Four Seasons Brocade – CH 062

Chapter 62 ☆、

This concerned his son’s entire life, and even if Third Master Rong was willing to swallow his anger, he could not tolerate it. He tied up the servant, took Rong Jie, and went to the Duke’s heir’s courtyard to demand an explanation. He could not face his sister-in-law alone, so he had to report the matter to the Duke’s heir. Of course, he also did not forget to inform the Duke of Anguo.

That night, the Duke of Anguo summoned the First and Third Madams to speak in the main room. The First Madam, her eyes red, knelt at the Duke’s feet.

“It was all your sister-in-law’s momentary lapse of judgment. I have already reprimanded her,” the Duke of Anguo said to Third Master Rong.

Third Master Rong waited for further explanation, but nothing came of it.

“Father,” Third Master Rong murmured, his heart filled with bitterness, chilling disillusionment, and resentment.

“Alright, Third son, Jie’er, I know you’ve been wronged this time, but what’s done is done. Even if we get the essay back, it will not change the fact that neither of you will be highly regarded by Master Dong.”

Duke Anguo felt a pang of guilt. However, in his eyes, the heir’s lineage was far more important than the illegitimate third branch; the Duke’s Mansion still depended on the heir to survive.

Third Master Rong remained silent.

“Grandfather!” Rong Jie, being young and caught in the middle, could not see the bigger picture.

“Jie’er, do not be hasty. After all, you personally submitted the essay, which is a mistake of oversight. Master Dong is intolerant of injustice and will likely not forgive you. Besides, you and Min’er are close relatives. If you report him, it would be unfilial and disrespectful, a betrayal of the teachings of the sages. It would only result in mutual destruction.” Duke Anguo, being an experienced strategist, had persuaded Rong Jie with his words.

Rong Jie’s face instantly turned ashen. When Rong Yin sent back the message, he thought everything could be reversed, but now he realized it was too late.

But was he really going to watch Rong Min replace him as Master Dong’s student? Rong Jie was unwilling.

Duke Anguo continued, “Jie, I know you feel wronged. But what’s done is done. If our household can produce a disciple of the Master Dong, it will be a great thing for the whole family. Your grandfather is old, and this Duke’s Mansion still depends on your generation, on Min and you, to uphold it. Min is your fourth brother, and he feels guilty towards you in this matter. When he rises to prominence in the future, he will naturally support you. Your brotherly love and respect for each other, supporting one another, and passing on the ancestral legacy—that is my greatest wish.”

If Rong Jie still did not understand, then he would truly be unfilial. This had already become his grandfather’s greatest wish.

Rong Jie remained silent, his eyes reddening.

With a thud, Third Master Rong knelt before Duke Anguo, his eyes red, and pleaded, “Father, Jie’er is also your grandson!”

Duke Anguo’s face flushed slightly, while the First Master glared angrily at Third Master Rong, feeling that his third brother was truly unreasonable. Even with their father’s words, he was simply born to be disliked, not only angering their mother but also stealing their and his second brother’s limelight. Was Min’er not his nephew?

Duke Anguo continued, “Alright, Third Son, I know everything. I’ve also punished your sister-in-law, making her stay home for half a year to reflect on her actions. Your mother has also agreed to move your concubine mother’s remains to the Rong family cemetery for burial. As for Jie’er, I will decide and allocate a property for him. He’s talented; he will surely rise to prominence someday. Even if he cannot become a disciple of the Master Dong, with you, his father, a top scholar, how could he possibly be lacking? Do not you trust Jie’er?”

Duke Anguo appealed to his emotions, reasoned with him, and tempted him with benefits, finally silencing Third Master Rong. The only thing that truly moved him was the offer to move his concubine mother’s remains to the Rong family cemetery. Concubines were not entitled to be buried in the Rong family cemetery. Third Master Rong, who had never been able to repay his mother’s kindness in raising him, saw this as the only thing he could do for his concubine mother. If he missed this opportunity, the Old Madam would likely never relent.

Rong Jie, knowing Third Master Rong’s inner turmoil and fearing he would be put in a difficult position, and knowing the die was cast, helped Third Master Rong up, signifying his acceptance.

Third Master Rong and Rong Jie returned to the courtyard. After learning the whole story, Lady Cui immediately collapsed onto the bed, weeping repeatedly, “My poor Jie’er…”

Rong Yin immediately rolled up his sleeves, brandishing his fists, ready to confront Rong Min.

Ah Wu remained calm. While everyone else was either frustrated or angry, Ah Wu could only remain calm, even though she almost coughed up blood.

As Rong Yin rushed out, Ah Wu chased after him, blocking his path halfway.

“Seventh Brother, stop!” Ah Wu could only shout loudly, unable to catch Rong Yin.

Rong Yin turned around, her eyes red, and roared, “You are not allowed to stop me! If you do, you are not my sister!”

Seeing that Nanny Li and Si-Hua had followed behind, Ah Wu quickly stepped forward, tugged at Rong Yin’s sleeve, and whispered, “What if I said I had a way?”

What way? Naturally, everyone had their own solution.

Although Rong Yin was impulsive and hot-blooded, it stemmed from concern for his family. He was not stupid; he knew that rushing out like this might not end well and would only implicate his father and brother. But he just could not help it; he had to vent.

