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Profound Family Teaching
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Some things were just this way. The more inconvenient it was to explain, the more one didn’t know where to start explaining from. At the same time, it will also make the following changes increasingly hard to predict.
This reasoning, it wasn’t just Wu Wang and Wei Wang that ‘personally’ experienced it. The people of the Xun family actually were also more or less bounded by it.
On one hand, it was the Xun family second branch. The problem of dividing the family that they’ve previously feared and avoided in every way, at this time, finally got formally brought up. There was no leeway to negotiate. The heavily ill and bedridden Xun old madam who even now was still not that conscious finally could no longer become the Xun family second branch’s protective talisman.
On the fifth of the ninth month, the Wen’an Marquis Xun Nanheng, practically under the circumstance of not mentioning a single word in advance to the second branch, directly invited three elders from the clan, also inviting Marshal Yan and General Xie, these good friends as witness, completely not having any intention of negotiating, directly proposing to divide the family on the spot.
Among the ancestral properties, aside from the ancestral residence and fields, all others properties were divided in half. As for Xun old madam’s own dowry from the Liu province, Xun Nanheng also very generously expressed that it can entirely be given to the second branch after the old madam passes away. The second branch only need to fulfill two conditions in order to obtain these assets, and safely and wealthily live out the rest of their life.
Firstly, the entire second branch must immediately leave the capital, heading to the previously purchased residence in the Liu province to live, not allowed to leave the Liu province, and further not allowed to return to the capital.
Secondly, the third miss, Xun Xiang, who’d just started liking poetry and verses right before mid-autumn, frequently asking Xun Ying for guidance, while also having obtained Ruiyang Junzhu’s favor during the mid-autumn palace banquet, will directly go to the family temple in the outskirts of the capital, shedding her hair and becoming a nun, serving before the old buddha statue for the rest of her life, praying for the currently heavily ill Xun old madam. It can also be considered a wonderful story of filial piety.
Practically as soon as Xun Nanheng finished speaking, the already deathly pale and extremely thin Xun Xiang directly passed out. The people of the second branch tremblingly agreed, not daring to say a single word more.
Marshal Yan and General Xie all had sharp ears and keen eyes, already knowing the inside story, even feeling that for Xun Nanheng to have dragged out until now to divide the family, it was already very much having patience. As for the Xun family elders in the clan, some actually weren’t aware of the specific situation, mainly not knowing why Xun Xiang needed to become a nun, as well as why the Xun family second branch didn’t have any intention of protesting.
But, since this pair of brothers of Wen’an Marquis Manor didn’t say anything themselves, this matter of dividing the family very quickly got settled.
That’s why, by the seventh of the ninth month, after Xun old madam recovered a bit of her consciousness under Little Imperial Physician Chi’s miraculous hands, the first thing she heard was that the people of the second branch have already divided the family and left the capital overnight, moving to the Liu province under the ‘escort’ of the guards personally picked by Xun Nanheng.
As for Xun Xiang, who following Xun Yan’s death and Qi Pei’s marriage, was the only one still able to intimately fawn over by Xun old madam’s side, keeping her happy, after the matter of dividing the family was settled, she got her hair personally cut by Xun Che on the spot, the sharp and shiny scissors swaying back and forth before her fearful eyes. Xun Xiang in the end was actually scared to the point of going limp in addition to peeing herself, leaving behind a very inelegant end to her last moments in the mundane world as a young lady of the Wen’an Marquis Manor.
This entire process was vividly and colorfully explained to Xun old madam by a clever and eloquent little servant girl, even adding how Xun Xiang wailed and begged for forgiveness after arriving at the ancestral temple the next day, and how she got beaten up by the female guard that was specifically sent over to guard and watch over her before finally settling down. Xun old madam was both worried and angry, shaking all over as she once again fainted.
Towards this, Little Imperial Physician Chi was very angry, even specifically coming to Qingyu Pavilion to question Xun Che, “Why didn’t you just say that you wanted your family’s old madam to have a stroke, why let me treat just to anger her again? Wouldn’t it be easier for me to just slightly slant the needle a little back then!? Yet, now, you call me over to save again, could it be to save back just to anger again?”
Xun Che was on a hard to come by half-day break, currently personally brewing tea. Seeing Little Imperial Physician Chi enter the door, he personally got up and offered up a cup of tea with both hands. Afterwards, he sat down again and said, “If really able to be completely cured, then there’s no harm in angering again. Whenever I think of how Xun Xiang dares to work with Ruiyang to ruin Ying’er’s innocence and future, I just want to directly take her life. How things are currently, I’m already extremely benevolent.”
Little Imperial Physician Chi, however, let out a sneer, “These words, you can only use to fool others. There’s plenty of ways to take someone’s life. If you want to kill your family’s third miss, isn’t it just a matter of waving your hand? You simply just want her to suffer.”
