Jun Beiyue frowned upon hearing these words and hesitantly asked, “What do you mean by that, Grand Tutor?”
“How dare you be so disrespectful in front of loyal souls?!” Grand Tutor Xie suddenly raised his voice. “Jun Beiyue, let alone the fact that the Wei family has not yet been convicted, even if they were, they are still a family of four generations of high-ranking officials. As long as His Majesty hasn’t stripped the Wei family of their title, they remain the Marquis of Zhenguo. How dare you, a mere fourth-rank official of the Court of Judicial Review, be so insolent?! The rules of propriety represent the Emperor’s dignity. Do you not even respect the Emperor?!”
Hearing this, Jun Beiyue’s face changed dramatically.
If these words had come from Chu Yu or others, Jun Beiyue wouldn’t have cared. He knew that currently, no one dared to bring up the Wei family’s matter before the Emperor, as they were all wary of the consequences.
Who knew the Emperor’s temperament now? It was unclear how far he could indulge a favored official, but when he disliked someone, he wouldn’t tolerate a single good word about them. The Gu family was once a great clan, but just for saying one sentence in favor of Prince Qin, look at what became of them.
Jun Beiyue dared to cause such a scene because he was certain that no one in the court would dare speak up for the Wei family, and he was confident about the Emperor’s current attitude towards them.
However, Grand Tutor Xie, as the Emperor’s teacher, had always been favored by His Majesty. If he chose to speak up for the Wei family, Jun Beiyue had to reconsider his actions.
Not only was Grand Tutor Xie someone he couldn’t afford to offend, but even if he could, the Grand Tutor had always been close to the Emperor’s heart. If he was willing to intervene, it became unclear what His Majesty’s true intentions were.
A thousand thoughts raced through Jun Beiyue’s mind. After a long while, he smiled and said, “The Grand Tutor is right. I was rash. I was so concerned about propriety that I misinterpreted its meaning. I hope the Grand Tutor and the Young Madam won’t take offense.”
With that, Jun Beiyue put away his whip and bowed respectfully to Chu Yu, saying, “This Jun apologizes to the Young Madam and the Wei family.”
His face was full of smiles, appearing thoroughly sincere. Chu Yu, supported by Jiang Chun, didn’t look at Jun Beiyue. She walked straight to Grand Tutor Xie and said, “Grand Tutor, please come inside and have a seat.”
Grand Tutor Xie looked at the coffins still outside and calmly said, “Let’s have Marquis Zhenguo and the others return home first.”
Chu Yu nodded and waved her hand. The steward then directed people to carry the coffins inside. Jun Beiyue glanced at this scene, bid farewell to Grand Tutor Xie, and left with his men.
After all the coffins were placed in the mourning hall, the commoners finally dispersed. Chu Yu turned to look at Grand Tutor Xie, bowed slightly, and gestured with her hand, saying, “Grand Tutor, please.”
Grand Tutor Xie nodded and followed Chu Yu into the Wei residence.
Xie Jiu had been following behind Grand Tutor Xie, holding an umbrella for him. As they entered the courtyard, Grand Tutor Xie slowly spoke, “When Xie Jiu came to my residence to find me, I thought she was coming to ask for my help.”
Hearing this, Xie Jiu’s hand trembled slightly. She lowered her eyes, hiding the panic in her heart. Grand Tutor Xie glanced at her indifferently, showing no reproach in his eyes. He merely said, “She has always been good at looking out for herself. Today, she surprised me quite a bit. I wonder how the Young Madam managed to persuade this girl?”
Chu Yu reached out to push aside a branch blocking Grand Tutor Xie’s path and replied steadily, “Everyone has a heart. The Fifth Young Madam is also a person of integrity. When the clouds and mist are clear, one’s true nature is revealed. There was no need for me to say much.”
