Intentional Provocation
Lily Evans was sharp as ever. She instantly sensed Mia Qian’s shifting mood, but she kept her composure and didn’t bother with Mia at all. Instead, she turned to Alexander Hayes and began discussing the recent affairs of state.
Alexander Hayes gave Lily a quick rundown of the current situation. Lily frowned slightly and replied, “There’s no one usable in the Southeast, and the people are mostly uneducated. It’s a real headache.”
Mia Qian overheard Lily and felt indignant. In her mind, she scoffed, thinking, "So what if she’s a farm girl? Does she really understand state affairs? That Queen of Qin is just putting on a show, pretending to know what she’s talking about."
Mia Qian, eager to show off her own cleverness, spoke up: “Your Majesty, the shortage of talent in the Southeast is something my grandfather and I have discussed at length. We’ve already presented a solution to His Majesty. Please rest assured, the Qians will do everything we can to help the King solve this problem.”
As Mia Qian spoke, her gaze was full of arrogance, as if saying, "You don’t know anything and can’t help at all. The Qians are the best—so just step aside and watch!"
Lily could see that Mia Qian was deliberately trying to provoke her, wanting to outshine her. Lily just smiled and said, “Lord Qian is certainly thoughtful. It’s comforting to see you working for the country’s good. But when it comes to selecting officials, there should be open examinations to keep things fair, so we can truly find the best talent. If we rely only on recommendations, it’s hardly impartial. After all, most people qualified to recommend are from powerful families, and they’ll just favor their own. That leaves ordinary folks and those from humble backgrounds with no chance to serve.”
Mia Qian snorted, “Your Majesty, you may not realize, but the Southeast people are backward and ignorant. Most ordinary folks and those from poor families can’t even read, while only a handful have any education at all. Their abilities can’t compare to those from the great houses. If His Majesty wants to fill government posts, he should pick the best—and our family has plenty of outstanding candidates. Why waste time and effort on so-called ‘talent’ from commoners who aren’t up to the job?”
Lily looked at Mia Qian and smiled faintly. “Miss Qian does make a few good points… If the country urgently needs talent, then we should use the fastest way to select capable people for each position.”
Seeing Lily seemingly yield and agree with her, Mia Qian was utterly smug. “It’s good that Your Majesty understands. Qin needs people right now, so the faster we fill those positions, the better.”
Quentin Qian was delighted to see his granddaughter outshine the Queen right in front of Alexander Hayes. He produced a list he’d prepared in advance and said, “Your Majesty, here is a list of talented members from our clan whom I recommend for important government posts. Every name on it is worthy of your trust!”
Quentin Qian placed the list in front of Alexander Hayes, but Alexander did not rush to look at it. Instead, his gaze turned to Lily Evans.
Based on Alexander Hayes's understanding of Lily Evans, since she was involved in this matter, she would never let the Qian family freely place their own people into the Qin court without intervention.
Lily Evans and Alexander Hayes exchanged a glance, both understanding each other's thoughts without a word.
Alexander Hayes immediately said, "I will weigh the options. For now, let's follow Lord Qian's suggestion and have respected elders recommend talents for official positions."
Quentin Qian and Mia Qian were overjoyed, thinking that soon the Qian clan would occupy important positions in the court. The Qian family would instantly become the most powerful clan in the southeast, and even Alexander Hayes would have to show them respect!