Chapter 1385: Are You Right? (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"How did justice come about?"
As Shen Tang spoke, she put down her pen and gestured to the shadows, signaling the guards to withdraw; they were not needed here. Luan Xin had entered the palace today with an aggressive demeanor, naturally arousing the guards' suspicion. If he dared to do anything out of line now, the guards would immediately capture him, or even kill him on the spot.
No dynasty or era would allow its subjects to forcibly enter the palace gates!
Luan Xin was in turmoil, yet still retained a sliver of reason.
Their footsteps were almost nailed to the ground outside the palace gate.
At this moment, his soul seemed to drift out of his body uncontrollably, watching from an outsider's perspective as his lord walked lightly towards him. The other's voice was indistinguishable from reality, sometimes near, sometimes far.
Until a steady, strong hand gripped my wrist.
Instantly, the sweltering air forced its way into his lungs through his mouth and nose, making his chest feel so hot and torn that it felt like it was about to explode. The illusion that his legs were weak and he was standing on clouds vanished. His feet felt the solid ground again, and he was pulled into the hall.
"You must be exhausted from this journey. Even if you have something of great importance to do, you should get a good night's rest and recharge your energy." Shen Tang had pulled on Chen Zi's wrist many times before, and this time she could clearly feel through the fabric of his sleeve that his wrist was quite thin. "You've lost a lot of weight."
Luan Xin tried his best to get his sluggish brain working again.
"Is this the Lord's?"
He held up the lock of black hair to his master, who was trying to change the subject, his dark eyes fixed on her, waiting for an answer.
Inside the hall, candlelight flickered, and shadowy figures appeared on the ground, sometimes close, sometimes distant.
If it were a casual remark, Shen Tang would most likely reply with "Yeah, your hair looks great, right?" But saying that now, given Luan Xin's current mental state, would probably cause him to have a mental breakdown: "Yes."
Luan Xin's knuckles were taut as he gripped the black hair tightly, seemingly using immense willpower to suppress his emotions. He then asked a question he had been avoiding: "Was Wenyan Gong's death also at the Lord's behest? Or was it just Gu Wangchao instigating it?"
Shen Tang felt cold sweat seeping from her palms.
My heart rate quickened, and blood rushed to my brain: "Yes."
Before truly facing the problem, Shen Tang was still full of confidence. She was confident that she could handle the Miao mother and son, but she had no idea whether the Miao mother and son could persuade Luan Xin, or whether the black hair from this self-inflicted injury would soften Luan Xin's heart.
"For the sake of avenging Gongxi? To make an example of someone?"
She was surprised that Luan Xin knew so much: "Yes."
Being passive is not her style; taking the initiative is her comfort zone. However, some of her words sounded harsh: "It's not just these things. Even granting a title to Qiu Wenyan's eldest son was intentional. The Miao mother and son couldn't resist such temptation; they would have agreed on their own. Seeing the duck that was almost in their mouth fly away, they would be more anxious than I am, and then beg you to let it go. As Qiu Wenyan's widow and eldest son, they don't hold it against me, so what can I hold against?"
Yes, the aggrieved mother and son no longer mention Qiu Cheng.
One day, when the mother and son move into the Duke's mansion, they might wake up in the middle of the night and be glad they made a wise decision. As for how Qiu Cheng died, no one cared except Luan Xin, including Qiu Cheng's other former subordinates. The only one who still held a grudge about it was Luan Xin.
Luan Xin's expression was restrained, but his emotions were unreadable.
"If I were to resign and resign my post, would Your Majesty honor your promise?"
"What are you going to deliver? The title of Duke to Qiu Wenyan's son?" Shen Tang gradually found her rhythm. Even though her heart was racing, her face showed only a rational calm that was hurtful. "What virtue or ability does Qiu Cheng have? What virtue or ability does his son have? Why do they have the honor of being a Duke? I have no idea why. This title exists because of you. Without you, it would not exist."
There was no explicit decree, so they could renege at any time.
If it weren't for Luan Xin, who would have granted titles to Qiu Cheng's descendants?
To put it bluntly, Qiu Cheng was just a warlord who controlled a small region back then. If Shen Tang wanted to give consolation prizes to the defeated, there were plenty of rulers ahead of him. Was she going to award one to each of them? This wasn't some kindergarten reward! The titles bestowed had to be matched with corresponding material conditions. Even if she was stingy and only granted a few hundred households of fiefdom, it was still money.
Without Luan Xin, there would naturally be no Duke title.
To put it bluntly, this Duke of the County is Luan Xin.
Normally, when a ruler shows goodwill to his subjects, he would offer them promotions, titles, money, and power. If this worked for Luan Xin, she would certainly be willing to do it, granting him the title of Founding Duke in one fell swoop! The problem is, his temperament would prevent him from accepting it! If he did, he wouldn't be Luan Gongyi.
Shen Tang was forcing the other party to accept this favor.
Luan Gongyi refused to accept it, right?
It's alright, then let the Miao mother and son go and collect it.
