Chapter 1168: The Prisoner's Dilemma (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"Is that why he hasn't gone back for so many years?"
Gu Chi thought of Kang Shi, who was always alone during holidays, and couldn't help but sigh, as if he had come to know another side of Kang Shi. He never expected that Kang Jishou, who usually tricked his lord without batting an eye and seemed carefree, also had an unspeakable painful past.
He also fully understood the meaning behind Kang Shi's words.
Kang Shi believed he had brought death to his father and brothers in his youth, and now he was about to bring death to Yu Zi, so the psychological trauma was immeasurable. Over the years, only his lord had suffered hardship, and those around him had occasionally met with misfortune but never lost their lives; perhaps he thought he could be like a normal person. But reality had now dealt Kang Shi a fatal blow.
He seems to be a reincarnation of a plague god.
This time it's Yu Zi, who will it be next time?
Whoever he gets close to will bring misfortune to that person.
Kang Nian said, "That's what Ji Shou thinks."
That's what he thought back then too.
The doctor said that the second brother's stab wound, judging from the surface, seemed to have missed its mark, and if the wound had been stopped in time, he could have been saved. However, upon hearing of his father's death, the second brother's wound ruptured, and despite several attempts to resuscitate him, he still succumbed to his injuries. Kang Nian doesn't remember how he got through those days; now, looking back, he only remembers the chaos around him, the crying, the screams, and the whole family in utter disarray…
The source of all this was Kang Shi, his fourth brother.
If Ji Shou had not been widowed, his father would not have been so enraged that he was injured, his second brother would not have died, and there would not have been two consecutive funerals in the family.
Kang Nian not only thought about it, but he also said it aloud.
When Kang Shi angrily ordered his men to slaughter the entire enemy family, Kang Nian's mind went blank for a moment. He lost control of his emotions, raised his hand and slapped Kang Shi, blurting out a question. Every time he recalled it afterward, Kang Nian wished he could go back in time and chop off his right hand.
His original intention was clearly not to criticize Kang Shi.
He was just worried that Kang Shi would also get caught up in it, and that if things weren't handled well this time, Xiao Zong and the other local powerful families would join forces to divide up his family's assets. He just wanted Kang Shi to calm down and for the three brothers to support each other through this difficult time, but he couldn't control himself.
Kang Shi lost his father and brother, but wasn't he also deprived of his father and twin brother? Did only Kang Jishou have the right to vent his anger and act recklessly? Kang Nian regretted slapping him immediately, but stubbornly refused to apologize. He ordered his men to keep an eye on Kang Shi and forbid him from causing trouble during the mourning period. Not long after, Kang Shi ran away from home.
Gu Chi couldn't help but feel sorry for Kang Shi.
"But this is just too unreasonable. The first betrothal was arranged when the girl was born with a weak heart. It's a miracle she lived to be seven; her death was expected given how well her family cared for her. The second and third marriages are also unreasonable. What elderly family member doesn't suffer from headaches and fevers? How can that be considered him a jinx to his wives? The fourth wife eloped, and the fifth wife was even set up..."
No matter how you look at it, Kang Shi was the one who got the short end of the stick.
They spread rumors and slandered his reputation.
Gu Chi is a very vengeful person.
"The fifth woman's father and brothers were the real culprits. Didn't their family pay the price? Is Kang Jishou really that kind?"
If this hatred were on my own shoulders, I would have to wipe out the entire enemy family.
Kang Nian said, "Before Ji Shou ran away from home, he found an opportunity to kill the head of the family and his纨绔 (playboy) eldest son."
Killing this father and son wouldn't be too difficult.
The eldest son, a playboy, frequented brothels and taverns. To avoid disrupting his pleasures, he often only brought two or three servants, dismissing his guards. Kang Shi would arrive beforehand to ambush them and strangle them with a rope. The head of the household, on the other hand, was lured out with the help of a friend and then killed. That family had also experienced the chaos of Kang's family years before, but Kang Nian showed no mercy.
Gu Chi sighed, realizing that Kang Shi was still kind.
"Only the father and son were killed?"
Kang Nian said, "Ji Shou doesn't understand the importance of eliminating problems at their root."
It's okay if he doesn't understand; as long as I do, that's fine.
Gu Chi, who heard these words clearly, was speechless.
Well, this seemingly unassuming Kang clan patriarch is quite ruthless. He wouldn't have done something like giving his daughter to Qi Yuanliang if he weren't. He's truly cold-blooded and ruthless. Gu Chi concealed his surprise well: "Then, Brother Bo Sui, what brings you here this time?"
Kang Nian said, "I received a letter from Ji Shou."
He paused, his eyes seeming to mist over.
I couldn't bear to continue.
His presence here was a preparation for the worst, to collect his younger brother's body. In case anything happened to him, he could escort the coffin back so that Kang Shi could return to his roots and rest peacefully beside his father and brothers' graves.
Gu Chi sighed, "Good people are always blessed by heaven."
After saying that, he realized that his words of comfort were somewhat of a hellish joke.
