Jiuxi

Chapter 972 970 [Two Hearts Know]

Prince's Mansion, Flower Hall.

Ten men ranging in age from twenty-five to over forty sat there with different expressions.

Going back to five years ago, they were of noble status in the city of Heluo. Except for a few special places such as the imperial palace and Zhuo Garden, these people were guests of honor in any other noble mansions.

Because they all came from the Wang family of Zhailin.

Although the Wang family was forced to submit to the blade of the Jing army, relying on the deep roots of the fifteen branches of the clan in Jiangbei, the Wang family soon became one of the forces that the Jinglian people valued very much, and the head of the family, Wang An, even became the prime minister of Yan State.

During those ten years or so, as long as the Wang family members did not offend the Jinglian people, they could run rampant throughout Jiangbei.

Later, Wang An decided to mend his ways and return to Da Qi. After Wang Chulong and Lu Chen established a close relationship, he decisively killed most of the Jing army defenders in Heluo City and the dignitaries who were attached to them, and then fled directly to the south.

However, the next few years were particularly difficult for the Wang family members.

They were living in Guangling and were usually not allowed to even go out of the door. No matter if they were the dissolute young men who indulged in sensual pleasures or the ambitious clansmen who were well-read, they were all trapped in this small world.

After Lu Chen and Wang Chulong got married, the Wang family members thought that they would finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and could rely on Wang Chulong's status to live the same leisurely and noble life as before. However, they did not expect that their situation did not get any better, but became even more depressing.

Not to mention being a tyrant outside, even getting a job in government is impossible.

Even though the Wang family of Zhailin had strict family rules, it could not stop the clan members from complaining, and some even directed their resentment towards Wang Chulong.

Although it is said that a married woman is like spilled water, a woman like her who has no sympathy for her family is extremely rare.

If they were not forced to bow their heads when under someone's roof, they would have certainly made trouble long ago. Even though they did not dare to make a fuss due to Lu Chen's power, their complaints were increasing day by day.

This time when the Qi army recaptured Heluo, Wang Chulong took his daughter north and specially selected ten tribesmen with real talents and skills to accompany them.

"Uncle Seven, what does my cousin think?"

During the long silence, the young man sitting in the third seat on the right couldn't help but ask.

The forty-year-old man sitting in the first seat on the left first glanced outside the door, then scolded, "What cousin? She is the prince's concubine, why are you yelling?"

The young man was named Wang Han, with the courtesy name Zi Yu. He was 29 years old at the time. He had been known as a child prodigy since childhood. What was even more commendable was that in addition to his extensive knowledge, he was also quite knowledgeable about household affairs. He began to manage part of the family's business at the age of 17, and helped Wang An deal with some official affairs at the age of 20.

The only pity is that he did not have the opportunity to take part in the imperial examination of Qi State before, and he was trapped in Guangling City for the past two years. Therefore, he is just a commoner under the rule of the Great Qi State.

Because of this special experience, his arrogance grew instead of diminishing. At this moment, he couldn't help but sneer, "Of course, my nephew knows that she is a concubine, but I don't know if she still remembers her last name, Wang."

The forty-year-old man frowned and said, "Zi Yu, you are usually a smart man, why do you seem to be possessed by evil today? It doesn't matter if you commit suicide, but don't implicate others!"

This sentence was naturally very serious. Wang Han's face changed slightly, but in the end he did not dare to continue to contradict his elders.

"Brother Han, don't worry. I always remember that I was born into the Wang family of Zhailin."

A calm voice sounded outside the door, and then Wang Chulong walked in in casual clothes.

Jinshu followed closely behind, anger evident in his eyes.

If she wasn't afraid of getting Wang Chulong angry, she would definitely muster up the courage to reprimand Wang Han.

The ten people in the hall were obviously surprised, and they quickly stood up and saluted, saying, "Greetings to the concubine!"

Wang Chulong looked calm as he walked up to the forty-year-old man and said calmly, "Seventh Uncle, we are all family, no need to be polite."

The seventh uncle she mentioned was named Wang Heng, with the courtesy name Yunsheng. He was 43 years old at the time. He had served as the co-magistrate of Henan Road in the State of Yan and was very familiar with the ways of officialdom.

