Chapter 171 Major Decision 2
Ru Chun's parents and relatives all died unjustly in prison because of Pei Yan.
This deep-seated hatred, which Ru Chun never forgot, was simply buried deep within her with composure and loyalty.
Her conversation with Lin Zhu, which she hadn't kept from Ru Chun, had ignited the emotions that had been building up in Ru Chun's heart for many years.
She believed that even if Pei Yan's son became emperor, it wouldn't be acceptable.
Xie Sangning gently put down her teacup, raised her head, and looked at Ruchun.
“Ru Chun,” Xie Sangning said softly, “do you think that with my control over the foundation of Xi Han and my father commanding hundreds of thousands of troops, it would be easy for me to change the dynasty with a single call to arms? Or even… for my father or my brother to sit on that throne?”
She slightly tugged at the corners of her mouth: "To be honest, Ruchun, I want it even more than you do. Countless times in the dead of night, when I think of the grievances on my father's temples, the hardships my brother has endured, and when I hear reports of frequent disasters and widespread suffering in various places, I wish I could tear Pei Yan to pieces and overturn the dragon throne."
"But what does a change of dynasty mean, like springtime?"
"It means mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Not just the blood of Pei Yan and his henchmen, but the blood of countless soldiers and innocent civilians."
"It means that war will break out and nine out of ten houses will be empty."
"Do you want to see the fields of Xihan trampled flat by warhorses? Do you want to see prosperity reduced to scorched earth?"
Even if we succeed by chance, what happens next?
“My father, Xie Zhenting, was a true hero! But all he knew was how to fight! He was a complete brute. Asking him to govern the country? Handle the court affairs? Balance the various forces? That would be harder than killing him! He had never studied governance, nor was he cut out for it; that was his fatal flaw.”
"In the end, who will get to handle all this mess that's so complicated and exhausting? Won't it fall on me?"
"Or do you think it's appropriate for my brother to sit on that dragon throne? Ha, don't let his refined and handsome face fool you, he's just like our father at heart."
Xie Sangning's tone carried a hint of disdain, "If you let them sit on the dragon throne, they can turn around and run away. That's just one aspect."
"As for myself?" Xie Sangning's voice lowered. "Ruchun, tell me, in this extremely patriarchal era, where even not getting married can lead to execution, what are the chances of me, a woman, sitting on that dragon throne?"
"Even if I risked everything to sit on the throne, how many open and hidden attacks would I face? How many verbal attacks? How much blood would I have to spill on my hands to secure my position? How many corpses would I have to step over to ascend to the throne? Even if such an emperor were to sit on the throne, how would he be any different from Pei Yan?"
Do you think I like things like this? Do you like constantly scheming about how to protect myself and how to grow stronger?
"Like spring, I want to live comfortably... I want to go back to Xihan, or find a beautiful place with clear waters and lush mountains, farm, grow flowers, do what I want, and not do what I don't want to do. I don't have to care about those damned court intrigues, or worry about the safety of my father and brothers. That's the life I want..."
Xie Sangning's gaze drifted through the car window to the desolate plains rushing past, her eyes filled with longing.
“Supporting Pei Zhi is an extremely difficult and risky path.”
"But it may be the only path that doesn't require the blood of millions of lives, doesn't plunge the country into prolonged turmoil, can lessen the suffering of the people, and at the same time fulfill my great-grandfather's wish to atone for his sins. Ultimately... it might allow our Xie and Lin families to truly have a chance to breathe, or even to withdraw unscathed and live the peaceful life we desire. Do you understand?"
The current Pei Yan is by no means a wise ruler; he is selfish, tyrannical, and suspicious.
If it weren't for his father and Xie family army fighting bloody battles on the border to hold off the foreign enemies, Daqing, this piece of fat meat, would have been torn to shreds by the surrounding wolves that were eyeing it covetously!
But what about him? Instead of striving for better governance and showing compassion to loyal officials, all he could think about was how to consolidate his stolen throne and eliminate any possible threats!
Her father was so loyal that even she, his own daughter, despised his blind loyalty!
