Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 495

Chapter 495: Heyun

An Zhi and Pei Que had only heard the name Chen Fusheng a few days ago, when they were reminded by Old Master Pei. Pei Que had sent someone to Yingcheng that very day, but unexpectedly, he heard about Chen Fusheng’s troubles from He Xun first.

Pei Que instantly sobered up considerably, looking at He Xun and asking, “Who told you this?”

“My father told me,” Xu Wenjuan answered for He Xun. “My father said the Yun family has always coveted the salt tax. They’ve almost finished off the smaller fry, leaving only a few tough nuts to crack. Chen Fusheng is the toughest one, so the Yun family used a trick—while Chen Fusheng was drunk, they shoved a respectable woman into his bed. Now that woman is preparing to come to the capital to file a complaint with the Emperor.”

An Zhi frowned. “This is clearly a frame-up.”

“So what if it’s a frame-up?” He Xun poured himself a drink. “Just like when you castrated Yun Dingbang, everyone who knows about it understands it was you and your husband who did it, but without evidence, Yun Shengxing can only swallow his anger. And that woman—everyone found her in Chen Fusheng’s bed together. So many eyes were watching, and Chen Fusheng is such a stubborn old master, only saying that the innocent will be proven innocent, and justice will prove his innocence. I really don’t understand how he could be an official for so many years without understanding anything.”

“Probably not that he doesn’t understand,” An Zhi sighed, “but probably because he disdains it.”

Chen Fusheng was in charge of salt taxes; if he were prosecuted because of this, he’d inevitably be dismissed. Once the position became vacant, the Yun family would have hope.

Seeing Pei Que’s worried expression, An Zhi knew he was concerned about the salt tax. She turned to Xu Wenjuan and asked, “What about your father? What does he think?”

“My father said that the salt tax is a matter of national importance, and he’s already sent people to Yingcheng,” Xu Wenjuan replied. “He also said that Pei Que should stay out of it, but he wouldn’t say why.”

If Pei Que didn’t intervene, Yun Shengxing would become complacent, act more arrogantly, and be more likely to slip up. Both An Zhi and Pei Que had considered this.

An Zhi’s eyes darted around. Since the events in the Northwest, she had become somewhat wary of the Cheng family. Therefore, she didn’t directly point out Madam of Xu’s intentions, not because she wanted to guard against Xu Wenjuan, but because she didn’t want to drag Xu Wenjuan into this mess, especially since Xu Wenjuan was about to leave the capital.

An Zhi deliberately changed the subject, talking about other things. After seeing Xu Wenjuan and her husband off, she and Pei Que returned to their room before she asked Pei Que what he thought.

“What Minister Xu said makes some sense, but we can’t just ignore it.” After drinking a couple of cups of wine, Pei Que’s head was a little sore. He lay on An Zhi’s lap, rubbing his temples. “Minister Xu seems shrewd, but he doesn’t actually consider anyone an ally. If we don’t handle this, even if Yun Shengxing doesn’t succeed, Chen Fusheng might still be forced to step down. So, to the outside world, we can pretend we don’t know, but we still need to send people to keep an eye on Chen Fusheng, and ideally, catch that woman red-handed.”

Pei Que had a vague intuition that Minister Xu wasn’t just trying to balance the relationships between the aristocratic families. This feeling had been there since Minister Xu intervened in the Northwest affairs. However, this was just his own speculation, without any concrete evidence, so he hadn’t even told An Zhi, afraid that she would worry along with him.

Actually, An Zhi also felt that Minister Xu was a bit unfathomable, but because of her relationship with Xu Wenjuan, she didn’t want to think too much about Minister Xu’s shortcomings, so it was just a vague feeling.

The couple remained silent for a while before going to wash up.

Chen Fusheng’s matter hadn’t yet caused a stir.

This calm continued until the people from Jiuyi arrived.

It was He Xun’s uncle, Jiang Heyun. He Xun and Xu Wenjuan had assumed Jiang Heyun had come to take them back to Jiuyi, but Jiang Heyun had secretly approached He Xun, expressing his wish that he not return to Jiuyi.

In the west courtyard of the Jiuyi Crown Prince’s Mansion, He Xun’s palms were red from clapping. “Why won’t you let me go back? I’ve painstakingly bided my time for so many years, even coming to the Jin Dynasty as a hostage, all for the sake of returning one day to take revenge!”

Jiang Heyun, only in his forties, had mostly white hair, and the deep lines around his eyes revealed his weariness. He sighed deeply. “Sending you to the Jin Dynasty as a hostage was merely a strategic decision. If you had stayed in Jiuyi, you certainly wouldn’t be alive now. Later, you said you wanted revenge, and I thought about it too; after all, I can’t forget the blood feud. But so many years have passed, and we’ve placed fewer and fewer people in the Jiuyi court. We didn’t even know your father was critically ill. In this situation, it’s better if you don’t go back. At least in the Jin Dynasty, with your in-laws here, you can be guaranteed a safe life.”

Since He Xun came to the Jin Dynasty, Jiang Heyun had been monitored, his real power slowly stripped away, until he was later “deaf and blind.”

Having lived among the Jiuyi tribes for so long, Jiang Heyun knew their situation better than He Xun. He understood that if He Xun wanted to rise to power, the price he would pay might not just be a few years; he might very well lose his life.

As a son of the Jiang family, Jiang Heyun naturally hoped for the day when his great revenge would be achieved, but as his uncle, he didn’t want to see He Xun lose his life because of it.

For the past two years, Jiang Heyun had been barely holding on to his health, knowing he himself wouldn’t live much longer, and had become much more accepting of many things.

“I was able to come to the capital thanks to your friend; otherwise, I wouldn’t even have been able to come,” Jiang Heyun said earnestly. “He Xun, your uncle hopes you can let go.”

“Let go?” He Xun laughed. “How could I possibly let go?”

From his mother’s death to nearly ten years of forbearance, every single day, He Xun thought about revenge.

This thought had almost become an obsession for He Xun.

Now, asking him to let go? How could that be possible?

Although he understood his uncle’s reasoning, he couldn’t put it into practice.

Even if it cost him his life, he wouldn’t regret it.

However, in that case, he would have to change his plans for Xu Wenjuan.

“Uncle, you watched me grow up. You know what kind of person I am,” He Xun said firmly. “I must return to Jiuyi. No one can persuade me otherwise. I owe you so much over the years. If I’m lucky enough to survive, I will repay you properly. As for this matter, after I return to Jiuyi, I’ll arrange for you to be relocated elsewhere.”

“Sigh, I knew you wouldn’t listen to reason,” Jiang Heyun sighed, slapping his thigh. “But don’t try to push me away. I’ve lived for so long; I don’t have many more years left. Since you insist on going back, then prepare properly. We’ve endured so much for so many years; we’re not made of clay.”

Hearing this, He Xun forced a smile. “That’s right, we’re not made of clay.”

After speaking with He Xun, Jiang Heyun quietly left the He Mansion. The Jiuyi envoys hadn’t entered the capital yet; he needed to meet them first.

After seeing his uncle off, He Xun sent a servant to invite Pei Que. He needed Pei Que’s help.