However, the old bureaucrat found that he could not judge Wang Chulong's inner joy or anger at this moment, so he could only say with shame: "Don't be upset, concubine, Ziyu did not mean to be rude, I think he just said something careless at the moment, please forgive me."

"It doesn't matter."

Wang Chulong didn't seem to want to dwell on this matter, and looked at everyone and said, "Please take a seat."

"Thank you, Concubine."

Everyone responded in unison.

No matter what resentment they had towards Wang Chulong, these Wang family members all understood that national etiquette was more important than family etiquette, and there was nothing wrong with their words and actions at this moment.

Wang Chulong sat in the main seat, looking at the ten clansmen who were connected to her by blood. Her eyes finally stopped at Wang Han's face, and she said slowly, "Third Brother Han, when I was still a married woman, you took good care of me and often took the trouble to help me search for those precious rare books. I have kept all these things in my heart and have not forgotten them."

The moment Wang Chulong came in, the string in Wang Han's heart was already tense.

As the saying goes, "the temperament changes with the place you live, and the body changes with the nourishment you take." Today, Wang Chulong is no longer the secluded girl who never leaves the house, but a concubine of a prince who holds power. Giving orders for a long time has made her temperament quite heavy. Although she seems calm and composed, she actually brings great psychological pressure to these ten people.

At this moment, he could not help but force a smile and said, "It's just a small favor. I don't deserve your concern."

"I mentioned this to show that I am not a heartless person."

Wang Chulong changed the subject and went straight to the point: "I know that there have been a lot of criticisms in the clan over the past three years. Everyone has been trapped in a cage. They can neither be as free and easy as they were under the Jinglian people, nor can they display their ambitions. Many people can only spend their days drunk. Uncle Qi, Brother Han San, and you, although you are calmer than other clan members, you must be full of depression in your hearts. But today I want to tell you that the decision to let the children of the Wang family cultivate their character has nothing to do with the prince and me. It is a rule set by uncle himself."

Everyone was stunned.

Wang Heng asked with difficulty: "Why haven't I heard the head of the family mention it?"

Wang Chulong said frankly: "My uncle is far away in Jiangnan. He is worried that just one rule cannot suppress so many clansmen, so he pretends to be in the name of the prince and me. Of course, I support my uncle to do this. Do you know why?" Wang Han couldn't hold back his anxiety and whispered: "The concubine is worried that if a large number of Wang family members go to work, it will inevitably cause the prince to be wary, and then affect your position in the palace-"

"Wang Ziyu, you are so outrageous!"

As the oldest elder here, Wang Heng immediately spoke up to interrupt him, and at the same time was puzzled as to why this usually smart junior was so out of control today.

"Uncle Qi, please be patient."

Wang Chulong's expression remained unchanged. Her cold eyes fell on Wang Han's face and she said calmly, "Third Brother Han, let me ask you, why has the Zhailin Wang family been able to be passed down for a thousand years?"

Wang Han replied: "Loyalty, filial piety, integrity, and righteousness are the principles of human relations. Cultivating benevolence and nurturing virtue is the way to establish one's career."

"You are right. This is the ancestral precept of the Wang family. Countless members of the family have adhered to it for thousands of years, so that the incense can be passed down from generation to generation forever."

Wang Chulong then raised his voice slightly and said seriously, "But you seem to have forgotten one thing. Compared with the previous difficulties, the Wang family was in a hopeless situation more than 20 years ago! When thousands of Wang family members bowed down under the blades of the Jinglian people, the shame of selling out their masters for glory was branded on every member of the Wang family! Where is loyalty, filial piety, chastity and righteousness? Where is the moral code? How can we talk about benevolence? How can we talk about building a career?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Han's face turned pale, and the others all lowered their heads in shame.

Wang Chulong took the teacup from Jinshu, who looked like he shared the same hatred for the enemy, took a sip, and then said, "It is true that the defense line of Jing River was breached at that time, and the Wang family had no time to flee. If we did not submit to the Jinglian people, we would die and our clan would be exterminated. But this does not mean that we are right, and the world will not easily understand. That is why my uncle seized the only opportunity to set things right, and asked all the clansmen to behave themselves and wait for the right time to serve the country. This will minimize the resistance of others."

