The Rich and Powerful Chang An Chapter 15

Chapter 15

“Big brother.” Xu Chang An expected the carriage at the door must had been left by Xu family, but did not expecting these two brother and sister —Liu Shi's twin children.

“Wu Ren, Wu Yi, go call all the people in Zhuangzi, I have something to tell.” Did not want to look more than a glance at these two people, Xu Chang An had no intention to acknowledge them at all. Every year at the end of summer, the two brother and sister would replace Xu Yongnian to return to his hometown to hold the memorial ceremony for the ancestors. Calculating the days, it should be the time they returned home. Except, he did not know why they came here at this Zhuangzi.

“Xu Chang An! Are you deaf, ah?! You haven't heard little sister calling you, ah?!” Looking at Xu Chang An's arrogant attitude, Liu Shi's son, Xu Shande was incessantly furious. The two people had just returned to the capital, but Xu Family recently had many troublesome matters. In addition, no one informed the two brother and sister about the recent Xu Family's misfortune. He then was as impertinent as the the former days, treated Xu Chang An generally like treated the family's servant; can be freely scolded, rebuked and yelled at.

Xu Family's first young lady, Xu Yinghui, because of the presence of outsiders, called Xu Chang An as big brother. Who would have expect, Xu Chang An actually did not acknowledge her. Granted that if she was at home like usual she wouldn't like Xu Chang An's good expression, but when it was in the presence of an outsider, Xu Yinghui's intuition toward Xu Chang An's sinking face, she did not know whether it was ashamed and resentful or indignant; an appearance like that of suffering enormous grievance.

Xu Shande had always doted on his younger sister, looking at her appearance of being wronged, without considering the people beside Xu Chang An, he directly stepped forward intending to teach Xu Chang An a lesson. He had just lifted his foot, not yet walked to Xu Chang An, a shadow flashed past right before his eyes. There was trace of burning pain spreading on his face. He was actually hand-slapped by people?

“Presumptuous! Is the name of Wang Fei can be call directly by you?” Wu Yi's temper was a little hotter than his brother's temper, plus he already held contempt for the Xu family's people. So there was no qualm in his heart, did not wait for Xu Chang An to start talking, he already raised his hand to strike.

Xu Shande seemed to have been beaten senseless, but Xu Yinghui was scared silly by the two words 'Wang Fei' that Wu Yi said? Wang Fei? When did the little bastard who can be insulted by everyone in Xu Residence become a Wang Fei?

Looking at the faces of the two brother and sister who were either surprised or without any other expressions, Xu Chang An walked straight away. He and them had no brotherly affection in the first place, regardless of any words to leave behind, all were uncalled for and nothing else.

“Brother, go home, let's just go home!” After the shock, looking at the clothes of the two men behind Xu Chang An, Xu Yinghui knew that they might have really be in a big trouble. The little bastard seemed to have really turned over. Forget this plan now, only go home and let father think of a way.

“Master, what's wrong?” Just now, the master's step was obviously urgent, but suddenly stopped. Wu Ren only followed to stop the pace, Wu Yi directly asked.

“Forget it, let's go back home.” Suddenly there was no plan to care about those people. Xu Chang An really suffered a lot by those people, but the hardships were still due to Xu Yongnian. As long as that person was punished, it was enough for him.

And also… those people's life were not good either.

Xu Chang An knew that from the day he left this Zhuangzi and became Xian Wang Fei, the people here, might be harder to sleep a good night.

……

On that day, meeting Jing Wang on the street, he was slightly injured. Xu Chang An did not care about it. Instead, he felt that his luck was not bad. Because many years ago, he wanted to see the young God of War.

Today, they went to the main street, and in front of them were a crowd of people watching the excitement. The first reaction in Xu Chang An's heart was; Jing Wang was running wild on the street again. But when he got off the carriage, he found that at the front stop was not the squadron of Jing Wang's imperial bodyguards. Rather, a two sides carriage; it was Xian Wang Residence's special carriage for the purpose of Xiao Qing Yan's long travel.

“Master, it seems to be Wang Ye at the font.”

“Let's us go and see.” He was Xian Wang Fei, bumping into Xian Wang, naturally he had to go and see. Xu Chang An leisurely stepped forward, but his heart began to think about what was going on in front of him. As a result, the first possibility that came out in his mind turned out to be… Which girl¹ is selling herself to bury her dead father?

¹Gūniang – girl; daughter; young unmarried woman

“Wang Ye.” Walking forward, Xu Chang An really saw a girl kneeling down on the ground, and dressed in mourning apparel too. But yet there was no deceased father at the girl's side. With Xiao Qing Yan calmly asked, the talks at Xu Chang An's surrounding people, and Xiao Qing Yan's page boy's words at the side, he now understood what's it all about.

