Insufficient balance

  The imperial court of Chang'an has another joke to tell.

  "Fish, I desire; bear's paw, I also desire. The two cannot be obtained at the same time, so I give up fish and take bear's paw. Life, I desire; righteousness, I also desire. The two cannot be obtained at the same time, so I give up life and take righteousness..."

  Perhaps recalling the sound of children reading books in the Xuanxuan Studio that day, Xue Chongxun took out "Mencius" and read it for a while.

  In the garden, flowers are blooming in profusion, with a delicate layout. In spring, green leaves and red flowers compete to bloom, presenting a scene of rich beauty. Xue Chongxun is wearing hemp clothes, holding an ancient book with a fragrant cover, looking somewhat like a scholar. He asks the illiterate servant beside him: "Do you know why there was Mencius in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty?"

  She shook her head vaguely.

  Xue Chongxun said: "Because the vassals attack each other, regardless of means, often massacring and burning cities, completely losing their humanity, the world is left with only killing and fighting. At this time, someone comes forward to advocate for benevolence and righteousness, promoting the goodness of human nature, bringing a little sunshine and warmth to the world."

  The slave thought he was talking about great things like the King's Way and the mysteries of heaven and earth, although she didn't understand, but stood still beside him with great reverence.

  Xue Chongxun paced a few steps, his figure somewhat lonely. He spoke to the slave girl, but it was almost like he was talking to himself: "But Mencius didn't manage to achieve his ideal of making the world peaceful and harmonious. People still don't talk about benevolence and righteousness, and wars continue unabated, even becoming more brutal. Because you are kind-hearted and soft-handed, others won't be kind-hearted and soft-handed. Once they have the chance, they will ruthlessly destroy you."

  He thought for a moment and then said: "However, Mencius can be passed down for thousands of years, it can be seen that people's hearts are towards him."

  Human nature is inclined towards goodness, but it's not just goodness. The Yellow Emperor defeated Chi You, and as soon as humans learned to use stones, they also learned war. As long as human nature doesn't disappear, the struggle will continue.

  How will Feng Yuanjun avenge himself? Xue Chongxun pondered this, and he really couldn't guess, but one thing was for sure: Feng Yuanjun would definitely not swallow this insult.

  A narrow-minded and arrogant person, having been wronged, although the other party also has a fault, but it does not prevent him from getting angry. As long as he gets angry, it's easy to handle, and he will always make mistakes. Xue Chongxun was like a silent wolf, staring tightly at the sheep in the pen, but not rushing to take action.

  Just then, a quarrelsome voice was heard from the garden gate, and Xue Chongxun loudly asked: "What's the commotion about?" A voice came from the other side, that of the kitchen maid Nuo Xi Shi: "Young Master, Young Master, save my child..."

  Xue Chongxun said after hearing: "Bring her over."

  The slave at the gate let them in, and Nuo Xi Shi, along with her husband Ma Fu and their daughter Pei Niang, entered together. Nuo Xi Shi looked very similar to her daughter Pei Niang, like they could be sisters, with a small and delicate face and good skin. Before Xue Song Xian could ask any questions, Nuo Xi Shi suddenly knelt down on the ground, grabbed the hem of his robe, and cried: "Young Master, please save my child, I beg of you!"

  "Hey, slow down, what's going on?"

  He burst into tears, his face contorted in grief, and wailed: "I was thinking that Pei Niang didn't even have a decent blouse, so I took some money this morning to take her to the West Market to pick out a new one... but then suddenly a group of big men rushed over and snatched my Pei Niang away without giving me a chance to react..."

  Pang Er stupidly summarized Nuo Xi Shi's lengthy argument: "Pei Niang was taken away by Feng Yuanjun's men."

  "Feng Yuanjun grabbed Pei Niang, he grabbed a slave..." Xue Chongxun was somewhat surprised, but soon understood the reason.

  Feng Yuanjun was ridiculed by others and wanted to regain his dignity, but the person who humiliated him was the eldest son of Princess Taiping. Even if he had the ability, he wouldn't dare to provoke Princess Taiping's family. Unable to swallow his anger, he could only take it out on Xue Chongxun's concubine and make a show of regaining some face.

  Things have become like this, Xue Chongxun really looks down on Feng Yuanjun even more. Is this all he's got? If his elder brother Gao Lishi knew about this matter, he would definitely burst with rage.

  "My child... without her, how can I live? I only have this one son left, and Pang Er is no good either... please, Heaven, don't take her away from me..."

  Niu Daxin's face was burning with anxiety, and he hastily said: "Wife, why are you revealing our family's ugliness? Don't worry, Feng Yuanjun won't strangle Pei Niang to death. Wait a bit, Lang Jun will send someone to the mansion to bring her back."

  She stretched out her hand to grab the face of the fat boy, both sad and angry: "You pig-headed! Can't you figure out what Feng Yuanjun wants to do? Outside rumors say that Lang Jun has defiled someone else's daughter-in-law who hasn't passed the door yet. The other party can't afford to offend Lang Jun, but they can't swallow their anger, so they'll take it out on Lang Jun's house slaves and ruin Pei Niang! Pei Niang is innocent, originally following Lang Jun for the rest of her life with a good reliance, if Pei Niang becomes a fallen flower, what good days will there be in the future..."

