Chapter 6
Chapter 6
When Father retired from office and left the capital, quite a few officials came to the long pavilion to see him off.
Most of the upright scholar-officials were genuinely regretful, and his students and old friends showed true affection.
Even a few colleagues who had never agreed with him politically revealed a trace of loneliness at that moment.
Many courteous words were exchanged, and several rounds of farewell wine were offered.
By the time the carriage set off, those figures gradually blurred in the misty rain.
From beginning to end, Censor Chen, Father’s closest friend, never appeared.
I knew he would not come.
When Father’s memorial requesting resignation had first been submitted, Uncle Chen had been the first to arrive.
Uncle Chen had always cared most about a scholar’s dignity, yet that day, he completely lost his composure.
“Yin, what is the meaning of this! The court is unstable right now. This is precisely when you and I should devote ourselves to setting things right, yet you want to withdraw? How is acting like this any different from being a coward with your head tucked in your shell?”
Father never said a word. He did not even offer a single word in his own defense.
Stung by Father’s silence, Uncle Chen snatched up the inkstone on the table.
He raised it high, as if to hurl it at Father.
When he saw Father close his eyes and remain unmoved, he instead smashed the inkstone to the floor in bitter disappointment.
“This was the birthday gift I gave you all those years ago! Lantian Black Jade, polished by my own hands!”
“What did you say back then? You said you wished to use this inkstone to grind fine ink for governing the realm alongside me, to restore the glory of the Grand Ancestor!”
“Back then, you and I climbed high and looked far, speaking of the empire as if it lay beneath our fingertips. What spirit we had!”
“And now? Your ambition has shattered into dregs along with this inkstone!”
After roaring those words, Uncle Chen walked to the door. Looking out at the wind and rain filling the sky, he said flatly, “From this day forward, you and I are no longer sworn friends.”
When I went in, the thick black ink had spread across the floor in a mess.
Father was still sitting in his chair, only his posture had grown somewhat crooked.
I crouched down, picked up the pieces that could still be fitted together, wrapped them in a handkerchief, and placed them back on the desk.
“Ah Fei.” Father’s voice was hoarse.
“Tell me, am I truly what he said I am? A coward afraid of death, hiding in his shell?”
I shook my head. “His Majesty is consumed by alchemy and employs eunuchs, throwing law and order into chaos. Ambitious warlords across the land have long been growing restless.”
“A worthy minister chooses a worthy lord to serve. His Majesty is no longer an enlightened ruler fit to be served.”
Father looked at me, then suddenly smiled. “You truly dare to say such things.”
“Because you are my father, your daughter dares to speak her heart plainly.”
“Though I have never witnessed the great tides of the court with my own eyes, I have been taught by Father. I know you have always acted only after careful planning.”
“When a great mansion is on the verge of collapse and a single beam can no longer support it, Father’s considerations must have their own reasoning.”
Father stared at me for a long time, and the weariness in his eyes slowly faded.
“These years, you have done very well.”
“Once we return to Qishan, the clan school will be filled with talent, and the rules will be even stricter. As the legitimate daughter of the senior branch, you must be even more cautious in your words and conduct, and set an example for the younger members of the clan.”
The carriage traveled through the spring rain toward Qishan.
This was the birthplace of the Yin Clan bloodline.
Just as Father had said, the senior branch stationed in Xianyang was merely one bough of the towering tree that was the Yin Clan, stretching toward the imperial court.
Its true foundations were all deeply rooted here.