Hong Zhengxuan asked Qiao Sanhe how he noticed the unusual situation in the Imperial Hospital. Qiao Sanhe pondered for a moment and his eyes fell on the pastries on the table.
"This story begins when the former Prime Minister Gao Qi was seriously ill. Everyone said that Gao Qi's blood stagnation was caused by diabetes, but that's not true. I know that he avoided sweets like crazy during those years and wouldn't even touch them."
After hearing this, Hong Zhengxuan still had doubts in his heart. The young and energetic him couldn't help but ask, "Since you knew that something was wrong, why didn't you warn Master Gao at the time?"
Qiao Sanhe heard this and a faint smile appeared on his lips. "In the court, the situation is unpredictable and every step must be taken with caution. Although I am in the officialdom, I also have my own persistence and choices in my heart."
"As for the late emperor's decision, although I cannot fully agree with it, I can understand his difficulties and considerations, so I don't think there is anything wrong with it."
Hong Zhengxuan found it difficult to grasp the profound meaning of these words for a moment. His throat moved slightly, and finally he mustered up the courage to ask in a low voice, "Master Qiao, don't you think this is tantamount to aiding and abetting a tiger?"
Qiao Sanhe slowly raised his head, his eyes deep, as if penetrating the dust of time, and sighed softly.
He had asked himself this question countless times in his mind: Even if he just stood by and watched, would that be considered aiding and abetting the evil? He didn't directly answer the question raised by the young man in front of him. Instead, he turned his head slightly and glanced at the potted orchid by the window.
"Have you heard from your elders about the extermination of the three Wang clans during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, which caused a sensation in the capital?"
"Well...I've heard about it from the elders in my family."
That was a forgotten event fifty years ago. Since then, no prince or noble in the Great Zhou Dynasty had suffered such a catastrophic disaster.
"As the Prince's Grand Tutor, Lord Wang Cheng naturally wanted to protect Crown Prince Li. He repeatedly spoke out, dissuading Emperor Gaozong from deposing the Crown Prince. For this, Emperor Gaozong rebuked him, dismissed him from office, and even gave him twenty lashes of the cane as a punishment."
Hong Zhengxuan nodded. Even Wang Cheng's children had tried their best to persuade him not to get involved in the dispute over the succession to the throne. Some even sent him back to his hometown in Qiyang despite Wang Cheng's opposition, hoping that he could live out his retirement in peace.
However, when Lord Wang Cheng was passing by Taizu Xiaoling Mausoleum, he took advantage of his entourage's momentary negligence and rushed into the mausoleum, hitting his head against a pillar and dying.
When this incident happened, Emperor Gaozong was furious. He no longer cared about the years of friendship between the monarch and his subjects. He ordered the extermination of Wang Cheng's three clans in the name of great disrespect. Even the ignorant children were not spared.
Hong Zhengxuan understood what he meant. He pondered, "Wang Cheng's stubbornness has brought suffering to the entire clan. What if..."
He changed the subject and did not say it directly, but the implication was very clear - the king's anger, like thunder and rain, are all gifts; if the king wants his subjects to die, the subjects have to die.
If Lord Wang Cheng could pass away early under the pretext of illness, perhaps he could leave a bit of dignity and room for the family, and the family would not suffer the disaster of being wiped out.
"Master Qiao, I understand what you said." Hong Zhengxuan said somewhat disheartened.
Qiao Sanhe smiled without saying anything. Although this young man was full of vigor and enthusiasm, he was not reckless or impulsive. He was also sharp-minded and understood things quickly.
Saving one person may seem simple, but there may be more complicated entanglements and crises hidden behind it.
If this drags more people into danger, then this redemption loses its original meaning.
Everything in the world often has its established trajectory and destiny, which cannot be easily shaken by human power. This requires Hong Zhengxuan to slowly comprehend this in the rest of his life.
"Master Qiao, I will remember your teachings today." Hong Zhengxuan stood up from his seat and bowed deeply respectfully to Qiao Sanhe.
Qiao Sanhe waved his hand, his smile tinged with kindness and self-mockery. "Well, what's the point of teaching? I'm just an old man, I've lived a few more years and eaten a few more bowls of rice. If you don't mind me being a bit nagging, come and have some tea with me when you're free."
"Master Qiao, you are too kind. It is my honor to have tea and discuss philosophy with you. I will definitely come often to accompany you and listen to your teachings."
When leaving the Qiao Mansion, Qiao Sanhe specifically instructed the servants to carefully pack various pastries for him to take back and taste. This care for the younger generation made Hong Zhengxuan feel very warm in his heart.
…
In the Mansion of Marquis Xingyuan, Hong Yingrong has been alone in Ning'an Pavilion for the past few days, sorting and archiving the relics of the old marquis Xue Yonghuai one by one.
This place seems to embody the life trajectories of generations of Xingyuan Hou, and every object carries the heavy past and glory.
In addition to yellowed letters, written memorials, and imperial edicts issued by the court, the maps of the military camp were also preserved intact, and each map was detailed with the passes and fortresses marked on it.
Every military book has been read so many times that the corners are curled up, and the pages are filled with the experiences of the predecessors. They are the crystallization of military wisdom and experience passed down from generation to generation in the Xingyuan Marquis Mansion.
Since marrying into the Marquis's Mansion, Hong Yingrong has been committed to supporting her husband and raising her children, and managing the household frugally. She rarely asks about and never interferes with Xue Yonghuai's affairs in the military camp.
In the past, whenever there were festivals, Xue Yonghuai's trusted subordinates and their families would come to the Marquis' Mansion to pay their respects. The liveliness and warmth of that time are still missed by Hong Yingrong.
However, after Xue Yonghuai passed away, his former subordinates and confidants were either transferred by the court and moved away from the capital, taking their families with them to take up their new posts. Some also retired from the army and returned to their hometowns. Their ties with the Marquis' Mansion gradually became sparse, and they gradually stopped communicating.
She shook her head bitterly. Her control over the Xingyuan Army had collapsed in less than a year.
In fact, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, mother and son, don't need to be so wary of the Marquis' Mansion.
The current Xingyuan Marquis Mansion is nothing but a facade and a spent force.
However, Hong Yingrong still had a trace of doubt in her heart: If that was the case, why did they want to kill all the people in the Marquis' Mansion in the previous life?
At this moment, Empress Dowager Lu Fengqing's words suddenly echoed in her ears: "Your Majesty has been brooding over the lost half of the tiger talisman and is in a state of unrest..."
Hong Yingrong put down the letters she was sorting and swept her eyes across the entire Ning'an Pavilion.
This is the residence of her and the old marquis Xue Yonghuai. The Xingyuan Marquis and his wife have lived here for generations. Since Xue Yonghuai passed away, she moved to Prajna Hall because she didn't want to be reminded of him by seeing things and adding to her sadness.
"If I die on the battlefield, when Yuanchu inherits the Marquis' Mansion, Madam must hand all these things over to him for safekeeping." Xue Yonghuai once made this solemn instruction to her in Ning'an Pavilion.
Thinking of this, Hong Yingrong quickly walked into the inner room and opened the secret door hidden beside the bed with ease, revealing a cabinet embedded in the wall.
However, after searching for a while, she couldn't help but sigh in disappointment, thinking that she had worried too much. How could the lost half of the tiger talisman be hidden here?
Looking at the messy cabinet, Hong Yingrong felt apologetic and quickly put the scattered deeds and family tree back in their places one by one.
At this moment, her eyes fell on a piece of paper with a burnt corner. There were still traces of burnt marks on the edge of the paper, which was particularly eye-catching.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
