Chapter 117: Confrontation in the Golden Hall
1Grounds for divorce (Seven outs) (七出之条) : In ancient China, there are 7 grounds for which men can divorce their wife, namely: disobedient to the in-laws, childless, jealousy, adultery, disease, theft and talking too much.https://collaborativechinesechat.wordpress.com/2015/10/15/7-grounds-for-divorce-%E4%B8%83%E5%87%BA%E4%B9%8B%E6%9D%A1-in-ancient-china/ This website is a good one that explain the grounds accompanied by a hilarious clip of court hearing for divorce
Chenqie: literal translation - your concubine, means "I"
Jiang Nan knew that Li Wei Yang would attack with full force, thus he has been controlling his temper all this time, but right now, his fingers seems to be stabbing into his palm, but he is unable to move due to being tied up, otherwise he would have already slashed at Li Wei Yang with his sword! He turned his head, angry to the core: “Li Wei Yang, you are full of nonsense!”
Meanwhile his father, Jiang Xu, was forced to press down his anger, crying injustice and kneeling on the ground, tilting his head to look at the Emperor to explain: “Your majesty, your majesty, this is just these two yatous’ side of the story, Wei Yang this child has always been narrowed minded. Everyone has always put filial duty first, rulers have used filial duty to administer a country, this is the first time that your loyal subject has seen someone complains about their principal mother in front of everyone. This loyal subject do not know why she has such a grudge against my family, originally I did not want to argue against this junior but what she is saying is too extreme, Bixia, you must not be misled by her!”
With the hat of not respecting the main mother, pressuring one until they can’t breathe, Li Wei Yang sneered coldly and said: “Bixia, Wei Yang of course understand the principle of filial duty! Ever since Wei Yang has returned home, I have been visiting mother daily to pay my respects, having never been late once! Afterwards, in front of grandmother (maternal) I have also said that Mother’s illness is serious and cannot be moved but you all insisted on taking her away, did you forget? I am speaking of the principle of human relations but Mother did not understand! Uncle (maternal), Wei Yang dare ask a question, showing filial obedience to one’s mother-in-law, is this not the principle of being a daughter-in-law? Is it not the responsibility of the main mother to raise the children born from concubines with kindness? It is not the duty of the main wife to treat concubines well? Forgive my frank words, but not only was Mother harsh to the concubines, but on numerous occasions, harmed Father’s offspring, even paying her respects to grandmother (paternal) was only occasional! No matter whether it is Bixia or the princes present, they are all someone who place importance on filial duty and offspring. Putting yourself in these shoes, I ask, who would dare to marry this kind of woman? Such woman, disrespectful of elders, unkind to children, excessively jealous, has committed the grounds for divorce1. For my Li family, this is a disaster that can wipe out the clan! For the palace, if the dynasty is unfortunate, then it would be a repeat of the disastrous end of the previous’ dynasty’s envy!”
At the end of Li Wei Yang’s words, Duke's Furen has already became furious, her face extremely red, trembling and unable to speak! Jiang Xu roared angrily: “Nonsense! Seeing that you are young and unlearned, I couldn’t bear to blame you but I didn’t think that you would be full of nonsense, slandering the Jiangs like this, besides, after speaking for half a day, it has nothing to do with the case at all…”
Li Wei Yang didn’t even glance at him and said loudly: “Bixia, every matter has a cause and therefore there must be consequences, it is precisely because my family has this rift that it caused this scandal! In reality, today Wei Yang went to the other courtyard to bring fifth sister to Doctor Lu for her illness, fourth young master originally wanted to kidnap Wei Yang for revenge, who knew that he would kidnap Fifth Sister by mistake, if it was not for Wei Yang and Official Yao reaching in time, fifth sister’s innocence would have been ruined! Not only this, fourth young master has been ordered by Bixia to reflect in isolation yet he is moving about and forcibly kidnapping an official’s daughter, this is no longer a family matter, this is violating state law! This is disobeying the royal edict!”
Jiang Xu has never thought that Li Wei Yang is actually so eloquent and immediately said: “Li Wei Yang! Whether Jiang Nan has committed wrong, Bixia naturally is clear on this, it is not up to you to cut in!”
Li Wei Yang looked at him and said slowly: “Uncle, no matter how glib you are, you cannot change the universal truth! The old adage goes: heaven, earth, king, family, teacher. King is in front of family, Bixia expanded territories, making great effort to create a prosperous society, a model of a wise ruler. The Jiangs’ are, at high, the center of the court, at low, hold the position of the general, yet you do not consider the relationship between the Jiangs’ and Lis’ and for selfish reasons, set up a vicious scheme to ruin a girl’s reputation, to trap me into disgrace! Not to speak of violence, but trying to manipulate his majesty into the palm of your hands, you don’t even understand the basic of loyalty, what gives you the right to speak of filial duty?”
