The sun was setting amidst the cicadas' chirping. Having nearly choked to death while eating lunch, Sheng Hong sent word that he would be concentrating on official business and eating in his study, telling his children to eat on their own and not to gather again. Hai, as if foreseeing this, had already divided the food and soup into several dishes, instructing the maids to place them neatly and safely into food baskets, which were then carried to the various locations.
After finishing her work, she hurried back to her room. She saw her husband had finished his meal and was sitting at the table sipping a bowl of warm tea. Hai walked over silently and whispered, "It's still daylight. You're eating so hastily. It's not good for your digestion."
Changbai put down his tea bowl, stood up and said, "The sooner it's over, the better."
Seeing his exhausted face, Hai felt deeply distressed, but she couldn't offer any further advice. She stepped forward to help him straighten his appearance and clothes, then hesitantly said, "...Grandmother has made us quite angry today. Can we listen to your advice?"
Changbai was silent for a moment, then said, "If you don't want to listen, I have a way to not listen."
Hai's men paused for a moment, then listened to Changbai's instructions: "After dinner, go to Shou'an Hall to serve the old lady, and take over from Sixth Sister. I see she looks unwell, and seems very tired." Hai smiled and said, "Do you even need to tell me that? I won't bother you. Bring all the brothers and sisters over later and let the old lady see them. Maybe if she cheers them up, Grandmother will feel better."
Changbai nodded: "Okay, but grandma is still sick, so don't let the children make a fuss."
After saying this, Changbai strode out of the house. Outside the second gate, Old Lutou, who had already harnessed his carriage, emerged. The master and his servants, along with several other servants, left the house. From there, they headed south. In less than half an hour, they arrived at a large, four-paneled gate, flanked by soap-colored lacquered wooden columns. A plaque on the main entrance read, "Imperially Built Wanggebu Mansion." The gatekeeper, upon noticing Changbai, immediately sent someone inside to announce the arrival and personally led the way.
Old Lady Wang was in a state of uneasiness, having barely eaten a few bites of dinner. She lay half-reclined on her bed, sighing profusely. Uncle Wang stood by, holding a bowl of bird's nest porridge, unsure how to persuade her. Upon hearing Changbai arrive, the mother and son exchanged bewildered glances. One quickly straightened up, a look of surprise and confusion on her face, while the other hurriedly put down her bowl and told the maids and servants to leave.
Changbai entered the room and bowed deeply.
Madam Wang sneered, "You are the great judge, and I, an old woman, don't dare to accept your title. Is it not enough that I taught you a lesson today? You are chasing me and scolding me!"
Changbai lowered his head and said, "My grandson was disrespectful today. Grandmother, you deserve to be beaten or scolded. However, my aunt's decision cannot be changed. I have asked Lord Gu to submit a petition to the Ministry of Internal Affairs so that the person can be sent there as soon as possible. I only ask for Grandmother's approval."
The Shenjiesi cannot detain people at will. It can only be done after both the husband's and the husband's families of the offending woman respond to the request.
Madam Wang's anger, which had just subsided, flared up again. She slammed the bed and cursed, "As long as I'm still breathing, I won't let you mistreat his aunt! You can dream of my promise!"
Changbai wasn't surprised by this reaction and said softly, "Auntie was born to my grandmother. As a son, I didn't go through the pain of pregnancy. But every time I see the innocent little ones, I always wish they wouldn't suffer in their lives. How could I not understand my grandmother's loving heart?"
Old Madam Wang's eyes were red, but she still turned her head away in anger, refusing to look at him: "You say nice things! But you're bullying your aunt!"
Changbai slowly stepped forward, standing beside the Luohan bed. He sighed, "Grandfather died suddenly that year. My maternal grandparents were also in Beijing, so they must have known the past." Old Lady Wang sat sideways, silent. Changbai continued, "When my grandmother became a widow, she was only in her early twenties. The old Marquis of Yongyi and his wife were still alive, and the Xu family urged her to remarry."
Old Madam Wang had a stern face, but her eyes showed a slight emotion.
"...Some things, my grandson only learned about later." Changbai sighed softly, "In fact, the Xu family had already found a husband. Lord Tang Annian, then the Governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, was a widower and a double-imperial scholar. Although he was a little older, he had only two legitimate daughters and one illegitimate son. All my grandmother had to do was marry him, and the family would be happy in the future."
