Mo Sang – CH 295

Chapter 295. Be a little oblivious

Li Sangrou chatted idly with Shi Acai and Princess Ninghe, while Yang Nanxing and Gu Fei sat shoulder to shoulder, heads close together, speaking softly.

After sitting for about half an hour, Shi Acai stood up to take her leave.

According to the unwritten rules of Jianle City’s social circles, sitting for half an hour on a first meeting was already quite long; it was not appropriate to stay any longer.

Yang Nanxing stood up as well, and Gu Fei followed suit, reluctantly seeing Yang Nanxing off to the entrance of the reed hut.

Li Sangrou watched Gu Fei sit back down, then stood up, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to her and Princess Ninghe.

“Does this Lady Yang also live in the Changsha Prince’s Mansion?” Li Sangrou asked with a smile, seemingly unsure who she was referring to.

“The Ye family has a residence in Jianle City, not far from the Changsha Prince’s Mansion. She often stays overnight there. She and Princess Shi are very close; they say they grew up together,” Gu Fei answered naturally.

“Princess Shi’s two children are so much fun, especially the eldest, Ayan. He’s both clever and silly. Nanxing loves teasing Ayan, often making him cry loudly.

Ayan’s catchphrase is ‘No, no, bad! Bad, no, no!’ He often runs away when he sees Nanxing, shouting as he runs, ‘Bad, no, no, here it comes again! Bad, no, no, here it comes again!’

They are so much fun!” Princess Ninghe’s eyes lit up when she mentioned Shi Acai’s two children.

Gu Fei smiled slightly, then, as if remembering something, paused for a moment, then lowered her head.

“Boss!” Xiao Lu poked his head in from outside the thatched hut, handing Li Sangrou a slip of paper. “Just now, Princess Shi of the Changsha Prince’s Mansion added ten thousand taels of silver to the merit book for Tanzhou, and Lady Yang of the Ye family also added ten thousand taels to the merit book for Anqing Prefecture. It has already been recorded.”

“Wow!” Princess Ninghe exclaimed in surprise.

“Nanxing said that her sister-in-law had a hard time in Jianle City,” Gu Fei said, seemingly with a sigh. Princess Ninghe did not notice this soft sigh, but Li Sangrou, who had been paying close attention to Gu Fei, clearly heard it but pretended not to.

Li Sangrou listened to the sutras in the thatched hut for another half an hour before getting up and leaving. Princess Ninghe and Gu Fei followed her out, and they went to the area where the monks of the Dharma Assembly were coming and going. Princess Ninghe and Gu Fei got into their carriage and went back, while Li Sangrou walked back to Chaomi Alley.

Entering the courtyard and just past the screen wall, Lin Sa strode out to greet Li Sangrou.

“You are finally back!” Lin Sa stopped, hands on her hips. “If you had not come back, I would have left.”

“When did you arrive?” Li Sangrou gave Lin Sa a nudge, turning her around and leading her inside.

“I’ve been here for almost fifteen minutes. I waited and waited, but you did not come back. I was just about to leave when you returned.” Lin Sa put her hands behind her back and walked inside alongside Li Sangrou.

“Hei Ma went to your place and said he could not find anyone.” Li Sangrou looked Lin Sa up and down.

Her clothes were a little dirty, but she looked energetic and healthy.

“Everyone’s busy. Who sits idly at home?” Lin Sa followed Li Sangrou and sat down on the porch.

“What are you busy with? It is the middle of winter, and you do not need to plant cotton.” Li Sangrou picked up a tea cake, broke off a piece, and brewed some tea.

She had been busy with cotton planting.

“Before, Senior Sister Wang was busy covering the seeds to check for germination and also digging around checking the soil for insects. We will see how the insects are doing next year by winter; we just have to keep checking a lot.

The day before yesterday, a gentleman surnamed Du, with a large group of people, including officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and other high-ranking officials, about a dozen or twenty, came to our area. They asked Senior Sister Wang about cotton, saying the Emperor had issued an edict ordering cotton planting in the capital region.

Senior Sister Wang immediately set off with her nephew Gao and the others to inspect the fields in each county.”

Senior Sister Wang was extremely anxious, saying there was too much to do and she was afraid she would not have enough time. She did not even bring her luggage, so I followed behind, packed their luggage, and delivered it to them. Afterwards, I wrote a letter to Senior Brother Wu and then came here.

I came to see you for two things. One is that Senior Sister Wang asked me to tell you that Minister Du went to see her; the edict for cotton planting is about to be issued.

I told her you knew about this, that it was definitely you who requested the decree, but Senior Sister Wang said, ‘You know, I know, but whether we tell her or not is a matter of etiquette.’ That’s just the kind of person Senior Sister Wang is; when she’s particular, she’s extremely particular.

The second matter is about that Prime Minister Du. He said Senior Sister Wang should ask you first.

Prime Minister Du said that the Emperor said that if Senior Sister Wang successfully cultivates cotton in the capital region, it would benefit the country and the people, be a great merit, and so on. He said that when the cotton harvest in the capital region is complete, Senior Sister Wang would be granted a title, something like a prince or marquis.

