Chapter 135

Chapter 135

[Isn’t the Villain Tempting? Not Really – 5]

Lend me your heart and liver, so I may offer her some small consolation…

Could a man survive without his heart and liver?!

Hu Guangshuo climbed shakily from the floor, only for Emperor Gaozu to stride forward and kick him down again. He tore open the front of Hu Guangshuo’s robes in a few quick motions. As the man struggled violently, the dagger descended without hesitation. Blood sprayed, and in the next instant, flesh split apart…

Hu Guangshuo released a piercing scream. His body convulsed several times, and he died with his eyes wide open, unable to rest in peace!

Emperor Gaozu’s expression never changed. He casually dropped the dagger at his feet and ordered an attendant to bring a box for Hu Guangshuo’s heart and liver. After dawn, he would take them with his sister to make an offering at their mother’s grave.

Other attendants entered to clean the aftermath. They dragged away the corpses of Hu Guangshuo and Old Madam Hu, whose eyes remained open in death, buried them, then scrubbed the blood from the hall.

Fei Zhuo sat not far from Hu Guangshuo. The dagger strikes had been so swift and fierce that blood splashed across his face, hot and wet, sticky with the stench of iron.

Half of Fei Zhuo’s soul seemed to have fled his body. He sat frozen upon the floor, his teeth chattering uncontrollably and his eyes unable even to move.

The examples of Old Madam Hu and Hu Guangshuo still lay before him. Fei Zhuo had never felt such terror in his life. The moment his rigid body recovered a little, he dropped to his knees without a word and began kowtowing frantically. He pleaded over and over, “The Great General is magnanimous! Please spare this worthless life. Show me mercy and treat this humble man as nothing but a fart-just let me pass!”

Emperor Gaozu smiled at him. “You must have been delighted to finally establish ties with the Hu Family.”

Fei Zhuo’s voice trembled as he answered, “This humble man deserves death! I deserve death!”

Emperor Gaozu gave a cold snort. “And when the Hu Family agreed to make your daughter an equal wife, you must have been beside yourself with triumph.”

Fei Zhuo dared not speak. He only continued kowtowing as though his head belonged to someone else. He smashed his forehead open, and bright-red blood streamed down his cheeks, yet he still did not stop.

Seeing how obediently he behaved, Emperor Gaozu sneered. “You truly are clever. You knew to squeeze the softest persimmon and win the greatest possible benefit for your family. Unfortunately, your luck was poor. You ran straight into me!”

He wiped his hands and flung the cloth into Fei Zhuo’s face. “Your entire family schemed single-mindedly to climb upward by stepping on my sister. But you are still different from Old Madam Hu and Hu Guangshuo. Your crimes do not deserve death. I will not kill you, and I will not kill your daughter!”

Fei Zhuo’s heart relaxed. Although he had kowtowed until blood covered his face, joy and relief appeared in his eyes. He thanked Emperor Gaozu repeatedly. “The Great General is magnanimous and broad-minded!”

“You praise me too soon. I am not particularly broad-minded.”

Emperor Gaozu sighed, then summoned an attendant, his gaze mocking. “Take my written order to the Governor of Yanzhou and tell him this: for every day I govern from the capital, no member of the Fei Family may enter official service! Didn’t you sharpen your heads trying to drill your way upward? Today, I will stamp you back down!”

Fei Zhuo had been ecstatic to learn that his life would be spared. Now he heard that no member of the Fei Family could become an official while Emperor Gaozu governed from the capital. His newborn joy froze instantly. It felt as though he had fallen into an icy cavern, and his heart turned cold.

Why had he wanted to marry his daughter into the Hu Family?

Was it not to use the connection to support his own household, help the younger generation of his family and clan enter officialdom, and bring glory to them all?

After scheming so painfully for so long, discarding every shred of shame, and devoting so much effort, one careless move had cost him the entire game. How could he not feel bitter regret?

He Zhenkui held Yanyun, controlled Yanzhou and Xuzhou to the south, and appeared poised to reunify the realm. Once he secured the empire, wouldn’t the Fei Family remain suppressed for an entire lifetime?

Even later generations might find it impossible to escape that shadow!

This punishment was crueler than killing him!

When Fei Zhuo watched Hu Guangshuo’s torso cut open and his heart and liver removed, he had felt a chill in his own chest. Now he truly understood what it meant to have one’s heart and liver torn away. He looked over with a shamelessly pleading expression and tried to beg for mercy, but Emperor Gaozu gave him no opportunity. A wave of his hand ordered the attendants to drag Fei Zhuo out.

