Who Cares

Who Cares – Chapter 71

Chapter 71 Release From Prison

 

Old Master Guan and Guan Father each took their disciples to travel around townships and counties, vigorously publicizing the benefits of revising the law, with the emperor personally set an example and solved the doubts, a disaster that could have burned the entire Wei Kingdom was extinguished in an instant. The people who spread rumors behind the scene were all arrested, the common people were assigned to the frontier, the officials were dismissed and investigated, and Prime Minister Wang’s faction, which was already weakened, suffered another round of heavy blows.

On this day, Old Master Guan and Guan Father returned to the capital after finishing their errands. Before they could step into the house, they were summoned by the emperor and entered the palace to make a report.

“These days, it’s all thanks to the Emperor Teacher and Chief of Ceremonies to appease the hearts of the people, promote the country’s law, and work hard to make great contributions. Since Zhen ascending the throne, every time there was a problem, always relies on the Emperor Teacher and Chief of Ceremonies to work out strategies for Zhen and the gratitude in Zhen’s heart is indescribable. Hope in the future monarch and subjects will be united and create prosperous world together. These three cups of wine Zhen will drink first as a respect. Emperor Teacher, Chief of Ceremonies, please.”

Emperor Sheng Yuan drank three cups in a row, and then stopped the old man who wanted to drink with him, worried that he would hurt his body by drinking too much, then he had no face to explain to Madam. Chief of Ceremonies was good wine, a thousand cups would not drunk, so he actually have a good drink with him. Although he was unable to marry Madam, in his heart, he had already recognized her as his wife, so he naturally treated the two elders with the courtesy of Mount Tai*, and was extremely respectful in both words and deeds.

Old Master Guan had a low alcohol tolerance, and he was tired from the journey, only had half a cup of slow drink, and he was a little overwhelmed. He was helped by two palace maids to rest in the inner hall. While pouring wine for the emperor, Guan Father secretly looked at his spirit, and the more he looked at it, the more satisfied he became. He could never have imagined that this ignorant emperor could grow to such a level in such a short period of time.

Before this, he was also thinking about the trick of “challenging the law”, but it was quite dangerous. First, it might cause mob of people to attack. Second, it was possible to attract the assassination from the remnants of the previous dynasty. If something goes wrong it would speed up the collapse of Wei Kingdom, then it would be self-defeating, so it had to be calculated repeatedly to ensure that it was foolproof. When he was still brewing and was about to raise a suggestion, the emperor actually realized this truth himself, and practiced it without hesitation. And the local officials who were supposed to be under great pressure, they got out of the predicament in an instant and quelled the people’s grievances .

It should be said that this person had only studied the culture of the Central Plains for two or three years, but already mastered to this point, he was indeed a natural Heavenly Emperor, really made people admire.

Thinking like this, Guan Father sighed, “Your Majesty is wise and decisive, with extremely high comprehension. This time, can calmed down the whole country without spending a single soldier, and solved the danger of the country’s subjugation. Within five years, afraid there is nothing else this minister and his father can teach you. This world truly belongs to the emperor, others say a hundred sentences, also not as good as a word from the monarch. Therefore, the emperor either does not open his mouth, or when he opens his mouth, his word are powerful and resonating, with power to carry the Nine Tripod Cauldrons*, which is the honor of the emperor and cannot be broken. Although the emperor was born in the wilderness, but when this minister look at this moment, you already have a mighty dragon power and a magnificent purple energy, and in the future will be the Holy Monarch of this whole generation.”

Madam also said this, and it made Emperor Sheng Yuan so embarrassed that he did not dare to look up, but his heart was full of joy and excitement. How was this his credit for quelling the chaos this time? It was clearly Madam’s idea, but he didn’t dare to confess to the two elders. After thinking about it, he said seriously, “People in the Central Plains have a saying that learning is endless. If we’re talking about learning, Zhen has not even reach Emperor Teacher and Chief of Ceremonies’ skin and hair*, so how dare be proud of one’s achievement? This time quelling the chaos was guide by an expert, and Zhen just did what was told.”

