Chapter 86: Beheading 5 The supervising official is Xie Wuhen
No one would have thought that Xie Wuhen would come personally to arrest Xie Jin.
There was a huge quarrel in the second house. Wang Yue'e was jumping up and down and cursing, calling Xie Jin a pig-brained and conscienceless person, and calling Xie Wuhen a cold-blooded and ungrateful person.
Xie Shuang was crying loudly, while Xie Wujiang grabbed Xie Wuhen's arm and begged, "Brother, if there's anything, let's talk it over. There must be some misunderstanding."
Then he turned around and shouted, "Father...Father, you said this...this is a misunderstanding, right?"
At this time, Xie Jin was surrounded by officers and could not escape.
His face was pale, his back hunched, and he seemed to have aged ten years in an instant. He said, "Zi Mo, you're still young and naive. Take your sister back to the house first." Then he smiled tiredly and looked at Xie Wuhen: "Zi Yu, is there any room for improvement in this matter?"
Xie Wuhen said in a cold tone, "Uncle, if you had known this would happen, why would you have done it in the first place?"
Xie Jin replied: "For your father's sake, can you..."
Xie Wuhen interrupted sharply, "When my uncle was taking advantage of his position to collude with others to commit evil, did he ever think of my father?"
Xie Jin paused and put away the smile on his face.
He has no special talents in his life. He relies on flattery to keep his job outside, and relies on fawning to gain some attention from his nephew at home. Now he is really tired of laughing and wants to take a break.
He said, "Zi Yu has grown up." Then he stretched out his hands to the officer.
Wu Sheng stepped forward and put the shackle on his wrist without any hesitation.
Wang Yue'e was frightened and burst into tears when she saw this scene. She cried and cursed, "Xie Jin, you miserable thing! Don't you want this family anymore? Don't you want your children anymore?"
He cursed again: "Xie Ziyu, you are so heartless and you will die a miserable death. There is not a single good person in your Xie family..."
Heart-wrenching curses drifted along the courtyard wall to Chunhua Courtyard.
Zhang Xiuhua asked, "Miss, would you like to go to the second house and make some formalities... and persuade the son-in-law?"
Su He shook his head: "No need, so as not to cause him more trouble."
"Will the Second House say something sarcastic then?"
"Now that we've come this far, we're not afraid of any sarcastic remarks."
Chunlan entered the room again and reported: "Miss, the son-in-law has taken the second master away."
Su He asked, "Did the son-in-law tell me when he would be back home?"
Chunlan shook her head: "No, even Wu Sheng ignored me."
Su He said "hmm" and didn't ask any more questions.
Xie Wuhen never returned home, and no one knew where he was staying.
During this time, Xie Wujiang brought his sister Xie Shuang to Chunhuayuan once and pleaded with Su He: "Sister-in-law, please persuade... persuade my brother to spare... spare my father, or... or let us see him. Mother is... already ill, and we siblings can only... come to you for help."
Su He was also helpless: "To be honest, your eldest brother hasn't returned for several days, and I haven't even met him since the incident."
He added, "As the saying goes, a country has its own laws and a family has its own rules. This incident is not groundless. I believe your eldest brother will give your father justice."
Xie Shuang was young and stubborn: "We are not here to listen to your advice. If you are willing to help, then help. If you are not willing to help, there is no need to say this nonsense." After she said that, she turned and left.
Xie Wujiang had no choice but to bow apologetically to Su He and follow his sister.
During this period, Nanny Han also came to convey a message, saying that the old lady had something to say to Su He.
When Su He went to the main courtyard, Xu Nanzhi was leaning on the couch, resting, with a sick look on her face.
The Xie family suffered a series of misfortunes, and her health was getting worse day by day.
Su He entered the room, bowed, and asked, "Is mother all right?"
Xu Nanzhi sighed deeply: "In troubled times, how can things get any better?"
At last, he said with concern: "Don't think too much, just live your own life well."
Su He obediently replied "yes".
Xu Nanzhi got to the point: "I heard that the two children from the second wife came to see you?"
Su He replied: "Yes, but... there is nothing my daughter-in-law can do."
Xu Nanzhi asked tentatively, "Ziyu really hasn't come back these days?"
"I really haven't been back."
"This brat is capable of doing it."
"Perhaps my husband wants to concentrate on the case and doesn't want to be disturbed?"