As they spoke, the three arrived at the main hall. They took off their shoes, stepped onto the long corridor, and entered the hall. Chu Yu invited Grand Tutor Xie to take a seat and then said to him, “Grand Tutor, please wait a moment. I will freshen up and return shortly.”
At this moment, Chu Yu was covered in mud and blood, but her composure was so natural that it made people overlook her disheveled state, completely failing to notice that she had been in such a condition all along.
Grand Tutor Xie nodded and gestured for Chu Yu to do as she pleased. Chu Yu returned to her room to change into a plain dress and then came back to the main hall. By then, only Grand Tutor Xie remained in the hall, as he had dismissed everyone else. Only Jiang Chun stood at the door, not entering.
Grand Tutor Xie was drinking tea. The autumn rain brought a chill, and the hot tea formed a rising mist in the air, obscuring his face.
He looked to be nearly seventy years old, with graying temples, but due to good care, his figure was slim and tall, exuding an extraordinary aura that didn’t betray his age.
Chu Yu knelt opposite Grand Tutor Xie and poured tea for him. Grand Tutor Xie looked at her and said calmly, “Young Madam, it seems you haven’t even met the Wei family’s heir since marrying into the Wei family?”
Hearing this, Chu Yu knew that Grand Tutor Xie had regained his composure.
Her conflict with Jun Beiyue and her deliberately disheveled appearance were all to get Xie Jiu to bring Grand Tutor Xie here. After Xie Jiu brought Grand Tutor Xie, her impassioned speech and crying were merely to stir up his emotions and compel him to take action.
In her previous life, Grand Tutor Xie was the only person who publicly stood up for the Wei family in this matter. As the Emperor’s teacher, and given that Wei Zhong was once the Emperor’s study companion, he was also considered Wei Zhong’s teacher. Unlike other members of the Xie family who were selfish and only looked out for themselves, Grand Tutor Xie was an exception. Even at his age, he still had a passionate heart.
However, in her previous life, Grand Tutor Xie spoke up too late, when Wei Yun had already been in the imperial prison for some time. That place was full of villains like Jun Beiyue, and the Wei family had made many enemies over the years. Each day Wei Yun spent in the imperial prison was a day of torment.
So Chu Yu deliberately showed weakness, hoping to provoke Grand Tutor Xie, to let him see the tragic scene in the home of his once-proud student. Combined with Grand Tutor Xie’s conscience and his understanding of the Emperor, there was an eight or nine out of ten chance that he would intervene.
Chu Yu’s thoughts raced quickly, so she smiled openly and said, “We’ve met once, and our relationship is quite good.”
Grand Tutor Xie snorted coldly, “Young Madam is quite calculating.”
“If Grand Tutor had no intention to help, how could I have manipulated you?” Chu Yu looked at Grand Tutor Xie and asked, “Doesn’t Grand Tutor understand what’s in His Majesty’s heart?”
Hearing this, Grand Tutor Xie remained silent, and Chu Yu was certain that, indeed, the Emperor did not want to destroy the Wei family.
This was also true in her previous life; if he had wanted to utterly annihilate the Wei family, he wouldn’t have left Wei Yun alive.
But why was he unwilling to kill them, yet outwardly furious with the Wei family? What was it that the Emperor didn’t dare let others know about his true intention to spare the Wei family?
Chu Yu pondered seriously, but her face showed a knowing expression. She poured tea for herself and spoke confidently, “Doesn’t His Majesty feel any guilt about finding someone to take the blame? Seven thousand elite troops, seven great generals…”
“You…” Hearing this, Grand Tutor Xie looked shocked, but he quickly suppressed it and asked nervously, “What do you know?”
“I know nothing,” Chu Yu smiled lightly, but faced with this smile, Grand Tutor Xie refused to believe that she truly knew nothing. Grand Tutor Xie frowned as Chu Yu handed him the tea, asking, “Grand Tutor, do you like to gamble?”
