◎The character for “father” lost the two strokes above its head; without the heart of protection, only the cross character “yi” remained◎

Song Zhiwei’s marriage prospects had to be completely shelved.

Duke Songguo’s wife was so furious her eyes rolled back. “How could this happen?”

She cursed: “What does Marquis Wenyuan’s wife mean by this? What, does she want to oppose our family?”

Madam Wu smiled stiffly.

——She had been dragged over for questioning again.

One wrong step, every step wrong—so why had she agreed to make that trip to Duke Zhenguo’s household in the first place?

Duke Songguo’s wife was in the midst of her fury and naturally wouldn’t spare her, relentlessly interrogating: “What rumors are spreading about my son outside, Madam surely knows? I merely asked Madam to propose a marriage. How did it end up…”

She said bitterly: “Provoking so much gossip instead.”

——Then why did you tell me your son fell in love with the Lan family’s Sixth Young Lady at first sight?

Madam Wu was also displeased in her heart: It wasn’t really love at first sight! If they had just casually changed the explanation—perhaps saying he admired the Lan Sixth Young Lady’s character, or valued Duke Zhenguo household’s simple family structure—then discussing other families later would have been more proper.

But they had to insist on saying “love at first sight,” wanting people to think your family wasn’t eyeing Duke Zhenguo household’s status, while also spreading a romantic tale as icing on the cake.

Well then, wanting all the benefits, now that everything’s fallen apart, you’re blaming me?

She felt her face would eventually become twisted, but she didn’t have the courage like Marquis Wenyuan’s wife to speak back sharply. She could only lower her head and say softly: “It was really too coincidental…”

“When I initially went to Duke Zhenguo’s household, I truly was just proposing a marriage. But somehow, rumors spread about the eldest young master and the Lan family’s Third Young Master…”

“During this period, people have asked me about it too. I’ve always said these were baseless claims. They believed me and also felt that if even someone as upright as him could be slandered, how would other gentlemen of integrity conduct themselves in the future? We all said your family suffered an undeserved calamity.”

“At that time, though some spread gossip, as Madam observed, those were just people joining the commotion—they didn’t truly believe it. That’s why later Marquis Wenyuan’s wife was so happy to consider accepting the marriage.”

Hearing these words, Duke Songguo’s wife felt somewhat more comfortable: “Exactly that reasoning. It was just false rumors to begin with.”

Madam Wu glanced at her and sighed: “I too thought it would stop there. But then, rumors spread about Marquis Wenyuan and the eldest young master…”

“Alas, who knows where they came from.”

Duke Songguo’s wife angrily slapped the table: “Could it be that Marquis Wenyuan’s wife spread them?”

Madam Wu sighed again: “I don’t know.”

She only knew that now, whichever family the Song household targeted for marriage discussions, the brothers and even fathers and uncles of that family all had to explain they didn’t have such preferences.

Madam Wu stood up, hesitating: “I failed to handle matters well and already feel guilty. I dare not drink Madam’s tea anymore. I shall return to face the wall in reflection.”

But Duke Songguo’s wife began to smooth things over: “I was venting my anger on you just now. That was my fault. Please don’t hold it against me.”

Madam Wu pinched her nose and accepted it: “Anyone encountering such matters would be angry. Madam has already been quite calm.”

After she left, Duke Songguo’s wife steeled herself and simply selected several beautiful maids to send to Song Zhiwei: “I want to see who dares say he has cut-sleeve preferences!”

When Duke Songguo learned of this matter, he frowned: “A gentleman walks uprightly and sits properly. What’s there to fear from what others say? Why make it look like a great disaster is imminent?”

Duke Songguo’s wife cried: “Isn’t this a major matter? Now that there are rumors, which family’s good daughter would be willing to marry over?”

Duke Songguo: “What kind of major matter is this? After a while, when the commotion passes, it will settle down.”

He said: “Our first step was wrong, so we can’t stop others from talking afterward. Moreover, with this kind of matter, it’s best not to interfere. Once Zhiwei accomplishes a few things in court and gains great renown, today’s events will be considered romantic, adding an interesting anecdote, that’s all.”

He had more important matters: “When Zhiwei returns later, have him come to my study.”

Duke Songguo’s wife could only give up.

When Song Zhiwei left his post, it was already dusk. He had been drinking with Ministry of War Minister Lin Qi and reeked of alcohol. Duke Songguo waited until he had drunk sobering soup before asking: “What did Lin Qi say?”

