Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Jinyu, Mommy will take you home
"I have granted Minister Xuan's request." Sheng Yu's usually clear voice carried a subtle hint of sinister intent. "I intend to exile the Su family to Guangxu Prefecture. Do you have any objections?"
Guangxu Mansion?
Liang Fangfang's heart moved, and she secretly glanced at Lin Ren in front of her.
Guangxu Prefecture was a place full of miasma and suffering for the people. Apart from a few impoverished indigenous people who had been struggling to survive for generations because they could not leave, the rest were prisoners exiled there over the centuries after the founding of the Dasheng Dynasty. In total, the population of such a large place was less than a thousand.
That was a place that even the most vicious bandits were unwilling to pass by. How could the new emperor exile the Su family there?
Was it because of what the Xuan family girl said that completely angered the person above?
He thought to himself that since ancient times, people who were exiled to Guangxu Prefecture either died on the way due to the hardships of the journey, or were dying when they arrived at Guangxu Prefecture but were killed by the miasma that entered their bodies.
The girl from the Xuan family has been spoiled since she was young and is pregnant. Even if someone takes care of her on the way and she gives birth to the child alive, she will probably die when she arrives at Guangxu Mansion.
The emperor was truly heartless. Since the girl he loved didn't want to fulfill his wishes, he wanted to send her to death.
Liang Fangfang looked at Master Lin's back and sighed inwardly, "It's so pitiful for an old man to send off a young man." Thinking of this, his heart softened for a moment. Why not just let it go, Master Lin's secret plot to harm him?
The Minister of Justice was thinking to himself and sighing secretly. In the silence of the hall, Taifu Lin was the first to kneel down and said, "Your Majesty is wise." He agreed with the new emperor's decision to set Guangxu Prefecture as the place of exile.
When Lin Ren knelt, a group of people followed suit.
The remaining civil and military officials who were still standing were a minority. After looking at each other for a moment, they also knelt down and called out "Your Majesty is wise and holy."
That's all.
Even if they felt that exile to such a miserable place was inappropriate, the Su, Xuan and Lin families had nothing to do with them anyway. So many people had agreed, so why should they be the first to speak out?
The most important thing is that those who knelt down before them were all court officials from these three families. These people are not in a hurry, so why should they be in a hurry?
Furthermore.
Some people recalled the noisy court meeting yesterday, and looking at the position in the team that originally belonged to the Minister of Works but was now vacant, they still felt sad.
The Minister of Works is over 70 years old. Although he fainted and fell yesterday and was helped up in time by the assistant minister beside him and did not hit his head, the old man was tired and hungry, and his emotions were fluctuating. News came out last night that the Minister of Works' mansion might have to hold a funeral.
Even though they had thousands of thoughts in their minds, the ministers lowered their heads and respectfully catered to the emperor, with no expression on their faces.
Sheng Yu saw the situation clearly, feeling suffocated, and clenched the jade ring in his hand.
Yesterday evening, Taifu Lin suggested that the court officials discuss the place of exile for the Su family, but he outwitted him and decided the location himself.
I had thought I could win back a victory against this old fox and demonstrate my imperial power, but I hadn't expected him to agree so quickly. Could it be that they had anticipated the exile? Did they already have a plan?
Sheng Yu felt depressed and was silent for a long time.
The kneeling court officials did not hear the emperor's call for a long time, so they knew that the emperor was in a bad mood at the moment. For a moment, you could hear a pin drop in the hall.
The palace maids and eunuchs standing by held their breath, fearing that any carelessness would bring disaster upon themselves.
Even Eunuch Wu, who had served Shengyu for many years, did not dare to be arrogant after what happened yesterday - after all, in the emperor's heart, he was probably no different from an ordinary palace maid or eunuch.
Sheng Yu stared coldly at Master Lin for a long time before slowly exhaling, "Gentlemen, please stand."
After all the court officials were seated, he said slowly, "If you have anything to say, please proceed. If not, please dismiss the court."
Eunuch Wu repeated the emperor's words loudly.
The officials in the two rows on the left and right exchanged glances, and the Minister of the Imperial Household stepped out and knelt, "Your Majesty, I have an important matter to report."
…
Xuan Zhao stood steadily in the queue with a calm expression on his face, but he was actually absent-minded for a long time. He didn't hear a word that the Minister of the Ministry of Finance said - it was the first time for him to be distracted during the morning court.
He was still thinking about what had just happened.
He was indeed exiled to Guangxu Prefecture.
No one knew that when he heard the name of this place from the new emperor's mouth, the tension in his heart instantly dissipated and he felt a little relieved.
Su Guanzhang guessed it right.
Last night, before he left, Su Guanzhang stopped him and said that exile wouldn't necessarily mean three thousand miles. The new emperor must want them to die outside, and there's a good chance they'll be sent further south, like Guangxu Prefecture, where miasma is rampant.
But it doesn't matter. As long as they leave the capital and wait until Xuan Jinyu gives birth, the Su family, especially Su Guanzhang, will have fewer concerns.
"It doesn't matter where we choose to exile. As long as we go to the counties we've agreed on before in October, when the child is nine months old," said Su Guanzhang.
It was said that pregnancy lasted ten months, so if Jinyu was nine months pregnant, she wouldn't be able to travel anymore and would need to find a place to settle down and wait for the birth. Furthermore, there was a chance the child might be born prematurely, so they needed to make preparations early.
