Chapter 151: Winds of Change (2)

Qi Yun was different from Qi Ning. As the legitimate eldest son of the Qi family and the current Right Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, his private seal carried immense weight. The moneylenders were overjoyed upon seeing it, immediately lending large sums to Qi Ning, even fearing he might refuse. Qi Ning, having obtained the funds, then lent them out at an exorbitant interest rate of four-tenths. He collected high-interest payments from those who could repay, while seizing fertile lands from those who couldn’t. Within less than a year, the amount of money involved was enough to warrant capital punishment by the court.

The incident erupted barely half a month after Qi Ying departed for the peace negotiations in the north.

A peasant victimized by this case, finding no recourse, committed suicide. His bereaved family, overwhelmed with grief, lodged a complaint all the way to the emperor’s feet. Upon hearing the news, the new emperor was enraged and immediately ordered the Chief Justice to investigate thoroughly. This investigation implicated Qi Yun, who had been entirely unaware of the matter.

Qi Ning, not holding an official position, still had room for maneuvering. However, Qi Yun, as the Right Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, was guilty of knowingly breaking the law. Worse, he was primarily responsible for land and tax reform policies. With this scandal, accusations flew that he used his position to benefit his own family, suggesting that the Qi family sought to monopolize power.

With the eldest legitimate son embroiled in such a major case, Lord Qi, as the head of the family, could not remain uninvolved. The day after both the eldest and third sons were imprisoned by the Chief Justice, the new emperor summoned him to the palace for questioning. Unprepared for such a sudden calamity, Lord Qi suffered extreme anger-induced distress and fell ill shortly thereafter.

During this period, with Lord Qi bedridden, the eldest and third sons in prison, and the second son far away in the north, all household affairs fell solely on Lady Yao. She cared for Qi Zhang, visited her imprisoned children, and tried to navigate relationships to overturn the verdict. Overwhelmed and suffering immensely, she found herself unable to cope. Moreover, sensing trouble, former hangers-on distanced themselves, including the Zhao family, which recently canceled the engagement between Zhao Yao and Qi Le, leaving Lady Yao isolated.

Eldest daughter-in-law Han Ruohui, witnessing the situation, was consumed with worry. Her husband, upright and incorruptible, born into a prestigious family, lacked nothing. Why would he engage in such a deadly venture as usury and land consolidation? He was clearly wronged! But now, with her father-in-law ill and the second brother far in the north, officials who once fawned over the Qi family vanished. Whom could she rely on? She returned to her maiden family, pregnant, pleading for their intervention to save her husband.

But her maiden family disappointed her.

Her father, Han Shousong, remained noncommittal, while her uncle, Han Shouye, firmly refused to help the Qi family, even smugly saying, “The wheel of fortune turns—it’s a natural law! The Qi family has basked in prosperity for decades, always rising above others. Isn’t it time they faced misfortune?—Weren’t they powerful? Didn’t Qi Jingchen single-handedly sway decisions? Let them solve it themselves! Why involve our family?”

Han Ruohui was infuriated by such baseless arrogance. Uncle Han, vain and prideful, harbored resentment towards Qi Ying for exposing his cowardice during the northern campaign. Despite owing his success in that campaign to Qi Ying’s strategies, he eagerly anticipated the Qi family’s downfall, believing it would erase his past disgrace and allow him to claim all the glory.

How despicable and absurd!

Though angry and distressed, Han Ruohui suppressed her temper, imploring her father for assistance.

As the patriarch, Han Shousong understood the situation more clearly than anyone.

The Qi family… Their prominence inevitably invited calamity. The timing of Qi Yun and Qi Ning’s troubles, so soon after Qi Ying’s departure to the north, strongly suggested deliberate orchestration.

Usury and land acquisition were typical ventures of the Fu family. Perhaps the Qi family had been ensnared in a scheme by the Fu family, especially since the Fu family now boasted a queen, making them imperial relatives. Thus… this seemed to be orchestrated by the emperor himself.

Regardless of the new emperor sharing half of the Han family bloodline, even if unrelated, the Han family couldn’t aid the Qi family without antagonizing both the royal family and the Fu family. Could the Han family manage that? And even if they could, what benefits would there be?

Han Shousong gazed at his daughter and sighed deeply.

Certainly, he was Ruohui’s father, who had watched Qi Yun grow up and maintained close ties with the Qi family.

But in the face of family interests, these bonds were insignificant. As the patriarch of the Han family, he bore responsibility for the clan’s rise or fall.

In such turbulent times, the Han family must avoid entanglement. As for the Qi family… they must fend for themselves.

After careful consideration, Han Shousong patted his beloved daughter’s hand and sighed, “Your in-laws are embroiled in numerous troubles. Being pregnant, it’s inconvenient for you to rush about. Stay here for a while to recuperate. After the storm passes, we’ll discuss returning.”

These words…

Did they imply severing ties with the Qi family?

Upon hearing this, Han Ruohui’s heart sank, fully understanding her father’s meaning.

He chose self-preservation; he wouldn’t intervene.

Han Ruohui, born into nobility, understood the principle of prioritizing family interests. Yet, married to Qi Yun for years, they shared deep affection. She genuinely loved Jingyuan, admiring his integrity, even his rigidity and old-fashionedness. Now, with him imprisoned and his family in dire straits, how could she abandon them?

