Chapter 174 In the past, I chased after the emperor's honors before the palace, but now I've transformed into a crane and returned to the mountains. ...
On the night the imperial edict was issued, a torrential rain fell in the capital.
Spring nights bring welcome rain, but such a torrential downpour is quite rare.
Xie Qingyu rushed to the entrance of Yue Yining's residence. The maid who was pacing by the gate with an umbrella stopped and immediately came to greet her. Upon seeing her, Xie Qingyu immediately asked, "How is she now?"
The maid looked worried: "Lord Yue has been staying in his room without anyone to serve him. I don't know what he's doing. Dinner was just brought in a while ago, and then brought out exactly as it was, without a trace of being touched..."
Under the rain, the person with the jade crown in front of her frowned. Xie Qingyu whispered a few instructions to the guards beside her, took a step, and the umbrella ribs trembled as it moved, dripping water like a river.
He walked straight into the depths of the courtyard.
Xie Qingyu ordered the guards to stand watch outside the door, and then pushed the door open and entered. The first thing he saw when he looked up was Yue Yining sitting at the far end of the room, in front of a candle.
She turned to face him, her long, black, satin-like hair undone and fell to her waist. In front of her was a pile of open documents and a copper plate of yarrow stalks scattered haphazardly.
He brought in a gust of wind when he opened the door, causing the lights in the hall to flicker. Yue Yining, dressed in white robes, sat amidst the mess, like lotus petals scattered in a storm, dazzlingly white and icy cold.
Yue Yining also heard the door open and looked at him. When she saw it was him, she was stunned for a moment before giving a faint smile. "You've come?"
Her gaze fell upon his rain-soaked clothes, and she pushed herself up to her feet. "Why did you come in such heavy rain? Let me see, are you wet..."
Xie Qingyu walked over, and before Yue Yining could finish speaking, he grasped her hand.
Yue Yining paused. His hands were also cold, making her heart skip a beat. Before she could speak, she heard Xie Qingyu say, "I always felt I couldn't leave you alone, so I came."
He knew that once the imperial edict was issued, Yue Yining's mood would plummet.
The vast majority of officials in the Qingliu faction support the eldest princess. Cui Yan is a key minister in the Qingliu faction. If he leaves the court, the Qingliu faction will inevitably fall into a brief period of chaos without a leader.
Zhou Congyi, Shen Liude, Qiu Yuebai, and other female officials were Yue Yining's right-hand women and Wei Yihua's trusted confidants. They were among the most loyal officials in the court within the Princess's camp. Now, they will all be implicated in the corruption case and suffer demotion.
All the power they had painstakingly built up and their two years of maneuvering in the court had now been in vain.
Unfortunately, Wei Yihua was not in the capital, so Wei Ye couldn't help her even if he wanted to. All the things that happened in the Princess's camp had to be shouldered by Yue Yining alone.
Yue Yining tried to mediate, but no matter how eloquent or influential she was, if the leak of the exam questions was true, whether intentional or unintentional, those appointed to be in charge of this year's exam selection would not escape punishment.
The fact that he has only been demoted and retired is a result of the emperor showing mercy. Xie Qingyu had read through thousands of volumes of history books and knew that the Wenxuan was the predecessor of the imperial examination. In history, if an official had accidentally revealed the original questions of the imperial examination, beheading would have been the least of his worries.
Even though he knew everything and understood everything, he still felt so unwilling.
What about Yue Yining?
How must she be feeling right now?
When Xie Qingyu first saw Yue Yining, she smiled at him, but Xie Qingyu was stung by her smile.
My heart is churning with excruciating pain, which is unbearable.
He feared that she had become accustomed to bearing the predicament alone, never revealing the slightest weakness. He feared that suddenly holding her tightly now would make her feel uncomfortable. For a moment, he didn't know what to do. By the time he realized what was right, his hands had already answered for him.
He held her hands tightly, looked down at her, his gaze lingering as if confirming her true condition.
Yue Yining could see it clearly and knew that he cared about her. Her heart softened uncontrollably, and a bittersweet emotion seeped out from her heart, gradually enveloping her through the damp rain.
She squeezed his hand back, "I'm fine."
She had done her best, and this was the result; they had no choice but to accept it.
“What’s more important now is to find out what Master said to His Majesty, and what else she wants to say to His Majesty.” Yue Yining turned around and looked at the utensils spread out on the carpet.
As the imperial edict reached the princess's residence, the palace's spies also sent Yue Yining intelligence about Qiu Wuzhu.
No one except the two of them knew what Qiu Wuzhu said to the emperor that made him agree to appoint her as the national advisor.
However, the spies she planted still managed to glean some information for her—for example, after Qiu Wuzhu became the Imperial Preceptor, she promised the Emperor three prophecies in exchange for the Emperor's trust in her magic.
The first prophecy has been proven true.
