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Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 136

Chapter 136 - Don't Resort to Swords and Spears

The three generations of the Yun family fell into a profound silence.


They had always worried about outshining their ruler and had begun keeping a low profile years ago, yet even so, they would still meet with the fate of having their entire clan executed more than a decade later.


Looking across millennia of history, how many great generals, after achieving fame and success, died beneath the blades of the very monarchs they had faithfully followed?


Seeing those wrongfully killed generals in history books, they could not help but sigh. Yet upon learning that one day in the future, such a tragedy would befall the Yun family, who could accept it?


"Since it is confirmed that the events in Chu'er's dream will happen one day, our Yun family cannot sit idly by and await our doom," Yun Ze said in a low, steady voice. "Father, why not return our military authority and lay down our armor to return to farming?"


As long as they held immense military power, there would eventually come a day when their accomplishments would overshadow the monarch, drawing the Emperor's suspicion. That being the case, wouldn't handing over military authority prevent everything in the future from happening?


"The Emperor likely wouldn't agree," Yun Silin shook his head. "Before someone capable of taking my place can be found, the Emperor will never allow the Yun family to lay down their armor. Furthermore, smaller neighboring nations at the border constantly test our resolve. If I were to simply wash my hands of this and walk away, heaven knows how many ordinary people would suffer..."


Yun Chu gave a bitter smile.


Indeed, while the Yun family still possessed utility, how could the Emperor possibly let them go?


Yet once the Yun family lost its utility, many things would no longer be up for the Yun family to decide.


Stepping forward was difficult, and taking a step back was equally difficult.


The Yun family had been elevated to such a position—on the surface a brilliant tapestry of blooming flowers, but beneath it all, a blazing furnace was roasting every single member of the Yun family.


"Our Yun family has served in the military for generations, with countless male relatives dying on the battlefield, only to end up having all the women and children beheaded. It utterly breaks my heart!" Old General Yun said in a cold voice. "Since relinquishing power is not an option, then we must choose the finest tree to perch upon... Our Yun family was originally loyal only to the Emperor, but now we are forced to be dragged into the struggle for the throne. Eighth Imperial Prince carries our Yun family blood, so then—"


"Eighth Imperial Prince is far too pure and kind," Yun Ze shook his head. "Aunt also has no desire whatsoever to contend for the throne; why drag them into this mess?"


Yun Silin looked toward Yun Chu. "Did you dream of who ultimately became the Emperor?"


Yun Chu thought for a moment before replying, "In the dream, the Fourth Imperial Prince died, the Fifth Imperial Prince was crippled, the Sixth Imperial Prince was exiled, the Seventh Imperial Prince supported the Second Imperial Prince, and the Eighth Imperial Prince died... The position of Crown Prince in the East Palace hung by a thread, and the Third Imperial Prince was also suspected of plotting a rebellion... Who the final throne ultimately fell to was truly impossible to say, especially since the younger imperial princes were gradually growing up as well."


The expressions of everyone present turned somewhat grave.


If they chose to back an imperial prince, they had to choose with utmost caution. A single misstep, just like in Chu'er's dream, would lead to total ruin with every piece lost.


"There are still over ten years before the calamity befalls the Yun family, so why are you all wearing such gloomy faces?" Old General Yun let out a huff. "Keep this matter locked away in your bellies; don't wear it on your faces and make the women and children of the household worry in vain. There is still time after all, so we can slowly deliberate on how to handle it. With an old ginger like me around, rest assured, our Yun family won't just fall like this."


"We'll make dual preparations," Yun Silin stated. "I will cultivate someone capable of succeeding my position as quickly as possible. Yun Ze, you should secretly increase your contact with several of the imperial princes. Regardless of which one, test them out so that we may select the most suitable candidate."


Yun Ze nodded. "Father, rest assured; leave this matter to me."


Yun Chu paused for a moment before saying, "So Father, you still must make a trip to the southern border, is that right?"


She picked up the brush and ink from the desk, speaking as she wrote: "This journey to the southern border is fraught with extreme danger. After Father leads troops out in September, you will lose contact after two months, and when you finally return to the capital two years later, many things will have happened during those two years..."


