Chapter 950 - 789: Xu Family Ancestral Hall Ablaze

When Zhang Xia and the others arrived at the Xu Family Mansion, they found it even more bustling than the Zhen Garden in the Imperial Capital on the day Official Xu passed away.

Dozens of sedan chairs and more than twenty carriages were parked in front, completely blocking the originally spacious Taiping Street.

Porters, coachmen, various servants, and maids gathered together, whispering amongst themselves. Even the idle citizens of Jinling came to watch, having heard that the Xu Family would be electing a new Clan Leader soon. If the choice was not satisfactory, it might even lead to the division of the family.

Zhang Xia led Xiao Man, San Shichi, and Li Si through the crowd, heading straight for the Xu Family’s gate.

The servants and coachmen were murmuring quietly: "Which branch are they from this time?"

A coachman leaned against his carriage, speaking slowly: "Perhaps they’re just coming in from the countryside, not even having a sedan chair. They can’t be anyone important."

Zhang Xia paused before the Xu Family gate and looked up. The plaque above the entrance read "Advanced Scholar’s House" just like in the Imperial Capital, flanked by couplets that read "For twenty years, the palace doors opened; preparing soups and making robes," "Three thousand scrolls of green papers, teaching sons to pass on to grandsons."

Zhang Xia sighed: "Back then, my little uncle said the Xu Family only had nineteen years of fortune, but Second Grandfather didn’t believe him, insisting on putting up these couplets to claim twenty years as the Cabinet Minister. Turns out, little uncle was right. Second Grandfather served for nineteen years as the Cabinet Minister and then passed, so it is with time and fate."

At this moment, Zhang Xia handed the reins to San Shichi: "You wait outside with Zaozao."

San Shichi responded with an acknowledgment.

Zhang Xia ascended the stone steps, and a Xu Family servant blocked her path: "Today, the Xu Family has important matters to discuss, so we are not receiving guests."

Just as Xiao Man was about to act, Li Si stepped forward and shoved the servant aside: "You’ve got the eyes of a blind dog. How could you mistake my foster mother for a guest? Move aside."

Xiao Man looked at Li Si and then at Zhang Xia, whispering: "Where did the young master find this treasure?"

Zhang Xia’s eyelid twitched as she lifted her foot and stepped into the Xu Family gate.

The Xu Family Mansion was located on the east side of Taiping Street, next to Zhongshan Academy, a well-known spot in Jinling City.

The Xu Family in the Imperial Capital was called Zhen Garden, and so was the Xu Family here, identical in layout and scale, even the thirty-seven merit flag poles were exactly the same, just like the small piece owned by the Zhang Family.

However, in the Imperial Capital’s Zhen Garden, one corner belonged to the Zhang Family, whereas, in the Jinling Zhen Garden, that corner was home to the Huqiu Xu Family.

The Xu Families from Huqiu and Jinling had originally agreed to split the estate evenly and not interfere with each other’s affairs. Yet, after Xu Chuanxi rose to the position of Shuntian Prefect, he found excuses each month to occupy most of the remaining garden, pushing Xu Chuanyin into a corner.

Fed up, Xu Chuanyin simply moved to Suzhou, out of sight and out of mind.

Zhang Xia walked inside, noticing the couplets hanging by the ceremonial door: "Of all the world’s literature, nothing greater exists; among the court’s Prime Ministers, none greater has appeared in our times."

She shook her head gently and passed through the ceremonial door, heading straight for the Xu Family’s meeting place, Shi’en Hall. Before she could enter the courtyard of Shi’en Hall, she heard the buzzing sounds of heated discussions inside.

An old voice echoed, and the buzzing immediately stopped: "In establishing a Clan Leader for the Xu Family, it must be from the major direct lineage first, and then based on virtue and ability, not merely those with power. The major direct lineage is the root, and the two collateral branches are the limbs, as clearly stated in the family records. Xu Shu from the longhouse is the heaven-ordained heir of the major direct lineage, and any who disrupt this order or divide the clan violate ancestral traditions and dishonor the ancestors. The family records in my hand are the evidence for judgment."

