Chapter 243: The Student Surpasses the Master
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In the prison, Xu Jingfu sat quietly.
When he first arrived, the prison guards treated him with utmost respect, showing no negligence. Although he was shocked by Xiao Huaijin’s ruthless methods, he wasn’t in a hurry. With Chu Zhao outside, and considering Emperor Wenxuan’s indecisive nature, it wouldn’t take long for him to either leave unharmed or gradually turn the situation around.
However, in recent days, the attitudes of the prison guards towards him had gradually changed.
Xu Jingfu, with his experience in the court for many years, could sometimes discern changes in the situation with just a glance. These days, with no one coming to visit him, he couldn’t learn about the outside situation. He didn’t care much about his own situation, but he began to worry about Xu Pingting and Madam Xu. Xu Pingting had been pampered and sheltered since birth and had never experienced any hardships. He wondered how Emperor Wenxuan was dealing with them.
While Xu Jingfu kept a calm demeanor on the surface, he was becoming increasingly anxious.
The Crown Prince Guangyan wouldn’t be of much use, and due to their estrangement over the Wutuo incident, he probably wouldn’t dare to speak up now. Thinking about this, Xu Jingfu couldn’t help feeling contemptuous. If it weren’t for the lack of capable people in the court, he wouldn’t have supported the foolish Guangyan. But after all this time, hadn’t Chu Zhao thought of a solution yet? Or was Chu Zhao also facing troubles now?
Xu Jingfu was getting a bit impatient. The longer he stayed in the prison, the worse the situation became. He had no idea how far Xiao Jue had gone, and as for Emperor Wenxuan… even if he was benevolent, he was still an emperor. When he wasn’t around, other courtiers would teach him how to be an emperor.
There would always be people trying to drag him down. He needed to think of another way, but the most urgent matter was to meet someone.
As Xu Jingfu was pondering, his vision blurred for a moment. It seemed like someone had flashed past the dark corner of the prison room. Looking more closely, there was nothing there.
Outside, it was snowing, and the prison guards were squatting at the door drinking. The warmth of the alcohol temporarily dispelled the cold, and the sounds of laughter gradually diminished. The torches on the wall emitted a faint light, and within that light, there seemed to be a faint crackling sound, like the burning of something. Gradually, this sound became vague, and after a while, at some unknown time, a scream tore through the night.
“Fire! Fire in the prison!”
“Quick, hurry to put out the fire!”
The smoke irritated people’s throats, and the blazing fire quickly ignited. The sounds of people rushing to fetch water to put out the fire mixed with the noise of sword fighting.
“Help! Someone has kidnapped Xu Xiang!”
…
Xu Jingfu was pushed into a secluded courtyard, seemingly located in a desolate area resembling a farm. There were no other courtyards in sight. As soon as he entered, Xu Jingfu began to cough.
Being old, he couldn’t endure such turmoil. Half of his beard had been burnt off, and his clothes were covered in black marks from the fire, making him look particularly disheveled. There was no one else in the room, but there was tea and food on the table, looking rather exquisite. He didn’t touch anything.
It’s always good to be cautious at any time.
When he arrived, he had already asked the people around about who had kidnapped him, but no one answered his questions. Xu Jingfu was feeling uneasy, and after sitting for a while, he heard some movement at the door. Someone walked in.
Looking up, he saw a person dressed in light blue, with a gentle demeanor. When this person saw him, they softly called, “Teacher.”
“Zilan?” Xu Jingfu was initially delighted, but then he frowned. “What’s going on here?”
Chu Zilan closed the door.
“Teacher, you may not know, but Xiao Huaijin has found witnesses in the Mingshui case.”
Xu Jingfu’s heart skipped a beat, but in the end, it wasn’t much of a surprise. His men had been searching for the whereabouts of the brothers with the surname Luo. Even though they had obtained clues, the brothers suddenly vanished from the mortal realm. At that moment, Xu Jingfu began to suspect that Xiao Jue had a hand in this. However, Xiao Jue’s actions were secretive, and Xu Jingfu had never been able to catch him red-handed. Now that Xu Jingfu was in prison due to the He Rufei incident, Xiao Huaijin would undoubtedly not let this opportunity slip. The Mingshui case was something Xiao Jue had never forgotten, and it would eventually be revisited and re-examined.
