Chapter 79 Provocation
In the sweltering heat of midsummer, the streets of Yongningfang were often filled with the carriages of high-ranking officials and dignitaries, making Xie Huaijin's courtyard completely congested.
Six months later, the emperor still promoted Xie Huaijin's official position, appointing him as a censor in the Secretariat.
Such a young, strong, handsome, and promising single man naturally attracted many families eager to arrange marriages for him.
Unfortunately, Xie Huaijin refused to see guests, leaving all the visitors who came to his door turned away.
As evening fell, Madam Su ordered someone to light a lantern and quietly came to the outside of the study. Her slender hand paused on the door, and after hesitating for a moment, she gently knocked twice.
Inside the room, Xie Huaijin heard the noise and subconsciously put down the letter he was reading, moved a book next to him to cover it, and then got up to open the door.
"Mother, what's wrong?"
“This morning you asked me if I would like to move to another place. I’ve thought about it carefully. As long as my son and I are together, no matter how hard life is, we’ve been through it before.”
As soon as Madam Su entered, the maid behind her stepped back to a distance. Xie Huaijin helped her sit down and poured her a cup of tea.
Madam Su put down her teacup, looked at him, and said, "We've survived such hard times before, what else is there to be afraid of?"
Xie Huaijin smiled slightly, "I only said I was leaving Chang'an. How would Mother know it was to live a hard life? Maybe it's to enjoy a life of leisure in Jiangnan."
“If we were going to a good place, why would you ask my opinion? Besides, no one knows a son better than his mother. Although you have been promoted these past few days, you are always worried and can’t even eat…” Madam Su gently held his hand. “Sanlang, tell your mother, what exactly happened?”
Xie Huaijin pursed his lips and remained silent for a long time.
"You're unwilling to talk about it, it seems this matter is quite serious," Su Niangzi probed.
Xie Huaijin shook his head. "It's alright, Mother. I'll handle everything."
After saying this, he summoned the maids outside the courtyard and told them to take Lady Su back to rest.
Returning to his desk, Xie Huaijin reread the letters, unfolded the folded document, and began to write.
If he is destined to pay the price for the sins committed by the Xie family, then he will not let any of the Xie family's accomplices go unpunished.
He had already prepared for the worst. His mother had no official status in the Xie family, so she wouldn't be implicated during the purge. If he couldn't escape death, he would have his maids and guards escort his mother to Wujiang, her hometown.
I didn't sleep a wink all night.
Before dawn, Xie Huaijin put on a black robe and left Yongningfang.
The commander of the Tiansheng Army had already led more than a hundred men to wait in a dark alley outside the West Market. When Xie Huaijin rode up, he stepped forward and bowed to greet him.
Xie Huaijin said in a deep voice, "Enough of the small talk. It's almost dawn. You all must immediately follow me to search Fuhua Tower and obtain evidence before the court session ends."
The commander glanced at him and replied, "Understood."
The doors of Fuhua Tower were broken open by government soldiers. Before the manager inside could even regain his senses, the soldiers who had stormed in had already begun a thorough search.
The shopkeeper hurriedly threw on his coat and ran downstairs, exclaiming, "Who are you people?!"
Xie Huaijin stepped forward with a half-smile and showed him the warrant, saying, "I am ordered to investigate the case, please cooperate, shopkeeper."
The shopkeeper was well aware of Xie Huaijin's identity. His eyes widened, and he stared blankly for a long time before he remembered to wink at the servants who had followed him down.
Xie Huaijin's eyes turned cold, and he raised his left hand. Immediately, soldiers detained the servant who was trying to climb out of the window in the chaos.
"During the search, entry and exit of the entire Fuhua Building is prohibited." Xie Huaijin's smile vanished, his voice turning grim. "Keep a close eye on everything, don't let a single fly escape."
Under the innkeeper's resentful gaze, Xie Huaijin walked towards the entrance of the dark room.
His hand slowly approached the display shelf, then suddenly paused for a moment, turned around, and saw a cold, bean-sized drop slide down the shopkeeper's nose.
That's it then.
Xie Huaijin decisively moved the display shelf aside, revealing a dark passageway before everyone's eyes. He smiled and said to the commander who had followed him, "Take everything inside."
…
The political landscape of Chang'an has changed.
On an ordinary morning, Xie, the Imperial Censor, led his troops to raid the Fuhua Tower and found a large amount of evidence of the Xie family's crimes of selling official positions. Half an hour later, the soldiers moved from the west of the city to the east and, before Minister Xie had finished his court session, ransacked the Xie family's house.
