Chapter 272: Life Goes On, Shenanigans Never Stop
According to Zhu Xiuyi’s scheme, weakening the powerful and ambitious Pei Clan and balancing the gap between the Pei Clan and Cui Xie would make the various clans even more submissive, and following the Xiahou Clan against the Imperial Family that had lost its Grandmaster and the other three clans would naturally ensure victory.
Who would have thought that the mantis stalks the cicada unaware of the oriole behind, two wild Grandmasters suddenly appeared, turning the tables and trapping all the Grandmasters of the various clans, with only the Xiahou Brothers escaping in disarray. Now it’s like mud in the crotch—not shit but still shit. With no Grandmaster escaping together with the Xiahou Brothers, the various clans will naturally suspect whether the Xiahou Clan intended to wipe out all the Grandmasters of the various clans in one fell swoop?
As the saying goes, one cannot offend the wrath of the masses; even a powerful entity like the Xiahou Clan cannot withstand the fury of the other Six Clans, not to mention that the Initial Emperor took the opportunity to fan the flames vigorously, wishing for chaos under heaven. Before the Grandmasters escaped, even the most submissive Xie Clan regarded the Xiahou Clan as the culprit and nearly cut off all contact. Not to mention the Cui Clan and Pei Clan, who hold the civil and military powers.
Meanwhile, the Initial Emperor, as well as the Wei Clan and Mei Clan, took this opportunity to frequently collude with the three clans, and their previously almost frozen relations showed signs of easing.
Now all the Xiahou Clan’s plans had to be shelved; before repairing relations with the various clans, before making the various clans turn against each other like fire and water, Xiahou Ba could no longer take any risky actions.
How could Xiahou Ba, who had schemed for many years and raced against time, swallow this insult? What disgusted the Old Grand Tutor even more was that when Xiahou Bubai saw the situation change, he should have made a decisive choice to live and die with those Grandmasters, and perhaps even comprehend something like those Grandmasters.
Even if Xiahou Bubai really died there, at least the Xiahou Clan would not be suspected anymore. Moreover, with ten Grandmasters buried with him, this deal would be worthwhile no matter how you look at it.
Therefore, Xiahou Ba deeply despised Xiahou Bubai’s cowardice this time; if he were not a Grandmaster and his own son, Xiahou Ba would definitely kill him to vent his anger this time!
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After the execution was completed, the warriors helped Xiahou Bubai and Zhu Xiuyi down, and there would naturally be a physician to treat and apply medicine to the two.
In the middle of the night, Zhu Xiuyi lay on the couch reading a book, with waves of piercing pain occasionally coming from the punished area. He could not help but give a bitter smile helplessly; this kind of flesh wound could not be healed with internal energy and could only rely on the effects of the rod and medicine to recover slowly. He estimated that he would not be able to get off the couch for ten or eight days.
While lost in thought, Zhu Xiuyi suddenly heard a knock on the door, followed by Xiahou Ba’s voice: “Has Mister gone to sleep?”
“Grand Tutor, please come in quickly.” Zhu Xiuyi hurriedly closed the book and struggled to get up.
“Mister, don’t move.” Xiahou Ba pushed the door open and entered. Seeing this, he quickly held him down and said to Zhu Xiuyi with a face full of guilt: “Mister has suffered. I have come to apologize to you, old man.”
“Ah, Grand Tutor, what are you saying.” Zhu Xiuyi said softly with a moved expression: “Family Law is impartial and treats everyone equally. Since Xiuyi is a member of the Xiahou Family, he naturally cannot be an exception.”
“Mister understands the greater good deeply, and I am immensely impressed.” Xiahou Ba held Zhu Xiuyi’s hand, sat on the edge of the couch, took out a small Porcelain Bottle and said: “This is the Esoteric Buddhism sacred medicine Flesh-Regenerating Cream that I asked Master Moluo for. I have come to apply it for Mister…”
“Thank you, Clan Leader…” Zhu Xiuyi thanked him and accepted it calmly.
Once the flesh-regenerating cream was applied to the wound, Zhu Xiuyi indeed felt much more comfortable, and some color returned to his face.
While wiping his hands with a white cloth, Xiahou Ba asked casually: “Was Mister thinking about something just now?”
