Chapter 106 The weakest, so let's attack. That's fine, we'll even...
For two or three days in a row, except for yesterday, Yu Nie hardly left Hongzheng Pavilion, staying only in Xianliu Pavilion.
She tirelessly studied every book about the four great aristocratic families, day and night.
The anecdotes, miscellaneous notes, and local chronicles piled on the table were all specially retrieved from the library by Song Ai after hearing that she wanted to explore the origins of the aristocratic families.
To avoid attracting attention, she did not reveal her true intentions openly.
In addition to borrowing classics such as genealogy essentials and biographies of prominent local families, which provide direct and comprehensive understanding of the four great aristocratic families, she also specifically asked Song Ai to bring along some leisure books such as the Guliang Commentary, the Yi Commentary, and the Liweng Rhyming Dictionary.
To the outside world, she only said that she was using reading to relieve her mind and seek spiritual comfort, but in reality, she wanted to find out the details of her opponents from the miscellaneous records and genealogies that contained traces of the four great aristocratic families.
After some searching, she actually uncovered several suspicious "bewitching" schemes.
Among the aristocratic families, the Gao and Wang families had the deepest foundations, producing a wealth of talented individuals since the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and their influence has continued for generations.
The Chen family is slightly inferior; their ancestral glory dates back to after the Han Dynasty.
Of all the families, the Li family's story of how they rose to power is the most intriguing.
According to the local chronicles she possessed, her ancestors were originally merchants in the marketplace who made a living by trading mules and horses. They were cunning, eloquent, and adept at flattery.
When Emperor Taizu launched his rebellion, he spent all his wealth to buy a hundred fine horses and countless grains and fodder for the army. He also volunteered to take charge of procurement matters. With his clever mind, he won Emperor Taizu's favor and was later granted the title of Marquis, becoming a rising star.
However, this wealth came too quickly, and the Li family was always afraid that others would mention their humble ancestors, so they invited many scholars and literati to revise their genealogy and insisted that they were descendants of the Li family of Longxi. In order to associate themselves with famous people, they made their story sound very convincing.
But old acquaintances wouldn't buy it. In private, they still called his family "Ma Cheng Li Hou," mocking that even if his family had traced their lineage back to Fuxi, the foundation of their wealth ultimately came from the marketplace and could not be considered legitimate.
Although the author refuted this claim at the end of the book, she still believed it to be true.
This wasn't her conjecture, but rather something she remembered her grandmother, a university professor who studied history, saying that throughout history, many people who recorded history were unable to write the truth directly in their books due to the harsh circumstances or the power of the time.
Finally, it could only be written in a "curved stroke" rather than a "straight stroke".
The more detailed an event is, the more likely it is to be true if it is ultimately denied in a dismissive tone.
This is the case with the local chronicle that chronicles the rise of the Li family.
Upon seeing this, Yu Nie couldn't help but scoff coldly:
"What a family of officials, what a family of scholars and literati. It turns out that the yellow and purple robes worn by all the civil and military officials are mostly people who have changed their family genealogies, attached themselves to the imperial family, and rely on their wealthy ancestors to put on a show."
"In the end, they still have the nerve to use the name of a 'century-old family' to oppress people from the bottom of society."
Compiling family genealogies to establish a family fortune is not uncommon throughout history.
Many people, once they gain power, are eager to claim a noble lineage to enhance their family's prestige and "prove" their family's long history and high bloodline.
In reality, which one isn't just a mortal being? And whose blood isn't golden?
It was nothing more than a self-deceiving farce, yet it fooled ordinary people into being filled with fear and admiration.
Relying on this bluffing, stepping on the shoulders of others, they insist on showing that they are different from others.
It's ridiculously hypocritical.
She closed the book, her fingertips lightly touching the cool pages, and she already understood.
The Gao and Wang clans are deeply rooted and intertwined, and any attempt to move them is as futile as shaking a mountain.
The Chen family has been in business for over a century and has a rich heritage.
Only the Li family, having risen to prominence the latest and with the shallowest foundation, is nothing more than a magnificent brocade robe crawling with lice. Its interior is empty, relying entirely on bluff.
If you want to make a show of force, you should naturally choose the weakest and most brittle gong to strike.
