coobybook Chapter 1061 Qiu Hong's End (Part 1)
Chapter 1061 Qiu Hong's End (Part 1)
Zhao Ji looked at Qiu Bai with a shocked expression.
Qiu Bai, with a calm expression, said, "I saw you that day, and among all the guards, you were the only one who didn't give false testimony."
Zhao Ji's throat bobbed, as if he wanted to say something, but he only bowed deeply.
Qiu Bai raised his hand and pressed on his shoulder: "Even if you had spoken up for me back then, it would have just resulted in one more life. Since Qiu Hong has decided to kill, he will not let those who know the truth live."
There was no blame in Qiu Bai's words; on the contrary, it made Zhao Ji feel even more guilty.
As he said, Zhao Ji served as a private guard in a noble family, which was no different from being a servant.
If he had stood up for Qiu Bai back then, it would have just meant killing one more person for Qiu Hong.
Qiu Bai, who had just entered the criminal camp, might harbor resentment towards the Qiu family, who had stood by and watched people die.
Having experienced so much, Qiu Bai now only feels a calm after seeing through the ways of the world.
Zhao Ji's eyes welled up with tears, and he lowered his head even further, saying in a hoarse voice, "Young Master... if you ever need my help, my life is yours."
"Do your job well." Qiu Bai put his mask back on, his voice returning to its cold hardness. "Only by staying alive can you be of any use."
As soon as he finished speaking, his figure disappeared into the shadows around the corner of the stable.
Zhao Ji stood there for a moment, then wiped his face vigorously and continued to stir the fodder.
However, the ladle used to scoop water was much more stable.
. . . . . .
For the next three days, Jingzhou Prefecture appeared calm on the surface.
His Majesty in the palace seemed to have truly come to rest. Apart from occasionally summoning officials and asking about trivial matters of local customs and conditions, he did not take any other extreme actions.
But some extremely subtle changes are taking place in the unseen fabric of this ancient city.
At the canal wharf in the west of the city, the laborers who used to work there year-round were nowhere to be seen, replaced by a few taciturn new faces.
In the alleys where ironware workshops are clustered in the south of the city, there are occasional, almost inaudible, soft sounds at night, like stray cats stepping across the roof tiles.
But when the workshop owner inspected the warehouse the next day, everything seemed normal, though he felt inexplicably uneasy.
Near Qifengzhuang, a few out-of-town peddlers came, selling needles and thread along the river. Their eyes, however, kept glancing at the newly silted fields. When chatting with the old farmers in the fields, they talked about old stories from many years ago.
He would occasionally visit the governor's office, the workshops, and even the homes of some clerks late at night.
Some long-sealed files may disappear temporarily, only to quietly return to their original location the next day.
No one knows what these subtle changes mean, and most people are completely unaware of them.
Only officials with keen senses like Du Qingcheng, and people with guilty consciences like Qiu Hong, could sense the low pressure before a storm.
The atmosphere within the Qiu residence grew increasingly tense each day.
Qiu Hong's lavish gifts, which he had prepared, were ultimately not delivered.
The first person he visited was naturally Prefect Du Qingcheng.
The letter was sent in, and the reply was polite, saying that Lord Du was busy with official duties and was organizing accounts in preparation for His Majesty's inquiry at any time, so he really had no time to meet and asked Lord Qiu for his understanding.
But there was a deliberate sense of distance in his words.
It's worth noting that Du Qingcheng wasn't like this before. He not only had a past relationship with the Qiu family, but he also married the Qiu family's illegitimate daughter as a concubine.
But at this point, let alone marrying a concubine, even if the wife was from the Qiu family, Du Qingcheng could still divorce her.
Although he didn't know what the Qiu family had done, Du Qingcheng could tell that the emperor was targeting and disliking the Qiu family.
The Qiu family are close allies of the new emperor, and a bright future awaits him. Why should he be so foolish as to oppose His Majesty the Emperor for the sake of the mere Qiu family?
Qiu Hong then tried to find the magistrate and several subordinate officials who were used to receiving benefits from the Qiu family.
The result was the same for all of them: either they claimed to be sick and refused to come out, or they were simply turned away by the gatekeeper, who didn't even bother to offer a polite excuse.
Finally, he braced himself and tried to meet with a retired censor who had a past relationship with the Qiu family and now held some influence in the court.
The old censor did see him, but he dismissed his attendants, tapped the ceiling with his withered fingers, and sighed, "Which way the wind blows, my old eyes are too blurry to see."
"Lord Qiu, in the current situation, it's better to remain still than to take any action. Perhaps... we should think about how to apologize."
After saying this, the old censor left, returning the gifts untouched.
With even his last hope dashed, Qiu Hong could only return to the Qiu residence, utterly dejected.
The carefully prepared gift boxes lay untouched in the carriage, an eyesore.
Gold, silver, and jade are now more useless than bricks and stones.
"These money-grubbing bastards, not a single one dared to lay a finger on it... no one dared..."
Qiu Hong sat alone in his study, the gloomy sky outside the window making his face look ashen.
His Majesty hadn't even actually made a move; it was just a subtle, almost imperceptible targeting that made Qiu Hong a plague god that the officials of Jingzhou avoided like the plague.
This slowly tightening fear is more devastating than being directly attacked with knives and axes.
He suddenly remembered what Qiu Hongli from the fourth branch of the family had said that day: "If Second Brother Mingyuan were still alive..."
"Shut up!" Qiu Hong growled at the empty study, his eyes bloodshot. "I am the head of the family! The Qiu family is not yet fallen!"
