For the peace of the world
The oppressive heat of midsummer was palpable, and the blazing sunlight streamed through the windowpanes, scattering golden fragments across the ground.
In the imperial court, princes vied for power. Cong Lan, a mere third-ranking scholar, and Sui He, a newly arrived head of a family, were as insignificant as grains of sand among the vast array of powerful figures in Chang'an.
What is raised today will fall heavily tomorrow.
Sui He tried to seek the Empress Dowager's help, but was thwarted at every turn, as if an invisible hand was blocking her path.
"I remember that the young master Pei from the Duke's mansion next door is quite fond of you?"
Pei Shizi ranked sixth in the top three. He greatly admired Cong Lan and Fu Mingguang, but Fu Mingguang was cold and treated him like air. Only Cong Lan was willing to play with him.
"He was reassigned to a post outside the region."
Sui He was puzzled, "The Pei family is the Empress's maternal family, so why not keep him in Chang'an?"
"Right now, the court is rife with infighting. The Prince of Huai, as regent, has the Pei family behind him; the Prince of Yong has the Wang family behind him… and in the palace, there's Consort Lu, who is pregnant with the imperial heir. That position is uncertain until the very end…"
"My official rank is not high, so I can't find out too much. I'm sorry."
Sui He sighed and rested his hand on his forehead. "I'll think of another way."
A few days later, Madam Zhou knocked on the door of Sui He's study and said, "Master, the Wang family has sent people."
Sui He went out to greet him, only to find out upon meeting that he was merely a steward of the Wang family, barely qualifying as one of Lord Wang's confidants.
She suppressed her dissatisfaction, responded politely, and after listening to what the other person had to say, her feelings went through several twists and turns.
"Wang Guan, you should go back first. I need to consider this matter carefully."
"Master Sui should think it over carefully. The Wang family has been rooted in Chang'an for many years. Since Master Sui is new to the capital, it would be better to keep a low profile."
His tone was arrogant and domineering, his eyes looking upwards, showing no regard for Sui He.
Zhou Niangzi couldn't help but step forward, but Sui He pulled her back.
She suppressed her anger. "Of course I understand, Zhou. Show the guest out."
When Cong Lan heard about this after his shift, he went to her study. She was sitting alone in the study, holding a message from her family in Jingzhou.
"can I see?"
Cong Lan blurted out, and Sui He looked up at him. Since it wasn't a confidential matter, he let him see it.
The letter was written from the perspective of many people, including her younger brother, sister-in-law, and sister-in-law. The letter mentioned that the child looked a lot like her brother, and that when Suihe went back next time, he would call her "aunt."
The letter was long, and it recounted many interesting things that happened in Sui's family in their daily lives.
As Sui He founded Xianjialiao, things got better and better. The children and women of Xianjialiao were all very capable and built the place up very well.
Then there were some children speaking, which Cong Lan guessed were the children from Xianjialiao.
Every word was warm and comforting, yet the atmosphere around He was extremely tense, radiating an aura that kept others at a distance. Cong Lan guessed that what the Wang family steward had said had a significant impact on her.
He tried to speak, "You're conflicted, aren't you?"
Upon hearing this, Sui He slammed his hand on the table and stood up, looking directly at him.
After a long silence, he asked, "Do you think I'm cold-blooded?"
She walked to the window. The sun was shining brightly outside, and the branches of the big trees outside swayed gently, creating a tranquil scene.
"But I have no choice. I am the head of the Sui family, and I cannot abandon the countless family members behind me!"
"My elder brother was originally the young master. Together we envisioned the future of our family and dreamed of a bright future. But overnight everything changed. He died, and all our ambitions and great undertakings now belong to me alone!!"
With a hoarse voice, Sui He walked up to Cong Lan and said, "The noble families and powerful people of Chang'an look down on me and despise me, but I want heaven to witness that I, Sui He, will stand in front of them. I can be the head of the Sui family. So what if I am a wife? My ambition, my aspirations, and everything I do will be no less than theirs!"
"I did so much for this position. The first person I killed was from the Sui family. He tried to assassinate me and seize the position of family head after my death. This time, no one came to my rescue. My elder brother didn't, my younger brother and sister-in-law didn't. I fought back with all my might and killed him. I made it public in the name of the family head to make an example of him so that I could barely hold onto this position."
Sui He's breathing was unsteady. She leaned on the desk for support and, after calming down, said, "I can't save her. The Wang family is powerful, and the imperial power is elusive. In Chang'an, he can easily destroy everything I've achieved. I've come this far step by step, and I can't turn back. I will never give up."
"I will carry thorns to offer incense to the Fu family during the Qingming Festival in the future."
She closed her eyes, swaying precariously. Cong Lan tried to step forward to support her, but she brushed him away.
