Chapter 61 - Still be an onlooker?

Gongxiang Xiao froze for a moment and then recovered, saying, “No.”

They came to meet Yun Fenghuang for plotting major events, not for drinking tea or having snacks. How could they bring water?!

“Don’t you change the topic!” As Qi Jiulu was about to say something, Yun Fenghuang was impatient, “Go on!”

“… Chao’s Family has contacted someone at Dijing City.” Seeing her urge, Qi Jiulu sighed and said, “The elders were worried that once the person they rely on succeeds, Chao’s Family would be the leader in the north. Therefore, I proposed to come to Dijing City, and they agreed after a discussion.”

Yun Fenghuang sneered and said, “How could those old guys be convinced easily? I’m afraid that they would soon cultivate your brother after you left. Am I right?”

Qi Jiulu said calmly, “Before I left, my father had brought Jiuzhang around.”

Qi Jiuzhang was one of the younger half-brothers of Qi Jiulu, who was in better health compared to another.

What Qi’s Family did obviously mean that if Qi Jiulu succeeded, Qi’s Family would naturally share the benefits and Qi Jiuzhang would support him obediently; but if Qi Jiulu failed to follow a master, Qi’s Family would immediately abandon him and turn to support Qi Jiuzhang to manage the family.

These were the common methods used by the big clans, and they never had a single way. Qi Jiulu was not surprised. Yun Fenghuang, either.

They two were unavoidably disappointed at the moment but not surprised. Gongxiang Xiao, however, was irritated and became compassionate after hearing this, because there were few children in the imperial clan in these years and he was well-protected by the Prince Regent for a long time. Though the coming of his stepmother made his life harder, he was a noble Shizi superficially.

But Yun Fenghuang and Qi Jiulu didn’t pay attention to him at the moment. They only talked about Xie Fenghuan’s affair, “At first, my sister and her husband Childe Wang had a harmonious relationship. Later, Wang fell in love with a girl whose family did some business. Then he became estranged from my sister, and gradually they treated each other like guests… I remember that my mother often took my sister home with the excuse that the elders at home were in poor health, and wanted her to come back to visit the elders, but actually to give her chances for relief.”

Wang’s Family was not considered as a big clan in the north. One reason was that there were few men in this clan, which had cultivated some talents but no outstanding talents. Second, it was said that their ancestors had the blood of Hu people, and therefore were the later generations of the naturalized Hu people and the Han people at the frontier. Wang’s Family never admitted this, insisting that at most some of their ancestors married some girl performers of Hu people as concubines for admiring their beauty, but actually they were not accepted in the north, where the concept that man of different people had different belief was popular.

At the beginning, Ms. Jiang bitterly opposed to Xie Fenghuan’s marriage to Childe Wang. She felt that Childe Wang didn’t matched. Xie Fenghuan was a baseborn girl, but raised by her, the wife in charge. In that case, even she couldn’t marry some Zongzi as noble as Qi Jiulu, she should marry the second legitimate son of some families or the like.

But Childe Wang was handsome and good at pleasing girls. Xie Fenghuan was young at that time, being single-minded about him, and even used her life to fight back.

If Yun Fenghuang did so, Ms. Jiang would not yield, and she would have the confidence to break them up.

However, Xie Fenghuan was not delivered by her. Xie Fenghuan’s mother Ms. Qin felt distressed for her daughter and knelt down to Ms. Jiang for mercy. Being extremely angry, hateful and sad, Ms. Jiang agreed impetuously… Later, as Xie Fenghuan’s infamy implicated her natal family, Ms. Jiang roused herself and thoroughly investigated the yard of Ms. Qin. As a result, many maids and mammies were beaten to death or disability, and the rest were poisoned to be dumb and then sold away.

Even so, it was already useless…

But the saddest one was probably Ms. Qin. She couldn’t raise up Xie Fenghuan, her only daughter, by herself. When she grew up and fell in love with someone, she had to support her, for she had done nothing for her daughter before, though she knew that she would displease Ms. Jiang.

As a result, her efforts pushed her daughter into the fire pit…

After the death of Xie Fenghuan, Ms. Qin was seriously ill. After that, she became skinny and her beauty was sharply diminished. Even Xie Jian who had spoiled her for most of her life did not want to see her again. Half a year ago, Yun Fenghuang heard it in Ms. Jiang’s letter that Ms. Qin wanted to become a Buddhist nun but was stopped successfully by Ms. Jiang. Now she lived in her yard alone, without leaving the house, and no one knew how many years she could live.

