Chapter 1373 – The Grape Trellis Collapsed (II)
At first, disregarding her objections, he sent their son from the clan’s academy to the Golden Scales Academy, also bringing along the bastard son and daughter.
He was good to the bastard children, but it was unfair to her son, Run’er.
Bastard offspring, how could they enjoy such fortune?
Madam Han couldn’t help but voice her thoughts, her face betraying her unhidden disgust and jealousy.
Han Yu said, “Since you hold this grudge, why did you entangle yourself back then?”
After marrying, he entrusted two maidservants who had served him into her care, making it clear to take good care of them, providing a generous sum of silver for them to remarry. Clearly, she rejected his proposal and later made the two her concubines after the birth of their eldest son, Han Run.
Had it not been for Madam Han personally stopping the two from taking the child-rearing soup, those two bastard children wouldn’t have been born.
“Historically, men are often heartless, sweet words on their lips but a different heart inside. The Young Master clearly wants to keep them; how can I, as a concubine, dare to disobey?” Madam Han asserted. “I know the Young Master doesn’t indulge in women, but having two familiar and obedient beauties in the rear courtyard is far better than the Young Master chasing after those flirtatious playboys, right? If Lan Ting were my concubine, would you still be so indifferent, Young Master?”
Han Yu retorted angrily, “The more you speak, the more absurd it becomes! What does this have to do with our Lord?”
Even jealousy must obey basic rules!
Seeing Han Yu’s intense reaction, Madam Han felt even colder inside, her earlier composure slipping away.
“Han Wenbin, you scoundrel!”
This night would undoubtedly be a sleepless night for the Han household.
Han Run was studying for the next day’s lessons, reviewing the day’s key points, when he was just about to fall asleep when he heard hurried footsteps.
“Eldest Young Master! It’s bad! The Master and Madam are fighting!”
Han Run was yawning with fatigue when he heard this and nearly choked; all sleepiness was gone in an instant.
“What!” Han Run exclaimed in shock. “Who is fighting?!”
The steward said, “The Master and Madam are fighting.”
Han Run widened his eyes in disbelief.
He simply couldn’t connect the gentle Madam with the notion of “fighting.”
Is there nothing one can argue about without resorting to violence?
It took him a moment to regain his senses, and he sprinted to the main courtyard, and before he even got close to the door, he heard a ruckus.
He could vaguely hear his mother’s strange and sharp voice raised in argument.
Han Run’s heart raced, but he didn’t dare to push open the door to the main courtyard.
His mother was a very proud and strong-willed person, one who would rather die than let outsiders see her in a bad light—even if it was her son.
Just as he was fidgeting, the door suddenly swung open, and Han Run saw his father with disheveled clothes, hair in a mess, bloodstains on his face, and dark circles under his eyes looking utterly disheveled. Han Run opened his mouth to speak, but the words got stuck in his throat.
Han Yu looked down at his son and said, “Go in and persuade your mother; I will stay at your Uncle Wei’s house for a couple of days.”
Han Run nodded numbly, watching his father’s silhouette gradually disappear.
He heard his mother’s sobs from inside rise sharply.
Han Run had seen his mother cry before, but no matter how sad she was, she always maintained her ingrained dignity and never lost her composure in front of others.
But now—
Han Run thought his father had lost control and attacked his mother. However, upon entering, he discovered that his mother was simply a bit disheveled; there were no external injuries.
Of course, that was because Han Yu never intended to retaliate; he was simply on the receiving end of the beating.
Madam Han said hoarsely, “Run’er—”
Han Run answered, “Mother, I’m here.”
Madam Han hugged her son tightly, crying and whimpering.
Meanwhile, Han Yu changed into a clean set of clothes and instructed the steward to reprimand the servants before heading out to find Wei Ci.
Wei Ci hadn’t expected Han Yu to visit late at night; his sleepiness fled him upon seeing Han Yu’s battered face.
“What happened to you?”
Han Yu replied, “My wife scratched me.”
Wei Ci chuckled, “The grape trellis collapsed, huh?”
Han Yu couldn’t be bothered to quibble with Wei Ci’s mischievous nature and got straight to the point.
“A while back, Zixiao warned me to be careful of my wife’s family, fearing they may harbor ill intentions… Can you elaborate further?”
Han Yu and Wei Ci were not only brothers-in-arms; they had also been classmates for over a decade, so they were incredibly familiar with each other.
Wei Ci wouldn’t have mentioned such things unless he was certain.
There must be some hidden truth behind it!
“Wenbin also knows that I’ve learned a bit of outside knowledge, and by chance, I can uncover some secrets of fate,” Wei Ci sighed. “Earlier, I didn’t dare say much for fear of disturbing fate, but now it’s no longer a concern. Our Lord is destined to ascend to the highest throne, while Wenbin’s wife’s family will be a burden.”
Han Yu was confused. “Though my father-in-law’s personality is extreme, he isn’t a person who fails to recognize the situation.”
He truly didn’t understand why they would choose to be a burden.
“Recognizing the situation doesn’t mean being free from greed,” Wei Ci explained. “What if Wenbin’s wife’s family, along with other noble factions, intends to overthrow the current regime and replace it? Supporting a puppet emperor who rises to power would not only implicate my sister-in-law but also drag Wenbin and his eldest son, Han Run, into it!”
For the officials, a wise and assertive emperor is not a good thing.
After hearing this, Han Yu’s complexion turned pale as he quickly grasped the crux of the matter.
“When our Lord ascends, a major restructuring of the various industries will be necessary, with salt and iron being the most important. Does Wenbin remember how his wife’s family made their fortune and established themselves?” Wei Ci reminded him. “Our Lord’s move to reclaim the salt business threatens the very foundation of that clan, doesn’t it?”
Taking someone’s wealth is like killing their parents.
How many factions would fiercely oppose this action by His Majesty?
Those who had tasted the sweetness of this trade were not just Wenbin’s wife’s family; who would easily let go?
Just as His Majesty said—
In chaotic times, these people have grown ambitious and forgotten their original intentions.
Salt and iron were traditionally monopolized by the government. If left to private forces to smelt and refine salt, fortunes could be amassed in no time, leading to the rise of local tyrants. But when crisis struck, how would the country fend off risks and crises?
With just a few sentences, Han Yu was drenched in cold sweat.
“Do persuade your sister-in-law seriously. If she can’t be persuaded, then a divorce may be the best solution. If she doesn’t cut ties cleanly with her family, you won’t escape death!”
Better to dismantle ten temples than break a single marriage.
Had it not been unavoidable, Wei Ci wouldn’t have wanted to persuade Han Yu and Madam Han to divorce.
Han Yu was deeply conflicted and asked Wei Ci, “What you’ve said… is it all true?”
Wei Ci nodded, making Han Yu feel as if all strength had drained from his body, his demeanor visibly deflated.
“When it needs to be cut, then cut it—for not just your sake but also for your family’s well-being.”
In his past life, Han Yu’s wife and eldest son had been caught up in a coup, and he couldn’t escape.
If the Emperor wanted to protect Han Yu, he wouldn’t be able to punish others severely and could only go easy on them.
To avoid putting the Emperor in a difficult position, Han Yu made the drastic choice to commit suicide by swallowing gold, publicly claiming it was a death due to fear of guilt, leading to the disintegration of the Han household.
If possible, Wei Ci hoped this life’s Han Yu could seek benevolence and escape such an unbearable conclusion.
