Volume 1, Chapter 29: Shall We Discuss Something Sensitive?

"Nonsense!" Li Chuntao sneered. "Do you think I was scared into growing up? There’s nothing I haven't experienced! Go ahead and speak!"

Beside her, Madame Zhou said cautiously, "Well... Old Fan and I will go and rest first." As she spoke, she pulled Fan Shoucheng toward the exit. The elderly couple were simple, honest folk. Since Fan Xiu was now a Juren scholar and had said he didn't want them to know, there must be a reason. Fan Yuan looked at the two elders and followed them out.

"You people..." Li Chuntao looked at them, speechless. However, she showed no intention of leaving. Instead, she placed her hands on her hips and said, "You brat, they’re all gone now. Speak!"

Fan Xiu checked outside to ensure no one was around before returning to the courtyard. "After this trip to Xuzhou, I feel that the Great Yin Dynasty is about to change hands! We must earn money quickly so that after the Great Yin falls, we will have the strength to protect ourselves," Fan Xiu whispered.

As soon as these words were spoken, the three women—Xiao Ruoqing, Ying, and Li Chuntao—all widened their eyes in shock. Immediately after, Li Chuntao covered her ears and said, "I didn't hear anything! I... I'm going back to sleep!" With that, she turned and hurried away.

Fan Xiu watched her retreating back, speechless. *I told you to leave earlier, but you insisted on staying, and now you’re running faster than a rabbit!*

Turning back, Fan Xiu found that Xiao Ruoqing and Ying were both staring at him with looks that could kill.

"Why are you two looking at me like that?"

*Clang!*

Ying instantly drew her long sword and said coldly, "You say the Great Yin Dynasty is about to fall?"

"Uh..." Fan Xiu froze. He reached out to push aside the blade and said, "Why must you always point your sword at me? I’m stating facts! Look at the current state of the Great Yin; it has gathered almost every trait of a collapsing dynasty. It’s a miracle it has lasted this long! Am I wrong?"

"Liu Yue," Xiao Ruoqing said, "go outside and keep watch."

Ying acknowledged this, gave Fan Xiu a deep look, and turned to head outside. She sat in the courtyard, keeping a close eye on the surroundings.

Inside the room, seeing that Ying had left, Fan Xiu grew bolder. He reached out and draped his arm around Xiao Ruoqing’s shoulders. "Wife, it’s just the two of us now."

"Hmm." Xiao Ruoqing swatted his hand away. "Shall we discuss some sensitive topics?"

"Oh?" Fan Xiu’s expression brightened. He rubbed his hands together and said, "I’d love nothing more! Wife, when shall we consummate our marriage?"

Xiao Ruoqing rolled her eyes at him expressionlessly. "Who wants to consummate anything with you! I want to ask, how did you determine that the Great Yin is doomed? I recall you saying before that if the Empress insisted on reform, she would be dead within two years. Why would you say that?"

The current situation of the Great Yin kept her awake at night. She had been racking her brain, trying to change the dynasty's predicament and bring about a revival. Unfortunately, not only were her efforts yielding little result, but she had also been subjected to an assassination attempt. Although she didn't believe Fan Xiu could offer effective advice, since he had predicted her danger and was so certain of the dynasty’s collapse, she was desperate to know why he thought so.

"Uh..." Fan Xiu said, dumbfounded, "That’s the sensitive topic you meant? I thought..."

"Thought what?"

"Nothing! You’re a woman, yet you’re interested in the state of the nation? Are you also interested in history?"

*What man could resist a woman interested in statecraft and history? Especially one who researched the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty—that was a fatal attraction for any man!*

Xiao Ruoqing paused. She didn't understand what he meant by "history," but she assumed it was similar to historical records. "Yes."

Xiao Ruoqing nodded. "When I was with the Liu family in Jingzhou, I often paid attention to these things. You say the Great Yin is doomed—while it is true that the dynasty has long suffered from deep-rooted issues, it isn't as severe as you claim. Furthermore, the Empress is trying to find ways to improve things. Isn't your talk of collapse a bit alarmist?"

"That Empress couldn't reform a damn thing," Fan Xiu said with disdain. "If she didn't reform, the dynasty might have lasted another thirty or fifty years! But if she insists on meddling, it won't last ten years before it falls! That’s why we must be prepared!"

*Why did the Wanli Emperor refuse to hold court for thirty years? Was it because he didn't want to? No, it was because he didn't dare! The court was rife with factions, and aristocratic families held the power; if he held court, he’d be dead in a heartbeat! Yet, by not holding court for thirty years, he became the longest-reigning emperor of the entire Ming Dynasty, even longer than the founder!*

"Are you that certain?" Xiao Ruoqing asked skeptically.

"Of course! I’m one hundred percent sure! Especially since I heard that after the Empress took the throne, she weakened the power of the maternal relatives—that is pure suicide!" Fan Xiu sneered.

Xiao Ruoqing asked, puzzled, "The maternal relatives caused chaos in the government, formed cliques, and—it is said—even defied the Empress. Why shouldn't she deal with them?"

"Let me ask you, where does the power of the maternal relatives come from?"

"Naturally, from the Imperial family! But if they use that power to run wild and show no respect for the throne, they deserve to die!" Xiao Ruoqing said fiercely.

After she took the throne, those maternal relatives hadn't shown her any respect, blocking her at every turn. Since she wanted to reform, she decided to take them on first.

"You!" Fan Xiu tapped her on the head. "It’s a good thing you aren't that foolish Empress, or you wouldn't even know how you died!"

Xiao Ruoqing had never been tapped on the head like that; she glared at him in shame and anger but quickly asked, "What is wrong with that?"

"Everything is wrong!" Fan Xiu replied. "You said it yourself: their power comes from the Imperial family! No matter how disrespectful they are to the Empress, they will always find ways to uphold her position! If she falls, they are finished too! But you stripped them of their power—that is cutting off your own arm!"

Xiao Ruoqing froze. She had never thought of it from that perspective. *As an Empress, she actually needs the support of the maternal relatives?*

Fan Xiu continued, "Furthermore, the Empress is eager for reform; she first seized military authority, offending the generals—that’s her other arm cut off! With both arms severed, she then tries to survey the land, which threatens the foundation of the aristocratic families! When someone who has lost both arms insists on fighting a tiger, do you think the tiger will let them go? Hmm?"

Xiao Ruoqing’s eyes widened in shock. She had reined in the maternal relatives and seized military power just to solidify the court and strengthen control. But now, Fan Xiu was saying all of that was wrong? She didn't want to believe it. Yet, looking at the logic Fan Xiu used, his earlier prediction that she wouldn't survive two years was already manifesting.

Fan Xiu continued, "What I said is based on the assumption that there are no natural disasters or wars. If those occur, the timeline will shorten even further! Ten years, five years, even three—it’s all possible. All it takes is a single spark!"