Chapter 95
Who could have predicted that Changle would suddenly fall seriously ill? Under such circumstances, if Zhangsun Wuji still insisted on having Zhangsun Chong marry Changle, it would be foolish. When Li Er and his wife learned about this, how would they view the Zhangsun family?
However, Zhangsun Chong believed Su Li was responsible for Changle’s misfortune. Though Zhangsun Chong seemed to tarnish Su Li’s reputation, he believed it was justified. Yet, since Su Li was Changle’s consort, if his reputation suffered, how would it reflect on Changle?
Seeing Zhangsun Chong’s silence, Zhangsun Wuji continued to persuade him. “I know you’re not willing, but the fact remains that Su Li is Changle’s consort, and the outcome can’t be changed. A true man needs to have the courage to accept and let go. Continuing to dwell on this will only make people look down on you.”
Zhangsun Chong and Su Li were from different worlds. He was just a peasant who got lucky and became a consort. This was already his biggest stroke of fortune, his life’s pinnacle achievement.
“But you’re different. You’re the successor of the Zhangsun clan, and your future is boundless. Wealth and power come effortlessly to you. The gap between you and Su Li will only grow wider. He’s like a sparrow perched on a branch while you were born to be an eagle soaring high above the earth. Why even consider him a rival?”
Zhangsun Wuji’s words carried genuine emotion. He sincerely hoped that Zhangsun Chong would awaken to these truths. In the aristocratic society of the Tang Dynasty, grooming the eldest son was of utmost importance. Just like Zhangsun Chong, at a young age, he had already entered official service and became the Deputy Minister of Rites. If he followed the established path without making mistakes and steadily advanced, he would inevitably achieve high status without any surprises.
However, if he couldn’t let go of this matter, others might perceive him as narrow-minded, as Zhangsun Wuji pointed out. Indeed, in the eyes of the Tang Dynasty’s elite, Su Li was a sparrow, while Zhangsun Chong was an eagle. Why would an eagle consider a sparrow its rival? Holding onto such a limited perspective could leave a negative impression on others.
Zhangsun Wuji was aware of the incident when Li Er consulted Yuan Tiangang to predict Su Li’s destiny. Even the conversation details between Yuan Tiangang and Li Er were crystal clear to him. Zhangsun Wuji considered the idea of Su Li being an auspicious omen for the Tang Dynasty as baseless.
He believed that such notions resulted from ignorance among the common people, with individuals like Yuan Tiangang exploiting them under the guise of divination. Zhangsun Wuji and most elites never put any stock in such beliefs. Their positions and power resulted from vast family legacies built up over centuries or hard-fought struggles through generations. Whether someone succeeded depended first on their lineage and second on their abilities.
Su Li’s seemingly incredible luck might occur once in a lifetime, and his highest potential was perhaps becoming a favored consort who lived comfortably. In a way, Zhangsun Wuji’s mindset aligned with that of Zhangsun Chong’s. However, he chose not to reveal Yuan Tiangang’s predictions to his son, knowing that Zhangsun Chong’s youthful impulsiveness could lead to trouble.
His son’s tendency to spread rumors about Su Li due to personal resentment worried Zhangsun Wuji. If Zhangsun Chong had learned that Yuan Tiangang had declared Su Li an auspicious omen for the Tang Dynasty, he might have taken it seriously out of jealousy. Regardless of what Zhangsun Chong might do, it wouldn’t surprise Zhangsun Wuji. Instead, it could potentially lead to a problematic situation.
“In short, the only connection between you and Su Li in this lifetime is that he married Changle. In the future, you don’t need to interact with him,” summarized Zhangsun Wuji.
Father’s heartfelt words made Zhangsun Chong contemplate.
“I will remember the lesson, Father.”
He said these words begrudgingly.
He understood the reasoning, but accepting that the woman he had considered his fiance for so many years suddenly belonged to someone else, especially someone as ordinary as a peasant like Su Li, was hard for Zhangsun Chong to swallow.
Whenever he recalled the last time he went to the Princess’s Mansion and heard the intimate conversations between Su Li and Changle through the door, anger flared up within Zhangsun Chong.
In reality, Zhangsun Chong knew that his actions held no real significance. With so many consorts in the Tang Dynasty without a solid background, entering the princess’s mansion would inevitably lead to accusations of living off the princess’s wealth. Those so-called young talents, each one of them, willingly accepted the label, even if they knew it wasn’t flattering.
But Su Li, an initially penniless peasant, had nothing to worry about regarding reputation. What was the point of attacking him with things he didn’t care about? What result could that possibly yield?
The truth was that Zhangsun Chong was simply venting his frustration through these actions.
Especially since the rumors had been circulating for so long, even the thickest-skinned person would react to some extent. At the very least, those rumors might affect Su Li’s mood. That would be even better if he got upset and did something out of character due to his emotions.
However, the reality was that all his efforts were in vain. Su Li remained holed up in the Princess’s Mansion, not reacting to any of it. It was as if Zhangsun Chong’s actions were punches thrown into thin air, his strength useless, leaving him nearly breathless with internal frustration.
Even without Zhangsun Wuji’s advice, Zhangsun Chong was already starting to feel that it was all rather pointless. So, when Zhangsun Wuji persuaded him, Zhangsun Chong readily agreed. He truly took his father’s words to heart.
Indeed, he and Su Li were from entirely different worlds. The only aspect that had caught his attention was becoming Changle’s consort.
Regarding capability, Su Li didn’t warrant the amount of attention Zhangsun Chong gave him. Even if Su Li never left the Princess’s Mansion, did he not know about the rumors circulating outside? Zhangsun Chong didn’t buy it.
Now, it seemed that Su Li’s lack of reaction wasn’t due to a lack of willingness to fight back but rather a lack of capability to resist. He was just a consort, after all…
At this moment, Zhangsun Chong felt like he was finally letting go.
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