Chapter 1384: This is utterly a reversal of the Heavenly Order! [Seeking monthly votes]
"Your Majesty is too kind. Not to mention that this is simply my duty and I dare not take credit for it, moreover, I am not the only one who has contributed over the years, how can I claim all the credit?" He applied force with his hand, but to his surprise, the young man's knees seemed to be rooted to the spot and did not budge.
What troubled him most was that Miao also wanted to kneel down.
The reaction speed was forced to be maximized, which forcefully stopped the Miao family.
Startled, Luan Xin's voice rose involuntarily, losing its previous gentleness: "Is Your Majesty trying to shorten my lifespan?"
Luan Xin's first thought was that the Miao family was in deep trouble, trouble that could wipe them out, which was why they had no choice but to seek his help. He couldn't think of any other reason. This former mistress was arrogant and self-important, strictly adhering to the hierarchy, and treated Qiu Cheng's subordinates with a distant attitude, her every word and action carrying a condescending air. Even with Qiu Cheng's trusted confidants, she only gave them a slightly friendly look, fundamentally regarding her husband's officials as mere retainers.
Luan Xin has no conflict with her and doesn't want to have any contact with her.
With Miao Shu caught in the middle, the relationship between the two became even more complicated.
Would someone like that kneel down to you more than ten years later?
Luan Xin simply laid it all out, softening his voice: "If Your Majesty has any difficulties, please speak of them. Why be so modest?"
Miao grabbed Luan Xin's wrist and, following his strength, rose halfway up, tears streaming down her face: "Luan Jun, you don't know, last year on the anniversary of my late husband's death, my son suddenly developed a high fever and had convulsions, almost not making it. We tried everything, prayed to gods and Buddhas, and he barely escaped death, only to find out that Wenyan had appeared in his dream and frightened him to the point of losing his soul..."
"Nonsense, there are no gods or ghosts in the world."
It's clear that someone is deliberately trying to harm Xiao Lang!
Miao gave him no time to further search for enemies in the void: "...I am a woman, and my life depends on my son. How can I not feel heartbroken that Wenyan treats my son so harshly? His abilities are mediocre and inferior to those of the eldest son, so how can we blame him?"
The young man also cried, feeling wronged, "It is my fault for being unfilial."
Luan Xin was momentarily speechless, puzzled by the mother and son: "What do you mean?"
"On the anniversary of his death, Qiu Wenyan returned to enjoy the sacrificial offerings and learned that the family was relying on others for support. He also learned that the eldest son's prestige in the county was growing daily, while the second son's fortunes were declining... He was furious. In his lifetime, he was competitive and his talent and ability far surpassed those of the eldest son and his uncle, yet his son was so worthless. So he appeared in my dream and scolded my son for being unambitious and incompetent... He always wanted to be the best and always compared himself to the eldest son and grandson of the eldest son. My son's temperament was, to put it nicely, gentle and modest, but to put it bluntly, dull and stupid..." Miao's tears fell like pearls from a broken string.
Luan Xin: "..."
If ghosts truly exist, this is exactly the kind of thing Qiu Wenyan would do. He's always trying to outdo the eldest son's family, and he only feels satisfied when he wins. If he ever loses, he'll be so anxious he won't be able to sleep all night. However, Luan Xin doesn't believe in ghosts and spirits, and suspects that Miao Shi is using them as a pretext to try and advance her son's career. Luan Xin neither refuses nor immediately agrees.
As the Minister of Personnel, it would be easy for me to promote a minor official in a not-so-wealthy county, but once I set this precedent, it could easily lead to trouble. In any case, I must first have the ability.
Instead of promoting him directly, it's better to keep him close by and train him first.
Just as he was about to reveal his plans, Madam Miao sobbed aggrievedly, "...That damned Qiu Wenyan, he's not even as good as others, how dare he ask my son to be made a marquis and a prime minister?"
Luan Xin froze.
Granting titles and appointments to high-ranking officials is indeed too harsh and demanding.
Madam Miao bit her lower lip and said timidly, "...Since then, my son's health has been fluctuating. A month ago, he suddenly appeared in my dream again, saying that there was a great opportunity, and if we seized it, our descendants would have no worries about prosperity in the future. Two days later, the opportunity really came to our door."
Alarm bells rang in Luan Xin's mind.
This is the likely reason why the Miao mother and son came to ask for help.
Could they be spies planted by the enemy to instigate a rebellion? Are they deliberately using benefits as bait to try and manipulate the Miao mother and son, hoping to implicate Luan Xin as well? Countless conspiracy theories flashed through Luan Xin's mind.
Just as I was thinking this, my wrist suddenly felt heavy.
He was completely bewildered when Miao pretended to kneel down again.
What are you doing?!
“For my son’s life, I had no choice but to resort to such despicable means.”
"Since Your Majesty is willing to tell me, there is still room for maneuver!" If both sides join forces to eliminate the traitor, they can safeguard both the interests of Kang State and the safety of the mother and child. Persuading him to betray his lord is a worst-case scenario; he couldn't protect them anyway!