Old Madam Wang remained silent, but Uncle Wang said with emotion: "The Tang family is a noble family in Songjiang. Old Madam Sheng is able to remain faithful to her father-in-law and raise her brother-in-law. It is really..." He looked at his mother's face and stopped talking midway.
"For decades, not only has Grandmother protected the ancestral property for Father, she also used her dowry to arrange for Father's services, hiring renowned teachers. When Father was seeking a marriage that year, the Yongyi Marquis's residence was willing to show interest, but Grandmother saw that the daughters were either from side branches or concubines, and their appearance and family background were unsatisfactory. For Father's future, she would rather sever all ties with the Xu family and find a good marriage. And Grandmother treated my eldest sister, my grandson, and my younger sisters like her own flesh and blood... Through all of this, the Sheng family has received such great favors from Grandmother that they are as high as the mountains and as deep as the sea. If Father and Grandson don't seek redress for Grandmother, then are we still human beings?!"
Changbai pounded his palm hard with his fist.
Old Madam Wang couldn't help but sigh. Her in-laws were truly righteous and noble, unconcerned with other matters. A legitimate mother marrying her illegitimate son to a girl from her own family was a natural choice, maintaining ties with her family and attracting the illegitimate son. In other words, if Sheng Hong had married a girl from the Xu family, Old Madam Sheng wouldn't be suffering today.
"Grandson knows what grandma is angry about. For the sake of a non-blood relative, grandson severely punished my aunt and talked back to grandma, without caring about real blood relatives." Changbai looked at her intently. Madam Wang snorted heavily, but her face was not as angry as before.
"At that time, so many people advised Grandmother that it was not her own flesh and blood, so she couldn't raise her well. Not only did the world think so, but even my aunt thought so in her heart. That's why she harmed Grandmother without any scruples, confident that my father and I would raise her high and then let her go easily!"
Changbai suddenly raised his voice and said sternly, "There's a clear sky above us. Do we really have to make Grandmother regret her actions in the depths of the netherworld, so that the gods of heaven and earth will know that everyone in this world is ungrateful and treacherous?!"
Uncle Wang nodded silently. Finally, Old Lady Wang sighed mournfully, slowly turned around, and said to Changbai, "Of course I know your aunt is terribly wrong! But...but she...is my flesh and blood after all!"
"Is my aunt the only flesh and blood of my grandmother?" Changbai was very calm.
Old Madam Wang was stunned.
Changbai looked her straight in the eye. "When I was little, my mother always said that although Uncle Wang treated her very well, her biggest regret was that she couldn't live with her biological parents. When she played with the kids next door, she was always bullied and told that her parents didn't want her and had abandoned her."
Mrs. Wang felt heartbroken and shed tears, saying, "I'm sorry to your mother. I've always wanted to make amends..."
Changbai said, "Mother has been raised away from home for over ten years and has never received any love from my parents, yet my aunt doesn't show any sympathy for her at all."
Old Lady Wang opened her mouth but could not come up with any reason to refute.
"This time, my aunt completely disregarded my sister's safety and even deliberately framed her." Changbai's face was filled with indignation. "Grandmother always talks about blood ties, but how could my aunt even consider that my mother is also her own flesh and blood?!"
Uncle Wang shook his head and said, "Big sister has indeed gone too far. This time even I feel chilled."
Madam Wang looked at her son, then at her grandson, and said weakly, "There's no need to punish him so severely! As for the Ministry of Discipline... I really can't go there."
Changbai said, "When I was little, I came to play at my grandparents' house. One time, my cousin You and I climbed a tree to pick hawthorns. We toiled for half a day and only managed to pick a small basket. But my grandfather told us to pick out half of the hawthorns and throw them away. I couldn't bear to do that, but he taught us, 'If you don't throw away the rotten ones, you won't be able to keep the remaining good ones either—the same principle applies to how we conduct ourselves.' I still remember that."
Mentioning her deceased husband, Madam Wang's face became solemn as she said with difficulty, "You mean..."
Changbai said: "Aunt has long been a rotten fruit, and will only implicate the family."