Song Zhiwei: “Minister Lin says His Majesty did not reject the Court of Imperial Stud’s evidence of Marquis Boyuan’s private tea trading today.”

Duke Songguo had already guessed as much. He exhaled: “Marquis Boyuan most likely cannot be saved.”

He smiled: “This is also good. Marquis Boyuan has been holding onto Luoyang Prefecture’s military forces. Now that they’re being released, we should compete for them too.”

Song Zhiwei: “Court of Imperial Stud Director Su Min quite appreciates Yu Qingwu—firstly because of Shu Prefecture, and secondly, he probably made some deal with Yu Qingwu. That’s why he lets him use the Court of Imperial Stud’s name all along to trample on Marquis Boyuan household’s reputation.”

He asked: “Does Father know what Su Min wants?”

Duke Songguo pondered: “Su Min, that horse handler, is usually quite rigid. I haven’t had contact with him.”

After thinking: “I estimate it’s the Imperial Grandson’s intention.”

Song Zhiwei nodded: “How are things between Father and the Imperial Grandson recently?”

Duke Songguo: “The Crown Prince still treats me amicably in private, showing he intends to be close. But publicly he still doesn’t dare get too close.”

He said: “I suspect the Crown Prince was thoroughly frightened. But this is also good. I’ve thought carefully—this way our family can still be neutral ministers, only leaning toward the Crown Prince according to His Majesty’s wishes.”

His ambitions for merit in supporting the dragon had gradually faded. Regaining his composure, he realized the Crown Prince’s refusal of his marriage alliance proposal was truly wise. These past few days, whenever he recalled this matter, he broke out in cold sweat, sighing: “No wonder the Eastern Palace, Prince Qi, and Prince Wei fight to the death, using every desperate move. Previously, when I observed from the sidelines, I never thought much of it—sometimes I even thought them foolish. But after being arrogant once myself, I discovered that when one is in the game, always wanting to take a gamble, one loses normal rationality.”

Hearing this, Song Zhiwei nodded: “I understand Father’s meaning.”

He said: “Then regarding the Court of Imperial Stud matter, since it’s the Crown Prince’s tactic, should we help?”

Duke Songguo shook his head: “Don’t act for now. Let’s see how Yu Qingwu handles it.”

He also asked Song Zhiwei: “The recent rumors about you—have you considered how to handle them? Your mother is very worried.”

Song Zhiwei smiled: “Petty people splashing dirty water on me behind my back—I don’t care. But when ants constantly swarm around, stepping on them still counts as my karma, which I dislike.”

He said: “Father, rest assured. I’ll have people take care of it.”

——

Lan Shanjun had been quite busy recently. First, she became acquainted with Qin Pingting and explained what could be explained quite thoroughly. She also brought up the rumors: “If he truly has such an affliction, he could easily find an excuse to marry a young lady from a household like ours and keep her there. Outwardly it would look splendid, and people might even praise us for our good fortune. But what it’s really like inside, only his wife would know. But once married over, could she make a fuss? Her sisters wouldn’t be able to marry either. She could only swallow her grievances. Who told her family status wasn’t sufficient?”

Qin Pingting, being straightforward by nature, immediately turned red with fury and said angrily: “His thinking is shallow, yet he pretends profundity. He doesn’t regard women as human beings. By such reasoning, he probably doesn’t treat his own mother as his birth mother to be filial to either. He just wears a high hat all along. He might as well remove the hat at night and call out ‘Mother’!”

She said: “Don’t worry. Though Marquis Wenyuan’s household may not be formidable, my mother’s natal family is not to be bullied.”

This was also why Duke Songguo’s household had taken an interest in her.

Qin Pingting: “My mother’s temperament is even more fierce than mine. What wouldn’t she dare say?”

Lan Shanjun couldn’t help but laugh, discovering she was just like in the previous life—her temperament hadn’t changed at all. She also quickly became familiar with Yunniang and immediately became interested in becoming sworn sisters with Yunniang, frightening Yunniang into repeatedly waving her hands: “Later, perhaps?”

They had only just met.

Lan Shanjun just watched from the side without getting involved. Over the next month, she and Yunniang attended several flower-viewing banquets hosted by the Shu Prefecture faction together, meeting several fellow townswomen with compatible temperaments.

Thus by August, news came from court that Marquis Boyuan had finally confessed his crimes, but dragged Wu Qingchuan down with him, insisting that Wu Qingchuan had done tea business with him, profiting five hundred thousand taels of silver.

