Chapter 3, The First Transformation of the Mindset
The Yuwen family occupies a vast area and has a large number of members, but not every branch can reside in the family home in the imperial capital. However, those from less fortunate branches often send their children here. This not only allows them to be closer to the core of the family, but also provides greater opportunities for advancement. Therefore, each household has its own steward, referred to as the "inner steward." For instance, Fu Bo is the steward of the Yuwen Ji family, and the elderly man just mentioned is the steward of the Yuwen Ao family.
In Yu Wen'ao's room, an elderly man was reporting something. However, there was little change in Yu Wen'ao's expression. The elderly man understood that his master was still preoccupied with the incident involving the second young master. According to the servants, when the master first heard the news, he smashed many items in anger and struck two servants with his cane. For a master who usually appeared magnanimous and kind, one can only imagine the fury he felt at that moment
The young maid had been keeping vigil by the bedside since his return. Upon hearing the maid's words, Yu Wenfeng felt a genuine discomfort in his throat and nodded slightly. The young maid then went to the table to pour water. At that moment, Yu Wenfeng asked, "How did I come back?" The young maid had just finished pouring the water and walked back to the bedside.
The steward of each household cannot be appointed or dismissed by the head of the family; this is a tradition, which is why stewards are often trusted individuals. In contrast, there exists the "external steward"; after all, a large family still requires someone to coordinate daily expenses. Within the entire family, the external steward holds considerable authority, yet few regard them as a trusted confidant.
After handing the water to Yu Wenfeng, he finally spoke: "Young Master, you were carried back by the guards. At that time, you were covered in blood, which was quite frightening. Uncle Fu then called for a doctor, who said there was no serious harm, just excessive shock. A couple of days of rest will suffice. Also, the dagger in your hand cannot be removed no matter what."
In the blink of an eye, it was already midnight. Yu Wenfeng suddenly awoke, half sitting up, his face drenched in cold sweat. Sensing that the dagger was still in his hand, he let out a sigh of relief, as if only this dagger could provide him with a sense of security. After all, it was his first time killing someone, and there were always some aftereffects. Holding the dagger, Yu Wenfeng put on a coat, got out of bed, gently pushed open the door, and walked into the small courtyard. Upon seeing the moonlight filling the yard, he couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
After coming to an understanding, one suddenly feels a sense of vastness and freedom. Many people, after killing someone for the first time, will experience lingering effects. Once they come to terms with it, they feel a sense of openness; if they cannot understand, they will live in the shadows for the rest of their lives.
All of this was weighing on Yu Wenfeng. At this moment, facing the moonlight that filled the courtyard, Yu Wenfeng murmured, "To live, to live." Indeed, Yu Wenfeng only wanted to live well; everything else could be set aside. In order to survive, he had to think of every possible means. As for the life taken during the day, he could not be blamed for it at all. He wanted to kill me; should I just let him? Anyone who obstructs my survival, what harm is there in killing them? As for the life taken during the day, he could not be blamed for it at all. He wanted to kill me; should I just let him? Anyone who obstructs my survival, what harm is there in killing them?
Then the old steward spoke: "The young master has woken up once; he should be fine. The doctor also said that a couple of days of rest will suffice." "Understood, you may leave," Yu Wenji waved his hand. The old steward had grown accustomed to the master's indifference when mentioning the young master. As he exited the room, he could only hear Yu Wenji murmuring to himself, "Eldest brother, third brother, do you really wish for my death? If that is the case, then I cannot be blamed for disregarding our brotherly bond."
When he woke up, he felt an unusual discomfort in his throat. Opening his eyes, he realized he was still in his small courtyard, holding something in his hand. As his thoughts turned, he recalled the perilous situation before he lost consciousness
In the conference hall of another mansion in the capital, a voice was heard: "This matter must be thoroughly investigated. Our Li family cannot bear the blame for this incident. Hmph, if the Yuwen family does not recognize the situation and insists on attributing this matter to our Li family, then they should not blame me for being ruthless." This was the head of the Li family, one of the five prominent families in the capital.
