Chapter 135
Yueming didn't know how Yunkai talked to the old lady, but Yueming knew that the old lady was decisive and she knew better than anyone how to deal with the third old lady.
After a nap the next day, Yunkai summoned Lao Ben and the others to discuss how to compensate them for the loss of their war elephants before they were about to go to the battlefield to garrison Mian Ning.
Yueming woke but was too lazy to get up. He leaned against the bed with a pillow behind his head, reading. Ai Ye tiptoed in, his face beaming with joy, but he lowered his voice mysteriously, saying, "There's a commotion over there. A few nuns from the Guanfo Temple came and grabbed the Third Lady, shaved her head, tied her up with ropes, and took her to the monk's room. The Third Lady cried herself unconscious."
Yueming was dumbfounded. "Why are they ordaining her at home? Shouldn't she go to the monk's room to bathe and burn incense first?"
"Is becoming a monk on your own the same as being sent in for committing a crime?"
Yueming was stunned for a moment, then slowly said, "Actually, I don't believe the Third Madam would conspire with Pujiang to murder the Old Master and the First Master. Just like she said, the Old Master is her heaven. If she had given birth to a son, she might have fought for it, but she only gave birth to a daughter. As long as the Old Master is alive, she can only have a good life. Pujiang is from the same family as her, and he's eyeing the position of Chieftain of Mengding. I don't know who will benefit from it. She would have to be crazy to do such a stupid thing."
Ai Ye asked curiously, "You want to plead for her?"
Yueming sneered, "What's the point of talking about feelings? Even if Pujiang admitted that this matter had nothing to do with the Third Madam, she still went to the temple to make the decision. Do you think the old lady doesn't understand? Do you know what collective punishment means? Her family committed such a heinous crime, how could she be immune to it? The old lady spared her life and only let her into the monk's room, which was already a consideration for her service to the old master."
Ai Ye sighed over the ups and downs of the Third Madam's life. Suddenly, she heard Yue Ming instruct her, "If the Third Miss comes looking for me, you must stop her and push her towards the Master. We should not get involved in this mess."
As soon as the words fell, the maid at the door reported: "Madam, the third young lady wants to see you!"
Yueming immediately threw away the novel in his hand, lay down and pulled the quilt over his head.
Seeing her behavior, Ai Ye chuckled and pulled the quilt, saying, "Don't pretend to be asleep. I won't let her in. Aren't you too hot covered like this?"
Yueming stretched out a hand from under the quilt and chased her away: "Let her go find the master."
Ai Ye walked to the door, and the maid helped her open the curtain. She looked clueless but put on a warm smile and said, "Miss San, you are such a rare guest! It's been a while since you came to visit our wife."
The third young lady opened her red eyes from crying, forced a smile, and asked softly, "Is your wife here? I need to see her for something."
Ai Ye said with a look of regret, "The Madam just went to bed a short while ago, so I can't wake her up. Otherwise, you can go back first, and when she wakes up, I'll tell her you were here."
The third young lady's face was filled with sorrow: "Ai Ye, I really have something urgent to ask her."
Ai Ye's smile remained unchanged: "If you have anything to do, you should go to the master and the old lady. Our wife is not the head of this house, she may not be able to help you!"
Ai Ye's resistance irritated the Third Miss, but although Ai Ye was only a maid, Yue Ming treated her like a sister, so she couldn't say anything bad. She could only shout, "Yueming, Yue Ming, I need you. This is a matter of life and death, please let me in!"
"Miss Third." Ai Ye put away her smile and said solemnly, "I didn't say anything to save your face. I know why you came to see our wife. Our wife has thought about helping the Third Old Lady, but the master said that our wife is just a woman. This matter is not just a family matter, but also involves the law. Our wife has no room to interfere."
Seeing the Third Miss slumped on the ground with a pale face, Ai Ye hurried forward to help her up, sighing and saying, "You really came here to worship the wrong Buddha and burn the wrong incense. Hurry and find the master!"
The third lady didn't believe that Yun Kaihui would speak to Yueming like this, but Yueming clearly didn't want to take the initiative. She was angry but helpless.
He murmured, "I understand." Then he walked unsteadily towards Yunkai's study.