Can Luan Xin really stand his ground and force the widow of the late emperor to spit out the duck he had already eaten? Or can he just stand by and watch the orphan and widow left behind by the late emperor be bullied? As soon as Luan Gongyi leaves, there will be plenty of people causing trouble for this mother and son who have lost their umbrella!
We have to accept this duke, whether we like it or not!
This kindness is something I have to accept, whether I like it or not!
Shen Tang was furious, hating Luan Xin for being so stubborn. Unconsciously, her tone carried a hint of grievance as she questioned Luan Xin: "I know Qiu Wenyan saved your life, he's your white moonlight, I understand! You're willing to do anything for him, even risk your life. Haven't I been wholeheartedly devoted to you all these years? If you have a headache or fever, I wish I could personally bring the imperial physician to your residence, and if one doctor can't cure you, I'll bring several more. In the past, when your leg wasn't fully healed, it would hurt on rainy days, and I wished I could suffer in your place."
“I know you dislike Wangchao, but I have never shown favoritism towards him.”
Even though Gu Chi was competitive and a master of manipulative tactics, Shen Tang never showed favoritism between the two. Doesn't that prove her sincerity? Although her heart was divided into many parts, every single one was genuine. Qiu Wenyan was selling counterfeit goods!
"...Those scholars outside say I'm mean and ungrateful, that I mistreat the elders, that I haven't been willing to bestow titles upon them even after so many years since the founding of the nation. Justice, is it because I'm unwilling?" It's simply because I'm too poor to give them titles, and I can't bear to wrong my own people. How can bestowing titles in the early years compare to the crazy bestowals after unifying the country? There are some things Shen Tang really has to say, "To win you back, I can hold my nose and give titles to people I don't like, and cut off my head to send to Qiu Wenyan's grave to admit defeat! That lecherous old rookie is not only incompetent but also loves to play around, and has a fragile heart! When has he ever won against me? He lost his life to me! Now he's lying on the ground, and I'm going to run to him and admit defeat."
Because of the influence of Zixu, she has become very particular about her hair in recent years.
Using hair as a substitute for head gives hair a heavier meaning.
If this matter were to spread, it would shock countless people. Those with ulterior motives could use it as leverage to attack Shen Tang. If, unfortunately, it were to be passed down to future generations, they would also point fingers and gossip. But she didn't care about any of that; she only cared about the people in the present.
"Did I lose to him?"
Shen Tang grew angrier as she spoke, wishing she could dig up the person and whip their corpse.
He blurted out, "I lost to you!"
Despite all her hard work, Luan Gongyi still wanted to resign and sever ties with her, hoping to forget her altogether.
This is absolutely outrageous!
This is outrageous!
Shen Tang was so angry that she wanted to learn how to use a domineering and forceful plot device.
"Luan Gongyi, I'm asking you this one last time! If you still don't change your mind, I can let you go!" A hurricane raged in her mind, but Shen Tang couldn't bring herself to break his legs and lock him up. Shen Tang gripped his wrist, her eyes red-rimmed. "Can this matter—be resolved? Or is it that our years of loyalty and companionship as ruler and subject are ultimately no match for Qiu Wenyan?"
Shen Tang almost cornered Luan Xin against the wall.
Luan Xin didn't answer. He simply lowered his eyes slightly, letting his thick, long eyelashes cast two shadows. He just quietly looked at Shen Tang, his dark eyes revealing neither joy nor sorrow. Shen Tang stared at him for a long time, then his gaze fell on the redness and swelling on Luan Xin's wrist. He felt a wave of frustration and loosened his grip on Luan Xin's wrist: "Fine! Good!"
Shen Tang's lips moved slightly.
I still can't force myself to say that I allow him to leave.
He said in an evasive manner, "I am tired, Minister Luan, please feel free to do as you please."
The worst outcome would be receiving Luan Xin's official seal the next day.
On the central continent, even with an optimistic outlook, the war will last for three to five years. Being busy will keep her from thinking about other things. Perhaps one day when she finally has some free time and pays off the debt Xun Zhen owes—a debt longer than her own life—she won't even remember what Luan Xin looks like or sounds like. At that point, maybe she can just laugh it off.
Luan Xin blinked and grabbed Shen Tang's sleeve.
There was only enough time to grasp a little bit.
But even that little bit of force made Shen Tang stop in her tracks.
The two stared at each other for a long while.
Inside the hall, the candles burned quietly. Outside, the guards sensed an eerie atmosphere of impending storm. They craned their necks, scratching their heads in frustration. Their lord could take on all of them by himself, which meant they had never really been put to use since the beginning. But protecting their lord was their duty, and they dared not leave their posts.
What are you all looking at?
Gu Chi, who was on duty today, suddenly appeared.
The guards turned their heads and saw a face more sinister and resentful than a vengeful ghost. Their survival instincts made them dare not look up for long, and they obediently lowered their heads: "Our lord ordered us to wait outside."
Speaking of which, what is Gu Yatai doing here?
The place where civil officials take turns discussing state affairs is separated from here by a long alley.
