Chapter 099: Finally Standing Proud and Triumphant

Shortly after Uncle He entered, a middle-aged man came briskly out of the rear residence to greet Xue Rui and his mother at the main gate. Xue Rui had no clear impression of the man, but he quickly deduced from his appearance, attire, and age that this must be his second uncle—Liu Yi.

Liu Yi was broad-shouldered and sturdy, with a square face and slightly prominent cheekbones. His eyes were somewhat deep-set. He wore a gray long cloth shirt, giving him the air of a martial artist.

“Little sister, you’ve finally returned,” Liu Yi greeted warmly upon seeing the two at the gate, just as Xue Rui had expected.

Soon after, five youths around Xue Rui’s age came out to greet them. Upon seeing Liu Yi, Lady Liu brightened and called out affectionately, “Second brother.”

“Nephew greets second uncle,” Xue Rui followed suit, bowing respectfully.

“Heh, we’re family; no need for such formality. Rui’er, get up now.” Liu Yi gently lifted Xue Rui to his feet with a slight tug on his arm.

“Greetings, aunties,” the youths stepped forward one by one to greet Lady Liu.

“All well, all well,” she responded warmly, pulling her nephews and nieces into a brief exchange of pleasantries. After a moment, she remembered her son was still behind and called back, “Go greet your cousins properly.”

“Cousins, long time no see. How have you been?”

Before coming, Xue Rui had asked his mother about his relatives. His eldest cousin, Liu Yunze, was eighteen, and his third cousin, Yunhan, was sixteen; both were from his eldest uncle’s line. Second uncle’s household had two children: the second cousin Yunyi, fifteen, and the youngest cousin, Liu Xin, eight. His third uncle had only a daughter, Liu Yin, just a bit younger than Xue Rui at fourteen.

Thankfully, the cousins’ ages varied enough that it was easy to tell who was older or younger, allowing Xue Rui to match names to faces.

Liu Yunze stepped forward, patted Xue Rui’s shoulder, and smiled, “Cousin, we’re all well. We heard you had your head cracked open recently—gave us quite a fright. Are you fully recovered now?”

The cousins curiously glanced at Xue Rui’s head. Liu Yi grumbled, “What nonsense are you talking about? Rui’er is standing here just fine. Now, why don’t you invite your aunt and the others inside?”

“No rush. There are still some things in the carriage, gifts for father and the sisters-in-law. I’ll have someone fetch them,” Lady Liu said.

“Ha! Bringing gifts to your own home! What a waste of money,” Liu Yi complained again.

He understood his sister’s financial situation well. The Xue family’s income rarely benefited her; they mainly relied on her husband’s modest salary. No matter how inexpensive the gifts, it cost a considerable sum for the Liu family, which would strain his sister’s household again.

Moreover, with Xue Yuanhao recently imprisoned in the imperial jail and Xue Rui injured, the Xue family’s hardships had only deepened. Now, with everyone safe and reunited, fussing over these formalities seemed unreasonable. Liu Yi was displeased with his sister’s insistence on maintaining appearances.

Lady Liu knew her brother’s concern and replied, “These are just little tokens from Rui’er. It’s not my insistence. Since they’ve been brought, there’s no reason to take them back.”

“That’s right, second uncle, don’t worry. They’re not valuable. Since the cousins are here, they can help me bring the things inside,” Xue Rui quickly agreed.

“You all... sigh. Yunze, Yunyi, help your cousin carry the things,” Liu Yi said. Seeing their firm stance, he didn’t argue further and instructed the younger ones to retrieve the gifts.

At first, they expected ordinary items as before, but when Liu Yunze and the others brought the packages inside, Liu Yi was surprised. The packaging was exquisite; these were clearly no ordinary goods. Particularly the rolls of silk—the patterns and materials were unfamiliar to him, and he could not identify the craftsmanship.

“Sis, these things of yours...?” Liu Yi was visibly shocked, staring at Lady Liu in astonishment.

She smiled, “Why don’t you meet father first? We wouldn’t want him to be anxious.”

Suppressing his surprise, Liu Yi nodded, “I almost forgot. Father was urging me to come welcome you all. Let’s go inside.”

Thus, Xue Rui and his mother followed Liu Yi to the main hall of the rear courtyard.

Inside the main hall, Liu Wenyao and his two sons were drinking tea, occasionally glancing toward the door.