The phrase "the world is indifferent" may seem cold, but it's also human nature. Her mother had offended Yueming badly in her early years, and in recent years, everyone had only maintained superficial courtesy. Yueming really didn't need to do anything for her, and not adding insult to injury by having her beheaded along with her second uncle was a sign of Yueming's magnanimity.
She knew the truth in her heart, but seeing Yun Kai's cold face, she couldn't help but complain: "If it weren't for this, I wouldn't have known that my mother was so unwelcome in the mansion. Such a big thing happened and no one helped. Especially Yue Ming, I'm so close to her, but she stood aside."
Yunkai used the tea lid to stir the tea and said calmly, "When your mother dealt with her, didn't you also stand aside and do nothing?"
The third young lady choked, then sobbed, "It's been so many years. Father scolded me, Madam punished me, what else do you want?"
Yun Kai raised his eyes to look at her: "It's nothing! Who would still hold a grudge against you? Your mother didn't come to the monk's room today because of this matter?"
Seeing the Third Miss speechless, Yun Kai sighed and said, "Third Sister, I'm afraid you still don't understand why your family insisted on taking you back home even though you were a widow."
The Third Miss smiled bitterly and said, "Isn't it because I'm useless? When your brother-in-law was alive, I couldn't help the family at all. Now that he's dead, I have no say in my husband's family."
"No." Yun Kai shook his head: "It's not just that you're weak, you're also stupid."
"You..." The third young lady was extremely angry, but she couldn't find any words to refute.
"Am I wrong? Back then, when Madam went to Dongjing, she entrusted Yueming to you. You clearly knew what was best for the family, but how did you do it? I thought you would have improved after seeing so many things happen in the mansion over the years. I didn't expect you to be so stupid that you even forgot that your last name is Han."
"My mother has nothing to do with the death of my father and Li Yang. Do you dare to say that your mother did this out of resentment for her previous disrespect to your mother?"
Yun Kai placed the teacup heavily on the table. "Third sister, you need to learn some proper manners. Who is my mother? She's your stepmother. If she was petty and obsessed with trivial matters, she could have taken action long ago. Why wait until today?"
Seeing the Third Young Lady's face filled with resentment, yet she dared not speak, he said coldly, "Do you need your brother to teach you the principle of a family's prosperity and adversity? Do you want me to recount to you how many treacherous deeds your mother has done since she entered the Yunxiang Mansion? Who is Pujiang? He is your mother's nephew and your cousin. Who is it that intercedes for the Mengding Mansion to borrow money and grain every year? You actually keep shirking responsibility, saying it has nothing to do with your mother. You should be thankful that your last name is Han, otherwise you would also have to go to the Zongfang to chant sutras for the whole family."
"Then let me go too," the Third Miss blurted out, "I don't know how much suffering my mother must be going through in the monastery. I want to go and take care of her."
Yun Kai shook his head. "I really don't know whether to praise your filial piety or call you stupid. Once you enter the monk's room, you are no longer the Third Young Lady of the Tusi Mansion. Do you think the title of Third Young Lady is more effective, or that the nuns in the monk's room are more powerful? Who can take better care of your mother?"
The third young lady was stunned. This meant that even if her mother was taken to the monastery, she could still visit her and take care of her, right?
Seeing his third sister's foolishness, he became angry and waved his hand like a mosquito away, saying, "Go down and think about it carefully. Come back and tell me when you're done. If you're determined to convert, I can help you."
The Third Wife entered the ancestral hall, and next came the turn of Grandfather Tinglai's family. Yunkai had assumed that his Second Uncle's family would be slaughtered without a doubt, but unexpectedly, someone at the meeting raised the question of whether the sentence was too harsh. The Great Buddha, who had always wanted to preserve a spark for Grandfather Tinglai's lineage, engaged in a heated argument with the opposing masters.
Yunkai propped his chin up, watching with relish. These people would throw a tantrum at the slightest provocation during a meeting. But if things were peaceful, they would unite and smack him in the face. He felt Yueming had missed something. One has to enjoy the fun while it's hot; hearing about it afterwards is not as satisfying as being there in person.
The Big Buddha was soon so angry after the debate with the scholars that he couldn't breathe. He fell on the cushion at Yunkai's feet with a dark face.
