Chapter 49: The Charming Girl Whose House Was Confiscated and Her Family Was Exterminated 1

[The Cold-Faced General's Daily Life of Doting on His Wife

Her father died early, her mother was weak, her brothers were young, and her uncles and aunts were pressing her. When Duan Yan woke up, she was given the death script of the eldest daughter of a down-and-out merchant family.

She set up a women's business, made lipsticks, tailored new clothes, opened a restaurant... and made her business flourish.

Saved a cold-faced handsome man in the backyard? After a lot of noise and joy, he got a cold-faced young general...]

The twelfth month of the lunar calendar is the cold winter.

The ground is white, the wind is cold, and the snowflakes are as big as hands. The winter in Bianjing City is extremely cold.

The fine snow fluttered in the sky, drifting along with the biting cold wind and falling on the eaves, in the courtyard, and even on the branches of the plum trees full of fragrance.

In an instant, silver frost covered the ground.

Winter has arrived, yet the wintersweet blossoms defy the frost and snow. In the cold twelfth month of winter, all other flowers wither, but the plum blossoms remain, proudly standing tall in the wind and snow.

Most aristocratic families love chrysanthemums and plum blossoms. Poetry about chrysanthemums during the Autumnal Equinox and plum blossom appreciation in winter have always been favorite activities for scholars and poets. Logically, now is the perfect time to enjoy plum blossoms, with their blossoms proudly standing on branches and exuding their fragrance.

But unlike the bustling days of the past, the city of Bianjing was very quiet during this period. Not to mention the interactions between dignitaries, even the number of ordinary people walking through the streets of the city on weekdays was much less.

After the emperor passed away, the new emperor ascended the throne and dealt with a large number of officials in the capital with thundering means, confiscating their property, exterminating their clans, beheading them... For a time, the stone bricks of Xuanwu Gate were covered with blood.

Seeing their former colleagues in the Golden Palace meet such a fate, the nobles in the capital all calmed down for a while, staying at home in fear, not daring to go out casually, for fear that their property would be confiscated if they were not careful.

The black-clad guards patrolled Bianjing day and night, capturing criminals who had fled abroad, causing panic among the people in the city and making them afraid to go out easily.

South Mansion, East Courtyard

There were several pots of charcoal burning in the inner room, so the room was not cold. Mrs. Nan had pearls and jade on her head, and was holding a cup of hot tea in her hand. She was staring at the flying snow outside the window in a daze, as if she was distracted.

"Madam, the master is back." The maid guarding outside the house lifted the curtain and bowed.

Back!

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Nan quickly came to her senses. She quickly stood up and walked out quickly.

When the curtain was opened, a man wearing a purple official uniform with auspicious clouds and peacock patterns was seen outside the room. He was slowly taking off his cloak covered with wind and snow.

"Husband, you're back." Madam Nan hurried to Lord Nan's side, waved away the maid who came forward, and took the cloak handed to her by her husband.

"Husband, what do you think? Has Lord Sun agreed?" She took the cloak in her hand and asked anxiously.

Lord Nan had a beard and looked like a gentle scholar, but at this moment, his old face was filled with indescribable fatigue. He looked at his old wife beside him and waved his hand dejectedly.

Madam Nan understood what he meant and was struck by lightning. Tears welled up in her eyes. "What should I do, Master?"

“Master, how about we go and ask Master Qiu for help?”

"Or, I can also go to the Qiu Mansion and ask Madam Qiu for help?" The woman said anxiously with a sob, and her hands holding the cloak could not help but tremble.

Master Nan slumped down in his chair, covering his eyes, and said with a wry smile, "It's useless to ask anyone for help now."

Now that the Crown Prince has fallen and the Sixth Prince has ascended the throne to become the new emperor, if the new emperor insists on settling accounts, none of those who followed the Crown Prince will have a good ending.

Thinking of the floor of the Golden Palace that was stained red by the flowing blood, and the piles of heads on the Xuanwu Gate, a bone-chilling chill rose from the top of his heart, making him shiver involuntarily.

Madam Nan was extremely flustered. She clutched the handkerchief in her hand until it turned pale. Her mind was in a turmoil. The only thing she could think of was her only daughter, whom she had only recently acquired in her old age. Tears streamed down her face.

