Chapter 33 (1/2)
Minister's Residence
Wu Xueyan's long, shapely eyebrows were drawn into a frown. As she looked at the group of teary-eyed, weeping beauties who were kneeling before her, she could feel the beginnings of a headache.
Sun Yingyue who was the closest to her, fished out her handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. Her head was lowered as she sobbed, “Fūrén, we were in the wrong previously, and overstepped our bounds, please forgive us our ignorance. From this day hence, we promise to abstain from meat and will devote ourselves to reciting the Buddhist scriptures, and to pray for blessings for Fūrén and the eldest Young Master. Begging Fūrén to please spare our miserable lives.”
{T/N: 奴婢们 (Núbì men) – we, your servants}
The other ladies echoed her entreaty, ”Begging Fūrén to please spare our miserable lives!”
Sun Yingyue continued, ”In fact, over these past few years, His Lords.h.i.+p has only had Fūrén in his heart, how can we insignificant ones compare to even one strand of Fūrén's hair? Previously, this servant behaved with impropriety, Fūrén please don't take it to heart……”
{奴婢 (Núbì) – I, your servant}
Wu Xueyan kneaded her brows and cut her off. “All of you return to your own courtyards. It's not safe to wander outside these days. If you meet with a mishap outside, I won't be able to guarantee your safety.”
One after another, the women ceased their weeping, kowtowed to her in grat.i.tude, before respectfully filing out.
After they have all left, Wu Xueyan pressed her hand against her forehead and sighed softly.
General Wu Xingde currently held control of Jianzhou City. The news of the Imperial City being surrounded by his forces have already spread far and wide amongst the common ma.s.ses. Even in their wildest imaginings, no one would have expected the devoutly loyal and self-sacrificing Wu family to commit to this road of treason from which there is no return. Not even Wu Xueyan herself had guessed at her father's actions, and had been thoroughly alarmed by the news.
It was clear that Wu Xingde had planned this a long time ago. To have been able to suppress the royalists in such a short period of time, as well as subjugating all the power and influence that the royal family had been cultivating in the dark all this while, this was no spur of the moment decision.
To think that her proud and haughty father had been lying in wait for a chance to act all these years after having devoted more than half his life to the Jings, was a notion that Wu Xueyan found difficult to swallow. Distress and anxiety warred within her.
The Jing family had occupied all nine provinces of Zhongyuan for over fifty years. It is not that simple a matter to oust them from the seat of power. What was more, even though the current monarch was incompetent at best, the common people have been living in peace and plenty. Threatening the stability of the nation would indelibly blacken their names.
{T/N: 中原九州 (Zhōngyuán jiǔzhōu) – lit. Zhongyuan, 9 provinces. Zhongyuan is an old name for the Chinese civilisation. Hence Zhongyuan, 9 provinces pretty much means all of China.}
Just why did Father stake all in one throw like this? He was already of an advanced age, what could have driven him to attempt usurping the throne…..
Wu Xueyan suddenly stiffened in alarm. “Prepare the sedan, I want to make a trip to the Róng Wáng's residence.”
She hurried out from the inner court, but was then held back by Tao Yunfeng.
“Step aside.”
Tao Yunfeng did not move. “There's no need to go, Yu-er is currently not in Jianzhou.”
Wu Queyan's mind went blank for a moment, and there was a faint ringing sound her ears. “What do you mean, he's not in Jianzhou. Where else would he be?” she gritted out reluctantly.
Tao Yunfeng stroked his beard as he said, “In another half a month, he will be reaching the city with the Róng Wáng and his troops. In this battle for supremacy, the winner is not the Emperor, nor is it father-in-law, but the Róng Wáng.”
{T/N: tàishān dàrén (泰山大人) – ancient chinese term for father-in-law}
“The Róng Wáng? Isn't the Róng Wáng currently engaged in the fight at the South China Sea? It hasn't even been half a year……”
Tao Yunfeng chuckled softly, but it was uncertain at whom he was laughing at. “Do you still take him for the former Fifth Wángyé? Even the common folk writers know that Greater Ming's Róng Wángyé conquers all that he sees and has ever been undefeated in battle. In my life, he is the only person I have ever made an error of judgement on…… the Jing clan is not fated to fall this time.”
Wu Xueyan's entire body had gone rigid. Then she laughed bitterly, and said, “In other words, it is my Wu family that is destined to end.”
Tao Yunfeng was silent. Tao Ziyu has been in Jing Cheng's grasp all this while. This scheme of Wu Xingde's to usurp the throne was nothing more than a poor joke. All his efforts would have been vain and accomplished nothing except to pave the way for Jing Cheng by giving Jing Cheng a fair and justifiable reason to lay claim to the throne.
