The meeting of the Chinese Nobility in Yingzhou saw the head of the Li Jian Family deposed, and Li Jian Amber set out for Yingzhou.
Huai Shi's mind was a mess of thoughts.
Each of these three pieces of news was overly complex.
It's only November. Has the internal Deer's Sing Hall meeting of the Chinese Nobility been moved up this year?
The head of the Li Jian Family has been deposed? Deposed? By whom? Who has the authority to do that?
And Li Jian Amber is heading to Yingzhou. Isn't Amber an external staff member of the social security bureau now? Why Nara? Shouldn't the Li Jian Family's fief be in AnFang Country?
All three of these matters, each deeper than the last.
Instinctively, he sensed endless schemes.
The Chinese Nobility meeting being moved up indicated that the power struggle between the Wu Family and the Duke faction had intensified. Only two people had the power to depose the head of the Li Jian Family. And Amber's movements already showed that the social security bureau had started to infiltrate Yingzhou... Huai Shi could almost see how delighted Xuan Niao's old face would be, smiling widely.
Although it's possible that Amber is unblemished by the mire and has no private dealings with the Dongxia Genealogy, the question is, who would believe that?
He was the youngest son of the Li Jian Family, one of those with legitimate inheritance rights. From the day he left for Dongxia, he was destined to be labeled 'Second fifth' for his entire life.
Huai Shi could easily imagine what a mess the Li Jian Family had become by now, not knowing how many people planned to swim naked in the muddy waters, competing in all manners.
Looking at Kusaki, Huai Shi was filled with sheer amazement.
This guy had been free for so many years and was now opting to return at such a critical moment... He knew it was a trap but still jumped straight in?
"Have you really thought this through?" he asked seriously.
"That kind of thing, I've never considered it."
Kiyoshi Kusaki replied calmly, "And there's never been a need to consider it... Since the day I started serving the Li Jian Family, I've been prepared to sacrifice my life someday. For a samurai, there is no better outcome than this."
"..."
After a long silence, Huai Shi sighed, "Can you not always think of life as something to sacrifice? In my opinion, sacrificing one's life for a meaningless title is nothing but the epitome of foolishness. Although it might not be appropriate to say, Mr. Sasaki, the Li Jian Family won't miss one less of you."
Kiyoshi Kusaki's mouth curved into a hearty smile. "Well, one more of me doesn't make much difference, does it?"
Huai Shi rolled his eyes, sighed softly, and said no more. He got up, took another jar from the cupboard, and placed it on the table.
"We may have finished the sake from Tengu Mountain, but there's enough of Uncle Fang's home-brewed yellow wine. Please, Mr. Sasaki, this is the last thing I can do for you as a friend."
"Then, I would be remiss not to accept it!"
Laughing loudly, Kusaki raised his cup once more.
"Cheers!"
.
.
But he hardly took a few sips before he collapsed.
Big addict, little tolerance.
Raymond drank up the rest. When leaving, one hand was carrying the drunken Kusaki, the other still gripping two jars. Had Uncle Fang not been quite pleased, Huai Shi might have chopped off Raymond's hands.
In the end, a mess was left for Huai Shi.
Uncle Fang had been busy all night and was sent off to rest by Huai Shi. Fortunately, there were two students to help out.
Little Nineteen cleaned the table, Yuan Yuan mopped the floor, and Huai Shi, with an apron tied around, went to clean up and wash the dishes in the kitchen.
Clearly holding quite a grudge against stubborn Kusaki who wouldn't heed advice, he muttered while washing, "...He's always got his head in the clouds, not understanding the value of life. He just mulls over what grand cause he can sacrifice himself for, as if he's footing the bill for the entire village. Xiaoyuan, Little Nineteen, don't grow up to be like that, okay?"
"..."
The two students looked at each other speechlessly.
"Uh, I think you're the last person qualified to say that, Teacher," one of them ventured.
"Nonsense! What I do is 'bravery founded on outstanding skill.' Can you even compare?" Huai Shi glanced back at them. "At his level, once he goes back to Yingzhou and gets involved in that mess, he'll sooner or later be chopped to death on the streets. Isn't living well better than anything else?"
"...I do wish you could also understand that same reasoning."
Little Nineteen is getting bold!
Huai Shi glared at him again. The youngster got timid, but it was too late!
Dare to argue with the teacher? You'll be in for extra lessons tomorrow! Get ready for an intensive course on the Performance Method. If you can't play the zither, start learning from the kazoo!
Lin Nineteen leaned on the mop, thought for a moment, and then said suddenly, "Grandfather used to tell me that a person can't choose how they're born, but they can always decide how they die. I think Mr. Sasaki might be fully aware of what he's heading into this time."
He said, "He might have been waiting for this day for a long time."
"...Fine. For the family, for honor."
Huai Shi couldn't help but sigh and only then remembered: both of his students, one from the Yuan Family and one from the Lin family, belonged to distinguished high houses, both certified by the Astronomical Society as sacred lineage clans.
Everyone grew up with a sense of family honor that Huai Shi couldn't match, brandishing a knife without a second thought for their clans. Huai Shi himself couldn't imagine drawing a sword and charging into battle shouting 'For the Huai Family.'
Too laughable.
Not to mention his parents, even his Grandfather didn't take the family's reputation seriously when he was alive. If things went south, so be it. At least he left a legacy house for his grandson, which could be sold to provide for a lifetime's sustenance.
He casually asked, "Are there many people like that in your families?"