roccoschili Chapter 107 The streets and alleys were abuzz with discussion! Absurd, utterly absurd!
Chapter 107 The streets and alleys were abuzz with discussion! Absurd, utterly absurd!
Zuixianlou, the most famous restaurant in Suzhou, has three stories with flying eaves and is always packed with guests.
In the past, people here talked about romance, discussed poetry and literature, and enjoyed fine food and wine.
But today, the atmosphere in the largest private room on the second floor, "Lan Yue Xuan," was so heavy it was almost palpable.
Seven or eight middle-aged men, dressed in fine silks and satins and with large bellies, sat around a round mahogany table.
The squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, crab meat lion's head meatballs, and Biluo shrimp on the table had long since gone cold, and no one had touched them.
They were all prominent silk merchants in Suzhou, and had close business ties with the Zhao family.
"Zhao Mingcheng... that old fox Zhao Mingcheng!"
A businessman surnamed Zhou, with a full beard, slammed his hand on the table, making the cups and plates clatter.
"What the hell is he doing?! Receiving a royal reception? What kind of reception could possibly cause his daughter-in-law to disappear?!"
"Shh! Boss Zhou, watch your words, watch your words!"
A thin shopkeeper surnamed Sun quickly grabbed him, his face pale, and said in a low voice, "That's... His Majesty! How can you say such nonsense?"
"What's wrong with Your Majesty? Does Your Majesty have the right to forcibly take my wife?!"
Boss Zhou's eyes widened, but his voice involuntarily lowered, filled with deep resentment and unwillingness.
"Xu Fenghua... how much raw silk supply and how many overseas trade routes does she control? Once she's gone, who will take over the Zhao family's business? The government? Those corrupt officials know nothing about business! Our goods for the second half of the year, delivery dates, money... everything will be in chaos!"
These words struck a nerve with everyone.
They may not have much sympathy for Xu Fenghua or the Zhao family, but their own interests are about to be severely damaged by this sudden change.
The usually silent and shrewd-looking Mr. Li slowly spoke, his voice hoarse:
"Disorder is a minor issue. Think about it, why did His Majesty suddenly decide to take Xu Fenghua as a concubine?"
He glanced around at the crowd, his eyes flashing with a businessman's shrewdness and a hint of fear:
"Who is Xu? She is Xu Longxiang's older sister! The actual controller of 300,000 iron cavalry in the Northern Border! His Majesty had just returned from the Northern Border when he came to Jiangnan and took Xu away... The waters here run very deep."
The private room fell into a deathly silence.
The businessmen, who had previously been only angry about their business losses, now felt a chill creep down their spines.
They suddenly realized that this might not be some philandering emperor's lust at all.
It was a bloody power struggle involving the highest levels of authority.
Those of them who do business in Jiangnan could be crushed to pieces if they are not careful.
"Then... what should we do?" Boss Sun asked in a trembling voice.
"What should we do?"
Boss Li gave a wry smile, picked up the cold wine glass, and drank it all in one gulp.
"Keep a low profile, keep a close eye on your own business, and as for business matters... cut back if you can, or stop if you can. It looks like things are about to get turbulent in Suzhou."
On the other side...
Qingfeng Teahouse.
It is located in the western part of the city, a gathering place for literati and artists.
On ordinary days, the place is filled with the pleasant sounds of traditional Chinese music, and the aroma of tea mingles with the scent of ink, making it a place for philosophical discussions and commentary on current affairs.
Today, the sounds of string and wind instruments have long since ceased, replaced by suppressed whispers and discussions.
Several scholars dressed in Confucian robes and wearing square headscarves gathered in a corner, their tea in front of them long since cold.
"Absurd! Utterly absurd!"
A young scholar, his face flushed, banged his folding fan loudly on the table.
"The Book of Rites says: 'The feudal lords do not indulge in lust, therefore the virtuous man keeps away from lust to maintain order among the people.' Your Majesty, as the ruler of a country, how can you do such a thing... such a violation of human ethics, forcibly taking a married woman?! Where does this place the law and the moral order?!"
An older scholar opposite him sighed and shook his head, saying:
"Brother, be careful what you say. His Majesty's actions may... have a deeper meaning."
