Chapter 164: Chapter 146: The Prefect of the Pei Family (2)
As long as they are enemies and deserve to die, they cannot remain in this world.
"Mr. Lin, you must have realized that your wrongful imprisonment this time was orchestrated by someone deliberately targeting you," Pei Jian slowly said.
"I know, someone just can’t stand seeing me doing well," Lin Miao picked up a piece of meat, biting it, laughing as he spoke.
"It’s not just that they can’t stand seeing you doing well, they also want to ruin you completely," Pei Jian said heavily.
"I have no grievances with them, why would they go to such lengths to harm me?" Lin Miao angrily asked, although this was all an act he put on in front of Pei Jian. He knew the true reasons well, but couldn’t directly reveal them to Pei Jian.
Facing such a wily veteran in the political scene, how could he play along without some disguise?
He didn’t believe Pei Jian came to see him out of kindness; perhaps Pei Jian had other motives, possibly wanting to use him.
In Dongshan City, as long as Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion exists, he as Prefecture Authority can’t become the true master of Dongshan City, unless they are allies.
Is Pei Jian allied with Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion?
He and Si Miaoxue have analyzed together; despite Pei Jian cooperating considerably with Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion in certain matters after taking office, he still maintains a certain distance from Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion.
Investigating the Pei Family’s faction within the court, the Pei Family is indeed a distinguished family, and Pei Jian is one of the notable successful individuals of his generation.
Pei Jian is only one of them; he’s not the Patriarch of the Pei Family. Typically, noble families don’t easily take sides within the court, and some are skilled at betting on both horses, or letting someone languish in obscurity. No matter who ultimately wins, they can ensure the family’s continuation and have a chance to rise again.
Pei Jian probably isn’t on the same path as Marquis Lingyang; he came to work in Dongshan Prefecture not recommended by Marquis Lingyang but rather through efforts from the Crown Prince’s side.
Currently in the court, the Third Prince is confined, leaving only the Crown Prince and the nearly adult Fifth Prince. Once the Fifth Prince reaches adulthood, he will marry, and if he fathers a crown grandson, the situation will change immediately.
Therefore, the person least wanting the Fifth Prince to grow up, marry, and have children should be the Crown Prince.
The enemy of the Empress was originally Consort Yi but now has become Consort Xue.
If Pei Jian is a person of the Crown Prince, he should be sent to Dongshan Prefecture to keep an eye on Marquis Lingyang, especially on Marquis Lingyang’s wife and Mr. Xue.
But Mr. Pei, the second son, surprisingly has a very close brotherly relationship with Mr. Xue, which is intriguing. Did Pei Jian just let his second son run wild with Mr. Xue, or is it intentional?
Pei Jian has more than one son; discarding one isn’t unusual. With the financial and influential backing of the Pei Family, as long as lives aren’t lost, ensuring a wealthy and safe future isn’t difficult.
Therefore, it’s very likely Pei Jian isn’t aligned with Marquis Lingyang, but who can say for sure? Though the Fifth Prince is currently underage, once he reaches adulthood, everything will be different.
Changing allegiances is routine for aristocratic families; morality and conscience mean little compared to family continuation.
And Consort Xue is definitely an ambitious person; would she be content merely being a consort, or her son just becoming a wealthy prince?
Absolutely not, considering her rise by betraying Consort Yi, she’s clearly an ambitious and greedy woman.
Such women are cunning and highly skilled, lacking only a foundation in the court, but people like her are easiest to control. The Fifth Prince is undoubtedly the best choice for the power-hungry ministers wanting to control the court.
Does the Da Li Dynasty currently have such power ministers?
No, not at the moment.
The struggle between royal authority and ministerial power currently favors royal authority. Both the cabi and the six departments are mutually restrictive, intertwined, with the Emperor’s centralization reaching certain heights.
Hence, under the current circumstances, unless the Crown Prince is deemed entirely unsuitable, the Emperor might consider another heir.
The Crown Prince is currently thirty years old; though a man can father children for a long time, within the royal dynasty, offspring are rare. Statistically, those without children at thirty have a low probability of eventually having any.
Therefore, Consort Yi’s conspiracy to ensure the Crown Prince remains childless triggered the Emperor’s wrath, relegating her to the inner palace, while banishing and confining the Third Prince.
These matters are too distant for Lin Miao; he can’t involve himself. But there is one thing he must ascertain: Pei Jian can’t be associated with Consort Xue.
Otherwise, the basis for cooperation is lost.
But Pei Jian, being such a sly old fox, would hardly confide in someone unfamiliar, revealing whose man he is or whom he supports.
Thus, with Pei Jian’s current status, not choosing a side, not taking a stance is also possible, but he bears the mark of the Crown Prince...
An official transferred from the capital isn’t a demotion but rather potentially set for greater use. Besides, Dongshan Prefecture isn’t a punitive posting, suggesting a high likelihood of future significance.
If Pei Jian knew Lin Miao’s mind was conducting such a "meticulous" analysis of him, he would likely be struck with fear.
"You draw too much attention, blocking others’ paths."
"I don’t understand."
"If you were just a small scholar from Dongshan Prefecture’s medical examination, you wouldn’t attract much focus. But you seem bent on applying for the ’Path to Sainthood’ trial, which displeases many. If you had come in first in both tests, it wouldn’t matter; but ending up third makes the Dongshan Prefecture’s medical community seem incompetent," Pei Jian said.
"But if so, why didn’t they prevent it?"
"Stopping it would make them appear envious of talent; had you a mentor, they would have pressured them long ago, but you have none, leaving them helpless. They hoped the Imperial Pharmacy would reject your application, yet you somehow passed; that doesn’t make them fond of you, does it?"
"If I pass the ’Path to Sainthood’ trial, wouldn’t it also be prestigious for Dongshan Prefecture’s medical community?"
"That’s your personal honor; your individual brilliance overshadows everyone," Pei Jian laughed lightly, "Of course, this is merely an introduction. They dislike you but don’t want to destroy you; they just want to prove you’re no better than others, mostly aiming to ruin your reputation."
"Is it because Ye Xizhao died, and Ye Shengyuan resents me, believing I took his son’s honor?" Lin Miao closed his eyes, thinking for a moment, then spoke.
"Mr. Lin, you’re indeed perceptive," Pei Jian raised his glass.
"Prefecture Authority Pei, do you think if I had initially handed over my senior sister, none of this would have happened?"
"Cough, cough..." Pei Jian choked on his wine; the remark was too forthright, but upon examination, it rings true.
"Does Prefecture Authority Pei believe I should have done that?" Lin Miao’s face turned cold; in these noble families’ eyes, women are merely tradable commodities, easily discarded, even those as noble as Consort Yi, dismissed with mere words from the Emperor.
"What’s done is done; discussing this further is unnecessary. Mr. Lin, now the focus is on resolving your predicament," Pei Jian evaded the question softly.
"They attempt to sabotage me and block my path, but have they considered why the court established supervision for the ’Path to Sainthood’ trial? Besides preventing cheating and deception, enhancing the value of ’nationally selected’ physicians, there’s another purpose," Lin Miao smiled calmly.
Pei Jian was slightly startled, having underestimated this young man.
Smart, calm, mature, and sophisticated.
Such qualities in a seventeen-year-old are astonishing, making it impossible to view him merely as an inexperienced youth.
At this age, Pei Jian hadn’t reached such heights.
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