Chapter 5: The Raid-Após os filhos dos méritos militares serem ordenados pelo imperador para realizarem os exames imperiais e entrarem em serviço(o humilde tal)

Knowing that the Cui family would be purged and exiled in this storybook world was one thing, but hearing the word "purge" come directly from someone involved was an entirely different shock.

Cui Xiu was completely stunned, his mind a blank.

Cui Qianting narrowed his eyes, staring at Cui Xiu. The complex emotions written clearly in his jet-black, shining eyes deepened his own gaze.

Back then, when Marquis Cui En proposed the survival strategy of "Cui family descendants living under the shadow of a purge" to cope with the unspoken rule of "new emperor, new ministers," even someone like him, barely considered a native of the old city, was so furious he nearly spat blood and cursed loudly. Others changed color, their eyes filled with terror at the mention of the word "purge."

Yet young Cui Xiu, despite his tender age, not only understood the meaning of a purge but showed no fear; instead, his eyes glimmered with surprise.

Studying him carefully, Cui Qianting motioned for all the servants, including Nurse Yu, to withdraw.

Once silence returned, broken only by the chirping of cicadas, Cui Qianting glanced at Cui Xiu’s frail frame.

So weak—he could be killed with a single strike!

Lowering his head to conceal his murderous intent, Cui Qianting bent down without expression, lifting the boy into his arms. Meeting his gaze made it easier to observe him closely, then he began speaking deliberately: “Your grandfather, Cui—”

A bitter smile tugged at his lips as Cui Qianting audaciously uttered the name. “Cui Zhen was formidable. During the latter years of Emperor Wu’s reign, the struggle for the throne among the emperor’s sons was brutal. Cui Zhen was accused of harboring troops and wielding excessive power. In a fit of anger, he relinquished his military authority and stayed home to educate his sons.”

Perhaps the burden of command was too great. Cui Zhen later pressed his wayward sons hard in their studies, adopting the stern father image so thoroughly that everyone forgot one thing: Cui Zhen was still Duke of Rongguo and had the right to attend the autumn hunts.

Muttering under his breath, Cui Qianting chuckled softly: “Ten years ago, during the Xuanwu hunting grounds incident, Emperor Wu was struck by an arrow and was on the brink of death. He verbally appointed the thirteenth prince as his heir, with Cui Zhen as regent. Unexpectedly, Cui Zhen refused to comply. Facing overwhelming odds, he led a hundred soldiers from the Rongguo Mansion to break through an encirclement of thirty thousand troops, capturing the third and seventh princes and the so-called tenth prince who came to rescue the emperor. He even sent men to capture the thirteenth prince at the hunting grounds.”

For a moment, Cui Xiu felt as if his ears had gone deaf.

This... this... this legendary grandfather of his was truly exceptional! Only a storybook could have written of such a magnificent general.

Perplexed, Cui Xiu looked at Cui Qianting recounting the tale and caught the complex look in his eyes. Startled, he timidly asked, “Father, aren’t you afraid that if you tell me such court affairs, I might parrot them back?”

“There’s nothing to fear,” Cui Qianting replied coolly, feeling the boy’s stiffness in his arms. “Marquis Cui En himself established this as the family’s survival doctrine. Every member of the Cui family must know it by heart, lest they forget who their enemies are. Now that you’re not foolish but starting to understand, it’s only natural to begin learning skills to stand on your own from this day forward.”

Even without close inspection, one could sense a trace of frustration in those words—as if he were exasperated by unfulfilled expectations. Yet bound by family hierarchy and noble titles, no matter how talented Cui Qianting was, it seemed futile.

Cui Xiu observed Cui Qianting’s icy expression and silently marveled. Gathering courage, he asked, “Then... then wasn’t grandfather very powerful? Why would my eldest uncle speak of a purge?”

Recalling times when other cousins acted spoiled, he weakly lengthened the tone and added a soft “ah” at the end, hoping to sound less solemn and more like a three-year-old.

Cui Qianting rolled his eyes, ignoring Cui Xiu’s expression entirely. Instead, he looked up at the blazing sun and muttered, “Cui Zhen asked the four princes about last year’s grain prices and the tax burdens on the capital’s citizens. Only the seventh prince answered correctly. So Cui Zhen chose the seventh prince as emperor and publicly forged an edict, which angered Emperor Wu to the point of fainting.”

Suddenly hearing such words soaked in bloodshed and political upheaval, Cui Xiu felt as if the entire world had narrowed to the sound of his own heartbeat.

To the ministers, Cui Zhen was a traitor and rebel, deserving death!

“So Cui Zhen committed suicide to atone. After Emperor Wu was revived, he said Cui Zhen had used his life to advise with the people’s welfare in mind, never forgetting the founding spirit of the Great Zhou. Therefore, after issuing a self-reproach edict, he personally decreed the seventh prince as emperor and honored him with the title Mingde Emperor,” Cui Qianting spoke with deliberate clarity, eyes still fixed on the high sun, not even glancing at Cui Xiu’s seemingly odd expression.

There can be only one heaven, and one sovereign.

Just like their Cui family, loyal to Emperor Wu.