Fearing that the Great Buddha might be in danger from his anger, Yun Kai quickly ordered Lao Ben and Qiang Ba to appease him. He stood up and said, "The criminal Tinglai has been convicted of treason by assassinating the chieftain. Neither family law nor state law can tolerate him. On the anniversary of my father and brother's death, his entire family will be beheaded to comfort their spirits. This matter will be resolved according to the law and no further discussion is needed."
"Master," the Buddha cried, "the criminal Tinglai deserves death, but his two sons are your cousins. They are just two children. Why do you have to kill them all?"
Yunkai looked at the Buddha and sighed with a smile, "Buddha, what you said reminds me of a joke my wife Yin Tai told. It says that the Han people have three panaceas for persuading others to stop a fight, and they are very effective. He is still a child. He is here. It's New Year's Day."
"Master." In such a serious occasion to discuss such a serious matter, Yun Kai actually made such a joke, which made the Big Buddha very dissatisfied.
Yun Kai's face darkened and he spoke seriously, "The Buddha is truly compassionate. The sinner Tinglai is blessed to have a confidant like you who is so devoted to him. But the Buddha is an outsider, and he doesn't understand that compassion alone cannot govern the people. Buddhist teachings can't save those who do evil; only the law can. According to the law, the sinner Tinglai's entire family should be executed, and not a single rat in his mansion should be spared. And don't tell me the child is innocent. His eldest son poisoned the war elephants in the mansion, leaving none alive. At the most, it affected our chances of victory, and at the least, it caused discord between us and the garrison. Each of these offenses is punishable by death."
"But Master Jicheng didn't do anything! He's always polite and respectful. He was only implicated by his father and brother. Why don't you show some leniency, Master?"
After bowing, Qiangba interjected, "What Buddha said is not entirely correct. The criminal Jicheng was implicated by his father and brother, but he is punished by the law and the rules of our ancestors. Master, you have set an example for us by committing righteousness, so why would Buddha let you break these laws and rules that have been in place for thousands of years?"
The Buddha wouldn't take minor figures like Qiangba seriously. These prodigal sons, raised with the Master, spend their days enjoying cockfighting and drinking. If Young Master Li Yang had succeeded to the throne, they wouldn't have a seat here. They'd only flatter the Master, hoping to elicit a few corny compliments like "purify yourself of superficiality and become a sharpener."
Without even raising his eyelids, Dafoye said, "Law is nothing more than human feelings. Forgiving the innocent can also demonstrate your benevolence."
Yun Kai felt that anyone could boast, no matter how high their status. He was generous to others when the stick didn't hit him, and he hoped that the Buddha could hold his own in the next discussion.
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid you've forgotten that the Third Old Lady was taken away by a nun from the temple a few days ago to the monastery to chant sutras to eliminate the sins of Meng Ding Mansion. The mansion has already set an example. She's a married woman, and even my concubine mother couldn't be forgiven. How can Jicheng, the legitimate son of the sinner Tinglai, be immune to this?" He paused, looking at the Great Buddha with a half-smile: "Your Majesty, don't be so busy pleading for them. I have something important to tell you!"
The Buddha suppressed his displeasure, clasped his hands together and said, "Master, please speak."
Yun Kai stopped smiling and glanced dignifiedly at the group. "This matter concerns not only the Buddhist temple, but also the leaders of various Mengquan circles. The criminal Jiping poisoned the war elephant. In order to avoid any rift with the garrison, we must make compensation. But what to offer is a real dilemma. After much deliberation, besides weapons, food and fodder are the most important things in war. I've decided to send them some food. To do this, we need the official Buddhist temple to take the lead and donate some rice."
Setting up food distribution tents is common in Buddhist holy places. The Great Buddha, unwilling to offend Yunkai, nodded and agreed, saying, "That's quite appropriate. I wonder how much rice and grain the master needs."
Yun Kai looked at the Buddha and said with a smile, "One thousand dan."
Upon hearing this figure, the Great Buddha frowned, then calmly said, "This is not a small amount, but if the Buddhist temple and a few Mengshang can contribute, we can still raise the amount. The Buddhist temple usually receives offerings from believers, so it is always more well-off than the Mengshang. The Buddhist temple will raise 200 dan."
Yun Kai shook his head: "Master Buddha is wrong. I said one thousand dan is what the Buddhist temple should pay."
