Chapter 1138: Extremely Wrong (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
The man seemed surprised that the king would summon him at this time, and asked in his usual slow and gentle tone, "Is there something important?"
The eunuch's smile seemed extremely obsequious, but in reality, he deftly deflected the man's words: "How dare this servant presume to guess His Majesty's intentions?"
The specifics of what happened will only be known once the man arrives.
The man glanced at the sky; the sun had set, leaving only slivers of its afterglow, and most of the sky was tinged with darkness. He anxiously instructed his son beside him, "Take good care of your mother. I'll be back in an hour or two."
He said this to his son, but someone else was actually listening.
"There's no need to rush like this. It's only right and proper for a ruler to allow his trusted ministers a meal when he summons them at mealtime."
The eunuch had a pair of small, slanted, triangular eyes that gave off an inexplicable air of gloom when he stared at people, as if a venomous snake had its eyes on a vital spot. He glanced at the woman out of the corner of his eye and said with displeasure, "Lord Cui, which lady in your household is this? How dare a mere woman discuss the dignity of the Emperor?"
The atmosphere inexplicably became tense and anxious.
The man said, "It's my wife."
The eunuch yielded appropriately, then asked with a hint of doubt, "This servant has heard that Lord Cui has been single for many years. Is this his new wife? Congratulations!"
He offered words of congratulations, but his eyes betrayed no sincerity.
When he lowered his head and furrowed his brows, a fleeting glint of disdain and mockery flashed in his eyes. No one knew what kind of temper this Cui had; so many noble families in the capital had wanted to send their beautiful daughters to his bedchamber, but he had rejected them all, and instead chose this rustic old woman.
“I have never been single, nor is she a new wife.” The man stepped past the eunuchs and boarded the carriage, saying calmly, “You are a veteran who has served the Emperor for a long time. You should know that being loose-lipped can hinder your career.”
It's fine if it only hinders one's future, but it's not good if it affects one's lifespan.
Upon hearing this, the eunuch's eyes twitched involuntarily, his thin lips pressed tightly together, and the fierceness emanating from his triangular, upturned eyes intensified.
He replied somewhat awkwardly, "What Master Cui says is true."
As the carriages from the palace that were to be picked up disappeared into the distance at the end of the street, the young man frowned and said indignantly, "That eunuch was really asking for death! Did he really think that serving the Emperor was something to be proud of? To provoke Madam Cui in front of Father, really..."
The woman interrupted her son before he could finish speaking.
He said unhappily, "What's your father so presumptuous about?"
How many years have they been divorced?
Is that divorce agreement just a piece of waste paper?
The young man's murderous aura vanished, and he said softly, "Father doesn't want you to be looked down upon by a eunuch. Even if we divorce, you are not only the matriarch of the Cui family, but also the future matriarch of the Cui family. If a eunuch humiliates you, isn't that humiliating his son and humiliating his father?"
The woman said, "Don't use me as a scapegoat for his murder."
To outsiders, her ex-husband must have seemed like a refined and cultured man. The first time they met him, they thought his daily life consisted of burning incense, sipping tea, listening to the rain, and playing the zither. When he had nothing to do, he would drink wine and play chess with his friends. If he was in the mood, he would go out to wait for the moon in the middle of the night.
What is the reality?
All the murderous intent is hidden beneath this skin.
His words just now undeniably contained an element of self-defense, but what was his main purpose? The Cui family and the ruler of Qi weren't an unbreakable alliance; occasionally expressing dissatisfaction to remind their ally to be mindful of boundaries was also a tactic. The woman thought about it more and more, finding it pointless, and said wearily, "I'm tired. Let's prepare a guest room."
The boy jogged after him.
He whispered, "How can we let Mother stay in the guest room?"
The woman completely ignored her son's nagging and pointed at Chen Tang: "Look how clever you are. Serve me first and learn well so that you won't be flustered when you go to serve the Queen in the future."
The boy's steps quickened.
"Mother, your son has made arrangements..."
The boy was greeted by a door that slammed shut with a bang.
If he hadn't reacted quickly, the closing door would have trapped his nose. Frustrated and disappointed, the boy stamped his foot in frustration outside, his voice trembling with tears: "Mother, Mother—"
It's one thing for the mother to dislike the father, but why does she dislike him too?
His pleading calls went unanswered; instead, he heard footsteps fading into the courtyard. Seeing there was no way to change his mind, the boy could only slump in dejection, turning back every few steps. But once he rounded the corner of the corridor, all traces of his former childishness had vanished from his face.
Although her eyes, which resembled her father's, were misty, one could see the coldness in them, like a deep pool.
"That eunuch, kill him!"
A figure seemed to be moving in the darkness.
A muffled reply came from the air: "After all, he is from the Emperor's court."
