Chapter 1375: The Central Branch (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"How could I have been unaware that Wangchao was so loyal to the emperor?"
Rhythmic clapping came from the corner.
Chu Yao seemed to only then realize that his master was present. He turned around in a "panic" manner and bowed deeply to Chen Tang: "Greetings, Master."
Gu Chi only learned of Shen Tang's existence after she spoke.
When he realized that Shen Tang had unusually used the self-reference "I am alone," his face turned pale, and he bowed guiltily, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Shen Tang's voice was stern: "Peace? I cannot find peace."
This was after more than ten years of interaction between ruler and subject. This was the first time Shen Tang had truly lost her temper with Gu Chi; her imposing presence was enough to make one's heart pound. Gu Chi lowered his head even further, offering no explanation, only secretly biting his lip. This silence only fueled Shen Tang's anger.
"Why doesn't Wang Chao continue? You came here early this morning, full of murderous intent, to see off your colleague, and now you want a life for a life?" Shen Tang stepped forward, his heavy aura so oppressive it was hard to breathe. His next question was, "When will you be my master?"
Seeing that Shen Tang's temper had exceeded expectations, Chu Yao had no choice but to step in and smooth things over for his colleague—he had gone to great lengths to resolve this long-standing problem, not to add to the discord between the emperor and his ministers.
Unfortunately, Shen Tang had already anticipated his prediction.
"Without obscurity, I alone inquire about the tide."
Chu Yao: "..."
Now he's become an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.
Gu Chi: "..."
In the case of any other ruler and his ministers, if the superior asked this question, it would absolutely indicate murderous intent. No matter how deep the trust between the ruler and his ministers is, the superior still has a bottom line: his ministers must not threaten his life or encroach on his power.
However, Gu Chi's master is Shen Tang.
A ruler who is so restrained and abstinent that he doesn't seem like a monarch.
Faced with her relentless pressure, Gu Chi could no longer remain silent and softened his voice, saying, "On this trip, Luan Gongyi will learn the truth about Qiu Wenyan's death. Stopping him might allow us to avoid it for a while, but not forever. The enemy will ultimately use this as a breakthrough."
Luan Gongyi is too special in every way.
Regardless of his position in the royal court, his own scholarly principles, or his upright temperament, if asked which of his two lords was stronger, Luan Xin would undoubtedly answer that it was his lord, but that doesn't mean that Qiu Cheng held no place in his heart.
In chaotic times, defeat in battle for warlords does not necessarily mean death.
Wu Xian is still alive and kicking, not only becoming one of only two dukes in Kang State, but also making meritorious contributions in the Southwest War, and his daughter becoming the first duke's heir in Kang State. Is Wu Xian's survival due to some superficial "brotherly affection"?
Qiu Cheng isn't quite at the level of a Duke, nor does he possess Wu Xian's adaptability, but if he lives, he could easily become a wealthy man. Luan Xin only cares about his former master's survival. Will Qiu Cheng settle for mediocrity and live a mundane life, or will he, like Wu Xian, rise through the ranks...?
These have nothing to do with Luan Xin.
Shen Tang deliberately drove Qiu Cheng to his death, thus crossing Luan Xin's bottom line.
Gu Chi said, "If Luan Gongyi had known the truth back then, even if he didn't avenge the former lord, he wouldn't have been loyal to the lord who had killed him, even if he had lived in seclusion in the mountains for the rest of his life. If he knows now, my lord, Gongyi will only have one path: death."
Luan Xin will drive himself to his death.
At best, they would resign from their official posts and live in seclusion, never to be seen again, whether they live or die.
If he could let go of this old story, he wouldn't be Luan Xin.
"Does losing Luan Gongyi or Gu Wangchao make any difference to me?" Shen Tang never expected that one day she would also face the ever-popular melodramatic dilemma in romance novels—her deceased white moonlight had returned in another form.
Hearing Shen Tang claim that he had returned to normal, Chu Yao breathed a sigh of relief—this meant that his lord's anger had rapidly subsided, and reason had regained its advantage: "Things are not that serious yet. The friendship between the lord and his loyal subject over the years is not fake..."
Shen Tang's gaze fell in the direction Luan Xin had left, as if trying to see through the mountains to find a familiar figure. After a long while, she asked, "Are Qiu Wenyan's wives, concubines, and children still alive?"
Gu Chi: "They are all still alive. Gongyi has been taking care of them privately over the years, so their lives are not too bad. Qiu Wenyan's dying wish was for his wife to remarry, but she refused. It wasn't until Qiu Wenyan's children grew up and started their own families that they lived with their eldest son in their ancestral home."
As Qiu Cheng's widow, she could enjoy the political legacy he left behind. His former subordinates wouldn't abandon her, and she had a basic standard of living. If she remarried and encountered any misfortunes, even her late husband's former subordinates like Luan Xin couldn't help her. As for the concubines, apart from those who had borne Qiu Cheng children, the rest were arranged to marry by the First Madam, and they lived a decent life.