What will Qiu Wuzhu's second prophecy be? Yue Yining couldn't figure it out, so she had no way to prepare in advance. She could only grope for a solution in the darkness, and in the process, she felt deeply powerless.
She vaguely sensed that something was slipping away from her, that something was completely out of control. Ever since Qiu Wuzhu entered the capital, all her bad premonitions had come true.
She had anticipated what would happen to Zhou Congyi, thoroughly investigated everyone around her, and analyzed every detail for her, preparing her in every way possible. She had done everything in her power.
Even though she had calculated everything perfectly, and smoothed out all the divination patterns on the bronze plate with her fingers, she never imagined that someone who had done nothing would be nailed to the ground as a criminal, nor that a distant cousin could harm Zhou Congyi.
Who could have imagined that?
Beyond the paper window, countless leaves transform into countless resonant strings, the wind as the pluck and the rain as the pluck.
Yue Yining slowly began to speak: "...Lord Zhou and the others are still imprisoned. According to the imperial decree, they will be released tomorrow morning."
“I’ve been busy these past few days, doing a lot of things. Now that the case is closed, I have nothing left to do. Perhaps I should rest so I can get up early tomorrow and send someone to pick them up and take them back to the mansion.”
"I'll stay with you tonight," Xie Qingyu said. "I'll go and ask someone to prepare hot water for your bath."
After they bathed and changed, the rain outside the window stopped. The chirping of cicadas echoed in the night as they slept side by side in bed.
Xie Qingyu half-embraced the person in his arms, gently smoothing the long hair at the back of her head, and occasionally patting her shoulder and back with a light touch.
Yue Yining quickly closed her eyes under his comforting words and remained motionless for a long time. Just when Xie Qingyu thought she had fallen asleep, she suddenly whispered, "...Xie Qingyu."
He stopped patting her hand. In the silence of the bed curtains, where only their breathing could be heard, Xie Qingyu responded with a soft "Hmm?"
"I suddenly realized today that I only began to understand my master after I came down the mountain. Before, I didn't really understand her."
When the imperial edict arrived at the residence, Yue Yining's tense thoughts snapped open. She sat blankly in the room, watching the spring rain falling outside the window, and suddenly remembered many years ago when she was still living on the mountain with her master.
Yue Yining first heard opera in the winter of her first year after she went up the mountain.
On a cold winter night, snow weighed down the eaves. The next day was New Year's Day, and the Zijin Temple invited a troupe of opera performers to play music and sing a song inside the temple.
Having been a wanderer since childhood, Yue Yining had never heard opera up close, let alone music performed by a specially invited troupe. She found it fascinating, watching intently, frequently gasping for breath, and clapping and cheering like a monkey, prompting Qiu Wuzhu next to her to reach out and hold her down from time to time.
Even after the opera troupe left the mountain, Yue Yining was still reluctant to part with them and felt a deep sense of nostalgia.
After evening lessons, Qiu Wuzhu escorted Yue Yining back to her room. Yue Yining then took the opportunity to act coquettishly, asking her master when he would invite someone to come up the mountain to perform again, as she wanted to hear it again.
Qiu Wuzhu said, "There will be no next time. Your noise is making me lose face."
Yue Yining was about to wail when Qiu Wuzhu held her down, so she had to give up and asked if she could find a chance to go down the mountain and watch a play in town later.
"No." Qiu Wuzhu also refused. "It's deep winter, the snow is thick, and the road down the mountain is slippery. What are you going to do? You're not allowed to go."
"This isn't allowed, that isn't allowed," Yue Yining pouted in dissatisfaction.
“My master won’t invite anyone up the mountain, nor will he allow me to go down. What am I supposed to do if I still want to listen to the opera?”
"Then don't listen."
Yue Yining persisted, blinking at her, "Then I won't go down the mountain. How about Master sings for me instead?"
Qiu Wuzhu said coldly, "I think you're itching for a beating again."
Qiu Wuzhu, of course, did not agree to her request. After saying a few more words to her, he got up and left to go back to his room to sleep.
The lights were off, and it was pitch black inside and outside the bed curtains. Yue Yining stayed in her own room, opening and closing her eyes from time to time, turning over to the left and then to the right.
After tossing and turning like this, she was wide awake and simply sat up, clutching the blankets.
Outside the paper window was a cold winter night, while inside the house, a warm underfloor heating system was burning. She was lying on a thick cotton quilt; this was her first New Year's Day spent on the mountain.
The old year ends without the sound of firecrackers, and there is no boisterous celebration of reunion.
This New Year's Day was particularly peaceful. At night, only the low whistling of the wind echoed among the mountains and valleys, and the soft patter of falling snow against the dense leaves of the bamboo forest could be heard.
At least she no longer needed to huddle in a thatched hut on a street corner for warmth, eat scavenged buns while hugging her frozen arms, and fall asleep gazing at the bright lights of every household.