Yun Fenghuang settled her mind and said, “I have never believed that a girl raised up by my mother would be stupid to be caught by her husband’s family for being unfaithful… The most important thing was why Wang’s Family broke with Xie’s Family in such an indecent way?”

Originally, the two families were connected by marriage for mutual-benefits. Therefore, they would not get even with each other even if the child of one side made mistakes, unless something important happened. Besides, the fame of Wang’s Family was not as good as that of Xie’s Family. Even if Xie Fenghuan betrayed her husband, how could they spread it around?

In that case, not only they would offend Xie’s Family, people would know that Wang’s Family was betrayed. If so, were they really graceful?

The normal way was to get the evidence privately and give it to Xie’s Family for self-handling. In this way, Xie’s Family would be in the wrong, so that they would severely punish the dirty two and owe Wang’s Family a lot… This should be the tacit method between the big clans.

But what did Wang’s Family do at that time?

The adulterer and the adulteress were tied to be paraded through the street as warning to others before they were sent to Xie’s Family. In the process, they even wished to beat gongs and drums to alarm the people from all over the town.

At that time, as Xie’s Family was unprepared, they were knocked by the news, and hurriedly handled it from the masters to the servants, being unable to think deeply. But with the most intense and tragic time passed, Xie’s Family finally realized something.

Ms. Jiang disposed of the maids in the yard of Ms. Qin. Yun Fenghuang was not surprised about Qi Jiulu’s words that Chao’s Family was connected to Xie Fenghuan’s affair… They had suspected it before.

“I don’t know whether Wang’s Family and Chao’s Family are colluded.” Qi Jiulu said slowly, “But the man who had an affair with our sister, was seen by someone that he has contacted with someone of the branch of Chao’s Family… At that time, it was said by Wang’s Family that when our sister went out to relieve her boredom, she met the man again and again and gradually had a tender feeling. It seems that they obviously had intended to slander our sister.”

Yun Fenghuang was silent for a while, and then sneered, “My sister was not highly valued, and Childe Wang was even less qualified. The final goal of this matter was the two of us, or our families!”

Qi Jiulu was expressionless, “No. It should be said that the goal was the whole north!”

The scandal that swept across the north was clear now. The political conflict began from Shenzong Period. After Emperor Shenzong ascended the throne, with his strategies and courage, he stopped the conflict for several years. However, after Xiaozong took over the power, he and Ji’s Family were at odds. As a result, the political turbulence reappeared.

During this process, the big clans in the north always adhered to the principle of making the clan last forever, and refused to take sides easily.

At that time, Qi’s Family and Xie’s Family chose to be bound with marriage for two reasons. The master of Qi’s Family claimed that Yun Fenghuang was so wise and virtuous that she was well-matched with Qi Jiulu. But there was a hidden consideration underneath. They intended to fight against the courting power from the Imperial Court, which was not found by Yun Fenghuang and Qi Jiulu, for they were young or they had no vision at that time.

Qi’s Family was the leading clan in the north. Although in recent years due to the thin heirs, its power had dropped somewhat, it was still prestigious.

Xie’s Family was slightly inferior to Qi’s Family, but it was in a prosperous situation due to its flourishing population.

Since the two teamed up, it was powerful enough to squash other local tyrants in the north.

Only in this way could they be qualified to say “no” to the lobbyists from Dijing City.

So, for the people who plotted to rule the north, breaking up the marriage contract of the two was inevitable… However, the intention of the two to get married was firm and clear. Besides, as childhood sweethearts, Yun Fenghuang and Qi Jiulu had a deep relationship. Therefore, from all respects, it was a natural match…

Since they couldn’t succeed whether starting from the family or the unmarried lovers, they thought of Xie Fenghuan.

“Well…” Gongxiang Xiao whispered again to break the silence, “Since the two families of yours had such a deep intention, then when the sister of Gui Ren Yun was in trouble, even if you were young and ignorant, the elders of your family should know it, shouldn’t they? Why did Qi’s Family insist on breaking up the engagement?”

After all, Qi’s Family knew that Xie’s Family was actually innocent.

Moreover, their intended daughter-in-law was perfectly in love with their son… Why didn’t they stand up and support Xie’s Family at this time so that they could continue the cooperation and give an impression of tolerance and generosity on the public to let Xie’s Family owe it?

“Because Qi’s Family had few men.” Yun Fenghuang said so. Gongxiang Xiao looked at Qi Jiulu when he asked this, because he thought Qi Jiulu was definitely the one who knew the best about his family, but now Yun Fenghuang answered for him. She said indifferently, “Do you know how many legitimate sons of Qi’s Family in this generation including Qi Jiulu? Only five! Then there were two died before I left the north. Do you know how many legitimate sons of Xie’s Family in this generation? I have four brothers, and my father also has four brothers and seven half-brothers… The one plotted the thing counted on my sister wanted to break up the engagement and warn Qi’s Family that he could also hurt the heirs of Qi’s Family since he could ruin my sister. Couldn’t he?”