In the side chamber, Lady Liu’s three sisters-in-law waited eagerly. When Liu Yi brought Xue Rui and his mother in, a brief exchange of greetings naturally ensued.

After Lady Liu greeted her father and uncles and aunts, Xue Rui stepped forward to pay his respects.

“Rui’er, you and your mother sit first. I have many things to ask you,” Liu Wenyao, looking vigorous, invited them to sit after they saluted everyone.

After the servants served tea, Liu Wenyao addressed Lady Liu:

“A few days ago, your eldest brother came to the city to transport grain and heard that Rui’er had broken into the imperial jail to rescue his father. He didn’t believe it and went to Stone Alley to look for you, but you were gone. He came back and told us. The whole family has been worried.

Fortunately, your second brother went to the Astronomical Bureau and learned from a clerk named Zheng that you had moved to the city. Tell me, changing residence without informing anyone—is that because you think your maternal family is useless and can’t help?”

Lady Liu hurriedly explained, “Father, I didn’t even know Rui’er was planning to rescue his father until he brought him back. At that time, he was gravely ill, and I stayed up nights caring for him, so I had no chance to inform you. As for moving, it was so sudden. I intended to tell you after settling in, but you found out first.”

“Then tell us exactly what happened.”

Liu Wenyao and his sons only knew fragments about the Xue family’s troubles, so naturally, they wanted the full account now that mother and son had returned.

“Rui’er, you speak.”

Lady Liu looked at her son. He had handled everything himself, and even she didn’t fully understand some details. She had asked him several times but was brushed off, so she felt reluctant to press further.

“Then I’ll start from the beginning,” Xue Rui cleared his throat and began to recount the events.

Hearing these matters firsthand, rather than through hearsay, lent a vividness no one else could provide.

When Xue Rui described persuading Lady Wu of the Duke of England’s household to send people to the imperial prison to rescue his father, the adults in the room were amazed. He was barely a teenager, yet dared to go alone to the Duke’s residence. If it had been them, they might not even have mustered the courage to knock at the Duke’s door, let alone convince Lady Wu to help.

His cousins, like Yunze, were full of admiration. Having come to the city before, they instinctively felt awe when they saw official carriages. The Duke’s household was among the most powerful in the capital. Given a chance to meet Lady Wu, they would probably be tongue-tied, much less persuade her.

“Rui’er’s eloquence is impressive. How did we never notice before?” the third uncle sighed.

“Yes, I’d never be able to do that. Cousin is truly remarkable,” Liu Yunze added, clearly impressed. Years ago, this cousin used to trail behind him everywhere. Now, just a few years later, he had become someone to behold.

“That’s nothing compared to the most dangerous part—breaking into the imperial jail. Rui’er, tell your grandfather about that,” Lady Liu said proudly, enjoying the admiring gazes toward her son.

“The imperial jail isn’t a place to enter lightly. The Embroidered Uniform Guard are called living Yama Kings, and countless people have died at their hands.

When I went, a large group of guards stood outside. We were few, so a fight would have been disastrous. Luckily, I was prepared. I knew the court was about to purge traitors, so when the guards acted, I used that to scare them off.

Later, the hundred-house leader sent someone to inquire and learned that their commander was executed as a traitor. They dared not act as henchmen anymore and reluctantly allowed me to enter the jail to rescue the person.”

Taking a sip of water, Xue Rui continued, “You don’t know how gloomy the jail is. The moment I stepped in, a cold wind swept over me, and I felt countless eyes watching from the shadows. It was chilling.

By the way, you may not have heard, but an official named Liu Qiu was once imprisoned and killed there by Wang Zhen. His body was chopped up and buried beneath the jail threshold. Imagine how terrifying that place is.”

“That’s really frightening!” everyone shuddered. Liu Yunyi, sitting beside Xue Rui, even trembled.

Xue Rui told the story vividly, slightly exaggerating here and there to satisfy their curiosity.

“What about your father? Was he tortured?” Liu Wenyao, a scholar skeptical of ghosts and spirits, focused on a different concern.

“No, but he caught a cold and was very ill by the time I arrived. He was unconscious. Thankfully, Lady Wu arranged for the imperial physician Tao Jie’an to come, who saved my father’s life,” Xue Rui said gratefully.

“I’ve heard of Tao Jie’an. He’s especially skilled with wind-cold ailments, but usually hard to hire. Without the Duke of England’s influence, he wouldn’t have intervened personally,” Liu Wenyao said, shaking his head.

