Chapter 362: Argument
Editor: Atlas Studios
The white-bearded old man was Yan Chong, one of the three remaining elders of the Great Zhou Dynasty. 20 years ago, when His Majesty fled south, he cried loudly. However, he had no choice but to bring his son to the south with His Majesty. When the Imperial Court was in chaos, he propped up the Imperial Court with a few old ministers.
The currently powerful Minister Qin was merely a small sixth-grade official back then. When he saw him, not only did he have to give way and bow to him, but he would also address him respectfully as Teacher.
Back then, when Minister Qin took the examination, the white-bearded old man was unfortunately the main examiner. This made him very regretful. He said that if he had known that Minister Qin was such a scheming person back then, he would definitely not have let him pass. Although he said it in a fit of anger, it could be seen that he had a terrible relationship with Minister Qin.
He had retired seven or eight years ago. When he heard the news that General Yuan and Qi Xiuyuan had sent troops yesterday, he happily drank two glasses of wine. The next day, he took out his court uniform and came to court.
Although he had retired, he still had the honorary title of the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor. As such, it was very easy for him to go to court.
He only snorted twice to express his dissatisfaction with his son’s actions of stopping him from going to court. He expressed disdain for his son and grandson’s combat strength. “Count on you? Then I might as well close my eyes and dream.”
His son, Yan Du, and grandson, Yan Fu, looked a little embarrassed. However, the white-bearded old man stopped in his tracks and looked at Qi Feng, who had left the Imperial Court. A hint of mockery flashed across his eyes. He turned to his son and said, “Look at him. Do you still despise me for not treating you brothers well? It’s your blessings that you can reincarnate as my descendant. If you’re not grateful for that, I’ll go down and meet the King of Hell and ask him to reincarnate you into Qi Feng’s wife’s womb next time.”
Yan Du didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Father, our son is even older than Qi Feng.”
Yan Fu lowered his head to hide his smile.
The white-bearded old man glared and said, “In the next lifetime. If you don’t believe me, just wait and see. You’re so lucky to be my son, but you insist on arguing.”
Yan Du felt a little awkward in front of his son, but when he thought of Qi Feng’s performance just now, he felt that his father was right. Qi Xiuyuan was really unlucky to have such a father.
At this moment, Fan Siwen was also looking at Qi Feng with a livid expression. He resisted the strange gazes of others and walked to Qi Feng’s side. He said in a low voice, “Let’s go together.”
Feeling embarrassed because of what happened in the Imperial Court just now, Qi Feng immediately followed after hearing this.
He was also very aggrieved by the strange gazes of others. When someone suggested a rebellion just now, he broke out in cold sweat. That was the only sentence that came to his mind. Naturally, he wanted to do his best to protect the Qi family. How could he think of anything else?
Qi Feng was a little resentful of his son. If instead of leading the troops in the army, he had taken the Imperial Examination and become a civil official, there wouldn’t have been such trouble.
Rebellion would get nine generations of his family killed.
Fan Siwen even had the intention to kill Qi Feng now. He had no choice but to jump out because the rebellion would implicate his entire family. Even if he had to die, he had to absolve Qi Xiuyuan of this crime because he was also ‘part of the nine generations’. Once this crime was convicted, no one in the Fan family would survive.
That was why Fan Siwen was so furious at Qi Feng. As soon as he got into his carriage, he couldn’t suppress his anger and said, “Are you crazy? Instead of crying for justice for Xiuyuan at this time, you actually made a confession? Do you think it’s as simple as killing one single person? Once Xiuyuan’s crime of rebellion has been convicted, no one in your Qi family, our Fan family, the Zhu family, and the Xia family can escape.”
Qi Feng’s expression was also a little ugly as he explained, “Your Majesty is kind-hearted. If we take the initiative to explain…”
“Explain what?” Fan Siwen scolded him. “All Xiuyuan is doing is reclaim his homeland. He’s only 20 years old and has yet to marry. Do you think he’s so ambitious? No matter how benevolent His Majesty is, he’s still the Emperor. What is an Emperor?” Fan Siwen stared into his eyes and said, “The Emperor is the son of the heavens. When the son of the heavens flies into a rage, corpses will float within a 100-mile radius. Qi Feng, don’t do anything stupid. From tomorrow onwards, call in sick, okay?”
After saying that, he slammed the door and jumped out of the carriage. Only when he got out did he realize that it was his own carriage. He was indeed muddle-headed from anger to have actually gotten out of his own carriage. He should have chased Qi Feng out.
However, at the thought of Qi Feng’s behavior, Fan Siwen gave up. He stood on the ground and panted twice before waving his hand helplessly. He asked the coachman to send Qi Feng back to the Qi Residence while he walked back with his hands behind his back.
Fan Siwen walked home with a dark expression. Only then did he realize that he still had to go to work and had actually skipped work to come back. Indeed, everything was not going well today. With this thought in mind, he was no longer in the mood to go to the government office. He directly sent a servant to the government office to apply for leave and entered the residence with a dark expression.
When Xia Tong heard that Fan Siwen was back, she quickly ran out and stuffed a heater into his hand. She asked, “How is it?”
Seeing that he did not look good, she asked, “Did something happen to Xiuyuan?”
Fan Siwen went straight into the study and sent the servants away. Seeing that he was silent, Xia Tong stomped her feet and said, “Say something.”
Fan Siwen glared at her. “What can happen to Xiuyuan? Don’t worry, with Grand Tutor Yan and General Yuan here, they won’t let Xiuyuan be punished severely. Even if he gets punished, it’ll only be a deduction from his annual salary and stuff like that.”
“Then why do you look so pale?”
Anger surged in Fan Siwen’s chest. “It’s not a big deal to begin with, but your cousin-in-law took the initiative to help Xiuyuan confess. It’s fine if he confessed to other crimes, but he actually dared to accept the crime of rebellion. I really can’t fathom how he came to be a fourth-grade official.”
Fan Siwen told Xia Tong about what happened in the Imperial Court today and said, “Write a letter to Zijin and tell him about what happened here.”
“Then, should we call Zijin back? And Haoran. The two of them are still children. Let’s call them back to study,” Xia Tong said worriedly.
Fan Siwen glared at her. “Can you decide for Zijin?” Fan Siwen snorted. “If you’re capable of summoning them back, then go ahead.”
Xia Tong said angrily, “Didn’t they run away from home because of your son?”
“Blame me?” Fan Siwen’s suppressed anger flared up again. He roared, “The spot for hereditary privilege belongs to me. Yes, he’s my son. But isn’t Jialue my son too? In fact, Jialue is even two years older than him. What’s wrong with me giving him the hereditary privilege spot?”
“Don’t you know that there are differences between the legitimate son and the concubine’s son?” Xia Tong shouted back. “Zijin is the legitimate son. The spot for the hereditary privilege was originally his. Why should he give it up to Jialue? How much has he given up since he was born?”
“He became a xiucai1 at the age of 11. If he can become an official himself, why would he need this hereditary privilege? His older brother, on the other hand, is neither cut out for academics nor martial arts, that’s why I gave him the hereditary privilege. Surely Jialue can’t rely on Zijin for the rest of his life?”
It was not that Fan Siwen was thinking badly of his own son, but Zijin had been devious since he was young. Once the old man passed away, Zijin would surely torment his brother from a different mother.