Chapter 92 Stones from Other Hills

Pan Yueqing didn't expect that when she arrived at the Marquis's Mansion near noon the next day, she would see Su Ruoqing kneeling with his back to the main courtyard, lifting up his robe. His back was straight, showing his pride. Pan Yueqing slightly frowned and ignored Su Ruoqing's embarrassment. She went directly to where Old Madam Zhao was. Although she had come at Su Ruoqing's invitation today, the etiquette couldn't be neglected. She still had to pay a visit to Old Madam Zhao and her eldest uncle, Su Jing, first.

Unexpectedly, Su Jing was already with Old Madam Zhao. She was standing under the corridor and hadn't had time to be announced when Wan'er took three steps at a time and covered her eyes from behind, "Guess who I am?"

Pan Yueqing was infected by the gentle and joyful laughter. The corners of her mouth also turned up as she said, "Sister Wan'er, where's your usual composure? Why are you so impulsive now..."

Wan'er knew that the young lady couldn't possibly blame her. She immediately let go of her hands and twirled around in front of Pan Yueqing. Although her steps were still not very smooth, they were much better than when she was festering before. Before Pan Yueqing could speak, she smiled and said, "Don't worry, young lady. There's nothing wrong with the bones, just that the skin is delicate."

Pan Yueqing nodded in relief. Just as she was about to ask someone to announce her arrival, Wan'er grabbed her hand and pulled her to the small garden. Wan'er said to Pan Yueqing worriedly, "This morning, the Marquis and the Third Young Master had a conflict over something. The Marquis severely scolded him and even wanted to drive the Third Young Master out. As you can see, the Third Young Master is now..." She paused, not daring to speak of the master's embarrassment, and her eyes were full of worry, "I think you mustn't mention the Third Young Master later..."

Pan Yueqing raised her eyebrows. She roughly guessed that Su Ruoqing and Qi Sian's plan had been exposed in front of Su Jing. She nodded to indicate that she understood. But when she greeted Old Madam Zhao with a beaming smile, she saw the servants dragging Su Ruoqing over. When Su Jing responded to Pan Yueqing, he had lost his previous amiability and seemed rather indifferent.

"Grandmother, Uncle," Su Ruoqing stood calmly in front of everyone without the slightest sense of embarrassment. He gracefully greeted Old Madam Zhao and then politely greeted Su Jing.

Time passed quietly in the strange and silent atmosphere. Everyone held their breath and didn't dare to make any sound. Only Old Madam Zhao remained calm. She gently put down the tea cup and sat upright, showing no emotion in her eyes and eyebrows.

Finally, Su Jing couldn't hold it in any longer. He swept his leg at Su Ruoqing, who had a calm expression, forcing Su Ruoqing to kneel on the ground. Su Jing pointed at Su Ruoqing and cursed, "Colluding with the tiger! Do you want to kill our whole family?!"

Pan Yueqing's heart stirred. She stood up and was about to excuse herself, but Old Madam Zhao grabbed her hand. The usually kind grandmother had a serious expression on her face, "Listen."

"What did I warn you about?" Su Jing took a deep breath and sat back in his seat.

"Uncle said that I'm not allowed to get too close to the princes, and I'm not allowed to get involved in the struggle between the Prince of Xiangyang and the Prince of Fu without reporting it," Su Ruoqing's face only changed color for a moment when his knees hit the ground due to the pain, but he quickly regained his calm expression. He looked down with a calm face and repeated, but it was obvious that he didn't really agree.

"Do you think this is just a struggle between the Prince of Xiangyang and the Prince of Fu?" Su Jing was trembling with anger, "This is a struggle between the northern aristocratic families led by the Shen family and the southern aristocratic families for the control of the Emperor! What are you? How dare you get involved in it?!"

Su Ruoqing's eyes flickered slightly. In Pan Yueqing's view, her cousin had something to say, but for some reason, it seemed that a word, a feeling of injustice, finally sank into his chest. He lowered his eyes and remained silent.

"Get out! Kneel and reflect on your mistakes! Starting from tomorrow, you're not allowed to leave the mansion!" Su Jing pointed outside the door, "If you dare to disobey, you'll be expelled from the family!"

This completely blocked Su Ruoqing's words. Su Ruoqing took a deep breath, somewhat reluctantly but helplessly responded with an "Yes". He slowly stood up, bowed slightly to Old Madam Zhao, who was sitting in the upper seat, and Su Jing, who was sitting in the side seat, then turned around and retreated outside the door. He skillfully lifted up his robe and knelt down.

Su Jing stood up not long after. He took a deep look at Pan Yueqing and then let out a sigh and took his leave from Old Madam Zhao. After Su Jing left, the figure of Su Ruoqing, who was kneeling outside the door with his eyebrows lowered and hands hanging down, came into Pan Yueqing's sight. She stepped forward and knelt down in front of Old Madam Zhao, resting her head on the old lady's lap. Just as she was about to plead for her Third Cousin, Old Madam Zhao raised her hand and put a finger on her lips. Old Madam Zhao slowly said, "Yue'er, Grandmother is asking you, what are you, daring to get involved in this life - threatening matter?"

Why? Pan Yueqing looked at Old Madam Zhao, whose face was still serious. Countless images flashed through her mind, including Qi Sicheng's false order of execution, Pan Miaoqian's complacent look, the cries when the Pan family was raided, and the injustice of the entire Dingyuan Marquis's Mansion being executed on the execution ground... Finally, it froze into the scene of the people being displaced during the ten years of war, with white bones exposed in the wild and no rooster crowing for thousands of miles.

Why? She wanted to take revenge on Qi Sicheng and Pan Miaoqian, to pay them back in kind, to personally break the wings that would help him ascend to the throne. She also hoped that the Northern Qi Dynasty wouldn't be plunged into war and that a new emperor who was at the mercy of the aristocratic families wouldn't be established.

"Grandmother, don't you think it's very unfair? Everyone in the world says that my father was lucky. He happened to be protected by the Dingyuan Marquis's Mansion and was favored by the Emperor. But among all the people in the world, only a few can have this meager status. Don't you think it's very unfair?" Pan Yueqing looked at Old Madam Zhao with sincere eyes.

Old Madam Zhao looked at her. She had just heard this answer from the quarrel between Su Ruoqing and Su Jing in the morning. She looked at Pan Yueqing and then at Su Ruoqing, who was kneeling upright. Finally, she let out a long sigh. She raised her hand and stroked Pan Yueqing's tender cheek, "This isn't something you children should consider. Yue'er, once you get involved, you'll be trapped in it. There are many people who want to change things. You don't know that even your father's luck is the result of the struggles of countless people. The price... is too high..."

Pan Yueqing nodded slowly. Of course, she knew that. In her previous life, when Qi Sicheng had humbly begged the major aristocratic families, she had felt heartache and unwillingness. But this world couldn't always be controlled by these people. She knew that in some ways, Qi Sicheng could be considered a hero.

But the more people who want to protect the Northern Qi Dynasty, the less they dare to raise the banner easily. She let out a soft breath and smiled, "Grandmother, I know all of this." But if some things aren't done, it will be even more difficult, and the world will be even more unfair.

She was tired of seeing this. She finally understood why Qi Sian had been assassinated. He wasn't opposing one person, but the established rules that had been in place for hundreds of years.