Though Emperor Wu grew old and senile, his achievements fading, he remained wary of the mighty Cui Zhen. Yet to the Cui family, especially Marquis Cui En, Emperor Wu was forever the blazing sun in the sky, their eternal enlightened ruler.

Because on his deathbed, Emperor Wu fulfilled decades of loyalty and brotherhood, even leaving a safeguard for the Cui family: so long as the Mingde Emperor bore that title, he must govern for the people, remember Cui Zhen’s dying admonition to serve the populace, and acknowledge the favor Cui Zhen showed in choosing him, thereby protecting the Cui family descendants.

Moreover, after his death, Cui Zhen was enshrined in the imperial ancestral temple.

Such grace alone was enough for the Cui family to pledge their lives and loyalty.

Even after Emperor Wu’s passing, they still refused to accept the Mingde Emperor as sovereign.

They would rather prepare for the worst—a family purge and exile—than believe the Mingde Emperor would treat the Cui descendants fairly.

“Well... then...”

Startled and overwhelmed by this unprecedented tale of political upheaval, Cui Xiu forgot to hide his nervousness and curiosity, asking, “Then why did the Cui family suffer a purge? Didn’t Emperor Wu issue a sacred edict?”

The Cui family had served loyally and the current ruler was indeed the rightful heir.

He dared not voice the last question trembling on his tongue.

Hearing the natural nervous tremor in Cui Xiu’s voice, as if worried about future survival, Cui Qianting smiled faintly. His gaze slowly shifted from the blazing sun to the courtyard and the nearby weapon rack.

Looking at the blades and spears gleaming sharply in the sunlight, Cui Qianting replied in a clear, measured tone: “Before his suicide, Cui Zhen pointed his spear at the seventh prince and said if he dared betray the people, he would return as a vengeful ghost to seek retribution.”

Cui Xiu: “……”

“Over the years, treacherous villains have stirred trouble using this dying wish. After a few incidents, the Mingde Emperor naturally harbors suspicion toward the Cui family,” Cui Qianting said, patting the sweating boy’s head with a slight smile. “Not to mention, Marquis Cui En was spoiled. In his youth, he took advantage of Emperor Wu’s affection and rode the seventh prince like a horse.”

Although Cui Qianting’s hand gently stroked his head, at that moment it felt like a sharpened guillotine hanging over Cui Xiu’s neck, sending chills through his body and blotting out any light in his future.

That his legitimate mother disliked him and his father despised him was nothing compared to this.

Now, even the word “purge” seemed almost merciful.

How powerful was that legendary eldest uncle, to treat a prince like a mere mount?

No, his grandfather was even more formidable!

Turning down the position of regent, forging imperial edicts, and threatening future emperors—

But then, thinking of serving the people...

“Father... father...” Cui Xiu trembled all over, stammering but resolute, “Can I... can I start learning literature and martial arts now? The sooner, the better, so I understand more.”

If a purge comes, he wanted to survive by his own strength!

He was probably being selfish, unable to live up to the noble ideals of serving the people like his ancestors.

Hearing Cui Xiu’s earnest desire to learn, Cui Qianting’s eyes flickered, as if catching a glimpse of the resolute decisiveness of his forebears.

Cui Xiu met Cui Qianting’s straightforward gaze, nervously swallowing but refusing to look away, straightening his chest.

His request might seem odd, but with so many extraordinary feats of the Cui family unrecorded in history, his strong plea to learn now was a desperate act of self-preservation.

After all, he never knew when the purge would truly come.

So every bit of learning was a gain.

Seeing Cui Xiu like a caged beast, tense and desperate to seize any chance to survive, Cui Qianting patted his head again and said firmly with approval, “That’s the spirit of the Cui family!”

—A little secret is just a little secret; besides, Mistress Liu is always so mysterious.

Cui Xiu smiled weakly, “Thank you for your praise, Father.”

“You’re welcome. Your eldest uncle is the family head and a noble lord, quite strategic. He has secretly buried silver in the four exile zones in the southeast, southwest, northwest, and northeast. You won’t suffer too much,” Cui Qianting said, fearing to frighten him, then encouraged, “Think about it—if there’s a purge, there’s still a backup plan. You’re a member of the Cui family; what is there to fear?”

“……” Cui Xiu struggled, trying to plant his feet firmly on the ground. “Father, I want to start practicing martial arts now!”

Compared to buried silver, learning to fight seemed more reliable.

“Very well.” Cui Qianting moved with a light step to the edge of the pond and flicked his hand casually.

With a splash, Cui Xiu was plunged into the water, struggling.

Cui Qianting looked down at the boy thrashing in the water. “Drowning is the leading cause of death among noble children, as summarized by Marquis Cui En. Hence, every Cui descendant must learn to swim.”

Struggling with all his strength, Cui Xiu blurted angrily, “I will live to see Marquis Cui En!”

Cui Qianting nodded with satisfaction, bent down, and lifted him out of the water. In a low voice, he declared, “That Wang fellow is a quack! What heart congestion? How could a member of the Cui family ever have such a disease! Look at this outrageous family tradition!”