"Another Cao Cao in the making! He's going to use the Great Yan's downfall for one last scheme. If Emperor Mingxi finds out about this, wouldn't he be so furious he'd cough up blood?"
Emperor Mingxi: Heart aches, mouth tastes bitter, blood has reached the throat, but dare not spit it out!
[The first emperor of Great Wei, Sima Ying was the one who swapped the Bao family's granddaughter-in-law. He had long fancied Little Bao's fiancée, Chu Qiuyue.
Unfortunately, the beauty was already betrothed and had no intention of changing husbands. So, he incited his father, Sima Jing, to snatch the bride on the wedding night, an outlandish scheme to exchange the bride for an account book.
After obtaining the account book, he randomly picked a woman from his own harem who resembled Chu Qiuyue in stature and appearance, killed her, and sent her into the Bao household.]
"This man is truly ruthless! Those in his harem were all his concubines, right? He just killed one without a second thought?"
[All those women in the harem, whether bought or snatched, were just knock-offs of Chu Qiuyue. Now that he had the genuine article, losing a few counterfeits didn't matter.]
"Would Chu Qiuyue just submit to him like that?"
[She had no choice. If she refused, Sima Ying threatened to kill Little Bao. Given the Sima family's power and influence at the time, she had no choice but to believe him.
Chu Qiuyue had no way out and could only live on, bearing the humiliation.
Later, she secretly took medicine to make herself infertile, vowing never to bear Sima Ying's child.
According to the original timeline, next spring, Bao Qianjun would be framed by him for colluding with the Eastern Barbarians and plotting treason. The entire Bao clan would be purged.
All adult male members of the Bao family would be beheaded, and the rest exiled, conveniently ending up in Sima family territory.
To care for these women and children, Chu Qiuyue's desire to die subsided slightly.
Later, shortly after Sima Ying ascended the throne, at the peak of his triumph, she took his life, avenging the hundred or so members of the Bao family.
She then took her own life.
To protect her own natal family from implication, she even orchestrated it to look like she was accidentally poisoned due to her association with Sima Ying.
The truth of this matter wasn't uncovered until a hundred years later. Little Bao, that is, Bao Zihui, also became famous because of Chu Qiuyue's unique form of 'following in death'.
Their story was written into operas and plays, and the injustice suffered by the Bao family was also brought to light with the truth.]
The previously composed Old Master Bao swayed slightly. Yu Chongshan, standing behind him, promptly steadied him.
As someone who had also experienced the loss of his entire family, he could deeply understand Old Master Bao's feelings at this moment.
Seeing that it was Yu Chongshan, the little celestial master's grandfather, who supported him, Bao Yuanjun was overflowing with gratitude. He gripped Yu Chongshan's hand firmly.
Yu Chongshan patted his hand reassuringly, signaling him to stay calm. With a family like the Simas, even if they were the emperor's own brothers, he believed His Majesty would ensure not a single soul of their household remained.
For the stability of that throne, the number of blood brothers who had died by their current emperor's hand was almost enough to count on two hands!
Meanwhile, Emperor Mingxi, looking at the nearly seventy-year-old Old Master Bao who seemed on the verge of collapse, felt a flash of awkwardness cross his dark, somber face.
Their son was loyal to the sovereign and loved the country, yet his future self actually believed the words of the true scourge of the state and exterminated their entire clan.
If such a subject wasn't properly appeased, others watching would wonder who would still sincerely dedicate themselves to the Xie family's empire?
Thus, he said, "We shall do as Minister Ji suggested."
Considering that Cai Xian currently had the affairs of the four great families to handle, he turned to Wei Ping and said, "This matter, Minister Wei, you shall take charge, with the Ministry of Personnel assisting. Both ministers must pay attention to propriety and avoid wounding the hearts of those loyal to the throne."
On the surface, it seemed like a reminder to Wei Ping to be measured and not hurt Sima Jing's pride. But those who knew the situation understood this was His Majesty reminding the Court of Judicial Review to protect Bao Qianjun and the Bao family.
"Chu Qiuyue, truly a remarkable woman!"
[Master, should we help her?]
"How do you suggest we help?"
[Tell the Bao family to be wary of the You Tan organization snatching the bride.]
"The You Tan assassin organization is hidden so deeply, even the emperor might not know who their leader is. What excuse should I use to tell others how I found out they plan to snatch the bride?"
[Just say it's news your mysterious overseas friend—Little Pearl, that's me—overheard. What do you think, Master?]
"Master thinks... not very good. How would an overseas merchant like you manage to get news about a land-based assassin organization like You Tan?
Little Pearl, have you ever heard the saying 'different trades are separated by mountains'?
Sigh! Without my own people, even wanting to do a good deed once is so difficult!"
[Didn't your grandfather say the emperor has agreed that you can select a portion of the new army being formed to guard the cotton fields?
Won't those people all be yours then? I heard with the high pay, they've already recruited five thousand. After the New Year, ten thousand will surely be recruited quickly.
If not, hurry Huo Ying and Wei Shouyi along; tell them not to dawdle.]
The two men named by the divine artifact, Huo Ying and Wei Shouyi, inexplicably tightened their legs and stood straighter. They really were working as fast as they could. Because the military pay was high, they couldn't help but be pickier when recruiting.
With high pay and good food, if they didn't recruit the best, they'd feel they were letting down the funding emperor and the Junior Mentor.
Yue Fuguang glanced at Old Master Bao standing with her grandfather. "Maybe I should tell Grandfather and let him decide whether to inform the Bao family or not.
If I go and say it, what if they don't believe a child's words? Who knows how accurate an overseas merchant's information is?
However, since you've sent me so many things, my grandfather does have some trust in my overseas merchant friend."
Yu Chongshan nodded secretly in agreement. Yes, yes, yes. Who could we distrust, but we must trust the divine artifact!
[Master, your grandfather and Old Master Bao seem quite close. Do you think he'll invite the Yu family to the wedding banquet?]
"Little Pearl, what are you scheming now?"
[Hehehe, Master, we've been in this mortal world for over three years now and haven't seen how mortals hold weddings. Aren't you curious?]
"When my older brothers marry and my sisters marry out, won't you get a close-up view?"
[Your eldest brother still hasn't found a match, and your second brother was just tossed into Old Wei's military camp for training. Who knows how long we'll have to wait for their weddings?
Isn't the Bao family's wedding happening right now? How about we go join the fun?]
Some people's hearts stirred. The Yu family sent their grandson to the military camp for training... was there some deeper meaning or signal? Thinking of their own sons or grandsons who were hopeless at studies and caused trouble all day, could they also...?
Those with such thoughts silently glanced toward Wei Shouyi. Wei Shouyi: The military camp is not a garbage dump; too many would really pollute the environment!
Just as Wei Shouyi was planning to slip away as soon as court adjourned, they heard Old Master Bao address his colleagues loudly with a cupped-hand salute, "Gentlemen, please wait a moment. Tomorrow is my young grandson's joyous occasion. Colleagues, if you have leisure after court tomorrow, you must come to my humble abode for a cup of wedding wine."
Actually, many here had already received invitations from the Bao family. Yu Chongshan had one; the Old Madame Yu and Madam Zhang had even prepared gifts. It's just that Yue Fuguang didn't usually pay attention to such things and didn't know.
