Chapter 249: Chapter 231, The Trial at Three Courts_1
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After receiving the letter from Daohua, on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, the three brothers Yan Wenxiu, Wentao, and Wenkai returned to the Yan Family.
Songhe Courtyard.
All members of the Yan Family were present. The elder Madam Yan sat at the top, Yan Zhigao sat at the prime seat to the left, Madam Li sat at the prime seat to the right, and the rest were seated on both sides accordingly.
Yan Wenxiu, Wentao, and Wenkai stood in the center with their heads bowed low.
Daohua sat next to the elder Madam Yan, and seeing the scene inside the room resembling a tribunal, her expression involuntarily turned solemn.
Yan Zhigao was the first to speak, “Wenxiu, as the eldest brother, you tell us what exactly happened in Fenxi.”
At this moment, Yan Wenxiu also felt somewhat nervous. Although he had anticipated a scolding when he decided to follow the Little Prince to Fenxi, he had not expected his family to present such a grand display.
“Father, it was like this.”
“In March, the Governor wrote a letter to the Little Prince, saying he wanted him to gain some experience. In the Governor’s words, no matter how well one learns in the Academy, it is not as useful as having genuine experience.”
“Most of the bandit issues in Fenxi had been controlled, and efforts were underway to further dismantle the remaining forces. The danger was minimal, making it a suitable opportunity for experience.”
“At the time, the three of us, along with Brother Dong, Hongxin, and Chengye, happened to be there. None of us had ever experienced such intense situations, so we all were tempted.”
“We came together and discussed it, and decided to follow the Little Prince to learn more. After all, the Little Prince had bodyguards, so being with him, at least we didn’t have to worry too much about safety.”
Yan Wenkai took up the narrative, “That’s right, Father, Mother, Grandmother, my third brother and I are trained in martial arts, and we are bound to encounter these things in the future. It’s better to be exposed to them earlier, to be prepared earlier.”
“Since there was such an opportunity by the Little Prince’s side, naturally we could not miss it.”
Seeing her fourth brother looking as if he was not only without fault but also completely justified, Daohua felt an urge to facepalm.
Was the question today about whether it was right or wrong?
Wasn’t it about their failure to inform the family first?
Sure enough, her mother and grandmother both began to look displeased.
That was when the third brother, Wentao, spoke, “Grandmother, Uncle, Aunt, we were wrong, we didn’t inform the family at the first opportunity, and that was our fault.”
Yan Wenkai continued, “We did this primarily because we were worried the family would object…”
“Mainly because we were worried the family would worry!”
Yan Wenxiu quickly interrupted his younger brother’s words, fearing that if he went on, the somewhat softened attitudes of their grandmother and mother would harden again.
“Grandmother, Mother, it truly was safe to be with the Little Prince. The Governor wouldn’t let his own nephew face danger! Besides, this trip truly yielded significant gains.”
It was then that Yan Zhigao spoke, “Then let’s hear it, what did you gain?”
Yan Wenxiu organized his thoughts, “Previously when we heard about bandits, we would denounce them preconceivedly, thinking they were all ruthless and vicious people.”
“But this time in Fenxi, the bandits we encountered were disarmed civilians. They caused trouble for nothing more than a mouthful of food. Just provide them with food, and they would disperse immediately, their demands are that simple.”
“I was very dissatisfied when the grain was seized before, but seeing those people struggling in extreme distress, I suddenly understood. When one can’t even fill their own stomach, they can’t be concerned about the greater good of the country.”
“To govern the people well is not difficult; so long as they are fed and clothed, they will be grateful. But if they have no means to live, even the most honest unarmed people will rise up in resistance.”
We learned about these things from the books, but the feeling is far less profound and shocking than seeing them with my own eyes.
Yan Zhigao nodded, “What you said is correct, but ensuring that people have enough to eat and wear is not an easy task!”
He was heartened by his eldest son’s concern for the people. Only with such a concern for the people would one truly serve the public upon becoming an official.
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Afterward, Yan Zhigao shifted his gaze toward Yan Wenkai.
