Chapter 609 An Unexpected Turn
The Qiu mansion was quiet at night, with only the faint sound of footsteps from patrolling guards. Qiu Huaixin had cleared his name, which lifted Qiu Bingde's spirits. He had been worried since the incident at Heshengxuan, and tonight he could finally sleep soundly.
Wu Shi lay motionless on the bed, gazing at the intricately patterned canopy in the dim moonlight filtering through the window, lost in thought.
Stiffly moving her body, Wu Shi turned her head to look at the sleeping Qiu Bingde, a flicker of resentment surfacing in her eyes. She had done so much for her husband, yet he only cared about brotherhood.
Her father-in-law was truly biased! Wu Shi's resentment towards Qiu Bingde was fleeting, but her hatred for Lord Qiu, her father-in-law, was profound.
First, he had planned to have the third son represent the Qiu family in visiting relatives and old friends. Then, he intended to betroth a young lady from the Gu clan of Nanling to the third son. Now, he was having the third son study for the imperial examinations!
These successive events contorted Wu Shi's face, and her hands, hidden beneath the quilt, clenched the fabric tighter to suppress her surging anger and resentment.
The third son could not survive. Otherwise, once the third son married a noble wife in the future, her eldest branch might lose its foothold in the mansion!
In contrast to the ill-matched couple in the eldest branch, Qiu Wangshu and Ming Shi in the second branch, though not yet asleep, were whispering intimate words to each other. The maidservant standing guard outside blushed and quietly retreated to a side room.
Qiu Wangshu held Ming Shi's hand in his palm, playing with it, and smiled, "You can't figure it out?"
Without her husband's sharp intellect, Ming Shi was more straightforward and direct. She asked, "Third brother has had one incident after another, yet Father is having him study for the imperial examinations. Isn't this putting third brother in even greater danger?"
Even though no one in the Qiu mansion believed in gods or spirits, Qiu Huaixin's recent experiences made one suspect he had offended the Tai Sui and fallen victim to malicious individuals.
Previously, the third branch's wife, Dou Shi, had committed suicide by jumping into a well, only to have her throat slit by the killer hidden within the well. That incident had almost led to rumors that Qiu Huaixin had forced an elder to her death.
It hadn't been long since then, and another incident had occurred. Ming Shi couldn't understand why, if the Qiu family's enemies were responsible, they would target the eldest brother. Even if they wanted to harm her husband, they wouldn't go after the third brother.
Qiu Wangshu narrowed his eyes, concealing the cold glint and chill within them. "His Majesty has upheld Confucian principles of benevolence and virtue since his ascension. Therefore, regardless of the disputes in court, matters of state absolutely do not extend to the inner chambers."
In simpler terms, the struggles and schemes between men were carried out in the official arena. Whether you made plans or set traps, even if you framed someone, victory depended on individual means.
However, the unspoken rule among families was that harm should not befall family members. If anyone resorted to unscrupulous means and attacked women and children in the inner chambers, they would surely face collective condemnation. After all, who didn't have parents, wives, and children? Who didn't have clan relatives and old friends? If disputes in court couldn't be won and attention shifted to the inner chambers, chaos would ensue.
Ming Shi didn't fully grasp his meaning and propped herself up to look at Qiu Wangshu. "Are you saying that if the Qiu family's enemies were involved, they wouldn't have targeted Huaixin?"
Qiu Wangshu nodded and drew his beloved wife into his embrace. "Father is stationed in Qianzhong Circuit. Those people might be wary of Father and hesitate to act. But if they were to make a move, they should be targeting Eldest Brother, setting traps for him rather than attempting to assassinate Huaixin."
The thought of Qiu Huaixin nearly being assassinated at Heshengxuan earlier caused a fierce expression to flash across Qiu Wangshu's usually calm face, only to be quickly concealed.
"Eldest Brother has always acted cautiously. According to Father's previous instructions, he should tread steadily for the first few years, seeking no merit but avoiding mistakes. Therefore, even if they couldn't find a way to deal with Eldest Brother, they could target me. Huaixin has spent many years away from the prefectural city, only associating with scholars from the official academy."
Qiu Wangshu had a free-spirited nature, but he held some reputation among literati.
However, these schemes were all directed at Qiu Huaixin. Not only had they failed, but even if they had succeeded, what impact would they have had on the Qiu family? Which prominent family didn't have a few wayward scions?
Ming Shi nestled in Qiu Wangshu's arms, carefully considering his words. Only then did she understand. "If Father's enemies chose to target Huaixin, it would be a victory lacking in martial prowess. Even if successful, it wouldn't achieve much and might even alert the enemy."
Lord Qiu was a trusted confidant of His Majesty, a Provincial Administration Commissioner, and a true high-ranking official. Those who could become Lord Qiu's enemies would be similar in family background or official position.