“Oh, I was just about to discuss it with Grand Tutor.” Zhu Xiuyi said softly: “Grand Tutor, I was thinking that although we need to keep a low profile for a while, we cannot really stop completely.” He paused, then said in a deep voice: “For our Xiahou Clan, we must maintain a sense of presence at all times to suppress some people’s ambition.”
“Mister’s concern is very valid.” Xiahou Ba agreed deeply: “The way of power involves ‘law,’ ‘technique,’ and ‘momentum.’ To succeed, ‘momentum’ is the most important; we must not allow the general trend to deteriorate—that is the top priority.”
“Yes, the general trend ebbs and flows; if we lie low, others will seize the momentum. So we still need to continue doing things to control the general trend.” Zhu Xiuyi said in a deep voice: “It’s just that this time, we will no longer take the field personally and will stay behind the scenes.”
“This suits my intentions perfectly.” Xiahou Ba nodded and asked again: “Then, in Mister’s view, who should take the field, and how should this shadow play be performed?”
“What about the Three Princes?” Zhu Xiuyi asked softly.
“Hmm…” Xiahou Ba pondered for a moment upon hearing this, then smiled and said: “Wonderful! The Three Highnesses are coming of age one after another, and as their grandfather, it’s time for me to plan for them.” He was cunning and immediately understood the brilliance of Zhu Xiuyi’s method—the future Emperor would emerge from the Princes, so as long as the Princes’ affairs were escalated, it would easily turn imperial family matters into Imperial Court major matters.
At that time, the direction of the Imperial Court, the sway of public opinion, and even the power dynamics with the Emperor would be clear to everyone under heaven at a glance!
“Exactly,” Zhu Xiuyi nodded and said: “This is a major article. Since our main text needs to be put on hold first, we might as well start with this article titled ‘National Foundation.'”
“Good!” Xiahou Ba praised and asked: “What is the plan?!”
“Actually, it’s very simple. As long as the First Prince is enfeoffed as a king and sent to his fief outside the capital, it will be enough for Grand Tutor.” Zhu Xiuyi said in a deep voice: “The other Three Highnesses are all sons of Empress Xiahou. As the saying goes, meat rots in the pot. In the eyes of the people under heaven, they are all Grand Tutor’s grandsons who will become Crown Prince—there’s no difference.”
He had one more sentence he didn’t fully explain, but Xiahou Ba understood it well: as long as people realize that Grand Tutor’s grandson will become Crown Prince, that’s enough; there’s no need to actually produce a Crown Prince—does the Xiahou Clan plan to continue working for the Huangfu Family?
“Then we can’t act too hastily?” Xiahou Ba understood the implication and said.
“Exactly.” Zhu Xiuyi showed an expression of finding a confidant and said softly: “We need time to restore relations; we can take it slowly and give them a chance to perform—the more lively, the better. Let everyone get involved, while Grand Tutor sits steadily on the fishing platform to observe friends and foes, loyal and treacherous.”
“Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! Once this happens, many people will not be able to sit still!” The worry vanished from Xiahou Ba’s face as he laughed heartily: “Huangfu Yu will be the first to rush in, letting him be flustered and exhausted, and see if he still has the kung fu to oppose us.”
“Grand Tutor is wise.” Zhu Xiuyi said softly: “This is just a rough thought today; we still need to deliberate at length later.”
“No rush, no rush. Mister, rest well, and we’ll discuss after your injury heals.” Xiahou Ba stood up, stretched lazily and said: “Slowing down is good too; always being tense makes even sleep uneasy.”
“Grand Tutor, go back and get a good night’s sleep.” Zhu Xiuyi smiled slightly.
“I can’t sleep yet.” Xiahou Ba gave a bitter smile: “I still need to go see that disobedient son. Sigh, in the future, I’ll still have to rely on this bastard…”
“Grand Tutor, go quickly.” Zhu Xiuyi nodded and said softly: “Second Master is a hero among men and will understand Grand Tutor’s painstaking efforts.”
“I hope so.” After saying that, Xiahou Ba tucked Zhu Xiuyi in properly before closing the door and leaving.
Zhu Xiuyi sat up slightly and respectfully watched the Old Grand Tutor leave. Watching the cold moonlight filtering in through the slightly ajar door, Zhu Xiuyi’s face gradually became expressionless.
