Chapter 173 Xiao Xuance killed someone and was imprisoned.
Xiao Xuance calmly defended himself, "I didn't push him."
Shen Yan invited death by attacking from behind. He was outmatched and fell down on his own. What does that have to do with him?
Shen Yan's gaze fell on Yun Zhaoxue's face, and he opened his mouth wide, letting out a scream, "Ahhh..." [Yun Zhaoxue, you spend every day with this murderer, aren't you afraid that one day he'll kill you too?]
Despite his incoherent shouts, Yun Zhaoxue didn't even glance at him.
Madam Shen pointed at Xiao Xuance, her face contorted with rage, and almost roared, "You dare to do it but not admit it, huh? Once you're in jail, let's see if you can still be so stubborn!"
The guards of the Xu family surrounded the Xiao family members and slowly approached them.
Madam Yang was worried; her worst fears had come true. Ce'er had been too impulsive.
He always told her not to worry about it.
well!
A thought popped into Yang's mind: if death is inevitable, then let her die.
She wanted to take the blame for her son, so she stepped forward and said, "It was me..."
Xiao Xuance guessed what she was going to do and interrupted her in time: "Mother, you don't need to worry about this. I can handle it."
"Shu'er, Xiao Wu, keep an eye on your mother."
"Okay, Third Brother."
Xiao Xuance's gaze swept past the crowd and landed on the Third Prince's face not far away. He asked in a low voice, "Third Prince, is this your sincerity?"
He says one thing in public and another in private; one minute he talks about forming an alliance, the next he has his people target the Xiao family.
The Third Prince's handsome face was gloomy. "This was not my intention. I did not know they would pull this stunt. However, if Prince Xiao needs it, I can step in and resolve this for you."
He was furious that the Shen family had disobeyed his orders, deeming them utterly useless. If it weren't for the Xu family's sake, he would have given up on them long ago.
Xiao Xuance said, "There's no need to trouble the Third Prince. They are determined to frame me, imprison me, and take my life. Your intervention will not be of much use."
The Third Prince thought to himself, "That's not necessarily true. Governor Xu is his man. It's just a matter of him saying a word to make the guards leave."
He was waiting for the Xiao family to speak to him.
Yun Zhaoxue stepped forward and asked, "You say my husband committed murder, but besides Shen Yan's one-sided testimony, is there any other evidence?"
Shen Yan stared at her, his eyes bloodshot, a hint of pain and self-mockery flashing across them. She had once sworn an oath of unwavering love and devotion to him, but she turned around and forgot him. This heartless woman deserved to die!
He stood there for a moment, speechless.
Yun Zhaoxue continued, "Without evidence, it's just bullying others by abusing power. Yesterday, the son of Prefect Xu glanced at me on the street, and that night he brought people to rob me. Does the Xu family have no regard for the law?"
Madam Shen scoffed, "Foolish!"
In Xuzhou, the Xu family was the law. Not wanting to waste words, she waved her hand and ordered the guards, "Take them away!"
"Without any evidence, why are you arresting us?"
Old Liao said, "If there's no evidence, keep going. If anyone dares to explain to me again, I'll beat them to death."
Madam Shen retorted, "Yan'er is the witness. His written testimony is the evidence. What other evidence do we need?"
"The one-sided account of the parties involved is not credible."
In an attempt to win over the Xiao family and make a final effort to salvage the situation, the Third Prince straightened his prison uniform, raised his head high, and chin slightly, exuding an air of arrogance and authority that commanded respect. His sharp gaze swept over the guards, "I am Prince Xuan, Zhao Xuan. I order you to step back!"
The guards exchanged glances, their eyes all falling on the guard commander's face. Only after he nodded did they retreat.
Madam Shen shouted, "No retreating!"
“Your Highness, I am your aunt, and Yan’er is your cousin. How can you stand on the side of the person who killed him? Do you even respect me as your elder?”
"Xu, that's enough! Just listen to the Third Prince. I'm still in charge of the Shen family now!" Shen Yichun was furious when she saw that she dared to challenge the Third Prince. She pulled Madam Shen back.
Although he was a leisurely nobleman, he knew that the Third Prince had little chance of winning against the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, and that the Xiao family was the most important piece of the puzzle.
If the Third Prince can sit on that position, the Shen family will return to its peak. His Highness will remember their current forbearance and grant the Shen family a title of nobility.
After the deed is done, the Xiao family will be useless and will be discarded like a used millstone. A gentleman takes his revenge even after ten years.
Madam Shen didn't understand any political maneuvering or art of forbearance; she only knew that she should take revenge on the spot. After being pulled back two steps by him, she struggled to shake him off.
"You can call the shots in the Shen family, but Xuzhou is my maternal family's territory. I will seek justice for my son, and no one can stop me!"
The Xiao family members knew martial arts, and the escorts protected her. Once they left Xuzhou, their hopes of revenge were slim.
The Third Prince once again shouted at the guards, "Stand down! Or do you want your governor to come and invite us in person?"
The guards knew that the Third Prince was a distinguished guest of their governor, and they also knew his identity, so they dared not make any rash moves.
Hearing his order was like receiving a pardon; they lined up and left, with the coachman driving the carriage to follow.
They had just left.
Old Liao breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, it was a close call.
However, the next instant, a cacophony of footsteps echoed from the end of the street. Before anyone could be identified, their voices rang out: "Quick! They're up ahead! Stop! Murderer! Kill Brother He!"
Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw several yamen runners rudely pushing aside the people in the road, shouting, "Make way! Make way! Don't obstruct the officials from carrying out their duties!"
Move quickly toward them.
The exiled group was filled with anxiety.
Old Liao's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. "Damn it, who caused trouble this time?"
He gripped the whip tightly, as if he wanted to hit someone.
The crowd was so frightened that they waved their hands and backed away to clear themselves of suspicion.
"It wasn't me, it wasn't me."
"It wasn't me either..."
Only the Xiao family members remained silent. Old Liao's gaze darkened, and he gritted his teeth: "It's you again?"
Yun Zhaoxue spread her hands innocently, "Master Liao, I didn't cause any trouble. If it really is us, then it's because we're not used to the climate and environment of Xuzhou."
Old Liao roared, "I'm telling you, if you fail to reach your place of exile within the time limit stipulated by the imperial court, you will all lose your heads."
"I know, from now on we will all follow Master Liao's orders."
When Madam Shen saw the constables running over, a dark glint flashed in her eyes. She immediately stepped forward and asked anxiously, "What are you doing here?"
Constable Deng bowed to her and said, "Reporting to Miss, He Laosan is dead. The fatal wound was a dagger piercing his heart, and the dagger was engraved with the character 'Xiao.' We suspect that it was the Xiao family who killed him."
Wang immediately jumped out and said, "The Xiao family? There is only one family with the surname Xiao among the exiled people."
Madam Duan also said, "They've made enemies everywhere, either beating or killing people. Get them arrested and thrown into prison immediately."
Shen Yan stared intently at Xiao Xuance, a slight smile playing on his lips, his eyes filled with malice and hatred, as if he had fallen into a pathological madness.
[Hmph! Pretending to be calm even when death is imminent. Wait till you get in jail, then you'll taste what it's like to have your tongue cut out!]
When Xiao Xuance met his gaze, he understood everything. They had orchestrated this whole thing to frame him.
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