The current Crown Prince of the State of Qi, Jiang Wuhua, is actually the second son of the Qi monarch, residing in the Changle Palace.
And above him, there is an elder brother, the First Prince, named Jiang Wuliang.
Xu Fang had certainly offended the Crown Prince, but the one he offended was not Jiang Wuhua, but the deposed Crown Prince, Jiang Wuliang.
Back then, he cursed heaven and earth, not merely the Jubao Merchant Association, but even the Crown Prince at the time.
As for the deposed Crown Prince Jiang Wuliang, Xu Fang naturally did not need to ask how to confess his crimes; he had plenty of charges to admit.
But he still lowered his eyelids slightly and asked, "Which crime should I confess?"
Jiang Chen replied, "Whatever you cursed most viciously back then, that's the crime you should confess."
"...Understood!" Xu Fang said.
Jiang Chen looked at him and said, "After you leave, this inn will close. Except for me and Chongxuan Sheng, no one has seen you."
Xu Fang naturally understood the meaning of these words.
Eighteen years had passed, from self-loathing to despair, and then from despair a glimmer of hope emerged, only to be extinguished again. Back and forth, life was worse than death... What he was waiting for, sometimes he even forgot.
He knew very well that he could not avenge himself on his own. But even as a weapon, even just as a discarded tool, who could use him well?
After hearing the name Green Stone Palace, he actually glimpsed a ray of light!
As if in the long, boundless darkness, a hand suddenly reached out, tearing away the night sky with a single pull.
Just that...
Xu Fang spoke in that hoarse voice, like a bed of teeth slowly scraping across the ground: "Back then, when I cursed the Jubao Merchant Association, although it was guided by that old Qing Xi, it was indeed from a sense of justice..."
He never raised his gaze, as if he dared not look at anyone.
"Do you think..." he asked, "are they still blaming me?"
Qing Xi was the盟主 of the Four Seas Trade Alliance.
As a newcomer, the Jubao Merchant Association was not entirely honorable in its pursuit to catch up with the Four Seas Trade Alliance. Of course, it was not that they were particularly noble now either, but at least they had managed to maintain a decent appearance on the surface.
Back then, Xu Fang cursed the Jubao Merchant Association because he had learned of some of their肮脏 matters.
And these matters were all有意无意透露给他的 by Qing Xi, and they were indeed facts.
The reason Xu Fang spoke of Qing Xi with such hatred was precisely because, back then when he cursed the Jubao Merchant Association, although it was from a sense of justice, he had in fact served as a frontline soldier for the Four Seas Trade Alliance, helping them.
But after the Jubao Merchant Association's retaliation against Xu Fang, the Four Seas Trade Alliance had remained silent from beginning to end. This was truly something difficult to justify.
And the "they" in Xu Fang's question, "are they still blaming me?"
Naturally referred to his family members who had been implicated by him and driven to death by the Jubao Merchant Association's retaliation...
He had no one else to ask, only this young man before him, even though he was a complete stranger.
But Jiang Chen could not answer this question.
He had no right to ask Xu Fang to forgive anyone, nor did he have the right to forgive Xu Fang on behalf of anyone.
In the end, he only said, "You did it out of a sense of justice. I know this, and Chongxuan Sheng knows it too. But perhaps, only we will ever know."
"Is that so." Xu Fang nodded, with no other expression.
"Thank you," he said.
Thank you for what? Thank you for not lying to me? Thank you for seeking revenge against the Jubao Merchant Association while also helping me avenge my family?
Jiang Chen thought of many, many things.
But in the end, he only gave Xu Fang one deep look before turning and leaving.
...
The Bowang Marquis Manor.
Chongxuan Zun had not taken anything with him. He simply draped on a robe and departed for the Jixia Academy with潇洒 air, as if he did not care at all about the affairs of the family.
But once Chongxuan Zun left, Chongxuan Sheng moved in, pestering the old marquis for an entire day.
He was also a legitimate heir, so naturally no one in the Bowang Marquis Manor dared to give him a bad look.
The children of the old marquis, Chongxuan Yunbo, all lived outside the manor.
Among the grandchildren, only Chongxuan Zun and Chongxuan Sheng had the right to live inside.
With Chongxuan Zun gone, Chongxuan Sheng became the young master of the household.
On the next day, the Mid-Autumn Festival, in the morning people came one after another to pay their respects to the old marquis.
During festival seasons, those uncles and cousins would always visit the manor. Most would just leave gifts, exchange a few words, and then depart.
Chongxuan Sheng's father's generation had four brothers; his father, Chongxuan Futu, was the second. Chongxuan Zun's father, Chongxuan Mingguang, was the eldest. The third brother had passed away long ago, and the fourth was serving in a distant position, not in Linzi.
