Chapter 380 Division
Another, older-looking elder of the Xie family glared at Xie Changyou and said irritably, "You're all blinded by greed! What business is it of yours if there's just a baby in Yongzhou? You worthless scoundrels!"
Xie Changyou lowered his head meekly and bowed to the clan elder: "Changyou really didn't know that Zhiheng would make such a big mistake, otherwise I would have stopped him. Third Uncle, I know I was wrong."
The three elders rubbed their temples and said, “The reputation of our Xie family has been preserved for centuries. The reason we have been able to survive to this day is partly due to our reputation, but also because we can unite as one. Now that you are the head of the family, you should know the family rule that you must not lay a hand on your own brothers. Allowing Zhiheng to take action against Yongzhou is your fault.”
The three elders glared at Xie Changyou and said, "You have failed in your duty to educate your son! You should be removed from your position as clan leader!"
Xie Changyou bowed meekly to his third uncle: "If Zhiheng can be rescued, Changyou will accept the punishment."
The three elders sighed: "Today you will confess your guilt. After the confession is announced to the world and the emperor releases Zhiheng and confirms the child's safety, we will divide the family property!"
Xie Changyou suddenly looked up at the Third Elder: "Third Uncle! Separate the family! Absolutely not!"
The three elders looked at Xie Changyou with a hint of disappointment: "Do you really think the Emperor will remember us after the Xie family admits to this? Yongzhou is now in the hands of the Prince of Chu, and since Zhiheng didn't admit to this from the beginning to protect the Xie family's reputation, we've probably already become a thorn in the Emperor's side."
The most urgent task is to rescue Zhiheng. After that, I will lead the rest of the clan to separate from your branch, betray the Xie family, and lead the remaining clan to seek refuge with the King of Chu, acknowledging Yongzhou as the head of the family! In this way, Zhiheng's life will be safe, and the Xie family's reputation for centuries can be preserved!
Xie Changyou's eyes widened suddenly: "Third Uncle! Now that the King of Chu has rebelled, if you lead the clan there and are defeated, what will happen to the Xie family!"
The three elders interrupted impatiently: "Nonsense! Why do you think I left your lineage here? Even if the King of Chu is defeated, the bloodline of our Xie family can still continue. Besides, the King of Chu may not even be defeated!"
Xie Changyou pondered for a moment, then bowed to the seven or eight elders around him: "Changyou understands, I will go and make the arrangements."
Three days later—
The confession of the Xie family patriarch quickly spread throughout the entire Da Xuan. People were talking about the Xie family's secrets at tea stalls, and the emperor breathed a sigh of relief.
Xie Zhiheng was released back to the Xie family, but because of his poor performance, he was demoted.
When Xie Zhiheng stepped out of the cage, he looked up at the sky and let out a bitter laugh.
Ultimately, the Xie family accepted the blame. Their century-old reputation as a prestigious family was ruined because of his momentary lapse in judgment.
Seeing the Xie family's carriage not far from him, Xie Zhiheng looked at his father and mother getting off the carriage with a mournful face.
"Father, Mother, Zhiheng has brought shame upon you..."
Xie Changyou looked at his son, who looked haggard, and sighed, "Let's get in the carriage and go home."
Mother Xie stroked her child's haggard face: "Good child, it's not your fault. Let's go home first. I made you something delicious today. Look at you, you've lost so much weight."
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. She turned her head and wiped them away with a handkerchief before returning to the carriage with her son and heading towards the Xie family's residence.
After arriving home, Xie Zhiheng ate his meal and then went to the Xie family ancestral hall, where he knelt before the Xie family ancestors and kowtowed several times.
On the fourth day after confirming his son's safety, Xie Changyou and a group of clan elders put on a grand show.
The most important members of the Xie family, along with five or six great Confucian scholars, rebelled against the Xie family along with the three elders of the Xie clan.
A group of about a hundred people, along with their families, were traveling by horse-drawn carriage towards Taiyuan.
During the journey, a secret imperial edict was even released, ordering the Wu family to accept the Xie family's orphan and to cause a scene at the Prince's mansion.
The Xie family had its own information channels, and a secret edict quickly spread throughout Da Xuan, clearing the Xie family of the stigma from the previous days.
Meanwhile, the head of the Xie family did not speak, but watched as most of the Xie family members defected, asked his son for leave, and quickly closed the door to visitors.
Nowadays, the city is in turmoil, and even the lowest-level peddlers are discussing the Xie family's split.
"If you ask me, now that we've become emperor, why not give those imperial relatives a way to live? Today we behead the Third Prince, tomorrow we'll mess with the Ninth Prince. In my opinion, it would be better for them to live as ordinary people, which would save them a lot of trouble."
"Who says otherwise? The Third Prince was wronged so badly that he rebelled. I used to really think the Third Prince was a lecherous man, but now that I think about it, he's a prince. A commoner girl would probably be eager to marry him. How could she do such a filthy thing?"
"If you ask me, the Ninth Prince is more sentimental. If it weren't for the Ninth Prince's kindness, that Xie family child would probably have died in vain in the power struggle of those above. Some people are really vicious; they don't even spare their own uncle's orphan."
"Hey, you know what, now that the Xie family elders have led most of the clansmen to move to Taiyuan, the Xie family patriarch is just an empty shell now."
"These are all rumors. My wife used to work for the Xie family. I heard that the head of the Xie family never even considered harming his own nephew."
The man looked up at the sky, pointed, and said with a knowing expression, "Who would lay a hand on their own family for no reason? Look, if it weren't for orders from above, the Xie family would have really gotten themselves into a lot of trouble."
"Didn't we hear the news a few days ago that this one of ours is related to the late emperor's concubine? Who knows if her ascension to the throne was legitimate? These past few years have been filled with both natural disasters and man-made calamities; it's possible this is divine retribution."
"Hey, Lao Wang, could you keep your voice down? Didn't you see that notice from a few days ago? If you're overheard, you'll be arrested and skinned alive!"
"Stop talking nonsense. If you wanted to arrest someone, you should have done it already. These days, there are so many people gossiping in private schools, teahouses, and restaurants that they could all be arrested, skinned alive, and stuffed into straw!"
Old Wang slapped his trouser leg dismissively, and the people around him, covered in yellow dust, waved their hands in response.
Xie Changyou sighed as he listened to the chatter of the peddlers in front of his door, then looked at his son sitting beside him.
"Zhiheng, be careful this time when you go to the palace. If the emperor asks any questions, just blame it on your third uncle and the others. Don't give them any leverage."
Xie Zhiheng nodded, indicating that he knew. Now that the news had spread, the emperor would probably not do anything to him and his father, no matter how angry he was.
After all, word had already spread that he was working for the emperor; if he were to be killed simply because that news got out…
When the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away; when the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked. Who will dare to serve the emperor in the future?
Presumably, the emperor won't touch him now.
But his official career is probably coming to an end.
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