Unable to sleep no matter what, Yue Yining secretly got out of bed, put on a coat, and went out.
She quietly slipped into Qiu Wuzhu's bedroom, and as soon as she closed the door, she heard her master's voice: "Who is it?"
"Master, it's me."
Yue Yining happily pounced on the bedside, climbed up on all fours, and clung to Qiu Wuzhu through the blankets like a clingy snotty bug. "Master, Master, I still want to hear that song. I can't sleep because I miss it."
Yue Yining faintly heard Qiu Wuzhu sighing.
She suddenly slid down the bulging hill, and when she looked up again, Qiu Wuzhu had already lifted the covers and sat up, her face bare and her eyes half-closed, her cold face now showing a hint of human warmth.
When Yue Yining entered the house, she didn't close the door properly, and a gust of wind blew the door open, causing half of it to slide open.
The night snow was brilliant, and the room was pure and white.
Her master, bathed in the snow's light, appeared even more radiant and sacred, inviolable.
At that moment, the sacred and inviolable person pointed to the door and said to her, "Go and close the door."
Yue Yining immediately responded, slipped off the bed, and hurriedly closed the door. After carefully shutting it, she quickly climbed back onto the bed, looking up at Qiu Wuzhu with pleading eyes, as if afraid that Qiu Wuzhu would drive her away.
Seeing her expression, Qiu Wuzhu misunderstood her meaning. He frowned and said lightly, "It's just a play, how come it's so captivating to you? It's made your heart restless."
Yue Yining didn't explain, she just kept snuggling into her master's arms. The nine-year-old child's body was as warm as a furnace, and once you touched her, you couldn't let go.
Qiu Wuzhu didn't push her away again. He put his arm around her shoulder and, unusually, said, "After you finish listening, go back to your room. Don't linger with your teacher anymore."
What kind of music would you like to hear?
Yue Yining looked up at her, her bright eyes sparkling: "The one you sang today!"
Qiu Wuzhu remained silent for a long time, until Yue Yining was almost asleep, before she heard her soft singing voice. Her usually cold tone softened, and even the most heartless person showed a hint of sentimentality: "How many times have I seen the clever words of monks seize my humble abode, and now I see the servile faces of those in the golden palace praising this day..."
"The words of innocence are blurred, the accounts of loyalty and treachery are reversed. Only half a pencil remains to mark the Red Bridge, cutting through the people's hard-earned money, revealing the true face of heaven and earth's inhumanity."
"Is it to chase after the high-ranking officials in the palace, or to transform into a crane and return to the mountains and forests? I only know that I am a lonely and dying man, and I want to cover the mountains and rivers. The lights of ten thousand homes are bright, because someone is holding up the sky that is about to collapse and filling the swamp that has not yet been leveled."
"Their valiant spirit shines brightly, illuminating your illustrious crown. Even now, their bones stand starkly in the shadows, a testament to the backbone of the martial world, a coward to the very fabric of humanity."
"Alas, how long have we sighed? Do not say that rise and fall are ordained by Heaven, for the hearts of all beings are like boats on the sea. I dare to defy destiny, to rewrite the past for the sake of the people. When the calamity subsides, the wind fills my sleeves, and my loyal heart shines through the ages."
Yue Yining listened with her eyes closed, completely satisfied. After Qiu Wuzhu finished singing, his cold expression softened, and he patted her shoulder: "You should go now."
"Master, Master, what does it mean to chase after high-ranking officials in the palace, and what does it mean to transform into a crane and return to the mountains?"
"Chasing after high-ranking officials in front of the palace is entering the world, while returning to the mountains and forests as a crane is leaving the world. The original meaning is that there is a distinction between entering and leaving the world. Only those who have entered the world can talk about leaving the world; otherwise, it is cowardly escapism."
Yue Yining seemed to understand but not quite, but she knew that people like her master, who lived a secluded life, were considered recluses, so she asked, "Has Master ever entered the world?"
"..." Qiu Wuzhu's expression faded. "If you don't leave now, don't eat breakfast tomorrow. First, copy the divination book three hundred times."
Yue Yining was terrified of copying books. She was so frightened that she quickly got out of bed and slunk back to her room.
Now, recalling this memory, Yue Yining suddenly understood her master's silence back then. Many things, when savored again after many years, reveal not only much joy and regret, but also many moments of sudden realization.
She and her master have changed beyond recognition, but they were not always like this.
As Yue Yining recounted her past, Xie Qingyu reached out and gently touched her face with his fingertips, gazing intently at her. Hearing this, he couldn't help but smile, "So, Miss, you were once so mischievous."
For the sake of a play, he actually went to disturb his master who was already asleep in the middle of the night.
Yue Yining closed her eyes, a faint smile slowly spreading across her face: "At first I wanted to listen to the opera, but later I got up in the middle of the night to look for my master, simply because I couldn't sleep."
