Chapter 601
Qi Family Affairs
The Qi family carriage passed through Qipan Street in the twilight, its wheels making a clattering sound as they rolled over the bluestone slabs.
The magistrate sat in the carriage, turning to the side and lifting a corner of the curtain to look out. The streets were gradually emptying of pedestrians, and shops were beginning to close their storefronts.
The judge spoke up quietly from the side, "Sir?"
The abbot lowered the carriage curtain and looked back at him.
The court judge lowered his voice: "The Qi family hasn't allowed the imperial physicians to visit them these past few days, so why, now that they've woken up, do they want us to go to the Qi family? There's something going on here..."
The academy head glanced at him and said meaningfully, "We can't be confused; it's rare to be confused. We still need to see what exactly is wrong with Grand Secretary Qi before we can say anything."
The carriage turned onto Fuyou Street and slowed down. Fuyou Street was quiet, with high gray walls on both sides, from which a few withered vines peeked out.
Finally, the carriage stopped in front of the Qi family's house.
The servant led the abbot and the judge across the high threshold. They did not go to the Mingse Tower, where guests were received, but instead went to the inner courtyard.
Upon entering the inner courtyard's porch, the judge looked up and saw a plaque hanging above the doorway, with gold characters on a black background that read "Shou Zhuo" (守拙).
Further in, the two followed the servant across a long covered bridge to the second gate, where a plaque hung above the doorway, bearing the words "Cultivating Reputation".
Upon reaching the third gate, the judge saw the words "Ming Duan" (明断, meaning "wise judgment") written on the plaque above the door.
These were the three gates of the Qi family's inner residence. The judge stood there, momentarily unable to grasp their deeper meaning. He simply felt that the government office had three gates, and now the Qi family's inner residence also had three gates—why did they make their home look like a government office?
The servant turned around and urged, "Please hurry, gentlemen."
The judge snapped out of his daze and hurried inside.
Upon arriving at the main house, Li Xuan, Qi Zhenwu, and Qi Zhenzhuo stood guard at the door, with a small bamboo curtain blocking the entrance. A servant stood at the door and said, "Second Master, the Imperial Physician and the Imperial Judge have arrived."
The bamboo curtain was lifted, and Qi Xianzhun came out, sizing up the two men for a moment: "My lords, please."
His eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept well for several nights.
The academy official took a deep breath, bent down, and squeezed through the gap in the lifted bamboo curtain.
Behind the curtain was a small hall, simply furnished with a table, two armchairs, and several calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall. Grand Secretary Qi sat upright in the armchairs, his clothes neat and tidy, and he did not appear to be ill.
But upon closer inspection, the doctor saw that the other person was barely breathing, with very little chest movement and a face as golden as gold, clearly having just been pulled back from the brink of death.
Qi Xianzhun said from behind the two men, "Gentlemen, what illness has struck the old man?"
The judge bowed and said, "Second Master Qi, it's not clear yet; we need to take his pulse to be certain."
Qi Xianzhun suddenly said, "No."
The court judge was taken aback: "How can you diagnose an illness without taking the pulse? Even when you go to the palace to diagnose a nobleman, you have to take his pulse by thread."
Just as Qi Xianzhun was about to say something more, he saw Grand Secretary Qi place his wrist on the table: "Let me take your pulse."
That hand was withered and thin, with distinct knuckles, like a dry twig.
The judge whispered, "I'm from the Department of General Pulse, let me handle this."
But the academy magistrate glanced at him and said, "This old man will come."
The Imperial Censor walked up to Grand Secretary Qi, placed his hand on Grand Secretary Qi's wrist, and remained silent for a long time. The pulse was floating and weak, especially at the cun position.
Strangely, although the pulse was weak, there was still a sliver of life clinging to it. It was as if someone had used something to forcefully preserve that breath.
The abbot's fingers paused slightly; he had seen this pulse pattern before, at the Xu family's as well.
Qi Xianzhun asked again in a deep voice, "Your Excellency, what illness does the old man have?"
The Imperial Physician's fingers, which were resting on Grand Secretary Qi's wrist, twitched slightly as he slowly asked, "What illness does Grand Secretary Qi want to have?"
The room fell silent.
Grand Secretary Qi stared at the Imperial Physician for a long time, then said in a hoarse voice, "No matter what the illness is, I ask the Imperial Physician to do his best to treat me. I still have the Qi family to take care of, so I cannot afford to be sick."