Even so, the worry between his brows was so deep that it couldn't be dispelled.
"Deeper meaning? What deeper meaning?"
The scholar surnamed Wang said excitedly,
"It's nothing more than lust for beauty, or... or perhaps a way to put pressure on the Xu family in the North! But even so, there are countless methods; why resort to such a despicable and infamous approach? Once this gets out, what will become of the reputation of our Great Qin, a land of propriety? Your Majesty... Your Majesty's honor..."
He couldn't continue, and painfully covered his forehead.
For these scholars who studied the classics and believed in governing the country according to rites and laws, the emperor's move was tantamount to stabbing them in the core of their beliefs.
Disappointment, resentment, and a hint of worry about the fate of the nation were intertwined.
A scholar who had been silent and aloof suddenly spoke coldly:
"Face? Imperial reputation? The Xu family in the Northern Border has become too powerful and difficult to control, posing a major threat to the court. If Your Majesty can use this method to restrain the Xu family without bloodshed, even if you suffer some infamy, from the perspective of the court's overall situation, it might not be a bad move."
"A risky move? That's a foolish one!"
The scholar surnamed Wang retorted, "Those who act justly gain much support, while those who act unjustly find little! If Your Majesty takes such an unjust action, how can the hearts of the people be won over? If the soldiers in the northern border become resentful because of this, wouldn't it be counterproductive? A country should be governed by virtue, propriety, and law; how can it resort to such banditry?!"
The aloof scholar fell silent, gazing at the bustling street outside the window with a complex expression.
How could he not know that what the scholar surnamed Wang said made sense?
But in this turbulent era, pure moral ideals are often fragile and easily shattered.
The other tea drinkers in the teahouse were also whispering among themselves.
Some shook their heads and sighed, some looked mocking, and others had a strange glint in their eyes, as if they had seen some kind of opportunity.
There was an uneasy feeling in the air, like a storm brewing, and a vague premonition that the established order was about to collapse.
Meanwhile, at the Yihong Courtyard.
The most famous brothel in Suzhou was a place of revelry and decadence, where people indulged in extravagance every night.
Even in the afternoon, the building was filled with a lazy, sweet fragrance.
Inside the elegant room, several popular young women were entertaining a few regular customers, and naturally, the conversation inevitably turned to this astonishing tale.
"Oh my, I've seen that young mistress of the Zhao family once or twice from afar."
A girl named Emerald, dressed in a peach-pink dress, smiled, her eyes sparkling.
"Her overall demeanor and her aloof gaze certainly don't resemble those of an ordinary merchant's wife. No wonder... even His Majesty has been tempted."
A wealthy-looking customer opposite her chuckled and took a sip of his drink:
"Swayed by worldly desires? Jade Maiden, you make it sound so easy. That's tantamount to forcibly taking a subject's wife! If word gets out, tsk tsk..."
He shook his head, his tone a mix of disdain and a secret excitement.
Another girl named Haitang gently plucked the strings of her pipa and murmured:
"What's with all this talk about robbing... In this world, women, especially women like us, and women of Zhao Shao's status, aren't they all just drifting duckweed with no control over their own lives?"
Today she's the young mistress of the Zhao family, tomorrow she'll be an empress in the palace—it seems like a meteoric rise, but the taste of it all is...
She didn't say anything more, and a series of mournful arpeggios flowed from her fingertips.
An older, composed nanny known as "Moon Maiden" sighed:
"Haitang has hit the nail on the head. Whether this trip of Young Mistress Zhao is a blessing or a curse is really hard to say. What kind of place is the palace? A place that devours people without spitting out their bones. And her background is so complicated... Alas, beautiful women have tragic fates, it has always been so."
Upon hearing this, the guests' playful expressions faded somewhat.
Women in brothels are the most insightful about the coldness and warmth of human relationships, and are also the most empathetic.
In their eyes, Xu Fenghua's dramatic change in identity was not simply a rise to a higher social status, but more like a high-stakes gamble with uncertain outcomes, the stakes being their future and even their lives.
"But then again,"
Emerald laughed again, with a hint of flippancy, as if she were enjoying the spectacle.