Guangxu Prefecture was further south of Huaizhao County. According to their walking speed, when they were about to stop in October, they would be in Huaizhao County.
Although October and November belong to winter according to the four seasons, they are actually the end of summer from the perspective of the climate in Huaizhao County.
Moreover, the summer in Huaizhao County at that time was not like the summer in the north and south, which was either scorching hot or unbearably humid. Instead, it was cool and moist. This kind of weather was just right for Jinyu to give birth and recuperate after childbirth.
Xuan Zhao was just thinking about it when the leader called him, "Minister Xuan, today, you should take your daughter home!"
When his name was called while he was lost in thought, his body instinctively stiffened, but soon relaxed. After listening to the new emperor's words, he bowed respectfully, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"
After the court was dismissed, Xuan Zhao still had to work and could not return home, so he sent someone to deliver a message to Lin Qingwan, asking her to go and bring her daughter home. At the same time, he went to find his eldest son, Xuan Wenwei, and said, "Take a leave of absence and accompany your mother to the Ministry of Justice to bring your sister home. Be careful not to let her get hurt."
Xuan Wenwei knew his sister was pregnant and nodded solemnly, "Don't worry, father. I will bring my sister home safely."
Ministry of Justice death row.
The sound of rollers was heard again in the passage. Xuan Jinyu looked towards the other end and saw the jailer who usually guarded them there pushing a cart and replacing the torches one by one.
This is the third time we have changed torches today.
It is now noon and time is passing so slowly.
Xuan Jinyu listened absentmindedly to the story Tong Jie'er told her.
Ever since Su Guanzhang revealed yesterday that he didn't want the baby in her womb, she had broken off relations with him, refusing to speak to him or allow him to touch her. Even when their eyes accidentally met, she would quickly look away.
In the small cell with only the two of them, their hearts seemed to be so close yet so far away.
Last night, Xuan Jinyu slept in a bed covered with a soft quilt, while Su Guanzhang rested hastily on the hay outside the curtain, only taking off his outer robe to cover his body.
The weather in March was already quite warm, and Su Guanzhang was not afraid of the cold, so he should not be freezing. But she was still irritable, and with her back to the curtain, she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep for a long time.
She wanted to harden her heart, but she found herself still soft-hearted. Thinking back to when she was young, she went to the village to accompany her master, and she often said to herself: "The one who falls in love first is destined to be hurt more severely", she despised herself even more.
Xuan Jinyu, you are such a loser. She opened her eyes and gently stroked her still flat belly, her tears wetting the pillowcase.
When dawn broke, she still hadn't slept enough, so she forced herself to get up, wash up, and eat. The day was long, and in this small space, she didn't know what to do.
Su Guanzhang would usually say a few words in the past, but today he didn't utter a single word.
Xuan Jinyu became more and more annoyed.
The cells where Old Madam Su, Xu Yu Niang, Xu Xuan Niang and Su Yutong were located were the closest to them and the most convenient for talking.
Seeing that the relationship between the couple was as cold as ice, the three adults took the well-behaved and clever Tong Jie'er and sat with her for the whole morning.
Xuan Jinyu was listless and couldn't muster up any energy, but the old lady, mother-in-law and elder sister-in-law were either talking about precautions during pregnancy or interesting things that happened during pregnancy, which finally made her listen to them.
As for Su Guanzhang, he was very tactful and acted as an invisible person throughout the morning. He didn't bother her, but he always handed her warm water or a warm handkerchief when she needed it.
She let out a deep breath, wanting to scold this man without hesitation, or even better, to have him beaten up. It was better than the feeling of being in such a state of confusion and unable to process her breath.
"It's time for a nap."
Madam Su knew that Xuan Jinyu hadn't slept well last night, so she wanted to let her rest. She took Tong Jie'er into her arms and patted her head. "Can you tell your story to your aunt next time? Your aunt is pregnant with a brother or sister, and she's very tired. Let her go to sleep, okay?"
Tong Jieer nodded obediently and said to Xuan Jinyu, "Auntie, I'll tell you a story after you wake up!"
Xuan Jinyu's expression softened as she faced her. "Okay, little auntie will wait for Sister Tong to tell her story."
"Pink pinky promise." She reached out to the cell opposite and hooked the little finger of the child's right hand.
Tong Jie'er was so amused that she laughed out loud and threw herself into her great-grandmother's arms and rubbed against her again and again.
At this moment, before Xuan Jinyu stood up, the jailer brought Lin Qingwan and Xuan Wenwei.
"Jinyu."
"younger sister."
Xuan Jinyu slowly stood up, "Mom, big brother."
Lin Qingwan and Xuan Wenwei exchanged simple greetings with the Su family. Lin Qingwan looked at her son-in-law, Su Guanzhang, who looked much more haggard after meeting her the day before, and said, "His Majesty has agreed to let Jinyu return home to recuperate. She will leave with you once she is pregnant."
"Jinyu, mother is here to take you home." Last night, when Xuan Zhao returned home to rest, he told her about the breakup between his daughter and son-in-law in prison. She resisted the urge to look at Su Guanzhang and just called her daughter softly.
Su Guanzhang had good considerations for his daughter, but he ignored her feelings and made her sad, so she began to vent her anger on him.
In the end, no matter what choice her daughter makes, she will support her unconditionally, even though she knows that her daughter has chosen a very difficult and dangerous path.
The jailer opened the cell door and let Xuan Jinyu out.
The iron chains, iron cables and iron fences collided with each other, making a harsh sound.
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