Chapter 689: Storming the Xue Mansion
The courtyard in the Northern Soldiers' Bureau Alley was gradually taking on its old appearance. The tree pit beneath the wall had been dug quite deep, but the crabapple tree had not yet been delivered.
Finding a crabapple tree identical to the one from before was no easy task, even for the Qingli Department, which held sway over the entire court.
Zhou Tong understood this well and harbored no dissatisfaction toward his subordinates, especially after hearing the succession of reports.
"Vice Minister Wei did not return home. Word has it there was a major uproar in his household last night."
"Before leaving, Director Huang of the Imperial Observatory discovered that all his family's carriages had been borrowed—by his wife's relatives, who claimed they were heading back to Wuzhou."
"Tianhai Shengxue had already boarded the carriage, but was stopped by the family's enshrined guardian. A fierce conflict reportedly broke out, and it was only resolved when Prime Minister Chengwu personally intervened."
"There's been no sound from the Prince Xiang's residence, but the Prince of Chenliu has not appeared all day. Analysis suggests he has been locked in the ancestral hall behind the mansion by the prince."
Ever since learning two days ago that Chen Changsheng had stepped forward to encoffin Xue Xingchuan, Zhou Tong's expression had remained grim, especially after hearing that the Xue Mansion was preparing a memorial ceremony.
Though he had maintained a calm facade, his subordinates—and many in the palace—could see his foul mood.
Only upon hearing these reports did his expression gradually ease, the coldness in his eyes slowly softening.
No one dared to visit the Xue Mansion to pay respects. This was expected.
The Xue Mansion's memorial ceremony provided an emotional outlet for many in the capital, but it was also a trap.
Calling it a tribute to Xue Xingchuan was, in truth, more a tribute to Her Holiness the Empress.
With the court watching the Xue Mansion today, who would dare show up there?
"Chen Changsheng?" Zhou Tong suddenly asked.
One subordinate replied, "The National Teaching Academy has sent no one."
"Unexpected," Zhou Tong said. "Our young Dean Chen is remarkably composed, with such a fine sense of propriety."
He clasped his hands behind his back and walked toward the courtyard exit, adding, "Still, it's hard not to lament the fickleness of the world. But then again, aside from me, who could truly hold any genuine affection for him?"
The subordinates were startled, unsure why their master would say such a thing.
Zhou Tong stopped and turned to face them seriously. "The whole world knows he is my only friend. Do you not know this?"
Looking at the smile on their master's face, the subordinates felt a chill run through them. How were they supposed to answer?
...
...
By the lake of the National Teaching Academy, Mao Qiuyu looked at Chen Changsheng and said, "It seems my worries were unnecessary. You are already far more mature than others your age."
"So you came here at dawn just to watch me," Chen Changsheng said, gazing at the lake. "But honestly, I don't fully understand your point."
Mao Qiuyu replied, "What you did the day before yesterday was enough. Doing more might be going too far."
Chen Changsheng thought for a moment, then asked, "How is this sense of propriety measured? And who decides it?"
He already knew that today, at the Xue Mansion's memorial ceremony, aside from Priest Siyuan and the King of Linghai, no other guests had come.
"Measurement and decision both stem from a singular will," Mao Qiuyu said, looking at him. "When His Holiness the Pope was alive, the National Church had only one will, so there could be only one voice. But after His Holiness returns to the Starry Sea? When you succeed as Pope, you will not yet be twenty. Your will will find it difficult to dominate the National Church. At best, it will be a relationship of coexistence."
These words sounded vague but were actually quite clear. Whether the National Church could be smoothly passed on depended not only on the Pope's will but also on the successor's own ability and means.
Maturity, steadiness, a sense of propriety, patience, and a sense of responsibility—these were all concrete manifestations of ability and means.
Mao Qiuyu continued, "His Holiness the Pope's health is not very good."
Chen Changsheng said, "In a few days, I'll go to the Li Palace to see him."
