Hearing this, Cao Yan frowned and hesitated, "What does the Grand Tutor mean by this?"
"How dare you act so insolently before the spirits of the loyal?!"
Grand Tutor Xie suddenly raised his voice, "Cao Yan, let alone the fact that the Wei family has yet to be convicted, even if they were, they are still a family of four generations with three dukes. As long as Your Majesty has not stripped the Wei family of their title, they remain the Duke Who Pacifies the Nation's household. How dare you, a mere fourth-rank assistant minister of the Court of Judicial Review, act so insolently?! Etiquette is the dignity of the Son of Heaven. Do you not even hold the Emperor in regard?"
At these words, Cao Yan's expression drastically changed.
Had these words come from Chu Yu or others, they would have been insignificant to Cao Yan. He knew that everyone now avoided involvement with the Wei family—who would dare bring the Wei family's affairs before the Emperor?
What is the Emperor's temper like now? No one knows how far he would indulge a favored minister, but when he dislikes a minister, he cannot bear to hear a single good word about them. The Gu family was once a prominent clan, yet what became of them after merely speaking a word for the Prince of Qin?
Cao Yan dared to make such a scene because he was certain no one in the court would dare speak up for the Wei family and was confident of the Emperor's current stance toward them.
But Grand Tutor Xie, as the Emperor's teacher, had always enjoyed the Emperor's favor. If he chose to stand up for the Wei family, Cao Yan had to reconsider.
Not to mention that Cao Yan could not afford to offend the Grand Tutor, even if he could, the Grand Tutor had always been in the Emperor's good graces. If he was willing to intervene, the Emperor's true intentions became uncertain.
A thousand thoughts raced through Cao Yan's mind. After a long pause, he smiled and said, "The Grand Tutor speaks rightly. I was indeed reckless. My concern for etiquette led me to misinterpret its meaning. I hope the esteemed lady and the young madam will not take offense."
With that, Cao Yan put away his whip and bowed respectfully to Chu Yu, "Cao Yan offers his apologies to the young madam and the Wei family."
His face was all smiles, his demeanor utterly sincere. Chu Yu, supported by Jiang Chun, rose to her feet. Without glancing at Cao Yan, she walked straight to Grand Tutor Xie and said, "Grand Tutor, please come inside."
Grand Tutor Xie looked at the coffins still outside and calmly said, "Let the Duke Who Pacifies the Nation and the others return home first."
Chu Yu nodded and waved her hand. The steward immediately directed people to carry the coffins inside. Cao Yan glanced at the scene, then stepped forward to bid farewell to Grand Tutor Xie before leaving with his men.
Only after all the coffins were placed in the ancestral hall did the commoners disperse. Chu Yu turned to Grand Tutor Xie, slightly bowed, and gestured, "Grand Tutor, please."
Grand Tutor Xie nodded and followed Chu Yu into Wei Manor.
Xie Jiu had been following behind Grand Tutor Xie, holding an umbrella for him. Once they entered the courtyard, Grand Tutor Xie slowly spoke, "When Xie Jiu came to my residence seeking me, I initially thought she was asking for my help."
Hearing this, Xie Jiu's hand trembled slightly. She lowered her eyes, concealing her inner turmoil. Grand Tutor Xie gave her a faint glance, his expression devoid of reproach, and merely said, "She has always been adept at looking out for herself. Today, I was quite surprised. I wonder how the young madam persuaded this girl?"
Chu Yu reached out to move a branch obstructing the path for Grand Tutor Xie, her voice steady, "Everyone has a heart. The fifth young madam is a person of true character. Once the fog clears, one sees the true heart—no need for me to say more."As they spoke, the three arrived at the main hall. After removing their shoes and stepping onto the long corridor, they entered the hall. Chu Yu invited Grand Tutor Xie to take a seat and then said to him, "Please wait a moment, Grand Tutor. I will freshen up and return shortly."
At this moment, Chu Yu was covered in mud and blood, but her demeanor was so composed that it made people overlook her disheveled state, failing to notice how she truly appeared.
Grand Tutor Xie nodded and gestured for her to take her time. Chu Yu returned to her room, changed into plain clothes, and came back to the hall. By then, only Grand Tutor Xie remained; the others had been dismissed by him, with only Jiang Chun standing at the entrance, though she did not enter.
Grand Tutor Xie was drinking tea. The autumn rain carried a chill, and the steam from the hot tea rose in the air, veiling his face.
He appeared to be nearly seventy, with temples half-gray, but due to good care, his figure was slender and tall, exuding an extraordinary aura without any trace of old age.
Chu Yu knelt opposite Grand Tutor Xie and served him tea. He glanced at her and said lightly, "Since the young madam married into Wei Manor, it seems you have never met the heir, have you?"
Hearing this, Chu Yu knew Grand Tutor Xie had regained his composure.
Her conflict with Cao Yan and her deliberately disheveled appearance were all to have Xie Jiu bring Grand Tutor Xie here. And after Xie Jiu led him in, her impassioned and tearful speech was merely to stir his emotions, to make him unable to resist intervening.
In her past life, Grand Tutor Xie was the only one who publicly stood up for the Wei family. As the emperor's teacher, and with Wei Zhong having once been the emperor's study companion, he was also Wei Zhong's mentor. His character differed greatly from that of the Xie family. If the Xie family was selfish and only concerned with self-preservation, then Grand Tutor Xie was an anomaly among them—even at his age, he still possessed a fiery sense of justice.
