Chapter 86 Demon
Minglan, who just came in with a pot of hot water and was about to help scrub the blood stains, was so scared that her legs went weak. She barely able to stabilized her body, and said to several maids who were not far behind her, "Madam wants to sort out the remains of the second madam in person, you all go down. By the way, call the embroidery lady and let her rush to make burial clothes overnight, the second madam is still waiting to wear it."
The few servants were afraid of getting bad luck, so they agreed without second thought. Zhao Luli had already helped the old madam back to the main courtyard, and had left the imperial physician to diagnose her pulse, afraid she could not bear the stimulation.
After Minglan made sure that there were no outsiders in the courtyard, she lowered her voice and persuaded, "Miss, do you know what you are talking about? People died is a big matter, you should let the second madam sleep peacefully. If this matter spreads, others will not understand that you are trying to save the child, but you will be blamed for offending ghosts and gods. What's more, they will take this opportunity to impeach the old master and master, and ruin the thousands of years reputation of the Guan family. People are already dead, and they must go to the ground as soon as possible, at this time, you must not be confused. Fortunately you are a noble daughter of the official family, if such behavior that offend the gods are placed on commoner women, she would be burned to death!"
"Do you think I'm being confused?" Guan Suyi stared at her, "Everything that I, Guan Suyi, have done in this life is very clear in my heart! It's true that people's death is a big matter. However, there is another saying, human life is beyond value. Today, I cut open my sister-in-law, and although I desecrate a remain, I conform to the way of heaven and my conscience, and I have a clear conscience! Not only will my grandfather and father not blame me, but they will support me."
She had also been a mother, and although it only for a few months, and she had not been able to give birth to the child as she wished, but she knew all the things she should know. She put her palm on Ruan shi's belly, feeling the pulses underneath, and said in a hoarse voice, "The amniotic fluid is not broken, the child is still alive, if I bury him and Ruan shi together, it will be a murder. Jinzi, what are you doing, hurry take the knife!"
Only then did Jinzi recover from the shock, hurriedly ran to her room and took a saber that could broke a hair if it blew to it. She didn't dare to ask why Madam knew that she knew martial arts, but then she thought that madam was so smart, how could she hide it, then quickly let go.
"Madam, do you, do you really want to do it?" For the first time in her life, she picked up a knife not to kill, but to save people, Jinzi was so nervous that she unconsciously trembled.
Guan Suyi grabbed her wrist tightly, her voice full of warnings, "Hold on tight, don't wiggle around, you can't see the fetus if you cut it too shallow, and you will hurt him if you cut it too deeply, you have to measure it carefully. You have killed people before, haven't you? Do you understand the structure of the human body?"
Jinzi had no choice but to nod when she met Madam's piercing eyes, and her dry throat could not swallow even a bit of saliva. Minglan let out a low "ah", then she showed timidity.
Guan Suyi's expressionless face finally burst into a smile, and only then did she let go of her wrist and comforted her softly, "Very good, it's easy to deal with if you have kill someone. Cut it open, rely on your past experience and cut it down, don't hesitate, the child can't wait."
Jinzi was about to cry, and her heart scolded His Majesty a hundred and eighty times, he said that the task of protecting Madam and blocking Marquis Zhao was very simple. Where is it simple? She couldn't even figure out when she was seen through by Madam. Relying on the experience of killing people to save people, she really didn't know how to save them. With such a thin layer of belly skin, a knife might cut the child in half, or cut off his hands and feet. It would be better to let him follow his mother to be buried together!
Her brain had become a pot of porridge, she could only draw little by little according to the touch of the blade, and after a few quarters of work, she finally cut the child out safely, wiped off the mucus from his body quickly with a cotton cloth, and patted his butt lightly.
Loud cries resounded across the sky, and Jinzi busily wrapped him in a swaddling clothes, held him helplessly, full of ecstasy after fear and anxiety. Heaven, she rescued him, she rescued him from his mother's womb with her own hands! This is better than winning ten battles and killing tens of thousands of enemy troops!
Minglan also forgot her fear and walked over to watch.
"Madam, you hug him, he's a boy, he's very healthy, he's full of energy, he'll be a fierce general in the future!" Jinzi said excitedly.
Guan Suyi was already in daze when she heard the first cry. In a trance she took the child, and slowly adjusted her posture like she had practiced thousands of times in the previous life, so that he could lie down more comfortably. His little mouth opened and closed, still making a crying sound, and as soon as his little hand touched the front of her dress, he held it firmly, as if he had sensed it.
At this moment, her tears finally burst out of the embankment and rolled down. It turns out that the child is not a sin. For a mother, whether they were expected by the father or not, they were the most precious gift and the most generous favor from Heaven. She couldn't keep him in her last life, so she made up such remarks to deceive herself, but it turned out that deep down in her heart, she had always longed, repented, and hoped to go back in time and hold him firmly.
"Child, you are not a sin, you are a hope, a gift, and a continuation of your mother's life. You must grow up safely." She buried her face on the side of the child's neck, and finally cried out her pain.
Jinzi and Minglan had never seen their master losing control like this, and they were a bit at a loss for a while, then their eyes slowly reddened and sobbed.
In order not to frighten the child, Guan Suyi didn't dare to cry for too long, so she quickly calmed down and carried him to the bedside, facing Ruan shi's face, and said hoarsely, "Sister-in-law, this is your child, look at him." He stroked the baby's fetal hair again, "Child, this is your mother, she tried her best to give birth to you, so you should give her one last look."
Miraculously, Ruan shi's grim and unwilling face gradually turned calm, and the eyelids were closed without being covered by hands. Her spirit was in heaven, and she finally got her wish.
Guan Suyi cried silently again, afraid that the child would get sick with too much death energy, so she took him away and placed him in the cradle, guarded by Minglan. Jinzi had never cried before, until today she understood that tears were salty, bitter, and astringent. But she didn't regret it at all, and she wasn't ashamed at all, instead there were surging waves in her heart. To be valued by His Majesty, to be dispatched to Madam's side, and to appreciate so much of magnificent righteousness and true feelings of the world, she truly had the blessing of three lifetimes!
If the mission end in the future, she didn't want to go back to Dark Guard division, and would follow Madam in this life.
Seeing Madam pick up the handkerchief to wipe off the blood on her body, she came to her sense and said earnestly, "Madam, go back and rest, leave it to me here."
"You cut open the stomach, and I will sew it up, so that sister-in-law can go with dignity." She took a box of needles and thread from the Bogu shelf, and slowly twisted the end of the thread, fearing that one thread was not strong enough, she added another thread and quickly rolled it into one.
"You, you're going to sew?" Jinzi suspected that she was hallucinating.
"Yes, I'll sew. Sister-in-law would definitely like me to personally sort out her remain and dress her. I couldn't protect her, I can only do this trivial thing." Her desolate tone suddenly turned cold, "Go to the main courtyard and check the box of sour jujube cake she ate before. I just asked the imperial physician to diagnose her pulse yesterday, he said that the fetal position is very correct, the fetal appearance is good, and sister-in-law is healthy and fit, so she should not bleed heavily the next day. Check, be sure to check till the end!"