Miao shook her head, crying, and glistening tears flew everywhere.
She cried and looked embarrassed, saying, "I forced you to do this, and I was shameless. But please, Mr. Luan, have pity on my son who lost his father at a young age and has to support the family's decline. Please don't be angry with him. It was all my own doing."
Luan Xin's intuition told him that this matter was really big.
The severity escalated from wiping out the entire family and confiscating their property to exterminating three generations of their clan.
"Your Majesty, please do not panic. Explain in detail first."
Miao's tears were about to fall during a break in the middle of the night: "But if we do this, won't we ruin Luan Jun's future?"
"It doesn't matter; fame and fortune are just external things."
If he had initially harbored some wishful thinking, the arrival of the Miao mother and son made him feel that fate had intervened, and all the bad things had come together to force him to face a difficult choice.
He really can't keep deceiving himself.
Miao's brows relaxed a little, and she pulled her son over.
The young man, who was kneeling on the ground, immediately understood and crawled forward two steps, kowtowing twice with a thud. Luan Xin was in a state of confusion and didn't have the strength to stop him at the moment. Then he heard the young man shout in a clear and loud voice, "Godfather above, please accept your son's bow!"
Luan Xin felt only bitterness.
"Why must you do this, young man?"
The young man whispered, "I feel guilty."
Luan Xin helplessly stroked his hair ornament.
Feeling guilty, why drag him down with you?
This is the epitome of repaying kindness with enmity.
Oh well, never mind.
My relationship with my lord is also coming to an end. I have already let one person down, and I must not allow the late lord's bloodline to die out. No matter how big the matter is, if I can atone for my sins and eliminate the crisis, I will risk my life to protect Qiu Cheng's last bloodline and prevent him from dying out.
"Remember to turn over a new leaf in the future. This world is full of dangers, and the evil in people's hearts is a thousand times worse than that of demons and monsters. In fact, living peacefully is a blessing, better than wandering and being left with nothing but bones." Luan Xin gave these instructions and prepared to get up to meet the emperor.
Since this is a catastrophic disaster, it is better to act sooner rather than later.
The young man stammered, "Godfather isn't angry anymore?"
"What's the point of getting angry now that things have come to this?"
“I misunderstood you in the past. When Wenyan was alive, he said you were indifferent to fame and fortune, but I didn’t believe it… If I had known this day would come…” Miao’s tears rolled down again. She gave her son a wink, and he immediately understood and kowtowed twice. She took the opportunity to say, “Now that my son has become a duke, he will surely be filial to Luan Junru as his own father in the future.”
Luan Xin looked at her but didn't have the strength to speak.
With such shallow eyelids, how could a mere duke make a mother and son do something foolish?
There are countless spies among the people of Kangguo who are aware of the emperor's intentions. Even if this matter doesn't reach them directly, it will eventually come to light.
He angrily exclaimed, "Foolish!"
Instead of taking remedial measures, they're still indulging in pipe dreams?
Miao was weak and pitiful: "...I am just a woman, I don't know about the affairs of the court, but I do know the advantages and disadvantages. Wenyan has been dead for many years, and Lord Shen has already been very magnanimous to accept our family. The sudden imperial decree to bestow grace must have a deeper meaning. Accepting the grace will put Lord Luan in a difficult position, but...my son's life is also important, and it concerns the glory of our family, so I can only shamelessly accept this imperial grace."
She wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.
"The orphan and widow are destitute and desperately need it. Although Lord Luan takes care of them often, there are always times when he can't be there... If they had a title to rely on, outsiders wouldn't dare to look down on them so easily..."
Luan Xin's mind went completely blank.
What Miao said was completely different from what he thought.
"What divine grace?"
Isn't this a terrible disaster?
"Not long ago, the royal court wanted to bestow upon my son the title of Duke."
"Not long ago?"
He closed his eyes and realized what was happening.
The Emperor's sudden bestowal of the title upon Qiu Cheng's eldest son suggests he may know something.
Luan Xin's face darkened: "Do you know why you were granted this title?"
Madam Miao said, "Of course I had some guesses. This title of Duke couldn't possibly be given because of Wenyan. After thinking it over, it can only be that of Lord Luan. Moreover—it should rightfully be Lord Luan's title. Logically and morally, my son and I shouldn't accept it..."
Luan Xin interrupted her.
"Does the queen know the truth about Wen Yangong's death?"
"He committed suicide."
"He was lured into committing suicide!" Luan Xin's expression was serious and solemn. "So, Your Majesty also intends to act as this persuader?"
Madam Miao hadn't expected him to be so perceptive, but fortunately she was mentally prepared. She changed her previous image of a weak and pitiful widow, stood up and looked directly at Luan Xin: "I already knew about this, but so what? If Qiu Wenyan knew in the afterlife, he would only clap his hands in delight and say, 'Even after many years of death, he can still outdo the eldest son's family, how satisfying!' It's just a matter of killing her husband and father!"
One sentence almost made Luan Xin choke and fall backward.
"A mere feud for killing her husband and father?"
