The ancestral hall was located in the inner courtyard of the Mei residence. Old Madam Mei frequently knelt within the ancestral hall to chant scriptures, and after Chu Yue’s body recovered, he had once knelt to pay his respects to the Mei ancestors. Passing through several corridors, Chu Yue arrived before the heavy doors of the ancestral hall.
The servants on the left and right saw Chu Yue and hurried forward to ask, “Does the young master need us to call the old madam and the mistress?”
“No need.” Chu Yue walked straight toward the interior of the ancestral hall.
The servants exchanged uneasy glances, watching Chu Yue’s retreating back with mounting concern.
The interior of the ancestral hall was dim. Upon entering, Chu Yue saw Mei Huaixian kneeling before the ancestral tablets. On the incense table ahead, aside from the curling wisps of smoke, an arm-length rawhide whip rested horizontally. Its handle was smooth and polished, clearly indicating that it had seen plenty of use.
Hearing footsteps, Mei Huaixian prepared to rise from his kneeling mat. Perhaps having knelt for too long, his legs grew weak the moment he stood up, and Chu Yue quickly stepped forward to support him. “Father, be careful!”
Mei Huaixian gave a forceful shake of his arm, shoving Chu Yue aside. “Kneel!”
At Mei Huaixian’s fierce command, Chu Yue lowered his gaze and knelt down on the mat without a single word of complaint.
“Do you know where you went wrong?”
“Please enlighten me, Father!”
Mei Huaixian paced back and forth beside Chu Yue. Hearing Chu Yue’s defiant tone, he picked up the whip from the table. Crack, crack! Two lashes struck Chu Yue’s back, instantly sending a burning wave of pain rippling across it, yet Chu Yue’s posture remained unchanged as he continued to kneel upright on the mat.
“Speak! Where did you go tonight?”
“The estate of the Heir of the Prince of Cheng’an,” Chu Yue answered truthfully.
Mei Huaixian drew a sharp breath. “What did you go there for?”
“The heir invited me; I had no choice but to go!”
Mei Huaixian gave a cold laugh. “Had no choice, or went of your own accord?”
Chu Yue replied, “Since I had accepted the invitation, I could not break my word. Confucius taught that words must be sincere and actions must be upright.”
As soon as he finished speaking, another flurry of lashes rained down upon his back. Chu Yue gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead, the veins at his neck bulging, and his arms beneath his wide sleeves trembling slightly. Mei Huaixian had put real strength into this round of whipping.
After several lashes, Mei Huaixian panted heavily, his anger morphing into a bitter laugh. “To think you still have quotes in your head! I thought you only knew how to swing swords and staffs. Did Confucius also teach you what filial piety means? What obedience means? As a son, you constantly defy your parents, which is unfilial. Bringing the family into danger makes you a rebellious son of the house!”
Chu Yue raised his head, gazing up at the line of Mei ancestors, and said, “Obedience to parents and elders stems from morality, benevolence, and righteousness. I have violated neither morality nor righteousness, yet Father accuses me of unfilial conduct—something I cannot accept. Furthermore, establishing oneself, practicing the right path, and bringing renown to future generations to honor one’s parents and ancestors is true filial piety. I went to the Cheng’an estate tonight solely to honor a promise, nothing more. Why must Father worry and panic so?”
Chu Yue had not expected that Chu Yi would find himself in such a precarious situation in Shangjing, where seemingly everyone wanted to give him a wide berth, terrified of being tainted by any association with him. The Marquis of Changxin was like that, and Mei Huaixian was no different.
Clutching the whip in his hand, Mei Huaixian shook with rage. “You may think that way, but others do not! If word gets out that my Mei family is on friendly terms with the Cheng’an estate, will people think we are meddling in the succession struggle? Do you realize that taking the wrong side means utter destruction!”
Chu Yue let out a cold snort. “As a subject, one shares the ruler’s burdens unto death. Father considers only his own safety in everything. As the Libationer of the Imperial Academy, this attitude is a far cry from the teachings Father imparts to his students.”
Furious to the point of a racing chest, Mei Huaixian snapped, “You dare lecture your own father now? See if I do not beat this rebellious son to death!”
