Chai Jingchuan quickly finished reading the materials in his hand, his face drained of color. "My grandfather and father lived upright and honest lives. Though born into a noble family and holding high office, they never wronged anyone. When those around them made mistakes, as long as they weren't matters of principle, my grandfather and father would even use their authority to protect them. How could they… how could they repay kindness with such enmity?"
Though the information given by Si Fengwu was extensive, the intelligence within it was actually quite simple. The troubles that befell the Chi family were indeed orchestrated by people from Wu An Palace to force Grand Academician Chi and Old Madam Chi to obfuscate Si Fengwu's origins, thereby compelling them to obtain the 'King of Ten Thousand Phoenixes' from Lu Qingwan's hands.
However, the one who truly employed such cruel and despicable methods to humiliate Chi Yun Shen, ravish Madam Chi, and torment Grand Academician Chi and Old Madam Chi to their breaking point was Xie Fengxian, the eldest son of Xie Cixiu, who was then the Minister of Personnel. Xie Cixiu had engaged in factionalism and was ensnared by a stratagem orchestrated by Emperor Jingyou and Si Fengwu, leading to his imprisonment in the Imperial Prison.
Logically, officials involved in factional strife should not have been dealt with solely as individuals. But at that time, to stabilize the situation, Xie Cixiu was made an example of. Many of his crimes were not particularly obvious, making it impossible to legitimately punish his relatives. Although after Xie Cixiu's downfall, the Xie family had virtually no foothold in the court, they were still a prominent lineage. Even a starved camel is larger than a horse. While the Xie family lost power, they still possessed their former connections and wealth. With a bit of instigation, it wouldn't be difficult for them to cause trouble in the court again.
It was just that no one had expected Xie Fengxian's first target for revenge to be Grand Academician Chi, who had so greatly supported his father.
"A single measure of kindness can be forgotten in a bushel of malice. Old Chi treated them too well, making them forget that Old Chi wasn't obligated to be kind to them. They only remembered that Old Chi didn't protect Xie Cixiu as he always had when Xie Cixiu got into trouble, and they conveniently failed to mention that Xie Cixiu had engaged in factionalism and violated taboos by participating in party struggles!"
Chi Jingchuan, born into a noble family and having served as a close confidant of the Emperor for many years, understood the intricacies of such matters. He had simply never imagined that such a story of a farmer and a snake would happen to him. Si Fengwu's words shattered his last shred of hopeful illusion. He was truly unwilling to accept that his grandfather's lifetime of integrity had brought such immense disaster upon their family due to past acts of kindness.
Chi Jingchuan trembled and asked, "Does Grandfather know about this?"
"My grandfather is old. My wife and I have discussed it, and we will not tell him. The reason we are telling you is that my wife felt that since the Chi family has suffered so greatly, at least one person should know the truth. After much thought, you are the only one who can be privy to this." Si Fengwu continued, "Also, Xie Fengxian is currently in the Imperial Prison. If you wish to personally avenge your parents, I can let you dispatch him."
Chi Jingchuan replied without hesitation, "I am grateful for the King and Princess's consideration. However, this humble subject believes that merely dispatching Xie Fengxian, besides venting my own hatred, would be meaningless. This humble subject believes that the people behind Xie Fengxian are the most detestable, for daring to act so recklessly. If the King and Princess do not object, this humble subject wishes to spare Xie Fengxian's life. When the individuals behind Xie Fengxian are apprehended, I will have Xie Fengxian witness the disintegration of the power he relied upon."
What Chi Jingchuan left unsaid was that whether he personally killed Xie Fengxian or subjected him to prolonged torture, his mother would not be resurrected, nor would his father recover his health. Therefore, his objective had never been solely Xie Fengxian, but rather the entire Xie family, which was a hundred times more important to Xie Fengxian than his own life. His family had suffered so much; killing just Xie Fengxian was not enough.
Si Fengwu could not fail to see the thoughts in Chi Jingchuan's heart. He patted Chi Jingchuan's shoulder. "That day will come." This simple sentence was a promise to Chi Jingchuan. After all, this matter was indeed a failing on the part of him and Lu Qingwan towards the Chi family. After agreeing to Chi Jingchuan's request, Si Fengwu pondered for a moment, then asked cautiously and directly, "How is your father?"
A pure and upright civil official, had things gone as expected, he could have become a renowned minister of his generation, like Prime Minister Wen and Grand Academician Chi. Yet, he had suffered such humiliation and witnessed his wife's brutal death. Chi Yun Shen had endured suffering that night which many would never experience in a lifetime. Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu had even worried if he could survive.
Chi Jingchuan had not expected Si Fengwu to suddenly inquire about his father. After all, after Chi Yun Shen's incident, most people were unaware, and those who knew, out of consideration, dared not ask. After the news of Chi Yun Shen's misfortune was widely publicized by those Qin people that day, the outside world gossiped privately but became even more circumspect about the matter. Over time, Si Fengwu had become the first person to directly express concern for Chi Yun Shen.
He was startled for a moment, then suddenly realized that Lu Qingwan going to pick plums was not mere playfulness; it was evident that both of them were concerned about Chi Yun Shen and, fearing embarrassment, had deliberately avoided the topic. Chi Jingchuan was deeply moved, but his tone remained bitter. "Before Mother died, she desperately urged Father to live on, to watch over this humble subject and my sister as we establish our families and careers, and bear children. Father cannot forget the humiliation he endured, nor can he bear to die. After languishing at home for two months, he requested a transfer to the Ministry of Punishments, saying he did not want anyone else to suffer such humiliation while the perpetrators remained at large."
Speaking of his ill-fated father, Chi Jingchuan felt both heartache and helplessness. "It was going relatively well, but as you know, after the incident with those Qin people a while ago, now, whenever Father goes out, everyone looks at him with that kind of gaze. Though Father says nothing, this humble subject knows he is not feeling well."
Si Fengwu felt a sense of helplessness. No matter what words of comfort were spoken, they seemed incredibly hollow in the face of such a situation. In the end, he said no comforting words and left Songshan Academy with a heavy heart. As soon as he reached the foot of the mountain, Lu Qingwan, holding a small basket of crystal-clear plums, poked her head out from the carriage. "Finished talking?"
Si Fengwu pulled her hand and used it to help himself into the carriage, nodding silently. "Where do you want to go next?"
Seeing that he had no intention of discussing the conversation with Chi Jingchuan, and considering that asking more would only hurt Chi Yun Shen's dignity, Lu Qingwan didn't press further. "Since we're out, why not visit Nan Wushang? He's responsible for both civil and military affairs, what do you think?"
Upon their return to the capital, Si Fengwu had assigned Chi Jingchuan, Nan Wushang, Wen Rusong, and Shao Nanchuan, among other rising talents, to shoulder specific responsibilities for the future needs of the court. Chi Jingchuan established an academy to cultivate civil officials, and Nan Wushang set up a military academy to train generals. With this dual approach, it was almost time to see the results.