Chapter 80 Pei Heng's Favorability
"Step back, Xiao Chong." Xiao Xu called Xiao Dao by his new name as if issuing an ultimatum, his cold eyes pressing down on him, as if to tell him: it's not too late to step back now.
Xiao Dao remained standing firmly in front of Qiao Bao'er.
Xie Yushu glanced at him, knowing very well that Xiao Dao was not afraid of Xiao Xu, this old man, but Xiao Xu said he would not care about this son he had just found, and he would really kill Xiao Dao.
Since things have already escalated to this point, let's add fuel to the fire.
Without hesitation, Xie Yushu pulled out the dagger from his sleeve and held it to his neck.
This dagger was a trophy that Xiaodao brought back. She had given it to Jinyue, but today, when she returned to Bianjing, Jinyue, worried about her safety, returned the dagger to her.
It's perfect for this purpose now.
"Xie Yushu!" Song Jie was the first to react, reaching out to stop him, but Xie Yushu took a step back, gripped the dagger tightly, and frowned at him. He froze, knowing that this was also a move by Xie Yushu, but the cold blade had already sunk into her skin, leaving a bloody mark.
Xiao Dao immediately turned around, shocked to see that before she could even move, she was scolded: "Don't come any closer."
Xiao Xu was also startled and instinctively wanted to tell her to stop.
But she gripped the dagger tightly, using herself as leverage to force everyone to back away, completely disregarding the blood already flowing from her neck.
Crimson blood flowed down her snow-white neck, down her wrist, and into her sleeve; the red was glaring, the white dazzling.
"I don't want Yu Shu!" Qiao Bao'er shook her head at her daughter, her eyes red.
Xie Yushu smiled at her, then looked at Xiao Xu with a calm and fearless expression: "Your Majesty need not threaten me with anyone. I have already thought it through when I returned to Bianjing today. I would rather die than be coerced by anyone."
"Xie Yushu." Xiao Xu called her name with hatred, each word distinct. Her plain face suddenly revealed a chillingly cold and beautiful expression. He had never seen a woman with such an arrogant expression, like a wild bird that would rather die than enter a golden cage.
But the more she acted this way, the stronger his desire for her became. He really wanted to see how moving it would be when that face showed an expression of submission and ingratiation.
"If you dare to seek death today, I will immediately order your mother, Pei Shilin and his mother, and the entire Yong'an Marquis's family to be killed!" Xiao Xu waved his hand furiously, threatening, "And all your maids and nannies, even your former attendant Xiao Chong! They will all die with you! Think it over!"
Xie Yushu, however, held the knife and smiled contemptuously at him. "Is that so? Is His Majesty sure you want to kill your son, your trusted ministers, and your imperial relatives for the sake of a woman like me? You won't, you wouldn't dare, you're afraid the entire court and the people of the world will laugh at you."
Her words struck right at Xiao Xu's heart.
"Don't think I wouldn't dare kill you!" Xiao Xu's expression changed completely. He stood up angrily, his chest heaving.
Xie Yushu laughed even more heartily: "The Emperor cannot die twice. Now that I am already dead, how can you kill me again?"
"Xie Yushu!" Xiao Xu was so angry that his head was buzzing. He grabbed the sword from the imperial guard and walked towards Qiao Bao'er, shouting, "I will kill your mother first today to show you! Get out of my way!" He grabbed a small knife, intending to throw him aside and kill Qiao Bao'er with one stroke.
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
"General Pei, you must not force your way in!"
Amidst gasps of surprise, a commotion arose outside Suxinzhai.
The sound was accompanied by footsteps, the clanging of blades, and Pei Heng's loud cry: "Your Majesty!"
His voice drowned out all other sounds, instantly cooling Xiao Xu's dizzy mind. When he looked outside, he saw Pei Heng, along with his deputy general Zhao Mingzhao and two squads of his soldiers, storming into Suxinzhai and filling the entire courtyard from left to right.
Along the path cleared by the soldiers, accompanying Pei Heng were Duke Zhang Yunkai of England, Privy Councilor Liang Guang, and Lady Meng Min, wife of the Marquis of Yong'an.
They followed Pei Heng into Suxinzhai, filed in, bowed to Xiao Xu, and said in unison, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Xiao Xu gripped his sword, his gaze sweeping over them before settling on Pei Heng. How could he not know the meaning behind Pei Heng's actions?
"Pei Heng, how dare you!" He was so angry that his fingers trembled as he pointed his sword at Pei Heng. "Are you plotting a rebellion by leading soldiers and so many people to force your way into Suxinzhai?"
"Your Majesty, I dare not." Pei Heng solemnly performed the kneeling ceremony, raised his head to look at Xiao Xu: "I have only come to take away my nephew's wife." He did not give Xiao Xu any face and said bluntly: "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, but also the foundation of the country. If even Your Majesty disregards human ethics and takes my wife, then what laws govern the country?"
He actually dared to say that.
Xiao Xu was so angry that it felt like a huge rock had solidified in his chest, making it hard for him to breathe.
Lady Meng Min, wife of the Marquis of Yong'an, stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Has Your Majesty forgotten that the late Emperor disregarded the opposition of the entire court and seized the Imperial Concubine, incurring the wrath of the people?"
What audacity! Even a woman like Meng Min dares to compare herself to him in this matter!
Xiao Xu's lips trembled with anger, but even his loyal ministers, the Duke of Ying and Liang Guang, stood up to defend Pei Heng, criticizing him for doing such a foolish thing as emperor.
His hand gripping the sword trembled more and more violently. He pointed at them as if to say something, but instead spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Your Majesty!" Song Jie immediately reached out to support him.
