Chapter 2004: Chapter 1794: Zhongg Ji’s Choice (Part 2)
Sure, here is the translated text:
At this moment, Zhongg Ji’s confidence stemmed from years of constant rebellion without dying, accumulating his insights. Now, in Zhongg Ji’s view, the space for maneuver in his endeavors was still very large; Xun Youi or Zhong Yao could hold things together.
"Disperse, disperse!" Zhongg Ji poured a cup of wine into his mouth, waved his hand to signal all the dancing girls to leave. It was time for him to make a decision, Zhongg Ji thought silently.
At noon, Zhongg Ji brought a bottle of fine wine and once again went to the Fuu Family to pay respects at Fuu Wan’s sacrifice. He couldn’t remember when he last felt such bitterness in front of a deceased comrade’s spirit. In his memory, every time he went to a comrade’s spirit, he was either smiling or earnest.
Slowly, he poured that bottle of distilled wine onto the altar above the spirit. Zhongg Ji’s expression was sorrowful as he turned to Fuu Lang and others, saying, "May I have a moment alone with your late father?"
Wearing mourning clothes, Fuu Lang and others were stunned, immediately preparing to refuse. But the eldest of the Fuu Family, Fude, knelt and saluted Zhongg Ji, then led the way out. The others were puzzled but followed Fude out.
After everyone went out, Zhongg Ji looked at Fuu Wan’s altar, knelt before the coffin, and bowed three times, then slowly stood up.
"Brother Fu, Zhongg Ji is incompetent and unable to fulfill your wishes." Zhongg Ji said with a bitter smile, sitting cross-legged in front of Fuu Wan’s altar.
"It’s laughable; every time it’s me, Zhongg Ji, seeing off comrades. No one has seen me off yet. Before, I was confident I could shoulder my comrades’ wishes, but this time I found I couldn’t bear it." Zhongg Ji raised the cup, drank the wine, tears streaming down his face.
"Brother Fu, if your spirit is above, please forgive me. I intend to leave Chang’an, this place of troubles." Zhongg Ji drank the last of the wine and spoke with bitterness.
"Crack." With the sound of the door opening, Fuu Lang and others saw Zhongg Ji come out, eyes red, staggering.
"Sorry for the trouble, everyone." Zhongg Ji saluted Fude and others.
"Second brother, you guard the altar; I’ll be right back." Fude sighed, then gestured for Zhongg Ji to follow, leading him away.
Zhongg Ji’s thoughts were not on Fude at that moment, and he followed, finally reacting only when they reached a secluded courtyard in the Fuu Family.
"Why bring me here?" Zhongg Ji looked at Fude puzzled.
"This is where my father lived a day before his passing. On the table is a letter left for you, and on the other side is everything my fourth brother saw, along with what I saw. Please consider all before deciding." Fude opened the door, gestured for Zhongg Ji to enter, and Zhongg Ji nodded, walked in.
The letter’s content was sparse, detailing the day’s events in the Inner Palace. After reading, Zhongg Ji set it aside; the Emperor’s performance was worse than he anticipated.
Afterward, Zhongg Ji opened another letter containing Fude’s and Fuu Lang’s observations. After reading, he sighed deeply, understanding Fuu Wan’s meaning. But now it was too late, he was alone, unable to complete it. More importantly, he needed to extricate himself.
He carefully re-folded the letters, bowed to the table, and left. Then Fude entered and burned all the letters. Zhongg Ji frowned but eventually did not stop Fude’s action.
"Don’t you have anything to ask?" As Fude led the way, Zhongg Ji hesitated but asked.
"There’s nothing to ask. Our Fuu Family has done much; we’re about to close our doors. This letter was prepared for the first to come back asking to be alone." Fude said calmly without turning or stopping.
"Hmm, escort me out." Zhongg Ji responded quietly.
Fude escorted Zhongg Ji to the Fuu Family’s door, watched Zhongg Ji step down, then retreated inside, closing the door again.
