"If His Royal Highness the First Prince hadn't taken a fancy to my Seventh Lady, would all this have never happened?"
In a short period of time, Sun Zhuangyuan seemed to have aged ten years, his eyes were full of fatigue, and his tone became weak and feeble.
Gu Jiu said, "It's a matter of time, it can be delayed for one or two years at most."
"In other words, the imperial court will take action against the Sun family no matter what?"
"The example is too bad, we must change it." Gu Jiu said in a firm voice.
Sun Zhuangyuan's face was miserable. "The Queen is roasting me on the stove!"
Gu Jiu smiled apologetically, "I didn't mean to embarrass Mr. Sun. However, since our two families are going to get married, I naturally have to clear all obstacles in advance."
Sun Zhuangyuan was surprised. "Your Majesty is still willing to marry my Seventh Lady. Aren't you afraid that after the division, the Sun Family will become powerful again and become the world's number one family again?"
"There won't be another opportunity like that."
In the future, when the time is ripe, the imperial court will formulate a series of systems to restrict the development of aristocratic families.
The Sun family is dreaming of becoming a giant family again, with influence extending from the literary world to the court.
Dynasties rise and fall, and so do families.
"It seems that Her Majesty has made preparations and has formulated a series of follow-up plans. I deeply admire her but also feel fear."
"Mr. Sun, there is no need to be afraid. I am not a bloodthirsty person."
Sun Zhuangyuan shook his head. "Your Majesty doesn't kill people, she only destroys their hearts! Your Majesty kills people, but doesn't destroy their hearts. In comparison, Your Majesty is more merciful."
Gu Jiu laughed, "Mr. Sun, you are too kind."
Sun Zhuangyuan sighed, "If I don't agree, will Your Majesty completely destroy the Sun family?"
"If you refuse to cooperate with me, you will definitely not want to see the end of the Sun family."
"I understand now! How could my little Seventh daughter have such merits that she could have caught the Empress's eye? The day she married the First Prince meant that she became a sinner of the Sun Family. She can only get limited support from her family, and her future path will be incredibly difficult. How cruel it is for the Empress to treat a little girl so unkindly."
Gu Jiu said solemnly, "Being the wife of a prince is never an easy thing. Severing the ties with your mother's family may not be a bad thing. That position requires a broad mind and magnanimity. Being entangled in the interests of your mother's family is not a good thing."
Sun Zhuangyuan argued, "No one can survive without family. Your Majesty has relied on the foundation laid by your family to achieve what she has today. Your Majesty knows full well that family is a woman's support, a source of confidence, and a source of courage. Without it, she will be trembling with fear, and how can she have a broad vision and a generous spirit?"
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "That depends on Qi Niang's personal endurance and Mr. Sun's attitude. If you support her, she will have her family to rely on. If you are unwilling to support her, she will have no choice but to fight alone."
Sun Zhuangyuan sighed repeatedly, "It's not as easy as the Empress says. She has offended the family, and the family will hate her to the core. Even I, an old man, am powerless to deal with her."
"Sir, you're wrong!"
Gu Jiu said with certainty, "She is not a sinner. She is a hero of the Sun family. Without her, the Sun family will be uprooted in a few years. By then, my methods will not be as gentle as they are now. They will definitely be cruel and ruthless, showing no mercy. Everyone in the Sun family should be grateful to her. It is she who has given you a new life."
Sun Zhuangyuan frowned and pointed at the case files scattered on the ground. "What are these?"
"Only the main culprit will be punished, not the family."
Gu Jiu was very straightforward and she could let him off the hook.
When cutting meat with a blunt knife, don't be too hasty.
She has always been patient and can afford to spend several years planning.
Just like the layout of the northwest, it took more than ten years to uproot the Pei family and the Northwest Army and send them to Xiliang intact.
After losing the Marquis of Lu, the Pei family suffered heavy losses and is now worse than before.
If there are no outstanding men in this generation to serve as officials and establish the family, the Pei family will be in decline in twenty or thirty years.
If future generations want to get back on their feet, they will have to work ten times harder than this generation.
This generation of the Pei family can still rely on the merits of their ancestors and work less for another 10 to 20 years.
There will be no such good thing in the next generation or the next generation.
The merits of our ancestors are not a mountain of gold and silver, and they cannot sustain several generations.
Even if you have mountains of gold and silver, one day they will all be eaten up.
Sun Zhuangyuan struggled and hesitated.
His choice will determine the future of his family and the life and death of tens of thousands of people.
"When I was chosen as the top scholar, it was only natural that I should become an official."
Sun Zhuangyuan recalls the past.
Gu Jiu listened attentively, she was quite interested in old stories.
It’s because there are too few entertainment options these days.
Listening to the old imperial calendar is quite interesting and can also help kill time.
"From the very beginning, I was promoted to the position of Imperial Tutor, entering and leaving the palace every day, serving the Emperor. I was so successful and had a bright future ahead of me."
Recalling the past, Sun Zhuangyuan was filled with regret and resentment.
After so many years, even though he is already an old man, he still feels unhappy.
"Unexpectedly, the daughter of the eldest wife was betrothed to Crown Prince Renxuan as the Crown Princess. As a scholar, I suddenly became particularly conspicuous and became a thorn in the side of the palace. During this period, several incidents occurred, which angered the emperor. I knew very well that someone in the palace was trying to make things difficult for me, simply because they were afraid that I would speak well of the Crown Prince in front of the emperor. I had already decided to resign as a scholar and return to the Hanlin Academy to study honestly. Unexpectedly, I fell into a trap and was sent to the Lantai Temple by His Majesty."
