Chapter 072: Past Events

Jiyang Boyou had been waiting in his study for a while. He had already heard about the recent events in the palace. Fortunately, everything turned out fine, and the emperor even rewarded Jiang Xuening, bestowing many gifts upon their family. As her father, he could only express his gratitude to the imperial family and dared not inquire further. However, upon reflection, he realized that the situation was not so simple.

The Yongyi Marquis’s residence had been placed under house arrest, and shortly after, Ning was framed in the palace. Such events were not mere coincidences.

Jiang Boyou, in his forties, had managed to become the Vice Minister of Revenue, largely due to his assistance in helping Xie Wei ascend to the high position. This had earned him some merit, allowing him to maintain his position in the court. However, he had no ambition to climb higher.

Reaching this position was already fraught with danger. Climbing further up involved even more treachery and life-threatening risks. Few could retire gracefully after achieving success; most faced calamity despite their wealth and honor.

Just like the Yongyi Marquis’s residence today…

“Sigh…”

Jiang Boyou looked at the book “Zuo Zhuan” in front of him, unable to continue reading, and sighed deeply.

The old butler lifted the curtain and reported, “Master, the second young lady has returned.”

He stepped aside after speaking.

Jiang Xuening got off the carriage and headed straight to Jiang Boyou’s study. She entered with her head slightly lowered and bowed to Jiang Boyou, who was sitting behind the desk. “Daughter greets father and wishes him well.”

Ning, who had been raised in the residence, was always unruly. Although she seemed to have matured and become more composed before entering the palace, Jiang Boyou couldn’t help but worry about the palace matters.

Seeing her standing safely in front of him now, he felt a pang of sadness.

He stood up, walked over, placed a hand on her shoulder, and carefully examined her before nodding. “Good, good. Sit down and let’s talk.”

A warm couch was set up with brocade cushions and pillows.

Jiang Boyou sat at the head.

A maid brought a brocade stool and placed it at the lower end. Jiang Xuening sat down, observing Jiang Boyou’s expression, and asked, “Tang’er said that father was waiting for me at home. What is the matter?”

Her face was calm, without the usual rebelliousness she had when looking at people. After a trip to the palace, she seemed to have gained the demeanor and grace of a noble lady.

However, there was an underlying sense of suppression.

Jiang Boyou had always hoped she would be as sensible and courteous as Xuehui. Now, thinking back to the arrogant and unruly little girl, he felt that it wouldn’t be so bad if she remained that way.

He smiled self-deprecatingly, thinking of what he was about to say, and found it difficult to speak. After a while, he lowered his head and said, “I have heard about what happened to you in the palace. You must have also heard about the situation with the Yongyi Marquis’s residence, right?”

Jiang Xuening nodded.

Jiang Boyou continued, “A few days ago, a major incident occurred in the palace. The jade ruyi presented to the Empress Dowager by the Imperial Household Department was found to have inscribed words of the rebel faction. These words were the slogan of the Tianjiao sect, ‘Acting on behalf of Heaven.’ Upon investigation, it was traced back to the remnants of Prince Pingnan’s faction. However, somehow, the Yongyi Marquis’s residence was implicated. They suspect that the Yongyi Marquis’s residence is connected with the remnants of Prince Pingnan’s faction and even the Tianjiao Heavenly sect. They claim to have letters proving their correspondence. Although the facts are not yet clear, the court has surrounded the Marquis’s residence to prevent any escape or rebellion, waiting for the truth to come out. I fear the outcome will not be favorable!”

Letters!

Even though she had been prepared, hearing the more precise news from Jiang Boyou still felt like a heavy burden of fate to Jiang Xuening.

It was the same in her previous life.

The Yongyi Marquis’s residence was convicted because the court indeed found evidence of their correspondence with Prince Pingnan’s rebel faction and had the letters to prove it. This was also the most puzzling part for her in her previous life…

Jiang Xuening looked at Jiang Boyou and said, “It is said that Prince Pingnan’s faction is already doomed, not to mention that Prince Pingnan himself is dead. The current rebels are nothing but a scattered group, even less organized than the Tianjiao sect. The Yongyi Marquis’s residence holds one-third of the military power in the country. Twenty years ago, they, along with the Duke of Dingguo’s residence, led the army to repel Prince Pingnan and the Tianjiao sect’s rebels, lifting the siege of the capital. They should be mortal enemies. How could they still have contact with the rebels after so many years?”

“Indeed, even you find it unreasonable, right?” Jiang Boyou smiled bitterly. “But precisely because of this, it seems very real. It truly is the pity of a parent’s heart!”

Jiang Xuening was stunned.