Zhongg Ji stood at the Fuu Family’s entrance with a long sigh. At that moment, a carriage passed slowly and stopped beside him.
"Yi, long time no see." The carriage of Zhong Yao stopped beside Zhongg Ji, and Zhong Yao opened the door, speaking to Zhongg Ji.
"Mind if I ride with you?" Zhongg Ji looked sideways at Zhong Yao and said.
"We’ve served in the same court for years, no need for such distance." Zhong Yao said with a relieved expression.
"Before, we were of the same court, different paths. Now, same paths but about to serve different courts." Zhongg Ji sighed deeply as he got onto Zhong Yao’s carriage.
"Life is full of unforeseen moments; you’ve done it many times. This time failed; it’s good to stop now too." Zhong Yao took candied fruit and wine from a drawer and handed them to Zhongg Ji.
"If it could be supported, I’d embrace failure and smile in the Nine Springs; but in this situation, I truly cannot smile." Zhongg Ji sighed deeply, finishing the wine Zhong Yao poured for him. Despite having good relations with Zhong Yao and Xun Youi, they had drifted apart over the years. Yet now, having let go, he could once again drink from Zhong Yao’s cup; life’s encounters indeed unforeseeable.
"Drink your wine. Among us three, Gong Da was the first to awaken, I followed, and now finally you have too. Fortunately, it’s not too late." Zhong Yao smiled, "Back then, I joked with Gong Da and Jianping, saying perhaps we’d have to collect your body."
"Alas." Zhong Yao’s jest didn’t stir Zhongg Ji’s emotions, only a long sigh. "I plan to leave Chang’an, find a quiet place to retire."
"Do you need financial support of a million coins?" Zhong Yao was silent for a moment, hearing the intent in Zhongg Ji’s words.
"For this Changshui Colonel’s Office, whoever wants it can have it; Chang’an has flourished under your hand, so a million coins shouldn’t be a problem." Zhongg Ji declined Zhong Yao’s offer, knowing his departure might be forever.
"Sometimes, letting go is beneficial; if the Emperor can be supported, support him; if not, support whoever satisfies you." Zhong Yao advised, Zhongg Ji nodded, but how much he absorbed was uncertain.
Zhongg Ji shook his head, seeing the Changshui Colonel’s Office not far away, and instructed the driver to park at the entrance.
"Yi, truly unnecessary; nothing has happened yet, Lord Cao won’t hold it against you." Zhong Yao said as he looked at Zhongg Ji.
"Indeed, he won’t hold it against me. But I owe Mr. Fuu, I owe Mr. Dong, I owe those Han Dynasty Loyal Ministers who still stand unabated. Mr. Fuu understands, but he preferred to die rather than sway others’ determination. Though I may understand, yet I’m not a fish!" Zhongg Ji said to Zhong Yao with unparalleled clarity.
"Take care!" Zhong Yao moved his mouth, then bowed to Zhongg Ji.
Zhong Yao’s carriage slowly departed. Zhongg Ji closed his eyes and turned toward his residence.
"What’s this?" Back in his bedroom, Zhongg Ji found a box and a letter on the table.
"Master, this was moved from the living room during cleaning." The steward replied with his head down.
Zhongg Ji frowned, waved for the steward to leave, then opened the letter, read it, and was greatly surprised; then he opened the box and was taken aback.
After calming himself a bit, he began to employ his thoughts; this time something was unpredictable, perhaps there might be an opportunity.
[Who on earth sent this? But if the person managed to send it here, presumably I couldn’t trace it even if I wanted to. However, this matter is not easy to handle, nor is it certain to succeed.] Zhongg Ji silently caressing the items within the box, with a hesitant expression.
[Brother Fu, you indeed wavered my resolve; I’m not as good as you!] Finally, Zhongg Ji sighed deeply, slowly closed the box; he had made his decision.
"Oh, Emperor, all I can offer is this, hoping one day you’ll restore the Han Dynasty’s glory as Emperor Zhao Xuan did. Should I act improperly in the future, please forgive me." Zhongg Ji whispered quietly.