  This coarse woman speaks vulgarly, but indeed it is just that principle.

  Xue Chongxun hesitated for a moment, then said: "Don't worry, I'll take care of this myself. I'll definitely rescue Pei Niang. You all go out first; Pang Er, prepare the horses; and go tell Fang Yuzhong and others to meet me at the Yunyou Pavilion."

  Nü Xi wiped away her tears and said: "Lang Jun, you must definitely bring Pei Niang back..."

  "Didn't you hear what I said? This matter is now left to me to handle, what's the use of crying here? Go back and wait!" Xue Chongxun's expression turned cold, and he sternly shouted, not allowing Xi Shi to stay.

  He came out of the Weiguo Gongfu and arrived at the Xiangdui Zhai opposite, and when he entered a wing room, Fang Yuzhong and other trusted guards had already waited inside. This wing room was not large, and with more than 20 people squeezed in, it suddenly seemed a bit crowded.

  In the corner, a woman in black clothes stood still, her head and face covered with a black veil. The skin on her wrists was white to the point of being eerie, and against the black clothing, it seemed even more deathly pale. This female ghost-like figure, even standing in the corner on a bright day, gave people a chill.

  Everyone took a few glances at her, and Xue Chongxun said casually: "You can call her San Niang from now on, she's my person from now on."

  At this time, Fang Yu Zhong took out a piece of paper and placed it on the large case. "Lang Jun, this is a rough map of the Feng manor, which was obtained by sending someone to sneak in and gather information."

  Xue Chongxun nodded in approval and stretched his neck to take a closer look at the blueprint.

  "Fang Yu Zhong said: 'There are five entrances and exits in total, excluding the main gate and a few side doors at the back of the courtyard. The kitchen also has a small door, which is usually used by the slaves who buy daily necessities to enter and exit... Feng Yuanjun often hangs out here. There are 123 people in the entire mansion, excluding women, gardeners, maids, scholars and guests who do not know martial arts. There are only more than 20 household guards who often stay in the mansion to watch the house and guard the courtyard, which is equivalent to the number of our people.'"

  "Very well." Xue Chongxun looked at the map and said, "In the past, we would send someone to directly go through the main gate, without needing to say much. We would see people and fight them, taking advantage of their unpreparedness. First, we would knock down the group of powerful slaves at the main gate entrance, and from the start, we would have a winning strategy. Then, we would rush straight to Feng Yuanjun's residence. At that time, he would be short-handed, and it wouldn't be difficult to force him to hand over the person."

  Fang Yu Zhong said: "After our people break through the gate, a slave will pretend to go and report the news. At that time, Lang Jun will lead his men to follow him."

  Xue Chongxun's mouth curled up in a faint smile, but it was fleeting. His face soon turned red with rage as he bellowed: "What kind of thing is Feng Yuanjun? He dares to seize my people in broad daylight? I'll have his skin torn off! Everyone, let loose and do your job. If anything happens, I'll take care of it myself. A eunuch's relative thinks they're someone important?"

  "Yes, Lord Lang." The crowd were all from martial families, born with a love for battle, and they were all somewhat excited at this time.

  Xue Chongxun waved his hand and said, "Go down and prepare the stuff. Hmm, wooden sticks will do, it's best not to take any lives, we'll set off in a moment... San Niang, you stay here."

  The family members scattered like birds and beasts, leaving only San Niang still standing in the corner of the house, without moving a step or saying a word.

  Xue Chongxun walked to the door and locked it, then said in a low voice: "You come with us, listen carefully to the conversation, confirm Feng Yuanjun's identity, and then...". He raised his palm and chopped down, "One hit kills, don't leave any survivors!"

  His eyes revealed a strong murderous intent, ruthless and merciless, only needing an opportunity to carry out a brutal act.

  Let San Niang take action, she can be made to take the blame when necessary; Let San Niang take action, because other house slaves in Xue's mansion have been so many years, they often come and go, their relationship is very familiar, and privately they may discuss the master's rewards and punishments, if one of them is made a scapegoat, it would not be good to let a newcomer bear the responsibility.

  San Niang, who had not spoken until now, said: "My life belongs to you, Master. Whatever you want me to do, I will not hesitate, but after killing someone in public, I must leave Chang'an immediately and need some traveling expenses."

  Xue Chongxun said, "Gao Lishi was originally called Feng Yuan Yi. In the past, his family had committed a crime and almost all of the Feng family members were killed. Feng Yuanjun is his only relative. If you want to escape, it may be difficult to get away, even if you do manage to escape, what kind of life would you have in the future... being pursued by people every day? You should know that feeling very well."

  The third daughter said coldly: "This is fate, I am only destined for this kind of life."

  Xue Chongxun shook his head and said, "You don't have to escape, you are my person, I won't hand you over." A cold smile appeared on his face, "Who is guilty, who is wrong, what counts? The law? Should Emperor Taizong be punished with extreme punishment back then? Haha..."

  San Niang was silent, she didn't know whether or not to believe this man she had just met.

  Xue Chongxun then pulled out a token and wrote a note, handing it to San Niang: "Dongdu Xiangtong Money House, with these two things you can withdraw silk and silver. Here are a few gold bars for you to use before you arrive in Luoyang. Whether to go or stay is up to you."