Kang Shi's bad luck was nothing like that of a "lucky person".
Kang Nian's lips twitched twice, and he bowed to take his leave. This time, Gu Chi didn't stop him. Seeing Kang Nian head straight for Kang Shi's tent, Gu Chi also consulted with others about countermeasures. Little did they know, the Kang brothers were arguing again. The commotion was so loud that it startled Qi Miao, who rushed over after hearing the news. Two familiar male voices were arguing fiercely, their words brimming with tension.
Actually, there was no argument at the beginning.
Kang Nian felt sorry for his distraught younger brother.
Kang Shi's letter home was vague, not explaining why he died. When Kang Nian learned the whole story from him, he immediately flew into a rage, grabbing Kang Shi's wrist with such force that he almost crushed the bones: "Kang Jishou, do you have no heart at all?"
Kang Shi winced in pain and frowned: "Brother, what are you saying?"
"If you had any conscience, how could you bear to let Sanlang and I lose another brother? You're not seriously ill, nor have you committed a heinous crime!" Kang Nian's coldness and decisiveness were chilling. He flung Kang Shi's wrist away, his words rapid like a summer downpour, almost inaudible. "You just don't want to live! But you clearly can live! You can go even further!"
Yu Zi's philosophy of the scholar is "to despise purple for the sake of vermilion."
During her final ritual, Yu Zi herself was the passively defensive [Zhu], while Kang Jishou was the [Evil Zi].
Yu Zi is doomed!
The philosophy of scholars during the Kangxi era was: "You will always lose when you gamble."
In his final ritual, Yu Zi is the gambler sitting across from him at the gambling table. Kang Shi is bound to lose and die!
Only one of them can survive.
Not only will they survive, but they will also achieve fulfillment of their scholarly path.
And what was the result?
Kang Jishou actually asked me to come and collect his body!
He had a way out, yet he chose to die!
Kang Shi's eyes widened suddenly, as if he couldn't believe these words would come from his brother's mouth. He didn't even notice that his voice was trembling, filled with disappointment: "This is all my fault for dragging Wei Heng down! If it weren't for me, her completion ceremony wouldn't have turned out like this, and she wouldn't have faced certain death! How could I possibly let her..."
Kang Nian said decisively, "Then let her die!"
Kang Shi's face turned deathly pale, and he gritted his teeth: "Brother!"
Kang Nian avoided Kang Shi's silent questioning gaze, hardening his heart: "Kang Jishou, remember this: you are a member of the Kang family, my brother, a member of the Kang clan! You actually want to give up your life, abandon the Kang family, abandon your own blood relatives... How could you be so heartless? Even if you are wrong, so what? Your life is more important to me than an outsider, far more important! If you really die, how are you going to explain to Father and my second brother how you died?"
Kang Shi said disappointedly, "Brother, you're not that kind of person!"
This is not the kind of person you should be!
Kang Nian said coldly, "You've made a mistake. I've always been like this! The head of the Kang family can't understand your so-called choice based on deep feelings and loyalty. I only know that you don't have to die! I only know 'selflessness'. Doesn't the truth disappoint you?"
Kang Shi's fist clenched and unclenched repeatedly.
"Brother, perhaps letting you come here was a mistake!"
Kang Nian sneered, "Kang Jishou, don't force me to take action! No matter what, what do you care about the lives of others!"
Kang Shi was so angry that he lost his mind.
He was about to say something like, "Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together," when a mocking, aged voice came from outside the tent: "Heh, what a fine saying, 'What do you care about the lives of others!' Indeed, whether the Kang family lives or dies, what does it have to do with us, the Yu family?"
Kang Nian shouted, "Who's outside!"
Kang Shi had already recognized the identity of the voice's owner.
I was immediately overwhelmed with a strong sense of shame and humiliation.
"I am the great-uncle of the 'other person' you speak of!" He lifted the tent curtain with one hand and pushed aside Qi Miao, who was trying to persuade him, with the other, his face covered with frost. Judging from the appearance of the newcomer, he was at most middle-aged, and his appearance was somewhat similar to Yu Zi.
He proactively introduced himself, which shocked Kang Nian.
Kang Shi stepped forward and bowed to the middle-aged scholar.
The other party stepped aside, mocking, "I can't accept it, I can't accept it. I am a lowly official, how could I accept such a grand gesture from you, the Minister of Justice? Your conversation has reminded me. You keep talking about your Kang family, how prosperous your household is. One more death won't hurt you much, so be it. I can't accept that. I have no wife, no children, only my elder brother Weiheng as my only descendant, the only bloodline of the twins. In terms of preciousness, she is far more precious than your fourth brother, Kang Jishou."
If anyone should die, it should be Kang Jishou.
The middle-aged scholar glanced sideways at Kang Nian, and seeing that the other man was dignified, he spat and said, "We can't let the Yu family line die out."
After saying that, he turned to Kang Shi and said, "Anyway, you've already lost most of your life, so what's one more loss during the final ceremony? Hmm?"