"That was the first New Year's Day I spent on the mountain. I wanted to sleep with my master, but I was too embarrassed to say so, so I just made up some excuse to stay with her."
She longed so much for that warm embrace.
That was the person who treated her best in the first half of her life, so it was only natural for her to rely on him.
Nine-year-old Yue Yining never imagined that one day she would leave Qiu Wuzhu. She couldn't think of anything that could separate the two of them.
Yue Yining didn't say anything more, but Xie Qingyu understood her perfectly. He slowly pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.
"I will not leave," Xie Qingyu said. "Ayu will always stay by Miss's side."
Yue Yining was already in a daze when she heard these words. She seemed to feel a sudden sense of peace in her heart, and stopped struggling. She fell into a deep sleep.
Three days later, Yue Yining finally understood the meaning behind Xie Qingyu's words.
Just as the storm had subsided, trouble brewed again in the court. A minister submitted a memorial impeaching the eldest princess for lax governance, and before anyone else could react, several veteran ministers of the Xie family stepped forward to refute him, with Xie Qingyu being the last to step forward.
This move caused an astonishing reaction from all the officials in the court.
Everyone knows that Xie Qingyu, as the new head of the family, represents the stance of the Xie clan. His actions are a way of making the Xie clan's attitude known to the world—the Xie family will officially and publicly support the captain princess's camp.
Amidst the undercurrents and growing suspicion within the court, Shen Liude and Qiu Yuebai changed into their official robes and set off from the capital, while Zhou Congyi entered the palace.
By the end of March, the investigation was complete. A group of students were implicated in the cheating scandal, and the imperial examination results were posted a second time. The rankings had changed considerably. The original top scholar was disqualified, and the second-place scholar was made the top scholar. And that second-place scholar was none other than Xie Yueshuang.
Among the scions of prominent families, the last one to achieve the highest rank in the civil service examination and enter officialdom was her eldest brother, Xie Qingyu.
The glory Xie Qingyu once enjoyed is now no different from Xie Yueshuang's. The Xie family is once again celebrating a joyous occasion, with visitors almost breaking down the threshold, and everyone busy preparing for the celebratory banquet.
March passed by in a flash.
"You mean you want me to go work for Yue Yining?"
Xie Yunying was suddenly summoned to the Frost Spray Courtyard and met Xie Qingyu. However, Xie Qingyu's first words to her surprised her greatly.
Xie Yunying: "This is so sudden... I don't mind, but I don't know anything about this. Can I be of any help?"
Xie Qingyu was still wearing his official robes, looking imposing. He sat behind his desk, reviewing documents as he spoke to her: "She has lost most of the people she can rely on in the court, especially her close advisors, who have all left. She urgently needs to select trusted confidants, but the situation is complicated right now, and it's hard to say whether the people she selects will be completely loyal. If they are not completely loyal, it could backfire and cause trouble."
“Although you are not exceptionally intelligent, I at least know your background. You have no intention of harming others, and that is enough,” Xie Qingyu said. “Furthermore, the Xie family has now turned to support the eldest princess’s lineage. As the second young lady of the Xie family, Xie Yunying, and also Xie Qingyu’s younger sister, if you go to her side to protect her, you can clearly show others the Xie family’s attitude and stabilize people’s hearts for her.”
"Besides, I see that you're just sitting in the mansion all day, and you're probably bored out of your mind. Why don't you do something productive?"
Xie Yunying jumped up and down: "Where haven't I done my job?!" She's been diligently working on conquering the targets every day!
Xie Qingyu got up, took a sandalwood box from the shelf, and handed it to Xie Yunying. He said in a calm tone, "Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), you will personally lead a team of reliable guards, with my warrant, to Yonghe Pawnshop in the west of the city. Find their manager, and he will give you a batch of urgently needed supplies."
"After you have verified that everything is correct, immediately escort him to the villa in the western suburbs, where Yue Yining's trusted men will be waiting for you. Remember, there must be no delays along the way, and no one else should be allowed to handle the process."
Xie Yunying was immediately embarrassed: "Is it really okay for me to entrust such a crucial thing to you...?" What if she messed it up?
Xie Qingyu ignored him and continued, "Inside the box is a 100,000 tael silver note voucher from Yufeng Bank, which allows for deposit and withdrawal at any time. Seeing the voucher is like seeing the cash, and it is the core of this transaction. After the goods are handed over, you take the voucher to the Yufeng branch next to Yonghe Pawnshop and transfer the equivalent amount of silver on the spot to complete the final delivery. This matter is of great importance and cannot be overlooked."
Seeing that she still didn't move, Xie Qingyu raised an eyebrow, gesturing to her, "Take it."
Xie Yunying had no choice but to accept.
Seeing Xie Qingyu lower her head again, Xie Yunying knew that he could only see her when he had a spare moment. The court was in turmoil, and he needed to be on guard in all directions, so he was extremely busy.