She did not understand why Jiang Boyou said this.

Seeing her confusion, Jiang Boyou slowly explained, “This disaster stems from the tragic incident of the ‘Three Hundred Righteous Children’ twenty years ago. Although the three families have never publicized it, as if it never happened, the undercurrents have now surfaced, revealing that none of them have forgotten. Especially the Yongyi Marquis’s residence, which holds a deep grudge…”

It was the story Jiang Xuening knew. However, compared to what Fang Miao had told her in Yangzhi Zhai, Jiang Boyou’s account contained details that Fang Miao did not know.

Perhaps it was still just the tip of the iceberg.

“The Xiao family once had a marriage alliance with the Yan family. At that time, Empress Dowager Xiao was the empress in the palace, and Xiao Yuan inherited the title of Duke of Dingguo. With Empress Dowager Xiao’s matchmaking, he married the sister of the Yongyi Marquis, Lady Yan, and soon they had a son named Dingfei, who was early on titled as the heir.

“The royal family, the Xiao family, and the Yan family were thus united.

“When Prince Pingnan and the Tianjiao sect’s rebels attacked the capital, Lady Yan was in the palace with the young heir Dingfei, attending a banquet with the Empress and the Crown Prince, who are now Empress Dowager Xiao and the current emperor.”

Jiang Xuening immediately noticed the discrepancy: “But according to rumors, the current emperor survived because he was hiding in the palace, while the heir was captured by the Tianjiao sect and Prince Pingnan’s rebels, becoming one of the ‘Three Hundred Righteous Children.’”

If the young heir was in the palace, how could he have been captured?

If the heir was captured, how did the Crown Prince manage to escape?

Jiang Boyou was in the capital back then, though he was just a small scholar. He had personally experienced the events and often laughed off the many rumors about the “Three Hundred Righteous Children.”

But after the laughter, there was always a sigh.

He sighed and said, “The rebels captured three hundred children but couldn’t find the Crown Prince. They threatened the entire capital with the lives of these children, demanding the royal family hand over the Crown Prince. Although the world has always placed the ruler above all, how could the parents of these children sit by and watch their children die? The capital was breached, the royal family was on the brink of collapse, and rumors were everywhere. Even the royal family had to consider public sentiment. However, the Crown Prince was of royal blood, destined to be the future emperor. How could he be handed over to the rebels for the sake of three hundred commoner children?”

Jiang Xuening felt a sudden jolt in her heart.

Jiang Boyou laughed inexplicably and said, “At that time, only the heir and the Crown Prince were of similar age in the palace, familiar with court affairs, and impeccable in manners. After the siege was lifted, the survivors in the palace claimed that the young heir, despite his age, had a sense of duty to the country and the emperor. To ensure the Crown Prince’s safety and save the lives of the three hundred children, he bravely stepped forward, posing as the Crown Prince and offering himself to the rebels. However, the rebels were inhumane and, after capturing him, did not release the children as promised. Instead, they slaughtered them all before the reinforcements arrived, leaving no survivors!”

The horrific scene from back then still lingered in his mind.

Jiang Boyou shook his head. “The young heir likely perished, but it was winter when the incident occurred. By the time they could retrieve the bodies from the ice, they were unrecognizable. Lady Yan held onto a glimmer of hope, believing her child was not among them. She insisted on searching for him, even breaking ties with the Xiao family and returning to the Yongyi Marquis’s residence. Although she passed away from illness within two years, the Yongyi Marquis’s residence has continued her mission, secretly searching for the young heir’s whereabouts.”

Jiang Xuening felt a chill in her heart, beginning to understand. She said, “You mean the Yongyi Marquis’s residence was found to have correspondence with Prince Pingnan’s rebels because they were still searching for the young heir, and the ones who knew the most about these events were the Tianjiao sect and Prince Pingnan’s faction…”

Jiang Boyou nodded. “This matter is also a sore point for the royal family and the Xiao family!”

The young heir was only six or seven years old at the time. The story of him bravely stepping forward for the sake of the country and the emperor was something to tell the common people. Having spent many years in the officialdom, Jiang Boyou did not believe such grandiose words.

Jiang Xuening recalled various clues from her previous life.

The correspondence with Prince Pingnan’s rebels was to search for the “heir Dingfei,” who might have long been dead…

She felt lost. “So, is there no solution to the Yongyi Marquis’s predicament?”

Jiang Boyou knew she had grown up with Yan Lin and felt deeply for him. He felt terrible, but their family was insignificant compared to the powerful families that could shake the entire court.