With that, he raised the whip once more. Truly enraged this time, he held back none of his strength.
Unable to withstand the continuous descent of the whip, Chu Yue planted both hands weakly against the floor. He had no intention of abandoning Chu Yi no matter what might happen in the future. As for Mei Huaixian and the entire Mei family, Chu Yue felt a deep sense of guilt; regardless of how Mei Huaixian beat him today, he would take every single blow, for it was what he deserved. If a choice ever had to be made between Chu Yi and the Mei family in the days to come, Chu Yue would choose Chu Yi without a moment’s hesitation.
“If Father continues to cling so tightly to self-preservation, even if I am not beaten to death today, I will surely die at someone else’s hands tomorrow!”
Mei Huaixian’s raised whip hung frozen in mid-air. As he calmed down for a brief moment and looked at Chu Yue’s bloody, mangled back, he could hardly believe he was the one who had inflicted such injuries. The whip slipped from his hand, striking the floor and leaving a trail of blood.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Before Mei Huaixian could comprehend Chu Yue’s words, Chu Yue wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and slowly stood up. “Does Father truly believe my previous injuries from the martial arts tournament were accidental? It was merely a competition, yet every single move was fatal. Clearly, someone is dissatisfied with Father! The Mei family is a family of pure scholars; though Father’s official rank is not high, your students fill the imperial court, and everyone addresses you respectfully as Teacher. Furthermore, my six brothers-in-law currently hold important posts in the Six Ministries, and my eldest brother-in-law even serves as the Minister of Works. If Father wishes to maintain the family glory, how can you possibly extract yourself from this political storm?”
Mei Huaixian’s legs grew weak. Staggering back a few steps, he collapsed onto a nearby kneeling mat. “Are you saying the Prince of Yong’s estate wants to harm you?”
Chu Yue lit three sticks of incense, bowed before the ancestral tablets, and inserted the incense into the burner. “I am quite curious why Father chose not to support the Prince of Yong’s heir. For these past few years, the Emperor has consistently backed the Prince of Yong’s estate, and the court is almost entirely leaning to one side. How has Father managed to remain unbothered?”
“What makes you think I have not chosen the Prince of Yong?”
“If Father had chosen the Prince of Yong, why has Father never received a promotion all these years?”
Mei Huaixian gave a bitter laugh. “Back then, Crown Prince Minhua possessed such brilliant intelligence, his aptitude surpassing the Prince of Yong’s heir a hundredfold. He could empathize with the common people, cherish the populace, treat the virtuous with courtesy, and maintain the dignity of a gentleman without arrogance. How lamentable that he was framed by the Prince of Jingchuan, and subsequently Crown Prince Gongyi also passed away. I supported two successive crown princes, willing to exhaust my utmost loyalty unto death, yet in these past two years the Prince of Yong’s heir has cast aside his former humility to become arrogant and despotic, embezzling military provisions and oppressing the common folk. Today’s Shangjing has become his Prince of Yong’s Shangjing. Such a person is beneath my regard, but what else could I do?”
Kneeling down, Chu Yue said, “Then why did Father react with such intense hostility when I went to the heir’s estate?”
“Hmph.” Mei Huaixian rolled his eyes. “Your father is old and wishes no part in these factional struggles; I only hope to retire to my hometown in a few years. I figured things out a while ago: as long as you can live well, if you dislike reading then stop reading, and if you enjoy martial arts you can open a martial arts school, just do not get entangled in power struggles! And that Xing Li, stay far away from him in the future. He stands at the very center of power and can never extricate himself.”
With a blazing gaze, Mei Huaixian grabbed Chu Yue’s arm, leaving Chu Yue momentarily at a loss for how to reply.
Madam Mei supported Old Madam Mei, followed by the married daughters of the household, hurrying anxiously toward the ancestral hall.
Hearing footsteps, Chu Yue turned around, surprised to find that all the female members of the Mei family had arrived.
“If you dare beat Lingze to death, you will beat me to death first!” Old Madam Mei declared vigorously, the sound of her walking stick striking the floor echoing with her anger.
