Chapter 32
(63) A single hair can affect the entire body
"Wei Zhenwai has nearly died countless times protecting you young masters of the capital who are into bird-playing and dog-fighting. He's only been in the capital for three years, yet you keep saying that the Wei father and son are unforgivable. May I ask, have he and his father committed any unforgivable crimes in those three years?"
Su Cen cleared his throat and said softly, "City Lord, you must be careful with your words. After all, the downfall of the Wei family was the Emperor's will. Don't get carried away and say anything outrageous that might give someone else something to hold against you."
The young marquis glanced at Su Cen and said, "There's no one else here, just the three of us. It's okay."
"Thirteen, the Wei family formed a clique for personal gain. Didn't Cui Cui, the steamed bun seller, gain Wei Bo's appreciation and supreme honor by betraying you? Even after Wei Bo's downfall, he still enjoys his glory..."
"Since there's no one else in the room, I'll just say it. Wei Bai promoted Cui Cui in order to train him as a spy to obtain internal intelligence from neighboring countries. Everything Wei Bai did was for the sake of Cang Lan Country. Your Majesty, don't you really think I'm a fool?"
At this point, the young marquis looked a little shocked, "How did you know about this?"
"Yunniang was forced to become Wei Bai's concubine not because she was taken by force, but because when I was thrown into prison by Wei Bai for spreading rumors about him, she went to the Wei Mansion to plead with him to release me. Unexpectedly, she overheard a private conversation between Wei Bai and Cui Cui and overheard their spy plan. Cui Cui originally wanted to kill Yunniang to silence her, but Wei Bai felt sorry for her and took her into his room to save her life."
The young marquis stared at me, now completely speechless.
"You are a bunch of hypocrites. You all clearly know the whole truth, yet you disregard the Wei family's efforts for you over the years and slander the Wei father and son for their evil deeds in order to build up your own reputation. But what reputation do you have? You are nothing but a gigolo who eats for free."
The young marquis looked at me quietly for a long time.
After a long while, he smiled bitterly and said, "Thirteen, I can see that you really don't have any feelings for me anymore."
"You talk as if you have any extra affection for me." I sneered and walked back to my seat and sat down.
"I've traveled thousands of miles to Baihua City to ask for your hand in marriage. Isn't that enough to prove my sincerity?" The young marquis stepped forward and said.
"When you first proposed to me, you changed your mind after Su Cen told you that my family had no military power. You were so sad on my wedding night because you were unwilling to see your playmate taken away from you. As for this time, it's even more interesting. Of course, the young marquis now sincerely proposes to me. I hold all the military power in Baihua City. The Gu family's immense power still requires Baihua City to help you grow your prestige."
The young marquis stared at me, his eyes turning bright red.
"Shang Shisan, I never realized you were such a person before." He said to me in a trembling voice.
I imitated Wei Zhen's memory and squinted my eyes slightly as I looked at the young marquis who was still trying his best to perform.
"My Lord, please don't tell me that you've only gotten to this point thanks to the Emperor's unwavering love and your good fortune. Your Gu family now boasts a beautiful wife, numerous children, a perfect persona, and a far-reaching reputation. Do you remember that your current stability and power were built on the bloody remains of the entire Wei family?"
The young marquis stared away and stopped looking at me.
I continued, "The bad guys and bad things are all done by the Wei family. The father and son of the Wei family schemed so hard, they must have died a miserable death. The good guys are all played by your Gu family. How come your Gu family is more evolved than the Wei family? Otherwise, why would the Wei family make such sacrifices for yours?"
The young marquis finally put away his expression of having been betrayed. He sighed and said, "Since ancient times, the struggle for power has always been one of victory and defeat. The Wei family lost to the Gu family. This is a fact. History is originally written by the victors, because the losers have no right to live, let alone to write. Thirteen, I know you feel sorry for Wei Zhen, but the facts are already done, and no one can change the situation."
"Did the Wei family really lose to the Gu family?" I repeated the young marquis' words.
"What's the meaning?"
"The Wei family is solely concerned with the well-being of the people of Canglan Nation, while your Gu family, despite being protected by the Wei family, is solely focused on profiting for themselves and vying for fame and power. Your initial goals were different, and naturally, they led to different outcomes."
(64) A single hair can affect the entire body
"Okay, okay." Suddenly, there were a few clapping sounds outside the door, and a tall and strong man in fine clothes pushed open the door and walked in.
