Chapter 298: Chapter 295: Teachings

Xuanrao never knew Jiang Duan was the author of that book.

It wasn’t until he was taken away by the officials.

That’s when she found out about the good deeds he had done.

She immediately went to the palace to plead for mercy, “Emperor, Empress, he is a pedantic scholar and has offended you today, I hope you will forgive him generously! I will surely keep a close eye on him from now on!”

When Sang Yan heard her say this, she knew Jiang Duan was henpecked.

Good, henpecked men are easier to reform.

She smiled generously, “No worries. You are sensible, and since he is your man, you may take him back.”

“Thank you, Empress.”

Xuanrao, fearing the Emperor might disagree, immediately pressed Jiang Duan’s head down and kowtowed to Sang Yan.

He Ying actually disagreed with just letting Jiang Duan go, but since Sang Yan had spoken, he complied.

“Thank you, Emperor.”

Xuanrao similarly pressed Jiang Duan’s head down and kowtowed to He Ying.

Sang Yan watched and laughed, feeling that the sight of Xuanrao pressing down on Jiang Duan’s head was like–a mother chastising her rebellious son!

She really hadn’t expected Jiang Duan to be like this in front of Xuanrao!

Xuanrao quickly dragged the man away.

Sang Yan escorted the two to the outside of the hall and said to Jiang Duan, “You are a great scholar and should understand the power of words. I have two phrases for you, one is ‘Do not judge without knowing the full picture,’ and the other is ‘Many mouths can melt metal, accumulated slander destroys bones.’ For the former, I hope you respect the written word; for the latter, I hope you fear the written word.”

Xuanrao glanced at Jiang Duan who was still stubborn and headstrong, then once again pressed his head down and spoke for him, “Thank you, Empress, for your teachings.”

Sang Yan waved her hand and smiled, “You may leave now.”

Xuanrao then pulled Jiang Duan out of the palace.

It wasn’t until they sat in the carriage parked outside the palace that Xuanrao’s taut nerves relaxed.

Of course, she was still angry, “Jiang Duan, knowing my relationship with Sang Yan, why did you still write that kind of book? What were you thinking?”

She had received Sang Yan’s favors to leave the palace, and even opened the Rao Yan Building.

Based on this, she was Sang Yan’s most loyal follower.

Therefore, whenever she saw books detrimental to her benefactor, she sent them to the palace.

Little did she expect that the book was from his hand.

He really was her good man!

“Miss Sang does not bode well.”

Good man Jiang Duan quietly defended his actions.

Xuanrao heard it and scoffed coldly, “I don’t care if she bodes well or not, as long as she treats me well, I must treat her well. Did you hear me? You must treat her well too!”

Jiang Duan remained silent.

He had his own convictions.

Xuanrao knew his attitude and was so angry that she grabbed his ear, “What are you thinking? Look at how she treated you today, you should know she isn’t a femme fatale! If she were, she would have chopped you up already!”

Jiang Duan was actually also conflicted about this.

When he was brought into the palace, he thought the Emperor wanted to kill him.

Until Miss Sang showed up, the Emperor looked at him as if looking at a dead object!

He knew the Emperor had murderous intentions towards him.

But Miss Sang had soothed him time and again.

Judging by her actions and words, she seemed to be magnanimous and compassionate.

Especially the two phrases she said when he was leaving, they were striking.

Could he have really misunderstood her?

Or perhaps she was granting small favors to win people over?

Just as he was thinking, he heard Xuanrao’s sobbing.

Jiang Duan furrowed his brow, looked at her, both puzzled and helpless, “Why are you crying all of a sudden?”

Xuanrao cried, “I’m crying because I almost became a widow, I almost carried the husband-killing fate!”

Jiang Duan: “…”

He knew he was at fault, yet he still argued defiantly, “To die for offering sincere advice to one’s lord is the glory of a scholar.”

This is the common malady of pedantic scholars!

Xuanrao was so angry she wanted to hit someone, “If you want to die, go ahead and die, but before you die, let’s dissolve our marriage contract.”