“Oh? Which expert is it? Can the emperor introduce him to this minister?” Guan Father’s eyes lit up.

Emperor Sheng Yuan felt bitter in his mouth, waved his hand and said, “Zhen thought of her day and night, however she and Zhen do not share the same heart. Zhen will introduce her to Chief of Ceremonies in the future when Zhen take her by my side.” (T/N: in case you don’t know she and he in mandarin are different character but they sound the same, so unless you know the context you can’t differentiate just from hearing them)

Guan Father understood it very well and comforted him, “Most of the talented people in the world are arrogant and aloof. They don’t care about the burden of position and wealth, and they can’t give up the fun of idle clouds and wild cranes*. The emperor must not be in a hurry to seek success, but have to the other with sincerity and slowly impressed, that is the best method.”

Treat the other with sincerity and slowly impressed, Emperor Sheng Yuan chewed these eight words, and couldn’t help but cheer up. The monarch and the minister chatted for another half an hour, the they said goodbye after Old Master Guan sobered up. As soon as the two Mount Tai were sent away, Emperor Sheng Yuan disguised himself and went out of the palace in plain clothes, because today was the day when Zhao Luli was released from prison, and Madam would definitely go to the Heavenly Prison to meet him.

—-

After the civil unrest subsided, the case of Ye Quanyong was put on the agenda again, and within three days, the truth was sorted out and reported to the imperial court, each of which was to be punished. Most of the male members of the Ye family were beheaded, and the children were to be exiled for 3,000 miles. Among the womenfolk, Song shi and Liu shi were guilty of serious crimes and were sentenced to beheaded, and the rest were demoted to untouchable status* and sent to the border to become labor for the army.

The Zhao family was stripped off their title and demoted to the commoner. To outsiders, it might be a tragic ending, but to Zhao Luli, it was equivalent to a redemption. This title, this brocade garment and jade food, glory and wealth, were all obtained by selling out his ex-wife. When it held it scald the hand, it would be more comfortable to just throw it away, so he didn’t care.

As a result, after spending more than a month in prison, he not only did not look haggard, but also became more calm.

Staggering out of the cell door, walking through the dark corridor, and into the brightly lit front hall, his eyes suddenly wet with tears and choked with emotions. It turned out that his mother, wife, and sister-in-law had already waited under the steps with the children, holding clean clothes, fragrant food and a few wicker sticks in their hands. When they saw him, they hurriedly rushed forward to greet him, comforting him.

“Mother, you have been frightened these days.” He shook the old madam’s thin wrist, thanked Ruan shi, and finally held Madam and the three children tightly in his arms and hugged them tightly.

“Suyi, I have let you down. Although I have no title, I won’t let you suffer any grievances in the future. If I violate this oath, I will be struck by thunder on the spot.” He buried his cheeks in his wife’s sweet and warm neck, only to feel that it had never been so peaceful, never so happy.

Those unbearable pasts and humiliating memories seemed to be far away from him. He had such a respectable and lovely wife, sensible and obedient children, and a family who would cross the river in the same boat. He had nothing else to ask for in this life.

Guan Suyi’s body was stiff, she was stunned for a while before she pushed him away and beat him with a wicker stick, “Apology don’t have to be said over and over again, it won’t show sincerity if it said too much, but like acting. You’ve been in prison for dozens of days, and it’s unknown how much bad luck you have on your body. Hurry up and stay away from the children. I’ll exorcise the evil spirits for you, later step over a brazier when we got home, and take a bath with grapefruit leaves at night and this matter will be finished.”

Zhao Luli hugged the children with one hand, and went to pull Madam with the other, with tenderness on the corners of his eyes and brows, “Alright, everything listen to Madam’s arrangement. There’s bound to be good fortune after surviving great disaster, and when the bad luck is gone, the blessings will come to the door. ”

“That’s right. Isn’t my son going to turn extreme sorrow into joy? Let’s go, go home quickly, I have asked people to prepare a feast, and our family will sit down and have a good meal to celebrate the reunion.” The old madam stared at the couple holding hands and laughed heartily.