The men of the Yun family had never made a habit of sharing court or battlefield affairs with the women. At such a critical moment, for instance, neither her mother nor her eldest sister-in-law was present here. The only reason she could be here was because she had experienced that dream, thus enabling her to participate in the Yun family's strategic decisions...


The reason she knew of her father's trials in the southern border was because one day, after her father had drunk heavily, he spoke in a fragmented, intermittent manner about the hardships of those two years.


"Father, you must remember a woman named Qiuxiang." Yun Chu pressed her lips together and wrote the name Qiuxiang down on the paper. "This woman is someone Father casually saved along the way, who then clung onto Father persistently. Later, she took advantage of a vulnerable moment to insinuate herself into becoming a concubine by Father's side. It was also because of this woman that Father was lured into Southern Yue and placed under house arrest by the King of Southern Yue..."


Before Yun Chu could finish speaking, Old General Yun raised his hand and dealt a fierce slap to the back of Yun Silin's head. "You still have the leisure to take in concubines? What kind of nonsense is this?!"


General Yun Silin, who commanded thirty thousand troops with majestic dignity, was currently clutching the back of his head with an aggrieved expression on his face.


For an event that hadn't happened yet and might not even happen in the future, why on earth was he getting slapped...


Yun Chu felt not a shred of sympathy for her old man.


When elders took in concubines, she as a younger generation wouldn't say anything, but upon returning to the capital, her father had never mentioned this matter to her mother. From beginning to end, her mother never knew that her father had been deceived so miserably by a woman...


"Chu'er, let's keep this matter among ourselves; don't tell your mother," Yun Silin said with an awkward expression. "Father promises you, as long as that woman named Qiu-whatever-xiang from your dream appears, Father will finish her off!"


Yun Ze remarked faintly, "Chu'er only mentioned it once, yet Father remembered that woman's name was Qiuxiang."


Yun Silin: "..."


Could they still have a proper conversation or not?


The family conversed for over an hour before finally discussing everything that needed to be said.


Once the serious matters were concluded, Yun Chu retrieved a letter from her sleeve and handed it to Yun Silin. "Father, please help me place this letter inside Imperial Son-in-law Liu's study."


Yun Silin furrowed his brows. "Why are you having dealings with Imperial Son-in-law Liu?"


Imperial Son-in-law Liu was the Eldest Princess's husband. After becoming an imperial son-in-law, he relied on his status as an imperial relative to look down upon many people, and his reputation was abysmal.


"This is a letter I wrote mimicking Marquis Xuanwu's handwriting," Yun Chu said in a calm voice. "To not keep it from Father and Eldest Brother, Marquis Xuanwu once humiliated me. By doing this, I intend to make the Marquis Xuanwu's Manor vanish from the capital."


The three men of the Yun family wore looks of utter shock.


Chu'er was a magnanimous and tolerant person; even when lacking-wit servants bumped into or offended her, she never took it to heart.


When certain young ladies in the capital whispered behind her back that Chu'er was unworthy of the title of premier beauty of the capital, Chu'er merely laughed it off.


Yet now, Chu'er wanted to make the Marquis Xuanwu's Manor vanish.


What on earth had Marquis Xuanwu done to make Chu'er resort to such ruthless measures?


Humiliation—what kind of humiliation...


The three grown men didn't know how to ask, nor did they dare to ask.


"Chu'er, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Yun Ze said after catching his breath. "Although I am only a seventh-rank official, remember this: I am the legitimate eldest son of the Yun family. Even if Father hadn't returned to the capital, I still have the ability to deal with the Marquis Xuanwu's Manor."


"I'll go slash him!" Old General Yun rose from the couch and picked up his long saber. "That scoundrel is called Qin Mingheng, right? He's simply tired of living!"


"Grandfather, please lie back down properly." Yun Chu pulled the long saber out of the old man's hands. "Why resort to swords and spears and stain yourself with bad luck when a single letter can solve the matter?"


In her past life, Imperial Son-in-law Liu's scandal involving debauchery within the imperial palace was soon to be uncovered anyway; they could just let the Marquis Xuanwu's Manor vanish along with it.

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