Upon hearing this, Qi Zhao was slightly stunned, Liu Shi frowned, and only Qi Yun remained expressionless.
Others might not know, but Qi Yun was very clear about Seventh Great-Uncle's purpose in coming here.
After all, he had Tie Zi do so many things. After the Prefect learned that Seventh Great-Uncle had no connection with himself, he naturally wouldn't remain inactive. Calculating the ti, one day and night was enough for the Prefect to react.
But Qi Yun didn't say this explicitly. Instead, he said to Qi Zhao and Liu Shi: "Mother, Eldest Brother, let's eat first."
Qi Zhao didn't pick up his chopsticks again, saying in a low voice: "Those who co with ill intent should be questioned about what they want to do." Then Qi Zhao looked at Liu Shi and said: "I'll go take a look."
But before Qi Zhao could get up, Qi Yun reached out to stop him: "Eldest Brother, don't be hasty. Since we know he cos with ill intent, there's no need to rush to do anything. After all, the people living nearby are all our own people, so he can't stir up much trouble."
Liu Shi turned her prayer beads, having always known Qi Yun's temperant, and asked: "Second Son, do you know why he's co?"
Qi Yun nodded: "I know."
Liu Shi raised her eyebrows slightly. She didn't inquire about the details, but asked again: "Can you make him leave?"
Qi Yun nodded again: "I can."
A mother always understands her children best. When Second Son said sothing, he was confident about it.
Liu Shi smiled. She gestured for Qi Zhao to sit properly, then stopped ntioning Seventh Great-Uncle and instead discussed with Fang Shi how the tassel that Qi Zhao was wearing was made.
Originally, Fang Shi was sowhat curious about what Seventh Great-Uncle had actually done, but when Liu Shi asked this question, Fang Shi imdiately lost all other thoughts, only thinking about how to explain the origin of that ugly tassel.
Ye Jiao had been concentrating on eating the whole ti. Throughout Little Ginseng's life, what she persisted in most was the pursuit of delicious food.
The food at ho seed more fragrant than anywhere else, though Ye Jiao didn't understand the reason.
Qi Yun smiled and picked up so bamboo shoots for Ye Jiao with his chopsticks, then called Tie Zi over. After giving a few instructions, Tie Zi nodded and turned to jog away.
He left through the side door, not attracting anyone's attention. Seventh Great-Uncle, who was currently outside the Qi residence's main gate, didn't notice either.
At this mont, Seventh Great-Uncle only felt buzzing in his ears, unable to think of anything else, just sitting in his carriage trying to calm himself.
Originally, Seventh Great-Uncle hadn't wanted to co, but the Qi family had done things too decisively, forcing him to co.
Yesterday, Seventh Great-Uncle's family was still prominent in public, but just this morning, when dawn was barely breaking, people from the Prefecture office ca and tied up his two grandsons.
This sudden turn of events was truly unexpected. Seventh Great-Uncle knew his two grandsons were worthless, especially compared to the three brothers from the Qi family, which made his own family's troublemakers seem even more hopeless.
Injuring people with horses, beating people in the street, and finally molesting decent won...
Any one of these offenses was enough for exile.
Previously, Seventh Great-Uncle had relied on half-concealing and half-revealing while using the Qi family's reputation to bail out his two children, but before he could be proud for long, they were arrested again!
But no matter how worthless they were, they were still his children. Seventh Great-Uncle couldn't just abandon them.
So he swallowed his pride and went to the Prefecture office to ask, only learning that the Qi family had sent people there. He couldn't find out anything else.
How could Seventh Great-Uncle not guess? It must be that the Qi family learned he had been using their na to show off outside, so they decided to break ties with him.
Since that was the case, Seventh Great-Uncle had no way out and could only co here to think of a solution.
Upon arriving, he faced the closed gate of the Qi residence in silence. After waiting nearly an hour without anyone coming to receive him, Seventh Great-Uncle beca increasingly angry.
People often rarely reflect on their own wrongs after sothing happens, only grasping onto others' faults and not letting go.
