Chapter 687: A Path to Life
A True Man was a very uncommon form of praise.
Chen Changsheng remained silent for a moment, then asked, "There's another one?"
Earlier, Madam Xue had said that he was one of the two True Men in Xue Xingchuan's eyes.
Madam Xue did not directly answer this question, but instead said in a different way, "You truly are worthy of being Her Majesty the Empress's son."
Chen Changsheng understood, and said, "Unfortunately, I am not her son."
Madam Xue said, "I am gratified to hear you say 'unfortunately.'"
Chen Changsheng replied, "Yes, I do not consider having such a mother to be a disgrace. Although she is not a good person, she is a remarkable one."
Madam Xue sighed with emotion, "Indeed. Otherwise, how could my late husband and the others have been willing to follow Her Majesty, unwavering unto death?"
Chen Changsheng suddenly asked, "Do you hate?"
If one were to speak of hate, Madam Xue had many reasons for it. If one were to speak of regret, she also had reasons for that.
Those hates and regrets were not all directed at the new dynasty, nor at that Director of the Ministry of Justice, nor at Xu Shiji. There should also be some directed at those bygone years.
Madam Xue was very calm, and said, "No. I only hate that Zhou Tong is not dead."
Chen Changsheng looked quietly into her eyes, saying nothing, offering no comfort.
Madam Xue was extremely intelligent. She understood, was somewhat startled, and deeply moved. She wanted to offer some advice, but could not bring herself to speak, because she did not know what to say.
Chen Changsheng had said nothing at all, so how could she advise him?
They bid farewell. At the gate of the National Academy, Chen Changsheng said to Madam Xue, "Please do not leave."
According to the news delivered by the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Affairs, the Xue residence was already empty of people. There were several trunks of prepared luggage at the back gate, suggesting that Madam Xue might be returning to her hometown in the coming days.
Yet Chen Changsheng asked her not to leave.
Madam Xue understood his meaning, because he understood hers.
She was silent for a very long time, then with some difficulty, she forced a faint smile and said, "Alright. I will watch with my own eyes."
Chen Changsheng said, "You will see it."
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After the house was confiscated, the Xue residence dismissed all its servants. Whether from the main branch or the second branch, anyone not yet implicated had been sent back to their hometown. Now, only Madam Xue remained in the residence, along with one maidservant and the old steward. It was exceptionally desolate. If it were up to Madam Xue, even this maidservant and steward should leave, but she could not convince them.
That maidservant said, "Since we are to hold a memorial service, no matter how simple, we still need to procure some things. At least we can share the burden for Madam."
Madam Xue shook her head and said, "The person has already been buried. What memorial service is there to hold?"
The steward said, "Since the court has said nothing, that is tacit approval. I imagine that in the next few days, some officials or former colleagues will come to pay their respects. We must be ready to receive them."
He spoke according to old ways of thinking, but it stirred Madam Xue's sorrow. She said indifferently, "Do you think anyone dares to come?"
The steward thought to himself that the master was a hero in his lifetime, with a wide circle of friends in the capital. As long as the court did not issue an explicit decree, someone would surely come.
Madam Xue said, "Since we are to hold a memorial service, where will we find the silver?"
The steward thought for a moment, then said, "The sacrificial fields we purchased on the outskirts of the capital cannot be sold off for now. The shop on West Straight Street..."
The Xue residence now had no silver to spare. If they wanted to set up a decent memorial hall, they would have to sell off those clan properties that had not been confiscated, and they would have to be the best ones to sell quickly.
West Straight Street was the most prosperous place in the capital. The shops there truly earned a fortune every day. No one had ever been willing to sell them.
The steward looked at Madam Xue's hesitant expression, thinking she was reluctant to part with them, and urged, "After returning to our hometown, there will be no one to look after the shop. It will be lost sooner or later. Since we are never coming back, why keep it?"
Madam Xue was silent for a moment, then said, "Don't sell the shop."
The steward was somewhat startled and continued to persuade, "Madam, please..."
Madam Xue shook her head and said, "I know what you are worried about. But I have changed my mind. I am not leaving the capital."
Hearing this, the steward was even more startled. But before he could say anything, he heard Madam continue, "In a few days, go back to our hometown and bring Jin Ge back."
