Chapter 659: I Owe You Nothing

Regarding the conversation among Chen Yan and a few others, Wang Gui knew nothing; even if he did, he wouldn't care about it.

Because today he doesn't intend to go to the Ministry of Personnel first; instead, he plans to return to the gathering place of the aristocratic families.

He wants to settle everything today, then return to his hometown and retire in seclusion.

Unlike before, this time Wang Gui did not ride a carriage; he walked out of the Imperial Palace, passing through the bustling Zhuque Dajie.

Watching the surging crowds around him, Wang Gui walked slowly, slowly, not at all hurried, seemingly not feeling any fatigue.

Recalling the past, he can no longer tell how long his heart has been this calm and relaxed.

Without having to consider official duties or any gains and losses, all worries are cast aside, and like an ordinary old man, he strolls through this bustling Chang'an city.

After an unknown amount of time, Wang Gui entered the Wang family's ancestral hall in Chang'an.

Just as he expected, the hall was already filled with people: representatives of various aristocratic families, three clan elders, and the younger generation Cui Xuan.

Wang Gui quietly scanned the seats above; there had originally been a spot reserved for him, but now it was gone.

Nevertheless, he was not at all surprised, nor angry, simply accepting it calmly.

"Wang Gui, shouldn't you give us an explanation?" The senior elder above, a man appearing over seventy, opened his eyes slightly and stared down at Wang Gui.

His tone was plainly gentle, yet the pressure and authority were overwhelming: "Why didn't you consult us beforehand and arbitrarily resign from the Minister of Works position?"

"The reason being the laughably feeble old age and inability to serve."

"Do you yourself believe those words?"

"Uncle Cui, are you planning to indict me?" Wang Gui let a smile flicker at the corner of his mouth, then surveyed everyone present: "Or are you all planning to indict me?"

The elder who spoke above is currently one of the highest officials of the Cui family, a generation senior to Wang Gui.

Zheng Zhi Li said gravely, "Old Wang, we naturally have no intention of indicting you, but… you should be well aware of the current situation."

"That little scrawny brat Chen Yan, together with Li Shimin, keeps pressing us step by step, probing our limits in every field, repeatedly using treacherous schemes to weaken our influence."

"Recently, Chen Yan allied with nearly half the Court, even summoning Qin Qiong from Weinan County, and in one stroke pushed for the abolition of the Buddhist Establishment's privileges."

"With your mind, can you not see the problem here?"

"Chen Yan and Li Shimin dare not yet move the landholders, the Meritorious Nobles, or the various families, so they targeted the easy-to-bully Buddhist Establishment first."

"But don't they have schemes against us? The progressive tax system was proposed long ago."

"If implemented, our interests will suffer unprecedented blows, and more deadly, if our influence keeps waning to a certain point, we may, like the Buddhist Establishment, be eradicated in one stroke by Chen Yan and Li Shimin, the father‑in‑law duo."

"And at this critical moment, as one of the most influential among us in the Court, you unilaterally submitted your resignation without informing us first."

"Old Wang… I think you should give us an explanation."

After Zheng Zhi Li finished speaking, the others fell silent; the three elders above stared at Wang Gui below, saying nothing.

Obviously, Zheng Zhi Li's words were exactly what they wanted to say.

Wang Gui gave a faint smile, his gaze sweeping over the others' faces before settling on Zheng Zhi Li: "Technically, with your status, you have no right to question me."

"But for the sake of the three elders above, I can give you an explanation."

Wang Gui spoke unhurriedly, a hint of recollection in his eyes: "I recall that at first I assisted Crown Prince Li Jiànchéng… Heh, I first served as the Crown Prince's Attendant, later as the Crown Prince's Assistant, and was greatly trusted by Li Jiànchéng."

"Of course, all of that was earned through my own effort, and has nothing to do with you."

"Back then, I thought my future would rise with Li Jiànchéng's ascent to the throne, and my status would soar."

"Unfortunately, in the seventh year of Wude, Li Jiànchéng weakened Li Shimin, who was then Prince of Qin, by using his authority to expel Li Shimin's close aides Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui from the Qin Prince's residence."

"During this process, I was made a scapegoat, and the Retired Emperor Li Yuan redirected his anger onto me, believing that as a Crown Prince's officer I failed to guide the Crown Prince onto the right path, and instead…"

"That was the most wretched moment in my life," Wang Gui said slowly, as if it were a trivial matter, with no emotion flickering in his eyes.

"That was the most destitute moment of my life." Wang Gui narrated slowly, as if recounting a trivial matter, with no emotional fluctuation in his eyes.

"At that time, I went from being a favored figure in the Eastern Palace, a future key minister, to a disgraced, destitute refugee overnight."

"While in Xui Zhou, I was penniless, surviving by drafting marriage contracts and selling calligraphy and paintings, earning meager money just to stay alive."

"Thinking back, those days were truly hard; to survive, I discarded my pride and dignity, exhausting myself just to avoid starvation."

Wang Gui lifted his head, chuckling lightly, and asked, "Where were you all at that time?"

"You are clearly lofty aristocratic families, with wealth accumulated enough to drive the world mad; even a scrap of skin from under a fingernail would have been enough for me to comfortably get through those hard times."

"But did you ever spare even a glance at me?"

Elder Cui replied calmly, "So… are you complaining?"

"Trying to take revenge on us this way?"

"Of course not." Wang Gui found it laughable; could he really look that childish?

"Uncle Cui, why would you entertain such a ridiculous thought? Supporting us in glory, abandoning us in decline—that's the norm."

"I have long accepted it; there's no room for complaint."

"What I want to tell you is…" Wang Gui stared at Elder Cui, earnestly saying, "The toughest stretch was walked out by me alone, without relying on any of you."

"Even after I returned to the Court and became Prime Minister, and indeed received your assistance, over the years my help to you has far exceeded what you gave me; any debt I owed you has long been repaid!"

"What right do you have to question me?"

"Since I entered here, not even a seat was left for me, how is that?"

"Has a millennium of heritage made your inherent arrogance reach this level?"

"You can't even discern the basic ratio of give and take, yet you still don't realize that I, Wang Gui, have long owed you nothing!?"