining in the hearts of countless students.

In other words, you have the right not to believe Prince Yan Xiao Jin, but you can always believe in Fan Zhongyan.

Maidservants had long since presented paper, ink, brush, and inkstone.

Xiao Jin lifted the brush and laid down the wolf-hair tip. She changed the era name and place names, and fluently wrote out a modified version of “Record of Yueyang Tower.”

Then she put down the brush, ignored Commandery Governor Xu’s shocked gaze, and let Chu Shao push her out of Jade Splendor Tower, departing with unrestrained ease.

Regarding the shameless act of a transmigrator plagiarizing poetry, Xiao Jin actually felt little guilt in her heart.

After all, as a transmigrator, if you don’t recite poetry, then what’s the point of transmigrating into a book at all?

Books are dead; people are alive.

Promoting outstanding traditional culture—that is a great, great good.