Jin Ge, whose full name was Xue Yejin, was Xue He's only son. The steward already knew the news: the Second Master, Xue He, was being escorted back to the capital and would likely not escape death. Jin Ge was the only remaining seedling of the Xue residence. Two days ago, after confirming the court's decree, he was sent back to their hometown by Madam in the middle of the night. Why had Madam now decided to have him return to the capital? This involved immense risk. Who knew whether those newly powerful figures in the court might change their minds?
He said in a trembling voice, "Even if Jin Ge returns, how can he manage those shops?"
"Jin Ge is the only bloodline of my Xue family. How can he waste his time on such mundane affairs?" Madam Xue looked at him seriously and said, "He is returning to the capital to study."
The steward groaned inwardly, thinking, which academy in the capital now would dare to accept a disciple from the Xue family? Not to mention the Green Vine Six Academies, even the most ordinary neighborhood school would likely shut its doors to Jin Ge.
Madam Xue did not reveal her subsequent plans. She said to the steward, "First, go attend to the memorial service arrangements. As for the silver, use these for now. If it's not enough, we'll talk later."
As she spoke, she took a red gold hairpin from her bun and handed it to him.
The steward had no choice but to accept his orders. Taking the red gold hairpin, he went out the door.
That maidservant brought a bowl of tea and said, "Please moisten your throat first."
Madam Xue picked up the tea bowl and took a sip. Looking at her pale face reflected in the tea, she suddenly revealed a faint smile.
Unlike the past few days, her smile today, though still weary, finally held a few more traces of brightness.
Then she felt the tea was a little sweet.
If there was blood in the throat, it should also be sweet.
This was something Xue Xingchuan had once discussed with her.
It was back when they had just married. On the second day she took charge of the household accounts, she discovered many problems in the family books. A lot of silver was flowing in the wrong direction.
At that time, there were many rumors in the residence.
She was somewhat upset and didn't drink her soup at dinner.
Xue Xingchuan had no choice but to tell her the truth. Only then did she learn that her husband had been adopted, and that he had a biological brother named Zhou Tong.
To comfort her, Xue Xingchuan told her many trivial and amusing stories, as well as tales from the battlefield. For instance, if there was blood in the throat, it would taste sweet.
If that gold hairpin pierced her throat, it should also be sweet.
Madam Xue thought to herself.
From the very beginning, she had never planned to leave the capital.
She had planned to collect Xue Xingchuan's remains for burial, then take her own life and follow him.
Until yesterday, things had changed.
She no longer planned to die.
She planned to continue living in the capital, because she wanted to witness Zhou Tong's death with her own eyes.
She also wanted to raise the Xue family's only seedling in the capital, because she wanted him to attend the National Academy.
Crying came from outside the courtyard.
That maidservant led in a noblewoman with red, swollen eyes.
As soon as the noblewoman entered the room, she threw herself directly into Madam Xue's arms, sobbing and shouting, "Mother, how are we supposed to go on living like this?"
Madam Xue looked at her eldest daughter, who had married the Vice Minister of Rites, and said calmly, "Have you been divorced?"
The noblewoman was startled, then said angrily, "I've done nothing wrong! How would the Wei family dare to divorce me!"
Madam Xue said, "Since you haven't been divorced, why are you crying?"
The noblewoman's eyes reddened again, and she said, "They are not good to me."
Madam Xue said, "If your husband's family refuses to tolerate you, then come back."
The noblewoman said with some embarrassment, "These past few days, my father-in-law and mother-in-law have had sour faces, but... he has been fairly amiable."
Madam Xue said calmly, "Amiable? If he continues to be amiable, then divorce him."
The noblewoman hesitated, saying, "What about the child? Besides, he has treated me fairly well. Once things settle down in the future, Jin Ge's prospects..."
Madam Xue said, "Whether Jin Ge joins the military in the future, or enters the court, whether you manage a shop, or remarry, how can you not find a path to life?"
The noblewoman thought it over, nodded firmly, and said, "Mother, what you say makes sense. I'll tell him exactly that."
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(I am very satisfied with this chapter myself. Of the new volume up to now, this is my favorite chapter.)