Chapter 8 Son of the Minister of Revenue
"Mother, you've misunderstood me. That family bullied Zhaozhao, and as her uncle, how could I not stand up for her?"
Xu Yinan retorted.
"Second Uncle, Marquis Dingyuan is only going to assist in the investigation. If he is innocent, how will you get through the exile process if you offend people like this?"
Besides, Yun Zhao is a member of the Yun family, not our Xu family, Mother, aren't you right?"
The woman stirred things up again.
"Sister-in-law! Yun Zhao is your sister-in-law, my sister's biological daughter!"
Xu Yifei may not be eloquent, but he has the most fiery temper.
"Mother, please say something!"
He immediately turned to Madam Xu and demanded an explanation.
A grown man in his mid-twenties still needs his mother to intervene and uphold justice when scolding his younger siblings.
The onlookers were practically bursting with laughter.
To Xu Yifei's surprise, the old lady Xu remained silent in the face of such a direct demand for an explanation.
Xu Qingyi and her three uncles' moods instantly sank to the bottom.
Yun Zhao looked at the large family with curiosity.
In her previous life, Yun Zhao had never met anyone from the General's Mansion, but she knew that the current Madam Xu was a second wife.
His mother, Xu Qingyi, and his three maternal uncles were all born to the first general's wife.
Her maternal grandmother died during childbirth when her third uncle, Xu Yiyan, was born.
When her maternal grandmother passed away, her mother, the eldest daughter, was only eight years old.
My maternal grandfather, Xu Zhenbang, was stationed in the southwest year-round and had no time to take care of the four children in the family.
Under the care of the old lady, he married his current second wife, and they had a son and a daughter.
After the old lady passed away, this Madam Xu became the mistress of the general's mansion.
As far as Yun Zhao knew, her three uncles in her previous life never married until their deaths.
So the woman whom the eldest maternal uncle called "sister-in-law" must be the wife of her "fourth maternal uncle".
The Great Zhou Dynasty valued seniority, and none of the three sons of the first wife were married.
Instead, the fourth son got married first and had a grandson, the eldest grandson of the general's family.
No wonder everyone in the capital mocked the General's Mansion.
He ruined his three children from his first wife so that his own son could inherit the general's mansion in the future.
That's quite a clever scheme!
Yun Zhao's eyes darted around, then her little mouth pouted.
With a pitiful look on her face, she asked, "Uncle, if Zhaozhao isn't from the Xu family, does that mean Zhaozhao can't call you uncle anymore?"
"Of course not! Don't listen to your fourth aunt's nonsense!"
Xu Yifei instinctively retorted.
Xu Yinan and Xu Yiyan rushed forward, "Yes, Zhaozhao, don't worry, your uncle won't abandon you and your mother!"
"And my little brother! He doesn't even have any teeth, boohoo, so pitiful!"
Yun Zhao's words reminded everyone that the Yun family now consists of only the three of them: an orphan and a widow.
There was even a baby still in swaddling clothes.
If the Xu family hadn't taken care of the Dianyun family during their exile, the mother and her two children probably wouldn't have survived to Lingnan!
The fourth aunt immediately tugged at her husband.
"I don't care! Xu Qingyi has two children to support, they can't come with us!"
Shh! We're not even out of town yet, so you'd better keep quiet!
Fourth Uncle Xu Yiyuan hurriedly pulled his wife along.
With so many people watching, he still has a sense of shame!
The second young lady, Xu Qingshi, is only fifteen years old, a time when she is very shy.
Looking at the crowd of onlookers, he clicked his tongue in annoyance: "Why aren't we out of the city yet? What are we waiting for here for?"
They argued and made a scene, but the officials just watched as a show and didn't interfere.
But Xu Qingshi's words were a questioning of their competence.
Leader Luo Qing immediately frowned, "Do you think you can tell me what to do?"
Xu Qingshi shrank back, hiding fearfully behind Old Madam Xu.
Yun Zhao did know.
The recent breach of the dikes in Jiangnan involved numerous officials.
Besides the Prince of Jin and the General Zhenguo who were framed, there was also the Minister of Revenue who was in charge of appropriations, and the Minister of Works who was in charge of construction projects.
However, since the Minister of Works was from the Empress's maternal family, it was natural that a Vice Minister of Works was chosen to take the blame.
They stayed there to wait for the families of the Minister of Revenue and the Vice Minister of Works.
The clanging of chains could be heard as a large group of people approached.
The woman and child were crying and sobbing, interspersed with cries of injustice, making a racket that hurt the ears of everyone on the street.
Leading the way was the family of the Minister of Revenue.
Wei Mingde, the Minister of Revenue, came from a poor family and was once a minor official in a small border town in the northwest.
Because of his outstanding political achievements, he rose step by step to the position of Minister of Revenue.
The once refined middle-aged man has turned completely white-haired in just two days.
The person supporting him was his eldest son, Wei Jingchen.
Yun Zhao had seen Wei Jingchen at a palace banquet, but she was only four years old at the time, and her memory of him was very vague.
All I remember is that after the Wei family was exiled in my previous life, there were still frequent rumors about him in the capital.
It is said that he was exceptionally intelligent, and by the age of ten, he had already earned high praise from the teachers at the Imperial Academy.
It is said that if he had stayed in the capital, he would surely have grown into a pillar of the state.
He was described as handsome and refined, a true gentleman.
Everyone who mentions him praises him.
Yun Zhao thought that she must win over such a person during her exile!
Perhaps it was because Yun Zhao's gaze was too intense, Wei Jingchen noticed that someone was staring at him and subconsciously looked up.
Yun Zhao was caught off guard and met his gaze. He was immediately drawn into those deep, abyss-like eyes!
Those eyes look so familiar!
Yun Zhao was stunned.
When Wei Jingchen saw her, he gave her a gentle smile.
His deep-set eyes and brows relaxed instantly, like the warm winter sun, bringing joy to people's hearts.
No wonder everyone in the capital praises him so highly.
Yun Zhao nodded inwardly, a childlike smile spreading across his face.
Who is Zhao Zhao looking at?
Xu Yinan followed her gaze and met Wei Jingchen's eyes.
"The son of the Minister of Revenue? It seems Zhao Zhao also likes handsome young men! Hahahaha!"
He was never serious, and Xu Qingyi scolded him, "Don't talk nonsense! How old is Zhaozhao? Can you please watch your mouth!"
After being scolded by his older sister, Xu Yinan immediately admitted his mistake: "Sister, I was wrong!"
In the years since Xu Qingyi got married, she has watched helplessly as her three younger brothers have become increasingly unruly.
In the past, she was a married woman and couldn't interfere in her family's affairs, so she could only offer a few words of advice occasionally.
Now facing exile, Xu Qingyi no longer cares about etiquette.
She adopted the air of a princess and coldly reprimanded her younger brother: "The journey may not be peaceful. You can't all act like generals' sons anymore. You'd better watch your tempers, understand?"
"Don't worry, sister, we know!"
"Yes, sister, I... I will protect you, Zhaozhao, and Xiaojin!"
Xu Yiyan, who was always timid, still whispered his assurance.
Fourth Aunt rolled her eyes. "Mother, look at this! Anyone who didn't know better would think she was the mistress of the General's Mansion!"
Madam Xu looked at Xu Qingyi with displeasure.
"Qingyi, are you implying that I'm an incompetent mother and haven't raised your three younger brothers well?"
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