[R18] Will drink wine – “About Wine” Chapter 153 [English]

Chapter 148 Win or Lose

At three o’clock in the morning, Qiao Tianya opened the curtain.

Yao Wenyu was talking in his sleep, and the pain in his legs made him sweat while he slept.The mattress was not thick, and the rainy season had not yet arrived in Cizhou. The window was open, and the bamboo curtains swayed in the wind.Yao Wenyu lay in the wind, as if he were pillowing on the spring rain.

A few months ago, the Taixue turmoil affected the poor officials in the court. Kong Qiu and Cen Yu were the first to bear the brunt, and Yao Wenyu was not spared.After the turmoil, Yao Wenyu was protected by Kong Qiu and rarely showed up in Qudu. He only accompanied Hai Liangyi at Bodhi Mountain every day until the carriage was attacked.

That day Yao Wenyu met Xue Xiuzhuo.

* * *

Xue Xiuzhuo and Yao Wenyu were classmates. Long before Hai Liangyi, they had studied together in Mr. Chang Zong’s school.Hai Liangyi was interested in Yao Wenyu, initially because of Mr. Yao. At that time, Xue Xiuzhuo had already submitted three invitations, but none of them were retained by Hai Liangyi.

Yao Wenyu often heard Xi Hongxuan talk about Xue Xiuzhuo because Xue Xiuzhuo lived in poverty in the Xue family in his early years.After the death of Xue’s father, the various houses of the Xue family fought fiercely for good land and houses. The commotion was known to everyone in the capital, and the family was despised.The direct descendant Xue Xiuyi was arty and knew nothing about antiques, but he spent a lot of money all day long to be cheated by others. Within a few years, the Xue family was completely ruined.Xue Xiuyi hangs around all day long and wants to enter the Imperial Academy. He gave many gifts to Hua Siqian, who was also a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy and a minister in the cabinet at that time. They were all warm-hearted but cold-assed, and even Helian Houfei looked down upon him.

Everyone thought that the Xue family was going to be defeated, but Xue Xiuzhuo came out to kill him at this moment. He was selected to enter the Imperial Academy because he actually passed the exam.At that time, Hai Liangyi reviewed it and Xue Xiuzhuo’s policy was very good. Being on the list was no coincidence.Yao Wenyu has read all of Xue Xiuzhuo’s policies. When Xue Xiuzhuo first entered the Imperial Academy, he was full of energy and could even see the shadow of Qi Huilian. He repeatedly talked about the importance of land in the local area. This was something Qi Huilian did not finish back then.Taking the eight cities of Qudu as an example, aristocratic families annexed civilian land without reporting it, thereby offsetting the tax on tens of thousands of hectares of land. This was something that the Ministry of Household Affairs could not detect under the control of Wei Huaigu and others.

However, Xue Xiuzhuo did not meet the Prince of the East Palace who could protect him. His memorial not only offended Hua Siqian, but also offended the courtiers of the aristocratic family at the time, and even offended Pan Rugui.These people were later inextricably linked to the defeat of Zhongbo. They had already formed an alliance as early as the end of the Yongyi Year. Even the seemingly marginalized Helianhou Fei had taken measures to occupy civilian fields in Dan City.Xue Xiuzhuo was like a young rabbit caught in a tight siege, stirring up a thousand waves in the court. The criticism came so quickly. Hua Siqian used Xue Xiuzhuo as an excuse to attack Hai Liangyi, who promoted him, and the officials from poor families represented by Hai Liangyi.

Those days were very difficult, and Yao Wenyu could hear the rumors wherever he was in the world.Among the officials who were demoted at that time was Kong Qiu, and those who were indirectly affected were low-ranking officials like Liang Miaoshan.Hai Liangyi avoided Hua Siqian’s sharpness and resigned as the last deputy in the cabinet. He reduced his participation in court affairs and the humble family once again entered a period of dormancy.Xue Xiuzhuo’s future was limited and he was publicly reprimanded by Hua Siqian. He had just entered the court. He was demoted before he could even secure his position in the Imperial Academy and became the pen of revising national history.