To be honest, over the years, with an excellent eldest legitimate son ahead and a favored youngest illegitimate son behind, this middle legitimate son in between, he hadn’t paid much attention to.
The impression the second legitimate son gave him was still stuck in a rambunctious, playful phase.
But today, he was surprised to find that the second legitimate son, whom he hadn’t paid much attention to, had also grown up. Standing beside the eldest son, he was even taller, and his sturdy physique, when he stood there, boy, was actually quite imposing.
“What about you, what gains have you made?”
To his father’s direct question, Yan Wenkai was somewhat surprised.
It couldn’t be helped; he was the invisible man of the family. In the past, his father and mother’s attention was mostly on his older brother. They weren’t too harsh on him but didn’t have many demands either; as long as he wasn’t lacking food or clothing, he was quite content to be left alone.
It was only after his big sister came back, and they played and joked around more, and he followed the Little Prince to Wangyue Academy, that the family’s attention gradually began to turn toward him.
Yan Wenkai continued in his usual rough style, “A big fist is the hard truth. Dealing with those who resist and disobey, you have to suppress them with absolute force, and not give them any chance to rise again.”
Yan Zhigao frowned, “Resorting to violence is not the best strategy.”
Yan Wenkai replied off the cuff, “First, we fight, eh. Once they are subdued, we can sit down and talk reason, and then whatever I say goes. Otherwise, they’ll continue to get a beating!”
Yan Zhigao was speechless, “What if you’re on the losing side?”
Yan Wenkai immediately retorted, “That’s why I have to train harder in martial arts after I return to the Academy. No matter what, when I fight in the future, I have to win so that I can have a say.”
Before Yan Zhigao could respond, Madam Li suddenly stood up with a ‘swoosh’, walked in front of Yan Wenkai, and jabbed his forehead with her index finger, “Fight, fight, fight, is that all you love to do?”
Yan Wenkai quickly hid behind Yan Wenxiu, pleading, “Mom, I’m just answering dad’s question. I don’t fight all the time, you know!”
At that moment, Yan Zhigao looked toward Yan Wentao. Treating his nephew, his expression and tone became much gentler, “Wentao, your uncle knows you’re a well-behaved child, modest and reserved. Your younger brother is a bit impulsive; you need to keep an eye on him.”
Wentao immediately responded, “Don’t worry, Uncle. I will. Actually… my younger brother isn’t that impulsive. He just gets a bit rowdy sometimes. But the Little Prince likes his personality, and so do Elder Brother Dong, Elder Brother Zhou, and the others.”
Yan Zhigao said, “He’s thick-headed and missing a beat, able to see through everyone’s thoughts at a glance, without even having to think, hence he naturally pleases others.”
Wentao scratched the back of his head, puzzled as to why everyone said his little brother was missing a beat.
His little brother was very clever, wasn’t he? Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been the first to spot the bandits’ scout during their trip to Fenxi with the Little Prince.
Daohua also leaned on Grandmother’s shoulder and smiled. This fourth brother of hers could compete with her eldest brother just fine. He might appear simple on the outside but was sharp on the inside. He might be straightforward, but if you treat him as someone who didn’t know any better, you were bound to end up at a loss.
Grandmother Yan made the final summary, “Regardless, you all went to Fenxi without informing the family first, and that’s a major fault. No matter how reasonable your explanations are, you all need to be punished.”
Madam Li immediately concurred, “Exactly.”
Grandmother Yan looked at Madam Li, “How about we punish them by…”
Madam Li quickly took over, “Deducting their allowances for three months?”
“Oh no, Grandmother, Mom, without our allowance, your son will have to contend with the northwest wind. You can’t do this~”
Yan Wenkai immediately started to wail, looking as miserable as can be.
Seeing his reaction, Grandmother Yan smiled with satisfaction, “Alright, a three-month deduction of their allowances it is, to teach them a lesson.”
Upon hearing this, Yan Wenxiu and Yan Wentao both breathed a sigh of relief.
It was just a three-month loss of allowances. They could endure that; it would pass eventually.