The courtyard in Shi’en Hall was silent for a moment, and then the buzzing resumed.

A powerful, resonant voice shouted: "Meng Shan Gong upholds ancestral traditions, respects family order, and wins the heartfelt admiration of all. But beyond propriety, the survival of the clan is a monumental responsibility. Today, the Xu Family is no longer a rural clan engaged in closed-door studies. Our family controls the shipping and trade at Ningbo Dinghai Port and Songjiang Port, reaping immense profits from Lianghuai’s official salt and Jiangnan’s silk. Our fields span multiple prefectures, and our merchant ships travel the rivers and seas, forming a vast foundation."

This powerful voice paused briefly, then continued: "The direct heir, Xu Shu, is naturally lax, pays no attention to clan affairs, and disregards the family business. Forcing him as the heir would leave the Xu Family leaderless with no one to manage the clan affairs or shoulder emergencies, burdening the entire clan! Second House’s Xu Chuanxi has served successively as Shuntian Prefect and Minister of the Ministry of Justice, possessing both official position and capability. I recommend Xu Chuanxi as the Clan Leader!"

At this moment, another sneered: "I thought you were going to say something else; turns out you just want to back Xu Chuanxi. Yet, the Xu Family’s centuries-old foundation lies in the land, in the clan’s assets, and in the clan’s members, not in a mere official title from the court. Tens of thousands of acres of fertile land, thousands of shops, tens of thousands of tenants, and generations of village neighbors are the true foundation of the Xu Family’s enduring stability!"

The previously powerful voice retorted: "Without the shelter of power, how can we keep those tens of thousands of acres?"

The other chided: "Xu Chuanxi is full of scheming, and now that the court wants to survey lands, how can he enter the Cabinet without using the Xu Family’s assets as a resume? I originally did not wish to split the family, but today the Second House relies on official power to seize control and disregard the clan members. If the Second House becomes the Clan Leader, the Third House must request a division of the family!"

Zhang Xia stood outside listening to the endless arguments inside Shi’en Hall, unable to reach a resolution, while Li Si looked around and whispered: "Foster mother, I’m going to the restroom."

Xiao Man replied irritably: "Go if you will, there’s no need to report it."

Li Si chuckled, turning and running off.

Zhang Xia stepped into the main courtyard of Shi’en Hall, where she saw a dense crowd of Xu Family members standing outside the main hall, while inside were arranged sixteen chairs.

An elderly man with white hair sat at the head position, known as Xu Mengshan of the Xu Family’s longhouse, Meng Shan Gong.

The first one sitting on the left is Xu Shu, with his head down, nodding as if asleep. The remaining eight clan elders from the Xu Family sit on both sides, each with different expressions. Xu Chuanyin stands behind one of the elders, not sitting in any of the empty chairs.

Mrs. Zhang sits alone at the end, separated by several chairs from others, with only the little monk standing behind her.

Today, Mrs. Zhang is dressed in the Pheasant-Feather Robe granted by the Second-Grade Imperial Decree, adorned with golden events on her head, twenty-four green clouds, eight gold treasure flowers, and two golden pheasants...

Since she received this Second-Grade Imperial Decree, it’s the first time Zhang Xia sees his mother dressed so grandly.

Zhang Xia, with a calm expression, pushes through the crowd, as the Xu Family members blocking the front instinctively move aside, muttering angrily: "Who is it?"

Zhang Xia does not answer but leads Xiao Man to stand behind Mrs. Zhang’s chair, placing his hand on Mrs. Zhang’s shoulder, bending down to whisper: "Mother, we are here."

Mrs. Zhang responds with a hum, slowly relaxing her body.

Xu Chuanyin turns his head to look at Zhang Xia, immediately rebuking: "You, an outsider woman, who allowed you into Shi’en Hall? Xu Yihong, how have you taught your daughter?"

Just as Mrs. Zhang is about to speak, Zhang Xia gently pats her shoulder, indicating he will handle it.