Senior Sister Wang refused, saying she did not want it. She was not after any title; that was Senior Sister Wang’s honest opinion, you know that.

Also, in our sect, no one is allowed to hold official positions; there are rules.

Prime Minister Du said that granting a title is something that benefits future generations, and then said that Senior Sister Wang should come and ask you first.

Perfect, two things combined, I came right away,” Lin Sa spoke quickly, almost in one breath, and picked up her teacup to drink.

“You are educated, right?” Li Sangrou asked Lin Sa with a smile.

“Of course!” Lin Sa glared at Li Sangrou.

“Then you must have read the story of Zigong redeeming people, right? What did your uncles or senior brothers who taught you say?” Li Sangrou asked with a smile.

Lin Sa hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, “I understand. I will tell Senior Sister Wang and write a letter to Grand Master Wu.

Alright, that’s all. I am leaving now.

Sigh, you do not know. Ever since that Master Du arrived, Senior Sister Wang has been so excited that her eyes are bloodshot. She does not care about anything else. I have to watch her eat and drink and make sure she does not overwork herself. Sigh, really!”

“Wait, you came on horseback? Alone?” Li Sangrou stood up with Lin Sa but then called out to her.

Lin Sa nodded.

It was just a matter of saying a few words, so of course, she was alone.

“Your Senior Sister Wang is so busy, and you are so busy; you definitely do not have time to prepare for the New Year. I will have Hei Ma pack some New Year’s goods for you to take with you. We have everything we need,” Li Sangrou said, stopping Lin Sa and calling out to Hei Ma.

Hei Ma trotted in, and upon hearing that he needed to pack New Year’s goods for his sister Lin and her senior brothers and nephews, he readily agreed, loudly shouting as he headed straight for the kitchen courtyard next door.

Hei Ma, along with several Old Yunmeng guards, quickly packed a whole cart full of freshly cured pork and sausages, rice cakes and dumplings, wind-dried chicken and salted duck, dried fish and eggs, fermented rice dumplings—everything imaginable.

Lin Sa stared wide-eyed at the cart full of New Year’s goods for a long while before finally looking away.

“Eat as much as you want! If you are still hungry, bring more. We may not have much else, but we certainly do not lack New Year’s goods!” Li Sangrou waved cheerfully and earnestly instructed.

“That’s enough! That’s a whole cartload!” Lin Sa hitched her horse to the cart, drove it, and headed back out of the city.

………………………………

The next evening, Xiao Lu, who had been watching the donation boxes at the Dharma Assembly, dashed off into the backyard of Shunfeng’s main branch.

“Boss! The money! It is here! It is here!” Xiao Lu rushed to Li Sangrou, his eyes shining with excitement.

“Just now! The Qingzhou Chamber of Commerce added fifty thousand taels of silver as incense money! Fifty thousand! Fifty thousand!” Xiao Lu raised his hand, laughing heartily.

Li Sangrou twisted her body to avoid Xiao Lu’s spittle and his constant laughter.

………………………………

The following afternoon, Li Sangrou sat in the thatched shed, slowly flipping through the recent ten or so donation rankings, then checking the amount of silver in the register, feeling pleased.

“Is the Boss in?” At the entrance of the thatched hut, the old woman who had followed Gu Fei out asked with a smile. Seeing Li Sangrou look up, she quickly curtsied and said with a smile, “Greetings to the Boss! Our mistress came to listen to the sutras and heard that the Boss was here, so she wanted to come and pay her respects.”

“You flatter me; please come in.” Li Sangrou quickly stood up and went to greet her at the entrance of the thatched hut.

Gu Fei, still wrapped in her black cloak, entered the hut, curtsied to Li Sangrou, removed the cloak’s hood, and sat down in a chair without taking off the cloak itself.

Li Sangrou poured a bowl of tea and placed it in front of her, carefully observing her complexion, and smiled. “You are better than a few days ago.”

“Yes, I’ve been coming out to listen to the sutras these past few days, at that thatched hut over there, with Lady Yang.” Gu Fei picked up the teacup, holding it with both hands, and said with her eyes lowered.

“Just came from Lady Yang’s?” Li Sangrou asked, making conversation.

“No, I came here specifically to see you today.” Gu Fei still kept her eyes downcast.

“Hmm.” Li Sangrou hummed in response, looking at Gu Fei, waiting for her to speak.

Gu Fei kept her eyes downcast, slowly turning the teacup in her hand. After a long while, she looked up at Li Sangrou. “It was Sister Yang who asked me to come and talk to you.”

“Hmm.” Li Sangrou hummed again, smiling at Gu Fei.

Gu Fei fell silent again, this time for even longer than before.

“Do you know about our family matters?” Gu Fei finally managed to speak again with difficulty.

“What matters? The matter of your mother and father trying to kill your eldest brother?” Li Sangrou asked directly.

“And Father?” Gu Fei’s face turned deathly pale, and her hand holding the teacup trembled.