When this matter emerged, court officials were in an uproar. Wu Qingchuan vigorously denied it, but Marquis Boyuan had evidence.

The Emperor could only have someone first dismiss Wu Qingchuan from his post and confine him in the Court of Judicial Review, awaiting trial by the Three Judicial Offices.

These matters had never occurred in the previous life.

For the first time, Lan Shanjun stood within this flood observing the various states of officialdom and discovered something interesting.

——She could understand it now.

Previously, observing these matters, she always found them inscrutable. But now, everything had basis. As long as she clarified the causes and effects, she could know everyone’s thoughts to some degree.

Take Prince Qi, for example. Initially, he was unwilling to abandon Marquis Boyuan and struggled bitterly. Unfortunately, the Emperor felt his power was too great and was determined to eliminate Marquis Boyuan.

After more than two months of stalemate, death was certain. He might as well drag Yu Qingwu down as well.

Yu Qingwu was Wu Qingchuan’s student. Even though they had now severed ties, he was still his student.

As long as the two hadn’t fallen out completely, outsiders could curse all they wanted, but they wouldn’t acknowledge it. Like Zhu Shi—she still asked from time to time: “Why haven’t you reconciled yet?”

So once Wu Qingchuan entered prison, even if Yu Qingwu didn’t follow him in, he would still need to avoid suspicion and hand this matter over to others in the Court of Imperial Stud. And whether Wu Qingchuan was convicted or not, Yu Qingwu, who had personally conducted this matter step by step with relentless pressure, would become the murderer.

If previously his betrayal of his teacher was rumor, this matter would be evidence.

If previously his character could still be “concealed,” this matter would nail him to the pillar of shame for everyone to judge.

Heaven, earth, ruler, teacher—he would have his skin flayed, especially having his spine extracted by fellow disciples, piece by piece piercing through his flesh and blood.

She remembered that in her previous life when she heard of his reputation, she had also perfunctorily agreed with the lady discussing this matter: “Oh? Such a thing happened? Truly shocking.”

But now, sitting in the vegetable garden thinking slowly: So that’s how it was.

So his entire life, starting from this time, had already been moving toward that final outcome.

She wanted to help him, but she only had one knife, barely enough for self-preservation, unable to stir up storms and clouds. She stared at the sky in a daze: Still too weak.

If only her power were a bit greater.

In dealing with Song Zhiwei, she needn’t resort to women’s quarters tactics. Even after exhausting all her schemes, to him it was still insignificant. And take her relationship with Prince Qi—separated by countless layers, she couldn’t even get close.

She needed to find a way to squeeze herself in too.

She knitted her brows, but in the next instant, Yu Qingwu’s face appeared before her eyes—a big face.

She amusedly moved her gaze away, sat up, and said: “Yu Qingwu, you’ve returned.”

Yu Qingwu responded with a sound of acknowledgment, picked up the water ladle nearby to water the ground, and asked with a smile: “Shanjun, what were you thinking about?”

Lan Shanjun walked beside him. As he bent to water and took a step, she followed with a step, sighing: “I was thinking that I spoke too presumptuously before.”

She had told him she would help him, but actually, though she truly understood this flood now, she couldn’t do anything.

Hearing this, Yu Qingwu only felt Shanjun was truly adorable.

How could there be such a wonderful young lady?

While watering, he said gently: “Everyone says I’m wrong, but because you’re here, I only need to look at you once to know I’m not wrong.”

Didn’t this count as helping him?

He smiled and ladled another scoop of water for the vegetable seedling: “Shanjun, you’ve helped me correct my fundamental heart. If I can accomplish things in the future, you deserve five parts of the credit.”

These words were like coaxing a child.

But he spoke earnestly, so she believed him. She then asked about court matters: “What does Vice Minister Wu think?”

When Yu Qingwu spoke of Wu Qingchuan, his expression didn’t change. He said: “His Majesty transferred him back from Shu Prefecture not to let him die like this. He still has great use.”

He explained: “Prince Qi has the best foundation, has operated in Luoyang the longest. Most of Luoyang’s nobility have deeply entangled relationships with him. Prince Wei rose later. Although he’s also had over a decade now and can compete with Prince Qi, back then he couldn’t match Prince Qi. So His Majesty gave him the Jin faction.”

Prince Wei’s mother consort was from Taiyuan in Jin Prefecture.

“As for the Shu Prefecture faction, His Majesty subtly gave Court of Judicial Review Minister Xu to the Crown Prince—after the Crown Prince secretly befriended him, His Majesty didn’t intervene, which counted as tacit approval.”

