Chapter 357: Chapter 125: Reuniting with Guan Jingshuo_3

Yueyao’s mind took a few turns, but her face betrayed nothing, “Aren’t you curious why seeing your identity filled me with regret?”

Guan Jingshuo eagerly nodded.

Yueyao gave a light laugh, “My regret is because, as the Heir Apparent of Marquis Yongding’s Family, you are but a frail scholar who neither shoulders burdens nor contributes to tasks?”

Guan Jingshuo didn’t understand at once, “I don’t understand what you mean, Miss.”

Yueyao acted as if she didn’t see Guan Jingshuo’s confusion, “I’ve heard that the Marquis Yongding has set a trend of valuing poetry and literature, and the youths in the household have all put aside martial pursuits for scholarly ones. Is this true?”

After a long while, Guan Jingshuo responded, “Yes, but is there a problem with that?”

Yueyao’s face held a faint smile, “Do you think there is a problem?” The current Marquis Yongding is a charming and talented man, not only fond of composing poems and befriending literati but also surrounded by various talented and artistic women.

It is said the Marquis Yongding has six beauties by his side, each skilled in a different musical instrument. Visiting the Marquis Yongding’s household and hearing these six beauties perform together is considered an honor.

In itself, there is nothing wrong with this. Now, when the nation is peaceful and military officials are in hibernation. However, the mistake lies in the Marquis, a charming and talented man, forbidding his descendants to practice martial arts and wanting them to enter civil service through the imperial examinations. Essentially, he is asking the descendants of the Guan family to abandon martial pursuits for scholarly ones.

Guan Jingshuo didn’t understand right away, “Miss, what’s the problem with that? Entering civil service through the imperial examinations is the proper path.” Influenced deeply by Marquis Yongding, Guan Jingshuo saw nothing wrong with this approach.

Yueyao gazed at the pine trees in the distance and after quite a while said, “I remember the first Marquis Yongding followed the Grand Ancestor to conquer the world, fought in countless battles large and small, yet never once suffered a defeat, and was known as the General Who Never Loses. The Emperor Grand Ancestor even called him a lucky general.” The first Marquis Yongding was a simple Escort Master who then followed the Grand Ancestor Emperor in military campaigns for over thirty years, establishing outstanding military achievements and becoming one of the founding nobles of the Great Yuan Dynasty. It was also because of this illustrious military service that he was awarded a hereditary and unrevoked nobility title of Marquis.

Guan Jingshuo nodded, “Yes.” He grew more puzzled as to what Yueyao was getting at, and how it had anything to do with his ancestors.

Yueyao smiled slightly, “You think there is no problem with entering civil service from literature.”

Guan Jingshuo indeed saw no issue with it.

Yueyao looked directly at Guan Jingshuo, “What do you think is the foundation of Marquis Yongding’s Family?” The Marquis gained the world through military service; naturally, his foundation lies within the military.

Guan Jingshuo, being a smart man, understood Yueyao’s point. The foundation of Marquis Yongding’s Family lies in the military, and now the Marquis’s descendants are all entering civil service through the imperial examinations, essentially abandoning their foundation. But he didn’t think there was anything wrong with that; to him, entering civil service through the military was the same as through the imperial examinations.

Yueyao laughed, “Do you also think that military officials are not as noble as civil officials?” At the beginning of the dynasty, military officials had a higher status than civil officials. Later, civil officials came to rank above military officers, who had to salute their civil counterparts of the same rank. However, during the reign of Emperor Yingzong, this situation changed.

Emperor Yingzong enacted reforms, elevating the status of the military to be on par with that of civil officials. But Emperor Yingzong passed away over fifty years ago, and the world has been at peace for over fifty years, leaving the military officials in a state of hibernation. However, civil officials, unwilling to have their power reduced, are striving to regain their former glory and have been restless for years.

Military officials, having enjoyed these years of prosperity, were unwilling to be suffocated by civil officials again. Although the imperial court seemed tranquil over the years, in reality, the power struggle between civil and military officials was fierce.

