Chapter 244: Night Gathering
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Xu Jingfu escaped from prison at night and fled to a deserted farmhouse outside the city. He was intercepted by his student, Chu Zhao, and his men, who acted righteously to eliminate the traitor. However, Chu Zhao was severely injured in the struggle with his mentor and now lies on a sickbed with an uncertain fate.
In one night, the winds of Shuojing changed completely.
With his escape, Xu Jingfu firmly established the charges of colluding with the enemy and framing and harming high-ranking officials of the court in the Mingshui case. The case was swiftly handled by the Grand Court, and the entire Xu family was arrested, with the unexpected exception of Fourth Young Master Chu from the Shi Jinbo Manor. Some criticized him for being ungrateful, as Xu Jingfu treated him well, but he sided with others against his teacher. Others argued that he made a clear-headed decision, given the weight of royal favor over teacher’s favor.
Now, lying on the sickbed, Chu Zhao’s fate remains unknown. Rumors spread that Xu Jingfu stabbed him in the chest with a knife, and it’s unclear if he will survive.
In the Xiao residence, in the ancestral hall, Xiao Jing and Xiao Jue stood side by side.
Xiao Jue rarely joined Xiao Jing in offering incense; most of the time, he came alone.
A few days ago, Bai Rongwei fell ill and called a doctor. It was then revealed that she was pregnant. When Bai Rongwei first arrived at the Xiao family, half a year after marrying in, Xiao Zhongwu faced trouble. Shortly after, Madam Xiao also passed away. At that time, Xu Jingfu pressed them hard, and the entire Xiao family was on the verge of collapse. Bai Rongwei, who had just become pregnant, overexerted herself and suffered a miscarriage. It was also during that time that she developed a latent illness, and she had been nurturing her health over the years.
Unexpectedly, with Xu Jingfu’s case coming to an end, Bai Rongwei received good news, perhaps destined in the grand scheme of things.
Xiao Jing looked at the ancestral tablets in the hall, sighed, and said, “Nearly seven years, we can finally let go of a worry.”
These years, no one deliberately brought it up, but neither Xiao Jue nor Xiao Jing forgot the Battle of Mingshui.
“You’ve worked hard these years,” Xiao Jing smiled at Xiao Jue, with a trace of apology in his smile. “The heavy burden of the Xiao family has been on your shoulders alone.”
“Everything in Shuojing relies on Big Brother to manage,” Xiao Jue replied indifferently. “Where’s the hardship on my part alone?”
“You’re just being stubborn,” Xiao Jing shook his head and smiled lightly. “Although I’m your older brother, it seems like I’ve never done anything for you. You’ve never lived for yourself,” his gaze fell on the rising smoke, “now, you can finally take a break for a while.”
Whether from being abandoned on the mountain when he was young, later entering the Xianchang Academy, or eventually taking over the Nanfu troops, all of it was for the Xiao family. Sometimes Xiao Jing felt that he didn’t really understand what his brother wanted, maybe because no one had ever asked him what he wanted. By the time he thought to ask, Xiao Jue had already grown up and gotten used to keeping everything to himself.
As an older brother, no matter how hard Xiao Jing tried, it seemed he couldn’t penetrate Xiao Jue’s heart.
Fortunately… if there was someone else who could, that would be good.
“After the Xu family’s case, you should think about your own matters,” Xiao Jing said.
“My matters?”
“Don’t forget your marriage. Now, this matter is the big issue for the Xiao family. Your sister-in-law is pregnant, and I’ve asked her to temporarily set aside these matters. I will take care of them.”
Xiao Jue was slightly surprised, “No need, I can handle it myself.”
“Xu Jingfu’s remnants are still rampant at night. I’m afraid you don’t have time to personally manage it.” Xiao Jing smiled, “Rest assured, I have experience in handling such matters. It won’t go wrong. When I married your sister-in-law back then, I personally took care of everything. It seemed to turn out well in the end.”
Back then, Madam Xiao was unwilling for Xiao Jing to marry a common-born girl who didn’t match their social status. However, she couldn’t resist her own son. In a fit of anger, she washed her hands of the matter, leaving the entire marriage arrangement, from the new house to the betrothal gifts, and even the wedding invitations and pastries, all to be personally managed by Xiao Jing.