Xu Chang An didn't expect that this matter and what he had thought previously was just right by half. The girl who was kneeling on the ground really needed silver to bury her deceased father, but yet she did not sell herself for her father's funeral. Rather, raising the silver for funeral expenses of the deceased father by relying on the sell of medicinal herbs that she gathered in the mountain. Everything went well at first, this girl had almost collected enough fund to buy coffin for her deceased father. However, today she encountered a silk-clothes² young master from who-knows which family. He saw the girl looked nice, casually tossed a certain amount of silver to the person, then wanted to take away that person. Who knew this girl vowed to die rather than obeyed, in between struggle, she happened to run into Xiao Qing Yan, who was on the way of returning home.

²silk-clothes -rich family

“Peasant³ thanks Wang Ye a lot for your kindness of saving this life! These herbal medicines, there is no need for Wang Ye to fear. Since small, peasant had been following father up to the mountain to gather medicinal herbs and refined medicine. At home also reserved some medicines for vital energy restoration nourishment. After peasant bury the deceased father, I'll deliver it to Wang Ye. Hope Wang Wang will not dislike it.” The girl dressed in mourning apparel, her complexion was rather wan, a look without artifice; a face that did not apply face powder and eyebrow liner. Nevertheless, only by looking a glimpse, aroused the heart of people to speed up for no reason. In front the eyes, this peasant family's daughter had actually born with a face that could be called an unrivalled beauty.

³Mínnü – ordinary woman; civilian

Everyone loves beauty. It went without saying that Xu Chang An too, thought this girl in front of him was pitiful, his heart now generated a bit of pity. He took a glance at Xiao Qing Yan beside him. He kept in mind that this girl was born pretty, and now having such a predestined relationship with Xiao Qing Yan, he did not know how Xiao Qing Yan would take care of this.

Originally Xiao Qing Yan was prepared to return home. He never had thought that his Wang Fei would actually appeared at this place. He might as well just handed over this matter for Xu Chang An to deal with, and immediately lifted foot to leave himself.

Did not expect that Xiao Qing Yan to actually handed over this matter to him, but Xu Chang An was struck dumb? Let him handle it? How could he handle it?

“Girl, you don't need to worry about paying a debt of gratitude over this matter. Xian Wang is the Prince of Great Xiao. Encountering this kind of injustice matter, it should be only right to redress an injustice towards civilian. Now you still has to quickly bury your father. Let your parent be laid to rest, ba.” Since Xiao Qing Yan walked away so straightforwardly, Xu Chang An thought that he should not have a mind of attraction to this beauty. Since it was like that, he did not need to handle much. He only just gave the girl a bit of silver, and after that moved two servants to help this girl buried her father.

In the capital under the foot of Son of Heaven, whatever trifle matter could become a major issue. Xu Chang An's spoken words were all very carefully considered suitable. He was afraid that this matter in the end would implicate Xiao Qing Yan, provoking anything troublesome to come.

“Peasant is very thankful to Wang Ye and Wang Fei. Peasant will bear in mind of Wang Ye and Wang Fei kindness, even if peasant has to work like an ox in the next life, still will repay Wang Ye kindness.” All along, the woman was neither haughty nor humble. Xiao Qing Yan wanted to walk away but had not step forward, was urge to stay, said 'how is going to pay a debt of gratitude?'. Xu Chang An's consolation was only kowtow-ing in thankfulness. (T/N: wasn't this line suppose to be the girl? I'm confused)

When Xu Chang An turned around to leave, the girl's words still kept ringing in his ears, and from the bottom of his heart,he admired this girl. With having such a look like her, at this capital where wealthy and influential families were everywhere, wanting to hold onto a rich and powerful family should not be a difficulty. But she still followed the old father to earn their own living. Now that the father had passed away, she did not mind using her own body as a capital. Thus, went up the mountain to gather medicinal herbs to raise fund for her father's coffin. Such a woman was rare in this world.

Xu Chang An went out early this morning. He naturally did not know anything about the matter in the imperial court. Therefore, on the way of returning home, he was still thinking of today, that brother and sister enduring to fight. Returning home, what will they lay out for him? Alas, he did not have any expectation. Currently, Xu Yongnian still assembling to produce an idea to counter him, he was now having regret with blue intestine. (?)[他现在是肠子都悔青了]

From this time on, the son who he had placed high hopes on had no chance to participate in officialdom. His 'like flowers and jade' daughter could not tie with a good marriage. And him, his official career of this life was thoroughly ruined, ruined!

“How could it be like this…” After rushing to return home, just brought up 'big brother' to father, soon afterwards Xu Yinghui was slap in the face by the father who had always doted on her. She still had to ask her father why. When her father said the reason, she was frightened, directly dropping on the ground.

