Chapter 734: The Gentleman Was Wrong
Chapter 734: Chapter 734: The Gentleman Was Wrong
Qin Yuan suddenly said, "I recently stumbled upon a rare book, written by Zhang Chao in his leisure, titled ’Dream Shadow.’ It speaks of ten hates in leisure, very intriguing, so I committed it to memory. That day, when I heard Brother Zichuan lamenting the hates in his heart, I borrowed from it."
Wang Zichuan’s urgent desire to defend himself instantly eased considerably, and he followed up with a smile: "These ten hates of leisure are indeed elegant, quite befitting the title. Young Master Nantang has referred to it very skillfully."
Qin Yuan said earnestly, "In this world, love and hate, passions and grudges are inevitable, particularly for a hero such as Brother Zichuan."
Wang Zichuan’s smile became more relaxed: "I merely hate being helpless, unable to stand uprightly between heaven and earth."
Qin Yuan frowned: "This matter of hate is actually not difficult. I feel Brother Zichuan is restricting himself too much."
Wang Zichuan’s expression showed a hint of defiance.
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "The shame of Jingkang is yet unshed; the hate of ministers, when will it cease? Such intense national and familial vendettas. Naturally, the lifetime of hating flows east like a long river, how utterly helpless those regrets. Heaven and earth have an end, yet this sorrow continues endlessly. Such deep emotional entanglement, even the ten hates of leisure I recited from Zhang Chao that day are eternal, unextinguishable hates."
Wang Zichuan was stunned.
He had never heard anyone categorize hate in this way.
Mr. Songshan praised, "Young Master Nantang is very right, these are all matters beyond human remedy, hence the long-lasting hate."
Qin Yuan looked at Wang Zichuan meaningfully: "Yet Brother Zichuan’s hating matters are within human capability, hence not difficult."
Wang Zichuan immediately rose, respectfully saluted the two, and said, "Please bestow your guidance."
Qin Yuan did not evade, accepting the salute candidly, and smiled: "I dare not call it guidance, only Brother Zichuan should have understood by now why all attempts for amnesty have failed?"
Wang Zichuan was dumbfounded and speechless.
Mr. Songshan was rather disappointed, lightly tapping the table with his finger, and chided, "Foolish boy, are you still imagining Empress Lin and others gaining power will grant you a future? Given Empress Lin’s standing in the Emperor’s heart, had an amnesty for Black Wind Village been possible, it would have happened long ago, no need to delay until now."
Wang Zichuan lowered his head.
If others didn’t speak out, he could pretend ignorance.
In truth, he had his own suspicions.
Even his brothers frequently whispered behind his back.
Qin Yuan added, "Allow me to speak plainly, even with an amnesty for Black Wind Village, the new Emperor won’t tolerate you. Eventually, he’ll contrive a reason to scatter you and your brothers, throwing you into places that devour people whole; within three to five years, you’d all be gone, with nothing left but a hollow name."
Wang Zichuan sighed deeply: "But without amnesty, how can I return uprightly to my hometown to face the elders and folks? Each year at the ancestral rites, I worry the ancestors might rise from the grave to rebuke me for disgracing the family."
"So you’re merely hoping King Jin and the Crown Prince are saints?"
Mr. Songshan repeatedly sighed at Wang Zichuan.
Although he didn’t call Wang Zichuan foolish, Wang Zichuan inexplicably felt he was utterly foolish.
Eventually, Wang Zichuan said, "But Prince Qi isn’t a master worth investing in either, and as for King Tushan... never mind, saying these things now... it’s meaningless."
Mr. Songshan, however, exclaimed, "Precisely the time to speak!"
"Why?" Wang Zichuan stared intently at Mr. Songshan.
"In ordinary times, you’re deluded by false hopes and not in dire straits, inevitably you won’t heed advice that goes against your desires."
Wang Zichuan suddenly realized, "What sir says is very true."
If someone had told him earlier he had chosen the wrong master, embraced the wrong patron, he would have refused to believe.
Now trapped, though a host of brothers are willing to live and die with him, he is unwilling and resentful!
Now is when he can truly listen.
Wang Zichuan asked, "Who do the two of you suggest I change allegiance to?"
Mr. Songshan laughed heartily: "Why is there anything worth advising?"
Wang Zichuan was stunned.
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Brother Zichuan claims to have realized why you were captured, though you actually haven’t fully comprehended.
If you dare meddle in the issue of heir succession, shouldn’t you be the one captured?
Even if not captured today, tomorrow, you’d still deserve capture."
"Since captured already, how can one behave uprightly, not shaming ancestors?"
Mr. Songshan added with a pensive tone beside him.
Wang Zichuan was speechless.
After a long while, he said, "If Dingbei Marquis can offer a way out for me and my brothers, I am willing to lead them to serve him as our master, facing any deadly peril without flinching an eye, if I flinch, let it be the end of me, not a true hero."
...
In the evening, Qin Yuan said to Gu Jinghui: "Wang Zichuan understands in his heart but feigns ignorance, I see he is not entirely willing to invest."
Marquis Gu smiled and said, "What do you intend?"
Qin Yuan said, "My intention? I think it’s better to let them go to Liaodong to trade ginseng, how about it?"
Her grand endeavor indeed lacked manpower.
Using these people against the Yelv Clan could not be better.
"Trading ginseng in Liaodong?" Marquis Gu laughed, "Not sure if these bandits accustomed to killing and burning are willing."
Qin Yuan stood up, paced back and forth a couple of steps.
"We’ll rebrand them, allowing them to lead upright lives, why wouldn’t they be willing?"
"Rebrand?" Marquis Gu gazed at Qin Yuan’s charming face with interest, asking, "They’ve all been captured, how will you rebrand them? Wouldn’t that be committing treason?"
Qin Yuan chided, "Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning. Since you wish to persuade them to surrender, naturally there are ways to proceed."
"It seems the little lady’s husband is omnipotent in the little lady’s heart."
Marquis Gu teased, "Only not sure how your husband compares with me?"
Qin Yuan snorted, putting her hands on her hips, appearing quite feisty, "Philanderer, my husband’s reputation is grand indeed, you better cover your ears, lest they get deafened."
"Haha. I still don’t believe it, just tell me and I’ll listen."
Qin Yuan looked at Marquis Gu condescendingly with her nose, as if surveying the world and said: "Then you must listen carefully.
My husband is none other than the renowned Dingbei Marquis, Gu Jinghui.
He is like the blazing sun, his radiance illuminates the entire Northern Border.
Uttering his name causes terrified enemies to flee home overnight, preferring grueling cold lands rather than look back.
A man like that is naturally omnipotent."
Marquis Gu’s eyes were fixed on Qin Yuan’s stunningly beautiful face.
He swore.
He was definitely not looking at her face, but her heart.
That heart, undoubtedly, was filled with him.
At this moment, Qin Yuan could demand his life, let alone handle such a small affair.
Marquis Gu, with great conviction, said, "Alright, you decide, let’s let them go trade ginseng in Liaodong."
Mr. Songshan upon hearing this, lightly pointed a finger at Marquis Gu and said helplessly, "Indeed, heroes struggle to overcome beauties, seems like you’ll never escape the palm of your wife’s hand this lifetime."
Marquis Gu was wide-eyed: "Sir is mistaken! Does sir not realize? It is the wife who cannot escape the palm of this Marquis’ hand in this lifetime."