Madam Wang angrily said, "How dare you speak of your elders like that?!"
"For years, my uncle has been constantly cleaning up my aunt's mess. No matter how hard my grandmother tried to teach her, my aunt continued to do as she pleased. She was mean to her illegitimate children, abused her concubines and maids, beat and tortured people in the inner chambers, and was reckless about human life... This isn't the first time my aunt has poisoned someone!" Changbai looked at Uncle Wang. "To clean up my aunt's mess, my uncle has risked his reputation countless times, asking for favors, using tricks, and spending money. He's done so many things he shouldn't have. With my uncle's qualifications, he should have been transferred to a government position in Beijing long ago, but he's been stuck in a foreign post for over a decade."
Even if they are of the same rank, officials in Beijing are half a level higher than officials from other places. At first, Uncle Wang had a higher rank than Sheng Hong. When Sheng Hong came to Beijing, the two were of the same rank. At this time, Sheng Hong was half a level higher than Uncle Wang, and since he was a Beijing official, his rank was even higher.
Thinking of his official career, Uncle Wang couldn't help feeling sad. Old Lady Wang looked at her son, lowered her head and sighed apologetically.
"Not only my uncle, but also my cousin You. I've also heard about my cousin Yuan'er's story." Changbai went on to say, "Although my eldest cousin's wife, Wen, took several years to conceive, she also had other children. My grandfather's family line was a single heir, and it has been dragging on until now. My grandmother has done her aunt a great service."
Being sorry for her daughter means being sorry for the Wang family. Old Lady Wang felt uneasy when she thought of her late husband.
"Cousin You is getting older, and it's time for Grandma to make more plans for the Wang family," Changbai advised gently, "But as long as Aunt is around, the Wang family will have to continue to worry about her. Killing people today, poisoning people tomorrow, when will it stop? Is Grandma going to ignore my uncle, Cousin You, and my cousins just to protect her evil daughter? Aren't they Grandma's own flesh and blood?"
The more Mrs. Wang thought about it, the more guilty she felt.
The late husband had outstanding talents and achievements, and his spirit tablet was carried to the Hall of Famous Ministers, and his name was known throughout the world; the son had average qualifications, and although he could not surpass his father, he was still able to maintain the status quo. These ancestral blessings could still protect his grandson Wang You, but what about his grandson after that?
As the Sheng family's prosperity became increasingly clear, their descendants multiplied, each of them studying for the imperial examinations, and their marriages into families with noble and powerful relatives, their own family fell further and further behind. Moreover, their grandson still had no children.
"Does it mean... that he must be sent to the Ministry of Discipline...?" Thinking of her honest and filial son and grandson, Old Lady Wang wavered.
"I absolutely must!" Changbai said decisively. "Auntie, despite repeated warnings, has refused to change. She used to only commit her evil deeds behind closed doors in the inner chambers. Now she's growing bolder. Even though we're not relatives by marriage, the Sheng family is still a well-known official family, and yet she dares to do this. She even drags her own sister into the blame, and she's so confident! Auntie is so sure that Grandmother will save her. If she doesn't act ruthlessly this time, the next time she gets into trouble, I'm afraid it will be even more unmanageable."
"But, she can never come out again..." Old Lady Wang cried, and her mind gradually changed.
"A gentleman's kindness is cut off after five generations. Many noble families are especially strict in disciplining their children, fearing internal strife." Changbai gently supported Old Lady Wang's shoulders and advised, "Grandma, please take good care of our cousin Kang in the future." After a moment's thought, he added, "If we don't send him in, Uncle Kang will definitely divorce his wife. What will happen to our cousins then?"
Old Lady Wang shed silent tears, feeling conflicted and troubled.
Changbai came up to his grandmother and said word by word, "Even if it takes twenty years of my official career, I will never leave my aunt out there."
Old Lady Wang slowly wiped away her tears. Knowing that her grandson was determined, she hesitated and said, "Your uncle may not agree to send her to Shenjiesi?" The eldest son-in-law had disliked her daughter for a long time. Once he learned of this, he would definitely write a letter of divorce.
"No, uncle will definitely agree." Changbai smiled for the first time.
…
"How could he agree to that?"
