Chapter 50: A Dream Like a Yellow Millet's Cooking

Their objective was very simple: first, to curry favor with the Grand Princess Anle, as her status allowed her direct access to the two most noble individuals in the realm.

Second, to secure her recommendation and enter the imperial court as an official.

She had done this many times before.

It must be said that her eye for talent was remarkably accurate, and she was quite skilled at reading people. Those who earned her favor almost always possessed genuine ability. Once they entered the court, while not necessarily given the highest posts, they were certainly no mere minor officials, which naturally made others green with envy.

Yet, invariably, once they attained official positions, they would cut all ties with her, and the Grand Princess Anle would respect their choices.

That being said, those men knew full well that such actions would displease her, yet they still put on an act of refusal precisely to pave a smooth path for their future.

This way, no one could accuse them of rising to power through the princess's coattails; instead, they would be seen as upright, incorruptible, and exceptionally talented young gentlemen who had miraculously escaped the clutches of the princess's tyranny.

Hearing this, Wu Xuan was deeply shocked, never imagining that such a scheme could possibly exist.

For a moment, she did not know how to evaluate such behavior. Based on her life experience over the past decade or so, her understanding was that literati ought to have a strong sense of integrity, looking down with utter disdain upon external relatives who rose to power through marital connections.

They were supposed to treat worldly wealth like dirt, viewing power and profit as if they were nothing at all.

Who could have guessed that they would resort to such maneuvers just to attach themselves to the powerful?

And to save face, they brazenly feigned a lack of fear toward authority—playing hard to get while secretly seducing others all along.

In short, those scholars appeared aloof and noble, but deep down, they craved success and fame more than anyone else.

With this new understanding, Wu Xuan looked at them in a completely different light. Who could possibly know what hidden intentions lay beneath those proper exteriors?

Not long after, a man deliberately spoke right to her face, accusing her of wearing men's clothing merely to court attention. He claimed that because her aunt was the Empress Dowager, she ignored all rules of propriety and showed no semblance of a proper young lady of a noble household.

If this continued unchecked, it would foster a foul social ethos, and other young maidens would follow her example, ultimately corrupting the entire society. It was evident, he declared, that the interference of imperial relatives in state affairs was not without reason.

Wu Xuan's first reaction was: Just who does he think he is? Where did he get the audacity to judge and lecture her?

Following closely behind was a surge of incandescent rage. She was already deeply annoyed from being impeached recently, and now someone had stumbled right onto her triggers.

The more Wu Xuan looked at him, the more he resembled those hypocritical men her cousin had described—those who feigned high-mindedness while playing hard to get, all while secretly plotting to cling to the powerful.

In a fit of anger, she decided to grant his wish directly. In full public view, she declared, "Very well, you have successfully caught this lady's attention."

Before he could offer a retort, she ordered her servants to swarm forward and drag the man back to her estate.

Initially, Wu Xuan had been trembling with apprehension, terrified of being scolded by her parents. To her astonishment, they remained completely calm, acting as though she should have done this long ago.

She drifted in a daze, wondering whether her parents had lost their minds or if she was the abnormal one.

Having lost interest in the man altogether, she had simply tossed him into the backyard and left him to his own devices, only remembering the whole affair now upon reading it in a scriptbook.

She hurriedly beckoned her maid forward and asked with a hint of hesitation, "Did I happen to bring a man back to the estate some time ago?"

Hongtang's eyes lit up. She had also been troubled by this matter for quite some time, but as a servant, it was not her place to remind her young mistress of such things.

The man had been shouting and throwing tantrums in the backyard for days, transitioning from initial righteous indignation to a state where his voice had completely hoarse.

Hongtang found it too pathetic to watch. He fancied himself a hero resisting tyranny, but the young mistress had not given him a single thought from the beginning. If not for his loose tongue and derogatory remarks toward her mistress, he never would have ended up in such a plight.

Yet, keeping a living man locked up in the backyard was a headache for Hongtang as well!

Fortunately, the young mistress had finally brought the matter up.

Leaning mysteriously close to Wu Xuan's ear, she whispered, "Could it be that the young mistress wishes to summon him to warm your bed?"

Wu Xuan's face instantly flushed crimson, and she cast a mildly indignant glare at her. "Such lack of manners! Where is your mind wandering? He is hardly qualified."

"Then why bring him up, Milady?" Hongtang asked sheepishly.

"I listened to my cousin's words earlier and subconsciously assumed all scholars were the way she described. But thinking about it now after reading this story, perhaps he isn't like that. Maybe he genuinely couldn't stand my behavior, rather than just playing hard to get."

Wu Xuan had never been someone who abused her status to commit outrages. Her act of abducting someone off the street back then was not merely out of anger, but because she had convinced herself he was that kind of person.

What if he wasn't?

Everyone held different perspectives on things. She had every right to scold him on the spot if his words displeased her. However, throwing her weight around and bullying others based on her status was not Wu Xuan's style, and she took no pleasure in such actions.