As Old Madam Mei drew closer and caught sight of Chu Yue’s blood-red back, she panicked immensely. “You rebellious wretch! Where in this world is there a heartless father like you? You are trying to kill my grandson!” Old Madam Mei cupped Chu Yue’s palms in her own, lightly hovering her hands over the wounds on his back. “My poor Lingze has only just recovered from such severe injuries, yet you still dare punish him!”
With that, she raised her walking stick and struck at Mei Huaixian. The six daughters behind her hurriedly stepped forward to block the blow and plead for their father.
Madam Mei could only shed tears at the sight of her son’s injuries.
Mei Huaixian said helplessly, “Mother! If I do not discipline this child, he will sooner or later bring a catastrophic disaster upon us!”
“Who went and alerted the old madam?” Mei Huaixian roared, causing the servants outside to tremble in their boots.
“I did!” Madam Mei spoke with resentment.
“Ignorant woman! You spoiled him! And all of you!” Mei Huaixian pointed at Madam Mei, then reprimanded the six daughters as well. “Why have all of you come back!”
“Father, do not be angry. We merely came home to visit Grandmother and happened to encounter Father punishing Little Seven, so we came to take a look.” As the eldest daughter, who was also a ministerial wife, she commanded enough respect that Mei Huaixian had to give her some face.
In truth, when Mei Huaixian learned from Mu Qing that Chu Yue had gone to the Cheng’an estate, he was furious enough to eat someone. Sensing disaster, Mu Qing had run off to seek help from Old Madam Mei the moment Chu Yue entered the ancestral hall and the sounds of the whip began. Upon learning the circumstances and fearing she could not stop it alone, Old Madam Mei had hastily summoned the six daughters back through the night to intervene.
The fifth and sixth daughters were close in age to Mei Lingze and shared a deep bond with him. Seeing their younger brother beaten to this extent filled them with indignation. The fifth daughter, always direct and outspoken, said, “We only have one younger brother—does Father want him to end up in a coffin again? Father might not be afraid, but I am terrified!”
Tears streamed down the sixth daughter’s face as she sobbed, “I am scared too!”
Mei Huaixian stammered, “You… what nonsense are you talking about!”
At that moment, the fourth daughter, Mei Xiang’er, stepped in to smooth things over. “Alright, alright. Little Seven has suffered such severe injuries; we can discuss everything else later. Let us take Little Seven back to see a physician first.”
Chu Yue felt rather constrained in places with many women. Remaining right beside Old Madam Mei, he couldn’t get a word in. When Mei Xiang’er’s gentle voice reached him, Chu Yue felt a momentary trance, as if transported back to his past life. Back then, Mei Xiang’er had not yet married and had shared a brief connection with Chu Yue—though in truth it amounted to merely a few encounters at aristocratic gatherings and grand festival celebrations. Indeed, Mei Xiang’er had once nearly become his crown princess; rumor had it that the Emperor had intended to betroth the fourth daughter of the Mei family to Chu Yue. At that time, following the birth of the crown prince, Chu Yue had only wished to return to Yuzhou as soon as possible and paid no mind to marriage matters. Before the imperial decree for the marriage could even be issued, the Prince of Cheng’an’s Estate had already become deeply embroiled in the treason case.
Chu Yue recalled Old Madam Mei mentioning that Mei Xiang’er had only married two years ago. Chu Yue wondered if her reputation had been ruined because of him, causing her to marry so late. Her husband was merely a minor assistant administrator in the Ministry of Works; given Mei Xiang’er’s exceptional talent in her youth that had drawn the admiration of countless young nobles, she had ended up marrying down into a scholar family with no background whatsoever.
While these past events unfolded vividly before his eyes, a sharp pain shot through Chu Yue’s waist, causing him to cry out involuntarily.
The sixth daughter turned pale with fright. “Oh no, Little Seven passed out from the pain!”
Chu Yue: “…”
The sixth daughter was pinching Chu Yue’s waist with one hand while frantically winking at him with the other.
Catching her drift, Chu Yue closed his eyes. All around them erupted into a chaotic commotion.
Mei Huaixian hurriedly shouted for someone to summon a physician.