Qiu Mingyuan was murdered by order of the emperor himself, using family law as a pretext.
He felt he had done nothing wrong. After all, Qiu Mingyuan wasn't a direct descendant, yet he had done a better job than him.
He also had a good relationship with his second brother; in an ordinary family, the two would probably be very close brothers.
But the Qiu family is a powerful clan! The struggle between powerful clans is a matter of life and death!
What did I do wrong? It was just to consolidate the family's position. If Qiu Mingyuan were in my position, he would have done the same!
He was panting heavily as his gaze swept over the luxurious furnishings of the study, finally settling on an inconspicuous hidden compartment deep within the display cabinet.
There, the seal that can access the family's secret treasures is kept.
Perhaps, it's truly time to draw upon our old resources...
It wasn't about bribing officials, but about seeking another way to make a living.
The thought sent a chill down his spine, and a faint sense of despair rose in his heart.
He really didn't want to come to this point unless absolutely necessary.
Just then, the butler cautiously announced from outside the study: "Master, Uncle Hu Kui has arrived and says he has something urgent to report."
Hu Kui, the younger brother of his second wife, is also one of the few confidants who can still run errands for him in private matters.
Qiu Hong's spirits lifted, as if he had grasped a lifeline: "Let him in quickly!"
He failed to see that, in the shadows of the corridor outside the window, a figure that had seemed to blend into the pillars was retreating silently like a ghost, disappearing behind the continuous rooftops.
The wind seemed to be getting stronger.
. . . . . .
Three days later, a banquet was held at the Jingzhou Imperial Palace.
As dusk settles, the melodious sounds of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments fill the air.
Li Che held the banquet in the main hall of the temporary palace, ostensibly to demonstrate his favor to local officials.
As for the real reason...
Li Che looked at Qiu Bai beside him, who was dressed in court robes but wore soft armor underneath and stood holding a sword.
Although Qiu Bai's expression was calm, Li Che could still sense that his body was trembling slightly.
Li Che agreed to Qiu Bai's request to give the Qiu family a truly unforgettable end, to pronounce their crimes in front of everyone in Jingzhou, and this banquet would be the perfect execution ground.
The main officials of Jingzhou Prefecture, the garrison commanders, and the talented individuals who had been summoned by Li Che at the city gate a few days earlier were all among those invited.
Qiu Hong arrived early. Today, he specially changed into a brand-new royal blue silk shirt and tried his best to appear calm and composed.
Behind him, two strong servants carried a heavy sandalwood box, a gift he had carefully chosen.
A pair of white jade ruyi scepters from the previous dynasty's palace, three red gold Buddha statues inlaid with precious stones, and a box of high-quality pearls from the East China Sea are all valuable yet not vulgar.
Among them, the pair of jade ruyi scepters were obtained from a secret collection of his family. They were of impeccable origin and priceless, which was enough to show his sincerity.
The news Hu Kui brought that day was not good: all of Qiu's assets had been investigated, and all the people he had assigned to various departments in Jingzhou had been placed under surveillance.
These things weren't even ordered by the emperor; they were done by various factions in Jingzhou to curry favor with him.
In other words, the Qiu family is now isolated by the entire Jingzhou region.
Qiu Hong originally planned to use his private stash to escape Jingzhou and find another way out.
The Qiu family wasn't without options; they secretly colluded with salt gangs and river pirates near Jingzhou.
However, after Li Che ascended the throne, he cleaned up the country's security, leaving no place for bandits to hide. The few remaining bandits could only sneak around doing small businesses or completely reform themselves.
Not to mention, the Qiu family is a prestigious family, and they would never become bandits unless absolutely necessary.
Therefore, Qiu Hong still wanted to try, to see if he could resolve this matter using the methods of high society.
The banquet proceeded according to etiquette, with three rounds of wine and five courses of food served.
Li Che sat in the main seat, his expression gentle, occasionally chatting with Du Qingcheng and several older officials and gentry nearby.
From a distance, the young emperor had a gentle and handsome face, without any hint of meanness.
But none of those present relaxed because of this; they knew all too well the emperor's methods.
Qiu Hong seized an opportunity to get up and leave his seat. He walked to the steps of the throne and knelt down respectfully: "Your Majesty's gracious presence in Jingzhou has brought blessings to our land. We, your humble people and clan, are deeply grateful for Your Majesty's grace."
"This is just a small gift, nothing more than a token of our respect, to express the sincere loyalty and respect of this humble subject and the people of Jingzhou to Your Majesty. We earnestly hope that Your Majesty will accept it with a smile."
After saying that, he gestured to the servants to carry the wooden box up.
The eunuch stepped forward and opened the box, revealing a dazzling array of jewels that drew murmurs of amazement from those present.
Li Che glanced at the box, nodded, and smiled faintly: "Patriarch Qiu is very thoughtful. Jingzhou is a land of abundant resources and outstanding people. I am very pleased."
He then looked at the Iron-Faced General beside him.
"Take it."
Qiu Hong felt a great weight lifted from his heart. His Majesty had accepted this sincerity, and it seemed that the difficult situation might be over.
He thanked the emperor and stood up, about to say a few more words of pleading.
Li Che suddenly changed the subject, speaking in a calm tone: "When I mentioned that old matter to Patriarch Qiu before, you were always vague about it. I'm very curious. Could you tell me the details today?"
Qiu Hong froze, his heart leaping back into his throat: "Your Majesty is right..."
Li Che spoke expressionlessly: "It is said that many years ago, your family had a tragic case of incestuous relations between a nephew and a niece, which shocked the village. I wonder if there are still any lingering effects?"
The hall fell silent.