As the morning court session was drawing to a close, Xie Huaijin, who had requested leave, appeared in the Taiji Hall, bringing with him accusations against the Xie family and over thirty boxes of evidence, giving Xie Shichang a huge "surprise."
Xie Shichang was caught off guard and the Imperial Guards were detained on the spot. According to others present, by the time Minister Xie realized what was happening, it was too late to do anything about it. In a fit of rage, he pointed at Xie Huaijin and started cursing him with all sorts of vile words.
The Yu family, whose house was separated from Xie Huaijin's by only one wall, also heard the rumors. Jiang Ruan closed the door, pressed Yu Dan back into his chair, and handed him a plate of peeled grapes, practically spitting out gossip on his face.
"What exactly is Xie Sanlang thinking? He's related to the Xie family by blood. If the Xie family is guilty, how can he possibly escape unscathed? Putting aside the distant past, a son suing his father is a grave act of filial impiety. According to the laws of the Great Liang Dynasty, he shouldn't expect to get away with it..."
Yu Dan said, “He is accusing Xie Shichang, not Xie Cheng. The Liang law only stipulates that one cannot accuse one’s father or grandfather except for treason, but it does not say that one cannot accuse one’s elder brother.”
Jiang Ru'an said, "Fine, even if Lawyer Liang allows him to sue his elder brother, the Xie family has committed such a serious crime that all direct descendants of the Xie family will inevitably be dismissed from their official positions. This Xie Sanlang has just been promoted, why would he want to ruin his future?"
She was unaware of the undercurrents swirling around her, but Yu Dan vaguely knew what Yu Mingshu was busy with in Liangzhou. Xie Huaijin's choice was, in a way, a move born of necessity.
Of course, there's also a slight possibility that he had a change of heart and sacrificed his own family for the greater good.
Yu Dan ate two grapes before saying, "Because he is kind."
The following day at noon, all officials associated with the Xie family were suspended from their posts and confined to their respective residences under the guard of the Imperial Guards, including Xie Huaijin.
At this moment, Liangzhou is still calm and peaceful.
The warm summer sun shone on the roof of the academy, and birds chirped and twittered in the shade of the trees. The students in the classroom sat upright, their eyes fixed on the front, completely unaffected by the heat and noise.
Yu Mingshu did not forget that he had another purpose in coming to Liangzhou, which was to promote the reform of education in Daliang.
As a great man of later generations said, practice is the standard for testing true knowledge. If she wanted people to believe her suggestions, she had to go into the classroom and get closer to the students.
The simplest way to connect with test takers is to teach them.
Don't be fooled by how attentive these students seem now. When Yu Mingshu first arrived in Liangzhou, out of the dozen or so students in the entire school, only Baili Dun listened to his lectures.
She believed her teaching skills were quite good, but people's prejudices were like a mountain. When the students in the school saw that a female lecturer had come to the academy, they subconsciously looked down on her and refused to listen to any of her lectures.
It took her three months to fully establish herself, and now students at Liangzhou Academy stop to greet her and bow when they see her.
As get out of class was about to end, Yu Mingshu gave a question as a pop quiz.
When it was time to collect the papers, she counted the manuscripts in her hand, and her gaze suddenly froze.
There was one more blank paper.
She looked up and stared straight at the conspicuous figure in the last row, who smiled brightly at her. Only He Zheng would hand in a blank exam paper.
Yu Mingshu said "get out of class dismissed," gave He Zheng a look, and turned to leave the academy to return to Weishan Hall.
Before he even entered the study, He Zheng caught up with him, saying, "Your serious demeanor when you're lecturing is really intimidating, quite like the style of Master Yang."
Upon reaching the door, Yu Mingshu pushed him inside, slammed the door shut, and slapped the blank sheet of paper at him. "You said you wanted to audit the class, fine, come on then. You don't have to participate in the exams, but what's the meaning of handing in a blank paper? Are you trying to provoke me?"
"I had no such intention." He Zheng took a half step back, leaned against the door, and raised his hands to plead his case. "It's been so long since I've opened a book. I've forgotten all the scriptures I used to memorize. I really don't know where to begin writing."
"Why did you hand in your paper if you can't write it?" Yu Mingshu said reproachfully.
He Zheng touched the tip of his nose and said, "I thought you could still use this piece of paper if you took it back."
