Shortly after, the Old Madam of the Shi family entered, supported by a maidservant.
The Old Madam rarely involved herself in household affairs. Like the Old Madam of the Yan family, she devoted herself entirely to Buddhist practice and resided in the south courtyard, seldom appearing unless there was a significant matter in the household.
The last time Yan Qing had seen her was at this very Old Madam’s birthday banquet. The Old Madam had taken considerable issue with Yan Qing’s disability, though she had concealed it on the surface. Later, when Yan Qing married into the Shi household and should have knelt to perform the tea ceremony, the Old Madam refused on the grounds that she did not concern herself with worldly affairs.
Since then, Yan Qing had not seen the Old Madam again.
Though the Shi Old Madam was already past sixty, she had very little grey in her hair. Her thick, dark hair was pinned up with a gold and jade hairpin, and she was dressed in a deep purple-black upper garment and skirt — her attire was not particularly ornate, but she carried herself with considerable authority.
The moment the Marshal saw the Old Madam, he knew exactly who had sent word to her. His irritation with Madam Shi deepened by several degrees.
“Grandmother! Grandmother, save me.” The instant Shi Qian caught sight of the Old Madam, he crawled on his knees to her, weeping and wailing. “Grandmother, I was foolish for a moment and made terrible mistakes. Save me — I don’t want to be sent to the frontier. They’ll freeze a person solid as an ice column out there.”
The Old Madam, seeing her grandson in tears and sniveling, hurried forward to help him up herself. “My dear Xianzhi, quickly rise. Don’t be afraid — no one is going to send you to a place like that. Your father is merely trying to frighten you.”
With that, she shot the Marshal a fierce glare.
The Marshal watched helplessly as the Old Madam lifted Shi Qian to his feet. His lips trembled slightly, but he dared not contradict his own mother. Filial piety comes before all virtues — the Marshal was, after all, someone’s son, and he was duty-bound to honor his mother first. Yet a fire raged in his throat, burning his heart and lungs from within.
Luo Huaimeng, watching this scene unfold, shook her head inwardly. Shi Qian had been raised in the Old Madam’s care from infancy until the age of ten. Even after the Old Madam had devoted herself to Buddhism, she still frequently invited him over to enjoy time together.
Madam Shi herself was closer to her second son, but the Old Madam’s deepest partiality lay with this eldest grandson.
Now, hearing that the Marshal intended to send her most beloved grandson to an icebound wasteland, she would naturally obstruct it by every means.
Luo Huaimeng thought to herself: no matter what other moves Shi Ting still had in reserve, they likely could not prevent the Marshal from keeping Shi Qian here. This time would probably end the same way as it had with Madam Shi — raised up high and brought down gently.
Luo Huaimeng could not help glancing at Yan Qing, whose dark pupils were like the still depths of a secluded pool — unreadable.
Luo Huaimeng felt a touch of puzzlement. Should she not show some disappointment or other emotion about what lay before them?
Truly a kindred spirit to Shi Ting — simple feelings of joy and sorrow were not to be discerned in her.
“Mother.” The Marshal drew a deep breath. “This unfilial wretch has now twice tried to assassinate his own younger brother. A cold-blooded creature like this — what use is there in keeping him?”
The Old Madam spoke with gravity: “Those who wield power all have blood on their hands. Even your father, in his day, climbed to that seat over a trail of bodies. If a man has no ruthlessness, how can he accomplish great things? Xianzhi acted foolishly for a moment — guide him properly; that is all. Yet you, in a fit of recklessness, would send him to some barbaric land. You are his father — how can you refuse him even a single chance? What is more, Xianzhi is ordinarily an honest and good-natured person. This must surely be someone framing him.”
Framing him? The evidence had been seized by the Marshal himself.
Yan Qing could not help glancing at the Old Madam. In the Old Madam’s eyes, both Shi Ting and Shi Qian were her grandsons — both were roots of the Shi bloodline. But when the moment came to cut one of those roots away, she would choose the grandson she loved most without a moment’s hesitation.
Yan Qing thought: when Luo Huaimeng had sent the young Shi Ting abroad all those years ago, he had suffered greatly, but at least he had kept his life and returned to the country safe and sound. Had he remained in this Shi household all along, he would surely have met his end long since.
Luo Huaimeng had been truly wise.
“Mother, this unfilial wretch wanted to kill his own brother. If I were to give him another chance for something like this, what if he succeeds the next time? Would it be too late to regret it then?”
The Old Madam held firm, sheltering Shi Qian behind her. “Xianzhi is my grandson. Today, with me here, I dare anyone to lay a hand on him.”
The Marshal was furious inside, but he dared not actually do anything to the Old Madam. Could he order his people to forcibly remove her?
The Marshal glanced at Shi Qian, whose head hung low, and several surges of rage leapt from his eyes — burning across the air, as if to scorch Shi Qian where he stood.
Shi Qian naturally knew the Marshal’s fury would only burn hotter, but at this juncture he had no other recourse than to cling to the Old Madam as his lifeline.
Moreover, he was certain Madam Shi had already received news and that, beyond summoning the Old Madam, she had also sent word to the Meng family. As long as pressure was applied from inside and outside, he would not have to go to Mocheng. He could accept whatever minor punishment came his way, then find a means to appease the Marshal, and the matter would eventually blow over.