“Seventh Brother, if you beat Rong Min, he will only feel pain for a moment. You cannot let this kind of person get away with it so easily,” Ah Wu said, calling Rong Min by his name, showing she had never considered him family. Rong Yin did not see anything wrong with that.

Rong Yin’s expression finally calmed down a bit. Ah Wu turned to Nanny Li and said, “Nanny, go back quickly. Tell her I’ve persuaded Seventh Brother.”

Madam Li nodded and went back.

Ah Wu then led Rong Yin to her room.

Third Master Rong and Rong Jie, being pure and filial, could not understand the situation at first. They were persuaded by Duke Anguo and moved by the matter of his concubine mother, but Ah Wu remained unmoved. She believed that if Third Master Rong and Rong Jie rose to prominence in the future, Concubine Hua would eventually be buried in the Rong family cemetery. Trading Rong Jie’s entire life for a dead person’s burial seemed like a terrible deal.

Third Master Rong was caught in the middle of the situation and, as a son, could not consider gains and losses, but Ah Wu did not share that understanding.

Therefore, Ah Wu whispered a few words in Rong Yin’s ear.

“Will this really work? Will Master Dong still accept my brother?” Rong Yin actually thought Duke Anguo’s statement that Master Dong would not accept Rong Jie after knowing the truth made sense.

Ah Wu was not entirely sure, but she had to do her best and leave the rest to fate. Ah Wu was not lying to Rong Yin; she shook her head. “But we cannot just let Rong Min get away with it.” Ah Wu did not have Rong Jie’s magnanimity. If Rong Min really became Dong Mi’s disciple, who knew how the third branch of the family would be suppressed in the future? Ah Wu did not think they would support each other. They might even become enemies one day.

“But he is, after all, our brother,” Rong Yin hesitated slightly.

Ah Wu asked him, “Do you think he treats Fifth Brother as a younger brother?”

Rong Yin immediately made up his mind. “I will do whatever you say, Ah Wu.”

As for what method Rong Yin used, within just two days, everyone in the capital who needed to know knew. The First Madam bribed Rong Jie’s servant to secretly switch Rong Min and Rong Jie’s documents. Ah Wu was not involved; Rong Yin was a young master, often traveling outside, and had his own channels.

Even if the investigation traced the switch to the Duke of Anguo’s Mansion, it would not matter, because the First Madam had indeed taken the blame alone.

Upon receiving the news, the Old Madam smashed her teacup and roared in the main room, “That bitch Hua Yuqing, she will never be allowed into the Rong family ancestral graveyard again!”

The First Madam immediately left the courtyard, breaking her confinement.

For a moment, neither the Old Madam nor the First Branch suspected the Third Branch, because if the Third Branch were involved, it would be a lose-lose situation; Rong Min would be ruined, and Rong Jie would never become Dong Mi’s disciple. So the First Madam simply ordered someone to investigate who had leaked the information.

Ah Wu, naturally, was unwilling to do something so foolish as to harm others without benefiting herself.

Therefore, before the news even spread, Ah Wu had written to Tang Yin, using Tang Yin’s invitation as a pretext to go out. Upon arriving at the Tang Mansion, she and Tang Yin changed into men’s clothing and met Rong Yin, who was waiting outside.

Ah Wu brought Rong Yin along because she was genuinely frightened by the previous incident and rarely wanted to go out. When she did go out, she needed a reliable person with her, and Ah Wu thought Rong Yin, who was skilled in martial arts and relatively simple-minded, was a good choice.

As for Tang Yin, she was also dressed in men’s clothing. Her curiosity was terrifying; she insisted on going with Ah Wu to see for herself.

Rong Yin blushed when he saw Tang Yin, who looked exquisitely beautiful in men’s clothing. Tang Yin pulled Ah Wu’s hand, winked at her, and secretly laughed at Rong Yin. Rong Yin was forced to walk silently ahead.

Yu Lei Mountain was not high, and Baihe Courtyard was built halfway up the mountain. The scenery was serene and secluded. A spring gradually turned into a stream, flowing down the slope. There were fishponds, bamboo banks, pine-covered pavilions, and medicinal gardens—truly a perfect place for study. Even someone without a scholarly air would likely develop a refined air after three years of immersion here.

Tang Yin was slightly out of breath and rested, hands on her hips. She noticed that Ah Wu, a year younger than her, was poised and elegant without any blushing or panting. She found it strange; both were young ladies, but Tang Yin was more lively than Ah Wu. Seeing that she was less energetic than Ah Wu, her competitive spirit flared up. “No need to rest; let’s go!” she said.

Actually, although Ah Wu was a young lady from a respectable family, she practiced a set of exercises taught by the Indian master every day to strengthen her body. Based on Ah Wu’s past life experiences, she believed that a healthy body was essential for everything else. Therefore, it was not surprising that Tang Yin’s physical strength was inferior to Ah Wu’s.

Baihe Courtyard, with its thatched gate and bamboo railing, possesses a serene and tranquil atmosphere, reminiscent of the poem “Leisurely Gazing at the Southern Mountains.”

Rong Yin politely knocked on the wooden door of Baihe Courtyard. A young boy came out and replied, “The master is not here.”

What a joke! Rong Yin had already inquired for Ah Wu; Dong Mi had not gone out for the past two days and had not descended the mountain. However, those of great renown were often entangled in worldly affairs. Dong Mi’s reluctance to receive guests was not necessarily due to arrogance; it was understandable.