The young man slowly took out a handkerchief and wiped away the tears that welled up in his eyes from his emotional outburst: "So what if you're in the Emperor's court? Do you really think that by serving the Emperor a few times, a eunuch is equivalent to the Emperor? A useless pawn, just kill him."
"But what about the parents..."
"You think he'll stop me?" The young man scoffed. "If that's the case, it's no wonder I'm being dumped. That face isn't fresh enough to keep someone, and now even his brain is worn out. He's written a ton of poems lamenting his wife's sorrows, but has he even sent one away?"
Bodyguard: "..."
——
The woman sighed, "I knew it. The kind of education that the Cui family provides is bound to run into problems sooner or later. They'll drive one person crazy if they can."
After locking her son out, the woman didn't leave immediately but instead gave Shen Tang a meaningful look. With Shen Tang's help, the two secretly eavesdropped and unexpectedly witnessed a rare side of her son. Shen Tang asked, "Ke Wu, how is your son's mental state?"
"It should be alright."
The woman showed no sign of worry.
Shen Tang: "..."
He then looked at the woman with great confusion and asked a question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time: "Ke Wu, how did you recognize me?"
The woman was Cui Hui, also known as Cui Kewu.
Cui Hui confessed, "I thought you were Miao Ximin."
Shen Tang: "..."
Cui Hui: "But thinking about Miao Ximin's personality, he wouldn't do what you did, so I guessed that you were an inside man arranged by Qi Yuanliang. The task assigned by the Kang Kingdom Lord was too big, and it was unrealistic to expect me to complete it alone. There must be helpers."
The "Miao Ximin" she mentioned is Miao Ne.
Cui Hui and Miao Ne traveled together for a while, chatting happily. However, fearing her ex-husband might suspect something, they parted ways near the border of Qi State. Miao Ne then traveled elsewhere, intending to find a suitable identity before reuniting with him. These past few days, Cui Hui had been particularly attentive to any unfamiliar women around him, seeing everyone as a potential Miao Ne. At this point, Cui Hui was filled with renewed anger.
"That guy surnamed Cui is simply inhuman."
“He can still eat my food even though I’m this old.”
"He was really hungry..."
"Why are you so late? If you had come earlier, I would have suffered less. That Cui fellow, we were getting along fine after our divorce, but now he treats me like I've caught his enemy. If I hadn't been so shameless and refused to leave, he would have kicked me out of Qi Kingdom long ago and made me suffer terribly!"
Shen Tang then interjected, "To drive them out of Qi State?"
Cui Hui nodded: "Yes, his men chased me away."
Relying on the fact that these people dared not do anything to her, Cui Hui refused to leave. Upon seeing her ex-husband, she erupted in anger—since they were divorced, they were strangers. Was he, Cui, subject to the laws of Qi? Why was she not allowed to set foot in Qi?
She came to visit her son and elderly mother.
What does it have to do with that guy surnamed Cui?
After much persuasion, Cui Hui was finally allowed to enter the country.
Shen Tang guessed, "Could it be that he knows your purpose?"
Cui Hui thought for a moment: "That shouldn't be possible. In my opinion, it's probably because the Cui family has some kind of conflict with the King of Qi. He's worried that the King of Qi will take me hostage. Although we're divorced, I'm the next head of the Cui family, so I still have some value."
"Why do you say that? Because of the eunuch?"
Cui Hui nodded and said, "Mm."
The eunuchs serving the emperor were essentially the king's mouthpieces; they would convey the king's unspoken words and opinions. Cui Hui didn't believe that the king of Qi would display such a hostile attitude for such an absurd reason as jealousy.
This might be possible for an ordinary person, but she is one of the few female rulers of the time, a powerful leader with immense authority. Romantic relationships are merely a diversion, and she can easily sacrifice them if they affect her interests. No matter how popular Cui was in his youth, he is now a man with two hands. Why would that ruler bother being sarcastic or bitter towards him?
Shen Tang pondered these words: "That makes sense."
Her next words nearly made Cui Hui lose his mind.
"However, I'm not an inside man."
Cui Hui: "..."
The instant she heard Shen Tang's words, Cui Hui, without hesitation, flicked out a dagger hidden in her sleeve. The gleaming blade left a white flash in the darkness, aiming directly for Shen Tang's eyes. Her movements were swift, but Shen Tang's were even faster. As she seized Cui Hui, she completed the second half of her sentence: "But I am Shen Youli, Lady Cui, you have quite the nerve!"
Cui Hui dropped his dagger because of the pain.
Before it even landed, Shen Tang picked it up.
As if afraid that Cui Hui might sprout wings and fly away, the courtyard was surrounded by guards, and the sound of weapons falling to the ground would alert them. In the darkness, Shen Tang let out a laugh: "Lady Cui, it really is me. I didn't mean to scare you."
Cui Hui suspected that he had tinnitus.
What did you just hear?
Who is this little girl in front of me?
"you--"
Shen Tang handed the dagger back to her: "Shen Youli."
Cui Hui: "..."
