Chapter 265 Dark Clouds Overhead
At this moment, the atmosphere in Duke Wen's Mansion was equally solemn and suffocating.
Although Liu Bingwen only has one arm left, the majesty he has accumulated over the years still remains.
He sat upright on the main seat, his one arm tightly gripping the armrest, his knuckles turning white from the exertion.
The news about his granddaughter's evil deeds in the suburbs and her collision with the Imperial Noble Consort in Linglong Pavilion and her public punishment almost made him burst into curses.
He rubbed his throbbing temples, his heart surging with rage and deep powerlessness.
This granddaughter was born with a facial defect, so she is extremely sensitive and paranoid.
Everyone in the house, especially her foolish mother Zhang, doted on her and indulged her in everything, and actually allowed her to become such a lawless person who regarded human life as worthless!
Not to mention that they were the Imperial Noble Consort's maternal grandfather's family and the in-laws of the Minister of Revenue, even if they were ordinary commoners, how could they allow her to humiliate and trample on them so wantonly?!
"What misfortune for our family! What misfortune for our family! What a misfortune for our family!"
Liu Bingwen slammed his palm on the rosewood table, causing the cups and plates to jump around. He slammed his palm three times, his voice filled with grief and anger.
Liu Zixuan's father, Liu Jingci, also had a dark face.
He glared fiercely at his first wife, Zhang, who was already pale with fear and could only wipe away tears.
Then he turned to his father and cautiously probed, "Father, things have come to this point, and public opinion is overwhelming. Should we... immediately submit a petition to the palace and petition the Emperor for forgiveness? After all... after all, you back then..."
"Confused!"
Liu Bingwen interrupted his son harshly, his eyes as sharp as a knife.
"Enter the palace? Of course I must! But not now! And certainly not to plead for that evil creature! I must go and apologize to the Emperor! I must do so with my head held high!"
His voice was filled with unquestionable determination.
"The Liu family's reputation for loyalty and bravery, the little favor I, Liu Bingwen, earned by sacrificing my arm, is almost ruined by this evil creature!"
When Zhang heard the word "apologize," and thought of her daughter suffering in the snow and being sent to the authorities, her heart ached. She couldn't help but want to plead, "Father, Xuan'er..."
"shut up!"
Seeing that his father's face became even gloomier, Liu Jingci immediately scolded his wife.
"A loving mother often spoils her child! If you hadn't been so indulgent all the time, how could she have gotten into such a disaster?"
After being yelled at by her husband and fearing her father-in-law's authority, Zhang had to swallow her pleading words and sob.
Luo Shuxian, who had been sitting silently at the bottom, kept his eyes down and remained silent since he entered Duke Wen's mansion and recounted his wife's evil deeds and the consequences.
He just stared quietly at the cup of tea that had already gone cold on the table in front of him.
The tea is the best Junshan Yinzhen. The clear tea soup in the fine white porcelain cup is like solidified amber in the early morning sun, crystal clear and pure without any dust.
The color of this tea soup is very similar to the eyes deep in my memory.
The clear, bright, and innocent smile that seemed to show ignorance of the world had once made his heart beat fast.
They had discussed marriage and almost became husband and wife.
If Liu Zixuan hadn't taken a liking to him during his Jinshi exam parade, and hadn't resorted to such despicable tactics, even resorting to the power of the Duke Wen's Mansion to force him to break up his marriage with the Wen family...
Perhaps, that pure and innocent smile already belongs to him.
Liu Zixuan ruined his life and even the beautiful thoughts in his heart.
Now, she actually dared to provoke her? To bully her loved ones?
As Luo Shuxian looked at the tea, a hint of extremely sinister coldness flashed across his eyes, so fast that it was impossible to catch.
When she looked up again, he had regained his usual gentle and elegant demeanor, like the breeze and bright moon.
He stood up and bowed deeply to Liu Bingwen at the top of the table, his voice clear and calm.
"Grandfather, father-in-law, I, your son-in-law, believe that now that things have come to this, any pleading or defense is futile and will only add fuel to the fire. The only way to protect our two families' chances of survival is to 'put ourselves in a desperate situation and then live again.'"
Liu Bingwen's eyes narrowed. "Oh? What do you think, Shuxian?"
Luo Shuxian stood up straight, his tone steady but every word weighing a lot.
"I, your son-in-law, would like to boldly suggest that my Luo and Liu families, led by you personally, should go to the Wen Mansion with generous gifts and a long kneeling apology, without exception!"
"What did you say?!"
Zhang's sharp voice suddenly rose, like a cat whose tail was stepped on, her face full of disbelief and resistance.
"Kneeling? In front of the Wen family's door?! Luo Shuxian! Are you crazy? That's your first wife! How can you be so cruel that you want our entire family to lose face like this?!"
Luo Shuxian's expression did not change at all, as if Zhang's scream was just a breeze blowing across his face.
He turned to Liu Bingwen with a calm look and continued to state the facts.
"Mother-in-law, please calm down. Please forgive me for speaking frankly."
"In the current situation, neither the Luo family nor the Liu family can compare to the Wen family, which is at its peak."
"The eldest lady of our Luo family forced the Imperial Noble Consort's grandmother, who was over 70 years old, to kneel and kowtow in the snow and ice and suffer humiliation. This single act is enough to cause all officials from our two families to resign and never be reappointed!"
"What's more, public outrage is boiling over and public opinion is surging."
"If I can't seek the Wen family's help and Old Madam Liang's forgiveness with the utmost sincerity and the lowest attitude, I'm afraid that not only will our two families lose their official positions, but we will also become rats crossing the street in the capital, everyone will shout and beat us, and we will no longer have a place to stand!"
These words were like a drop of cold water on one's head, leaving the furious Zhang speechless and making Liu Jingci's face even more gloomy.
Liu Bingwen was silent, the fingers of his one arm tapping the armrest unconsciously.
He looked at his grandson-in-law with complicated eyes.
Luo Shuxian's proposal seems extremely humiliating, but it is also the best solution.
He took a deep breath and made the final decision:
"What Shuxian said is the wise way of governing a country! I respectfully say goodbye. Go and prepare the gifts immediately! Take out all the valuable treasures, medicinal herbs, and brocades in the treasury! Everyone in the mansion, follow me to the Wen Mansion to confess my crime!"
Even though Mrs. Lin was extremely reluctant and felt sorry for her daughter, under the pressure of her father-in-law, she could only follow her husband in tears to make preparations.
Luo Shuxian bowed again, his attitude respectful. "Grandfather is very understanding. I will return home, gather my family, prepare generous gifts, and then reunite with you to go to the Wen Mansion to apologize."
Liu Bingwen waved his one arm tiredly.
"Go ahead, and move quickly."
Luo Shuxian bowed again, turned around and strode away.
The moment he turned around, the suppressed sinisterness and the indescribable, almost liberated coldness in his eyes were finally no longer concealed.
After this incident, he was able to be free.
…
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