Xue Shen chuckled noncommittally and said, "If he won't sign, fine. Just spread the news that the Xu family colluded with the Tibetans and massacred thousands of people in Fangjia Village. Once public anger reaches its peak, we can kill him."
Pang Lai understood his intention. Xu Qiao was stubborn and wouldn't be easy to force into confessing and signing a confession. But if they waited for the court to learn of the arrival of their messengers, given Xue Shen's poor relationship with the Emperor, the court would most likely protect the Xu family. Rather than that, it was better to act quickly and decisively, executing first and reporting later.
The people of the Northwest are known for their fierce and ruthless nature. If the evil deeds of the Xu family are spread, public resentment will surely boil over. At that time, Xue Shen will not need to wait for him to confess and sign a confession. He can simply report to the court that he had to execute the Xu family first and report later in order to quell public anger.
Even though Emperor Cheng'an was dissatisfied, he could do nothing about it.
"Leave this matter to me, I will definitely do it well!" As soon as Yuan Ye heard that there was a task, he immediately volunteered.
He was young and lively. He used to follow Pang Lai and work secretly for Xue Shen, which was incredibly frustrating. Now that he could finally show his face in public, he eagerly volunteered to do everything.
"This kid!" Pang Lai shook his head and chuckled, not bothering to argue with him: "Do it well."
Yuan Ye said in a loud voice, "I understand!"
As she spoke, her eyes inadvertently swept over Xue Shen, and then she noticed the teeth marks on the back of Xue Shen's hand, and asked in surprise, "How did Your Highness get these injuries on your hand?"
He scratched his head, unable to understand who would be so audacious as to bite their prince.
Upon hearing this, Pang Lai immediately stopped laughing and glared at him fiercely: "I told you you should find a wife sooner so your family can have an heir."
Yuan Ye was baffled: "Why are we bringing this up again? I'd like to look for it, but I don't have the time."
Pang Lai rolled his eyes at him, too lazy to bother with this clueless guy.
As a result, Yuan Ye, oblivious to the danger, pressed on, saying, "Wow, this guy is really audacious."
Xue Shen glanced at the still-visible teeth marks on the back of his hand, offered no explanation, and smiled slightly, saying, "It was a cat bite."
Yuan Ye was even more puzzled, craning his neck to take a closer look: "These don't look like cat teeth marks at all?"
Pang Lai, unable to bear his stupid talk any longer, kicked him in the butt and yelled, "You're always asking so many questions! Have you finished your errands? What are you doing here idly? Get back to work!"
Yuan Ye was scolded without understanding why. Seeing his godfather's murderous expression, he had no choice but to stop and quickly slip away.
After everyone left, Pang Laicai said, "He's single-minded and has no sense of propriety."
Xue Shen didn't seem to mind, and even joked, "We really need to arrange a marriage for him."
*
After Xue Shen went to the government office, Shen Youying had nothing to do, so she decided to go out for a stroll.
Now that the city was pacified and there was no danger, she took Bai Luo Liuyun and two guards and prepared to go out.
However, as soon as Shen Youying got off the carriage on the street, she was stopped by someone.
Madam Xu, along with Madam Xu and two unfamiliar women, knelt before Shen Youying, weeping and pleading, "Your Highness, we were blind and offended you. We beg you to show mercy and ask Prince Qin to spare our lives. If Your Highness is still angry, we will serve you like cattle and horses!"
Their kneeling and commotion immediately drew the attention of the surrounding people, who turned to look with curiosity.
The people of the city naturally recognized the Xu family, mother and daughter. This mother and daughter had often acted arrogantly and domineeringly in the city, looking down on everyone. The people of the city had never seen them in such a disheveled state.
As for the "princess" they were calling out, that only fueled more curiosity.
They all knew that a Prince of Qin had come to Xizhou, and that he had brought a pregnant mistress with him, but they knew nothing about a princess.
Suddenly, the vendors stopped shouting, and the buyers stopped haggling. They all stopped what they were doing and craned their necks to look at the bustling center.
Shen Youying frowned slightly, protected by two guards behind her.
She still recognized the Xu family mother and daughter, but she couldn't understand why they were blocking her on the street. Moreover, judging from their tone, it seemed that they thought the Xu family's misfortune was because they had offended her before, and that she had whispered in Xue Shen's ear, which was why Xue Shen had taken action against the Xu family.
Shen Youying understood this and was both amused and exasperated.
She looked down at the two of them and said slowly, "The Xu family has committed treason and collusion with the enemy, and the evidence is conclusive. Your Highness is merely arresting the traitors in accordance with the law, and the future punishment will also be in accordance with the laws of the Great Wei. Madam Xu's words sound like you are saying that Your Highness is settling a personal score."
Xu's mother was taken aback, not expecting her to react so quickly, immediately realizing her intention and saying it in a few words.
She came today not to plead with Shen Youying, but rather, at her husband's behest, to spread the news that "the Prince of Qin has framed a court official to settle a personal score for his wife."
All the men of the Xu family have been imprisoned, but the women have not yet been affected. Today, after much pleading, she finally saw her husband under the pretext of delivering clothes. Her husband said that as long as the rumor that "the Prince of Qin used his position to settle personal scores and frame an official of the court" is confirmed in the streets and the matter is publicized and made public, attracting the imperial censors to thoroughly investigate the case, the Xu family will still have a way to survive.
So after learning that Shen Youying had gone out, she brought her daughter and two daughters-in-law to block her on the busy street.
Even her unusually disheveled appearance today was something she deliberately put on.
But to her surprise, Shen Youying was not as delicate, weak, and stupid as she had appeared before; she saw through her scheme immediately.
Madam Xu paused, her expression becoming somewhat flustered. After a long while, she stammered, "The Xu family has guarded the border for two generations, serving the country with utmost loyalty. How could we have done something as beastly as colluding with the enemy and betraying the country? We must have been wronged."
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