After pondering for a long time, the Grand Secretary stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Excellency is simply worried about national affairs and has fallen ill from overwork. You will be fine after some rest."
Grand Secretary Qi nodded slightly: "The Imperial Physician's medical skills are superb. Zi Tui, see the guest out for me."
Qi Xianzhun lifted the bamboo curtain again and said to the academy envoy and the academy judge, "Please."
The abbot turned and left. Before leaving, Qi Xianzhun stuffed a string of Buddhist coins into his hand: "Abbot, whatever you say here, you should say outside. Don't ruin your reputation."
The abbot casually stuffed it into his sleeve: "I know."
……
……
In the main hall, Qi Xianzhun had just lowered the bamboo curtain when he rushed forward to help up the swaying Grand Secretary Qi, half-carrying and half-supporting him as he carried him to the bed in the inner room.
Grand Secretary Qi lay on the bed, staring at the bed curtains in thought for a long time: "Summon Li Xuan, Zhenwu, and Zhenzhuo in."
Qi Xianzhun replied in a low voice, "Yes."
He went and pulled back the bamboo curtain, calling the three people into the room.
Grand Secretary Qi continued to stare at the bed curtains and said softly, "Kneel down."
Without needing to be named, Qi Xianzhun and Qi Zhenwu knelt before the bed, while Li Xuan and Qi Zhenzhuo exchanged a glance, unsure of what to do. The old man asked in a hoarse voice, "Do you know why my Qi family mansion has three gates?"
Qi Zhenwu hurriedly replied, "The Book of Rites says, 'There are three important things in governing the world, and one should be free from mistakes.' This means that the three most important things in governing a country are establishing laws, establishing etiquette, and verifying written records. My ancestors built three gates in our deep mansion to instruct their descendants. The most important thing in managing a family is the ancestral precepts on those three gates."
Grand Secretary Qi asked expressionlessly, "What's written on the three gates of my Qi family?"
Qi Xianzhun lowered his head: "Be modest, cultivate your reputation, and make clear judgments."
Grand Secretary Qi asked, "What is meant by 'preserving simplicity'?"
Qi Xianzhun replied, "Clumsy sincerity is worse than clever deceit. When dealing with people, reveal seven parts of your goodness and three parts of your plans."
Grand Secretary Qi then asked, "What is meant by cultivating one's reputation?"
Qi Xianzhun replied, “Reputation is a public instrument of the world. If those who are virtuous are not recognized, the people will not follow them. If those who are virtuous are not respected, the people will not follow them. Without hope, there is no way to establish oneself.”
Grand Secretary Qi asked again, "What is meant by 'clear judgment'?"
Qi Xianzhun replied again: "Understand the advantages and disadvantages, and make a decision when the opportunity arises. Hesitation will inevitably lead to chaos."
Grand Secretary Qi sighed softly, so softly that it was almost inaudible: "So you knew all along. I thought you had forgotten."
Qi Xianzhun crawled forward on his knees, touching his forehead to the ground: "Father, I know everything, I just made a mistake for a moment."
This main house, where Grand Secretary Qi lived alone, lacked the luxury of Mingse Tower and the hustle and bustle of Qi Family Hanbi Mountain House; it was just a small, humble room.
Grand Secretary Qi turned to look at his second son, whose temples were graying: "You've achieved nothing by being naive and simple, and your scheming is written all over your face. You've failed to cultivate your reputation and have ruined the Qi family's honor. Now that you've fallen to this state, you should have killed your enemies to establish your authority, so that no one in the world would dare to underestimate the Qi family, lest wolves and tigers surround you, waiting to devour you... But you haven't done that either."
Qi Xianzhun lay prostrate on the ground, speechless for a moment.
Grand Secretary Qi turned to Qi Xianzhun: "His Majesty knows that among my sons, Qi Xun, only Qi Xianshu is capable of great things, so he transferred him to Jiaozhi, waiting for my Qi family to destroy its own foundation. I originally thought you lacked ambition and were good at maintaining the status quo, but I never expected that His Majesty would still wait for this day. Now everyone knows that I, Qi Xun, am seriously ill and the Qi family is weak, and we are also alienated from the scholars of the world. Zizhi is retired. Tell me, where should my Qi family go?"
Qi Xianzhun wept uncontrollably: "My son deserves to die."
Grand Secretary Qi sighed, "Your death is not a pity, but it cannot save the Qi family. Get up and speak."
Qi Xianzhun and Qi Zhenwu stood up and stood with their hands at their sides.