For many people, that night was destined to pass without sleep.

But for Lady He and her two children, her brother had arrived and given them someone to depend upon. They enjoyed their most peaceful night’s sleep in many years.

Years of habit woke Lady He early the next morning. She visited the adjoining bedroom and saw that both children were still sleeping soundly, so she did not disturb them. After washing, dressing, and arranging her hair, she went to the guest quarters to greet her brother.

One of the personal maids who had accompanied Lady He into her marriage was already waiting outside. Seeing her mistress emerge, she hurried forward and lowered her voice. “Last night, the Great General killed both Old Madam and Master. Their bodies were dragged outside and buried!”

Lady He had known her brother would certainly avenge her, but she never expected him to take her mother-in-law’s and husband’s lives directly. She could not help starting in shock. “Ah! Is that what happened?”

The maid explained that Old Madam Hu had intended to torment Lady He to death and seize her dowry. Then she continued, “Years ago, Master swore before our old madam’s grave that he would treat you well. If he failed, he said he was willing to cut out his own heart in atonement. The Great General held him to his word. Last night, he cut open Master’s chest and removed his heart and liver. Today, he will take them to make an offering at our old madam’s grave. Once the rites are complete, we will depart for the capital. The Great General sent someone over just now. He said the children are young and should not be shown such bloody things. They can wait here. Once you and your brother finish paying respects, you can return for them and set out for the capital.”

Lady He was no fool who could not distinguish kindness from malice. Her mother-in-law had planned to torment her to death for her dowry. Why should Lady He grieve over the woman’s fate?
Had her brother not returned in glory, Lady He would likely have been the one to die without a place of burial!

As for Hu Guangshuo…

If Lady He had been allowed to decide, a beating followed by divorce would have sufficed. No matter how contemptible he was, he remained her children’s birth father. They had once been husband and wife, so some part of her always wished to leave him a little room.

But now that her brother had killed him and removed his heart and liver to make an offering at their mother’s grave, Lady He had no objection whatsoever.

He had brought it upon himself. No one else was to blame!

Lady He acknowledged the maid and said nothing more. She ordered the kitchen to send breakfast, dispatched someone to check whether any luggage had been overlooked, and continued without pause toward the guest courtyard.

A swift messenger had arrived from the capital. Emperor Gaozu read the letter and issued several instructions before entering the courtyard, where he happened to meet Lady He. Their eyes met, and they smiled together. No words were needed.

The siblings had been separated for many years, so over breakfast they naturally spoke of what each had experienced during that time.

Emperor Gaozu finished his porridge in a few quick mouthfuls, wiped his mouth casually, and said to Lady He, “The very thought of the Hu Family disgusts me now. Since you are leaving this place, you might as well make a clean break. Change the children’s surname too. Wouldn’t it be much better for them to bear He, like us?”

Lady He felt no attachment to the Hu Family and naturally had no reason to object to her brother’s proposal. But as for the children…

She pressed her lips together. “I will explain it to them slowly on the road to the capital.”

Emperor Gaozu nodded. Seeing that Lady He had already set down her chopsticks, he did not delay. He ordered someone to bring the wooden box containing Hu Guangshuo’s heart and liver, then rose and set out to make an offering at Madam He’s grave.

The emperors in the space studied Lady He’s expression, each wearing a different look.

Li Shimin frowned slightly and suddenly called, “Yuanda.”

Emperor Gaozu accepted the reins from an attendant. “What?”

“Were your actions last night somewhat rash?”

Emperor Gaozu smiled with elegant composure, yet the words leaving his mouth were, “They can think whatever they want. Why should I care?”

He mounted his horse, a trace of coldness between his brows. “My brother-in-law treated my sister badly, so I had to deal with that bastard and avenge her. He broke the oath he swore before my late mother’s grave. As her son, I could not let her rest uneasily in the underworld, so of course I had to tear out his black, rotten heart and liver and let the old lady vent some of her anger below. My nephew and niece were unloved by their own father and suffered too much over the years. As their uncle, I must treat them well, bring them to the capital, and give them a promising future. Now that I have done all that, I can say I have fulfilled every duty and obligation.”

Li Shimin could not help laughing, though he also felt some admiration.

Zhu Yuanzhang agreed. “Yuanda sees matters clearly.”

