Chapter 2594: Chapter 3: Singing One Line, Never to Meet Again
Bai Yuxia said, "This matter is of great consequence, without evidence, we mustn’t speak carelessly. But I believe that the wise across the world will have some guesses."
Wen Juanying’s face showed no expression of surprise, clearly she was one of those ’wise people’, but she merely lowered her gaze and said, "If it is truly so, my son must be more cautious, more patient, should not alert the snake in the grass."
Bai Yuxia shook his head, "No."
Though he was kneeling, he still had an imposing air, seriously saying, "Ge Fei’s current official title is Right Metropolitan Censor, the second in command of the Censorate. The Left Metropolitan Censor always follows the Emperor’s orders, and will not interfere with his power. Yet, my son has always devoted himself to cultivation and has not formally entered the officialdom. This is a disadvantage."
"Ge Fei takes the hidden chancellor as his mentor, and I have inherited the Bai family’s teachings since childhood. The Ge Clan is at its zenith, while the Bai Family faces impending storms... The situation is gravely unfavorable."
"Since the Mountain and Sea realm expedition, Ge Fei’s cultivation speed has been phenomenal, now reaching the state of God Arrives, and can even confront Zhang Linchuan without succumbing... My son is far inferior, losing in power, as well as the foreseeable future."
He spoke of his own shortcomings, yet his eyes showed no defeat, only objectively assessing reality, calmly facing the harshness: "If I were to contend with Ge Fei, it would be like an egg striking a rock, with no hope of victory. If the Ge Clan wishes to swallow the Bai Family, the Bai Family alone possesses no power to resist. Mother sees today’s Bai Family, with wealth aplenty, barns full of grain, leaves lush on branches... My view is but an illusion, a remnant candle’s dim light."
Wen Juanying initially intended to say, if that day truly comes, I could visit the palace and plead to the Son of Heaven, that the Royal family wouldn’t neglect the Bai Family. But the words halted before being spoken, because she had suddenly realized why Bai Yuxia’s first action upon returning to the country was to wear mourning clothes to court and why he’d been so reckless in the assembly.
If, today, the Bai Family still holds any valuable leverage, it’s none other than being a counterbalance to the Ge Clan, is the future of Bai Yuxia, once renowned alongside Ge Fei.
And Bai Yuxia has already revealed it all.
Bai Yuxia has already laid everything bare at the first moment, stepped onto the gambling stage as a rash and inexperienced noble son, showing such anger, such recklessness in the court of Yue Country — if the Son of Heaven wishes to support him against Ge Fei, he is willing to be the one standing out front. He is willing to charge forward blindly.
But the Son of Heaven remains silent.
The blood kinship she bears, if it could influence the Son of Heaven, why would she need to enter the palace?
Now that the Son of Heaven has shown a stance, what use is her palace entry?
She had to admit, her son thinks further ahead, her son is more mature than she imagined. But this maturity brings a mother’s heartache.
Bai Yuxia continued, "Gong Zhirang said he would disregard closeness, which means, no matter what, he wouldn’t stand on our side. Even Gong Zhirang is like this, the entire court civil and martial, none can be relied upon. To struggle further is only to court disgrace. As for Your Majesty... he will surely offer me some consolation, appease me, bestow some honor upon my father and the Bai Family, letting us endure. These are the so-called tactics of emperors, but for the Bai Family, they hold no meaning.
Without tangible support, no matter how I struggle, it is impossible to escape Ge Fei’s dominance. No matter the effort, at most, it only delays the time of failure... I cannot be Ge Fei’s match now, the Bai Family cannot stand alongside the Ge Clan, I must step out."
At this moment, the entire Bai Family old residence was steeped in mourning, people were grieving, crying, hurriedly coming and going. But in the study of the Bai Family Head, the most talented person of the Bai Family of this generation, the legal successor of Bai Family, had already resolved to leave.
Facing Langya Bai’s Family, once emblematic of endless splendor, he merely waved his hand.
When there are still considerable chips in hand, not everyone can see the outcome clearly, nor does everyone have the courage to abandon this round.
Wen Juanying looked at her son, many words remained unspoken, finally she simply said, "How have you planned to leave?"
Bai Yuxia said, "The friend who accompanied me back to Yue Country has already left. Wu An Marquis of Qi Country consequently wrote me a letter inviting me to South Xia for relaxation and Dao Technique exchange. This letter the hidden chancellor and Ge Fei have surely seen. If I go, I won’t return."
"My son has made good friends outside, indeed," said Wen Juanying in melancholy, "It seems your leaving home was the right choice."
Bai Yuxia slowly lowered his body, forehead touching the ground: "I cannot take mother with me because Ge Fei may not be assured. With you, I cannot leave."
"Silly child," Wen Juanying brushed the account books on the desk, laughed lightly, "I couldn’t possibly leave with you. This is my country, this is my home. Mother must guard this family business for your father, waiting for your return."
Bai Yuxia raised his head: "After I leave, the Bai Family will truly have no path, no longer able to contest the Ge Clan. All relatives will instead be safe. It’s just life will be tighter, our means will be more strained. Langya City will no longer be under the Bai Family’s control... It will be hard on dear mother."
Wen Juanying looked at Bai Yuxia across the desk, feeling the child seemed so close, yet also so distant.
But children grow up, there always comes this day, doesn’t it?
She said with a tinge of bitterness, "However dire, the Bai Family remains a prestigious name in Yue Land. Even if the family business crumbles terribly, mother bears the blood of Wen’s Imperial Family. Within the home, she will want for nothing, what suffering? The suffering is you, weathering the elements, battling through brambles outside. Even with good friends, the taste of living on someone’s grace is unpleasant..."
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