Originally, this matter was his family's fault, and the Qi family had only told the truth to clear their relationship. But in Seventh Great-Uncle's view, this was not considering the last bit of dignity, pushing the relationship that had finally eased sowhat toward a dead end.
After all, he was an elder of the Qi family. Such treatnt was truly unfilial!
Having seemingly found a good reason for himself, Seventh Great-Uncle regained his confidence and lifted the carriage curtain, saying to those outside: "They still won't open the door?"
"Not yet, Great Master. Should I go knock on the door again?"
"No need." Seventh Great-Uncle had lived such a long ti and could guess so of the Qi family's thoughts. "They had people arrest my dear grandsons and now feel guilty, so they're hiding from . Even if you knock, there won't be any response."
Seeing the anxious faces outside, Seventh Great-Uncle suppressed his anger and assud a calm deanor, tapping his walking stick in the carriage.
The heavy sound made everyone outside quiet down considerably, then they heard Seventh Great-Uncle say: "Follow what I told you before, go make a fuss, and make it big."
Upon hearing this, hesitation appeared on the faces of those who had been anxious before. A young man in a blue shirt stepped forward and said: "Great Master, this Qi family has an Imperial Golden Plaque. We all saw it last ti. Now going there... will it work?"
Seventh Great-Uncle also thought of that "Noble and Upright Conduct" plaque, which had been what drove him away last ti.
But soon Seventh Great-Uncle regained his courage: "Don't worry, that plaque wasn't given to the Qi family, but to Second Master Qi. When he went to the capital, he already took the golden plaque with him. Besides, their Third Son is now an official in the capital. If rumors of family discord and disrespecting elders spread, I'm afraid Third Master Qi won't have peace either. Just go make trouble, they're more afraid than we are."
The young man in blue was still hesitant: "But their Second Son isn't soone easy to deal with."
Speaking of this, Seventh Great-Uncle beca even more confident: "Those who went to the capital, how many are willing to co back? Previously, during Mid-Autumn Festival, Second Master Qi's family didn't return. They must have settled down in the capital and won't leave easily. Distant water can't put out a nearby fire, it doesn't matter."
This reasoning sounded very logical, so the young man in blue retreated to the side, took a few people with him, and ran to the front of the Qi family gate to make a commotion.
Since they were making it big, naturally they had to be loud, shouting things like "the Qi family is unfilial" and "ignoring proper hierarchy." Originally, they hoped to attract nearby people to co and watch, but the surrounding area was all Qi family tenant farrs or workers. Who would dare co out to watch their employer's affairs?
No matter how much they made trouble, no one ca to watch, making it seem like they were performing for themselves.
Although they were a group of n, n making trouble could be more annoying than won. Even from far away, Ye Jiao could hear them.
"Close the door properly, don't let the noise outside disturb the children." Ye Jiao put the sleeping Ruyi back on the bed, tucked her in, then gave Little Su a few instructions before quietly leaving.
After returning to her own room, Ye Jiao imdiately saw Xu Bao standing on a chair holding a writing brush.
Since the old ho hadn't prepared desks and chairs suitable for a child as young as Xu Bao, and there wasn't ti to rush-make them, Qi Yun had moved over a huanghuali wood official's hat chair, wrapping the backrest and armrests with soft cushions, letting Xu Bao stand on it to practice writing.
Now seeing Ye Jiao enter, Xu Bao only lifted his head slightly but didn't speak.
The little fellow really wanted his mother to dote on him, but from childhood he had followed Master Feng in studying books and practicing calligraphy. Master Feng was very strict with him, and not getting distracted was among the most important rules.
Reading and practicing calligraphy required a calm and focused mind. Master Feng had taught Xu Bao very well.
Although Xu Bao had a simple nature, he was ultimately persistent and very obedient.
After finishing this piece with his brush, the little fellow finally put down the writing brush, rubbed his wrist, and stretched out his hands to Ye Jiao, his voice soft and sweet: "Mother, hug."
