Chapter 364: Wholehearted Service For The Public Good

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

As long as she was not biased toward Prince Huaiyin and went easy on his men, it was still within what Empress Jia could tolerate.

Of course, if she could grant Empress Jia’s faction some favors on account of the Empress recommending Qin Xiaoyao for this post by loosening her hand at the right time, Empress Jia would be even happier.

“Hmph! I wasn’t wrong at all. Mother had always wanted to win Master over.

It’s just that Master has been pretending not to be aware,” Princess Xiangyang said as she looked at Qin Xiaoyao.

Without waiting for Qin Xiaoyao to speak, Princess Xiangyang continued, “My Empress Mother is extremely powerful. There are countless people in the court who want to win her favor and work for her. Why aren’t you tempted, Master?” She was genuinely curious.

After all, in her opinion, her mother was very sincere.

Not only did her mother ask her to acknowledge Qin Xiaoyao as her master, but she also made Qin Xiaoyao a marquis and recommended her to be the chief examiner of the martial talent recruitment examination.

Emperor Father’s health wasn’t good, and Empress Mother had always been helping Emperor Father manage the court affairs.

If Master was willing to serve her mother, Master’s future would be even more glorious.

So what if Master was conferred the title of marquis? If she were to make more contributions in the future, it wasn’t impossible for her to be conferred the title of a Prince. After all, her mother admired her master from the bottom of her heart.

Qin Xiaoyao glanced at Princess Xiangyang.

“Since there are countless people in the court who are flocking to the Empress, why would she still need me?”

When she saw that Princess Xiangyang was about to speak, Qin Xiaoyao continued, “Previously, Prince Huaiyin told me that you don’t interfere in court affairs. Now, you want to help your mother win me over?”

As Princess Xiangyang’s expression change slightly, Qin Xiaoyao added, “Like you, I don’t want to get involved in those things.

“I can work for the Great Jin State and the commoners under the sky. However,

I won’t work for a single person or a single faction.

“The Empress also knows this, so she has never made things difficult for me and even treated me with courtesy.”

Her husband had said that as long as she did not side with Prince Huaiyin and did not form a faction with him, Empress Jia would not make things difficult for her.

Qin Xiaoyao had been maintaining this status quo all this while, at least on the surface.

As for Empress Jia, it was indeed as her husband had said. She had never made things difficult for Qin Xiaoyao.

Princess Xiangyang’s eyes flickered momentarily.

“Master, you are right. Xiangyang spoke without thinking.” As she spoke, a look of regret flashed across Princess Xiangyang’s face.

“Between Mother and Second Brother… Grudges are hard to resolve. Master is stuck between them.

“Master, your choice is correct. Although both of them are doing this for the sake of the Great Jin State, they also have their own selfish motives.

“Master chose to be loyal only to the Great Jin State and Emperor Father. It was the right choice.”

“I admire you!” After saying that, Princess Xiangyang cupped her hands at Qin Xiaoyao.

She thought to herself, “Master certainly lives up to her reputation. Her thoughts are more profound than ordinary people.”

Ordinary people only wanted to take shortcuts, but her master only believed in doing what was right.

Qin Xiaoyao glanced at Princess Xiangyang.

“There’s no need to admire me. 1…” Qin Xiaoyao’s lips suddenly curled into a smile.

“Actually, I learned it from you.”

Princess Xiangyang was astounded.

Qin Xiaoyao suddenly became interested and continued, “The Empress and

Prince Huaiyin doted on you so much. Have you ever thought about the reason?”

Princess Xiangyang was surprised again.

Her eyes were filled with bewilderment.

Qin Xiaoyao smiled and didn’t say anything else.

Princess Xiangyang quickly fell silent.

After a long while, she finally spoke.

“The reason Mother and Second Brother treat me well is that I never get involved in their political struggles?” she asked.

Her mother and father were a loving couple, and she was not the only child they had.

Even though she was their youngest daughter, it was hard for her to get so much love from them based on this fact alone.

For example, she still had her Crown Prince Brother, Third Sister, Sixth Sister, and Ninth Brother.

They were also the offspring of Emperor Father and Empress Mother, but her parents never doted on them as much as they doted on her.

As for Second Brother, he had never been nice to her other brothers and sisters. So, the real reason was that she was not obsessed with power?

Instead, she simply treated them as her mother and elder brother?

Qin Xiaoyao glanced at Princess Xiangyang and smiled, but did not answer.

This girl would arrive at her own conclusion eventually.

Sure enough, Princess Xiangyang nodded soon.

“So that’s why.

“Actually, I didn’t think too much about it. 1 only hope that they can get along peacefully.

“One of them is my mother, and the other is my second brother. I really don’t want to see them fight against each other, or even…” To the point where one day they would fight each other to the death.

Qin Xiaoyao looked at Princess Xiangyang.

When she saw that the little girl was in low spirits, she reached out and patted the back of her hand to comfort her.

“The contention between them is not something you and 1 can get involved in. Just maintain your current state.

“If that day really comes, perhaps the situation won’t be as bad as you think,” Qin Xiaoyao suddenly said.

Princess Xiangyang immediately looked at Qin Xiaoyao.

“Master…”

Qin Xiaoyao nodded.

“Your Imperial family members value their dignity. Believe in your Master’s words.”

At the very least, if Prince Huaiyin won, due to his status of being the younger generation and his good reputation, he would at most force Empress Jia to give up her power and then put Empress Jia under house arrest.

If Empress Jia achieved victory, the fate of Prince Huaiyin would naturally be more tragic.

However, her husband said that according to the outcome in his previous life, Prince Huaiyin was the final winner.

Therefore, what Xiangyang was worried about would not happen.

Princess Xiangyang was astounded for a moment before she nodded her head firmly.

“Mm-hmm! 1 believe in you, Master!”

Qin Xiaoyao smiled and pulled aside the curtain of the carriage to look outside. The horse carriage swayed as it made its way back to the Marquis’s residence. Over the following period of time, Qin Xiaoyao took on the role of the chief examiner of the martial talent recruitment examination and began to get busy. Five days later, the talent recruitment examination officially began.

Qin Xiaoyao sat in the martial examination hall and watched the candidates participate in the examination together with many examiners.

Her job was actually quite simple. She just needed to sit there and watched the candidates fight each other.

Every win or loss was decided by the examiners below her rank. If she was unwilling to speak, she could even stay mum throughout the whole process.

Of course, the candidates and examiners would show her some respect if she spoke up and gave some pointers.

For example, when it was Qin Dahu’s turn, she would give him a few words of advice after he won.

After this, Qin Dahu’s opponents were practically all weaklings.

And for those who were truly capable. Qin Xiaoyao would also give him some pointers and words of encouragement.

These people quickly became the focus of attention. In the end, they all made it to the final round.

In just three days, the martial examination entered its final stage.

Other than giving some advantage to her big brother Qin Dahu, Qin Xiaoyao had always maintained a fair attitude. She did not give any benefit to Prince Huaiyin’s men, nor did she take special care of Empress Jia’s people.

Both Empress Jia and Prince Huaiyin were very satisfied with this result. No one came to find fault with her.

While presiding over the martial examination, Qin Xiaoyao also sent people to inquire about the news from the literary examination.

After two consecutive rounds, Qin Xiaoyao was both happy and worried when she received the candidate rankings of the literary examination..