Chongxuan Chuliang was a cousin of Chongxuan Mingguang and Chongxuan Futu.
After lunch, the family sat together drinking tea.
Chongxuan Sheng then grinned and invited the old marquis to his Xia Mountain villa, to admire the magnificent scenery of the maple glow and evening clouds.
The old marquis just smiled, letting Chongxuan Sheng chatter on, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
"I'm not criticizing you, little Sheng. You've gone too far this time." A voice suddenly spoke. "The old marquis usually dotes on your elder brother the most. How could you bear to send him off to the Jixia Academy for a whole year?"
At this moment, the only person who could criticize Chongxuan Sheng in such a tone was naturally Chongxuan Zun's father, Chongxuan Mingguang.
This man had a grand name and a fine appearance as well. Otherwise, he couldn't have produced a son as handsome as Chongxuan Zun.
He was already over sixty years old, yet his complexion remained ruddy, looking only about forty. He appeared much younger than his cousin, the fifty-something Chongxuan Chuliang, though naturally his strength was far inferior.
Chongxuan Sheng heard this and only smiled: "Uncle, that's an unkind thing to say. I gave this excellent opportunity to cousin Zun as a sacrifice for the future of our Chongxuan family. As an elder, you should be compensating me, not calling me excessive!"
He turned to look at Chongxuan Mingguang: "If you think this is such a loss, why don't you find a way to send me to the Jixia Academy too? Let me stay for two years!"
Chongxuan Mingguang was momentarily stumped. He had no such capability!
As the eldest legitimate son of the marquis manor, if he had been useful, the marquis position would not have been contested between Chongxuan Zun and Chongxuan Sheng.
Chongxuan Sheng was not one to let things go when he had the upper hand. He turned to the old marquis and said, "Grandfather, please judge who's right?"
Chongxuan Yunbo was already one hundred and five this year, with white hair and beard, but his spirit was still good.
He glanced at Chongxuan Mingguang: "If you can't speak properly, keep your mouth shut."
Chongxuan Mingguang fell silent in disgruntlement.
This was also why he was unwilling to live in the manor. Outside, he was at least a master, a guest of honor everywhere. But in the Bowang Marquis Manor, at over sixty years old, he would still be scolded like a grandson at the slightest provocation.
Since the old marquis had spoken, Chongxuan Sheng could not continue his relentless attack. He only repeated his earlier topic: "Maple glow and evening clouds, the sky and clouds in one color. It's a rare sight, happening only once a year. Grandfather, won't you really go see it?"
The old marquis raised his hand: "This old man has spent his life in military campaigns. In my old age, I actually have a scarce sight of blood."
This was a clear refusal.
Chongxuan Sheng sighed somewhat theatrically: "Your grandson has also invited many good friends, all of whom greatly admire your prestigious reputation. They want to hear your heroic tales!"
The old marquis only smiled.
But Chongxuan Mingguang rose again, snorting coldly: "Little Sheng, don't go around carelessly flaunting the Bowang Marquis Manor's banner. I heard that the other day at the Red Sleeve House, you held a grand banquet in the name of the Bowang Marquis Manor? What kind of behavior is that? The old marquis is advanced in years and can't withstand such折腾."
The old marquis's white eyebrows twitched at that moment.
Look at this level of speaking!
Chongxuan Sheng absolutely adored this uncle.
Of course, he put on an indignant expression: "I invited a few friends to admire the scenery. How does that become carelessly flaunting the manor's banner? Uncle, if you have objections, why don't you go help host it? Let's see if my behavior is proper!"
This sounded very much like angry words.
Chongxuan Mingguang considered. With Chongxuan Zun currently away, in the younger generation only Chongxuan Sheng could represent the Bowang Marquis Manor. He should indeed help keep an eye on Chongxuan Sheng for his son, to prevent this little fatty from developing too much and threatening his son's position as heir.
Thinking of this, he deliberately put on a troubled expression and went with the flow: "Uncle doesn't really have objections to you. It's just that you're still a bit young, and some people outside... sigh, never mind. Fine, I'll take some time to go to your Xia Mountain villa and sit for a while, to help you把把关!"
"Ahem." At this moment, the old marquis coughed: "When the younger generation gathers, what are you doing there?"
Chongxuan Sheng then looked at Chongxuan Mingguang with a mischievous grin, as if watching a good show.
Chongxuan Mingguang was after all in his sixties, and even if it was his own father scolding him constantly, he couldn't keep his composure.
So he stiffened his neck and said: "I understand social etiquette. What young people play with these days is just what I had fun with back in my day. Why can't I host it?"