Chapter 425: 432: The Marquis Mansion is in Danger

Su Wenyue’s complexion improved slightly upon hearing Master Su and Madam Su’s comforting words. She knew that worrying was useless at the moment, and what matters most was finding a way to rescue the people. It was fortunate that ever since the Su Family had pledged allegiance to Liu Xiu, they had secretly arranged for Grandmother, eldest aunt, and their two cousins to be placed in hiding. Otherwise, there would have been an additional complication in the rescue.

Su Hengyi and Su Hengxuan felt a mix of emotions upon seeing their sister’s reaction. On one hand, they were worried about the safety of their eldest uncle’s family, but they also felt a twinge of jealousy. After all, she was their sister, and yet suddenly a few more “brothers” had appeared. When they lived in the Marquis Bei’an Mansion as children, what annoyed them the most was when their male cousins always tried to compete for their sister’s attention. Later, when they returned to Yiyang Prefecture, they were quite happy because their sister was just theirs again.

It seems that even now, the brothers still harboured some resentment towards those childhood moments. Truly, a brother’s control over his sister is often beyond reason.

“Father, big brother, Second Brother, can you think of any ways to save eldest uncle and cousin? We must act quickly. The world is in chaos, and that Wang Mang is fickle and unpredictable; who knows what changes might happen within this period. We cannot afford any delay.” Having been through her previous life, Su Wenyue was more aware than anyone of how chaotic things would become later on, knowing that misfortune could strike at any moment.

It had been some time since they received the news, and Master Su had been discussing possibilities with his sons for a while now, but none of their strategies were foolproof. They hastily called Han Yu to join them—not only to inform him of these developments but also to hear his ideas. This son-in-law always had many, and was known for his quick wit. Having him contribute to the discussion would surely make their plans more solid.

Han Yu had mulled over the situation thoroughly on his way there. Although he hadn’t expected things in Chang’an to be this bad, his thought process remained sound. With those in the Marquis Bei’an Mansion now under Wang Mang’s control, viable options were limited. It was impossible to guarantee their complete safety. Even if they attempted a rescue in Chang’an, there would be numerous dangers involved.

Seeing his wife so anxious, Han Yu thought it best to not involve her in the discussion with her father and brothers-in-law. He would inform her once a decision was made. Fearing that his father-in-law might not understand his intention, Han Yu discreetly gestured to his eldest brother-in-law.

As for why he didn’t speak up himself, Han Yu had his reasons. His wife, although usually reasonable, could become particularly stubborn about certain issues, especially those concerning her mother’s family. He would have to exert much effort to persuade her, likely without reaping any benefits, and it could lead to a misunderstanding that he was indifferent to her mother’s family affairs. It was best to leave this tricky matter to someone else.

Su Hengyi shared the same worries, so he immediately understood his brother-in-law’s signal. He said to Madam Su and Su Wenyue: “Mother, you and younger sister should go back to your room to rest for a bit; help me pack my things while you’re at it. My brother-in-law and I still have some matters to discuss.”

“Mother can go by herself; I want to stay here,” Su Wenyue insisted, unwilling to leave because she wanted to contribute to the strategy session.

“Younger sister, this isn’t a time for you to be wilful!” Su Hengyi doted on his sister, but he wouldn’t indulge her when the situation was serious. Especially as the eldest brother, Su Hengyi directly commanded his sister, convincing Han Yu even more that his own approach was the right one. If he had said those words, he would have to explain himself more and might not even get the desired effect.

Su Wenyue knew just what sort of temper her big brother had, so, even though she was reluctant, she had no choice but to follow her Mother out after he had spoken. She could always ask Han Yu directly after the discussion.

When Madam Su and Su Wenyue left, Feng Ruolin, Su Hengyi’s wife, was already packing. No matter the solution, Su Hengyi would definitely have to make a trip to Chang’an.

Master Su and his sons, along with Han Yu, discussed in the study room for over half an hour before finally settling on a general course of action. As soon as they left the study, Su Wenyue immediately directed her gaze toward Han Yu.

Understanding his wife’s intent, Han Yu said, “I’ve discussed it with your father, big brother, and Second Brother. Now that Wang Mang has all the power in Chang’an, and Marquis Bei’an cannot possibly stoop to appease that tyrant, the usual approaches of seeking help and using connections will certainly not work. The only strategy left is to take a direct approach and find a way to snatch them from Wang Mang’s clutches. Once they escape Chang’an and reach our territory, they’ll be safe.”

“Are you talking about a jailbreak?” Su Wenyue felt a heaviness in her heart, understanding the severity of the situation if they had to resort to such measures.

“Something along those lines. The specifics will have to be worked out once we’re in Chang’an,” he replied.

“Are you confident? Will big brother be the one to lead the rescue in Chang’an? Is there any danger?” Su Wenyue asked hurriedly, and Han Yu nodded in acknowledgment.

Although Su Wenyue had known all along that her big brother would have to go to Chang’an—hence the urgent packing by her sister-in-law—the confirmation of such news couldn’t stop her from worrying. Their eldest uncle’s family was already in trouble, and the situation in Chang’an was so complex. Especially since the Su Family had sided with Liu Xiu, the opposition of Wang Mang made it all the more dangerous to go to Chang’an.

Despite her worries, Su Wenyue never considered preventing her big brother from going. As the eldest son of the Second branch of the Su Family, Su Hengyi had obligations and responsibilities he could not ignore, even if it wasn’t expected of him. They couldn’t possibly turn a blind eye to their eldest uncle’s family’s safety.

“Big brother and sister-in-law will go together,” Han Yu added. Seeing the surprise in his wife’s eyes, he explained: “Sister-in-law’s family is from Jianghu; she has been trained in martial arts from a young age, and she has broad connections within Jianghu. With the current complex situation in the Imperial Court and Wang Mang’s strong influence, few court figures would dare get involved in this matter. We might need to rely on those from Jianghu, and having sister-in-law accompany big brother can provide him substantial help.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Upon hearing Han Yu’s words, Su Wenyue felt admiration for her sister-in-law and understood more clearly why her father had insisted on arranging her big brother’s marriage, despite her Mother’s objections, given the sister-in-law’s not-so-good reputation. Those from Jianghu often held worldly manners and conventions in low regard—something Madam Su, who came from a distinguished family, valued greatly. Conflicts arose over this initially, but once Feng Ruolin bore the Second House’s eldest son, relations between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law improved. Moreover, as the Su Family engaged in trade, envy and covetousness were inevitable. Feng Ruolin’s mother’s family had also exerted effort in this regard, leading Madam Su to become more accepting, resulting in their harmonious relationship now.

“Sister-in-law is truly a heroic woman; I’m genuinely in awe. It’s just that I’m so useless. If I were as capable as sister-in-law, I could accompany big brother to Chang’an for the rescue, instead of anxiously doing nothing here,” Su Wenyue lamented, not for the first time feeling useless.

Han Yu, sweating at his wife’s words, felt an immense relief. Thankfully, his wife didn’t possess those skills, otherwise, he would truly have more worries on his hands—he would never let his wife run around recklessly.