Gu Chi didn't miss the questioning looks in their eyes, and said resentfully, "Deep alleys, filled with sorrow and grief, what do you know?"
Several guards: "..."
They really don't understand this.
Does the relationship between a ruler and his subjects need to be so entangled?
Luan Xin also had this question: had he become too arrogant because of the emperor's favor? Then he thought again, only Gu Wangchao had ever become arrogant and lost his sense of propriety; he was different from him. The emperor's innermost thoughts filled him with shock, fear, and dread; he doubted his own ears.
but--
“I have no such intention.” He was anxious, but his reaction told him not to rush. In his haste, even his tongue and teeth began to chatter. “I have never compared the Lord to Wenyan Gong, nor have I felt that the Lord is inferior in any way. What I want to say is—the Lord’s act of cutting his hair in place of his head is truly reckless and rash! The Lord is a ruler, how can he easily entrust his head to someone else? Once the outside court finds out, public opinion will boil over, not only damaging your lifelong reputation, but also making the world look down on you, thinking that I am a source of trouble. Today I can bewitch the Lord to cut his hair, can I also bewitch the Lord to disregard the country and the state in the future?”
Luan Xin had just suspected that he had been diagnosed with being a demon concubine.
Even those wicked concubines in history who brought ruin to the country couldn't make their rulers cut their hair! At most, it was the rulers who used the excuse of favoring these concubines to satisfy their desires to "build the Imperial Palace, decorate the Jade Terrace, construct the Jade Chamber, and erect the Jade Gate." If things went too far, they would simply shift the blame onto others.
Shen Tang: "Huh?"
"Our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents, and we dare not damage them. As the ruler, you should set an example for the world and cherish your own body even more, and not harm yourself because of others." Luan Xin earnestly advised Shen Tang, almost telling her in plain language that there are many ways to resolve conflicts, and that it is common for rulers and subjects to have disagreements. He could apologize and offer a way out, but there was no need to hurt himself. What should he do?
The Miao mother and son's use of moral blackmail is indeed impressive.
But what truly bound him was always the Lord.
"...Hair, no matter how important, is just a bunch of hair. How can it compare to justice? Hair can grow back after it's cut, but if justice really leaves me one day, where will I find you?"
Compared to justice, hair is indeed unimportant.
Luan Xin's expression was conflicted, but unlike his previous confusion, he was no longer lost—he had failed Wenyan Gong, and he couldn't let his lord down again. If Wenyan Gong truly did frequently appear in his dreams to urge his eldest son on, perhaps he should have his adopted son inquire about Wenyan Gong's thoughts on this. The dead are gone, but the living must continue to live. If Wenyan Gong blames him in the afterlife, let him atone for his sins personally after his death.
"Believe, I won't go anywhere."
Perhaps one day he will resign from his post, but he assures that it will not be because he has become disloyal to his lord, nor for any other reason, but simply because he should retire after achieving his goals! Luan Xin is a scholar with keen insight into people's hearts. He understands better than anyone else what kind of terrifying monsters will be spawned by holding power for a long time.
Even if someone has made tremendous contributions, they should step down when the time is right and let the world go to more energetic and hopeful young people.
Those who cling to power, preferring to rot in their high positions...
Luan Xin hopes it won't be any of them.
Shen Tang repeatedly asked him for confirmation: "Really?"
Luan Xin said gently, "It's true."
Shen Tang's smile became harder to suppress than an AK.
“However, I have a favor to ask.” Luan Xin changed the subject, and Shen Tang immediately tensed up. He said earnestly and solemnly, “I owe Wenyan Gong a life, and I cannot fail to repay such a great kindness. Since the Emperor says that this title of Duke exists because of me, then the Emperor shall consider that I have already been granted the title. In the future, there will be no need to grant titles to other officials. This will put people’s minds at ease and avoid any trouble.”
"How can this be? Justice deserves better."
"How can a ruler be unclear about rewards and punishments?"
Luan Xin has already been rewarded, so why should he be rewarded again?
Luan Xin said earnestly and persistently, "External possessions are like fleeting clouds, scattered by the wind. A lifetime of striving and scheming will only lead to nothing. To gain the trust and reliance of the lord is something I would not trade even for a marquisate. It is enough to have the lord's favor."
Nothing is more important than this genuine affection.
"Wouldn't that be unfair to your children?"
Who could bear it when their father's title fell into the hands of someone else?
Luan Xin, however, had no such concerns and said casually, "Your subject will carefully teach them how to report to the sovereign, bring peace to the people, conduct themselves properly, and be selfless and devoted to public service. Isn't this a priceless treasure?"
For a virtuous person, cultivating their mind is more important than cultivating external things.
乛乛
Tomorrow, Big Eyes should release a new keyboard giveaway link; you can try it out when you have time.
P.S.: When an old friend teased me about my inability to write romance scenes, I immediately retorted, slapping the comment in their face. My friend said, "So you're good at writing harem stories, you were born in the wrong era. When it was allowed, you were obsessed with pure love. Now that it's not allowed, you've started to let yourself go."
Clear Broth Master, the mushrooms are innocent!
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