Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Master Lin harmed me!
Xuan Zhao had been standing for a long time at the court meeting today, and his legs had not yet recovered. Now he felt a little tired, so he lifted the corner of his robe and slowly squatted down, his eyes level with his daughter and son-in-law who were looking at him.
There were two low stools in the cell. Xuan Jinyu sat on one, and Su Guanzhang just knelt on the hay, leaving the other one empty.
Xuan Jinyu gestured at the distance between the two railings and gave up the idea of handing over the stool.
At this time, Su Guanzhang had already stood up and stuffed the sorted hay out through the gap.
"Father-in-law will feel better if he sits on a cushion." He said softly, his voice slightly hoarse from excessive depression.
Xuan Zhao didn't care if his clothes got dirty and just sat down. "Minister Liang is too stingy. He let me in but he didn't even want to open the door."
There was a hint of irony in his complaint, which gradually eased the overly tense atmosphere.
"But don't worry, he just doesn't get along with me, so he won't implicate you."
After a pause, he got down to business.
"Jinyu will be exiled with you," Xuan Zhao reached into the cell and touched his daughter's head. "Guan Zhang, you decide the place of exile. We will seize the initiative tomorrow."
Su Guanzhang looked towards the cell diagonally opposite, where his father Su Sheng was imprisoned.
Xuan Zhao forced a smile and said, "Your father asked you to make the decision." This was what he had just discussed with Duke Su.
Su Guanzhang quickly unfolded the map of Dasheng's territory in his mind.
After a moment's contemplation, he spoke, "The crime of treason and collaborating with the enemy is punishable by exile three thousand miles, if not death."
His tone was slightly cold, and when he said the words "collaborating with the enemy and treason", his voice was full of sarcasm.
"If everything is taken care of properly, Yi Jinyu's body will need to be taken care of for about a year, during which time she will need to stop giving birth and recuperate."
His voice was a little tense, and he glanced at Xuan Jinyu again, "Jinyu's body will become heavier and heavier, and it will be more and more inconvenient for her to walk as we go on."
"The north is mostly plains, the south is mostly hilly. Going north will make the first few months easier. But the winter is freezing, especially since Jinyu will give birth in winter. I don't think it's a good idea."
Xuan Jinyu noticed that his eyes were always on her. Her body tensed slightly and her heart felt like it was soaked in bitter water, so bitter that she wanted to cry.
"I want to go south so that it won't be too hard for Jinyu when she gives birth in October and November."
Xuan Zhao seemed to be lost in thought. "We can go south, but the heat is intense in June, July, and August, and the south is humid, so we have to be careful." He hesitated. "We are all from the north, and our bodies are more adapted to the northern climate. The south..."
"The summer heat and humidity are hard to endure, but the harsh winter is even harder." Old Madam Su, who had been listening in from the cell next door, suddenly interrupted and repeated what Su Guanzhang had just said.
Children are difficult to raise, especially newborn babies. If they are not cared for properly, they may catch a cold at best or die at worst.
If they went north, it would be difficult for Jinyu to be pregnant, and giving birth in the cold winter would be even more difficult.
When she was young, she had given birth to a daughter in the winter month. However, the war in Mobei was raging at the time, and the midwife arrived a little too late, so she almost didn't make it. The child she finally managed to give birth to died within three days. Otherwise, Su Sheng and his brothers would have had another sister.
Recalling the past, Old Madam Su felt more melancholy. Seeing that her great-grandmother was unhappy, Su Yutong hugged her very sensibly.
Madam Xuan Zhaochong nodded slightly and finally agreed to Su Guanzhang's proposal.
"Tonghuai County in Nanling is like spring all year round, so it would be best to set the exile there," Su Guanzhang said. "If that's not possible, Huaizhao County is the next best option, and Min'an County, Tongwu County, and Zhaonan County are the worst."
Xuan Zhao recalled the climate of these places and nodded repeatedly, "Yes. But Zhaonan County is too remote, and I'm afraid the road will be difficult to travel."
"Yes." Su Guanzhang agreed, "I know a way. Although it's a bit longer, the terrain is much flatter."
"Time is not a problem. Grandfather has already spread the news that Jinyu is pregnant."
Xuan Zhao's eyes turned cold. "They didn't dare stop us from sending people to follow and look after her. Exiling a pregnant woman is already inhumane enough. If the court officials don't want to provoke more criticism from the people, they won't care about these minor details."
Xuan Jinyu listened carefully to her father and Su Guanzhang discussing their place of exile so that she would feel better during her final childbirth.
Her nose started to feel sore again and she blinked quickly.
"With your large numbers, the number of people the imperial court has to escort will also increase, especially since most of you are skilled in martial arts."
Having served as an official for many years and being the head of a noble family, Xuan Zhao knew very well what methods to use to prevent exiled prisoners from escaping, but he would not let anyone use those methods on his daughter and the Su family.
Since ancient times, the imperial power and court officials have been in conflict with each other, and each has the upper hand over the other. Unless their lives are at stake, they will not act rashly.
The new emperor came to the throne illegitimately and thought his throne was secure, but he could not have imagined that the late emperor was still hiding royal secrets - he was too naive to want to compete with court officials and the aristocratic families that had been passed down for hundreds of years.
Xuan Zhao collected his thoughts and said, "Grandfather will send someone to follow you. I have also written to your third brother again, asking him to go with you instead." He looked at Xuan Jinyu lovingly.
It was as if sour and sweet water were added to bitter water. Xuan Jinyu's heart felt sour, astringent and bitter, and then a slight sweetness enveloped it. She had never experienced such a complicated feeling before.
