Shen Qinghe walked Lang Jiuchuan to the outer threshold of the Wangsheng Hall, glanced back once to confirm that none of the Xuan Clan members had followed, and then knitted his brow.
“Why have you gotten involved with the Xuan Clan? Has the Gong Family been trying to recruit you?”
Lang Jiuchuan was somewhat surprised: “What made you think that? As for the Gong Family — Gong Qi’s mother and my birth mother were sworn friends, as close as sisters. And that Old Madam Pei views her as a daughter, so the two families have always been on good terms. When strange things began happening in the Lang Family, my mother wrote to the Gong Family’s First Madam, which is why the Gong Family sent people to help.”
Shen Qinghe asked: “Was that the Qi Family matter?”
Lang Jiuchuan gave a small smile: “You heard about that as well?”
Shen Qinghe let out a sigh: “Anything that concerns you, I will naturally hear about. And the Qi Family even spreading slander about you to the public — I was furious enough to wish I could take them to court over it. But do not worry. The wicked find their match in worse, and that Qi Zuyao will very soon be reassigned to some distant backwater post. The Qi Family will not rise again.”
“It was not entirely because of the Qi Family. Besides, I have never regarded the Qi Family as an opponent.”
Shen Qinghe raised an eyebrow: “Because that young mistress of theirs is dead?”
“Not exactly. She was only an accident. Her death was entirely the result of having committed grave sins and suffering the backlash of cause and effect.” Lang Jiuchuan spoke in a mild tone: “She overestimated the foundations that permitted her to act as recklessly as she pleased. Even being kin to a Xuan Clan family by marriage has its limits. And besides, distant water cannot douse a near fire.”
“As long as you understand. Now — about the Gong Family.” Shen Qinghe pressed his lips together briefly: “You were on the estate, so I do not know how much you heard about the ways of the Xuan Clan. I have been an official for many years. I may not have gone everywhere, but I have heard no small amount about the Xuan Clan. I understand that they are very skilled at drawing in cultivators and practitioners from across the realm to serve the clan — much like how we in the powerful families keep a circle of retainers for our use.”
Every person of standing, especially those in positions of power, would maintain retainers in their employ. He was no exception — there was a quarter of his household set aside for just this purpose, mostly scholars, with one or two unusual individuals among them. Those who proved useful were taken on as strategists; those still developing were held in reserve, like a standing army of potential talent.
Even merchants did it, financing scholars in hopes of cultivating an investment that might one day pay off.
When all was said and done, of course, it was for personal benefit.
Shen Qinghe felt no shame in acknowledging this and continued: “In truth, there is nothing wrong with drawing in capable people for one’s own use. But within the Xuan Clan, some have made a habit of the approach: those who cannot be brought to heel must be destroyed. In other words, if they cannot have you, they will suppress you — and in the worst cases, they will engineer the collapse of your cultivation and reduce you to a spent husk. Do you understand what I am saying?”
“I understand. You are warning me not to let myself be manipulated?” Lang Jiuchuan’s gaze carried a trace of warmth.
Shen Qinghe nodded: “You may think I am only being kind to you because you once saved my family — but to speak from the heart, I feel a genuine connection with you. Perhaps because you took that unyielding spirit of your father’s?”
Lang Jiuchuan smiled: “That is simply the nature of cause and effect. I have never felt that you or your wife harbor any ulterior motive toward me.”
“Good. Then I will speak to you as I would a younger member of my own family.” Shen Qinghe returned to the matter at hand: “I am aware of your abilities — and from what Gong Qi said yesterday, he too has a sense of what you are capable of. I am not speaking against him. But his identity is that of someone within the Xuan Clan, and very few people in this world dare to place loyalty above their clan. Most will do their part to serve their family and see it grow in strength and standing. If they take a liking to your abilities and want you — what will you do? Will you accept, or refuse?”
