The entire Xu family was executed, leaving only Miss Xu alive.
Yuwen Xuanhong suffered a cerebral hemorrhage but still insisted on seeing her.
After all, she was her husband's only bloodline in this world.
Even though the girl was no longer the daughter of the Grand Tutor's family, the Emperor granted her a special audience.
Today, Fan Lihua and her grandfather were also outside the palace, mainly to discuss with the emperor how to write the charges against Grand Tutor Xu.
Miss Xu, dressed in mourning clothes, walked past her.
In just three days, she went from being somewhat plump to thin and her eyes became lifeless.
The girl who once competed with me for a pot of chrysanthemums has changed like this in just a few days.
Fan Lihua, dressed in official robes, frowned as she looked at her. There was no mockery in her eyes, only some worry.
"Miss Xu, the Emperor summons you in."
Lu Kai came out and delivered a message to the girl.
She nodded, thanked Lu Kaidao, and then entered the emperor's bedroom.
"Xu Hui, daughter of a disgraced official, pays her respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"
Seeing his teacher's bright daughter reduced to this state, Yuwen Xuanhong struggled to get Lu Kai to help him up.
"You've suffered, Ah Hui."
The girl gave a cold laugh, then pulled a letter from her bosom, handed it to Lu Kai, and said:
“Ahui has come to deliver a letter to you today. This is a letter that your grandfather wrote to you a long time ago. He said that if the Xu family ever falls on hard times, he would have me deliver this letter to you and you would see me.”
Xu Hui's eyes were filled with tears, which fell like beads from a broken string.
Without saying anything more to Yuwen Xuanhong, the girl got up, scrambled to her feet, and headed out.
Having received the emperor's instructions, Lu Kai hurriedly stepped forward and stuffed a bundle into Xu Hui's hands.
“Miss Xu, this is…this is a token of His Majesty’s goodwill. Please take it, leave the capital, and find a place to live a good life.”
Upon hearing this, the girl turned her head sharply, her eyes filled with resentment and grievance as she looked back at the emperor, but she said nothing.
She blinked repeatedly, gave a self-deprecating laugh, and said, "Never mind."
Now she finally understood why the Prince of Zhenbei wanted women to take the imperial examinations, and why she wanted women to leave their homes.
She is the only orphan left in the entire Xu family, and now she doesn't even have the courage to live.
If she were like Fan Lihua, even if she were the only one left in the entire Fan family, she would live like steel. She might cry, or she might plot revenge.
But they will never feel as desperate and helpless as I do.
Without her father and mother, without the Xu family, how could she survive?
What's the point of living?
She shook her head and pushed away Lu Kai's bundle.
He resolutely walked towards the door.
—Squeak.
Xu Hui opened the double doors herself; the sunlight today was dazzling.
She has been crying every day for the past few days. Her eyes cannot withstand strong light. Even when she subconsciously tries to shield them with her hands, she still looks directly at the sun.
The young girl walked out of the emperor's bedroom and saw Fan Lihua waiting outside for a summons.
"Fan Lihua".
Unlike her usual angry tone, Xu Hui's voice was weak.
Upon hearing this, Pear Blossom gave her a courteous greeting befitting a young lady from the capital, and replied:
"Miss Xu."
"Fan Lihua, do you look down on me?"
Xu Hui was crying. Fan Lihua sighed, shook her head, and replied:
"No, we've never argued or bickered. It's just a few minor disagreements. I've never looked down on you."
Xu Hui didn't continue the topic, and just watched her cry.
If given the chance, she would like to live like Fan Lihua.
She also wanted to stand in the imperial court and debate for her grandfather.
Winning or losing doesn't matter, as long as she's not left so powerless, forced to watch helplessly as her whole family goes to the execution ground, anything is fine.
Suddenly, the girl spat out a mouthful of black blood, staining her mourning clothes red.
Blood splattered, and Xu Hui collapsed to the ground.
"Xu Hui!"
"Someone come here! Summon the imperial physician!"
"Take my token and go to the Imperial Hospital to see Physician Hou!"
Fan Lihua stepped forward and caught the girl, who fell into the arms of the female censor.
Xu Hui said:
"No need, I took poison before entering the palace."
Xu Hui was still crying, and she asked Fan Lihua in a trembling voice.
"Fan Lihua, did my grandfather really... really do a lot of bad things?"
Pear Blossom looked conflicted, unsure how to express herself. After a moment's thought, she said:
"Yes, Grand Tutor Xu did make many mistakes; he was not a good official."
"But... he was a good tutor, and in the end he still protected his student."
Everyone in the hall that day knew for whom Grand Tutor Xu had died.
To be honest, no one in the main hall that day expected that Grand Tutor Xu would actually run into a pillar; normally…
How can someone who is not clever but loves to scheme be allowed to die so easily? Especially someone who dies for someone else. Such a person is the most afraid of death and greedy for power.
Hearing Fan Lihua's words, Xu Hui calmed down a bit and her breathing became less labored.
“That…that’s good…I…Fan Lihua, I’m incompetent, I can’t protect my family, without them I…can’t live.”
“I need to find…find them. Can you help me…help me collect their bodies? My family is buried in a village on the outskirts of Beijing…the village next to where we went to the hot springs…”
"The land deed... I'll give you the land deed... You help me, help me collect my body..."
She took the land deed from her sleeve and handed it to Fan Lihua.
When Pear Blossom received the land deed, her hands felt sticky; it was all the blood she had vomited.
Fan Lihua felt it was a pity.
If you die, you lose everything, right?
She nodded in agreement:
"Okay, I'll help you."
Xu Hui was beyond saving; she could feel the person in her arms growing colder.
"I...I'm afraid of the dark, Fan Lihua, don't bury me...bury me in the shadows."
"good."
In the very end, Xu Hui's eyes lost all light, and she was left with only a breath.
She whispered in Fan Lihua's ear:
"I... I don't hate... you, I'm just jealous of you... jealous that you're prettier than me... more outstanding than me. Don't blame me for always taking things from you. I'm going to die... in my next life, I will definitely... definitely be like you."
Pear Blossom thought she wouldn't cry.
Xu Hui and I have been arguing since we were little.
We've fought, we've snatched hair accessories.
This person is now dying in his arms.
Tears streamed down her face as she held the girl in her arms. She picked up Xu Hui's body and slowly walked towards the palace gate.
"We'll help you this once. Miss Xu in the capital is very particular about appearances, but since Grand Tutor Xu has made a mistake, we certainly can't give you a big celebration."
"Let me burn you a few more pieces of clothing."
She enjoyed everything the Xu family gave her; Xu Hui was not innocent.
Can……
However, Xu Hui was also a traditional woman who stayed at home and knew nothing about what was happening outside.
If I'm wrong, I can only say I was born into the wrong family.
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