The moonlight was bright, and the winter in Jiangxi was especially cold. Although it didn’t snow like in the north, the continuous drizzle made the damp chill seep deep into the bones, and the wind seemed to cut through to the marrow.
The Xie family residence was brightly lit throughout.
Madam Xie was asking the servants outside, “Why isn’t the young master back yet, even though it’s so late?”
Naturally, someone relayed the message to the attendants and stewards outside. Before long, a young man in a white long robe with a blue sash around his waist walked in from the corridor, smiling as he called out, “Mother! Aren’t I right here? What are you so worried about?”
Madam Xie set down the shoe she was sewing and, seeing him come in, finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Why wouldn’t I worry? There’s a saying: no matter how far a son travels, a mother always worries. You went all the way to the Xiao family in Jurong—that’s practically a thousand miles away. How could I not worry?”
In front of his mother, Xie Ying had no temper at all. “Yes, yes, it’s my fault for making you worry. All my fault. But my master’s birthday—I, as his junior, had to personally go to show my sincerity.”
Xie Ying had been frail and sickly since childhood. After taking the advice of a fortune teller, he had been sent to the Xiao family in Jurong to study under a Taoist master to strengthen his body through martial arts.
Speaking of this, Madam Xie’s face showed concern. “By the way, how is your master doing?”
“Don’t worry, he’s doing well!” Xie Ying smiled. “But he’s still as fond of drinking as ever. He says the old rice alcohol brewed by our family is simply too good. I brought over more than ten jars this time, and he drank them all in just a few days!”
Hearing this, Madam Xie was unfazed. “What’s the big deal? Since the master likes it, I’ll have more sent over. He raised and taught you. Once a teacher, always like a father. His kindness is like giving you a second life. Never mind rice alcohol—even if he wanted my life, I’d gladly offer it to him.”
The mother and son chatted warmly for a long time before Madam Xie finally asked, “Has the gift been sent to His Highness?”
Xie Ying and Xiao Yunting had studied under the same Taoist master. Though not blood brothers, they were like real brothers, and both had an excellent relationship with their master. They discussed everything together.
Sure enough, Xie Ying smiled and said, “Yes, it’s been sent. He remembers it every year. This time, he specially sent aged Daughter’s red alcohol. Master was overjoyed and praised us for our filial piety.”
The nagging between family members was always heartwarming.
After chatting some more, Madam Xie urged her son to rest early.
Xie Ying was indeed a bit tired but forced himself to stay up and asked, “Mother, where’s Father?”
“He went to the academy,” Madam Xie smiled, her face full of tenderness when mentioning her husband. “They personally came from the White Deer Cave Academy to invite him. They said he still needed to go over in person.”
Xie Changqing was a teacher at the White Deer Cave Academy. He had once been a censor in the capital, but because he spoke too frankly and impeached the then-Grand Secretary, he was demoted and dismissed.
Since then, he had left officialdom and devoted himself to teaching.
Just as Madam Xie was about to ask someone to inform Xie Changqing that their son had returned and should come home early to prepare for the New Year, there was a sudden, urgent knock on the door.
The servants of the household were always well-mannered; if it wasn’t something urgent, they wouldn’t act so rudely.
Without hesitation, Madam Xie immediately allowed them in and directly asked, “What’s happened? Why such panic?”
The one who entered was the old house steward, Steward Xu, who had served three generations of the Xie family.
He came in pale-faced and knelt on the floor. “Madam, young master, something terrible has happened! You two must quickly take the young lady and the young masters and flee!”
Even though Steward Xu had barged in like this and spoken such outrageous words, neither Madam Xie nor Xie Ying scolded him. Instead, they immediately asked what had happened.
Steward Xu burst into tears. “Master… master is in trouble! Someone reported that master secretly wrote seditious books, slandering the emperor and disrespecting His Majesty—committing treason! Master has already been arrested!”
What?!
Xie Ying’s face darkened, and he immediately stood up. “Mother, I must go to the county office!”
He knew what kind of man Xie Changqing was.
Although somewhat disillusioned with the world, he was always a cautious man.
More importantly, Xie Changqing was a typical Confucian scholar—loyal to the emperor!
He always believed that if there were mistakes, they were the fault of treacherous officials misleading the ruler.
There was no way he would write books slandering the emperor!
It didn’t make sense. And more importantly, this all seemed too suspicious.
The Xie family was a well-known and respected family in Huichang County. Officials at all levels would show them deference.
Especially after Xie Ying had become a provincial champion; even the provincial governor had personally met with them.
Given this, if there had been an ordinary report, the officials should have first contacted the Xie family to give them some notice.
But now, they had arrested someone immediately, using just a charge as justification.
Something was off!
Madam Xie, completely flustered, instinctively nodded when she heard her son say this. “Yes, go find out!”
After all, Xie Ying was highly respected among the officials.
But Steward Xu grabbed Xie Ying desperately and wouldn’t let go. “No, young master! You must not go! There are still constables outside looking for you! They say you helped master with the printing—you’re an accomplice! You must not go, young master!”
For a scholar, being associated with treasonous writing meant absolute ruin, no chance of redemption.
Who could have set up the Xie family like this?
Madam Xie’s tears wouldn’t stop. “No, you must run! Don’t worry about us—you cannot get caught!”
Xie Ying gritted his teeth and refused to move. “Nonsense! I’m the eldest son of this family. When disaster strikes, who should bear it if not me? Should I abandon my parents and run away alone?”
Besides, he had a clear conscience and wasn’t afraid of things he hadn’t done.
Before Steward Xu could persuade him further, the constables outside had already barged in like wolves and tigers, ransacking the house.
When they saw Xie Ying, they no longer showed the usual respect. They rushed forward, pinned him to the ground, and without a word, shackled him with thirty-pound chains meant for serious criminals.
Madam Xie was so distraught she couldn’t even cry properly. “Why are you arresting my son? My son wouldn’t do such things! He’s not that kind of person!”
But no one listened to her.
The constables dragged Xie Ying up and rudely slapped him several times. “Sorry, Young Master Xie, but you’re no longer a provincial champion—you’re now a prisoner. We have to treat you according to the rules.”
Almost at the same time, Qi Yuan had already arrived in Huichang County and headed straight for the Xie family.
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