Guan Jingshuo immediately shook his head, “No, in my eyes, the status of civil and military officials is the same.”

Yueyao glanced at Guan Jingshuo, “Will you still think the same when war breaks out? Now they’re equal in status, hence the incessant strife, but once war begins, military might will surely take precedence.”

Yueyao looked at the widened eyes of Guan Jingshuo and smiled without continuing. Peace had reigned for over fifty years; it couldn’t continue indefinitely. Yueyao wouldn’t elaborate, for no one would believe the specifics.

It seemed like Guan Jingshuo understood what Yueyao regretted, but upon deeper thought, he was confused again. How could the Third Miss of the Lian Family be so certain war would break out?

In a soft voice, Yueyao said, “Your Highness, the Heir Apparent, being so intelligent, must understand a principle: no one wishes to remain subordinate forever.”

More than a decade later, the Barbarian Tribes, unable to breathe under Emperor Yingzong’s oppression, rebelled. A people fond of fighting, they would not tolerate being suppressed indefinitely. Previously, they had no choice but to lie low, but after over sixty years of recuperation and revitalization, their strength restored, they incited war. Following the Barbarian Tribes’ rebellion, states that were vassals to the Great Yuan Dynasty also revolted.

Yueyao remembered during this war many new nobles rose while established nobility fell, among which was Marquis Yongding’s Family. Later, because Marquis Yongding got entangled in the succession dispute, he was stripped of his nobility title. After Yueyao passed away, Marquis Yongding’s title was never restored.

Guan Jingshuo stared at Yueyao blankly; although well-versed in literature, he had never thought this far ahead. Beside Yueyao, he felt deeply ashamed.

Heping wanted to call for his master, the Heir Apparent, but dared not act rashly, pacing anxiously instead. Madam must have sent someone to look for him, yet to call Guan Jingshuo over was not his place. The Heir Apparent might be easygoing on most days, but once he spoke, disobedience was not permitted, punishable by severe penalties. Heping prayed fervently not to be found by Madam’s envoy, or who knew what trouble might arise!

Hua Lei was also anxious, but Yueyao was equally firm in her decisions, so Hua Lei dared not move forward either, casting increasingly unfriendly glances towards Heping.

Seeing Guan Jingshuo not responding, Yueyao thought he disagreed, “Since Your Highness believes I’m spouting nonsense, then pretend I said nothing today.”

Coming back to his senses, Guan Jingshuo clarified, “Miss, you misunderstand, I was just pondering your words. Your foresight shames me.” He had never considered matters ten or twenty years down the line. But when seriously considered, the words of Miss Lian were not someone’s groundless anxieties.

With this realization, a thought struck Guan Jingshuo, “When Miss saw my expression of regret, could it be you regretted our Marquis Yongding’s shift from martial to literary pursuits?” If that were the case, this young lady was truly compassionate.

Yueyao certainly wouldn’t say “I regret that you died young”: “Yes. Your Highness, there’s another matter that concerns your family affairs, and I’m unsure if I should speak of it.” Yueyao couldn’t bear to see such a talented youth fade away, so she decided to share her suspicions with Guan Jingshuo. She had done all she could; whether Guan Jingshuo believed her or not was out of her hands now.

A pang of curiosity struck Guan Jingshuo, “Please speak, Miss.”

After hesitating a moment, Yueyao revealed, “When my mother learned that Aunt Yun intended to choose her own concubine-born sister as your father’s stepmother, my mother specifically wrote a letter advising Aunt Yun against it, saying it was highly inappropriate. Later, my mother received a letter from Aunt Yun, in which she stated she had abandoned this decision and was considering other ladies. However, I don’t know why your aunt still became your father’s stepmother.” Since Guan Jingshuo’s mother was named Ning Yun, Yueyao referred to her as Aunt Yun.

Guan Jingshuo was stunned, “Impossible.” He doubted it instinctively, for a simple reason: everyone inside and outside claimed that his stepmother was personally selected by his own mother, yet now he was being told otherwise. With such conflicting information, it was indeed puzzling.