Chapter 7: The Prime Minister's Invitation

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Luo Yunyao stepped down from the carriage, and the first sight before her eyes were two golden, gleaming qilins. Beyond them stood two stone pillars lacquered in red and wrapped in gold, and behind the pillars was a grand vermilion door with intricate carvings. Above the door hung a plaque inscribed with "Prime Minister Marquis’s Residence," reportedly penned by the late emperor himself. In the afterglow of the sunset, it shimmered with a dazzling golden radiance.

“Behind red doors, wine and meat spoil; outside, bones freeze on the road.”

This phrase truly captured the meaning of what lay before her. She curled her lips in a hint of mockery. The principle of the sun at its zenith beginning to wane, and the moon at full starting to wane, was probably something this Prime Minister Marquis had yet to understand, and she had no intention of preaching.

Without lingering long, led by a servant, Luo Yunyao strode into the main hall of the mansion—the Prime Minister Marquis had been waiting there for quite some time.

At the sight of Luo Yunyao, the Marquis waddled over with his round belly protruding, his fat trembling in the air, a cheerful smile plastered across his face.

“I, your humble servant, pay respects to the Prime Minister Marquis.”

Luo Yunyao hardly dared wait for him to come closer; she hastily bowed, lowering her gaze as well. She could scarcely bear to look at that corpulent figure.

“Please, Lord Luo, no need for such formality,” the Prime Minister Marquis chuckled, reaching out his fleshy, boneless hand to help her up.

Before his hand could touch the hem of her clothes, Luo Yunyao rose abruptly, sidestepping the greasy paw. Inwardly, she hoped this meeting would conclude swiftly. She had no desire to endure a long encounter with a Prime Minister Marquis who resembled a pig; otherwise, she feared she wouldn’t be able to eat dinner tonight.

“Lord Luo, how are you adjusting to your new position today?”

The Prime Minister Marquis gestured for Luo Yunyao to sit, then took his own place in the seat of honor and lifted a tea cup from the table.

“Thank you for your concern, my lord. Your humble servant is well.”

Once Luo Yunyao was seated, a servant promptly brought her a cup of tea. The fragrance was fresh and elegant, but she saw the Prime Minister Marquis gulping his tea like a cow, and instantly felt the exquisite tea leaves were being wasted.

Luo Yunyao took a small sip; the tea spread from her tongue’s tip to the back of her throat—bitter at first, then sweet. This flavor was uniquely enjoyable. A faint smile played at her lips. After exchanging pleasantries and sipping tea, it was time to address the matter at hand.

As expected, the Prime Minister Marquis noticed Luo Yunyao put down her cup, his smile broadening. “New officials rarely find everything smooth sailing,” he paused, proudly scrutinizing her face, then continued to speak to himself, “But it’s nothing to worry about. If anyone dares to trouble Lord Luo in the future, just mention my name, and I guarantee they won’t dare act rashly in your presence.”

Luo Yunyao clearly understood his meaning. To agree with him would be to accept the Prime Minister Marquis’s patronage, inevitably owing him favors in her official duties.

She had always looked down on the Prime Minister Marquis’s brash wealth and oppressive authority, let alone toadying to him. But if she mishandled things, she might make a powerful enemy like him. As a newcomer to the West Qin bureaucracy, unfamiliar with various affairs, if he were to sabotage her from time to time, it would be a considerable drain on her time and energy.

After some thought, she replied with an expressionless face, feigning not to grasp the implication of his words: “We all serve the court; I believe no one would deliberately make things difficult for me. Still, I thank the Prime Minister Marquis for his concern.”

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That was a clear refusal.

But the Prime Minister Marquis, thinking she hadn’t understood, decided to be more explicit. “Lord Luo is truly magnanimous, but the court is full of all sorts of people. It’s inevitable that, for various reasons, someone might scheme against you behind your back. I have been navigating these waters for many years; I may lack in some areas, but I have certainly mastered the art of managing people. If Lord Luo works under me in the future, I assure you, I will not let you suffer any injustice!”

At this point, it would be obvious to anyone that Luo Yunyao could no longer pretend ignorance. She twirled the cup lid in her hand, casually brushing aside the tea leaves floating in the cup, her mind racing with countless thoughts.

“The Marquis’s position in court is, of course, indisputable. Unfortunately, your humble servant has steadfast principles and wishes not to be entangled in court intrigues. I only hope to serve the emperor sincerely. I ask the Marquis to kindly understand.”

To serve the emperor directly was another path. In the court, the Prime Minister Marquis and Chancellor Lu represented two opposing factions. If one refused to align with either, one could only choose the third path—a middle party to balance the forces.

Both sides had stated their positions clearly, and Luo Yunyao had made her stance unmistakable. The expression on the Prime Minister Marquis’s face instantly darkened. He had worked hard to win her over, only to receive such a response.