There was a lot of joy here, and the whole family was happy, but they didn’t know that somewhere on the street corner, someone was watching this scene intently, with heart full of hatred and sorrow that was beyond words. Marquis Zhenxi just got his sister-in-law’s acceptance word and ended his closed-mouth mantra. At this time he was in very high spirits, and he couldn’t help but say a few more words, “Yo, isn’t this reattaching the broken mirror? Look at the two of them, one tall and handsome, the other with unparalleled beauty and character, when holding each other like this, it seems like a good match. Zhao Luli that guy was the best at pleasing women, otherwise he would have not charmed Ye Zhen, who has eyes above the head, and if he sincerely repent and try to make up for his mistake, afraid Madam cannot withstand.”

Emperor Sheng Yuan looked at him coldly, “How is your investigation on the Miao expert? Have you found any clues?”

“Guizhou is so big, and it is also a place where Miao people live, it’s extremely xenophobic. How can I get news so quickly.” Marquis Zhenxi waved his hand helplessly.

“Then hurry up and check it. If you don’t find any clues, you don’t need to come back in this life. Zhen will send someone to take care of your sister-in-law, so you don’t need to worry about it.” Seeing Madam being carried into the carriage by Zhao Luli, his already gloomy face became even more murderous, the palm of his hand pressed on the hilt of the sword, seemed ready to move. After he restrained it with great difficulty, the carriage had already driven far away. He used light energy (qinggong) to follow, and on the way, he happened to meet the womenfolk of Ye Mansion who were tied together in shackles and being pulled out of the city gate.

“Ugh…” The coachman slowly loosened the reins, slowed down the carriage, and whispered, “Madam, the Ye family’s criminal women is in front of us, should we avoid it or…”

Guan Suyi’s hand was held by Zhao Luli, she wanted to pulled it out but couldn’t, and her whole heart in a bad mood. After hearing this, she immediately said, “Stop and take a look.”

“Look at what, just go around!” The old madam was full of disgust. Ruan shi remained silent as always, but Zhao Chunxi and Zhao Wangshu achoed in whisper, “Yeah, let’s not watching, let’s go home soon.”

Guan Suyi lifted the curtain and said indifferently, “Master, you were the one who said you wanted to take concubines, these convicted women can be bought as slaves as long as someone is willing to pay, and now Ye Fan is here, will you still keep this marriage contract? Are you still saving people?”

Zhao Luli stared at her, suddenly smiled, “If I save one, what about the others? To redeem one person is twenty-two taels, my Zhao family is in great trouble, how can I afford it? Just as the so-called one liter rice raises a benefactor, a bucket of rice feeds an enemy*, if I only save Ye Fan, not only will they not be grateful, but they will hate me even more. If they kneel in front of the carriage and don’t let us leave and let others watch, then they will scold me for being cruel and ruthless. It’s better not to look, what remains unseen is deemed clean. Madam is right, I gave them a hand, but they stomped on me hard, the grievances have been cleared, and each take care of oneself.”

“Good, good, good my son finally wake up, we should cut off with their family clearly, so as not to be entangled in the future.” The old madam was greatly relieved and smiled.

Guan Suyi stared at Zhao Luli for a while, and then she said lightly, “Then go around, avoid it, and don’t let the Ye family see it.” She was now living freely and comfortably, why would she bring back Ye Fan, this troublemaker, to cause chaos? It was just to test Zhao Luli.

The coachman turned his horse’s head as he complied, and ride slowly along the dark alley.

Zhao Luli whispered in Madam’s ear, “My performance just now, is Suyi satisfied? From now on there will be no concubine, no “dead wife”, only you and I will as we live together and die together, inseparable until head turn white.”

Guan Suyi heard Zhao Luli spoke love words in such a gentle voice, not only was not touched, but felt extremely terrible, and wished to block his mouth and throw him off the carriage. If this fellow entangled her in the future, how could she live?