"Master, let's marry Qiao'er off, right now!"

Their Nan family was just a nobody following the Crown Prince. At most, they would face confiscation of their property, but their entire clan would not be implicated. If they married their daughter off now, according to court law, a daughter who married out would not be implicated by her natal family!

Even if the Nan family could not be saved, she had to protect her daughter no matter what!

She was over forty years old when she got Qiao'er, the apple of her eye. She had been spoiled since she was a child and was only in her prime. How could she bear to let her fall into misery with the decline of the Nan family?

There were also tears in the old eyes of Mr. Nan. Thinking of his daughter who was only sixteen years old and looked so beautiful, the sadness in his heart became even greater for a moment.

If the Nan Mansion were to fall into trouble, I’m afraid I don’t know how much suffering it would suffer.

Now Xuan Jiawei patrolled Bianjing City day and night. Even if they wanted to escape, they couldn't. The only two people in the Nan family they could save were their daughter-in-law and daughter.

If a son divorced his daughter-in-law, she could return home with her dowry and have a chance of survival. If a daughter was married off at this time, her name could also be preserved.

"Okay, I will write a letter and send it to the general's mansion immediately." After thinking for a moment, Lord Nan also made a decision.

Even though the Nan family was now being shunned by everyone in Bianjing City, he had to give it a try for the sake of his beloved daughter.

The golden and jade-resplendent hall was burning with a ground dragon, and the whole hall was warm. The gilded and hollow Boshan furnace was filled with a faint smoke, and the fragrant woody aroma of fine ambergris filled every corner of the hall.

"Marrying into the Nan family?" The new emperor, who was sitting in front of the desk and wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, had a handsome face. His phoenix eyes stared at the secret fold in his hand and he smiled meaningfully.

He casually threw the secret fold aside and leaned lazily on the back of the chair behind him. His slender and powerful legs were crossed and slightly bent under his dragon robe. His narrow eyes narrowed slightly and he said nonchalantly:

"Is this giving up the last struggle?"

The eunuch standing beside him just bowed his head and dared not respond.

Counting the lineage of the crown prince, most of them have now been killed by the ruthless new emperor. I'm afraid the few remaining families are also... Shuangquan lowered his head and didn't dare to think about it anymore.

"Do you think the General's Mansion will agree to this marriage?" The new emperor seemed to have remembered something, and a smile suddenly appeared on his handsome face. He asked with interest.

Shuangquan didn't dare to look up, still bowing and said:

"I don't know, but I heard that the Nan family has been shunned by everyone in the capital. I believe the General's Mansion will not be so foolish."

Upon hearing this, the new emperor Gu Qiao raised his eyebrows slightly, as if smiling.

"That may not be the case." He sneered softly, with a cold look in his slightly raised eyes.

The old general, who had always been at odds with him, had always been upright and old-fashioned. He didn't seem like someone who would abandon his long-standing friendship with his good friend in order to curry favor with his superiors.

"But the Nan family really dotes on their only daughter." Gu Qiao looked at the wrinkles carefully.

When disaster is imminent, the whole family still has the mind to rush around for the girl's marriage?

Shuangquan replied, "I heard that this Nan family girl is the oldest daughter of the Nan family. Lord Nan, his wife, brother, and sister-in-law all dote on her very much."

"In that case, let them get married." After pondering for a moment, Gu Qiao said slowly.

The Nan family is just the prince's pawns and has not made any major mistakes in recent years. There is indeed no need to kill them all.

Having made up his mind, he picked up the secret letter and started reading it again. The warmth in Gu Qiao's eyes slowly faded away, and the coldness grew stronger. He suddenly felt a bit of a good mood to watch the show.

Now, only a few of the Crown Prince's descendants are still struggling to survive like trapped beasts. In the cold winter, watching these trapped beasts fight is a unique pleasure.

…

"My dear husband! Now that the crown prince has fallen and the new emperor has ascended the throne, the Nan family is like the monkeys scattering when the tree falls. Why did you still agree to this marriage?"

The general's wife, wrapped in a cloak, yelled at the general in frustration. This usually elegant and proper lady from a noble family lost her mind for the first time in her life.

She had only one son, who was tall and handsome, and even stood out in literary talent and martial arts among all the young men in the capital. He had always been the pride of her heart.

