Could it be...
Tang Shiliang noticed that Zhu Qianyi seed to understand and smiled faintly, subtly conveying the Emperor's intentions: "Lord Zhu, the Zhu Family has been through decades of turmoil, all because of the word 'treason.' If Lord Zhu does not clean house now, the tragedy from over a decade ago may repeat itself. So people, as they grow old, lose their clarity of mind. If you don't distance yourself from them in ti, you'll suffer greatly sooner or later."
The Emperor, out of respect for the late Empress, had already gone out of his way to advise Zhu Qianyi. This was as far as his benevolence could extend.
Zhu Qianyi was a talent cultivated by the Jiang Chief Minister under the Emperor's orders for the Crown Prince. It was only because of the Emperor's regard for past ties and his appreciation of talent that he had Tang Shiliang drop these hints. Otherwise, based on what Zhu Chongjing had said, the Zhu Family could have easily been sent back to the narrow alleys they had once struggled to escape.
Hopefully, Zhu Qianyi understood the implications and would return ho to thoroughly clean house!
All the hardships and humiliations he endured to lift his family out of those narrow alleys, all the bootlicking and groveling he had done—only he knew the full extent of it.
Though his current achievents were partly due to the Jiang Family's support, becoming the Minister of Works by the age of thirty was sothing he had earned through countless scars and sacrifices.
If the Zhu Family were to go through such upheaval again, he simply couldn't bear it. He wouldn't survive it.
The elders of the collateral branches had never cared. The reason they hadn't been bullied or starved in those narrow alleys was because he had risked his life working for the Emperor.
"Thank you for the reminder, Eunuch Tang. I know what to do now," Zhu Qianyi said, waving his hand to have the groaning Zhu Chongjing carried away. "Please convey to Her Majesty the Empress that the Zhu Family and I, Zhu Qianyi, are utterly loyal to the Crown Prince. There is no disloyalty in our hearts."
His only fear was that Jiang Xinyue might misunderstand, thinking that Zhu Chongjing's words reflected his own intentions.
Tang Shiliang smiled without saying a word, his attitude clear: as long as Zhu Qianyi took action upon returning, Her Majesty would believe his words.
The moon had quietly slipped behind the clouds, and the dark night sky was dotted with scattered stars. The officials who had attended the palace banquet had all left one after another.
Early the next morning, news of the Jing Family's relocation was overshadowed by the announcent of the Zhu Family's division.
The streets and alleys buzzed with gossip: "The Zhu Family is the late Empress's maternal family. Over a decade ago, they were implicated in a treason case, but Zhu Qianyi managed to turn things around and secure the Emperor's pardon for the family. For so reason, the Emperor has shown them considerable favor over the years."
"Isn't it Elder Zhu's family that's being split off this ti? I rember that back then, the Emperor showed leniency because of his advanced age and lack of involvent in the rebellion. He wasn't exiled like the other n of the family. Zhu Qianyi has always respected him as the only elder left. Why the sudden division?"
"You don't know? Zhu Chongjing is Elder Zhu's great-grandson. At the Crown Prince's birthday banquet yesterday, he reportedly spoke out of turn, hinting at inciting the Fifth Prince to rebel. The Emperor caught him red-handed, gave him a sound beating, and left him at the palace gates."
It seems the Zhu Family isn't as united as it appears. No wonder such a major split has occurred.
"Could it be what they said before, that the Emperor wants to depose the Empress and the Crown Prince, starting with those close to them?"
"Are you stupid? If the Emperor wanted to depose the Crown Prince, the first to fall would be the Jiang Chief Minister. But look at the Jiang Family now—they're the foremost noble family in the capital. And the Yan Family, connected to the Jiangs by marriage, controls the military. All the prominent families allied with the Jiangs are part of the Emperor's plan to pave the way for the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince and the Empress are firmly in place!"
"Exactly! Elder Zhu's family is being split off because they support the Fifth Prince's claim to the throne. The Emperor has no choice but to deal with them. This is clearly about clearing obstacles for the Crown Prince."
The surrounding crowd nodded in agreent: "Your explanation sounds the most detailed. You must be right."
The eunuch who had successfully spread the truth breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness...
The rumors were under control, and there was no need to worry about the common folk spreading wild gossip anymore.
"Zhu Qianyi, you ungrateful wretch! I am your grandfather's elder brother, the highest-ranking elder of the Zhu Family. How dare you expel from the family? Have you no sense of propriety or sha?"
At the gates of the Zhu Family mansion, an elderly man with white hair sat in a chair, surrounded by mbers of his collateral branch.
They all glared at Zhu Qianyi with hatred in their eyes: "If our ancestors were still alive, they would have beaten you to death for this betrayal! Have you beco so addicted to being a lackey?"
"Elder Zhu only acted in the best interest of our family. What did he do wrong? Don't think that just because you saved us from the narrow alleys, you're our savior. Elder Zhu is the one who truly..."
"Enough!"
A noblewoman in a dark green dress stepped out from behind Zhu Qianyi, narrowing her eyes at the troublemakers and sneering coldly: "The highest-ranking elder of the Zhu Family? A re branch family mber dares to claim that title? Have you forgotten your place after a few years of comfort? After my husband passed, this family has been under my son Zhu Qianyi's leadership. When did it ever fall to you branch family mbers to dictate terms?"
Since the late Empress and her husband had passed away, Lady Zhu had largely withdrawn from family affairs.
But last night, her son had confided in her, showing her the scars he had accumulated over the years while serving the Emperor. He had wept uncontrollably.
This was all her husband's doing!
Her poor son had sacrificed so much for the Zhu Family, yet that old man from the branch family always bullied him under the guise of seniority.
So she proposed dividing the family.
Those who wished to follow Elder Zhu in supporting the Fifth Prince's claim to the throne could leave the Zhu Family today. Whatever treasonous acts they committed in the future would have nothing to do with the main branch.
Whether they returned to the narrow alleys or faced execution, it was no longer their concern.
Lady Zhu, after all, was the forr matriarch of the family, and her authority still carried weight. Many of those who had earlier challenged Zhu Qianyi now fell silent.
Only Elder Zhu scoffed disdainfully: "You're just a woman. What right do you have to speak here? As long as I, the elder, refuse to leave, you can't expel from the Zhu Family. Otherwise..."
"Otherwise what?"
A robust voice rang out, and everyone turned to see the aged Marshal Yan, Commander of the Imperial Army, approaching with over twenty towering, fierce-looking soldiers.
Marshal Yan exchanged a glance with Zhu Qianyi before changing his tone: "I heard there was trouble at the Zhu Family gates. Nephew Zhu, who dares to cause a disturbance here? I'll have them arrested and interrogated imdiately."
Marshal Yan not only commanded the military, but his third daughter-in-law was also the Empress's younger sister. Did Elder Zhu dare to admit that he supported the Fifth Prince's claim to the throne?
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