Chapter Forty-two Reaction

  The next day, after breakfast, Wang Zhihe bid farewell to Dong Dang: "My father only instructed me to pick up my sister and take her back. There are some things I don't know about yet, so I'd better go back and tell my father first."

  In those years in the northwest, Wang Zhihe not only served his father's food and daily life, fulfilling his filial duties, but also helped his father, who was unable to write for long periods of time due to suffering in prison, sort out books, copy official documents, and write letters to old friends. He did things that his subordinates should have done, and he had long been accustomed to completing tasks assigned by his father, no matter what difficulties he encountered, rather than complaining or boasting about them to his father.

  Wang Yingxue's case is also like this.

  He thought that although there were twists and turns, he would still be able to bring his sister back in the end.

  But now things have gone off in a direction he can't control and he has no way of making decisions.

  Dong said with a smile: "That's right."

  Personally sent Wang Zhihe to the door.

  Turning around, he heard Wang Zhi'e's servant whispering to Wang Zhi'e about who had arrived.

  Wang Zhi Bing's face changed slightly as he listened, and he hastily walked out.

  Dong Dong's heart moved slightly, and he whispered to Du An: "You go take a look!"

  Du An left at the sound of his name being called.

  After about two incense sticks' worth of time, he returned to report: "The visitor is one of Master Wang's attendants. Judging from his accent, it seems that Master Wang has been appointed to an official position in Gansu and wants Master Wang to set out for Xi'an immediately..."

  Dong Dong suddenly stood up from his chair.

  "Could it be that Your Majesty is going to open a horse market?" He furrowed his brow and looked towards the Chaoqi Xia Yuan.

  At the same time, the second lady also received the news.

  She rubbed the letter paper in her hand, pondered for a moment, and called in her personal maid, Liu Mama: "It's also boring to stay at home every day. Let's go visit Sixth Madame."

  Madam Liu smiled and busied herself in response. She helped the second lady tidy up, arranged for the maids and servants to attend to her, supported the second lady into a small bamboo sedan chair, personally held a parasol made of green silk with tung oil, and went to the Ji family's place.

  "…Opening the horse market has its pros and cons. Mr. Zeng has just been promoted. Even if there is such an intention, it should be done gradually. Otherwise, one mistake could lead to total loss, which would be too hasty." He also said, "However, this move is quite clever. Everyone knows that Lord Wang is determined to open the horse market. Those who oppose it below will think twice when they consider Lord Wang's determination and will likely try to break through quickly."

  It's said that Second Mistress has arrived, and both of them were very surprised. They exchanged a glance, and Ji Shi led Wang Niangniang with a smile to welcome her.

  The second lady's eyes swept around and she smiled: "Why isn't Shou Gu here?"

  Ji's eyelids twitched slightly as she smiled and said, "Hui has already started learning the Analects of Confucius. Zhi followed me to read for two days, and in just a few days of school, they've almost finished learning the Three Character Classic, which is much faster than their peers in the clan school. It's inevitable that they'll get a bit arrogant, so I think we need to find a way to subtly curb their enthusiasm." As she spoke, she grasped Second Madam's arm and continued, "As for Shou, it's hard to keep an eye on her, but since we've taken on the responsibility of caring for her, we must be diligent. I noticed that she was practicing calligraphy with Seventh Uncle every day, so I found a copybook and had her practice at home. This way, we're following the rules of the Western Manor, and also preventing her from running wild and getting into trouble that I wouldn't be able to explain to Seventh Uncle."

  The second lady listened and nodded repeatedly, putting Du Zhao aside and carefully asking about the studies of her two grandsons.

  Ji Shi was serving Er Tai Furen in the hall, telling her about his two sons' studies at school. Er Tai Furen's eyes sparkled with delight and she couldn't stop praising Ji Shi, patting her hand repeatedly: "It's all because of your good teaching, it's all because you taught them well." Then she sighed, "In our Dugu family, there are many daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law. Some may be better at speaking than you, some may be better at serving their husbands and children than you. But when it comes to disciplining children, if you humbly consider yourself second, then no one dares to claim they are first!" Ji Shi was covered in cold sweat, she had originally wanted to extricate herself from this situation, but Er Tai Furen's words had pulled her back in. In her heart, she understood that Er Tai Furen was setting the stage for her, and when the time came, she would send the children from the Western Manor to be raised by Ji Shi. Those who didn't know thought that Ji Shi was arrogant and disdainful of the Dugu family's daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law, thinking herself a noble lady from Jiangnan.

  If both sons were to be named on the golden list earlier than others in the future, then so be it. But if any other family's son were to pass the imperial examination before Hui and Zhi, the cold ridicule and hot mockery would be unbearable to hear.

  She didn't know for a moment whether her mother-in-law was praising her or putting her on the fire to roast.

  Fortunately, the second lady did not dwell on this topic and said she was going to see Du Zhao, and a large crowd of people accompanied her to the study.

  Dong Zhao sat in front of the painting case practicing calligraphy. Although Tuo Niang and Cai Lan were helping to fan her, her small face was still red and her nose tip was covered with sweat.

  She felt someone coming in and still finished writing the last stroke before looking up.

  Jian is the second lady, she smiled and handed the pen to the little maid Haitang beside her, who was held by Tuo Niang and got off the armchair, and paid respects to the second lady.

  The second lady smiled and said to the people around her, "Look at this little one, he's been following the sixth lady for just a few days and now he's as proper and dignified as a little adult."

