Normally, the noble families in the capital city would envy Mrs. Hong, the wife of Marquis Xingyuan, for being a blessed person when they talked about her.
Before getting married, Hong Yingrong was the only beloved daughter of the late emperor's tutor. She grew up in a wealthy and scholarly family.
After her coming-of-age ceremony at the age of sixteen, the late emperor personally acted as the "Emperor's Matchmaker" and betrothed her to the young, promising, brave and warlike Marquis of Xingyuan - Xue Yonghuai.
The Xue family is full of loyal and brave members who are good at fighting.
By the time of Xue Yonghuai, the title of Marquis Xingyuan had been passed down to the seventh generation.
During the Zhou Dynasty, according to court convention, if there were no additional outstanding achievements, the descendants would be demoted one level when they inherited the title.
Some dukedoms who were granted titles at the founding of the country have now only been left with the nominal title of "jiansheng" due to the mediocrity and incompetence of their descendants.
But the Xue family is different. Every generation has produced outstanding people with great military achievements. Therefore, when it came to Xue Yonghuai, the title of Marquis of Xingyuan has been inherited to this day.
The previous generation of Marquis and his wife passed away very early, so as soon as Hong Yingrong married into the Marquis's mansion, she became the mistress of the house and did not need to serve her parents-in-law.
Moreover, her husband Xue Yonghuai's style was very different from that of many other children of officials. He did not have concubines or maids, and unlike other powerful people, he did not indulge in brothels and have many wives and concubines.
After getting married, he only stayed with Hong Yingrong, and she gave birth to three sons and two daughters for the Marquis's mansion. The family was prosperous, which really made many officials' wives and noble ladies in Beijing envious.
The only ups and downs in Hong Yingrong's life were three years ago when the old marquis Xue Yonghuai died in battle. When she heard the bad news, she felt as if the whole world collapsed in an instant.
Fortunately, the eldest son Xue Yuanchu and his daughter-in-law Jiang Shuxiu took care of all affairs inside and outside the mansion, which helped the mansion overcome the difficulties.
In addition, the emperor was extremely gracious and showed special favor to the Xue family.
Xue Yuanchu only needs to observe mourning for his father for three years and can inherit the title without having to lower his rank. This also means that the Xue family will still maintain its noble status and continue to be passed down as the Xingyuan Marquisate.
Everything went smoothly. The three-year mourning period was about to end, and soon the eldest son Xue Yuanchu would come to the palace to pay homage to the emperor and inherit the title.
However, fate took an unexpected turn. Overnight, the entire Xingyuan Marquis Mansion fell from the peak of glory to the bottom of the valley.
Yesterday they were a noble family favored by His Majesty, but today they have become sycophants in the eyes of the emperor.
The title of the Marquis's mansion was ruthlessly stripped away, and the eldest son Xue Yuanchu lost his position as the crown prince.
The situation of the second brother, Xue Zhongfu, was even more serious. He set up a gambling house privately, which violated the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty. He was executed in the autumn and there was no way to save him.
The third brother, Xue Jiyan, has loved poetry and books since childhood and was praised as a talented man in the capital. Yesterday, he and his brothers were taken to the imperial prison and then imprisoned separately. It is unknown whether he is alive or dead now.
The fourth-ranked eldest daughter, Xue Huichun, had a face ashen, having lost her former rosy complexion and vitality.
For most of the day, she didn't say a word, her eyes were empty, and she just silently endured this sudden change.
Faced with the death of her grandson and the madness of her daughter-in-law, Hong Yingrong was already on the verge of collapse and almost had no strength to stand.
At this moment, the clanking sound of shackles suddenly came from outside the cell, breaking the suffocating silence.
Hong Yingrong turned around and saw two executioners dragging a bloody man in front of the cell.
The man's body shape could barely be called human, but he had been tortured beyond recognition.
The strong smell of blood filled the air, making people sick.
The women imprisoned in other cells were frightened by this scene and wailed continuously, and fear spread in the air.
"Yan'er..." Hong Yingrong's voice trembled, and she couldn't believe her eyes.
Others might not be able to see clearly, but Xue Jiyan is her beloved, so how could Hong Yingrong not recognize him at a glance?
Seeing her little son, whom she loved so much, being tortured to this extent, Hong Yingrong felt heartbroken.
His originally dry lips suddenly oozed blood due to extreme grief and anger.
The two executioners had grim expressions, and they were already accustomed to everything they saw.
One of them indifferently threw a booklet into the cell fence and said in a cold tone, "Someone reported today that the Third Young Master has hidden anti-government poems in the poetry collection published by Qingyun Bookstore."
"His Majesty was furious when he learned of this. This was the original manuscript written by the Third Young Master himself, and even after interrogation, he still refused to acknowledge it."
"Old Madam, please come and check if this is the Third Young Master's handwriting. If it is, please persuade him to avoid further physical pain."
Hong Yingrong picked up the poetry booklet on the ground with trembling hands, her heart in turmoil.
When she opened the first page and saw the elegant small calligraphy of "Picking a Flower", which was exactly Xue Ji Yan's handwriting, she felt mixed emotions and didn't know how to explain it for a moment.
"Mother... I really didn't..." Xue Jiyan, who was lying on the ground, used all his strength to squeeze out a few words from the depths of his throat. His voice was full of powerlessness and despair.
However, before he could finish his words, the executioner beside him kicked him hard on the soft spot and said viciously: "How dare you talk back!"
Xue Jiyan opened his eyes wide, as if he wanted to say something, but this heavy blow was undoubtedly his death warrant. He was unable to raise his head, and only gurgled twice before he died.
"Yan'er--" Hong Yingrong cried out in despair, stretching out her hands over the fence, trying to touch her son, but she couldn't reach him.
She waved her fingers in the air, but it was too late.
"I want to see the Queen Mother! I want to see the Queen Mother!" Hong Yingrong shouted at the top of her lungs, but the executioner outside the cell just looked at her coldly without any response.
"The Empress Dowager's decree has arrived—"
The Jingzhao Yin came hurriedly in his official uniform with a serious expression, carefully holding a bright yellow silk decree in his right hand, which was obviously conveyed directly from the deep palace.
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