Yu Mingshu released him and sat back down at the table. "You're someone who passed the imperial examination, yet you've forgotten all the classics in just two years. Is that appropriate?"
“It’s not that I’ve forgotten everything. If you asked me to write a policy essay now, I could write a few for you. I can also explain the meaning of the classics clearly, but I’m really no good at copying the classics.” He Zheng moved closer to her and sat down next to her.
Yu Mingshu looked at him speechlessly, "Can't you find something to do yourself instead of always hanging around on me?"
He Zheng replied, "I am acting on His Highness the Crown Prince's orders to protect you personally."
Yu Mingshu pushed him away and said, "Xie Cheng should have been escorted to the capital by now. Who could possibly hide in Weishan Hall to assassinate me?"
He Zheng was about to stick to her like a roly-poly toy when the study door was suddenly pushed open. The two people inside subconsciously looked up and met Chen Qingyue's shocked eyes.
"You, you... I'm so sorry!"
Seeing Chen Qingyue turn to leave, Yu Mingshu quickly called out to her, "Come back!"
Chen Qingyue stopped retreating, still keeping her head down and not daring to look directly at him.
He Zheng casually got up and walked to the side, while Yu Mingshu called Chen Qingyue forward.
"You look so anxious, what happened?"
Chen Qingyue coughed lightly, took out a letter from her sleeve and handed it to her. "A letter from Chang'an. His Majesty has sent people to Taozhou to search and confiscate the Xie family's Taoran Garden. His Highness the Crown Prince has ordered us to return to the capital as soon as possible."
"So smoothly? Didn't the Xie family put up a last-ditch effort?" Yu Mingshu asked incredulously.
Chen Qingyue said, "The evidence you found is solid enough, and Xie Huaijin is decisive in his actions. Xie Shichang was completely unaware and was detained in the court! The entire Xie family was taken into control by the Tiansheng Army overnight. How could they possibly struggle?"
Yu Mingshu seemed to remember something and asked hesitantly, "Where is Xie Huaijin? Has His Majesty held a grudge against him?"
The moment she uttered those words, she noticed a resentful gaze fixed on her from not far away. She glared back at him, and he turned away, trying to cover his embarrassment.
"His Majesty has not issued a formal decree, but I have heard that he has been staying at home and refusing visitors recently. He has not attended the morning court sessions or gone to the Secretariat to report for duty."
Chen Qingyue sighed as she spoke, "It's a pity about Xie Sanlang. When the Xie family was at its peak, they didn't necessarily offer him many benefits, but when they fell on hard times, they wanted to drag him down with them."
He Zheng suddenly spoke up: "Although the Xie family looks down on him, they have never shortchanged him on food, clothing and other necessities after he was recognized as a member of the Xie family. In the end, he is also a beneficiary of the Xie family's embezzlement, so it is not unfair for him to be implicated."
Chen Qingyue disagreed. Many people knew that the Xie family's allowance for Xie Huaijin was less than that of a prominent servant in a wealthy family. How could such a paltry sum be considered a benefit?
He Zheng's words were full of personal grudges, but she did not intend to argue with him. She only gave Yu Mingshu a meaningful look and then excused herself to leave.
After everyone had walked away, Yu Mingshu looked at He Zheng helplessly, "Do you really hold such a deep grudge against Xie Huaijin?"
He Zheng simply said, "I don't have your magnanimity."
The weather was nice during the day, but the evening was overcast and silent, with a slight dampness in the air. After 7 PM, raindrops began to fall outside the window.
When Yu Mingshu returned after washing up, she saw He Zheng still lounging on her couch. Somewhat annoyed, she pushed his shoulder and said, "How long are you planning to 'protect' me personally?"
He Zheng tossed aside the book he had only read a few pages of and threw it to the foot of the bed. He grabbed her forearm and pulled her to the inside of the bed. “After we go back to the capital, we’ll have to separate. Aren’t you even a little bit reluctant to part?”
Yu Mingshu tried to sit up, but he forcefully pulled her into his arms. This man was truly wicked; he buried his head in the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply, deliberately leaving some marks.
She cupped his face in her hands and said, "Why do we have to separate? We're just a wall apart. You can come and go as you please. Heaven, earth, you, and I will know. Are you afraid of being seen by a ghost?"
“You said it yourself.” He Zheng’s eyes lit up.
Yu Mingshu chuckled softly, and just as he was about to speak, his vision went dark as a warm pair of lips pressed against his.
