Chapter 739: The Xiao Family's Rehabilitation
East Palace, study.
Zhao Jingxuan was wearing the clothes of the crown prince and sitting there upright. There was a serious look on his young and handsome face, and he looked quite professional.
"Your Highness, the Regent requests an audience." The palace servant reported.
Even though there were all kinds of rumors outside, saying that the Regent was going to replace the Crown Prince, which made the two of them on the verge of a life-or-death battle, in fact, Zhao Jingxuan was very dependent on Wei Qing. When he heard that he was coming, his expression suddenly brightened.
"Please come in."
Soon, Wei Qing came in.
Wei Qing was wearing a python robe that outlined his tall and slender figure. His handsome face was expressionless, revealing a sense of majesty and strength, much like the majesty of a regent.
Zhao Jingxuan sat behind the desk, looking at him with a smile, and said enthusiastically, "Brother, please sit down."
Zhao Jingxuan was the sixth among the many princes, with many brothers and sisters. However, in the royal family, there was intrigue and scheming. Which of his brothers didn't want to kill him? Sometimes, Zhao Jingxuan envied ordinary families, where the younger brother had an older brother to protect him and live a happy life. He now vaguely felt the feeling of being an ordinary brother from Wei Qing, and he was very happy.
Wei Qing was not polite and sat down on the chair opposite, his eyes falling on the memorial in front of Zhao Jingxuan.
"How much have you reviewed?" Wei Qing asked.
Before, Zhao Jingxuan’s leg was injured, and Wei Qing handled all the memorials.
Now that his legs were healed and he could walk, Wei Qing didn't let him slack off and handed him the memorials. Wei Qing asked Zhao Jingxuan to sort the memorials into three categories: the first category was for matters he could make a decision on, which Wei Qing would not look at again; the second category was for matters he was unsure about, which Wei Qing would review again after reviewing; and the third category was for matters he couldn't resolve, which Wei Qing would handle.
Although Wei Qing is the regent, he is ready to run away at any time. How could he let Zhao Jingxuan sit idle?
Zhao Jingxuan knew that he had a heavy burden on his shoulders, and he worked hard to grow and become stronger, but occasionally, he would still be lazy and want Wei Qing to help him.
Outsiders all say that the Crown Prince and the Regent are fighting for power and are incompatible. In fact, both of them wish to push the work to the other so that they can have some free time.
Zhao Jingxuan glanced guiltily at the pile of unreviewed memorials: "Brother, I'm just a prince, not the emperor yet."
"Isn't it only a matter of time before you ascend the throne? Don't even think about being lazy. You are not allowed to have lunch until you have finished reviewing these." Wei Qing said.
Zhao Jingxuan hung his head like a poor dog, and under Wei Qing's intimidating gaze, he could only nod obediently.
Zhao Jingxuan reviewed several memorials and felt a little pain in his neck. He secretly glanced at Wei Qing.
"Brother, you are so busy. You can't be sitting here just to supervise me, right? Is there something else?" Zhao Jingxuan asked.
"Yes, there is one thing." Wei Qing said.
Zhao Jingxuan immediately sat up straight, finally having time to slack off.
"Oh? What's that?"
"I want to vindicate the Xiao family." Wei Qing said.
Wei Qing is the regent and can exercise power on behalf of the emperor and directly redress the Xiao family.
But he still wanted to inform Zhao Jingxuan about such a big thing.
Today is half a month after the emperor's death. In fact, on the first day, Wei Qing wanted to clear the Xiao family's grievances and remove the stigma of countless innocent soldiers.
This matter has been weighing on his mind for too long.
The Xiao family and soldiers have waited long enough.
But at that time, the emperor had just passed away and the court was unstable. This incident was undoubtedly a huge uproar and would make the court even more chaotic.
Therefore, Wei Qing endured it and did a lot of things to stabilize the government. Now the time is right, it is time to do this.
Zhao Jingxuan was stunned for a moment after hearing this. In fact, he had heard about the affairs of the Xiao family, but he was not clear about the specific details.
Wei Qing patiently recounted what happened that year, how the Xiao family army was recalled to the capital, how they were charged with crimes, and then brutally killed.
Wei Qing not only said it verbally, he also brought evidence.
Zhao Jingxuan looked through the evidence, and his heart felt heavy as if something was pressing on it, and his eyes couldn't help but turn red.
These soldiers who fought for the Great Zhou were now branded as traitors...
"Brother, does father know about this?" Zhao Jingxuan asked in a muffled voice.
Wei Qing nodded.
After all, Zhao Jingxuan was born into a royal family. When Wei Qing nodded, he knew the crux of the matter.