Emperor Gaozu smiled. “I have done everything that needed doing. It is naturally best if they can accept it, but if they cannot, I won’t force them. As long as no one crosses my bottom line, there is no need to demand that everyone live according to my wishes. How exhausting would that be?”

The Hu servants opened the gates. Emperor Gaozu rode on horseback, while Lady He traveled in a carriage beside him.

Lady He ultimately could not suppress her curiosity. She lifted the carriage curtain and cautiously sounded out her brother. “I have heard you mention my two nephews, Brother, but where is Sister-in-Law from? Of which family is she the young lady?”

Emperor Gaozu searched He Zhenkui’s memories and smiled. “Your sister-in-law cannot be called a young lady from a great family, but she fully deserves to be called a heroine among women. My father-in-law formerly commanded the garrison at Shuofang and had only one daughter. When he was gravely wounded defending the city, your sister-in-law took up a saber in her father’s place and led the soldiers and civilians of Shuofang in holding the walls for three days. Later, I led an army to reinforce them. She chose me at first sight. Of course, your brother chose her too. We bowed to heaven and earth there in Shuofang, set out a few tables of wine, and became husband and wife.”

Lady He had asked partly from curiosity and partly because she feared that arriving as a dependent with two children might displease her sister-in-law. Now, her brother’s words instantly conjured the image of a bright, valiant woman. Her worries vanished, and she smiled. “That truly was a match ordained by heaven!”

Madam He’s grave lay fairly close to the Hu residence. With Emperor Gaozu on horseback and Lady He in her carriage, they arrived without incident in less than an hour.

Lady Pan, the He patriarch’s second wife, held the He Family firmly in her grasp, so Madam He’s grave was inevitably neglected. Fortunately, Lady He kept her late mother in her thoughts and came to make offerings on every festival. The area before the grave remained perfectly tidy, without a trace of weeds or overgrown trees.

Emperor Gaozu and Lady He approached together. Their attendants presented fruit, cakes, and the other offerings. They also opened the box containing Hu Guangshuo’s heart and liver, removed the organs, placed them upon a plate, and set them out with everything else.

Lady He glanced at the plate, then turned her face away. She knelt before the grave and burned paper offerings. As she fed them to the flames, she said, “Mother, Brother has returned. We siblings were separated for so many years, but today we are finally together again. You can set your heart at ease…”

Tears began flowing before she realized it.

Emperor Gaozu also spoke. “Mother, your son has returned. Unfortunately, I came in such a hurry that I did not bring your daughter-in-law and two grandsons with me. When I have time, I will return with them to visit you. You will surely be happy then!”

The siblings spoke before the grave for a long time. Finally, they fell silent and simply remained kneeling. Their attendants stood respectfully to either side, not daring to approach and disturb them.

After a long while, Emperor Gaozu and Lady He helped each other to their feet. They left attendants to look after their mother’s grave, returned to the Hu residence, assembled their party, and departed for the capital.

With Old Madam Hu and Hu Guangshuo dead and Lady Hu married away, the entire Hu residence seemed to have emptied. When Hu Kanglin and Hu Jiaojiao awoke, the enormous estate felt like a vacant house from which everyone had disappeared.

Lady He’s personal maid remained beside them and did not know whether to laugh or cry. “Nanny is still here. How can you say everyone has disappeared?”
Hu Jiaojiao rubbed her eyes and asked excitedly, “Where are Grandmother and Father? What about Aunt? How did Uncle deal with them?!”

The maid did not know how to answer.

The truth might be the truth, but it was far too bloody and cruel for two children. She did not know whether they could accept it.

In the end, the maid merely smiled. “Madam went with the Great General to pay respects to the old madam. Once she returns, she will naturally explain everything to you.”

When Lady He returned, the maid whispered, “They asked me, but I hid the truth. Madam should consider how best to tell them.”

Lady He felt conflicted and delayed the conversation for the moment. But when their carriage left the Hu residence and she looked back at its plaque from a distance, she felt every shackle fall from her body and experienced an overwhelming sense of relief.

Her heart stirred. She lowered her eyes to her children, then suddenly found peace.

Paper could not contain fire. Rather than let the children learn of the matter from someone else, she should tell them every detail herself.

Besides, her brother occupied such a high position that he naturally attracted attention. His full sister was arriving in the capital with two children. Could they possibly escape notice?