But even so, Prince Qi’s power was still too great.

Lan Shanjun nodded: “These past days I’ve also figured out these factional struggles.”

Seeing her listen earnestly, Yu Qingwu became happy and again ladled another scoop of water for the vegetable seedling: “Prince Qi’s power is too great. According to His Majesty’s usual tactics, he needs to divide Prince Qi’s power.”

This division didn’t mean splitting apart from Prince Qi, but dividing Prince Qi’s left and right hands to harm each other.

Wu Qingchuan was transferred back at such a time and became Vice Minister.

Yu Qingwu said in a low voice: “Vice Minister Wu… though unrestrained since childhood, could compose poetry and essays. In his youth he already had a fine reputation. Later, following the late Crown Prince and Duan Boyan with raised arms, he did many things to benefit the people.”

“Later, after being demoted to Shu Prefecture, quite a few enlightened verses spread, becoming articles everyone recited. He became the foremost figure in literary circles.”

Such a person, also from Luoyang—so he was transferred back and became the “Luo faction,” dividing away the power in Prince Qi’s hands, yet still being used by Prince Qi to suppress Marquis Boyuan.

He shook his head: “So His Majesty won’t kill him. He still has much use. Prince Qi also won’t truly abandon him—after all, he was given to him by His Majesty.”

But Lan Shanjun thought of the aftermath’s impact: “You’re now Shu faction, Wu Qingchuan is Luo faction. The Shu and Luo factions haven’t openly opposed each other, but through this matter—they’ve now clashed, right?”

Her eyes softened: “Yu Qingwu, your future will be difficult.”

Yu Qingwu hadn’t originally thought it difficult.

In a person’s life, there were merely three meals and tea, four seasons of clothing. Being able to live, having food and warmth—that couldn’t be considered difficult. Compared to the frozen corpses he had seen, for someone like him who had no worries about food and drink, what was difficult?

But one couldn’t be comforted.

Especially comforted by someone who truly cherished you.

Then he felt he was struggling. He murmured softly: “I’m truly struggling—who knows what kind of curses I’ll receive?”

His mind wandered, and so did his hand. One ladleful of water went down, thoroughly drenching the vegetable seedling—it couldn’t be watered anymore!

He immediately became alert, looking left and right. Heaven and Bodhisattvas bless—Nanny Qian wasn’t nearby.

He quickly moved to another plot, consoling with a smile: “Let them curse as they please, let them hit as they please. I’ll close my own door and sleep on my own.”

Then seeing her standing dazed in place, he stepped back, tugged her sleeve, but couldn’t move her. He could only carry his bucket back one step, sighing softly: “Shanjun, I cannot be harmed by them.”

Before doing this deed, he had already been prepared.

He said: “Do you think I know why I stubbornly won’t let go of Marquis Boyuan’s private tea trading?”

Lan Shanjun looked at him.

Yu Qingwu: “I told you before—after Yingying died that year and I was demoted to Huailing, I begged Elder Brother to return together. But Elder Brother refused. He also wouldn’t bring Yingying back.”

Elder Brother said: “Qingwu, the transfer order has come down. You must leave. But I can still stay.”

He knew what Elder Brother stayed to do.

“He wanted to investigate Marquis Boyuan’s household.”

Yu Qingwu: “I was terrified, always feeling something would go wrong. But Elder Brother kept silent, never admitting he was investigating these matters.”

Even after returning to Luoyang, he never spoke of it.

But after Elder Brother passed away, Yu Qingwu knew he must have discovered something.

Lan Shanjun murmured: “Evidence of tea trading?”

Yu Qingwu nodded. A melancholic qi rose in his heart. He ladled water: “Lin Ji was arrogant, but being arrogant five years ago, one would think he learned his lesson. Yet now he’s still arrogant without reason—hasn’t he made any progress at all? I don’t believe it.”

He didn’t believe it, so he investigated. He told the Imperial Grandson: “Don’t you want to completely topple Marquis Boyuan? Your Highness, why not use me to test whether his head is hard?”

The Imperial Grandson agreed.

So the matter proceeded.

Yu Qingwu’s hand gripped the water ladle tightly: “So Shanjun, you needn’t worry. No matter how outsiders curse, my heart is clear—I still harbor much hatred—some matters cannot be dwelled upon in detail.”

In the eight or nine months since Elder Brother’s death, every night he recalled every detail of Elder Brother before his death, every word and action—especially what Elder Brother hesitantly wanted to say when visiting his residence before passing, especially how Wu Qingchuan timely had someone summon him to the Wu household for a spot check on his learning.

