"I'm giving you one day to leave Qinghe!" Elder Cui was not negotiating.
If he stayed in Qinghe, he didn't know how much trouble he would cause. Making him leave Qinghe was also to protect his lineage.
"Father,"
"Go!" Elder Cui turned his back, no longer looking at him.
Footsteps faded, leaving Elder Cui alone in the study. He looked at the four characters "Deeds speak louder than words" written by the ancestor on the wall. Ultimately, he had strayed from his true heart and failed the ancestor's expectations.
The Cui family indeed needed a thorough rectification. They had all lived too comfortably these past few years.
After this matter was resolved, he would re-establish family rules that all Cui clan members must remember at all times and in all places.
Li River
"Do we want to become outlaws and risk beheading? We work diligently and toil, farming and planting mulberries, but what is the result? Our land is seized, our labor stolen, the imperial envoy is killed, and Peach Blossom Village is massacred. We want our children to achieve fame, but who gives us the opportunity? Is it because we don't try hard enough? Is it because we are not ambitious?"
"No! It is the Cui family that has deprived us of the right to eat and dress warmly, and they do not allow our children to change their destiny through the imperial examinations. They fear that one day we will replace them, so they spare no effort to exploit us, forcibly seize our land, and deny us the right to study, so that we will forever be poor, forever only able to submit to them and look up to them."
"Are you still willing to be exploited by them? Are you willing for our descendants to live this kind of life with no hope of a breakthrough forever? The Book of History says, 'Do kings and nobles have a special birth?' Are they born noble? No, nobility must be fought for, and destiny is never controlled by the weak! Warriors, pick up the hoes and sickles in our hands, for ourselves, and even more for our descendants, let us drive the Cui family out of Qinghe!"
As the leader finished speaking, the crowd echoed, "Drive the Cui family out of Qinghe!"
"Drive the Cui family out of Qinghe!"
...
"What is that noise outside?" Yu Mingyue put down her brush and said.
The clamor seemed to be getting closer. Just as Yu Mingyue was about to ask Chihua to inquire about the news, Chidan ran in, panting, "Miss, a group of rioters are about to break in."
"Rioters?" Yu Mingyue's heart skipped a beat. Could that rebellion have truly arrived?
"Yes, the Cui family's guards are resisting, but the rioters are increasing in number. The family head has already sent someone to request reinforcements from the Military Governor." Chidan's elder brother worked in the courtyard of the Cui family's eldest master and was well-informed. She heard the news and ran to her young lady's courtyard without hesitation. If those rioters broke in, she had to protect her young lady.
Yu Mingyue put on an outer robe and walked out. Requesting reinforcements from the Military Governor was acceptable, but conflict must be avoided, otherwise, the entire Jiangnan would be in chaos.
"This old servant greets the young lady." It was Elder Cui's steward who blocked Yu Mingyue's path.
"Is my maternal grandfather looking for me?"
"The family head has instructed this old servant to escort the young lady away." The steward said respectfully.
"I know everything. There are rioters outside, and the streets are in chaos. I cannot leave at this time!" Yu Mingyue said anxiously.
She knew her maternal grandfather didn't want her to be implicated, but she had half of the Cui family's blood in her and could not abandon the family and flee alone...
"Young lady, this old servant is merely following orders."
"Am I the only one leaving?"
"Miss Luo is also accompanying the young lady."
"What about the others?"
"Young lady, please come with this old servant first. The family head has other arrangements for the others."
Luo Lingyuan was also brought to Yu Mingyue's courtyard by the guards, and she asked in confusion, "Sister Mingyue, what exactly is happening outside? Why does the family head want me to leave with you?"
Yu Mingyue did not want Luo Lingyuan to worry, "My maternal grandfather may need to handle family matters. We are not members of the Cui clan, so it is inconvenient for us to be present."
"Is that so?" Luo Lingyuan seemed doubtful.
"Yes!" The steward said calmly.
Even now, Steward Hua remained unfazed as if Mount Tai were collapsing before him.
He was indeed the most capable person by her maternal grandfather's side. However, Yu Mingyue knew that the calmer he was, the more serious the situation.
"I'll go with you." Yu Mingyue knew that the more they delayed, the harder it would be to leave.
Her staying could not help in any way and would only add to her maternal grandfather's troubles.
The steward led Yu Mingyue out through the back door of the separate courtyard where the advisors lived. A carriage was already parked there.
"Uncle Hua, please convey a message to my maternal grandfather: self-preservation is key. If it is not absolutely necessary, do not conflict with the common people. This is a jade pendant given to me by the Seventh Prince. If the Military Governor is unwilling to send reinforcements, show it to him. It bears the imperial dragon emblem, and he would not dare to disobey." Yu Mingyue placed the jade pendant into Hua Bo's hand.
This jade pendant was bestowed by the Sage upon Xiao Che. Apart from the Sage, only the Crown Prince was qualified to wear it.
Hua Bo refused to accept it, "Young lady, please keep this jade pendant for your own protection. The family head will never accept it."
"Uncle Hua, circumstances have changed. If the Military Governor does not send troops to support us, how can my Cui clan withstand so many angry commoners and protect the lives of our clan members? Preserving the lives of the clan is most important." Yu Mingyue said meaningfully.
Hua Bo understood the implication in Yu Mingyue's words, bowed to Yu Mingyue, and said, "This old servant thanks the young lady on behalf of the family head!"
Then, he said to the guards behind him, "Spare no effort to escort the two young ladies to the Qinghe Inn and hand them over to Scholar Xie in person."
"Yes!"
The Cui family guards split into two teams, one overt and one covert. The streets were filled with rioters, and they had to be vigilant.
Yu Mingyue looked back, only seeing the swaying lanterns at the entrance casting a faint yellow light.
They took a side road. Even sitting in the carriage, they could hear the sounds of shouting and killing from the next street, the barking of dogs, the whistling of the wind, mixed with cries. The streets had completely descended into chaos.
Cui Residence
"Order from the family head!"
After Steward Hua sent Yu Mingyue and her party away, he closed the gates of the Cui residence and stood before them, shouting loudly.
"Your subordinates greet the family head!" Seeing the family head's order was like seeing the family head himself, they all knelt on one knee.
"An army is maintained for a thousand days and used for a moment. Outside are a bunch of rioters. Our mission is to defend this gate to the death. We will not retreat unless they step over our corpses."
"Your subordinates obey the order!" The thunderous shouts were particularly tragic in the bleak autumn wind.
Elder Cui sat in the study, remarkably calm. He had initially thought that the eldest branch could leave smoothly, but it seemed it was too late. It seemed the saying was true: if it is fated to be, it cannot be avoided.
This was also good. Since they were Cui family members, they should face it together.
A moment ago, a guard had reported that the Sixth Miss had been safely escorted to the Qinghe Inn and handed over to Scholar Xie. He had no further worries.
"Father," Cui Jiulang saw his father staring blankly at the calligraphy and spoke softly after a long while.
"Can we still hold?" Elder Cui did not look at his son.
Cui Jiulang was silent for a moment, "At most, the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."
"What about your mother and the others? Have they been settled?" The Cui family had secret passages that could be used for temporary refuge.
"Mother and several sisters-in-law refused to leave. Mother asked me to tell you, Father, that they will swear to share the fate of the Cui family..."
Elder Cui suddenly smiled, "Very well. If we can survive this calamity, my Cui family will be reborn from the ashes."