What Ye Jiao couldn't resist most was being called by her children in this kind of voice, which sounded sweet to her very core.
She hurried over to embrace Xu Bao, sat on the chair, and let Xu Bao sit in her embrace. Ye Jiao rubbed Xu Bao's little chubby hands while looking at Qi Yun, who was reading account books nearby, saying: "Husband, it's almost New Year. Xu Bao should relax a bit."
Qi Yun was about to speak when Xu Bao spoke first: "I'm not tired."
Hearing this, Ye Jiao rubbed her son's little chubby cheeks. Qi Yun said: "What he's writing is all howork assigned by Master Feng before leaving, two pieces a day. It's not much, don't stop him."
Little Ginseng hugged Xu Bao, feeling sowhat heartbroken: "He's still so young."
Qi Yun's expression was mild: "This is Master Feng being good to him. Having him write two pieces a day, if this wasn't assigned, I'm afraid this child could write from dawn to dusk."
Ye Jiao: ...
For other children, this wouldn't be true, but looking at her own Xu Bao's round eyes and thinking of how he usually never put down his books, Ye Jiao unconsciously nodded.
Xu Bao really could imrse himself in books and not co out.
The little fellow let Ye Jiao rub his hands, smiling happily as he asked: "Mother, I want to go find Grandmother."
Ye Jiao looked down at him, seeing through Xu Bao's thoughts: "You're hungry, aren't you?" Going to Liu Shi's ant eating. Though Xu Bao wasn't gluttonous at ho, at Liu Shi's place he never stopped eating.
Xu Bao nodded very straightforwardly, then buried himself in Ye Jiao's embrace, saying softly: "Let Xu Bao go, Grandmother surely misses Xu Bao too."
Ye Jiao touched the top of his head and said: "Take your afternoon nap first. After you wake up, Mother will take you there."
"Okay!" Xu Bao responded crisply and obediently let Ye Jiao carry him to bed.
Being young, although writing had made him feel comfortable ntally, his arms and legs were sowhat tired. Before long, he fell asleep.
Ye Jiao closed the inner room door and ca out to sit beside Qi Yun, seeing that Second Master Qi had already poured her a cup of hot tea.
Taking it to warm her hands, Ye Jiao could still faintly hear the continuous shouting outside and couldn't help saying: "Husband, it's rather too noisy outside."
Qi Yun took over the plate of pastries and pushed the sand cakes toward Ye Jiao, saying mildly: "Let them shout, it doesn't matter."
Ye Jiao reached for a piece of sand cake, saying: "But this will inevitably invite criticism from others. Besides, if this continues and wakes the children, that's not good."
Second Master Qi curved his lips slightly, his voice gentle: "There are no others around here. This area is all our own people. Even if they make a huge fuss, no one dares to gossip. But this kind of commotion is indeed annoying. Don't worry, Jiao Niang, it will be settled soon."
In Little Ginseng's heart, Qi Yun always did what he said. As long as it was sothing her husband said, Ye Jiao believed it.
So she stopped worrying and instead said: "Going back and forth with just those few phrases, it's not interesting at all."
Qi Yun's eyes remained on the account book. Hearing this, he said: "When it cos to arguing, even if they were tied together, they couldn't match one of the matrons in our household."
Ye Jiao glanced at Qi Yun: "The people we employ aren't specifically for arguing."
Second Master Qi smiled faintly: "Jiao Niang doesn't know, being good at arguing isn't a flaw, but rather a skill. In this world, anything done extrely well is a skill. Besides, being able to argue is inherently quite rare. Don't think only won can do it, n can too, just in different settings with different content. Taking a step back, the court matters that Third Brother usually talks about, aren't those also argunts? It all depends on whether you have eloquence."
With only one emperor, if you want the emperor to listen to you and not to others, then you compete face to face, citing classics and debating against many scholars, all to instill your political views into more people and persuade others, especially the emperor, to listen to you.
Don't think that educated people don't argue. When they argue, every sentence strikes at the heart, showing no rcy.