Grand Tutor Xie didn’t take the tea. He stared into Chu Yu’s eyes. Chu Yu’s gaze remained calm and composed, without a hint of panic. From the moment he met her, this girl, who was barely more than a teenager, displayed a composure far beyond her years.
Seeing Grand Tutor Xie’s wary scrutiny, Chu Yu held the tea with both hands, placed it in front of him, and continued, “The current situation of the Wei family is like a gamble in the imperial court. Most people have placed their bets on the other side, and no one is willing to bet on the Wei family. But if someone were to bet on the Wei family, they would claim all the profits alone.”
“Grand Tutor,” Chu Yu’s expression turned solemn, “If we can save the Seventh Young Master from prison this time, our Wei family can make a promise to you. In the future, for any matter, the Wei family will unconditionally concede once.”
Grand Tutor Xie didn’t speak, seemingly still pondering. Chu Yu continued, “If the Grand Tutor wins this bet, what you gain will be the Emperor’s favor and the Wei family as a reliable ally. And if the Grand Tutor loses, you are the Emperor’s teacher. Given His Majesty’s temperament, he won’t do anything to you, will he?”
Grand Tutor Xie’s expression wavered slightly. Chu Yu fixed her gaze on him and spoke with urgency, “Grand Tutor, this high-stakes gamble is a sure win with no possibility of loss.”
Hearing this, Grand Tutor Xie smiled.
“Eldest daughter of the Chu family,” he looked up at her, “You and the Wei family’s heir have no real feelings for each other. Why are you going to such lengths?”
“For conscience’s sake,” Chu Yu calmly opened her mouth, her voice carrying an irreversible determination.
“In this world, someone always has to sacrifice. Those who sacrifice are heroes. If I can’t be a hero, then at least I should protect these heroes and not let their spirits fall.”
“I’ve never blamed Xie Jiu or others,” she suddenly turned the topic to other people, much to Grand Tutor Xie’s surprise. Chu Yu took a sip of tea and said indifferently, “All ordinary people in this world are kind-hearted, but they also seek benefits and avoid harm. Xie Jiu, Yao Jue, Zhang Han, Wang Lan – their choices aren’t wrong, they’re just ordinary people.”
“But if some people sacrifice to be heroes, and some remain ordinary, then naturally, there must be someone who stands between the ordinary and the heroes. Someone who follows and admires the footsteps of heroes takes them as a belief and upholds and preserves it.”
“This path is bitter,” Grand Tutor Xie said with some regret. Chu Yu replied casually, “But someone has to walk it.”
Someone always has to sacrifice, someone always has to pay the price.
Being an ordinary person is not a sin, but those who give more deserve respect.
Grand Tutor Xie silently looked at Chu Yu for a long time. Finally, he picked up the tea Chu Yu had offered him and took a sip.
“In a while, go to the ancestral hall, hold the Wei family’s ancestral tablets, and kneel at the palace gates. If Wei Yun doesn’t come out, you all just keep kneeling.”
Chu Yu nodded, seeing Grand Tutor Xie slowly stand up. She frowned and asked, “What else?”
“The rest is up to me.”
Grand Tutor Xie sighed, saying with some regret, “Young Madam, His Majesty is not as cold-hearted as you think. Wei Zhong was his childhood study companion, then his attendant, and later protected the country and guarded the Emperor for a lifetime. His Majesty…”
He didn’t finish, just shaking his head, burying all his words in the autumn rain.
However, at this point, Chu Yu understood Grand Tutor Xie’s meaning. She took a step back, bowed deeply, and sincerely said, “Chu Yu thanks the Grand Tutor on behalf of the Wei family.”
Grand Tutor Xie nodded and walked out. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked at Chu Yu.
He stared at her silently for a while, then nodded and said, “Although you are a woman, with young people like you in the great Chu, I feel reassured.”
Chu Yu was slightly stunned. Grand Tutor Xie turned around and walked into the wind and rain.