For things to have come to this step, Jing Wan also relaxed. Of course, for Li Hong Yuan, from beginning to end, he just never had it taken seriously.

They may have relaxed, but for the others, they were unable to relax no matter what, from the officials that got kicked back home yesterday, down to the commoners of the entire city below.

Yesterday, the city had gotten sealed off, and although today, it was opened again early in the morning, however, with that many important officials getting imprisoned at the same time, how can they face this calmly? Quite a few wealthy merchants also could no longer sit still, thinking of every possible way to visit those officials that were temporarily safe and sound.

There were those few that didn’t even have the qualifications to stand before Li Hong Yuan, so naturally didn’t know anything at all. And as for the other officials that were present at the time, regardless whether it was those that were transferred over after that incident, or those that at the time were also in Chuanzhou Fu, but didn’t get involved in this matter, they more or less all were able to guess what happened, yet didn’t dare to make careless remarks. With Jin Qinwang, this esteemed great buddha present, being this ruthless without the slightest mercy, simply not caring how many people he offends, if one doesn’t want to be sorted out, it’s best to obediently curl up in a corner. Aside from the matters within one’s duty, everything else, don’t get involved with in the slightest, and when finished, just swiftly return home. Social gatherings, banquets, and whatnot, all don’t bother. After all, they also weren’t clean either.

These two days after the hundred boat parade, the various brothels and pleasure boats’ business have actually been very lacking. There were those that were burning in anxiety, and naturally, there were also those that were unconcerned, enjoying the idleness.

However, because of such a mess, the matter of Jin Qinwang taking a little young master out actually didn’t stir up the slightest bit of wave. Don’t know whether one should rejoice or regret.

At night, someone took the path from Min County and headed straight for Pei County, hastily entering the Pei clan main residence.

When the Pei clan leader heard about the matter of Li Hong Yuan getting attacked by assassins, the usually ‘well cultivated’ person exploded in a thundering rage, directly smashing the cup in hand, causing the person reporting the matter to bleed from the head. “Bastard, such a big matter, why wasn’t it reported as soon as possible?” One has to know, that outer grandson was difficult to deal with to begin with, and moreover, even knew that the descendant of the previous dynasty’s imperial family was in his hands. Even if the matter had nothing to do with the remnants of the previous dynasty, they can still be dragged out to take the blame. Moreover, this matter was related to them to begin with. The Pei clan leader really wanted to have these people all minced and fed to the dogs.

The person that got smashed with the cup didn’t even dare to use his hands to cover the wound, “Because the assassination failed, and the people that participated in it all perished. The next day, the entire city was sealed off, so was unable to………..”

“Was I talking about this?” The Pei clan leader’s voice was cold like icicles. “Such a big matter, to have not reported to me first and just acted on their own without permission, this is having eaten a bear’s heart or a leopard’s guts? All perished? This is not bad, it’s good that they’ve all died.” Regardless of what these people have once done, having what kind of contributions towards him or the Pei clan, now that they have become an obstruction, then they will just be unhesitantly abandoned. Having them all die was for the best.

After slightly calming down, the Pei clan leader rather wasn’t particularly concerned either. After all, those people simply didn’t know who exactly they were working for. The ones that knew of his existence were also just those countable few, and moreover, under normal circumstances, it was all acting under his “son’s” name.

(T/N: The ‘son’ is referring to the descendant of the previous dynasty’s imperial family that he has been raising ‘like a son’.)

As for Li Hong Yuan’s safety, he further didn’t care about in the slightest. Although Li Hong Yuan was very important to him, but if he were to just die this easily, then can only say that Li Hong Yuan was useless. As such, he naturally wasn’t worth him spending energy on, pouring in his heart’s blood. Of course, if they were to meet, he certainly would have another face.

That’s why, for the Pei clan leader to be this furious, more than half the reason was because those people acted without permission, challenging his authority.

“Immediately get lost back to Chuanzhou Fu, and pay attention to the movements on Jin Qinwang’s side at all times. Regarding the matter of the assassination attempt, just end it here. Let the people of Chuanzhou Fu all obediently stay still for me. If anyone dares to cause trouble, or act without permission again, don’t blame this old man for being ruthless and heartless.”

“Yes, clan leader.”

After the person left, Pei clan leader sunk into contemplation. In reality, ever since ‘encountering’ that outer grandson of his, he just feels all things unfavorable, not a single matter to one’s satisfaction. It wasn’t him controlling the other party to follow along his own plans, but rather, like sinking into a swamp, getting restricted on all sides. Yet, he still wasn’t too clear whether his obstructions were man-made or an accident.

After contemplating, the Pei clan leader feels that he shouldn’t continue waiting like this. Right now, what the state of affairs was like in Jiangnan, he also roughly grasped. Having witnessed Jin Qinwang’s style of work, no one dared to rashly stroke the tiger’s whiskers.

With the official matters more or less over with, to then come and discuss private matters wasn’t anything inappropriate either.

The Pei clan leader headed to the rear court to look for his madam, Li Hong Yuan’s maternal grandmother by blood.

The Pei clan leader was once obsessed with baby-making, and during that time when he didn’t have a di son or di daughter, he for the most part all resided in the main courtyard. As his original first wife, it goes without saying just how happy she was, her entire heart just completely fell into this man’s hands. Just, after the birth of the di son, this kind of situation just changed somewhat, yet it also wasn’t considered too much. In a month, at least half of the time was spent in the main courtyard. As the di wife of a large influential family, having this kind of situation, one should know to be content. That’s why, although some times miserable, majority of the times, it was still pretty good. After all, even if there were shu sons and shu daughters born, her husband still didn’t favor those concubines that much either, and from beginning to end, stood on her side, all the way until she died of complications while giving birth to the third child, and her younger sister married in.