In the study, the father and son sat across the table from each other. On the table were a pot of sake, two cold dishes, and another plate of rouge duck intestines with a rich sauce aroma.
Sheng Hong was stunned. "Although your uncle and aunt are husband and wife, they have long been at loggerheads. Now that they have such a good excuse, it's too late to divorce your wife. How can you be so obedient?"
Changbai brushed his sleeves with one hand, poured wine for his father, and said slowly, "There is a concubine named Jin in my uncle's room. She is quite capable. Not only does she have a son and a daughter, but she has also doted on them for more than ten years."
Sheng Hong was startled and immediately asked, "Could it be that the one who became the old prince's concubine a while ago was the daughter of this concubine Jin?"
Changbai nodded, put down the wine pot, and said softly, "The Marquis has someone under his command who can connect with Concubine Jin's confidants. Regardless of whether Auntie is divorced or dead, since Uncle has no one to marry, he will definitely remarry. If he marries a young and beautiful woman, how will Concubine Jin cope with it?"
Sheng Hong continued slowly, "So, what this Concubine Jin wants most is for your aunt, the first wife, to be eliminated in name only. This would prevent the need for a new wife, and allow her to be the head of the inner house, benefiting her children."
Changbai said, "Send my aunt to the Shenjie Division and tell everyone she's gone to the manor to recuperate. This will save the three families' reputations."
Sheng Hong smiled, then frowned and said, "But your uncle has been wanting to divorce his wife for more than a day. Will he listen to my advice?"
"Of course. First, Aunt Jin's daughter is quite favored in the palace, and my uncle has to rely on the old prince for many things. Second, my uncle will be informed that the Wang and Sheng families have been arguing over the poisoning of my aunt. The Wang family is determined to protect my aunt, and the Sheng family..." Changbai smiled slightly, "They are almost convinced."
Sheng Hong understood and said with a smile, "If your uncle hadn't agreed to send someone to the Shenjie Division, this matter would have been mitigated."
Changbai said, "And my father would say that the old lady has woken up after all, and divorcing her would bring disaster to his nephews, so he couldn't bear it."
"Since I can't divorce her, I'm afraid your uncle will tell me not to give in and send her to jail!"
Uncle Kang had no witnesses or evidence, and was eager to get rid of Wang Kang as soon as possible, so he could only hide in his shell. Sheng Hong clapped his hands and laughed, praising him, "I didn't expect my son to have the talent of Chen Ping!" He also teased, "How do you know so much about the Kang family's inner courtyard?"
Changbai said sternly, "The Kang family is a disaster. Something bad will happen sooner or later. My uncle and father have repeatedly helped me, but I always felt something was wrong and I have been keeping an eye on it for a long time."
Sheng Hong was so happy that he drank two glasses of wine after resolving such a troublesome matter. He then sighed reluctantly, "After all, she is your biological aunt. If your sister hadn't caused such a commotion, I wouldn't have been so cruel."
Unexpectedly, Changbai said solemnly, "Father, you are wrong. Even if my sister doesn't make a fuss, I will still pursue this matter."
Sheng Hong was stunned for a moment, and twitched the corner of his mouth: "...Why is this?"
"Does father want to be blackmailed for the rest of his life?" Changbai poured another glass of wine for Sheng Hong. "If we bring this up now, we're in the right. If we leave it up later, father will be known as someone who neglects his stepmother and is cold and ungrateful. It's a good thing we're bringing this up now. Otherwise, after Grandmother dies, someone will bring this up. We'll be in trouble, if not dead."
"This matter has been covered up, who would mention it again?" Sheng Hong was puzzled. Aunt Kang and the Wang family were eager to bury this matter.
"The Xu family has a lot of people."
Sheng Hong laughed: "The old lady has been cut off from her family for a long time, why would the Xu family come to complain?"
"What if someone is behind this?" Changbai said calmly, "When the flowers are in bloom and the moon is beautiful, no one will mention it. But what if the Sheng family has a barrier? If it were me, I would keep this handle and stab them in the back at the critical moment."