With that said, Xiao Jue remembered the scene from years ago when Xiao Jing nervously and carefully selected fabric for the wedding dress at the silk shop. He couldn’t help but smile slightly.
Seeing him smile, Xiao Jing also smiled, feeling a bit emotional. “When I married your sister-in-law, I used to think about when I would see you get married. I never knew what kind of girl you would marry. Now, thinking about it,” he paused, “that Miss He is really good.”
After a moment of silence, Xiao Jue said calmly, “I also think she’s good.”
“Huaijin,” Xiao Jing stood side by side with him, “you should cherish her.”
…
In the Chu residence, Chu Zhao, who had been unconscious for seven days, finally woke up.
The first thing he did upon waking up was, despite his still unhealed wounds, struggle to enter the palace and meet the emperor. Initially, others thought he was going to end the road for the Chu family by righteously eliminating his relatives. However, his purpose for entering the palace turned out to be self-claiming that he had an engagement with Xu Pingting. Given the timeline, Xu Pingting should have been married into the Chu family by now. Since she had already married, even if she could not be counted as a member of the Xu family, Chu Zhao pleaded with Emperor Wenxuan to spare Xu Pingting’s life due to Xu Jingfu’s past merits.
Being both righteous and loyal, Chu Zhao, despite his unhealed wounds and pale complexion, made a persistent appeal, which touched Emperor Wenxuan. He agreed to Chu Zhao’s request. However, due to Xu Jingfu’s heinous crimes, even though Xu Pingting could avoid the death penalty, she would forever be the daughter of a traitor and could not become the primary wife in the Shi Jinbo Manor.
At most, she could become a concubine.
When Xu Pingting was brought to the Chu family, she cried incessantly. But within a few days, the Xu family fell, her parents were dead, and all those who used to be close to her avoided her. Now, the only person she could rely on was Chu Zhao.
“Brother Zilan!” As soon as Xu Pingting saw Chu Zhao, she grabbed his arm and cried, “Why did you come to rescue me so late? What’s going on? Why are they treating me like this?”
The once aloof and proud young lady, now fallen from the clouds into the mud, displayed a mix of panic and disbelief, unwilling to accept the reality before her.
“Pingting,” the man in front of her maintained a gentle gaze, “You will live here in the future.”
“What does that mean? Can’t I go back to my own home?” Xu Pingting anxiously asked, “They all framed my father wrongly. Brother Zilan, you must have a way. Do you have a way or not?”
Chu Zhao just looked at her quietly.
Xu Pingting’s hands gradually loosened from Chu Zhao’s arm. She took two steps back, and the panic in her eyes slowly receded, as if remembering something from the past. She asked, “Brother Zilan, on the way here, I heard people say… they said you righteously eliminated your relatives, and when my father tried to escape, you stopped them… this shouldn’t be true, right?”
Chu Zhao sighed, “It’s true.”
Xu Pingting’s expression froze. After a while, she spoke with a tearful tone, “So, did you kill my father? Why did you do this? My father treated you so well. He was your teacher!”
Tears welled up on the delicate face of the charming young girl. She was usually full of spirit, either indulging in carefree laughter or displaying a domineering demeanor. Rarely did she appear as fragile and disheveled as she did now. It was only at moments like these that she didn’t seem like the “Miss Xu” and looked just like any ordinary girl.
Chu Zhao walked to her side, took out a handkerchief, and wiped away the tears on her face. If he had done this in the past, Xu Pingting would have been extremely delighted. However, as she looked at the person before her now, with the same eyebrows and eyes as before, his expression still gentle and patient, a faint chill inexplicably rose in her heart.
“I promised my teacher to take care of you,” he slowly retracted the handkerchief, his tone unchanged from before, yet somehow completely different, “and I will keep that promise. Pingting, don’t be willful.”
“Some things should not be mentioned again in the future,” he said softly. “Be obedient, and everything will pass.”
…
As the night fell, He Yan and He Yunsheng sat in the room roasting sweet potatoes.
Burying two sweet potatoes in the fine ashes under the fireplace, waiting for a while, digging open the ashes revealed perfectly roasted sweet potatoes. Even before peeling, the aroma was already noticeable. When peeled and tasted, it felt sweet and warm, making one wish they could swallow their tongue.