Jinzi looked stern, and immediately rushed to the main courtyard, but happened to meet the old madam who hurried over. It turned out that there was a granny passing by outside the wall, and when she heard the baby crying, she felt something was wrong and reported it and asked the old madam to come see. They slammed the door open and found that the child had been taken out, alive, it was a big fat boy, and they were ecstatic. They also saw that Ruan shi's belly had been cut open, and Guan Suyi was slowly sewing it with a needle and thread. She staggered and almost fainted.
The old madam retreated while reciting Amitabha Buddha, but Zhao Luli didn't move for a long time, as if he become stupid.
"Don't disturb sister-in-law's peace, go out quickly." While speaking Guan Suyi didn't even turn around.
Zhao Luli returned to his sense, and immediately retreated, shut the door tightly, and turned around to find that Mingfang and Ye Fan had also followed. Mingfang wanted to curry favor with the eldest miss, the second madam and the old madam. Naturally, she had to come to the delivery room to take guard. Ye Fan didn't want her monopolize the limelight, so she came too.. When the person died, the old madam was stimulated, so they competed to serve her, refusing to leave, dragging and dragging, and they saw the scene in the room vividly.
"Ah! The stomach, the stomach is cut open! Madam is sewing!" Mingfang screamed. Ye Fan was so frightened that she lost her mind, dumb like a wooden chicken.
Zhao Luli strode over and slapped her fiercely, his eyes full of killing intent, "If today's incident spreads outside, I will rip your skin off! Second madam gave her life to give birth to second young master, remember?"
Mingfang covered her cheek and nodded, Ye Fan hid behind her and wept. Both of them regretted coming here.
Zhao Luli looked at them gloomily for a while, then walked to the window, his tone became gentle, "Don't worry, madam, your husband will take care of the aftermath. You saved the second brother's child and left a bloodline for him. I'm here to thank you on his behalf!" After he finished the words he bowed deeply, with uncontrollable gratitude and admiration surging in his chest.
The old madam also came out, holding the child in her arms, also burst into tears and bowed deeply.
On the other end, Jinzi rushed to check the sour jujube cake, and it was indeed poisonous. She also found many poisonous snakes in the flowerbeds everywhere, but it was too late to deal with it, and she smelled a strange smell in the dining room, and only after a taste did she realize that the food in the East and West Mansion had been poisoned! If it weren't for the hectic events today, neither the master nor the servants had the heart to eat, then many people would have died.
The murderer really rushed from the border to Yanjing to take revenge, and he hated the Zhao family very much. Instead of finding and killing each one with the surname Ye, he would rather kill a thousand by mistake than let one go. Who the hell is this person, how did he get in here, even Madam almost got killed, really hateful!
Due to the seriousness of the situation, Jinzi did not dare to be arrogate herself, and quickly asked Madam for instructions. After discussing with the master and the old madam, she decided to report to the official. While dealing with the officials who came to investigate the case, she also carried out the funeral for Ruan shi, and also wrote a letter to send to the border pass, asking Zhao Jinyu to rush back to observe the filial piety and take a look at the child.
Ruan shi's family arrived in the capital three days later, but did not come to the mourning hall to serve the funeral, but rented a courtyard outside to live in temporarily, and then spread rumors that the Madam of the Zhao family had cut open their daughter's belly, desecrated the body, and angered the gods. She practiced the way of demons, and it's necessary to dragged her to the market and burned her to death, as a warning for others.
Chapter 87 Resign
When such a big thing happened in the Zhao Mansion, Jinzi naturally did not dare to hide it. Worried that His Majesty would misunderstand Madam's viciousness, she wrote all the details in the secret letter, how she came up with the idea, how she made decision, how she rescued the child, how she hugged him and cried bitterly, and how she put him next to Ruan shi and let the mother and son see the last scene one by one, which made people immersed.
After receiving the secret letter, Emperor Sheng Yuan read it over and over again. Although his expression was always calm, there were occasional lightning flashes in his blue-black eyes. He squeezed the letter tightly, and his hands gradually began to tremble, as if he was enduring great pain. He hesitated for a while, then finally opened the secret chamber hidden inside the palace hall, intending to enter.
"Your Majesty, why are you doing this?" Baifu had no way of knowing what was written in the secret letter, but he knew that if His Majesty walked into this door, he would go crazy for no reason and severely hurt himself.
The leader of the dark guard couldn't help but show his figure, and knelt down to block him, "Your Majesty, let the past things pass, don't think about it anymore. The things in this room should have been burnt down long ago."
Emperor Sheng Yuan bypassed him without saying a word and strode inside. The secret room was not spacious, with many luminous pearls inlaid on the four walls, and there was a painting on the wall facing the door. It was said that the Empress Dowager specially found a Dongyang (Japanese) painter to describe the real scene, called Ukiyo-e*. It was very colorful, and the pigments used were specially treated, which could be preserved for thousands of years without rotting.
As soon as the room came into view, there were large patches of red, and the ground was covered with blood. If it in the past, Emperor Sheng Yuan would have been stimulated into madness, and then recklessly smashed and slashed, he would be unwilling to lie down until he was seriously injured or physically weak.
The leader of the dark guard and Baifu were already ready to deal with a man-eating beast, but today's situation was very different. His Majesty stood quietly in front of the painting, and there was no other abnormality except for his clenched hands. He looked at the painting over and over again very calmly, and suddenly laughed in a low voice. There was bitterness and sorrow in his laughter, but more than that, relief.
When he turned his head, his face was filled with tears, and he picked up the secret letter that's unknown what was written on it, and read it with a very gentle expression.
In their anxiety, the leader of the dark guard and Baifu vaguely heard him choking and whispering, "It turns out that Zhen is not a sin, but a hope, a gift, and even more a continuation of mother's life. Zhen is not a monster, a hell Rakshasa (!), Zhen is mother's child protected with her life!" He laughed and laughed then turned to cry, and after crying for a while, he smiled again, it seemed that he was still sane, but it was more frightening than when he was manic.
The leader of the dark guard and Baifu had never seen him lose his temper like this, they thought he was possessed, and were thinking about whether to invite a wizard to exorcise His Majesty, when they saw him suddenly put away all his expressions and walked out the secret room while wiping his tears with a handkerchief, and said with a deep love in his tone, "Madam has saved Zhen once again, she is worthy of being Zhen's Madam."
What exactly was written on the secret letter? It actually cured His Majesty's madness? The leader of the dark guard and Baifu scratched their hearts and lungs curiously.
Three days later, their questions were finally answered. It turned out that Madam Guan had cut open the belly of her sister-in-law that died in childbirth, took out the child, and then sewed it up again. This is too formidable, isn't it?
Even the murderous dark guards couldn't bear it, let alone an ordinary people? Therefore, when the Ruan family were shouting everywhere, Madam Guan was scolded as a "witch", and her actions had the effect of stopping children from crying at night. If there was a disobedient child who made a fuss, the elder would said with a tiger face, "If you make trouble again, let the big madam of the Zhao family come to cut you and sew you up again!" It without fail kept the child as good as a quail.
