Tang Dynasty Puppet Doctor

Chapter 53 He is also a knife
Fearing that Xiao Muchen would have another nightmare and trigger an attack of the cold poison, Murong Huan simply found a place to sleep in his room. This made Xiao Muchen feel a little surprised and embarrassed, but also vaguely happy and helpless.

This little junior sister is sometimes terrifyingly intelligent, and sometimes as innocent as a blank sheet of paper.

I really don't know how the master taught her to be like this?

After Murong Huan fell asleep, he covered her with a brocade quilt again. He wanted to carry her to the bed to sleep, but he was afraid of waking her up, so he gave up.

Xiao Muchen couldn't sleep in the second half of the night, and naturally had no dreams. He just looked at Murong Huan who was sleeping soundly until dawn.

A maid knocked on the door and wanted to help him change his clothes and wash up, but Xiao Muchen told her to leave some toiletries and then leave. Before leaving, the maid looked at Murong Huan who was sleeping on the ground in surprise, and found that her husband's eyes were always on the young lady and never moved away.

When Murong Huan woke up, he found that the sunlight had already passed through the window lattice and fell on the desk in mottled spots, and Xiao Muchen was sitting beside the desk making tea as usual.

The tea is boiling and the aroma of tea is overflowing.

She was so shocked that she stood up quickly: "It's dawn, why didn't you wake me up? What if I delay today's work?"

Xiao Muchen smiled and said, "I've asked Xuan Yu to arrange everything. There won't be any delay. Go change into the clothes I left for you yesterday, and then we can go out!"

"it is good!"

……

The warm sun rises in the east, and the gentle breeze blows. Today, the streets of Luoyang are a little more lively than usual. Countless carriages with rich cherry blossom canopies are heading towards Zhengpingfang.

Zhengpingfang in Luoyang was not only the residence of Princess Taiping, but its southeastern area also housed the Imperial College, the Tang Dynasty's highest institution of learning. As the base for selecting officials, the Imperial College has produced many officials since the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, Zhengpingfang is undoubtedly the most prosperous area for the cultural heritage of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Princess Taiping also liked to make friends with scholars from all over the world. On weekdays, young talents often came in and out of Princess Taiping's residence, exchanging poems and wine with the literati and appreciating words together. The peony flower show on April 15th gathered famous scholars in Shendu and students from the Imperial College.

"It's so lively. There are so many people on the street today." Ah Shu opened the car curtain and sighed as she looked at the endless stream of people coming and going.

"Since her first marriage ended in tragedy, Princess Taiping no longer indulged in romantic interests. Xue Shao's death had taught her the importance of power, so she began to curry favor with her mother like a wealthy princess, while also befriending prominent figures throughout the world to build her own power."

This explains why Princess Taiping held these literary gatherings. The so-called Peony Banquet was a place where these young talents took the opportunity to display their talents and become famous.

These young scholars were also happy to use Princess Taiping's influence to enter the officialdom. After all, she was the empress's most beloved daughter. Since her marriage to Wu, Princess Taiping's honors and favors have only increased. Now the number of households she has received has increased from more than 300 when she got married to 1,000 households, which is ten times that of an ordinary princess.

"By the Empress's side was Shangguan Wan'er, and outside the court was Princess Taiping. They were both charismatic figures, possessing the grace of mountains and rivers, and the elegance of literature, and were heroines who were no less capable than men.

In fact, the Sage does not object to women showing their talents and serving in the court. Otherwise, he would not have promoted Shangguan Wan'er, the granddaughter of Shangguan Yi, her political enemy, from the imperial court and entrusted her with such an important task. This is why I asked you to return to your female attire."

Xiao Muchen said this, looked at Murong Huan seriously and said, "Everyone in the Su family already knows that you are a girl. If someone really surrenders to King Wu Chengsi of Wei, then your disguise as a man will definitely be used by them to attack you. Why not take this opportunity to reveal your true self to others?

Ah Huan, just be yourself. Even if you are a girl, you are no worse than those men. You can still shine and do what you want, don't you think?"

Murong Huan was deeply moved by what he heard. He looked at him and couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Muchen, your people were killed by the Saint. Don't you have any resentment towards the Saint?"

Xiao Muchen was slightly startled, then smiled and said, "Of course there is hatred, but my master once told me something. He said that to some people, you might only see her evil, but to the vast majority of people, what she did was actually good."

"What does it mean?"

"The sage cracked down on the aristocratic families and vigorously developed the imperial examination system, allowing many scholars from humble backgrounds who had previously worked their entire lives but could never enter the officialdom to have the opportunity to enter the officialdom, display their talents, and benefit the people. To the aristocratic families, she was evil, but to those scholars from humble backgrounds and the poor people, she brought blessings.

Since she ascended the throne, although she has killed many loyal ministers and royal family members, she has also promoted talents from the bottom to serve the country without any restrictions, and has intimidated the Tubo, Khitan, Turkic and even Silla countries, making them dare not set foot in the territory of the Tang Dynasty again.

"But she appointed cruel officials, which resulted in countless loyal ministers and generals being unjustly killed in prison..." Murong Huan couldn't help but add.

"Yes! This is what Zhuangzi said in his 'On the Equality of Things': 'Everything is neither this nor that; everything is neither this nor that; if you look at things from the other side, you will not see them; if you know yourself, you will know them. Everything has two sides, and doing something will bring both advantages and disadvantages."

Xiao Muchen sighed and then asked, "Do you know why the Saint, after killing my people, wanted to use me and let me take on the position of supervising all officials?"

"why?"

"Killing my Nanliang Xiao clan was a suppression of the aristocratic families. Employing me was a small recognition and favor after the suppression. Combining kindness and force has always been her method. It is also the mindset of the emperor. Even Shangguan Daizhao is the same.