"What are you saying, Milady? With your peerless beauty, heavenly grace, and noble birth, which gentleman wouldn't be captivated? Serving you is a blessing he accrued over several lifetimes."

"I know you and your flattery. Can you truly claim to know what is in another person's heart? Go quickly and release him from the estate. Oh, right, give him some money and silk as compensation. If he refuses to accept it, then let it be."

"Understood!" As Wu Xuan's chief personal maid, Hongtang naturally knew how to handle things efficiently.

Without delay, she immediately headed to the backyard where the man was detained to settle the matter.

Hu Erlang had been confined here for quite some days now. When he was first abducted, his emotions were a complex tangle.

He felt the anger of being forcibly seized, yet inwardly, he also felt a swell of pride.

True to form, his charm was so potent that even harsh criticism had caused the young lady of the Wu family to fall for him at first sight.

Then, his imagination would run wild, picturing himself being recommended to the Emperor, receiving an official post, soaring straight to the top, and eventually being enfeoffed as a marquis or appointed as a prime minister.

He envisioned his glorious future: endless delicacies with forty dishes per meal, and three thousand beauties vying for his favor, each desperate for a single glance from him.

At the same time, he would sigh inwardly, telling himself this wasn't what he wanted—he was simply a victim of circumstance, cursed by his own extraordinary excellence.

Secretly, he recalled his performance back then and was certain he had made no mistakes. His extreme disdain for powerful relatives had brilliantly showcased his high integrity.

"Boundless luxury, endless power. Countless delicacies, limitless wealth..."

Hu Erlang hummed a tune to himself, sitting back and waiting for the Wu lady to seek him out. He wouldn't yield easily, though; she would have to show real sincerity.

Who could have guessed that days would pass with no sign of her? During this time, to cement his persona of defying tyranny, he had spent days shouting curses out in the courtyard.

By the end, his voice had gone completely hoarse, sounding as harsh and grating as a duck's quack.

Now, he was listless and wilted, yet stubbornly convinced that Wu Xuan was doing this on purpose—deliberately ignoring him to torture him.

Hmph, unappreciative woman!

Pity that he was born at a disadvantage and could only let himself be carved up like fish on a cutting board. When he finally held power in his hands in the future, he would surely surround himself with countless gentle and obedient beauties. At that time, he would make her pay.

Even now, she might capture his body, but she would never win his heart.

The food delivered by the servants over the past few days had hardly been touched; his stomach was empty, leaving him starved, listless, and in a trance.

Suddenly, rustling sounds echoed from outside, followed by approaching footsteps.

He immediately perked up, straightened his robes, and knelt properly upon the low couch, lowering his eyelids into an expressionless gaze.

When facing other servants or those hostile to her young mistress, Hongtang was certainly not as docile and sweet-mouthed as she was with Wu.

A servant pushed the door open for her and stepped back to invite her inside.

Lifting her chin slightly with a haughty posture, Hongtang stepped into the room and spotted Hu Erlang.

Well, he looked energetic enough, didn't he?

Since that was the case, she would get straight to the point.

Meanwhile, the corners of Hu Erlang's mouth twitched into a rigid, disdainful sneer as he declared, "Tell your master that I will absolutely never—"

"Alright, you can go back now."

Hearing something entirely unexpected, Hu Erlang could no longer maintain his pretentious posture. He stood there dazedly like a fool, stammering, "What did you say?"

Hongtang wished she could cover her ears; his voice was so harsh and raspy, sounding just like a duck—truly awful.

"I said you can go back now," she said sympathetically.

Recovering his wits, Hu Erlang suspected this was just another game of playing hard to get. With a look of contempt, he retorted, "I only hope you are genuinely willing to let me go."

"Could it possibly be a lie? Our young mistress is kind-hearted and has specifically prepared some money and silk to compensate you. Just take it."

Hongtang clapped her hands, and the junior servants behind her carried in the stacks of wealth. The Wu family, as imperial relatives, though not as powerful as generals or prime ministers, were certainly never short on money.

The glittering goldware and bolts of silk flowing like water dazzled Hu Erlang's eyes, nearly making him drool.

His family belonged to a declining scholarly lineage, barely able to afford his studies; he had never laid eyes on such a colossal sum of wealth in his life.

They must be testing his character, trying to humiliate him with money! Despite his overwhelming temptation, Hu Erlang puffed out his chest with righteous anger: "Spare me your worldly filth! Do not insult me with these vulgar things!"

Just as she had anticipated. Losing all interest, Hongtang figured it was all for the better—it would save the estate a tidy sum of money; after all, even households of imperial relatives had no surplus grain to spare these days.

"Very well, since you insist, please take your leave, Master Hu."

With that, she ordered the guards to escort him out.

Hu Erlang was led outside the doors.

The heavy vermilion gates of the Wu estate closed with a loud *bang* right behind him.

Even at that moment, Hu Erlang remained in a daze.

He had been chased out?

Where were his money, his power, his delicacies, and his beauties?!