Within three days, the reputation of the Guan family's benevolence was completely ruined. When people saw the plaque of the Emperor Teacher Mansion, the timid ones would avoid it, and the daring ones would smash it with stones or rotten eggs, and there were also women who believed in Buddhism who sneakily burned paper money at the base of the wall to beat up villains, and drove away evil spirits, which made the Guan house billowing with smoke.
Old Master Guan and Guan Father didn't blame their beloved daughter at all, they went out like usual and deal with the situation calmly. They knew that if no one contributed to this matter, it would not have caused such a big fuss. On the surface, it seemed to be aimed at Yiyi, but in fact it was pointing at the Emperor Teacher Mansion. However, they had a clear conscience, and they were not afraid of danger. After waiting for three days, they finally waited until someone attacked from the front.
Just after being transferred to the imperial secretariat platform, although he was only in his early twenties, Master Song Xuan, who was in charge of the judicial secretariat of Judicial Affairs Department, held the jade tablet and stepped forward. "Report to the emperor, this minister have two person he want to impeach."
"Present the memorial." Emperor Sheng Yuan glanced at him darkly.
"This minister want to impeach the Emperor Teacher and Chief of Ceremonies for not educating their children properly, loss personal virtue, and instigated Guan shi to desecrate a body, anger ghosts and gods, and do demonic things. Dissection of a corpse and torture of the dead' souls are indeed a rare crime in the world, and it also a great evil devoid of all humanity. Still ask the emperor to deal with it fairly, to clear the soul of the deceased, and let the dead sleep in peace."
As soon as he finished speaking, a few more people stood up to agree, all of whom were from noble families with powerful foundations.
Emperor Sheng Yuan was about to get angry, but Old Master Guan and Guan Father slowly took off their official hats, removed their official robes, and strode forward to kowtow. Guan Father cupped his hands in salute and said in a dignified tone, "Report to the emperor, the little girl cut open the abdomen, not to desecrate the body or offend the ghosts and gods, but to save the unborn child in the womb. There is a Buddhist saying: 'Heaven has the virtue of good life*, saving a life is better than building a seven-level pagoda', and there's also a saying : 'human life is beyond value, and should not be neglected'. The little girl did not kill a single person, but saved one person. This minister really couldn't understand where she was wrong. But since everyone said that her saving is wrong, then it's wrong. This minister and his father exchanged these two black gauze hats for a life. We never feel that we have lost even a little bit, but instead feel very fortunate! This then resign and return home. "
The old man also cupped his hands in salute and said indignantly, "Justice is not in the hearts of the people, good and evil have their own destiny. Whether the granddaughter of this old man is a witch, the gods are watching, the deceased are watching, and the child who survived is also watching. This old man not only did not feel that she had loss her personal virtues, but also praised her for her immeasurable merits, bronze heart and iron courage, dare to do what others did not do, dare to bear what others could not bear, and is the best woman I have raised in my Guan family. Resigning from office today, this old man do not feel it's a pity, only feel happy. My Guan family's thousand-year-old family precepts is just one sentence – Look up worthy of the sky and look down not to be ashamed of people. She has a clear conscience, and I have no complaints or regrets! Your Majesty, this old man take his leave."
After the words finished, without waiting for the emperor's response, he led his son to stride away, in honest and upright manner.
After listening to his impassioned and righteous words, seeing that he did not care about the power at all, saying he left then he left, the civil servants with a little bit strength of character were deeply impressed by him, and the military generals had long been convinced by the old man, they loudly plead for him, some of them had drawn their swords and wanted to hack Song Xuan on the spot.
People like Guan family's father and son were really a clear stream in the court, not seeing the family status, no partisanship, no disputes between civil servants and military generals. If you have a reason they will defend you, if you break the law they will impeach you, always consider the matter, not the people. The villain fear them, the gentleman respected them, and the warriors who have always been inflexible were very close to them, always full of adulation.
If the Emperor Teacher and Chief of Ceremonies left the court, afraid the civil servants and military generals would fight against each other.
Emperor Sheng Yuan didn't expect the two Mount-Tai to be so decisive, and left as soon as they said they wanted to leave. When he came back to his senses, he could only smile bitterly. After smiling, he thought of Madam who was criticized badly, and felt another burst of heartache.
He looked at Song Xuan coldly, and said word by word, "If Zhen remember correctly, Master Song has just entered the Imperial Secretariat platform, and has taken up the position as judicial secretary of Judicial Affairs Department. The duties are judicial participation in the military, managing the prison law, supervise thieves, have knowledge of the stolen goods and bribes that have been confiscated, and review important cases in various places, is it not?"
Song Xuan didn't understand, so he only agreed, "Yes."
Emperor Sheng Yuan said again, "The law of civil punishment has been revised a few days ago, what is the benchmark?"
"People-oriented, human life is beyond value." Song Xuan began to sweat after saying this. He only knew that Guan shi had dissected a body, and her behavior was shocking and inhumane, but he forgot that her original intention was to conform to the way of heaven. Saving a life is better than building a seven-level pagoda, the Buddha would not blame her, and where would it be the turn for mortals to raise an issue.
"It's hard for you to remember." Emperor Sheng Yuan seemed very pleased, but he quickly asked with a low face, "What is the content of Article 6, Paragraph 7?"
Song Xuan froze for a moment, and when he spoke again his voice was hoarse, "Article 6, Paragraph 7, if a lawsuit involving human life occurs in various places, and the matter involves a capital crime, the local government shall not arbitrarily take action, it must be reported and examined and approved at every level. Death row prisoners can only be executed after the review, and if there are any grievances before the autumn and winter, they can submit a petition and do their best to express their situation, and every time there is a complaint paper, the authorities must check it, cannot shrink one's duty."
"So you still remember all." Emperor Sheng Yuan looked around the silent court and said slowly, "For death row prisoners, the court still leaves them with a glimmer of life, can an innocent baby be ignored just because he is weak, unable to speak, and unable to move his legs? Do you think Madam Guan was wrong in saving him, and knowing that the fetus in the womb is moving, is it right to buried the child with the mother's body? Zhen really doesn't understand your concept of right and wrong, your view of good and evil."
He stared at Song Xuan with a cold tone, "Knowing that human life can be saved but not saving it, and in turn blaming others for saving it, this kind of confuse remark came from the mouth of judicial secretary, Zhen is deeply shocked and disappointed. If someone were to report a murder case to you for review in the future, would you be as black and white as you are today, with no distinction between good and evil?"
He picked up the brush, and wrote down the dismissal document while speaking slowly, "The law is the foundation of a stable society and it should not be taken lightly. Zhen definitely dare not hand the national law to a person who cannot distinguish right from wrong, who cannot distinguish good from evil. Knowing that there is a small life inside, but he doesn't even dare to cut open a layer of belly, Master Song has neither courage, nor benevolence, nor loyalty, there is really no positive point. You should not sit in this judicial secretariat position, let it be given others." After the words finished and he looked at the people who supported Song Xuan, shook his heads and sneered, and pointed to a prison officer who spoke for the two Mount Tai, and said, "The new law judicial secretary, report your name."