But Xie Yunying couldn't resist her curiosity and couldn't help but ask him, "So you mean... Yue Yining is now supporting the eldest princess's ascension to the throne?"
Hearing this, Xie Qingyu looked up and glanced at her: "You're only just realizing that?"
"Does your system never report the progress of the main storyline to you?"
Xie Yunying pouted: "The system isn't omnipotent; it can only assist at most. Mine is especially useless; I have to rely on myself for many things."
The eavesdropping system: "........"
"My current task is just to win over Yuan Nanjie. I don't really know where the main storyline is at." Xie Yunying sat down opposite him, looking at him with some impatience. "So, does that mean that Yue Yining didn't choose the Third Prince this time? Does that mean she won't be implicated or killed?"
“Perhaps the outcome will be different. After all, Princess Wei Yihua is a wise ruler, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and I have great faith in her. But until the very last moment, these are all just my speculations,” Xie Qingyu said. “There is also another possibility: no matter what Yue Yining chooses, she will eventually be pushed to her destined fate by the will of Heaven.”
Xie Yunying was taken aback. "...Could that be?"
“There are already signs.” Xie Qingyu looked at her. “Yue Yining’s master recently entered the capital. I don’t know what she exchanged with the emperor, but the emperor appointed her as the national advisor without announcing it to the court or adopting her advice.”
"Wei Tianxuan was not a willful and reckless monarch in history, and he was far from being considered a tyrant. Making such a major decision so rashly is completely unlike him."
"Her master's name is Qiu Wuzhu, who is the most accomplished celestial master in metaphysics in the last fifty years and ranks first among the three existing masters. This is what I recently learned from the historical records of this dynasty. When I was studying the history of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty in modern times, I did not see a celestial master named Qiu Wuzhu in the historical books."
"Her first prophecy to the emperor was aimed at Yue Yining. Yue Yining's power was greatly diminished because her master's prophecy came true."
Xie Qingyu's face gradually turned cold: "I don't think Qiu Wuzhu was just conveying the mandate of heaven and did nothing else. Yue Yining said that her master spent half his life in the temple to oversee cultivation and never came down the mountain unless there was a major event. Now, however, he has made an exception and entered the capital to become the national advisor in order to fight for the throne. No matter how you look at it, he has come with ill intentions."
Qiu Wuzhu's every move was clearly an attempt to overturn the Way of Heaven.
The Heavenly Dao, which had been somewhat deviated from due to the efforts of Yue Yining and others, is now being interfered with by Qiu Wuzhu, giving the impression that all previous efforts have been in vain.
Xie Qingyu's feelings towards this person were complex and difficult to express.
He slept with Yue Yining, their necks intertwined, listening to her recount many memories of her time cultivating with her master on the mountain. Qiu Wuzhu had treated Yue Yining exceptionally well, and just as Yue Yining could not blame Qiu Wuzhu even now, he could not hate someone who had shown her such deep kindness.
No, perhaps he harbored some resentment as well. Unlike Yue Yining, who was always so forgiving and magnanimous towards those who hurt her, he was always exceptionally meticulous when it came to matters concerning her.
Yue Yining said that she and her master simply followed different paths, which was why there was a rift between them. Yet he stood up for her, saying, "So what if they follow different paths? Yue Yining respects her master so much, why can't Qiu Wuzhu be more understanding? Does he really have to sever ties with her like this?"
The room remained quiet for a while.
Xie Yunying seemed to be lost in thought when she opened her mouth and whispered, "...How is Yue Yining?"
Is she very sad?
"......."
Xie Qingyu lowered her eyes, "She respects Qiu Wuzhu, she will definitely be sad."
"But it doesn't matter. This time, I will be with her. No matter what, I will stand by her side. At least, she will not be left alone and helpless again."
Xie Yunying: "I can't take it anymore, I just remembered the plot I watched before. How come my beautiful sister's life is so full of ups and downs? God, can't you be kinder to her? I'm so heartbroken, sob sob..."
system:"......."
Xie Yunying: "Anyway, I'm almost done with my mission. Before I leave, I want to do my best to help Yue Yining and become her right-hand woman!"
System: "...?" Isn't this dream a bit too unrealistic?
Xie Yunying carried the wooden box back to Qiufang Courtyard.
When the maid Jin Xuan saw that she had gone to the eldest young master's villa and brought back this item, she asked her carefully, "Second Miss, did the eldest young master give this to you?"
Xie Yunying didn't hide anything and said frankly, "This is a job that my older brother gave me."
The room was filled with her personal maids, and Xie Yunying, without any precautions, readily revealed most of the contents of her conversation.
As the group chatted idly, a slender figure hid behind a pillar in the corridor, overhearing the conversation just a wall away. The voices inside Xie Yunying's room ceased, and the figure quietly departed.