He Yan picked up a large sweet potato and threw it into He Yunsheng’s arms. The sweet potato was too hot, so He Yunsheng had to shake it in his hands before daring to take a bite.
“He Yan, eat less,” he ate while reminding the person across from him, “I heard that Commander Xiao had your wedding dress made according to your previous measurements. If you keep eating like this, what if the dress doesn’t fit later, and there’s no time to find a new one?”
He Yan threw a sweet potato skin at his head, which He Yunsheng ducked by lowering his head. She said, “My waist is slender and delicate, a gentle grip is enough. How could the dress not fit? Stop worrying!”
“Anyway, I’ve never seen a girl who could eat like you before getting married,” He Yunsheng muttered. He had seen the sisters from other families on this street who were about to get married, and the other brides all started dieting months in advance. They did it to appear light and lovely on their wedding day. Only in his family did it seem like there was no awareness of the impending marriage.
How could this go on? He Yunsheng worriedly thought. What if, when they reach the Xiao family, others think the He family didn’t feed He Yan enough?
“You’re young, why are you so worried?” He Yan lectured him with a serious tone, “Dad doesn’t worry as much as you do.” He Yunsheng was the head of the family at a young age, and sometimes He Yan felt that he was more like a father than He Sui. The way he acted was more mature, unlike when he was a bit younger and cuter.
“The case of the Xu family has been resolved, and Commander Xiao shouldn’t have much to do afterward.” He Yunsheng pondered with his head down, “The next big thing to do is to get you married. He Yan, why are you so calm? Aren’t you nervous at all?”
The sweet potato was too hot, He Yan blew on it before taking a bite and replied casually, “Not nervous.”
He Yunsheng was speechless. Alright, so in this whole family, only he was nervous.
He Yan glanced at his worried expression and smiled, “Why do you want to make things so complicated? There’s still some time before the wedding. Yunsheng, you’re still young, you don’t know much about the world. Things change in the blink of an eye, and no one can predict what tomorrow will be like. Why bother to give yourself unnecessary troubles? For example, the Xu family, in the past, they were so glorious. Who could have expected this to happen?”
Speaking of this, He Yunsheng also came to his senses and sighed, “You’re right. On the celebration feast that day, you and Miss Xu from the Xu family were granted a marriage by the emperor. Now that your wedding is approaching, Miss Xu’s marriage, in this lifetime, is impossible to complete.” He frowned, “At that time, people from the entire Shuojing compared you to Miss Xu, saying that our family couldn’t compare to the Xu family. It really annoyed me. I’m afraid no one will say such things now.”
After all, the Xu family has fallen, and the charges are extremely shameful.
He Yan paused in her action of gnawing on the sweet potato.
To be honest, Chu Zhao’s act of “righteously eliminating relatives” was unexpected for her. Something about it didn’t feel right no matter how she thought about it. Whenever He Yan thought about it, she felt that this might be a scheme devised by Chu Zhao, but he concluded it so cleanly, and there was no evidence. On the surface, it seemed like he had chosen loyalty to the emperor over teacher-student relations with Xu Jingfu. However, upon closer inspection, he didn’t suffer any losses in this matter. On the contrary, by cleanly cutting ties with Xu Jingfu, he temporarily gained the emperor’s trust. Except for himself lying on the bed for quite some time.
But being injured can be a big or small thing, depending entirely on the doctor’s words. After all, there wouldn’t be anyone deliberately bringing a doctor to verify whether he was truly in danger.
He Yan didn’t want to think too badly of people, so whenever she came to this point, she quickly dismissed the thoughts. She didn’t want to think too much about it. Alright, what does it have to do with her and Chu Zhao? Why waste time on someone who isn’t very important?
After He Yunsheng talked to her for a while, he got up and left.
After He Yunsheng left, He Yan swept away the sweet potato skins on the ground, washed up, and then went to bed. Speaking of it, since the day Second Madam He was buried, she hadn’t seen Xiao Jue again. The case of the Xu family has finally come to an end, but it doesn’t mean everything is over. People related to Xu Jingfu and those implicated in the Battle of Mingshui are not things that can be resolved in a day or two.
Additionally, there’s the matter with the Crown Prince… He Yan’s mood was very heavy. The Crown Prince is by no means a suitable heir to the throne. However, as a subject, she lacks real power and cannot influence the decisions of the emperor.