It is worth mentioning that after years of practicing Buddhism, this lady has changed her demeanor and become quite compassionate, like a bodhisattva.
For now, things are going alright.
Shen Tang closed his eyes and pondered for a moment before making a decision.
"Send someone to invite her over."
Being passive and negative when faced with problems is not her style.
She had almost forgotten why she was so determined to kill Qiu Wenyan back then. She probably never imagined that Luan Gongyi, whom she had taken from Qiu Cheng, would become an inseparable part of her over the years. If she had known this would happen, she might have let Qiu Cheng live for Gongyi's sake: "The one who tied the knot must untie it."
The best course of action now is to defeat magic with magic.
Gu Chi roughly guessed what his lord wanted to do: "Gongyi didn't have much contact with his late lord's widow. That lady wasn't exactly reasonable in her early years. If she knew the truth about her late husband's death, it would be good enough if she didn't instigate Luan Gongyi. How could she possibly make peace with him?"
Shen Tang said calmly, "Because money makes the world go round. I can afford to pay double the benefits a living Qiu Wenyan could bring her. There's a folk saying, 'Promotion brings wealth, wife dies,' which applies to women as well. Qiu Wenyan has been dead for over ten years and can still bring her an inexhaustible inheritance, so why would she want to mess with me? Even if she turns against me, it won't bring Qiu Wenyan back to life, but if she submits to me, her whole family can rise to prominence!"
That makes sense, but Gu Chi doesn't think it's a good idea.
How can Qiu Wenyan's widow and Qiu Wenyan himself be considered equal? Unless Qiu Wenyan himself told Luan Xin that he was willing to accept defeat and that his life or death was no one else's fault, Gu Chi couldn't understand how Luan Xin, with his straightforward temperament, could let himself off the hook.
This is a dead end!
Gu Chi, somewhat resigned, thought: [Instead of trying these methods, I might as well find a truly skilled charlatan to perform a spirit summoning. If that fails, I can pretend to be Qiu Wenyan and maybe fool Luan Gongyi… Unfortunately, Qi Yuanliang's disguise skills won't fool Luan Gongyi… Who should I ask to pretend to be a spirit?]
Just as he was lost in thought, his hand felt lighter.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a bright white light. Belatedly, he realized it was his lord who had drawn his sword. The lord twisted his wrist, feigning suicide. Terrified, Gu Chi's legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to his knees. His heart almost stopped. He cried out hoarsely, "My lord—"
Two flowers bloom, each representing a different branch.
Qiu Cheng's widow's original surname was Miao.
Yes, she is from the same lineage as Miao Ne and Miao Shu.
For well-known reasons, the Miao family was wiped out by Shen Tang, leaving only an orphan and a widow to survive. Her husband, Qiu Cheng, was also defeated by Shen Tang, leaving her with no one to rely on. This is one of the main reasons why she refused to remarry, because she had no way out for herself!
With Qiu Cheng's children under his protection, they can live a worry-free life.
In the first two years after Qiu Cheng's death, she spent her days in tears. But time is a strange thing; even a stable life can gradually erode her memories. As time went by, even the most intense emotions faded, and her focus gradually shifted to other things. Her children grew up and started their own families, while she was still in her prime, a woman in her forties with a appearance comparable to someone in their early thirties.
Appearance, family background, social status!
Any two of them could easily attract men, but she had all three! Whether born to her or other women, they all remembered her years of devotion and would frequently send handsome entertainers to her home to amuse her, which she greatly appreciated. In recent years, with increasingly open-minded attitudes, this still had some impact. To avoid gossip from her daughter-in-law and neighbors, she voluntarily moved to another courtyard. The young couple would visit her during holidays. With the distance between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, there were no generational conflicts, her daughter-in-law was content and filial, and she felt at ease.
They've even started to thaw the ice with the first wife's family.
When Qiu Cheng was alive, the eldest and second wives were irreconcilable enemies.
Time has passed, and now she can chat with her sister-in-law about everyday things.
"Mother, a distinguished guest has arrived at our mansion."
"Distinguished guest?"
She thought he was Qiu Cheng's former subordinate.
It's interesting, really. Qiu Cheng's personality isn't exactly amiable; he's obsessed with saving face and suffers for it, and deep down he's hypocritical. Yet, the people he recruits are all loyal, righteous, and principled—even Miao Shu back then had backbone. So many years have passed, and even though Qiu Cheng saved their lives, and the debt of gratitude should have been fully repaid, his former subordinates still come to visit, worried that the late emperor's widow and children aren't doing well. Some of these former subordinates are still active in the court, while others have settled down, content to live as wealthy men.
The person who came was not a familiar face to her.
There was an inexplicable familiarity about her eyes and brows. She asked the maid to pour tea for the other person and said with a kind smile, "I did not know that a distinguished guest was coming. I am sorry for not welcoming you properly. Please forgive me if I have been negligent."
The young man waved his hand: "Madam, there's no need for that."