He was in a hurry to leave and told Elder Brother: “Wait for my return.”

Once he brought this up, his body couldn’t help trembling. He said again: “Shanjun, tell me, how good would it have been if I hadn’t left then?”

So thinking it over, investigating it thoroughly, everything became clear.

He took a deep breath, gritting his teeth to prevent himself from choking up: “I always thought Elder Brother’s death—Wu Qingchuan merely hid the evidence.”

He said: “I never imagined he might have known… I also didn’t dare ask whether he also acted.”

If he truly acted… what should he do?

He raised his head, saying resolutely: “So I’m not afraid of them cursing me. I’m afraid of myself… afraid I won’t be able to deliver that final blow.”

Lan Shanjun watched him for a long time, then suddenly raised her hand and heavily patted his shoulder: “Don’t be unable to deliver it.”

She said: “Yu Qingwu, don’t be unable to deliver that blow. Otherwise, you’ll be the one sent to the guillotine.”

In the winter of Yuanshou’s 57th year, he showed you no mercy.

She didn’t know whether, during those ten years, Yu Qingwu had ever spared Wu Qingchuan, but she knew that sentiment didn’t succeed.

She had seen his death. She knew that once he showed mercy, he would be doomed eternally.

Standing ten years in the future looking at him, for the first time she used a resolute tone: “No matter how many merits he had before, when he tacitly allowed the Su siblings to be killed, all past merits were already reduced to ashes. He could kill them, and he can kill you.”

Yu Qingwu was silent for a long time, then gently nodded: “I understand.”

After finishing watering, he pulled up several cabbages and placed them properly in the corridor. He moved two stools over, sitting on one himself and giving one to Shanjun.

Lan Shanjun sat down and took a cabbage to peel.

But Yu Qingwu’s mind was still on what she had just said.

His gaze couldn’t help being drawn to Shanjun.

He thought: He was like the cabbage in her hands. Originally fine, looking good, fresh and crisp. Who wouldn’t say it was a good cabbage upon seeing it?

But she always, so easily, began peeling away his outer layers.

The resentment he hid in his heart, never intending to tell anyone, he had spoken to her like this.

He simply couldn’t refuse when Shanjun asked. Once she asked, he wanted to peel himself open.

Thus, piece by piece, layer by layer, his heart was peeled open for her to see.

The cabbage heart wasn’t particularly good.

Uneven and difficult paths—not the gentleman’s elegant bearing that people admired.

He couldn’t help but lower his head, feeling some panic arise in his heart.

He didn’t know where this panic came from, couldn’t even savor what it was in detail. He only felt that once his heart was peeled open, he had nowhere to hide, nothing to depend on, nothing to rely on—at least before, his smiling appearance meant no one could make him say he actually wanted to kill Wu Qingchuan.

He gathered the cabbage leaves bit by bit in his hands, clutching them tightly. Just as he was about to raise his head, he saw Shanjun hand over the cabbage heart in her hands.

She said: “Yu Qingwu, if in the future you can’t deliver that final blow, tell me.”

“Your knife is slow; my knife is fast. I need you to help me kill someone. If you’re willing, I can also help you kill Wu Qingchuan.”

Yu Qingwu was stunned.

Lan Shanjun stuffed the cabbage heart she’d been holding in mid-air into his hands: “A kind father produces a filial son. Only when the father is kind can the son be filial.”

“You must remember—when he decided to kill Young Master Su, the character for ‘father’ lost the two strokes above its head. Without the heart of protection, only the cross character ‘yi’ remained.”

Yi—also means knife.

She stood up, word by word, very resolute: “Either he uses this knife to kill you, or you use this knife to kill him. Then we might as well seize the initiative and kill him.”

Yu Qingwu was somewhat unable to recover.

He thought: He finally discovered what was wrong with Shanjun today.

She seemed very afraid Wu Qingchuan would kill him.

She also seemed very certain Wu Qingchuan would kill him.

She had seemed to be a mystery from the very beginning.

But he knew she was worried about him.

She was always gentle, never conducting herself as she did today. And today, she must be frightened.

Frightened that he would die.

So he responded with a sound of acknowledgment: “Yes. I’ve done nothing wrong. Elder Brother and I should both live well. Why should we be killed by him?”

[Author’s Note: At this rate of writing, the main text will conclude by the end of next month, friends. Don’t wait to binge-read!]