Chapter 206.3: Resolution
The Ruan family wasn’t an influential family for generations, and speaking of family background, perhaps can’t even compare with the Luo family, but they seemingly have been serving the country since the founding of Qi Yuan. And when it reached Ruan Rui Zhong’s time, they can be said to have reached their peak. The Ruan family was loyal to the ruler and loved the country, and Ruan Rui Zhong further took it upon himself to help govern the country. The person sharing his bed giving him countless green hats to wear, his daughter not his own, these things, in comparison, were already insignificant. He slid onto the ground kneeling, “w.a.n.gye, this subject is guilty, this subject deserves to die.”
(T/N: If I remembered correctly to be considered an ‘influential family for generations’ [世家] need to be in influential power for at least 3(?) generations, or 200-300 years.)
“Even if you want to beg for forgiveness, the target shouldn’t be the prince, right?”
Ruan Rui Zhong’s body slightly stiffened, “This subject is willing to serve w.a.n.gye like dog, like horse, asking w.a.n.gye to please have mercy.”
The information on those letters, more than half, were things that have gone through his hands. Although these were stolen by Wei-s.h.i.+, but Wei-s.h.i.+ was his officially wedded wife, someone he’s shared a bed with for twenty years. To say he knew nothing of what she did, never mind outsiders not believing, if switch with someone else in his position, he also wouldn’t believe either.
Once this matter gets prodded out, a crime of ‘conspiring with the enemy and betraying the country’, he won’t be able to escape from. That was as great crime punishable by seizing the family and exterminating the clan. This concerned the life and death of the entire clan. That’s why, that bit of damage on his own pride really wasn’t worth mentioning.
After taking the heaviest blow, Ruan Rui Zhong instead became abnormally clear-headed. His muddled head once again began operating. The situation at present absolutely didn’t allow for him to collapse in one stumble. If he doesn’t think of a way to turn around the situation, he will become the greatest sinner of the Ruan family. In the future, when he goes to the underworld, how will he face his ancestors.
No matter how stupid, one should still know this Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s true face. He’d long known about this matter, yet concealed it. And since he was aware of the entire matter, then everything all still had the leeway to turn around.
For him to continuously remain in the neutral position, unwilling to take a side, it was nothing more than the fact that he never really thought highly of those princes. Right now, he merely learned the tip of the iceberg of Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s unknown side, yet it already made him see the potential of reaching that treasured seat. In addition to him grasping his fatal weakness, with ‘the heavenly time, the earthly favors, and the right human conditions’ all gathered, what reason was there to not a.s.sist him.
“Ruan Rui Zhong, this prince acknowledges your capabilities, but with you like this, someone who’s about to lie in a coffin, who knows if one day you’ll really end up in one. Do you think you’re worth sparing the entire Ruan clan’s lives? The aspiring capable scholars of the world, there’s plenty of.”
Ruan Rui Zhong fell silent. He knew Li Hong Yuan’s words were true. Disregarding everything else, even for those currently serving in the imperial court, the ones that have secretly casted themselves under him in the dark, doing things for him, afraid weren’t few. All else aside, just his recent ‘sworn enemy’ Luo Pei Shan most likely was already helping him. Jin Qinw.a.n.g was his future grandson-in-law. a.s.sisting him, that was only given.
“The lives of this subject’s entire clan, in w.a.n.gye’s eyes, afraid are just like ants, but for this subject, there’s nothing more important, even surpa.s.sing one’s own life. Right now, w.a.n.gye is currently in the hibernation period. Rather than borrowing someone else’s hand to have this matter reported to his majesty, why not be magnanimous and let off this bunch of ants. This subject will risk one’s life for w.a.n.gye.
w.a.n.gye although can find countless people to serve oneself, once the position of the Head Cabinet Minister becomes vacant, it will inevitably be fought for on all sides. Even if the person to sit on that position in the end is deathly loyal to w.a.n.gye, setting aside the numerous troubles during this process, to want to adapt to this position and handle the affairs smoothly with ease, they still need a process. In addition to the other three cabinet ministers all having their own standings, to want to firmly sit in this position really isn’t an easy matter. So why not like this now? For w.a.n.gye, there isn’t any loss, and also reduces needless troubles and possible changes.”