She walked outside alone, Fu Mingguang's words echoing in her ears.
I wish you success in your endeavors and that you will be the top scholar!
"Thank you for your kind words."
...
"My greatest wish is to clear my father and brothers' names and avenge my family."
"If you become one of my subordinates, I will help you advance smoothly in your career."
However, once revenge begins, it can never be stopped.
Fu Mingguang was filled with hatred and acted aggressively. When Lord Wang discovered his true intentions, he was imprisoned.
What happened to those people who used to drink and chat about the future?
Fu Mingguang, the prison guard of the Dali Temple, was covered in blood. After seeing Sui He stop, Wang Jia deliberately came to her to show off.
“Fu Mingguang, your Fu family members are all too stubborn. Look, that’s how the world is. You’d better just accept your fate.”
Fu Mingguang opened his eyes, coldly staring at the smug face of the man, and spat a mouthful of blood onto his face.
"Those treacherous villains deserve a terrible death!"
He touched the blood and sneered, "Insidious? Well, I thank you for the compliment, hahaha—"
He strode away, waving to the jailer to give Fu Mingguang a proper welcome.
The red-hot iron branded her body, and Fu Mingguang groaned, tears finally falling from the corners of her eyes.
In the dead of night, she would always recall her mother's childhood rhyme, "Sharing joys and sorrows, finding peace and happiness together..."
I recall a family of four chatting idly in the courtyard of Qingzhou under the evening breeze.
She recalled how her brother was tested on his teaching by their father and laughed at by her, while she herself was discovered by her father and dragged out for a teaching test.
She remembered the massacre of her entire family, blood and tears smearing her face, and her mother's screams in the dead of night, "Run! Run!"
"Live on!"
Remembering Sui He's words, "You guys go first."
Fu Mingguang laughed, his voice initially low and hoarse, then his unrestrained laughter filled the entire prison.
The atmosphere was gloomy and desolate. The prisoners held by the Dali Temple couldn't help but mutter to themselves, "Has she gone mad?"
The Prince of Huai couldn't bear it and spared her under the pretext of praying for his seriously ill father.
The Empress Dowager used this opportunity to further promote education among women throughout the land and improved the system of female officials in the palace.
After this incident, Fu Mingguang and Sui He drew a clear line between themselves, like the Chu-Han border.
When she was released from prison, Sui He went to see her. Fu Mingguang walked straight past her with indifferent eyes.
"Mingguang".
"Does the head of the family have any instructions for me?"
Fu Mingguang was laughing, but his laughter was tinged with sadness. For a moment, Sui He didn't dare to go up; she was the one who gave up first.
She did not choose her.
Fu Mingguang walked alone. Sui He couldn't stop her, nor did he dare to. He could only privately ask Ni Zuilan to give her a place to stay.
It's come to this point after all.
In the fourteenth year of Yongning, the Emperor passed away and Prince Huai, Lu Huai, ascended the throne. Sui He knew that Fu Mingguang was involved in the plot. During her time in prison, she became much more composed, but her methods became even more ruthless.
The Emperor wanted to elevate his concubine, Lady Zhou, to Empress, which sparked much discussion in the court. Many petitioned the Emperor on the grounds that Lady Zhou had no children. In the end, the Emperor bestowed upon Lady Zhou the title of Imperial Noble Consort.
Not long after, the Crown Princess gave birth to the Crown Prince's daughter, then hanged herself and passed away.
When the emperor ascended the throne, the Wang family, as relatives of the defeated prince by marriage, were the first to be executed, and Fu Mingguang rose to become the emperor's tutor.
After the Wang family fell from grace, Sui He took advantage of their misfortune, using the method she learned from Sui Cheng, which was also her most frequently used tactic: a gentle but deadly approach.
When the Wang family was imprisoned, she made a special trip to the Dali Temple. When she came out, his blood was splattered on her face, but she didn't care. What difference would killing him make? If they couldn't go back, they couldn't go back.
"My lady, would you like me to wipe it off for you?" Cong Lan asked her from above, holding an umbrella over her and a handkerchief in her other hand.
She looked into Cong Lan's warm, peach-blossom eyes, which were gentle and full of charm.
Sui He recalled Fu Mingguang's words; she had spoken too loudly that day, and she hadn't gone far before she heard her.
"I remember some wealthy women in your old town wanted you to be their son-in-law?"
"...Yes, that's true. When it comes to marriage, the most important thing is that both parties are in love, isn't it? If that person is you, I'm willing."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Sui He took the handkerchief from his hand and muttered as he walked onto the carriage.
Cong Lan tugged at his clothes. Was his attire today not to her liking?
He was a little discouraged, but soon he was full of energy again; he wouldn't give up.