The expression on the Emperor’s face is indistinguishable between happiness and anger, if the person is familiar with the Emperor then they would know that he is already furious. Jiang Nan’s actions, has in fact went past his bottom line!
Jiang Nan scrambled to his feet, the anger in his voice seems to be reaching the roof: “Li Wei Yang, you’re making irresponsible remarks! Full of nonsense! You are framing us! When have I manipulate Bixia, I was just….” He could not speak further, he is supposed to be reflecting in isolation yet was captured by people at this time, even more with unrebuttable evidence!
Yao Chang Qing immediately thundered: “Bixia is in front, kneel!”
Jiang Nan didn’t care, he only use his eyes as if devouring someone to look at Li Wei Yang.
“Fourth young master, you only think that all the things you have done have been flawless without realizing that justice has a long arm.” Li Wei Yang said solemnly, “There is no wind tight wall in this world! My fifth sister has been staying at the other courtyard all this time and have never met you once, this can be proved by everyone in the Li’s! Since you have never met, how can there be a relationship! At that time, the boy in the medicine shop, the cart driver, your Jiang’s bodyguards, all saw with their own eyes that my Fifth Sister has entered the Jiang’s carriage, there is even a handkerchief left in the carriage, that is something that my sister always carries with her, if not for something beyond her control, how would she leave something of hers in your carriage?!”
Jiang Nan roared: “That’s because you framed me!”
Li Wei Yang laughed and said: “All witnesses have been taken into custody by Official; all under interrogation by torture, admitted that you kidnapped my sister! To say that I have framed you, doesn’t that mean that I have bribed the boy in the medicine shop, the driver and all of your Jiang’s bodyguards! Right, I also need you to send a carriage on your own to pick up a person, I also need to help you find a suitable place to commit a crime! That small courtyard, is your Jiang’s property! Most importantly, I need to convince my Fifth sister in order to use her chastity to frame you Fourth young master!”
Duke's Furen was already seriously ill, once angered, would trembled, mouthful of spit stuck in her throat, could only glaring murderously at Li Wei Yang, if she had the strength, the first thing she would do is have this wretch killed! Unfortunately she can’t even speak, much less realize her wish. Li Wei Yang however has a glib tongue, a tearful voice, her acting excellent, her ending devastation is beyond description, that even Li Xiao Ran stared at her in surprise, here, there is no place even for him to bring into play, completely none at all!
Li Wei Yang looked at the Emperor and said: “Bixia, although Jiang fourth young master has merits, his morality is corrupted, conceited and contemptuous, not respectful to Bixia, he is a very dangerous person, Bixia, please punish him heavily!”
Hearing the last words, Duke's Furen pressed a hand on her chest, spat out a mouthful of blood, grievously screeched a single “wretch” then fainted. Jiang Xu could care less about maintaining his composure in front of the emperor and rushed to catch Lao Furen, crying in anguish.
The Emperor looked at all of this in shock, the Crown Prince and all princes are also in disbelief, Duke's Furen has spat blood?
Li Wei Yang coughed slightly, Li Chang Xi immediately understood and immediately said: “Bixia, it is true that this loyal subject’s daughter has been dragged into this because of third sister, but every words and sentences uttered by my sister today are for the sake of seeking justice for me, therefore I cannot watch her bear being cursed at for me, didn’t uncle (maternal) and grandmother said that fourth young master and I have feelings for each other, this loyal subject’s daughter is willing to die in order to prove my innocence!” having said this, she quickly ran towards that pillar to smash into it, everyone present was frozen in place, Yao Chang Qing has been paying attention to her expression the entire time, seeing that the situation is not good, immediately ran over to stop her!
At the critical time, Yao Chang Qing caught her and sat her down on the floor, Li Chang Xi was still sobbing. Although Yao Chang Qing is stringent, after all he is a man, there is some pity in his annoyance, his tone was still severe: “To kill one self in the palace is a big crime, how can you be so pessimistic, that you dare to kill yourself in front of Bixia, unafraid of adding to the bad air of the palace!”
Li Chang Xi wore only a plain long white skirt, originally wearing a thick layer of powder covering the scar on her face, it was obvious that there is no blood colour to the face. Choking with tears, she announced to the world pitifully that she was plucked from the gate of the underworld. She spoke sobbingly: “Please forgive me Bixia, this loyal subject’s daughter did not intend to offend, it’s just that uncle and his family are going too far! This loyal subject’s daughter’s words carry little weight, my life is thin like paper, aside from using death to prove my innocence, what else can I do?”