{T/N: Wu Xingde can't win because he cannot lose his last living heir. He acted while JC was away because he thought TZY was still safe in the city. But because TZY had left long ago with JC, WXD was doomed to fail from the moment he rebelled. Since he has already tossed out the Emperor and the Crown Prince, he has pretty much laid a red carpet to the throne for JC, without JC having to dirty his own hands.}
Wu Xueyan's face was white as she chewed on her lower lip. “The last time Yu-er came back, he seemed happy and was in high spirits and told me that the Róng Wángyé treats him very well. Could that affection also have been faked? Was it all just a ploy to fool us?”
{T/N: 回门 (huí mén) – first return of the bride to her parental home}
Tao Yunfeng pulled her into his arms, and comfortingly patted her on the back. “How could someone like the Róng Wáng have been sincere? I'm afraid that Yu-er had to have been really stupid to believe it.”
{T/N: Dude's just adding salt to his wife's wounds, lol.}
Stupid? So in his eyes, to believe that one's own Fūjūn loves you is considered stupid.
“You know everything, don't you,” Wu Xueyan sneered and pushed him away. “Oh, that's right. From the very beginning, you two were cut from the same bolt of cloth. You knew Yu-er was not in Jianzhou, but did not inform us earlier. You just watched unfeelingly as my father sent out his troops and unknowingly opened a path for Jing Cheng, whilst his own name will be tarnished as a traitor of the empire! Tao Yunfeng, Minister Tao, Lord Tao! How vicious is your heart indeed…..”
Tai Yunfeng looked at her quietly. “Why do you not ask, how did I know of all this.”
Wu Xueyan took in a deep breath, and laughed bleakly. “My Lord Tao should have long ago allied himself with the Róng Wáng. A talented person such as yourself, it is only fitting for you to choose the strongest backer. You've done well, it was me who was blind, and misjudged you.”
Tai Yunfeng said, “Whether you believe me or not, all that I've said, all that I've done, have been for this family, for you, and for Yu-er. The Róng Wáng has promised that he will not harm father-in-law. This was the best I could do.”
Wu Xueyan looked at him. Inexplicably, she felt that this expressionless Tao Yunfeng was the same as the man she had fallen in love with all those years ago. The mask he had worn for such a long time has finally been torn off. But, she felt a sense of estrangement from this person.
She pushed away Tao Yunfeng's hand and said coldly, “My father has committed a crime against Heaven. Our Wu family dares not drag down this Minister's household. I would trouble Lord Tao to grant me a divorce.”
“What does Fūrén mean by this.” Tao Yunfeng frowned and said, “Do you think it matters who is currently holding Yu-er? This battle was long destined for failure. What we need to do now is to avert any unnecessary bloodshed and fighting, and prevent further disasters from befalling the common people. Why can't you understand this?”
“My lord Tao, I understand very clearly. You watched us mother and child sink into danger, and watched as my father gradually strayed from the right path, all without lifting a finger to help us or speaking a word to warn us. You are rational and clear-headed, your concern is for the nation. It is I who am short sighted, and cannot see the the heart of the matter. I am not worthy of you.”
She sneered as she finished speaking, turned around and left.
Tao Yunfeng chased after her to the outside of the door, and saw her grab a horse. Without any further by your leave, she left for the General's residence.
After another half a month has pa.s.sed. The army that had joined the Southern campaign finally arrived at the gates of Jianzhou. It was now winter, and snow could be seen gently drifting down from the skies.
Su Yang pushed aside the carriage's heavy curtain flap, stuck out his hand and caught a few snowflakes. He turned around and laughed, “It's snowing!”
He was bundled up in a thick fox fur jacket, with a snowy white rabbit fur cap perched on his head. His dark, round eyes shone brightly, his smile was endearingly sweet, radiating a charming naivete.
Jing Cheng used a handkerchief to wipe his hands clean of the water droplets. “How many times have I told you not to expose yourself to the cold, yet you always forget.”
Su Yang shook his head as he said, “It's not cold, it's warm!”
Jing Cheng's movements stiffened, there was an icy stab of fear in his heart. For Su Yang to feel it was warm, could only be because his body temperature was lower than the temperature of the snow.
He does not know what went wrong. The Tiānshān Lock may be frighteningly powerful, but he uses the Tiāngāng's yáng qi to suppress it everyday. By all rights, the sickness should not have progressed at such a rapid rate.
{T/N: Tiāngāng's qi is the internal energies that can be manipulated by a person, yáng is the positive/male princ.i.p.al. In short, JC's qi is very Yang, and the Tianshan Lock's powers are the opposite, which is Yin. So it's used to balance/suppress each other.}
According to his previous plan, this little puppy should have been able to keep him company for at least seven to eight years, before reaching the end of his lifespan and quietly pa.s.sing away, just like a real house pet. His entire short life would have belonged to him, and only him.