Shen Yueshan did not possess Gu Zhao's sense of righteousness, to repay his sovereign with death, even if he would ultimately be vindicated.
He knew deeply that he must live—so that his two children could forever remain illustrious, and the brothers who had fought and bled with him could forever be admired, standing tall and proud between heaven and earth.
"Lord Gu actually..." Bu Shulin found it hard to believe. She had always thought the downfall of the Gu family was merely the outcome of a power struggle between ruler and subject.
She never imagined the truth behind it was so complex!
"Human hearts are inherently complex," Shen Xihe replied with a faint smile.
"Lord Gu was too... righteous." Bu Shulin struggled to find the right words to describe Gu Zhao.
As a commoner, she would surely feel gratitude—after all, when two tigers fight, it is the innocent commoners, unable to control their own fates, who suffer.
But as a descendant of a noble family, she would certainly curse Gu Zhao for flattering the emperor and call him a traitor.
"A Lin, do you realize that if he had not taken this step, the Xue clan would not have withdrawn unscathed today, nor would the Cui clan continue to enjoy their glory? Had he led the noble families in an all-out effort, both sides would have been severely wounded, and then..."
Then more people would have died. The Gu family might not have been spared either. Amid their strife, the recently pacified foreign tribes would have seized the opportunity to stir trouble. With internal strife and external threats resurging, how many more families would have been torn apart?
Gu Zhao understood. He was not heavily driven by power or desire. Due to the previous emperor's debauchery, he had witnessed a broken nation in his childhood and seen devastation everywhere in his youth. Born into privilege and supported by the people, he only wished to do his utmost for the world.
From the eighth to the nineteenth year of the Youning era, for eleven years, he pressured His Majesty to the point of suffocation. The depth of His Majesty's hatred for him then would likely be even greater now, though His Majesty must also feel some gratitude toward him.
"My father always said that reading too much can ruin your mind," Bu Shulin said with lingering fear. She admired someone like Gu Zhao but did not want her own father to become such a person. She had no desire to be sacrificed for no reason. "It's truly a pity for someone as radiant and peerlessly beautiful as the Consort of the Prince Xin. If you haven't seen her, you wouldn't know how dazzling she was..."
Clearing her throat, Bu Shulin added, "But in my heart, Youyou is the most dazzling. The Consort of the Prince Xin was like a living corpse... Ugh, I shouldn't speak disrespectfully of the deceased. But I truly felt that in life, she seemed to regard everything with indifference—not out of arrogance, but as if... as if she had no attachment to this world. Thinking back now, someone as wise as her must have seen through Lord Gu's plans early on, which is why she..."
With this thought, Bu Shulin actually felt a twinge of guilt. In the past, she and other idle nobles had often gossiped about the young ladies of the capital. Before Gu Qingzhi and Xie Yunhuai called off their engagement, they had all pitied Xie Yunhuai for having a fiancée who seemed to suffer merely by living.
Later, when Xie Yunhuai broke off the engagement and Gu Qingzhi married Xiao Changqing, their sympathy shifted to Xiao Changqing. And indeed, it came true—Xiao Changqing grew increasingly irritable and gloomy after marriage, only regaining some of his pre-marital composure after his wife's death.
Only now did she understand: if she had been born into a family like Gu Qingzhi's and had realized her father's schemes so early, she would have either gone mad or died young. How could she have remained as impassive and serene as Gu Qingzhi, calmly awaiting her fate?"Your father isn't poorly read—it's his position that differs." Shen Xihe gently shook her head. "Lord Gu simply understood that the era of imperial power had arrived, and aristocratic families should withdraw from the political stage they had manipulated for centuries. By sacrificing the least, he allowed others to retreat unscathed. This was his way, as the head of an aristocratic family, of remaining worthy of his clan's and the scholar-officials' support.
Lord Gu spent over a decade verifying that His Majesty is a ruler who loves his people and governs diligently. His choice to step back also fulfilled the duty between sovereign and subject."
"But what was the result? The aristocratic families didn't appreciate him—they merely saw him as incompetent, unable to let them control imperial power as in previous dynasties." Bu Shulin wasn't so righteous; she couldn't agree with Gu Zhao's approach—her perspective didn't allow it. "And His Majesty? Without the Consort of Prince Xin's deathbed scheme, would His Majesty have taken the opportunity to rehabilitate the Gu family?
No, even if he understood his sacrifice, His Majesty wouldn't easily relent. He only relented because he still had a shred of conscience, and that shred was moved by the ladder offered through the life-or-death scheme of the Consort of Prince Xin and her son.
As for the common people? They knew nothing. If the court said Lord Gu was a traitor, they believed he was a traitor. If the court rehabilitated him, they'd only know indifferently. Would they remember their current peaceful lives and livelihoods, and that they came at his sacrifice?
As for the history books..."
Bu Shulin scoffed, saying no more. Placing hope in history books was even more absurd—history had always been written by the victors.
"A Lin, everyone's desires and pursuits differ. You and I are alike—we're both people with heavy selfish interests. We'd rather fight to the last moment, even if we die, we want to die with clarity." Shen Xihe smiled faintly.
As for the innocent casualties in this conflict, she could only apologize—such were the times. She could ensure she wouldn't actively exploit or harm them, but she couldn't offer up her own life and those of her dearest just to avoid involving them.
She wouldn't judge Gu Zhao—she lacked such character herself and thus had no right to evaluate him.
"Right, that's exactly how it should be!" This was why Bu Shulin liked Shen Xihe—they were the same, willing to fight for themselves until the very end. "This realm is clearly His Majesty's realm. If one side must concede, why can't it be His Majesty?"
Why should they be the ones to concede? What did they do wrong? Was it wrong to bravely kill enemies and stabilize the realm during the court's turmoil? Was it wrong, after being rewarded for their merits, to care for the people, seek welfare for those under their jurisdiction, and earn the people's affection?
They did nothing wrong. They had no reason not to fight for themselves.
The two, thinking alike, exchanged a smile. Hongyu approached and whispered, "My Lady, Duke Xue has arrived."
After Xue Heng resigned from office, he had remained secluded. Now, the Xue family, while praising Xue Heng's righteousness for resigning to protect Xue Hui, also resented Xue Hui's incompetence, directing all their firepower at him, making Xue Hui's life unbearable.
"His Highness advised me to do something for my wife. I plan to first go to the northwest and also take Seventh Lady there to adapt. Does My Lady have any items you'd like me to bring to the northwest?" Xue Heng had come for this purpose.
First, to inform her of his itinerary, second, to bid farewell, and third, to carry items for Shen Xihe.
Shen Xihe had her own guards, and items were usually sent to the northwest by guards accompanying the escort agency. Still, since Xue Heng was so thoughtful, Shen Xihe gave him the prepared items that hadn't yet been sent."When you arrive in the northwest, remember to write to me. I'll send you gifts." Seeing Xue Jinqiao looking dejected, Shen Xihe recalled their previous agreement.
Xue Jinqiao immediately brightened up.
Shen Xihe added another reminder: "Take good care of Brother for me."
She hoped they would soon confess their feelings to each other.
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