Li Sangrou reached out and took the teacup from Gu Fei’s hand. “I know about your Elder Brother. He was robbed and murdered, and had nowhere else to turn, so he sought me out as a bodyguard.

I escorted him from Jiangdu City back to Jianle City. The journey was arduous. In Beidong County, we failed to conceal our whereabouts, and he was robbed and nearly killed.

To drive your Elder Brother to such a desperate situation, your mother and the Marquis of Yongping’s mansion alone could not have done it. Your father even used the power of the inner court through the eunuchs. The eunuchs are dead, are they not?”

Gu Fei, her face deathly pale, clutched her cloak tightly.

“Your Elder Brother said that he almost died of poisoning as soon as he returned to the Rui Prince’s mansion. That bowl of poisoned soup was handed to him by your father himself,” Li Sangrou looked at Gu Fei, her voice slow and deliberate.

Gu Fei gripped her cloak tightly, pulling herself back into her chair.

“Back then, Empress Zhang was still alive. She slaughtered all of your mother’s dowry maids and confidantes and wiped out all the strategists and warriors kept by the Marquis of Yongping’s household. That time, blood flowed like a river; many people surely remember it.

Later, there were probably many more times, but apart from the time in Jiangdu City, none of them managed to get close to your Elder Brother,” Li Sangrou continued.

Gu Fei slowly slumped down, covering her face with her hands.

Li Sangrou looked at Gu Fei, then moved closer and placed her hand on Gu Fei’s shoulder.

“Father loved me very much; Mother loved me very much. Now…it’s their fault, is it not? But I…” After a long while, Gu Fei looked up at Li Sangrou, her face full of conflict and pain.

“They are your parents; they truly love you. You love them; you cannot hate them.”

Gu Fei nodded repeatedly.

“But you also feel that what they did, how they treated your Elder Brother, was wrong. They are bad people, and you should hate them, right?”

Gu Fei nodded again, bursting into tears.

“Look, like me, Ninghe thinks I am very good, does she not? In the capital, many people think I’ve done something beneficial for the Great Qi, do they not?”

Gu Fei looked at Li Sangrou and nodded.

“Then what will the people of Liang think of me? What will the people whose fathers, brothers, sons, and nephews I killed think of me? And the Marquis of Yongping’s mansion, I killed the Marquis of Yongping and his son, what will your aunt think of me?”

Gu Fei stared blankly at Li Sangrou.

Li Sangrou looked at her, silent.

Gu Fei remained stunned for a long time, then shifted her position, looked up at Li Sangrou, and asked, “What should I do now?”

“What do you think you should do?” Li Sangrou bowed slightly, looking at Gu Fei and asking.

Gu Fei bit her lip, remaining silent again.

“Will Big Brother hate me?” After a long while, Gu Fei asked softly, “And Third Brother, Second Brother.”

“If you were your Eldest Brother, would you hate him? Would you be completely unconcerned?” Li Sangrou continued.

“Not necessarily hate, but I would not be completely unconcerned.” After a moment of silence, Gu Fei answered softly.

Li Sangrou leaned back in her chair and hummed in agreement.

“To your Eldest Brother, should you keep your distance?”

Gu Fei stared blankly for a long time, then looked up at Li Sangrou.

“If you can try to understand others, you will know how to get along with them. I do not know; you have to observe, think, and weigh it yourself.” Li Sangrou met Gu Fei’s gaze earnestly and sincerely.

“Thank you.” Gu Fei lowered her eyes, and after a long while, she thanked her softly.

“His Majesty is very magnanimous and understanding; this is a blessing for everyone.” Li Sangrou patted Gu Fei’s shoulder.

“Yes, Ah Yue is good too; she treats me sincerely. It is me, on the other hand, who often acts childish.

I did not know these things before. I knew Mother and Eldest Brother did not get along. Third Brother would sometimes talk to me, sounding annoyed, saying Mother was single-mindedly focused on that King’s Mansion.” Gu Fei paused, then continued, “Actually, I should have realized then that the discord between Mother and Eldest Brother was not just because you rolled your eyes at me or I made a sarcastic remark. Mother wanted the King’s Mansion, so Eldest Brother could only…

I just did not dare to think about it deeply, did not want to think about it deeply; it did not concern me.”

Speaking of things not concerning her, Gu Fei’s voice was so low it was almost inaudible.

“Do not think too much about it. It is all in the past. What’s past is past; thinking about it will not help. Just let it be,” Li Sangrou looked at Gu Fei.

“Mm.” Gu Fei looked down at her fingers.

“The world is far more complicated than a game of Weiqi. Think about it: if your second cousin had not become a monk and had ascended the throne as Emperor, what would be the situation now?

If your Eldest Brother had not met me and had died in Jiangdu City, what would be the situation now?” Li Sangrou said slowly. “You cannot see through people, you cannot understand the world. Just understand the general idea.”

Gu Fei stood there for a long time, then pulled her cloak tighter, stood up, bowed deeply to Li Sangrou, lowered her head, and left.