He did not introduce himself, so Miao could not guess his identity. She could only take the initiative to probe: "Forgive me for being old and having a less and less useful memory. I can't quite remember your name, but you look familiar... I wonder what your relationship is with my late husband?"
The young man replied, "I do not know you."
Madam Miao was stunned: "Then what is this distinguished guest...?"
She secretly gave her eldest son a meaningful look.
The eldest son wasn't quite sure either, because the man had been brought over by his uncle and aunt, and they hadn't explicitly stated his identity, only saying that the young man was a distinguished guest. Fortunately, the young man didn't try to hide anything: "My name is Ji Moqiu. In my childhood, I was raised by the Qiu family."
Perhaps his former name can still be found in the Qiu family genealogy.
Miao understood then.
Oh, so you're an old acquaintance of the Qiu family. Since you're related to the Qiu family, why are you contacting me? The Qiu family has long been the head of the main branch of the family; she has no say in their affairs. Seeing her confusion, Ji Moqiu said gently, "I've come to see Madam today."
"Looking for me?"
Ji Moqiu said, "Yes, please do me a favor, Madam."
Having lived a life of luxury for many years, Miao only had some patience for Qiu Cheng's former subordinates and a few people from the eldest son's family. As a woman confined to her home, she relied on the favor left by her late husband to get by. What help could she possibly give him?
She frankly stated, "I'm afraid I'm willing but unable to do so."
Despite being humiliated by Madam Miao, Ji Moqiu was not angry. Instead, she asked a question that sent shivers down the spines of Madam Miao and her son: "Is it true that even if the old lady is willing, she is powerless to help your son, who is in charge of his title?"
The mother and son exchanged a quick glance.
Title of nobility?
Miao suppressed her wildly beating heart and quickly calmed down.
He shouted sternly, "Stop talking nonsense!"
While titles of nobility are not uncommon in other countries, they are extremely rare, but in Kangguo, they are extremely rare.
If her husband had been more capable and lived longer, perhaps he could have secured a position as heir apparent for his son, just like the Duke of Lu. But unfortunately, Qiu Cheng died too young. Apart from his former subordinates who still looked after her and her son, the royal court made no move, at most providing convenience for Qiu Cheng's descendants to attend school and receive education, and that was it.
He's no match for Wu Xian or Gu Ren.
Ji Moqiu smiled but remained silent, quietly observing her reaction.
After a long silence, Miao forcibly ignored the hints in her son's crazed eyes and calmly asked, "May I ask what the surname of our honored guest's host family is?"
"The master's surname is Shen."
This surname made Miao's heart skip a beat.
The only person with the surname Shen who would dare to promise a title was the one residing in the Fengluo Palace. She couldn't say she hated Shen Tang; she did in earlier years, but she was mostly afraid, terrified that Shen Tang would settle scores with her. After enjoying a decade of wealth and honor under his rule, her hatred and fear gradually mingled and brewed into other, more complex emotions—a love-hate relationship indeed.
Having suffered alongside Qiu Cheng in her early years, she knew all too well what the norm was like in chaotic times: "To say something the envoy may not like to hear, one doesn't come to the temple without a reason. Why would Lord Shen suddenly think of my family?"
It wasn't meant to be sarcastic or mean; it was just pure curiosity.
It couldn't be that the old subordinates, having rendered meritorious service, wanted to request titles for the former lord's children, could it?
If that's the case, her son can start calling the other party "Dad," since even if a father has a title, it might not be passed down to his son.
"As I just said, I need your help, Madam."
"I would like to hear the details."
Before he could finish speaking, Qiu Cheng's eldest son was sent away.
After a frank and open discussion, Ms. Miao fell silent.
Her emotions didn't fluctuate much.
Luan Xinhui is torn between the idea that "the late emperor committed suicide voluntarily" and that "the late emperor was lured into suicide." He has no regrets about the former, but he is deeply troubled by the latter. He clearly distinguishes between gratitude and resentment, but from Miao's perspective, Shen Youli is her husband's killer. Telling her now that her husband was indeed lured into suicide at Shen Tang's behest is of no use to her; she has held this belief for over ten years.
The reason for Miao's silence was that, in a sense, this title was indeed fought for by her late husband's former subordinates, and it would be unreasonable for her son not to pay respects to his adoptive father. While she was tempted, she was still self-aware; Qiu Cheng, when he was alive, had said that Luan Gongyi was straightforward and stubborn, and could drive himself to his death by getting stuck on trivial matters.
He remembered Qiu Cheng's kindness and Shen Tang's affection.
If you can't hurt anyone, then you can only drive yourself to your death.
She confessed, "My words don't carry that much weight."
The young man took out a long wooden box from his sleeve, opened it to reveal what lay quietly inside: "With this, you can persuade me with reason and emotion, and I am sure to succeed! I urge you, Madam, to give it your best!"
"This is?"
“My Lord’s.”
(*▼(-_-)
As long as the senior officials don't fight amongst themselves, this situation is still quite stable (pointing fingers at the group of brutes from the Wu Kingdom).
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