Chapter 3 Exile to Southern Xinjiang

The eunuch's expression of approval was just revealed, but in an instant his face was filled with displeasure.

Su Shengsheng was stunned on the spot, and saw her mother turned her face away, avoiding her sight.

"Please understand, Lord Eunuch, this girl is actually the daughter of my younger sister from my mother's side, not of the Su family." Li's voice trembled slightly.

With a loud bang, the first muffled thunder exploded in the dark clouds in the sky, illuminating Li's pale face.

"Madam..." My father's hand froze immediately when he was about to reach out to help her.

The old father, who was usually not good at speaking, now had a strong light in his eyes. "My wife's words are true. I beg you to understand."

Su Shengsheng's lips trembled, but no sound came out.

She didn't think her parents would lie about this. The only explanation was... that she really wasn't a daughter of the Su family...

I heard my grandmother's kneeling voice behind me, "I can testify that this girl is not from the Su family."

At this critical moment, the Su family protected a woman who was not related to them. The eunuch looked puzzled.

"Don't worry, everyone. I will investigate and will not implicate any innocent people."

When the eunuch's voice fell, Li's eyes reddened and she kowtowed repeatedly, "Li thanks you for your great kindness, sir."

Because it happened so suddenly, Su Shengsheng's mind went blank and she just held her mother's frail wrist.

"mother……"

Li took a breath and looked back.

"Aunt Wei is your biological mother. She was in financial difficulty back then, so she sent you here for foster care. You have never been listed in the Su family tree."

Aunt Wei...

Aunt Wei's sarcastic face appeared in Su Shengsheng's mind, and some fragments came together in her mind.

She was murdered by her uncle who coveted the position of the head of the family. At this time, she was in chaos around her and had not noticed many things.

At this moment, I finally understood why my mother was obviously angry but helpless every time Aunt Wei came to our house to ask for money.

So it turned out to be like this...

No wonder none of her brothers and sisters had ever hired a wet nurse, only she had one.

It turns out that she is not her mother's biological daughter...

Her mother hugged her tightly and said, "Good girl, listen to me... This is my last word. Don't say anything and go back to your grandmother's house."

Su Shengsheng's tears rolled down her cheeks as she hugged her mother back, "People who have died once are no longer afraid."

Even if she had to enter that dark place, it was not a dead end. She had left herself a glimmer of hope.

Li hugged her tightly, then pushed her away coldly, "Go away, and never come back."

Su Shengsheng was heartbroken. She had no parents in her previous life. Was it going to be the same in this life too?

"Mother, they've already abandoned Sheng'er once. Now, are you and I going to abandon Sheng'er too?"

She has been protected by her mother for half her life, and this time, she must protect her mother no matter what.

Li could no longer hold back her tears, sobbed, and buried her head in Su Jingshan's arms.

Brother Heng, who was carried here, broke free and ran to Su Shengsheng, hugging her legs. "Mom, don't chase me away. Brother Heng will earn money to support me."

At a carefree age, he had no idea that the Su family was already on its last legs.

The people who were rushed in by the officers and soldiers from all around were all in panic and tears, and the whole house was filled with sadness.

"Alright, it's not a matter of life or death," the eunuch said, his face losing patience. "Almost everyone has arrived, let's listen to the announcement."

The courtyard suddenly fell silent, and everyone knelt on the ground.

Su Shengsheng knelt down holding Brother Heng in her arms, but she felt a bit absurd in her heart.

She didn't believe in gods in her previous life, so she was not given Meng Po soup in this life. She didn't dare to show it for sixteen years, but she didn't expect that she was still controlled by fate.

“As the emperor’s teacher, Su Zhiyuan should be cautious in his words and actions to assist in state affairs.

However, his speaking out of his authority and obstructing the implementation of the new policy was an act of great disrespect.

From this day forward, Su Zhiyuan and his clan will be exiled to southern Xinjiang for life, and will never be allowed to return unless I pardon them.

His family property will be confiscated as a punishment. I hope all officials in the court will take this as a warning... I decree this!"