Officials who could become second-rank or even first-rank ministers in the imperial court would truly disdain targeting a mere dandy like Qiu Huaixin. It would be like a top scholar in the martial examinations challenging an eight or nine-year-old child. Whether they won or lost, it would be demeaning.
"Among the people Huaixin associates with, only Jiao Lianyu is cunning, but he lacks the courage and ability to scheme against Huaixin." Qiu Wangshu had long seen through Jiao Lianyu's character.
Since Qiu Huaixin considered him a close friend, Qiu Wangshu was too lazy to expose him. After all, as long as the Qiu family existed, Jiao Lianyu would not dare to scheme against or frame Qiu Huaixin. At most, he would be "riding on the coattails of power."
As for the others, they were merely fawning over Qiu Huaixin. They wouldn't dare to scheme against the young master of the Provincial Administration Commissioner's household even if they had the courage of a bear.
Ming Shi was not from a noble family, so she was not adept at the ways of the inner chambers. However, with Qiu Wangshu's words so clearly explained, Ming Shi, who had been lying down, suddenly sat up. After a moment of stunned silence, she blurted out, "It's Eldest Sister-in-law scheming against Huaixin!"
Because she often accompanied Qiu Wangshu on his travels, Ming Shi did not have much contact with Wu Shi, her sister-in-law. However, even with Wu Shi's facade of gentle virtue, the straightforward Ming Shi could not bring herself to like her eldest sister-in-law.
Moreover, there was an inherent friction between sisters-in-law. Ming Shi could sense that Wu Shi wanted to suppress the second branch, especially after Chen Ge'er began his studies. Ming Shi's feeling became even more pronounced.
Sometimes, when Wu Shi spoke to Lin Ge'er, Ming Shi, as a mother, felt a sense of unease, as if Wu Shi intended to harm her child.
Qiu Wangshu's guidance to Ming Shi was also for her to be vigilant. If Father were to purge the family this time, it would be one thing. But if there was no evidence and he was concerned about Eldest Brother, then Wu Shi's presence was a danger, and Qiu Wangshu had to guard against it.
"Husband, if third brother's situation has already displeased Eldest Sister-in-law, then if Lin Ge'er is intelligent, won't he be even more in danger?" Ming Shi, emotionally agitated, grabbed Qiu Wangshu's hand, a cold sweat breaking out on her back.
Among the three Qiu brothers, Qiu Wangshu possessed the greatest talent for scholarship. Qiu Bingde's aptitude was mediocre. Fortunately, he was born into the Qiu family; if he were from a humble background, he would likely struggle to even pass the Xiucai examination.
Chen Ge'er's aptitude for reading was very similar to Qiu Bingde's. Despite his young age, he studied diligently and assiduously. However, no matter how earnest his attitude, it could not overcome the words "mediocre aptitude."
Ming Shi suddenly recalled an incident from last year when Lord Qiu was testing Chen Ge'er's studies. Chen Ge'er was reciting "Li Weng's Rhyming Couplets." When he reached "a pavilion facing a waterside pavilion," he forgot the next line. Unexpectedly, Lin Ge'er, who was still learning to speak, said in a childish voice, "A parrot facing a cormorant."
Not only were Qiu Wangshu and Ming Shi astonished, but even Lord Qiu, who was testing the boys, was taken aback. He then gently teased Lin Ge'er, who was barely three years old.
Qiu Wangshu then remembered this incident. Five days prior, a friend had gifted him a parrot. The parrot's mimicry had piqued Lin Ge'er's interest.
After playing with the parrot while holding Lin Ge'er, Qiu Wangshu taught Lin Ge'er to look through a picture book of birds and also recited a couplet: "A parrot facing a cormorant." The sentence was catchy, and Lin Ge'er had remembered it. When Lord Qiu was testing Chen Ge'er, he recited it.
At that time, Ming Shi noticed Wu Shi's extremely displeased expression. Although it was fleeting, Ming Shi, being perceptive, attributed it to Wu Shi, who was outwardly gentle but inwardly proud, being unwilling for Chen Ge'er to be outdone by Lin Ge'er, his younger cousin who had not yet begun his studies. Hence, her unhappy expression.
If it were Ming Shi in that situation, she would likely have the same expression. Her own child, who had a tutor for his education, was not as capable as his younger cousin who could barely speak. Anyone would be displeased; it was only human nature.
But now, as Ming Shi recalled it, her back tingled with fear. If her eldest sister-in-law could go as far as to try and kill Qiu Huaixin, wouldn't targeting Lin Ge'er be even easier? After all, Lin Ge'er was only four years old, and a common cold could be fatal to a young child.
(End of Chapter)