This was exactly Jiang Duan’s weakness.

He was over thirty and had lived in seclusion in Duan City, more celibate than the Emperor. After meeting Xuanrao, he was entangled by her and moved by her. Now, like an old house on fire, his heart, besides literature, was occupied by her.

“A promise is worth its weight in gold. How can a marriage contract be easily dissolved?”

He grabbed her hand, their fingers interlaced, and spoke in a low, gentle voice.

Xuanrao tried to shake off his hand a few times and couldn’t, so she stopped trying and coldly said, “If you continue to oppose the Empress, then you are making an enemy of me. You should know the means I employ against my enemies.”

She had dealt with some business competitors in the Capital City. They not only poached her talent but also framed her Rao Yan Building’s food for being unclean. In short, she had returned all their tactics.

Eventually, several competitors were driven out of the Capital City by her.

Jiang Duan knew she was resolute. She pursued him with zeal and unceasing sweet talk, but if she was displeased, she could ignore someone for days.

She was truly ruthless once she turned her back.

“I understand. I won’t involve myself in this matter anymore.”

He was willing to step back for her.

But Xuanrao was the kind of person who would take a mile if given an inch.

“You’re not going to deal with the mess you made? How bold of you to say so!”

Xuanrao huffed and stated her demand, “You must vindicate the Empress. Regarding the love story between the Empress and the Emperor, I have the right to speak. I will dictate, and you will write.”

Jiang Duan didn’t want to write, so he used Sang Yan’s words to block her, “Have you forgotten Miss Sang’s words? ‘Do not comment without full knowledge.’ I don’t know the inside story; I can’t write recklessly.”

Xuanrao sneered, “Now you know you were writing recklessly? What were you doing before? And the ‘Great Love Record’? Such a vulgar name, I can’t believe you came up with it!”

At this point, she thought of something, and looking sideways, she said, “Jiang Duan, tell me the truth, you must have read quite a few of those books before, right? I didn’t expect you, with your daily proper demeanor, to also be–”

“I haven’t.”

Seeing his reputation about to be tarnished by her words, Jiang Duan hurriedly explained, “I didn’t choose that title. It was the publishers who chose it during printing.”

Xuanrao “…”

She felt disappointed.

She actually didn’t want him to be so proper.

Being a bit unbuttoned occasionally was quite amusing.

Considering she, under Consort Xuan’s name, had abstained for so many years in the palace, and only when she left the palace did she choose a man for herself, he was still as modest as Liu Xia Hui, remaining so until now–quite pitiable.

“Really?”

She reached out to lift his chin, assuming a teasing posture, “You really haven’t seen those?”

Jiang Duan turned his head away, moving his chin and looking very unnatural, “No.”

Xuanrao, displeased by his response, pouted, “Then what about our wedding night?”

Jiang Duan “…”

His handsome face blushed.

It spread to his earlobes.

“Ah Rao, speak respectfully.”

He really was a proper man.

Xuanrao liked to tease proper people, “What if I insisted on speaking? Jiang Duan, if you don’t perform well on our wedding night, beware I might divorce you.”

Using the word ‘divorce’ in this phrase was also inappropriate.

Jiang Duan frowned and said, “Ah Rao, be cautious with your words.”

Xuanrao immediately grew impatient, “Fine, can’t say this, can’t say that, if you keep restraining me, I’ll just find someone else to talk to!”

Her passion as an adult woman was swiftly squashed by his few words.

“Xuanrao!”

Jiang Duan’s voice suddenly rose.

His temper flared–provoked by Xuanrao’s dismissive attitude in her words.

Xuanrao, realizing she had said the wrong thing and touched his sore spot, then coaxed him, “I know, I know. Just kidding. I’ll only talk to you. I like you the most.”

The topic about vindicating the Empress was sidetracked just like that.

Both had forgotten.

He Ying hadn’t forgotten.

He could forgive Jiang Duan, but only if he–must write what he wanted to see.