“Only having eyewitnesses is not enough for a conviction.”
Chu Zilan sighed, “Many courtiers are throwing stones at you.”
Xu Jingfu could only sneer.
Having been in this position for so many years, he was well aware that victory or defeat could happen in an instant. When he suppressed the old subordinates left by Xiao Zhongwu in the past, he took advantage of the opportunity presented by the Mingshui case. Now that he was in trouble, opponents would undoubtedly show no mercy.
“Are you suggesting that you think the Xu family won’t be able to turn things around?” Xu Jingfu looked at Chu Zhao, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure. “Is this the method you came up with while I was in prison? Inciting a jailbreak?” Here, Xu Jingfu was somewhat annoyed. “Do you know that this move will only make the emperor lean more toward Xiao Huaijin? You are not helping at all.”
“Teacher,” Chu Zilan stood by his side, shaking his head. “The student has no other choice.”
Xu Jingfu took a deep breath. “You’ve always been clever. Why did you choose such a foolish method this time? What do you intend by rescuing me from prison? To save my life? Even if my life is saved, the Xu family can’t be saved, and there’s also Pingting and Madam. You…”
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became. Yet, now he couldn’t return by himself. If he stayed here, people outside would only say that Xu Jingfu was afraid of punishment and had fled.
“Teacher,” Chu Zilan said in a gentle voice, standing beside him. “Even if there was no jailbreak, the Xu family wouldn’t be able to hold on. Xiao Huaijin won’t give the Xu family a chance to turn things around, and the Fourth Prince has already taken action.”
“But you took a step back! Can you protect me for a moment? Can you protect me for a lifetime?” Xu Jingfu stared angrily at the young man in front of him. “You’ve always been reliable in your actions, and I’ve always trusted you. Why did you choose such a clumsy method this time….” His words suddenly stopped.
The person in front of him was his prospective son-in-law, his student, someone he had watched grow up. He had studied and entered officialdom under his guidance. He was intelligent, gentle, and courteous, a truly talented individual. Xu Jingfu admired him greatly. Having no sons of his own, he had considered Chu Zilan as his successor and had nurtured him accordingly.
The room fell silent for a moment.
“Is this deliberate?” Xu Jingfu asked slowly, his gaze as sharp and venomous as a snake.
Chu Zhao smiled faintly, “Teacher, it has come to this point. This is the best course of action.”
Xu Jingfu’s hands trembled slightly.
“I know you are unwilling and still wish to make a comeback, but, Teacher, while you were in prison, the situation outside has changed drastically,” Chu Zhao’s voice remained gentle, continuing calmly, “I have met the Crown Prince, and this is also his intention.”
“That foolish Guangyan,” Xu Jingfu sneered, “How could he come up with the idea of sacrificing the pawn to protect the king? I bet it was you,” he stared at Chu Zilan’s face, “You proposed it, well done, Chu Zilan. You’ve been by my side for so long, and I didn’t realize I had raised a poisonous snake.”
“Isn’t this what I learned from Teacher?” Chu Zhao wasn’t angry, saying in a calm tone, “It’s Teacher who taught me well.”
Xu Jingfu had experienced the ebb and flow of officialdom for many years, but it was the first time he had the visceral experience of being infuriated to the point of spitting blood. Even during the intense confrontation with Xiao Zhongwu back in the day, he had not felt this level of frustration and anger.
Xu Jingfu understood Chu Zhao’s intentions. Perhaps his jailbreak was a pretense, aiming to create a situation where he appeared to conspire and escape in fear of punishment. Following that, Chu Zhao, his student, acted with a sense of righteousness, showcasing his loyalty to the emperor and love for the country. This would eliminate the possibility of him conspiring with Xu Jingfu and remove the potential threat of Xu Jingfu. In Xu Jingfu’s hands, there were many pieces of evidence left by Chu Zhao, enough to destroy him.
More importantly, with Xu Jingfu’s death, the Xu party members who sought refuge would likely escape punishment. If Chu Zhao managed to free himself from this case, the connections he had cultivated over the years would all become Chu Zhao’s.
With no sons of his own, Xu Jingfu had seen the potential in Chu Zhao’s character and talent. He wanted to groom him into his own person. Unexpectedly, Chu Zhao hid himself deeply, like… eating the master?