Besides... the Li family has the deepest grudge against her, and their foundation is the weakest now, so there is no more suitable beginning than this.
She closed the book, lost in thought.
To target the Li family, we need a breakthrough.
But right now, apart from the matter of Ah Hui, they don't seem to have any other points that could give her a breakthrough.
She couldn't help but think of Madam Qu...
However, considering what Song Ai had said at the time, while the Li family's foundation was not so difficult to uproot, it should not be underestimated.
Involving the Qu family's wife so rashly could potentially harm the entire family of three if things go wrong.
Seeing that she was deep in thought, Song Ai glanced at the sky outside and advised her, "Princess, you haven't had a proper rest these past few days. It's already late. Why don't you go back to your quarters to rest first? You can read these books tomorrow."
Yu Nie shook his head.
Her gaze remained fixed on the book detailing the rise of the Li family, and she was momentarily at a loss as to where to begin in order to bring down the Li family.
She thought about it for a long time, but couldn't come up with a solution.
After thinking carefully for a while, her gaze fell on the sugar figurine stuck in the tube.
This sugar figurine was made for her by Ah Hui that day. She thought it looked beautiful, but couldn't bear to eat it and kept it in front of her.
These sugar figurines haven't melted; they've been preserved perfectly well over the past few days.
Gazing intently at the sugar figurine, she reached out and took it.
The beautiful memories were still vivid in her mind, but less than a week later, she never imagined that she would be separated from her dearest person by death.
As she recalled the events of that day, a piercing pain washed over her.
Suddenly, in the scene she had witnessed while strolling down the long street with Ah Hui and Lang Xi that day, she remembered the two passersby talking about the disaster in Jincheng County.
At that time, Langxi told her that Jincheng County had not experienced a major flood and the Yellow River had not breached its banks.
However, what people in Jian'an City were wearing was that the Yellow River had flooded, causing severe damage to Jincheng County and other nearby counties.
At first, she took it as just a common rumor and didn't investigate it further.
But now I realize that every rumor has a source.
There might be something else going on behind the scenes to spark such a discussion.
Moreover, Li Xing was in full charge of this disaster relief effort.
Li Xing's identity can be discerned from the discussions among passersby that day.
He had an impeccable reputation as an official, with no negative comments whatsoever. But she had already discerned from the star-gazing banquet incident that this might just be an image he maintained.
He could kill his own son without feeling any remorse, and could even look at her calmly, as if she were making a mountain out of a molehill and being unreasonable.
How could such a person care about the lives of ordinary people?
The prisoners in the prison cart who were reselling disaster relief grain might have been brought in to fulfill their obligations to the imperial court.
If someone else had been in charge, she might not have suspected anything to this extent.
But since it was Li Xing who was in charge... she couldn't help but feel a little skeptical.
She felt there might be something more to this than met the eye.
Since there are hidden reasons, it's worth investigating them thoroughly.
Whether the disaster in Jincheng County was caused by torrential rain, a breach of the Yellow River's banks, or simply someone using the situation to spread false rumors, it doesn't matter.
She wants to personally unveil this mystery.
Once she had a clue, she felt a wave of weariness wash over her, and her eyelids grew heavy.
Holding the sugar figurine in one hand, she placed the palm of her other hand on the desk, using it to help her stand up.
My legs are a little numb from sitting for too long.
Cuiwei, who was standing to the side, bent down and reached out to support her arm.
Inside Xianliu Pavilion, the lights were bright, and the flickering candlelight cast her long, slender shadow on the screen painted with a lone crane spreading its wings. The crane's shadow was serene and cold, its wings lifelike, as if it might burst through the screen at any moment.
"Let's go back to our chambers, Juling," she said, her voice weary.
Song Ai responded with a "Yes," and then directed two maids to light the lanterns at the front.
The hexagonal palace lanterns illuminated the winding path, and as she left Xianliu Pavilion, she glanced inadvertently at the west wing.
No lit candles could be seen there.
On the day of Ah Hui's burial, Gu Xiangzhi, who had been called away, returned in the middle of the night.
Separated by a door, he raised his hand outside the door and then lowered it again, finally turning away.
Chang Yushan ordered him to go to Shuoyang to do something for him. Not wanting to disturb her rest, he did not say goodbye to her in person, but left a letter and then rushed to Shuoyang with his men overnight.