His thick, heavy face furrowed with brows, a storm brewing beneath the surface. The atmosphere in the room stiffened abruptly. “Lord Luo, are you sure you’ve thought this through?”

“Your humble servant thanks the Prime Minister Marquis for his appreciation. But as one within the court, I only seek to keep myself safe,” Luo Yunyao said, rising and bowing to the Marquis.

“Hmph, ungrateful,” the Prime Minister Marquis slammed his fleshy hand heavily on the table, rattling the tea cup lid. His eyes blazed with fury as he glared at Luo Yunyao, his face twisted with malice. Through gritted teeth, he shouted toward the door, “Send this guest away!”

Once outside the Marquis’s residence, Luo Yunyao climbed into her returning carriage, an uneasy premonition gnawing at her heart. The Prime Minister Marquis was known to be petty and vindictive. Her blatant rejection of his overtures was a slap in the face. Such a proud man would not swallow this humiliation quietly.

She realized she would have to be even more cautious and meticulous in her dealings from now on. If he found any leverage against her and dragged in other matters, it would be far more than a simple inconvenience.

News of Luo Yunyao’s rejection of the Prime Minister Marquis’s favor soon spread to several places, one of which was the General’s Residence.

When the servant came to report the news, Qin Jinghao was sitting in a pavilion beside the lotus pond in the courtyard, reading a book. Hearing the report, he showed little surprise. The Prime Minister Marquis was always narrow-minded and afraid of being outpaced by others. If it weren’t for having two daughters in the palace and the emperor’s favor in his grasp, how could Chancellor Lu have let him roam freely until now?

Those with some insight could see the end of the Prime Minister Marquis’s political career was only a matter of time.

Qin Jinghao put down his book and looked toward the willow branches swaying in the breeze. A faint smile appeared on his face. Did this not resemble certain people?

To understand the tides of power and know when to seek advantage or avoid harm was the key to thriving in this world.

Qin Jinghao chuckled softly as the memory of his first encounter with Luo Yunyao suddenly surfaced. She was dressed in a white robe, radiating a serene and elegant aura. Even among a group of scholarly types, she stood out like a first snow plum blooming in the world—calm, refined, polite, modest, and insightful, attracting the admiring gaze of all around her.

Even he himself was moved by her bearing. Over the years, few had truly earned his appreciation, yet here was one—though with her own distinct purpose in appearing before him.

After a moment’s reflection, Qin Jinghao regained his composure, his handsome features relaxing. He turned to his attendant and asked quietly, “What news from the Crown Prince?”

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“The report says that after this morning’s court session, Chancellor Lu requested the examination papers of the top scholar Luo. This afternoon, the Crown Prince visited the Chancellor’s residence, but so far, no further action has been taken.”

The servant’s voice was flat, betraying no emotion. Such matters were likely known in every high official’s household.

The Crown Prince was always steady and measured. With Chancellor Lu’s assistance, Qin Jinghao smiled wryly, guessing they intended to assess Luo Yunyao’s character and capabilities through the examination papers. Surely, they expected a satisfactory answer.

Closing his book, he rose, took the volume he had been reading, and slowly walked over to the willow tree. Under the surprised gaze of his attendant, he broke off a slender branch. The remaining branches swayed in the wind, causing the detached branch in his hand to move as well.

His gaze wandered lazily over the twig, lips curling into a faint, self-mocking smile. “Sometimes, one must learn from the willow—only then can one find a place suited to oneself in this world.”

The servant looked on, puzzled.

Qin Jinghao’s expression returned to its usual calm, and he handed the branch to the servant, casually remarking, “I recall this year’s Hundred Poems Gathering is themed on willow branches.”

Several days later, at the Minister of War’s residence.

“Hundred Poems Gathering?” Luo Yunyao heard the phrase for the first time and found it intriguing.

Du Runsheng explained, “It’s a unique poetry event in West Qin. Most participants are high officials and nobles, along with some well-known literati. They gather to recite poems and compose couplets, exchanging and sharing opinions. It’s quite an enjoyable affair.”

Seeing Luo Yunyao’s curiosity piqued, Du Runsheng smiled mysteriously. “If you attend the Hundred Poems Gathering this time, you might meet some masters. Don’t forget it was I who took you to the poetry meeting.”

“Masters?” Luo Yunyao leaned in, thinking he was being deliberately mysterious. But he continued to tease, snapping open a newly made peach blossom fan with a swish and smiling enigmatically, “You’ll find out when you go.”

Luo Yunyao pondered which masters might appear, based on her knowledge of West Qin. There were a few top Confucian scholars, but most were reclusive and avoided fame and worldly affairs. It was unlikely they would attend such a social event, which was mostly frequented by officials.

“Grand Tutor?” Luo Yunyao ventured a guess.