Chapter 383: The Eight Trigrams of Shen State [Two-in-One]

The mourning hall fell silent upon hearing this.

The envoy naturally sensed the ill intent in Zhai Huan's words.

The so-called "miscellaneous items" were just clothes or odds and ends, not a person. To indirectly insult the reigning emperor's sister in front of the envoy was tantamount to a slap in the face. The envoy's expression darkened.

He abandoned his previous fawning tone and adopted a condescending arrogance, mocking, "Zhai Lang has done nothing of merit, how dare you despise the princess? Thunder and rain are all the emperor's grace. The princess favors you, so you should serve her with your body!"

Zhai Le nearly exploded upon hearing this.

Zhai Huan raised her hand to stop him and said calmly, "According to the national law, when a wife dies, the husband must wear mourning clothes for twelve months. Before my wife's seven-day mourning period was over, the princess sent an envoy to our door. Firstly, this shows contempt for the national law and disregard for ethical norms; secondly—my wife's death was suspicious."

He didn't say anything more, but just looked at the envoy with those indifferent and cold eyes, as if he were looking at a dead man.

The envoy remained completely calm. He had helped the princess with similar tasks many times before and was already quite adept at it.

Even if Zhai Huan has evidence, so what? Can he appeal to the emperor? And even if he succeeds, what good will it do? If the emperor knew his younger sister was in love with Zhai Huan, he'd be lucky if he didn't push Zhai Huan to his beloved sister's bed. Who would dare disobey?

Let alone someone as insignificant as Zhai Huan.

Even if it was Shuji's brother-in-law or sister's husband, she would still get him if she set her sights on him. In the envoy's eyes, Zhai Huan's words and actions were tantamount to courting death. Did he really think that the Qu Dian Zhai family was from decades ago?

The most glorious era has long passed. The older generation is either dead, crippled, or retired. Which of the younger generation can shoulder the responsibility of the Zhai family? The envoy sneered contemptuously.

"What are you saying, Zhai Lang? Are you trying to falsely accuse a princess of harming innocent women for the sake of shallow male beauty?"

Zhai Le was furious when he heard the messenger use the contemptuous term "male beauty" to describe his cousin, especially in front of his cousin's wife's mourning hall! He looked at his cousin questioningly, as if the messenger would walk out of the Zhai family's mourning hall alive today if he gave the order!

Zhai Huan remained unmoved.

He flicked his sleeve and half-turned his back to the messenger.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the veins on his hands hidden in his sleeves were already bulging, and he casually remarked, "Not the best."

Zhai Le stared in astonishment, his eyes wide: "Brother!"

Zhai Huan ignored him: "Today is the seventh day after my wife's death. The mansion is filled with yin energy. To avoid offending her, it would be best for the messenger to leave as soon as possible. My wife was gentle on the outside but strong on the inside. No matter how stubborn she was, she couldn't hold a grudge."

The messenger was given the order to leave and responded with a cold snort.

Before leaving, he suddenly remembered something.

His gaze swept over Zhai Le a few times before he sneered.

"Since Lord Zhai is to observe mourning for his wife and cannot marry within a year, Your Highness cannot force him, lest you ruin their marriage. However, Your Highness admires the Zhai family's traditions and also admires Lord Zhai..."

Zhai Huan: "What do you mean?"

The messenger said, "This young man from the second branch of the family is also suitable."

Zhai Le almost jumped up and pointed at the messenger's nose to curse, "What kind of nonsense is this, saying such things in front of the mourning hall?"

Aren't they ashamed? Don't they have any shame? Judging from the face of the messenger sent by Shuji, their sister-in-law's death is probably related to them.

Zhai Huan: "Does the princess admire A-Le?"

The messenger deliberately tried to annoy Zhai Huan: "Zhai Xiaofang hasn't even reached adulthood yet, surely she's not engaged or already married? The Zhai family has held two funerals in such a short time, this is..."

Zhai Le glared angrily at the envoy.

The members of the Zhai clan in the mourning hall also rose one after another. The older ones were so angry that their faces turned ashen, and they almost couldn't catch their breath. The envoy's words were not only a blatant threat, but also a tacit admission that the death of the clan woman was Shuji's doing.