The maid who had overheard the conversation quickly passed through several courtyards and went to see Xie Yueshuang.
Inside the room, Xie Yueshuang was playing the zither by the window.
She was born gentle and charming, but the melodies flowing from her fingertips had nothing to do with boudoir sentiments. Instead, they carried a rare aloofness and detachment, like the music played by a frustrated official.
After hearing the report from the person who came in a low voice, her zither playing paused almost imperceptibly for a moment.
"Ten thousand taels of silver notes..." Xie Yueshuang repeated softly, a barely perceptible curve slowly forming on her lips, her smile laced with coldness. "My dear sister, she's truly been given such a high position by him, with such generosity and such trust."
She waved her hand, and the maid understood, quietly leaving.
Xie Yueshuang's fingertips landed on the strings again, but no longer produced a tune; she merely plucked them, producing a few scattered, clear sounds.
She looked out the window at the deep night, and a faint light seemed to flicker in the depths of her eyes.
...
Deep within the Xie family mansion, in a secluded courtyard, the doors were tightly shut, and the atmosphere was oppressive. This was the place where Third Uncle Xie Zheng usually recuperated, and few outsiders dared to approach.
Inside the flower hall, the candlelight was bright, but it couldn't illuminate the gloom on the faces of the people sitting around the rosewood round table.
"This is utterly outrageous!" Fifth Uncle Xie Rong slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups clatter. His face was flushed, and his chest heaved violently. "Is Xie Qingyu really going to turn the world upside down?! Are we just going to let him squander our Xie family's century-old legacy like this?!"
Seventh Uncle Xie Min's face was gloomy as he said with a somber tone, "Ever since Xie Zhi died, all the major and minor affairs of the Xie family have been decided by him, a mere junior. Even the opinions of the clan elders cannot override his. It would have been fine if he had insisted on participating in the struggle for the throne and supporting the Seventh Prince, but now he has given up halfway and wants to switch his support to the Eldest Princess. He really does whatever he wants."
Fifth Uncle was even angrier, veins bulging on his forehead: "He does whatever he wants, when has he ever considered us? These banks the Xie family runs in Yanjing look impressive, but doesn't he know what's going on inside? The elders of the clan rely on these banks for their livelihood, but he only cares about himself and doesn't care about anyone else at all!"
"The banks in the capital were already shrinking due to the war, and their cash flow was stretched thin. Now, with this further disruption, many accounts that were just starting to recover have to be settled immediately! You tell me, what are we going to use to fill those holes... those holes, how are we going to fill them now?!"
The elders of the Xie family, to put it nicely, are elders; to put it bluntly, they are just old codgers who only know how to ask for money.
When Xie Zhi was still alive, he spent a large sum of money every year to support this group of people in order to ensure the overall development and harmonious prosperity of the Xie family and prevent them from causing trouble.
Where did all this money come from? It would be easy to support this large family with the official salaries of Xie Zhi and others, but it would be impossible for them to live such a carefree and happy life.
These elders of the Xie family had huge annual expenses, all of which were handled by Xie Zhi. They embezzled, accepted bribes, and exploited those above and below them. Later, they became even more brazen and started to tamper with the Xie family's businesses, taking money from the bank at will. Xie Zhi turned a blind eye to it, only scolding them when they went too far.
When Xie Zhi was the head of the Xie family, the elders lived a life that was truly like that of gods.
Unexpectedly, Xie Zhi died suddenly, and his adopted son Xie Qingyu inherited the title and became the new head of the family.
After Xie Qingyu took over the family, the Xie family elders felt as if they had fallen from the clouds to the bottom.
Xie Zhi was already a first-rate smiling tiger, and his son was even worse. At least Xie Zhi paid attention to the appearance of peace and harmony in the family and maintained the face of these clan elders. Xie Qingyu, on the other hand, looked gentle and refined, but he was decisive and ruthless in his actions, showing no mercy to them.
When Xie Qingyu first took office, he did not immediately address the long-standing problems within the clan. He performed his daily morning and evening greetings with utmost courtesy and often consulted his elders on matters. At first, the elders were secretly pleased, thinking that this young patriarch was inexperienced and needed to rely on them, the elders, so that life could continue as before.
However, this was merely their illusion.
No sooner had Xie Qingyu secured his position as head of the family than he launched three major initiatives. The first was to take action against the Xie family's vast assets, ostensibly to streamline them, but in reality to divide the power of the elders. For example, the management of Yufeng Bank, the largest bank in the capital, as well as several large silk shops and grain stores, were all separated and placed under cross-administration.
In this way, the uncles were still nominally in charge, but their authority was tightened, and everything required the approval of their trusted group.
This move of separating powers and checks and balances has shattered their real power, making it impossible for them to manipulate things and cover up the truth as they used to.