The man never expected a huge pie to fall from the sky, which made his head dizzy. He reported his name in a trance, and saw the emperor drop the imperial brush and seal the appointment document, and then flung his sleeves as he left.
Song Xuan, who was still smug just now, was so pale and slumped to the ground. He was dragged out by two internal attendants and thrown down the steps. His supporters all beat their chests and stomp their feet, and felt great remorse.
T/N: I used the term Asura for the emperor's derogatory name before (look at ch. 74 & 75) but I made a stupid mistake and that's I don't do my research properly! It's actually Rakshasa, an evil spirit that eat human flesh from Indic mythology, while Asuras are powerful superhuman demigods with good or bad qualities. Sorry for the mistake
Ukiyo-e*: Japanese genre painting using a woodblock print, literal translation means pictures of the floating world.
'Heaven has the virtue of good life*: have the virtue of cherishing living beings and not killing them.
Chapter 88 Make Trouble
Old Master Guan and Guan Father resigned from their official positions and immediately left the palace to prepare to move. Their current residence was given by the emperor, which was originally the home of a certain prince from the previous dynasty. The regulations were very high, and it was natural that civilians could not live there. Zhong shi didn't have a single complaint, and immediately ordered the servants to pack the luggage. She also said that the Ruan family was very noisy today. On the way back to their old house, they could drop by to see their daughter, comfort her, and then give Ruan shi a stick of incense.
Everyone complied, and they got busy quickly.
As soon as the father and son took off their official hats and walked out of the Forbidden Palace, the Ruan family got the letter and knew that the matter had been done, they could beat the door to humiliate Guan shi and take off a layer of her skin. Even if she was a first-rank madam, without her maiden family to rely on, and her husband was a commoner, was she still not allowed to be trampled on?
The more violent the riot, the more notorious the Guan family's reputation would be, and it is impossible to mend it again in the future. Who told them to be ignorant and stand in others' way?
Carrying tens of thousands of taels of silver tickets he had just obtained, Ruan Father and Ruan Mother wore mourning clothes, wiped away their tears, led the whole family to block the door of General Zhengbei Mansion, and insisted that the Zhao family should give them an explanation.
"My good daughter was handed over to your general, but she ended up like this after a few years. Not only did she die an unknown death, but her body was also cut open by a knife. If the soul of our daughter can't enter the underworld and can't be reborn, won't she become a wandering lone ghost, unable to cultivate in the afterlife? Back then, her father-in-law got into a lawsuit and was arrested and imprisoned, but it was my master who supported him left and right to get him out. When she was engaged, you kept saying that you would treat her well to repay this kindness, is this your way of repaying? Call your old madam out, I will confront her face to face!"
Seeing that there were more and more people watching the scene, and they already surrounded three layers outside and three layers inside of both the East and West Mansion, the housekeeper was sweating profusely and even said, "Oh, old madam, who did you listen to say such nonsense? The second young master was born after the second madam put her life at stake, how can there be cutting her open to take him out! If there is any misunderstandings, let's go in and explain, don't let outsiders see the joke."
"Is it a misunderstanding? You take out the body and let me see her belly to know. I heard it for real, your eldest madam is very powerful. She cut open her belly and sewed it up with needles and thread. What do you think of my daughter? A sackcloth bag? If you are so disrespectful to the dead, you will go to hell in the future!" Ruan Mother spat fiercely on the ground, her expression extremely ferocious.
Some busybody got excited and shouted, "This sister-in-law is right, is it misunderstanding or not, just carry the body out so we can take a look, what's the point of talking nonsense?"
"Bring it out, bring it out, bring it out quickly!" The people shouting, some with green eyes, waiting to see the corpse.
This curiosity-hunting psychology was very infectious. Once the public sentiment leaked out, it would be like a flood, then it could not be controlled. In a short while, the originally timid person who was like a mouse also shouted, wishing to directly jump over the wall and break into the mourning hall.
At this moment, the door opened in response to the sound. Guan Suyi led the Zhao family out slowly, and said lightly, "Madam Ruan, I'm here to confront you. You said that I desecrated the body and made the soul uneasy, but you are so noisy and want to examine her body in public, isn't it blasphemy? She is still your own flesh and blood, and you won't leave her the last shred of dignity?"
Then she looked at the crowd, her voice was high, "The soul of the deceased will stay in this world for seven days, and ghosts and gods are also stays three feet above our head. Everyone looks up to the sky, and then lowers your heads to touch their conscience. Making such a noise at other people's funerals, even intending to trespass into the mourning hall, open the coffin, and carry out the body, who is losing their conscience? Who is offending the gods?"
The crowd, who were still agitated, suddenly felt their scalps numb and their backs shivered, so they closed their mouths and lowered their heads. With just one sentence, the scene was so quiet that one could hear a needle dropped.
Seeing that she was able to calm the scene so well, Ruan Father couldn't help but feel anxious, and said angrily, "You cut up my daughter, do you have any reason?"
"Yes, I have a reason, what do you want? My sister-in-law's funeral is still going on. I don't have time to messing around with you. You can directly explain your intention."
"I want you to kneel in front of my daughter's spirit and kowtow to her for a complete seven seven forty-nine day*, and then perform a water and land ritual* for seven seven forty-nine day for her, write a mourning letter to admit your guilt, and then burn it as the sacrifice to the sky to help her reincarnated. Although my Ruan family is neither an official family nor a wealthy family, we will not covet your compensation, but only ask for a restful sleep for my daughter, can you do it?" Ruan Father's "devotion to righteousness" seemed authentic.
Somebody in the crowd shouted good, as if in admiration, and was stunned by the Zhao family's little maid' glare and then shrank back.
Guan Suyi nodded calmly, "Since you are so highly principled, I will give you an accurate word. I did cut open my sister-in-law's stomach, so I should kowtow to her, I should help her transcend, and I should apologize to her. I accept all the conditions proposed by your family."
Is she admit it? Accepted? Didn't they say that Guan shi was difficult to deal with? Why she not argue a few words, then tear it apart and make the situation worse? Ruan Father and Ruan Mother were feeling uneasy, and saw her turn around again, took the little baby in the old madam's arms, her face facing the direction of everyone, and slowly said, "You have arrived in Yanjing for three days, and also making trouble at the door for half a day, during these three to four days, you have not come to worship before the spirit, and you have never mentioned this grandson. It seems that you don't want to recognize him. When my sister-in-law was dying, she desperately took her last breath to ask me to save this child. So even if I knew I shouldn't done it, and knew that the gods and ghosts should not be offended, I still cut her to take him out. You let me kowtow, I can; let me perform rituals to help her ascend, I can; let me admit that I did something wrong, that I cannot. Saving this child is the best thing I have done in my life, and I have no regrets."
The child's immature face was seen by everyone, and their hostility slowly dissipated, causing them to regain their senses one after another. They were vaguely wondering if they were going too far, and then heard Madam Guan said word by word, "Since you think I shouldn't have cut the abdomen and rescued him, then that's fine. After we buried my sister-in-law, you should go back, never come to the door again, and don't recognize him, just treat him as… in his mother's womb."