Gu Jiu raised her eyebrows. She was not aware of this past.
Sun Zhuangyuan gave a bitter laugh. "That's right. Like Zhou Shi'an, I once worked at Lantai Temple. However, I only worked there for a month before resigning and returning home. I've never been in officialdom since."
"Because the eldest wife asked you to leave the court?"
"I was the top scholar, and my surname is Sun, so I'm quite impressive. The eldest wife didn't directly force me to resign, but they implied that I should behave myself and not cause trouble for the Eastern Palace. A top scholar is nothing in the Sun family. At that time, I was young and hot-headed. In a fit of rage, I submitted a letter of resignation and went to live in seclusion in a mountain courtyard."
"You resigned, and the eldest wife didn't try to keep you? After all, you are the top scholar. If you work hard, you can definitely achieve something."
Sun Zhuangyuan laughed. "The number one scholar is rare in other families, but not in the Sun family. It just so happened that it was the year of the imperial examination, and my cousin, the eldest son of the eldest wife, finally made his debut and was chosen as the third place scholar. With the third place scholar already chosen, I, the number one scholar who had angered the emperor, naturally had to step aside."
“What a pity!”
The Sun family doesn't care about the top scholar, but Gu Jiu does.
Those who can pass the imperial examination and become the top scorer are all extremely smart people.
Talents are hard to come by, so the Sun family actually left the top scholar idle in a villa in the mountains for decades.
What a waste of resources.
"I'm very glad that I didn't miss Mr. Sun."
When Sun Zhuangyuan heard this, he wanted to cry.
"If I had not come to Shanhe Academy to teach, could all this be avoided today?"
Gu Jiu shook his head. "Some things are already destined and inevitable. Even if the world criticizes and public opinion surges, it cannot stop us from doing what Your Majesty and I want to do."
"Your Majesty is right! Think about it, letting the Pei family go caused such a huge chaos, but Your Majesty and Your Majesty never wavered."
Gu Jiu said solemnly: "Since you already know my determination, why are you still hesitating?"
Sun Zhuangyuan looked up and pleaded, "Could your Majesty please let my little Seven go? She doesn't deserve all this. She is not worthy of His Highness the Crown Prince."
Gu Jiu asked back, "Sir, do you think that if I give up Xiao Qi, she will be able to marry into a good family? With the storm brewing, are you sure her future husband can protect her?"
Sun Zhuangyuan burst into tears, "It's better than marrying into the royal family and enduring a lifetime of infamy."
"Sir, you're wrong again."
Gu Jiu said softly, "I don't wish to comment on the past of the imperial family. Now, I'm the head of the imperial family, so naturally, I have the final say. Whether the prince's wife can gain a foothold in the imperial family depends not on her family background, but on her own ability. If she's capable enough, even if her family is a mess, I'll support her. If she's incapable, even if her family is the most aristocratic in the world, I'll still look down on her. My daughter-in-law must be a pine tree that's unafraid of wind and rain, not a delicate flower in a greenhouse."
Sun Zhuangyuan was speechless.
Gu Jiu added, "It's time to put an end to the grudges and hatred between you and the eldest wife."
"I have harmed Xiaoqi." Sun Zhuangyuan's expression was very miserable.
Gu Jiu rubbed his brows and said, "Forget it! This marriage is not forced by me. As long as Sun Qinniang says that she does not want to marry His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, this marriage will be cancelled. However, the division of the Sun family is inevitable, and I will never compromise."
Sun Zhuangyuan felt relieved. "Thank you, Your Majesty! Regarding the division of the clan, I can now make the decision and agree to it. As for Xiaoqi's marriage, I will personally ask her."
"I trust Mr. Sun!"
"I would never dare to deceive your majesty."
The matter was settled, and Sun Zhuangyuan said goodbye and left.
His steps were heavier than when he came, and his figure was like fallen leaves in autumn, with a sense of desolation.
Liu Zhao walked out from the inner room.
Gu Jiu leaned in his arms, "Am I pushing too hard? Mr. Sun looks so pitiful."
"Have you softened your heart?" Liu Zhao asked her.
Gu Jiu shook his head. "It's not that I'm soft-hearted, I just want to be more gentle."
Liu Zhao said, "You are both old foxes. If your methods were any gentler, Old Man Sun would definitely not agree to split the clan. The family provides for him, and he is loyal to the family."
"Rather than being loyal to his family, it's more like he's afraid of not being able to face his ancestors after his death. He's afraid his clean reputation will be ruined and he'll be cursed for eternity."
"A good reputation both in life and after death—that's what scholars strive for their whole lives. Forcing him to become a sinner of the Sun family, he'll surely bear a grudge against you and me. No wonder he'd rather die than marry his granddaughter into the royal family."
"It's not necessary to marry a girl from the Sun family, although Sun Qinnan is indeed a good person and a good match." Gu Jiu had already figured it out.
When it comes to marriage, of course it’s a matter of mutual consent.
Born in adversity, people will become stronger.
Gu Jiu looks forward to seeing Sun Qinniang become stronger.
However, if Sun Qinniang refused to marry, she could only find another good match for Liu Yu.
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