Chapter 8: Chu Blockhead, Infuriating Enough to Kill Without Remorse

“If I say the Grand Tutor is full of hot air, then he is full of hot air—and not just any hot air, but the most unbearable, lingering stench. What does he take me for, some blockhead? All this talk about winning glory for me as a minister—he’s just trying to hoodwink me. Whoever wants that empty reputation can have it; I certainly do not.”

As he spoke, he wiped his nose and grabbed Pang Qingyun’s robe to wipe it clean. Pang Qingyun’s face turned an instant shade of iron; that was his prized robe.

Shen Zhao was intent on disgusting him and went on, “Last time, he proposed cutting the pay for my soldiers, all under the pretense of benefiting the common folk. I agreed without a word at the time—I do, after all, care for the people.

But—” Shen Zhao shot Pang Qingyun a look of deep disappointment. “But the Grand Tutor is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, utterly shameless, deceiving and cheating me at every turn! He took the rations meant for my hundred thousand soldiers and used them to build an academy. That’s food for my entire army, and he went mad enough to use it for his academy? If he truly sought the people’s welfare, I wouldn’t object, but he did nothing of the sort.”

Pang Qingyun looked as if he’d been forced to swallow something unspeakable. This blockhead could really hurl insults when provoked.

When had a gentleman ever resorted to open name-calling? And when did he, of all people, care about anything outside drilling his troops?

“General Chu, you must be mistaken about this old minister. I—”

Shen Zhao shot him a fierce glare, cutting him off, “Shut up, I’m not listening to your explanations. You’ll just spin another web of lies. I may be slow of speech, but I’m no fool.

What, are you going to tell me that building the academy is for the common good?”

Pang Qingyun immediately replied, “Of course! Building the academy is for the countless scholars of the realm—”

“Your Majesty, just listen to him!” Shen Zhao cut in again, pointing at Pang Qingyun. “Doesn’t he feel a shred of shame, uttering such things? I’m blushing on his behalf. Never in my life have I met someone so brazen. Today the Grand Tutor has truly broadened my horizons.”

Pang Qingyun’s lips twitched. What had he said, to be called shameless?

Shen Zhao cast him a look of disdain. “You’re serving your own interests, not the people’s, nor the students’. Your words sound prettier than a song, but the academy is built in the capital—tell me, how is that for the benefit of all students? Which students from outside the city can enjoy its blessings?

Furthermore, as I understand it, every student admitted must pay a deposit of two taels of silver, supposedly as a guarantee against damage to the books.”

At this point, Pang Qingyun’s heart skipped a beat.

“General Chu, I only fear students would damage the books. After all, books—”

Shen Zhao snorted coldly. “What are you afraid of? Spare us your concern. You’re just trying to show off. The money for building the academy came from the rations my soldiers gave up—if anyone should worry, it’s us.

And don’t tell me about the value of books. Everyone knows scholars cherish books as their own lives—they wouldn’t harm them.

If you’re truly thinking of the students, why charge them silver as a guarantee? Those who can pay are all from distinguished families, many the sons of high officials. The ones who can’t pay are mostly sons of poor families. Though they live in the capital, they gain nothing from the academy the court built. Tell me, Grand Tutor, what sense does that make?”

Beside him, Xie Yuheng echoed, his voice rising, “Yes! May I ask the Grand Tutor, what sense does that make? The academy is said to be for all students of the realm, yet sons of poor families are barred from entering. Only your own sons and those of the officials can attend. Just who is this academy really for? Is it not a private institution for the sons of you civil ministers?

You take our soldiers’ money to satisfy your own interests, and you have the gall to claim it’s for the people’s good. Are only you considered the people? Are the rest of us not?”

Shen Zhao shot Xie Yuheng a look of appreciation. Xie Yuheng puffed out his chest, proud of himself. Then he returned a similarly approving glance to Shen Zhao.

This General Chu—silent yesterday, explosive today. So that’s why he held his tongue, saving up for this outburst. All for the sake of his soldiers, he’d even shed tears in the great hall. Why hadn’t he thought of this sooner? Sometimes, a few tears can work wonders.

With the reputation of an honest man, he was now pummeling the Grand Tutor with all he had. Who could accuse General Chu of being anything but sincere? He’d been driven to tears by their schemes—who could deny him a bit of venting? How pitiful.

Pang Qingyun’s complexion flickered between green and white. Were these two possessed by spirits today, or had he truly pushed them too far?

General Chu, relentless as ever, spoke again, “Your Majesty, I am aggrieved! The Grand Tutor has gone too far. He takes the rations of my soldiers for his own pleasure and amasses wealth without restraint. Now, he even wants to rob my soldiers of all their pay for his own extravagance!”

Pang Qingyun hastily protested, “General Chu, you mustn’t slander me! When have I ever used the soldiers’ rations for my own pleasure? When have I ever amassed wealth? You are accusing me falsely!”

Was this blockhead trying to get him killed? Amassing wealth illicitly was a capital offense! Pang Qingyun wiped the sweat from his brow. What madness had seized General Chu today? And besides, he wasn’t the only one who’d proposed cutting the soldiers’ pay. Why was he the sole target? Couldn’t the fire be shared?

Shen Zhao replied with righteous indignation, “Do you think I’m as immoral as you, forever slandering others? I speak with reason. Was it not you who suggested building the academy with our soldiers’ rations? Was it not you who insisted every student pay two taels of silver? And now it is you again, citing an empty treasury as pretext to cut off my soldiers’ pay entirely—is it not so?”

Pang Qingyun wiped his sweat again. Why did General Chu remind him so much of the tigress in his own household?

“Yes, but I only—” he began.

Shen Zhao shot him a withering look. “I don’t care for your explanations—I know what you’ll say: it’s all for the people, isn’t it? Nonsense! Building the academy isn’t for the people. Charging silver is simply lining your own pockets. Return the money to our army at once! We funded the academy—why should you keep the money? Don’t tell me it’s for the academy’s maintenance. As I said, it’s none of your concern.

You claim the treasury is empty, yet you propose building a poetry institute on the outskirts. Is the one in the capital not enough for you? Or is it that you haven’t pocketed enough yet? If the treasury is so strapped and you care so much about the people, why build a poetry institute at all? Why not distribute the funds to the people directly?

You want to have it both ways—no one can match your audacity. Not even the most famous courtesan in the Flower Pavilion can compare; at least she doesn’t pretend to be virtuous while doing business.”

With that, Shen Zhao ignored Pang Qingyun, who was now trembling with rage and struggling to speak, and instead turned to the old emperor, bowing deeply several times. Secretly, she pinched herself.

She was all in now—first, for the sake of the soldiers who had lost their pay, and second, to thoroughly disgust Pang Qingyun and his faction.

Tears streaming, she wailed: