Chapter Eighteen: Zhao Chenyu's coffin catches fire, the third branch of the family is gone.
Meanwhile, at the Zhao residence.
After Zhao Chenyu died, almost every member of the Zhao family who was known by name came to pay their respects.
But the young master Zhao Yu never appeared even once.
With the burial scheduled for tomorrow, Zhao Yu, as the eldest brother of this generation, had no choice but to make an appearance.
Zhang hurriedly arrived at Songchi Courtyard.
I couldn't find anyone, no matter where I looked.
After pressing Guan Yan for answers, they finally found Zhao Yu in the bamboo grove behind the study.
In the dim night, Zhao Yu, dressed in a moon-white robe, practiced his sword, making him quite conspicuous.
Bamboo leaves fluttered down, and the sword's aura was chilling.
Madam Zhang was startled and quickly called out, "He'an!"
Zhao Yu then came to his senses.
In just two days, Zhao Yu became even more gloomy, and his dark eyes seemed to reveal a ruthless and obsessive nature.
Zhao Yu sheathed his sword, suppressing the sharpness in his eyes.
"Why is Mother here?"
Madam Zhang frowned: "He'an, has something happened to the Dali Temple?"
Zhao Yu shook his head, his voice indifferent: "Nothing. Did Mother need to speak with me?"
Madam Zhang then brought up the matter of the burial to be held the following day.
“You’ve been coming home very late these past two days, and then you go to work before dawn the next day. You also have to go out with the third branch of the family once more.”
Tomorrow morning, at the end of the Yin hour (3-5 AM), the funeral procession will depart from the Zhao family's residence.
Zhao Yu's eyes were unfathomable, and he slowly hummed in agreement.
“I understand, Mother, you don’t need to worry.”
When Zhao Yu returned to the main house, the guards came to report on the matter concerning the third branch of the family.
Zhao Yu lifted his eyelids, his aura terrifying.
"Father should be about to make his move soon."
...
Mrs. Zhang always felt that her son was acting strangely.
Duke Zhao felt the same way, but he could only comfort his wife that it was a misperception.
Zhang had a bad feeling.
It was verified very quickly, the very next day.
Zhao Chenyu's coffin was placed in the courtyard of the third house. Half an hour before the funeral, just before dawn, the tent where the coffin was placed suddenly caught fire, and the fire spread rapidly, burning down the nearest house as well.
The coffin burst into flames instantly.
By the time the fire was extinguished in time, the auspicious time for the funeral had passed.
Even the front half of the coffin was burned and deformed.
Master Zhao and Madam Zhang wept bitterly.
"Why is God so cruel, making Chen Yu unable to leave in peace?"
In the end, Zhao Chenyu could only be buried hastily.
News of Zhao Chenyu's affair quickly spread beyond the Zhao family mansion, and rumors began to circulate that the third branch of the Zhao family was suffering the consequences of their many misdeeds.
Before the third branch of the Zhao family could even address these outrageous rumors, the Duke of Zhao presented the evidence against the third branch to the Zhao family patriarch.
The current head of the Zhao family is the youngest son of Zhao Yu's great-grandfather's generation.
The clan chief did not live in the Zhao family's residence, but instead lived a secluded life in the mountains not far from the capital.
Almost all of Zhao's elders gathered in the Zhao family ancestral hall.
Master Zhao knelt on the ground, trembling all over. Everything was over, all over.
The clan elder was old and frail, but his eyes were bright and piercing.
"For the sake of the remaining members of the Zhao family, third brother, you should request to separate from the family."
Uncle Yi roared, "Just one crime alone, and His Majesty will punish the Zhao family severely! You're also suspected of selling maps, which is a serious crime of leaking military secrets and treason! Are you trying to drag the entire Zhao family down with you and kill everyone?!"
Third Master Zhao looked at Duke Zhao, whose face was gloomy and wished he could kill Third Master Zhao right now.
"Your voluntary request to separate from the family is already the last bit of dignity the Zhao family has left for you."
However, the decision regarding Master Zhao and his wife can only be made by His Majesty.
The goal of protecting the Zhao family goes far beyond this.
"Brother, I really know I was wrong. Please spare my life."
Zhang was also kneeling on the ground, looking disheveled.
"Elder brother and sister-in-law, He'an, please plead with His Majesty, we know we were wrong."
Zhao Yu remained unmoved. After the affair of the third branch of the family in his previous life was exposed, the Duke of Zhao used a certificate of merit earned through generations of military achievements by the Zhao family to plead with the Emperor to save the entire Zhao family. In order to atone for his crimes, the Duke of Zhao led his troops to resist the Prince of Ding, and ultimately died a tragic death.
The third branch of the Zhao family deserved to die.
Zhang was shocked and furious. "You still have the audacity to plead for mercy? If it weren't for you, the Zhao family wouldn't be in such a predicament, besieged on all sides!"
Duke Zhao spent half his life fighting on the battlefield, protecting his country and loyal to the court and the royal family. While the third branch of the Zhao family may not be particularly ambitious, they should not be driven to their doom.
The stalemate lasted all night.
The names of the third branch of the Zhao family were immediately crossed out in the family genealogy.
The third branch of the Zhao family could only hurriedly pack their belongings and leave the Zhao residence.
Two days later, the Duke of Zhao, who was deeply favored by His Majesty, was severely reprimanded by the emperor for the first time in the imperial study.
For disrespecting His Majesty, the Duke of Zhao was beaten with twenty strokes of the cane at the palace gate, his military power in the suburban camp was confiscated, and he was suspended from his post and forced to live in retirement.
That same night, the Zhao family's third wife and son-in-law mysteriously disappeared from their new house.
Rumors circulated in the capital that the Zhao family had angered the Emperor and lost his favor. The once bustling Duke's mansion was now deserted, and the atmosphere inside was somber, with servants trembling with fear of displeasing their masters.
In the courtyard of the Duke of Zhao.
Lady Zhang sighed as she applied the medicine to the Duke of Zhao.
"In the end, His Majesty still gave the Zhao family a way out."
Duke Zhao hummed in agreement, his thoughts drifting far away.
If Zhao Yu hadn't given us that timely reminder, the Zhao family would probably have been finished if we had been a step later.
Only when His Majesty calms down will the Zhao family have a chance to rise again.
"By the way, how's He'an doing lately?"
Madam Zhang: "My son goes to work and leaves work as usual every day. It seems that things in our household don't affect him. He's just becoming more and more taciturn and his temper is getting weirder and weirder."
After thinking for a moment, Lady Zhang couldn't help but pat the Duke of Zhao on the back.
The Duke of Zhao immediately hissed.
Zhang seemed not to hear: "He'an practices swordsmanship all day long. He doesn't go out to roam the martial world, so what's the point of practicing swordsmanship?"
Duke Zhao responded with a deep "hmm".
Zhao Yu must have something on his mind.
...
Soon, the day arrived that Xu Chumian and Xiao Qingyan had agreed to go see the lantern festival.
Xiao Qingyan arrived at the Xu family's residence early in the morning.
After Mu Mu finished her acupuncture treatment, the group set off for Faxi Temple outside the city.
Xiao Qingyan rode his horse on horseback, while Xu Chumian and Xiao Tao sat in the carriage with Mu Mu.
The group had not gone far from Beijing.
One of the two guards continued to follow, while the other quickly returned to the Chen Prince's Mansion.
Prince Chen is the current emperor's cousin. He is known for his idleness and has taken on a sinecure.
Princess Xingyang was the only daughter of Prince Chen and was deeply favored.
"What did you say? Your name is Xu Chumian?"
The bodyguard said, "I have been following Lord Xiao for several days, but he is wary, so I cannot get too close. Only today did Lord Xiao go to find that woman."
"I listened outside the courtyard for a long time. The woman's name is Xu Chumian, and she owns an incense shop."
Princess Xingyang sneered and smashed everything in the room.
From the first moment she saw Xu Chumian, she knew that the bitch was no good.
They're courting death, daring to rob Xiao Qingyan.
She's going to make Xu Chumian regret it!
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