"Wife, wait for me! I haven't gotten on the carriage yet!"
Sui He lifted the carriage curtain and said, "You lecher, get out of here!"
"Me?"
Cong Lan's legs couldn't keep up with the carriage. He carefully recalled his words. Was he really that dissolute?
Or was she just shy?
Yeah?
Yes, right?
Cong Lan ran back to the Sui family home and continued cooking for Sui He. When he lived alone, the food he made was not very tasty and was barely edible.
Now his cooking skills have greatly improved. As the saying goes, the way to a woman's heart is through her stomach.
"My dear wife! What would you like to eat for lunch today?"
They're making a ruckus and behaving inappropriately.
Sui He gave a truthful assessment, closing his eyes and saying, "Same as yesterday."
"Jingzhou fish cake and braised pork belly with tofu skin? Anything else? How about gourd chicken? I just learned how to make it."
"Oh, then you do it."
Sui He said casually, adding, "It was somewhat useful."
She carefully examined Cong Lan. If she were to marry, it would be a marriage with his son-in-law, and he had no relatives, which would be convenient for him.
Knowing this, he still jumped towards her; I don't know if he's stupid or shrewd.
We'll see; she can't think about those things right now.
In the second year of Jianwu, Sui Shan and Sui Li and others entered the capital. As soon as Chu Feixuan entered Chang'an, he and Cong Lan got along. After discovering that Cong Lan was in love with Sui He, he became even more hostile towards him.
“My wife and I are the same age, which is perfect. You, little one, should go back to where you came from.”
"Damn it, take this!" Chu Feixuan thrust his spear at him.
Cong Lan dodged and ran behind Sui He. "Wife, your younger brother is really reckless. Why don't you throw him into the army camp?"
“I agree, sister. The military camp is a good place for him; it can temper his character and allow him to achieve something.”
Upon hearing this, Sui He began to seriously consider it.
Chu Feixuan: "Patriarch! Don't listen to their nonsense! I'm only nineteen and haven't even come of age yet. Sui Shan is even younger than me, he's only sixteen, what does he know?"
Sui Shan: "You're older than me, but I don't see where your brain is located."
"You talk like you're so smart. You almost got swindled out of eight hundred taels the other day. I've never seen a fool so stupid, losing eight hundred taels in a single day! Eight hundred taels!"
"Chu Feixuan! You are not allowed to mention this matter again."
Sui Shan blushed and was so angry that he wanted to hit him, but Chu Feixuan, holding a long spear, was not afraid of him at all.
Sui He sighed, "The noise from this group of people is so loud it's almost like the roof is going to fall off."
After Chu Feixuan came of age, he was sent to the military camp.
Chu Feixuan, who had gained the upper hand in the fight, was completely unaware of his fate.
A year later, when he was sent to the military camp, he was still in a daze. He told him to take care of himself and then left.
Chu Feixuan: "..."
Okay, no problem, I can make something of myself anywhere.
Chu Feixuan formed cliques and caused trouble in the military camp, which offended people with connections. Unable to defeat Chu Feixuan, he went to attack Sui He.
At this moment, Sui He was shopping for New Year's goods with Sui Shan and Sui Li, and the two of them started arguing again.
Sui He felt helpless about this. What could she do when her younger siblings were always arguing? No matter how she tried to persuade them, it didn't work. She hadn't shown favoritism towards either of them; they were equal in everything.
When we were little, even our clothes and toys were the same color.
There's nothing we can do; maybe the two of them are just incompatible from the start.
As Sui He sighed, an arrow was aimed at her from afar. Sui Shan, with his sharp eyes, saw it and, without thinking, stood in front of her.
Seeing his younger brother collapse before his eyes, Sui He hugged him tightly, shouting, "Xiao Li! Quickly, find a carriage and a doctor!"
"Sister..."
"Don't say anything, the carriage will be here soon."
“I’ve always wanted to stay by my older sister’s side, for a very long time.”
Sui He tried to cover his wound with a shawl, but it was no use. Blood flowed onto her hands. She dared not touch the arrow; it was too close to her heart.
Sui Li had always bickered with him since childhood and never thought he would die. She hurriedly walked through the crowd, called for a carriage and a doctor to take him away.
After He sent people to investigate, the blame finally fell on Chu Feixuan, who stammered out the whole story.
Chu Feixuan was young and impetuous. He couldn't stand the arrogance of the sons of military officers, who ran rampant in the military camp and bullied the weak. So he led those people to fight back.
Upon learning this, Sui He reported it directly to the government, using his position as the head of the Sui family to reach the emperor's ears, alarming the emperor and empress dowager.
The Empress Dowager was very fond of Sui He and often sent her and Ni Zuilan to the palace to give lectures. When she learned that Sui He's younger brother had been shot in the street and was in critical condition, she immediately ordered that he be severely punished.