In the letter, she also learned that he would be taking up a post at the Censorate as soon as he returned, and that he had been demoted.
He wasn't from the Imperial Horse Administration, and he had no suitable reason to stay at Hongzheng Hall; staying would only invite trouble.
Therefore, Mei Nian had already moved his belongings away during the day.
With another familiar face missing from the hall, she couldn't help but feel that Hongzheng Hall was becoming increasingly deserted.
Now, their relationship is no longer tense, especially after the incident with Ah Hui. No matter how big the grudge is, they have settled everything.
She remembered that day when she asked him why he treated her so well.
He said, “When I was suffering from chills and fever, you took good care of me. In return, I cannot stand idly by when you are in trouble.”
That's fine, then we're even.
She was always afraid of owing favors, because once she did, she didn't know when she could repay them, and whether she could even afford to repay them was another matter entirely.
The current situation is the best it could be.
With that thought in mind, she headed towards the sleeping quarters.
Walk across the half-embankment lake and cross the arched bridge.
Song Ai whispered from the side, "This evening, His Highness Prince Guangning came with the Tenth Prince. Prince Guangning saw that you were busy and didn't want to bother you. He asked me to give you a box of hibiscus cakes, saying that you should eat more sweets so that you would feel better."
Yu Nie listened and said, "My cousin is really good to me, but I never expected that my tenth brother would come too."
In the days since the incident, people in the palace have been avoiding it like the plague.
However, both Hua Ruo and Hua Shu secretly came to see her.
The reason it was described as done secretly was simply because Consort Cui and Consort Gao did not want their daughter to get involved in unnecessary trouble.
As a mother, Yu Nie understood the situation and wanted the best for her daughter.
Perhaps they were found out for spying on her, because Hua Ruo and Hua Shu have not appeared again in the past few days.
However, this was the first time Zhao Yuntuan had appeared.
He didn't seem to value this younger sister that much, and his enthusiasm for her was not as great as that for his cousin, Xiao Chengyan.
As she approached the entrance to the sleeping quarters, she turned her head and asked, "Has there been any news from the Ministry of Personnel?"
Ever since he went back with Xie Cheng on the day Huan Xun was buried, he has been too busy to show up again.
She did make a trip to the Jiheng Mansion along the way, where he was discussing matters with Xie Cheng.
She was greeted by a woman with gray hair, whom she was called "Aunt Wu".
From Aunt Wu, she heard several stories about his past and learned why he had joined the army.
She had no idea that his childhood hadn't been very good.
Aunt Wu was thinking of saying a few more words to her, but unexpectedly he had already gone from the study to the flower hall, followed by Xie Cheng and an unfamiliar general.
After she exchanged a few pleasantries with Xie Cheng, he instructed the other two to go and rest.
Only the two of them remained in the hall to drink tea.
Knowing why she had come, he got straight to the point, saying that he guessed the emperor was still thinking about what punishment to use to punish him, and that he hadn't been summoned to the palace for the past two days.
But he was very confident and replied, "No matter what kind of punishment is used, it certainly won't be too severe, because we already have a plan."
When she asked what his solution was, he kept her in suspense.
There is no doubt that people from humble backgrounds and aristocratic families were mortal enemies.
As she listened to his reply, she couldn't help but wonder if he was worried that if the aristocratic families were destroyed, the emperor would turn his concern to them.
But she ultimately didn't ask.
After entering the bedroom and washing and bathing, she lay down on the couch.
Cuiwei lowered the curtain and withdrew.
Someone else is on night duty tonight.
Her mind wouldn't allow her to think about anything anymore, and she closed her eyes for less than a quarter of an hour.
She fell into a deep sleep.
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Author's note: I just realized a bug. Consort Gao and Consort Cui were both consorts during the reign of the previous emperor, so they could be addressed as such back then. But now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, they can no longer be addressed as such. Therefore, Consort Gao became a Dowager Consort, and Consort Cui became a Dowager Concubine.
To be honest, I didn't realize anything was wrong when I was writing it. I ended up writing Zhao Yunfu's relationship with them like a married couple, and I immediately realized something was off. I almost caused a major incident (ω)
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