He turned his head but couldn't see Song Jie's face clearly. He felt dizzy, as if drums were beating in his ears. He could only vaguely hear Song Jie calling him "Your Majesty" and asking him what was wrong...
He clutched his chest, feeling a sharp pain in his heart, and suddenly collapsed to the ground.
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!"
"Quickly summon the imperial physician!"
Amidst the chaotic shouts, Xie Yushu glanced at Song Jie, who immediately ordered the eunuch, "Quickly, bring the Emperor's medicine!"
The eunuch hurriedly pulled a bottle of pills from his sleeve and handed it over.
She slowly put down the dagger in her hand, and Xiao Dao and Pei Heng arrived at her side almost at the same time.
"Are you alright?" Xiao Dao haphazardly pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it against the wound on her neck.
Pei Heng gestured to Zhao Mingzhao, then whispered to Xie Yushu, "You should leave here first and go with Mingzhao."
"Yu Shu." Meng Min immediately came over and grabbed her hand, then pulled Qiao Bao'er over and said, "You two come back to the Marquis's residence with me first."
Xie Yushu played his part perfectly, turning to grasp Pei Heng's wrist and asking, "And what about you? If His Majesty wakes up, he will surely blame you."
Pei Heng was stunned for a moment. He subconsciously squeezed the hand that was being held by her wrist. Her hand was still stained with blood and was colder than before. She must have been terrified. "Don't worry about me. Go stay at the Yong'an Marquis's residence for a while. I'll take care of these things."
She quickly withdrew her hand and said thank you to him again.
Pei Heng had some of her blood on his wrist. He couldn't quite describe the feeling in his heart. Xie Yushu was a person who valued loyalty and righteousness. She shouldn't have been humiliated, especially by the current emperor.
He turned back and saw Wan Susu lying on the bed, her face pale. She was like a withered tree, having died in this Suxinzhai.
No, it's not just Xie Yushu who shouldn't be humiliated.
What he should protect is never the "Emperor," but this Great Xun Dynasty, the people of the world, and a world where no one is bullied.
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They practically escaped from Yuqing Temple.
Xie Yushu boarded the carriage of the Marquis of Yong'an's residence, not expecting that Xie Jianing was also in the carriage.
Xie Jianing glanced at her and helped Meng Min into the car first.
On the way back to Yong'an Prefecture, Xie Jianing still had a stern face and didn't say a word to Xie Yushu.
Upon arriving at the Marquis of Yong'an's residence, she told her mother to rest first, saying, "Please don't move around anymore. I'll take care of the rest."
Although Xie Jianing still disliked Xie Yushu, she still arranged for Xie Yushu and Qiao Bao'er to stay in the side room of her mother's courtyard, and the room was tidied up.
She didn't go in, but stood outside the door and said to Xie Yushu, "There's something I need to tell you."
Xie Yushu turned to look at her.
She said coldly, "It was Pei Shilin who told you to leave the city, not me. Although I can't stand you, I wouldn't betray my aunt. Don't misunderstand me. Also, Song Jie is no good. He helped the Emperor force Pei Heng to bring you back."
After she finished speaking, she turned and left without giving Xie Yushu a pleasant look.
Xie Yushu was still surprised. She hadn't expected Xie Jianing to come and rescue her, and even say those words to her.
"Let your mother see Yushu." Qiao Bao'er took her hand, and when she looked at the wound on her neck, her eyes reddened again: "What a big cut... How could you be so cruel to yourself? No matter what happens, nothing is more important than your life."
Xie Yushu looked at her, and this frail woman said to her with certainty, "No matter what happens, nothing is more important than your life. You are not worth hurting yourself, even if all other lives are added together."
In her heart, her daughter is more important than anything else.
Pei Heng? How could it be from him?
Not long after, Marquis Yong'an Xie Zhi'an came to find Meng Min. He was so frightened that he lashed out at Meng Min, blaming her for being out of her mind and disobeying the Emperor for Xie Yushu, saying that the entire Marquis Yong'an mansion would be implicated because of her!
Xie Jianing couldn't help but speak up for her mother: "This matter already involves Aunt. Even if Mother doesn't go to save Xie Yushu, the Emperor will still blame the Meng family if he investigates."
"You're joining in this nonsense too!" Xie Zhi'an was so angry that he even blamed Xie Jianing. "I should have told you to have less contact with your aunt a long time ago. Look at the way she behaves as a woman. And what kind of daughter has she raised Jin Yue? Do you want to follow your aunt's example and never get married?"
Xie Jianing was shocked and angry at the barrage of criticism.
Meng Min blocked her behind her and said coldly to Xie Zhi'an, "It's none of your business to reprimand the daughters of the Meng family. Get out."
She didn't bother arguing with Xie Zhi'an any longer and directly ordered her men to keep him out of the courtyard.
Xie Jianing's eyes were already red with anger. "How could Father say that?" But she herself didn't know which of her father's words she was angry about.
She just felt that her father's words were wrong. What was wrong with her aunt? What was wrong with Jin Yue? Her aunt had only taken in a son-in-law.
Although she wanted to marry the man she loved and spend her whole life with him, her maternal grandfather had left behind such a large estate in the Meng family. If her aunt didn't take in a son-in-law, would she marry another man and let that man squander the entire estate?
How did Father become like this? He had never spoken to Aunt like this before. He was even very kind and polite to Aunt and had promised Grandfather that he would definitely help Aunt and Jin Yue if they ever needed anything. Was all of this just an act?
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Author's Note: Old man Xiao Xu is dying [Let me see].
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