But in her past life, Grand Tutor Xie had spoken up too late, by which time Wei Yun had already spent some time in the heavenly prison. That place was filled with petty individuals like Cao Yan, and with the Wei family having many enemies, every day Wei Yun spent there was torture.
Thus, Chu Yu deliberately showed weakness, hoping to provoke Grand Tutor Xie, to let him see the tragic state of his once-promising student's family. Combined with his conscience and his understanding of the emperor, there was a high chance he would intervene.
Chu Yu's thoughts raced, and so she smiled frankly. "We met once, and our relationship was quite good."
Grand Tutor Xie snorted coldly. "The young madam is quite the schemer."
"If the Grand Tutor had no intention, how could I have schemed against him?" Chu Yu met his gaze. "Does the Grand Tutor not understand His Majesty's true intentions?"
Hearing this, Grand Tutor Xie fell silent. Chu Yu was now certain that, as expected, the emperor had no intention of wiping out the Wei family.
Indeed, if he had wanted to exterminate them, he wouldn't have spared Wei Yun in her past life.
But if he didn't want to kill them, why was he publicly furious with the Wei family? What was it that the emperor didn't dare let others know—that he actually intended to spare them?
Chu Yu pondered carefully, though her expression showed complete understanding. She lowered her head to pour herself tea and said confidently, "If His Majesty wants someone to take the blame, does he feel no guilt at all? Seventy thousand elite soldiers, seven fine generals...""You..." Hearing this, Grand Tutor Xie showed a shocked expression, but he quickly suppressed it, looking somewhat nervous as he asked, "What do you know?"
"I know nothing," Chu Yu replied with a faint smile. Yet, faced with that smile, Grand Tutor Xie absolutely refused to believe she truly knew nothing. He frowned as Chu Yu handed him a cup of tea. "Grand Tutor, do you enjoy gambling?"
Grand Tutor Xie did not take the tea. He stared into Chu Yu's eyes. Her gaze had always been this way—calm and composed, without a trace of panic or disturbance. From the moment he met her, this woman, who was merely of a maiden's age, had displayed a composure far beyond her years.
Watching Grand Tutor Xie's wary scrutiny, Chu Yu held the tea with both hands and placed it before him, continuing, "The Wei family is now a gamble in the imperial court. Most have placed their bets on the other side, with no one willing to stake the Wei Manor. But if someone were to bet on the Wei Manor, they would stand to gain everything alone."
"Grand Tutor," Chu Yu's expression grew solemn, "If you can help rescue the Seventh Young Master from prison this time, the Wei family can offer you a promise—unconditional concession on any matter in the future."
Grand Tutor Xie remained silent, seemingly still pondering. Chu Yu pressed on, "If you win this gamble, what you gain is the Emperor's favor and the Wei Manor as an utterly reliable ally. And if you lose, as His Majesty's mentor, given his temperament, he would not act against you, would he?"
Grand Tutor Xie's expression wavered slightly. Chu Yu fixed her gaze on him, her tone urgent, "Grand Tutor, this is a high-stakes gamble with no risk of loss."
Hearing this, Grand Tutor Xie chuckled.
"Eldest Miss of the Chu family," he looked up at her, "You share no deep affection with the Wei heir. Why go to such lengths?"
"For conscience," Chu Yu replied calmly, yet her voice carried an unshakable resolve.
"In this world, someone must always sacrifice. Those who sacrifice are heroes. If I cannot be a hero, then at the very least, I must protect these heroes, ensuring their integrity remains untarnished."
"I have never blamed Xie Jiu or others," she abruptly shifted the topic, much to Grand Tutor Xie's surprise. Chu Yu took a sip of tea and said indifferently, "All ordinary people in this world are kind-hearted yet inclined to seek advantage and avoid harm. Xie Jiu, Yao Jue, Zhang Han, Wang Lan—their choices were not wrong. They are merely ordinary."
"But when some sacrifice to become heroes, and others remain ordinary, then naturally, someone must stand between the ordinary and the heroes—following and revering the footsteps of heroes, upholding them as a belief, protecting and preserving them."
"This path is arduous," Grand Tutor Xie said with regret. Chu Yu replied nonchalantly, "Yet someone must walk it."
Someone must always sacrifice. Someone must always give.
Being ordinary is no sin, but those who give more deserve respect.
Grand Tutor Xie quietly observed Chu Yu for a long while before finally picking up the tea she had offered and taking a sip.
"Later, go to the ancestral hall, carry the Wei family's memorial tablets, and kneel before the Palace Gates. Kneel until Wei Yun is released."
Chu Yu nodded. Seeing Grand Tutor Xie slowly rise, she frowned and asked, "And what else?"
"The rest is up to me."Grand Tutor Xie sighed with a hint of regret and said, "Young Madam, Your Majesty is not as heartless as you think. Wei Zhong served as a study companion in his youth, then as a royal attendant, and later defended the nation and protected His Majesty throughout his life. Your Majesty..."
He didn't finish his words, ultimately shaking his head and letting all his unspoken thoughts dissolve into the autumn rain.
Yet by this point, Chu Yu had already understood Grand Tutor Xie's meaning. She took a step back, bowed deeply, and said sincerely, "Chu Yu thanks the Grand Tutor on behalf of the Wei family."
Grand Tutor Xie nodded and walked away. After a few steps, he suddenly paused and turned to look at Chu Yu.
After gazing at her quietly for a moment, he nodded again and said, "Though you are a woman, with young people like you in Great Chu, I am reassured."
Chu Yu was slightly taken aback. Grand Tutor Xie then turned away and disappeared into the wind and rain.
OpenNovel