For her to remain in the other courtyard, it is the road to death, the opportunity that Li Wei Yang gave her is just this once, she has to catch it! The Jiangs want to forced her to admit that she and Jiang Nan has feelings for each other, then she has to become a concubine! No! She does not want to be a concubine! Li Chang Xi glanced shyly at Yao Chang Qing, a look of fragility, causing Yao Chang Qing’s heart to become soft.
He has buried three wives, all who are bold and strong women, all because everyone said his life is hard, only a woman like that can withstand it, but seeing Li Chang Xi like this today, a pitiful, weak and helpless young miss, a different feeling appears in his heart…
Li Wei Yang’s face carry an expression of sorrow: “Fifth sister, if you demean yourself and easily take your own life, then aren’t you failing father’s love for you? Put your heart at ease, Bixia will give you justice, why do you need to hurt yourself like this?!”
Li Chang Xi cried even more desolately, everyone else looked at each other, this pair of sister, one coaxes, one coerces, naturally it is indiscernible strange.
Li Xiao Ran is the most curious one, this pair of daughters has always been enemies with each other, how could they be so in sync today, that he has no way of saying anything, not even knowing what to say!
The Emperor was shocked, just as he was about to say something, he saw the cold jade bead curtain at the main hall’s entrance flashed, Consort Lian walked in gracefully. She let the maid take off her cape, her voice cold: “If chenqie was Miss Li, hearing these kinds of gossip, I would also be pessimistic. Such a good maiden and have not offended anyone, yet being turned into someone who has an affair, how many maidens in this world can handle this.”
Jiang Nan turned his head fiercely and roared: “Your highness! Please watch your words!”
Consort Lian let out a fearful expression: “Bixia… chenqie is afraid…”
The Emperor shouted angrily: “Jiang Nan! You are simply unrepentant!”
Jiang Xu hurriedly kneeled and begged for leniency, even Jiang Hai who didn’t dare to say a word before is also kowtowing furiously, yet the Emperor coldly said: “Your son has disobeyed the royal edict, forcibly kidnapping an official’s daughter, it is a grave offence and accordingly should be executed! Take him away!” He has already tolerated the Jiangs once, he cannot tolerate them a second time! Forcibly kidnapping Li Chang Xi is the second, letting Jiang Nan stay home and reflect yet he is running all over, not putting any importance on his royal edict! No, perhaps it is more accurate that the Jiangs has not put him as Emperor in their eyes at all!
Jiang Nan haven’t even oppose yet and he was already forcibly led away by the guards.
Li Xiao Ran spoke slowly: “Bixia, this incident…” as if he was going to plead for leniency.
The Emperor said coldly: “Whoever plead for leniency, would be punished as well!” While the Emperor’s word was cold, his gaze is sharp, but when he turned to Jiang Xu’s face, it forced cold sweat out of his face.
Yao Chang Qing glanced at Li Chang Xi, his face full of pity and said: “Bixia, this incident involved Miss Li’s reputation…”
The Emperor said warmly: “Miss Li has been wronged. It’s just that…” Sentencing Jiang Nan to death, Li Chang Xi would still have to commit suicide or live a life of nunnery in a temple…
Li Wei Yang glanced at Consort Lian, the other person immediately smiled and said: “Bixia, everyone always say a hero saves a beauty, isn’t there a marriage prospect in front of you?”
The Emperor glanced at Yao Chang Qing, nodded and said: “Indeed so, Chang Qing, are you willing to take her as main wife?”
A women who has been forcibly kidnapped, instead of committing suicide or becoming a nun, there is still another choice, that is in a situation where she has been saved in the nick of time, she can choose to marry her savior. However, the savior has to be willing. Even though Li Wei Yang forced her way first to save the person, but the capital administrator is the second person to arrive, pushing it, can also count as a hero saving a beauty.
Yao Chang Qing glanced at Li Chang Xi’s earnest gaze, his heart hesitating, in the end, unable to bear letting such a young maiden turn into a corpse, nodded and said: “Your loyal subject obey your edict.”
Poor Yao Chang Qing, how could he have thought that from the very beginning Li Chang Xi was aiming for him? Of course, in Li Chang Xi’s heart, she has certainly thought about becoming a concubine to the Jiangs, but marrying in using this manner, what kind of ending would she have? Even though she is not clever, she is not so dumb that she would send herself into the net. Besides, if she changed Li Wei Yang’s script on her own, she wouldn’t even know what kind of tortuous ending she will fall to, she is not that stupid!
Jiang Xu cannot care about Jiang Nan now, his face full of pain, he said: “Bixia, please allow this loyal subject to leave.”
The Emperor glanced at the unconscious Duke's Furen and said lightly: “With such a son, it is the bad fortune of the family.” He felt that the Jiangs wanted to kidnapped Li Wei Yang in order to take revenge, who knew that they would have kidnapped the wrong person, completely ignoring his edict, this kind of family is too arrogant!