In any case, she couldn't say the word "dead", she swallowed it, and gently stroked the baby's hair, "Anyway, in your hearts, he should not exist, but since he survived, I also can't stuff him back, can only take good care of him. You are making this scene today, and keep saying that I shouldn't have save him, how sad he will be after he know when he grows up? Rather than that happened, it's better to hide it forever and sever the relationship. There is no need for you to threaten, I have already discussed with Master Xuan Guang that tomorrow I will transfer the coffin to Jueyin Temple to hold a ritual ceremony. You didn't come to worship for the first three days, I hope that in the next few days you will send my sister-in-law away peacefully, just regard it as a little family affection."
Ruan Father and Ruan Mother were very anxious when they heard this. They came to make trouble, how could they think of their grandson's situation? To say that Guan shi made a mistake, doesn't it mean to deny the existence of their grandson? In the coming year, he would grow up and understand things, and Guan shi would talk about today's situation, how could he not resent the Ruan family! Seeing that the main house of Zhao Mansion has collapsed, the second house was at its peak, and they could live a good life in their hometown, all relying on the illustrious name of their son-in-law. Now that their daughter had died and the grandson severed ties with them, when Zhao Jinyu married a new wife, who would remember who the Ruan family was? Relatives of which tablet?
The nobleman's mission has been completed, but he missed the big matter for his family, it was like picking up sesame seeds and lost the watermelon*. If the second house's son did not recognize them, no matter how much wealth they have, they would not be able to keep them, and even worse, they would fall very quickly!
Ruan Father was sweating profusely and his hands and feet were cold. He was just about to think of an excuse to ease the relationship between the two families, and then heard Zhao Luli indifferently said, "Madam cut open the abdomen to take the child is not for anything else, just to save the bloodline of the second house. It is said that the general die in a hundred battles, and the strong man return in ten years*. My younger brother is wholeheartedly loyal, his braveness is unmatched. Every time he went to battle, he will charge forward, not afraid of death. My Zhao family is well aware, whether he can come back alive in this life is unknown. With this bloodline, the second house has retained its roots. My Zhao family not only did not feel that Madam was wrong, but also kneeling three times and kowtowing nine times to thank her for her kindness. When my little nephew grows up and understand things, he will also perform this big rite, never dare to forget!" Then he pulled up his robe and knelt down heavily.
The old madam also said with tears in her eyes, "Since Ruan shi married into our family, she has never made any omissions. She was filial to her elders, she was kind to the juniors, she was also considerate to her husband, virtuous and warm. Seeing her suffered such a calamity, I'm also heartbroken, with her last breath she desperately asked us to save the child, how could we turn a deaf ear and let her die with unresolved grievance? I told Suyi to cut her belly open, if you have any dissatisfaction, you will come to me!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhao Chunxi cried out, "Grandmother, where you done wrong? Mom, where you done wrong? Granddaughter dreamed of second aunt last night, she asked me to thank mom on her behalf, saying that in the next life she will become an ox and a horse for her to repay her kindness of saving the second brother. Mom, daughter will kowtow on her behalf." Immediately afterwards, she knelt down with his father and kowtowed sincerely.
Zhao Wangshu hurriedly knelt down and there were big tears in the corners of his eyes.
Passersby thought of General Zhengbei, who was still defending against foreign aggression at the border, and looked at the Zhao family who were kneeling on the ground. Only then did they realize that Madam Guan's move was not only to desecrated the body, but also saved the seedling of the second house and continued the family bloodline, for a mother, where she done wrong?
One of the mothers in the crowd finally burst into tears, shouting loudly, "Piss off, you men can't distinguish right and wrong! If anyone saves my child, don't talk about the next life, to be an ox and a horse for her in this life, I'm also willing! Madam Guan is benevolent and righteous, and she is really a role model for my female generation! What are you arguing about, go home and take the children, do you still count on this people that neither know how to give birth nor know how to raise them?"
"How can I count on them? The most bitter thing in the world is still a woman. Just walk and go home to nurse the child." The woman who was also a mother bowed to Madam Guan from afar, wiped her tears and left. It was difficult for those who had never been a mother to understand their feelings, but they gradually understood and follow suit. Only some idle men were still standing at the door to watch the fun.
At this moment, Old Master Guan and Guan Father, who had been watching on the roadside for a long time slowly walked up the steps and bowed their heads in all directions.
"I want everyone to know that our father and son were impeached for offending ghosts and gods, and now have resigned from official positions, and returned home. Everyone said that my granddaughter has done something wrong, but my answer is the same as hers, where is it wrong? I'd be more than happy to exchange two official hats for this little guy's life!"
Guan Father also said slowly, "Heaven has the virtue of good life, and human life is even greater than heaven, and we as mortals dare not stand idly by."
Guan Suyi looked at the family around her, and at the child who slept soundly with a small mouth in her arms. Tears slowly filled her eyes. She was about to return to the house and close the door when she heard a sharp voice coming from behind the crowd, "The emperor has arrived!"
It was actually Emperor Sheng Yuan who personally chased after the Emperor Teacher to invite him to return to the court.
seven seven forty-nine day*: it is a Chinese funeral customs, every seven day is a death day and it will last until 49 days, after death a person must pass through seven levels before he can be reincarnated, and each level takes seven days.
a water and land ritual*: it is the most solemn, largest and most meritorious ritual in Chinese buddhism, the main purpose is to save the dead, reddem all living beings, rescue the lonely and wild ghosts, provide food for the ghosts, so as to ensure the safety of the place.
picking up sesame seeds and lost the watermelon*: to let go of the big prize while grabbing at trifles.
the general die in a hundred battles, and the strong man return in ten years*: soldier have gone through countless battles of life and death, some sacrificed their lives, some returned victorious after 10 years.
Chapter 89 Visit
Suddenly, many armored and heavily armed guards came from the other end of the street. They used their halberds to break up the crowd and shouted in unison, "Welcoming the Emperor!" Then there were several lines of imperial guards riding tall horses escorting a jade chariot, all steadily came to the front of Zhao Mansion.
Looking at this pomp and momentum, the emperor is actually here!
The crowd immediately dropped down, shouting Long Live Your Majesty. Guan Suyi hurriedly hugged the child, followed her grandfather and father to welcome the Emperor, and then saw a dark figure coming down from the jade chariot from a distance. He was very tall and strong, with handsome facial features, and a deep silhouette, completely different from the gentle and jade-like man of the Central Plains. Instead he carried a sharpness and ruthlessness of frozen snowfield, even more, had a majestic and extraordinary feeling of arduous mountains and rivers.
If it added a beard, who wouldn't think it's Hunnar? Hunnar, Huo Shengzhe? Yes, "Huo" was the Central Plains surname for "Hu", "Shengzhe" was said to be the Central Plains' name that Emperor Sheng Yuan was given to himself, and the source was "Li Sao", fū wéi shèng zhé yǐ mào xíng xī*, it means a perfect person with extraordinary intelligence and morality.
