CHAPTER 758: CHAPTER 758 STAB TO THE HEART AND PIERCE THE LUNG

After speaking at length, led by Grand Tutor Fan representing the elderly figures including those imperial kinsmen, they followed the yearly tradition, reminiscing about the past. Each one took turns speaking a short segment, reciting familiar tales.

Starting with the founding Emperor, the Great Ancestor, they talked about the harsh and tyrannical governance of the former court that made people’s lives miserable, the external threats from the Tartars eagerly waiting to invade the Central Plains, the former tyrant emperor abandoning his people and fleeing, the world in chaos at the time. Fortunately, the Great Ancestor, disregarding his safety, stood out, reversed the dire situation, drove away the Tartars, reassured the people, and rescued them from dire straits...

As they spoke, these elderly men invariably concluded with how difficult it was to conquer the empire and even harder to govern it, their words laden with earnest advice to warn the Son of Heaven.

Whenever this happened, the Emperor would always express solemnly that he had listened, vowed not to fail his ancestors’ expectations, and thanked all the officials for their encouragement and praise.

Only then did Grand Tutor Fan and the other elderly figures sit down comfortably, not forgetting to drink the wine they toasted with. It was then that these old men started talking and eating, gingerly toasting each other, many high-ranking members of the imperial clan with missing teeth contentedly sipping their wine, occasionally interjecting a few words which harmonized well with the atmosphere.

After Xu Hu had dismissed the group of military heads, they glanced at each other, their eyes shining with fierce light. None of the civil officials dared meet their gaze and pretended to gather to discuss current matters. But it wasn’t a big deal; having naturally thick skin, the military generals focused on their targets. After approaching and listening for a moment, they seamlessly joined the conversation.

"... A few days ago, I acquired a set of cursive script, truly a work that hesitates and surges, elegant as the wind, firm as iron painting, charming as a silver hook. Each day I admire it brings new insights. Such excellent calligraphy!"

"Could it be from Master Liu’s hand?"

"Not really. Master Liu’s works are hard to come by; I’m not so fortunate. To this day, I haven’t had the luck to see one in person, let alone own one. Alas."

Upon hearing this, a military general quickly responded, "Master Wu, you were born with large, auspicious ears, clearly a man of great fortune; how can you say you’re not fortunate? Is it just about those characters from some scholar? I’ve seen them!"

Startled, Master Wu, barely concealing his discomfort, urgently asked, "Where did you see them?"

Hoisting his wine cup, the military general said, "Those characters look like ghostly talismans, best left unmentioned, let’s not talk about such discouraging matters. Come, let’s drink!"

He wouldn’t admit that he had seen them through His Majesty. In an effort to promote literacy, the Great General had vigorously acquired numerous calligraphy samples from His Majesty, including copies of works by that scholar, using them to motivate the men to learn to read and write. He often said some people’s writing was so poor not even their own mothers could recognize it, yet they were still revered worldwide. Why? Because they were literate and cultured. He encouraged them to diligently learn their letters.

To learn where the military general had seen Master Liu’s characters, several civil officials had to endure being plied with drink after drink by him. This was just one corner of Taiji Hall. Soon, all across the hall, those court officials who loved to cite classic texts found themselves surrounded by the military heads.

These generals focused on the more verbose civil officials. Unable to use rough language or curse in the court sessions and unable to out-argue these civil officials when talking formally, they seized this informal opportunity to pour drinks and regain some ground. They may not have been adept with sophisticated rhetoric, but drinking—that they excelled in!

Under the influence of the military heads, the civil officials gradually loosened up, their faces flushing with drink. Taiji Hall buzzed with lively activity, civil officials and military generals mingling indiscriminately in a spirited contest of drinking, much to the Emperor’s great delight.

Xu Hu had been eyeing Xue Ping for a while with a few soldiers by his side. At this moment, Xu Hu, with his arm around Xue Ping’s shoulders, emotionally called him brother, "Elder Brother Xue, the nobility of your spirit awes me. I don’t admire anyone as much as I admire you. For the courage you showed by resigning your title, I must call you ’brother’. Come, drink up!" He downed his cup in one go and even showed it to Xue Ping.

Xue Ping struggled to endure these heart-piercing words, managing a feigned smile as he replied, "I don’t deserve it, I really don’t..." He gently touched his cup to his lips, considering the matter settled.

Having been tricked once, he would never be tricked a second time. Dream on if they thought they could get him drunk in broad daylight!

Presently, Xue Ping felt as if he was suffering in purgatory. He wanted nothing more than to return to the Xue Family early, but such a grand banquet did not permit an early exit due to illness. Anxiety consumed him, and with Xu Hu’s arrival, he was immediately on guard. Yet, his cold responses did little to stave off Xu Hu’s enthusiasm. Unable to extricate himself from Xu Hu’s grasp, he had no choice but to let the man embrace him. However, no matter what Xu Hu said, he refused to take another sip of wine, fearing that getting drunk would lead to mistakes.

As soon as Xue Ping realized the tide had turned, he already planned what to do upon returning. He would first send a message to Xue Changgui to take his third son and go as far as possible, preserving a strand of their lineage. He would also have letters sent to the Xue Family youths outside the Capital, advising them not to return. Saving even one was worth the effort, and it was his duty as head of the family.

A soldier nearby squeezed through and grabbed Xue Ping’s free hand, "Master Xue, you truly understand righteousness. Yesterday, when you resigned your title, His Majesty was initially unwilling to permit it, which worried us all. We feared you wouldn’t be able to resign..."

Xu Hu glared fiercely, rebuking, "What are you saying? We can’t wait to wish all the best for Master Xue; how can we fear that he can’t resign?"

Nonsense piled on nonsense! Xue Ping smirked coldly at the corner of his mouth. Who said Military Generals were honest and loyal? Weren’t they speaking in contradictions now? He couldn’t believe Xu Hu couldn’t see that Consort De’s entrapment involved his handiwork!

Realizing his words might have been misconstrued, the soldier clumsily explained, "Great General, you don’t understand. Master Xue’s noble and virtuous resignation was sincere. At the time, unable to resign, Master Xue was about to cry from urgency. We just wanted to make Master Xue happy. If he couldn’t resign, it would have distressed him greatly. We were simply hoping for his well-being, and we couldn’t stand by without lending him a hand, fortunately not disgracing Master Xue’s life force."

Another soldier chimed in, "Yes, indeed. We risked angering His Majesty to help Master Xue."

Xu Hu’s features relaxed, but then something seemed off, and he again admonished, "It was fulfilling the duty without disgrace, not disgracing the life force. Read your books more carefully. Drink!"

"Yes!" The soldier promptly tilted his head back and drained his cup.

"Good." Xu Hu said approvingly, tightening his embrace a bit and heartily said to Xue Ping, "Elder Brother Xue, just for helping you out with this, you ought to drink one with us. Come on, drink!"

"Drink, drink, drink!"

A crowd of men raucously urged Xue Ping to drink, from whom he could neither free himself nor shake off. His expression grew increasingly sour, but Xu Hu and the others seemed oblivious, saying whatever was most heart-piercing.