Chapter 6, Apricot Blossoms

Xue Chongxun gritted his teeth, but unexpectedly, a slight sound escaped from his jaw. He quickly pretended it was due to the cold weather and reminded himself: the Tang Dynasty is the Tang Dynasty, and the modern era is the modern era! Here, if a father commits a crime, his children are equally guilty; it is only natural. Hasn't Yu Wenji enjoyed the bloody benefits of her father? She deserves her punishment!

After a while, she stood up and said to Xue Chongxun: "There is another one over there; both children have caught a cold. Do you want to go and take a look with me?"

He recalled that there seemed to be an occasion in the official brothel where he was merely playing along, and a courtesan remarked that he had the scent of sunshine about him... How amusing, perhaps it was due to his slightly darker complexion

Although the name "San Niang" is simple and common, with many similar names, in this particular context, it is perfectly relevant to Yu Wenji, leaving little room for similarity. Yu Wenji took two steps back to steady herself, looking at Xue Chongxun in shock, and said with difficulty: "I am not clear about my father's matters; he does not allow us to interfere... He promised us that he would serve well in his official duties and benefit the people... What has he done, and what do you intend to do?"

Xue Chongxun brought the apricot blossoms he had just picked to his nose and took a sniff. Suddenly, he crushed them in the palm of his hand, vigorously kneading them until he had extracted all the fragrant juice from the petals, only then did he stop. He then remarked, "Only in this way does it smell the best"

Imagine this: several strangers suddenly burst into your home, and without saying a word, they slit your father's throat, forcing you and your mother to watch his blood flow from the wound... all because someone demanded that your father inexplicably hand over five hundred guan, and he refused. How would you feel?

National law and morality, good and evil are rewarded; I am an official of the Tang Dynasty, and it is my duty to punish evil, promote good, eliminate violence, and maintain peace. What do you think I should do?" Xue Chongxun said expressionlessly

She was so overcome with emotion that she could hardly speak: "My father is compassionate, righteous, and responsible; he is the person I respect the most, the best man in the world..."

The felt cart drove straight into the Misty Pavilion. Yu Wenji got out to look at the surroundings. This unfamiliar place was clearly not the residence of the Duke of Wei. She said with some fear, "Why have you brought me here"

As he contemplated what he should do, a faint sadness flickered in Xue Chongxun's eyes. This sadness, though subtle and difficult to detect, was a lingering pain. Why? He could no longer understand himself. ... He raised his head and saw a leaf falling slowly and gently from above; it turned out that spring could also shed its leaves

Xue Chongxun said: "I do not even understand myself, let alone others"

He held a warm teacup, paced a couple of steps in front of the palm wood table, and then spoke slowly: "When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked; when the flying birds are gone, the good bow is hidden... How ruthless! This is the way of a true man! Yu Wenxiao has sent both red gold and 'thousands of gold'; now, with his wealth cleansed, what should those who once risked their lives for him do? Yu Wenji, in these days, apart from just seeing San Niang, have you met anyone else?"

Yinyun Studio

When he spoke this sentence, Xue Chongxun felt a sense of relief and joy in his heart

The capital of the Tang Dynasty, Chang'an, is no different. Behind the city god temple dedicated to Ji Xin, there lies an abandoned courtyard, originally a public property. Due to a lack of immediate use, it was left there, becoming a refuge for many beggars and displaced individuals seeking shelter from the wind and rain

Xue Chongxun's lips curled into a smile: "Do you believe it now? Then let us go inside and discuss the terms. You are right; if I merely wanted to punish the wicked and promote the good, why would I seek you out?"

"How?" Yu Wenji asked casually

Yuwen Ji said with a pale face: "If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do. I truly do not know what my father was doing in the past. However, I am aware of San Niang and the others; they do not appear to be good people. I have also asked my father, and he said that if one does not strive to provide a good life for one's wife and children, what is there to discuss about good and evil? Regardless of the bad things he may have done, he has never been insincere towards his family. What can a daughter do? Fortunately, my father has now changed for the better, and his family will surely forgive him."

"Is your ignorance feigned or genuine?" Xue Chongxun said with a cold smile, "Does tax evasion require someone like San Niang? Why would I deceive you?"

Xue Chongxun boarded a heavily covered felt cart and said to Yu Wenji, "Come up." She hesitated for a moment, but ultimately climbed aboard.

Before entering the house, Xue Chongxun noticed that the flowers of the apricot tree in the courtyard were blooming exceptionally brightly, and he couldn't help but reach out to break off a branch to hold in his hand

Xue Chongxun poured hot tea into this unique teacup and leisurely served himself. Yu Wenji glanced at him, snorted softly through her nose, likely disapproving of his lack of basic etiquette

Xue Chongxun stood silently behind her, merely watching.

Xue Chongxun remained silent

Xue Chongxun glanced at her with a cold smile, thinking to himself: Fine, you can take the punishment for him; I am indeed not interested in punishing your father.

You said, "Xue Chongxun turned and left with the book in hand, 'San Niang is in my possession; she is the evidence, and the Censorate will take care of this matter.'"

