Chapter Twenty-Four: That Fading Glow of the Setting Sun (Part One)

“Seeds? What seeds?” Li Fu asked.

“The seeds of chaos, the seeds of hope—there are both,” the old Wine Master mused for a moment before continuing.

“The matriarch didn’t just target the elders in her family, she didn’t spare her descendants either. Some were forced to take their own lives, others were banished from the clan. For a time, no voice of opposition dared to rise within the family. Yet, dissent did not truly die out; several collateral branches still honored the dying wishes of the old scholar, hoping to bring back the exiled eldest line and restore the family to its former glory.”

“When their plans reached a critical stage, one collateral branch, seeking favor, betrayed them and revealed everything. The matriarch, enraged, annihilated all those branches involved in the plot. But those elders were not to be underestimated. They hid this secret in a place no one could have imagined.” At this point, a satisfied smile appeared on the Wine Master’s face, as if he was most pleased with the choice of hiding place—or perhaps he himself was one of those elders.

“What happened later? Did the eldest son’s line survive?” Li Fu and his companions listened intently as the Wine Master recounted, the scene reminiscent of an elder telling his three grandsons stories of his youth.

“For a long time, everyone believed that line had perished in the matriarch’s purge. Yet, no matter how thorough the cleansing, some seeds always remain. That line, in the end, survived through the matriarch’s era of power,” the Wine Master sighed softly.

“Later events nearly split the family in two. For the sake of her rule, the matriarch cultivated forces loyal only to her, suppressing the family at large and marking every enterprise with her own stamp. What the elders could not abide was her intent to remake the family entirely, even to change its name and rewrite its genealogy. She nearly removed the ancestral tablets. This move made the surviving descendants of the previous patriarch realize: if things continued, the family’s lineage would inevitably be replaced.”

“Perhaps for the family, perhaps for their own ambition, the surviving brothers conspired to overthrow their mother. They not only relied on their own power but also sought help from a rival clan; yet the outcome was grim. Each brother harbored his own designs—not only to topple the matriarch but to secure the patriarch’s seat for himself. Thus began a relentless cycle of fratricidal slaughter…”

The old Wine Master sighed, his half-closed eyes glistening with traces of tears.

Taibao, who had remained silent, finally spoke: “Master, perhaps we should stop here for today. You are advanced in years—why dwell on these old sorrows?”

The Wine Master waved his hand, opened his eyes and gazed at the three youths in the hall. Memories flickered across his face as he shook his head and reflected, “Some things do not fade with time. If the truth is to be rewritten and beautified in books for future generations, it is better that I, a dying man, speak it plainly.”

Taibao was silent for a long time, then sighed.

“Wine Master, you mentioned the eldest son’s descendants—some seeds still remain. Did they never return to the family?” Jiang Moyuan asked respectfully. Li Fu and Yang Zixu, equally curious, refrained from interrupting out of respect.

“That seed endured, sheltered by the contingencies left by the departed elders. The time was never quite right, but what is yours will eventually return, no matter who tries to seize it. One year, three youths accidentally discovered the secret the elders had hidden. One was the descendant of the eldest line. By then, the family had been peaceful for a long while; he no longer wished to contend for the patriarch’s seat, having grown up outside the family and holding no interest in that cold, blood-soaked position.”

“But those aware of the truth thought differently. Despite three generations of patriarchs, some believed the seat did not belong to the current line. The old scholar’s dying wish still had adherents; the hope remained unbroken.” The Wine Master looked at Chu Ge and smiled gently.

“Wine Master, do you think that descendant should take the position? If he’s unwilling, why force him?” Li Fu asked softly after a pause.

“A good question! No one ever asked the descendant’s wishes. They simply assumed it was his destiny, never caring whether he wanted the role. In truth, it is either blind loyalty or greed. I pondered this for many years—human nature is unfathomable.” The Wine Master’s eyes shone with satisfaction at Li Fu’s insight.

Indeed, if he is unwilling, why must a descendant, separated by generations, be forced into that seat? Is such zealous assistance merely blind loyalty, or is it not simply the greed inherent in human nature?

“What happened next?” Yang Zixu, who had spoken little, finally asked.

“Afterwards… that descendant was deceived by those in power. He trusted too easily; little did he know, one cannot allow others to slumber beside one’s own pillow. Yet, the family still had its share of ‘blind loyalists’ who preserved his lineage. Over time, the eldest son’s descendants gradually drifted from the center of family power, sheltered by those who had once defended the old scholar. The family’s strife and ambition continued unabated.” The Wine Master’s expression was full of lament.

The three youths stared at him, dumbfounded. Was that really the end?

“Wine Master, do you think the old scholar was right all those years ago? If he hadn’t killed his brothers, would things have come to this?” Li Fu frowned slightly and asked in a gentle voice.

“Right or wrong no longer matters. Ambition is a thing no one can truly define,” the Wine Master replied after a pause, shaking his head with a deep sigh.

He gazed at the three spirited youths before him, his eyes filled with complex emotion. Reaching out with a frail hand, he touched Li Fu’s cheek and patted Yang Zixu’s shoulder.

“The current state of the Tang dynasty is far worse than you realize. I hope that one day, you will guard the legacy of these eight centuries well. Over the years, I’ve seen the court’s intrigues more clearly than you, but it’s not just internal dangers—there are threats on the borders as well… Whether from the Rongdi or the Northern Yan, all covet our Tang. Should the imperial order ever collapse, I hope that the Heavenly Strategy, established by Taizong, will protect our people.” The Wine Master spoke with deep concern.