This is no longer just a provocation! It's outrageous! Yet the envoy is not afraid; he bets the Zhai family won't dare to make a move.

The Zhai family did not actually take any action.

To be precise, someone wanted to make a move, but Zhai Huan stopped them. He said indifferently, "If you want to fight, go outside. This is my wife's mourning hall. No one's blood should taint this place. Zhai will remember this matter. Please proceed, messenger."

Upon seeing this, the messenger mocked and strode away.

As he reached the gate, he turned and looked towards the plaque above the gate of the Zhai residence, spitting out a mouthful of foul saliva.

"Pah, what a coward!"

The messenger returned to inform Lady Suk-hee.

He recounted the events that occurred at the mourning hall in detail, embellishing them with his own words, which made Shuji giggle and tremble with laughter. The envoy half-squatted down, gently massaging Shuji's calves with both hands to relieve her fatigue, and also put a bad word to Zhai Huan: "In my opinion, this Zhai Yuewen is all talk and no action, and is also a coward who is afraid of death. He knows that the woman's death was suspicious, but he is too scared to make a move."

Shuji leaned languidly against the table.

"Is he really that pathetic?"

The messenger said, "What a coward! That Zhai Xiaofang certainly has a temper; he tried to lash out several times, but he stopped him each time, afraid of the imperial authority and impending doom. All that glitters is not gold; his only deception is his appearance..."

After hearing this, Shuji's interest waned by a third.

"I never expected him to be such a heartless and fickle man..." But she still couldn't forget Zhai Huan, whom she had seen on the river that day. That refined scholar standing against the wind not only had good looks, but his temperament was also unmatched by other ordinary women. She had seen many vulgar men like him, but she still hadn't given up on the idea of ​​getting him. She would get him and then discard him. "What about that Zhai Xiaofang?"

There seemed to be a hint of envy in the envoy's eyes.

“Unlike her cousin, she is a brave and talented martial artist. Although she is not old, she is far superior to those frail scholars. If you look closely, even a three-point beauty can be transformed into a ten-point beauty. It’s just a pity that she is dressed in mourning clothes in the mourning hall. If she were wearing a bright red dress, she would definitely be an absolute beauty.” The envoy knew very well what Shu Ji’s taste was like.

She admired scholars, drawn to their physical appearance and the refined, scholarly air that came from years of dealing with books—like someone who, after years of indulging in rich food, occasionally craves a change of pace. But she had an even greater fondness for warriors, attracted to their physical appearance and their ferocity in bed.

Scholars are often proud and unyielding; those with true magnanimity refuse to grovel at her feet, and those who are willing to do so are deemed by her to lack sufficient aloofness and pride. But martial artists are different. Martial artists have low barriers to entry, come from all walks of life, and many want to rise through her fingers, employing all sorts of tricks to curry favor with her.

Zhai Le is more likely to arouse Shu Ji's interest.

"really?"

Shuji's eyes seemed to brighten a few degrees.

The envoy leaned close to her ear: "Indeed, I heard that when Zhai Le left Shen to travel to various countries, he was already a sixth-rank official. A few years have passed, and now he is probably a seventh-rank duke."

Sook-hee's interest was completely piqued.

Despite being pampered and having her brother give her any man she wants, her martial arts level is never too high for her safety—of course, this is also related to the fact that high-level martial arts masters disdain getting entangled with her.

Unexpectedly, Zhai Le possessed such profound abilities at such a young age. Her brows furrowed, a mixture of attraction and worry lingering. After all, she was just an ordinary person. Although she had powerful martial artists protecting her at all times, this protection was greatly diminished in the bedroom.

If Zhai Leru wants revenge, his own life is in danger.

She enjoys male beauty, but cherishes this life even more.

The messenger noticed her hesitation, leaned closer, and whispered something in her ear. Shuji's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"That's excellent."

Shuji had been urged to marry by the Queen Mother for some time.

Her brother also helped to find talented young men.

But when families heard that she was getting married, they all scattered faster than rabbits. One day they said they weren't getting married, and the next day they had found a woman, wanting to complete all the procedures in one day. In the past two years, weddings have been happening one after another in the capital.

Shuji was furious.

That's why I came out to travel and relax.

