Inside the Golden Palace, Minister Su's court tablet slid three times across his palm.
When Yin Jiuxiao's gaze swept over the civil official's ranks for the third time, the back of this veteran of three dynasties was already soaked with sweat.
He stared at his trembling fingertips, still covered with the incense ash he had offered to his ancestors before leaving home that morning.
"Your Majesty! Your subject... Your subject has a memorial to present."
His voice was hoarser than expected. When Minister Su knelt down with a thud, he heard his colleagues around him gasp.
Kneeling so hard, are you going to ruin your knees?
"speak."
Knowing what Minister Su was going to say, Yin Jiuxiao's voice was unusually calm.
Minister Su looked up and saw the young emperor fiddling with the crooked, bright yellow sachet at his waist, a slight smile even playing on his lips.
"This old minister...this old minister is old and senile, and humbly begs Your Majesty to grant me...the permission to retire and return to my hometown!"
Minister Su lay prostrate on the ground, suddenly recalling that twenty years ago his father had also wanted to retire and return to his hometown, but the late emperor had given him a cup of poisoned wine, and he had no further thoughts.
It's unknown what punishment he will receive.
"Approved."
Minister Su suddenly looked up.
"You are granted a fief of three hundred households, and are permitted to return to your hometown in a comfortable carriage."
"Since there are no able-bodied men in your household, and your son has already repented, let him accompany you to serve you."
Yin Jiuxiao let Minister Su off so easily.
The entire court was in an uproar over the emperor's unusual behavior.
*
When Minister Su helped his wife out of the carriage, the head of the village was already kneeling by the roadside in fear.
The old woman clutched her husband's sleeve, her knuckles turning white: "Master, Dan'er, she..."
"Go in first."
Minister Su patted his wife's hand, his voice stronger than usual.
When the door to the woodshed was pushed open, Su Ruofan was curled up on a pile of hay.
"Father! Has my elder sister returned?"
The teenager had only been locked up for three days, and stubble had already appeared on his chin. When he saw his parents come in, he was stunned at first, and then he rushed to the door and asked in a hoarse voice.
"Pack your things, we're going back to our hometown in Qingzhou."
Minister Su interrupted him coldly.
"What about my sister?!"
Su Ruofan was struck dumb.
Looking at her youngest son and her eldest daughter, whose fate was unknown, the old woman finally couldn't help but sob.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is really willing to let us go so easily?"
Minister Su silently took out the bright yellow imperial edict from his bosom. After Su Ruofan read the contents, his face turned deathly pale.
What about my older sister?
The imperial edict made no mention of the elder sister!
"Your sister's affairs are no longer something we can handle!"
"Have you forgotten everything?! What your older sister did in prison?!"
"If we don't leave now... the entire Su family will perish here!"
Minister Su suddenly coughed, staining his cuffs with dark red, and lowered his voice.
This was all information that His Majesty's secret guards came to tell him.
He never expected that Dan, who was so spoiled and naive, would be so foolish as to betray them in front of the organization's people, bringing trouble to the family!
Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves came from outside the courtyard.
Minister Su suddenly pulled his son to the window, where he saw a troop of armored cavalry lingering near the poplar grove on the path outside the manor.
"See that? His Majesty came to protect us for our safety!"
Do you think the Slaying Monarch Pavilion will let what your elder sister did go unpunished?
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