He is the emperor, doesn't it means he's a "perfect person"? What a bastard, he even dares plotting to rob other people's wife, one after another at that, could it be he have a special hobby, and that he likes women who already married? Guan Suyi felt that she was about to explode with anger. If a little spark was splashed on her body, she would burn up in an instant.
She resisted her anger and walked up close to kneel, but she didn't expect this person to be so daring. He didn't consider helping her grandfather and father to get up, and obviously he saw she had stand up, but he still pretended to help her, and then gently squeezed her slender arms.
Lecher! She raised her eyes and glared at him fiercely, and quickly suppressed the unnecessary emotions.
Emperor Sheng Yuan no longer cared what Madam would think. He couldn't wait for a moment to see her.
"This is the child that Madam worked so hard to save?" He pretended not to notice Madam's anger, bent down, bowed his head, and looked at the child in her arms, his face was inevitably close to her, and even their breath were mix together, producing a scorching temperature and a rich aroma. She was cinnamon, he was ambergris, and for a moment it was very intoxicating.
Guan Suyi desperately wanted to avoid him, but because the other party was so tall and his aura was too majestic and powerful, he brought her whole body under his control, there was no way to hide, only obedience.
"Back to the emperor, this child is the virtuous nephew." Zhao Luli stepped forward to answer, and seamlessly pulled his wife to his side. Seeing the emperor stood together with Madam holding the child, in an intimate posture like they were one family, he felt his eyes sting and his heart trembled, as if something important was about to lose.
"It's inconvenient here, please ask the emperor to move inside." He pointed to the front door.
Emperor Sheng Yuan nodded slightly, but he did not take the lead in entering, but respectfully went to support the old master, and said warmly, "Emperor Teacher, you leave as soon as you said leave, it really makes Zhen helpless. After the court finished Zhen rushed to the Emperor Teacher Mansion to apologize, only to learn that you actually going to move to the old house, so chased all the way here. You taught Zhen many things, and Chief of Ceremonies is also Zhen's trusted aide, Zhen cannot lose any of you. Zhen is here to ask you to return to the court and continue to assist Zhen. Saving a person's life is better than building a seven-level pagoda, even the Buddha said that, Zhen really don't understand why when Madam saved a life, she became a monster?"
He turned to look at the Ruan family, who were kneeling at the door, and said with a cold tone, "Your family has come to Yanjing for three days, but neither come to worship the deceased's soul nor visit the orphan. But instead accepted bribes, spread rumors everywhere, and ruined the reputation of the Emperor Teacher Mansion. You keep saying that you want justice for your daughter, and bluntly said that Madam should not cut open the abdomen to take the child out, very good, you don't have to recognize this child. Take the fifty thousands taels of silver that Wang Youpeng gave you and go home. In your hearts, blood kinship is probably not as precious as gold and silver."
Wang Youpeng? The son of Prime Minister Wang? It turned out that he ordered it. Old Master Guan and Guan Father looked at each other, each with their own thought.
The Ruan family slumped to the ground, despairing in their hearts. The emperor personally spoke to them and ordered them to cut off their relationship with the child, then the Ruan family would really have nothing to do with the General Zhengbei Mansion from now on! The family property earned by relying on the prestige of his son-in-law over the years would be divided in an instant. However, this was nothing, there's a more terrible catastrophe waiting for them.
Most of the onlookers who refused to disperse were street thugs or mercenaries, who were armed with martial arts to commit crimes. In order to pick up a few coins to buy wine, they even dare to pick up the graves of the dead, what else they couldn't do? They were the ones who were clamoring to open the coffin for an autopsy today, and they felt very powerful just now, but at this moment they felt a blade hanging on their necks, at death's door.
The emperor said that they were carrying huge wealth. If they left the Zhao Mansion today, they would be corpses on the streets tomorrow, and their families would be destroyed! Fifty thousands taels of silver was not a small amount. For the common people who have no support, it was tantamount to a child who was swaggering through the market with golden bricks in his arms, just courting death.
Ruan Father and Ruan Mother were drenched in cold sweat, as if they were mourning their dead mother, and the rest of the juniors also looked left and right, too frighten to speak, always feeling that everyone looked at them with murderous and fierce light in their eyes.
Hearing the sound of the Zhao Mansion's door being slammed shut, these people woke up from their stupor and rushed up the steps to beat desperately, "In-law, open the door! Madam, open the door! Let us in to give our daughter a stick of incense! You have been merciful and righteous, you have saved our poor grandson, our hearts must be covered with lard to slander you everywhere. We are not human, we are beasts, we will kowtow and admit our mistakes, only please open the door and let us go in to guard our daughter."
If they could not enter the Zhao house and have the protection of the General Zhengbei Mansion, the Ruan family, who had a huge fortune of fifty thousand taels, would have no other way but to die. Even after the funeral was completed, if they want to go back to their hometown, they have to depend on the General Zhengbei Mansion to send hundreds of soldiers to escort them.
However, now they had released rumors, directly scolding Madam Guan for destroying human remains and practicing demonic ways, which also equivalent to saying that their grandson should not survive and a filthy thing. Their words and deeds had long cut off their ways to survive, it's too late to regret it.
"Don't knock, they won't open the door for you. Didn't you listen to the old madam just now? She asked Madam Guan to cut the stomach in order to keep the bloodline for the second house. That General Zhao don't have it easy, maybe this is the only seedling in this life, you still insisted to let people stuff it back, and made a ruckus so all over Yanjing know that you not only called Madam Guan a witch, but also called your grandson a goblin, this reputation is much worse than a coffin child*. I also don't know what you were thinking, it's not easy for the grandson to survive, and you have to give him this reputation, then how he live with himself when he grows up? Not to mention that the Zhao family can't tolerate you, that is, when the child understand thing in the future, carrying a reputation of evil monster, he will definitely hate you to the bone!" A discerning man shook his head and sighed.
"Isn't it! If my family were in this situation like the Zhao family, let alone the child in the mother's belly, even if it's in the cow's belly, the horse's belly, or even in the cracks on the ground, I would have to try my best to get him out. To have only this one drop of blood and bone in one lifetime, even if it kills me, I'm willing!"
"Exactly, the heir is the most important thing. In the end, Madam Guan is still very courageous." The onlookers slowly dispersed while discussing and sighing, but a few were hiding in the dark, staring at the Ruan family.
The Ruan family was ashamed and embarrassed, and wished they could run away. They only saw the immediate benefits, how could they think that if Guan shi's reputation was bad means the grandson's reputation was also bad? Ruan Mother grabbed Ruan Father's ear and scolded him for being greedy for money. Ruan Father pushed her away, blaming her for her shallow eyelids. After accusing each other, they continued to kowtow, hoping that the Zhao family would accommodate them.
After knocking for about a quarter of an hour, the corner door opened, and the housekeeper of the Zhao Mansion leaned out half of his body and said impatiently, "Don't put on an act, who still doesn't know who? You won't come to worship after arriving for three days, but now you are in a hurry. The eldest Madam asked me to tell you that the official memorial ceremony will only start tomorrow, and you should go to Jueyin Temple at yinshi (3-5am)." Then he slammed the door, almost knocking Ruan Father's nose.