No matter what others say about Yu Zi's temperament, no matter how much they say, his Wei Heng is one of the best in the world!
Kang Jishou?
Who does this plague god think he is?
Having said that, the middle-aged scholar turned and left.
As he left, he sneered and left a warning: "I'll lay my words out here. Even if Wei Heng dies and Kang Jishou lives, I have ways to make him suffer a fate worse than death for the rest of his life. If you don't believe me, you brothers can go and ask Chu Wuhui, ask him if my scholarly way is any less than a joke!"
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Qi Miao watched the middle-aged scholar leave.
Once the other person had disappeared from sight, Qi Miao exhaled a breath of stale air.
Suppressing her inner turmoil, she forced herself to step forward and greet the two elders. She addressed Kang Nian as Uncle and Kang Shi as Uncle. Kang Nian was already used to these titles, but the thought of the current situation filled him with indescribable emotions—as Qi Miao's most revered biological father, he had actually been exposed to such a despicable and heartless side. This made Kang Nian's headache even worse.
Kang Shi forced a smile.
"Why is Miao'er here?"
Qi Miao glanced towards the screen.
He stammered, "My nephew has come to see Weiheng."
Kang Nian's body stiffened abruptly. He had no idea that there was a fourth person in the tent, and that he was one of the people involved.
The atmosphere became so tense that it was hard to breathe.
Qi Miao carried the medical kit, bowed slightly, and went to the back.
Kang Shi coughed and sighed, "This matter... Patriarch Kang, please let me decide for myself. I am indeed a member of the Kang family, and I am still unmarried and have never separated from my brother. I cannot make the decision myself. But..."
He said firmly, "I am also a member of the Kangshi clan."
No one can stop me from leaving or staying.
His life should not be controlled or hindered by others.
Kang Nian's face was ashen, and he flicked his sleeve, saying, "Whatever!"
He made no mention of how, upon receiving the letter from home, his mind went completely blank, as if struck by lightning, followed by endless grief and despair. He knew it would be useless to bring it up. The wrong slap of years past, and the wrong words spoken now, had carved an unhealable rift between the brothers: "I've brought your coffin. You can bury me wherever you wish."
He only considered Sanlang as his one younger brother.
Watching Kang Nian's staggering and disheveled figure, Kang Shi felt a mix of emotions, his mind a jumbled mess. From behind the screen came Yu Zi's hoarse voice: "That's just human nature."
We are all flawed ordinary people, why should we use the standards of saints to measure us?
Yu Zi deeply agreed with Kang Nian's words.
"Kang Jishou, were you deliberately saying those things to your brother for me to hear?" Yu Zi's hoarse voice carried a hint of unfriendly laughter, a kind of subtle yet painful hurt, like a fine needle pricking you. "Trying to fool me into being soft-hearted?"
The next moment, Qi Miao behind the screen gasped.
She was both anxious and worried at that moment.
"Fourth Uncle isn't that kind of person..."
Yu Zi replied indifferently, "Oh."
Kang Shi knew that Kang Nian's words had indeed provoked Yu Zi, and it was normal for her to be angry. He didn't have the energy to argue with her. After a while, he left with the words, "Wei Heng, you should get some rest."
Her future will be bright.
Yu Zi said, "Actually, there is another way."
Kang Shi abruptly stopped in his tracks.
Yu Zi sneered, "It's enough if one person is crippled, but that person will definitely not be me. I can't possibly abandon myself for the sake of 'someone else' and give up my ability to continue climbing the ladder..."
"This method is not feasible."
Yu Zi said, "Then there's nothing we can do."
Gu Chi couldn't find a solution among his colleagues and returned empty-handed.
Shen Tang looked at Gu Chi, who had returned, and thought that he had eaten the peaches and was now trying to mooch more from her: "I don't have any more peaches here."
Gu Chi choked for a moment: "I'm not in the mood for peaches right now."
"Tsk, even Tao doesn't like it anymore. Looks like something big has happened. Come on, tell me about it, so I can have a laugh too."
Gu Chi: "..."
He is truly blessed to have such a Lord.
He took several deep breaths before asking the question.
"How does Your Majesty intend to handle the matter concerning Ji Shou and the other two?"
Shen Tang paused in reviewing the memorials.
Gu Chi said in a deep voice, "Losing either of them would be a huge loss. If we can save them, we should try our best to save them both! If that's not possible, we should at least save one of them, otherwise..."
There is no option to save only one.
Shen Tang lowered his head again to review the memorials.
"Does Wangchao know about the 'Prisoner's Dilemma'? You should know. Even clever people can trap themselves in their own schemes. The probability of betrayal is far greater than loyalty, especially when it comes to life and death. As the old saying goes, 'Better to sacrifice a friend than oneself.' Their ritual of achieving perfection is not only a test for each other, but more importantly, a test for themselves. Either they both live, or they both die. Understanding one's own heart and controlling one's own humanity—that's what it means to achieve perfect Dao heart, isn't it? Outsiders can't offer advice, and neither you nor I can help you."
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