The current Pei clan leader’s madam, although was the second wife, that year when she married in, her treatment was no different from her older sister’s. When she was still in the maiden family, she’d already heard her older sister mention how good her older brother-in-law was. It’s not that she didn’t envy. In fact, after her older sister passed away, when her family was thinking of letting her continue the marriage ties, she was even happy inside. And after marrying over, she sure enough received the same treatment as her old sister. However, as time went on, she just discovered that things simply wasn’t that way. This man’s so-called good, in essence, wasn’t because of love, but rather, for the sake of descendants, because di sons and di daughters were more valuable. That’s why, he just let his wife give birth to more, all the way until one was unable to give birth anymore.

Learning such a truth, how was it not lamentable, but her entire heart had already been thrown in. Could it be that because that man just wants to let her give birth to children, she just have him rejected at the door?

At the time, she’d just happened to have gotten pregnant again. Taking advantage of this ten-month pregnancy, it was the perfect time to properly think things over. As for whether or not she would think things through, the heavens already gave her an answer. When giving birth to the child, she’d injured her body, no longer able to give birth anymore. At the same time feeling bitterly sorrow, she nevertheless also rejoiced a little. Women, even if a dodder flower[1], once set on certain decisions, she can also possess her own determination and wisdom.

Properly taking care of the children, being virtuous and magnanimous, urging one’s husband to equally share all favor, spreading the branches and scattering the leaves for the family clan…………..

As such, she preserved her own position. Even if her husband didn’t reside in the main courtyard, it still won’t shake her position.

The Pei clan leader had ‘high airs[2]‘, yet also emphasized on etiquette. Every month, unless having other business, otherwise on the first and on the fifteenth, he would always rest in the main courtyard. Afterwards, he grew old, unable to have children anymore, yet he would still occasionally rest in the main courtyard, while the remainder of the time, all resting in the study.

When the clan leader madam saw Pei clan leader, she was very surprised inside, but she also guessed that it was most likely for something. She personally offered a cup of tea, perfunctorily saying a few words, and then waited for him to speak.

The Pei clan leader also didn’t waste his breath, directly getting to the point. He wanted her to go to Chuanzhou Fu to meet Li Hong Yuan and play the affections card.

The Pei clan leader, in his own rear court, that was just the absolute dictator, saying one but never two[3]. If something’s the matter, he also won’t beat around the bush, deliberating over and over again, and further won’t consider what their thoughts will be. Whatever he says, it just what it is, and what he says, you must do as told. There was no second opinion to speak of.

The Pei clan leader madam’s personality was somewhat weak. Actually, if not for the Pei clan leader only valuing children, and towards the wife, still respecting somewhat, while towards the concubines, never once caring about, perhaps she would’ve long been cleanly torn apart by the concubines. That’s why, on this bit, she actually should even thank him. Such irony, such a laughable matter.

However, the clan leader madam, at this very moment, was in a daze, lost in thought. That was her youngest child, and also the best looking among all the children and the most talented one. Guan Guan got engaged to a pretty good future husband, and she herself was also satisfied, so she, this mother, was also happy, because she could tell, Min Yu Han was genuinely good to Guan Guan. Unfortunately, the will of the heavens toyed with mortals………………

When her daughter feigned death and got expelled from the clan, her heart thoroughly ached, and towards that person that ruined her daughter, she hated to the bone, but towards her outer grandson, she nevertheless cared about a lot. She would never voluntarily ask the Pei clan leader anything. Li Hong Yuan was the only exception. She’d long wanted to meet him. Has the opportunity finally come?

“Husband, don’t worry, I will do my best.”

“That is good. Set out as soon as possible, and have Xiu Ying taken along. Also, additionally pick out a few more, understand my meaning?”

The clan leader madam’s heart shook, and in her sleeve, she uncontrollably tightened her fist. This man actually even had this kind of intention? How can he, how can he………..

“What? Didn’t hear clearly?” The Pei clan leader’s voice grew sterner.

The clan leader madam couldn’t help but lightly tremble, “Understood………”

“Then that’s good.” He brushed his sleeve and left.

[1] Dodder flower is a type of parasitic plant that needs to rely on a host to grow. It’s simply unable to survive on its own. The comparison using dodder flower to describe women, I believe, was popularized by Qiong Yao’s novel called ‘The Dodder Flower’, published in 1996, although there is an earlier version of it, since there’s a movie filmed in 1965 that was adapted from her novel of the same name. I was confused by the dates but it’s what the official information says. Personally I’m not really a fan of her work, because they are way too angsty for my taste. In the story of ‘The Dodder Flower’, the female lead is a woman that is completely unable to survive without the male lead’s love and relies on him for everything, hence the title. Also to add, in case there’s any misconceptions, the overall message with the novel was that as women don’t try to live like a dodder flower, because you will be very miserable like the female lead.

[2] 道貌岸然 – This idiom means having a solemn expression and pretending to be serious. Nowadays the phrase is more so used in a mocking manner to describe someone who pretends to be serious on the outside, but in reality a hypocrite. This last part is more fitting of the Pei clan leader.

[3] 说一不二 – Idiom meaning ‘to say one thing and mean it, not allowing for objection’.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com