The second measure was taken to the accounts. Xie Qingyu demanded that all businesses, regardless of size, use standardized new ledgers with clear entries. At the end of each month, core accounts had to be summarized, and Xie Qingyu personally oversaw the review meetings, listening to reports from the managers.
Previously vague and easily manipulated entries are now virtually impossible to conceal under the new ledgers. Making false or misleading entries has become exceptionally difficult.
The third move further cut off many of their alternative sources of income. Xie Qingyu revoked the amount of money the elders could freely access, as well as their ability to use the Xie family's name cards and network of connections for personal gain.
In the past, the elders of the Xie family could borrow large sums of money from banks for personal business or lending, keeping the profits for themselves and finding ways to fabricate bad debts to be borne by the family when losses occurred. Now, all fund transfers exceeding a certain amount must be personally approved by Xie Qingyu.
When Xie Qingyu did all this, he still maintained that smiling yet dagger-like demeanor, speaking in a calm and gentle tone, as if everything he did was for the long-term development of the family. He never clashed directly with the elders; even when they were furious, he would patiently explain, his words watertight, leaving no room for criticism.
What directly harmed their interests was Xie Qingyu's open defection to the Princess's camp in court.
Previously, the Xie family had maintained close and friendly relations with the Seventh Prince's faction, as well as many traditional aristocratic families.
The elders of the Xie family, using the Xie family's name, secretly provided numerous favors to officials and scions of prominent families affiliated with the Seventh Prince's faction. In the salt and iron trade controlled by the Xie family, granting them special treatment and profit sharing was merely a matter of small favors. Behind these favors lay enormous amounts of illicit income and the transfer of benefits, continuously flowing into their private slush funds to maintain their extravagant lifestyles and cover the holes left by their corruption.
However, Xie Qingyu has now changed course midway to support the Eldest Princess, which is tantamount to openly standing against some aristocratic families.
Their previously well-maintained cooperative relationships with many people suddenly became awkward.
People from the Seventh Prince's faction immediately distanced themselves, and all previous channels of personal connections were severed. Promised kickbacks were about to vanish, and some benefits that had already been secured had to be returned to quell the situation.
This time, they really hit their weak spot.
Their shady business, which operated in the shadows and had a well-functioning cash flow, suddenly collapsed. They had hoped to quietly fill the ever-growing hole in the family accounts through external funding, but Xie Qingyu had now completely blocked that path!
The hole is still there, and it has even gotten bigger due to the recent turmoil and shrinking business. But the crooked ways to make money are being cut off one by one. How can they not be anxious? How can they not hate?
"He's having a good time, but has he considered us?!" Fifth Uncle trembled with anger. "With his sudden change of heart, all the favors and money we invested in the Seventh Prince have gone down the drain! Many promised incomes have vanished! No one's going to fill that hole; are we old bones supposed to foot the bill ourselves?!"
Uncle Qi's face was so dark it could drip water: "Take money out of our own pockets? How much of our private savings can we possibly cover such a huge hole? We're already facing difficulties both internally and externally, and now he's cut off our extra income. If he notices something amiss during the next monthly reconciliation..."
The third uncle, Xie Zheng, who was sitting in the main seat, had his eyes closed and was holding Buddhist prayer beads in his hand, his knuckles turning white.
He slowly opened his eyes and let out a frustrated sigh: "What else can he do? How could he not know the consequences of doing this? He simply doesn't care whether we live or die."
Someone shrieked, "Even if we get away with this, what about next time? And the time after that?"
"If there are problems with the bank's payments, or if Xie Qingyu discovers those huge amounts of bad debt...we...we're all finished!"
The atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.
Suddenly, a trusted aide's voice came from outside the door, cautiously reporting: "Master, the eldest young lady has arrived. She says she received some newly arrived pre-Qingming Longjing tea and has come to present it to you."
The room fell silent instantly.
The three elders quickly exchanged glances, their anxiety forcibly suppressed, replaced by a distant and authoritative air.
Xie Min cleared his throat, his voice regaining its composure: "Let her in."
The door was pushed open, and Xie Yueshuang walked in carrying an exquisite tea tray.
She wore a moon-white silk ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), adorned only with a plain silver hairpin, exuding a refined and elegant beauty. Xie Yueshuang seemed completely oblivious to the lingering tension in the room, a perfectly measured smile on her face as she greeted the three elders one by one.
"Greetings, Third Uncle, Fifth Uncle, and Seventh Uncle." Her voice was gentle. "I recently acquired some fine Longjing tea, and knowing that Third Uncle loves it the most, I took the liberty of bringing it over. I hope I haven't disturbed your peace and quiet."
Xie Min forced a kind smile: "Yue Shuang is so kind. Please sit down."
Xie Yueshuang sat down as instructed.
The eldest daughter of the Xie family has been making headlines lately. Several elders, harboring ulterior motives, seized the opportunity to praise her, and Xie Yueshuang greeted them with a smile.