Sheng Hong's laughter stopped abruptly. Thinking about it carefully, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat - he remembered an old event. When he took the imperial examination that year, Yuan Ge Lao and Song Ge Lao competed for the position of Prime Minister. The two were evenly matched, and the late emperor was also in a dilemma. Suddenly, a censor came to the memorial, accusing Yuan Ge Lao of swallowing up his deceased brother's property and angering his widowed sister-in-law to death.
In reality, the eldest sister-in-law of the Yuan family had always been frail and childless, so it's possible she died of excessive grief. However, her family came forward to protest her innocence, producing many specious witnesses. The thief's bite had penetrated deeply, and Yuan Ge Lao was defeated.
"There's no way this can be covered up," Changbai said in a deep voice. "Not to mention Aunt Kang, there are many people around her who know about it. Those housekeepers and maids could be tortured out of Sixth Sister in a day. Not to mention someone with ulterior motives and plotting against her."
When Sheng Hong was young, he had made a great ambition to glorify his family name. If his children and grandchildren were promising and achieved high positions in the future, how could they let this matter drag them down? After hearing his son's words, he became more and more frightened.
"That's not all. What if Aunt Kang uses this to blackmail Father in the future? By then, there will be no physical or witness evidence to verify. Aunt Kang will insist that Mother poisoned him, and Father, for the sake of his official reputation, will disregard the facts and cover up the truth."
Sheng Hong slammed the table in anger: "How dare this wicked woman?"
"She even dared to poison her relatives, so what else would she not dare to do?"
In Changbai's opinion, Aunt Kang had long lost her mind and was incredibly vicious and crazy. According to her arrogant logic, anyone who offended her would have to suffer, and anyone who stood in her way would have to be eliminated. She should have been locked up years ago.
"For the long term, we need to cut the Gordian knot. Once we've gone to the Imperial Household Department, if anyone brings this up in the future, my father will have the peace of mind he deserves—the culprit has been brought to justice, and my wife has been repenting at the ancestral temple for years. Everyone in our hometown can attest to this. Then, my grandmother can take the indentures and purge everyone around my aunt, and the matter will be settled."
Sheng Hong stared at his son blankly, feeling both relieved and proud. The more he looked at his son, the more he resembled the late Taishan. Normally, he was like a saw-mouthed gourd, but once he spoke, he spoke with such clarity and logic that you were completely convinced and impressed.
Although he and his second son, Changfeng, were more like-minded, he still trusted and relied on his eldest son the most. Whether in terms of personal conduct or officialdom, the two younger ones were far inferior to the eldest. When he grew old, the family would still depend on the eldest son for support. Regardless of Wang's shortcomings, having such a capable son was a huge win.
"Therefore, father, you must not give in. You must hold on for the next few days." Changbai repeatedly reminded him.
Sheng Hong was determined. He slammed the table and said through gritted teeth, "We must lock up Wang Kang!"
Changbai slowly breathed a sigh of relief. He understood his father far better than his father understood him. Sheng Hong had always wavered in his emotions, and only practical interests could firmly solidify his resolve.
Coming out of the study, he walked slowly in the cool night breeze, and unknowingly walked to his mother's courtyard. Changbai thought for a moment, waved his hand to ask the maids and old women along the way to be silent, and walked gently to his mother's window. Just as he was about to call out, he suddenly heard a low cry from inside.
"...My dear wife, don't cry." Liu Kunjia advised.
Wang cried, "I won't go, I won't go, I just won't go!... Ten years! It would be better if you just cut me off with the scissors! That evil creature, I carried him for ten months and gave birth to him, and he had no heart to do that!"
Liu Kunjia sighed softly, "Madam, please go. Brother, this is for your sake, too."
"...How can you say that... I see he's completely devoted to Shou'an Hall, completely forgetting his mother! What a heartless bastard!"
Liu Kun's wife said, "Madam, think about it. You are not a concubine who can just walk away. When the old lady gets better, you will still serve her. From now on, no matter what the old lady says or does, you can only accept it with thousands of gratitude. So, it is better to take a severe punishment. Come back in a few years, and the matter will have passed. You will have admitted your mistakes and received the punishment, and it will be all over."
Wang sobbed for a long time and hesitated, "...To be honest, I also feel very embarrassed to see the old lady; but...what if she still embarrasses me after I come back?"