Mao Qiuyu added, "I imagine His Holiness will be very pleased."
Chen Changsheng was silent for a moment, then said, "I'm not so sure my master uncle will be happy to see me."
Mao Qiuyu said, "You are gradually learning the relationship between a sense of responsibility and silence. That itself represents growth."
Chen Changsheng shook his head. "Actually, you're wrong. I didn't go to the Xue Mansion today not because maturity led me to choose silence, nor because a sense of responsibility showed me propriety. It's just that I find the fickleness of the world quite common, and it has little to do with me. As you know, I really wasn't close to Xue Xingchuan."
Yes, contrary to Zhou Tong's assumption and Mao Qiuyu's relief, Chen Changsheng's absence from the Xue Mansion had nothing to do with restraint or propriety. He simply felt he wasn't close to Xue Xingchuan and saw no need to go. Besides, he didn't know what to say when faced with Madam Xue or those weeping in grief.
"I'm not good at comforting people," he said to Mao Qiuyu.
Just then, Su Moyu suddenly approached.
Mao Qiuyu asked, "What happened?"
Su Moyu bowed, then said to Chen Changsheng, "Zhou Tong has taken people to the Xue Mansion."
Chen Changsheng glanced at the daylight and asked, "What time is the spirit transfer at the Xue Mansion?"
Mao Qiuyu's expression turned serious. "Changing your intentions because of others' actions does not align with your Dao."
This was both advice and a warning.
Chen Changsheng said, "Intentions always change. Acknowledging these changes is true accord."
Mao Qiuyu asked, "What caused the change?"
Chen Changsheng said, "I wasn't close to Xue Xingchuan, so I didn't go to the Xue Mansion. But I am very close to Zhou Tong, so now is the time to go."
...
...
The Xue Mansion was desolate, making the white funeral banners in the autumn wind seem even more lonely and pitiable.
Desolation did not mean there was truly no one. At the street corners and alley ends, many pairs of eyes watched the Xue Mansion's entrance from afar.
Some were idle gossips of the capital who feared nothing, but more gazes represented the major powers of the capital.
From dawn until now, no guests had appeared at the Xue Mansion's gate—not even a few sparrows.
Suddenly, hoofbeats sounded from the street, accompanied by the rustle of wind against clothing.
Dozens of Qingli Department officials and experts, along with even more mounted constables, escorted Zhou Tong to the Xue Mansion's exterior.
In a very short time, a dense crowd had gathered before the Xue Mansion's gate, yet still, no sound was made—utterly dead silent.
The street was so quiet that one could faintly hear the crackling of burning paper money behind the gate.
Zhou Tong took a strip of white cloth from a subordinate, tied it around his waist, and strode toward the Xue Mansion.
The Xue Mansion steward saw this scene and wanted to block him but lacked any courage; his legs had already gone weak.
A beautiful woman in mourning clothes blocked Zhou Tong's path, shouting angrily, "How dare you show your face here?"
Zhou Tong looked at her and said, "Madam Wei has returned?"
He glanced at the desolate mansion, shook his head, and sighed with emotion, "Why has it come to this? I've come to offer incense to Brother Xue, so he won't be too lonely in the Starry Sea."
The woman's face was pale. She cried out, "Father would not want to see a treacherous ingrate like you!"
"The bond between General Xue and me is something women like you could never understand."
With that, Zhou Tong walked calmly into the Xue Mansion, as if returning home.
Throughout the process, he did not even glance at Madam Wei.
The Qingli Department officials pushed Madam Wei aside, preventing her from approaching.
Seeing her enemy storm into her family home, thinking of her father's spirit in heaven unable to find peace, Madam Wei was overcome with grief and fury but powerless to stop him. She began to curse loudly.
Hearing the endless stream of profanity, Zhou Tong frowned slightly in displeasure and said, "Your father was a hero all his life. How did he raise such a shrew?"
A subordinate produced a cloth wad and stuffed it into Madam Wei's mouth.