Old Master Fu hurriedly stepped forward to pay his respects to the master, then spoke: "Sir, during this trip, sixteen guards were injured and eight were killed. The injured have already been treated by a doctor, and we have sent someone to deliver compensation to the families of the deceased." "Well done, Fu. We must not let others feel disheartened. Have you found any clues?" The old steward replied: "There are no clues. This group of people are all unfamiliar faces; apart from their clothing and weapons, they have nothing on them. The clothing is very ordinary, and the weapons are even more so, so it can be said that they left no clues at all."
At that moment, a wave of drowsiness washed over him; after all, he was just recovering from a serious illness. After drinking some water, he fell asleep again. After a while, the old steward arrived at the small courtyard. The young maid, upon seeing him, hurriedly stepped forward to pay her respects. The old steward waved his hand and asked, "Has the young master woken up?" The young maid replied, "Fubai, the young master woke up once, drank some water, and then fell asleep again." "Hmm, take good care of the young master," he said before turning to leave.
"Sometimes leaving no clues is the best clue," Yu Wenji said thoughtfully. "Master, are you referring to..." "Alright, for now, you need not concern yourself with this matter," "Understood, Master," the old steward replied, and the room fell silent for a few seconds
In the past, while living, one always thought of each day as it came, even if one's unloving father did not care for him. Nevertheless, there was food and drink every day, and there was no cause for concern. He did not think too much about the future or books. However, the experiences of the day made him realize that the world was not as harmonious as he had imagined, especially since he had personally taken a life.
The constables and the military were mobilized, and in the end, the jails were overcrowded. However, this was unrelated to the assassination case, yet it significantly improved the public order in the imperial capital for a considerable period. This was something Yu Wenfeng was unaware of.
The Yu Wen family has always held a hostile attitude, and the reason for this is related to the contributions made during the past support of the throne. As for His Majesty, he also harbors concerns regarding several prominent families, thus it is quite natural to foster new families and have them compete against the established ones; this is what is referred to as the emperor's strategy. Without the support of His Majesty, the Li family, a newly rising family, would not dare to challenge such an established family, even if there were grievances with the Yu Wen family.
The head of the Li family appears to be cultured and refined, yet his words are unexpectedly harsh. The Li family is a newly rising prominent clan, having contributed to the support of the late emperor, which explains their rapid ascent. After all, there is no merit greater than that of aiding in the establishment of a dynasty.
At this moment, Yu Wen'ao waved his hand and said, "We should still focus on the matter of the second young master being attacked. Pay more attention to the Li family, arrange for people to investigate whether this incident is related to them. If it is, hmph, do they really think our Yu Wen family is easy to bully?" "Yes, sir, I will take care of it right away." It was evident that the master had not paid any attention to the matters I had just reported.
Before long, the old steward arrived at Yu Wenji's bedroom, knocked on the door, and a somewhat authoritative voice came from inside, "It must be Uncle Fu, come in." The old steward then pushed the door open and walked in. As soon as he entered, a strong scent of herbs filled the air. This time, Yu Wenji was not as fortunate as Yu Wenfeng; he was a primary target of the black-clad assassins. He had been stabbed in the hand and had also been struck by a cold arrow, yet he was not lying in bed but sitting upright in a chair.
At this moment, the maid who had been keeping vigil by his bedside saw that the young master had awakened and hurriedly approached to inquire, "Young master, do you feel any better? Would you like some water?" This young maid had only recently sold herself into the Yuwen family this year. Being new and lacking the money to bribe the steward in charge of assignments, she was assigned to the small courtyard where Yuwen Feng resided. Due to her young age, she did not have many ulterior motives and was considered one of the individuals Yuwen Feng was relatively willing to be close to.
At the end of the year 1540 of the Divine Calendar, the entire imperial capital was in an uproar. The commander of the capital's army encountered an assassination attempt outside the city. Although his life was not in danger, the news reached the palace, and upon learning of it, the emperor was furious. In the emperor's wrath, countless bodies floated, and although it did not escalate to the point of full-scale conflict, the imperial guards were dispatched in all directions, causing great unease among the populace.