The pens of scholars have always been the most deadly weapons.
Ye Jiao didn't understand court matters but was sowhat curious and wanted to ask, when she heard it had beco quiet outside.
She couldn't help standing up to take a look. Qi Yun also closed his account book and stood up, saying: "It seems a guest has arrived. We should go greet them."
Ye Jiao went to get his fur coat and helped him put it on, while smoothing the fur with a duster and asking: "Who's co?"
Qi Yun reached out to hold Ye Jiao's soft palm, saying gently: "If Jiao Niang cos with to see, won't you know?"
Just as Qi Yun and Ye Jiao walked toward the main gate, Qi Zhao also brought Fang Shi over.
The two sides t at the gate, and Qi Zhao asked: "They left?"
Qi Yun shook his head: "Probably not."
Fang Shi tugged at Qi Zhao, saying: "You still don't know what kind of person Seventh Great-Uncle is. He won't give up without seeing results. Now that they haven't gained any benefits and haven't even t anyone, he certainly won't leave easily."
Qi Zhao nodded, frowning slightly, and was about to open the door.
"Wait." Qi Yun stepped forward two paces and said to Qi Zhao: "Eldest Brother, go have soone prepare so tea and refreshnts for receiving guests."
Qi Zhao was puzzled: "What guests..."
At this mont, the door opened left and right, and the main gate opened. Qi Zhao turned to look and saw the situation outside.
Seventh Great-Uncle had brought many junior family mbers, occupying quite a bit of space in the street in front of the gate. Those people had probably just finished shouting and were tired, with red faces and thick necks. In the bitter cold of the twelfth month, they were all sweating profusely, obviously having exerted themselves.
On the other side was a sedan chair, and a round, fat man in official robes was talking with Father Qi.
Seeing the door open, Seventh Great-Uncle's people wanted to crowd forward but were firmly blocked by Qi family servants filing out.
Father Qi waved to his two sons: "Co quickly and pay respects to the magistrate."
Qi Yun patted Ye Jiao's hand, letting her wait inside the door with Fang Shi, then followed Qi Zhao out.
Ye Jiao saw that the man in official robes was a stranger she hadn't seen before, so she held Fang Shi's arm and asked quietly: "Sister-in-law, who is that?"
Fang Shi covered her mouth with a handkerchief and said in a low voice: "Wasn't the previous County Magistrate Shi recalled to the capital? This is his replacent, Xu Cheng, Magistrate Xu. He's been quite caring toward our family."
Ye Jiao acknowledged and rembered this na, not asking anything else, just watching outside with Fang Shi.
Over there, Qi Zhao, Qi Yun, and Xu Cheng exchanged greetings, being quite polite.
Xu Cheng had t Qi Zhao before, but this was his first ti seeing Qi Yun. He looked him over with smiling eyes, unable to hide his surprise.
Actually, before taking office, he had inquired about the local gentry and wealthy households, naturally hearing about the Qi family's reputation.
Not only because the Qi family was the wealthiest household for miles around, but also because the three sons of the Qi family were each outstanding in their own way.
The eldest son was loyal and steady, the second son was extrely wealthy, and the third son was an official at court.
The three young masters had chosen three different paths, yet all walked them smoothly.
Speaking of future official prospects, naturally Third Master Qi had the most promising future. He was a Third-Place Scholar who passed the imperial examination, a literary star with unlimited prospects.
But the one who truly had a significant relationship with Xu Cheng was Second Master Qi.
Not to ntion anything else, just the fact that nearly half the businesses in the city were Qi Yun's properties was enough to make Xu Cheng look at Qi Yun with new respect. Moreover, during the handover, Shi Tianrui had specifically instructed him that the Qi family had a different status, so he was naturally extra cautious.
This ti Xu Cheng ca because Tie Zi had reported the news. For other families, County Magistrate Xu wouldn't bother making such a trip, but when the Qi family had trouble, he imdiately took a sedan chair and ca.