But what was behind Hai Liangyi’s concession was not fear, but the beginning of Hanmen’s preparations for a counterattack.Hai Liangyi had long been worried about the problem of the treasury. They did not take the approach of attacking from the capital, but started to trace it from the local account books.The person Hai Liangyi chose at that time was Xue Xiuzhuo. Xue Xiuzhuo’s appointment as Hu Kedu was entirely due to Hai Liangyi’s instruction. Xue Xiuzhuo did not disappoint Hai Liangyi. After experiencing that criticism, he became cautious and sophisticated.

Xue Xiuzhuo stayed in the position of Hukedu for eight full years. During this period, according to the inspection and evaluation, he should have been promoted long ago.However, Hai Liangyi suppressed he and put him underneath to hone his skills.Yao Wenyu felt that this man was born to be an official, because he understood Hai Liangyi’s meaning so well that not only did he not complain, but he did a very good job.He knew all the local political conditions in Juexi and the eight cities of Qudu by heart. Jiang Qingshan contributed the most to the restoration of sufficient supply in the Juexi granary, but Xue Xiuzhuo also contributed indispensably.

Jiang Qingshan does not admire Yao Wenyu, or even read Yao Wenyu’s articles, because they are hard workers.For officials like him, even if Yao Wenyu is really a genius, it is not as important as Xue Xiuzhuo.

Xiao Chiye once said that Xue Xiuzhuo is more like Hai Liangyi’s student than Yao Wenyu.Because he fulfilled the wishes of Hai Liangyi and Han Clan officials, his shocking performance at the Nanlin Hunting Ground forced Hua Siqian to rebel, making Han Clan’s years of hard work pay off.Emperor Xiande died of illness, and the Queen Mother was forced to retreat. The Hua and Pan parties collapsed, and they ushered in a young and healthy new emperor.

Unfortunately, God failed to fulfill his wishes, and Li Jianheng was not made to be emperor.

Before Hai Liangyi’s death, Yao Wenyu had no ill feelings towards Xue Xiuzhuo.In Yao Wenyu’s eyes, he is a person with a delicate position. He seems to have abandoned his family, but he can get the full support of Xi Hongxuan and others.He seems to be standing on a certain line, and both sides are pawns, including he himself.

* * *

It was raining when Yao Wenyu met Xue Xiuzhuo in Bodhi Mountain. They sat down in the thatched pavilion and played a game of chess.There was no reply or even eye contact during the process.This chess game was played for several hours, and finally ended in a draw.

Xue Xiuzhuo opened his umbrella before leaving. He looked back and said to Yao Wenyu, “Will you go next spring?”

Yao Wenyu collected the chess pieces one by one and said, “Since you, Xue Yanqing, are in the court, why do you need me, Yao Yuanzhuo?”

The two of them sat and stood, listening to the storm outside the pavilion intensifying.The wind blew the sleeves of Yao Wenyu’s robe, holding the chess box in one hand, like an immortal sitting idle among the collision of pearls and jade, as if he would fly away in the wind in the next moment.As he spoke, the mud splashed on Yao Wenyu’s green clothes with the wind and rain, making the floating sleeves wet, turning him into an ordinary person.

Xue Xiuzhuo looked at the mud spots and said, “Kong Qiu once visited the teacher when he was seriously ill. You gave him advice in the hall, but it was Han Cheng who was the one who took care of him.” He turned his eyes away and fell on Yao Wenyu’s face, as if he was looking at this person again, “At that moment I discovered that Yao Wenyu is nothing more than that.”

The chess piece between Yao Wenyu’s fingers slid into the chess box with a “gurgling” sound, and he said: “You are right, Yao Wenyu is nothing more than that.”

“A year ago, the teacher thought it was an opportunity. With the trust of Emperor Tianchen, the Han family could make a big move, but in the end it was his wishful thinking.” Xue Xiuzhuo said calmly, “The struggle between the two factions lasted for several years, but very few problems were solved. Twenty years ago, Qi Huilian proposed measuring local fields, restraining annexation by aristocratic families, and restoring normal income from local field taxes. This matter has not been implemented to this day. What did the teacher achieve with the steady maintenance of Dazhou?”

Yao Wenyu said: “In the third year of Xiande, Juexi was hit by a disaster and the national treasury was in short supply. Hua Siqian refused to rescue the thirteen cities of Juexi, which displaced tens of thousands of people. Jiang Qingshan opened the granary with one person’s power and owed a huge debt. If it were not forIf the moderate faction headed by the teacher fully assists Hua Siqian by inspecting the accounts in Qudu, the food of Zhongbo will fall into the pockets of the family.Saving one person does not count as an act, and saving tens of thousands of people does not count as an act. So in your opinion, what does saving count as an act?”