Aunt, the weather is cold in the evening, so I brought you an old quilt. Is your burn feeling any better? Remember to apply and change the medicine I prescribed on time

Wait! Yu Wenji appeared flustered as she glanced at the medicine package in her hand. "Please wait a moment, I will take these few packets of typhoid medicine to those two children... I do not believe it, unless I see San Niang with my own eyes"

The two people in the car sat in silence, facing each other for a long time, only hearing the sound of the wheels and the intermittent noise from outside, as if in a dream

"This old lady's home was struck by a fire, and her entire family perished in the flames. How tragic! Not only did the villagers refuse to offer assistance, but they also claimed that she must have committed some wrongdoing to deserve such divine retribution... Sigh." Yu Wenji, still dressed in a clean and tidy masculine outfit, spoke without looking back while carrying a large bundle.

Although the person by the window only stood for a moment before disappearing, Yu Wenji immediately recognized that San Niang had arrived. This woman, who appeared ghostly cold and eerie, left a profound impression with just a single glance

It is said that Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, in a display of wealth, wrapped silk around trees. As a result, foreign envoys remarked to him: Since there is so much silk that it can be wrapped around trees, why not dress the beggars on the streets with it

Relatives ...? ... What does it feel like to be schemed against by one's own family, to be driven to the brink of death? Xue Chongxun thought for a moment; it seemed he felt nothing. However, what if it were those relatives from his past life? In his memories, he was a completely different person in his past life, with a completely different family.

Xue Chongxun coldly said: "These people are pitiful. Are not the innocent lives lost at the hands of your father, the orphans and widows at home, also deserving of pity?"

"You go ahead and be busy with m.hetushu.com, no need to worry about me," Xue Chongxun said expressionlessly

Yuwen Ji shuddered, her face turned pale, and her eyes revealed an expression as if she had seen a ghost: "You... what did you say? I don't understand."

No! You are lying to me... You must be lying to me! Yu Wenji kept repeating this phrase, her tears falling quietly. "Father is not that kind of person! Mother said that before I was born, when Father was at his lowest point, he had to work as a porter at the dock. However, the foreman withheld his wages. Father would rather starve himself doing hard labor than not save half of his rations to bring back to Mother, deceiving her by saying it was stolen..." Mother said that before I was born, when Father was at his lowest point, he had to work as a porter at the dock. However, the foreman withheld his wages. Father would rather starve himself doing hard labor than not save half of his rations to bring back to Mother, deceiving her by saying it was stolen...

"Have you seen San Niang? What about the others who were with her? Where are they now?"

He thinks: Perhaps there are better ways, but coming up with them takes time. Why be overly concerned with trivial details? As long as the same objective can be achieved, isn't that sufficient?

The once charming face of Yu Wenji no longer bore any allure; her brows were tightly furrowed as she said in a daze, "Are you saying that what my father did was..."

Yuwen Ji was momentarily taken aback, and after a brief pause, she regained her composure and coldly said: "You are truly such an unyielding and impartial person. Why have someone follow me? Why come to me with this? Just go and find the witnesses and evidence directly, and do what needs to be done!"

When Yu Wenji returns, Xue Chongxun said in a mocking tone: "Feigning innocence, your family commits heinous acts while pretending to be good people here"

Impossible! You are lying! My father is at most trying to evade taxes

The sky was overcast, and the felt-covered carriage was airtight, with dim light inside that made Xue Chongxun's complexion appear even gloomier. Yu Wenji could not help but say: "Last time at Qianfu Temple, you mentioned that I did not understand you, and I did not expect you to have such a side."

Xue Chongxun stated truthfully: "The Qianfu Temple is indeed a fortuitous encounter; seeing you here is due to my people following you."

Xue Chongxun did not speak, nor did he argue with her; she actually understood, as the tears indicated the issue

History is written by the victors. The Tang Dynasty, having emerged from the Sui, certainly would not speak favorably of it, and the truth is difficult to discern. However, it is undoubtedly true that there were beggars during the Sui Dynasty, and moreover, many suffering individuals existed not only in the Sui Dynasty.

The coachman Pang Er knocked on the carriage and asked, "My lord, where are you headed?"

Aren't you going to meet San Niang

Indeed, Yu Wenji's attitude has changed dramatically, her face displaying an unprecedented coldness and... madness: "Fine, even if my father is that kind of person, so what? His position in my heart will never change! What do you want, what exactly do you want? Money? You, the Duke of Wei, have a fief of three thousand households; do you lack money? Desire? How ridiculous, Xue Chongxun, haven't you had enough women?"

It was still that small wooden cabin, still the same. The servant brought up a large pot of tea and then said the fire had been stoked; the difference was: there was only one teacup.

As Yu Wenji brushed past him, a faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth: "I said there can't be such coincidences in the world, right? Meeting you at Qianfu Temple, and then encountering you again at Chenghuang Temple... Don't entertain any ill intentions. There is a saying that one should not play with a friend's wife; I am already married."

Yuwen Ji furrowed her brows and said: "What exactly is this place? Among my servants, there are people from the Feng Erlang family. If this turns out to be a place I should not have come to, how am I supposed to explain it... San Niang!"

At this moment, Yu Wenji said: "If I must atone for sins, I would rather do so in place of my father. He is already old, and I cannot bear to see him suffer any longer"