Emperor Sheng Yuan suddenly changed his mind after following them halfway. He turned to Department of Justice, found Zhou Tian, and ordered, “Go and redeem Ye Fan and send it to Zhao family with gongs and drums. In addition, You warned her that it’s alright to hook up with Zhao Luli, but she can’t hurt Madam, if she hurts even a strand of Madam’s hair, Zhen can save her from the quagmire, and Zhen can push her into the fire and water.”

No concubines? No dead wife? Live together and die together, inseparable until head turn white? It also depends on whether Zhen agree or not! What you owe Zhen will be paid back sooner or later!

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25 thoughts on “Who Cares – Chapter 71

  1. This emperor disgusts me more and more…he caused problems by treating one woman as chattel to be given at will, now he’s doing the same thing over again…two wrongs don’t make a right…

    1. My thoughts exactly. He took a liking to Suyi’s looks then casually gave her away to someone he suspected. Now he doesn’t know what his crush wants yet he’s pushing a concubine at her husband

    2. Yes!!! He’s sleazy, I don’t like him at all. He may be a good Emperor but he’s not a good man.

  2. Aiyo – this is very heavy handed. I can see now why many readers do not like the ML. I could say that this is borrowing a knife to kill someone.

    Clever but ruthless and bit of a scumbag villian

  3. With or without concubines, you former Marquis will be beaten if you try climbing Madams bed 🤨🤣

    Thanks for the chapter

  4. Lmao, even if you don’t like the ML’s actuons now, they are actually needed because Suyi doesn’t want to be entrapped by this “husband” of hers. The kids, she can forgive, but definitely not him. This lil drama caised by the ML is needed for her perfect escape

    1. Yup. I can see how Sheng Yuan’s move helped her tremendously. It will help her keep her reputation intact in the future and the children will listen and testify for her.. while I honestly think Zhao Luli will be seduced by Ye Fan’s trick that not only quite similar in look with Ye Zhen but similar “taste of seduction” 🤣. This definitely to open path for her 1) to get divorce later, 2) for payback of last life debt that Ye Fan owed her. I actually gasped in surprise that Sheng Yuan make this move. Because Suyi definitely still gonna send her maid Mingfang right? That former maid isn’t mentioned anymore but she is named as his concubine that is to enter the gate. Even as free woman now, she had to enter the gate since her name is already recorded into Zhao’s right? Same as Ye Fan.

  5. “….wished to block his mouth and throw him off the carriage.” I re-read and laughed at this many times. Redeeming himself won’t be that simple, I hope ZL realizes this.

  6. Los niños como quiera, pero Zhao Luli?? No, no, no, no, no, qué asco!! Hasta yo sentí escalofríos y se me puso la piel de gallina, no me imagino como Suyi ha de haber estado.

  7. I get why people are upset with the male lead but remember we’re thinking about this from a more enlightened standpoint. He only sees the female lead as a real person because he got to experience her as a person.
    In his experience, all han women have been like the “dead wife”. his sister is different, but our female lead is unique. Even her mother told her to play the white lotus part. Because that was what women did for a chance at safety and stability. The ml is not enlightened at all. He’s learning but it’s going to take more for him to not see women as commodities.
    All of society treats women as commodities during this time period. As FL said herself finding someone like her dad and her grandfather is darn near impossible. I would say don’t give up on the ML yet because he’s never had a discussion about the treatment of women with anybody. As much as he’s learned, I think it’s possible for him to be a better man. Right now he’s dirty Clay.

    1. I mean then you could say every asshole is just a man waiting for “enlightenment” as a grown ass 27 yr old man. Valid points but it is also a valid point for ppl to judge him for his current actions.

  8. I mean honestly although the Yu fan lady will help the mc avoid getting close to her husband (which she definitely wants), what is disturbing is that the “ml”/king did this bc he is unhappy for them to live happily….. Which is dumb bc he wants the mc right? But he’s the one who forced her to be with that guy. I mean he could also force her to divorce him but like he said earlier that would make him look “dumb af”.

