603 The Same People and Things (2/2)

Besides life and death, there were also aging and illness. And to imperial court officials, aging or illness was the best reason to retire, even though it was not always the real one.

In the early spring of the 17th year of Tianqi Era, Zeng Jing, a Grand Secretary in the Imperial Library, suddenly resigned due to illness. It was less than one month since he succeeded Wang Shichen, an old scholar who died of an illness. Thus the Queen was further weakened.

From then on, Grand Secretary Zeng Jing and his wife kept close at home. It was said that the Grand Secretary lived a leisurely life after retirement, enjoying life with his wife by growing flowers and weeding in the back garden.

Zeng Jing put down the hoe in his hand. He felt a little bit hot and annoyed. He opened his clothes slightly, but could not help coughing immediately due to the chilly autumn wind.

Mrs. Zeng hurriedly helped him to sit down in the pavilion and brought him a cup of warm tea. Looking at the gaunt face of his wife, Zeng Jing could not help heaving a sigh. He wanted to mollify her but did not know how.

Few people could be seen in the Jing Park's autumn pavilion. The couple sat quietly in the pavilion, drinking tea. Mrs. Zeng suddenly burst into tears and said in a trembling voice, ”How could the child I gave birth to be the Daughter of Yama?”

Listening to her words, Zeng Jing fell into silence. The wrinkles on his face seemed to be deeper.

They were Sangsang's birth parents. So the Academy did not conceal the truth about the Lanke Temple's destruction.

In fact, rumors about Sangsang being the Daughter of Yama had long been popular in the countries outside the Tang empire. Today, people began to discuss it secretly in Chang'an. Zeng Jing's resignation as a Grand Secretary in the Imperial Library was naturally related to it, although nobody dared to speak up about it.

Mrs. Zeng wiped away the tears from her eyes and calmed herself. She looked at his husband and asked, ”The man is still in the lobby. Do you really refuse to see him?”

After a moment of silence, Zeng Jing said, ”Since he came to Chang'an from the Qinghe County, I guess he won't leave until we meet. Alright, let's go to meet him. I will see what bad ideas they have now.”

The middle-aged scribe who was drinking tea while waiting in the lobby was Cui Xiu, a well-known figure in the Cui family from Qinghe County. In addition, the man had another complicated relationship with Zeng Jing.

Looking at the man, Zeng Jing thought of the incident from years ago and could not help frowning slightly. He said, ”The Cui family has always refused to come to Chang'an. For what have you come from afar?”

Cui Xiu slightly raised his eyebrows and said unpleasantly, ”After so many years since our last meeting, aren't you willing to call me brother?”

Zeng Jing said, ”I divorced your sister 16 years ago. I don't know why I should still call you brother.”

Cui Xiu choked down his anger and said indifferently, ”Since you asked why I am here, I will tell you frankly. My sister misses you so much after she went back to Qinghe that she has not remarried. My father wants to know what you think.”

Zeng Jing frowned and asked, ”What do you mean?”

Cui Xiu said, ”We, the Cui family, are willing to let bygones be bygones and send my sister back here to resume her relationship with you.”

Zeng Jing said with a slight anger, ”When I came first in the palace examination, the Cui family instigated me to marry your sister. I admit that I coveted the Cui family's fame in Qinghe and I really wanted to live together with your sister till we were old and grey. But I did not know how cruel she was. Although I had some fault in taking a concubine, how could I forgive her intention to kill my poor daughter? Our relationship is ridden with hatred, how would it be possible to resume it?”

As an important figure among famous families in Qinghe County, Cui Xiu was still a bigwig when he came to Chang'an. He had never been so humiliated before. Thus he rebuked angrily, ”My sister wanted to execute your daughter along with that worthless maid because she knew that the child was evil. You did not appreciate her but dared to say those words. Don't think you can hide the truth forever. Yes, the news that your daughter is actually the the Daughter of Yama is still blocked. But it is said by the West-Hill that the Divine Hall is going to remove her title. Do you know what that means?”

Zeng Jing's face became as cold as frost. Just as he was about to smack down on the table, his wife rushed out from behind the curtain and cried in tears, ”The Cui family is made up of evil monsters.”

Cui Xiu did not want to argue with this woman, so he stood up to make a casual bow and said coldly, ”According to the situation in the court, the Prince must be the one to succeed to the throne. You are not indispensable. This is the last chance offered by my father. Since you do not value it, don't blame our cruelty in the future.”

Zeng Jinghan said in a cold voice, ”I was a Grand Secretary in the Imperial Library, second only to the prime minister in the court. Considering the disposition of your father, if I have nothing helpful for him, how could it be possible for him to lower his standards to send back your sister. Don't the Qinghe County Families think that I can see through this?”

Cui Xiu sneered, ”All right, I just want to remind you that when the West-Hill Divine Palace announces the news to the world, hundreds of millions Haotian believers will know that your daughter is the Daughter of Yama. We will see whether your house will still be free from disturbances at that time. Let's see how many people in Chang'an will come to burn your house!”

Zeng Jing squinted and asked, ”Are you threatening me now?”

Cui Xiu said, ”Yes. So what?”

Zeng Jing rebuked angrily, ”The Qinghe County Families are really completely lawless, to think you would dare threaten an imperial official in Chang'an. Do you really think the law of the Tang Empire does not exist?”

Cui Xiu sneered, ”The law of the Tang Empire? There are some things in the world that are beyond the jurisdiction of the law.”

At this time, a voice came from outside the lobby.

”The things beyond the jurisdiction of the law, can they be handled by the Academy?”