She looked in the direction of the window by the bed. In Shuojing City, a storm seemed to be brewing.
Lost in thought, suddenly, a cold light swiftly flew towards her. He Yan’s expression changed, instinctively reaching out and catching it. The object brushed past her palm, slightly scraping it. Lowering her head, He Yan saw that she had caught a dart.
Tied to the dart was something. He Yan was surprised as she untied it and looked. Her expression changed instantly. Unwrapped, it was half of a hairpin—a hairpin shaped like a magnolia flower. He Yan was familiar with it. It was the hairpin she had given to He Xinying.
Ever since she met He Xinying last time, He Yan had always been worried that the girl, feeling despondent, might resort to drastic measures. Every few days, she would have Chiwu deliver some small gifts to the Wei family—these items were not extravagant or valuable, just thoughtful gestures. Sometimes it was a piece of jewelry, other times a piece of fabric. He Yan wasn’t particularly skilled at choosing these things for girls, so she took great care with each selection. She had sent this magnolia flower hairpin not long ago, and she heard that He Xinying really liked it. She wore it immediately upon receiving it.
Why would it be here?
There was also a piece of paper wrapped around the hairpin. He Yan opened it and read a location. It seemed to be a teahouse or tavern.
Someone had kidnapped He Xinying to blackmail her?
But this teahouse or tavern was in a bustling area, and there was currently no curfew. If they wanted to take action, why choose such a conspicuous place?
He Yan contemplated for a long time, and in the end, her concern for He Xinying prevailed. She picked out a set of men’s clothing from the box and changed. Chiwu wasn’t around today—ever since the conclusion of Xu Xiang’s case, Chiwu had been busy during the nights.
After preparing herself, He Yan sneaked out under the cover of night. Along the way, she inquired and guessed, finally finding the place written on the note.
Sure enough, it was a teahouse.
The teahouse was designed to resemble a small courtyard. From the outside, it looked more like a residential home. Not far away was the marketplace, and there were patrols by the city’s guards. After a moment of contemplation, He Yan walked in.
Outside the small courtyard, two plain-clothed youths were standing. Upon seeing He Yan, they didn’t ask anything but simply said, “Miss, please come in,” as if they had been waiting for her.
He Yan hesitated for a moment. She was dressed in men’s clothing, and her disguise was flawless enough to deceive most people. However, these two youths addressed her directly as “Miss,” indicating that they probably weren’t fooled. The person waiting for her inside likely knew her real identity well.
In her heart, He Yan faintly guessed who it might be, but she couldn’t be sure and didn’t quite understand why that person would do this.
The youths led He Yan into the small courtyard, passed through a garden, and entered the teahouse. In the hall outside the teahouse, there was no one around. It wasn’t clear whether it was originally this deserted or if it had been deliberately cleared. They walked all the way to a corridor, where smaller tea rooms lined both sides. Following the youths, He Yan arrived at the last one.
The youth said, “Miss, please come in.” After saying this, the two of them left without paying any more attention to He Yan.
He Yan pushed the door and walked in.
Inside the teahouse, light and shadows flickered, and the air was filled with the fragrance of tea. Behind a long table sat a handsome young man in wide-sleeved robes, smiling warmly. He spoke softly, “Ah He.”
“Fourth Young Master Chu,” He Yan heard her own voice, “What do you mean by this?”
“Just felt like I hadn’t seen Ah He in a long time and wanted to talk to Ah He.” He replied with a gentle tone, showing no displeasure at He Yan’s coldness.
He Yan raised her hand, showing him the hairpin. “Where is Miss He now?”
“At the Wei residence.”
He Yan was taken aback. Looking back at Chu Zhao, she thought for a moment, threw the hairpin onto the table, and sat down in front of Chu Zhao. She looked at Chu Zhao and calmly asked, “Are you lying to me?”
“If not for this,” Chu Zhao said, “why would Ah He be willing to come and see me?”
She hadn’t felt this way before, but now, hearing him repeatedly call her “Ah He,” He Yan felt uneasy. After a pause, she asked, “So, Fourth Young Master Chu is in such a hurry to see me, what is the matter?”
————Side Note————
Dudu: I got “greened” again.
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