Chapter 379 The Xie Family

The emperor, his face grim, stared at the memorials laid out on the table. In a sinister voice, he asked the person kneeling below, "Minister Xie, have you heard about the recent rumors circulating about us?"

The kneeling civil official turned his head and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead. He had naturally heard the recent rumors about the Xie family and the emperor.

However, this matter absolutely cannot be dealt with rashly. The Xie family is now in complete chaos, and some of the clan elders are clamoring to open the ancestral hall to remove his father from his position as clan head.

He got this position because he passed the imperial examination three years ago and became the third-ranked scholar, which allowed his father to take the position of head of the family.

Who would have thought? The story of the emperor ordering him to frame the King of Chu is now being spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys.

Strangely enough, the news spread like wildfire, and in just three to five days, even operas and storytelling performances were being produced. By the time people realized what was happening, it was already unstoppable.

The emperor ordered a ban on the spread of rumors among the people, and even posted notices, but the rumors only intensified and even implicated the emperor.

Upon reaching this point, Xie Zhiheng silently glanced up at the emperor's gloomy face: "Your Majesty, there are some rumors circulating about you."

The emperor softened his expression and gently said, "Why don't you tell me, my dear minister? I'm also very curious about the rumors circulating in the streets."

Xie Zhiheng naturally dared not mention the Xie family's affair with the emperor. His thoughts shifted, and he bowed slightly to the emperor at the head of the table, speaking with a hint of timidity: "Your Majesty, there are rumors circulating about you and the late emperor's concubine..."

Before Xie Zhiheng could speak, the emperor grabbed a teacup and smashed it beside him. The sound of the shattering porcelain made Xie Zhiheng kneel down in fear, not daring to utter a single word.

The emperor rubbed his slightly dizzy head. Xie Zhiheng didn't mention the shady dealings between him and the Xie family, presumably because he had decided that the Xie family would stand against him and pin the blame on him.

Xie Zhiheng pressed his forehead against the cold brick and whispered, "Your Majesty, please take care of your health!"

Looking at Xie Zhiheng below him, the emperor felt a sense of powerlessness wash over him.

He sighed and said, "You can go now."

Xie Zhiheng bowed and kowtowed to the emperor again before quietly retreating with his back bent.

I breathed a sigh of relief after I got out.

The emperor narrowed his eyes, a murderous aura emanating from him, and stared intently at the spot where Xie Zhiheng had left.

Fortunately, no explicit order was given when the Xie family was instructed to take action. Xie Zhiheng's attitude was very clear: he wanted to protect the family's reputation and pin the blame on him.

However, he cannot touch the Xie family now. They are a century-old family and literary giants. If he touches the Xie family, it will have far-reaching consequences. Not to mention that his reputation among scholars will plummet, the numerous lingering connections in the court will be enough to give him a headache.

The emperor sighed, propped his head up, and felt a sense of powerlessness wash over him.

Xie Zhiheng, on the other hand, was in dire straits. A few days ago, his father sent a message urging him to return home immediately, and repeatedly stressed that he must not admit to the matter.

The reputation of this century-old family must not be damaged!

Otherwise, not to mention his official career, even his father's position as clan chief was in jeopardy.

Thinking of this, Xie Zhiheng quickly prepared to go home, wanting to discuss countermeasures with his father first.

Unexpectedly, halfway there, several men in black descended from the sky and surrounded him.

"How dare you! I am..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xie Zhiheng was knocked unconscious with a chop to the neck and quickly taken away in an alley where no one was paying attention.

At the same time, a young eunuch quietly entered the emperor's hall, walked to the emperor's side, covered his ears, and whispered in the emperor's ear.

The emperor nodded and glanced at the eunuch beside him: "Send a message to the head of the Xie family."

After saying that, he continued to review the memorials.

Xie Family —

The patriarch was resting at night when a hidden arrow shot out from nowhere, whistling through the air and embedding itself at the head of the Xie family's bed.

The Xie family patriarch suddenly opened his eyes, instantly breaking out in a cold sweat. Seeing the hidden arrow less than half an inch away from him, he hurriedly pushed the concubine off him.

After seeing the note tied to the end of the arrow, he calmed himself down, sent the concubine away, and then ordered the guard beside him, "Have you caught up with them?"

Suddenly, a man in black jumped down from the roof beam, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said to the Xie family patriarch, "We've already gone after them, but we don't know where they've gotten to yet."

The head of the Xie family nodded, watched the concubine leave in a panic as she walked out of the room, and then opened the note in his hand.

After reading the contents of the note, a look of panic flashed across the Xie family patriarch's face: "Zhiheng is in trouble!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the guard outside the door returned. He knelt on the ground, his face showing some shame, and knelt beside the Xie family patriarch's bed: "Your subordinate is incompetent and let him escape."

The head of the Xie family sighed deeply, covered his face, and said, "Everyone, go down. I want to be alone for a while."

How could the supreme ruler of the world possibly be outmaneuvered by the safety of the Xie family?

Thinking of the contents of the note, the Xie family patriarch sighed. His son was in their hands, and now he had no choice but to take the blame.

At worst, I'll just give up my position as head of the family; my son is more important.

Thinking of this, the Xie family patriarch got out of bed, gave an order to one of his guards, and then turned and left his room.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the Xie family patriarch finished writing his confession when he saw several clan elders walking hand in hand outside the door.

They all looked at him with a look of utter disappointment.

An elder with a fiery temper slammed his cane into the back of the Xie family patriarch.

"idiot!"

The Xie family patriarch smiled wryly. He hadn't expected that he still couldn't keep it a secret. The news spread so quickly. After all, he hadn't been in the position of patriarch for long enough to completely control the Xie family.

After sighing, the Xie family patriarch stood up, bowed to the elders, and said, "My uncles, Zhiheng is now in the emperor's hands. He is the pride of our Xie family and must not be harmed. I will take the blame for Zhiheng. Once the confession is announced to the world, I will commit suicide. I beg you all to protect Zhiheng. Thank you very much..."

Upon hearing Xie Changyou's words, the clan elders shook their heads helplessly.

One of them helped Xie Changyou up: "Changyou, we can understand your love for your son. We rushed over early this morning for this matter. Don't panic. First, tell Sixth Uncle whether Zhiheng really made a move against Yongzhou?"

Xie Changyou sighed: "Zhiheng knew about this, but the person behind it was the emperor. Zhiheng just went with the flow and sent the person over."

Uncle Liu asked again, somewhat anxiously, "Is there a secret decree or physical evidence?"

Xie Changyou pondered for a while and shook his head: "I asked Zhiheng a few days ago, and he said that there was no obvious physical evidence left, but there was an imperial edict for someone surnamed Wu. He was careful and kept that edict."

Sixth Uncle nodded slightly: "I see..."

After speaking, he looked at another clan elder and asked, "Third Brother, what do you think of this matter?"