But how did Pei Yan respond? With suspicion! With suppression! With a scheming attempt to diminish and seize power!
They even... wanted him dead.
A cold glint flashed in Xie Sangning's eyes:
"Ruchun, do you know why I suppress Wei Zikai and prevent him from showing his talent and taking over more military power? This is seen as very selfish and arrogant by many people."
Ru Chun was slightly taken aback.
Xie Sangning sneered: "But if we don't do this, the Xie family will lose their lives!"
“Wei Zikai is talented and capable! Once he shows the potential to replace my father… Pei Yan will immediately make his move! He will not hesitate to use Wei Zikai, this new blade, to cut off the head of my father, this old blade! It’s all just imperial scheming! I’m suppressing Wei Zikai to protect my father! To protect our entire Xie family!”
Daqing can have many generals, but it cannot have a general specifically to replace its father, at least not now.
"So, Ruchun, this journey has been truly difficult and exhausting for me. I know you've always harbored resentment towards Pei Yan, and even the entire Pei family. You feel uncomfortable if the person sitting on the dragon throne has the surname Pei. I understand you... If my parents were killed by Pei Yan, I would hate him even more than you do. I would kill until the Pei family genealogy is completely wiped out! I would make them pay for my parents' deaths. Do you believe me?"
A deathly silence fell over the carriage, and Ru Chun certainly believed it.
“But I am not you, and my parents were not killed by Pei Yan. Therefore, I still retain a shred of goodwill. I do not want the people to be displaced, nor do I want the world to be in chaos. Likewise, I will not bear a crime that I should not have for you.”
"But I promise you, I will give you the chance to avenge your parents with your own hands."
Ru Chun bowed deeply to Xie Sangning, her voice trembling with barely suppressed sobs: "Miss...this servant understands."
"Good to know." Xie Sangning's voice was barely audible, tinged with weariness.
——
The afternoon should have been peaceful, but the Yongning Marquis's residence was unusually noisy.
Wei Zikai, his face grim, had just stepped into the mansion after court and hadn't even changed out of his court robes when a sharp, piercing argument pierced his ears.
The voice was harsh and filled with foul language; it belonged to Xie Wuyou, his wife who came from a military family and had always maintained a respectable facade.
Wei Zikai's heart sank. He quickened his pace and entered the main hall.
The sight before him instantly made his blood rush to his head, and everything went black.
The hall was in a mess.
His delicate concubine, Shuxin, was now being held down by two burly old women, her hair and ornaments scattered, her hair disheveled, and her face bearing several glaring red marks.
His mother, Madam Wei, sat slumped in the main seat, her face deathly pale, supported by two maids, trembling all over, clearly having suffered a great shock.
The person at the center of all this chaos was none other than his legal wife, Xie Wuyou!
Where is there even a trace of the demeanor of a well-bred lady?
She pounced on Shuxin and tore at her, spewing out filthy and vicious words that would make even the most shrewish woman on the street ashamed!
"...You shameless slut who climbs into bed! A whore ridden by a thousand men and straddled by ten thousand! You dare to swagger in front of me? I'll tear that vixen face of yours to shreds..."
Filthy words poured out of Xie Wuyou's mouth, leaving the servants dumbfounded and bowing their heads.
Wei Zikai's head was buzzing, and a surge of anger suddenly rose up!
He had already suffered a lot of humiliation in the court today!
Emperor Pei Yan casually offered a few words of commentary on the principles of self-cultivation, family harmony, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world. Then, his tone shifted, and he subtly rebuked Wei Aiqing: "My dear Wei, I've heard your inner quarters are quite lively? If you can't even sweep your own house, how can you sweep the world? If your household is in turmoil, it will damage your reputation..."
He broke out in a cold sweat, wondering which gossipy person had managed to bring this matter to the emperor's attention! This caused him to lose face completely!
"stop!"
Wei Zikai's loud shout silenced the entire hall for a moment.
His face was ashen, veins bulging on his forehead. He rushed forward and, to everyone's astonishment, delivered a resounding slap to Xie Wuyou's face!
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