“If it was the moderates who saved tens of thousands of people in Juexi, then it was also the moderates who caused the tragedy of Zhongbo. It is the doctors who save one person in this world, and it is the courtiers who save the common people in the world.” Xue Xiuzhuo tightened his fingers, turned back, and said, “How many yearsNow, the teacher still regards the struggle between the two factions as his own responsibility.Look at Kong Qiu, look at the current Taixue students. Is it only the aristocratic family that divides the factions based on family status?The turmoil in Taixue can be so easily instigated, but Kong Qiu has not yet realized that.The poor families under their leadership have the same prejudice against the officials of the aristocratic families.The moderate faction has gradually taken control of the Imperial Academy, which has long gone against your grandfather’s original intention of reviving the Imperial Academy.”

“You designed the murder of Emperor Tianchen, intensified the factional struggle, and put the cabinet in danger. You instigated Han Cheng to surround and kill Xiao Chiye, force the rebels to leave the north, and asked the Queen Mother to strengthen the military power in Qidong. You prompted the Queen Mother to exercise the power of the emperor, and then supported the emperor’s ascendance. You arranged every step properly and took everyone into account.” Yao Wenyu stood up slowly, and the black and white chess pieces rolled to the ground. “You forced the teacher to death.”

The sound of rain intensified, shattering together with the chess pieces, leaving people bloody and bloody.

The heavy rain wet half of Xue Xiuzhuo’s arm. He and Yao Wenyu looked at each other, without any wavering in their eyes.We were classmates in the same school, were taught by the same teacher, led by the same teacher, and worked on the same problem, but they became completely opposite people.

“One day I will die,” Xue Xiuzhuo said in a hoarse voice. “Whether it is betrayal, separation, or ruin, I will follow this road to the end.”

“You kill people and yourself, at any cost.” Yao Wenyu let go of the chess piece, “You can’t save the so-called common people in the world.”

“Revival of the Great Zhou Dynasty is at this moment,” Xue Xiuzhuo took a step closer. “All the old factions of the aristocratic families were rewashed. The unification of the leaders of the poor families was thwarted, and the danger of eunuchs no longer existed. The cabinet, the queen mother and the prince were restrained by three parties, and the emperor and the queen rose up.The beauty is like the crucian carp crossing the river, Dazhou is about to have fresh blood.Yao Wenyu, I am not afraid of death, even if I am infamy for forever, I have already immersed myself in the teacher’s fire, I am myself.”

Xue Xiuzhuo said, opened the umbrella again, turned around and walked into the rain.

“You win for a while.”

Yao Wenyu stood there and raised his voice.

“If you win a game, it’s not a victory at all. The world is in chaos and there are endless variables. You can’t count everyone, Xue Xiuzhuo——!”

The torrential rain is pouring down between heaven and earth.The green bamboos on Hai Liangyi’s tomb broke at the sound, and muddy water flowed down the slope, like a face hiding its face and crying in pain.

“It’s a draw today, and the outcome is undecided.” Xue Xiuzhuo stopped and did not look back, “But since there is Xue Yanqing in the world, why should we keep Yao Yuanzhuo? You and I are different. We don’t have to see each other again after tonight.”

“This game is not over yet,” Yao Wenyu said. “In my hands, there is no draw.”

Xue Xiuzhuo seemed to smile, and looked back for the last time, staring at Yao Wenyu intently for a long while.Separated by a rain curtain, it seems that they have been separated by a natural chasm since birth, as if they are the reflection of heaven and earth, and will never become fellow travelers.The three words “Xue Yanqing” have always been obscured by Yao Yuanzhuo. From his birth as a legitimate concubine to Hai Liangyi’s choice, Xue Xiuzhuo has never won. However, at this moment, “he” is a condescending pity.

You lose.

The carriage galloped along the mountain road, dogs barking everywhere, and the pursuers galloped in pursuit.Yao Wenyu’s coachman died, and he could not control the direction of the carriage, so he could only make the carriage flee in a hurry through the mountains.The arrows were inserted into the carriage from behind, and some of them had already been nailed to the horses’ hooves. The horses were frightened and completely broke away from the reins.