Tomorrow at yinshi , then how they spend the night? Everyone was terrified. They knelt down for a long time before left in fear. However, they were met by several waves of bandits that night, and their money was looted. Fortunately, the emperor rectified the social atmosphere, strengthened defense, and cracked down on crimes, so that no one was killed. But once again, when it rains it pours, the news that the Ruan family had cut off relations with the General Zhengbei Mansion was send back to their hometown. Thousands of hectares of fertile land were carved up by the local nobles, leaving only a dilapidated house to live in.
A good and wealthy family, in a blink of an eye, ended in a tragic end. It was difficult to make a living after the great changes, so they had to often run to Zhao Mansion to plead guilty and wanted to recognize their grandson, but they couldn't even get through the door. But this is a story for later, let's not mention it for now.
Inside the courtyard wall, Emperor Sheng Yuan helped Old Master Guan to the front of the mourning hall, and personally lit a stick of incense for him, waited for him to worship and inserted it into the incense burner, only then he himself lit a stick, made sufficient respectful appearance, and appropriate etiquette, giving the Zhao Mansion a big face.
The second daughter-in-law died violently, and the eldest daughter-in-law was discredited by the Ruan family, so few people came to attend the funeral. Seeing the deserted mourning hall and the incense burning, the old madam used to feel desolate, but now she regain her spirit again. It didn't matter if others come or not, the Emperor Teacher came, Chief of Ceremonies came, and even the emperor also came, just those three were worth the honor of the whole Yanjing.
The second daughter-in-law had her spirit in heaven, and she had no regrets when she died.
"The mourning hall is gusting with wind, and the rain is miserable, afraid of hurting the dragon's body, still ask the emperor to move to the main hall to rest for a while and use some food." After everyone finished inserting the incense stick and burn paper money, Guan Suyi opened her mouth to invite.
"Alright. Zhen is here to persuade Emperor Teacher and Chief of Ceremonies to return to the court. It's inconvenient to talk here, so let's go to the main hall. Emperor Teacher please, Chief of Ceremonies please, Madam please." Emperor Sheng Yuan seemed to be polite and easy-going, but he deliberately added "Madam please", telling Guan Suyi to follow even if she didn't want to.
The rest of the people were just commoner, so it was inconvenient to accompany them, only knelt down to salute and avoided them. Zhao Chunxi kept looking back at the tall, strong and majestic man, and sighed in her heart: It turns out that this is the man whose mother chose to abandoned her husband and abandoned her children to cling to, sure enough he is mighty and powerful, with phoenix exterior and dragon looks*. However, it's lonely at the top, what did she get after she exhausted all her scheme? After being demoted from Ye Jieyu to Ye Cainu, this life is probably already hopeless.
She was sympathetic for a while, helpless for a while, and finally abandoned her distracting thoughts and slowly walked away.
Li Sao: the lament.
fū wéi shèng zhé yǐ mào xíng xī*: translation by David hawkes- for only the wise and good can ever flourish.
coffin child*: apparently it is when a child born from a dead pregnant woman'a body in the coffin, hence the name, and it is very unlucky.
phoenix exterior and dragon looks*: describe a handsome appearance.
Chapter 90 Lingering Scent
In the open and bright hall, Emperor Shen Yuan did not put up any imperial airs. Seeing that there was a small round table for four people to sit around in the center, he immediately walked over and invited the Emperor Teacher to take a seat. Old Master Guan was ashamed and dared not accept it and refused several times, but he forcibly pressed him down. He also asked Chief of Ceremonies to sit on the left and himself on the right, so Guan Suyi was sandwiched between the two, facing her grandfather.
The group exchanged some pleasantries, and then a servant girl brought snacks and tea trays. Minglan carried the child to the main house, leaving Jinzi and Baifu to serve in the hall.
When Emperor Shen Yuan saw Madam lowered her head and eyes, only staring at the steaming teacup, without even looking at himself, he couldn't help but feel anxious, secretly touched her with his toes, tried to appeal: Madam, just look at Zhen, and let Zhen be at ease.
It's a pity that Guan Suyi couldn't hear him at all, and she scolded him a hundred or eighty times in her head, but because of her grandfather and father, she had to hold back.
Emperor Shen Yuan saw that she was unresponsive, like a wooden person without saying a word, so he guessed that she must be angry. However, now he couldn't care whether she was angry or annoyed, whether she would distanced herself from him. The last shackles around his neck had been lifted, and now he was going to show Madam who the person who wooed her was and what kind of identity he had.
He had a lifetime to appease her anger and incite her love. What Zhao Luli could give her, he could give; what Zhao Luli couldn't give, he could also give, and he would give the best in the world!
Full of affection but could not express his feelings, gave hint but Madam pretended not to know, Emperor Shen Yuan couldn't help but use the cover of the gorgeous tablecloth to hold her slender wrist.
Guan Suyi felt her wrist suddenly tighten, and her palm was pulled over by someone and firmly held, she couldn't break free no matter what, couldn't help but secretly scolded: The earthy Emperor (local tyrant) really made his fortune by burning, killing, looting, and acting like a bandit. After robbing other people's original partner, then come to rob their second wife, could it be he's addicted to it? If it's an addiction, then go to the imperial physician to cure the disease, drink some medicine!
Taking advantage of the gap between her grandfather and father drinking tea, she glared fiercely, only to see a cold and serious face, and she couldn't help but get angry.
Feeling the softness and warmth in his palm, as well as the occasional twitching movement, Emperor Shen Yuan smiled satisfactorily and said, "Emperor Teacher, Chief of Ceremonies, you two will go to the public security office in a while. Zhen have already brought the official hat and official robe. Without you in the court, Zhen's heart feel very empty, and cannot do anything steadily."
"Still ask the emperor to please forgive, this humble one is old and in low spirits, wants to stay at home to nurture one's years and enjoy some leisure life, and do not want to go the court to work hard. I'm old, I really cannot accept it." Old Master Guan resolutely refused, Guan Father also echoed softly.
"Why are you in low spirits? You are clearly very strong! Zhen will call the imperial physician to examine you. For the sake of one child, Zhen have lost two good teachers, Zhen is very heartbroken!" Emperor Shen Yuan's tone was sincere, his expression was sorrowful, and it was actually quite inspiring. That if one ignored that he forcibly clasped Madam's ten fingers with his left hand. (TN: I think it supposed to be his right hand because she sit to his right)
Guan Suyi really wanted to get angry but also found it laughable. In her two lifetimes she had never seen anyone more shameless than Huo Shengzhe. In front of her grandfather and father, he dare to done such frivolous things, no wonder he could abduct Ye Zhen away.
She struggled but couldn't get away, she dodged but couldn't tear it away, so she had to relax her strength, and when the person also loosened his strength, she pulled her hand back. Unexpectedly, he was so cunning, he quickly inserted his five fingers between hers, firmly clasped her palms, and pressed it against his strong thigh.
Through the fabric, she could feel the tightness of his leg's muscles, and the place where the palms were touching was even more steaming, beads of sweat were frequent, and soon it was damp. But he didn't find it sticky at all, and he didn't dislike being dirty at all, his palm were rubbing around without stopping. If it wasn't for the sound of chanting sutras outside, that damp patch sound would have been heard by her grandfather and father long ago.