Although the marriage with the young lady of the Nan family has been arranged, any discerning person can see that the new emperor will not let go of the prince's lineage easily. The Nan family is already in danger and is in imminent danger.

Did she really want her son to marry the daughter of a criminal?

"Ridiculous!" General Ye looked at his wife and said sternly, "Since the marriage contract has been signed, she is the Ye family's daughter-in-law. How can you abandon your fiancée just because you are in trouble?"

Mrs. Ye was frightened by her husband's harsh words, and her momentum suddenly weakened. However, for the sake of her only child, she was still a little unwilling.

"Husband," Madam Ye calmed down and softened her expression:

"It's not that I dislike anything, but it's the marriage of two children after all, so I have to think it through carefully."

"Speaking of which, we have never seen the girl from the Nan family, and we have no idea of her character."

"If the two children have incompatible personalities, wouldn't it be easy for them to become a pair of resentful couple if they get married? Then, it would also harm the girl..." After spending more than 20 years in bed with her husband, Mrs. Ye knew that her husband was a rough man who would respond to soft words but not to hard ones. If she forced her husband to do something, it would definitely not work.

She could only suppress her anger and spoke softly. Seeing the anger on General Ye's face fading, Madam Ye couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

It's good that he listens to it. As long as my husband listens to it, I will always find a way to refuse this marriage.

"Why not invite the Nan family's child out and let the two children meet each other? If the two children get along well, it won't be too late to talk about marriage."

Seeing that General Ye's face was becoming calmer and calmer, Mrs. Ye took advantage of the situation and struck gold.

"But, the Nan family is now..." General Ye pondered for a moment and still had some concerns. The Nan family is in danger now, so there is no time to wait.

"It's okay. Let's do it tomorrow. After the two children have seen each other, if they get along well, we will immediately pay the betrothal gifts and marry her off."

"Well, if the two children don't get along, then..." General Ye said worriedly.

"If it doesn't work out, then it doesn't work out. The Nan family wants to marry off their daughter now simply to preserve the life of this child. My husband and I have many sons and nephews, so it wouldn't be a problem to find a suitable husband for that child as soon as possible."

Madam Ye clutched the handkerchief tightly, staring at her husband with a calm expression.

General Ye stroked his beard, thought for a moment, and finally nodded in agreement. After all, he was his own son, and he loved him very much, so it would be okay for him to visit him.

Mrs. Ye breathed a sigh of relief and calmly escorted General Ye out the door. She then quickly called the servant who was serving her son and asked where her son was.

"The young general went to the military camp early in the morning and has not returned home yet." The servant bowed and replied.

"Well, take some clothes with you to the barracks immediately and tell the Major General that some women from the family will be visiting tomorrow and it would be inappropriate for him to be there. Please ask him to stay in the barracks for the day."

Mrs. Ye's eyes sparkled as she spoke to the servant, repeatedly reminding him: "Tomorrow, if the young general wants to return home, you must stop him. If you can't stop him, send someone to give me a message. Don't let him return home and offend others."

The servant was puzzled as to what kind of noble person could be treated so courteously by the general's wife, but he nodded his head repeatedly in agreement.

Seeing Madam Ye's behavior, the nanny standing by her side had an idea in mind and stepped forward and said, "Madam, you want to..."

The lady watched the servant leave after he opened the curtain. She was silent for a long time before she tilted her head and said slowly:

"Mammy, I'm not the type to be bothered by high status and nobility. I don't have high requirements for my future daughter-in-law. I just want her to have a clean family background...

"But my son Xun has a good character and a bright future. How can I let him marry the daughter of a criminal and ruin his future..."

Madam Ye also came from a prominent family, not some ignorant inner chamber woman. This Nan girl would not only be the daughter of a criminal, but also the daughter of the Nan family, a descendant of the former crown prince. The new emperor had already exterminated the former crown prince's lineage upon ascending the throne.

If this Nan family girl really became the daughter-in-law of his Ye family, the Ye family would probably become a thorn in the new emperor's side, something he would be wary of. By then, not only would her son's future be jeopardized, but her husband's career would also be in jeopardy.

So no matter what, this girl from the Nan family must not enter the Ye family.