Xun Che hooked the corner of his mouth, seemingly smiling, yet completely chilly, “If she’d succeeded, then Ying’er’s days in the future will only be worse than hers now. If Xun Xiang really has the intention of repenting, then in another eight to ten years, I will let someone send her to the Liu province. By that time, how things will be like, it will just depend on her.”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
“How could you’ve let her succeed?” Little Imperial Physician Chi casually blurted out with a laugh. However, he ultimately didn’t have this seemingly undoubted matter taken seriously. After praising Xun Che’s tea brewing skills a little, he just got up to take his leave.
And at this time, Yu Lingxin who’d just finished coaxing their son to sleep also entered Qingyu Pavilion’s study. After briefly greeting Little Imperial Physician Chi, she just saw in Xun Che’s tranquil complexion a bit of a sigh. Pondering for a moment, she went over to sit across from him, taking the tea set and personally brewing a cup of white tea, “Thinking about the second branch’s matter?”
Xun Che shook his head, having Little Imperial Physician Chi’s words just now roughly repeated, sighing again, “At present, I absolutely don’t dare to think like this anymore. Although the crown prince is already decided now, the inner palace also seemingly settling down, but those malicious methods of Li Consort’s in the past life still haven’t unfold. What kind of changes there will be next, it’s truly hard to say.”
Pausing for a moment, feeling that these words seemingly were overly depressing, Xun Che dryly coughed, smilingly reaching out to press Yu Lingxin’s wrist, “It’s better to relax a little more. That way, when infusing the tea, the tea leaves can roll out more evenly. Speaking of which, Ying’er went over to see An’er just now?”
Yu Lingxin nodded, “En, Ying’er came over for a sit. Lately, she’s been learning how to do needlework, making two little outfits for An’er, the stitching very good. Just, I feel she’s still thinking about Qi Ke inside, yet not saying anything.”
In the past, every time mentioning Qi Ke, Xun Che’s mood would always be very complicated, both having the annoyance of seeing his precious younger sister, unknown as to when and how, fall this deeply in love, while also feeling concerned and worried for their future. Even a few days ago, when analyzing the situation in the palace and the political state of affairs with his wife, he was still filled with contemplation.
However, this time, Xun Che finally had a bit of a relaxing look in his eyes, even carrying a tiny bit of praise that he tried to cover up, “No matter, just let her steadily read her books. Doing needlework is also fine, just wait a little more.”
The meaning in these words immediately made Yu Lingxin somewhat excited, “Why do you say this? Did you mention Qi Ke’s matter with father?”
Xun Che smiled, “Half and half.” Afterwards, he actually started being suspenseful, turning to go ask about the tea, “In the past, I keep remembering that you drink flower tea, yet didn’t know that you also drink white tea? This technique although a bit stiff, the taste is nevertheless not bad.”
Yu Lingxin rolled her eyes at him, “In the past, didn’t you just teach me this one kind? All those years, I’d brewed don’t know how many times.”
“Why?” Xun Che’s smile was increasingly deep. The several days of exhaustion from official work, with the governmental affairs, the current political situation, the front court, inner palace, and so on all weighing on his mind, it’s been too long since he last relaxed.
Meeting his gaze, Yu Lingxin also pursed her lips into a smile, “There also needs to be an order to the questions, you answer first, and then I’ll tell you.”
Xun Che more or less was somewhat displeased. He naturally knew why Yu Lingxin would continuously brew white tea in the past life, because he liked drinking it. Yu Lingxin naturally was ‘reminiscing her deceased husband’, thus continuously drank it. To put it bluntly, it was just ‘missing him’.
But, although understanding, to not hear directly from her mouth, it was just a bit lacking.
After a few flickering thoughts flashed by, Xun Che ultimately still conceded, having the news he received a day ago, the meaning in the exchange, as well as his following plans all roughly explained to Yu Lingxin.
Yu Lingxin listened very seriously. Just, by the time they were done with this topic, they’d also finished drinking the tea. When Xun Che once again asked Yu Lingxin why she kept brewing white tea back then, the answer Yu Lingxin gave was completely unexpected, “Because there’s a lot at home. It’ll be wasted if I don’t drink.”
Xun Che was practically stifled, “You’re sure enough father-in-law’s daughter, your family teachings profound.”
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but laugh, voluntarily turning to hug him, “Aiyoo, already an old couple, could it be that you still need to me to say words like that every day? Besides, those are all in the past life. Those sad moments, I don’t remember that well anymore.”
“Really?” Xun Che caressed her cheek, “Alright, I’d still rather you be happy every day. Those past old events, it’s better to forget.”
Yu Lingxin snuggled against his palm, also going to lightly kiss his lip, “At present, although there’s also troublesome matters, but I’m ultimately together with you, also having An’er, father and mother, the younger siblings, all safe and sound. I sometimes feel, even if this is just a dream, to be able to dream of this, I’m also satisfied.”