Seeing Qi Yun, Xu Cheng stroked his beard with a kind smile: "I've long heard that Second Master Qi is elegant and refined, with a golden touch in business. Seeing you today, you're indeed extraordinary."
Although he said this, Xu Cheng still felt sowhat awkward inside.
After all, he was the county magistrate, and being called here without reason, even knowing the Qi family was different, he still felt so resentnt.
Qi Yun lowered his eyes and replied: "Magistrate Xu is too kind." Then Qi Yun looked at Xu Cheng and said gently: "It was presumptuous of to ask Magistrate Xu here today, but so matters are better discussed face to face with you."
Hearing this, Xu Cheng put away his smile and said: "Second Master, please speak directly."
Qi Yun nodded, his voice calm: "Returning ho this ti, my convoy ca from the west, but I saw that the river could only be crossed by ferry, with no bridge or road construction. I privately thought that if we could build a bridge, it would be better than waiting for the ferry boat each ti."
Hearing this, Xu Cheng's eyes lit up.
Although he had heard before that during the flood, Second Master Qi had personally paid to provide disaster relief, hearing was different from seeing. Xu Cheng hadn't believed that a rchant would freely give his money to others. Now seeing it with his own eyes, truly witnessing Qi Yun wanting to spend money for the people's welfare, Xu Cheng was naturally pleased.
Qi Yun continued: "But I don't understand how to build bridges or pave roads. All these matters would need to trouble the magistrate to find suitable people to handle them."
Xu Cheng naturally heard Qi Yun's goodwill. After all, Second Master Qi had so much money he couldn't spend it in ten lifetis. Finding soone who knew bridge construction wouldn't be difficult.
Now he was clearly giving Xu Cheng half the credit. Magistrate Xu naturally accepted with a smile. That little bit of earlier irritation disappeared without a trace, and he smiled even more kindly, looking like a Maitreya Buddha with his white, fat face.
Seeing this matter was settled, Qi Yun stopped speaking and let his father and brother talk with Xu Cheng.
Seeing Qi Yun's humble attitude, Xu Cheng liked him even more, wishing he could grab Qi Yun right now to discuss the bridge construction. This was beneficial for the present and would bring rit for thousands of years, and it was also his political achievent. It was better to settle it early to avoid complications later.
While this side chatted more and more lively, Seventh Great-Uncle's side seed much colder.
Seventh Great-Uncle was old after all and inevitably had poor eyesight. Squinting hard to see, he said hesitantly in a low voice: "Over there... could that be Second Master Qi?"
A young man in a blue shirt standing nearby said in a hoarse voice: "Yes, that's Second Master Qi."
Seventh Great-Uncle fell silent, thinking to himself, how did this man co back again!
People who had gone to the capital should just stay in the capital properly. Why co back?
Coming back was bad enough, but he even invited the county magistrate over. Could he be planning to use the magistrate to drive people away?
The young man in blue obviously didn't have much courage and had many concerns. Seeing the Qi family and County Magistrate Xu chatting enthusiastically, he said in a low voice: "Great Master, perhaps we should go back. I'm afraid we won't gain any advantage today."
But Seventh Great-Uncle gritted his teeth, feeling the taste of blood in his mouth, yet still shook his head: "No, we can't leave. If we leave, both your brothers will die in prison! If I don't save my grandsons, no one will."
The young man in blue wanted to say that the cris they committed were unforgivable to begin with, but he couldn't disobey his elder, so he stopped talking and stepped aside.
Seventh Great-Uncle took a deep breath, had soone help him down from the carriage, gripped his walking stick tighter, then hobbled step by step toward Xu Cheng.
Before getting close, Seventh Great-Uncle dropped to his knees with a "thud" in front of Xu Cheng, his voice shrill and tears streaming: "County Magistrate, rciful official, please do justice for this commoner!"
Since Xu Cheng had his back to him and was wholly focused on discussing bridge construction with Qi Yun, he hadn't noticed soone approaching.