Xu Nanzhi hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke: "Zi Yu always listens to you. How about... you go to the Dali Temple and look for him?"
Su He asked, "What does mother want her daughter-in-law to do with him?"
"Can you persuade him to spare the Second Master? After all, he's his uncle, a blood relative who's still connected to him even if his bones are broken."
"What if my uncle has committed the unforgivable sin?"
Xu Nanzhi glared at him with disdain. "At my age, I've seen through it all. Which high-ranking official in this city doesn't have some trouble? And which official can guarantee that his family is aboveboard and innocent? Isn't the officialdom all about looking out for each other and covering up for each other? If Ziyu wanted to save his uncle, he would definitely find a way."
Su He took a deep breath and remained silent for a long time.
Xu Nanzhi had indeed lived to an old age, but she was also confused and could not tell right from wrong. Not only could she not help her son, but she also found ways to hinder her son and stir up trouble, causing unrest in the family.
But she is the elder, so Su He has to show her some mercy.
She smiled slightly and said, "Then the daughter-in-law will go to the Dali Temple tomorrow to see if she can see her husband."
Xu Nanzhi heaved a sigh of relief when she heard this, "Shuli is still considerate."
Then he ordered Nanny Chao: "Take out my gold and jade hairpin and give it to Shuli."
Nanny Han regained her smiling face and said, "I knew that the old lady wanted to leave this hairpin for the young lady." Then she went to the inner room to get the hairpin.
In just a moment, she brought a brocade box and opened the lid. Inside was indeed a delicately crafted gold-studded and white jade hairpin.
Xu Nanzhi took out the hairpin and waved to Su He: "Come closer."
Su He moved closer to her as she was told.
Xu Nanzhi raised her hand and inserted the hairpin into her hair. "This is something my mother left me. The style is a bit old-fashioned, so please don't dislike it."
Su He replied respectfully: "My daughter-in-law is grateful to me, so how could she dislike me?"
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted for a while before Su He stood up and said goodbye.
On the way back, Chunlan looked at the hairpin in Su He's hair and admired it: "The style is indeed a bit old-fashioned, but the material is high-quality. You can tell at a glance that it is of great value."
Su He took off the hairpin and put it in her hand: "Take it to the warehouse and keep it."
Chunlan was puzzled: "Why didn't the young lady accept it?"
She replied: "I don't want to owe the Xie family too much."
Chunlan asked again, "Miss, are you really going to the Dali Temple to look for your son-in-law tomorrow?"
Su He thought for a moment and said, "Let's just go out and pretend. As for whether I went to the Dali Temple or not, the old lady won't know anyway."
After breakfast the next day, Su He indeed left the house in a carriage.
After a stroll around the market, he came back and sent Zhang Xiuhua to the main courtyard to tell her that he had made a wasted trip and had not met his son-in-law.
Xu Nanzhi couldn't help but sigh a few times, and there was nothing she could do.
Su He then asked Chunlan to go to the warehouse to pick out a few old ginsengs and send them to the second room. After all, Wang Yue'e was sick, and she had to show her concern.
Wang Yue'e, however, refused to accept the offer. Even though she was ill, she forced herself out of bed and kicked Chunlan out of the room, yelling, "Don't be so sympathetic here. I won't fall for it."
She added, "Even if I die of illness, I still don't need these black old ginsengs from you." After she said that, she slammed the door shut.
Su He understood her reaction. Who wouldn't feel emotional when encountering such a thing?
Chunlan asked, "Why hasn't your son-in-law come back yet?"
Su He looked at the sky outside and sighed secretly: "What am I going to do when I come back? Instead, I have to face all these troubles."
The sky outside was gloomy, with cool breezes blowing, and the summer heat gradually subsided.
The old locust tree in the yard dropped leaves all over the ground last night, and the maids are cleaning it carefully.
It was already autumn, and she didn't have much time left.
She had no idea how Xie Wuhen would eventually deal with his uncle.
Xie Wuhen hasn't returned for half a month.
During this time, Wu Sheng returned to Chunhua Courtyard, specifically to bring some clothes for his mistress, and also to pass on a message: "The boss said that he will be back after this busy period. I hope the young lady will not be offended."
While sorting his clothes, Su He asked, "How long will it take to finish this busy period?"