Guan Suyi was so embarrassed that her ears turned red, she secretly squirmed several times, but the person found it even more interesting, and actually pulled her hand to his crotch. So shocked, she almost jumped up, and had to honestly buckle him. But looking at his expression again, it was still so sincere and mournful, indeed a beast in human clothes.
Embarrassed and angry, she did not wait for her grandfather to speak before she rebuked, "Your Majesty is wrong. What do you mean for the sake of one child? You must know that children is the most precious wealth of a family and therefore a country. If there are no thousands upon thousands of successor, how can Wei Kingdom will have centuries of great achievements and prosperous world? The future of the child is the future of the family and the future of the country. From the day he was conceived in his mother's womb, she would have devoted all her efforts for him. Your Majesty is not from the Central Plains, you may not understand our attachment to our children and bloodline continuation. Take the most simple example, Ye Hao, the eldest grandson of the Ye family. The baby was wearing a treasure map, and Ye Quanyong, who had no regard for others his whole life, in order to protect him willing to bury the nine clans of the Ye family alongside the Zhao family. This is the power of bloodline, and it's also the power of children. As long as the breath is alive, the spark can start a prairie fire. Therefore, there is a saying in the Central Plains called 'Don't deceive the young and the poor', because they have infinite possibilities and futures."
She struggled again, but the grip tightened, so she had grit her teeth and continue, "The Ruan family poured dirty water on my head is equivalent to throwing dirty water on the child's head. If I were a witch, what would the child be? A demon? This kind of reputation, how will he live with himself in the future? My Guan family have been teaching and educating people for many generations, we can do without brocade clothing and fame and fortune, but we can't destroy any child or miss any piece of good talent. Today my grandfather and father justified his name in the court, I refuse to admit my mistake in front of the mansion, and when he understand things, I can tell him that he is a child who is loved and looked forward to, not some kind of demon."
She looked at her grandfather and father with tears in her eyes, "Although the two elders have been implicated, I know they are willing in their hearts. Our Guan Family uphold a principle in everything we do, not against our hearts, to have clear conscience and to have no regrets." she turned to look at Emperor Shen Yuan again, and said bluntly, "Your Majesty, if you want to blame, then blame me for acting carelessly, not being able to control the family, and let the wind leak out. Don't blame the child even the slightest bit. He had just been born, pure white like a piece of paper, isn't he innocent?"
To sum it up, she still refused to admit that she was wrong, her temper was indeed stubborn, but Emperor Shen Yuan was even more reluctant to let her go. Every word that Madam spit out struck a chord in his heart and fell to the bottom of his heart. If there was such a person who protected him everywhere and justified his name back then, why did he have to struggle in hell? Why fight within the glint and flash of cold steel, and walked alone in the blood and rain? If he could marry Madam, and obtained a little bit of her love, he would die without regrets.
Thinking like this, he was already overwhelmed with emotions, and difficult to control himself.
Seeing the solemn expression on the emperor's face, Old Master Guan didn't speak for a long time, thinking that he was annoyed at his granddaughter. Cutting open the stomach was already shocking enough, she still dislike that her tail has not been swept clean. This was her one shortcoming, always said whatever she thought, without any disguise.
This child is just too upright, loves to speak the truth, really resemble himself. Sighing in his heart, Old Master Guan had no alternative but to help out, "What Yiyi means is that the emperor should not take his anger on this child. Everyone in the world says it is good to be an official, but I think it's best to educate people. Being an official can rule a dynasty, but educating people can make all generations prosper. Creating this enlighten achievement, I dare to undertake this responsibility."
Guan Father also smiled and agreed, feeling like a clear and fresh scene after the rain.
Emperor Sheng Yuan secretly kneaded Madam's pale and slender fingertips and pleaded, "Just now is Zhen who made a slip of the tongue, please everyone do not blame. Emperor Teacher, no one knows Zhen's situation better than you. At that time when Zhen first pay respect under you, although Zhen can read and understand books, but can't even write Han characters completely. Now that Zhen finally drink some ink, but you said you want to resign from your post, then how can Zhen deal with those people in the court? The imperial family wants to control Zhen, the noble and aristocrat family wants to overstep Zhen, the poor official cannot help, the generals are too vulgar and only know how to hack and kill. If there are no you two to make strategy, advise, and admonish, Zhen really don't know how many stupid things will Zhen do. Even if you don't look at Zhen's face, please look at the face of the common people and return to the court to continue assisting Zhen."
He let out a long sigh and said in a sad tone, "Really cannot blame the people for saying that it's lonely at the top, being an emperor is destined to be lonely and widowed*. Isn't that what happened to Zhen now? It's hard to get two good teachers and friends, and they have to leave Zhen too." As he said this, his eyes were already red, and the bluffed Old Master Guan and Guan Father hurriedly consoled him, their hearts were wavering.
Guan Suyi admired Huo Shengzhe so much that she almost bow down to him, his one sentence actually almost made people to shed tears, and anyone who didn't know were still thought he was affectionate and sincere. In fact, he secretly played with her five fingers under the table and almost rub off a layer of her skin.
When she couldn't bear it any longer and wanted to flip the table and gave him a few slaps, the housekeeper walked to the door tremblingly, knelt down and said, "This servant has seen Your Majesty, Emperor Teacher, Chief of Ceremonies. Madam, today there are a lot of distinguished guests, the old madam asked you to go to the dining room to see what dishes should be served, the cook doesn't know the tastes of several nobles, so he doesn't dare to take it on himself, and is waiting for your instruction."
"Alright, I'll go right now." Guan Suyi breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the emperor should have given up now, but she didn't expect him to continue to hold her like he didn't hear anything.
"Your Majesty, what do you want to eat, this subject woman will prepare it?" she asked suggestively.
Only then did Emperor Sheng Yuan, who was talking "seriously" with the Emperor Teacher and Chief of Ceremonies, looked at her and said in a deep voice, "Every time Zhen dined with Emperor Teacher, he always says that the imperial chefs in the palace are not as skilled as his granddaughter. Zhen finally got to see Madam, is it possible to be fortunate enough to taste Madam's craftsmanship? It doesn't matter which dishes, just pick what you are best at."
As soon as he comes, let her wash hands and make soup* for him, can his face be thicker? Guan Suyi was furious, but had to nod in agreement, and after struggling to get free again, she escaped and quickly led Jinzi out of the hall and walked fast.
Only then did Emperor Shen Yuan raise his sweaty left hand, pretending to touch the tip of his nose, but in fact smelling the strong fragrance left on it, his eyes narrowed slightly, and a hint of intoxication appeared. After today, he would no longer take a roundabout way to court Madam. Without damaging her reputation, he wanted to let her reconcile as soon as possible, and marry into the imperial family in a grand way and become his empress.
Mother of the country, these four words can only be afforded by Madam.
lonely and widowed*: it is how emperors called themselves, it is like proclaiming oneself as the monarch and ruling one side alone.
wash hands and make soup*: can describe a womans role, specifically a new bride.
