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Liu Quan turned and looked at Xiao Heng, asking, "Liulang, should we give way?"
In terms of official rank, Xiao Heng was currently serving as a fifth-rank Reader-in-Waiting. However, the other person was An Junwang, and his noble status made him hard to contend with.
"No." Xiao Heng replied. "If anyone should give way, it should be him giving way to me."
"Heh, that's quite a bold statement!"
An Junwang's carriage pulled up opposite Xiao Heng's carriage, but the voice that came from inside wasn't An Junwang's but rather Grand Preceptor Zhuang's voice.
Someone in the crowd discerned the situation and exclaimed, "It's the Grand Preceptor!"
No one had expected that Grand Preceptor Zhuang would be sitting in An Junwang's carriage!
The officials who had cleared the way for An Junwang secretly congratulated themselves for not acting arrogantly and yielding properly. Otherwise, they would now be the ones facing humiliation from Grand Preceptor Zhuang.
Just who was this young man? His voice sounded quite young. This might be a case of an arrogant youth acting recklessly and kicking an iron plate!
Others might not be able to recognize Xiao Heng's voice, but how could Grand Preceptor Zhuang fail to recognize it?
Xiao Heng opposed him at every turn, taking away the Empress Dowager’s favor and causing the Empress Dowager to distance herself from the Zhuang Family. All of it was thanks to this guy named Xiao Liulang scheming behind the scenes!
Empress Dowager Zhuang had warned Grand Preceptor Zhuang not to make things difficult for Xiao Liulang, but it wasn’t like he was making things difficult for him right now, he was simply following proper protocols and all.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang had the coachman draw back the curtain, revealing himself sitting in a spacious carriage. The citizens, from their various angles, got a glimpse of the opulent interior of the Zhuang Family's carriage.
It appeared modest and unassuming, but who could have imagined that a simple armrest table was made of expensive golden nanmu wood?
The curtain was only partially drawn, revealing Grand Preceptor Zhuang's figure, and beside him, one could vaguely see a pair of immaculate official boots, presumably belonging to his legitimate grandson, An Junwang.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang sneered as he looked at the opposite carriage, "Isn't this Reader-in-Waiting Xiao? Reader-in-Waiting Xiao, are you there to block the way, or are you waiting for this official to clear the path for you? Since when have the officials of the Hanlin Academy become so arrogant? Even the Grand Preceptor of the current court has to yield to a mere Hanlin official?"
These words showed no mercy to Xiao Liulang. Regardless of how outstanding he was or the fact that he was the newly appointed top scholar favored by the Emperor, he was still just a minor Hanlin official, nothing like Grand Preceptor Zhuang, who was already a first-rank high-ranking official of the court.
Blocking Grand Preceptor Zhuang's way was indeed inviting humiliation upon oneself, wasn't it?
However, Grand Preceptor Zhuang's criticism went beyond his earlier words. He continued, "You shouldn't be thinking that you can disregard this official’s authority just because someone in the palace supports you, right?"
Someone in the palace was supporting him. Who could it be?
Grand Preceptor Zhuang didn't specify, so everyone naturally assumed it was the current Emperor.
The Emperor had a reputation for promoting talent regardless of their background. However, if this young man was already becoming arrogant due to favoritism, it showed that he wasn’t worthy of the Emperor's recognition.
"He's from the countryside and lacks worldly experience."
"No wonder. He probably doesn't understand how unpredictable the Emperor's heart can be. Without the Emperor's favor, he's nothing."
"Just a little bit of favoritism, and he's already so arrogant. Does he really think he has the same outstanding qualities as An Junwang? What audacity!"
"But An Junwang is not arrogant! He's humble, polite, knows his place, and never oversteps his boundaries. That's what true dignity of a great family looks like!"
"There's a saying, how does it go? 'A full bucket makes no noise, but a half-filled one splashes around!'"
"Hahaha!"
The crowd was amused by an elderly man's jest.