Wu Sheng said with a bitter face: "This... I don't know either."
Chunlan couldn't help but interject, "It's just a trial, how come you're so busy that you don't even have time to go home?"
Wu Sheng sighed: "Miss Chunlan, you don't understand."
Then he lowered his voice and said, "In a few days, I'm afraid the situation will change drastically."
Su He paused: "How to change the situation?"
"I'm not in a position to say much. The young lady will know when the time comes." After saying this, Wu Sheng took a bag of clothes from his master and ran out of the house.
Su He looked at the empty doorway and suddenly thought of the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace...
Her prediction turned out to be correct. Two days later, the emperor announced to the world that Crown Prince Zhao Che was expelled from the palace and demoted to a commoner for privately casting weapons and armor and plotting against his will.
The Dali Temple then announced a list of people involved in iron trafficking in the city. In addition to more than ten high-ranking officials, there was also the deceased imperial merchant Du Yuting and the city gate officer Xie Jin. All of them were executed immediately, and the Du family's house was confiscated.
There was an uproar in the court and the country, and everyone was talking about it.
In teahouses and taverns, people gathered together and couldn't help but gossip.
"The Crown Prince has been deposed, and I wonder who the new Crown Prince will be?"
"The Second Prince is very popular now, isn't he?"
"Royal affairs are like the weather; one moment it's one way, the next it's another. Who can predict it?"
"It's a pity for Mr. Xie. He seems like a very kind person, but I didn't expect he has such a side to him."
"Fortunately, the Xie family has the support of the eldest branch, otherwise the entire Xie family would probably be finished."
At this time in the palace, the prince had been driven out of the East Palace by the guards.
Filled with resentment, he stumbled along the corridor outside the East Palace, pointing at the palace guards and shouting, "Remember this, I will come back. I will definitely come back."
At this moment, in Weiyang Palace, the Empress was kneeling on the ground, begging bitterly, "Your Majesty, Che'er was also bewitched by the treacherous people and acted this way. Considering his past filial piety, can you please spare him this time? Can you at least let him retain his status as a prince?"
The emperor remained unmoved and looked at her coldly: "He's already forging armor and plotting rebellion, and you still say he's filial?"
The Queen burst into tears: "Che'er has never been careless in all these years as the Crown Prince. Changle Palace is watching him, the court officials are watching him, it is inevitable that he was at a loss and lost his mind for a moment. He is your son, Your Majesty. Please, Your Majesty, forgive him, please forgive him."
The emperor took a deep breath and looked into the void before him, as if gazing at the passing years. "Ming Hui, you asked me to spare Che'er, but did you ever consider sparing Duofu and her unborn child?"
The Queen was startled when she heard this and whispered, "Your Highness...I don't understand what you are saying."
The emperor sneered, then sighed, his words colder than ice: "I am able to preserve your position as queen, which is already my greatest mercy."
The implication was that if he wanted to destroy her, it was not impossible.
The queen's chest suddenly tightened and she dared not plead anymore.
At this time in Changle Palace, Concubine Shu and her son Zhao Bo were toasting to celebrate.
Once the crown prince falls, the next candidate for the heir apparent will inevitably fall on the second prince Zhao Bo.
Concubine Shu was already a little tipsy: "My son no longer needs to go to the fiefdom, and my heart is finally at ease."
Zhao Bo scooped two spoonfuls of egg custard for Concubine Shu and said with concern: "Mother, you should drink less alcohol and eat more vegetables."
Concubine Shu's face flushed: "I'm happy today, so this is an exception." After saying that, she raised her head and took another sip of wine.
Zhao Bo was still worried: "Although my father deposed my eldest brother, he did not make me the crown prince."
Concubine Shu smiled, her smile full of pride: "Don't worry, your father told me a long time ago that he hopes you can inherit the foundation. The position of crown prince must belong to my son."
Zhao Bo added, "But now the Queen has a fifth prince."
Concubine Shu waved her hand nonchalantly: "He's just a brat. We'll have plenty of ways to deal with him when the time comes."
Outside the palace, the Du family was ransacked.
All the valuables accumulated by Du Yuting during his lifetime were confiscated, and Liu's wails echoed throughout the two streets.
The beheading of Xie Jin and others will also be carried out at Caishikou.
And the executioner was Xie Wuhen!
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