Zhao Jingxuan lowered his head in thought. When he raised his head again, his expression became firm. "The soldiers who fought for the Great Zhou should not bear such a stigma. It's time to redress their injustice. Big brother, I support you. But, big brother, can you promise me one thing..."
The next day.
An imperial edict, like a thunderclap, hit the court and caused an uproar.
Twenty years ago, the Xiao family army did not collaborate with the enemy or commit treason, they were wrongly accused.
This imperial edict, first, cleared the name of the Xiao family and the Xiao family army, second, posthumously honored General Xiao and the late queen, and third, held accountable those from the Wang and Lu families who were involved in framing the Xiao family.
There is no mention of the emperor, even though he may be the culprit.
This was the request made by Zhao Jingxuan. As a son, he wanted to save his father's last bit of face.
When this imperial edict came down, everyone in the court was shocked.
The Xiao family's case was decided by the late emperor. To clear the Xiao family's name now is undoubtedly a slap in the face of the late emperor.
Some old ministers were somewhat dissatisfied, but the evidence was there, and they could only sigh that the late emperor had been deceived by a traitor.
Some of the court officials who had connections with the Xiao family, or had received favors from the Xiao family, as well as those who secretly worked to clear the name of the Xiao family, breathed a sigh of relief at this moment. They had finally waited for this day.
…
In a pavilion.
Two figures stood there, one tall, the other petite, the two leaning against each other.
These two people are Wei Qing and Tang Li.
There is a huge open space in front of me. Twenty years ago, the land was stained with blood and corpses were everywhere. The Xiao family army was buried here.
At night, it seems as if there are countless cries in the air, and the air is filled with ghosts.
Wei Qing had only been here once before. It was dusk, with a cold wind blowing and shadows of trees swaying. The air was filled with mournful cries, which he felt were the wronged souls of the soldiers crying out.
Wei Qing offered wine to these wronged souls and told them that his name had been redressed.
Now, those wronged souls can finally rest in peace.
They no longer have to bear the stigma.
They are heroes of the Great Zhou.
In front of Wei Qing, rows of people wearing armor seemed to appear, all looking at him with smiles on their faces.
In a blink of an eye, the person disappeared.
It was the season of spring when flowers were blooming. Many small grasses grew on the ground, and the flowers were blooming, full of vitality.
Wei Qing hugged Tang Li and stood in the pavilion for a long time.
"Husband, let's go back."
"Well, let's go."
"Let's bring your third uncle to the capital?"
"good."
The two held hands tightly and left together.
…
Wangxian County, Long County.
At the iron mine, those people who were reduced to sinners because of the Xiao family will have their lives changed because of that imperial edict.
They were no longer criminals, no longer slaves, and no longer had to live in darkness. They became ordinary people again, and their descendants no longer had to be slaves. They could leave here, marry, have children, and live ordinary lives.
A happy smile appeared on Xiao Laojiu's face, which looked old due to overwork.
He knew that such a good person like General Xiao was definitely being wronged, and it turned out to be true.
General Xiao was finally cleared of his injustice. God has opened his eyes. God has truly opened his eyes!
He remembered the tall man who appeared at the iron mine some time ago and said that General Xiao could clear his name and they could leave here. It turned out to be true so quickly as he said.
I don’t know whether General Xiao’s vindication has anything to do with that tall young man.
…
In the counties and cities of the Great Zhou, people were also discussing this matter on the streets and alleys.
"Have you heard? Xiao Jiajun was framed. He didn't collaborate with the enemy, nor did he commit treason!"
"I was surprised back then. How could General Xiao, such a good man, possibly plot a rebellion? Surely there's something else going on!"
"Who is General Xiao? I know General Gu, General Cao, and General Liang, but I've never heard of General Xiao."
"Of course you young people haven't heard of it. That was more than 20 years ago. At that time, General Xiao was the God of War and the patron saint of our Great Zhou!"
"Yes, General Xiao has made great military achievements. The Battle of Yidong, the Battle of Wangchuan, and the Battle of Menan, General Xiao has created so many legends!"
"The Xiao family has a powerful general, even more powerful than the current Gu family. The eldest son of the Xiao family is unparalleled in bravery and once captured an enemy leader on horseback. The second son of the Xiao family is very skilled in riding and shooting, and the cavalry under his command are very powerful. The third son of the Xiao family..."
Several older people gathered together and recounted the achievements of the Xiao family with great passion, while the young people next to them were stunned.
In the crowd, an elegant middle-aged man listened to the discussions for most of the day, with a faint smile on his lips.
"Third Master, it's getting late. Go back to the inn and rest. We will be in the capital in a few days." The old servant beside him reminded him.
The middle-aged man nodded and left with the old servant.
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