In the tenth year of Wulong, the New Year is approaching, and the heavy snow that began to fall at the beginning of the month is still falling with no signs of stopping.

The capital city, covered in silver, lacked the festivity and bustle of the year-end in previous years, and a solemn and murderous atmosphere permeated the cold wind.

The situation in the court suddenly changed. His Majesty Li Longze issued three imperial edicts of condemnation, pointing the finger directly at the Xingyuan Marquisate, which had made great military achievements, and the court officials who had close ties with the Marquisate.

"The late Xingyuan Marquis Xue Yonghuai's delay in military operations led to the disastrous defeat in the Western Rong campaign. His crime is unforgivable. I have decided to remove his tablet from the Imperial Ancestral Temple, exhume his coffin, and dismember his body, scattering his bones and ashes!"

Li Longze's voice echoed in the court, and every word was like an icy arrow, pointing directly at the lifeblood of Xingyuan Marquis Mansion.

Immediately afterwards, the second and third imperial edicts came down one after another, and each charge was enough to terrify the court officials.

"Xingyuan Marquis's son Xue Yuanchu favored his concubine and killed his wife, and he also had affairs with prostitutes and injured others, which is detrimental to the official's health. He is stripped of his title of Xingyuan Marquis and his title of Crown Prince."

"Xue Zhongfu, the second son of the Xue family, colluded with foreign tribes, set up a gambling den, and took human lives with impunity. His crimes are truly heinous."

"Sentenced to be executed in prison pending execution, execution to be carried out in the autumn!"

As His Majesty finished speaking, the court fell into dead silence again.

The Xingyuan Marquisate, a family that was once prominent, has now become the target of public criticism.

The Imperial Guards acted quickly and surrounded Dongxing Street where the Xingyuan Marquis Mansion was located.

The people of the capital watched this scene in astonishment. Most of them just wanted to have enough food and clothing and had no interest in the court struggles.

However, when they came to their senses, the gate of Xingyuan Marquis's Mansion was already open and all the property in the mansion had been confiscated.

Prison cars were sent to the Zhenfu Prison one after another, and court officials, female relatives of imperial deputies, and male and female servants on the roster of the marquis' mansion were escorted here one by one.

Cries and wails echoed in front of the prison gate of the Pacification Division, and the people who were escorted here let out heart-wrenching cries in despair.

"It's unfair! Your Majesty, I am wronged!"

"Old lady, save us!"

In front of the imperial prison, two stone lions stood quietly, indifferent, as if expressing their silent majesty.

In the teahouse and restaurant across the street, there was a lot of noise and discussion.

This place brings together all kinds of people, including good and bad people. Among them, there are tea drinkers who come from official families. The information they have is often more accurate and more insider than rumors.

"Alas, speaking of the old marquis, he was a hero of his generation." A middle-aged man in a brocade robe shook his head and sighed. "Back then, when the old marquis died on the battlefield and his coffin was carried back to the capital, His Majesty personally buried him with state honors and even allowed him to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. But who could have imagined that his descendants would be so unfilial, bringing him trouble, leaving him unable to rest in peace even after death, and ruining his lifelong reputation in an instant."

Upon hearing this, the guests at the next table immediately took over the conversation: "Do you think the old marquis really delayed the military intelligence back then?"

"Who can truly tell?" Another old man stroked his beard and spoke slowly. "The emperor's heart is unpredictable. Even thunder and rain are expressions of his grace. How can common people like us fathom His Majesty's thoughts?"

The topic changed, and someone began to mention other members of the Marquis' Mansion: "Speaking of which, the old lady of the Marquis' Mansion is the cousin of the current Empress Dowager. Doesn't the Empress Dowager want to help her?"

"That's right, the old lady's youngest daughter is the legitimate wife of Prince Linjiang," a young tea drinker interjected. "Even if her brother committed a crime, shouldn't they at least rescue the old lady and the other female members of the Marquisate from the Imperial Prison first? Even a tough guy would suffer a lot in that prison."

"Save? How?" someone snorted coldly, "Who would dare to touch this hot potato now? The affairs of the Marquis' Mansion have caused a great uproar in the city. Who would dare to get involved so easily?"

"That's right. Princess Linjiang can't even protect herself, so how can she care about her family's affairs?" Someone else chimed in, "If you ask me, the Xingyuan Marquisate is finished."

Everyone was talking excitedly when a young man from an official family rushed in and the atmosphere suddenly changed.

"Something happened again!" the young man said breathlessly, his face full of fear.

He looked around, noticing everyone's curious gazes. He lowered his voice and continued mysteriously, "My brother, who was on duty in the inner court this morning, revealed that Prince Linjiang submitted a memorial stating that Princess Xue had contracted colic and died suddenly last night!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the originally bustling private room suddenly became quiet, with only the gurgling sound of boiling tea and the occasional sound of wind and snow coming from outside the window.

Everyone looked at each other, with complex expressions of astonishment and regret on their faces.

"Whether it is a natural disaster or a man-made disaster, we don't know..." sighed an old man. The teacup in his hand was empty, but he forgot to refill it.

As soon as these words were spoken, no one dared to respond.

Everyone sat in silence, each with their own hidden agenda, but no one dared to reveal it easily.

Yesterday’s glory is today’s dust.

Looking across the street, the towering stone walls and solemn iron gates of the imperial prison came into view. I wonder what kind of hell on earth it is at this moment.

Deep in the imperial prison, in a cold and dim cell, the old lady of Xingyuan Hou, Hong Yingrong, the eldest daughter Xue Huichun, the eldest son's wife Jiang Shuxiu, and the little grandson who just turned one year old and has not yet been named, were all ruthlessly imprisoned there.

This cell is like a cold stone box, isolating itself from all warmth and light from the outside world, leaving only endless cold and darkness.

A tattered straw mat was spread on the ground, and several people huddled together on it, trying to find a little warmth from each other's bodies.

Yesterday, they were escorted here from the Marquis' Mansion by the Imperial Guards, experiencing unprecedented humiliation and fear along the way.

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