On the other side, Xu Shande was not much better. He had only one thought in his head; If Xu Family is ruined, he is ruined!

“It's my fault, it's my fault! I thought wrong, I thought wrong!” Now Xu Yongnian truly regretting his past deeds! He only thought decidedly that Xu Chang An as a man would not be liked by Xian Wang. But yet he never have thought, regardless of whether his unfilial son was liked or not by Xian Wang, he was now Xian Wang's formal wife, the face (reputation) of Xian Wang ah! That foolish woman's behaviour on that day, was exactly hitting on Xian Wang's face ah!

The emperor had always doted on Xian Wang. Now that Xian Wang had lost his qualification to succeed the throne, the emperor would certainly compensate him elsewhere. He had provoked Xian Wang Fei, now had indeed bound to bad end ah!

Xu Yongnian, as if lost all physical strength sat on the chair, worn-out. The figure was like being physically paralysed; half leaning against the chair, there was not a bit of liveliness from head to toe.

Kneeling beside his younger sister, Xu Shande now did not know who to comfort, and even what saying of comfort also he did not know. Xu Yinghui did not have time to think about what should her parents and brother do. In her mind, only thought of what should she do? Could not marry into the official government family, what future did she have?

Xu Yinghui's brain turned a thousand times, she felt so miserable. She really regretted the things she had done in the past. If she left a little room for Xu Chang An, they would not be able to reach this point. There was also mother! She always knew that her mother was foolish and short-sighted, only relied on grandmother and father to sort out Yang Shi and be done with it. Now she had already became the real mistress of Xu family. What was she not satisfied with, why should she go to provoke Xu Chang An ah!

Ah! Right!

“Right! Father! It's only my mother that provoked big brother's anger. It's not wrong. It's only our Xu Residence's Yiniang that provoked big brother's anger, that's all. How can a Yiniang represents Xu Residence, ne? As long as we hand over Yiniang, let big brother deal with it at will, big brother will inevitably work off the anger. When the time comes, let big brother say something good to Xian Wang. There may be a turning point in the family ah!” Xu Yinghui had completely fell apart. She had always looked down on the merchants family. Now the emperor's decree, was it not asking her to be force on the road of ruin? She had no other way, although this was the idea she suddenly gave birth to, but it was the only solution now!

“Little sister, what are you talking about? Are you going to kill our mother?” How much big brother hated his mother, Xu Shande knew better than anyone else. Putting his mother into his hands, how would mother still have a way to live!

Nowadays, Xu family just seemed to be shrouded in dark clouds. Not only to a few masters of Xu family, even the servants of the Xu family, all were trembling with fear. The slave contracts were not in the hands of the Xu family. As early as the time when Xu Chang An was sanction a marriage by the emperor, one after another had already left. The remaining were all bondservants that Xu family bought, their life were held in Xu family's hand. Nowadays, all of them were as good as a bird that started at the mere twang of a bow string. Now hearing to Xu Yinghui's words, eventually all of them felt that it was reasonable.

“Laoye, slave servant speaks out of turn, but what young lady said is right, ah!”

“Father! Father, you have to think about the whole Xu family, ah!” Xu Yinghui's heart was dying in anxious, looking at her father hesitating manner. She knew that her father had always loved her mother, but mother was already old. After a few years, she would be like the saying 'in old age, one is like a pearl whose lustre has yellowed', sooner or later father would dote on another young concubine. Mother would lose father's favor sooner or later, then mother's life would not have been better. It was better to sacrifice herself to remained Xu family's hold, this way, Xu family would still remembered her well.

Xu Yongnian was hesitating. He already was at a loss of what to do, his whole person be situated in the midst of a trance. In the past, he was accustomed to the life of favorable wind and smooth stream. Where would he thought to have such a day! Amidst panic listening to his daughter's words, he suddenly thought, him being absurd now would do what?

The emperor's punishment was only for Liu Shi along her twin children, nothing else! Although he was even demoted to the third grade and his official's salary penalized , but as long as he was still an official, there was still hope for Xu family! He was now only in early forties, just had to marry another wife, gave birth to his male offspring, wasn't it good? Liu Shi's children could not be officials. They were not his children if could not be official, ah!

“You, you are going to call all the people in the family, I have something to announce!” Xu Yongnian seemed to have a sudden spirit, and his face was no longer looked gray, Xu Yinghui thought that her father adopted her own advice. She was a little excited at the moment. Only Xu Shande, who was still spread on the ground, had a look of inconceivable. No matter how, he still was unable to understand, father and sister were mother's close relatives, how could they abandon mother at this time!

—————
The author has something to say: Chang An meets a small BOSS~

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Chapter end