"Impulsiveness can't save anyone!" With that, he turned and walked into the carriage.
Xue Zi Ning trembled, wondering what her teacher meant by those words. She didn't quite understand. Was he concerned about her? Why would he be concerned about her?
In a civilian residence in the capital, a person knelt on the ground, their voice filled with grief. The man kneeling before him now was slightly stunned by the sight of the man in front of him. After a long moment, he said, "Lord Zhou, for the sake of this prince, would rather die than reveal this prince's whereabouts. This prince is ashamed."
"Your Highness, you don't need to be like this. When we chose to stand with Your Highness, Lord Zhou and I had already prepared ourselves for the possibility that this day might come. We just didn't expect it to arrive so soon."
"Lord Wu, you shouldn't come to see this prince these days either. That Master Li by Xue Chang Jing's side is very formidable."
Lord Wu nodded, "This subject understands. However, this subject has a question."
"Lord Wu, please speak," Xue Chang Jun said.
"This subject and Lord Zhou met Master Li half a month ago. If Master Li had already figured it out then, why did he only tell Xue Chang Jing today?" Lord Wu asked, puzzled.
"You're saying you met Master Li half a month ago?"
Lord Wu nodded, "Precisely. Yesterday, this subject secretly went to see. Master Li is indeed the same Master Li that this subject and Lord Zhou met half a month ago."
Xue Chang Jun's gaze deepened. "What exactly does this Master Li want to achieve?"
Lord Wu shook his head, "This subject does not know. I just find it somewhat strange."
"Alright, this prince understands. For the next few days, Lord Wu and this prince should not meet. If there's anything, Lord Wu can inform the shopkeeper at Fu Lai Inn, and this prince will naturally know."
"Yes, Your Highness. This subject takes his leave!" After Lord Wu departed, Xue Chang Jun summoned Qing Yuan.
"Where is Qing Feng?" Xue Chang Jun asked.
"Your Highness, Qing Feng is still at the Imperial Guard training camp," Qing Yuan replied.
"Go and fetch Qing Feng. This prince has something to ask her."
"Yes, this subordinate will go now." Qing Yuan left.
Xue Chang Jun looked up at the bright moon in the sky, thinking of Zhou Huai's death. He sighed faintly. Could he truly not defeat Xue Chang Jing? He was unwilling. Xue Chang Jing, his imperial brother, how could he not defeat him, especially since he knew his leverage?
Zhou Huai's death was like a small stone touching the sea; the moment it fell, it stirred tiny ripples, but as time passed, it would be gradually forgotten. However, new news soon overshadowed Zhou Huai's death. Rumors spread that the current Prince Jing was not the Emperor's bloodline at all, but the result of Consort Yi's illicit affair with another. This was also why, despite Prince Jing's intelligence and agility, the Emperor still hesitated to establish him as the Crown Prince. The rumors intensified, even suggesting that Prince Jing's biological father might be a raccoon, and Prince Jing himself was a little raccoon. Of course, when the news reached the Prince's mansion, Prince Jing's face turned ashen black. He immediately dispatched people to search for the source of the rumors. He vowed to tear the culprit to shreds.
In the imperial court.
The officials had already heard the rumors about Prince Jing, but none dared to speak of it. After all, Zhou Huai's fate served as a stark warning to all of them. Offending Prince Jing resulted in the same fate as Zhou Huai. Those in the know understood that all male members of Zhou Huai's household over the age of ten had been sent to the army. The women and children were driven out of the Minister's mansion. In the deep autumn with heavy dew, this was a devastating blow to the Minister's mansion, which was now without male support. Besides Zhou Huai's death and the conscription of males over ten, the more pressing issue was how to resettle the remaining elderly, weak, women, and children. The confiscation of the Minister's mansion was as expected, but what no one anticipated was that all the valuable possessions of the Minister's mansion would also be left behind. The Zhou family members driven out of the mansion pooled all their valuables, but it amounted to only a few hundred taels of silver, which, for the dozen or so members of the Zhou family, was likely not enough to buy even a house. The infant, returned to the arms of the young Madam Zhou, was now crying uncontrollably from hunger. The young Madam Zhou could only soothe the baby, knowing that not only her precious son was hungry, but everyone present was hungry.
Madam Zhou glanced at the infant in the young Madam Zhou's arms and handed ten taels of silver to the wet nurse beside her. "Nanny, go buy some food."
"Eldest sister-in-law, at this point, food isn't as important as a place to live, is it?" said Madam Liu, the wife of Zhou Zhuang, Zhou Huai's third brother, from the second branch of the Zhou family.
Madam Zhou looked at the third Madam Zhou, Liu Shi, and said, "As the saying goes, even if you die, be a well-fed ghost. Let's eat something first!"
"Eldest sister-in-law, your words are not right. We are still alive, not dead. I believe buying a house is the priority now," said the third Madam Zhou.
Madam Zhou looked at the third Madam Zhou and said, "Third sister-in-law, I am still your eldest sister-in-law. As the saying goes, the eldest sister-in-law acts as a mother. Since my husband is no longer here, I have the final say in these matters."
Upon hearing this, the third Madam Zhou snorted, "Your husband is dead, yet you still act this way?"
Madam Zhou's eyes turned cold, and she said sternly, "Third sister-in-law, if you feel my decisions are unfair, you are free to leave."
The third Madam Zhou said, "I would like to leave, but what about the money? I should have my share, shouldn't I?"
Madam Zhou's gaze turned icy, and she swayed slightly. She called the wet nurse back, took back the ten taels of silver, and then divided the silver into three portions, each exactly one hundred and eighty taels. "There is only this much silver in total. I have divided it into three parts. Third sister-in-law, you can take your share and leave."
Without any hesitation, the third Madam Zhou took her one hundred and eighty taels of silver and left. The second branch, represented by Madam Huang, the wife of Zhou Sheng, Zhou Huai's illegitimate younger brother, also hesitated.
"Second sister-in-law, you should also take the money and go!" Madam Zhou, seeing Huang Shi's indecision, offered her advice.
"Eldest sister-in-law, I..."
"There's nothing more to say. Fate decides life and death. Zhou Huai's current predicament is his own doing, and he has no one to blame. Go now!" Madam Zhou waved her hand. Seeing this, Madam Huang no longer hesitated and, with tears in her eyes, took the silver and left.
"Mother?" The young Madam Zhou, Cai Shi, called out softly to Madam Zhou.
Madam Zhou regained her senses and looked at the remaining less than one hundred and eighty taels of silver, her heart heavy. Liu Shi and Madam Huang had only children under ten, while she had her own son, Zhou Sheng's child, and the young Madam Cai Shi. Adults could make do, but children couldn't.
"Madam." The wet nurse also called out to Madam Zhou.
Madam Zhou sighed, "Nanny, see if you can find any cheaper residences. It doesn't matter if they are a bit rundown."
The wet nurse nodded, "Alright, this servant will go now."