Someone had already jumped to the back of the carriage, stabbed through the wall of the carriage with a knife, tore open the curtain and stabbed inside.There was no one else in Bodhi Mountain, and Yao Wenyu’s death date had been determined. When he went up the mountain, Xue Xiuzhuo never thought about letting him walk out alive.

The carriage rolled down the ditch and broke the wall of the carriage. Yao Wenyu’s internal organs were turned upside down.The horse suffered a painful fall, but Yao Wenyu untied it and got up with difficulty.The dog behind them barked too fiercely, and the horse continued to run away with a lame leg.Yao Wenyu had no saddle and was almost scraped off by a branch in the bumps.But the horse had not been able to run for a moment before he was shot in the other leg.

The chase had reached the foot of Bodhi Mountain. The leader was worried that Yao Wenyu would run down and lose time, so he tied a rope around Yao Wenyu’s ankles and pulled him along the mountain road to his carriage.During the process, the rain decreased and it was not dark yet. They wanted to do it cleanly and leave no traces, so they first broke Yao Wenyu’s legs with a scabbard, and then dragged the person into the carriage.

At this moment, the sound of horse hooves suddenly came running on the mountain road.The pursuer secretly thought something was wrong, pulled down the curtain, and said urgently: “Put away the knife!”

There were many people arriving, and the guards on both sides of the carriage were all from the Eighth Battalion, blocking the already narrow horse path.The pursuer signaled to the coachman to pull away the carriage, and the group of people bowed their eyebrows and made way for them.

Yao Wenyu was gagged, and the severe pain caused him to convulse all over, but his sanity still remained.He was sweating and banging his forehead against the board.

The leader heard a sound in the carriage and signaled to his subordinates with his eyes.One of them immediately slapped the horse a few times and shouted, drowning out Yao Wenyu’s voice.

But the visitor did not leave. The carriage surrounded by people opened the curtain, revealing Princess Zhaoyue dressed as a woman. She frowned slightly and said, “Don’t make any noise, there is a child in the carriage.”

Yao Wenyu recognized Princess Zhaoyue’s voice, a muffled voice escaped from her throat, and her forehead turned blood red.

Princess Zhaoyue suddenly said: “Is there anyone in the car? Let your master come to see me.”

The man at the head recognized who she was, saluted and excused herself: “She is the eldest daughter of the master’s family. She is looking for death and survival. It is not easy to let her out to attack the princess. The princess goes first.”

Princess Zhaoyue raised her eyebrows and said, “This is the place where Mr. Ge sleeps. What nonsense are you talking about with your eyes closed! Someone, lift the curtain for me!”

The leading man immediately showed his waist badge, which had the bronze seal of the garrison on it, and said: “We are on an errand, and we have the arrest documents with us. This is an order from the Ministry of Punishment. Princess, how can you interfere in important affairs of the court without any position? Even if Marquis Helian comes today, you cannot forcefully lift the curtain!”

Princess Zhaoyue has been living in Dancheng since she married Pan.After the death of Mr. Hai Ge, she followed her husband to the capital. Today, she had made an appointment to visit Yao’s family. Unexpectedly, when he and his wife arrived, they learned that Yao Wenyu had gone to the mountains and had not returned.She knew very well that Yao Wenyu was a person who would never break an appointment without any reason, so she drove to take a look, and now she was convinced that there was something wrong with this group of people.

The leading man calculated that there was nothing he could do about Princess Zhaoyue. The Fei family had no important officials now, and Marquis Helian would not offend anyone easily.When he thought of this, he sneered and said: “If the princess doesn’t leave, then we will go first.”

However, before he could move, he saw the guards from the eighth battalion holding down the handle of the knife.

The jade finger in the car slightly lifted the curtain, vaguely revealing a flowery temple.The narrow-sleeved palace dress hangs snugly in the car, revealing the toes of the extraordinary satin shoes, and pearls hanging from the side of the net collar. She said in a soft voice: “The princess has no job, so can I neither?”

The leader was still stunned on the spot, when he heard the guard yell loudly: “The third lady is so beautiful, why don’t you kneel down to greet her!”

In this Qandu, except for the Queen Mother’s sweetheart, who dares to call her the Third Miss?

The man broke out in a cold sweat. He immediately knelt down and kowtowed: “You should be punished with death if you stop the third lady’s jade carriage!”