Suddenly, Xu Jingfu felt nauseous.
“Chu Zilan,” Xu Jingfu called Chu Zhao’s name. “I treated you well, without any wrongdoing. If it weren’t for me saving you, you would have died in one of the courtyards of the Shi Jinbo residence long ago. For so many years, I protected you, helped you enter officialdom, arranged everything for you, and you actually repay me like this—a person who forgets gratitude and betrays kindness!”
“Forget gratitude and betray kindness?” Chu Zilan smiled. He looked at Xu Jingfu, his voice warm as he spoke, “Teacher has indeed treated the student very well. But within this kindness, how much is genuine and how much is utilitarian, Teacher is clear in his heart. There’s no need to speak too sincerely; otherwise, if you say it too much, I’m afraid even I would start to believe it.”
Back then, in the Xu residence, Xu Jingfu had given him a pair of boots, saving him from the hands of Madam Chu. After that, at least on the surface, the three legitimate brothers and Madam Chu didn’t dare to act too recklessly, and he was able to preserve his life. There was a period of time when Chu Zhao was genuinely grateful to Xu Jingfu.
Until he gradually grew up and was appointed as an official by Xu Jingfu. On the surface, it seemed like a good thing—Teacher arranged everything for the student’s future, something few people in this world could achieve.
But when he started his official duties, it turned out that he had become a pawn of Xu Jingfu.
Xu Jingfu’s students were scattered throughout Great Wei, and each official student was a pawn of his. Chu Zhao was no different from other pawns; he killed for Xu Jingfu, manipulated cases, and won hearts and minds… He did everything. Behind the scenes, Xu Jingfu was pulling the strings, and he was the target in public, always subjected to numerous hidden arrows.
One day, he accidentally overheard Xu Jingfu talking to his subordinates.
“Fourth Young Master Chu is going to attend a banquet, and there might be danger. Why not…”
“Young people need to grow up in danger,” his teacher smiled and said, “If he’s not even willing to risk his life, what was the point of raising him for so long? “
Chu Zhao later understood; he was indeed a dog raised by Xu Jingfu. Xu Jingfu told him whom to bite, and he bit. The person who was bitten hated the biting dog, not the one raising the dog.
Does Xu Jingfu not know that going to Jiyang is dangerous? Of course, he knows. Even when he was in Rundu, Xu Jingfu was still wary of him. When Xu Jingfu noticed that Xu Pingting liked him, he could effortlessly arrange their engagement. Chu Zhao understood clearly that if, one day, Xu Pingting no longer liked him, or worse, hated him, Xu Jingfu would not hesitate to abandon him.
“You play the role of a mentor, and I play the role of a disciple. Playing these roles for so long, Teacher has forgotten why he chose me as a student in the first place.”
Xu Jingfu stared at him angrily and retorted, “…Because I felt sorry for you back then!”
“Is that so?” the young man smiled. “Didn’t Teacher choose me as a disciple because I had nothing and was easy to control?”
A pitiful person who faced bullying from step Mothers and legitimate brothers at home and could die at any moment. A person with nothing, no one to rely on, who, once shown a little kindness, would repay it a hundredfold, and who, given the opportunity, would desperately climb up.
He was simply too suitable to be a pawn.
And too suitable to be used by others because he had no other choices.
That kind and gentle teacher was just a facade he had put on, concealing calculations and schemes inside those soft boots. He waited for time to pass slowly, for the nails to gradually emerge from the boots, unconsciously causing blood to flow.
But did he not calculate at that time?
Clearly knowing he was going to the Xu family mansion for a banquet, clearly knowing that the clothes Madame Chu made for him were as thin as paper, he still wore that outfit.
Chu Linfeng accompanied him to socialize, and he couldn’t find a moment to change his boots, or at least pull out the nails inside. With the Xu mansion being so vast, why did he have to meet Xu Jingfu?
He grew up in a brothel, witnessing women using all kinds of tricks to win the favor of men. Appearing helpless was the instinct of all the strong. Using people’s sympathy and pity was a skill he learned for self-preservation during those years.
Opportunities were hard to come by, and each one had to be firmly grasped.