Outside the capital, there are plenty of people who want to curry favor with her.

But none of them satisfied her.

This Zhai Xiaofang is not bad either.

Now that they're family, there will be plenty of opportunities to make Zhai Huan her own. With the added status of being her brother-in-law, her initial excitement might last a little longer. Shuji yawned, her eyes slightly closed, enjoying the envoy's attentive service.

The Zhai residence has been thrown into chaos.

To be precise, Zhai Huan was given a severe beating by the Zhai family head, who rushed back upon hearing the news, and Zhai Le's father couldn't stop him even if he wanted to. Zhai Huan's other brothers, upon hearing the details of what happened at the funeral hall, were also somewhat disgusted by Zhai Huan's cowardice.

Is this still the same Zhai Huan from back then?

His fiancée was murdered...

Why should he tolerate it anymore?

They've already insulted us in the funeral hall, how can we back down now?

If things don't work out in Shen, the whole clan can just relocate. The current ruler is utterly incompetent and can't control the entire territory. As long as they leave his sphere of influence, they can find a place to live.

"uncle……"

Zhai Le tried to plead for leniency but was almost kicked.

"Go stand aside and watch, and don't speak up for your unfilial son!"

Zhai Le was pulled aside by his father.

Zhai Huan remained silent.

His father got angry just looking at him.

Going on a trip abroad takes away all your fighting spirit.

"Zhai Yuewen, what exactly do you want to do?"

Zhai Le noticed bloodstains on the sleeves of Zhai Huan's mourning clothes and, taking advantage of his favored status, carried his uncle backward.

He pulled the father and son apart, saying hurriedly, "Uncle, if you hit my brother again, something bad will happen! My brother is injured!"

Injuried?

The head of the Zhai family rolled up Zhai Huan's sleeve, and blood soaked the white cloth, from which a winding little snake emerged.

When were you injured?

Zhai Huan looked at the wound with a sorrowful expression.

Zhai Le then remembered that the wound on his brother's arm was in the exact same location as the one on his cousin's body.

“Father.” Zhai Huan lowered his sleeve—the wound was wrapped in bandages, and no one knew that a piece of flesh was missing, a piece of flesh that had been bitten off with his teeth—he said, “My path as a scholar is now complete…”

The head of the Zhai family didn't react for a moment.

"you--"

The Way of the Scholar is something that is easy to awaken to but difficult to perfect. Different people have different ways of perfecting it, so there is no reference value for it. It is only known that once one has mastered the Way of the Scholar to a certain level, one will naturally know how to perfect it.

Zhai Huan's philosophy of life for scholars is based on the "Eight-Day Divination".

A divination can be performed every eight days to know the future.

To achieve fulfillment, one must be heartbroken at the loss of a dearest loved one and become one with that person through flesh and blood.

Zhai Huan knew the method to perfection the day he acquired the Way of the Scholar, but he disdained and did not want to perfect it.

Isn't the absence of your closest and dearest family members a sign of incompleteness?

How can this be considered a perfect ending?

Moreover, there is an extremely strict "unspoken rule" here—he cannot actively kill his closest relatives and loved ones in order to fulfill the scholar's way, nor can he even have such a thought. Because once such a thought arises, it means that his pursuit of worldly interests has surpassed that of his closest relatives and loved ones, and his feelings are no longer pure.

Naturally, the other person is not considered a close relative or lover.

"Because of A-Jing?"

Zhai Huan replied, "Yes."

"So what do you plan to do?"

I know my son well, the son I raised myself.

Zhai Huan is not one to swallow her anger.

"Shu-hui's support comes from the King and the Queen Mother. It is the two of them who give her the confidence to do evil."

His enemies are not just Shuji.

It is the royal family of Shen.

"you--"

Zhai Huan said, "My son is fine."

At the moment when he achieved mastery of the Way of the Scholar, he knew that revenge was not far away. In its initial stage, the Way of the Scholar could only perform divination to predict certain future events, but after mastery, it could arbitrarily interfere in the past of anyone every seven days.

Even if each activation costs him his lifespan.

"The royal court is not so easy to approach. The Zhai family only has a few thousand retainers and followers..."

To set up the royal court?

impossible.