The next moment, the young marquis and Su Cen knelt down, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."
I looked at the man's face carefully and realized that he was the one who asked me to clear up the scandal between the emperor and the young marquis before I got married.
It turns out that the person in the mansion behind the bamboo forest in Hebi City is actually the emperor.
I immediately stood up from my seat, took a few steps, and knelt on the ground. "Your Highness, I, Shang Thirteen, pay my respects to the Emperor."
The emperor looked at me with a smile and said, "Everyone, please stand up. I am going on an incognito tour this time, so there are no need for so many rules."
After I stood up, I quickly gave up my seat to make room for the emperor.
"Thirteen, do you still remember me?" The emperor seemed to be in a good mood. He smiled and said to me as soon as he sat down.
I looked up at the Emperor and said, "Of course I remember. In the mansion behind the bamboo forest, you asked me to clarify the rumors for you. I suggested that if the young marquis left Hebi City, the rumors would stop spreading."
The emperor laughed even more happily after hearing this.
"The last time I saw you, you were still a lively and cute tomboy who never grew up. In the blink of an eye, you have become the Lord of Baihua City."
The emperor began to sigh as he spoke.
"I know you feel sorry for your husband, Wei Zhen. He devoted himself to the country, but ended up like this. I understand your injustice."
I listened to the emperor's words in silence.
"I have my own dilemma. I have to balance the forces of all parties and maintain the stability of Canglan Kingdom. I don't have many choices. The Wei family is the only one in power, and the powerful officials in the court have chosen to side with the Wei family. Should I continue to be the emperor?"
The Emperor gently stroked the armrest of the wooden chair and said, "The Wei family has no intention of interfering too much in my affairs, but others may not consider it this way. Moreover, I also know that Wei Zhen prefers the battlefield to the power struggles in the court. He has long been tired of the atmosphere of intrigue and deception in the court, and I understand his feelings. I am actually as upset as he is about such a big thing happening in his family, but I can't help but worry that he will do something detrimental to the country out of anger."
"Your Majesty, what you mean is that the reason you don't allow Wei Zhen to lead troops to war is because you are worried that Wei Zhen will commit treason, right?" I continued.
The emperor looked at me and nodded.
"I am the ruler of a country, and I am responsible for all my subjects. Wei Zhen is my child, you are my child, and the whole world is my child. I cannot allow the people of the world to suffer because of my favoritism towards Wei Zhen."
Seeing that I remained silent, the Emperor continued, "Even if there were the slightest possibility, I would not allow it to happen. Furthermore, after Wei Zhen's father, Wei Bai, passed away so suddenly, who would have thought that Madam Wei would actually hang herself? This is truly beyond my expectations. Even if Wei Zhen hates me now, I have nothing to say."
Seeing that I didn't respond, the emperor continued, "I have never forgotten the various sacrifices the Wei family has made for me. Wei Zhen has been fighting for me since he was sixteen. I still remember that his birthday was on the seventh day of the second lunar month, and he and my youngest son often played together when they were children. Wei Zhen showed a very high combat IQ when he was young. No one could beat him in the game of commanding and manipulating two armies. I also remember that on his seventeenth birthday, he was shot through the back by an arrow at close range in Diaoyucheng, and it took him half a year to recover slightly. Also, Wei Zhen loved to eat ice cream as a child and could eat several bowls in one go. He even fought with my twelfth son when he was seven years old, and Wei Zhen injured him. To this day, my twelfth son still has some inconvenience in his right eye. I have always treated Wei Zhen as my own child."
The emperor began to shed tears as he spoke.
"People say there's no father-son relationship in the royal family. Among all my children, Wei Zhen is the most promising one. I'm really proud of this child."
The Emperor wiped his tears and continued, "What a shame! It's fate. I never imagined that fate would lead us, father and son, to become enemies. I am truly heartbroken."
When the emperor spoke of something moving, Su Cen also began to sob and cry.
When Su Cen cried, I felt like laughing for a moment, even though I was feeling a little sad.
I looked at the young marquis again.
At that time, he was also staring at Su Cen intently, and saw that he was crying even more sadly than the emperor.
In this situation, I have to admit that the solemn crying sound that serves as the background music for the emperor's conversation is quite appropriate in creating a sad atmosphere.
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