He grasped them, finally changing his own destiny, even though the way back was not very bright. But at least, it allowed him to struggle for so many years.
Xu Jingfu used him, and he used Xu Jingfu. In the end, he and Xu Jingfu were the same kind of people from the beginning.
It was just a pity about those boots. He regretfully thought, they really did warm him for many years.
The light in the room flickered gently. The wind outside was strong, but the window blocked it, making it seem like ghosts were howling. The warm candlelight only made the room colder.
Xu Jingfu looked at him, and as he looked, he suddenly laughed softly. He said, “Chu Zilan… well done… you’re really something…”
“Teacher,” Chu Zilan looked at him, his eyes still gentle. “Like you, your sympathy for me is real, wanting to use me is also real, my gratitude to you is real, wanting to kill you is also real.” He took a step back, his silhouette becoming clear in the lamplight. He had a soft and handsome face that seemed otherworldly, yet it carried a cold and indifferent compassion, as if he had tasted all the sins in the mortal world. “The methods I used are all learned from you, Teacher. It’s just… student surpassing the master.”
“Well done for surpassing the master.” Xu Jingfu burst into laughter, but in this laughter, there was an unusual bitterness. He asked, “Are all the people outside yours… when do you plan to kill me?”
Chu Zhao remained silent.
“This decisive ruthlessness truly lives up to being my student!” He suddenly spoke, “What about Pingting? How do you plan to treat her?”
This old minister, who had been ruthless in the court for a lifetime, finally, at this moment, revealed a vulnerability that belonged to an elder. He looked at Chu Zhao, and his gaze even seemed somewhat pleading. “She genuinely likes you… If you still have half a conscience, don’t hurt her!”
“I won’t hurt her.” After a long time, Chu Zhao finally spoke. “As long as she obediently listens.”
The room was brightly lit, and voices from outside reached them. “Fourth Young Master! The pursuers are catching up!”
Chu Zhao looked at Xu Jingfu.
Xu Jingfu silently stared back at him, his gaze filled with reluctance, anger, and resentment. Eventually, it sank into a sense of powerlessness.
He was old now, and during the Battle of Mingshui, when dealing with Xiao Zhongwu, he should have expected this day.
Chu Zhao slowly knelt down in front of Xu Jingfu, bowing deeply. “The student will inherit the teacher’s will. Teacher, rest in peace.”
He stood up, not looking back, and left the room. Several guards rushed in, and the sound of tables and stools falling accompanied by subdued cries echoed from the room.
Chu Zhao stood quietly, the wind lifting the hem of his robe, making his slender figure stand out, as if he were about to ride the wind and leave. For a moment, he thought of many years ago, probably when he was eleven or twelve. He went to Xu Jingfu’s mansion to congratulate him on his birthday. Xu Jingfu’s students were all older than him, many were already officials, and the gifts they gave were gold, jade, and jewelry. Only he hesitated for a long time, finally awkwardly taking out a painting from behind him.
On the painting was a pine tree he had drawn, spending several days and nights on it, making it particularly meticulous. He didn’t have much money and was unwilling to ask Chu Linfeng for help. After much contemplation, this was the only thing he could present.
Crane-bone pine sinew, green pines and emerald cypresses. At that moment, he was truly thinking of that.
But that was a long, long time ago.
Soon, two guards walked out from inside. One of them had his knife stained red with blood, and droplets of it were falling onto the snow beneath his feet like blooming plum blossoms.
Chu Zhao took the knife from him, the blade heavy. Even the man carrying it felt a bit strenuous. It was hard to imagine how that seemingly frail and small girl could handle it with such ease.
He looked at the knife, gripping the handle with one hand. Suddenly, he stabbed it towards his own chest.
“Splurt—”
The tip of the knife pierced the flesh, a clear sensation of pain spreading, seemingly awakening him from the previous daze. The guard beside him exclaimed, “Fourth Young Master!”
He waved his hand laboriously, pulled the knife out, dropped it to the ground, and covered his wound with one hand. Blood instantly filled his palm, staining the robes a deep red.
In the next moment, the sounds of troops and horses suddenly approached from outside. He took two steps forward, finally unable to withstand his weakened state, and knelt down.
“Fourth Young Master! Fourth Young Master!”
The last thing he saw was the glaring torches and a large number of troops rushing in.
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