“Already said the Head Cabinet Minister is a capable person, and it can be seen, not just in handling governmental affairs. This ability to flatter and persuade is also not bad.” Although from the start, he’d already intended on leaving Ruan Rui Zhong, that was still an opportunity that the other party needed to beg for, and not based on him turning over his cards, letting Ruan Rui Zhong control the deciding power. Moreover, the Ruan family right now, it was merely just that bit of bad reputation brought on by Ruan Fang Fei. To want to wash clean wasn’t impossible. In his past life, everything had all gotten exposed, but now, Li Hong Yuan has preserved his old face, and preserved the lives of his entire clan, look how benevolent he was.
“w.a.n.gye wrongly praises.” Ruan Rui Zhong replied without changing his expression.
That’s why, as a qualifying scholar official, what they cared about the most was forever just the family clan. Everything else, when not going against this, he can pamper, spoil, and cup in his palm, but once it threatens the lives of the entire family clan, everything else can all be abandoned, dignity, reputation, his own life, all in all. And it similarly can also make a body of ‘soft bones’ harden.
Ruan Rui Zhong’s current state of mind was also within Li Hong Yuan’s expectations. Because the impact Ruan Fang Fei and Wei-s.h.i.+ gave him were all within a small scope, as long as he doesn’t die in one breath, the possibility of standing up again in the end was more than ninety percent.
“Leaving you indeed saves quite a bit of troubles.” Li Hong Yuan wasn’t afraid of troubles, but one should save where one can, because that will consume even more of his energy. He was further willing to have this energy used on Wan Wan.
A trace of delight streaked across Ruan Rui Zhong’s eyes, “Many thanks w.a.n.gye. ———–Dare ask w.a.n.gye, how should this Wei-s.h.i.+ be handled?” This question was purely asked in a business-like manner, no longer mixing in any personal feelings. Just from the address, one is able to understand a thing or two.
“Keep her. Towards your body, she understands it the best, just let her continue looking after your health. You need to live a few more years in order for this prince’s deal to not be a loss. If she dies, alerting the people behind her, it’s hard to say that they won’t dispatch other people. Rather than thoroughly search for them again, it’s better to have the current one grasped in one’s hand. Can even let her pa.s.s on some things that this prince wants to let her pa.s.s on.”
“w.a.n.gye’s words are very much right.” Ruan Rui Zhong nodded his head, seemingly as if having this woman kept at his side wasn’t that suffocating anymore.
Another special characteristic of a scholar official was for the sake of achieving their goal, they are able to be flexible.
Under Li Hong Yuan’s signal, An Jiu entered, grabbing Wei-s.h.i.+’s chin, swiftly shoving a medicine pill in. Even though they’re keeping her, still need to have her threat reduced to the lowest. From now on, never mind using martial arts, she will just become a weak and delicate ordinary inner manor madam that will be out of breath from just walking a few steps.
“For every day Ruan Rui Zhong lives, you can live for a day.”
For the sake of her own life, Wei-s.h.i.+ will still go all out to maintain Ruan Rui Zhong’s health.
“These letters, gather them up and carefully look them over. Based on Sir Ruan’s intelligence, to want to definitively know who the people behind her are, presumably isn’t difficult. Ruan Rui Zhong, this woman will be in your hands, if you make another careless mistake, don’t blame this prince for having the old and new score all added together.”
“w.a.n.gye can rest a.s.sured.” All say ‘taking a loss, one grows in wisdom’. For Ruan Rui Zhong to have suffered this great of a loss, if still unable to control the wingless Wei-s.h.i.+, then he really did live several decades in vain.
“After returning to the capital, this prince will arrange a few people for you.”
“As such, there’s nothing more fitting.” Ruan Rui Zhong nodded in agreement without a second word.