Su Shengsheng, who was in a trance, only came back to her senses after hearing this.

This cowardly emperor didn't kill them all?

The old lady and the others looked up in surprise, unable to believe it.

"Madam Su, the emperor has shown special grace out of consideration for the relationship between teacher and student. The Su family should be grateful for the emperor's grace!" the eunuch reminded.

The old lady was shocked and bowed her head in sorrow, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for not killing me. The Su family will always remember your great grace."

The Su family finally reacted and kowtowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for not killing us."

Not to mention that the people in the mansion could not have expected it, even Su Shengsheng was surprised.

This is because the new emperor ascended to the throne by stepping on the corpses of many important ministers and generals, which can be said to be a bloody road.

I didn't expect that he would show mercy to his grandfather who had no real power.

Su Shengsheng just felt it was ironic.

It seems that Emperor Gou was still afraid of violating the etiquette of respecting teachers and losing the respect of students all over the world.

The eunuch closed the imperial edict and said, "Madam Su, please accept it."

The courtyard returned to peace, and the old lady's expression gradually recovered. "The Su family accepts the order and thanks you."

Su Shengsheng brought Brother Heng to help her grandmother up, then turned around to help her mother.

"Mother, it's just exile. Sheng'er is not afraid of hardship. Isn't it good for us to be together as a family?"

Li's eyes were shocked, and it took a long while before he held her hand tightly.

The family tree has been brought in, and the eunuch is checking it one by one with the list in his hand.

Just as they had settled their thoughts, they heard the eunuch say, "The Su family is missing a lot of people!"

My eldest uncle was away in prison with my grandfather, so my father came forward hesitantly, and my fourth uncle looked terrified.

In the end, it was my grandmother who took over the conversation calmly.

"The imperial edict came suddenly. The female members of the family had gone to a banquet and were not home yet. Several of the sons of the family were away studying."

Before he finished speaking, Madam Jiao came back hurriedly with several female relatives, looking dejected.

Su Deyong's face was filled with luck. Fearing that he would be exposed, he spoke first, "Sister-in-law, the emperor has shown mercy and only ordered exile."

When the fourth lady Su Yuanling, the seventh lady Su Nianwei and the eldest granddaughter-in-law of the Su family, Cen, learned that they were just being exiled, they instantly collapsed to the ground.

Su Shengsheng only heard their sad cries and knew that the previous plan must have dealt them a great blow.

Knowing that three male members of the Su family were studying away from home, the eunuch was just ordering people to go look for them when there was a commotion in the outer courtyard and someone rushed in.

"Grandma, mother..."

"Mother……"

The people who came in were the descendants of the Su family who were studying abroad.

The eldest grandson of the Su family includes Su Yuanzheng, the eldest son of the first wife, Su Wenxuan of the second wife, and Su Hengji, the elder brother of Su Shengsheng.

He must have received a message and hurried back with his clothes and hair in disarray.

When they learned what happened at home, they all hugged each other and cried bitterly.

The only son studied hard for ten years, but when the autumn examination came, his chance of passing the imperial examination was cut off.

Second wife Zhong, who had been widowed for many years, was so heartbroken that she fainted, and the courtyard was in chaos again.

At the same time, the eunuchs checked the roster one by one and ordered the soldiers to search the property in each courtyard.

After a long while, the eunuch closed the roster and said, "Old Su has been taken to Southern Xinjiang. Everyone, please take off your hairpins and jewelry and set off together."

After being rescued, the second wife woke up slowly, but her eyes were dull. Su Wenxuan didn't dare to leave for a moment.

The eldest lady was holding her two children and her eldest daughter-in-law who was pregnant, crying inconsolably, and her former sharpness and bravery were gone.

The fourth room only knew how to protect itself when things got tough. My mother had cried until she had no more energy left. My father and brothers all ignored worldly affairs and the movement had stopped.

Under the gaze of the eunuch Zang Feng, Su Shengsheng could only endure the sharpness by herself and asked for a small hut to change clothes.