“As for the Lang Family — they can barely hold their own ground right now. Xue Shi, your maternal grandfather Shen, and I have gone through considerable trouble trying to see your eldest uncle granted the succession to the title — but with everything sealed for the New Year and still no word, it has been left to drag. My guess is that after the seal is lifted, the edict will come through — but in all likelihood, the title will be reduced by at least one rank.” Shen Qinghe said: “The Lang Family was already far removed from the center of power to begin with. With the mourning period on top of that, and if the title is reduced further, they will step even further away. A family like that — even with the best of intentions — cannot provide you with any real backing.”
He stood with his hands clasped behind him, gazing at the snow-capped green mountains in the distance: “Even supposing they could, the Lang Family is still an ordinary noble household, not one that would dare stand against the Xuan Clan. So if the Xuan Clan truly comes to recruit you — even if your heart rebels against it — do not confront them head-on. Yield for now. And if you must choose a family to attach yourself to, the Gong Family is at least one of the upright ones. It was the Gong Family I had in mind when I was trying to arrange something for Shen Peng.”
A pearl does not stay buried. A person of talent will always attract those who want to draw them in for their own use. Were he himself a member of the Xuan Clan and saw that Lang Jiuchuan was capable, he too would have sought to bring her into the fold.
But he had also caught enough of her temperament to know she was not the kind to simply submit and endure. He worried that she would truly come to blows with whoever approached her.
The blade that is too rigid will break.
Lang Jiuchuan listened to him counsel her with the patient care of a father instructing his daughter, and stepped back two paces, clasping her hands in a respectful bow: “Daren’s words have been heard, and Jiuchuan has taken them to heart.”
“What is this ‘Daren’ business — so formal with me. Your father and I are the same age. You may call me Uncle if you wish.”
“Uncle.”
“That’s right, good child.” Only then did Shen Qinghe seem to remember something. He reached into his robes and produced a red envelope he had long since prepared, and held it out: “A peaceful and joyful New Year — may you always find happiness, always find peace.”
“Thank you.” Lang Jiuchuan accepted it, then added, “The words you spoke just now, from the heart — I understand them all. I will approach the Xuan Clan with caution. As for the Gong Family — they are indeed decent enough, and I do have the intention of sheltering in their shadow for a time.”
This meant…
The two, large and small, exchanged a glance, and each read the understanding in the other’s eyes.
“Also — regarding the death of the young Miss Qi, I believe it truly is connected to a malevolent entity. I am uncertain whether this case will fall under your department’s investigation — please take every precaution.” Lang Jiuchuan said, “You might also look into having the household registry offices pull records of those with pure-Yin birth charts, and inform Gong Qi and his people to have someone watch them — to see if they can set a trap and catch the creature in the act.”
“Are there truly more victims to come?” Shen Qinghe’s expression darkened.
“The Fourth Miss Qi will not be the last.” She still trusted the divination she had cast — that great malevolent entity had not yet emerged into the world, but this matter would need further careful investigation.
Shen Qinghe knitted his brow: “These past two years, it has not been peaceful. Malevolent entities keep surfacing one after another. I do not know what has become of this world.”
His own son had barely survived the Honglian Evil God case, and now there was talk of a great malevolent entity about to emerge — it felt like the onset of a chaotic age, like the boundary between Yin and Yang was unraveling.
Lang Jiuchuan said nothing.
She looked up and caught sight of a commotion ahead — a considerable procession making quite a noise. She said, “What is that over there? Are they not under lockdown?”
Shen Qinghe narrowed his eyes to look at the banner being carried at the head of the procession: “That should be Princess Zhao’an’s ceremonial procession, departing down the mountain and returning to the capital. I hear she had also been at the temple these past two days to offer incense, praying for a safe and easy delivery. The Zhongyong Marquis household can keep anyone else from leaving, but they would not dare detain an Imperial Princess’s procession.”
Lang Jiuchuan looked at the magnificent carriage in the distance and blinked. So the Princess who had secured the first incense offering to pray for a child was also at the temple. She had not heard about this at all.