"His Majesty is willing to sacrifice his reputation for her, which shows how much he cares. Perhaps, if Young Mistress Zhao enters the palace, she will truly become the most favored concubine? Wouldn't the Zhao family then benefit from this misfortune?"
"A blessing in disguise?"
Moon Lady sneered, "More like a massacre of the whole family. The will of Heaven is unpredictable; today's favor may be tomorrow's death warrant. Let's stop thinking about this and focus on living our own lives."
The sounds of toasting and giggling filled the air again in the private room, but the aftershocks of the conversation were still lingering in everyone's hearts.
For these women who live at the very bottom of society, yet are accustomed to both the glamour and the darkness of the world.
Xu Fenghua's experience is like a mirror, reflecting the insignificance and impermanence of individuals under the crushing power.
that's it,
The news spread like wildfire, from restaurants and teahouses to streets and alleys, from wealthy merchants to ordinary people.
On the dock, the laborers carrying loads would squat in a corner during their breaks, eating cornbread with pickled vegetables, and occasionally whispering amongst themselves:
"Have you heard? The Emperor has snatched the Zhao family's daughter-in-law and brought her into the palace to become an empress!"
"Really? The emperor needs women?"
"Who knows? Maybe that Zhao family's daughter-in-law is a celestial being descended to earth..."
"Pah! No matter how beautiful she is, she's still someone else's wife! This is a mess... ugh!"
His tone revealed curiosity, incomprehension, and a touch of simple, unspoken disapproval based on folk ethics.
In the vegetable market, the old woman selling vegetables was weighing them while muttering to a regular customer:
"What a tragedy... The young mistress of the Zhao family is such a good person, distributing porridge and medicine every year, how could she have gotten into such trouble? Once she enters the palace, can things possibly turn out well?"
"That's right, those deep palaces, I've heard they can eat people without shedding blood."
"Master Zhao is pitiful too; his son is useless, and his daughter-in-law has been..."
Sighs and pity mingled with an instinctive fear of the deep palace.
Beside the tea stall, traveling merchants from all over the country were talking animatedly:
"To be honest, this is no simple matter! The Xu family of the Northern Border! Do you know them? They control a large army! The Emperor is playing a grand game! The Xu family is just a pawn!"
"Chess pieces? Such beautiful chess pieces?"
"What do you know! The saying 'beautiful women bring ruin' has existed throughout history! This is clearly His Majesty's way of diminishing the Xu family's power!"
Conspiracy theories began to circulate, adding a layer of intrigue and political struggle to this absurd affair.
Near the Suzhou Textile Bureau office, a group of minor officials gathered together, looking anxious and fearful.
With such a major incident involving their superior, Zhao Mingcheng, the operation of the entire textile bureau and even related government departments could be affected, and their future prospects have become uncertain.
"Lord Zhao... this time it seems unlikely."
"It's more than just uncertain; we'd be lucky to even survive..."
"What should we do? Should we hurry up and look for a way out?"
"What connections are you looking for? At this point, who would dare to associate themselves with the Zhao family?"
Panic spread silently through the bureaucratic system.
The entire city of Suzhou resembled a pot of oil being gradually heated.
On the surface, things remain bustling and busy, but underneath, undercurrents are surging and gurgling.
Everyone is talking about it, everyone is speculating, and everyone is interpreting this bizarre event based on their own identity, position, and understanding.
Absurdity, shock, bewilderment, fear, excitement, pity, scheming...
A variety of emotions, like vibrant paints, were splashed across the vast canvas of Suzhou, creating a strange scene of apocalyptic revelry intertwined with profound unease.
Meanwhile, at the very heart of the storm, the vermilion gate of the Zhao residence remained tightly shut.
Like a silent behemoth, it swallowed all the secrets and humiliations.
Xu Fenghua's name resounded throughout Jiangnan in a way she absolutely did not want to see.
She was no longer the eldest daughter of the Xu family, hiding deep within the Zhao family mansion and secretly running a business empire, but had become the most conspicuous embellishment in the emperor's absurd behavior.
It also became the most helpless lone boat in this storm of public opinion sweeping across Jiangnan.
The storm has only just begun.
........