Shi Qian was still entertaining these thoughts when a hasty report came from outside: “Marshal, Minister Meng has arrived.”
The Marshal had expected Meng Xiangyang’s arrival and showed no particular surprise.
“Marshal, Minister Meng has brought men and surrounded the entire Marshal’s compound.” The messenger seemed to gasp with every word, yet what he said was astonishing.
“What?” The Marshal erupted in fury. Even the Old Madam was thoroughly taken aback.
The Marshal pointed at Shi Qian and cursed, “You wretched creature — your dear uncle has come to rescue you. I want to see whether, if I refuse to spare you, he intends to slaughter everyone in my household.”
With that, he strode toward Shi Qian, heedless of the Old Madam standing in the way, and delivered a fierce kick squarely to Shi Qian’s chest.
Shi Qian was of military stock and solidly built, but even he felt his throat turn sweet from that kick — and let out a sound before vomiting a mouthful of blood.
The Old Madam was horrified and immediately moved to support him.
At that moment, a soft voice laced with several notes of alarm spoke up: “What are you all standing there for? Minister Meng has surrounded the Marshal’s compound — who knows what bold action he will take next. Quickly escort the Old Madam back to her courtyard and keep her safe.”
The Old Madam, upon hearing this, turned her sharp gaze directly upon the speaker — Yan Qing.
Yan Qing met her gaze steadily, her eyes full of what appeared to be genuine worry and urgency, making it impossible to tell whether it was deliberate or sincere.
While the Old Madam was still in a moment of hesitation, Liu Yin had already entered with men. Two of them flanked the Old Madam on either side. “Old Madam, the situation outside is unclear. Please return to your courtyard and take shelter for a while.”
“How dare you.” The Old Madam was furious. She turned to the Marshal and called out, “You allow your people to treat me this way? Where is your filial duty?”
The Marshal’s eyes shifted, and he stepped forward at once. “Mother, my filial duty begins with ensuring your safety. In a situation like this, nothing matters more than your well-being. Please return to your quarters quickly. Rest assured — I will dispatch additional men to protect you, and I will not allow any harm to come to you.”
With that, he caught Liu Yin’s eye. Liu Yin understood and forcibly escorted the Old Madam away. Even after she had gone some considerable distance, her furious protests could still be heard — but the Marshal had already chosen not to listen.
Yan Qing lowered her head and smiled slightly. The Old Madam had wanted to use her own face to shield Shi Qian — but that depended on whether anyone was willing to grant her that courtesy.
“Marshal, could Minister Meng be attempting a revolt?” Luo Huaimeng asked anxiously. “How could the Meng family dare?”
Although Meng Xiangyang held military authority, that power was largely dispersed elsewhere. His forces in Shun Cheng were not plentiful.
“I want to see exactly what this Meng Xiangyang intends to do. You — keep a close watch on him.” The Marshal shot Shi Qian a fierce glare and stormed out with an expression of fury.
The Marshal had barely made it halfway before he came face to face with Meng Xiangyang, who was hurrying toward him.
At the sight of Meng Xiangyang, the Marshal’s anger needed no further provocation, and he demanded furiously, “Meng Xiangyang — are you attempting a revolt?”
Meng Xiangyang was startled. He had received a message relayed by a maidservant on Madam Shi’s behalf, saying the Marshal was about to execute Shi Qian on the spot and instructing him to bring a significant number of men.
Meng Xiangyang had indeed brought a cavalry unit — but they had merely assembled near the main gate and its surroundings. The guard’s report, however, was that he had surrounded the Marshal’s compound. Gathering at the gate and surrounding the compound were two entirely different things — and the effect was the difference between heaven and earth.
What Meng Xiangyang could not have known was this: Yingtao, carrying Madam Shi’s token to deliver the message, had boarded a rickshaw where Dihuai had been waiting at the gate. Dihuai deliberately sent her tumbling off the bridge to knock her unconscious, took her token away, and in that interval sent another maidservant to the Meng Mansion under Madam Shi’s name. The Meng Mansion, upon seeing the token in the maidservant’s hands, believed it entirely, and immediately dispatched soldiers to rescue Shi Qian. Meanwhile, Dihuai replaced the token on Yingtao’s person, and she had been none the wiser from beginning to end.
Meng Xiangyang received a thorough dressing-down from the Marshal — and he was thoroughly bewildered. At this moment, he still did not understand what had happened.
“Marshal.” The charge of revolt, once leveled, sent a chill through Meng Xiangyang. No matter how overbearing and arrogant he normally was, no matter how little he actually put the Marshal in his eyes — he had never had any thought of revolt. And his current strength did not permit it regardless. The bulk of his military forces were stationed elsewhere. If he wanted to rebel, what would he rebel with?
“Marshal, you have misunderstood.” Meng Xiangyang hastily explained. “I only heard that Shi Qian…”
“And so — using the rescue of Shi Qian as your pretext — you surrounded my Marshal’s compound. What comes next? Do you intend to kill every last person in my household?”
“Marshal, I would never dare.” Meng Xiangyang immediately fell to his knees. In this moment, he had no energy left to plead for Shi Qian. The situation had left him unable to defend himself, no matter how many words he used.
* * *
Bage noticed everyone’s comments — even many readers who had never commented before were sending words of comfort to Bage. Thank you all — truly, what has Bage done to deserve this!
Rest assured, everything will be alright. Love you all!
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