But she was moved by her family's love and care. Xuan Jinyu could no longer hold back her tears, which fell down. She quickly buried her head between her knees.
Xuan Zhao touched her head again.
Seeing Xuan Jinyu like this, Su Guanzhang felt very uncomfortable, but he dared not do anything or say anything.
The words "Su Guanzhang, I hate you" seemed to have cast a spell on him, making him unable to move.
The jailer's footsteps faded away in the corridor.
Su Guanzhang's eyes were slightly stern. He looked at Xuan Zhao and said, "The Su family's secret guards have not been controlled." He lowered his voice and said, "They will also follow secretly."
However, unless it is absolutely necessary, the Su family's secret guards will never show up, so as to avoid being accused of any false crimes by the emperor.
"Wen Sheng is enough," Xuan Zhao said. He paused, looked toward the flickering torches in the passage, and said in a cold voice, "There's no telling how many eyes will be watching you along the way. If he wants to take action, he'll have to think twice."
…
"If third brother follows us, he won't be able to return to Beijing for at least a year. What will happen to third sister-in-law and Zhi'er?" Xuan Jinyu, who had calmed down, asked Xuan Zhao before he left.
Her third brother Xuan Wensheng was her second brother, born into a prominent family but not interested in officialdom. After passing the imperial examination at the age of eighteen, he gave up literature and went into business.
He was smart since childhood. He turned from a scholar to a businessman. Without relying on his family, he built up a considerable family business on his own.
My third sister-in-law Fang Yuanyuan came from the Fang family, a scholarly family in Anxi Prefecture. She was rescued from bandits by my third brother when he was just 20 years old.
The third brother personally escorted the beautiful woman back home and sent a letter back to Shengjing at full speed, asking his mother to propose marriage on his behalf. Now the two are happily married, and their eldest son, Zhi Ge'er, has just turned two years old.
The two fell in love at first sight, and there was also a sense of friendship between a hero saving a beautiful girl, and they were well matched. After marriage, the third sister-in-law and the third brother had a very good relationship, and the third brother would take his young son with him when he went out to do business.
But exile was very different from their usual business trips of sightseeing, so Xuan Jinyu pursed her lips - if her third brother sent her, then her third sister-in-law and nephew Zhiger would have to stay at home.
Seeing Xuan Zhao turned around but didn't say anything, Xuan Jinyu said again: "Zhi'er is still young and can't leave his father."
Xuan Zhao's eyes were gentle, "It's okay, if your third brother was standing here, he would also take the initiative to ask to go with you."
"Your mother will go talk to your third sister-in-law. She has always been kind to you as her sister-in-law and won't blame you." If anyone really wanted to blame someone, it would only be him, the father-in-law. "Don't think too much, and don't feel burdened, okay?"
Xuan Jinyu knew her father's temper. Once he made up his mind, it was rare for him to change it. She could only nod and agree.
Xuan Zhao looked at his daughter reluctantly. It was getting late, and he had to leave. "If your eldest brother hadn't been busy with work and couldn't leave Shengjing, both of your brothers would have followed."
After all, Xuan Jinyu was the girl they had cherished since she was young. They were heartbroken enough that she was forced to go into exile with the Su family. If they didn't take good care of her, how would they bear it if something went wrong?
Morning next day.
The news that Taifu Lin entered the palace yesterday and used the golden belt bestowed by the late emperor to buy a way out for the Su family has been known to everyone in the court and the country.
The military commanders of the Su family also gave up their insistence on finding out the truth and clearing the Su family's name yesterday. It was obvious that someone had communicated with them.
And who is this person... Sheng Yu, who was sitting on the dragon throne, cast his cold gaze on Master Lin, who was standing at the front of the line of court officials.
"The Su family colluded with the enemy and committed treason. Grand Tutor Lin protected them with a golden belt and commuted the death penalty for three clans to the exile of the entire direct line." He looked down at the ministers, each with a different expression. "My dear ministers, do you have anything else to say?"
Master Lin on the left side of the team did not move, and neither did the civil servants behind him.
The generals held their breath, waiting for someone to speak first.
Soon, Xuan Zhao from the right column came out.
"Your Majesty, my poor daughter is pregnant and not even three months old." Xuan Zhao knelt down. "I beg Your Majesty to grant her permission to return home to recuperate. Once she is pregnant, she can be exiled with the Su family."
Yesterday he stayed in the death row for nearly an hour, and then went to the Taifu Mansion. He didn't go home until late at night.
He must do a good job of what was agreed upon last night.
As soon as Xuan Zhao finished speaking, there was a commotion in the crowd.
Isn't Xuan Zhao's daughter the one who defied the imperial order and refused marriage? I heard she'd rather die with Su Guanzhang than have an abortion and become a concubine in the palace. And...
A courtier in the court who knew about the death row suddenly had his eyelids twitching, and secretly looked up to see Sheng Yu's expression.
But the throne was too high, and they didn't dare look up directly at each other, so they couldn't see anything clearly. They could only sigh inwardly, thinking that the Xuan family girl had truly been spoiled by both families, to the point of even daring to say something like, "If I had wanted to marry him, I wouldn't have disobeyed the emperor's order back then."
How many times can the emperor's face withstand being trampled upon by her?
Seeing the looks of his colleagues, Minister of Justice Liang Fangfang knew that the conversation in the death row had been leaked, and he secretly groaned in his heart.
There was no one else in the death row that day except Master Lin, him and the Su family members who were present. How did the news get out?
Master Lin harmed me!!!
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