"Isn't it true? If it wasn't Shen Youli, it would have been someone else! Perhaps it was Wu Zhaode, or perhaps someone whose name you've never heard of! You men all say that the victor is king, the loser is villain, and that it's all about accepting the consequences of your bet. It's considered honorable to die rather than surrender, and to die for your country. But has Lord Luan ever thought about what would happen to the women, children, and infants? Which ruler would eliminate his enemies without killing their offspring? If his wives and concubines were given to meritorious officials as concubines, that would be considered a good end. But what if they were thrown down to be enjoyed by the soldiers? Haven't you seen it? Or did Qiu Wenyan never do it? When you win, you say you accept the consequences of your bet, but when you lose, why don't you say you accept the consequences of your bet?"
Xiao Lang was no less shocked than Luan Xin.
No one told him that there was also a blood feud between them, involving the murder of his father.
Luan Xin said, "The Queen Mother harbors resentment towards Wenyan Gong..."
Madam Miao gritted her teeth: "It's more than just resentment! Even in death, he can still bring honor to my son. In the afterlife, he'll have to smile for me, even if he doesn't want to! We're husband and wife, how could I not want to share life and death with him? Did he ever give me a chance back then? All he ever cared about was winning against the first wife, winning against the first wife. When did he ever think of me, or the children he abandoned? He was so ambitious and competitive his whole life. I suffered half my life with him, enduring his heartlessness and ingratitude. He was the one who selfishly betrayed me first. He's the one who owes me!"
Luan Xin: "..."
I have a strange feeling; she really is a woman surnamed Miao.
"Guess how my son's high fever was brought under control last year?"
Luan Xin asked, "Did you invite a renowned doctor?"
Miao sneered, "I'll go smash his memorial tablet."
The febrile seizures and smashing the memorial tablet are true, but she put two unrelated things together.
Madam Miao softened her tone at the right moment: "I know you have been loyal and devoted to Wenyan, and it is difficult for you to accept these things, but please do not stop me! This title of Duke concerns my son, the wealth and honor of my descendants, something Wenyan has strived for his entire life but could not give to him. Call me greedy if you will, but this is only a mother's selfish desire. Therefore, I can only apologize to you for this matter..."
Luan Xin turned his gaze to the young man: "What did you say, young man?"
Was it his father, or his title?
Xiao Lang swallowed hard, avoiding Luan Xin's sharp gaze.
Standing protectively in front of her son, before Luan Xin and his companion could react, Miao drew the sword from his waist and declared with an air of utter defiance, "Ask him, it's no use! Luan Gongyi, if you want to seek justice for your former master today and ruin my son's plans, the moment you step out, my son and I will commit suicide right here! In any case, I sold my husband for personal gain, and he sold his father for personal gain. If this gets out, my son and I will have no face left!"
If Luan Xin and Shen Tang break up, they'll lose everything. It was alright before when there was no hope, but now that there is, they have to watch their prize slip away. Who could bear that?
Luan Xin's mind was in complete chaos.
"I--"
Miao held the sword horizontally in front of her neck with her other hand.
Xiao Lang gritted his teeth: "Godfather!"
Luan Xin never imagined things would turn out this way.
The mother and son, who were suffering the most, threatened suicide, which is utterly outrageous.
Luan Xin: "...Are you really doing this voluntarily?"
"Could it be that someone personally instructed me? I'd like to, but unfortunately my husband is useless and hasn't earned this honor for me."
Luan Xin: "..."
Judging from this situation, he had no choice but to believe it.
Seeing that his father had no intention of backing down, the young man hardened his heart and considered threatening suicide as well. However, his mother had taken the sword from his waist, and he couldn't take his adoptive father's sword either. He could only stretch his neck forward and share a sword with his mother: "Adoptive father, please agree. You see, this matter is really unseemly, and it's not good for the three of us to be in this stalemate. If you can't get over it, and Father comes to you in your dreams cursing you again, I'll ask him what he thinks about this matter. Then you can consider other options, okay?"
It was like three vendors haggling over a price for a pig for the New Year.
My deceased father, Qiu Cheng, was a pig that was weighed and sold by weight.
Luan Xin was practically forced into this role.
"...I should be."
If we don't respond, someone could really die.
"There's one more thing—"
Seeing that the plan had succeeded, Miao took out the item from her sleeve.
It was a tuft of jet-black, glossy hair.
"Whose hair is this?"
“It was given by Shen Jun… What does that mean? I think Luan Jun knows best. When I first found out, I was also very angry, but when I saw this lock of hair and heard that it could be burned at Wen Yan’s grave… even I have to admire it.”
Oh ho, is Justice really angry this time?
Shen Tang, who worked from dawn till dusk with dark circles under her eyes, thought to herself.
Because Luan Xin is right now—
He clutched the hair tie he had snatched from Miao's hand tightly in one hand, and held a sword sheath in the other. His mental state was not quite right.
_(:ι」∠)_
My mom told me we're buying New Year's goods tomorrow. I said, "Buying so early?" She said, "There are less than ten days until the New Year. Is that still early?" Wait, how come there are less than ten days left?
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