As she finished brewing the tea, she handed it over and, as if casually mentioning something else, brought up another matter: "There are many capable people in the clan, and I am just one of them. The elders are really too kind in their praise. When I came here just now, I also heard that my second sister has been diligent in her duties recently. Now, my eldest brother often entrusts her with important matters."
The three elders were all startled, but remained outwardly calm.
Xie Min, fiddling with his prayer beads, said, "It is the younger generation's duty to contribute to the family."
"However, when did Yunying become so sensible? This is the first time I've heard of this."
Xie Yueshuang raised her eyes, her gaze clear and innocent: "Don't the elders know? Ever since my second sister became a military officer in the capital, my brother has trusted her immensely, entrusting her with the management of many large sums of money."
"However, my second sister is young. Although she is capable, she is still inexperienced. She has many important matters to handle and there is no one to supervise or verify them. I just hope that nothing bad will happen."
Her words were soft, like a feather brushing the surface of water.
A brief silence fell over the room.
A glint of light flashed in Xie Min's cloudy old eyes, and he quickly exchanged a knowing glance with his fifth and seventh uncles.
Xie Yueshuang seemed not to hear. She exchanged pleasantries with the elders for a while, then rose gracefully and bowed respectfully: "The tea has been served, so I will not disturb you uncles' discussion any longer. I will take my leave now."
The elders responded to her, and Xie Yueshuang went out and left, nodding to the steward at the door.
The moment she stepped out of the courtyard gate, a faint smile appeared on her lips, carrying a chilling aura.
After Xie Yueshuang left, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became strange and intense.
Xie Min immediately called someone in: "Go check the accounts that the Second Miss has been handling recently, and find out what Xie Qingyu has asked her to do."
The servant obeyed and left, returning shortly with the message.
"This is truly..." Fifth Uncle clapped his hands and sighed, his eyes gleaming with excitement, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
Seventh Uncle was so excited that he stood up: "There's always a way out! There really is a way out..."
The elders present exchanged glances, all knowing the plans they had come up with.
A glint of light flashed in Xie Min's eyes. He stopped holding the prayer beads and happily loosened his fingers.
He made the final decision: "No rush. This matter needs to be planned slowly. If we're going to do it, we should do it flawlessly."
Outside the window, a late-blooming magnolia tree quietly fell to the ground in the warm breeze, turning into mud.
As dusk settled, the imperial city was bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, its vermilion color almost blood red.
The Imperial Study was not lit with bright candles as usual, but only a few dim bronze sparrow lamps. The last ray of sunlight slanted in through the high window, casting long shadows on the gold brick floor.
The emperor, seated high on his dragon throne, looked up, his face even more ashen than a month ago, his brows furrowed with a deep sense of weariness.
Light footsteps could be heard outside the hall.
A moment later, led by the eunuch Luo Hong, the young female national teacher entered the palace.
Even living deep within the palace, Qiu Wuzhu still wore a simple, plain robe, as austere as a ladle of clear water.
Her gaze passed over the landscape of Jinping Mountain and the carved beams and painted pillars, and landed on the throne.
"Your Majesty, I have met with you."
Wei Tianxuan rolled his eyes and looked at her from afar, but it seemed as if he wasn't looking at her: "Grand Preceptor... the Grand Preceptor has arrived."
"You have two more prophecies that you haven't told me," Wei Tianxuan said in a dry voice. "...Isn't it time for the second prophecy to come?"
Qiu Wuzhu's voice was clear and melodious, not loud, but it entered his ears clearly, with a penetrating quality: "Yes."
"Your Majesty, I observed the divination array at night and saw that the metal element was restless and the five elements were obscured, which is an omen of the collapse of the metal element's fortune."
Qiu Wuzhu spoke calmly, yet every word carried immense weight: "Within ten days, the capital's wealth will be depleted, and drastic changes will occur in trade routes. Commerce will be disrupted, markets will be deserted, and the people will likely suffer."
Just as she had predicted the first time, she delivered her verdict and quietly awaited the emperor's reaction.
Unexpectedly, the man on the dragon throne stood up shakily and walked towards her step by step.
“…Alright, alright. I understand.” His voice was hurried, but not for the second prophecy concerning the people’s livelihood. “I summoned the Imperial Advisor for another matter.”
"I wish to request the Imperial Advisor to perform the divination technique from before once more..."
Wei Tianxuan's voice was kept extremely low, so that only the two of them could hear it.
Despite being the supreme emperor, his command to her sounded like a plea: "I remember what the Imperial Advisor said. This technique should not be used too frequently. I've been counting the days; it's been seven days since the last time. The time limit has been reached. Can the Imperial Advisor use it again now?"
For a long time, Qiu Wuzhu had remained unresponsive, like an ice sculpture, no matter what he said or did. Finally, a flicker of emotion crossed his eyes.
It sounded like a silent, light sneer.
...How tragic.
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