  The people next to him all burst out laughing.

  Ji's eyes flashed with a hint of helplessness.

  Dong Zhaoze gazed at Second Mistress with a smile that was not quite a smile.

  In her past life, her father married Wang Yingxue in a daze, and the two families became relatives by marriage. Fifth Uncle wanted to get Wang Xingyi's support, so he became Wang Yingxue's biggest backer in the Duan family. She was like a grain of sand that made people uncomfortable when they saw her. She just wanted to grow up peacefully and not provoke Wang Yingxue, so she was sent to live with her grandmother in the mountain villa.

  In this life, Wang Yingxue became her father's concubine. Fifth Uncle wanted to make Wang Xingyi submit, so he used her to deal with Wang Yingxue. She became a pawn for the Duan family, and Second Madam wanted to keep her under control by raising her in the East Residence, keeping her within sight.

  A lifetime of life and death in an instant, yet human life has turned upside down!

  It's really laughable... In mid-July, Father and Sixth Uncle arrived in Kyoto smoothly and sent back a letter each to say they were safe.

  In Ganquan County, Yan'an Prefecture, Zhao Si also received a note from his niece Duan Zhaoyi.

  He crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it to the ground: "The Duan family is too deceitful! I'd like to see them try, I won't write the consent letter. How can the two families become in-laws!"

  Mrs. Zhao walked in quietly, looked at the crumpled paper thrown on the floor in the middle of the study, bent down to pick it up, slowly unfolded it, smoothed it out and placed it on her husband's desk.

  "I just asked the messenger." She poured a cup of tea for Zhao Si and said softly, "Duan Shiying went to Kyoto to take the imperial examination. He entrusted Shou Gu to be taken care of by Liu Taizi, who is a partner in the Ji's shop."

  "What did you say?" Zhao Si's gaze fell on the crumpled piece of paper that he had wrinkled.

  "Shou Gu is just a five-year-old child, can't even hold a pen steadily." said Mrs. Zhao. "How would she know what to say and what not to say?"

  "Zhao Si's eyes suddenly became bright and sharp: 'You're saying that this envelope was written by Liu Tai Tai borrowing Shou Gu's pen.'"

  "It's hard to say for now." Mrs. Zhao said cautiously. "I just feel that these few sentences have a deeper meaning."

  Zhao Si calmed down and sat in front of the desk. He held up the paper with only a few lines of writing towards the sunlight... Wang Xingyi was a middle-aged man, the harsh torture in prison and ten years of exile had made his hair turn white prematurely, making him look worn out and old.

  At this time he wore a coarse linen garment and stood in front of the flower bed, if not for his eyes opening and closing with spirit, he looked like an old farmer who had been worn out by the wind.

  "Dong," he muttered, "he's forcing me... to die in the snowy night!"

  Wang Zhi Bing was frightened and scared out a cold sweat.

  "Father," he cried out, "You won't..."

  "King Xingyi glared at his son fiercely: 'I, King Xingyi, may not have taught my daughter well, but doesn't the Duan family bear any responsibility? They say that Yingxue harmed Zhao Shi, did Yingxue defy Zhao Shi or poison her food? If they didn't want Yingxue to enter their household, they could have just refused. Must Yingxue sneak into the Duan household without their knowledge? Since they agreed to let Yingxue in, Zhao Shi should have followed the rules of a wife and concubine, managing what she should manage, punishing what she should punish, and rewarding what she should reward. Why did she have to make such a big deal out of it? Is Duan Yuan's taking a concubine going to kill her every time? Who really killed Zhao Shi, was it Duan Yuan or your sister? I think there's more to say about this. Don't listen to rumors! She is your sister, who provides for you, clothes you, and helps take care of your wife and children!'"

  The king knows the handle of the axe is cold as cicada.

  Wang Xingyi was still furious and said, "If Yingxue is wrong, then so be it. As her father, I will not shirk my responsibility, and I can guarantee that she will not shirk hers either. But if Doudou wants to pin Zhao's death on Yingxue's head, I absolutely won't agree."

  Wang Zhihe couldn't help but smile wryly and said, "Dad, I didn't mean it that way. I just think that with Yingxue being like this, it's still somewhat inappropriate..."

  "Wen Wei, I am sorry to you all!" Wang Xingyi shouted his eldest son's courtesy name, his expression suddenly disheartened. "You were clever and quick-witted since childhood, but until today, you haven't even obtained the title of a scholar; your younger brother grew up in the cold eyes of others, timid and weak, without a backbone; your sister, at a young age, had to make a living by exposing herself, how can she compare to a well-bred lady who was pampered by her parents? I know all this, I know," he turned his face away, afraid that his son would see the moisture in his eyes. "One man's success is built on the bones of ten thousand people. For my own sake, I have harmed you all!" He said, suddenly turning his head back, his gaze piercing like an eagle's, staring at Wang Zhihan, "If you have any fault, I am willing to compensate others a thousand times, but if you want me to sacrifice your lives for the sake of my own reputation, then let them take my life first!"

  A loud and clear voice echoed in the flower bed.

  Wang Zhi Bang "thud" a sound knelt in front of his father, tears instantly blurred his vision: "Dad, it's not your fault, it's our fault for being incompetent and losing face for you..."

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  I spent a lot of effort organizing the character list today, and I haven't had time to correct the typos in this chapter yet. Everyone please bear with it for now, I'll catch the errors right away...... Also, a reminder about the pink tickets...

  ※RQ