He remained silent for a long time before saying with guilt, “It’s my incompetence. A few months ago, the Marquis mentioned your engagement with Yan Lin, saying they would prepare for it after his coming-of-age ceremony. Although I often scolded him for climbing over our walls, I admired his character and skills, different from the other spoiled youths in the capital. I was very satisfied with him. But fate is cruel. Our Jiang family is lucky not to be implicated. We can’t afford to add insult to injury, but offering help might bring disaster upon ourselves…”

This meant that her engagement with Yan Lin was off.

Jiang Boyou must have thought that their deep affection would lead her to do something irrational if she wasn’t informed in advance.

Jiang Xuening listened calmly.

It was as expected.

Since the day she was reborn, she had been contemplating how to face this situation. Now that it had finally arrived, she felt a strange numbness, her heart no longer restless but clear like a lake.

The study was silent.

Jiang Boyou looked at her with worried eyes.

Jiang Xuening sat quietly for a long time before slowly standing up and bowing to Jiang Boyou again. “Now that the Yongyi Marquis’s residence is in imminent danger, I know that father does not have the power to turn the tide. However, the Marquis’s residence has been kind to our family, and Yan Lin has been kind to me. Therefore, I have an unreasonable request today.”

Jiang Boyou had never seen her so solemn and was stunned.

Jiang Xuening calmly stated her plan, “In the past, the heir Yan gave me many valuable items. If the Marquis’s residence faces disaster, their property will be confiscated. In the court, everything requires money to smooth things over. Even if they are convicted and their family exiled, they will still need money. I wish to sell these old items, but I fear that in a hurry, they will be sold at a low price, and I also fear implicating our family in these troubled times. Therefore, I ask for father’s help.”

Indeed.

The disaster at the Yongyi Marquis’s residence came without warning. Now, with the heavy military presence surrounding the residence, it was no different from house arrest. Even with their vast wealth, they had no way to use it. Once convicted, confiscation of their property would be the least of their worries.

Jiang Boyou knew that Yan Lin had always been generous to Ning, thinking she was heartless.

But he didn’t expect that she remembered others’ kindness and was willing to repay it.

Tears welled up in his eyes, and he was about to agree, but then he hesitated, worried. “But the situation is critical now. No one in the court dares to speak for the Marquis’s residence. Even if we have the money, we don’t know who to bribe or who would dare to help the Marquis’s residence…”

Jiang Xuening closed her eyes slightly and said, “Father, don’t worry. I have my own ways.”

Sometimes, even if you fear raising a tiger, you have no choice but to feed it.

*

The once bustling Yongyi Marquis’s residence was now surrounded by heavy troops, not even a bird dared to perch on the steps.

The ornate buildings were all shrouded in coldness.

Years of prosperity seemed like a dream, and everyone was in a state of panic, not knowing when the hanging sword would fall on their necks.

Marquis Yan Mu lay on the bed, his face pale, coughing continuously.

Yan Lin, holding a bowl of medicine, sat by the window and teased him, “I told you not to drink on that rainy day, but you didn’t listen and even dragged me along. Now you’ve caught a cold, and it’s aggravated your headache. Do you realize your mistake now?”

Yan Mu, looking displeased, replied, “This medicine is so bitter.”

Qing Feng, who was attending to Yan Lin, had just entered. He glanced around and lowered his voice to ask, “Marquis, Heir, the invitations for the Heir’s coming-of-age ceremony from Lingyun Pavilion have arrived. The steward is at the gate checking them with the soldiers. He sent me to ask if we should still send them out.”

Yan Mu looked at Yan Lin.

Yan Lin paused while stirring the medicine with a wooden spoon, not even raising his eyelids, and said, “Yes, we should send them. Why not?”

Yan Mu sighed, “Given the current state of our residence, even if we send the invitations, how many people would dare to come? What’s the point?”

Yan Lin remained unmoved, his face calm, “You don’t see people’s true colors until you face adversity. Now that Heaven has given us the chance to see clearly, why should we waste it?”

Yan Mu was stunned.

Yan Lin then said to Qing Feng, “Go inform the steward.”

Qing Feng was surprised by his master’s words, but after a moment, he bowed and left.

Yan Lin helped Yan Mu drink the medicine.

Yan Mu was silent for a long time.

After finishing the medicine, he leaned back on the pillow Yan Lin had propped up for him, blinked, and with some difficulty, said, “‘Water wears through stone, sand accumulates into a tower.’ You’ve studied the qin for twenty-three years. Did Master Xie really say that to you?”

Yan Lin, staring at the empty medicine bowl, replied, “Yes.”

Yan Mu suddenly laughed, tears slowly streaming down his wrinkled cheeks.