After this incident, Chu Feixuan dared not be so arrogant anymore. He acted without considering the consequences, only thinking about the present. He forgot that many of his family members would be implicated.
"Silly brother, you'll die, don't you know that?"
"I'm willing, I'm even willing to die for my sister."
In the fifth year of Jianwu, Cong Lan gained the emperor's favor and was promoted to Vice Minister of Rites.
Sui He laid out a stack of information about potential husbands in the study and asked him which one was more suitable to be the head of the family.
Cong Lan frowned, not even glancing at them, "None of them are good! None of them are as good-looking as me."
Are you really not going to take a look?
"I won't look! You're deliberately trying to annoy me."
Sui He feigned regret and unfolded the document: "Cong Lan of Chongzhou, aged twenty-five, has risen to the position of Vice Minister of Rites. He is exceptionally talented in literature, gentle in nature, has no relatives, and his birth charts are a perfect match, making him an excellent choice. Vice Minister Cong, are you really not going to choose him?"
"Their birth charts are compatible..."
Cong Lan looked up at her, her eyes sparkling, "You went to have our birth charts analyzed? I choose! I choose!"
"Can I become your live-in son-in-law?"
Sui He raised an eyebrow. "Yes, you have to listen to me from now on and you're not allowed to disobey me."
"I do, I do." Cong Lan hugged Sui He and rubbed against her like a kitten.
Great, he's finally in power.
Finally, I no longer have to worry about my wife being tempted by other women.
He never expected that after Chu Feixuan, there would be Zhen Jiao from the Medical School. He wondered where he came from.
He's supposedly Xia Wan's junior brother from the Medical School. He knows Xia Wan; his wife saved him back then. What does that have to do with Zhen Jiao? Why is he trying to get involved with his wife in this roundabout way?
Now things are finally settled. They are all just lowly wildflowers and weeds; only he is the legitimate wife.
"My wife, my wife, my wife..."
Sui He: "Mm."
"My wife, my wife..."
"Stop, don't shout anymore. Do you think I don't know you've been secretly fighting with them for positions? You black-hearted bastard, no wonder you became the Vice Minister of Rites so quickly." Sui He grabbed his ear, and seeing his bright smile, he couldn't help but laugh as well.
"You were too careful to make any mistakes when you started out, so why don't you show your skills now?"
Sui He smiled casually, "Naturally."
The following year, the two got married. Cong Lan helped Sui He expand the Shan Hai Academy and spread the word about his wife's enrollment in Da Qi.
Sui He initially planned to strictly order the sale of wives in Jingzhou, and later spread this to the Great Qi.
She met Fu Mingguang so many times, but unfortunately, they missed each other again.
She never gave up searching for Zhou Niangzi's child. When letters from Xianjialiao were delivered to her, they learned that the first pair of children born in Xianjialiao had been born and asked her to name them. There was also news of Zhou Niangzi's daughter.
Too much time has passed, and that child has grown up. Back then, he was just an infant, and Xianjia Liao recognized him entirely by the birthmark on his neck. After repeatedly confirming, he wrote a letter to Sui He.
The pitiful thing is that the child was treated as a medicine person from childhood, and now she has developed the ability to be immune to all poisons. The Immortal Temple has placed her with Xia Wan and Zhen Jiao.
Xia Wan left early and returned late, relying entirely on Zhen Jiao for care. Over time, she became Zhen Jiao's apprentice and continued to study medicine.
Everything seemed to be going in a good direction, but after He gave birth to a daughter after ten months of pregnancy, the Imperial Preceptor suddenly emerged from seclusion and pointed out that her child would face a great calamity at the age of eighteen, and that only by staying with her in the Taoist temple could the calamity be overcome.
Sui He was weak after childbirth, and Cong Lan repeatedly asked if there were any other methods, and she had been suffering from lesions since birth.
Despite her reluctance, she handed the child over to Yueling, who asked her to name the child before leaving.
"Name?" Sui He pulled back the swaddling clothes, his fingertips touching her little face.
"Let's call her Zhixu. I'll wait for that promise."
In the same year, Madam Zheng passed away. Before her death, she asked Cong Lan to take her nephew Cheng Zhijie as her disciple, while Sui Chuke was entrusted to the head of the Mo family for care.
This marks the eighteenth year since the mother and daughter reunited, and this year is the nineteenth. As He strokes her hair, time has passed, and the children from back then have all grown up, while some people remain stuck in the past.
For example, she and Fu Mingguang are forever frozen in the height of summer, and now this passionate season has become their final moment.
For example, Xie Yu and Xie Xian of Xianjia Liao stopped at the end of spring.
Now that it's April in the human world, what choice should she make?
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