People generally had a strange psychological tendency to enjoy watching others fall from grace and relish the feeling of judgment.
Everyone was waiting to see Xiao Liulang's embarrassment. However, what no one had anticipated was a handsome man in purple clothing strolling calmly from the rear of the crowd.
He had a commanding presence, and the densely packed crowd instinctively made way for him.
As soon as Grand Preceptor Zhuang saw the look on this man's face, he stiffened, "Marquis Xuanping?"
Marquis Xuanping stopped beside Xiao Heng's carriage, a sly smile on his face as he looked at Grand Preceptor Zhuang, "Oh, isn't this Grand Preceptor Zhuang? What a coincidence, you're going to court too?"
What time was it now? Wasn't court already dismissed?
Wait, he used the word "too."
Are you, Marquis Xuanping, shameless to this extent? You make it sound like you were attending court today!
Grand Preceptor Zhuang snorted coldly, "Marquis Xuanping, it's been a long time since you attended court. You probably even forgot the time of the morning court."
Marquis Xuanping smiled and said, "Indeed, His Majesty is merciful, considering my old injuries that have not yet healed, he spared this Marquis the hardship of attending court."
Bullshit old injuries that hadn’t healed!
You, Marquis Xuanping, have never properly attended court, okay!
Of course, the Emperor did say those words, but it wasn't genuinely out of concern for Marquis Xuanping. It was because Marquis Xuanping was capable of such acts that the Emperor was afraid he might embarrass the officials of the State of Zhao. Therefore, the Emperor had come up with an excuse for him.
"Is there a seat?" Marquis Xuanping asked Liu Quan, seemingly casually.
"Ah, we do." Liu Quan replied.
"We don't." Xiao Heng said, contradicting Liu Quan.
Everyone widened their eyes in unison.
Had they misheard it? Did this Hanlin official just refuse Marquis Xuanping in public? Was he trying to get Marquis Xuanping to beat him to death!
Grand Preceptor Zhuang chuckled.
"You do, ah, alright!"
Marquis Xuanping completely disregarded Xiao Heng's refusal, smiling as he smoothly took a seat in Xiao Heng's carriage, as if it were the most natural thing to do.
Xiao Heng: "..."
Grand Preceptor Zhuang: "..."
Everyone: "..."
After he had sat down, it was as if he didn't even realize that Xiao Heng's carriage had blocked Grand Preceptor Zhuang's path.
In terms of official rank, Marquis Xuanping was a first-rank Military Marquis, and Grand Preceptor Zhuang held one of the top positions in the court as a member of the Three Excellencies, also with a first-rank.
In terms of identity, Marquis Xuanping was the current imperial brother-in-law, while Grand Preceptor Zhuang was the former imperial brother-in-law.
In terms of power, Marquis Xuanping held military authority, while Grand Preceptor Zhuang had influence over the political affairs behind the scenes.
If one were to consider their family backgrounds, the Xiao Family was far less prestigious compared to the Zhuang Family, which had been a prominent family for centuries. However, Marquis Xuanping had another significant identity—— he was the current imperial son-in-law.
An imperial son-in-law with real power.
Throughout history, those who married imperial princesses were generally not allowed to hold official positions. Marquis Xuanping was the first exception.
Marquis Xuanping didn't care about what others said. He casually sat down, leisurely gazing at Grand Preceptor Zhuang across from him. His expression practically screamed, ‘I won't give way to you. I’m not moving from here at all!’
That was just how audacious and shameless Marquis Xuanping was!
What a scoundrel!
Grand Preceptor Zhuang was seething with anger.
Marquis Xuanping reclined against the carriage wall, raising an eyebrow and saying, "This Marquis is not worried about being late. I wonder if Grand Preceptor Zhuang and your grandson are also not concerned about it?"
What a joke! It was An Junwang's first day in the cabinet, and he couldn't possibly be late!
References
1. — It means someone's thoughtless actions or arrogance have led them into a challenging or unexpected situation.
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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