Xun Che’s heart strangely turned sour. This was probably what predestined fate meant. Yu Lingxin was always able to pierce his heart with her words. Under the heavens, there was probably no one that understood him more than her.
“But, I’m not satisfied.” He couldn’t help but smile, leaning forward and deeply kissing her.
In the end, this hard to come by half day of break still wasn’t able to be that idle after all……….
However, this kind of ‘being occupied’ probably made Xun Che even more refreshed than resting. That’s why, the next day, when entering the palace, and upon hearing Xuan Emperor once again bring up doubts regarding the mid-autumn palace banquet, the rejuvenated Xun Che even had no choice but to press down his mood in order to put on a shocked and solemn attitude.
The rest of the cabinet ministers and high ministers of the Central Secretariat that were serving before the emperor naturally were also shocked. Mainly, it was not knowing what Xuan Emperor meant by this. If wanting to ask about the mid-autumn palace banquet, as well as Wei Wang and Wu Wang’s behavior and such, it should be conducted immediately after mid-autumn. And in reality, this was exactly what was done.
Now, more than half a month later, even the decrees for the two princes’ fiefs were all issued, yet Xuan Emperor wants to question this matter again? This is feeling that the imperial family still hasn’t lost enough face?
Xuan Emperor actually very quickly gave his explanation, the cause sure enough was on the empress. To put it simply, precisely in this past half month, when Xuan Emperor was both furious and ashamed, while also worried over the northwest’s situation, overall already both mentally and physically exhausted, the lenient attitude that the empress displayed towards the two princes and Li Consort, as well as her gentleness and consideration towards Xuan Emperor, all made Xuan Emperor very gratified.
That’s why, at the same time approving the empress’s suggestion of ‘resting more and having the governmental affairs given to the crown prince’, he also listened to the empress’s plea for Wu Wang and Wei Wang. Perhaps, as a father, Xuan Emperor genuinely hoped that his sons weren’t really that unsightly.
And when the empress pointed out that Wu Wang seemingly had met with Qi Ke prior to arriving at Luhua Hall, Wu Wang’s and Qi Ke’s statements also contradicting one another, and such doubts, Xuan Emperor still carried a bit of hope, wanting to flip through this matter again.
The cabinet ministers looked to one another in dismay. After deliberating for a while, it was still the Prime Minister, the Ying Duke, that spoke, “Your Majesty’s meaning, we subjects understand. Just, Qi Ke was ultimately last year’s first place in the autumn exam, so mustn’t interrogate under torture. Moreover, this matter ultimately concerns the imperial family’s face, also concerning the heart of the scholars, hoping that your Majesty can carefully consider, prioritizing one’s reputation in the later generations. If really wanting to question, this subject feels, the imperial prison in the palace isn’t appropriate. It’s better to hand over to the Judicial Court to handle.”
At this time, it actually also showed the benefit of Xuan Emperor having a soft temperament. Although it was easy for him to listen to the consorts’ suggestions, it wasn’t hard for the officials to have him pulled back again. After deliberating twice, in the end, Xuan Emperor still issued a decree, ordering the Head of the Zongjing Bureau to assist the Judicial Court in questioning Qi Ke about Wu Wang’s matter again.
Because, if Qi Ke indeed had innocently pointed the wrong way, then he simply shouldn’t know what kind of incense and setup there was in Luhua Hall. Then, reasonably speaking, regardless of how he’s questioned, there all shouldn’t be any problems.
On the contrary, if during the questioning, he were to mention something that he shouldn’t mention, then that was just falsely accusing a prince, framing a junwang, as well as the offense of deceiving the emperor. What the consequences will be, it was needless to say. Aside from Qi Ke getting executed along with his whole family, there’s also the need to continue looking into the person behind Qi Ke.
When Xuan Emperor spoke to here, the court officials naturally all bowed to receive the decree. And Xun Che, as an officials of the Central Secretariat, stood at the very edge of the right side, yet he instinctively sensed someone looking at him, just like in response to Xuan Emperor’s last line of ‘the person behind Qi Ke’.
But, as Xun Che stood upright along with the others, his expression was still composed, even gazing back following his intuition, noticing the eunuch standing in front of the bookshelf, Changshan.
Changshan clearly didn’t expect that Xun Che would slightly turn his head and gaze back like this. As an experienced eunuch that served before the emperor, he naturally had the ability to remain silent and motionless, not having any expression. Just, no matter how a person restrains oneself, there was still the impulse to mutually size up one another.
Seeing the young and elegant Councilor of the Central Secretariat before him, his gaze this calm and tranquil, his lips seemingly also having a trace of a smile, Changshan actually strangely shivered inside————-The interrogation towards that Scholar Qi, will it really be as his master wishes?
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bro, poor qi ke can’t catch a breath