Liu Kunjia smiled and said, "I don't think the old lady is hard-hearted. Besides, as long as you are punished, the master and the eldest brother will know what's going on. What's more..." She smiled bitterly, "If you don't go, the eldest brother will have to resign."
Wang said angrily, "If he wants to resign, he can resign. How dare he use this to threaten me?"
Liu Kunjia hurriedly advised, "Madam, please don't say that. Madam, you've seen it too. Whether it's the Wang family or the master, your dignity for the rest of your life depends on your eldest brother. Right now, Feng'er is studying hard day and night. If your eldest brother really gets stubborn, then won't the Sheng family be completely dependent on Feng'er in the future? Maybe Concubine Lin will even come back."
When Wang heard the name Lin Yi Niang, she stopped crying and cursed, "That lowly maid is dreaming!"
"It's good that Madam understands. Let's go to the countryside of Youyang and take care of our health. To be honest, as long as my eldest brother has a successful career and a bright future, no one in my hometown would dare to treat Madam with disrespect or be disrespectful. Even the eldest wife in the main hall would have to respect you, right?"
Wang was undecided. After much deliberation, she fell on the table and cried, "I really don't want to go... I don't know anyone there, and I'm all alone..."
"I'll go with my wife."
Wang was surprised and delighted: "You..."
How could such a respectable housekeeper like her be willing to leave the prosperous capital and go with her to a deserted temple in the countryside?
"My children are all married and can get by without me. Their father manages the farm for my wife, and I accompany her to chant sutras and eat vegetarian food." Liu Kunjia laughed, "Besides, how can my wife be without a lackey like me!"
Wang burst out laughing, tears smearing her powdered face. She wept with emotion, "My dear sister, not only has my heart been blinded by greed, but my eyes are blind too. Every word you said to me earlier was kind advice, but I didn't even listen!"
Changbai stood under the window. Inside, he could only hear the chatter between his mother and Liu Kun's family, either crying or laughing. After listening for a while, he left silently; he walked out of the courtyard gate and took a deep breath of the cool air.
He was a taciturn person by nature, and after saying so much today, he was already very tired. He walked slowly with his head down. The moonlight was soft, casting a faint layer of silver on the garden. Halfway through, he saw the servant Han Niu waiting there, his face full of anxiety.
"Young Master, you are finally back. Grandma has been waiting for you for a long time. I went to the gatehouse and they said you went to look for the master. I went to the study and a few servants said you went to look for the mistress." Han Niu rushed to Changbai with a smile.
Changbai nodded and looked ahead. Hanniu understood that this meant "going back to the house" and immediately placed a lantern in front to lead the way. After walking for a while, they came to the edge of the pond and suddenly saw another pair of figures walking slowly across the pond.
One tall and one short, they look like a man and a woman.
Changbai paused. The night was dim, and he couldn't see clearly. He shook his head, pointed his mouth toward the opposite side, and said, understandingly, "This is Sixth Aunt and Uncle. I ran into them just now when I was looking for you all over the yard. It's cool tonight, and the moonlight is beautiful. The Marquis and Aunt are taking a walk to digest their food."
Judging from the situation at that time and the few words she said, it seemed that Sixth Aunt was very lazy and just wanted to go back to her room to sleep, but Marquis Gu felt that it was difficult to sleep after eating, so he dragged her out.
Changbai glanced at the lady opposite him, who seemed to be in a leisurely mood. He was silent for a while, then leaned over and sat down on a big rock by the pond.
Han Niu was stunned for a moment: "Aren't you going back to the house yet?"
Changbai nodded.
Han Niu asked in embarrassment: "How should I respond to the grandmother?"
Changbai patted the big rock beside him, then looked up at the bright moon in the sky.
Han Niu used his years of knowledge to bravely guess, "Master means... to invite the eldest young lady to come as well, uh... to admire the moon?"
Changbai stretched out his left foot again and tapped the stones on the ground.
Han Niu's mind was in turmoil as he continued to try to understand: "...Uh, you still want to take a walk? Put on more clothes?"
Changbai finally nodded and waved goodbye.
Han Niu ran away sweating profusely - it's over, the master talked too much today, I don't know how many days it will take for him to come back.
Grandma, you are truly amazing.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