He Zheng was dressed very thinly at the moment, and the collar of his silk nightgown was hanging in the air due to his big movements, which made people's hearts itch.
Yu Mingshu lowered her eyes and wrapped her arms around his waist. With a gentle flick of her fingertips, she slipped her fingers under the silk. His waist and abdomen tightened noticeably, and his breath near her ear became heavy.
She had barely moved her hand a few inches when he suddenly pressed it down firmly, his eyes instantly filled with alertness.
"No?" Yu Mingshu stopped what she was doing and raised an eyebrow playfully.
She saw his Adam's apple move slightly, and the skin against hers gradually warmed up.
"Have you thought it through? You won't regret it?" His voice was slightly hoarse, and upon closer listening, it seemed to tremble slightly.
Yu Mingshu clicked her tongue softly, then moved her warm lips to his ear, causing his ears to turn bright red and his chest to heave more violently.
She said, "Are you even a man?"
As soon as he finished speaking, an unnamed fire ignited in He Zheng's eyes, and his body stiffened for a brief moment.
The next moment, Yu Mingshu was pressed down onto the soft mattress by a strong force.
She soon regretted it, not because she regretted suggesting that they should enjoy themselves while they could, but because she regretted that she had gone too far with her provocation.
His offensive was urgent and fierce, yet tinged with the clumsiness unique to young men. She could foresee that after this night, it would take two or three days for her aches and fatigues to subside.
A night of strong winds and heavy rain, the sound of rain pattering against the branches and leaves could be heard constantly outside the window.
When the wind and rain stopped and the world returned to silence, it was already late at night.
Yu Mingshu woke up feeling more exhausted than ever before. A person who was always disciplined and got up on time, he stayed in bed for a full quarter of an hour.
Physically, she hadn't improved much, but she felt mentally that she couldn't lie there any longer. She turned over, facing the outside of the bed curtains, and lifted the obstructing gauze curtain in front of her, her gaze following the attractive figure in the outer room.
She was going back to the capital in a couple of days. Her life was still evident everywhere in Weishan Hall, and cleaning it up would be a tedious and troublesome task.
She had originally planned to wait a couple of days before asking someone to help her before leaving, but unexpectedly someone volunteered to handle these troubles for her.
Hearing a slight noise behind him, He Zheng put down the messy books in his hands, glanced back, and walked towards the bed.
"Awake? Are you hungry?"
"A little."
Her voice was a little nasal and unclear, but He Zheng found it quite adorable and couldn't help but lower his head and give her a light kiss.
"Wait, I'll have someone bring the meal."
"Wait a minute!" Yu Mingshu became more awake, grabbed his hand and sat up. A hidden discomfort in her body made her frown slightly.
"Aren't you afraid that your scandal will spread throughout the world by just letting people in like this?"
Jinghong is very tight-lipped.
"That won't work either."
Yu Mingshu glared at him, then helped him off the bed by the shoulder. He Zheng was quick-witted enough to immediately hand her the clean robe hanging on the clothes rack.
"Did no one see you fetching water last night?"
"No."
Are you sure?
I swear to God.
Seeing He Zheng's confident expression as he pointed his finger to the sky, Yu Mingshu couldn't help but laugh out loud.
After the two finished their meal, Yu Mingshu did not allow He Zheng to come along to "accompany" her to study, and went to the academy by herself.
Upon encountering Chen Qingyue in the courtyard, and seeing the complex emotions in the other's eyes, she gave a dry laugh, "Do I have something growing on my face?"
"No." Chen Qingyue withdrew her gaze and took two steps forward to stand beside her. She looked around, especially glancing behind her, and asked in surprise, "Your lord didn't come with us today?"
"Lord Marquis is Lord Marquis, what do you mean by calling me Lord Marquis?" Yu Mingshu lowered his voice and covered her mouth with one hand.
Chen Qingyue pretended to put her arm around her shoulder and said in a muffled voice, "He's already like this, he wants to grow on you like a vine, doesn't that mean he's yours?"
Yu Mingshu took her hand and said softly, "You know it, but don't spread it around for me."
“I know what I’m doing.” Chen Qingyue patted her shoulder reassuringly, then changed the subject, “I came here to report to you that the witnesses in the secret room have been taken care of and will be escorted back to Chang’an today and handed over to the Censorate.”
Yu Mingshu nodded and added, "Have someone check it several times, don't give them a chance to kill themselves."
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