Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey
Chapter 31: Riding a Tiger

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Riding a Tiger

At this moment, what Qiu Yuanshang most hoped for was someone to step forward and say a "fair word" for him, so he could follow the ladder to apologize softly to the Commandery Princess. This page would be turned...

But none of the subordinates glanced at him, and the Commandery Princess didn’t look at him either.

After standing stiffly for a moment, Qiu Yuanshang gritted his teeth, turned around, and strode out of the study.

A voice floated from behind him: "Let Qiu Dianshan prepare his resignation letter and send it to the Ministry of Personnel in the Capital City."

Qiu Yuanshang: "..."

Qiu Yuanshang’s tears were almost coming out.

Years ago, he was a minor official of the eighth rank in the Ministry of Rites in the Capital City. He spent a lot of silver to secure the position of Chief Steward at the Prince Mansion in Nanyang. Then he moved his family to Nanyang County and lived here for eight years, fully accustomed to life here. The duty wasn’t busy on ordinary days, with salary and rewards; life was leisurely.

What madness possessed him to make such a fuss in good times and get himself kicked out!

The court has rules, officers resigning must write down the reasons, the Ministry of Personnel approves and issues official documents. His role as Prince Mansion’s Chief Steward becomes nothing, leaving him two options: obediently return to his ancestral home for retirement, or go to the Ministry of Personnel to fill vacancies and run for office.

He is only forty-two, in his prime, how could he be willing to return home in disgrace? To fill another vacancy, one doesn’t know how much silver will be spent. His years of savings might be more than half gone.

The more Qiu Yuanshang thought, the more bitter he felt, his pace quickened, the side yard was in sight, he couldn’t help but wipe his eyes. "Mr. Qiu," an alluring voice suddenly rang out.

Qiu Yuanshang reflexively stopped his steps.

He saw the charming Mr. Zhao approaching with a fragrant breeze: "I have nothing to do, thought I’d go for a stroll outside the mansion. Would Mr. Qiu be free to accompany me?"

Who wants to accompany a dead eunuch!

But this dead eunuch is a close confidant of Empress Dowager Zheng, now a valued guest of the Prince Mansion. He cannot afford to offend him. Qiu Yuanshang forced a slightly stiff smile: "Since Mr. Zhao has such elegance, let me be your host and invite Mr. Zhao for an outing."

Mr. Zhao affectionately clasped Qiu Yuanshang’s hand, winked, and chuckled: "So I’ll trouble Mr. Qiu."

An hour later, the discussion in the study ended.

The subordinates were about to get up and leave when a tall young trusted aide entered the study, bowed, and reported: "Report to the Commandery Princess, Qiu Dianshan had someone prepare a carriage and accompanied Mr. Zhao on a trip. The carriage just left the Prince Mansion."

The subordinates: "..."

Previously furious, now he turns to "serve" the honored guest. What kind of mindset is this?

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes flashed, and she smiled meaningfully, deliberately glancing at Chen Zhuo: "If Qiu Dianshan goes to plead with Chief Historian Chen today, Chief Historian Chen shouldn’t bother with him."

Chen Zhuo understood and nodded in agreement.

Feng Wenming, with a belly full of words, followed Chen Zhuo into the duty room. He closed the door and said quietly: "The fuss today has sealed the fate of Qiu Dianshan’s departure. Now he goes to ingratiate himself with Mr. Zhao, what does he really intend?"

Chen Zhuo was silent for a moment, then raised his eyes: "The Commandery Princess dealt with Lu Junma yesterday, today dealt with Qiu Dianshan, her ambitions are deep, her methods outstanding."

Feng Wenming fell silent too.

Indeed. Yesterday Lu Junma was publicly humiliated, today Qiu Dianshan loses his composure and offends. Both fell into traps set by the Commandery Princess. When they jumped out, she calmly delivered a fatal blow.

This resilience, these methods!

The Commandery Princess is only ten!

"I don’t know if I should feel grateful." Feng Wenming sighed: "In the future, you and I must not take the Commandery Princess lightly, and certainly not underestimate her. She is our lord, not a little girl to be slack with."

Chen Zhuo raised an eyebrow and smiled: "The Commandery Princess is good like this. As the master of a region, she must have initiative and methods. Following such a lord is more motivating."

Feng Wenming thought for a moment, then laughed: "Indeed."

Meanwhile, Wen An also went to Shen Mu’s duty room.

Earlier, Chief Clerk Wen, who was silent like a mute, now opened his mouth with a flood of words: "I finally see. The Commandery Princess disliked Qiu Dianshan and wanted him gone." _{fre ewebno(v)e\l.(c)om}

"The temperament of Mr. Zhao, you and I don’t know, the Commandery Princess must have heard it from the Prince, so she dispatches Qiu Dianshan to accompany, and what was said at the banquet must have been deliberate. There’s always someone to act as a messenger. Qiu Dianshan lacks foresight, and so he jumped into the trap."

"Toiled half a life to become a seventh-rank chief of food, his quick mouth lost him the job. Now he’s likely filled with regret."

"You and I better be careful in our duties, not to anger the Commandery Princess. Especially you, still young, your days of service are many. Unlike me, another year and I’ll retire..."

"I’m going to busy myself with the Commandery Princess’s assignment today." Shen Mu looked up: "Are you not going to handle your tasks?"

Wen An wiped his forehead, somewhat troubled: "A heap of tasks, heading there now."

...

That evening, Qiu Yuanshang carried a long narrow brocade box in his sleeve and went to Chen Zhuo’s side yard.

The gift was not accepted, Chen Zhuo refused it. Instead, he poured out heartfelt words to him: "Qiu Dianshan, you and I have been colleagues for years, aware of each other’s temperament and quirks."

"Previously, when the Prince was alive, you were moderately respectful, with occasional lapses which the Prince overlooked."

"Now the Commandery Princess governs and is establishing her authority. Yet you choose this time to offend the Commandery Princess in front of everyone. Ask yourself, who can tolerate this?"

"The Commandery Princess is kind enough to let you write a resignation letter and leave gracefully. In the future, when you go to the Ministry of Personnel to run for office and fill vacancies, it won’t be too difficult. Otherwise, if the Commandery Princess publicizes what you’ve done and said today, what pride do you have? You would also offend Mr. Zhao."

"Mr. Zhao can speak before the Empress Dowager, cause trouble for you, and what good would there be?"

"As it is, don’t imagine turning back now. This is not something that apologizing can resolve. Better find another place for duty!"

Qiu Yuanshang was thoroughly awake now, filled with remorse, tears appearing in his eyes: "I don’t know how I went mad today. Now I’m utterly regretful."

Chen Zhuo sympathetically sighed, speaking softly: "I have some private connections with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. I’ll write a letter, send it over; if you go to run for office, it might help."

Qiu Yuanshang wiped his eyes: "Thank you, Chief Historian Chen." Before leaving, he held onto one last hope and asked: "Do I really have to leave?"

Chen Zhuo sighed: "Caught between a rock and a hard place. Leaving seems inevitable."

Qiu Yuanshang’s tears fell directly.

An eight-foot tall man, crying and wiping tears, is not a good look. Chen Zhuo restrained himself from disgust, coaxed Qiu Yuanshang away. Then faced Qiu Yuanshang’s departing figure and silently scoffed.

Back then when he took Lu Junma’s two beauties, he was so proud and delighted. What’s the use of regretting now, serves him right!