Jiang Xu and Jiang Hai took Duke's Furen away, the Lis also took their leave, after the Crown Prince left the hall did he let out a breath and said: “Luckily I did not plead for leniency on the Jiang’s behalf, otherwise even I would be scolded by Imperial father!” All of the princes are here today because of this matter, in the end, not one of them could say a word, all just becoming wooden pillars for two hours, it is too fantastic, even if you say it, no one will believe it!
Tuoba Zhen who was watching the play from start to finish, said: “Royal brother, have you experienced that greatness of Li Wei Yang?”
The Crown Prince shook his head and said: “I have never seen such an overbearing yatou! It’s really…” He can’t think of a word to describe it, this yatou is more malicious than his imperial mother, just now it is not because he doesn’t want to say anything, it’s intuitively wanting to avoid her attack, no, instead it should be said that he cannot even insert a single sentence in. Most importantly, this yatou is insistent that Jiang Nan is disloyal and not filial, disobeying the royal edict, this is the reason why Bixia wanted his life, the Crown Prince said heavily: “In this incident, do you think there will still be a twist?”
Tuoba Zhen shook his head: “You know Imperial father’s attitude, four years ago, fourth royal uncle’s grandson committed a wrong, Imperial father has ordered him killed, even forcing fourth royal uncle to express gratitude for favour, the Dowager Empress pleading for leniency was of no use…” the implications behind these words, this Emperor is stringent ruler, he definitely would not forgive those who wronged him.
Tuoba Yu looked at the direction Li Wei Yang left and lightly shook his head, risky, this time, this yatou took a big risk!
Because Li Chang Xi’s filial mourning period has not passed, therefore Yao Chang Qing promised to come ask for marriage after three years have passed, Li Xiao Ran is not afraid that he will change his mind, even though Li Chang Xi’s looks has a blemish and is of concubine born, but no outsiders know of the last incident, she is still a daughter of the Prime Minister, he is already a man who already buried three wives, what is there to be picky about? For Li Chang Xi, this is a marriage arrangement that is more than satisfactory, of course as long as her life is lucky enough. Deeply, Li Xiao Ran know that today’s incident has already become a big rip that cannot be repaired between the Lis and the Jiangs, he could not blame Li Wei Yang, he is busy having to explain the situation to Bixia, therefore he remained in the palace.
Li Chang Xi still has to return to the other courtyard to recuperate, when she made this request, Li Wei Yang looked at her in surprise, Li Chang Xi looked back at her coldly and said: “Today, I am not helping you, I am helping myself! Besides, if I return to the Li manor, it is most likely that you would harm me again, I don’t want to see you ever again!”
The tone of her voice, revealed a hint of fear, it is obvious that she has been scared by Li Wei Yang today in the main hall.
Li Wei Yang smiled slightly, not a bit fazed and said: “As long as you don’t come to trouble me, of course I will treat you as a good sister.”
Li Chang Xi, hearing the warmth in her voice, couldn’t help shivered and turned her head to leave, in this lifetime, she does not want to see this person ever again! Too scary! She is simply a demon! No, if caught in her sight, it is ten thousand times scarier than being haunted by the devil!
Li Wei Yang watched as Li Chang Xi entered the carriage without looking back, smiled slightly and said: “Seen enough, still not coming out?”
Li Min De appeared from the side door of the palace and said laughingly: “Letting her off so easily?” To speak the truth, he doesn’t want to give Li Chang Xi such a good marriage prospect.
“You feel that I would forgive her?” Li Wei Yang looked back and said smilingly, “Marriage is one’s own, after marrying over, it does not necessarily mean there will be good days, if she doesn’t restrain her temper and nature, would Official Yao bear with her? Therefore, good days or bad days, it all depends on her ability; of course, the heavens need to give her a strong enough life.” Yao Chang Qing’s life of burying wives, it is definitely real, moreover, his temper is not very good. But this road, is chosen by Fourth Yiniang and Li Chang Xi herself, they cannot blame anyone else.
“I’m thinking, I understand why you chose her, it is to let the Lis and Jiangs completely break apart?”
“This is not simply a matter of fighting until breaking apart, I think, right now the Jiangs not only hate me to death, but they also hate my father, this is the consequence of him having a foot in two boats.” Li Wei Yang smiled, her smile is one third mockery.
Li Min De’s smile under the sun is extremely beautiful, “Putting Jiang Nan to death, have you achieved your goal?”
Li Wei Yang smiled slightly: “What do you think?”
Her goal, has never been just targeting Jiang Nan, but rather this incident will bring up a string of disastrous consequences, of course, the Jiangs at the moment have not noticed this at all, when they do think of it, it would already be too late…
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Translator: Angela
Editor: Erica
Next: Chapter 118 Part 1
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