She was completely dumbfounded.
Who would have thought that the King of Kang, instead of staying in his own territory, would actually go to Qi and even make a detour to the territory of the Cui family? After his initial shock, Cui Hui solemnly advised, "Do you know that a wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall, let alone put himself in a dangerous situation?"
Cui Hui was so shocked that he forgot to verify Shen Tang's identity.
Shen Tang said, "It's alright, I'm safe."
Cui Hui was unwilling to believe it.
She repeatedly emphasized the seriousness of the matter: "Your Majesty, you must not underestimate the Cui family and its current head."
“I didn’t underestimate him. How could a man chosen by Ke Wu as his husband be mediocre or a good-for-nothing? It’s just that my situation is a bit special, and I had no choice.” Shen Tang spoke vaguely about this experience, and Cui Hui, knowing the situation, didn’t press the matter. “If the Cui family really has a conflict with the royal family…”
Then we can use that as an excuse to make a big deal out of it.
Cui Hui said, "It won't be an irreconcilable conflict."
At most, the two sides will need to work things out for a while before putting aside their past grievances.
Cooperation is also a process of mutual compromise.
She knew her ex-husband too well. There was only one possibility that could make him overturn the table: the disadvantages of continuing the cooperation far outweighed the advantages, and the partner was determined not to back down, seriously damaging the interests of the Cui family.
The ex-husband was probably called over to discuss this as well.
Shen Tang said, "No rush, take your time."
If you're patient, you'll eventually get your chance.
She had also carefully studied the situation in the State of Qi. The ruler of Qi had essentially built upon the foundations laid by her father and brother. He had a very high starting point and a rapid rise in power, but everything has its advantages and disadvantages. She had seized the foundation laid by her father and brother to achieve her current success, but she had also lost the excellent opportunity to "destroy and then build," absorbing both the good and the bad aspects of the State of Qi.
How can we eliminate or remove those bad things later?
Hehe, that won't be so easy.
If the Qi Kingdom were a physical body, the forces led by the Cui clan would be a tumor that absorbs nutrients. Would this tumor quietly absorb nutrients or worsen and endanger the physical body's life?
It's estimated that only the body's owner knows the truth.
——
The carriage slowly drove into the temporary palace.
Although it's called a palace, it's actually just an exquisite house.
The original owner of the house met with misfortune during the siege and is now seeking the soup of oblivion from the King of Hell. After the house was confiscated, it was prepared as a place for the King of Qi to stay. When the head of the Cui family arrived, candles were already lit in the main hall of the house.
Besides the king, there were also a group of familiar civil and military officials in the hall.
The head of the Cui family sat in the first seat on the lower left, directly opposite Mei Jinghe, who remained expressionless. Perhaps due to the lingering effects of his failed attempt to perfect the path of the scholar, Mei Meng's brows bore a hint of weariness. The head of the Cui family and his colleagues exchanged silent greetings before nodding to Mei Meng, who unusually responded. However, soon after, someone lacking tact jumped out to provoke him: "Lord Cui certainly has quite the airs, making us wait here for over an hour."
"What are you waiting for Cui to do?"
The head of the Cui family currently only holds a nominal title. Each time he comes, it's merely a routine attendance check; to avoid looking too conspicuous, he comes at most five out of ten times. Actually, even if he doesn't come five times, it doesn't make any difference. The fact that a whole group of people are waiting for him is truly overwhelming.
"What are you waiting for? Doesn't Master Cui know?"
"Please enlighten me, General."
These words struck a nerve with the other man, who abruptly stood up, his large, round eyes fixed on the head of the Cui family, the hatred in them seeming to want to tear him apart. His fists clenched so tightly they cracked: "If it weren't for Lord Cui's secret instructions, how would they have dared to outwardly comply while inwardly defying him? Is the Qi Kingdom truly ruled by the Emperor, or by you, surnamed Cui?"
That's a rather pointed question.
The smile on the Cui family head's lips vanished completely: "General, have you had too much to drink and lost your mind? The King is here, how dare you be so presumptuous! The entire Cui family is loyal to the King and has no disloyalty whatsoever! You are slandering me without any evidence; your intentions are despicable!"
"Deserves to be executed? Just because you're surnamed Cui?"
The argument between the two did not last.
"Why don't I make room for you two to argue until you settle things?" The woman, seated at the head of the table, tapped her pipe on the corner of the table with a sharp thud, her silent threat like an invisible hand gripping his throat. The military officer swallowed back his curses, his face turning grim.
"Your subject dares not!"
The head of the Cui family also bowed and clasped his hands.
With a snap, the woman swept a scroll of bamboo slips from the table in front of him: "Cui Qing, take a look, doesn't it look familiar?"
(_)
Aside from the signature, which was legible, the rest of the handwriting was a mess. So I came up with a solution: practice the signature first, and then practice the other sentences separately. I practiced writing them as I went.
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