Zhai Huan gave a cold smile, looked at the memorial tablets in the mourning hall, and said, "If we don't have any, then we'll borrow some from someone else."

"borrow?"

"Tens of thousands of troops guarding the capital."

"That commander is a relative of the king's maternal family."

It would be strange if anyone would lend it.

Zhai Huan's answer was that she could lend it.

But a catalyst is still needed, an opportunity to enter the capital and the royal court openly and legitimately.

The head of the Zhai family felt a sudden jolt in his heart: "What opportunity?"

Zhai Huan looked at her beloved cousin: "In less than two days, that Shuji should come to ask for Ale's hand in marriage..."

The head of the Zhai family: "..."

He should just kill this abnormal son.

Zhai Le's face showed horror.

Zhai Huan is definitely not behaving normally.

Rumors and gossip swirled around the Zhai family, and the marketplace was abuzz with discussion, filled with all sorts of nasty comments. Local noble families watched the spectacle with indifference, while others scratched their heads in bewilderment, wondering what the Zhai family was thinking, that they would agree to the king's bestowed marriage.

Outsiders all said that Zhai Huan was preparing to sacrifice his cousin to save the family.

There was a moment of deep regret.

The Zhao family of Xunnan was most shocked by this, and Zhao's third daughter fainted on the spot when she heard the news. When she woke up, she cried bitterly.

As absurd and childish as the wedding itself was its speed: everything was finalized in half a month, and the wedding was to take place at the end of the month.

The king was somewhat uneasy. He knew his younger sister well and had specifically investigated the Zhai family, only to discover that they were simply preparing for their wedding. Although he wasn't very friendly, they didn't go on strike or protest... Was she resigned to her fate?

I don't understand.

But what baffled the king, the common people, and the noble families even more was yet to come. On the day of the wedding, the king's most trusted maternal uncle, led by Zhai Huan, surrounded the palace with tens of thousands of troops, cutting down everything in their path and leaving rivers of blood.

Even the red gauze curtains couldn't compare to the glaring sight of blood on the ground.

The king looked at the soldiers surrounding the palace with shock and fear. The leader of them was his uncle. His uncle had staged a coup.

"What's going on?"

The ministers were also puzzled as to what was going on.

But each of them had two knives around their necks.

We can only watch the show for now.

Then, a young man dressed in mourning clothes walked out from the army, his face cold. Who else could it be but Zhai Huan of the Zhai family? He said, "Nothing much. He is loyal to me, that's all."

The king roared, "Impossible!"

Zhai Huan: "Nothing is impossible."

In this commander's eyes, Zhai Huan was the "real" nephew, having been raised by the Zhai family after an accidental fall into their clutches. The current king's nephew was merely an imposter, a case of switching the prince for a prince. Leading troops to surround the palace was not a rebellion, but an act of protecting the king.

In a fit of rage, the king threatened to unleash the royal seal.

result--

Before everyone's eyes, the king, stumbling and weeping, personally handed the imperial seal to Zhai Huan, calling out "Brother." Zhai Huan raised his hand to take it, admiring it for a moment.

He said indifferently, "Kill him."

The king, now conscious, was wondering what had happened when a white light flashed before his eyes...

His own uncle beheaded him.

After Zhai Huan perfects the way of the scholar, he can forcibly attach his existence to the other person's past memories.

In the eyes of the commander of the capital, Zhai Huan was the real king who had fallen into exile among the common people, while the real king was an imposter whose behavior was absurd and outrageous and would not last long. So Zhai Huan invited him to join him, and he agreed.

After he succeeds, his status will rise to a higher level.

As for the king, it wasn't because he was influenced by the ways of the literati, but simply because he was too incompetent and was influenced by Zhai Huan's spiritual words.

PS: Zhai Huan and his wife made a vow of oath by biting off an arm (actually, they only needed to draw blood, but because of Zhai Huan's scholarly principles, she bit off a piece of flesh. Shu Ji sent someone to force her to choose between her family's lives and her own; she chose to save her family, and biting off her arm was to show her unwavering determination. Because the conflict stemmed from Zhai Huan, his mother-in-law harbored resentment towards him. Zhai Huan, in turn, was demonstrating his resolve to avenge his deceased wife.)

(End of this chapter)