“Your father had just recovered when you moved again?” Eldest uncle Liu Ren asked, curious.

“It was unfortunate. On the second night after he woke, a triple homicide occurred at the alley entrance. Three people were killed and hung from the old locust tree. The killer was never found. We couldn’t stay in Stone Alley any longer, so we moved to Shi Gong’s residence temporarily,” Xue Rui said with a bitter smile.

“Though the victims weren’t good people, killing three at once means the murderer wasn’t kindhearted either. Moving away was wise,” Liu Ren approved, and others agreed.

Liu Zhi, who had remained silent, recalled a rumor and asked Xue Rui for confirmation:

“Rui’er, I heard the Empress Dowager planned to marry off to the Wala tribe. Officials used your words to persuade her to change her mind. Is that true?”

“Well, it’s a coincidence. I was just helping a classmate edit his speech and casually said a few things. He felt he shouldn’t take credit and gave me the credit instead.

Coincidentally, the Empress Dowager was planning the marriage, and officials borrowed my words. It helped, but only to a degree. Ultimately, the will of the people prevailed, and the Empress Dowager had to compromise.”

“Even so, you deserve some credit. Your fame has spread throughout the capital,” Liu Zhi smiled.

Liu Wenyao frowned, “What you did embarrassed the Empress Dowager. What if she resents you and seeks revenge later?”

Just as Xue Rui was about to respond, a commotion arose from the side chamber.

Everyone turned to see Lady Liu’s sisters-in-law peering down at a brocade box, faces full of surprise.

Liu Wenyao scolded sternly, “What are you saying? Don’t you know any manners?”

Startled by the patriarch’s outburst, the women lowered their voices. The eldest daughter-in-law, Madam Wang, stepped out, astonished:

“Father, little sister has truly gone to great expense this time. The ginseng she brought you is a full twenty years old!”

The ginseng was the most valuable item among the gifts, clearly intended for the patriarch.

“Twenty years old?” Liu Wenyao, a man of the world, knew how rare such ginseng was. In the capital, it could fetch dozens of taels of silver.

Lady Liu stood, took the ginseng from her sister-in-law, and approached her father. “Father, this ginseng is a token of our respect. Please accept it to strengthen your health.”

“Where did you get such aged ginseng? It wasn’t from Shi Gong, was it?” Liu Wenyao glanced at the sizable root, suspecting it was even older than twenty years.

For a woman’s family to buy such ginseng would mean ruin. Since she could present it, it was likely borrowed from the Hu family. Such a hot gift was risky, and he naturally would refuse it.

Xue Rui quickly explained, “Grandfather, these are all our own things, not borrowed!”

“Was it from your grandmother?” Liu Wenyao considered another possibility.

Now that Xue Yuanhao was safely out of prison and Xue Rui had become so accomplished, the father and son were well-known in the capital.

Grandmother Li would surely regret driving them out. Offering compensation to her son made sense as an apology.

But Xue Rui shook his head.

“These came from the Duke of England’s household, the Zhao family’s residence in the capital, the officials at the Astronomical Bureau, and even some astronomers who knew my father. The ginseng, he shou wu, and bird’s nest are all gifts for you, grandfather. As for the latest styles of Su silk and other small items, we don’t need them, so we gave them to uncles and aunts. It’s better that way.”

“Good heavens, the gifts you brought must be worth at least a hundred taels of silver,” Liu Zhi said, examining the presents in astonishment.

“I don’t know the exact value, but we’re family. What’s money when it can be used?” Xue Rui said nonchalantly.

“Tsk tsk, Rui’er looks down on such expensive things already. He’s destined for great wealth and honor!” Madam Wang cooed, clutching a bolt of Su silk fabric affectionately.

The silk would make beautiful clothing. Pleased, she now viewed her previously overlooked nephew with newfound respect.

Seeing each daughter-in-law holding a bolt of fabric, reluctant to let go, Liu Wenyao found it hard to tell Xue Rui and his mother to take the gifts back.

He said to Lady Liu, “Since it’s your intention, let them keep the gifts. You decide how to distribute them.”

“All right,” Lady Liu accepted without protest. As the one who brought the gifts, she knew best how to allocate them.

After the women left for the side chamber, Xue Rui spoke to his grandfather.

“I’m not worried about the Empress Dowager. These days, Prince Cheng is likely to ascend the throne. Then my father can resume his official post. The ministers all owe me favors now. If the Empress Dowager tries to move against me, those officials probably won’t agree.”