She fiercely argued with her parents and uncles, then resolutely returned to the Qi family. However, continuous exertion affected her pregnancy, now six months along, posing significant risks. The doctor warned of potential miscarriage, advising strict rest. Hui’er thus stayed with Lady Yao to avoid disturbing her mother.

These two months of turmoil naturally alarmed Grandmother Qi.

The elder lady knew that usury and land acquisition were common among her maternal relatives. Hearing about Jingyuan and Jing’an’s imprisonment, she sensed trouble. Having supported her family for years, she expected their gratitude and immediately summoned Lord Fu Bi to devise a plan to help her grandsons.

Fu Bi, distant from Grandmother Qi, promised assistance but took no action. Realizing this, the elderly lady donned formal court attire and, despite her advanced age, entered the palace to seek an audience with the empress—her once beloved niece, Fu Rong.

Times had changed. The once-submissive Fu girl was now the regal empress. Gone were the days of addressing the elder lady as “Great-Aunt.” Instead, she formally addressed her as “Lady Qi.”

Witnessing her once-beloved niece displaying imperial dignity left Grandmother Qi seething but speechless. Suppressing her indignation, she tactfully pleaded for mercy, saying, “Your Majesty knows my grandsons are law-abiding, raised strictly by their father, incapable of wrongdoing!”

The empress, dignified and polite, nodded in agreement but expressed difficulty, stating, “Indeed, I know the character of the Qi family’s sons. However, the evidence is irrefutable, and the harem must not interfere in politics. It’s truly difficult…”

Grandmother Qi grew frantic, blurting out, “What irrefutable evidence! They were framed by villains! Usury isn’t our family’s business—it’s…”

Before she could finish, the empress’s expression turned frosty, exuding an unfamiliar sharpness. Grandmother Qi felt as if choked, unable to utter another word.

The empress dismissed the attendants and sternly addressed Grandmother Qi, “Not your family’s business? Then whose business is it?”

Grandmother Qi sweated profusely, realizing her mistake. Long accustomed to being pampered, she forgot diplomatic speech. Under Fu Rong’s questioning, her face flushed red then pale, visibly distressed.

The empress, maintaining regal composure, spoke indifferently, “You are the Qi family’s daughter-in-law but also the Fu family’s daughter. In such turbulent times, it’s crucial to choose your stance. Otherwise, many will suffer.”

Grandmother Qi understood. Fu Rong demanded she choose between the Qi and Fu families—advocating for the Qi family meant betraying her maiden family, while remaining neutral required silence and accepting blame, sacrificing her grandsons’ lives.

Despite her lifelong folly of using the Qi family to elevate her declining maiden family, most of her life was spent within the Qi family, intertwined with its members. How could she abandon the Qi family for her maiden family?

The Qi family was her life!

She believed aiding the Fu family benefited both clans—practical gains for the Fu family and gratitude from the Qi family, ensuring mutual support in crises. Unexpectedly, her supposed benefactors turned predatory, forgetting gratitude and loyalty, aiming to annihilate the Qi family completely!

She regretted her blindness!

Blocked by Fu Rong, Grandmother Qi returned home, crying inconsolably. Soon after, she fell ill, her condition worse than Qi Zhang and Han Ruohui’s. Doctors predicted her days were numbered.

Lady Yao, recounting this, wept incessantly, asking Qi Ying, “Jingchen, what should we do? Your grandmother, father, brother, sister-in-law, and younger brother—they’re all… What can we do?”

Her voice trembled with sorrow.

Qi Ying comforted his mother, patting her shoulder while contemplating deeply. His eyes darkened further.

His mother saw only the surface, unaware of deeper machinations.

The incident began with a peasant losing his land and committing suicide, his family lodging complaints in Jiankang. Such claims were preposterous: how many noble families existed in Liang? Which didn’t conceal sordid secrets or bear lives on their conscience? Peasants seeking justice had no channels; layers of officialdom protected each other. Without backing or guidance, how could a peasant family achieve such widespread attention?

More calculated was the timing—precisely during Qi Ying’s absence for negotiations, exploiting his absence to destabilize the household. The detained servant wasn’t trapped by bandits but deliberately held, timed precisely to control information flow.

Had Qi Ying received the letter during negotiations, he might have leveraged them as bargaining chips. Anticipating this, the orchestrators delayed until negotiations concluded. Regardless of distance, any family crisis necessitated his return, like a kite tethered by an unbreakable string.

Those behind this aimed to exhaust Qi Ying’s last efforts for Liang before delivering a fatal blow.

Exquisitely interconnected, brilliantly executed.

Qi Ying’s heart sank to the depths.

But these truths needn’t burden Lady Yao. He reassured her, “Mother, worry not. Everything rests with me.”

Though brief, his tone was earnest, his demeanor calm, instantly comforting. Lady Yao, finding solace, trusted Jingchen to shoulder everything, nodding gratefully.

Composed, Qi Ying comforted his mother further, urging her to rest. After bidding farewell, he stepped out of Jiaxi Hall.

Crossing the threshold, his expression turned solemn, earlier composure vanished, revealing unprecedented concern in his phoenix eyes.

He understood—the storm was approaching.