Grand Secretary Qi slowly instructed, "Qi Xianzhun and Qi Zhenwu should be removed from the family genealogy and return to Jizhou to farm. The remaining hidden properties in the capital should be handed over to Wu Xiu of the Directorate of Ceremonial."
Upon hearing this, Qi Xianzhun's expression changed drastically, and he rushed to the bedside: "Father, how can this be?"
Grand Secretary Qi struggled to sit up, looking down at his son beside the bed: "If my Qi family doesn't make a drastic decision, how can we win back the hearts of the people?"
Qi Xianzhun said in a panic, "My son has already given instructions that no one is to mention Li's Pawnshop..."
Grand Secretary Qi lamented, "You're being too clever for your own good. Trying to silence the people is worse than trying to stop a river from overflowing. You can silence one person, but can you silence the voices of all the people in the world? Cunning is no substitute for honesty. If you make a mistake, you must admit it. Only if you admit your mistake will people believe you will change!"
Qi Xianzhun stood there stunned, kneeling by the bed and looking up at his father.
Grand Secretary Qi looked down at his son and said, "Zitui, if you admit your mistakes, then those mistakes are your and Zhenwu's business. If you don't admit your mistakes, then they are my Qi family's business. I am nearing the end of my life and cannot protect the Qi family for many more years. I have no choice but to sacrifice the pawn to save the king. I also need you and Zhenwu to retreat to Jizhou. My Qi family should think about our way out. If we hide our strength in Jizhou, there will always be a time for us to make a comeback."
Qi Xianzhun lowered his head and remained silent for a long time before finally agreeing: "Yes."
Grand Secretary Qi asked, "Is Qi Zhong in the capital?"
Qi Xianzhun replied, "Yes, I summoned him to the capital a few days ago when I was dealing with the Chen family's illegitimate son."
Grand Secretary Qi waved his hand: "Go, summon Qi Zhong, I have something for him to handle."
“Yes,” Qi Xianzhun stood up and led Qi Zhenwu back step by step.
Once only three people remained in the room, Grand Secretary Qi looked at Qi Zhenzhuo, beckoned, and patted the bedside.
Qi Zhenzhuo pointed to himself in confusion, then took a few steps forward and sat down on the edge of the bed: "Grandpa?"
Grand Secretary Qi gripped his hand tightly: "Your father is far away in Jiaozhi, and your second uncle and elder brother are incompetent. Now the Qi family is counting on you."
Qi Zhenzhuo was flattered and subconsciously tried to pull his hand back: "Grandpa, I have never been involved in family affairs... I am just a commander of the Imperial Guard."
Grand Secretary Qi gripped Qi Zhenzhuo's hand tightly with all his might: "Don't refuse. I will find a way to transfer you to the position of Commander of the Five Cities Garrison, in charge of the capital's defenses. In the future, I will also send you to the border towns to lead troops. If the Jing Dynasty marches south again, you can achieve unparalleled merit and find a good opportunity to be ennobled on the spot. Zhenzhuo, your past glory and wealth are gone. The future of the Qi family will be hard for you to pay with your life."
Looking at the earnest words of the Grand Secretary Qi, Qi Zhenzhuo hesitated for a moment before agreeing: "Alright."
Grand Secretary Qi then turned to Li Xuan and said, “My Qi family has lost power in the capital and has no one left to rely on. I hope you will do your best to assist Qi Zhenzhuo. When Qi Zhenzhuo achieves great success, your second son with Zhaoyan can take the surname of your Li family.”
Li Xuan was momentarily lost in thought, then quickly clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Li Xuan will do his utmost to assist you."
Grand Secretary Qi looked exhausted: "Go, call Qi Zhong in."
Qi Zhenzhuo helped him slowly lie back on the bed, and then went out with Li Xuan.
A moment later, a middle-aged man lifted the bamboo curtain and slipped through the door, whispering, "Master, Zhong'er is here."
The man, dressed in a worn-out gray cloth robe, looked like a tenant farmer; he was the kind of person you'd easily lose in a crowd.
Grand Secretary Qi looked at the bed curtains and muttered to himself, "Hold your head low, cultivate your reputation, make clear judgments... Zhong'er, it's time to establish your authority. We can't let wolves and tigers pounce on us. Even if the Qi family loses power, no one can bully us."
Qi Zhong stepped forward, bowed beside Grand Secretary Qi, and asked in a stern voice, "What should we do?"
Grand Secretary Qi lowered his voice, so low that only the two of them could hear: "You will personally go to Luocheng..." (End of Chapter)