The Buddha nearly fainted from the heat of the moment again, not caring if he was disrespecting his superiors or not. His face flushed red as he glared at Yun Kai angrily, "Master, are you addicted to raiding homes? Do you want to raid the official Buddhist temple too?"
Yun Kai said innocently, "This really isn't my fault. If it weren't for the sinner Ji Ping's guilt, we wouldn't have to go through all this trouble. He caused all this trouble, and now he's just been stabbed in the neck and nothing else matters anymore. But we still have to clean up his mess, and it gives me a headache. The Great Buddha is merciful, so just consider it as doing your part to atone for this kid's sins!"
The gentlemen below exchanged knowing glances with each other. They all thought that Dafo had angered the master by pleading for Tinglai, and the master was going to punish him.
Atonement? Atonement for what? What did Ji Ping's imprisonment have to do with the official Buddhist temple? The Buddha was filled with rage, completely forgetting his earlier plea for Tinglai's family. He said coldly, "Master, if you don't know, you'd think the family is out of food and using us as a granary!"
Yun Kai sighed deeply, his face filled with worry as he said, "Master Buddha is right. We are really struggling to make ends meet. Fortunately, my wife, Lady Yin, has a generous dowry. I can save face and continue to live."
Looking at the incredulous eyes of the crowd, Yun Kai sneered inwardly, wanting to slap me in the face. I'm just shameless, let's see where you guys are going to slap me.
The Buddha's teeth were nearly broken, silently cursing the little bastard for being far more ruthless than his father. His father was a man of equal treatment, but he would plunder every last shred of flesh he caught. The Guanfo Temple held such high esteem in the eyes of the Prime Minister that every chieftain of every generation had to show respect. In the hearts of the people, the Guanfo Temple held greater prestige than the chieftain's mansion. Whenever the Buddha traveled, the people on the street would kneel in obeisance. But there was only this little bastard and his wife before him. One was lawless, the other arrogant, truly infuriating.
It's not that Guanfo Temple couldn't afford the 1,000 dan of grain, but the Great Buddha had been completely humiliated by Yun Kai today, and he couldn't bear it. He suppressed his anger and asked in a deep voice, "We have always kept our distance from the Mengning garrison. If the master wants to treat them well, we have no right to interfere. But is the master being too polite to them? What do we have to do with what's going on between the Han and the Japanese? Your help is a favor, and not helping is only natural. Aren't you afraid to risk the life and property of the Prime Minister to repay this favor?"
The gentlemen's eyes began to dart again. Previously, they had dragged the Great Buddha into opposing the Master's provision of support to the Mengning garrison, but the Great Buddha, greedy for the Master's promise of a large sum of money to renovate the Guanfo Temple, had turned against him at the last minute. Now that the fire had turned on him, he would definitely bring this up to question the Master.
Yunkai glanced at the people below, all with varying expressions. His face was as gloomy as water, and he slowly spoke, "You all understand the principle that no egg can escape unharmed when the nest is overturned, and I'm tired of repeating it. Today, I won't lecture you on principles, but only on the distinction between ruler and subject. This Yun Xiang is the Yun Xiang of my Han family. I, Han Yunkai, am the ruler of Yun Xiang and the law of Yun Xiang. Your duty is to obey the king's orders, not to question every word or oppose them at every turn. My temper has improved a bit in the past two years, but I'm afraid you've forgotten that for the past twenty years, I was still the top troublemaker among Yun Xiang, and the new generation hasn't even emerged yet! If you don't want to be of one mind with me, then let's part ways soon!"
Lang Ye quickly bowed his head and apologized. Dafo Ye was stunned by Yun Kai's action: "What are you talking about, Master? What do you mean by parting ways? You don't want the inheritance passed down by our ancestors?"
Yun Kai smiled nonchalantly. "Everyone's on their own. Anyone who doesn't follow my orders will no longer be protected by the Yunxiang Mansion." He looked down at the Great Buddha beneath him. "I want to see. Without the Mengning garrison guarding the border, and without the Yunxiang Mansion's protection, how will you resist the Japanese if they attack? Will you use swords and spears, flesh and blood, or...?" He curled his lips sarcastically. "Let the monks in the Zangfang chant sutras and pray every night, and see if the Buddha will come down on Anuman to save you."
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