Zhang Xia lifts his head to look at Xu Chuanyin, his voice clear and resonant: "When Grandpa was alive, he never forbade us from going to the Shi’en Hall in the Imperial Capital; why are there so many rules in your Jinling Shi’en Hall? Unless women must wear a decree to enter this council hall, if that’s the case, it’s not like I don’t have a decree outfit. You can try to expel me."

Only then do the Xu Family members remember that people only focus on Chen Ji for his merits in guarding, posthumously granted Marquis Wu Xiang, almost forgetting Zhang Xia was also granted a Third-Grade Imperial Decree.

Xu Chuanyin’s expression changes, adopting a sarcastic tone: "Your husband is dead, and you, a woman, should mourn him properly. What are you doing at my Xu Family? According to our Daning laws, when a husband dies, the wife must mourn for three years. After dealing with Xu Family matters, I will impeach you, strip you of your decree."

Zhang Xia calmly says: "While Grandpa was alive, he treated me like a granddaughter. I returned home with Uncle Xu Shu, carrying the red silk flags and coffin granted by the emperor; what mistake is there?"

Xu Chuanyin is momentarily stunned, unsure how to refute.

Zhang Xia asks in return: "Do you want to continue arguing this matter with me, or discuss the Xu Family affairs?"

Xu Chuanyin takes a deep breath and continues: "Let’s first talk about the Xu Family’s serious business. Today we must select a new clan leader... If you insist on choosing Xu Shu or Xu Chuanxi, our third house will split from the family!"

But just at this moment, the scent of ashes suddenly wafts from outside Shi’en Hall, followed by billowing thick smoke.

Someone shouts loudly: "Fire! The ancestral hall is on fire!"

The Xu Family members are shocked, and even the nine clan elders can’t help but stand up and walk to the courtyard, watching from afar as thick smoke rises from the direction of the ancestral hall.

Meng Shan Gong sternly commands: "What are you standing around for? Go extinguish the fire! If we disturb the ancestors, we will die unsettled!"

Clan elder Xu Houting also shouts angrily: "Where are the people responsible for watching the ancestral hall? How are they watching? Burning the ancestral hall and ancestor’s tablets will make our Xu Family be mocked by all Jiangnan scholars for a lifetime! First, rescue the ancestor’s tablets, a reward of 500 taels of silver for each tablet rescued—everyone, go!"

Xu Family members awaken from their daze, rushing towards the ancestral hall, leaving Shi’en Hall empty in an instant.

Mrs. Zhang sits on the chair, letting out a long sigh: "Such torment."

She looks at the plaque in the center of Shi’en Hall with the four characters "Shi’en Sets Standards," her expression complex as she says: "Standards are no longer upheld, Shi’en is hard to maintain. The glory of the Xu Family appears to be ending with this generation. It’s as if the ancestors know of the lax adherence to family principles, and have burned the ancestral hall as a result."

At this moment, Li Si wobbles into Shi’en Hall, standing beside Zhang Xia with his hands tucked in his sleeves, humming a tune nasally.

Zhang Xia turns his head to look at him, hesitating for a moment: "Did you set the fire?"

Li Si responds with an "ah," laughing as he acknowledges: "Stepmother is insightful; I set it."

Mrs. Zhang, Xiao Man, and the little monk simultaneously turn to look at him, their mouths wide open.

Xiao Man’s eyes widen, glancing around, lowering his voice: "Do you know how serious it is to burn an ancestral hall? The Xu Family members cannot take official exams or join the government within three years, and those who already hold positions will be impeached for neglecting family teachings and declining family standards..."

Li Si innocently replies: "So serious... but I’m not a member of the Xu Family."

Zhang Xia, puzzled, asks: "Why did you set fire to the Xu Family’s ancestral hall?"

Li Si raises a hand to stroke his goatee, speaking slowly: "Stepmother may not know, we didn’t understand at first why Father stayed with the Anti-Japanese Army. Jiang Chai said Father intended to rebel, but I felt it unlikely. Until today we visited this Xu Family, I finally figured out his intention... Stepmother, we can’t let the Xu Family select a clan leader today. Allow me to help delay a few more days; everything will become clear then."