If we want to revive our family, we have no choice but to accept her favor."

"Although she promoted cruel officials like Suo Yuanli and Zhou Xing, she also prepared me as a knife. When these cruel officials are gone, she can use me to kill these treacherous villains who have aroused public outrage.

In fact, for the empress, killing villains is much easier than killing loyal ministers."

So this is the reason why he was able to obtain the empress's decree to convict Zhou Xing so smoothly that day?

Murong Huan's heart was slightly shaken when she heard this, and then she thought again: Why would Xiao Muchen tell her all this so sincerely?
They had not known each other for long, but she had unknowingly developed a different kind of trust in him.

"I understand, thank you for telling me this!" "Didn't your master teach you these before?" Xiao Muchen suddenly asked.

Murong Huan shook his head and said, "She didn't say it explicitly, but she would tell me many, many stories, letting me understand them myself. I knew that cruel officials like Zhou Xing were the sword in the hands of the empress, but I didn't expect that everything you did was actually part of her plan."

Xiao Muchen smiled again and nodded:

"Master once said that even if it's a sword, if it can benefit the people, then it's a good sword. This is also the path he sought for me!"

Murong Huan couldn't help but look at him and fell silent.

Can people really let go of hatred and turn their hearts to the right path?
The carriage stopped suddenly, and Xuan Yu lifted the curtain again, leaned over and said, "My dear, we have arrived at Princess Taiping's residence!"

Xiao Muchen nodded, got off the carriage first, and then helped Murong Huan down.

Before reaching the gate of Princess Taiping's mansion, Murong Huan was stunned again. It was not that the mansion was so magnificent, but that this large mansion was separated from the Imperial College by only a wall. At a glance, there was no end in sight. No wonder it was said that half of the area of ​​Zhengpingfang belonged to Princess Taiping's mansion.

Now, there were countless carriages parked in front of the mansion, and several scholars in tall hats and wide belts walked into the courtyard together.

When Xiao Muchen brought Murong Huan into this large mansion, many eyes followed them along the way.

Murong Huan felt the burning gazes of many people and asked uncomfortably, "What are they looking at?"

"I'm looking at you! Has anyone ever praised your beauty before?"

Murong Huan shook his head and said, "I think he's not just looking at me, he's also looking at you!"

As soon as Murong Huan finished speaking, he heard some of the young ladies exclaiming in amazement, "Is that Xiao Zhongcheng? I heard that he entered the Northern Gate Scholar's Mansion at the age of twelve, and has always been by the Sage's side. He passed the imperial examination at the age of eighteen and became a Jinshi. He is a well-deserved young talent, and he is also very handsome!"

"He is beautiful, but it's a pity that his hair has turned white at such a young age. The Xiao family was suspected of treason and the entire clan was wiped out, leaving only him as the last. He still can't compare to Cui Shi, the young master of the Bo Ling Cui family. He is a young talent with both family background and good looks. I heard that he was the top scorer in this year's spring exam results."

"Really? Then he will also come to attend this literary gathering today, right?"

Murong Huan noticed that when these young ladies mentioned Cui Shi's name, Xiao Muchen's mood obviously became a little depressed, and there was even a hint of anger.

"Look, who is this girl next to Xiao Zhongcheng? She's quite beautiful. I've never heard of him having any girls around him before. I heard that after he came of age, the sage wanted to arrange a marriage for him, but he refused."

"Really? Then whose girl did the saint choose for him? Why did he refuse?"

"Then I don't know. Anyway, I have heard the elders in my family mention this matter. This Xiao Zhongcheng is an official in the Censorate. It's easy for him to offend people, right?"

As they were discussing this, someone called out, "Xiao Muchen, you're here too! Weren't you so aloof that you never attended any literary gatherings?"

Upon hearing this, Murong Huan looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young man in purple clothes, a tall hat and a wide belt walking towards him with a group of young men.

The man first glanced at Xiao Muchen, then turned to Murong Huan. His eyes suddenly lit up and he praised, "As bright as the sun rising in the morning glow, as dazzling as a lotus emerging from the emerald waters. What a beautiful and noble flower in the world. Xiao Muchen, when did you have a woman by your side? Could she be some distant cousin?"

As the man laughed playfully, Li Linghuan's voice resounded in Murong Huan's mind:

"Cui Shi, a son of the prestigious Cui family, was renowned for his talent at a young age. He passed the imperial examination at the tender age of twenty and compared himself to the nobles of the Wang and Xie clans. To advance his career, he successively attached himself to Wu Sansi, Shangguan Wan'er, and Princess Taiping, and later became the male favorite of each of them."

As soon as Li Linghuan finished speaking, Murong Huan tightly grasped Xiao Muchen's hand and replied, "I'm not some distant cousin, I'm..."

"She's my junior sister!" Xiao Muchen continued, "Cui Chenglan, you and I don't know each other. Don't be so frivolous in the future and don't insult my junior sister! Otherwise, I will be rude to you!"

"Junior sister?" Cui Shi sneered teasingly, "I want to see how long you can be so proud. You're just a cruel official from the Censorate. Sooner or later, you'll be thrown into jail!"

After he finished speaking, he flicked his sleeves and left. Murong Huan once again felt the anger in Xiao Muchen's heart.

"Could he be..."

"His aunt is my former stepmother, Cui!"

There was no need to say anything else, Murong Huan nodded in understanding.

"Let's go! I'll take you to see Princess Taiping."

　Note: This introduction is a bit long, you can check out the recommended red envelopes below.

Also, I'd like to clarify that Princess Taiping and the Imperial College of Tang were both in Zhengpingfang. I made a mistake one night, but it has now been corrected.
Are you familiar with Cui Shi? A very dramatic handsome man, he is considered the number one gigolo in the Tang Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)