"But my uncle obviously never expected that the glory and wealth in the Pseudo-Yan over the past decade have dazzled your eyes. You even fantasized about being as rampant as before. Do you think that the imperial censors in the court are just there to eat? Do you know how cautious my uncle has been in the court in the past few years? Do you think that if I marry the prince, the Wang family will rise to power?"

"Now that the prince has recovered the lost territory, you think your chance has come, and you even think that the prince will ask you for help. After all, there are many vacancies for officials in Jiangbei, and you are familiar with the local customs and people of Jiangbei, so you will naturally become a favorite in the eyes of the prince."

"You are all so well-read and knowledgeable, but you can't even understand your own situation. It shows that no matter how many books the sages read, you will only swallow them whole and know the meaning but not the significance!"

Wang Chulong put the teacup on the table and said with great disappointment: "I originally thought that you were different from other people in the clan, but now it seems that I was wrong in trusting people. Well, the Wang family of Zhailin has been passed down from generation to generation through farming and studying, and it is not a bad thing to be silent for a hundred or two hundred years. I will report to the prince and allow you to return to your hometown in Zhailin and live a peaceful life from now on. In any case, you are my relatives, and for my sake, the prince will always protect the Wang family and prevent others from bullying them."

Wang Heng and the other ten people, regardless of age, were all sweating profusely at this moment. They all stood up and bowed, saying, "Please calm down, Concubine."

Wang Han said with great guilt and fear: "Concubine, it was my words and deeds that were inappropriate, and it has nothing to do with Uncle Seventh and the others. I know I was wrong, and I will study behind closed doors and never leave Zhai Lin again. Please show mercy to others, Concubine."

Jinshu felt particularly relieved watching this scene, but a hint of bitterness flashed deep in Wang Chulong's eyes.

If it wasn't for the peace of her family in the future, why would she do this?
You have to know that these are all clansmen she has been very close to since she was a child, and Wang Heng cares for her like his own daughter.

But it is always better to take precautions before the problem arises than to mend the situation after it has happened. If we let them wake up completely now, they can stay under Lu Chen's command for a long time in the future.

Just when Wang Chulong was about to add fuel to the fire, a gentle voice came from outside the door.

"Madam, we are all family, why get angry?"

Wang Chulong was stunned.

Didn’t they agree that he wouldn’t show up today?

Lu Chen walked in with a smile on his face, and Wang Heng and others hurriedly bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"no."

Lu Chen stopped, looked at them and said, "In fact, I have always wanted to meet you, but I have been too busy in the past few years, so I haven't found a suitable opportunity. Since we are all family, then I will be frank. The concubine's words just now are indeed a bit heavy, but I hope you understand that she treats you as real relatives and is so frank and direct. Otherwise, she would not have needed to be angry. Don't let her good intentions down."

He paused for a moment, and said with a half-smile: "Otherwise I will cause trouble for you."

"How dare I!"

Wang Heng spoke on behalf of everyone, "We will definitely remember the concubine's love and trust in us."

"That's good."

Lu Chen nodded and said, "I admire your talents. There is a big event to be handled in the city tomorrow. You may as well watch. After this matter is over, if you are still willing to come out and help me, I promise not to treat you unfairly."

At this moment, everyone was no longer resentful and responded in unison: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your appreciation!"

Lu Chen looked at his wife opposite him with a sincere smile in his eyes.

Wang Chulong understood his thoughts instantly.

In fact, she knew very well why Lu Chen had left the Wang family's children idle in recent years, and she didn't think there was anything wrong with doing so.

Looking at the glorious history, if a big man like Lu Chen fails to handle the issue of in-laws well, chaos will happen sooner or later.

After arriving in Heluo, Wang Chulong became more and more certain of her guess that her husband was indeed worried about this matter.

But at this moment his eyes were clear, and he had obviously made a decision - he believed in his wife and would not let her bear the pressure from her relatives alone.

When Wang Chulong thought of this, he felt a numbness in his heart, both sad and happy.

After everyone from the Wang family bowed and left, Jinshu also left obediently.

Wang Chulong turned around, picked up the handkerchief and quietly wiped the corners of his eyes.

Lu Chen walked up to her and held her in his arms.

Hug each other quietly.

(End of this chapter)