    What is ultimately disturbing is that the ml/king has had control over the MC’s entire life (considering family and marriage is a woman’s whole life at this time) with all his decrees etc. I mean and now to top it all off he can choose for yu fan to join her family bc OF HIS WHIMS AND DESIRES. Like damn. I’m done with this guy. Very king behavior. But dull to read. Our girl deserves more than this. Like someone who will ask her opinion.

  9. This just prove my initial thought of the emperor and that is, he is undeniably egoistic. Also, does he really think Ye Fan really not cause harm to Guan Suyi?

  10. My gosh! This is disappointing especially the emperor. His so petty and manipulated. ZL is still the husband no matter what especially in that time of era. Let them cultivate their feelings, move on their lives, forget and forgive whatever they have. Gesh!
    Emperor, you think your the best for madam! Nah! Better create another character for the FL cause these two dumb male are no good for FL.
    Thanks for the chapter

  11. The men in this novel are disappointing. Not only he sent a horrible general when retrieving the Ye people and put the FL and her family and servants at risk, now hes sending that woman to be a concubine and really thinks she wont make the FL life’s difficult? What will he do when he finally achieves his goal and she figures out he has done all these things that affected her peace? Really hoping for a new ML to appear.

  12. I think some of the commenters above are used to the ideal male protagonist revolving around a female protagonist. As well as all the other characters. Yes, maybe he does bad things, but he is wrong in some things, I agree. But this Zhao man is even worse than ML. I agree that both men are not very good. But do not forget what era is described in the novel. Yes, and all these actions, mistakes, analysis of their behavior and recognition of their mistakes make the characters not cardboard, but alive. So for comparison, I think ML is better than Zhao, though not perfect. And I didn’t mind that ZhG was left alone. I think the novel is pretty good.

    1. This! There was no realistic way for the emperor to have known that Guan Shuyi was his love; it’s basically plot armor when authors make it so that the male leads immediately “know” that the female lead is special. And at the end of the day, Zhao Luli is the real reason for her suffering, not the emperor.

  13. So what if the Emperor is a scumbag? At least i would prefer him over Zhao Turtle anytime. That bastard is still thinking of living a bright future with Suyi after all the shit he had done to her? Dream on! If I was the emperor, I will add even more concubines to him so that she will leave him faster

  14. Okay, so how did the emperor hear what Lulli said to Suyi when he was whispering in her ear? That don’t make sense…

  15. Zhao sucks–he does, very hard, but the root of the problem here is the ML arbitrarily granting them a marriage edict DESPITE hearing that she and her family had already refused said marriage multiple times. The fact that the he willingly interfered with such matters without her parents/ or her consent is what i find bogus, cuz yeah you have the power to do so but you don’t have to. it goes to show the disregard for women at the time because he didn’t even ask why they had refused or wonder what kind of marriage they would have with only one willing party. and he knows Zhao is a simp, idc if he was trying to make it up to him, it shouldn’t have been done at somebodies expense. also Zhao can kick rocks because going over her head to request the emperor to force her to marry him is truly crazy. And the fact that she’s expected to be happy about it or that he expects her to play the happy wife roll when he forced her hand is what has been boggling my mind personally. like what if she loses her mind and says everything can burn, you don’t actually know her my guy, she could be a black lotus but hey he hasn’t proven to be in use of his brain so far so…. that’s where my culture shock is coming from but again i understand that this is how it went back then.
    that being said, ML played himself HARD by assuming he knew who she was based off what she said at that meeting and indulging literally every idiot around him too much. you reap what you sow. now you like her boohoo, SUFFER. Now if he were better perhaps, he would stop meddling in her affairs, but he’s not. i do hope though that she finds out he been a little too free handed in her business and i hope there are more consequences for him to experience for his actions. I WANT LOTS OF CONSEQUENCES.SELF-LOATHING AND SUFFERING on his part, that’s the best way to enjoy MLs like this who do too much.
    on another note it’s naive to believe that Ye fan will stick to their agreement, and if FL had actually liked Zhao then he would be hurting her anyway which is irritating for him not to realize. As a drama lover though i am here to witness the dumpster fire this is going to start and curious to see how Zhao has “changed”.

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