If Qi’s Family had as many heirs as Xie’s Family, they would not necessarily flinch.

If one legitimate son died, there would be a group of ones and more baseborn boys left. This was the advantage of the family with a large population. It was a dream to eliminate it by the dirty means.

With the power accumulated for years in the north, Xie’s Family could even make a mas uprising… How could the political enemies of the one behind it not seize the opportunity to slander him?

This was not worthwhile, as long as the one was clear-minded.

But Qi’s Family had few offspring in recent two generations, and therefore they couldn’t afford to lose.

This time, after Qi Jiulu came to Dijing City, Qi’s Family began to cultivate his brother Qi Jiuzhang. This was impossible in the previous generations when their heirs were still numerous, for the northern clans attached great importance to man’s identity, age and his birth.

Qi’s Family didn’t have enough offspring, and one of Qi Jiulu’s half-brothers was too young and another was too ordinary in terms of talent. Given the case, Qi Jiulu finally got the chance to be valued. Otherwise, how could it be possible that the son of a concubine was cultivated to support the family?

Hearing his explanation, Gongxiang Xiao said thoughtfully, “Since Qi’s Family value the heirs like this, why should they let you come to Dijing?”

They had given up Xie’s Family, but why did they still let their Zongzi run around?

“Do you have any other choices?” Yun Fenghuang looked at him in surprise, “Should they all stay at home because of fear? Qi’s Family had realized the graveness of the fight at Dijing that they could not ignore it anymore, so they let Zongzi marry the girl of Chao’s Family first and then come to Dijing to find a cooperator… Zongzi will certainly not be stupid to choose a powerless supporter. Therefore, Qi’s Family can temporarily rely on others, so as not to be a victim of the battle between the parties. Of course, at present, no one can be sure who will be the final winner. So, if Zongzi chose wrongly, they could give up him and turn to support Qi Jiuzhang, in case that their family would have no head in the future.”

Gongxiang Xiao said, “But if Zongzi stood in the wrong team, even if Qi’s Family would choose to abandon Zongzi, how could it not be affected at all?”

“Affected or not, and the degree to be affected, it depends not only on its selection, but also on its own strength.” Yun Fenghuang said coldly, “Qi’s Family was originally a leading clan in the north, and the only reason for its decline in the past two years was the thin population. Therefore, they could not do many things they wanted to do. Now since Zongzi joined Prince Regent’s Mansion after he came to Dijing, they can rely on the Prince Regent to strengthen their power and further control other big families!”

“Because of Dingbei Army, the powers in the north and the Prince Regent had a very deep relationship before.”

“If the Prince Regent wins one day, Qi’s Family will naturally become the heroes!”

“If others win, Qi’s Family can also help to squash the followers of the Prince Regent in the north… At that time, as long as Qi’s Family can do more help than make trouble, it would not be afraid. Right?”

As she said so, she became serious and looked at Qi Jiulu, “Even though Qi’s Family was cruel to protect the whole family first, they would not abandon you easily, for they have cultivated you for many years. So, even though they want to send someone to Dijing to show their attitude, they would not choose you at the very beginning… I guess that your father chose Qi Jiuzhang to join Prince Regent’s Mansion originally, but you insisted on coming here, right?”

Qi Jiulu said calmly, “You are here. I have endured in the north for three years and I couldn’t bear it any more. How could I give this opportunity to Jiuzhang?”

The two were speechless for a moment, and then Qi Jiulu looked at Gongxiang Xiao again.

Gongxiang Xiao was confused, “What’s wrong?”

“… Shizi.” After keeping silence for a moment, Qi Jiulu said, “Since we’ve told most of the plan, can you leave us for a while?”

Before Gongxiang Xiao answered, Yun Fenghuang sneered, “Shizi, since you know that we childhood sweethearts have a deep affection, haven’t you heard enough? Can’t you let us talk for a while?”

As she said so, she raised her hand to touch Qi Jiulu’s face and sneered, “Or will Shizi continue watching?”

Seeing that her fingers brushed against the man’s cheeks, earlobes, and was about to reached into Qi Jiulu’s undershirt, Gongxiang Xiao was embarrassed. He got up and walked away. After a few steps, he coughed with his back to them, “It’s late already. You have at most two more… No, an hour left! Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to take you out!”