Her brother had made no deliberate attempt to conceal what happened to the Hu Family. Even if Lady He said nothing, the dignitaries in the capital would investigate and learn the truth. Since her conscience was clear, why should she shrink in fear and deliberately hide it?

If their mother was too timid to speak, how could the children ever straighten their backs and speak with confidence?

Lady He steeled herself and stopped hesitating. She carefully recounted the history to her children, beginning with the favor Madam He’s natal family had shown the Hu Family, continuing through Hu Guangshuo’s oath before her mother’s grave and the later behavior of Old Madam Hu and her son. At last, after pausing for several moments, she told them that both Old Madam Hu and Hu Guangshuo were dead.

Hu Kanglin and Hu Jiaojiao were still only half-grown children, so the news naturally shocked them. Hu Guangshuo had been a biased bastard, but Old Madam Hu had still shown them some affection. Learning without warning that their uncle had killed both of them the previous night made their faces change.

The twins were the same age, but when it came to important matters, Hu Jiaojiao still waited for her brother to decide. She frowned with her little brows and looked toward him, waiting for his judgment.

Lady He also felt faintly anxious and watched her son with complete attention.

Hu Kanglin was the Hu Family’s eldest grandson and had received more affection from Old Madam Hu. It would have been a lie to say that news of his grandmother’s death caused him no grief. He lowered his head and thought for a long while before finally saying, “There was actually nothing wrong with what Uncle did.”

He pressed his lips together, then continued slowly. “Grandmother did treat me fairly well, but that cannot erase how badly she treated Mother. I cannot ignore all the grievances Mother suffered over the years merely because Grandmother showed me kindness. Besides, Uncle interrogated Grandmother’s personal maid. Grandmother wanted to torment Mother to death for her dowry, and she was already carrying out that plan. Wasn’t Grandmother the one who insisted that Father marry that woman surnamed Fei?”

Hu Kanglin continued, “Father and Mother were both my closest family. So are Grandmother and Uncle. They are all my flesh and blood. To decide who was right or wrong, I must therefore rely upon reason.”

Hu Jiaojiao was persuaded by her brother. When she remembered their father’s face, a trace of fear and reluctance crossed her expression. “But cutting out Father’s heart and liver was still too cruel…”

Hu Kanglin answered, “No one can stand without keeping their word. Father made that promise to our maternal grandmother with his own mouth. From Uncle’s perspective, holding him to it was perfectly reasonable.”

Hu Jiaojiao frowned. “Elder Brother, how can you say that? No matter how badly Father behaved, he was still our father!”

Hu Kanglin neither grew angry nor impatient. He merely asked, “Jiaojiao, do you think Uncle went too far? Or do you think Mother was too cold toward Grandmother and Father?”

Hu Jiaojiao lowered her head and dared not speak. Her small hand toyed intermittently with the silk cord at her waist.

Lady He did not become angry. She said gently, “It is all right. We are family. Whatever you think, we can speak openly and make everything clear. Mother will not blame you.”

Hu Jiaojiao lowered her lashes and gave a nearly imperceptible nod.

“But Jiaojiao, I don’t think it is entirely fair to think that way about Uncle and Mother.”

Hu Kanglin moved to sit beside his sister, their shoulders touching.

Taking her hand, he said, “Mother endured Grandmother’s harassment and Aunt’s humiliation for our sake. She also tolerated Concubine Zhang constantly provoking her. If not for us, why would she have lived such a bitter life? Mother has two hands and two feet. If we had not burdened her, she could have escaped long ago. Why would she have remained in the Hu Family and wasted her life? And what has Father done for us all these years?”

“To put it plainly, Mother did good deeds all her life, only to have every accomplishment denied because of one tiny flaw. Father, meanwhile, supposedly put down the butcher’s blade and became a Buddha on the spot. Is that fair? Besides, Father did not lower the butcher’s blade willingly. Uncle tore it from his hands.”

Hu Jiaojiao’s face flushed crimson. She lowered her head guiltily, not daring to look at her mother.

Even Lady He had not expected her son to speak with such insight. Warmth and emotion filled her heart. She smiled with delight but said nothing.

Hu Kanglin continued, “Father and Grandmother are gone. I feel sad too. The books say that people are not plants or trees-who could be without feeling? But death cannot erase evil. After all, they did not die to atone for their crimes. They died purely because Uncle punished them. You saw only the scraps of warmth Grandmother and Father let fall through their fingers, yet forgot Mother, who shielded us from every storm all these years. Isn’t that deeply unfair too?”