Now Seventh Great-Uncle's wailing startled Xu Cheng, making the fat magistrate jump. When he turned around, he was about to scold, but seeing it was a white-haired elder crying pitifully, he quickly went to help him up personally, saying: "Old sir, please get up quickly. If you have any grievances, please tell . This official will certainly see justice done for you."
Inside the gate, Fang Shi muttered quietly "relying on his age," while Ye Jiao was thinking that this magistrate was quite interesting, bouncing like a little ball when he jumped.
Seventh Great-Uncle seed to gain confidence from these words. After standing up, he wiped his face with his sleeve, held his walking stick, and began to criticize the Qi family's wrongs.
Qi Yun listened from the side, his face sowhat cold.
It was nothing more than saying the Qi family was unfilial, making an old man like him suffer, and so on. These words had just been shouted outside the courtyard gate, nothing new.
Qi Yun even thought that even fabricating accusations and complaints couldn't co up with fresh words, truly useless.
If they really brought out his family's matrons, they'd probably make him faint with anger in three sentences.
But what Qi Yun didn't care about, others took very seriously.
Especially County Magistrate Xu, whose face showed great difficulty.
Since Shi Tianrui had said before leaving that the Qi family was different from others and needed special attention, Xu Cheng had long ago inquired about the Qi family's affairs and naturally knew that the Qi family had long since divided their household. This Seventh Great-Uncle in front of him and the Qi family behind him weren't really the sa household.
Since they had divided the household and gone through official docunts, they were two families with no future connection, no ties.
But in this world, the law couldn't override human sentint. Blood relationships and family affection were always suprely important. Even if Seventh Great-Uncle's accusations against the Qi family for being unkind wouldn't hold up in court, if it really beca a big issue, it would still be troubleso.
Xu Cheng couldn't help but look toward the Qi family father and sons, saying: "It's hard for an honest official to judge family matters. This official is also in a difficult position. Perhaps you could resolve this privately? You should also consider the person in the capital."
This person in the capital referred to Qi Ming. Xu Cheng felt that with Qi Ming's bright future, there was no need to invite criticism because of a distant relative.
In this world, unfilial conduct was one of the ten unforgivable cris, very troubleso indeed.
Father Qi and Qi Zhao said nothing, both looking toward Qi Yun.
Qi Yun had long had a plan. Inviting County Magistrate Xu here was to have him serve as a witness.
Taking a few steps forward, Qi Yun said sothing quietly to County Magistrate Xu. The magistrate was startled and couldn't help looking at Qi Yun: "Could it be that golden plaque from before?"
Qi Yun shook his head: "Another one."
Xu Cheng's eyes widened, seemingly shocked, but soon recovered. Being an official, he understood the intricacies involved. With a half-smile, he glanced at Qi Yun, then straightened his expression and turned toward Seventh Great-Uncle.
Before the old man could ask, Xu Cheng smiled and said: "This official has just learned that the emperor, knowing the Qi family has strict family traditions and that the Qi parents raised their children well, specially bestowed a golden plaque as encouragent."
Seventh Great-Uncle was sowhat confused and instinctively retorted: "Wasn't that because they spent money on flood relief, so..."
"No, another one, just bestowed." Xu Cheng had just asked clearly and now spoke straightforwardly.
Then the guards sent by Ye Ping Rong carried out the golden plaque and removed the red cloth covering it.
"Vast as Heaven's Grace."
These four characters were extrely weighty, praising the Qi family parents' kindness as heavy as heaven, as vast and boundless as the sky, clearly stating that the Qi family was good in every way.
A properly official plaque for the Qi family, written by the emperor's own hand saying the Qi family was upright. Who could say a word against it?
Those who had been shouting outside nearly knelt down, thinking that they had just been opposing the emperor, feeling cold sweat almost soaking their clothes.
At this mont, Seventh Great-Uncle's heart shook, his face sowhat twisted, staring at this golden plaque with eyes nearly bursting from their sockets.
He just couldn't understand it. Did the emperor have nothing better to do? Why was he constantly sending things to their family!
This Qi family, just how many golden plaques were they hiding!
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