Chapter 51: Isn’t the Sixth Son of the Xie Family even more coveted?

Chai Jin knew very little about the past of his ancestors.

Dong Bohou Chai Ji didn't know much. The records about the interactions between the Chai family's ancestors and the Xie family were all in the ancestral hall in his hometown of Huaizhou.

The wind was cold and the father and son leaned against each other in silence for a long time.

"I asked them about it this afternoon, and judging from their expressions, it doesn't seem to be true," said Chai Jin.

Chai Ji pondered for a moment and turned to look in the direction where the Xie family was resting.

"Let's see if the rumors about the Xie family's property being raided are just groundless rumors."

From time to time, there were slight coughing sounds coming from the carriage behind him. Chai Ji sighed and felt a little worried about his wife.

"The imperial physician is helpless against your mother's heart disease. A heart disease needs to be cured with a heart medicine. Your father has sent many people out over the years, but can't find any trace of your sister. If the Xie family could help... Alas." Chai Ji couldn't help but sigh when he thought of the regrets that the couple had been unable to let go of for so many years.

Chai Jin comforted him, "If the Xie family's gods are really that effective, father, no matter what the Xie family asks, I will do my best to fulfill it. I only hope to get some news about my sister."

"You're kind, but you can't force it. Take your time. The Xie family is at its peak, so they're naturally not afraid of rumors. But now they're isolated and powerless. Even if they have divine powers, they probably won't reveal them easily."

"Son understands."

Prince Chai is not a worldly-wise person.

Among the exiled group, the Xie and Chai families were the largest, accounting for nearly a quarter of all the exiled prisoners. The other families had seven or eight more people, and some were isolated families.

The crimes committed are numerous, including theft and robbery, disrespect to officials, offending the powerful, fraud and deception... They are mixed together, and it is impossible to distinguish which of them are extremely vicious and which are powerless and wronged.

Border areas have been plagued by wars for years, and the border population has fled, died, and dispersed. Countless fields have been left idle and uncultivated. Border officials have submitted letters to the court several times, detailing the pros and cons of the situation. Between the lines, there are two words: people are needed.

Living conditions in the north are difficult. If the people in the Central Plains could not survive due to disasters, who would be willing to leave their homes and move to a cold place? Notices were posted at all levels of prefectures, counties, and villages from the beginning of the year to the end of the year, but no one responded.

I would rather keep the three acres of land in front of me than go to the uncivilized wilderness and waste thousands of acres of fertile land.

The words are a bit exaggerated, but they are basically what the poor farmers in Daliang are thinking today.

Therefore, the criminals sent to various exile places have become the main source of population in border areas in recent years.

But refugees are criminals, and the punishments they receive are different. Many of them are cunning, lazy, greedy, and difficult to control. Not many of them can settle down in the border areas to reclaim wasteland or perform hard labor.

There were even people who were alone and not afraid of being implicated. They even planned to defect to the enemy country and live a miserable life after arriving at the place of exile. After this happened again and again, the escort officers became more severe in their means of control during the escort.

Those who disobeyed would either die on the way or be beaten by the officials. When they arrived at the border prefecture, they would inform the officials there so that they would not make it too difficult.

Prisoners who have been tamed on the road are always more obedient.

Most of the capable people in the team know about this kind of convention that goes on under the table, and they tolerate it as much as they can.

For example, the Chai family had their fellow clansmen in Beijing to take care of them when they set out, and when they arrived in Laozhou, the Chai family also went there to make arrangements. As long as everyone arrived safely on the way, the subsequent exile life would not necessarily be too bad.

The only thing that the Chai family father and son did not expect was that Princess Zhaoyang was so narrow-minded that she didn't care about the family's honor and couldn't even tolerate wanting to live a peaceful life. Songjiang Town was suddenly attacked and the Chai family members were also injured.

Others thought those people were heading for Xie Yuchuan and the others, but Chai Jin had sharp eyes and good hearing, and he hurriedly heard the orders they were passing on to each other.

Some of them were clearly here to take his life!

If Chai Jin didn't know some martial arts skills, he would have lost his life on the streets of Songjiang Town.

"If the emperor indulges Princess Zhaoyang like this, it will definitely cause trouble." Chai Jin said angrily.

Chai Ji nodded. "How can a princess's mansion have three or four princes-in-law? It's simply..."

Chai Jin looked a little embarrassed, "I don't know when I provoked her."

Chai Ji looked at his son and couldn't understand it.

In terms of talent, his son Chai Jin failed the imperial examinations many times; in terms of appearance, among the many talented young men in the capital, Chai Jin was just an average guy.

Chai Ji really couldn't understand what the Emperor and Princess Zhaoyang liked about their Dongbohou Mansion.

Princess Zhaoyang had four consorts, one of whom was tortured to death by her, and now there are three left. Regardless of their personalities, they are all outstanding in appearance and use their beauty to please men. It is not her son Chai Jin's turn.

Considering Princess Zhaoyang's preferences, wouldn't the Sixth Young Master of the Xie family be even more desirable?

However, Chai Ji knew in his heart that when the royal family was looking for a son-in-law, they would not choose anyone from the Xie family.

The same goes for the Xie family. Judging from the families the Xie family has married into over a long period of time, a man from the Xie family would rather work as a blacksmith or sell tofu than marry a princess.

Especially the current emperor.

The Chai family father and son wanted to deal with the Xie family, but they couldn't think of any excuse at the moment, so they decided to just walk along the way and see what happened next.

"Let's go to sleep first."

Not far from the exile camp, the Min family's caravan also set up camp to rest.

Compared with the prisoners' crude resting environment, the caravan's resting conditions are much better.

In order not to cause trouble to the escorting officers, Min Zhong cleverly had the tents pitched farther away to avoid the possibility of close contact with the prisoners. He also had people send some wine and food to several adults nearby, which made the escorting officers on duty happy and safer.

The caravan members were divided into three shifts and took turns to rest.

With the officials nearby, the caravan members were not as nervous tonight as usual. At least they had someone to rely on if anything unexpected happened.

Min Zhong pulled Wu Liang into the tent to keep warm. They opened the tent curtain and talked around the charcoal fire.

There was hot soup on the charcoal fire. Min Zhong blew on the rim of the bowl and drank the soup gently, while Wu Liang held a fire stick in his hand and fiddled with the charcoal fire.

"Master Wu, do you think these soldiers, with over a hundred prisoners, can make it through Panlong Ridge?"

Wu Liang took the empty bowl handed to him by Manager Min and scooped a bowl of hot soup for himself.

"It's hard to say, but I see that the leader, Mr. Xiong, has some aura."

Min Zhong also agreed with this statement, "At first glance, Sir Xiong is different from the other officers and soldiers."

Wu Liang wanted to say that there were some men with martial arts skills in the group of prisoners, such as members of the Xie family, but he saw that Manager Min was not that interested in the affairs of the Xie family, so he didn't say much.

In Min Zhong's eyes, no matter how powerful the Xie family was, they were now in shackles and would not have time to escape if something really happened.

It is still more reassuring to see officers with weapons on them.

"Manager Min, what are your plans for tomorrow?"